US Patent 7371699 Net-reinforced film structure with modified strand profile

A net-reinforced film structure includes a film layer and a netting attached to the film layer having a pattern of netting strands. The netting strands are sealed to an opposing film structure, which may be either a similar net-reinforced film or a standard sheet of film, along a linear seal area. The netting strands in the non-sealed areas of the net-reinforced film structure are free from attachment to the opposing film structure. The netting strands along the linear seal area have a wider cross-section than the netting strands at the non-sealed areas, and this wider cross-section facilitates the sealing process.