NL2003043C2

NL2003043C2 - Cut flowers transportation system.

Info

Publication number: NL2003043C2
Application number: NL2003043A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Jacob Struijk
Original assignee: Unires Participaties B V
Priority date: 2009-06-18
Filing date: 2009-06-18
Publication date: 2010-12-21
Also published as: WO2010147466A1

Description

Cut flowers transportation system

The present invention relates to a cut flowers transportation system wherein cut flowers carrier cards are used, e.g. of plastic coated paperboard, each card being adapted to carry multiple cut flowers for transportation and/or display thereof, such as anthuriums, gerbera's, etc.

5 A cut flowers carrier card is disclosed in NL1015844 and embodiments thereof are nowadays used in the industry and are known under the trademark Flowerfix. As explained in NL1015844 the slots having mouths at the side of the card contribute to the ease and speed of the filling of the card with flowers, which is often done manually.

10

In NL1015844 it is disclosed that one or more of such cards can be filled with flowers. Commonly a small tube with water is fitted on the lower end of each flower stem. The card filled with flowers is then placed in a base part of a cardboard transportation box. The base part is of a tray-shaped design with a rectangular floor panel and two pairs of opposed side 15 walls. In the base part two U-shaped insert elements are fitted, each having tabs for retaining two cards side by side and in an inclined position with regard to the floor panel of the base part. The inclined position is achieved as one tab is located generally at a side wall of the base part of the box, whereas another tab is located at the floor of the base part. The box further includes a separate lid having a rectangular main lid panel and a peripheral lid wall 20 depending from the main lid panel. The lid is sized to slide over the base part, so that the peripheral lid wall extends around the side walls of the base part. The box is commonly transported in horizontal position.

In another known embodiment of the transportation box used in combination with the cut 25 flower carrier cards of NL 1015844 the tabs for retaining the cards are formed in the base part itself by an incision, thereby obviating the need of the U-shaped insert elements with tabs.

The present invention aims to provide improvements to the known transportation system 30 wherein cut flowers carrier cards are used.

-2-

It is an object of the invention to provide for a transportation system that allows for efficient transportation, preferably whilst obtaining an easy and efficient handling of the system by the personnel filling the cards with flowers and placing the cards in the transportation box.

5 It is also an object to provide for a transportation system that allows for the efficient and attractive display (e.g. in a flower shop) of the cut flowers wherein use is made of cut flowers carrier cards and an associated transportation box.

The invention achieves one or more of the above-mentioned objects by providing a system 10 according to claim 1.

The system of claim 1 allows to achieve an increased efficiency with respect to the volume needed for transportation of the flowers, whilst providing for ease of handling while placing the flower filled cards in the tray members and providing effective protection of the fragile 15 flower heads during handling and transportation. The trays also allow the florist to display the flowers with the card or cards still being retained in a tray. When used for displaying the flowers, the trays provide for enhanced protection of the flowers.

In practice, both trays that make up a transportation box will commonly be filled with the 20 same sort, size and colour of flowers. When a customer would like to buy flowers of two different sorts, sizes and/or colours, the florist can combine two trays each filled with different sorts, sizes and/or coloured flowers.

Also the tray members can - in a preferred embodiment - be designed so as to be identical, 25 at least as regards shape and dimensions - thereby lower costs for production and logistics.

The present invention also relates to a cut flowers transportation system according to claim 13, wherein the elongated transportation box is adapted to receive multiple cut flowers carrier cards, the box comprising two box parts, each box part having a substantially rectangular 30 elongated main panel, and one or more side walls including at least one long side wall, said one or more side walls being connected to the main panel, wherein each box part is provided with retaining members, preferably tabs, for retaining at least one cut flower carrier card, in a generally inclined position with respect to the main panel thereof, 35 and wherein the box parts are adapted - whilst each retaining one or more cut flower carrier cards filled with flowers - to be mated together so as to form the elongated transportation box, -3- preferably such that the retaining members are arranged to retain the card in an arched form when seen in transverse direction of the card, the arc being directed towards the main panel of the corresponding box part, 5 and/or preferably such that in the mated together position of the box parts the cut flower carrier card or cards that are retained by the one box part are located generally diagonally opposite from the card or cards that are retained by the other box part.

10 In this system according to claim 13 the box parts are preferably embodied as the tray members as disclosed herein, possibly including one or more of the preferred features of said tray members. However other embodiments of the box parts, e.g. with box parts having a different side wall design, or box parts that are hinged to one another so as to form a unitary foldiung box structure, are also possible within the scope of claim 13.

