NL2005494C2

NL2005494C2 - Flower message card and method for manufacturing the same.

Info

Publication number: NL2005494C2
Application number: NL2005494A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Nicolaas Gerardus Hyacinthus Maria Knaap
Original assignee: Anthura B V
Priority date: 2010-10-11
Filing date: 2010-10-11
Publication date: 2012-04-12

Description

P30454NLOO/MKO/JHO

Title: Flower message card and method for manufacturing the same.

The present invention relates to a flower message card. It also relates to a method for manufacturing a flower message card.

Flower message cards are well-known. They provide a simple means to communicate a short message or a greeting to a person or entity receiving a bouquet or any other 5 horticultural product. The card may be folded or unfolded, the message or greeting presented on one or more sides of the card. Flower message cards come in many forms, colours and dimensions.

When a person receivies a bouquet, it is usually necessary to cut off a small part of the stems of the flowers present in the bouquet. Cutting means for doing so are not always 10 directly available. When cutting means are available, in most cases, this is in the form of a regular kitchen knife or scissors. When such cutting means are used to cut stems of flowers or plants, the knife or scissors need to be flushed afterwards.

After accepting the bouquet and having put it in a vase or vase-like object, the flower message card may be displayed, disposed, pinned up, etc.

15 It is an object of the present invention to provide a flower message card that solves the above drawbacks.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a flower message card with additional functionality.

The above objects are achieved by a flower message card provided with a stem 20 cutting means for cutting one or more stems, said cutting means comprising a cutting edge. Surprisingly, the inventors found that a regular flower message card can be provided with a stem cutting means comprising a cutting edge to cut the stems of flowers or plants. Such a flower message card adds additional functionality to a regular flower message card. Since the flower message card can be disposed or displayed or put away etc., the above problem 25 of having poisonous or harmful plant or flower sap on a regular kitchen knife or scissors is solved as well.

According to the invention, a flower message card can be used to cut the stem or stems of a single or bunch of plants or flowers. Such a flower message card can be any available flower message card, as long as it is suited to carry a message or a greeting and 30 as long as it is suited to present with a bouquet, a plant, a single flower, etc.

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The flower message card may in principle be made from any available material. Preferably, the card is made of paper, cardboard, plastic, or combinations thereof; or paper or cardboard laminated with a thin layer of plastic, or a combination thereof.

Advantageously, the flower message card according to the invention comprises 5 attaching means for attaching the flower message card to one or more flowers or plants.

Said attaching means may be any known suitable attaching means. For instance, the flower message card may be attached to the one or more flowers or plants by means of a cord or a thread extending through an opening or hole in the flower message card. It may also be that the one or more flowers or plants are wrapped in a packaging material, e.g.

10 cellophane, and that the attaching means by which the flower message card is attached to said packaging material, is a piece of tape or a staple.

The flower message card comprises a stem cutting means. It is noted here, that throughout the text, the expression flower message card is used for the card with and without the stem cutting means. This is not supposed to raise any confusion, since it is 15 always clear from the context which of the two options, with or without stem cutting means, is meant.

The stem cutting means may be attached or disposed anywhere on the flower message card. Preferably, the cutting edge of the cutting means is situated parallel to the plane of the card. Other orientations, e.g. the cutting edge being situated perpendicular to 20 the plane of the card, are possible as well.

The cutting edge may cover a complete edge of the flower message card, i.e. said edge of the flower message card is the cutting means and the cutting edge extends from one corner to the other. It may also be that the cutting edge covers only part of an edge of the flower message card. For instance, the middle part of the edge may be the cutting edge, 25 whereas the corner parts of the edge of the flower message card form no part of the cutting edge and are thus not sharp.

Optionally, the stem cutting means may be covered with some kind of protection means, e.g. a plastic protection cap. This way, a person cannot cut him- or herself accidently when e.g. reading a message or greeting on the flower message card.

30 Suitable materials for the cutting means are any material that is suited to cut stems.

Logically, all kinds of metals and alloys are suited for this purpose, but the cutting means can also be made of plastic, natural or synthetic fiber, ceramics or glass. The stem cutting means can also be made of combinations of these materials. Preferably, the stem cutting means is made of a metal, metal alloy or a natural or synthetic fiber. It is to be understood that a 35 natural or synthetic fiber can function as a cutting means as such, but more prefereably, the natural or synthetic fiber is interlaced with ceramic or glass particles.

