EP0381803A1 - Packing unit for ornamental plants, especially bunches of flowers - Google Patents

Abstract

A packaging unit is used for dispatching ornamental plants, especially bunches of flowers (40). A rigid holding cuff (30) has a central opening (34, 35) for the insertion of stems of the ornamental plants and means for fixing the latter to the holding cuff (30). A rigid covering (20, 50) surrounds the ornamental plants and is of essentially prismatic shape. The holding cuff (30) can be fixed in the covering (20, 50) at its circumference. The covering consists essentially of an outer wrapping carton (50) and a bottom part (20) which is displaceable therein when packaging the ornamental plant. In the packaged stage, wall portions (11) of the bottom part (20) are in alignment at their underside with the underside of the wrapping carton (50) and are connected at their upper side to the circumference of the holding cuff (30). <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a packaging unit for ornamental plants, in particular bouquets, with a rigid holding sleeve, which has a central opening for pushing through stems of the ornamental plants and means for fixing them to the holding sleeve, with a rigid wrapping surrounding the ornamental plants of essentially prismatic shape, in which the holding cuff can be fixed on its circumference.

A packaging unit of the type mentioned above is known from DE-Gm 86 12 072.7.

The known packaging unit is based on the idea that it is desirable for the sender of a flower greeting to be able to select and assemble the flower bouquet even if the flower bouquet is to be sent to a remote location. The known packaging unit provided for this purpose has a cylindrical, pot-shaped holding collar, in the disc-shaped upper part of which a central opening for pushing through the flower stems is arranged. The opening is provided with claws to fix the bouquet of flowers to its stems. The holding sleeve is then inserted with the inserted bouquet into a cylindrical envelope made of transparent material, which can be closed by means of a lid in order to be able to set a climate which is conducive to maintaining the freshness of the bouquet. The unit formed in this way is inserted again into an outer packaging made of elastic material, for example made of foam, and can then be sent.

In the known packaging unit, the height of the holding sleeve in the covering can be fixed by providing openings in the covering through which the collar of the holding sleeve is accessible. The opening and an area around the opening are then stuck over by means of a wide adhesive tape, so that an adhesive connection between the collar and the casing is produced.

The known packaging unit is cylindrical in shape, so that the storage of such packaging units is problematic because a relatively large amount of space is required in order to to have a certain stock of packaging units available.

From DE-Gm 85 12 154 a further packaging unit of the type mentioned is known, in which the holding sleeve is provided with tabs protruding radially from a disk-shaped area, which protrude slightly elastically to the outside, so that the holding sleeve inserted into a cylindrical envelope underneath Friction can be clamped.

However, this known packaging unit has the disadvantage that the fastening of the holding sleeve in the covering is not always sufficiently stable to compensate for shocks occurring during the transport of the packaging unit.

Finally, a further packaging unit is known from DE-OS 35 14 796, in which two conical, cup-like wrapping parts can be placed on top of one another, for example to enclose a flower pot with an ornamental plant.

This packaging unit also has the disadvantage that storage is complex because the packaging unit takes up a relatively large amount of space.

The invention is based on the object to further develop a packaging unit of the type mentioned in such a way that it can be stored in a small space before use, that it is simple in construction and thus inexpensive to manufacture, and that finally the fastening of the retaining collar to the Wrapping so stable can be made that the packaging unit can withstand even greater impacts during transport without the ornamental plant loosening in the packaging unit.

This object is achieved in that the wrapper consists of an outer carton and a movable bottom part when packing the ornamental plant in that wall sections of the bottom part in the packaged state are aligned in their underside with the underside of the outer carton and on their upper side with the circumference of the holding sleeve are connected.

The object underlying the invention is completely achieved in this way. The wrapping used consists of blanks that can be stored in an unwrapped or unfolded form in the smallest space. When assembling the covering for the manufacture of the packaging unit, a highly stable bond between the covering and the holding sleeve is created, in which the holding sleeve can be fixed to the covering with high strength. No special tools are required for the production of the blanks of the wrapping, so that the packaging unit can be manufactured inexpensively overall.

In a preferred embodiment of the packaging unit according to the invention, the holding sleeve consists in a manner known per se essentially of a preferably circular disk with a circumferential collar protruding therefrom at right angles and the bottom part is designed as an upwardly open, preferably cube-shaped container, the wall sections on top with vertical first incisions are provided and the collar can be inserted into the first incisions from above.

