The present patent application relates to an improved package. In particular, the field of reference is the packaging of containers.

The description of the prior art continues with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.

With reference to Fig. 1 , there is described a package according to the prior art, indicated as a whole with the reference number 200.

The package (200) comprises a horizontal row (201) comprising a plurality of containers (202). Each container (202) comprises a side wall (220), a top wall (221) and a bottom wall (222). The containers (202) are arranged side by side.

The package (200) comprises a wrapping (203) arranged around the row (201) of containers. The aim of the wrapping (203) is to hold the row of containers grouped together and in position and to publicize these containers. The wrapping (203) has a parallelepiped shape and is arranged in contact with the top wall (221), with the bottom wall (222) and partially with the side wall (220) of the containers. In this way, the top wall (221) and the bottom wall (222) of each container are covered by the wrapping (203). The wrapping (203) is open at the ends, so that a portion of the side wall of the outermost containers of the row is visible.

With reference to Fig. 2, the wrapping (203) comprises a rectangular sheet (230) of paper or cardboard comprising:

- a first folding line (231);

- a first outer portion (232), arranged between a first lateral edge (230a) of the sheet and the first folding line (231);

- a second folding line (233) parallel to the first folding line (231);

- a first lateral portion (234), arranged between the first folding line (231) and the second folding line (233); - a third folding line (235) parallel to the first folding line (231) and to the second folding line (233);

- a central portion (236), arranged between the second folding line (233) and the third folding line (235);

- a fourth folding line (237) parallel to the first folding line (231), to the second folding line (233) and to the third folding line (235);

- a second lateral portion (238), arranged between the third folding line (235) and the fourth folding line (237);

- a second outer portion (239), arranged between a second lateral edge (230b) of the sheet and the fourth folding line (237).

The first and the fourth folding line (231 , 237) are destined to be arranged at bottom edges of the containers (202).

The second and the third folding line (233, 235) are destined to be arranged at top edges of the containers (202).

The central portion (236) is destined to be arranged on the top wall (221) of the containers, so as to cover the top wall (221) of the containers.

The first and the second lateral portion (234, 238) are destined to be arranged at the side walls (220) of the containers, so as to be in contact only with a portion of said side walls (220).

The first and the second outer portion (232, 239) are destined to be arranged in contact with the bottom wall (222) of the containers and to be glued between them, so as to cover the bottom wall (222) of the containers.

Openings (204) are obtained along the folding lines (231 , 233, 235, 237) to prevent displacement of the containers with respect to the wrapping.

The folding lines (231 , 233, 235, 237) are necessary so that the sheet (230) can be folded and take a parallelepiped shape, so as to cover the containers at the top and at the bottom.

The package of the prior art has some drawbacks:

- due to the fact that the containers are arranged in a horizontal row, the wrapping must have a parallelepiped shape in order to manage to retain the row of containers in position; this parallelepiped shape of the wrapping requires the use of a large amount of material, in fact, it is necessary to provide a rectangular sheet that covers the row of horizontal containers, i.e., having a length equal to the length of the row of containers and having a height equal to at least the sum of the width of the top wall, of the width of the bottom wall and of twice the height of the side wall of the containers;

- due to the folding lines, the sheet of the wrapping is complicated to produce; - the package has a high volume due to the parallelepiped shape of the wrapping;

- the package is not particularly strong as the techniques for affixing the wrapping to the containers, normally used in the prior art, does not allow efficient adhesion of the wrapping to the containers; moreover, as the openings, necessary to prevent displacement of the containers, are obtained along the folding lines, they reduce the rigidity of the package;

- the containers of the package are difficult to remove one by one from the wrapping; in fact, in order to remove a container from the wrapping, the wrapping must be torn; in this way, there is the risk of accidentally also removing other containers from the wrapping;

- due to the parallelepiped shape of the wrapping, the package does not have optimal visibility for display and, accordingly, is less attractive to a prospective buyer; in fact, in order for the packages to be stable, they must be arranged on a shelf for sale so that the containers are resting on their bottom wall; in this way, only a lateral portion of the package is visible;

- the wrapping of the packages of the prior art, marked by a large amount of material used, has a high environmental impact; in fact, to produce the wrappings of these packages large amounts of water are consumed and large amounts of carbon dioxide are produced;

- a large amount of glue is required in order to be able to glue the first and the second outer portion of the sheet of the wrapping to each other; in fact, the first and the second outer portion of the sheet of the wrapping have a length equal to the length of the row of containers.

