U.S. patent application number 11/982952 was filed with the patent office on 2009-05-07 for method and package for assembling and shipping fresh cut floral arrangements.
This patent application is currently assigned to Syndicate Sales, Inc.. Invention is credited to Trent A. Harshman.
Application Number | 20090114560 11/982952 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40587028 |
Filed Date | 2009-05-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090114560 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Harshman; Trent A. |
May 7, 2009 |
Method and package for assembling and shipping fresh cut floral
arrangements
Abstract
This invention relates generally to a method and package for
shipping and handling fresh cut floral arrangements where fragile
flower blooms cover the top and sides of the arrangement.
Inventors: |
Harshman; Trent A.;
(Galveston, IN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Frank D. Lachenmaier
116 N. Main St., P.O. Box 1047
Kokomo
IN
46903-1047
US
|
Assignee: |
Syndicate Sales, Inc.
Kokomo
IN
|
Family ID: |
40587028 |
Appl. No.: |
11/982952 |
Filed: |
November 6, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/423 ;
206/204; 206/488; 53/431; 53/472 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 85/505
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/423 ;
206/204; 206/488; 53/431; 53/472 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/52 20060101
B65D085/52; B65D 85/50 20060101 B65D085/50 |
Claims
1. A package for shipping and handling fragile floral arrangements
with flowers protruding from and covering the top and sides of said
arrangement, comprising: a plate with an upper surface, a lower
surface, an outside diameter, a concentric block retaining well
extending upwards from said upper surface; a foam block disposed on
said upper surface of said plate in said block retaining well; a
cage attached to said block retaining well, trapping said foam
block between said upper surface of said plate and said cage; a
shipping carton; a liner with fold over interlocking tops with
finger slots, a bottom of sufficient length and width as to
slip-fit in said carton, two or more sidewalls with plate retainer
slots in said sidewalls a sufficient distance above said bottom as
to interface with said outside diameter of said plate and of
sufficient length and width as to hold said plate securely when
said fold over tops are interlocked without touching said
flowers.
2. A package for shipping and handling fragile floral arrangements
with flowers protruding from and covering the top and sides of said
arrangement as in claim 1 further comprising: a pedestal attached
to said lower surface of said plate.
3. A method of packaging fragile floral arrangements with flowers
protruding from and covering the top and sides of said arrangement
for shipping and handling comprising the steps of: placing a water
absorbing foam block on a plate; attaching a cage to said plate to
retain said foam bock to said plate; saturating said foam block
with a material selected from a group of water, water admixed with
floral nutrients, and water admixed with floral nutrients and
fungicides; inserting flowers into said saturated foam block in
such a manner as to cover top and sides of said floral arrangement;
placing said floral arrangement in the center of a liner with a
bottom, side walls, plate retainer slots in said side walls, fold
over interlocking tops with finger slots; folding said liner side
walls at 90 degree angles forming a U-shaped liner with said plate
retainer slots at a sufficient height above said bottom as
interface with outside diameter of said plate; folding said tops at
90 degree angles inward interlocking said tops; and slipping said
liner into said carton and sealing, whereby said arrangement is
secured for shipment to remote locations without touching said
flowers; opening carton at consumer destination; grasping said
liner by said finger slots and lifting from said carton; separating
said liner tops; unfolding said tops; and unfolding said sides
whereby said floral arrangement is in display ready condition.
5. A method of packaging fragile floral arrangements with flowers
protruding from and covering the top and sides of said arrangement
for shipping and handling as in claim 4 further comprising the step
of: attaching pedestal into said bottom surface of said plate.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Field of Invention
[0002] This invention relates generally to an apparatus for
preassembling a floral arrangement on a plate and a packaging
method that allows for inserting the arrangement into shipping
carton, shipping the arrangement and removal from the shipping
carton without damage to the fragile flowers on the exterior of the
arrangement. More specifically it refers to assembling and shipping
floral arrangements wherein the sides and top are covered with
fragile flower blossoms.
[0003] 2. Prior Art
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 4,941,572 Harris 1990 disclosed a flower
container with a water-containing absorbent foam block receiving
flower stems and a block of sealant foam above the absorbent foam
with a plastic shell over the flowers in a shrink wrap relation.
The package includes a u-shaped insert which holds the container in
place. This system is limited in that the flowers must be
individually inserted, the boxes and film are expensive to make and
time consuming to use and the sealant foam must be removed when the
shipment arrives at its destination for additional water to sustain
the flower life. Flower stems can only be inserted from the top of
the container and the sides of the container need to be free of
flowers to allow the stabilizing liner to press securely against
the container to hold it in an upright position during
shipping.
