EP3178747B1

EP3178747B1 - Blank, fixing assembly, shipping assembly and method for shipment of a plant or ornamental flowers in a pot or container

Info

Publication number: EP3178747B1
Application number: EP16203293.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Michiel van der Bent
Original assignee: D-Box Verpakkingen BV; FTimmermans Beheer BV; D Box Verpakkingen BV; F Timmermans Beheer BV
Current assignee: D-Box Verpakkingen BV; FTimmermans Beheer BV; D Box Verpakkingen BV; F Timmermans Beheer BV
Priority date: 2015-12-10
Filing date: 2016-12-09
Publication date: 2019-01-02
Anticipated expiration: 2036-12-09
Also published as: NL2015941A; NL2015941B1; EP3178747A1

Description

FIELD

Blank, fixing assembly, shipping assembly and method for shipment of a plant or ornamental flowers in a pot or container.

BACKGROUND

There is a great need for shipment by post or courier of a plant received in a pot with potting soil or of cut flowers received in a container with moisture.
A problem, however, resides in the manner in which such objects should be packaged such that the plant or the cut flowers arrive undamaged at their destination, while the package can yet be manufactured at a reasonable cost price.
US-6,446,805 B1 describes a shipping assembly comprising an outer box ("container") having placed therein what is referred to in the description as a carrier. The known shipping assembly can be used for shipping a small tree with a root ball or a plant in a pot. To this end, the carrier has a boxlike configuration at its lower side. The top of the box is formed by two cover flaps. In the upper side of these cover flaps, radial cuts are provided, so that the segments bounded by these radial cuts can be bent downwards for forming a central opening in the top of the box. In this central opening, a pot with a plant can be placed. The carrier is further provided with two flaps extending up from the box, with a recess near the upper side, serving as carrying handle.
JPS59172188U also shows a shipping assembly that is provided with an outer box and a carrier positioned therein for shipping a plant in a pot. The known carrier is made up of three blank parts which are connected with each other through gluing. A first blank part includes a central part and two side flaps which in mounted condition are folded over through 90 degrees in downward direction. The central part is provided with radial cuts which bound segments that can be bent downwards for forming a central opening in the central part. In this central opening a potted plant can be placed. Glued onto the upper side of the central part are two carrier flaps with retaining or fixing tubes. The fixing tubes serve for fixing a circumferential edge of a plant pot at the underside. To this end, first a plant pot with plant is positioned in the central opening and then the carrier flaps can be swung upwards. The tubes are thereby formed and these move partly above the circumferential edge of the plant pot, so that the plant pot cannot move up out of the central opening anymore. A drawback of the known carrier is that it is particularly costly in that it is made up of three blanks to be manufactured separately, which are to be connected with each other by gluing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An important advantage of the carrier or fixing assembly known from US'805 is that it can be manufactured at a relatively low cost price from, for example, cardboard or like sheet material by folding a single blank. However, when in the case of the US'805 carrier a pot has been placed in the opening of the carrier, and the outer box with the carrier-and-plant placed therein is held upside down, the pot falls out of the opening of the carrier and the plant will sustain injury.
During shipment of plants via the post or via a courier service, the possibility of the package being held upside down cannot be precluded and the chances of the plant or the cut flowers arriving damaged at the user are therefore substantial.
While this problem is solved with the carrier or the fixing assembly of JPS59172188U the solution provided is relatively costly, as has already been indicated above. Since the fixing assembly is a disposable product, the cost price is of particularly great relevance.
The invention contemplates the provision of a solution to the problem of US'805 with preservation of the advantages of the fixing assembly known from it, that is, with preservation of a low cost price.
To this end, the invention primarily provides a blank for manufacturing therefrom, by folding, a fixing assembly for fixing a pot or container in an outer box for shipment of a plant or a number of cut flowers received in the pot or container, wherein the blank comprises:

a central blank part having a rectangular configuration with a first and a second longitudinal edge which are located opposite each other and have a defined longitudinal edge length and with a first and a second transverse edge which are located opposite each other and have a defined transverse edge length;
a recess provided in the central blank part, in which the pot or container is receivable;
a first fixing flap, with at least a central part of the first longitudinal edge being a folding line which connects the first fixing flap with the central blank part; and
a second fixing flap, with at least a central part of the second longitudinal edge being a folding line which connects the second fixing flap with the central blank part;
a first tube flap assembly, which comprises at least three tube flap parts including a connecting flap, one or more intermediate flaps and an end flap which are successively connected by folding lines which extend parallel to the transverse edges, with the first transverse edge being a folding line which connects the connecting flap with the central blank part, and with a free edge of the end flap remote from the central blank part forming a clamping edge for clamping the container or pot between this clamping edge and the central blank part in set-up condition of the fixing assembly;
a second tube flap assembly, which comprises at least three tube flap parts including a connecting flap, one or more intermediate flaps and an end flap which are successively connected by folding lines which extend parallel to the transverse edges, with the second transverse edge being a folding line which connects the connecting flap with the central blank part, and with a free edge of the end flap remote from the central blank part forming a clamping edge for clamping the container or pot between this clamping edge and the central blank part in set-up condition of the fixing assembly.

From this singular blank, in accordance with the invention a fixing assembly can be manufactured by folding. In the fixing assembly, by folding, the two tube flap assemblies are bent over so as to form two tubes which extend parallel to the transverse edges of the central blank and wherein of each tube flap assembly the clamping edge partly covers the recess in the central blank part and wherein the end flaps of the tube flap assemblies against spring action can be pushed away from each other, when viewed from a top of the central blank part a pot or container is placed in the recess, for the purpose of allowing an upper circumferential edge of the pot or container to pass beyond the clamping edges, and wherein after passage of the circumferential edge the clamping edges move towards each other again under the influence of the spring action, such that the clamping edges engage on top of an upper side of the pot or container.
When, with the thus obtained fixing assembly in place, a pot with a plant or a container with cut flowers is placed in the recess of the central blank part, the end flaps of the tube flap assemblies recede away from each other so that the upper side of the pot or container can pass these end flaps. The pot or container cannot move further through the recess of the central blank part because the dimensions of the recess of the central blank part are accurately tuned to the dimensions of the pot or container at the upper side thereof. As soon as the upper edge of the pot or container has passed the clamping edges of the end flaps as the pot moves down, the end flaps spring back towards each other, so that the clamping edges of the end flaps rest on the upper side of the pot or container. The clamping edges of the end flaps prevent the pot or container being able to move up again, that is, away from the central blank part. Thus, the pot or container, and hence the plant and/or the cut flowers, is fixed with respect to the fixing element.
Further, the invention provides a shipping assembly comprising a fixing assembly according to the invention and an outer box, wherein the outer box has a rectangular bottom whose length and width substantially correspond to the length and the width of the central blank part of the fixing assembly, such that the fixing assembly is fittingly receivable in the outer box, wherein the outer box is provided with four sidewalls, wherein tilting of the fixing assembly in the outer box is prevented by the fixing flaps which extend up from the central blank part and by a main surface abut at least partly against a first set of two opposed sidewalls of the outer box, wherein upwardly extending longitudinal edges of the fixing flaps abut against a second set of two opposed sidewalls of the outer box.
Such a shipping assembly makes it possible to ship plants and/or cut flowers in a safe way via the post or a courier, whereby, even when the shipping assembly is handled carelessly, the plant or cut flower does not sustain damage during transport.
Finally, the invention provides a method for packing a plant and/or cut flowers, comprising:

providing a shipping assembly according to the invention by:
- providing a blank according to the invention;
- forming, by folding, a fixing assembly according to the invention; and
- providing an outer box whose bottom dimensions and height are tuned to the dimensions of the fixing assembly;
placing a pot or container in which a plant and/or cut flowers are received in the recess of the central blank part such that the clamping edges of the fixing assembly engage an upper side of the pot or container and that the pot or container is clamped between the central blank part and the clamping edges;
placing the fixing assembly with pot or container and plant and/or cut flowers in the outer box; and
closing the outer box.

