AU2001100401A4

AU2001100401A4 - Flower container

Info

Publication number: AU2001100401A4
Application number: AU2001100401A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Loraine Gaye Watson
Original assignee: S M WATSON Pty Ltd
Current assignee: S & M Watson Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2001-09-24
Filing date: 2001-09-24
Publication date: 2001-10-18
Anticipated expiration: 2009-09-24
Also published as: WO2003026464A1

Description

S M WATSON PTY LTD

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR AN INNOVATION PATENT FLOWER CONTAINER The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it know to us:- FLOWER CONTAINER Technical Field This invention relates to a flower or floral arrangement container assembly typically but not exclusively for use by florists.

Background Art Existing containers are not shaped to fit standard floral foams. They are very unstable in transport by courier vans and customer cars. Their shape reduces the ability to use tall flower placements which are required to create elegant arrangements that appear to be of greater value. The top heaviness of the floral arrangement often causes them to tip over, resulting in damaged and broken flowers (often requiring returns to florist for replacement and lost custom due to complaints).

Adding water to these existing containers invariably results in overflows, causing water damage to vehicles and furniture in offices, homes and hospitals. To avoid this problem, the consumer is discouraged from watering the arrangement, thus reducing the life span of cut flowers. Some containers scratch furniture. Another container, the cardboard box, often becomes moist, increasing its instability and therefore cannot be prearranged.

Although customers prefer to receive arrangements, florists will avoid sending them because of these multiple and ongoing problems.

Summary of the Invention The present invention aims to overcome or alleviate one or more of the above disadvantages by providing an improved container assembly and packaged container assembly for flowers or floral arrangements. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description.

The present invention thus provides in one aspect a flower or floral arrangement container assembly, said container assembly comprising a container and a base, said container having an open upper end and a closed lower end so as to contain water, said base being substantially larger than said lower end of said container and including means for locating said container substantially centrally of said base.

Preferably, the container is of circular cross section and includes a first lower portion and a second upper portion which extends outwardly from the lower portion. At least the second upper portion is preferably of frustoconical configuration. The first lower portion is preferably also of frustoconcial configuration extending upwardly and outwardly from the closed lower end of the container at an angle of inclination less than the angle of inclination of the second upper portion.

The join line between the upper and lower portions of the container defines a waist which may suitably serve as a locating means for tie means for attaching sheet wrapping about the container assembly. The sheet wrapping and tie means may also serve to maintain the base attached to the container.

The locating means of the base may comprise a recess for receiving the lower end of the container. Alternatively, the base may include a raised land.

In the latter configuration, the container may include a skirt which locates about the raised land.

The base typically is of circular form in plan however the base may be of other configurations such as square or multi-sided. The outer periphery of the base may be provided with a downwardly or upwardly extending flange which may be angled outwardly.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a packaged container assembly for flowers or floral arrangements, said container assembly comprising a container and a base, said container having an open upper end and a closed lower end so as to contain water, said base being substantially larger than said lower end of said container and including means for locating said container substantially centrally of said base, and at least one packaging sheet wrapped around said base and said container and secured to said container by tie means around said container.

Preferably, and as stated above the container includes a waist for locating the tie means for the packaging sheet. Pairs of packaging sheets which are suitably of a square configuration but which may be of other configurations may be provided being arranged diametrically relative to each other and wrapped or folded upwardly about the base and container to be secured by the tie means. The tie means may comprise a ribbon or any other form of tying member.

Brief Description of the Drawings Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and in which: Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of a container assembly for flowers or floral arrangements; Figs. 2 and 3 are exploded perspective views of the container assembly from above and below; Fig. 4 illustrated the container assembly placed on a pair of packaging sheets prior to wrapping; and Fig. 5 illustrates the packaged container assembly.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment The container assembly 10 according to an embodiment of the invention is in two parts comprising a container 11 and a base or tray 12 which supports the container 11. The container 11 is of a generally cup shaped configuration and of circular cross section and has a lower frustoconical outwardly inclined wall 13 and an upper frustoconical wall 14 extending upwardly and outwardly at a greater inclination from the wall 13 to define therewith a circumferentially extending join line or waist The tray 12 is also of circular cross-section and includes a central circular recess 16 to receive the lower end of the container 11. Preferably, the lower end of the container 11 is a push fit in the recess 16 so that the container 11 and tray 16 are held together when engaged with each other. The outer periphery of the tray 12 also may include an outwardly and downwardly inclined skirt 17 which may seat in use on a supporting surface.

The lower end of the container 11 may also include an annular skirt 18 (see Fig. 3) extending downwardly from the container base 19 and coextensive with the wall 13. The base 19 of the container 12 can also be provided with an upwardly stepped central portion 20 upon which a block 21 of foam material (see Fig. 1) can be placed to support flowers in the container 11. The block 21 is of suitably of a size to engage the inner wall of the container 11 to be thereby wedged in use firmly in the container 12.

For forming a packaged container assembly 10, the assembled container 11 and tray 12 are placed centrally on a pair of square or rectangular plastic or paper sheets 23 and 24 as shown in Fig. 4 which are arranged diagonally relative to each other. The sheets 23 and 24 can then be wrapped or folded upwardly and around the tray 12 and container 11 as indicated by the arrows shown in Fig. 4 and secured with a ribbon 25 tied around the container 11, the ribbon 25 being located by the join line or waist 15 as shown in Fig. 5. The container assembly 10 can be wrapped in coloured plastic sheets for gift giving or display therefore creating a functional and stylish container for arranged flowers. Tying of the sheets 23 and 24 about the container 11 also serves to maintain the tray 12 in engagement with the container 11.

In a further configuration, the tray 12 can be inverted such that the land 26 normally on the lower side of the tray 12 which defines the recess 16 is on the upper side of the tray 12 and the skirt 18 on the lower end of the container 11 is sized so that it can locate about the land 26 to position the container 11 centrally of the tray 12. In this configuration the skirt 17 of the tray 12 is upwardly and outwardly inclined and serves to trap water.

The container 11 and tray 12 are suitably formed of durable lightweight plastics to minimize packaging space and weight thereby reducing the cost of transport. The tray 12 is of a suitable size to provide stable support for the container 11.

The containers assemblies 10 may be in different sizes and usually three different sizes are provided for different size flower arrangements. The result is a functional, stable floral container with the ability to utilise taller flowers, thus adding value. Further the tapering configuration of the container 11 is such that they are stackable one within the other whilst the trays 12 being relative thin are also easily stackable therefore making for cost effective transport.

Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative embodiment of the invention, all such variations and modifications thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein set forth.

Claims

1. A flower or floral arrangement container assembly, said container assembly comprising a container and a base, said container having an open upper end and a closed lower end so as to contain water, said base being substantially larger than said lower end of said container and including means for locating said container substantially centrally of said base.

2. A container assembly according to claim 1 wherein said container is of circular cross-section and includes a first lower portion and a second upper portion which extends outwardly from said lower portion to define a waist to serve as a locating means for tie means for attaching sheet wrapping about the container assembly.

3. A container assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said locating means of the base comprises a recess for receiving the lower end of the container.

4. A packaged container assembly for flowers or floral arrangements, said container assembly comprising a container and a base, said container having an open upper end and a closed lower end so as to contain water, said base being substantially larger than said lower end of said container and including means for locating said container substantially centrally of said base, and at least one packaging sheet wrapped around said base and said container and secured to said container by tie means around said container. A container assembly according to claim 4 wherein said container includes a waist, said waist locating said tie means. Dated this twenty-fourth day of September 2001 S M Watson Pty Ltd By 'r atent Attorney JFhnF G Gardner