US20190071229A1

US20190071229A1 - Multi-pack of articles with indicia

Info

Publication number: US20190071229A1
Application number: US16/118,772
Authority: US
Inventors: Donald Wayne Scates; Matthew Payne; Nick Addington
Original assignee: Berry Global Inc
Current assignee: US Bank NA
Priority date: 2017-09-01
Filing date: 2018-08-31
Publication date: 2019-03-07

Abstract

A multi-pack of articles with indicia is disclosed herein.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/553,580, filed Sep. 1, 2017, which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to a package, and more specifically to a multi-pack of articles with indicia.

BACKGROUND

It is often desirable to provide articles for sale or consumption in an aesthetically pleasing and/or structurally stable arrangement. For example, it is often desirable to provide for sale or consumption a package having multiple articles such as tape or duct tape that is presented in an aesthetically pleasing way with labels or other visual indicia arranged in a pattern or array.
One way rolls of tape such as duct tape is presented is in a package containing multiple rolls of tape. Often the rolls of tape are individually wrapped, for example, shrink wrapped, the individually wrapped rolls are stacked, the stack is again wrapped for example by a secondary shrink wrap process, and then that whole package is labeled.

SUMMARY

One or more embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure may address one or more of the aforementioned problems. Certain embodiments according to the present disclosure provide a multi-pack of articles with indicia in a pattern or array, and methods of forming such a multi-pack of articles.
In one aspect, for instance, some embodiments may provide a multi-pack of articles, comprising a plurality of articles arranged in a stacked relationship, with each article adjacent at least one other article. Each article may have an axis, an outer surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface opposite the first side surface. A primary visual indicia may be coupled to the outer surface of at least one article. A binder may be coupled to a first location on the outer surface of the wrap and a second location on the outer surface of the wrap, wherein the first location overlays the outer surface of at least one article and the second location overlays the outer surface of at least a second article.
In another aspect, some embodiments may provide an array of articles, comprising a plurality of adjacent articles arranged in a side by side relationship and retained within a wrap, with a primary visual indicia on each article. A first overlay area may be provided on the wrap overlaying a portion of an outer surface of a first article and/or a second overlay area may be provided on the wrap overlaying a portion of an outer surface of a second article, wherein the first article and the second article are adjacent. A binder may be coupled to the first overlay area and the second overlay area bridging the first article and the second article. At least one secondary visual indicia may be on the binder, wherein each primary visual indicia and each secondary visual indicia are arranged in a predetermined pattern.
In yet another aspect, some embodiments may provide a method for providing a package having multiple articles. The method may comprise the steps of determining a pattern or array for visually displaying a plurality of articles, providing the plurality of articles in a side-by-side relationship, providing a primary visual indicia on each of said plurality of articles, and/or providing the plurality of articles with primary visual indicia in a wrap. The wrap may have at least one separating portion for at least partially separating adjacent articles. The separating portion may have an expanded condition and a contracted condition. The separating portion of the wrap may be moved from the expanded condition to the contracted condition, and the binder may be coupled to a first location on the wrap and a second location on the wrap with the wrap in the contracted condition, wherein the separating portion is interposed between the first location on the wrap and the second location on the wrap.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)

Embodiments now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments are shown. Indeed, embodiments may be illustrated or described in many different forms, and the present disclosure should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout, and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of an embodiment of a multi-pack of articles with labels;

FIG. 2 shows a side perspective view of an embodiment of a multi-pack of articles;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a multi-pack of articles with alternative labels;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a multi-pack of articles with other alternative labels;

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a plurality of articles arranged in an embodiment of a wrap;

FIG. 6 shows the plurality of articles and wrap of FIG. 5, with the wrap moved radially inwardly at the ends and between articles;

FIG. 7 shows a side view of an embodiment of a plurality of articles in an embodiment of a wrap, with the wrap moved radially inwardly at the ends and between articles; and