A thus packed plant in pot or cut flowers in container can be shipped in a safe manner and will generally arrive undamaged at the final destination because the pot or container has been fixed in the outer box by utilizing the above-described fixing assembly.
Further embodiments of the invention are described in the subclaims and will hereinafter, on the basis of an example, be clarified with reference to the drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Fig. 1 shows a top plan view of an example of a blank according to the invention;
Fig. 2 shows detail II of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 shows a series of insert parts that can be used in combination with the blank;
Fig. 4 shows a first perspective view of an example of the fixing assembly according to the invention;
Fig. 5 shows a top plan view of the fixing assembly shown in Fig. 4;
Fig. 6 shows a second perspective view of the example of Fig. 4;
Fig. 7 shows a third perspective view of the example of Fig. 4;
Fig. 8 shows a perspective cross-sectional view of the fixing assembly; and
Fig. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of the lower region of an outer box with a fixing assembly placed therein and a pot-with-plant fixed therein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the most general terms, the invention provides a blank 10 for manufacturing therefrom, by folding, a fixing assembly 300 for fixing a pot or container 100 in an outer transportation box 400 for shipment of a plant or a number of cut flowers P which are received in the pot or container 100. An example of the blank is represented in Figs. 1 and 2, where the chain-dotted lines represent folding lines, the dotted lines represent perforated lines or tear lines, and full lines represent lines of cut. The blank 10 comprises a central blank part 12 having a rectangular configuration with a first and a second longitudinal edge 14, 14' which are located opposite each other and have a defined longitudinal edge length. The central blank part 12 is further bounded by a first and a second transverse edge 16, 16', which are located opposite each other and have a defined transverse edge length. Provided in the central blank part 12 is a recess 17 in which a pot or container 100 is receivable (see Fig. 9). The blank is further provided with a first fixing flap 26. This fixing flap 26 is connected with the central blank part 12 with at least a central part of the first longitudinal edge 14 via a folding line. Similarly, the blank 10 is provided with a second fixing flap 26' which is connected with the central blank part 12 with at least a central part of the second longitudinal edge 14' via a folding line. Further, the blank 10 comprises a first tube flap assembly 18, 20, 22 which comprises at least three tube flap parts including a connecting flap 18, one or more intermediate flaps 20 and an end flap 22. The connecting flap 18, the at least one intermediate flap 20 and the end flap 22 are successively connected by folding lines which extend parallel to the transverse edges 16, 16' mentioned. The first transverse edge 16 is a folding line which connects the connecting flap 18 with the central blank part 12. A free edge of the end flap 22 remote from the central blank part 12 forms a clamping edge 24 for clamping the container or pot 100 between this clamping edge 24 and the central blank part 12 in set-up condition of the fixing assembly 300. Finally, the blank also comprises a second tube flap assembly 18', 20', 22' which comprises at least three tube flap parts. The tube flap parts comprise a connecting flap 18', one or more intermediate flaps 20' and an end flap 22' which are successively connected by folding lines which extend parallel to the transverse edges 16, 16' mentioned. The second transverse edge 16' is a folding line which connects the connecting flap 18' with the central blank part 12. A free edge of the end flap 22' remote from the central blank part forms a clamping edge 24' for clamping the container or pot 100 between this clamping edge 24' and the central blank part 12 in set-up condition of the fixing assembly 300.
With the aid of such a blank 10, a fixing assembly 300 according to the invention can be manufactured, with the aid of which a pot can be fixed in an outer box 400. The blank 10 may for instance be manufactured from cardboard, corrugated cardboard, or like sheet material. Plastic sheet material is also one of the options. Cardboard, however, is preferred from the viewpoint of cost price and sustainability in view of its recyclability.
In an embodiment, of which an example is shown in the figures, the folding line via which the first fixing flap 26 and the second fixing flap 26' are respectively connected with the central blank part 12 can have a length less than the longitudinal edge length of the central blank part 12. Both the first and the second fixing flap 26, 26' may then, viewed from the central blank part 12, have a taper-widening fixing flap part 26a, 26'a which forms two mutually opposite, obliquely extending tube fixing edges 28a, 28b, 28'a, 28'b. The taper-widening fixing flap part 26a, 26'a may then be integrally connected with a remaining part 26b, 26'b of the fixing flap 26, 26', whose width substantially corresponds to the longitudinal edge length.
The obliquely extending tube fixing edges 28a, 28b, 28'a, 28'b, in the condition of the blank 10 when folded together to form fixing assembly 300, abut against the end flaps 22, 22' and prevent the end flaps 22, 22' being able to move up when against them an upwardly directed force is exerted by, for example, the pot or container 100. The obliquely extending tube fixing edges 28a, 28b, 28'a, 28'b therefore play an important role in fixing the pot or container 100 in the fixing assembly 300.
