Package Assembly with Tear Away Film and Manufacturing System

Abstract

A package assembly includes a number of containers, a heat-shrink wrapping disposed around the containers and tear strip; the tear strip aids in opening the heat-shrink wrapping. The tear strip can be defined by perforations disposed through the heat-shrink wrapping and arranged in pathways. The perforations are cut in the heat-shrink wrapping with a packaging apparatus having a cutting member. The cutting member is used in combination with a die to leave a chad attached to heat-shrink wrapping. Thereafter, the heat-shrink wrapping is shrunk with a heating source in order to bundle containers together within the package assembly.

1 . A package assembly comprising:
 a plurality of containers wrapped in a heat-shrink wrapping, the heat-shrink wrapping defining a hole and a plurality of perforations disposed therethrough, the hole and each of the perforations having an opening size, the opening size of the hole being greater than any of the perforations, the plurality of perforations arranged in first and second pathways, the plurality of perforations arranged in each pathway being spaced apart from one another at a first distance, the pathways defining a tear strip therebetween and extending from the hole, each pathway being spaced apart from the hole at a second distance, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.   
     
     
         2 . The package assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second pathways are parallel to one another along at least portions thereof. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The package assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tear strip is in the shape of an hour-glass. 
     
     
         6 . The package assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pathways are parallel to a plane defined by the bottom of the containers. 
     
     
         7 . The package assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tear strip is removable from the package assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The package assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the heat-shrink wrapping has a plurality of chads attached thereto. 
     
     
         9 . The method of making a package assembly comprising:
 providing a plurality of containers;   providing a heat-shrink wrapping, the heat-shrink wrapping defining at least one hole extending therethrough, the hole having a hole opening size;   perforating the heat-shrink wrapping to created a plurality of perforations arranged in first and second pathways, and wherein each of the perforations has a a perforation size, the perforation size being smaller than the hole opening size;   wrapping the plurality of containers with the heat-shrink wrapping;   applying heat to the heat-shrink wrapping; and   shrinking the heat-shrink wrapping around the plurality of containers, wherein the first and second pathways define a tear strip therebetween, and extending from the hole.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising cooling the package assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of perforating the heat-shrink wrapping comprises producing a chad which remains connected to the heat-shrink wrapping. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising providing a heat-shrink wrapping dispenser.