AU736386B3 - Packaging container - Google Patents

Description

P/00/0011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A PETTY PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicants: Actual Inventor: Address for service in Australia: Invention Title: Karen LEGH and Matthew LEGH Karen LEGH Freehills Carter Smith Beadle 101 Collins Street Melbourne Victoria 3000 Australia PACKAGING CONTAINER The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us PACKAGING CONTAINER This invention relates generally to packaging containers or holders for articles such as flowers, and more particularly to packaging containers or holders designed for holding and/or transporting articles like a single flower or a flower arrangement. This invention also pertains to a paperboard blank from which the packaging or holder is made.

Many forms of packaging or holders are known for holding or transporting flower arrangements. The conventional form of packing is to wrap the stems of the flowers of the flower arrangement. Traditionally, the materials used for wrapping of the flower stems are sheets of tissue paper, wrapping paper or plastic, or a combination of these.

Flowers are often given to friends, family or work colleagues as a sign of friendship, love or appreciation. However, due to the often rather extensive nature of the foliage of flower arrangements the nature of the above mentioned packaging does not protect the flower arrangement and unfortunately, too often the flower arrangement is damaged during transportation thereof.

Also, simply due to the nature of the above mentioned packaging, it is also common for the packaging itself to be damaged such as being torn or crumpled during transportation. It will be appreciated that the simple act of the florist picking up and passing a wrapped flower arrangement to a purchaser generally damages the wrapping by crumpling the wrapping around the stems of the flowers as the flower arrangement is picked up and held.

As will be appreciated, the giver of the flower arrangement does not want damaged packaging or wrapping to detract from the beauty of the flower arrangement. Therefore it is not uncommon for givers of flower arrangements to repackage the flower arrangement prior to giving thereof.

It is for the above reasons that many purchasers of flower arrangements are looking for alternative forms of packaging where the packaging is durable for handling and transportation purposes, protects the flower arrangement during KMC:TOC:40451362.PP 2 August 2000 transportation and also packaging which is attractive and aesthetically pleasing to the eye for gift purposes.

It is therefore appreciated that wrapping of flower arrangements have not changed appreciably from their inception and consequently have not been updated to take advantage of modern day display techniques.

It is desirable to provide a new and useful packaging container for a single flower or a flower arrangement.

It is also desirable to provide a packaging container which will maintain the condition of the flower arrangement during delivery thereof, and which will enable delivery of the flower arrangement in an undamaged condition.

It is also desirable to provide a packaging container which will withstand acceptable handling and wear and tear of transportation of the flower arrangement between purchase and delivery thereof.

It is also desirable to provide a packaging container which is easy to handle and is able to be carried without damaging the flower arrangement or the packaging thereof.

It is also desirable to provide a packaging container which is easy to use as a display container.

It is also desirable to provide a packaging container which is able to accommodate a variety of sizes of flowers or flower arrangements.

It is also desirable to provide a new and useful blank having cut lines and fold lines for making into a packaging container for flower arrangements.

It is also desirable to provide a packaging container for flower arrangements that requires minimal storage space and minimal time and effort to assemble, thereby saving handling and packing time during preparation of the presentation of the flower arrangement for delivery.

It is also desirable to provide a blank that can be readily assembled into a packaging container for the handling and transportation of a flower arrangement where the use of fastening devices, such as staples, tape or string is optional.

It is also desirable to provide a packaging container which is durable and able to be used on several occasions if desired.

KMC:TOC:40451362.PP 2 August 2000 It is also desirable to provide a packaging container which is economical to produce.

It is also desirable to provide a packaging container which provides a significant benefit to the manufacturer in terms of marketing.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a packaging container for transportation and display of an article or collection of articles formed by a substantially planer blank comprising: a plurality of spaced apart zones of weakness extending longitudinally of said blank; a plurality of panel portions; a securing means; and one or more handle portions where at least one of said handle portions is located adjacent to one of said panel portions; wherein said plurality of panel portions and said at least one of said handle portions are divided by said zones of weakness and such that when said blank is folded along said zones of weakness the panel portions form the base and sides of the packaging container and form a first open end which said article or articles are placed for said transportation and display and a second open end wherein said second open end is truncated and wherein the shape of the packaging container is maintained by said securing means.

The packaging container of the present invention is designed particularly for use to package and display a single flower or flower arrangement for gift purposes.

However, the use of the packaging container is unlimited, and the features of the invention may be used in the packaging, display and storage of other articles.

In a preferred form of the invention the blank is divided into a first handle portion located adjacent to and divided from a first panel portion by a first zone of weakness. Located adjacent to and divided from the first panel portion by a second zone of weakness is a second panel portion which is located remote from said first handle portion. A third panel portion is located adjacent to and divided from said second panel portion by a third zone of weakness, where said third panel portion is remote from said first panel portion and said first handle portion. Located adjacent V4 ,oF to and divided from the third panel portion by a fourth zone of weakness is a fourth panel portion which is located remote from said first and second panel portions and said first handle portion. Located adjacent to and divided from the fourth panel portion by a fifth zone of weakness is a second handle portion, where second handle portion is remote from said first, second and third panel portions and first handle portion.

In a further form of the invention each zone of weakness is formed by a fold line such that the blank can easily be folded or pivoted upwardly about the fold line.

Techniques for forming fold lines are well known in the art. For example, cardboard blanks or plastic sheet material are often scored along such fold line by cutting a narrow, shallow groove in the surface of the blank.

In a further form of the present invention there is provided a means whereby the assembled shape of the packaging container is maintained, hereinafter referred to as a securing means.

