-
The present invention relates to the technical field
concerned with packaging generic articles, with either
sealed or not sealed packages.
-
In this specific case, the invention relates to a display
unit used for packing articles, which unit is particularly
suitable in the field of floriculture for packing in-pot
ornamental plants, bundles of flowers and so on.
-
Generally, the packing of articles is carried out in
accordance to various means and modes depending on the kind
of articles concerned and has usually the aim of increasing
the decorative effect of the packaged article, either
sealed or not.
-
As far as the specific case of the articles for
floriculture is concerned, it is known that the packing is
carried out by using sheets of nylon, cellophane, opaque
paper (crepe paper) or highly transparent paper (wove
paper) to obtain a substantially conical envelopes, which
enwrap, completely or only partially, the in-pot ornamental
plants or bundles of flowers.
-
The corner of the cone thus obtained is closed near the
ends of the stems of the flowers making up the bundle, or
at the bottom of the pot containing the ornamental plant.
Then it is decorated with bands and or cords which serve
for increasing the aesthetic effect or for locking the
envelope.
-
When the sheet is used, the petals can either be enclosed
by the envelope or protrude therefrom and the sheet of
nylon or cellophane can be added with an aluminium sheet
situated in the region that encircles the stems of the
flowers of the bundle or the pot, so that this part of the
packing is made partially watertight.
-
In the floriculture field in both cases of retail sale and
big chains of distribution (such as big supermarkets,
specialised stores, greenhouses, etc.), the bundles of
flowers are kept in proper flower holders suitably filled
with water.
-
Referring to the in-pot ornamental plants, their dimensions
are typically within a range of some centimetres to some
tenths of centimetres.
-
When the plants are particularly delicate and fragile,
substantially rigid packing can be used, which generally
include a frusto-conical shaped rigid or semi-rigid
container.
-
In the retail sale, the in-pot plants are generally
situated on standard display frames or within showcases,
which are cleaned and orderly disposed, so as to create
compositions with an appreciable aesthetic effect.
-
On the contrary, in the supermarkets, the large number of
different species which must be disposed in relatively
small exposing areas, necessitate an accurate preparation
and maintenance of the exposing arrangement, which is based
on best choice of a proper background in relation to the
arrangement of a sufficient number of either hanging or
self-standing information tags or labels, on the shelves.
-
In such cases, it is very important to place the articles
on the shelves, in vertical or horizontal rows, in
accordance with the necessary number of information tags
and with their fixed or relative position.
-
Mainly in the big chains of distribution, the high density
of different species of in-pot plants arranged in
relatively limited areas causes a rather difficult display
of the plants and offers little information.
-
Therefore, the articles cannot be separated from one
another, which negatively affects their aesthetic look.
-
Consequently, monochromatic plants (such as evergreen
plants) form a unique shrub, in which the single exposed
articles cannot be distinguished or marked out. Obviously,
this does not attract the buyer and does not make him want
to buy the plant.
-
In other cases, the limited outer surface of the plant pots
cannot bear in a clear way all the necessary information
related to the article (such as origin, maintenance and
care, price and others).
-
Also in those cases, in which the articles are contained in
cellophane or nylon wrappings, giving the articles an
adequate aesthetic look can be rather difficult. Suitable
boxes or areas which contain proper information are
difficult to arrange as well.
-
All the above remarks, referred to the specific case of the
floriculture articles exposed and arranged for sale in
supermarkets, can relate to any kind of articles to be
packed, either sealed or not, taking into consideration the
specific problems of each case.
-
The object of the present invention is to overcome all the
above mentioned problems by proposing a display support
unit which serves for packing articles and which improves
the aesthetic appearance as well as the functional and
exposing characteristics, while maintaining an extremely
easy use by anybody, with the production cost being reduced
as much as possible.
-
Another object of the invention is to propose a display
unit which allows to supply the user with as much
information as possible about the packaged articles, and
maintains the latter steady and easy to handle during the
exposition.
-
A further object of the present invention is to propose a
display unit capable of ensuring a high protection with
respect to articles with prickles and/or thorns and which
is capable of reducing, as much as possible, the dirt that
is generally created while handling these articles.
-
Yet a further object of the invention is to propose a
display unit which is extremely functional, which has a
reduced volume when non in use, particularly versatile with
reference to similar articles or different species which
have similar dimensions, and which creates a positive
aesthetic effect when the articles are exposed.
