GB2065059A

GB2065059A - Package for flowers

Info

Publication number: GB2065059A
Application number: GB8035371A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: HEPBURN R I HEPBURN G J HEPBUR; AHI Operations Ltd
Current assignee: HEPBURN R I HEPBURN G J HEPBUR; AHI Operations Ltd
Priority date: 1979-11-05
Filing date: 1980-11-04
Publication date: 1981-06-24
Also published as: AU6410980A

Abstract

A package e.g. for an orchid comprises a backing sheet (11) of cardboard and a dish (1) having a flange (7) around the periphery so that the dish (1) is adhered to the backing sheet (11). The dish (1) includes a part (6) in which a water reservoir is formed and a neck (4) through which the stem (10) of a flower bloom contained in the other part (5) of the dish (1) can be placed. The water is preferably retained in a portion of sponge or cotton wool and a hinged panel (20) in the backing sheet (11) may facilitate refilling of the reservoir. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to packaging components and/or packages and/or methods of packaging This invention relates to packaging components and/or a package and/or a method of packaging.

It is often desirable to transport flower blooms such as orchids some distance and to display them for sale.

This is at present difficult as it is difficult to retain the bloom in a fresh condition for other than a short period of time. Thus the blooms are frequently sold once they have passed their peak condition or when the peak condition is nearing its end.

Further more during transportation it is often necessary to handle the blooms a substantial number of times and this also causes deleterious effects to the blooms both by breaking or bending and also by the transfer of, for example, dirt to petal.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a packaging component and/or a method of packaging which will go at least some distance toward obviating or minimising the foregoing disadvantages or which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.

Accordingly in one aspect the invention consists in a packaging component comprising a dish like member having an outwardly extending peripheral flange, said member having one or more concave sections to divide the volume of said member into two parts and to provide a neck or necks between said two parts.

In a further aspect the invention consists in a packaging comprising a dish like member having an outwardly extending flange, said member having one or more concave sections to divide the volume of said member into two parts and to provide a neck or necks between said two parts and a backing sheet, said backing sheet being adhered to said peripheral flange.

In still a further aspect the invention consists in a method of packaging a bloom or blooms comprising the steps of providing a dish like member having an outwardly extending peripheral flange, which member has one or more concave sections to divide the volume of said member into two parts and to provide a neck or necks between said two parts, positioning a bloom or the blooms in said dish like member so that the stem or stems of said bloom or blooms extends or extend through said neck or necks into one said part so that the petals of said bloom or blooms are contained in the other said part, and adhering said dish like member to a backing card.

To those skilled in the art to which this invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope.of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the descriptions herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

The invention consists in the foregoing, and also envisages constructions of which the following gives examples only.

One preferred form of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying draw ings in which: Figure lisa side elevation of a packaging compo next with a bloom therein according to the invention, Figure 2 is a view as in figure 1 with a backing board adhered thereto, Figure 3 is a front elevation of the construction of figure 2, Figure 4 is a cross section on A-A in figure 3, and Figure 5 is a cross section as in figure 4 of an alternative embodiment of the invention.

In the preferred construction a packaging component, a package and a method of packaging are provided as follows.

The packaging component comprises a dish like member 1 which is preferably tapered inwardly towards one end 2. One or more and preferably two concave sections 3 are provided which extend inwardly into the dish like member from the side walls thereof adjacent the narrowed end 2 so as to define a neck 4 between two compartments 5 and 6.

The dish like member 1 is preferably formed from a clear plastics material such as clear polyvinylchloride and is of a type generally referred as a blister in the appropriate packaging technology. The material may also include an ultra violet light inhibitor and be about 0.35 to 0.45mm thick, preferably about 0.35mm. About the blister is provided an out turned peripheral flange 7.

Into the space 6 is positioned water or other fluid, or alternatively a sponge or other material capable of holding water such as for example the material used by florists for this purpose or cotton wool and the material 8 preferably substantially fills the space 6.

The material 8 is impregnated with or contains water as required. A bloom is then positioned in the component 1 and for example may comprise an orchid having petals 9 and a stem 10. The stem 10 extends through the neck 4 into the material 8 and to complete the package the component 1 is adhered to a backing sheet 11 by a suitable waterproof adhesive or preferably by heat sealing 12 which will be a suitable waterproof surface coating on the backing sheet 11. The preferred coating is an acrylic coating having a moisture transmission rate preferably of less than 50 gms, i.e. about 40 to 50 grams per square metre per twenty four hours. The bottoms of sections 3 will be preferably adhered to the backing sheet 11.