FIG. 8 shows the articles and wrap of FIG. 7, with the articles moved closer together and with portions of the wrap between articles and separating them.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments are shown. Indeed, embodiments may take many different forms and the present disclosure should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. As used in the specification, and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, “the”, include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
The terms “substantial” or “substantially” may encompass the whole amount as specified, according to certain embodiments, or largely but not the whole amount specified according to other embodiments.
Some embodiments of a package or multi-pack 10 may include one or more articles 5 for storage in package or multi-pack 10, such as is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. This exemplary embodiment is shown having four articles 5, each in the form of a roll of material such as tape for example, that are packaged together in a substantially unitary multi-pack form. If a roll of material is used, it may have an inner surface 52 such as that shown in FIG. 1. Alternatively, a roll of material may be wrapped around a central tube 56, such as that shown in FIG. 2, where the central tube may be made of cardboard or plastic for example, or virtually any other material or any combination thereof. One or more articles may include one or more indicia such as primary indicia 30 and/or secondary indicia 40, which may be, for example, a label or the like intended to communicate information to a user or consumer visually or otherwise. Continuing this example, primary indicia 30 may be a label containing a company name, a brand name, a logo, marketing information, and/or technical information while secondary indicia 40 may be a label including additional information such as product information, regulatory information, or the like, for example. Alternatively, secondary indicia 40 may be a label containing a company name, a brand name, a logo, marketing information, and/or technical information while primary indicia 30 may be a label including additional information such as product information, regulatory information, or the like, for example. It is understood that information provided on the primary indicia 30 and/or secondary indicia 40 may be virtually any type of information, and the information on each indicia may overlap with that on the other indicia, complement or supplement the information on the other, and the like.
Multi-pack 10 may include one or more binders 60. Binders 60 may be included for any of a variety of reasons, such as maintaining articles 5 and/or primary indicia 30 or other indicia of multi-pack 10 in a desired relationship and/or alignment, providing added stability to multi-pack 10, and/or communicating information to a user or consumer, or any combination thereof. Binder 60 may couple to, attach to, fasten, and/or connect a first article 5 with a second article 5. For example, binder 60 may be an adhesive or a piece of tape that may be stuck or coupled to a first location on a first article 5 and a second location on a second article 5, and/or binder 60 may bridge a gap, space, and/or disconnect between the first article 5 and the second article 5. The first article 5 and the second article 5 may be adjacent and connected by binder 60, or binder 60 may connect more than two articles 5, for example. Binder 60 may add, for example, structural support to multi-pack 10 and/or communicate information. It is understood that while binder 60 may in some embodiments communicate information visually, in alternative embodiments binder 60 may be clear, communicate little or no visual information, and/or configured to attract little or no attention. Binder 60, primary indicia 30, and/or secondary indicia 40 may be configured to communicate information in ways other than visually, which may occur instead of or in addition to communicating information visually. For example, binder 60, primary indicia 30, and/or secondary indicia 40 may communicate information electronically, such as with an RFID or the like. Binder 60 may communicate any of a variety of types of information, such as for example and without limitation, quantity of articles 5 in multi-pack 10, details of article 5 (e.g., 50 yards of tape), a sale price or percentage discount (e.g., 20% off), brand or logo information, any other type of information, or any combination thereof.
Any or all of primary indicia 30, secondary indicia 40, any additional or other indicia, and binder 60 may be located on multi-pack 10, one or more articles 5, and/or any component thereof. Moreover, one or more primary indicia 30, one or more secondary indicia 40, one or more additional or other indicia, and/or one or more binders 60 may be arranged in a pattern or array. For example, each article 5 may include a primary indicia 30 overlaying at least a portion of an outer surface 51 of each article 5, with each primary indicia 30 in substantial alignment relative to the primary indicia 30 of one or more other articles 5, such as is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. If secondary indicia 40 are included, each secondary indicia 40 may overlay at least a portion of outer surface 51 of each article 5, with each secondary indicia 40 in substantial alignment relative to the secondary indicia 40 of one or more articles 5 and/or one or more secondary indicia 40 may be located offset and/or substantially opposite primary indicia 30 on outer surface 51 and/or article 5, such as is shown in FIG. 2. It is understood that any primary indicia 30 may be offset from any other primary indicia 30 and/or any secondary indicia 40, if included, may be offset from any other secondary indicia 40. The offset may be, for example, a rotational or angular offset relative to a central axis 55 (central axis 55 is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8).