[0005] The use of foam blocks to provide the floral arranger a base
to inset flower stems to create a particular arrangement is an
industry standard, see U.S. Pat. No. 4,058,929 to O'Connell 1977.
These systems work well where assembly is at the final destination,
but not if shipping a final arrangement is required. The use of
moisture absorbing blocks presoaked to prevent stenosis during
shipping is also a well known industry technique for cut flower
shipments, see U.S. Pat. No. 6,178,688 Keating 2001.
[0006] Several floral arrangements can not be produced in bulk at a
wholesaler or e-commerce marketer and shipped to retailers or
consumers due to the difficulty in protecting the flowers on the
exterior during shipping and while removing from a standard
shipping container. The resolution of this problem has to date been
to assemble these fragile arrangements at a retail outlet and hand
carry them either by or to the final consumer.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide an
apparatus and a method of using same for creating floral
arrangements with fragile flowers on the periphery and providing
for secure retention of them during shipping.
[0008] A further object of the present invention is to provide an
absorbent floral foam pad firmly attached to a plate in which the
flowers stems may be inserted creating a floral cake
appearance.
[0009] A further object is to provide a plate that may be mounted
on a pedestal.
[0010] A further object of the present invention is to provide an
apparatus and a method of using same for removing fragile floral
arrangement from shipping container without damage to the fragile
flowers on the periphery of the arrangement.
[0011] The present invention, in its several embodiments, meets the
above mentioned objectives.
[0012] Still further objects and advantages will become apparent
from a consideration of the ensuing description and accompanying
drawings. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying
drawings which form a part thereof, and in which are shown, by way
of illustration, a specific embodiment in which the invention may
be practiced. This embodiment will be described in sufficient
detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice this
invention, and be understood that other embodiments may be utilized
and that structural changes may be made without departing from the
scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like
reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout
the several views.
DRAWINGS
[0013] In order that the invention may be more fully understood it
will now be described by way of example, with reference to the
accompanying exemplary drawings in which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the package
components;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a top view of a plate assembly;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of a plate assembly;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a cross-section view taken on line 4-4 of FIG.
2;
[0018] FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section view taken
from area 5 on FIG. 4;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a top view of a package liner, for use with a
pedestal, shown in the flat prior to forming;
[0020] FIG. 7 is a top view of a package liner, for use without a
pedestal, shown in the flat prior to forming;
[0021] FIG. 8 is a side view of a plate assembly mounted on a
pedestal in a closed package liner;
[0022] FIG. 9 is a side view of a plate assembly in a closed
package liner;
[0023] FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of a closed liner with
plate assembly inside being removed from shipping carton
REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0024] The same reference numbers are used to refer to the same or
similar parts in the various views. [0025] 12--package [0026]
14--cage [0027] 16--plate [0028] 18--pedestal [0029] 20--foam block
[0030] 22--liner [0031] 24--carton [0032] 26--finger slots [0033]
28--overlapping tongue slit [0034] 30--cage retainer channel snap
[0035] 32--cage retainer ring snap [0036] 34--cage bars [0037]
36--cage top outside ring [0038] 38--plate assembly [0039] 40--cage
top inside ring [0040] 42--liner assembly without pedestal [0041]
44--cage top bars [0042] 46--liner assembly with pedestal [0043]
48--liner in flat for pedestal [0044] 50--liner in flat for no
pedestal [0045] 52--fold lines--bottom [0046] 54--fold lines top
[0047] 56--pedestal mounting well [0048] 58--pedestal mounting post
[0049] 60--flower [0050] 62--outer diameter of plate [0051]
64--block retaining well [0052] 66--cage retainer channel [0053]
68--liner bottom [0054] 70--liner side walls [0055] 72--plate
retainer slot [0056] 74--liner top [0057] 76--cage retainer
ring
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0058] A preferred embodiment of package 12 will now be described,
by way of example, with reference to the accompanying FIGS. 1
through 10.
[0059] It will be understood that package 12 is intended to solve
the shipping problems created by the inability to secure floral
displays that have numerous flowers 60 on the top and sides of the
arrangement. One such arrangement is in the form of a cake with
flowers simulating icing, making it very difficult to handle or
ship from a centrally located facility to remote locations without
damage to the fragile blooms.
[0060] Package 12 includes plate assembly 38 as shown in FIGS. 2-5.
It is assembled from components as follows: cage 14, plate 16 and
optionally pedestal 18, all of which can be made from a lightweight
plastic. The final component is foam block 20 that can be made from
hydrophilic floral foam such as AQUAFOAM.RTM. from Syndicate Sales,
Inc. in Kokomo, Ind.
