Flexible package and method of manufacture
A package having a flexible inner sheet having a first surface and a second surface. The package has an article reservoir for accepting an article to be shipped. The expansion chambers can be inflated or otherwise expanded to provide structure to the package and to protect the article in the article reservoir. The package also includes an external wrap surrounding at least a portion of the package to provide a relatively planar outwardly-facing surface.
1. A package for one or more articles, comprising:
a. a flexible inner sheet having a first surface and a second surface, an inner sheet first portion and an inner sheet second portion;
b. a flexible outer sheet having an outer sheet first portion, and an outer sheet second portion, at least a portion of the outer sheet first portion being joined to the first surface of the inner sheet first portion to form one or more first primary expansion chambers therebetween, and at least a part of the outer sheet second portion being joined to the first surface of the inner sheet second portion to form one or more second primary expansion chambers therebetween; at least a portion of the second surface of the inner sheet first portion disposed in face-to-face relationship with and joined to a portion of the second surface of the second portion of the inner sheet forming an article reservoir therebetween; wherein the article reservoir has a periphery where the inner sheet first portion and the inner sheet second portion are joined together;
c. a closeable opening into which the one or more articles may be inserted; and
d. a film external wrap surrounding at least a portion of the package and providing at least one relatively planar outwardly-facing surface for the package
wherein the outer sheet has an inner surface facing the inner sheet and an outer surface opposite of the inner surface and wherein the package further includes a secondary outer sheet disposed adjacent the outer surface of the outer sheet and is at least partially joined thereto, the secondary outer sheet and the outer sheet forming one or more secondary expansion chambers and the one or more secondary expansion chambers provides structural rigidity and/or shape to the shipping package when in an expanded configuration, where at least one of the primary expansion chambers is in fluid communication with at least one of the one or more secondary expansion chambers, the one or more primary expansion chambers and the one or more secondary expansion chambers positioned to provide at least one relatively flat portion on an outer surface of the package.
2. The package of claim 1 further including an article retrieval feature that allows a user to open the package and retrieve the one or more articles from the article reservoir.
3. The package of claim 1 having two or more primary expansion chambers, wherein at least some of the primary expansion chambers and/or secondary expansion chambers are independent from each other or are in fluid communication with each other.
4. The package of claim 1 wherein the external wrap provides structural rigidity, puncture resistance and/or shape to the package when in an expanded configuration.
5. The package of claim 2 wherein the article retrieval feature, when activated, both opens the package and deflates one or more of the one or more primary expansion chambers and/or one or more of the one or more secondary expansion chambers.
6. The package of claim 1 wherein the external wrap is un-joined to the package or is joined to the package at one or more locations.
7. The package of claim 1 wherein the external wrap is a different material than the inner sheet, the outer sheet or both.
8. The package of claim 1 wherein the external wrap is disposed about the entirety of the package or only a portion of the package.
9. The package of claim 1 wherein the external wrap includes or provides a handle.
10. The package of claim 1 wherein the external wrap includes one or more indicia disposed thereon.
11. The package of claim 1 wherein at least one of the inner sheet, the outer sheet and the secondary outer sheet include a first indicia and wherein the external wrap includes at least a second indicia and wherein at least a portion of the second indicia is disposed in a predetermined location with respect to the first indicia.
12. The package of claim 1 wherein a portion of the external wrap is opaque, transparent or translucent.
13. The package of claim 11 wherein at least one of the inner sheet, the outer sheet and the secondary outer sheet include a first indicia and wherein the portion of the external wrap that is opaque, transparent or translucent is disposed in a predetermined location with respect to the first indicia.
14. The package of claim 1 wherein at least one of the inner sheet, the outer sheet and the secondary outer sheet include an opaque, translucent or transparent portion, wherein the external wrap includes an indicia thereon and wherein the indicia is disposed in a predetermined location with respect to the opaque, transparent or translucent portion of the inner sheet, outer sheet and/or secondary outer sheet.
15. The package of claim 1 wherein the external wrap is or includes a label.
16. The package of claim 1 wherein the package consists of or consists essentially of a flexible material.
17. The package of claim 1 , wherein the flexible external wrap is a film.
18. The package of claim 2 , wherein the article retrieval feature is provided on the surface of the article reservoir.