U.S. patent number 3,767,104 [Application Number 05/189,243] was granted by the patent office on 1973-10-23 for supporting disc for packaging cut flowers and the like.
This patent grant is currently assigned to The Pillsbury Company. Invention is credited to Carl E. Bachman, Richard E. Miller, Edwin H. Smoots.
United States Patent |
3,767,104 |
Bachman , et al. |
October 23, 1973 |
SUPPORTING DISC FOR PACKAGING CUT FLOWERS AND THE LIKE
Abstract
A supporting and spacing disc for a conical paper flower
container. The disc has a plurality of spaced tear-shaped openings
for flower stems disposed adjacent its peripheral edge, and a
single opening disposed in the central portion thereof. For simple
flower removal, the disc is slotted between each tear-shaped
opening and the peripheral edge, and is perforated between the
central opening and at least one peripheral opening.
Inventors: |
Bachman; Carl E. (Minneapolis,
MN), Miller; Richard E. (Minneapolis, MN), Smoots; Edwin
H. (Minneapolis, MN) |
Assignee: |
The Pillsbury Company
(Minneapolis, MN)
|
Family
ID: |
22696547 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/189,243 |
Filed: |
October 14, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/423;
47/41.11; 47/41.01; 229/123.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
85/505 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
85/50 (20060101); B65d 083/00 (); B65d
003/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;229/7R,87P ;206/46PL
;47/41.11,34.11,9 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Lowrance; George E.
Assistant Examiner: Garbe; Stephen P.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. In combination:
a. a conical container of pliable material for flowers and the
like;
b. and a supporting disc disposed in the mouth portion of the
conical container, the disc being formed from flexible,
self-supporting material and having a plurality of stem receiving
openings disposed proximate its peripheral edge and an opening in
the central portion thereof, the disc being slotted between each
peripheral opening and the peripheral edge, and having a line of
perforations being disposed between said centrally disposed opening
and at least one of said peripheral openings, and being frangible
along said line.
Description
The invention is related generally to plant containers, and is
specifically directed to a disc for supporting and spacing cut
flowers in a conical paper container.
One of the more common practices employed in the sale of cut
flowers is wrapping the purchased bouquet in paper or a similar
pliable material to form a conical container. While this form of
wrapping has the distinct advantage of being inexpensive, it offers
little protection to the flowers and often results in damage to
both blossoms and leaves.
Al alternative solution to the problem is effected through
provision of a more rigid container. However, this has a
disproportionate effect on overall cost of the bouquet,
particularly where less expensive flowers are concerned, and
ordinarily creates or increases the problem of container storage
before use.
Our invention is directed to a supporting disc which is insertable
into the mouth of a paper wrapping cone to maintain its form and
offer support thereto. The disc includes a plurality of openings
into which flower stems are placed to keep the individual flowers
spaced and fully protected, and perforations or slots between the
openings and the disc edge permit easy removal without damage to
the flowers.
Preferably the discs are formed from low cost, thin plastic which
is easy to store and has a negligible effect on bouquet costs.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an inventive supporting disc in
combination with a paper wrapping cone with a bouquet of flowers
disposed therein;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 2;
and
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the disc and bouquet with the paper
container removed, a portion of the disc being disassembled.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In FIGS. 1-3, a bouquet consisting of a plurality of flowers 11 is
shown wrapped in a container represented generally by the numeral
12. In its most conventional form, container 12 comprises ordinary
wrapping paper rolled into the shape of a cone having a closed,
pointed bottom 13 and an open-mouthed top 14.
In order to better define the open mouth 14 and prevent its
collapse, a disc 15 of thin plastic is disposed therein. Disc 15 is
preferably flexible although capable of self-support, and, in
combination with paper container 12, provides a sufficiently
protected package for the flowers 11.
As best seen in FIG. 3, disc 15 includes a plurality of tear-shaped
openings 16 disposed adjacent its periphery and pointing radially
outward; and a centrally disposed circular opening 17. Openings 16
and 17 are sized to receive the stems of flowers 11 and are
equidistantly spaced to provide a sufficient distance
therebetween.
To facilitate removal of flowers 11 from disc 15, the disc is slit
between one of the openings 16 and its peripheral edge, as shown at
18. For removal of the flower disposed in the central openings 17,
disc 15 is perforated between opening 17 and at least one of the
openings 16, as shown at 19, to be frangible at that point.
Preferably, disc 15 is frangibly perforated between central opening
17 and a plurality of the openings 16, as shown in FIG. 3.
In use, a paper cone 12 is formed in the known manner, and disc 15
is inserted into the cone mouth as shown in FIG. 2. Disc 15 is held
frictionally, or it can be taped in place. The stems of flowers 11
are then inserted into the openings 16 and 17, resulting in a
protected bouquet of spaced flowers. It will also be appreciated
that, by reason of the specific number of openings 16 and 17, disc
14 causes the number of flowers per bouquet to be uniformly
maintained.
For flower removal, the paper cone 12 is separated from the disc
15, and the flowers held in the openings 16 are removed through the
associated slots 18. Disc 15 is then broken along the frangible
perforations 19 (FIG. 4), and the remaining flower disposed in
central opening 17 is removed.
It will be apparent that the disc and cone combination provide an
inexpensive, disposable package for a bouquet which offers
complete, spaced protection to the stems, leaves and petals of each
flower.
* * * * *