These measures have the advantage that the cut for e.g. cube-shaped container can be designed as a simple cardboard blank with flat boundary lines, but after the bottom part has been folded together, a mechanically stable structure is formed which can be connected to the retaining sleeve in a simple manner by plugging it together. By inserting the edge of the retaining collar into the incisions, an area of great overlap between the edge and the wall section is created, in which various types of connecting means can be used. It goes without saying that the container can also be cuboid, of any polygonal cross section or circular cylindrical.

In a particularly preferred development of this exemplary embodiment, the wall sections below the first incisions are provided with a recess.

This measure has the advantage that the overlap area of the edge and wall section is accessible from below, so that in a further preferred development of this exemplary embodiment the collar can be connected to the areas of the wall sections lying between the first incisions by staples.

In this way, an extremely stable bond between the holding collar and the base part is created, with the aid of a tool, namely a stapler, which is already available in florists' businesses.

In a further preferred group of exemplary embodiments, the outer carton is provided at its corners with second incisions spanning the corner.

This measure has the advantage that the bottom part inserted into the outer carton can be fixed in the longitudinal direction of the outer carton by pressing in the corners on the second incisions, so that an inwardly projecting section is formed which fixes the bottom part in the longitudinal direction of the outer carton.

It is particularly preferred if the second incisions are inclined upwards away from the corners in such a way that when the region of the corner surrounding the second incisions is pressed in, an inwardly folded corner section is formed, the lower edge of which extends horizontally and a stop for the into the lower carton used bottom part in the packaged state.

This measure has the advantage that the impact effect of the corner section folded inwards is optimal because the lower edge forms an angle of 90 ° to the corner.

Finally, exemplary embodiments of the invention are preferred in which the bottom part has a closed bottom section and the bottom section is connected to the outer carton by adhesive strips.

This measure has the advantage that the cost of materials for the outer carton is reduced because the packaging unit is closed at the bottom by the bottom section of the bottom part.

In further preferred embodiments of the invention, a foil bag is arranged around the ornamental plant.

This measure has the advantage that a microclimate can be generated around the ornamental plant while the packaging unit is being sent, which is beneficial to the respective plant species. For example, the foil bag can be moistened on the inside with a water spray device before closing, so that the ornamental plant is in a moist environment.

In a further development of this exemplary embodiment, the film bag envelops the decorative plant and the holding sleeve.

This measure has the advantage that first the ornamental plant is stuck in the holding sleeve and then the assembly of the ornamental plant and holding sleeve is inserted into the foil bag. This can preferably be done by using a foil bag which is closed on one side and into which the ornamental plant with the holding sleeve, with the ornamental plant leading, is inserted, so that the foil bag is then sealed tightly around the stems of the ornamental plant with a band or the like can be. In this way, the ornamental plant and the holding sleeve are located in the interior of the foil pouch, in which the suitable microclimate can then be set.

Furthermore, in the last-mentioned exemplary embodiment it is preferred if the film bag is connected together with the collar and the regions of the wall sections by staples, if this type of fastening is selected.

This measure has the advantage that not only the ornamental plant and the holding sleeve, but also the foil pouch are reliably attached and cannot become detached during transport.

Further advantages result from the description and the attached drawing.

It goes without saying that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained below can be used not only in the combination specified in each case, but also in other combinations or on their own without departing from the scope of the present invention.

• Fig. 1 eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Zuschnitts, wie er für ein Bodenteil einer erfindungsgemäßen Verpackungseinheit verwendet werden kann;
• Fig. 2 eine Variante des Zuschnitts gemäß Fig. 1;
• Fig. 3 ein Bodenteil einer erfindungsgemäßen Verpackungs­einheit im zusammengefalteten Zustand;
• Fig. 4 eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Haltemanschette;
• Fig. 5 eine Schnittdarstellung durch die Haltemanschette der Fig. 4, eingesetztem Blumenstrauß;
• Fig. 6 eine perspektivische Ansicht eines in einer Halte­manschette gehaltenen Blumenstraußes, in einem Zustand, in dem die Haltemanschette auf ein Boden­teil aufgesetzt ist;
• Fig. 7 eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Umkartons einer erfindungsgemäßen Verpackungseinheit, in teilweise zusammengefaltetem Zustand;
• Fig. 8 in vergrößertem Maßstab einen Ausschnitt aus einem Bodenbereich einer erfindungsgemäßen Verpackungs­einheit.

Embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawing and are explained in more detail in the following description. Show it:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a blank as it can be used for a bottom part of a packaging unit according to the invention.
• FIG. 2 shows a variant of the blank according to FIG. 1;
• 3 shows a base part of a packaging unit according to the invention in the folded state;
• 4 is a perspective view of a retaining collar;
• Fig. 5 is a sectional view through the retaining collar of Fig. 4, bouquet of flowers inserted;
• 6 is a perspective view of a bouquet of flowers held in a holding cuff, in a state in which the holding cuff is placed on a bottom part;
• 7 shows a perspective view of an outer carton of a packaging unit according to the invention, in a partially folded state;
• 8 shows, on an enlarged scale, a section of a bottom area of a packaging unit according to the invention.

In Fig. 1, 10 designates a total of a blank made of a rigid but foldable material, in particular cardboard, corrugated cardboard, cardboard, plastic or the like. The blank 10 has a total of four adjacent wall sections 11 and an adhesive flap 12 on the extreme edge of one of the wall sections 11 . Bottom sections 13 are each attached to the bottom of the wall sections 11, the bottom sections 13 being separated from one another in the lateral direction by first incisions 14. By means of fold lines 15, the wall sections 11 can be folded towards one another and the bottom sections 13 towards the wall sections 11 in the directions indicated by arrows.

At the upper edges facing away from the bottom sections 13, the wall sections 11 are each provided with a pair of second incisions 18 which are spaced apart from one another. A semicircular recess 19 is provided below each of the second sections 18.

Fig. 2 shows a variant of the blank with the same reference numerals as Fig. 1, but which are each provided with a ', insofar as corresponding elements are designated. In contrast to the embodiment of FIG. 1, the blank 10 'according to FIG. 2 has only a single common bottom portion 13', which is approximately square and is provided on all four sides with wall portions 11 '.

If the blanks 10 or 10 'according to FIG. 1 or 2 are folded together in the direction indicated by the arrows and glued to one another at the adjacent edges, for example with the aid of the adhesive flap 12 in FIG. 1, a base part 20 is formed, as is shown in FIG 3 is shown in perspective view. The bottom part 20 is cubic in shape, has a bottom section 13 which is closed at the bottom and is open at the top.

FIG. 4 shows a holding collar 30, which essentially consists of an approximately circular disk 31, from the periphery of which a circumferential collar 32 protrudes at 90 °. Radially extending reinforcing beads 33 are introduced into the disk 31 in order to increase the mechanical stability of the holding collar 30.

The beads 33 run inwards into a recessed middle part 34, which is provided with third incisions 35. The third incisions 35 extend radially to a center point of the recessed central part 34, so that they thereby form claws 36 which can be deflected elastically upwards or downwards from the central part 34.

FIG. 5 illustrates that a bouquet of flowers 40 is bound in the area of its stems 42 with a binding point 41, for example a bast cord. The bouquet 40 is inserted through the opening formed by the third incisions 35 in the central part 34 of the cuff 30 and is held in the holding cuff 30 by the claws 36 which are elastically bent upwards.

The structure of the holding collar 30 and the bouquet 40 is now placed on the base part 20 according to FIG. 3, if necessary after being wrapped with a bag 43 made of plastic film, as shown in FIG. 6. However, it is particularly preferred if the bouquet 40 is inserted together with the holding sleeve 30 into the film bag 43, with the bouquet 40 leading into the film bag 43 closed on one side. In this way, the open end of the film bag 43, as shown in FIG 5, tied together at the height of the stalks and thus sealed.

The arrangement is such that the collar 32 is inserted into the second incisions 18 from above, so that the holding collar 30 is fixed not only in the plane of the disk 31 but also downwards. The height of the base part 20 is dimensioned so that the stems 42 of the bouquet 40 have enough space available.

A conventional stapler can now be inserted through the recesses 19 in order to attach a staple 46 in the region of the overlapping section 45 between the collar 32 and the wall section 11. In this way, the holding collar 30 is fixed in the bottom part 20 in the horizontal and vertical directions. It does not bother that the film bag 43 surrounds the bouquet 40 and the holding sleeve 30, because the film bag 43 turns inward around the collar 32 when the holding sleeve 30 is attached and is then clamped together with the collar 32, as further below Fig. 8 will be explained.

6 in FIG. 6 indicates that the bouquet 40 with the base part 20 and the holding sleeve 30 is still wrapped in a cardboard box.

7 shows the outer carton 50 in a partially folded state.

