Multi-pack of articles with indicia

Abstract

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

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.