Abstract The invention contemplates use of heat-shrinkable plastic film for the packaging of clusters of containers, such as cylindrical beverage cans of a given size, and clustered in a pattern, as in the familiar ''''2 X 3 six-pack,'''' for which at least one dimension comprises a plural odd-integer number of containers. As described herein, the film is s circumferential wrap from a sheet, wherein ends of the sheet establish a region of overlap at the bottom of the cluster, the direction of wrap being such as to establish upstanding side panels along clusters sides characterized by the plural odd-integer number. The top panel is characterized by two like parallel slits which are spaced substantially to the extent of the container diameter, the slits extending in the wrap direction and symmetrically straddling the center of the cluster. By performing the slitting operation after the shrinking operation, there is negligible exposure of the containers to dust or contamination via the slits, yet the slits define a simple and highly effective ''''handle'''' for central and correct application of lifting effort, in unit-handling portability of the package.
A ''''2 X 3'''' package of six like upstanding cylindrical containers in side-by-side adjacency, and a circumferential wrap of shrunk plastic sheet material enveloping said cluster over the top ends of said containers and continuously over adjacent upstanding three-container sides and the bottom of said cluster, thereby defining upper and side and bottom panels of said wrap, said upper panel providing the only cover of said top ends and having spaced slits along two parallel horizontal alignments which are substantially in registry with the upper-panel intercept of the vertical planes in which the center two containers are adjacent to their respective next-adjacent outer containers of the array, said bottom panel including overlapped edges of wrapped sheet material, said edges being bonded to each other at spaced regions which are also intercepted by said planes and at the respective ends of the region of overlap, and said slits extending substantially the full extent of said upper panel and between said side panels, said slits being so narrow that the top panel extends essentially as a continuous cover over the containers whereby the containers are substantially protected against the entry of dust through said slits.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
193 words
A ''''2 X 3'''' package of six like upstanding cylindrical containers in side-by-side adjacency, and a circumferential wrap of shrunk plastic sheet material enveloping said cluster over the top ends of said containers and continuously over adjacent upstanding three-container sides and the bottom of said cluster, thereby defining upper and side and bottom panels of said wrap, said upper panel providing the only cover of said top ends and having spaced slits along two parallel horizontal alignments which are substantially in registry with the upper-panel intercept of the vertical planes in which the center two containers are adjacent to their respective next-adjacent outer containers of the array, said bottom panel including overlapped edges of wrapped sheet material, said edges being bonded to each other at spaced regions which are also intercepted by said planes and at the respective ends of the region of overlap, and said slits extending substantially the full extent of said upper panel and between said side panels, said slits being so narrow that the top panel extends essentially as a continuous cover over the containers whereby the containers are substantially protected against the entry of dust through said slits.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The package of claim 1, in which the plastic sheet material is of the bi-axially oriented variety, the direction of primary shrink potential being the direction of wrap.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The package of claim 1, wherein said sheet material is biaxially oriented polyethylene, the direction of primary shrink potential being the direction of wrap.