GB2579914A

GB2579914A - A bag for transporting a conifer

Info

Publication number: GB2579914A
Application number: GB1917724.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Elizabeth Hewison Claire; Ian Moore Steven; Richard Anthony Nutt Luke; Peter John Nutt Dominic
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-12-17
Filing date: 2019-12-04
Publication date: 2020-07-08
Also published as: GB201917724D0; GB201820523D0

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a bag 14 suitable for transporting a conifer tree (10, figure 1). The bag comprises a (preferably tubular) sleeve, with a bottom end 18 suitable for clamping 22 to the trunk of the tree and an open top upper end 20. The upper end comprises a closure mechanism 26 (preferably a zipper, drawstring or hook and loop fastener) which envelops the tree. The bag is movable between a transport condition (wherein the tree is enclosed by the bag) and to a display condition wherein both the ends are substantially next to the trunk of the tree. Preferably, the bag further comprises an opening mechanism 24 running axially along the bag (preferably about 1/3 the length of the bag). Ideally the mechanism is a frangible strip. Also, the clamping mechanism may be an elastic strip, typically with a smaller diameter than that of a given tree. The bag may be made from a recyclable material. Preferably, the closing device comprises a rigid hoop (30, figure 10a-b) that is twisted to close the bag.

Description

A BAG FOR TRANSPORTING A CONIFER

[0001] Embodiments described herein relate to a bag for transporting a conifer tree.

[0002] BACKGROUND

[0003] Conifers, such as pines, firs and spruces are often displayed indoors on a temporary basis. A typical example of such a conifer is a Christmas tree and, in recent years, there has been a well-established and growing consumer market for natural Christmas trees during the Christmas period. It is known to use netting to enclose the Christmas tree at the point of sale in order to aid carrying the tree, which would otherwise be difficult due to the diameter of the tree with fully extended branches. However, such nettings require a special displacing hoop to expand the netting to fit the tree, which is not available to the user when removing the Christmas tree, and so the user typically cuts and discards the netting when erecting the Christmas tree. Once the Christmas period is over, the user is required to remove the Christmas tree from display and transport the tree to a disposal site. Since the needle-like leaves of the tree can loosen with time, and since the branches often become more brittle, during the period of display, transportation of the Christmas tree for disposal is often burdensome for the user, who will have to clean up any fallen leaves and branches, which may be located indoors, outdoors or within a removal vehicle, such as the user's car.

[0004] Although such problems are widely experienced with conifers that are used as Christmas trees, they can arise with any conifer that needs to be transported to a location, displayed there and subsequently removed.

[0005] Therefore, there is a need to improve on the prior art.

[0006] SUMMARY

[0007] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a bag for transporting a conifer, the bag comprising: a sleeve having a base end and a tip end, the said sleeve being translatable between a transportation condition, in which the sleeve is configured to substantially enclose branches of the conifer, and a display condition, in which the sleeve is configured to not substantially enclose the said branches of the conifer; the base end including a clamping mechanism that is configured to clamp onto a trunk of the conifer at a base end of the conifer; the tip end being configured to be open and situated in the vicinity of the base of the conifer when the sleeve is in the display condition; the tip end being configured to be closed and situated in the vicinity of the tip of the conifer when the sleeve is in the transportation condition; and the tip end including a closing device that is configured to secure the closure of the tip end when the sleeve is in the transportation condition. In this way, the bag will reduce the risk of leaves and branches being dropped during transit when disposing of the conifer.

[0008] The sleeve may comprise an opening member extending axially from the tip end towards the base end, the opening member being arranged to open when a separating force is applied thereto.

[0009] The opening member may include hook and loop fasteners.

[0010] The opening member may include a frangible strip.

[0011] The frangible strip may include a portion of material that has a lower material weight than the material of the remainder of the sleeve.

[0012] The opening member may extend substantially one third of the length of the sleeve.

[0013] The closing device may include hook and loop fasteners.

[0014] The closing device may comprise a zip fastener.

[0015] The closing device may comprise a drawstring.

[0016] The closing device may comprise a hoop. This allows for greater ease of use by the user compared with other closing devices.

[0017] The hoop may be substantially rigid. This makes it easier for the user to lift the hoop over the branches of the conifer.

