CA1262118C - Balloon container for flowers and machine for making same - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed packaged articles, and a device and method of constructing same, such articles comprising articles of fresh cut parts of plants, and artificial decorative embodiments. The packaging is characterized by enveloping such articles with an inflated balloon. The article being placed in an open container, a balloon is then inflated and receives the article and container, and is then securely attached to the container, thereby enclosing the article. A device for constructing the packaged article employs a vertical cylindrical chamber, open at one end, adapted to receive the article and container. The device includes a source of pressurized gas and means for communicating this source with the chamber. A platform is provided in the chamber for holding the article and container during movement thereof within the chamber. An actuator is secured to the chamber and connected to the platform and is capable of axially moving the platform. A control mechanism controls the actuator and the flow of pressurized gas into the chamber.

Description

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-- 1. --This invention relates to a device ~or ~ackaqinq fresh cut parts oE ~larlts, sllch as leaves or Elower-~ear;n~
stems, or arti~icial embodiments thereof, and like-sized articles whicll are displa~ed for their ornamental ar)~eal.
This application is a division of Canadian patent ap~lication serial no. ~4n,42~ filed ~une 2~ 87.
To improve longevity, such articles re~uire care and protection from damage that may result from accidental striking or dropping, as during transport. To improve appearance, it is useful to prevent accumulation of dust and other air-borne particles on such articles.
This invention provides a device for packaqinq an article in a container such as cut flowers in a suitable vase.
Accordin~ to the invention, there i9 provided a device for packa~inq an article in a container comprising a source of pressurized gas; an elonqate chamber, open at one end, adapted to receive the article and container, and havinq means for communicatinq with said source of pressur1zed qas; holdin~ means within said chamber for holc~ing the article and container during movement thereof within said chamber; actuation means secured to said chamber and connected to said holding means for axially moving said holdinq means within said chamber; and control means for controllinq said actuation means and flow o~ said pressurized qas into said chamber.

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rrhere i.s also disclosed herein a ~aclca-~e combination comprisinq an article, a container havin~ a top and a neck and ada~ted to receive and hold the article throu~h an openinq in the top, the container bein~
gas-impermeahle except at the tOpr an inflated balloon secured to the container in a ~as-ti~ht relationship with the neck, whereby the combination of the container and the balloon completely encloses the article.
Ry way of example, a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and of the process and device for constructin~ same, is described below in con~unction with the accompanyin~ drawin~s, in which:
Fiqure 1 is a front perspective view, ~artially broken, of ~acka~ed fresh cut flowers, constructed in accordance with the present invention;
Fi~ure 2 is a front sectional view of a device for constructin~ the packa~ed flowers, as shown in Fiqure 1, wherein a vase and flowers are hein~ lowered into the device Fi~ure 3 is a partial front sectional view of the device, when the vase and flowers have been lowered into the device and the halloon has been attached and is bein~ inflated;
Fi~ure 4 is a top view o~ the device illustrated in ~l~ures 2 and 3;

~ ~i2~8 Fiqure 5 is a circuit sche~atic of the electric control means for the device illustrated in Ficlures 2 to 4.
In Fiqure l, there is shown an inflated conventional balloon 1 and vase 2 connected in a qas-tiqht relationshi~ by annular sealin~ ~nd ~. ~alloon l and vase 2 may be transparent, coloured or ~arked in any ornamentably desirable fashion. Vase 2 is of conventional construction (havin~ in ~articular a fluid and qas-tiqht construction and an open top) and is of a conventional profile adapted to receive and hold stems 5 of fresh cut flowers 4, and havinq a neck 6 small enou~h to allow balloon l to snuqly receive it. ~alloon l is of a type conventionally available and ~referably clear, and is inflatable to accom~odate flowers 4. ~alloon l may he inflated with air or other qases conducive to flowers 4:
nitroqen qas or oxy~en are usable for this purpose. Water and conventionally available nutrients 7 for flowers 4 are provided in vase 2. A foraminous annular securin~
device 8, which can be of known construction, is snuqly disposed within vase 2 to securely arranqe stems 5.
Referrin~ to the device in Fi~ures 2 and 3, disposed in a cabinet 50, there is a vertically disposed cylindrical chamber 55 with an internal diameter sufficient to receive slidably vase 2 and~Elowers~4. The internal heiqht of chamber 55 is sufficient to accommodate at least the com~bined heiqht of vase 2 and flowers 4 arranqed therein.
; ~ Chamber 55 is open on the top with top portion 6n and is closed at the bottom, sealin~ly secured to a horizontal shelf 65 of cabinet 50 by conventional means, such as ~ weldinq~and a silicon seal at 67.