15

The advantages of the arched form of the card in retained position, of the location of cards in diagonally opposed regions of the box, as well as of the combination thereof are explained in more detail below and are applicable when the box parts are embodied as trays as well as with other designs of the box parts.

20

The present invention further relates to a method for transporting cut flowers, e.g. anthuriums, wherein use is made of a system as disclosed herein.

The aspects of the invention, and preferred embodiments thereof, will now be discussed in 25 more detail with reference to the drawing. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows an example of a cut flowers carrier card to be used in the system according to the invention

Fig. 2 shows an example of a tray member for composing a transportation box to be used in 30 the system according to the invention,

Fig. 3 shows the transportation box composed by mating two tray members of figure 2,

Fig. 4 shows schematically in cross section the box of figure 3 with cards retained therein, Fig. 5 shows an example of a blank for forming the tray member of figure 2.

35 Figure 1 shows an example of a cut flowers carrier card 1 that can be used in the system according to the invention.

-4-

It is preferred to use a card 1 having multiple flower stem slots, e.g. 3,4 or 5 slots.

It is preferred to use a card 1 having multiple slots, with the mouth of each of the slots being arranged along a single side of the card, so that the other side is closed.

5

The card 1 has a planar card body, preferably of elongated shape, and has been cut out of a sheet of suitable card material, in this example plastic coated paperboard as is preferred.

The card 1 is adapted to carry multiple, in this example three, cut flowers for transportation and/or display thereof, such as anthuriums, gerbera’s, etc.

10

The card body is shown from the front, and has a rear, as well as a top end 2, a bottom end 3, and vertical sides 4,5.

The card body is provided with multiple flower stem slots 10, each of said slots 10 extending 15 from a corresponding mouth 11 formed in a side 4,5 of the card (here three slots at one side) to a flower stem accommodation end 12 of the slot, allowing to slide the stem of a cut flower sideways into the mouth 11 and arrive at the accommodation end 12 of the slot, the flower head then extending on the front of the card body and the stem at the rear of the card body.

20 As is preferred the slots 10 each extend generally inward and downward from the mouth 11 to the end 12. The end 12 may have a lower boundary located further down than the adjacent slot section in order to provide a recess in which the stem will be retained as is shown in figure 1.

25 In this example the body of the card 1 forms a stem supporting lip 12a at the accommodation end 12 of each of the slots, said stem supporting lip being folded forwardly with respect to the plane of the card body, the free end of the lip being directed towards the flower head when the card is in use.

30 Preferably the width of the card and the length of the slots inward from the associated side is such that the flower heads do not extend over the sides of the card. The same holds for the distance between the uppermost slot or slots and the top end of the card.

With referral to figures 2-5 now a preferred embodiment of a transportation box 25 of the 35 system according to the invention will be explained.

-5-

It is noted that the figures 2-5 are not on scale, mainly as the envisaged length of the box 25 for transporting flowers such as anthuriums is approximately 1 metre, e.g. between 80 and 130 centimetres.

5 The box is closed in that the box effectively protects the flowers against mechanical damage and from the environment. Yet ventilation holes or similar may be provided.

As will be clear from the follow the elongated closed transportation box is to be composed of two separate tray members 30, one tray member 30 being depicted in figure 2.

10

As is preferred the tray members 30 are identical as far as their shape and dimensions are concerned.

The tray member 30 has a substantially rectangular elongated main panel 31, a pair of 15 opposed long side walls 32, 33, a pair of opposed short side walls 34, 35 and a main opening opposite the main panel.

All the side walls are permanently connected, i.e. integral, to the main panel 31.

20 As is preferred the tray member is embodied 30 is embodied here as an erectable structure, preferably from a single blank, e.g. as shown in figure 5.

As is preferred the tray member 30 has a non-folding main panel 31, so without any fold or hinge lines.

25

As is preferred the side walls 32, 33, 34 and 35 of the erectable structure are permanently secured to each other, e.g. by adhesive or one or more staples, in a manner allowing to erect the side walls from a folded-down position to an erected position. For instance the interconnected side walls include one or more diagonal hinge lines 41 at each corner of the 30 tray member. The skilled person will appreciate that many designs exists to obtain such an erectable tray structure from a single contiguous blank.

It is envisaged that the personnel using the system erects the tray members at the location of filling the tray members, preferably by hand, or that an automated tray erection device is 35 provided.