It is understood that any primary indicia 30 or any variation thereof may vary from any other primary indicia 30 or any variation thereof. For example, a first primary indicia 30 may be visually distinct from a second primary indicia 30. Continuing this example, the first primary indicia 30 may include brand or marketing information and/or manufacturer information, and second primary indicia 30 may include other or additional information, such as the number of rolls in multi-pack 10. It is further understood that any secondary indicia 40 or any variation thereof may vary from any other secondary indicia 40 or any variation thereof, and/or any binder 60 or any variation thereof may vary from any other binder 60 or any variation thereof. Examples include but are not limited to those described above in relation to primary indicia 30.
Binder 60 may be configured/or and located on multi-pack 10 in a pattern or array, such as the alternating pattern shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, with each binder 60 located substantially on the opposite side of articles 5 from the binder 60 above or below it. The terms above and below used in this way are based on an orientation of multi-pack 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, with a first side surface 53 of each article above a second side surface 54 of each article 5, and with the second side surface 54 of each article 5 below the first side surface 53 of each article 5. It is understood that multi-pack 10 or any component thereof may be oriented in any of a variety of ways, such as the vertical top to bottom orientation shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in a horizontal side to side orientation shown for example in FIG. 8, at virtually any angle between vertical and horizontal, or in any other way. The orientations shown in the various figures are merely exemplary. While FIGS. 1 and 2 show one binder 60 being used to couple, connect, bridge, and/or overlay each pair of adjacent articles 5, it is understood that more than one binder 60 may be used for each pair of adjacent articles 5, some adjacent articles 5 may not have a binder between them, and/or a single binder 60 may couple, connect, bridge, and/or overlay portions of more than two articles 5.
It is further understood that binder 60 or variations thereof described herein may be configured to replace or to extend from primary indicia 30 and/or secondary indicia 40 or any variations thereof. For example, binder 60 may include one or more labels or visual or other indicia and may extend from primary indicia 30 and/or secondary indicia 40 to couple, connect, bridge, and/or overlay portions of one or more articles 5. As a further example, binder 60 may be configured to replace primary indicia 30 and/or secondary indicia 40. Further still, primary indicia 30 or any variation thereof and secondary indicia 40 or any variation thereof may be separate components, but it is understood that primary indicia 30 and secondary indicia 40 may be physically connected such as if both are included on the same label or otherwise coupled or connected.
Alternative embodiments of indicia and/or patterns of indicia and binders are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 to illustrate at least some of the variability of these elements. FIG. 3 shows alternative primary indicia 31 and alternative binders 61, which may be functionally and/or visually similar to primary indicia 30 and/or binder 60 discussed above. It can be seen in FIG. 3 that primary indicia 31 can have a different shape than primary indicia 30, such as, for example, the elongated shape with rounded corners shown. Binders 61 may take any of a variety of forms or shapes as well, such as the rounded, oval, or circular binders 61 shown. Moreover, FIG. 3 illustrates that binders 61 may overlap primary indicia 31 for example, and/or some binders 61 may touch some primary indicia 31. These varying configurations are shown for illustrative purposes only and are not to be limiting, as primary indicia 31 and/or binder 61 may take any of a variety of forms, shapes, sizes, or any combination thereof, and may be arranged in any of a variety of ways, such as spaced apart, nearly touching, touching, overlapping, or any combination thereof. Moreover, FIG. 3 shows that more than one binder 61 may be used to couple, attach, connect, and/or bridge a single gap between adjacent articles 5.