In a further embodiment of the present invention there is located at least one aperture in the outer edges of the first and fourth panel portions whereby a fastening means such as a piece of string, ribbon or the like may be used to retain abutment of the first and fourth panel portions to maintain the shape of the assembled packaging container.

In a further embodiment of the present invention there is located at least one aperture in the handle portions whereby a fastening means such as piece of string, ribbon or the like may be used to retain abutment of the handles portions to maintain the shape of the assembled packaging container.

In a further embodiment of the present invention there is at least one fastening means located on either of the first and fourth panel portions and/or in the handle portions of the blank.

In a further form of the invention the blank is substantially planer and substantially triangular in shape, which allows the un-assembled packaging containers to be stored in neat stacks. Further, since the packaging container is formed by a relatively simple folding operation, the packaging container can be quickly assembled or disassembled whenever needed.

QO qNI In a further embodiment of the present invention there are shapes of any desired pattern perforated in the panel portions, where said shapes may be removed and used as a single gift card or gift cards to accompany the packaging container and flowers located therein.

Preferably the blank of the packaging container is formed of any desired material, for example conventional cardboard or plastic sheet material.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, an embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank from which the invention is formed; Figure 2 is a left side view of the packaging container formed from the blank of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a right side view of the packaging container formed from the blank of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a side perspective view of the packaging container formed from the blank of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a front perspective view of the packaging container formed from the blank of Figure 1; and Figure 6 is a front perspective view of the packaging container formed from the blank of Figure 1 where cut-out portions are removed from some of the panel portions and attached to the packaging container as a gift card.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates one embodiment of the present invention of a blank 20 from which a packaging container (not shown) is formed.

The blank 20 includes four generally elongated panel portions, a first panel portion 21, a second panel portion 22, a third panel portion 23 and a fourth panel portion 24 where each of the panel portions are of a substantially triangular configuration and a first and second handle portions 25 and 26.

Located in the outer edges of the first and fourth panel portions 21 and 24 are apertures 27 and 28 respectively, whereby a fastening means such as a piece of string, ribbon or the like may be used to retain abutment of the first and fourth panel portions 21 and 24 to maintain the shape of the assembled packaging container.

0U7 .2s Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 illustrate the packaging container 1 in its assembled state. Upon construction of the blank 20 the zones of weakness 31, 32, 33, 34 and partition the blank 20 into six portions, four panel portions 21, 22, 23 and 24 and two handle portions 25 and 26. The centremost panel portions 22 and 23 form the bottom or base of the packaging container 1, with each of the two panel portions 21 and 24 that are contiguous to the centremost panel portions 22 and 23 being folded along their respective zones of weakness 32 and 34 to project upwardly and form oppositely disposed side panel portions, forming a first open end 40 to receive a single flower or flower arrangement and also to form a second open end 41, where said second open end is truncated.

As illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, when the blank 20 is assembled by folding the panel portions 21 and 24 and handle portions 25 and 26 along their respective zones of weakness, 32, 34 and 31 and 35 respectively, the four panel portions 21, 22, 23 and 24 of the blank 20 form the base and sides of the packaging container 1 and the two handle portions 25 and 26 form a handle 50 for carrying of the packaging container 1 during transportation.

In use the packaging container can be assembled as described above and fastening means such as a piece of string, ribbon or the like may be used to retain abutment of the outer edges of the outermost panel portions 21 and 24 to maintain the triangular shape of the assembled packaging container 1.

A single flower or flower arrangement may be inserted into the first open end of the packaging container 1 and the foliage of the single flower or flower arrangement is supported and protected by the panel portions 21, 22, 23 and 24 of the packaging container 1.

Figure 6 illustrates an example of a blank of the packing container where shapes 60, 61, 62 and 63 are perforated in the some of the panel portions, where said shapes may be removed and used as a gift card to accompany the packing container and flowers located therein.

Claims (3)

1. A packaging container for transportation and display of an article or collection of articles formed by a substantially planer blank comprising: a plurality of spaced apart zones of weakness extending longitudinally of said blank; a plurality of panel portions; a securing means; and one or more handle portions where at least one of said handle portions is located adjacent to one of said panel portions; wherein said plurality of panel portions and said at least one of said handle portions are divided by said zones of weakness and such that when said blank is folded along said zones of weakness the panel portions form the base and sides of the packaging container and form a first open end into which said article or articles are placed for said transportation and display and a second open end wherein said second open end is truncated and wherein the shape of the packaging container is maintained by said securing means.

2. A packaging container as claimed in claim 1 where the blank is divided into a first handle portion located adjacent to and divided from a first panel portion by a first zone of weakness and wherein located adjacent to and divided from the first panel portion by a second zone of weakness is a second panel portion which is located remote from said first handle portion and wherein a third panel portion is located adjacent to and divided from said second panel portion by a third zone of weakness where said third panel portion is remote from said first panel portion and said first handle portion and wherein located adjacent to and divided from the third panel portion by a fourth zone of weakness is a fourth panel portion which is located remote from said first and second panel portions and said first handle portion and wherein located adjacent to and divided from the fourth panel portion by a fifth zone of weakness is a second handle portion, where second handle portion is remote from said first, second and third panel portions and first handle portion.

3. A packaging container as claimed in claim 2 wherein there is provided a fastening means whereby the assembled shape of the packaging container is maintained. DATED: 18 May 2000 FREEHILLS CARTER SMITH BEADLE Patent Attorneys for the Applicants: KAREN LEGH and MATTHEW LEGH KMC:TOC:40451362.PP 2 August 2000