Heat-shrinkable holder for articles, heat-shrinkable package of articles, and method of packaging articles

Abstract

A heat-shrinkable holder is disclosed for securing a plurality of articles. The holder may include a first sheet formed of heat-shrinkable material, and a second sheet formed of heat-shrinkable material and joined to the first sheet. The first sheet and the second sheet each have a substantially equal pre-shrinking length, and are joined so as to create at least two openings therebetween. Each of the openings is sized larger than one of the articles. The first and second sheets are heat-shrinkable to an extent to shrink the openings sufficiently to secure two of the articles together into a unit. Various modifications and additions are possible, including use of more than three sheets, providing for the reading of printed indicia on the articles or holder, providing a handle. Numerous orientations and collections of articles are possible. Related packages including a holder and articles are also disclosed, as well as related methods of manufacture of the holder and package.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective schematic view of one possible line configuration of a line for manufacturing heat-shrinkable holders according to certain aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1B is a perspective schematic view of one possible line configuration of a line for placing articles in heat-shrinkable holders so as to create a package.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of one example of an empty heat shrinkable holder.

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the heat shrinkable holder as in FIG. 2A, with articles located within the openings of the holder, before heat-shrinking.

FIG. 2C is a perspective view of the holder and articles as in FIG. 2B, after heat-shrinking.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a heat-shrunken holder as in FIG. 2C, with the articles removed for clarity.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of an alternate heat-shrunken holder and articles, as in FIG. 2C, wherein the holder includes perforations for assisting in removing individual articles.

FIG. 4B is a perspective view of an alternate heat-shrunken holder and articles, as in FIG. 2C, wherein the holder has a smaller vertical dimension.

FIG. 4C is a perspective view of an alternate heat-shrunken holder and articles, as in FIG. 2C, wherein the articles are held by two holders as in FIG. 4B.

FIG. 4D is a perspective view of an alternate heat-shrunken holder and articles, as in FIG. 2C, wherein the holder is smaller and centrally located vertically along the articles.

FIG. 4E is a perspective view of an alternate heat-shrunken holder and articles, as in FIG. 2C, wherein the holder includes printed indicia thereon.

FIG. 4F is a perspective view of an alternate heat-shrunken holder and articles, as in FIG. 2C, wherein printed indicia on the articles may be seen through at least a portion of the holder, and including an optional handle.

FIG. 4G is a perspective view of an alternate heat-shrunken holder and articles, as in FIG. 2C, wherein the holder extends along the entire side surfaces and at least partially onto the top and bottom surfaces of the articles.

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of an alternate heat-shrunken holder and articles, as in FIG. 2C, wherein the holder holds more articles in a two by six arrangement.

FIG. 5B is a perspective view of an alternate heat-shrunken holder and articles, as in FIG. 2C, wherein the holder holds more articles in a three by four arrangement.

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of an alternate empty heat-shrinkable holder.

FIG. 6B is a perspective view of the heat shrinkable holder as in FIG. 6A, with articles located within the openings of the holder, before heat-shrinking.

FIG. 6C is a perspective view of the holder and articles as in FIG. 6B, after heat-shrinking.

FIG. 7 is a top view of a heat-shrunken holder as in FIG. 6C, with the articles removed for clarity.

FIG. 8A is a perspective view of an alternate heat-shrunken holder and articles, wherein the holder includes an optional handle.

FIG. 8B is a perspective view of an alternate heat-shrunken holder and articles, wherein the holder includes an alternate optional handle.

Claims

1. A heat-shrinkable holder for securing a plurality of articles, the holder comprising: a first sheet formed of heat-shrinkable material and having a pre-shrinking length; anda second sheet formed of heat-shrinkable material substantially equal to the first sheet pre-shrinking length, the second sheet being joined to the first sheet, the first sheet and the second sheet joined so as to create at least two openings therebetween, each of the openings sized larger than one of the articles, the first and second sheets being heat-shrinkable to an extent to shrink the openings sufficiently to secure two of the articles together into a unit.

2. The holder of claim 1, wherein the holder includes two of the first sheets and two of the second sheets joined together in a unit.

3. The holder of claim 2, wherein the holder is configured with a plurality of openings arranged in two rows.

4. The holder of claim 2, wherein the holder is configured with six openings for securing six articles in a two-by-three arrangement.

5. The holder of claim 1, wherein the articles do not contact each other directly when secured.

6. The holder of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first or second sheets includes printed indicia relating to the article.

7. The holder of claim 1, wherein the first and second sheets are joined via at least one of heating or an adhesive.

8. The holder of claim 1, wherein the openings have an internal circumference larger than an outer circumference of the article to be placed therein.

9. The holder of claim 1, wherein the holder is formed in a group of separable holders formed sequentially from the first and second sheets.

10. The holder of claim 9, wherein perforations are provided for separating adjacent holders formed from the first and second sheets.

11. The holder of claim 1, wherein the holder further includes a handle extending from at least one of the first and second sheets.