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The stem cutting means may be an integral part of the flower message card. This means that the card and the stem cutting means are made of the same material, out of one piece or sheet of said material. To obtain a flower message card having an integrally attached stem cutting means, one can start with a card made of metal, plastic or another 5 suitable material and sharpen one of its edges or part of such an edge, until it is suited to perform at least one cutting session.

The cutting means may also be a separately manufactured part that is joined with the flower message card. This joining can be done by generally known means such as clamping, gluing, welding etc.

10 Advantageously, the card and the stem cutting means are made from different materials. Preferably, the card is made of cardboard or paper, optionally laminated cardboard or paper, and the stem cutting means is made of stainless steel or a natural or synthetic fiber interlaced with glass or ceramic particles.

The stem cutting means may have a smooth or saw-toothed cutting edge. The cutting 15 edge may also be a thread. This thread may be made of metal or a natural or synthetic fiber. Preferably, the thread is a cotton wire interlaced with glass particles.

As mentioned above, the stem cutting means and the flower message card may be two separate parts joined together. This may be done by taking the cutting means and attaching it to the flower message card by stapling, stitching, taping, gluing, welding or 20 whichever general known attaching method.

Advantageously, the stem cutting means is secured between two layers forming a card or between two parts of a card. These layers may e.g. be cardboard layers. This securing of the cutting means may simply be achieved by clamping the cutting means between the two layers. This clamping may be achieved by stapling, stitching, taping or 25 gluing together at least part of the layers, or whatever general means may be used to join layers. Preferably, clamping is achieved using adhesive.

Logically, when securing the cutting means between two layers, the cutting edge should be exposed in order to be able to cut a stem. Preferably, the cutting edge is exposed permanently. In another embodiment of the present invention, however, the flower message 30 card may be provided with some sort of sliding mechanism. When a person wants to cut stems, a blade comprising a cutting edge is slid out of a holder. When stems have been cut, the blade is retracted until completely covered by the holder. With this embodiment, the cutting means are only exposed when needed, thus increasing the safety of the cutting means equipped flower message card.

35 According to the invention, the flower message card may comprise a recess along an edge of the card or along a part of such an edge. The cutting means are then provided in such a way that the cutting edge is exposed through the recess such that the one or more -4- stems can be cut. The cutting means may be placed such that the cutting edge substantially coincides with the edge of the card. The recess is then completely filled with the stem cutting means. The cutting means can also be placed in such a way that only part of the recess is filled with the cutting means. The cutting edge then is situated a certain distance from the 5 edge of the card. The recess may have any desired shape, e.g. circular, squared, rectangular, starred, etc. The recess may also have any desired dimensions. Preferably, said recess has a cross-section dimensions corresponding to or larger than the diameter of the one or more stems to be cut. In an embodiment according to the invention, the cross-section of the recess is sufficiently large to comprise a stem such that the stem is between the 10 cutting edge and the edge of the recess. Preferably, in this embodiment the cutting edge is a saw, more preferably a stainless steel fretsaw.

In another embodiment according to the invention, the flower message card comprises a first folding line along which a sheet of cardboard or paper is folded. This sheet may already be the card, but it may also be that the card is formed by folding said sheet. The 15 flower message card further comprises two adjoining card parts adjacent to both sides of said first folding line and stem cutting means for cutting one or more stems. This stem cutting means may be secured between the adjoining card parts of the folded card by joining said adjoining card parts and placed near or against said first folding line, whereby at least a part of the cutting edge of the stem cutting means can be used to cut a stem. When the two 20 adjoinging card parts are joined together, the first folding line forms an edge of the flower message card.

In a further embodiment, the flower message card comprises said first folding line, said two adjoining card parts, said cutting means, and further a recess along a part of the first folding line, for exposing the cutting edge of the stem cutting means such that the one or 25 more stems can be cut. The stem cutting means are then secured between the adjoining card parts of the folded card and placed near or against said first folding line. The ratio between the cross-section of the recess and the diameter of the one or more stems to be cut preferably is between 1:1 and 10:1.

