ENVELOPE-TYPE FLEXIBLE POUCH FOR SHIPPING ITEMS WITH INFLATABLE PROTECTION DEVICE

Abstract

The invention relates to an envelope-type flexible shipping pouch having an inner pouch defining a compartment for receiving an item, an outer pouch incorporating the inner pouch, an opening for accessing the compartment, and a system for closing the opening. The system for closing the opening includes first adhesive means that ensure said opening is kept closed. The inner pouch and the outer pouch are secured together so as to define an inflatable chamber around said inner pouch. The pouch includes a channel extending into the chamber, the channel including an outlet opening into the chamber and an inlet opening onto the pouch, where the placement of the system for closing the opening simultaneously leads to the sealing of said channel.

Claims

1. An envelope-type flexible shipping pouch, comprising: an inner pocket defining a compartment for receiving an item; an outer pocket integrating the inner pocket; an opening arranged on the inner and outer pockets to access the compartment; a system for closing the opening comprising first adhesive means ensuring that said opening is kept closed, the inner pocket and the outer pocket being secured together so as to define an inflatable chamber around said inner pocket; and a channel extending into the chamber and including having an outlet opening into the chamber and an inlet opening onto the pouch, said channel being arranged such that the placement of the system for closing the opening simultaneously leads to the obturation of said channel.

2. The pouch according to claim 1, wherein the system for closing comprises a flap arranged to close the opening in a folded position, the first adhesive means being arranged to maintain the flap in the folded position, the channel being arranged so as to be closed when the flap is in the folded position and when the first adhesive means are in place.

3. The pouch according to claim 2, wherein the inlet of the channel opens onto the flap so that in its folded position, said flap folds the channel back on itself to obturate it.

4. The pouch according to claim 2, wherein the inlet of the channel opens into an area on said pouch where the first adhesive means are located when the flap is in the folded position.

5. The pouch according to claim 1, wherein the inlet of the channel opens onto an inner wall of said pouch, the first adhesive means being arranged opposite said inner wall so as to press against the latter and to obturate both said inlet and the opening.

6. The pouch according to claim 1, wherein the channel extends over a length of the pouch so that the outlet of said channel is positioned in a last third of the chamber starting from its end located at the opening.

7. The pouch according to claim 1, wherein the channel comprises a flat width between five and thirty millimeters, preferably between eleven and twenty-three millimeters, preferably equal to twenty millimeters.

8. The pouch according to claim 1, wherein the inner pocket comprises a first face and the outer pocket includes a first face, the channel being implemented between side edges of the inner and outer pockets and a partial weld arranged between the two first faces along said side edges and with a slight spacing from said side edges.

9. The pouch according to claim 1, wherein the outer pocket is made of a material selected from poly-olefins and the inner pocket is also made from a material selected from poly-olefins.

10. The pouch according to claim 1, which comprises anti-fraud detection means which cooperate with the first adhesive means when the system for closing the opening is placed.

11. The pouch according to claim 1, wherein the inner pocket comprises a lower edge which is floating relative to the outer pocket.

12. The pouch according to claim 1, wherein the inner pocket comprises a lower edge which is secured to an inner wall of the outer pocket.

13. The pouch according to claim 1, further comprising a rigid blowing tube partially incorporated into the channel for inflating the chamber, said tube being removable.

14. The pouch according to claim 13, wherein the system for closing comprises a flap arranged to close the opening in a folded position, the first adhesive means being arranged to maintain the flap in the folded position, the channel being arranged so as to be closed when the flap is in the folded position and when the first adhesive means are in place, the flap comprising an upper part and a lower part wherein the inlet opening of the channel is located, second temporary adhesive means being arranged on the upper part, the flap being configured to temporarily maintain the upper part folded over the lower part before use, the rigid blowing tube being pre-positioned in the channel.

15. The pouch according to claim 13, wherein the channel comprises a flat width comprised between five and thirty millimeters, preferably between eleven and twenty-three millimeters, preferably equal to twenty millimeters, the diameter of the rigid blowing tube being comprised between three and fifteen millimeters, preferably comprised between eight and eleven millimeters, preferably equal to nine millimeters.

