Article Package Comprising Partially Covering Flange and a Film Wrapping the Entire Package

Abstract

A package ( 1 ) containing a set of side-by-side arranged articles ( 2 ) and a rigid or semi-rigid sidewall ( 14 ) comprises a front panel ( 15 ) covering the front end ( 8 ) of said set of articles, side panels ( 16, 17 ) which are arranged on both sides of the front panel and cover, respectively, two opposite sides ( 10, 11 ) of the set of articles which are adjacent to the front end ( 8 ), a removable shutter embodied at least partially in the front panel of the package in such a way that it makes it possible to access to the articles through front end ( 8 ) of the package, the sidewall ( 14 ) leaves the articles uncovered at least on one side ( 12 ) of the set of articles and a film ( 28 ) stretches the set of articles by covering at least the sides ( 10, 11 ) thereof over the side panels ( 16, 17 ).

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
   
   
       16 . A package comprising:
 a group of items positioned side by side in at least one row, said items comprising a bottom and a top opposite one another and connected by a body, said group of items, when considered in the position of use, comprising two opposed lateral sides defined respectively by the bottoms and the tops of the items and two opposed sides these respectively being the top side and the underside, and two respectively front and distal opposed sides defined by the bodies of the items;   a flange made of a rigid or semirigid material, which comprises a front panel and two side panels extending one on each side of the front panel, said flange partially surrounding the group of items with its front panel covering the front side of the group of items; and   a film surrounding the group of items, covering the lateral sides and the top side and underside of said group of items, passing over the tops of the side panels of said flange;   wherein the flange has a U-shaped overall profile defined by three panels, namely the aforementioned front panel and the two aforementioned side panels which respectively cover the two lateral sides of the group of items;   wherein the flange leaves the items uncovered on at least one of the sides which are the top side and the underside of the group of items;   wherein the side panels of the flange possess, on one side of the group of items, respective edges facing each other which are straight and extend substantially in the plane tangential to the bodies of the items; and   wherein the front panel of the flange is at least partially produced in the form of a flap that is detachable so as to allow the items to be accessed via the front end of the package.   
   
   
       17 . The package as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said flange leaves the two sides that are the top side and the underside of the group of items uncovered. 
   
   
       18 . The package as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said flange leaves uncovered the distal end of the group of items. 
   
   
       19 . The package as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the side panels of the flange have, on the opposite side to said straight edges, corrugated respective edges which respectively more or less follow the shapes of the bottoms and of the tops of the items. 
   
   
       20 . The package as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the detachable flap comprises at least one part in the form of a tab made in at least one side panel of the flange. 
   
   
       21 . The package as claimed in  claim 16 , comprising two rows of superposed items. 
   
   
       22 . The package as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the front panel of the flange has a non-detachable strip of material that forms an end stop for the items when the detachable flap has been detached. 
   
   
       23 . The package as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said flange is made of cardboard. 
   
   
       24 . The package as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein said cardboard has a basis weight in excess of 280 g/m 2 . 
   
   
       25 . The package as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein said cardboard has a basis weight of 320 g/m 2 . 
   
   
       26 . The package as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein said cardboard has a basis weight of 380 g/m 2 . 
   
   
       27 . The package as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said flange has two retractable flaps formed in a side panel and delimited by cuts a concave side of which faces toward the distal end, of the group of items. 
   
   
       28 . The package as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said items are containers. 
   
   
       29 . The package as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said items have substantially the overall shape of cylinders of revolution. 
   
   
       30 . The package as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein said containers have substantially the overall shape of cylinders of revolution and wherein said containers are cylindrical cans containing drinks.