[0018] The hoop may be made from a pliant plant-based material. This allows for the hoop to be biodegradable.

[0019] The bag may be formed from a recyclable material.

[0020] The sleeve may be substantially tubular.

[0021] The clamping mechanism may comprise an elastic strip.

[0022] The elastic strip may have a neutral dimension that is smaller than the trunk of the conifer.

[0023] A height of the bag may be substantially equal to the height of the conifer.

[0024] A circumference of the bag in centimetres may be substantially half the height of the conifer in centimetres, plus 100.

[0025] A length of the elastic strip in centimetres may be substantially 0.065 times a length of the conifer in centimetres plus 4.

[0026] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of dressing a conifer with the aforementioned bag. The method comprises: fitting the clamping device to a trunk of the conifer; moving the tip end of the sleeve to the vicinity of the tip of the conifer; and closing the closing mechanism to enclose the said branches of the conifer within the sleeve.

[0027] The closing mechanism may be a hoop, and the method of closing the closing mechanism may comprise twisting the hoop relative to the sleeve to form a twisted seal, and lowering the hoop towards the base end.

[0028] Once the clamping device has been fitted to the trunk of the conifer, the method may comprise: configuring the bag to be in a display condition where the tip end of the bag is at the base end of the conifer; and displaying the conifer at a display location prior to moving the tip end of the sleeve to the vicinity of the tip of the conifer.

[0029] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of placing the aforementioned bag in a display condition, the said method comprising: providing the conifer within the bag in the transportation condition; opening the closing device; and moving the tip end of the sleeve from the vicinity of the tip of the conifer to the vicinity of the base of the conifer.

[0030] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of removing a conifer from a bag the as described above, wherein the sleeve comprises an opening member extending axially from the tip end towards the base end, the opening member being arranged to open when a separating force is applied thereto. The method comprises: providing the conifer within the bag in the transportation condition; opening the opening member by applying an external separating force; and removing the conifer from the bag.

[0031] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Embodiments of a bag for transporting a conifer will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: [0033] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a conifer; [0034] FIG. 2 is a diagram of a bag according to an embodiment for transporting the conifer from FIG. 1; [0035] FIG. 3 is a diagram of the bag from FIG. 2 in a display condition on the conifer from FIG. 1; [0036] FIG. 4 is a similar diagram to FIG. 3 of the bag in a transportation condition on the conifer from FIG. 1; [0037] FIG. 5 is a similar diagram to FIG. 4 of the bag in the transportation condition having a closing device in a closed position to enclose the branches of the conifer within the bag; [0038] FIG. 6 is a similar diagram to FIG. 5 after fracturing a frangible strip of the bag to remove the conifer; [0039] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a sheet used to manufacture the bag from FIG. 2; [0040] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a sleeve for forming the bag from FIG. 2; [0041] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the bag according to an embodiment for transporting the conifer wherein a closing device for the bag is a hoop; [0042] FIG. 10A is a diagram showing the bag of FIG. 9 wherein the conifer is within the bag; and [0043] FIG. 10B is a diagram showing the bag of FIG. 9 in the transportation condition.

[0044] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] With reference to FIG. 1, a conifer 10 includes a trunk 12 and branches with leaves growing therefrom. The leaves may be in the form of needles.

[0046] With reference to FIG. 2, a bag 14 for transporting the conifer 10 (see FIG. 1) comprises a sleeve 16 with a base end 18 and a tip end 20. The sleeve 16 may be tubular. The base end 18 includes a clamping mechanism 22. The clamping mechanism 22 may be an elastic strip.

[0047] The elastic strip may extend around the full circumference of the sleeve 16, such that the base end 18 of the tubular sleeve 16 is provided with an elasticated edge. Alternatively, the elasticated strip may extend around only a portion of the circumference of the sleeve 16.

[0048] The degree of elasticity of the elastic strip is such that the tubular sleeve 14 tapers towards the base end 18. The elastic strip has a neutral dimension when no external expansion force is applied. The neutral dimension of the elastic strip is smaller than the diameter of the trunk 12 (FIG. 1). In this way, the elastic strip provides a clamping mechanism 22 arranged to clamp the trunk of the conifer 10 at the base end of the tree.