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rrllere is a disc platEorm 7n elevatable or lowerable withln chamber 55 by conventional telesco~)ic actuation means 75 clisr)osed under she:LE ~S arl(l extendinc1 upward therethrou~h at bore 66. Conventional means, .such as weldincl and silicon seals, are l-rovided at h7 to seal and secure actuation means 75 to chamber 55 in a qas-ti~ht relationshi~. ~ conventional automatic car antenna actuator (for example, ~IARADA* MXI) may be employed as actuation means 75. Platform 7n has a dialneter less than the internal diameter of the chamber 55 so as to form an annular ori~ice and is profiled to shoulder vase 2 in a stable manner as it is lowered or elevated.
There is conventional air pumpinq means, desi~nated as sn, which is disposed near chamber 55 and is in controlled communication therewith throu~h switch-valve means 120. Additionally, there is an auxialliary conventional coupler 130, adapted to receive pressurized qas from an external source (not shown~, connected to conventional valve 125 which controls communication with chamber 55.
For carryin~ out the process of packaqin~, to be described below, there are electric control means as illustrated in circuit schematic form in Fi~ure 5, and illustrated in the top schematic view of the dev;ce of Fi~ure 4.
In Fi~ure 5, a conventional 12~ volt A.C. source is desi~nated at 9~ and is connected to a ste~ down transformer and converter, ~enerally desi~nated as ll~, and is controlled hy fuse or circuit breaker 9S and switch and on~ ht combination lOn. Conventional transformer and converter lln ste~ down and convert 12n volts A.C. to 12 volts ~.C., which is then ~ed to actuation means 75 and * trade mark _ 5 ~ 2~

controlled by switch rneans ll5. Source sn is also connected to air pumpinq means ~n, which is cont~olLe~l b~
conventional switch 120.
The process of constructin~ the packaqed plant with the ahove described device is as follows. Flowers 4 and stems 5 are arran~ed in vase 2, as hereinbefore described, and platform 7n is raised within the chamher 55 by actuation means 75 to a hei~ht that permits the manual placement of vase 2 on platform 7n without undue difficulty.
So placed, ~latform 70 is lowered by actuation means 75 until the top of flowers 4 is below the top of the chamber 55. Balloon 1 is then manually placed over the top portion ~n of chamber 55 in a qas-ti~ht relationship therewith.
Air is pumped into chamber 55 to inflate balloon 1 to the desired slze, usually lar~e enouqh to enclose flowers 4 without contact therewith. After inflation, vase 2 and flowers 4 are elevated into inflated balloon 1 by actuation means 75 until a portion of vase 2 is exposed above top portion fi~ of chamber 55. At this sta~e, flowers 4 will be enveloped by inflated balloon 1. Ralloon 1 is then manually slid off top portion ~n of chamber 55 to ~rip the said exposed portion of vase 2, which ~rip is further secured by elastic band 3 so as to form a ~as-tiqht relationship between balloon 1 and vase ~.
~s with any ~resh cut flowers, it is ~referahle to keep the packa~ed plant, as hereinabove described, in a cool, dry environment.

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Vari~tions to the above ~lescribed ~relerred embodiment within the spirit of the invention include the following. It will be apparent that articles like feathers, dehydrated plants, srnall toys like plush dolls and decorative seeds on suitable stems may be packa~ed according to the invention. Different sizes of vases and articles may be packaqed throu~h appropriate and roukine modification of the above described process. Platform 7n may be ~erforated to permit easier flow of ~as therethrou~h. For fresh cut flowers, it has been found that nitrogen gas is a suitable gas. According to the physical characteristics and re~uirements of the art~icles packaged, balloons of different characteristics may be employed to enhance the lon~evity of the packa~ed articles, including those characteristics related to the permeability of oxygen, carbon dioxide and water. Alternatively, appropriate coatin~s may be applied to the balloon to prevent the formation of water droplets in the balloon or to maintain the shine of the balloon. For example, coatin~
the outer surface of the inflated balloon with thinned ~l-Float(*) coating (one part ~i-Float to three parts water) has been found to prolon~ the shine.

(*) ~li-Float is a trade mark of ~ Fr.oat ~om~any of Louisville, Kentucky

Claims (6)

1. A device for packaging an article in a container comprising:
(a) a source of pressurized gas;
(b) an elongate chamber, open at one end, adapted to receive the article and container, and having means for communicating with said source of pressurized gas;
(c) holding means within said chamber for holding the article and container during movement thereof within said chamber;
(d) actuation means secured to said chamber and connected to said holding means for axially moving said holding means within said chamber;
(e) control means for controlling said actuation means and flow of said pressurized gas into said chamber

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said chamber is elongate and cylindrical in shape.

3. A device according to claims 1 or 2 wherein said holding means is a plate dimensioned sufficiently small to permit flow of said gas around said plate within said chamber.

4. A device according to claims 1 or 2 wherein said holding means is a perforated plate.

5. A device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the said actuation means is a piston actuated by hydraulic means.

6. A device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the said actuation means is a piston actuated by an electric motor.