IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,221,260
Granted Patent B2
US 12,221,260 · App. 18/202,260 · Granted Feb 11, 2025

Expanded slit sheet cushioning products with novel reduced dimension slit patterns

Inventor: David Paul Goodrich (Sedona, AZ)
Assignee: HexcelPack, LLC
B65D65/22B31D3/0207B31D3/0292B31D3/04B31D5/006B31D5/0065B31D5/0069B65D81/03B65D85/672D21H5/24D21H5/245D21H27/10B31D1/0031B31D2205/0023B65B55/20D21H25/005Y10T428/24298Y10T428/24306Y10T428/24314
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,221,260
App. No.
18/202,260
Granted
Feb 11, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

In the preferred embodiments, the present invention provides substantially improved slit sheet cushioning products by advantageously combining novel paper properties with novel slit patterns for improved features and characteristics. In some illustrative and non-limiting example embodiments, cushioning products of the present invention can include, e.g., a novel slit sheet material in combination with extensible paper employed as, e.g., a cushioning pad or as cushioning within an envelope product, wherein the cushioning product can be substantially more resilient, but, yet, e.g., thinner for better utilization of space.

Claims (32)

1. A slit sheet paper cushioning product, comprising:

a slit sheet paper having a slit pattern including a plurality of slits extending in a cross direction that forms a plurality of open cells upon expansion in a machine direction,

wherein said plurality of open cells include substantially hexagonal cells;

wherein each of said plurality of slits extends substantially parallel to the cross direction;

wherein each of said plurality of slits has a width within a range having a lower end of about 0.175 inches and having an upper end of 0.35 inches; and

wherein said slit sheet paper is formed from a paper having a weight, prior to expansion, within a range of between about 30 to about 60 pounds per 3,000 square feet.

2. The slit sheep paper cushioning product of claim 1 , wherein the slit width is 0.30 inches or less.

3. The slit sheep paper cushioning product of claim 1 , wherein the slit width is 0.25 inches or less.

4. The slit sheet paper cushioning product of claim 1 , wherein the lower end of the range is 0.175 inches plus or minus 15%.

5. The slit sheet paper cushioning product of claim 1 , wherein the lower end of the range is 0.175 inches.

6. The slit sheep paper cushioning product of claim 1 , wherein the slit length is 0.25 inches plus or minus 10%, the slit spacing is 0.09375 inches plus or minus 10% and the row spacing is 0.0625 inches plus or minus 10%.

7. The slit sheep paper cushioning product of claim 1 , wherein the slit length is 0.25 inches plus or minus 5%, the slit spacing is 0.09375 inches plus or minus 5% and the row spacing is 0.0625 inches plus or minus 5%.

8. The slit sheet paper cushioning product of claim 1 , wherein said slit sheet includes spaces between rows of slits in the range of 0.05 to 0.1 inches.

9. The slit sheet paper cushioning product of claim 1 , wherein said slit sheet includes spaces between rows of slits smaller than 0.125 inches.

10. The slit sheet paper cushioning product of claim 1 , wherein said slit sheet includes spaces between rows of slits smaller than 0.1125 inches.

11. The slit sheet paper cushioning product of claim 1 , wherein said slit sheet includes spaces between rows of slits smaller than 0.0875 inches.

12. The slit sheet paper cushioning product of claim 1 , wherein said slit sheet paper is formed from a paper having a weight, prior to expansion, within a range of between 30 pounds plus or minus 15% to 60 pounds plus or minus 15% per 3,000 square feet.

13. The slit sheet paper cushioning product of claim 1 , wherein said slit sheet paper is formed from a paper having a weight, prior to expansion, within a range of between 30 to 60 pounds per 3,000 square feet.

14. The slit sheet paper cushioning product of claim 1 , wherein said slit sheet paper is formed from a paper having a weight, prior to expansion, within a range of between about 40 to about 60 pounds per 3,000 square feet.

15. The slit sheet paper cushioning product of claim 1 , wherein said slit sheet paper is formed from a paper having a weight, prior to expansion, within a range of between about 40 to about 50 pounds per 3,000 square feet.

16. The slit sheet paper cushioning product of claim 1 , wherein said substantially hexagonal cells are bent at a central region such as to form a bent substantially hexagonal shape.

17. The slit sheet paper cushioning product of claim 1 , wherein said slit sheet paper is made with an extensible paper.

18. The slit sheet paper cushioning product of claim 17 , wherein said extensible paper is extensible in a machine direction in a range of at least 5%.

19. The slit sheet paper cushioning product of claim 17 , wherein said extensible paper is extensible in a cross direction in a range of at least 5%.

20. The slit sheet paper cushioning product of claim 17 , wherein said extensible paper is extensible in a machine direction in a range of at least 5% and in a cross direction in a range of at least 5%.