In an embodiment, of which an example is shown in the figures, for each fixing flap 26, 26', the ends of the two obliquely extending tube fixing edges 28a, 28b, 28'a, 28'b remote from the central blank part 12 can each link up with a free tube fixing edge 30a, 30b, 30'a, 30'b, which extends substantially parallel to the corresponding longitudinal edge 14, 14' of the central blank part 12.
These free tube fixing edges 30a, 30b, 30'a, 30'b, in the condition of the blank 10 when folded together to form fixing assembly 300, abut against the intermediate flaps 20, 20' and also prevent the intermediate flaps 20, 20' being able to move up when against them via the end flaps 22, 22' an upwardly directed force is exerted by, for example, the pot or container 100. The obliquely extending tube fixing edges 28a, 28b, 28'a, 28'b and the free tube fixing edges 30a, 30b, 30'a, 30'b hence have an important function in preserving the tubular shape when an upwardly directed force is exerted on the clamping edges 24, 24'.
In an embodiment, of which an example is shown in the figures, each free tube fixing edge 30a, 30b, 30'a, 30'b may be provided with at least one tab 32, 34, 32', 34'. The tube flap parts 18, 20, 22, 18', 20', 22' are laterally bounded by tube flap part longitudinal edges 36, 38, 36', 38' which extend parallel to the longitudinal edge 14, 14' of the central blank part 12. In the embodiment with the tabs 32, 34, 32', 34' mentioned, the tube flap parts 18, 20, 22, 18', 20', 22' are provided with at least one recess 40, 42, 40, 42' corresponding to such an at least one tab 32, 34, 32', 34' of the free tube fixing edge 30a, 30b, 30'a, 30'b that is situated closest to that respective tube flap part longitudinal edge 36, 38, 36', 38'.
Mutual engagement of the tabs 32, 34, 32', 34' and the recesses 40, 42, 40', 42' ensures that the fixing flaps 26, 26' remain standing in an upwardly directed position and moreover ensures that the tubes that are formed by the tube flap assemblies 18, 20, 22, 18', 20', 22' preserve their tubular configuration in the set-up condition of the fixing assembly.
In a further elaboration of this embodiment, of which an example is shown in the figures, each free tube fixing edge 30a, 30b, 30'a, 30'b may be provided with two tabs 32, 34, 32', 34', and the tube flap parts 18, 20, 22, 18', 20', 22', near each tube flap part longitudinal edge 36, 38, 36', 38' thereof, may be provided with two recesses 40, 42, 40', 42'.
In an embodiment of which an example is shown in the figures, each fixing flap 26, 26', near a free edge remote from the central blank part 12, may be provided with a handle recess 44, 44'.
Such a handle recess makes it possible to move the fixing assembly 300 with pot or container 100 provided with a plant or ornamental flowers in a simple manner. This provides ease of placing the fixing assembly 300 in an outer box 400 and of taking the fixing assembly with plant P out of the outer box 400.
In an embodiment, of which an example is shown in the figures, each fixing flap 26, 26' may be provided with at least one tear line 46, 48, 46', 48' which extends parallel to the longitudinal edges 14, 14' of the central blank part 12. With each tear line 46, 48, 46', 48' a handle recess 50, 52, 50', 52' may then be associated, which is provided in the fixing flap 26, 26' and which is situated between the respective tear line 46, 48, 46', 48' and the central blank part 12 near the respective tear line 46, 48, 46', 48'.
This makes it possible to use the fixing assembly 300 in outer boxes 400 of different heights. When use is made of an outer box 400 of lower height, the upper part or the upper two parts of the fixing flaps 26, 26' can be removed by tearing these off at a tear line 46, 48, 46', 48'.
Thus, plants and/or cut flowers P of different heights can be packed in outer boxes 400 of a matching format, and the possibility of relatively small plants P or cut flowers being transported in far too large outer boxes can be obviated. The larger the outer box 400, the higher the costs of transport may be, so it is of economic advantage to tune the dimension of the outer box 400 to the dimension of the plant. On the other hand, the necessity of manufacturing yet another blank 10 and another fixing assembly 300 for every type of outer box is thus obviated.
In an embodiment, of which an example is shown in the figures, the connecting flap 18, 18' of both the first tube flap assembly 18, 20, 22 and the second tube flap assembly 18', 20', 22' may be provided with a U-shaped cut for forming one strengthening flap, or an H-shaped cut 54, 54' for forming two strengthening flaps 56, 58, 56', 58'.
In the exemplary embodiment shown, the cut in question is an H-shaped cut 54, 54' for forming two strengthening flaps 56, 58, 56', 58'. The variant with the U-shaped cut is not shown but is easily conceivable. Just as with the invention with the lying H-shaped cut, the U-shaped cut is a lying cut. The dimension of the at least one strengthening flap 56, 58, 56', 58', viewed in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal edge 14, 14' of the central blank part 12, substantially corresponds to the distance between the folding line connecting the connecting flap 18, 18' with the central blank part 12 and the folding line connecting the connecting flap 18, 18' with the adjacent intermediate flap 20, 20'.
The height of the strengthening flaps 56, 58, 56', 58' is consequently equal to the height of the inside dimension of the tubes that are formed from the tube flap assemblies 18, 20, 22, 18', 20', 22'. What is thus prevented is that a downward force for instance exerted on the top of the tubes would cause the tubes to collapse. The position of the intermediate flaps 20, 20' is fixed in upward direction by the earlier-described free tube fixing edges 30a, 30b, 30'a, 30'b and is fixed in downward direction by the strengthening flaps 56, 58, 56', 58' mentioned. Apart from the end flaps 22, 22', the positions of the connecting flaps 18, 18' and the intermediate flaps 20, 20' are therefore fixed, which is of importance for fixing the pot or container 100 in the fixing assembly 300 in a suitable manner.