-
The above mentioned objects are achieved by the features of
the independent claim, while preferred features are defined
in the dependent claims.
-
The invention will now be described in a more detailed way
with reference to particular, non-limiting embodiments and
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
- Figure 1 schematically shows a perspective exploded view
of the display unit used with floricultural articles
including an in-pot plant and a bundle of flowers;
- Figure 2 shows a schematic lateral view of the in-pot
plant of Figure 1 when the packing is completed;
- Figure 3 shows a schematic plan view of another
embodiment of the display unit;
- Figure 4 schematically shows a perspective view of
another embodiment of the proposed display unit;
- Figure 5 schematically shows a perspective view of a
bundle of flowers supported by the proposed display unit in
some modes of use of particular importance;
- Figure 6 schematically shows a side view of a generic
article supported by the proposed display unit according to
a further embodiment thereof;
- Figure 7 schematically shows a side view of a further
embodiment of the proposed display unit;
- Figure 8 schematically shows a plan view of a further
embodiment of the display unit subject of the present
invention, in non use configuration;
- Figure 9 schematically shows a perspective view of the
display unit shown in Figure 8 while a generic article is
being disposed therein;
- Figures 10 to 15 schematically show enlarged and
perspective views of other embodiments of the proposed
unit.
-
With reference to the above mentioned Figures, the proposed
display unit, indicated by the generic reference numeral 1,
is described in the following. The unit is suitable for
packing articles 2, in particular floricultural articles
such as bundles of cut flowers 10 or in-pot ornamental
plants 21.
-
However, the preferred embodiments, shown in the Figures,
can be used with any kind of articles 2 which can be, or
require to be packed by means of the display unit 1 of the
present invention.
-
The proposed display unit 1 for packing articles 2 includes
basically a support structure 3, preferably made from rigid
or semi-rigid material, for instance cardboard. The support
structure has at least one circular seat 3a for removably
and firmly receiving a related article 2, such as a bundle
of flowers 10 or the pot of an ornamental plant 20 (See
Fig. 1).
-
Along its peripheral edge, the seat 3a has stabilising
means 17 for firmly holding the articles 2 placed in the
support structure 3.
-
According to a first embodiment, the stabilising means 17
include a plurality of flexible tongues 4, which extend
towards the centre of the seat and are made from the same
support structure 3.
-
The tongues are kept substantially co-planar with the
support structure 3 in a storage configuration A and can be
folded to a holding configuration B, in which they are
perpendicular to the support structure 3, when an article
2, for instance a bundle of flowers 10 and/or the pot 21 of
an ornamental plant 20 is introduced.
-
As it appears in Figure 2, the tongues 4 in the holding
configuration B are in contact with the article 2, i.e.
with the bundle of flowers 10 or with the pot 21.
-
With reference to the storage configuration A of the
support 3, in order to make a package for a floriculture
article, for instance an ornamental plant 20, the pot 21
must be inserted into the seat 3a, taking care not to bring
any damage to the plant 20. This can be easily made by
inserting only the pot 21 in the seat 3a (see Fig. 1).
-
During the gradual inserting of the pot 21 of the plant 20
into the seat 3a, the tongues 4 do not resist the insertion
of the pot 21 and get folded progressively up to the
holding configuration B, in which the tongues 4 are in full
contact with the outer surface of the pot 21 and are
substantially perpendicular to the support structure 3
(Fig. 2).
-
The insertion of the pot 21 into the seat 3a is completed
only when the pot is firmly joined thereto due to the
press-fit of the frusto-conical section of the pot 21, or
because the outer rim 21a of the pot 21 goes into abutment
against the support structure 3 surface.
-
According to another embodiment, the stabilising means 17
include annular means 16, capable of high elastic
deformation, formed along the peripheral region of the seat
3a.
-
These elastic annular means 16 can be elastically deformed
when the article 2 is inserted within the seat 3a, which
fixes the coupling because of the elastic reaction of these
means 16 acting on the article 2 (Fig. 6).
-
In Figure 1, the peripheral edge of the support structure 3
extends in a circle. In Figure 3 there is shown a support
structure having the peripheral edge with a polygonal
shape, for instance extending like the points of a star, so
that the aesthetic appearance of the packing display unit 1
is improved .
