EP2437986B1 - Vase consisting of a packaging provided with a stabilization system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a vase consisting of a package equipped with a stabilization system, including its application to offer flowers, said vase to complete the presentation of the flowers at the time of offering and further exempting the person to whom these flowers are offered to be in possession of a suitable vase.

Such packaging will be implemented in particular by manufacturers of cardboard packaging or composite products and will particularly find application in commercial areas of the type flower shops. A vase made of a flexible packaging is described in US 2008/0190018 A .

It is known the patent published under the number FR 1 469 650 , which discloses a cardboard package for the packaging and presentation of certain varieties of plants. This packaging comprises the shape of a cube or even a rectangular parallelepiped having in the upper part four flaps configured to constitute an opening for the passage of the plant stems. The base of the cube or rectangular parallelepiped allows the support of the plant.

The object of the invention is to design a vase consisting of a package which is particularly intended to receive flowers or any type of decorative object having a rod. The vase object of the invention has the advantage of improving the presentation of flowers, at the time of offering them, and to allow the person who is offered these flowers to be able to expose them, without being in the obligation to be in possession of a vase of more traditional design, glass or terracotta for example.

To this end, the invention relates to a vase consisting of a package comprising two adjacent faces of longitudinal shape, preferably similar. These two adjacent faces are interconnected directly at least at common ends on one side of their longitudinal edges, in the lower part. Preferably, the longitudinal edges are common to both faces over their entire length; we can however consider the presence of conical side faces connecting the two longitudinal faces, in which case the tips of the conical shapes constitute said ends common to the longitudinal edges.

Moreover, these two faces are flexible and have at their respective two longitudinal ends of the foldable parts including convex shape. However, other similar forms may be provided such as a diamond shape or the like. These folding parts are able to be folded substantially squared inwardly relative to said longitudinal faces. Thus, the introduction of the folding parts or flaps can bombard the two longitudinal faces by creating a volume, because of the convex shape or the like, this volume including the positioning of the flower stalks. In the folded position, these foldable parts seal the two longitudinal ends of the volume thus created, which allows to partially close it and contain the stems of the flowers.

In addition, remarkably, the two adjacent folding parts at one of the longitudinal ends of the two faces, namely those situated on the side of the ends common to the two longitudinal edges arranged in the lower part, each have an inner edge including convex or the like , in the form of said folding part, this inner edge constituting a fold line. This fold line is interrupted by at least one curved cutting line towards the inside of the folding part, this cutting line being for example concave or similar, and having at least one end point passing through a straight line defined by the two ends. side of said inner edge which correspond to the common ends of the longitudinal edges. Thus, when the volume is formed, that is to say that the folding parts are more or less in square position relative to the longitudinal faces, said longitudinal faces have a bearing lug corresponding to the curved cutting line and having an extreme point disposed in the same plane as the two ends of the inner edges, common to each of the neighboring foldable parts on each of the longitudinal faces and corresponding to the common ends of the longitudinal edges. Thus, the two extreme points of the legs support and the two common ends are arranged in the same plane, which allows to properly stabilize the vase in a vertical position.

In addition, the two foldable parts adjacent to each other longitudinal ends of the two faces, in the upper part, include passage means arranged to let in particular stems or strands of flowers when the vase is formed, the folding parts being positioned more or less square. These passage means are for example constituted by at least one perforation or a light on one of the neighboring folding parts, in which case the second folding portion will have an inclination slightly greater than 90 ° with respect to its longitudinal face, to allow the passage of stems or strands. However, it is possible to provide, in a variant, at least one perforation or a light on each of the neighboring folding parts, the corresponding perforations when these neighboring folding parts are arranged substantially square to their longitudinal face, allowing concomitantly the passage of the rods or rods. strands for their introduction into the container constituting a vase.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the inner edge on each of the neighboring folding parts, in the lower part, comprises a single curved cutting line and disposed in central part. Other modes, however, remain conceivable; one could for example provide two uniformly distributed cutting lines, on each of the inner edges of the adjacent folding parts in the lower part.

According to a preferred embodiment, this curved cutting line is circular or concave. However, other forms may be provided, such as for example a triangular shape also making it possible to constitute an end point passing through the line defined by the two ends of the inner edge.

According to one embodiment, the two longitudinal faces have their two longitudinal edges rectilinear and parallel to each other. This allows in particular to increase the volume of the vase in the lower part thereof, for example to dispose of the foam in which the stems of flowers are planted, or even to have the means of ballasting or even water, when the flowers are natural or fresh.