The invention also provides a fixing assembly 300 which is manufactured from a blank 10 of which different embodiments have been described above and of which an example is shown in the figures. The fixing assembly is obtained by folding. Thus, the two tube flap assemblies 18, 20, 22 have been turned over to form two tubes 302, 302' which extend parallel to the transverse edges 16, 16' of the central blank 12. As is clearly visible in the top plan view of Fig. 5, the clamping edge 24, 24' of each tube flap assembly partly covers the recess 17 in the central blank part 12. The end flaps 22, 22' of the tube flap assemblies can, against spring action, be pushed away from each other, when viewed from a top of the central blank part 12 a pot or container 100 is placed in the recess 17, for the purpose of allowing an upper circumferential edge 102 of the pot or container 100 to pass beyond the clamping edges 24, 24'. After passage of the circumferential edge 102, the clamping edges 24, 24' move towards each other again under the influence of the spring action mentioned, such that the clamping edges 24, 24' engage on top of an upper side of the pot or container 100. The spring action is produced by internal stress in the material of the blank 10.
Thus, a pot or container 100 is fixed with respect to the fixing element 300 in a simple manner.
In an embodiment, of which an example is shown in the figures, the fixing flaps 26, 26' may, by folding, have been brought into a position in which they extend substantially perpendicularly up from the central blank part 12.
In the embodiment of the blank 10 with the tabs 32, 34, 32', 34' and the recesses 40, 42, 40', 42', the tabs 32, 34, 32', 34', in that position of the fixing flaps 26, 26', engage in the recesses 40, 42, 40', 42' so that the fixing flaps 26, 26' preserve their upwardly directed orientation with respect to the central blank part 12 and moreover the tubes 302, 302' are fixed in their tubular position. Thus, a firm fixing assembly 300 is obtained.
The firmness may be promoted still further in an embodiment of which an example is shown in the figures, when the blank 10 has the earlier-described strengthening flaps 56, 58, 56', 58'. During set-up of the fixing assembly 300, the at least one strengthening flap 56, 58, 56', 58' of each tube flap assembly 18, 20, 22, 18', 20', 22' may have been deflected relative to the connecting flap 18, 18', such that the at least one strengthening flap 56, 58, 56', 58' extends in an interior of the tube 302, 302' and stabilizes the height of the tube 302, 302'.
Pots and containers 100 are supplied in a large number of different formats. The size of the recess 17 in the central blank part 12 has to be accurately tuned to the size of the pot or container 100 at the upper side thereof. On the other hand, it is not desirable that a different fixing assembly 300 needs to be manufactured for each different pot diameter. That would lead to a particularly large quantity of different fixing assemblies 300 all of which the sender of the plant needs to keep in stock to be able to ship his plants. This takes up particularly much space and moreover it is not practical when during packing activities the packers need to choose from a large number of differently dimensioned fixing assemblies 300 all the time when he or she is about to dispatch a plant P or ornamental flowers.
To solve this problem, the fixing assembly 300 in an embodiment, of which an example is shown in the figures, may further include a rectangular sheetlike insert part 60 whose length and width substantially correspond to the dimensions of the central blank part 12. The sheetlike insert part 60 may be provided with a recess 62 having dimensions that deviate from the dimensions of the recess 17 in the central blank part 12, such that the recess 62 of the insert part 60 is smaller than the recess 17 in the central blank part 12. The packer therefore only needs to stock such relatively small insert parts 60 in different sizes. Insert parts 60 for different pot sizes are shown in Fig. 3. There is a multiplicity of pot diameters that can all be shipped with the same fixing assembly 300. Only by utilizing the right insert part 60 can this be accomplished.
The invention further provides a shipping assembly, of which an example is shown in Fig. 9. The shipping assembly, in the most general terms, comprises a fixing assembly 300 according to the invention and an outer box 400. The outer box 400 then has a rectangular bottom 402 whose length and width substantially correspond to the length and the width of the central blank part 12 of the fixing assembly 300, such that the fixing assembly 300 is fittingly receivable in the outer box 400. The outer box 400 is provided with four sidewalls 404, 406, 408 (the fourth sidewall is not visible in Fig. 9). Tilting of the fixing assembly 300 in the outer box 400 is prevented by the fixing flaps 26, 26' which extend up from the central blank part 12 and which by a main surface abut at least partly against a first set of two opposed sidewalls 406 (one of which is not shown in Fig. 9) of the outer box 400. Upwardly extending longitudinal edges 26a, 26b of the fixing flaps 26, 26' abut against a second set of opposed sidewalls 404, 408 of the outer box 400.
The height of the fixing flaps 26, 26' is tuned to the height of the outer box 400. Thus, it is additionally accomplished that the fixing assembly 300 cannot shift in the outer box 400 when the outer box 400 is, for instance, held upside down.
In an embodiment of the shipping assembly, the outer box 400 may be provided with a handgrip or carrying handle near an upper side thereof.
Finally, the invention provides a method for packing a plant and/or cut flowers. The method comprises