[0049] Alternatively, the clamping mechanism 22 may be a drawstring. The drawstring is adjustable such that the base end 18 of the sleeve 16 may have a circumference that is greater than the circumference of the trunk 12 when the drawstring is loose. When the drawstring is tightened the circumference of the base end 18 is reduced, so that the drawstring provides the clamping mechanism 22 arranged to clamp the trunk of the conifer 10 at the base end of the tree.

[0050] In this embodiment, the sleeve 16 is made from cotton fabric, such as muslin, but a wide variety of other materials may be used. The fabric may be a low weight fabric. A suitable range of fabric weight may be between 60 and 320 grams per square meter (GSM). For instance, material used for the sleeve 16 may include, but are not limited to, flax, hemp, jute, muslin, and bamboo. An example material for the sleeve may also be NatureFlex (RTM), as used in some instances for making tea bags. In any case, biodegradable materials are preferred for ease of disposing the bag 10. In addition, other materials such as wire mesh, paper or even cardboard may be used. Further materials may also include satin or velvet.

[0051] Furthermore, the material chosen for the sleeve 16 may be fire retardant, or be coated with a fire retardant treatment. Likewise, some or all other materials used in the bag 14 may be made from a fire retardant material.

[0052] With further reference to FIG. 2, the sleeve 16 also comprises an axially-extending opening member 24. The opening member 24 may be a frangible strip 24 having a lower tensile strength than the rest of the sleeve 16 and it will therefore tear when a separation force, typically having a radial and/or circumferential component, is applied during removal of the conifer 10, whilst leaving the remainder of the sleeve material 16 intact. The frangible strip 24 may be made from the same material as the rest of the sleeve 16 and be rendered weaker by virtue of its structure. In this regard, the material from which it is formed may have a lower weight than the rest of the sleeve 16, or it may be perforated, for example. For instance, the weight of fabric in GSM of the frangible strip 24 may be lower than the weight of the fabric in GSM of the sleeve. Further alternatives are also envisaged for rendering the frangible strip 24 weaker than the sleeve 16, for example employing a different material from the rest of the sleeve 16. A gauze may be used as the basis for the frangible strip 24 in some embodiments and this may be formed from a material that is the same or different from the rest of the sleeve 16.

[0053] As an alternative, the opening member 24 may be provided in the form of a hook and loop fastener such as a Velcro (RTM) strip. In addition, other re-sealable alternative arrangements may be used, for instance, a zip fastener.

[0054] The opening member 24 may be provided from the tip end 20 of the bag 14 and may extend axially toward the base end 18 of the bag 14 for approximately one third of the length of the sleeve 16. One third of the length of the sleeve 16 provides sufficient radial opening capability for removing the conifer 10 from the bag, whilst retaining sufficient sheet material below the opening member 24 to prevent the branches of the conifer 10 from opening the opening member 24 during transportation. Alternative arrangements may be provided where the opening member 24 extends more, or less, than one third of the axial length of the sleeve 16. For instance, the opening member may extend between 25% and 75% of the axial length of the bag 14 from the tip end 20 toward the base end 18.

[0055] With further reference to FIG. 2, the tip end 20 of the tubular sleeve 16 comprises a closing device 26 that enables the tip end 20 to be closed, thereby closing the bag 14 to enclose the conifer 10 and all of its branches inside the bag 14.

[0056] The closing device 26 may comprise hook and loop fasteners. The hook and loop fasteners may include a Velcro (RTM) strip. Alternatively, the closing device 26 may include a zip fastener or a drawstring located along the edge of the tip end 20.

[0057] In a further embodiment, shown in FIG. 9, the closing device 26 may comprise a hoop 30. In this embodiment, the hoop 30 is fixed around the circumference of the tip end 20 of the bag 14. For instance, the edge of the tip end 20 may be folded over to form a circumferential pocket in which the hoop 30 is contained. The hoop 30 may be formed from a pliant wood or plant-based material, for example wicker. The hoop 30 may be rigid, or substantially rigid. That is to say, the hoop 30 may be non-flexible or partially flexible. In this embodiment, the opening member 24 may be omitted from the bag 14.

[0058] Operation of the bag 14 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3-6.

