Bundle of containers

Abstract

A bundle of containers for consumer goods is provided, the bundle including: a group of containers for consumer goods, each container including a first container wall, a housing for consumer goods, and an outer wrapper wrapped around the housing, the group of containers being arranged such that the first container walls collectively form a first face of the bundle; and a strip extending across at least the first face of the bundle and being affixed to each of the first container walls to secure the group of containers together, the strip including interconnected lines of weakness each extending across the first face of the bundle, the interconnected lines being arranged such that each container is separable from the group by tearing the strip along one or more respective lines of weakness, and the outer wrapper of each container and the strip including a polymeric film.

1 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A bundle of containers for consumer goods, the bundle comprising:
 a group of containers for consumer goods, each container comprising a first container wall, a housing for consumer goods, and an outer wrapper wrapped around the housing, the group of containers being arranged such that the first container walls collectively form a first face of the bundle; and   a strip extending across at least the first face of the bundle, the strip being affixed to each of the first container walls to thereby secure the group of containers together,   wherein the strip comprises a plurality of interconnected lines of weakness each extending across the first face of the bundle, the interconnected lines of weakness being arranged such that each container in the group of containers is separable from the group of containers by tearing the strip along one or more respective lines of weakness, and   wherein the outer wrapper of each container comprises a polymeric film and the strip comprises a polymeric film.   
     
     
         17 . The bundle of containers according to  claim 16 , wherein the first face of the bundle is a top face of the bundle or a bottom face of the bundle. 
     
     
         18 . The bundle of containers according to  claim 16 , wherein the strip is individually affixed to each of the first container walls by means of one or both of an adhesive and a weld. 
     
     
         19 . The bundle of containers according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein the strip is individually affixed to the first container walls at one or more predefined locations, and   wherein the plurality of lines of weakness is spaced apart from the one or more predefined locations.   
     
     
         20 . The bundle of containers according to  claim 16 , wherein a portion of the strip extending across the first face of the bundle is spaced from at least one edge of the first face of the bundle. 
     
     
         21 . The bundle of containers according to  claim 16 , wherein a portion of the strip extending across the first face of the bundle has a width that is less than a width of the first face of the bundle. 
     
     
         22 . The bundle of containers according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein each container further comprises a second container wall opposed to the first container wall,   wherein the group of containers is arranged such that the second container walls collectively form a second face of the bundle, and   wherein the strip further extends across the second face of the bundle and is individually affixed to each of the second container walls to thereby secure the group of containers together.   
     
     
         23 . The bundle of containers according to  claim 22 ,
 wherein the strip further comprises a plurality of lines of weakness extending across the second face of the bundle, and   wherein the plurality of lines of weakness extending across the second face of the bundle is arranged such that each container in the group of containers is separable from the group of containers by tearing the strip along one or more of the lines of weakness extending across the second face of the bundle.   
     
     
         24 . The bundle of containers according to  claim 22 , wherein the strip further extends across a third face of the bundle, the third face of the bundle extending from the first face of the bundle to the second face of the bundle. 
     
     
         25 . The bundle of containers according to  claim 24 , wherein the strip is not affixed to the third face of the bundle. 
     
     
         26 . The bundle of containers according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein the strip extending across the first face of the bundle is a first strip of the bundle,   wherein said each container further comprises a second container wall opposed to the first container wall,   wherein the group of containers is arranged such that the second container walls collectively form a second face of the bundle, and   wherein the bundle further comprises a second strip, the second strip extending across the second face of the bundle and being individually affixed to each of the second container walls to thereby secure the group of containers together.   
     
     
         27 . The bundle of containers according to  claim 26 ,
 wherein the plurality of lines of weakness of the first strip is a first set of lines of weakness, and   wherein the second strip comprises a second set of lines of weakness, the second set of lines of weakness extending across the second face of the bundle and being arranged such that each container in the group of containers is separable from the group of containers by tearing the second strip along one or more lines of weakness in the second set of lines of weakness.   
     
     
         28 . The bundle of containers according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 the strip extends over no more than three faces of the bundle, or   the strip extends over no more than two faces of the bundle, or   the strip extends over no more than one face of the bundle.   
     
     
         29 . The bundle of containers according to  claim 16 , wherein the housing of each container in the group of containers has a first housing wall and the first container wall is formed by the first housing wall and a portion of the outer wrapper wrapped around the first housing wall, such that the strip is individually affixed to the portion of the outer wrapper of each container.