16. The pouch according to claim 13, wherein a length of the rigid blowing tube is between half and two-thirds of a length of the pouch.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0038] The features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following description based on figures, among which:

[0039] FIG. 1 illustrates the front of an embodiment of a pouch with flap according to the invention;

[0040] FIG. 2 illustrates a rigid tube for blowing into a pouch with or without flap;

[0041] FIG. 3 illustrates a variant of a pouch with flap which is inflated and containing items, before closing the flap;

[0042] FIG. 4 illustrates a variant of a pouch with flap before use;

[0043] FIG. 5 illustrates the front of a variant of a pouch without flap;

[0044] FIG. 6 illustrates the side section of a pouch without flap corresponding to FIG. 5, which is inflated and before closing;

[0045] FIG. 7 illustrates the side of a pouch without flap corresponding to FIGS. 5 and 6, which is inflated and closed;

[0046] FIG. 8 illustrates the side section of a variant of a pouch without flap, which is inflated and before closing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] In the remainder of the description, the term pouch is used to designate the flexible shipping pouch according to the invention. Furthermore, the same references are used to designate the same features according to the various variants of pouches according to the invention.

[0048] With reference to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the pouch 1—according to the various variants illustrated—has an inner pocket 2 and an outer pocket 3. The inner pocket 2 comprises two faces 21, 22 and the outer pocket 3 comprises two faces 31, 32. Preferably, the inner pocket 2 is made of a polyethylene material, but other materials could be selected, for example polypropylene. Likewise, the outer pocket 3 is made of a polyethylene material, but other materials could be selected, for example polypropylene.

[0049] The two faces 31, 32 of the outer pocket 3 are welded together at the side edges 33, 34 of said outer pocket 3. These two faces 31, 32 can also be welded together at the lower edge 35 of the outer pocket 3, when the latter is implemented from two sheets and not from a single sheet folded in half at said lower edge 35.

[0050] Likewise, the two faces 21, 22 of the inner pocket 2 are welded together at the side edges 23, 24 of said inner pocket 2. These two faces 21, 22 can also be welded together at the lower edge 25 of the inner pocket 2, when the latter is implemented from two sheets and not from a single sheet folded in half at said lower edge 25.

[0051] In FIG. 1, the first and second faces 21, 22 of the inner pocket 2 and the first and second faces 31, 32 of the outer pocket 3 are also welded together at their side edges 23, 33, 24, 34.

[0052] In FIGS. 1 and 4, the upper edge 26 of the first face 21 of the inner pocket 2 is welded to the upper edge 36 of the first face 31 of the outer pocket 3. Likewise, the upper edge 27 of the second face 22 of the inner pocket 2 is welded to the upper edge 37 of the second face 32 of the outer pocket 3. This allows to define a chamber 4 between the inner pocket 2 and the outer pocket 3, as well as an opening 5 for accessing a compartment 6 in the inner pocket 2. The first faces 21, 31 are longer than the second faces 22, 32 on the inner 2 and outer 3 pockets, which allows the implementation of a flap 7.

[0053] In FIG. 4, two welds 81, 82 are provided at a distance from the upper edges 26, 36 and from the upper edges 27, 37 on the inner 2 and outer 3 pockets, which allows to delimit the inflation chamber 4 in order to keep the upper front part la and the flap 7 flat on the pouch 1, after inflation of said chamber 4, for properly closing the opening 5 by the flap 7.

[0054] In FIG. 3, the upper edge 27 of the second face 22 of the inner pocket 2 is welded to the second face 32 of the outer pocket 3 while the upper edge 37 of the second face 32 of the outer pocket 3 extends beyond the upper edge 27 of the second face 22 of the inner pocket 2. This also delimits the chamber 4 to keep the upper front part la and the flap 7 of the pouch 1, properly flat after inflation of said chamber 4.

