Bundle of containers of consumer goods and wrapper thereof

Abstract

A bundle of containers of consumer goods is provided, the bundle including: a plurality of containers of consumer goods; and a wrapper wrapped around the containers to form a bundle housing including a bundle front wall, back wall, top wall, bottom wall, and first and second side walls, the wrapper including first and second tearing portions, the first tearing portion being discrete from the second tearing portion on the wrapper, the wrapper being wrapped around the plurality of containers such that a first end segment of the first tearing portion overlaps with and is affixed to a first end segment of the second tearing portion to form a tear strip of the bundle, the tear strip extending along the bundle front wall, the first bundle side wall, and the bundle back wall, and the first end segment of the first tearing portion having a generally trapezoidal shape.

1 .- 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A bundle of containers of consumer goods, the bundle comprising:
 a plurality of containers of consumer goods; and   a wrapper wrapped around the plurality of containers to form a bundle housing comprising: a bundle front wall, a bundle back wall, a bundle top wall, a bundle bottom wall, a first bundle side wall, and a second bundle side wall,   wherein the wrapper comprises a first tearing portion and a second tearing portion, the first tearing portion being discrete from the second tearing portion on the wrapper,   wherein the wrapper is wrapped around the plurality of containers such that a first end segment of the first tearing portion overlaps with and is affixed to a first end segment of the second tearing portion to form a tear strip of the bundle, the tear strip extending along the bundle front wall, the first bundle side wall, and the bundle back wall, and   wherein the first end segment of the first tearing portion has a generally trapezoidal shape.   
     
     
         25 . The bundle according to  claim 24 , wherein the first tearing portion defines a portion of the tear strip extending along at least the bundle front wall. 
     
     
         26 . The bundle according to  claim 24 , wherein the second tearing portion defines a portion of the tear strip extending along at least the bundle back wall. 
     
     
         27 . The bundle according to  claim 24 , wherein the first end segment of the second tearing portion has a generally trapezoidal shape. 
     
     
         28 . The bundle according to  claim 24 , wherein the first tearing portion is delimited by at least one line of weakness. 
     
     
         29 . The bundle according to  claim 24 , wherein the first tearing portion is delimited by a pair of spaced apart lines of weakness. 
     
     
         30 . The bundle according to  claim 29 , wherein the pair of spaced apart lines of weakness of the first tearing portion extend substantially parallel to each other along the bundle front wall. 
     
     
         31 . The bundle according to  claim 29 , wherein the pair of spaced apart lines of weakness of the first tearing portion diverge from each other along at least a portion of the first bundle side wall. 
     
     
         32 . The bundle according to  claim 29 , wherein the pair of spaced apart lines of weakness of the first tearing portion extend substantially parallel to each other along at least a portion of the second bundle side wall. 
     
     
         33 . The bundle according to  claim 24 , wherein the wrapper is configured to be torn along the tear strip to divide the bundle housing into a first part and a second part. 
     
     
         34 . The bundle according to  claim 33 , wherein, when the wrapper has been torn along the tear strip, the first part of the bundle housing is configured to be lifted away from the second part of the bundle housing to permit access to the plurality of containers in the bundle housing. 
     
     
         35 . The bundle according to  claim 24 , wherein the wrapper is wrapped around the plurality of containers such that a second end segment of the first tearing portion overlaps with and is affixed to a second end segment of the second tearing portion. 
     
     
         36 . The bundle according to  claim 24 , wherein the wrapper is a sheet of paper or paperboard. 
     
     
         37 . The bundle according to  claim 24 , wherein the wrapper is a multi-layer sheet. 
     
     
         38 . The bundle according to  claim 37 , wherein the multi-layer sheet comprises a cellulose based layer and a polymeric layer. 
     
     
         39 . The bundle according to  claim 38 , wherein the polymeric layer is provided on an inner side of the cellulose based layer. 
     
     
         40 . The bundle according to  claim 38 ,
 wherein the polymeric layer is a first polymeric layer, and   wherein the multi-layer sheet further comprises a second polymeric layer.   
     
     
         41 . The bundle according to  claim 40 , wherein the second polymeric layer is located between the cellulose based layer and the first polymeric layer. 
     
     
         42 . The bundle according to  claim 41 , wherein the second polymeric layer is a moisture barrier layer. 
     
     
         43 . The bundle according to  claim 38 , wherein the first polymeric layer or the second polymeric layer comprises a composition comprising one or more of: a polymer or copolymer of ethylene, a polymer or copolymer of propylene, a copolymer of styrene acrylate, a copolymer of styrene butadiene, a copolymer of styrene isoprene, a copolymer of hydrogenated styrene butadiene, a copolymer of hydrogenated styrene isoprene, a copolymer of an ester of acrylic or methacrylic acid, a copolymer of vinyl acetate, a copolymer of polybutene. 
     
     
         44 . The bundle according to  claim 43 , wherein the composition further comprises wax. 
     
     
         45 . The bundle according to  claim 43 , wherein the composition further comprises hydrocarbon resin. 
     
     
         46 . A wrapper for wrapping around a plurality of containers of consumer goods to form a bundle of containers of consumer goods, the wrapper comprising:
 a plurality of panels and a plurality of fold lines separating the plurality of panels, wherein the plurality of panels are configured to be folded about the plurality of fold lines to form a bundle housing comprising: a bundle front wall, a bundle back wall, a bundle top wall, a bundle bottom wall, a first bundle side wall, and a second bundle side wall; and   a first tearing portion and a second tearing portion, the first tearing portion being discrete from the second tearing portion on the wrapper,   wherein the first and the second tearing portions are arranged on the wrapper such that, when the wrapper is folded to form the bundle housing, a first end segment of the first tearing portion overlaps with and is affixed to a first end segment of the second tearing portion to form a tear strip of the bundle, with the tear strip extending along the bundle front wall, the first bundle side wall, and the bundle back wall, and   wherein the first end segment of the first tearing portion has a generally trapezoidal shape.