Yet another embodiment of multi-pack 10 with varying primary indicia 32, secondary indicia 42, and binders 62 is shown in FIG. 4, which may be functionally and/or visually similar to primary indicia 30 and/or 31, secondary indicia 40, and/or binder 60 and/or 61 discussed above. Primary indicia 32 are shown as rectangular in shape, secondary indicia are shown as rectangular in shape but thinner than primary indicia 32, and binders 62 are shown as rectangular in shape. These are additional exemplary shapes and sizes that are not necessarily to scale, and do not limit the sizes and shapes available for any of the elements of multi-pack 10. In FIG. 4, a binder 62 is shown covering every space, gap, or discontinuity between individual articles 5. Moreover, each primary indicia 32 is shown as substantially being in alignment with the other primary indicia, each secondary indicia 42 is shown as substantially being in alignment with the other secondary indicia, and each binder 62 is shown as substantially being in alignment with the other binders 62. This is another exemplary embodiment of sizes, shapes, and configurations of articles 5, primary indicia 32, secondary indicia 42, and binders 62 that may be provided to form an alternative pattern or array of communicating elements. Primary indicia 32, secondary indicia 42, and/or binders 62 may communicate visual information. Alternatively, any or all of primary indicia 32, secondary indicia 42, and binders 62 may be substantially clear, substantially small, and/or substantially unnoticeable. In some exemplary embodiments, secondary indicia 42 may be less noticeable than primary indicia 32 and/or binders 62 may be less noticeable than primary indicia 32, secondary indicia 42, or both. For example, primary indicia 32 may be substantially larger, bolder, and/or brighter than secondary indicia 42 and/or binder(s) 62.
Primary indicia 30 and/or secondary indicia 40 may be coupled to and/or located on or over outer surface 51, or a portion thereof, of article 5. Either or both indicia 30, 40, if included, may be adhered or bonded to outer surface 51 such as an adhesive or static cling type label. Either or both indicia 30, 40 may be printed onto outer surface 51. Moreover, either or both of indicia 30, 40 may be coupled to, adhered to, attached to, and/or printed on a wrap substantially surrounding and/or containing one or more articles 5. Articles 5 may be individually wrapped and/or wrapped together in an outer wrap 20 (herein referred to also as wrap 20). An embodiment of wrap 20 is illustrated in FIGS. 5-8. If wrap 20 is included, it may be printed with either primary indicia 30, secondary indicia 40, both, or neither. If wrap 20 is printed with primary indicia 30 and/or secondary indicia 40, it may be printed so as to have the desired alignment, array, and/or pattern of indicia desired for multi-pack 10. Articles 5 may be wrapped in wrap 20 having primary indicia 30 and/or secondary indicia 40 in such a way as to present articles 5 and/or multi-pack 10 with a desired aesthetic, visual, and/or communicative effect. In some embodiments, each article 5 may be individually wrapped and then coupled together via one or more binders 60. Alternatively, each article 5 may be individually wrapped, and wrapped together in an outer wrap 20. In some embodiments, articles 5 may be wrapped together in outer wrap 20 without need or use of individual wraps for each individual article 5, and binders 60 may be used to couple one or more adjacent articles 5 overlaying an outer surface of wrap 20 while an inner surface of wrap 20 is adjacent to, proximate, and/or in contact with one or more articles 5.
In these or other embodiments, binder 60 may be a label or other indicia that reduces or eliminates the need for a separate primary indicia 30, a separate secondary indicia 40, or both. Binder 60 may include indicia and be placed over adjacent articles to hold them in proximity and alignment, which may serve as a combination of binder 60 and primary visual indicia 30 and/or secondary visual indicia 40, reducing or eliminating the need for and/or number of physically separate components. For example, binder 60 may be a printed label that adhesively bonds to wrap 20, with a first portion of binder 60 overlaying a first article 5, a second portion of binder 60 overlaying a second article 5, and binder 60 bridging a gap between the first and second articles 5.
In some embodiments, wrap 20 may be an accordion type wrap with exemplary separating portions 21, 22, 23 configured to at least partially separate adjacent articles 5, such as is shown in FIGS. 5-8. Wrap 20 may have a first end 24 and/or a second end 25. Wrap 20 may be a film or sheet, for example, and/or may be formed to be substantially tubular, cylindrical, and/or hollow, may be wrapped about articles 5, and/or may be configured so that articles 5 may be substantially surrounded by wrap 20, as shown in FIG. 5. Articles 5 may be in a spaced apart relationship so that separating portions 21, 22, 23 of wrap 20, and/or ends 24, 25 of wrap 20, may be moved inwardly toward the center or a central axis of one or more articles 5, such as is shown in FIG. 6. One or more separating portions 21, 22, 23 may be included for any of a variety of reasons, including but not limited to separating sides 53, 54 of articles 5 from adjacent sides 53, 54 of other articles 5. If articles 5 are, for example, rolls of tape, it may be appreciated that the sides 53, 54 may contain an amount of adhesive or bonding material that may cause the articles 5 to become stuck together if not separated by some material, such as separating portion 21, 22, 23. Separating portions 21, 22, 23 and/or wrap 20 may be made of any of a variety of materials, including, but not limited to, plastics or thermoplastics materials, such as flexible film or sheet plastics material. Wrap 20 or any portion thereof, such as separating portions 21, 22, 23, may for example be formed of a heat shrinkable plastic film.