[0061] Foam block 20 is placed in block retaining well 64 which is
concentric with the top surface of plate 16 as shown in FIGS. 4 and
5. Block retaining well 64 is formed by the concentric U shaped
cage retainer channel 66 that extends upward from top surface of
plate 16 and has an internal cage retainer channel snap 30 on the
inside diameter of its outside wall.
[0062] Cage 14 is then attached to plate 16 by inserting cage
retainer ring snap 32 into cage retainer channel 66. Cage 14 is
formed with an annular ring as its base of cage retainer ring snap
32, with cage bars 34 extending upward from cage retainer ring snap
32 base to cage top outside ring 36. Top outside ring 36 is
connected to top inside ring 40 by cage top bars 44. Cage 14 firmly
secures foam block 20 to plate 16.
[0063] Cylindrical foam block 20 and its circumscribing cage 14 are
of smaller diameter and height, respectively, than the outside
diameter 62 of plate 16 and the space between the top surface of
plate 16 and the under side of liner top 74. This clearance is such
that the distal ends of flowers 60 that have been inserted into
foam block 20 do not touch liner side walls 70 or liner tops 74
when plate assembly 38 is centered on closed liner bottom 68.
[0064] If the floral arrangement is to be elevated, pedestal
mounting post 58 which is concentrically located on the distal end
of pedestal 18 can be inserted into pedestal mounting well 56 that
is concentrically located on the under surface of plate 16.
Pedestal 18 can be omitted if it is to be installed after shipping
to utilize a smaller carton 24 or if the floral arrangement is to
be displayed without elevation.
[0065] Foam block 20 can be saturated with water or a combination
of water and nutrients or water, nutrients and fungicides after
plate assembly 38 has been constructed. Flowers may be inserted
into top and sides of foam block 20 in a known manner creating a
floral arrangement that creates an illusion of a cake with floral
frosting or other difficult to handle or ship arrangements.
[0066] Liner 22 is shown in FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9. It is made from a
rectangular cardboard sheet with fold lines 52 located such that
when the cardboard sheet is folded at ninety-degree angles on lines
52, a U-shaped box structure is created with liner bottom 68 and
liner sidewalls 70. Liner bottom 68 is then of sufficient length
and width as to slip-fit into carton 24. Plate retainer slots 72
are cut through liner sidewalls 70 at a sufficient height to engage
outer diameter of plate 16. Plate retainer slots 72 are of
sufficient length and width as to firmly engage outside diameter
and thickness of plate 16 and restrain sidewalls 70 from touching
distal ends of flowers 60 inserted into periphery of foam block 20.
Liner 22 also has top fold lines 54 located at such a height that
when liner tops 74 are folded inward at 90 degree angles they
overlap and do not touch the distal ends of flowers 60 inserted
into top surface of foam block 20. Finger slots 26 are cut through
liner tops 74 and are used to pull overlapping liner tops 74
together causing them to interlock at overlapping tongue slits 28.
Overlapping tongue slits 28 are located at the centers of the
distal ends of liner 22. When overlapping tongue slits 28 are
seated as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, they are of sufficient depth from
the distal ends as to prevent liner side walls 70 from touching
distal ends of flowers 60 inserted into side walls of foam block
20. They are brought together in an interlocking manner by aligning
opposing slits 28 and leading one side under and the other side
over the opposing liner tops 74 and squeezing finger slots 26
between the thumb and fingers as shown in FIG. 10 until they are
firmly seated.
[0067] Liner 22 interlocked over plate assembly 38 with fragile
floral arrangement installed can then be easily slipped into
shipping carton 24 forming package 12. Package 12 can then be
shipped with contents firmly held in moist and secure environment
to remote locations without fear of damage to the fragile exterior
of the floral arrangement. When package 12 arrives at its
destination, liner 22 can be easily removed from shipping carton 24
by opening top of carton 24 and lifting with finger slots 26 in
liner tops 74, transferring the lifting forces to liner bottom 68.
Interlocked liner tops 74 prevent liner sidewalls 70 from
collapsing into fragile flowers 60. After removal from carton 24,
liner tops 74 interlocks can be reversed and liner 22 unfolded away
from plate assembly 38, leaving floral arrangement mounted in
display ready fashion.
[0068] While this invention has been described with reference to
two illustrative embodiments, it will be understood that this
description is not limiting as to size, scale or construction
materials. Rather, the scope of this invention is defined by the
following claims.
* * * * *