According to a variant, the longitudinal faces have their two longitudinal edges rectilinear and inclined one vis-a-vis the other forming a cone.

According to one variant, the packaging comprises, on at least one of its faces, at least one transparent window, which has the advantage of being able to display the content inside said package, for example beads or decorative pebbles, or even the quantity of water present in the vase when it receives natural flowers.

According to the invention, the vessel comprises sealing means configured to allow said vessel to receive water in which are arranged the flower stems, when they are natural flowers. This keeps the fresh flowers longer.

According to a preferred design, these sealing means consist of a sealed bag disposed inside the volume of the package.

According to the invention, the vessel comprises weighting means arranged in the volume of the package, which stabilize the vessel and compensate for the force exerted by the weight of the flowers tending to tilt the vessel.

According to a preferred design, these weighting means are foam, which also makes it possible to plant the ends of the flower stems. However, other weighting means may be envisaged, such as the water contained in the aforementioned sealed bag, or even pebbles, pearls or others.

• les figures 1 à 4 représentent un emballage selon l'art antérieur, en vue de face et de côté, en mode déployé et en mode plié d'utilisation ;
• les figures 5 à 7 représentent en vue de face et de côté, un premier mode de réalisation du vase selon l'invention, en mode déployé et en mode plié d'utilisation ;
• la figure 8 montre une variante de réalisation du vase selon l'invention, en vue de face et en mode déployé, ledit emballage présentant une fenêtre transparente ;
• la figure 9 représente le vase objet de la présente invention ;
• la figure 10 représente une autre variante de réalisation du vase objet de l'invention.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the description which follows, which is based on figures, among which:

• the Figures 1 to 4 represent a package according to the prior art, in front view and side view, in deployed mode and folded mode of use;
• the Figures 5 to 7 represent in front view and side view, a first embodiment of the vase according to the invention, in deployed mode and folded mode of use;
• the figure 8 shows an alternative embodiment of the vessel according to the invention, in front view and in deployed mode, said package having a transparent window;
• the figure 9 represents the vessel object of the present invention;
• the figure 10 represents another variant embodiment of the vase that is the subject of the invention.

It is known from the prior art a package 1 illustrated in FIGS. Figures 1 to 4 which has two faces 2a and 2b, of identical shape and size and having a longitudinal shape. These two longitudinal faces 2a, 2b have their adjacent longitudinal edges 3a, 3b and 4a, 4b interconnected, for example by bonding welding, depending on the material used which may be for example cardboard or a composite material. The two longitudinal faces 2a, 2b are superimposed and merged as appears in particular in figure 1 . These longitudinal faces 2a, 2b each comprise a central portion 5a, 5b and two portions disposed at the longitudinal ends of said faces 2a, 2b, hereinafter referred to as folding parts 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, which have in particular a convex shape with each a inner edge 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b of convex shape and constituting a fold line of said foldable parts 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b.

In the mode of use, the folding parts 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b must be folded inwards with respect to the parts 5a, 5b of the longitudinal faces 2a, 2b, by an angle approximately equal to 90.degree. to obtain a bending of the two longitudinal faces 2a, 2b, both at their central part 5a, 5b and their folding part 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, as it appears opposite Figures 3 and 4 . In the use position, in which the folding parts are put in place as illustrated in FIGS. Figures 3 and 4 , the package then defines a volume allowing, according to the prior art, to contain articles such as textiles, perfumery products, confectionery or other, while the foldable parts 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b close said volume .

Shape variants can be obtained according to the convex shape that is given to the folding parts 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b which, at the extreme limit, can consist of a rhombus, which will make it possible to obtain in a position of use of a packaging having sharp edges including the central axis of the longitudinal faces.

The vase according to the present invention, illustrated according to different variants with Figures 5 to 10 , has characteristics similar to those of the package 1 according to the prior art illustrated in FIGS. Figures 1 to 4 . Thus we find in a common way on the variants illustrated in the Figures 5 to 9 a package 10, 12, 44 which has two faces 14a, 14b each comprising a central portion 15a, 15b and two portions 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b disposed at the longitudinal ends of the faces 14a, 14b, said parts being hereinafter referred to as parts foldable 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b.