providing a shipping assembly according to the invention by:
- providing a blank 10 according to the invention;
- forming, by folding, a fixing assembly 300 according to the invention; and
- providing an outer box 400 whose bottom dimensions and height are tuned to the dimensions of the fixing assembly 300;
placing a pot or container 100 in which a plant and/or cut flowers are received in the recess 17 of the central blank part 12 such that the clamping edges 24, 24' of the fixing assembly 300 engage an upper side of the pot or container 100 and that the pot or container 100 is clamped between the central blank part 12 and the clamping edges 24, 24';
placing the fixing assembly 300 with pot or container 100 and plant and/or cut flowers in the outer box 400; and
closing the outer box 400.

Thus, in an efficient manner a pot with a plant or a container with cut flowers can be packed in a shipping assembly that provides a stable and safe package for the plant or ornamental flowers. Damage to the plant P or ornamental flowers in the outer box 400 is prevented in that the pot or container 100 is well fixed in the outer box 400 by the fixing assembly 300. Even when the shipping assembly is handled carelessly, the risk of damage to the plant P or ornamental flowers is limited to a minimum.
In an embodiment of the method, the fixing assembly 300 which is provided may further include a rectangular sheetlike insert part 60 which has already been described above. Providing the shipping assembly then additionally includes placing the insert part 60 on the central blank part 12. Placing the pot or container 100 in which a plant and/or cut flowers are received then comprises, with such an invention, placing that pot or container 100 in the recess 62 of the insert part 60.
Thus, apart from the insert part 60, with always the same fixing assembly 300 a large number of pots or containers 100 of different diameter can be processed. Also, plants or ornamental flowers having a different height can be processed, in each case with the same fixing assembly 300. Thus, the entire assortment of plants to be shipped can be shipped utilizing only three differently dimensioned fixing assemblies 300 with multiple different insert parts 60. From the viewpoint of manufacturing costs and stocking costs, this is of huge benefit.

