Envelopes formed from extensible paper

Abstract

Envelopes include one or more walls defining an envelope pocket configured to hold an item. The envelope also can include a closure seal configured to maintain the envelope pocket in a closed state once the item has been placed therein. At least one of the walls can be formed from an extensible paper having the ability to stretch, within limits, without tearing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An envelope for holding an item, comprising:
 an envelope body that includes:
 a first flexible wall, and 
 a second flexible wall overlying the first flexible wall and fixed to the first flexible wall about at least a portion of a pocket border, which pocket border encloses a pocket defined between the first and second flexible walls and configured and dimensioned to contain the item, at least one of the first and second flexible walls defining a pocket opening allowing access to the pocket from an exterior of the envelope for loading the item into the pocket; 
   wherein at least one of the first and second flexible walls comprises extensible paper.   
     
     
         2 . The envelope of  claim 1 , wherein the extensible paper is configured to stretch in a first direction of the extensible paper by at least three percent. 
     
     
         3 . The envelope of  claim 2 , wherein the extensible paper is further configured to stretch in the first direction of the extensible paper by about three percent to about 15 percent. 
     
     
         4 . The envelope of  claim 3 , wherein the extensible paper is further configured to stretch in the first direction of the extensible paper by about six percent to about nine percent. 
     
     
         5 . The envelope of  claim 2 , wherein the first direction of the extensible paper is a machine direction of the paper. 
     
     
         6 . The envelope of  claim 2 , wherein the first direction is a cross-machine direction of the extensible paper. 
     
     
         7 . The envelope of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the extensible paper has a first tensile energy absorption in a first direction of the extensible paper, and a second tensile energy absorption in a second direction of the extensible paper;   the second tensile energy absorption is less than the first tensile energy absorption; and   the second direction of the extensible paper being angularly offset from the first direction of the extensible paper by about 90 degrees.   
     
     
         8 . The envelope of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the envelope has a first dimension in a first direction of the envelope, and a second dimension in a second direction of the envelope, the second dimension being less than the first dimension; and   the extensible paper is oriented so that the first direction of the extensible paper substantially aligns with the second direction of the envelope.   
     
     
         9 . The envelope of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the first and second flexible walls comprises a first and a second layer, at least one of the first and second layers comprising the extensible paper. 
     
     
         10 . The envelope of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the first and second layers each comprise the extensible paper; and   the first and second layers are oriented so that the machine direction of the extensible paper of the first layer is angularly offset from the machine direction of the extensible paper of the second layer by about 90 degrees.   
     
     
         11 . The envelope of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the first and second layers each comprise the extensible paper; and   the first and second layers are oriented so that the machine direction of the extensible paper of the first layer and the machine direction of the extensible paper of the second layer are substantially aligned.   
     
     
         12 . The envelope of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the extensible paper has a first extensibility in a first direction of the extensible paper, and a second extensibility in a second direction of the extensible paper, the second extensibility being less than the first extensibility and the second direction of the extensible paper being angularly offset from the first direction of the extensible paper by about 90 degrees;   the pocket opening extends between respective first and a second sides of the first and second walls in a first direction of the envelope; and   the extensible paper is oriented so that the first direction of the extensible paper substantially aligns with the first direction of the envelope.   
     
     
         13 . The envelope of  claim 1 , further comprising a closure-sealing element disposed on the first flexible wall and configured to form a closure seal that fixes the first flexible wall to the second flexible wall to close the pocket opening. 
     
     
         14 . The envelope of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the pocket opening is defined between the first and second flexible walls; and   the closure-sealing element is configured to seal closed the pocket opening by fixing the second flexible wall to the first flexible wall.   
     
     
         15 . The envelope of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one of a cushioning material, a padding material, and a thermally-insulting material disposed between the first and second layers. 
     
     
         16 . The envelope of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one of an expandable material disposed between the first and second layers. 
     
     
         17 . The envelope of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second flexible walls are fixed to each other about a first portion of the pocket border, and are unfixed to each other at the pocket opening. 
     
     
         18 . The envelope of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the first and second flexible walls are unfixed to each other at an open side of the pocket;   the pocket opening is defined by the open side of the pocket; and   the pocket opening is disposed along the pocket border.   
     
     
         19 . A supply web, comprising a plurality of the envelopes of  claim 1  connected in series. 
     
     
         20 . A method of making an envelope for holding an item, comprising:
 providing an envelope body comprising a first and a second flexible wall, at least one of the first and second flexible walls comprising an extensible paper;   fixing the second flexible wall to the first flexible wall about at least a portion of a pocket border which pocket border encloses a pocket defined between the first and second flexible walls and configured and dimensioned to contain the item, at least one of the first and second flexible walls defining a pocket opening allowing access to the pocket from an exterior of the envelope for loading the item into the pocket; and   placing a closure-sealing element on the envelope body to seal closed the pocket opening.