Web and method for making fluid filled units

Abstract

A preformed web and a method of producing dunnage units from the preformed web. The web is an elongate flattened thermoplastic tube having an inflation edge and an opposite edge. The tube includes spaced transverse seals that define sides of pouches. In one embodiment, the web is configured such that a gap forms between each pair of adjacent pouches when the pouches are inflated. In one embodiment, an inflation edge of the web comprises a frangible connection that allows the inflation edge to be broken by an unsharpened object.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . An inflated dunnage unit array, comprising:
 at least one row of interconnected inflated pouches, the pouches being defined by first and second layers hermetically connected together by a longitudinally extending seal that is spaced apart from an inflation edge, an opposite edge, and by a pair of seals that are transverse to the inflation edge and the opposite edge;   wherein the inflated pouch includes an inflation opening between the inflation edge and the longitudinally extending seal, the inflation opening comprising an opening created by a separating member in one of the first and second layers.   
     
     
         20 . The inflated dunnage unit array of  claim 19  wherein the opening comprises a cut that is created by a cutter acting on one layer of the row of interconnected pouches prior to inflation of the pouches. 
     
     
         21 . The inflated dunnage unit array of  claim 19  wherein the opening comprises a cut that is created by a cutter acting on a row of perforations in one layer of the row of interconnected pouches prior to inflation of the pouches. 
     
     
         22 . The inflated dunnage array of  claim 19  wherein the opening is offset from the inflation edge. 
     
     
         23 . The inflated dunnage array of  claim 19  wherein the opening is substantially coincident with the inflation edge. 
     
     
         24 . The inflated dunnage unit array of  claim 19  wherein the opening comprises a row of ruptured perforations in one of the first and second layers that is created by a blunt surface acting on row of perforations in only one layer of the row of interconnected pouches prior to inflation of the pouches. 
     
     
         25 . The inflated dunnage array of  claim 24  wherein the row of ruptured perforations is offset from the inflation edge. 
     
     
         26 . The inflated dunnage array of  claim 24  wherein the row of ruptured perforations is substantially coincident with the inflation edge. 
     
     
         27 . An inflated dunnage unit array, comprising:
 at least one row of interconnected inflated pouches, the pouches being defined by first and second layers hermetically connected together by a longitudinally extending seal that is spaced apart from an inflation edge, an opposite edge, and by a pair of seals that are transverse to the inflation edge and the opposite edge;   wherein each pair of adjacent inflated pouches are connected by an inflation edge line of perforations that extend inward from the inflation edge and an opposite edge line of perforations that extend inward from the opposite edge;   wherein the inflation edge line of perforations and the opposite edge line of perforations are spaced apart by a gap sized to permit insertion of a separating device between each pair of interconnected dunnage units   and wherein the inflated pouch includes an inflation opening between the inflation edge and the longitudinally extending seal from the opposite edge, the inflation opening comprising an opening created by a separating member in one of the first and second layers.   
     
     
         28 . The dunnage unit array of  claim 27  comprising a single row of interconnected inflated pouches.