-6-

As is schematically shown in figure 5 each tray member 30 is provided with retaining tabs 38a,b and 39 for retaining in the tray member at least one cut flower carrier card. These retaining tabs are preferably defined by an incision in the material of the tray, e.g. with a finger opening adjacent the tab to facilitate the bending of the tab out of the plane of the 5 respective panel or side wall of the tray.

As is preferred the card is retained in the tray, preferably by the tabs, in a generally inclined position with respect to the main panel 31 thereof. This can be seen in figure 4. In this example one or more tabs or provided in the main panel 31 so as to engage on one side of 10 the card, whereas one or more further tabs are arranged on a side wall of the tray so as to engage on the opposed side of the card. The stems of the flowers are intended to be received in the corner space 40 delimited by the card, the main panel and the neighbouring side wall.

15 As is preferred the one or more cards are retained in the tray such that the card is arched in transverse direction, as is preferred between retaining tabs engaging on the opposed sides of the cards, the arc preferably being directed away from the opening of the tray. This arching of the card in the retained position has the effect that when the tray with one or more flower filled cards is held in upside down position, the weight of the flowers, and possibly the 20 water reservoirs on the stem, does not cause the card to become dislodged from its retained position.

When the arched form of the originally planar card is combined with the retention of said card in a comer region of the tray so that one longitudinal side of the card abuts against a long 25 side wall of the card, whereas the opposed longitudinal side of the card is preferably abutting against one or more tabs in the main panel of the tray, the effect is obtained that the arched and generally inclined card contributes to the overall stability of the tray and of the transportation box. A further advantage of this position of the card is that optimum use is made of the space within the box, in particular when the one or more cards retained in the 30 other tray that makes up the box are located at the diagonally opposite corner region within the box, thereby achieving a favourable distance between the flower heads of the cards in the opposed corner regions.

As depicted in figure 4 a preferred embodiment of the tray member 30 allows to retain two 35 types of cards 1,1’ having a different width, e.g. 15,5 centimetres and 18 centimetres, by providing multiple tabs 38a, b, here two tabs in the main panel 31 at different positions between the side walls 32, 33.

-7-

The tray member 30 is embodied - as is preferred - to retain two cards 1 therein in such a manner that a single row of two cards 1 extending in the longitudinal direction of the tray member is formed.

5

As is preferred it is envisaged that the stems of the flowers (possibly provided with a water reservoir on each stem) held in one card are positioned underneath the other card in the tray member.

10 In practice a transparent plastic bag may be slided over each card 1 when filled with flowers before placing the card in the tray members of the transportation box.

The placement of the cards 1 filled with flowers in each of the tray members is easy as each tray member 30 can be placed on a suitable support, e.g. a table, with its main panel 31.

15 Only once the cards 1 are placed in both of the tray members 30 that make up a box 25, the one tray member is picked up and moved into a mating position with respect to the other tray member, so as to arrive at the closed transportation box. In practice e.g. one tray member is picked up and turned 180 degrees about its longitudinal axis, and then placed from above onto the other tray member. As explained retaining tabs for the cards prevent that the cards 20 filled with flowers fall out of the inverted tray member.

The skilled person will appreciate from the figures 2 and 3 that the tray members 30 are adapted - whilst each retaining one or more cut flower carrier cards filled with flowers - to be mounted together with their side walls mating so as to form the elongated closed 25 transportation box 25.

In the depicted example a card 1 ,T retained in a tray member 30 abuts with one side thereof against a long side wall of the tray member, and as is preferred the other side of the card 1, T is spaced from the other long side wall of the tray member, e.g. by several centimetres.

30

In the example shown - for retaining each card - at least one retaining tab is formed in a long side wall of the tray member and another retaining tab is formed in the main panel of the tray member.

35 Preferably - for ease of use of the system - the one long side wall 33 of the tray is higher than the other long side wall 32 of the tray. Preferably - when one or more retaining tabs are -8- present in a long side wall - these one or more retaining tabs are provided in the higher long side wall 33.

For instance in this example, the higher long side wall has a height of 12 centimetres and the 5 lower side wall of 7 centimetres.

From figure 4 it will be appreciated that the tray member in this example is embodied such that in the mated together position of the tray members 30 the carrier card or cards 1 that are retained by the one tray member are located generally diagonally opposite from the card or 10 cards 1 that are retained by the other tray member 30. This creates an optimum spacing between the fragile heads of the flowers, yet allows for a limited height and width of the closed box and thus transportation volume efficiency.

