Heat-Shrinkable Holder for Articles and Heat-Shrinkable Package of Articles

Abstract

A heat-shrinkable holder is disclosed for securing a plurality of articles. The holder may include a first sheet formed of heat-shrinkable material, and a second sheet formed of heat-shrinkable material and joined to the first sheet. The first sheet and the second sheet each have a substantially equal pre-shrinking length, and are joined so as to create at least two openings therebetween. Each of the openings is sized larger than one of the articles. The first and second sheets are heat-shrinkable to an extent to shrink the openings sufficiently to secure two of the articles together into a unit. Various modifications and additions are possible, including use of more than three sheets, providing for the reading of printed indicia on the articles or holder, providing a handle. Numerous orientations and collections of articles are possible. Related packages including a holder and articles are also disclosed, as well as related methods of manufacture of the holder and package.

1 . A heat-shrinkable holder for securing a plurality of articles, the holder comprising:
 a first sheet formed of heat-shrinkable material and having a pre-shrinking length; and   a second sheet formed of heat-shrinkable material substantially equal to the first sheet pre-shrinking length, the second sheet being joined to the first sheet, the first sheet and the second sheet joined so as to create at least two openings therebetween, each of the openings sized larger than one of the articles, the first and second sheets being heat-shrinkable to an extent to shrink the openings sufficiently to secure two of the articles together into a unit.   
     
     
         2 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the holder includes two of the first sheets and two of the second sheets joined together in a unit. 
     
     
         3 . The holder of  claim 2 , wherein the holder is configured with a plurality of openings arranged in two rows. 
     
     
         4 . The holder of  claim 2 , wherein the holder is configured with six openings for securing six articles in a two-by-three arrangement. 
     
     
         5 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the articles do not contact each other directly when secured. 
     
     
         6 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first or second sheets includes printed indicia relating to the article. 
     
     
         7 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second sheets are joined via at least one of heating or an adhesive. 
     
     
         8 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the openings have an internal circumference larger than an outer circumference of the article to be placed therein. 
     
     
         9 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the holder is formed in a group of separable holders formed sequentially from the first and second sheets. 
     
     
         10 . The holder of  claim 9 , wherein perforations are provided for separating adjacent holders formed from the first and second sheets. 
     
     
         11 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the holder further includes a handle extending from at least one of the first and second sheets. 
     
     
         12 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the articles are containers. 
     
     
         13 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first or second sheets includes perforations configured for allowing an article to be removed from the unit after heat shrinking. 
     
     
         14 . A package of articles comprising:
 a plurality of articles;   a first sheet formed of heat-shrinkable material and having a pre-shrinking length; and   a second sheet formed of heat-shrinkable material substantially equal to the first sheet pre-shrinking length, the second sheet being joined to the first sheet, the first sheet and the second sheet joined so as to create at least two openings therebetween, each of the openings sized larger than one of the articles, the first and second sheets being heat-shrinkable to an extent to shrink the openings sufficiently to secure two of the articles together into a unit.   
     
     
         15 . The package of  claim 14 , wherein the articles do not contact each other directly when secured. 
     
     
         16 . The package of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first or second sheets includes printed indicia relating to the article. 
     
     
         17 . The package of  claim 14 , wherein the first and second sheets are joined via at least one of heating or an adhesive. 
     
     
         18 . The package of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first or second sheets includes perforations configured for allowing an article to be removed from the unit after heat shrinking. 
     
     
         19 . A package of articles comprising:
 a plurality of articles; and   at least four sheets of heat-shrunken material having substantially equal pre-shrinking lengths, the sheets being joined at a plurality of discrete joinder portions thereby forming a plurality of openings arranged in at least two rows, each opening sized to secure an article therein, the heat-shrunken material and articles thereby forming a unitary heat-shrunken package configured with a plurality of articles arranged in at least two rows.   
     
     
         20 . The package of  claim 19 , wherein the package is configured so that the articles are drawn together in two perpendicular directions by the shrinking. 
     
     
         21 . The package of  claim 19 , wherein the package is configured with a plurality of openings arranged in two-by-four arrangement. 
     
     
         22 . The package of  claim 19 , wherein the package is configured with six openings for securing six articles in a two-by-three arrangement. 
     
     
         23 . The package of  claim 19 , wherein the package is configured so that articles do not contact each other directly when secured. 
     
     
         24 . The package of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the sheets includes printed indicia relating to the article. 
     
     
         25 . The package of  claim 19 , wherein the sheets are joined via at least one of heating or an adhesive. 
     
     
         26 . The package of  claim 19 , wherein the openings have an internal circumference contacting an outer circumference of the article to be placed therein. 
     
     
         27 . The package of  claim 19 , wherein the package further includes a handle extending from at least one of the sheets. 
     
     
         28 . The package of  claim 19 , wherein the articles are containers. 
     
     
         29 . The package of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the sheets includes perforations configured for allowing an article to be removed from the unit. 
     
     
         30 . The package of  claim 29 , wherein the perforations are arranged to allow a portion of the at least one sheet to remain on the article. 
     
     
         31 . A heat-shrinkable holder for securing a plurality of articles, the holder comprising:
 at least four sheets of heat-shrunken material having substantially equal pre-shrinking lengths, the sheets being joined at a plurality of discrete joinder portions thereby forming a plurality of openings arranged in at least two rows, each of the openings sized larger than one of the articles, the sheets being heat-shrinkable to an extent to shrink the openings sufficiently to secure two of the articles together into a unit having at least two rows of articles.   
     
     
         32 . The holder of  claim 31 , wherein the holder is configured with four openings arranged in two-by-four arrangement. 
     
     
         33 . The holder of  claim 31 , wherein the holder is configured with six openings in a two-by-three arrangement. 
     
     
         34 . The holder of  claim 31 , wherein at least one of the sheets includes perforations configured for allowing an article to be removed from the unit. 
     
     
         35 . The holder of  claim 31 , wherein at least one of the sheets includes printed indicia relating to the article. 
     
     
         36 - 46 . (canceled)