21. The slit sheet paper cushioning product of claim 17 , wherein said extensible paper is extensible in a machine direction in a range of at least 6% and in a cross direction in a range of at least 6%.

22. The slit sheet paper cushioning product of claim 1 , wherein said slit sheet paper is a roll of slit sheet paper.

23. The slit sheet paper cushioning product of claim 22 , wherein said roll of slit sheet paper is supported on an expander device adapted to rotatably support the roll of slit sheet paper for manual removal and expansion of said slit sheet paper from said roll.

24. A method of using the slit sheet paper cushioning product of claim 23 , including manually wrapping the slit sheet paper in an expanded state around an item such as to create a plurality of layers of the expanded slit sheet paper surrounding the item for cushioning.

25. The slit sheet paper cushioning product of claim 1 , wherein said slit sheet paper is employed within a wall of an envelope for cushioning of the envelope.

26. The slit sheet paper cushioning product of claim 25 , wherein said envelope includes a single layer of said slit sheet paper within the wall of the envelope for cushioning such as to reduce thickness of the wall.

27. The slit sheet paper cushioning product of claim 25 , wherein said wall of said envelope includes an outer paper layer located on a first side of said slit sheet paper and an inner paper layer at a second side of said slit sheet paper.

Assignments (1)
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Oct 23, 2023
From: GOODRICH, DAVID P.
To: HEXCELPACK, LLC
Reel/Frame 065314/0516 →
Continuity (7)
Continuation 16501137 · Jan 6, 2021
Continuation In Part 16929836 · Jul 15, 2020
Continuation In Part 16872813 · May 12, 2020
Continuation 16018702 · Jun 26, 2018
Provisional Application 62874163 · Jul 15, 2019
Provisional Application 62524905 · Jun 26, 2017
Related Publication 20230294891A1 · Sep 21, 2023
References Cited (161)
US 1999282A · Clemens · 1935 [cited by applicant]
US 2624245A · Cluett · 1953 [cited by applicant]
US 2996425A · Hamilton · 1961 [cited by applicant]
US 3104197A · Sangho et al. · 1963 [cited by applicant]
US 3220116A · Freuler · 1965 [cited by applicant]
US 3266972A · Cramer et al. · 1966 [cited by applicant]
US 3269393A · Ackermann · 1966 [cited by applicant]
US 3329562A · Schaefer · 1967 [cited by applicant]
US 3357172A · Evans · 1967 [cited by applicant]
US 3523865A · Ihrman · 1970 [cited by applicant]
US 3762629A · Bruno · 1973 [cited by applicant]
US 3908071A · Heim et al. · 1975 [cited by applicant]
US 4040899A · Emerson · 1977 [cited by applicant]
US 4105724A · Talbot · 1978 [cited by applicant]
US 4230036A · Groome · 1980 [cited by applicant]
US 4832228A · Hickey · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 5001017A · Alhamad et al. · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5365819A · Maida et al. · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5538778A · Hurwitz et al. · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5544473A · Maida et al. · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5667135A · Schaefer · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5667871A · Goodrich et al. · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5688578A · Goodrich · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5782735A · Goodrich et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5894044A · Norcom et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 6024832A · Trani et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6117062A · Alhamad · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6416623B1 · Hollmark et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6458447B1 · Cabell et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6712930B2 · Koivukunnas · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6989075B1 · Kao et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7918966B2 · Trani et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8518522B2 · Trani et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 9945077B2 · Hashiguchi et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10226907B2 · Goodrich · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10669086B2 · Goodrich · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10981712B2 · Goodrich · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20020060034A1 · Hollmark et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 20020174630A1 · Goodrich · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 20040056080A1 · Johansson et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20040076798A1 · Larsson et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20070240841A1 · Trani et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20100196633A1 · Kuchar · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20120248177A1 · Beaulieu et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120266568A1 · Prud'homme et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20140166661A1 · Goodrich · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140329049A1 · Zhang · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20150122866A1 · Kuchar et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150140265A1 · Page et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150151895A1 · Zhang · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150176303A1 · Kuchar et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20160067938A1 · Goodrich · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160355985A1 · Hashiguchi et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20170107017A1 · Kuchar et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170203866A1 · Goodrich · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170313017A1 · Cheich et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170341845A1 · Mulvey et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20180022266A1 · Tzeng · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180079161A1 · Cheich · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180127197A1 · Goodrich · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180222665A1 · Goodrich · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180229910A1 · Kohn et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180370702A1 · Goodrich · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20190100369A1 · Hoffman et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20200270048A1 · Goodrich · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20210101356A1 · Cheich et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210206535A1 · Yan · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210221567A1 · Yan · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20220002059A1 · Asayama · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220106093A1 · Parker et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
CA 2251477A1 · 1997 [cited by applicant]
CH 337723A · 1959 [cited by applicant]
CN 1134687A · 1996 [cited by applicant]
CN 1152274A · 1997 [cited by applicant]
CN 201990066U · 2011 [cited by applicant]
CN 202244644U · 2012 [cited by applicant]
CN 102733266A · 2012 [cited by applicant]
CN 109878897A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
DE 4340531A1 · 1994 [cited by applicant]
GB 951132A · 1964 [cited by applicant]
GB 1534342A · 1978 [cited by applicant]
JP S364149B · 1961 [cited by applicant]
JP S50065388A · 1975 [cited by applicant]
JP S50098194U · 1975 [cited by applicant]
JP H01226574A · 1989 [cited by applicant]
JP H04050647U · 1992 [cited by applicant]
JP 1993286023A · 1993 [cited by applicant]
JP H06320647A · 1994 [cited by applicant]
JP 1995502718 · 1995 [cited by applicant]
JP H07502718A · 1995 [cited by applicant]
JP H08119334A · 1996 [cited by applicant]
JP H09328170A · 1997 [cited by applicant]
JP H10297676A · 1998 [cited by applicant]
JP 3091247B2 · 2000 [cited by applicant]
JP 2001277380A · 2001 [cited by applicant]
JP 2004017408A · 2004 [cited by applicant]
JP 2005047149A · 2005 [cited by applicant]
JP 3108709U · 2005 [cited by applicant]
JP 2005178834A · 2005 [cited by applicant]
JP 2006290356A · 2006 [cited by applicant]
JP 2010269803A · 2010 [cited by applicant]
JP 3165722U · 2011 [cited by applicant]
JP 2015017336A · 2015 [cited by applicant]
JP 2017193373A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
JP 2017193376A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
JP 2017226476A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
JP 2019031012A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
JP 2019031013A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
JP 2019031303A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
JP 2019099223A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
JP 2019099231A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
WO 1984002936A1 · 1984 [cited by applicant]
WO 9318911A1 · 1993 [cited by applicant]
WO 9601731A1 · 1996 [cited by applicant]
WO 9624540A1 · 1996 [cited by applicant]
WO 0126889A1 · 2001 [cited by applicant]
WO 2010101232A1 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
WO 2015036335A1 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
WO 2015035335A1 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
WO 2018191012A1 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
WO 2019005739A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
WO 2020033275A1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
WO 20200166893A1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
WO 2021011626A1 · 2021 [cited by applicant]
WO 2021130612A1 · 2021 [cited by applicant]
WO 2021130628A1 · 2021 [cited by applicant]
WO 2021161910A1 · 2021 [cited by applicant]
WO 2021163453A1 · 2021 [cited by applicant]
Van Eperen, Roger, The effect of testing procedures on tensile strength and tear resistance of shipping bag kraft paper, Sep. 2004 (date available) (Year:2004). (Cited in parent U.S. Appl. No. 16/501,137). [cited by applicant]
Dumbleton, David P., Longitudinal compression of individual pulp fibers, Mar. 2005 (date available) (Year: 2005). (Cited in parent U.S. Appl. No. 16/501,137). [cited by applicant]
Vishtal et al., Boosting the Extensibility Potential of Fibre Networks: A Review, 2014, BioResources, vol. 9, No. 4 (Year: 2014). [cited by applicant]
R.S. Seth Pulp & Paper Canada T31, 106:2 (2005) III, pp. 33-40 (T31-T38). (Cited in parent U.S. Appl. No. 16/501,137). [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion in Related PCT Application No. PCT/2018/39416, dated Nov. 20, 2018. (Cited in parent U.S. Appl. No. 16/501,137). [cited by applicant]
International Search Report dated Nov. 20, 2018, issued in application No. PCT/US18/39416 (counterpart to US application No. PCT/US2018/039416). (5 pages). (Cited in parent U.S. Appl. No. 16/501,137). [cited by applicant]