It is understood that in some embodiments some or all of the included articles 5 may be arranged so that outer surfaces 51 are adjacent one another and/or center axes 55 are substantially parallel instead of sides 53, 54 being adjacent one another and/or center axes 55 being substantially collinear or coaxial. It is further understood that articles 5 may be arranged such that some outer surfaces 51 of articles 5 are adjacent one another (e.g. center axes 55 parallel) and some sides 53, 54 of articles 5 may be adjacent or stacked (e.g. center axes 55 coaxial). This may be the situation, for example, if two or more stacks or logs of articles 5 such as rolls of tape are positioned side by side (e.g., a stack of coaxial articles 5 with a center axis 55 that is parallel to a center axis 55 of a second stack of coaxial articles 5). These stacks of articles 5, if there is more than one stack, may for example be wrapped together or separately with wrap 20 if wrap 20 is included and/or may share common indicia 30, 40 and/or binder 60.
Articles 5 may be arranged or provided in a face to face spaced apart relationship with wrap 20 substantially surrounding articles 5, as shown in FIG. 5, with wrap 20 in a radially outward position. Wrap 20 or portions thereof such as separating portions 21, 22, 23 may be moved radially inwardly toward a radially inward position with the center and/or a central axis of articles 5, such as is shown in FIG. 6. For example, once multi-pack 10 is configured or arranged as shown in FIG. 5, heat may be applied to a heat shrink type wrap 20 causing it to constrict or shrink such that it is biased radially inwardly, with articles 5 resisting inward movement while separating portions 21, 22, 23 move between adjacent articles to arrive at the configuration or arrangement shown in FIG. 6. Separating portions 21, 22, 23 may be made to move radially inwardly by other mechanisms instead of or in addition to heat shrinking. For example, articles 5 and/or portions of wrap 20 adjacent outer surfaces 51 of articles 5 may be twisted and/or mechanically pushed in causing separating portions 21, 22, 23 to move inwardly.
Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, wrap 20 may be moved, configured, and/or arranged to substantially surround some or all of articles 5 in multi-pack 10. First end 24 and/or second end 25 of wrap 20 may be substantially closed or substantially covering the outermost side surfaces 53, 54 of articles 5. Any or all of separating portions 21, 22, 23 may be moved, configured, provided, and/or arranged in an expanded position or expanded condition such as is shown in FIG. 7, with adjacent articles spaced apart and separating portions 21, 22, 23, extending radially inwardly toward a center axis 25 of articles 5 and/or a central tube 56 of articles 5, if central tubes 56 are included. It is understood that some articles 5 may have a central tube 56 while others may not, and central tubes 56 are optional. Articles 5 may be moved or positioned nearer each other, for example, in a contracted position or contracted condition such as is shown in FIG. 8.
One or more binders 60, 61, 62 may be coupled and/or attached to a first location of wrap 20 overlaying a portion of outer surface 51 of a first article 5, may extend over one or more separating portions 21, 22, 23, and may be coupled and/or attached to a second location of wrap 20 overlaying a portion of outer surface 51 of a second article 5, for example, to arrive at the configuration, arrangement, array, and/or pattern shown in any of the various FIGS. 1-4. It may be appreciated that wrap 20 may be substantially clear or transparent so that it is not easily visually identifiable in the embodiments of FIGS. 1-4. It is understood that wrap 20 and/or any portion thereof may be substantially clear, transparent, and/or translucent, or wrap 20 and/or any portion thereof may be opaque, colored, and/or tinted. Wrap 20 may be printed with material including but not limited to primary indicia 30, secondary indicia 40, or both. For example, wrap 20 may be printed with primary indicia 30 and/or secondary indicia 40, may be arranged or provided to substantially surround articles 5 in the expanded position shown in FIG. 5 so that primary indicia 30 and/or secondary indicia 40 overlay in a predetermined pattern or array outer surfaces 51 of respective articles 5, may be moved or shrunk so that separating portions 21, 22, 23, which optionally may be substantially unprinted, are or become radially inwardly positioned to separate adjacent articles 5, and/or ends 24, 25 of wrap 20 may be moved or made to cover end surfaces 53, 54 of outermost articles 5. Articles 5 may then be moved from the expanded position shown in FIGS. 5-7 to the contracted position shown in FIG. 8, and binders 60 may be applied to couple adjacent articles 5 and/or portions of wrap 20 overlaying outer surfaces 51 of adjacent articles 5.