In the depicted example the mated together position of the tray members 30 is defined 15 primarily by the tray member having one long side wall 33 that has a greater height than the other long side wall 32 thereof, such that in the mated together position of the tray members the higher long side wall of one tray member extends into the other tray member and rests with its free end against the inner surface of the main panel 31 of the other tray member so as to define the mated together position of the tray members. Also the side walls of the tray 20 members are close to one another in the mated position of the tray members.

For the short side walls of the tray member many designs are possible, preferably to obtain a generally closed design of the box.

25 In a preferred embodiment the short side wall of each tray member is composed of a high portion 34a, 35a, adjoining the higher long side wall 33 of the tray member, and a low portion 34b, 35b, adjoining the lower long side wall 32 of the tray member, a recessed cut-out 36, 37 being present - as is preferred - in the top edge of said short side wall 34, 35 at the transition between the high portion and the low portion, thereby allowing - in the mated situation of the 30 tray members (see figures 2, 3) - that one portion of the short side wall of one tray member finds itself within the other tray member, whereas the other portion of the short side wall of said one tray member finds itself outside of the other tray member. The short side walls may be arranged at an angle in a suitable manner (e.g. with respect to vertical) to enhance the mating of the trays in the manner described here.

The system discussed here is advantageously used for transportation of anthuriums or gerbera’s, e.g. from the flower grower to the auction and/or the (florist) shop.

35 -9-

The use of tray members 30 allows to efficiently and attractively display the flowers at the vending location, preferably with the cards being retained in the tray so as to provide optimal support for the flowers as well as protection. Also removal of a card with flowers from a tray 5 can be done without problems.

It is preferred that the tray member 30 is made of paperboard or cardboard, e.g. corrugated, material.

10 The tray member 30 can be provided with a print to enhance the attractiveness and/or to indicate the source of the flowers.

The present invention also relates to a method for the transportation of cut flowers using the system described herein. The method may e.g. comprise the steps of: 15 - providing tray members, preferably as erectable structures, - if appropriate erecting said tray members, - providing flower carrier cards, - filling carrier cards with cut flowers, - arranging the flower filled carrier cards in tray members, 20 - bringing two tray members with flower filled carrier cards retained therein in a mating together position to form a transportation box, - transporting the box, e.g. to an auction and/or vending location.

CLAUSES

25 1. A cut flowers transportation system comprising in combination: - multiple cut flowers carrier cards, e.g. of plastic coated paperboard, each card being adapted for carrying multiple cut flowers, such as anthuriums or gerbera’s, said card having a 30 planar card body with a front and a rear, as well as a top end, a bottom end, and sides, the card body being provided with multiple flower stem slots, each of said slots extending from a corresponding mouth formed in a side of the card to a flower stem accommodation end of the slot, allowing to slide the stem of a cut flower sideways into the mouth and arrive at the accommodation end of the slot, the flower head then extending on the front of the card body 35 and the stem at the rear of the card body, -10- - an elongated closed transportation box, preferably of paperboard material, adapted to receive multiple cut flowers carrier cards, the box being composed of two separate tray members, each tray member having a substantially rectangular elongated main panel, a pair of opposed long side walls, a pair of opposed short side walls and a main opening opposite 5 the main panel, said side walls being connected to the main panel, wherein each tray member is provided with retaining members, preferably tabs, for retaining in the tray member at least one cut flower carrier card, preferably in a generally inclined position with respect to the main panel thereof, 10 wherein the tray members are adapted - whilst each retaining one or more cut flower carrier cards filled with flowers - to be mounted together with their side walls mating so as to form the elongated closed transportation box.

2. System according to clause 1, wherein each tray member is embodied to retain 15 multiple cards therein, preferably two cards, wherein said cards are arranged in a single row in the longitudinal direction of the tray member.

3. System according to clause 2, wherein a card retained in a tray member abuts with one side thereof against a long side wall of the tray member, and wherein preferably the 20 other side of the card is spaced from the other long side wall of the tray member.

4. System according to clause 3, wherein - for retaining each card - at least one retaining tab is formed in a long side wall of the tray member and another retaining tab is formed in the main panel of the tray member.

25 5. System according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the retaining members are arranged to retained the card in an arched form when seen in transverse direction of the card, the arc being directed away from the main opening of the tray member.