[0059] With reference to FIG. 3, if the opening member 24 has a re-sealable configuration, such as hook and loop fasteners, the bag 14 may be fitted to the conifer 10 at the point of supply. When fitting the bag 14 to the conifer 10, the elastic strip of the clamping mechanism 22 is stretched beyond the neutral dimension to fit over the trunk 12. The clamping mechanism 22 is then released and contracts to clamp to the trunk 12 of the conifer 10. Alternatively, where the clamping mechanism is a drawstring, the drawstring is loosened to fit over the trunk 12, before being tightened to clamp to the trunk 12 of the conifer 10. In this position, the bag 14 is in a display condition where the tip end 20 is also at a base of the conifer 10, and the sleeve 16 is therefore gathered around the base of the tree.

[0060] With reference to FIG. 4, a user then extends the sleeve 16 to its full axial extent, where the tip end 20 is at the vicinity of the tip of the conifer 10.

It is noted that the diameter of the sleeve 16 is less than the lower branches but wider that the branches toward the tip of the conifer 10. The dimensions of the bag are described in more detail below. In the case where the opening member 24 has a re-sealable configuration, the opening member 24 may be in an opened configuration when extending the sleeve 16 to aid the sleeve 16 passing over the branches. Once the sleeve 16 is fully extended, the opening member 24 may be closed to a closed configuration, for instance by fastening the hook and loop fasteners.

[0061] With reference to FIG. 5, the closing device 26 is closed, by fastening the hooks and loops of the hook and loop fasteners at the tip end 20. In this way, the branches and pines of the conifer 10 are entirely enclosed within the bag 14. The bag 14 is now in a transportation condition. In the transportation configuration, the conifer 10 is transported from the point of sale to a display location, typically in a house of an owner of the conifer 10.

[0062] When at the display location, the reverse of the above process is performed in order to allow the conifer 10 to be displayed. In this regard, the conifer 10 is first erected at the display location. Then, the closing device 26 is opened by separating the hook and loop fasteners, such that the bag 14 is as shown in FIG. 4. Then, the user opens the opening member 24 and pulls the tip end 20 of the bag 14 down over the branches until the bag 14 is in the display condition where the tip end 20 of the bag 14 is at the base end of the conifer 10, as shown in FIG. 3.

[0063] As an alternative, the bag 14 need not be fitted to the conifer 10 at the point of sale. Instead, the conifer 10 may arrive at the display location separately to the bag 14. Such an approach is particularly suitable to embodiments in which the opening member 24 is not re-sealable. Regardless as to where the bag 14 is fitted to the conifer 10, the conifer 10 is, at some point, dressed with the bag 14. The term "dressed" is used to mean fitting the bag 14 to the conifer 10 such that the conifer can ultimately be transported when the bag 14 is in the transportation condition.

[0064] After the display period, it will be necessary to remove the conifer from the display location and transport it to a disposal location. This may be a designated site for later collection by a third party, such as a public authority or a private waste management company, or it could be a location at which the conifer will be processed, such as a mulching plant, or it could simply be a location at which the conifer will be discarded or destroyed. In order to transport the conifer 10 to the disposal location, the same steps as from the point of sale to the display location are carried out.

[0065] In particular, with reference to FIG. 4, a user extends the sleeve 16 such to its full axial extent, where the tip end 20 is at the vicinity of the tip of the conifer 10.

[0066] In the case where the opening member 24 has a re-sealable configuration, the opening member 24 may be in an opened configuration when extending the sleeve 16 to aid the sleeve 16 passing over the branches. Once the sleeve 16 is fully extended, the opening member 24 may be closed to a closed configuration, for instance by fastening the hook and loop fasteners.

[0067] With reference to FIG. 5, the closing device 26 is closed by fastening the hooks and loops of the hook and loop fasteners at the tip end 20. In this way, the branches and pines of the conifer 10 are entirely enclosed within the bag 14.

[0068] In the embodiment where the closing device 26 is a hoop 30, and with reference to FIG. 10A, a user first extends the sleeve 16 to its full axial extent, where the tip end 20 is at the vicinity of the tip of the conifer 10. The closing device 26 is then closed by the user twisting the hoop 30 relative to the sleeve 16, as shown in FIG.10B. This forms a twisted seal over the top of the conifer 10 (shown by the curved arrows and narrow dotted lines in FIG. 10B), which is then secured by moving the hoop 30 towards the base end 18 (as shown by the downward arrows in FIG. 10B). Then, as in other embodiments, the branches and pines of the conifer 10 are entirely enclosed within the bag 14.

