Webs of cushioned closable bags

Abstract

A web of preformed bags includes a sheet material and a cushioning material. The sheet material includes two sheets that are arranged to form a series of bags. The sheets are connected together to form sides of each of the bags. Each of the bags is bounded by an opening and the sides where sheets are connected together. The cushioning material is coupled to inner surfaces of the sheets in each of the bags. The web further includes a line of weakness in at least one of the sheets between each of the bags. After an object is loaded in one of the bags, the opening of the one of the bags is configured to be sealed closed with the object therein such that the cushioning material in the one of the bags is arranged to cushion the object when the one of the bags is sealed closed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A web of preformed bags, comprising:
 a sheet material comprising a first sheet and a second sheet, wherein first and second sheets are arranged to form a series of bags, wherein the first and second sheets are connected together to form sides of each of the bags, wherein each of the bags is bounded by an opening and the sides where first and second sheets are connected together;   a cushioning material coupled to inner surfaces of the first and second sheets in each of the bags; and   a line of weakness in at least one of the first and second sheets between each of the bags, wherein the bags are separable from the web by breaking the line of weakness;   wherein, after an object is loaded in one of the bags, the opening of the one of the bags is configured to be sealed closed with the object therein such that the cushioning material in the one of the bags is arranged to cushion the object when the one of the bags is sealed closed.   
     
     
         2 . The web of  claim 1 , wherein the openings of the bags extend transversely across the web. 
     
     
         3 . The web of  claim 2 , wherein the cushioning material extends longitudinally along each of the first and second sheets. 
     
     
         4 . The web of  claim 3 , wherein the cushioning material is narrower transversely across the web than either of the first and second sheets, and wherein longitudinal edges of each of the first and second sheets are connected directly to each other to form sides of the bags. 
     
     
         5 . The web of  claim 2 , wherein bottoms of the bags are formed by sealing portions of the cushioning material together transversely across the web. 
     
     
         6 . The web of  claim 2 , wherein the opening of each of the bags is configured to be sealed closed by sealing portions of the cushioning material together transversely across the web. 
     
     
         7 . The web of  claim 1 , wherein the openings of the bags extend longitudinally along the web. 
     
     
         8 . The web of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second sheets are formed from a single sheet material and wherein the first and second sheets are separated by a longitudinal fold in the single sheet material. 
     
     
         9 . The web of  claim 8 , wherein the longitudinal fold forms bottoms of the bags. 
     
     
         10 . The web of  claim 8 , wherein the cushioning material is a single sheet of cushioning material that extends longitudinally along the web. 
     
     
         11 . The web of  claim 10 , wherein the cushioning material is narrower transversely across the web than the single sheet material, and wherein longitudinal edges of the single sheet material are connected directly to each other to form a closed longitudinal channel proximate the openings of the bags. 
     
     
         12 . The web of  claim 11 , wherein the cushioning material is coupled to portions of the inner surfaces of the first and second sheets that are outside of the closed longitudinal channel. 
     
     
         13 . The web of  claim 11 , wherein the closed longitudinal channel includes a longitudinal line of weakness configured to be broken to permit access to the openings of the bags. 
     
     
         14 . The web of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 transverse seams that extend from the longitudinal fold to the closed longitudinal channel, wherein the transverse seams are located between the bags and form sides of the bags.   
     
     
         15 . The web of  claim 14 , wherein the line of weakness extends through one of the transverse seams. 
     
     
         16 . The web of  claim 14 , further comprising a set of cuts associated with one of the transverse seams, wherein the one of the transverse seams is located between a first bag and a second bag of the bags in the web, wherein the set of cuts comprises:
 a transverse cut in the one of the transverse seams extending from the closed longitudinal channel toward the longitudinal fold;   a first longitudinal cut extending from the one of the transverse seams into the first bag; and   a second longitudinal cut extending from the one of the transverse seams into the second bag.   
     
     
         17 . The web of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the first longitudinal cut includes a first plurality of cuts extending from the one of the transverse seams into the first bag; and   the second longitudinal cut includes a second plurality of cuts extending from the one of the transverse seams into the second bag.   
     
     
         18 . The web of  claim 1 , wherein the sheet material includes one or more of a polymer-based material, a fiber-based material, kraft paper, or a starch-based material. 
     
     
         19 . The web of  claim 1 , wherein the sheet material includes an outer layer configured to have information printed thereon. 
     
     
         20 . The web of  claim 1 , wherein the cushioning material includes one or more of an air cellular cushioning material, a fiber-based cushioning material, macerated paper cushioning material, or a sheet foam cushioning material.