30 6. System according to one or more of the preceding clauses, wherein the tray members that in the mated together position form the closed transportation box are of identical shape and dimensions.

7. System according to one or more of the preceding clauses, preferably according to 35 clause 2, 3 and/or 5, wherein the tray members are embodied such that in the mated together position thereof the cut flower carrier card or cards that are retained by the one tray -11- member are located generally diagonally opposite from the card or cards that are retained by the other tray member.

8. System according to one or more of the preceding clauses, wherein each tray 5 member is embodied as an erectable structure, preferably from a single blank, preferably with a non-folding main panel, preferably the side walls of the tray member being permanently secured to each other in a manner allowing to erect the side walls from a folded-down position to an erected position, e.g. the interconnected side walls including one or more diagonal hinge lines at each corner of the tray member.

10 9. System according to one or more of the preceding clauses, wherein each tray member is embodied such that one long side wall thereof has a greater height than the other long side wall thereof, preferably such that in the mated together position of the tray members the higher long side wall of one tray member extends into the other tray member 15 and rests with its free end against the inner surface of the main panel of the other tray member so as to define the mated together position of the tray members.

10. System according to clause 9, wherein the short side wall of each tray member is composed of a high portion, adjoining the higher long side wall of the tray member, and a low 20 portion, adjoining the lower long side wall of the tray member, a recessed cut-out preferably being present in the top edge of said short side wall at the transition between the high portion and the low portion, thereby allowing - in the mated situation of the tray members - that one portion of the short side wall of one tray member finds itself within the other tray member, whereas the other portion of the short side wall of said one tray member finds itself outside of 25 the other tray member.

11. System according to one or more of the preceding clauses, wherein the system further includes a transparent bag to be slided over each card when filled with flowers before placing the card in the transportation box.

30 12. System according to one or more of the preceding clauses, wherein the body of the card forms a stem supporting lip at the accommodation end of each of the slots, said stem supporting lip being folded forwardly with respect to the plane of the card body, the free end of the lip being directed towards the flower head when the card is in use.

35 13. A cut flowers transportation system comprising in combination: -12- - multiple cut flowers carrier cards, e.g. of plastic coated paperboard, each card being adapted for carrying multiple cut flowers, such as anthuriums or gerbera’s, said card having a planar card body with a front and a rear, as well as a top end, a bottom end, and sides, the card body being provided with multiple flower stem slots, each of said slots extending from a 5 corresponding mouth formed in a side of the card to a flower stem accommodation end of the slot, allowing to slide the stem of a cut flower sideways into the mouth and arrive at the accommodation end of the slot, the flower head then extending on the front of the card body and the stem at the rear of the card body, 10 - an elongated transportation box, preferably of paperboard material, adapted to receive multiple cut flowers carrier cards, the box comprising two box parts, each box part having a substantially rectangular elongated main panel, and one or more sidewalls including at least one long side wall, said one or more side walls being connected to the main panel, wherein each box part is provided with retaining members, preferably tabs, for retaining at least one 15 cut flower carrier card, in a generally inclined position with respect to the main panel thereof, wherein the box parts are adapted - whilst each retaining one or more cut flower carrier cards filled with flowers - to be mated together so as to form the elongated transportation box, 20 preferably such that the retaining members are arranged to retain the card in an arched form when seen in transverse direction of the card, the arc being directed towards the main panel of the corresponding box part, 25 and/or preferably such that in the mated together position of the box parts the cut flower carrier card or cards that are retained by the one box part are located generally diagonally opposite from the card or cards that are retained by the other box part.

14. Method of transportation of cut flowers, e.g. anthuriums, wherein use is made of a 30 transportation system according to one or more of the preceding clauses.

Claims

A cut flower transport system comprising in combination: 5. a plurality of cut flower carrier cards, for example of plastic-coated paper material, wherein each card is adapted to carry a plurality of cut flowers, such as anthuriums or gerberas, the card having a flat card body with a front side and a back side , as well as an upper end, a lower end, and sides, wherein the card body is provided with a plurality of flower stalk slots, each of said 10 slots extending from an associated mouth formed in a side of the card to a flower stalk receptacle end of the slot, so that a flower stem can be slid sideways into the mouth and reach the flower stem end of the slot, the flower head then being on the front of the card body and the stem on the back of the card body, an elongated closed transport box , preferably of paper material, which is arranged for recording of a plurality of cut flower carrier cards, the box being composed of two separate tray elements, each tray element having a substantially rectangular main panel, a pair of opposing long side walls, a pair of opposing short side walls, and a main opening opposite the main panel, the side walls are connected to the main panel, wherein each tray element is provided with retaining members, preferably lips, for retaining at least one cut flower carrier card in the tray element, preferably in a substantially inclined position with respect to the main panel thereof, the tray elements are arranged - each holding one or more cut flower carrier cards filled with flowers - to be brought together with their side walls fitting to form the elongated closed transport box.