[0069] The bag 14 is now in a transportation configuration. In the transportation configuration, the conifer 10 is transported from the display location to the disposal location. In this way, debris from the conifer 10, such as branches and needles, is reduced or minimised when transporting the conifer 10 from the display location to the disposal location.

[0070] With reference to FIG. 6, once at the disposal location, a user can quickly and easily remove the bag 14 from the conifer by opening the opening member 24. If the opening member is a frangible strip, this can take the form of tearing the frangible strip 24. Alternatively, the user can deposit the conifer 10 at the disposal location and a third party can remove the bag 14 by opening the opening member 24. Once removed, the bag 14 can be disposed of, preferably in an environmentally friendly manner, (for example by re-cycling the materials from which it is formed), or re-used. If it is to be re-used and the opening member 24 is not re-sealable, it may be necessary for it to be returned to a supplier for the frangible strip 24 or the like to be replaced prior to subsequent use.

[0071] To aid with disposal, the bag 14 may be constructed from materials that are biodegradable. For instance, the tubular sleeve 16 may be constructed from lightweight cotton or a similar fabric, and the material used for the elastic strip may be chosen to be biodegradable. In such a case, the bag may be compatible with subsequent processing of the conifer and there may consequently be no need to remove the conifer from the bag 14 after disposal.

[0072] If the bag 14 is to be disposed of with the conifer in this manner, there is no need for it to include an opening member and this feature may hence be omitted.

[0073] With reference to FIG 7, the sleeve 16 is made from a rectangular sheet of cloth. The opening member (in this case a frangible strip 24) is attached to one of the shorter sides of the sheet, then the frangible strip 24 is attached to the other shorter side such that the sleeve 16 is provided as a cylinder (see FIG. 8). Next, the closing device 26 may be attached by stitching the hook and loop fasteners to the tip end 20 of the sleeve 16.

Next, the elastic strip (or, alternatively, the drawstring) is then added to the base end 18 of the sleeve 16, by folding over the sheet to form a circumferential pocket in which the elastic strip (or, alternatively, the drawstring) is contained. The order of attaching the closing device 26 and the clamping mechanism 22 is not important and may be reversed.

[0074] The size of the bag 16 that may be suitable for different conifer heights changes. Examples of the approximate height of the bag 14 (the distance in centimetres from the base end 18 to the tip end 20) and circumference of the bag 14 for a given height of conifer are shown in Table 1. Where the tubular sleeve 16 of the bag 14 is not cylindrical along its full height, the circumference may be measured at its widest point.

Table 1

Approximate Height of Approximate bag Approximate bag conifer (cm) height required (cm) circumference required (cm) 122 (4 feet) 122 161 (nearest whole number) 153 (5 feet) 153 176 (nearest whole number) 183 (6 feet) 183 192 (nearest whole number) 214 (7 feet) 214 207 (nearest whole number) 244 (8 feet) 244 222 (nearest whole number) [0075] Therefore, as shown in Table 1, the approximate height of the bag 14 that may be used to carry a conifer 10 is approximately equal to the length of the conifer 10. It will be appreciated that the base end 18 of the bag 14 is at the trunk 12 of the conifer, which allows for the closing device 26 to clear the tip of the conifer and enclose it.

[0076] Likewise, the approximate circumference of the bag 14 in centimetres that may be used to carry a conifer 10 of a given height follows the relationship a = 0.5b + 100, where b is the height of the conifer 10 in cm, and a is the circumference of the bag in centimetres. The circumference values are taken to be within a tolerance of +5% to the values mentioned in Table 1.

[0077] The above approximate relationships may therefore be used to estimate the dimensions of the bag 14 for various other heights of conifer 10.

[0078] Nonetheless, whilst these approximate relationships between the height of a conifer 10 and height and circumference dimensions for the bag 14 may generally apply, the dimensions of the bag 14 of the present invention are not limited to this [0079] As the dimensions of the bag 14 may vary for different heights of conifer 10, the length of the elastic strip required for the elasticated edge of the clamping mechanism 20 may also vary (as the circumference of the trunk 12 varies with the height of the conifer 10). Table 2 shows the approximate required lengths of elastic strip for different heights of conifer 10.