Claims

A blank for manufacturing therefrom, by folding, a fixing assembly (300) for fixing a pot or container (100) in an outer box (400) for shipment of a plant or a number of cut flowers (P) received in the pot or container (100), wherein the blank (10) comprises:
- a central blank part (12) having a rectangular configuration with a first and a second longitudinal edge (14, 14') which are located opposite each other and have a defined longitudinal edge length and with a first and a second transverse edge (16, 16') which are located opposite each other and have a defined transverse edge length;

- a recess (17) provided in the central blank part (12), in which the pot or container (100) is receivable;

- a first fixing flap (26), with at least a central part of the first longitudinal edge (14) being a folding line which connects the first fixing flap (26) with the central blank part (12); and

- a second fixing flap (26'), with at least a central part of the second longitudinal edge (14') being a folding line which connects the second fixing flap (26') with the central blank part (12);

- a first tube flap assembly (18, 20, 22), which comprises at least three tube flap parts including a connecting flap (18), one or more intermediate flaps (20) and an end flap (22) which are successively connected by folding lines which extend parallel to said transverse edges (16, 16'), with the first transverse edge (16) being a folding line which connects the connecting flap (18) with the central blank part (12), and with a free edge of the end flap (22) remote from the central blank part (12) forming a clamping edge (24) for clamping the container or pot (100) between this clamping edge (24) and the central blank part (12) in set-up condition of the fixing assembly (300);

- a second tube flap assembly (18', 20', 22'), which comprises at least three tube flap parts including a connecting flap (18'), one or more intermediate flaps (20') and an end flap (22') which are successively connected by folding lines which extend parallel to said transverse edges (16, 16'), with the second transverse edge (16') being a folding line which connects the connecting flap (18') with the central blank part (12), and with a free edge of the end flap (22') remote from the central blank part (12) forming a clamping edge (24') for clamping the container or pot (100) between this clamping edge (24') and the central blank part (12) in set-up condition of the fixing assembly (300).
The blank according to claim 1, wherein the folding line via which the first and second fixing flap (26, 26', respectively) are respectively connected with the central blank part (12) has a length less than the longitudinal edge length of the central blank part (12), wherein both the first and the second fixing flap (26, 26'), viewed from the central blank part (12), has a taper-widening fixing flap part (26a, 26'a) which forms two mutually opposite, obliquely extending tube fixing edges (28a, 28b, 28'a, 28'b) and which is integrally connected with a remaining part (26b, 26'b) of the fixing flap (26, 26'), whose width substantially corresponds to the longitudinal edge length.
The blank according to claim 2, wherein for each fixing flap (26, 26') the ends of the two obliquely extending tube fixing edges remote from the central blank part (12) each link up with a free tube fixing edge (30a, 30b, 30'a, 30'b) which extends substantially parallel to the corresponding longitudinal edge (14, 14') of the central blank part (12).
The blank according to claim 3, wherein each free tube fixing edge (30a, 30b, 30'a, 30'b) is provided with at least one tab (32, 34, 32', 34') and wherein the tube flap parts (18, 20, 22, 18', 20', 22'), near each tube flap part longitudinal edge (36, 38, 36', 38') thereof, which extends parallel to the longitudinal edge (14, 14') of the central blank part (12), are provided with at least one recess (40, 42, 40', 42') which corresponds to a said at least one tab (32, 34, 32', 34') of the free tube fixing edge (30a, 30b, 30'a, 30'b) that is closest to that respective tube flap part longitudinal edge (36, 38, 36', 38').
The blank according to claim 4, wherein each free tube fixing edge (30a, 30b, 30'a, 30'b) is provided with two tabs (32, 34, 32', 34') and wherein the tube flap parts (18, 20, 22, 18', 20', 22'), near each tube flap part longitudinal edge (36, 38, 36', 38') thereof, are provided with two recesses (40, 42, 40', 42') which correspond to the two tabs (32, 34, 32', 34') of the free tube fixing edge (30a, 30b, 30'a, 30'b) that is closest to that respective tube flap part longitudinal edge (36, 38, 36', 38').
The blank according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each fixing flap (26, 26') near a free edge remote from the central blank part (12) is provided with a handle recess (44, 44').
The blank according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each fixing flap (26, 26') is provided with at least one tear line (46, 48, 46', 48') which extends parallel to the longitudinal edges (14, 14') of the central blank part (12), wherein with each tear line (46, 48, 46', 48') a handle recess (50, 52, 50', 52') is associated which is provided in the fixing flap (26, 26') and which is situated between the respective tear line (46, 48, 46', 48') and the central blank part (12) near the respective tear line (46, 48, 46', 48').
The blank according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein the connecting flap (18, 18') of both the first tube flap assembly (18, 20, 22) and the second tube flap assembly (18', 20', 22') is provided with:
- a U-shaped cut for forming one strengthening flap; or