-
In Figure 4 there is shown a foldable book-like support
structure 300, which includes a base element 301 having a
seat 3a and is hinged to a reference element 302 having the
task of giving more importance to the communication
capability of the display unit 1 by increasing the spaces
for carrying information or advertisements.
-
With reference to the above mentioned embodiments, the
insertion of the article 2, such as a pot 21 or a bundle of
cut flowers 10, into the seat 3a of the support structure
(3, 300) can be made easier by making at least one cut W in
the support structure. The cut allows the insertion of the
same pot 21 from a side with respect to the seat 3a. As an
example, this is shown in Figures 1 and 4.
-
In this case, suitable fixing means can be provided (such
as staples, adhesive labels or glue) to avoid reciprocal
sliding between the facing edges along the cut W. In this
way, the coupling pot 21-seat 3a is stabilised.
-
According to the desired aesthetic effect, the edges of the
cut W can be joined to each other in a way as to give the
support structure 3 a plane configuration or a conical
shape, with the corner either towards the plant 20 or
towards the bottom of the pot 21.
-
According to another embodiment, the stabilising means 17
may include a strip 18, which forms the above mentioned
seat 3a and extends substantially perpendicular to the
support structure 30 (Figure 7).
-
The strip 18 removably engages with the article 2, for
instance with the pot 21 of the plant 20, and can be
equipped with connection means (such as staples, adhesive
labels or glue) which make stable the coupling between the
article 2 and the seat 3a.
-
In this way, the strip 18 can be easily adapted to
different diameters of the pots 21 in simple and evident
ways.
-
The support structure 30 can assume either conical or
frusto-conical configurations.
-
According to a preferred embodiment, the support structure
30 can have a "frame" configuration 30d (indicated with
broken line in Figure 7), i.e. defined only by peripheral
edges.
-
Obviously, if a strip 18 is used, the cut W can be avoided.
In Figure 8, there is shown another embodiment, according
to which the support structure 3, has a substantially plane
shape and forms a central body 49, to which two adjacent
flaps, first 50 and second 51, are hinged.
-
The flaps 50 and 51 are substantially symmetrical and are
equipped with corresponding apertures 30a, which are
preferably geometrically similar and arranged one beside
another.
-
During the packaging, the first flap 50 and second flap 51
of the so obtained support structure 3, get close to each
other until the corresponding apertures 30a, made in each
of the flaps, are placed to match with each other, thus
defining a seat 3a for receiving the article 2.
-
The overlapping of the flaps 50, 51 to define the seat 3a,
identifies a holding configuration C of the display unit 1,
which is characterized by the positioning of the central
body 49 substantially perpendicular to the portion defined
by the flaps 50, 51 placed one upon the other (Figures from
9 to 15).
-
Therefore, when the support structure 3 is in the holding
configuration C, it is possible to removably introduce an
article 2 into the seat 3a defined by the apertures 30a,
place one upon the other.
-
Consequently, the introduction of the article 2 allows also
to stabilize the group formed by the central body 49 and
the flaps 50, 51, so as to overcome the elastic reaction
exerted by the material of which the group is made, and to
maintain stabile the holding configuration C.
-
In order to facilitate the passage of the support structure
3 from the planar configuration to the holding
configuration C, during the packaging, it is possible to
provide creasing lines, first 50a and second 51a, through
which the corresponding flaps, first 50 and second 51, are
hinged to the central body 49.
-
The creasing lines 50a, 51a are indicated with broken line
in Figure 8.
-
It is understood that the flaps 50, 51 can be provided with
fixing means aimed at stabilizing the configuration in
which the flaps 50, 51 are placed one upon the other. The
fixing means can be staples, or glue.
-
Anyway, it is always possible to add the support structure
to the ornamental plant 20, either to its pot 21 or to its
flower part, according to the display unit needs.
-
In Figures 11, 12 there are shown further embodiments of
the display unit 1, according to which the upper part of
the central body 49 of the support structure 3, features a
couple of substantially parallel notches 90, which support
removably and firmly an informative tag 91a, 91b, having
rectangular or heart shape, respectively.
-
In Figures 13, 14 there are shown other embodiments of the
display unit 1, in which the central body 49 of the support
structure 3 features a cutout.
-
An insert 93a, 93b, complementary to the cutout edges, is
placed therein and fastened to the central body 49, e.g.
hinged thereto.