Various distances or lengths of separating portions 21, 22, 23 are shown in FIG. 8 for illustrative purposes. For example, separating portion 21 may extend radially inwardly from outer surface 51 toward center axis 55 a distance d1 that approximately corresponds to the distance from outer surface 51 to central tube 56, if included. Separating portion 21, as shown in FIG. 8 may extend distance d1 so that it substantially separates all or virtually all of first side surface 53 from adjacent or proximate second side surface 54 of an adjacent article 5. Separating portion 22 may extend radially inwardly from outer surface 51 toward center axis 55 a distance d2 that approximately corresponds to a distance greater than the distance from outer surface 51 to central tube 56, if included. Separating portion 22 may extend distance d2 so that it substantially separates all or virtually all of first side surface 53 from adjacent or proximate second side surface 54 of an adjacent article 5, while also extending into a hollow area defined by central tube 56 or a central void in that area. Separating portion 23 may extend radially inwardly from outer surface 51 toward center axis 55 a distance d3 that approximately corresponds to a distance lesser than the distance from outer surface 51 to central tube 56, if included. Separating portion 23 may extend distance d3 so that it substantially separates a portion but not all of first side surface 53 from adjacent or proximate second side surface 54 of an adjacent article 5. Separating portion 23 at distance d3 illustrates that it may be acceptable for some of first side 53 to come into direct contact with an adjacent second side 54, as it may be acceptable for adjacent articles 5 to be partially stuck together, for example.
Although the various figures illustrate multi-pack 10 as including articles 5 that are substantially cylindrical or roll form in shape, it is understood that multi-pack 10, articles 5, and/or any component thereof may be any of a variety of shapes or sizes, and the figures merely illustrate some embodiments. For example, multi-pack 10 or any component thereof may be substantially circular, oval, cylindrical, square, rectangular, tubular, triangular, spherical, polygonal, free form, truncated or non-truncated, wider on top, wider on bottom, varying width or depth along its height, width, or depth, or substantially uniform in height, width, or depth, multi-pack 10 or any component thereof may have rounded corners, angled corners, straight corners, or no corners. It is further understood that multi-pack 10 or any component thereof may be substantially rigid, substantially flexible, a hybrid of rigid and flexible, or any combination of rigid, flexible, and/or hybrid, such as having some areas be flexible and some rigid.
It is further understood that multi-pack 10 or any component thereof, including but not limited to primary indicia 30, secondary indicia 40, and/or binder 60 may be made of any of a variety of materials, including, but not limited to, any of a variety of suitable paper, wood, cardboard, chipboard, plastics material, any other material, or any combination thereof. Suitable plastics material may include, but is not limited to, polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), crystallized polyethylene terephthalate (CPET), mixtures and combinations thereof, or any other plastics material or any mixtures and combinations thereof. It is understood that multiple layers of material may be used for any of a variety of reasons, including to improve barrier properties, to reduce weight and/or lightweight, or to provide known functions related to multiple layer structures. The multiple layers, if included, may be of various materials, including those recited herein.
Further still, it is understood that any of a variety of processes or combination thereof may be used to form multi-pack 10 or any component thereof, including but not limited to articles 5, wrap 20, primary indicia 30, secondary indicia 40, and binder 60, or any layer or substrate used therein. It is understood that, while some directional terms are used herein, such as top, bottom, outer, inner, etc., these terms are not intended to be limiting but rather to relate to one or more exemplary orientations, positions, and/or configurations of multi-pack 10 or any component thereof, such as those illustrated in the accompanying figures.
These and other modifications and variations may be practiced by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope, which is more particularly set forth in the appended claims. In addition, it should be understood that aspects of the various embodiments may be interchanged in whole or in part. Furthermore, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the foregoing description is by way of example only, and it is not intended to limit the scope of that which is described in the claims. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the exemplary description of the versions contained herein.