- an H-shaped cut (54, 54') for forming two strengthening flaps (56, 58, 56', 58');
wherein the dimension of the at least one strengthening flap (56, 58, 56', 58'), viewed in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal edge (14, 14') of the central blank part (12), substantially corresponds to the distance between the folding line connecting the fixing flap (18, 18') with the central blank part (12) and the folding line connecting the connecting flap (18, 18') with the adjacent intermediate flap (20, 20').
A fixing assembly (300) manufactured from a blank (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein by folding, the two tube flap assemblies (18, 20, 22) are turned over so as to form two tubes (302, 302') which extend parallel to the transverse edges (16, 16') of the central blank (12) and wherein of each tube flap assembly the clamping edge (24, 24') at least partly covers the recess (17) in the central blank part (12) and wherein the end flaps (22, 22') of the tube flap assemblies against spring action can be pushed away from each other, when viewed from a top of the central blank part (12) a pot or container (100) is placed in said recess (17), for the purpose of allowing an upper circumferential edge (102) of the pot or container (100) to pass beyond the clamping edges (24, 24'), and wherein after passage of said circumferential edge (102) the clamping edges (24, 24') move towards each other again under the influence of said spring action, such that the clamping edges (24, 24') engage on top of an upper side of the pot or container (100).
The fixing assembly according to claim 9, wherein the fixing flaps (26, 26') by folding are brought in a position in which they extend substantially perpendicularly up from the central blank part (12).
The fixing assembly according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the blank has the features of claim 8, wherein during set-up of the fixing assembly (300) the at least one strengthening flap (56, 58, 56', 58') of each tube flap assembly (18, 20, 22, 18', 20', 22') is deflected relative to the connecting flap (18, 18'), such that the at least one strengthening flap (56, 58, 56', 58') extends into an inner space of the tube and stabilizes the height of the tube.
The fixing assembly according to any one of claims 9-11, further including a rectangular sheetlike insert part (60) whose length and width substantially correspond to the dimensions of the central blank part (12), and wherein the sheetlike insert part (60) is provided with a recess (62) with dimensions that deviate from the dimensions of the recess (17) in the central blank part (12), such that the recess (62) of the insert part (60) is smaller than the recess (17) in the central blank part (12).
A shipping assembly comprising a fixing assembly according to any one of claims 9-12 and an outer box (400), wherein the outer box (400) has a rectangular bottom (402) whose length and width substantially correspond to the length and the width of the central blank part (12) of the fixing assembly (300), such that the fixing assembly (300) is fittingly receivable in the outer box (400), wherein the outer box (400) is provided with four sidewalls (404, 406, 408, 410), wherein tilting of the fixing assembly (300) in the outer box (400) is prevented by the fixing flaps (26, 26') which extend up from the central blank part (12) and by a main surface abut at least partly against a first set of two opposed sidewalls (406) of the outer box (400), wherein upwardly extending longitudinal edges (26a, 26b, 26'a, 26'b) of the fixing flaps (26, 26') abut against a second set of two opposed sidewalls (404, 408) of the outer box (400).
The shipping assembly according to claim 13, wherein the outer box (400) is provided with a handgrip or carrying handle near an upper side thereof.
A method for packing a plant and/or cut flowers, comprising:
- providing a shipping assembly according to claim 13 or 14 by:
- providing a blank (10) according to any one of claims 1-8;

- forming, by folding, a fixing assembly (300) according to any one of claims 9-12; and

- providing an outer box (400) whose bottom dimensions and height are tuned to the dimensions of the fixing assembly (300);

- placing a pot or container (100) in which a plant and/or cut flowers are received in the recess (17) of the central blank part (12), such that the clamping edges (24, 24') of the fixing assembly (300) engage an upper side of the pot or container (100) and that the pot or container (100) is clamped between the central blank part (12) and the clamping edges (24, 24');

- placing the fixing assembly (300) with pot or container (100) and plant and/or cut flowers in the outer box (400); and
- closing the outer box (400).
The method according to claim 15, wherein the fixing assembly (300) which is provided is implemented according to claim 12, wherein providing the shipping assembly comprises placing the insert part (60) on the central blank part (12), and wherein placing the pot or container (100) in which a plant and/or cut flowers are received comprises placing in the recess (62) of the insert part (60).