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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A package assembly comprising:
 a plurality of containers wrapped in a heat-shrink wrapping, the heat-shrink wrapping defining a plurality of perforations disposed therethrough, the plurality of perforations arranged in first and second pathways, the pathways defining a tear strip therebetween.   
     
     
         2 . The package assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second pathways are parallel to one another along at least portions thereof 
     
     
         3 . The package assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the heat-shrink wrapping further defines at least one hole therethrough, the hole being larger than the perforations. 
     
     
         4 . The package assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the pathways intersect the at least one hole. 
     
     
         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 . A method of making a package assembly comprising:
 providing a plurality of containers;   providing a heat-shrink wrapping;   perforating the heat-shrink wrapping in first and second pathways;   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.   
     
     
         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.