The backing sheet 11 may be of any desired material such as cardboard and is preferably treated overall, or at least in the region of the water, other fluid, or sponge or other material 8 so that it is substantially waterproof and able to be heat sealed to the blister.

The positioning of the neck 4 is preferably such that the bloom will be held in an attractive and also firm position within the component 1 which com ponent 1 is also preferably shaped to conform sub stantiallyto the shape of the flower and this can be seen particularly in figure 3 where the shape is sub stantially heart shaped which satisfactorily contains an orchid and which also provides an attractive vis ual appearance.

Of course a plurality of blooms may be used and the stems may extend through the neck or the con strlction may provide a plurality of necks e.g. three necks 13, 14 and 15forsuch use by providing dim ples or depressions 16 and 17 in the neck area.

If desired a hinged door 20 can be provided in the board 11 to allow refilling of the reservoir 2.

The use of the invention is as follows: In use, a bloom such as an orchid is packaged as above described for transportation and/or display and this enables a flower bloom or the like to be packed protected and transported without substantial deterioration for a substantial period. Also, the bloom can be put on sale in a manner in which it cannot be touched at the point of purchase so as to remain in a fresh state of preservation for some considerable time.

The weld between the backing and the flange may be for example by heat sealing. Where heat sealing is being used the backing card has a suitable heat sealable coating thereon. Thus it can be seen that a packaging component and/or a package and/or a method of packaging are provided which at least in the preferred form of the invention has the advantage that a bloom in particular an orchid may be sealed into an environment which will allow the bloom to be transported and sold with a minimum of touching and also in a manner such that deterioration of the bloom is to some extent postponed.

Claims

1. A packaging component comprising a dish like member having an outwardly extending peripheral flange, said member having one or more concave sections to divide the volume of said member into two parts and to provide a neck or necks between said two parts.

2. A packaging component as claimed in claim 1 wherein said packaging component is formed of a clear plastics material.

3. A packaging component as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said dish like member is tapered towards one end thereof, and said concave section or sections are provided towards said narrower end so that a larger and a smaller part are provided.

4. A packaging component as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a pair of concave sections are provided extending inwardly into said dish-like member, said neck being provided between said two inward extensions.

5. A packaging component substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

6. A package comprising a dish like member having an outwardly extending flange, said member having one or more concave sections to divide the volume of said member into two parts and to pro vide a neck or necks between said two parts and a backing sheet, said backing sheet being adhered to said peripheral flange.

7. A package as claimed in claim 6 wherein said packaging component is formed of a clear plastics or like material.

8. A package as claimed in either claim 6 or claim 7 wherein said dish like member is tapered towards one end thereof, and said concave section or sections being provided towards said narrower end so that a larger and a smaller part are provided.

9. A package as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8 wherein a pair of concave sections are provided extending inwardly into said dish-like member, said neck being provided between said two inward extensions.

10. A package as claimed in claim 8 wherein water or other fluid, or a sponge or material having a similar water holding properties is positioned in the smaller of said parts of said dish like member.

11. A package as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 10 wherein said dish like member is adhered to the card around substantially the whole periphery thereof.

12. A package substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. A method of packaging a flower bloom or blooms comprising the steps of providing a dish like member having an outwardly extending peripheral flange, which member has one or more concave sections to divide the volume of said member into two parts and to provide a neck or necks between said two parts, positioning a bloom or the blooms in said dish like member so that the stem or stems of said bloom or blooms extends or extend to said neck or necks into one said part so that the petals of said bloom or blooms are contained in the other said part, and adhering said dish like member to a backing card.

14. A method of packaging a flower bloom or blooms as claimed in claim 13 wherein water or other fluid, or a sponge or material having similar water holdings properties is provided in the part of said dish like member not containing said petals so that said stem or stems extends or extend to or into said water or other fluid, or spronge or material having similar water holding properties, a quantity of water being provided in the said material.

15. A method of packaging a flower bloom or blooms as claimed in either claim 13 or claim 14 wherein said bloom comprises an orchid.

16. A method of packaging a flower bloom or blooms as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 15 wherein said packaging conforms to the general shape of said bloom.

17. A method of packaging substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.