[0055] In FIG. 1, a first weld 83 is provided across the width of the pouch 1, between the first face 21 of the inner pocket 2 and the first face 31 of the outer pocket 3, except for a small opening 9 which remains in the proximity of the side edges 23, 33 of said first faces 21, 31. Furthermore, a second weld 84 is provided in the lengthwise direction of the pouch 1 between said first faces 21, 31, in the proximity of their side edges 23, 33. This second weld 84 extends from the first weld 83 where it is positioned adjacent to the opening 9, to the proximity of the lower edge 25 of the inner pocket 2 and the lower edge 35 of the outer pocket 3. This allows to constitute a channel 10 preferably having a flat width, before inflation of the chamber 4, comprised between five and thirty millimeters (5 mm and 30 mm), preferably between eleven and twenty-three millimeters (11 mm and 23 mm), preferably twenty millimeters (20 mm). Preferably, the channel 10 extends over at least two-thirds of the length of the pouch 1. The inlet 10a of the channel 10 corresponds with the orifice 9 and the outlet 10b of said channel 10 opens into the chamber 4.

[0056] When the flap 7 is folded over the upper front part la of the pouch 1, by folding it along a first fold line 11, the channel 10 is also folded back on itself, which obturates said channel 10 at said fold line 11.

[0057] The pouch 1 comprises an anti-fraud strip 12 incorporating a system for visualizing a fraudulent opening. Such systems for anti-fraud visualization are well known in the field of envelopes or sachets, in particular for the transport of valuables. The anti-fraud strip 12 is positioned in the upper front part la of the pouch 1.

[0058] The pouch 1 also includes an adhesive layer 13 temporarily coated with a protective strip 14. This adhesive layer 13 is disposed on the inner face 7a of the flap 7. When the protective strip 14 is removed and the flap 7 is in the folded position, the adhesive layer 13 rests on the anti-fraud strip 12 and on the upper front part 1a of the pouch 1, which keeps the opening 5 closed and the channel 10 folded back on itself. The adhesive layer 13 ensures a permanent closure of the pouch 1, the release of the flap 7 for opening the pouch 1 activating the anti-fraud strip 12.

[0059] The lower edge 25 of the inner pocket 2 can remain free relative to the outer pocket 3, as shown in FIG. 4. On the contrary, it is possible to secure, in particular by welding 85 or even by gluing, the lower edge 25 with the inner wall 32a of the second face 32 of the outer pocket 3, as illustrated in FIG. 3, even with the inner wall 31a of the first face 31 of said outer pocket 3. The weld 85 will extend partially over the lower edge 25 of the inner pocket 2, as shown in FIG. 1, so that the entire chamber 4 fills properly during inflation.

[0060] In FIG. 1, the pouch 1 comprises a rigid tube 15, illustrated alone in FIG. 2, which is inserted through the orifice 9, inside the channel 10. This rigid tube 15 extends partially in the channel 10 so as to maintain the outlet 10b of said channel 10 flexible, which allows said outlet 10b to close when the chamber 4 is inflated and, thus, almost completely prevents the air from escaping from the chamber 4 even before the total obturation of the channel 10 obtained by placing the flap 7.

[0061] The diameter of the rigid tube 15 is selected in proportion to the flat width of the channel 10. When the width of the channel 10 is comprised between five and thirty millimeters (5 mm and 30 mm), the diameter of the rigid tube 15 is comprised between three and fifteen millimeters (3 mm and 15 mm). When the width of the channel 10 is comprised between eleven and twenty-three millimeters (11 mm and 23 mm), the diameter of the rigid tube 15 is comprised between eight and eleven millimeters (8 mm and 11 mm). When the width of the channel 10 is twenty millimeters (20 mm), the diameter of the rigid tube 15 is nine millimeters (9 mm). This prevents the air blown from the sides of the channel from escaping during inflation of the chamber.

[0062] Furthermore, this allows the rigid tube 15 to be properly maintained when the latter is pre-positioned in the channel 10 before the use of the pouch; in other words, the rigid tube 15 cannot slide completely into the channel 10 so that its end 15a always projects from the opening 9 and, thus, remains accessible.

