Package

1,164,887. Packages. NIPPON CARBIDE KOGYO K.K. 15 Sept., 1967, No. 42244/67. Heading B8C. Cylindrical or like articles 4, for example, cans, are arranged in two rows, the rows being separated by a support member 1, and the cans are then wrapped in a sheet of heat-shrinkable plastics film 3. The support member 1 has projections 2 spaced apart along its length such that each projection is positioned between two adjacent articles in a row, Fig. 1. The member 1 may be a rectangular frame, Fig. 3a, or may take alternative planar forms, Figs. 3b-3e (not shown), and may be of plastics or a light metal. The film 3, initially wider than the length of a row of cans, is wrapped around the cans in a direction perpendicular to the rows, and its ends are heat-sealed together, whilst both side edges of the film, corresponding to the ends of the rows of cans, are left free to provide openings 5, 51. The whole package is now heated to shrink the film 3 about the cans. The openings 5, 51 enable the package to be carried, using one end of the member 1 as a handgrip, the cans being supported by the projections 2. The package may have an opening at one end only, and projections may be provided only between every other can, or on only one side of the support member, instead of between each pair of cans as shown. In use, pairs of cans may be severed from the package leaving the remainder still firmly held.