US Patent 7165375 Inflation device for forming inflated containers

An inflation device for introducing gas into inflatable webs of the type comprising a pair of juxtaposed film plies and a pair of opposing film edges, the inflation device including a body having a longitudinal dimension, a transverse dimension, and a web-contact region in which the inflation device makes contact with opposing surfaces of the juxtaposed film plies as gas is introduced into the inflatable web, the body having at least one increase in peripheral transverse surface distance along the longitudinal dimension of the body, and a passage within the body through which gas may flow, the passage having a termination point within the web-contact region to form an inflation zone therein.