Packaging for constraining a unit of articles
A packaging system, for opening and unloading a plurality of articles onto a display, includes a plurality of articles arranged to define a unit. The unit includes a front side, a back side, a pair of lateral sides extending between the front and back sides, a bottom, and a top. The unit may include a tray. A tubular film that extends between first and second ends, encircles the unit to secure the plurality of articles defining the unit. A series of first perforations are defined in the film and arranged in two bottom lines that are spaced from each other and extend along the bottom of the unit from the first end to the second end of the film. The bottom lines are spaced on the bottom to define the film into a lower portion that extends between the two bottom lines and a remaining portion.
1. An easy opening packaging system for the unloading of a plurality of articles, collated to form a unit, onto a display comprising:
a plurality of articles arranged in at least one row to define a unit, said unit having a front side, a back side opposite said front side, a pair of lateral sides opposite each other and extending between said front and back sides, a bottom extending between said front and back sides, and a top opposite said bottom;
a tubular film extending between first and second ends and encircling said unit for securing said plurality of articles defining said unit by tension; and
a series of first perforations defined in said film and arranged in two bottom lines being spaced from each other and extending along said bottom of said unit from said first end to said second end of said film, each of said bottom lines being disposed adjacent a different one of said lateral sides to define said film into a lower portion between said two bottom lines and along said bottom of said unit and a remaining portion;
wherein said film engages each of said top, said bottom, and said lateral sides of said unit and extends between said front and back sides with said first end of said film being disposed adjacent said front side and said second end being disposed adjacent said back side;
wherein said first end of said film extends outwardly from each of said top, said bottom and said lateral sides and onto said front side of said unit to define a front edge portion having a front edge length to partially cover said front side and further secure said unit;
wherein said front edge length of portion of said front edge portion extending inwardly from the edge of said front side adjacent said bottom is less than said front edge length of the remaining front edge portions extending inwardly from each of the remaining edges of said front side of said unit; and
wherein said lower portion of the said film is torn from said remaining portion along said bottom lines of said first perforations from adjacent said back side and towards said front side as the plurality of articles are unloaded onto the display.
2. The packaging system as set forth in claim 1 further including a tray for receiving and supporting said plurality of articles and to further define said unit.
3. The packaging system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said tray includes a base portion that is shaped to correspond to the shape of said bottom of said unit and at one wall portion extending upwardly from said base portion to at least partially cover at least one of said sides of said unit.
4. The packaging system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said tray includes a pair of wall portions extending upwardly from said base portion, with each of said wall portions at least partially covering said oppositely disposed lateral sides of said unit.
5. The packaging system as set forth in claim 4 wherein said pair of wall portions are spaced to define at least one open end for the removal of said plurality of articles from said tray, said at least one open end being disposed along one of said front and back sides of said unit.
6. The packaging system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said open end is disposed along said back side of said unit.
7. The packaging system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first end of said film is disposed inwardly of said front side and lies along each of said top, said bottom and said lateral sides.
8. The packaging system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second end of said film is disposed inwardly of said back side and lies along each of said top, said bottom and said lateral sides.
9. The packaging system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said front edge portion is tabbed adjacent each of the corners adjacent said top of said front side under low stress for allowing said front edge portion to be pulled apart at each of the corners adjacent said top when said plurality of articles are loaded onto the display.
10. The packaging system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second end of said film extends outwardly from each of said top, bottom and lateral sides and onto said back side of said unit to define a back edge portion having a back edge length to partially cover said back side and further secure said unit.
11. The packaging system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said back edge length of said back edge portion extending equally inwardly from each of the edges of said back side of said unit.
12. The packaging system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said back edge length of the portion of said back edge portion extending inwardly from the edge of said back side adjacent said bottom is less than said back edge length of the remaining back edge portions extending inwardly from each of the remaining edges of said back side of said unit.
13. The packaging system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said back edge portion is tabbed adjacent each of the corners adjacent said top of said back side under low stress for allowing said back edge portion to be pulled apart at each of the corners adjacent said top when said plurality of articles are loaded onto the display.
14. The packaging system as set forth in claim 1 further including a pair of bottom notches disposed is said film each of said bottom notches being disposed adjacent one of said first and second ends of said film with each of said bottom lines extending between said pair of bottom notches for facilitating the tearing of said film along said bottom lines.
15. The packaging system as set forth in claim 1 further including a series of second perforations defined in said film and arranged in two top lines being spaced from each other and extending along said top of said unit from said first end to said second end of said film.
16. The packaging system as set forth in claim 15 wherein each of said top lines are adjacent a different one of said lateral sides to further define said remaining portion of said film into a top portion disposed between said two top lines and along said top of said unit and a pair of side portions, each of said side portions extending between one of said top lines and one of said bottom lines and over one of said lateral sides.
17. The packaging system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plurality of articles are arranged in a plurality of rows to form said unit.
18. The packaging system as set for the in claim 2 further including a series of second perforations defined in said film and arranged in two top lines being spaced from each other and extending along said top of said unit from said first end to said second end of said film.
19. The packaging system as set for the in claim 18 wherein each of said top lines are adjacent a different one of said lateral sides to further define said remaining portion of said film into a top portion between said two top lines and along said top of said unit and a pair of side portions, each of said side portions extending between one of said top lines and one of said bottom lines and over one of said lateral sides.