An inflatable packaging element is disclosed herein. The inflatable packaging element includes a first film ply and second film ply overlayed on the first ply, and a seal pattern. The seal pattern has a plurality of seals sealing the first and second plies to each other to define an inflation chamber between the first and second plies. The inflation chamber is inflatable with and configured to contain a fluid. An aperture extends through at least one of the first or second ply, and the seal pattern separates opposite side of the aperture from the inflation chamber.

An inflatable packaging element is disclosed herein. The inflatable packaging element includes a first film ply and second film ply overlayed on the first ply, and a seal pattern. The seal pattern has a plurality of seals sealing the first and second plies to each other to define an inflation chamber between the first and second plies. The inflation chamber is inflatable with and configured to contain a fluid. An aperture extends through at least one of the first or second ply, and the seal pattern separates opposite side of the aperture from the inflation chamber.

A packing material including a plurality of discrete cushioning elements and methods for making the same. The discrete cushioning elements may be cellulosic cushioning elements. A flexible linkage may connect the plurality of discrete cushioning elements in the packing material. The packing material may also include a bottom cellulosic sheet connected to a top cellulosic sheet with the plurality of cellulosic cushioning elements positioned between the top cellulosic sheet and the bottom cellulosic sheet. The packing material may also be a molded packing material that includes bonds comprising adhesive and cellulosic fibers. The adhesive and cellulosic fibers of the bonds may be dispersed between the folds of each of the cellulosic cushioning elements.

An improved expandable slit-sheet stock material is configured to aid in temporarily restricting opening of a plurality of slits of the slit-sheet stock material, such as during winding of the unexpanded stock material or during expansion of the stock material. Each slit of the plurality of slits includes one or more un-slit reinforcement portions, such as reinforcement ties, extending fully between opposite longitudinal sides of the slit, and disposed between opposed transverse endpoints of the slit. The reinforcement ties minimize or prevent tearing of the stock material during the winding or expansion. A dunnage conversion system for expanding the slit-sheet stock material includes an expander having a pair of opposed rollers. The rollers engage the stock material to effect breaking of the un-slit reinforcement portions and expansion of the slit-sheet stock material.

A padded mailer includes elongated air cells that provide stiffness, especially in the transverse direction. The increased stiffness helps prevent the mailer from flipping over during conveying, which would put a label on the underside of the mailer.

A padded mailer includes elongated air cells that provide stiffness, especially in the transverse direction. The increased stiffness helps prevent the mailer from flipping over during conveying, which would put a label on the underside of the mailer.

A cushioning material includes cushioning sheets stacked on top of another and configured to reduce an external force acting on an electrical device. The cushioning sheets include a first cushioning sheet that is positioned to intersect a direction of the external force acting on the electrical device and a second cushioning sheet that has a higher strength in the direction of the external force acting on the electrical device than the first cushioning sheet and is positioned to intersect the direction of the external force acting on the electrical device.

A cushion member includes a tubular cushion and an inner cushion. The tubular cushion is in a tubular form having a tubular axis extending in a first direction. The tubular cushion makes contact with an article to be packed from one side in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The tubular cushion deforms to damp a first impact applied from the second direction. The inner cushion is disposed in the internal space of the tubular cushion. The inner cushion deforms to damp a second impact when, after the first impact, with the tubular cushion deformed, the second impact is applied from the second direction. The lateral direction of a cardboard sheet constituting the inner cushion is the second direction.

A system for delivery of fragile payloads involves a structure having an approximately spherical aspect composed of rigid struts and flexible tendons joining ends of struts, the flexible tendons in tension placing the struts in compression, the structure having a hollow interior, and one or more fragile items wrapped in a shock-absorbing bio-degradable material such that no fragile item contacts another, forming a payload bundle, the payload bundle joined by fibrous filaments suspending the payload within the structure. The structure carrying the payload bundle is carried to a destination by an aerial vehicle and dropped from a height to the ground, where the structure rebounds and rolls, dissipating kinetic energy gained in falling, preventing the payload bundle from striking ground surface.

A system for delivery of fragile payloads involves a structure having an approximately spherical aspect composed of rigid struts and flexible tendons joining ends of struts, the flexible tendons in tension placing the struts in compression, the structure having a hollow interior, and one or more fragile items wrapped in a shock-absorbing bio-degradable material such that no fragile item contacts another, forming a payload bundle, the payload bundle joined by fibrous filaments suspending the payload within the structure. The structure carrying the payload bundle is carried to a destination by an aerial vehicle and dropped from a height to the ground, where the structure rebounds and rolls, dissipating kinetic energy gained in falling, preventing the payload bundle from striking ground surface.