International Search Report dated Oct. 25, 1995, issued in counterpart GB Application No. PCT/GB95/01578 (2 pages). (Cited in parent U.S. Appl. No. 16/501,137). [cited by applicant]
International Search Report dated Jul. 2, 1993, issued in counterpart Application No. PCT/US93/02369 (3 pages). (Cited in parent U.S. Appl. No. 16/501,137). [cited by applicant]
International Search Report dated Jun. 6, 1996, issued in counterpart Application No. PCT/US96/01743 (4 pages). (Cited in parent U.S. Appl. No. 16/501,137). [cited by applicant]
Diaz, “Clupak Paper—A New Type of High-Stretch Paper—Its Manufacture and Performance,” 1959, ASTM International in Symposium on Paper and Paper Products—New Developments with Accompanying Requirements for New Testing Me… [cited by applicant]
Extended Search Report dated Feb. 25, 2021, issued in counterpart EP Application No. 19764975.9 (7 pages). (Cited in parent U.S. Appl. No. 16/501,137). [cited by applicant]
Office Action dated Oct. 21, 2020, issued in counterpart AU Application No. 2018290739 (4 pages). (Cited in parent U.S. Appl. No. 16/501,137). [cited by applicant]
Office Action dated Mar. 2, 2021, issued in counterpart JP Application No. 2020-520433, with English translation (22 pages). (Cited in parent U.S. Appl. No. 16/501,137). [cited by applicant]
English Translation of Office Action dated Apr. 2, 2021, issued in counterpart CN Application No. 201880054670.8. (11 pages). (Cited in parent U.S. Appl. No. 16/501,137). [cited by applicant]
Office Action dated Mar. 26, 2021, issued in counterpart CA Application No. 3,067,852. (4 pages). (Cited in parent U.S. Appl. No. 16/501,137). [cited by applicant]
Office Action dated Jul. 22, 2021, issued in counterpart IN Application No. 202017001425, with English Translation. (7 pages). (Cited in parent U.S. Appl. No. 16/501,137). [cited by applicant]
Office Action dated Oct. 12, 2021, issued in counterpart JP Application No. 2020-520433, with English Translation. (17 pages). (Cited in parent U.S. Appl. No. 16/501,137). [cited by applicant]
Office Action dated Dec. 23, 2021, issued in counterpart EP application No. 18 822 784.7. (5 pages). (Cited in parent U.S. Appl. No. 16/501,137). [cited by applicant]
An Office Action mailed by China National Intellectual Property Administration dated Mar. 17, 2022, which corresponds to Chinese Patent Application No. 201880054670.8 and is related to U.S. Appl. No. 16/872,813; with En… [cited by applicant]
An Office Action mailed by the Korean Intellectual Property Office dated Mar. 30, 2022, which corresponds to Korean 2 Patent Application No. 10-2021-7039059 and is related to U.S. Appl. No. 16/872,813; with English lang… [cited by applicant]
Notification Concerning Transmittal of International Preliminary Report on Patentability (Forms PCT/IB/326) issued in counterpart International Application No. PCT/US2020/042093 dated Jan. 27, 2022, with Forms PCT/IB/37… [cited by applicant]
Written Opinion and International Search report dated Nov. 4, 2020, issued in counterpart Application No. PCT/US2020/042093. (33 pages). (Cited in parent U.S. Appl. No. 16/501,137). [cited by applicant]
PCT Written Opinion and Search Report from corresponding PCT/US2022/011426, dated Aug. 24, 2022. (Cited in parent U.S. Appl. No. 16/501,137). [cited by applicant]
International Preliminary Report on Patentability and Written Opinion from corresponding PCT/US2022/011426, issued Jul. 4, 2023. [cited by applicant]
An Office Action issued by the Canadian Intellectual Property Office on Jan. 25, 2024, which corresponds to Canadian Patent Application No. 3,144,170 and is related to U.S. Appl. No. 18/202,260. [cited by applicant]
An Office Action issued by the Chinese Patent Office on Aug. 25, 2023, which corresponds to Chinese Patent Application No. 202080064508.1 and is related to U.S. Appl. No. 18/202,260. [cited by applicant]
A Preliminary Office Action published in the Brazilian Industrial Property Journal No. 2763 on Dec. 19, 2023, which corresponds to Brazilian Patent Application No. BR112022000769-8 and is related to U.S. Appl. No. 18/20… [cited by applicant]
A Hearing Notice issued by the Indian Patent Office on Dec. 21, 2023, which corresponds to Indian Patent Application No. 202017001425 and is related to U.S. Appl. No. 18/202,260. [cited by applicant]
An Office Action issued by the Chinese Intellectual Property Office on May 20, 2024, which corresponds to Chinese Patent Application No. 202080064508.1 and is related to U.S. Appl. No. 18/141,860. (US5782735A and US2018… [cited by applicant]
Office Action dated May 30, 2023 in divisional Japanese Patent Application 2023-008664 (with English Translation), which is a divisional from issued Japanese Patent Nos. 7217786 and 7153720. [cited by applicant]
An Office Action issued by the Japanese Patent Office on Jun. 25, 2024, which corresponds to Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-502290 and is related to U.S. Appl. No. 18/202,260. (US 2018/370702 A1 was previously cit… [cited by applicant]
Invalidity contentions filed in [cited by applicant]
The extended European Search Report issued by the European Patent Office on Nov. 11, 2024, which corresponds to European Patent Application No, 22737096.2-1014 and is related to U.S. Appl. No. 18/202,260 (All other refe… [cited by applicant]