[0063] Furthermore, the length of the rigid tube is comprised between half and two-thirds of the length of the pouch. This allows the rigid tube 15 to be pushed enough into the channel 10 so that air can easily enter the chamber during inflation by blowing normally through the rigid tube with the mouth.

[0064] In FIG. 1, the pouch 1 is designed so that the rigid tube 15 is pre-positioned in the channel 10 and so that the end 15a of said rigid tube 15 is protected against dirt before the use of the pouch 1. For this purpose, the flap 7 is dimensioned to sufficiently protrude beyond the end 15a of the rigid tube 15 in position in the channel 10, only said end 15a projecting from the opening 9. Furthermore, comprises a temporary adhesive strip 17 is arranged across the width of the flap 7, in the proximity of its upper end 7b, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The upper part 7c of the flap 7, located between the upper end 7b and a second fold line 18, is folded against the lower part 7d of said flap 7, located between the first fold line 11 and the second fold line 18, the temporary adhesive strip 17 ensuring maintaining said upper part 7c folded against said lower part 7d, which protects the end 15a of the rigid tube 15. When using the pouch 1, the user releases the upper part 7c of the flap to access the end 15a of the rigid tube 15 and inflate the chamber 4.

[0065] Of course, variants of pouch 1 can be considered without ensuring such protection of the end 15a of the rigid tube 7 against dirt, in which case the flap 7 could be shorter and not be equipped with the temporary adhesive strip 17.

[0066] The items 16 are inserted through the opening 5, into the compartment 6 of the inner pocket 2. Then the sender blows into the tube 15, which inflates the chamber 4. This inflation of the chamber 4 allows the two faces 21, 22 of the inner wall 2 to be pressed against the item 16 and to block the opening 5, as illustrated in FIG. 3. Thus, the item 16 is immobilized in the compartment 6. The sender then withdraws the rigid tube 15; the flexibility of the materials of the inner 2 and outer 3 pockets allows the outlet 10b of the channel 10 to be closed, as explained previously, which keeps the chamber inflated while the sender removes the protective strip 14 to release the adhesive layer and folds the flap 7 against the front upper part la of the pouch 1, thus completely obturating the channel 10.

[0067] Variants are considerable within the scope of the invention. In particular, provision can be made for a different arrangement of the various welds between the inner 2 and outer 3 pockets to define the compartment 6, the opening 5, the chamber 4 and the channel 10.

[0068] In one variant, the channel 10 could be implemented on the same principle as described above, between the second face 22 of the inner pocket 2 and the second face 32 of the outer pocket 3. In this case, the orifice 9, that is to say the inlet 10a of the channel 10, will be disposed in the upper front part la of the pouch 1 so that when the flap 7 is folded, the adhesive layer 13 and said flap 7 cover said orifice 9, which also obturates the channel 10 in the folded position of said flap 7.

[0069] In another variant, the channel 10 could be implemented on the same principle as described above, but between the first face 31 and the second face 32 of the outer pocket 3. The side edge 23 of the inner pocket 2 will be in this case shifted towards the inside of the outer pocket 3, beyond the position of the weld 84.

[0070] Other variants of channels 10 can be considered inside the chamber 4.

[0071] The arrangement of the channel 10 between the first face 21 of the inner pocket 2 and the first face 31 of the outer pocket 3 or between the second face 22 of the inner pocket 2 and the second face 32 of the outer pocket 3, has the advantage of ensuring the formation of folds on the pouch 1 and on the channel 10 during the inflation of the chamber 4. These folds on the channel 10 then naturally ensure its obturation, which prevents the deflation of the chamber 4 even before placing the flap 7. Placing the flap 7 then guarantees against any possible risk of deflation of the chamber 4.

[0072] The pouch 1 will also comprise on at least one of its outer walls 1b, 1c a window (not shown) allowing to write the address of the recipient and optionally that of the sender, in particular before inflation of the chamber 4.