The essential difference of the packaging constituting the vase according to the present invention, according to the various possible variants, vis-à-vis the packaging 1 of the prior art illustrated in the Figures 1 to 4 , bears on the inner edge of the foldable parts 17a, 17b, in the lower part, allowing folding of said foldable parts vis-à-vis the central portions 15a, 15b, for shaping the package defining a volume for receiving of flower stems.

As such, according to a first embodiment illustrated in FIGS. Figures 5 to 7 it can be seen that the lower inner edge 18a, 18b connecting the foldable portion 17a, 17b to the central portion 15a, 15b comprises a fold line 19a, 19b which is interrupted by a cutting line 20a, 20b curved inwardly of said foldable portion 17a, 17b. This cutting line 20a, 20b has an end point 21a, 21b passing through the line d1 defined by the two ends 22a, 22b, 23a, 23b of said inner edge 18a, 18b, as illustrated in FIG. figure 5 . On the contrary, as illustrated on the figure 5 , the folding part 16a, 16b in the upper part comprises an inner edge 24a, 24b similar to that of the prior art, that is to say comprising a convex fold line extending over the entire width. Thus, when the folding parts 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b are put in place, that is to say that they are folded at right angles towards the central parts 15a, 15b of the two faces 14a, 14b, the package 10 constituting the vase, then leaves two ears 25a, 25b having two end points 21a, 21b arranged in the same plane P1 as the lateral ends common 22a, 22b, 23a, 23b of the two inner edges 18a, 18b, which ensures a stabilization of the package 10 thus formed.

We find exactly the same characteristics on the variant embodiment of the packaging 12 constituting the vase as illustrated in FIG. figure 8 , the folding parts 17a, 17b, in the lower part on each of the faces 14a, 14b of said package 12 each comprising an inner edge 18a, 18b having a fold line 19a, 19b interrupted by a cutting line 20a, 20b curved towards the inside the folding part, each having an end point 21a, 21b passing through the line d1 defined by the ends 22a, 22b, 23a, 23b of the inner edges 18a, 18b.

According to this variant illustrated in figure 8 , the package 12 constituting the vase comprises a window 35 arranged on one of the faces 14b. However, such a window could be provided on each of the faces 14a, 14b, or even several windows 35 on one and the same face. This window 35 may be constituted by a simple cutting in the longitudinal face 14b or by the use of a transparent material, so as to reveal in part the contents of the vase, for example water, pearls or pebbles .

On the embodiment of the packaging constituting the vase illustrated in Figures 5 to 7 , the adjacent longitudinal edges 36a, 36b, 37a, 37b on each of the two longitudinal faces 14a, 14b, connected to each other, are rectilinear and inclined to one another by forming a cone. On the Figures 5 to 7 , the cone is oriented upwards. However, it is possible to provide in a similar manner according to an alternative embodiment of vase consisting of such a package, as illustrated in FIG. figure 9 , a cone inclined downwards. According to the variant illustrated in figure 8 , the longitudinal edges 38a, 38b, 39a, 39b on each of the two longitudinal faces 14a, 14b are rectilinear and parallel to each other.

Naturally, other variant shapes can be envisaged without departing from the scope of the present invention.

According to the different modes illustrated Figures 5 to 10 each inner edge 18a, 18b of the package 10, 12, 44, 49 constituting the vase, comprises a single cutting line 20a, 20b of circular shape and arranged on the middle part or central. However, it would be possible to provide several cutting lines on each inner edge 18a, 18b in the lower part, uniformly distributed and possibly of a different shape, for example triangular, on which the end point would pass by the right d1.

As illustrated in figure 9 , the packaging 44 allows to form, once shaped, the vessel, object of the invention, the latter having a flared shape upwards. The package 44 therefore comprises in the lower part of the lugs 45 forming support lugs as described above for the other variants illustrated in FIGS. Figures 5 to 8 . In addition, the folding parts 46a, 46b, in the upper part comprise perforations or lights 47 allowing the passage of the flower stems as illustrated on this figure 9 . Such perforations or lights 47 also appear on the embodiment illustrated in FIG. figure 5 . We see on the figure 8 an alternative embodiment of these perforations or lights 47a.

We can consider the implementation of these perforations or lights 47, 47a on the two foldable parts 16a, 16b in the upper part. In this case, the two folding parts 16a, 16b are folded at right angles, that is to say at an angle of approximately 90 ° allowing a configuration such as that illustrated in FIG. Figures 6 and 7 .

