Inflatable Bag Protective Base for Edge Cushioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing packaging materials for large or thin objects during transportation often fail to provide adequate cushioning and shockproofing, especially at edges and corners, leading to significant damage from external forces.

Innovation Solution

An inflatable bag with a protective base is formed by stacking outer and inner films, connected through heat sealing, featuring side walls, a bottom wall, and additional cushioning elements like a cushion film or spacing air bag, providing multi-stage cushioning and shockproof effects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional air-packing devices with simple air cells are used, then the packaging structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the cushioning and shockproof capabilities at edges and corners are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepackaging structure simplicityVSAvoidshock and damage to edges and corners

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The packaging structure is divided into multiple functional segments: standard air cells for general cushioning, and specialized protective bases with folded protective air column sections for edge and corner protection. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function optimally while maintaining overall structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The protective base introduces localized structural complexity only where needed (at the bottom for edge and corner protection) while the rest of the packaging maintains simple air cell structure. The protective air column sections are folded to create reinforced structures specifically at vulnerable locations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If multiple 2D sealing and 3D sealing processes are used to create air-filling packaging, then the shockproof capability is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and time increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshockproof capabilityVSAvoidsealing process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The protective air column sections are pre-configured with fold lines and heat sealing nodes during film fabrication. The folding process creates the protective base structure in advance, eliminating the need for complex real-time 3D sealing operations during packaging assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces complex multi-stage mechanical sealing processes with a simpler system based on pre-formed fold lines and localized heat sealing nodes. The protective structure is created through folding and localized bonding rather than extensive multi-dimensional sealing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If protective structures are added to protect edges and corners, then the shockproof capability is improved, but the device complexity and production difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection of edges and cornersVSAvoidproduction ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The protective air column sections are designed to be self-folding structures that automatically form the protective base geometry when inflated. The fold lines and heat sealing nodes guide the self-assembly process, eliminating the need for complex external forming operations or manual assembly steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The inflatable bag with a protective base offers enhanced cushioning and shockproofing capabilities, providing at least three stages of protection to edges and corners of objects during transportation, with improved strength and ease of production compared to prior art.

Implementation Method 1

a first bottom air column section, a protective air column section and a second bottom air column section are delimited in sequence in each of the bottom air columns, the first bottom air column sections are connected to the second bottom air column sections by forming first heat sealing nodes to bond the outer films and the inner films together

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat sealing: Heating

Data Source

PatentEP3750827B1Airbag having protective base

Publication Date: 2023.08.30 KUNSHAN AIRBAG PACKING CORP

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AI summary

The present disclosure discloses an inflatable bag with a protective base, which is formed by stacking two outer films and two inner films located inside the outer films and by means of heat sealing and inflating, which includes two opposite side walls, each of which comprises a plurality of side wall air columns; and a bottom wall, which is located between the side walls and connected to bottom portions thereof. The bottom wall includes a plurality of bottom air columns, wherein a first bottom air column section, a protective air column section and a second bottom air column section are delimited in sequence in each of the bottom air columns, the first bottom air column sections are connected to the second bottom air column sections by forming first heat sealing nodes to bond the outer films and the inner films together, and at least one second heat sealing node is formed on each of the protective air columns to bond the outer films and the inner films together, so that the protective air column sections are folded to form a protective base.