A system according to claim 1, wherein each tray element is adapted to hold a plurality of cards therein, preferably two cards, the cards being arranged in a single row in the longitudinal direction of the tray element.

3. System as claimed in claim 2, wherein a card 35 held in a tray element with one side thereof abuts a long side wall of the tray element, and wherein the other side of the card is preferably at a distance from the other long side wall of the tray element tray element. -14-

The system of claim 3, wherein - for each card - at least one retaining lip is formed in a long side wall of the tray element and another retaining lip is formed in the main panel of the tray element.

A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the retaining members are arranged to hold the card in a curved form - viewed in the transverse direction of the card - with the arc directed away from the main opening of the tray element.

System according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the tray elements that form the closed transport box in the assembled position are of identical shape and dimensions.

7. System as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, preferably according to claims 2, 3 and / or 5, wherein the tray elements are designed such that in their assembled position the cut flower carrier card or cards held in one tray element are in are substantially diagonally opposite the card or cards held in the other tray element.

System as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein each tray element is designed as an erectable construction, preferably from a single blank, preferably with a non-folding main panel, wherein preferably the side walls of the tray element are permanently attached to each other attached in a manner that allows the side walls to be moved from a flat folded position to an erected position, for example wherein the connected side walls have one or more oblique hinge lines at each corner of the tray element.

9. System as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein each tray element is designed such that one long side wall thereof has a greater height than its other long side wall, preferably such that the joined position of the tray elements is the higher side wall of one tray element extends into the other tray element and rests with its free end against the inner surface of the main panel of the other tray element so as to determine the assembled position of the tray elements.

The system of claim 9, wherein the short side wall of each tray element is composed of a higher portion that is adjacent to the higher long side wall of the tray element, and a lower portion that is adjacent to the lower long side wall of the tray element , wherein a recessed cut-out is preferably present in the upper edge of that short side wall at the transition between the higher part and the lower part, which makes it possible - in the combined situation of the tray elements - for a part of the short side wall of a tray element is located in the other tray element, while the other part of the short side wall of that one tray element is outside that other tray element.

11. System as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein the system further comprises a transparent bag that is slid over each other when it is filled with flowers before the card is placed in the transport box.

12. System as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein the body of the card forms a handle supporting lip at the receiving end of each of the slots, which handle supporting lip is folded forward with respect to the plane of the card body, the Free end of the lip is facing the flower head when the card is used.

A cut flower transport system comprising in combination: 20. a plurality of cut flower carrier cards, for example of plastic-coated paper material, wherein each card is adapted to carry a plurality of cut flowers, such as anthuriums or gerberas, wherein the card has a flat card body with a front side and a back side , as well as an upper end, a lower end, and sides, wherein the card body is provided with a plurality of flower stalk slots, each of those slots extending from an associated mouth formed in a side of the card to a flower stalk receptacle end of the slot, so that a flower stem can be slid sideways into the mouth and reach the flower stem end of the slot, the flower head then being on the front of the card body and the stem on the back of the card body, an elongated transport box , preferably of paper material, which is arranged for receiving a plurality of cut flower carrier cards, the box comprising two box parts, each box part having a substantially rectangular main panel and one or more side walls, at least one long side wall, the one or more side walls being connected to the main panel, each box part being provided of holding members, preferably lips, for holding at least one cut flower carrier card in the tray element, in a substantially inclined position with respect to the main panel thereof, wherein the two box parts are arranged - while they each have one or more hold flower-filled cut flower carrier cards - to be brought together to form the elongated shipping box, preferably such that the holding members are arranged to hold the card in a curved form - viewed in the transverse direction of the card - with the arc facing the main panel of the corresponding box part is directed, and / or preferably such that in the assembled position of the box parts the cut flower carrier card or cards that are held in one tray element are substantially diagonal to the card or cards that are held in the other box part.

A method for transporting cut flowers, for example anthuriums, wherein use is made of a transport system according to one or more of the preceding claims.