The object of the present invention is to provide a package that has a wrapping produced with a reduced amount of material.

Another object is to provide a package that has a wrapping that is easy to produce.

Yet another object is to provide a package that can be transported and stored in an easy, practical and economical manner, which has an optimal visibility for display and which is economical to produce with a low environmental impact.

A further object is to provide a package that requires a reduced amount of glue.

One more object is to provide a package whose containers are easily removed one by one from the wrapping, without causing the accidental removal of other containers from the wrapping.

These objects are achieved in accordance with the invention with the features listed in the appended independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are apparent from the dependent claims.

The package according to the invention is defined by claim 1 .

The advantages of the package according to the invention are evident, wherein due to the fact that the containers are stacked one on top of another so as to form a stack and that the wrapping is arranged laterally around the stack of containers and has a tubular shape open at the top and at the bottom, the amount of material required to produce the wrapping of the package according to the invention is smaller with respect to the amount of material required to produce the wrapping of the prior art, the number and shape of the containers being equal.

For greater clarity, the description of the package according to the invention proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are provided purely for non-limiting illustrative purposes, wherein:

- Fig. 1 is an axonometric view of a package of the prior art;

- Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a sheet of the wrapping of the package of the prior art;

- Fig. 3 is an axonometric view of a package according to the invention;

- Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a sheet of the wrapping of the package according to the invention;

- Fig. 5 is an axonometric view of a variant of the package according to the invention;

- Fig. 6 is a top plan view of a sheet of the wrapping of Fig. 5.

With reference to Fig. 3, a package according to the invention, indicated as a whole with the reference number 100, is described.

The package (100) comprises a stack (1) comprising a plurality of stacked containers (2), i.e., arranged one on top of another.

Each container (2) optionally has a circular cylindrical shape. The containers (2) are arranged with an axis thereof in vertical position, one on top of another, so as to form the stack (1).

Each container (2) comprises a side wall (20), a flat top wall (21) and a flat bottom wall (22). Advantageously, the top wall (21) of each container and the bottom wall (22) of each container comprise a thickened perimeter edge (23, 24).

The bottom wall (22) of the container positioned at the top is arranged in contact with the top wall (21) of the container below. The top wall (21) of the container positioned at the bottom is arranged in contact with the bottom wall (22) of the container above. More precisely, the perimeter edge (24) of the bottom wall of the container positioned at the top is arranged in contact with the perimeter edge (23) of the top wall of the container below. The perimeter edge (23) of the top wall of the container positioned at the bottom is arranged in contact with the perimeter edge (24) of the bottom wall of the container above. The bottom wall (22) of the container arranged at the bottom and the top wall (21) of the container arranged at the top are free and facing outward.

The bottom wall (22) and the top wall (21) of an intermediate container positioned between the top container and the bottom container are arranged respectively in contact with the top wall (21) of the container below and with the bottom wall (22) of the container above. The perimeter edge (24) of the bottom wall and the perimeter edge (23) of the top wall of an intermediate container positioned between the top container and the bottom container are arranged respectively in contact with the perimeter edge (23) of the top wall of the container below and with the perimeter edge (24) of the bottom wall of the container above.