It is conceivable according to a variant the implementation of these perforations or lights 47, 47a on a single foldable portion 16a or 16b in the upper part. In this case, only the folding portion 16a or 16b provided with this perforation or light 47, 47a is folded down, the other folding portion 16b or 16a remaining in the extension of the central portion 15b or 15a. This allows to produce aesthetic effects on the vase. Other variants of means of passage of flower stems or strands are conceivable without departing from the scope of the invention.

Of course the vase consisting of such a package 10, 12, 44, 49 is not waterproof and can be used in this way when receiving artificial flowers. However, when it comes to natural flowers, we can provide the addition of a small waterproof bag inside the vase, into which water is poured for the conservation of natural flowers. Other sealing means may be provided for filling the vessel with water.

We can also provide the addition of ballasting means in the vase, for example foam in which the ends of the stems of artificial flowers are pricked, or the water poured into the bag to preserve the natural flowers. It is also possible to provide beads or pebbles which also weight the vase and can produce aesthetic effects, when the package 12 constituting said vase comprises a window 35 as illustrated in FIG. figure 8 .

According to the variant illustrated in figure 10 it can be seen that the longitudinal faces 48a, 48b of the package 49 constituting the vessel which is the subject of the invention are connected to each other by means of lateral faces 50a, 50b which have a triangular or conical shape, the angle at the apex 51a, 51b or the point being oriented downwards. The longitudinal edges 52a, 52b, 53a, 53b of the two longitudinal faces 48a, 48b constitute the sides of the apex angle, the lower ends of said longitudinal edges constituting this apex angle 51a, 51b being common. Thus, the implementation of foldable parts according to the invention and as described for the previous variants, allows to form support tabs 54b on each longitudinal face 48a, 48b, each having an end point 55b disposed in the same P3 plane that the common ends of the two longitudinal edges formed by the corners at the top 51a, 51b.

According to this variant illustrated in figure 10 , it has been found that the vase comprises several perforations or lights 47b, 47c, 47d for the passage of flower stems.

Of course one could provide other embodiments combining the features described above for the various variants of vases.

Such a package constituting the vessel object of the invention will be implemented by the manufacturers of cardboard articles or by manufacturers of polymer or composite articles. It will also be used in different types of commercial space including florists.

Claims (9)

1. A vase that is constituted by a package (10, 12, 44, 49), two faces (14a, 14b) of longitudinal shape connected together, said two faces being flexible and presenting flap portions (16a, 16b, 17a, 17b) at both of their respective longitudinal ends, in particular flap portions of convex shape, characterized in that said two faces (14a, 14b) of longitudinal shape are directly connected together, at least at the common sides at one of the ends of the longitudinal edges (36a, 36b, 37a, 37b, 38a, 38b, 39a, 39b) of said faces, said flap portions being suitable for being folded inwards relative to said faces, in particular at right angles, the two adjacent flap portions (17a, 17b) that are situated at the bottoms of the two longitudinal edges, presenting respective inside edges (18a, 18b), in particular convex edges, constituting fold lines, each of the fold lines (19a, 19b) being interrupted by at least one respective cut line (20a, 20b) that curves towards the inside of the flap portion and that presents at least one extreme point (21a, 21b) that lies on the straight line (d1) that is defined by the two side ends (22a, 22b, 23a, 23b) of said inside edge, the two flap portions (16a, 16b) in the top portion including passage means (47, 47a, 47b, 47c, 47d) that are arranged so as to allow flower stems or stalks to pass when said package is formed.
2. A vase according to claim 1, wherein each inside edge (18a, 18b) includes a single cut line (20a, 20b) that is curved and that is arranged centrally.
3. A vase according to claim 2, wherein the curved cut line (20a, 20b) is circularly arcuate in shape.
4. A vase according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the two longitudinal edges (38a, 38b, 39a, 39b) of the faces (14a, 14b) are rectilinear and parallel to each other.
5. A vase according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the two longitudinal edges (36a, 36b, 37a, 37b) of the faces (14a, 14b) are rectilinear and slope relative to each other, forming a cone.
6. A vase according to any one of claims 1 to 5, including leaktight means that are arranged inside the package (10, 12, 44, 49).
7. A vase according to claim 6, the leaktight means consisting of a leaktight pouch.
8. A vase according to any one of claims 1 to 7, including ballast means that are arranged in the package.
9. A vase according to claim 8, the ballast means being foam.

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