-
In the holding configuration C of the support structure 3,
the insert 93a, 93b, having the rectangular or heart shape,
respectively, can be detached physically from the edges of
the corresponding cutout, creating a visual contrast with
the shape of the central body 49.
-
The insert 93a, 93b can be obtained from the central body
49 by cutting thereof.
-
In Figure 15, there is shown a still further embodiment of
the display unit 1, in which the central body 49 of the
support structure 3 features a cutout 92, having a couple
of wings 92a hinged vertically to the lateral edges.
-
The wings 92a can be also hinged horizontally to the upper
edges.
-
As far as the above mentioned embodiments are concerned,
the central body 49 and the flaps 50, 51 are advantageously
obtained by die-cutting from a blank, of e.g. A4 format,
(indicated with broken line in Figure 8), in which two
holes are made to define the apertures 30a and a cut 53 is
made to define the flaps 50, 51.
-
Therefore, the so obtained group formed by the support
structure and the ornamental plant 20 can be situated on
suitable display means 9, e.g. shelves or traditional
trolleys.
-
During introducing and taking out of the support structure
3, 30, 300 with the ornamental plant 20 from the display
means 9, the operator and/or user can advantageously use
the support structure to hold the group.
-
Therefore, the so obtained display units 1 with the
ornamental plants 20 allow to gain considerable free spaces
(upper and/or lower) of the support structure, which can be
advantageously used for informative, advertisement,
promotional messages, thus optimising the articles
aesthetic-functional display standards, increasing their
information capability.
-
In this way, most of the display problems related directly
to the correct positioning of the articles 2 with respect
to the shelves of suitable backgrounds, are resolved.
-
Actually, this way, the articles 2 are always ready-made by
themselves, since, when they are placed in the
predetermined support structure, they include all the
characteristic features of the information tags or labels:
the articles need only a relative shelf and/or base.
-
Thus, the aesthetic effect of the displayed article 2 is
considerably increased, which allows to attract the buyer
attention, and make him desire to buy the plant.
-
What above, is still more important in all cases of
particularly reduced display spaces, as well as in case of
monochromatic plants (such as evergreen plants).
-
In the latter case, it is possible to avoid the undesired
effect of a unique shrub, in which the single exposed
articles cannot be distinguished or marked out.
-
It is understood that bundles of cut flowers 10 are packed
using the same ways and with the possibility to provide
suitable cuts W.
-
Obviously, also in this case, it is possible to add a
support structure to bundles of cut flowers 10, in the
stems or flowers area, according to the display unit needs
(Figure 5).
-
The proposed display unit for packing articles 2, for
instance plants 20 and/or bundles of cut flowers 10, can be
used either for articles 2 to be packed or articles 2 which
are already packed by using e.g. sheets of nylon,
cellophane, opaque paper (crepe paper) or highly
transparent paper (wove paper).
-
The support structures can be made of paper material, or
plastic material or flexible metal material, depending on
the packing needs and desired characteristics.
-
When the bundle of cut flowers 10 or the pot 21 is wholly
introduced into the seat 3a, it is easily understandable
that the surface of the support structure ensures a high
protection with respect to articles with prickles and/or
thorns and which is capable of reducing, as much as
possible, the dirt that is generally created while handling
these articles.
-
In any case, the support structure profile, as well as the
desired seat 3a, can be obtained by simple cutting.
-
This allows a further reduction of the production as well
as the final costs of the proposed display unit according
to its numerous embodiments.
-
With reference to what above, the proposed display unit 1
for packing articles can be equipped with one, two or more
seats 3a made in the support structure, according to needs
and characteristics of the desired flower composition, so
as to combine the articles 2 of the same or different
kinds.
-
The support structure, as well as the stabilising means 17,
according to the indicated embodiments, can be
advantageously of the same colour or of different colours,
which allow to improve the package aesthetic look.
-
The above mentioned advantages are obtained by a display
unit for packing, which is simple to produce and formed by
few elements, which reduces the production costs.
-
The proposed invention has been obviously described with
reference to the enclosed Figures, as a mere, unlimited
example, with reference to the particular case of
floriculture articles.
-
It is understood that the proposed technical solution,
according to its different embodiments, can be applied to
any kind of articles 2, which can be removably and firmly
introduced into the seat/seats 3a, which can be placed one
upon another.
