Flexible, inflatable packaging materials and methods of making and using same

Abstract

The presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) relates generally to packaging materials for packaging articles, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a packaging material which includes, in one embodiment, a plurality of individual strips, strands, or units of material bondably connected to the exterior surface of a flexible, inflatable substrate to form a cohesive inflatable cushioning unit for use as a packaging material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A package, comprising:
 a container having an interior;   a packaging material disposed within the interior of the container, the packaging material adapted to support and cushion an object and comprising a flexible inflatable bag having an exterior surface and an interior surface, the interior surface defining an expandable interior inflation space, the packaging material further comprising at least one strip, strand, or unit of material disposed on the exterior surface of the flexible inflatable bag and within the interior of the container; and   at least one object disposed on the packaging material and within the interior of the container, whereby the packaging material supports and cushions the object within the interior of the container.   
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the container is a basket. 
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one object comprises at least one of a candy and an Easter egg. 
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the packaging material further includes an inflation assembly for inflating the flexible inflatable bag, and wherein at least one of:
 (a) the inflation assembly is disposed in the expandable interior inflation space of the flexible inflatable bag;   (b) the inflation assembly is associated with the exterior surface of the flexible bag and is in fluid communication with the expandable interior inflation space of the flexible inflatable bag; and   (c) the inflation assembly includes an exothermic reaction assembly, wherein when the exothermic reaction assembly is activated, an exothermic reaction takes place thereby producing a gas capable of filling at least a portion of the expandable interior inflation space of the flexible bag.   
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior surface of the flexible inflatable bag of the packaging material includes a decorative effect. 
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the packaging material is bondingly connected to the interior of the container. 
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the object is bondingly connected to the packaging material. 
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 7 , wherein a bonding material is disposed on the at least one strip, strand or unit of material disposed on the exterior surface of the flexible inflatable bag disposed within the interior of the container. 
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one strip, strand or unit of material is further defined as a plurality of strands of decorative grass. 
     
     
         10 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the packaging material substantially conforms to a contour of the interior of the container and thereby lines the interior of the container with the at least one object being supported by the packaging material held within the interior of the container. 
     
     
         11 . A method of packaging at least one object, the method comprising the steps of:
 disposing a packaging material into an interior of a container, the packaging material adapted to support and cushion an object and comprising a flexible inflatable bag having an exterior surface and an interior surface, the interior surface defining an expandable interior inflation space, the packaging material further comprising at least one strip, strand, or unit of material disposed on the exterior surface of the flexible inflatable bag and within the interior of the container; and   disposing at least one object on the packaging material disposed within the interior of the container, whereby the packaging material supports and cushions the object within the interior of the container.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the container is a basket. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one object comprises at least one of a candy and an Easter egg. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the packaging material further includes an inflation assembly for inflating the flexible inflatable bag, and wherein at least one of:
 (a) the inflation assembly is disposed in the expandable interior inflation space of the flexible inflatable bag;   (b) the inflation assembly is associated with the exterior surface of the flexible bag and is in fluid communication with the expandable interior inflation space of the flexible inflatable bag; and   (c) the inflation assembly includes an exothermic reaction assembly, wherein when the exothermic reaction assembly is activated, an exothermic reaction takes place thereby producing a gas capable of filling at least a portion of the expandable interior inflation space of the flexible bag.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the exterior surface of the flexible inflatable bag of the packaging material includes a decorative effect. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the packaging material is bondingly connected to the interior of the container. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the object is bondingly connected to the packaging material. 
     
     
         18 . The package of  claim 17 , wherein a bonding material is disposed on the at least one strip, strand or unit of material disposed on the exterior surface of the flexible inflatable bag disposed within the interior of the container. 
     
     
         19 . The package of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one strip, strand or unit of material disposed on the exterior surface of the flexible inflatable bag is further defined as a plurality of strands of decorative grass disposed on the exterior surface of the flexible inflatable bag. 
     
     
         20 . The package of  claim 11 , wherein the packaging material substantially conforms to a contour of the interior of the container and thereby lines the interior of the container with the at least one object being supported by the packaging material held within the interior of the container.