The package (100) comprises a wrapping (3) wrapped laterally around the stack (1) of containers and having a tubular shape open at the top and at the bottom, so that the top wall (21) of the container (2) arranged at the top in the stack (1) and the bottom wall (22) of the container (2) arranged at the bottom in the stack (1) are facing outward. More precisely, the wrapping (3) is wrapped around the side wall (21) of the containers of the stack, so as to have a tubular shape, open at the top and at the bottom. The wrapping (3) has the purpose of retaining the containers (2) of the stack and of publicizing these containers (2).

The wrapping (3) is in contact with the side wall (20) of the containers of the stack, so as to leave the top wall (21) of the container arranged at the top and at the bottom wall (22) of the container arranged at the bottom free.

In particular, the wrapping (3) is arranged below and in contact with the perimeter edge (23) of the top wall of the top container and above and in contact with the perimeter edge (24) of the bottom wall of the bottom container, so that the wrapping (3) is blocked at the top by the perimeter edge (23) of the top wall of the top container and is blocked at the bottom by the perimeter edge (24) of the bottom wall of the bottom container. In this way, the perimeter edge (23) of the top wall of the top container and the perimeter edge (24) of the bottom wall of the bottom container prevent the wrapping (3) from accidentally slipping with respect to the stack (1).

The wrapping (3) is made of a non-polymeric material, in particular the wrapping (3) is made of paper or cardboard. More precisely, the wrapping (3) is made of recycled cardboard. With reference to Fig. 4, the wrapping (3) comprises a single rectangular sheet made of paper or cardboard, without folding lines. The sheet of the wrapping (3) comprises:

- a horizontal top edge (30), destined to be arranged around the container of the stack (1) positioned at the top;

- a horizontal bottom edge (31), destined to be arranged around the container of the stack (1) positioned at the bottom;

- a first vertical lateral edge (32) and a second vertical lateral edge (33), arranged at the side wall (20) of all the containers.

Advantageously, the top edge (30) is destined to be arranged below and in contact with the perimeter edge (23) of the top wall of the top container.

Advantageously, the bottom edge (31) is destined to be arranged above and in contact with the perimeter edge (24) of the bottom wall of the bottom container.

With reference also to Fig. 3, the vertical lateral edges (32, 33) are secured to each other, so that the wrapping (3) has a tubular shape, open at the top and at the bottom, with vertical axis coaxial with the vertical axis of the containers (2) of the stack. Advantageously, a glue is applied between the vertical lateral edges (32, 33), so as to secure said lateral edges (32, 33) to each other.

The sheet of the wrapping (3) has a length such as to allow the sheet of the wrapping to laterally encircle the stack of containers, i.e. , at least equal to the maximum perimeter of the side wall (20) of the containers of the stack, and a height at most equal to the height of the stack (1).

The sheet of the wrapping (3) comprises:

- an outer surface (36) destined to be left visible, and

- an inner surface, opposite the outer surface (36) and destined to be arranged in contact with the side wall (20) of the containers.

Optionally, the outer surface (36) is coated and is destined to be decorated with images and/or writing.

Optionally, the wrapping (3) comprises horizontal pre-cut lines (34), arranged between two containers of the stack in contact with each other.

Each pre-cut line (34) is positioned between the bottom edge (24) of a container and the top edge (23) of the container below.

The pre-cut lines (34) are parallel to the top edge (30) and to the bottom edge (31) of the sheet of the wrapping. Advantageously, the wrapping (3) comprises a plurality of horizontal pre-cut lines (34) parallel to one another and parallel to the top edge (30) and to the bottom edge (31) of the sheet of the wrapping. Due to the pre-cut lines (34) it is possible to remove the containers (2) of the package one by one from the wrapping (3). In fact, in order to remove a container (2) from the wrapping (3), it is sufficient to tear the wrapping (3) at the pre-cut line (34).

Advantageously, the wrapping (3) comprises openings (35), each produced along one of the pre-cut lines (34).