Table 2

Approximate Height of Approximate length of conifer (cm) elastic strip (cm) 122 (4 feet) 12 153 (5 feet) 14 183 (6 feet) 16 214 (7 feet) 18 244 (8 feet) 20 [0080] Therefore, as shown in Table 2, the approximate length of elastic strip for a conifer 10 of a given height follows the relationship m = 0.065n +4, where n is the height of the conifer 10 in cm, and m is the length of the elastic strip in centimetres. Again, the tolerance of the length values of the elastic strip in Table 2 are taken to be +5%.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A bag for transporting a conifer, the bag comprising: a sleeve having a base end and a tip end, the sleeve being translatable between a transportation condition, in which the sleeve is configured to substantially enclose branches of the conifer, and a display condition, in which the sleeve is configured to not substantially enclose the said branches of the conifer; the base end including a clamping mechanism that is configured to clamp onto a trunk of the conifer at a base end of the conifer; the tip end being configured to be open and situated in the vicinity of the base of the conifer when the sleeve is in the display condition; the tip end being configured to be closed and situated in the vicinity of the tip of the conifer when the sleeve is in the transportation condition; and the tip end including a closing device that is configured to secure the closure of the tip end when the sleeve is in the transportation condition.
2. A bag according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve comprises an opening member extending axially from the tip end towards the base end, the opening member being arranged to open when a separating force is applied thereto.
3. A bag according to claim 2, wherein the opening member includes hook and loop fasteners.
4. A bag according to claim 2, wherein the opening member includes a frangible strip.
5. A bag according to claim 4, wherein the frangible strip includes a portion of material that has a lower material weight than the material of the remainder of the sleeve.
6. A bag according to any of Claims 2 to 5, wherein the opening member extends substantially one third of the length of the sleeve.
7. A bag according to any preceding claim, wherein the closing device includes hook and loop fasteners.
8. A bag according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the closing device comprises a zip fastener.
9. A bag according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the closing device comprises a drawstring.
10.A bag according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the closing device comprises a hoop.
11.A bag according to claim 10, wherein the hoop is substantially rigid.
12.A bag according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the hoop is made from a pliant plant-based material.
13.A bag according to any preceding claim, wherein the bag is formed from a recyclable material.
14.A bag according to any preceding claim, wherein the sleeve is substantially tubular.
15.A bag according to any preceding claim, wherein the clamping mechanism comprises an elastic strip.
16.A bag according to claim 15, wherein the elastic strip has a neutral dimension that is smaller than the trunk of the conifer.
17.A bag according to any preceding claim, wherein a height of the bag is substantially equal to the height of the conifer.
18.A bag according to any preceding claim, wherein a circumference of the bag in centimetres is substantially half the height of the conifer in centimetres, plus 100.
19.A bag according to claim 15, or any claim dependent thereon, wherein a length of the elastic strip in centimetres is substantially 0.065 times a length of the conifer in centimetres plus 4.
20.A method of dressing a conifer with a bag according to any preceding claim, the method comprising: fitting the clamping device to a trunk of the conifer; moving the tip end of the sleeve to the vicinity of the tip of the conifer; and closing the closing mechanism to enclose the said branches of the conifer within the sleeve.
21. A method of dressing a conifer with a bag according to claim 20, wherein the closing mechanism is a hoop, and wherein closing the closing mechanism comprises twisting the hoop relative to the sleeve to form a twisted seal, and lowering the hoop towards the base end.
22.A method according to claim 20, wherein, once the clamping device has been fitted to the trunk of the conifer, the method comprises: configuring the bag to be in a display condition where the tip end of the bag is at the base end of the conifer; and displaying the conifer at a display location prior to moving the tip end of the sleeve to the vicinity of the tip of the conifer.
23.A method of placing a bag according to any one of claims 1 to 19 in a display condition, the said method comprising: providing the conifer within the bag in the transportation condition; opening the closing device; and moving the tip end of the sleeve from the vicinity of the tip of the conifer to the vicinity of the base of the conifer.
24.A method of removing a conifer from a bag according to claim 2, the said method comprising: providing the conifer within the bag in the transportation condition; opening the opening member by applying an external separating force; and removing the conifer from the bag.