[0073] With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 and the above description, it appears that the pouch 1 comprises a system 100 for closing the opening 5 for access to the compartment 6, said closure system 100 being implemented by the flap 7 and the adhesive layer 13 temporarily coated with the protective strip 14. Placing the closure system 100, that is to say folding the flap 7 and gluing it on the upper front part la of the pouch 1 by means of the adhesive layer 13, ensures the obturation of the channel 10 which results either from the fold of the channel 10 on itself or from the covering of the orifice 9 by the flap 7 and the adhesive layer 13.

[0074] FIGS. 5 to 8 show variants of pouches 1 without flap, the system 100 for closing the opening 5 for access to the compartment 6, however, also ensuring the obturation of the channel 10 due to the covering of the orifice 9 by the adhesive layer 13. The general features described previously concerning the implementation of the pouch 1 (assembly between the inner pocket 2 and the outer pocket 3, different positions and constitutions of the channel 10, presence or absence of an anti-fraud strip 12 . . . ) remain applicable for these embodiments of the pouch 1 without the flap 7; therefore, said features are not detailed below.

[0075] With reference to FIGS. 5 to 7, the orifice 9 of the channel 10 opens onto an inner wall 1d of the pouch 1, at a first weld 83 provided over the width of the pouch 1, between the first face 21 of the inner pocket 2 and the first face 31 of the outer pocket 3, except for a small opening 9 which remains in the proximity of the side edges 23, 33 of said first faces 21, 31. A second weld 84, provided in the lengthwise direction of the pouch 1 between said first faces 21, 31, in the proximity of their side edges 23, 33, delimits the opening 9, said second weld 84 extending from the first weld 83 to the proximity of the lower edge 25 of the inner pocket 2 and the lower edge 35 of the outer pocket 3, which allows to constitute the channel 10 with its inlet 10a corresponds with the orifice 9 and its outlet 10a opening into the chamber 4. The pouch 1 comprises an adhesive film 130 comprising on its inner face an adhesive layer 13 which allows the securing of the lower part 130a of said adhesive film 130 with the upper outer part 32b of the second face 32 of the outer pocket 3 so that said adhesive layer 13 is disposed opposite the inner wall 1d of the pouch 1 and in the area of the orifice 9, said adhesive layer 13 being temporarily coated with the protective strip 14, as shown in FIG. 6. Once the pouch 1 has been inflated and the protective strip 14 removed, the adhesive layer 13 of the adhesive film 130 is pressed against the inner wall 1d, as illustrated in FIG. 7, which allows the adhesive film 130 to cover the orifice 9 and obturates the channel 10, thus completely preventing the deflation of the chamber 4.

[0076] The pouch 1 in FIG. 8 slightly differs from that of FIGS. 5 to 7 in that the adhesive layer 13 is directly affixed to the upper inner part 22a of the second face 22 of the inner pocket 2, the adhesive layer 13 being temporarily coated with the protective strip 14. In this case, an additional weld 86 will be provided between the second face 22 of the inner pocket 2 and the second face 32 of the outer pocket 3, at a certain distance from the upper edges 27, 37 of said second faces 22, 32, in order to be able to correctly apply the adhesive layer 13 and the protective strip 14 on the upper inner part 22a of said second face 22 of the inner pocket 2.

[0077] On these variants of the pouch 1 of FIGS. 5 to 8, it is possible to provide an additional tab (not illustrated), with an implementation somewhat comparable to the flap 7 present on the pouch 1 of FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, but without the need for either folding or maintaining in the folded position, this tab being used simply for marking data or impressions, for example the postal coordinates of the recipient of the pouch 1 or of the marketing data.

[0078] Other pouch 1 implementations, with or without flap 7, can still be considered without departing from the scope of the invention, in particular as regards the arrangement of the channel 10 and of its inlet 10a and as regards the arrangement of the system 100 for closing the opening 5 for access to the compartment 6 (alternative arrangements of the adhesive layer 13 in the version with or without flap 7, . . . ).