12. The holder of claim 1, wherein the articles are containers.

13. The holder of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first or second sheets includes perforations configured for allowing an article to be removed from the unit after heat shrinking.

14. A package of articles comprising: a plurality of articles;a first sheet formed of heat-shrinkable material and having a pre-shrinking length; anda second sheet formed of heat-shrinkable material substantially equal to the first sheet pre-shrinking length, the second sheet being joined to the first sheet, the first sheet and the second sheet joined so as to create at least two openings therebetween, each of the openings sized larger than one of the articles, the first and second sheets being heat-shrinkable to an extent to shrink the openings sufficiently to secure two of the articles together into a unit.

15. The package of claim 14, wherein the articles do not contact each other directly when secured.

16. The package of claim 14, wherein at least one of the first or second sheets includes printed indicia relating to the article.

17. The package of claim 14, wherein the first and second sheets are joined via at least one of heating or an adhesive.

18. The package of claim 14, wherein at least one of the first or second sheets includes perforations configured for allowing an article to be removed from the unit after heat shrinking.

19. A package of articles comprising: a plurality of articles; andat least four sheets of heat-shrunken material having substantially equal pre-shrinking lengths, the sheets being joined at a plurality of discrete joinder portions thereby forming a plurality of openings arranged in at least two rows, each opening sized to secure an article therein, the heat-shrunken material and articles thereby forming a unitary heat-shrunken package configured with a plurality of articles arranged in at least two rows.

20. The package of claim 19, wherein the package is configured so that the articles are drawn together in two perpendicular directions by the shrinking.

21. The package of claim 19, wherein the package is configured with a plurality of openings arranged in two-by-four arrangement.

22. The package of claim 19, wherein the package is configured with six openings for securing six articles in a two-by-three arrangement.

23. The package of claim 19, wherein the package is configured so that articles do not contact each other directly when secured.

24. The package of claim 19, wherein at least one of the sheets includes printed indicia relating to the article.

25. The package of claim 19, wherein the sheets are joined via at least one of heating or an adhesive.

26. The package of claim 19, wherein the openings have an internal circumference contacting an outer circumference of the article to be placed therein.

27. The package of claim 19, wherein the package further includes a handle extending from at least one of the sheets.

28. The package of claim 19, wherein the articles are containers.

29. The package of claim 19, wherein at least one of the sheets includes perforations configured for allowing an article to be removed from the unit.

30. The package of claim 29, wherein the perforations are arranged to allow a portion of the at least one sheet to remain on the article.

31. A heat-shrinkable holder for securing a plurality of articles, the holder comprising: at least four sheets of heat-shrunken material having substantially equal pre-shrinking lengths, the sheets being joined at a plurality of discrete joinder portions thereby forming a plurality of openings arranged in at least two rows, each of the openings sized larger than one of the articles, the sheets being heat-shrinkable to an extent to shrink the openings sufficiently to secure two of the articles together into a unit having at least two rows of articles.

32. The holder of claim 31, wherein the holder is configured with four openings arranged in two-by-four arrangement.

33. The holder of claim 31, wherein the holder is configured with six openings in a two-by-three arrangement.

34. The holder of claim 31, wherein at least one of the sheets includes perforations configured for allowing an article to be removed from the unit.

35. The holder of claim 31, wherein at least one of the sheets includes printed indicia relating to the article.

36. A method of packaging articles comprising: providing a first sheet of heat-shrinkable material, the first sheet defining a plurality of pre-shrinking holder lengths;providing a second sheet of heat-shrinkable material, the second sheet defining a plurality of pre-shrinking holder lengths substantially equal to those of the first sheet;joining the first sheet to the second sheet at discrete joinder portions spaced along the first and second sheet so as to form a plurality of openings, each opening located between each adjacent pair of joinder portions, the joinder forming a plurality of holders each having the pre-shrinking holder lengths of the first and second sheets;inserting an article into each of the openings; andheating the first and second sheets to shrink the first and second sheets thereby forming a unitary package of the sheets and the inserted articles.

37. The method of claim 36, further including cutting the first and second sheets to form an article holder of the pre-shrinking holder length before the heating step.

38. The method of claim 36, further including providing two of the first and second sheets of heat-shrinkable material.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the first and second sheets are joined so as to form a plurality of openings arranged in two rows.

40. The method of claim 36, further including forming perforations in at least one of the first or second sheets to allow removal of individual articles.

41. The method of claim 36, wherein the joining step is achieved by at least one of applying an adhesive or applying heat.

42. The method of claim 36, further including opening the openings before the inserting step.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the opening step includes one of blowing a gas, applying suction, or using one or more mechanical fingers to open the openings.

44. The method of claim 36, wherein the articles are containers.

45. The method of claim 38, wherein the first and second sheets are sized so that during the heating step the articles are drawn together in two perpendicular directions.

46. The method of claim 36, further including the step of providing a handle for the package.