Each opening (35) is arranged at the perimeter edge (24) of the bottom wall of a container and the perimeter edge (23) of the top wall of the container below, so that at least one portion of said perimeter edges is arranged inside this opening (35). Due to the openings (35), each container (2) is secured to the wrapping (3), so as not to be accidentally released from the wrapping even if the container above or the container below is removed from the wrapping (3).

The advantages of the package according to the invention are evident, wherein due to the fact that the containers are stacked one on top of another so as to form a stack and that the wrapping is arranged laterally around the stack of containers and has a tubular shape open at the top and at the bottom, the amount of material required to produce the wrapping of the package according to the invention is smaller with respect to the amount of material required to produce the wrapping of the prior art, the number and shape of the containers being equal. In fact, in order to cover the vertical stack of containers, the sheet of the wrapping must have a length at least equal to the maximum perimeter of the containers of the stack and a height at most equal to the height of the stack (1).

The sheet of the wrapping has no folding lines, hence simple to produce, and it is strong.

Moreover, transport and storage of these packages are practical and economical as, due to its tubular shape open at the top and at the bottom, the package has a reduced volume and smaller overall dimensions with respect to the wrapping of the prior art, the number and shape of the containers being equal. Moreover, the package according to the invention is sturdy and easy to handle.

Due to its tubular shape open at the top and bottom, the package has an excellent visibility for display and, consequently, attracts the attention of a prospective buyer. In fact, the packages can be arranged so as to rest on the bottom container. In this way, around 50% of the wrapping remains visible to a buyer, even if the packages are arranged one on top of another.

The wrapping of the packages according to the invention has a low environmental impact; in fact, in fact, the wrappings of these packages are produced with a reduced consumption of water and producing a reduced amount of carbon dioxide, as the wrapping according to the invention has smaller dimensions with respect to the wrappings of the prior art.

The number and shape of the containers being equal, the amount of glue required in order to glue the vertical lateral edges (32, 33) of the wrapping according to the invention to each other is smaller with respect to the amount of glue required in order to glue the outer portions of the wrapping of the prior art to each other. In fact, the vertical lateral edges (32, 33) of the wrapping have a length at most equal to the height of the stack.

Although not shown in the figures, the stack can comprise only two containers, arranged one on top of the other. In this case, the wrapping optionally comprises a horizontal pre-cut line, arranged between said two containers of the stack, and an opening arranged at perimeter edges, in contact with each other, of said two containers, so that at least one portion of these perimeter edges is arranged inside said opening.

Although not shown in the figures, the containers can have any shape, for example they can be bottles or cans or circular or elliptical cylindrical containers, stacked one on top of another. Moreover, the bottom wall and/or the top wall of the containers can be without a thickened perimeter edges. In any case, the wrapping is wrapped laterally around stack and has a tubular shape open at the top and at the bottom.

Although not shown in the figures, the containers can be stacked overturned with respect to one another, so that the bottom wall of a container is arranged in contact with the bottom wall of the adjacent container and/or that the top wall of a container is arranged in contact with the top wall of the adjacent container. In this case, the perimeter edge of the bottom wall of a container is arranged in contact with the perimeter edge of the bottom wall of the adjacent container and/or the perimeter edge of the top wall of a container is arranged in contact with the perimeter edge of the top wall of the adjacent container.

It must be specified that the term “adjacent” is meant as above or below.

In other words, for each container, the top wall of said container is arranged in contact with the bottom wall or with the top wall of an adjacent container and/or the bottom wall of said container is arranged in contact with the bottom wall or with the top wall of an adjacent container of the stack. Advantageously, for each container, the perimeter edge of the top wall of said container is arranged in contact with the perimeter edge of the top wall or of the bottom wall of the adjacent container and/or the perimeter edge of the bottom wall of said container is arranged in contact with the perimeter edge of the top wall or of the bottom wall of the adjacent container. Moreover, the top container and/or the bottom container can be arranged in an overturned position, so that the top wall of the container arranged at the bottom and/or the bottom wall of the container arranged at the top are free and facing outward.