Claims

That which is claimed:

1. A multi-pack of articles, comprising:

a plurality of articles arranged together, with each article adjacent at least one other article;

wherein each article has an axis, an outer surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface opposite the first side surface;

wherein a primary visual indicia overlays at least a portion of the outer surface of at least one article; and

a binder coupled to a first location on the outer surface of the wrap and a second location on the outer surface of the wrap;

wherein the first location overlays the outer surface of at least one article and the second location overlays the outer surface of at least a second article.

2. The multi-pack of articles of claim 1, wherein each article is a roll of material.

3. The multi-pack of articles of claim 2, wherein the material is an adhesive coated sheet.

4. The multi-pack of articles of claim 1, wherein the binder includes a secondary visual indicia.

5. The multi-pack of articles of claim 1, further comprising a wrap for containing said plurality of articles, wherein the wrap has an inner surface adjacent the plurality of articles and an outer surface opposite the inner surface.

6. The multi-pack of articles of claim 5, wherein said wrap includes a separating portion interposed between adjacent articles and at least partially separating the adjacent articles, and wherein the separating portion is movable between an expanded position and a contracted position, wherein adjacent articles are separated from each other a greater distance in the expanded position than in the contracted position.

7. The multi-pack of articles of claim 6, wherein the separating portion of the wrap, the first location on the outer surface of the wrap, and the second location on the outer surface of the wrap are configured with the separating portion interposed between the first location and the second location.

8. The multi-pack of articles of claim 6, wherein the binder retains the separating portion in the contracted position with the separating portion of the wrap at least partially separating the adjacent articles.

9. The multi-pack of articles of claim 1, wherein the wrap is an accordion wrap configured to have overlay areas overlaying the outer surface of each article, wherein said separating portion is interposed between the overlay areas.

10. The multi-pack of articles of claim 1, wherein the binder is an adhesive or tape.

11. The multi-pack of articles of claim 1, wherein at least one of the primary indicia and a secondary indicia are printed on the wrap.

12. The multi-pack of articles of claim 1, wherein the plurality of articles are configured in a stacked relationship wherein the first side surface of a first article is face-to-face with the second side surface of a second article.

13. An array of articles, comprising:

a plurality of adjacent articles arranged in a side by side relationship and retained within a wrap;

a primary visual indicia on at least one article;

a first overlay area on the wrap overlaying a portion of an outer surface of a first article and a second overlay area on the wrap overlaying a portion of an outer surface of a second article, wherein the first article and the second article are adjacent;

a binder coupled to the first overlay area and the second overlay area, the binder bridging a gap between the first article and the second article; and

at least one secondary visual indicia;

wherein each primary visual indicia and each secondary visual indicia are arranged in a predetermined pattern.

14. The array of articles of claim 13, wherein the binder includes the at least one secondary visual indicia.

15. The array of articles of claim 13, wherein the primary visual indicia includes an identification of source, such as manufacturer name or logo, distributor name or logo, wholesaler name or logo, or retailer name or logo.

16. The array of articles of claim 13, wherein the secondary visual indicia includes an indicator of secondary information such as price, discount, quantity, or size.

17. A method for providing a package having multiple articles, the method comprising the steps of:

determining a pattern or array for visually displaying a plurality of articles;

providing the plurality of articles in a side-by-side relationship;

providing a primary visual indicia on at least one of said plurality of articles;

providing the plurality of articles with primary visual indicia in a wrap, wherein the wrap has at least one separating portion for at least partially separating adjacent articles, and wherein the separating portion has an expanded condition and a contracted condition;

moving the separating portion of the wrap from the expanded condition to the contracted condition; and

coupling a binder to a first location on the wrap and a second location on the wrap with the wrap in the contracted condition, wherein the separating portion is interposed between the first location on the wrap and the second location on the wrap.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of providing the binder with a secondary visual indicia.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein a customer or client determines the pattern or array for visually displaying the plurality of articles, and wherein the method further comprises the step of communicating the customer or client determined pattern or array to a packager.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of reducing the diameter of the separating portion prior to moving the separating portion from the expanded condition to the contracted condition, wherein the reducing of the diameter of the separating portion includes at least one of heat shrinking and twisting the separating portion about an axis of the article.