Packaging with multi-ply walls
Envelopes for holding one or more items include a first and a second flexible wall. The second wall overlies, and is affixed to the first flexible wall. The second flexible wall can include a plurality of overlying layers of paper affixed to each other so as to define an interlayer region within which at least two of the plurality of overlying layers of paper are not adhered to each other.
1 . An envelope for holding an item, comprising:
a first flexible wall; and
a second flexible wall overlying the first flexible wall and affixed to the first flexible wall about a containment border that encloses a plurality of sides of a containment region defined by the first and second flexible walls, which containment region is configured to contain the item, wherein:
the second flexible wall comprises at least two overlying layers of paper affixed to each other about an interlayer border that encloses a plurality of sides of an interlayer region defined by the at least two overlying layers of paper;
the at least two overlying layers of paper are unadhered to each other within at least a portion of the interlayer region; and
the interlayer region is sufficiently empty so that the at least two overlying layers of paper abut each other over a majority of the interlayer region, such that the two overlying layers and the interlayer region are padding-free.
2 . The envelope of claim 1 , wherein the interlayer region overlies more than half of the containment region.
3 . The envelope of claim 2 , wherein the interlayer region overlies more than seventy-five percent of the containment region.
4 . The envelope of claim 3 , wherein the interlayer region overlies an entirety of the containment region.
5 . The envelope of claim 1 , wherein the at least two overlying layers of paper are slidable with respect to each other over a majority of the interlayer region.
6 . The envelope of claim 1 , wherein the containment region is accessible by way of an opening defined by the first and second flexible walls, and the envelope further comprises a bonding element disposed on at least one of the first and second flexible walls and configured to affix the first flexible wall to the second flexible wall to close the opening.
7 . The envelope of claim 6 , wherein the bonding element is a heat seal material.
8 . The envelope of claim 1 , wherein the first flexible wall comprises at least two overlying layers of paper affixed to each other about an interlayer border that encloses a plurality of sides of an interlayer region defined by the at least two overlying layers of paper of the first flexible wall.
9 . The envelope of claim 8 , wherein:
the first flexible wall comprises at least one inter-ply seal configured to affix the at least two overlying layers of paper of the first flexible wall to each other; and
the at least one inter-ply seal defines at least a portion of the interlayer border.
10 . The envelope of claim 9 , further comprising at least one inter-wall seal configured to affix the first and second walls to each other, wherein the at least one inter-wall seal defines at least a portion of the containment border.
11 . The envelope of claim 10 , wherein:
the at least one inter-wall seal is a first inter-wall seal;
the envelope further comprises a second inter-wall seal;
the first inter-wall seal extends along respective first sides of the first and second flexible walls;
the second inter-wall seal extends along respective second sides of the first and second flexible walls;
the containment region is accessible by way of an opening defined by the first and second walls; and
the opening extends between the first and second inter-wall seals.
12 . The envelope of claim 1 , wherein: the second flexible wall comprises at least a first, a second, and a third of the overlying layers of paper; the interlayer region is disposed between the first and second layers; and the envelope further comprises an expandable material disposed between the second and third layers.
13 . A web stock comprising a plurality of the envelopes of claim 1 , wherein each of the envelopes adjoins an adjacent one of the envelopes.
14 . The web stock of claim 13 , wherein each of the envelopes adjoins the adjacent one of the envelopes along a region of weakness between the adjacent envelopes.
15 . The envelope of claim 1 , wherein the second wall is free of padding.
16 . The envelope of claim 1 , wherein each of the overlying layers of paper is flat.
17 . The envelope of claim 1 , wherein the overlying layers of paper are formed from identical sheets of paper.
18 . The envelope of claim 1 , wherein the overlying layers of paper are smooth.
19 . The envelope of claim 1 , wherein the overlying layers of paper abut each other over an entirety of the interlayer region.
20 . The envelope of claim 1 , wherein the at least two overlying layers of paper are unadhered to each other within at least a majority of the interlayer region.
21 . The envelope of claim 1 , wherein the at least two overlying layers of paper are unadhered to each other within at least 75 percent of the interlayer region.
22 . The envelope of claim 1 , wherein the at least two overlying layers of paper are unadhered to each other within an entirety of the interlayer region.
23 . The envelope of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the interlayer region within which the at least two overlying layers of paper are unadhered overlies at least 25 percent of the containment region.
24 . The envelope of claim 23 , wherein the portion of the interlayer region within which the at least two overlying layers of paper are unadhered overlies at least 50 percent of the containment region.
25 . The envelope of claim 24 , wherein the portion of the interlayer region within which the at least two overlying layers of paper are unadhered overlies at least 75 percent of the containment region.
26 . An envelope for holding an item, comprising:
a first flexible wall; and
a second flexible wall overlying the first flexible wall and affixed to the first flexible wall about a containment border that encloses a plurality of sides of a containment region defined by the first and second flexible walls, which containment region is configured contain the item, wherein:
the second flexible wall comprises at least two smooth overlying layers of paper affixed to each other about an interlayer border that encloses a plurality of sides of an interlayer region defined by the at least two overlying layers of paper;
the at least two overlying layers of paper are unadhered to each other within at least a portion of the interlayer region;
the overlying layers of paper are formed from identical sheets of paper; and
the interlayer region is sufficiently empty so that the at least two overlying layers of paper abut each other over a majority of the interlayer region.
27 . An envelope for holding an item, comprising:
a first flexible wall; and
a second flexible wall overlying the first flexible wall and affixed to the first flexible wall about a containment border that encloses a plurality of sides of a containment region defined by the first and second flexible walls, which containment region is configured to contain the item, wherein:
the second flexible wall is unpadded;
the second flexible wall comprises at least two overlying layers of un-embossed paper affixed to each other about an interlayer border that encloses a plurality of sides of an interlayer region defined by the at least two overlying layers of paper;
the at least two overlying layers of paper are unadhered to each other within at least a portion of the interlayer region overlying more than 25 percent of the containment area; and
the interlayer region is sufficiently empty so that the at least two overlying layers of paper abut each other over a majority of the interlayer region.