In other words, the wrapping is wrapped laterally around said stack and has a tubular shape open at the top and at the bottom, so that the top wall or the bottom wall of a container arranged at the top in the stack and the top wall or the bottom wall of a container arranged at the bottom in the stack are facing outward.

The wrapping is arranged below and in contact with the perimeter edge of the wall arranged at the top of the top container in the stack and above and in contact with the perimeter edge of the wall arranged at the bottom of the bottom container in the stack, so that the wrapping is blocked at the top by one of the perimeter edges of the top container and is blocked at the bottom by one of the perimeter edges of the bottom container. In this case, the top edge and the bottom edge of the sheet of the wrapping are destined to be arranged respectively below and in contact with one of the perimeter edges of the top container and above and in contact with one of the perimeter edges of the bottom container.

Although not shown in the figures, the wrapping of the package can have an elliptical tubular shape, according to the shape of the stack or of the stacks of containers.

Although not shown in the figures, in place of the glue, the wrapping can comprise lateral flaps protruding from the vertical lateral edges and suitable to interlock with one another, so as to secure the lateral edges of the wrapping to one another.

The package can comprise a plurality of stacks arranged side by side, to create a group of stacks. In this case, the wrapping of the package is wrapped laterally around said group of stacks and has a tubular shape open at the top and at the bottom, so that the top wall or the bottom wall of a container arranged at the top in each stack and the top wall or the bottom wall of a container arranged at the bottom in each stack are facing outward. In this way, the wrapping groups together all the stacks of containers.

For example, as shown in Fig. 5, the package (100) comprises a group (G) comprising two identical vertical stacks (1), arranged side by side. Each stack (1) comprises a plurality of containers (2), arranged one on top of another, so that, for each container, the top wall of said container is in contact with the bottom wall or with the top wall of an adjacent container (2) of the same stack and/or the bottom wall of said container is in contact with the bottom wall or with the top wall of an adjacent container (2) of the same stack. The wrapping (3) is wrapped laterally around the group (G) of stacks and has a tubular shape open at the top and at the bottom, so that the top wall (21) or the bottom wall (22) of a container (2) arranged at the top in each stack (1) and the top wall (21) or the bottom wall (22) of a container (2) arranged at the bottom in each stack (1) are facing outward.

In this way, with a single wrapping (3), it is possible to group together two or more stacks of containers (2).

It should be noted that, if the package comprises a single stack of containers, the wrapping completely adheres to the side wall of the containers of the stack (Fig. 3). If the package comprises more than one stack of containers, the wrapping partially adheres to the side wall of the containers of the stacks (Fig. 5).

With reference to Fig. 6, the sheet of the wrapping (3) has a length such as to laterally encircle the group (G) of stacks and a height at most equal to the height of the stacks (1) of the group.

Optionally, the wrapping (3) comprises a plurality of horizontal pre-cut lines (34), parallel to one another and parallel to the top edge (30) and to the bottom edge (31) of the sheet of the wrapping. The containers (2) of each stack are identical to one another. Each pre-cut line (34) is positioned between two containers (2) of the same stack (1). More precisely, each pre-cut line (34) is positioned between the perimeter edges, in contact therewith, of two containers of the same stack (1). Each pre-cut line (34) has a length such that the same pre-cut line (34) is positioned at all the stacks (1).

Optionally, for each pre-cut line (34), the wrapping (3) comprises a series of openings (35), arranged at said pre-cut line (34). Advantageously, for each pre-cut line (34), the wrapping (3) comprises three openings (35), i.e. , two lateral openings and one intermediate opening, positioned between the lateral openings and suitable to facilitate opening of the wrapping (3) along the pre-cut line.

Each opening (35) is arranged at the perimeter edges (23, 24) in contact with each other of two containers of the same stack (1), so that at least one portion of said perimeter edges is arranged inside this opening (35).

Modifications or variations of detail that are obvious to a person skilled in the art can be made to the present embodiment of the invention, without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.