It can be seen that the outer carton 50 has a cuboid shape with a square cross section, which is slightly larger than the outer cross section of the bottom part 20, so that the bottom part 20 can be inserted from above into the outer carton 50 and runs tightly therein. At this point, it must be pointed out again that the specified cuboid shape of the outer carton 50 is only to be understood as an example, because of course the cross-sectional shape cannot be square, but rather also rectangular, otherwise it can be polygonal, circular or elliptical, without this is beyond the scope of the present invention.

The outer carton 50 has four identical side parts 51 which end in cover parts 52 at their upper end. The cover parts 52 are laterally separated from each other by fourth incisions 53 and can be along folding lines 53 in the direction of the drawn arrows are folded over to close the outer carton 50 on its top.

With 55 an underside of the outer carton 50 is indicated, with no bottom being provided there in the embodiment of FIG. 7.

It can also be seen in FIG. 7 that, at a distance from the lower edge of the side parts 51, fifth incisions 56 are provided at the corners 58, which span the corners 58 and are inclined upwards away from the corners 58.

In this way, when the portions of the corners 58 surrounded by the fifth incisions 56 are pressed in, corner portions 57 are folded over.

When assembling the packaging unit, as already indicated above, the structure of bottom part 20, retaining collar 30 and bouquet 40 is placed from above into the still open outer carton 50, which for this purpose stands on a level surface. The bottom part 20 is pushed all the way down so that the lower edges of the wall sections 11 are flush with the lower edges of the side parts 51, as shown in FIG. 8. The outer carton 50 is closed in this way by the bottom portions 13.

The corner sections 57 are now folded over, the inclination of the fifth incisions 56 being chosen such that a lower edge 59 of the folded corner sections 57 runs perpendicular to the corners 58. In this way, the bottom part 20 is fixed by a stop at the lower end of the outer carton 50. By means of an adhesive tape 60, the bottom part 20 can now be connected on the underside to the outer carton 50, in that the adhesive tape 60 runs both over the side parts 51 and over the bottom sections 13 of the bottom part 20, as can be seen in the partially broken illustration of FIG. 8 can recognize.

The outer carton 50 is now also closed at the top by folding and gluing the lid parts 52, and the packaging unit is now finished and can be shipped.

In Fig. 8 it can also be seen again that the film bag 43 does not interfere with the packaging unit because it wraps itself around the collar 32 and can then be fastened together with this in the manner shown in Fig. 6 by means of staples.

Claims (10)

1. Packing unit for ornamental plants, in particular bouquets of flowers (40), with a rigid holding sleeve (30) which has a central opening (34, 35) for pushing through stems (42) of the ornamental plants and means for fixing the same to the holding sleeve (30) , With a rigid wrapping (20, 50) surrounding the ornamental plant of essentially prismatic shape, in which the holding sleeve (30) can be fixed at its periphery, characterized in that the wrapping consists of an outer carton (50) and one during packaging the ornamental plant therein displaceable bottom part (20) is that wall sections (11) of the bottom part (20) in the packaged state are aligned in their underside with the underside of the outer carton (50) and are connected on their top side to the circumference of the holding sleeve (30). 2. Packaging unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the holding collar (30) consists essentially of a preferably circular disc (31) with a circumferential collar (32) projecting at right angles from its circumference, that the bottom part (30) as after An open, preferably cube-shaped container is designed such that the wall sections (11) are provided with vertical first incisions (18) on their upper side, and that the collar (32) can be inserted into the first incisions (18) from above. 3. Packaging unit according to claim 2, characterized in that the wall sections (11) below the first incisions (18) are provided with a recess. 4. Packaging unit according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the collar (32) with areas between the first incisions (18) of the wall sections (11) is connected by staples (46). 5. Packaging unit according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the outer carton (50) at its corners (58) with the corners (58) spanning second incisions (56) is provided. 6. Packing unit according to claim 5, characterized in that the second incisions (56) from the corners (58) are inclined upward in such a way that when pressing in the area of the corners (58) surrounded by the second incisions (56) after folded inside corner section (57) is formed, the lower edge (59) of which runs horizontally and forms a stop for the base part (20) inserted in the lower box (50) in the packaged state. 7. Packaging unit according to one or more of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the bottom part (20) has a closed bottom portion (13), and that the bottom portion (13) with the outer carton (50) is connected by adhesive strips (60) . 8. Packaging unit according to one or more of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a film bag (43) is arranged around the ornamental plant. 9. Packaging unit according to claim 8, characterized in that the film bag (43) envelops the ornamental plant and the holding sleeve (30). 10. Packaging unit according to claim 4 and 9, characterized in that the film bag (43) together with the collar (32) and the regions of the wall sections (11) is connected by staples (46).

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