In still another embodiment, the cutting means and/or the recess are situated along 30 another edge of the flower message card than the edge formed by the first folding line.

In yet another embodiment, the adjoining card parts between which the cutting means is secured are at least partly joined together. This way the cutting means is secured between the adjoining card parts. Preferably, securing is achieved using adhesive.

In a preferred embodiment according to the invention, a flower message card has 35 been provided according to the above embodiments. The flower message card then further comprises at least one second folding line, along which the adjoining card parts of the folded -5- card can be folded, thereby creating two outer card parts in such a way that the at least one second folding line is adjoined by an adjoining card part and an outer card part.

The flower message card may also comprise a perforation line. Advantageously, but not necessarily, this perforation line is parallel to the cutting edge of the cutting means. Upon 5 tearing apart the flower message card along the perforation line, one ends up with a knife part and a message part of the flower message card.

In a particular embodiment, the perforation line coincides with the at least one second folding line. In a more preferred embodiment, however, the perforation line is situated between the at least one second folding line and the first folding line. This way, when the 10 perforation line is torn apart, the message carrying part is still one entity, since the inner surfaces of the parts of the adjoining card parts between the perforation line and the at least one second folding line, are glued together. This way, the message carrying part can be displayed or put away apart from the knife part.

In an further embodiment of the present invention, the flower message card is 15 provided with more than one stem cutting means. When a person receives a bouquet, it may well be that different kinds of flowers are present in the bouquet, each kind having its own type of stem with e.g. its own hardness, moistness and tenacity. If these properties differ widely, it may be desirable to provide a flower message card with two cutting means, e.g. one thread like blade and one fretsaw. With regard to this embodiment, this text is directed 20 to flower message cards having one cutting means. Where applicable however, all embodiments apply to flower message cards having two or even more stem cutting means as well.

The present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a flower message card as presented in claim 15.

25 It is noted that all the above remarks and observations concerning the flower message card as a product also apply to this method and any embodiments thereof.

The present invention is further explained by means of the attached drawing.

Fig. 1 presents a schematic drawing of a preferred embodiment according to the invention. Depicted is a flower message card 10 provided with cutting means 20 for cutting 30 the stems of anthurium flowers.

According to said preferred embodiment, a flower message card 10 is provided, made of laminated cardboard. Said flower message card comprises a stem cutting means 20 comprising a cutting edge 22. The cutting means 20 is a stainless steel fretsaw, with the toothed cutting edge 22 directed to a first folding line 30 (the teeth of the cutting edge 22 are 35 not shown in fig. 1). The flower message card 10 provided with a cutting means 20 is folded along said first folding line 30. This results in two adjoining card parts 11,12 adjacent to the first folding line 30. The flower message card 10 according to fig.1 has been folded a -6- second time along second folding lines 40, 41, thereby creating two outer card parts 13, 14. Now, second folding lines 40, 41 are adjoined by adjoining card parts 11 resp. 12 and outer card part 13 resp. 14. By folding the flower message card 10 along these second folding lines 40, 41, also messages and/or greetings printed on the inner side of the flower message 5 card 10 are readily visible without the need to unfold the flower message card 10 first.

The cutting means 20 has been secured between adjoining card parts 11, 12 by applying adhesive on the inner side of the adjoining card parts 11, 12. Adhesive is applied on those parts that are restricted by second folding lines 40, 41. After placing the cutting 10 means 20 with its cutting edge 22 along and against first folding line 30, the parts of the adjoining card parts 11,12 restricted by second folding lines 40, 41 have been firmly clamped together to allow the adhesive to harden. To expose the cutting edge 22 in order to be able to actually use the cutting means 20 to cut stems, along a part of the first folding line 30, a recess 21 has been cut-out. The recess 21 forms substantially a circle that is 15 symmetrically divided by first folding line 30. Said recess 21 has dimensions slightly larger than the average diameter of the anthurium stems that are supposed to be cut with the depicted flower message card 10.

The folded flower message card 10 is further provided with a perforation line 43.

The part of the flower message card 10 comprising the cutting means 20 can now easily be 20 torn off. This results in an easy to use knife part 50 and a separate message carrying part 51. The latter consists of the two outer card parts 15,16 which are hold together by the part of the adjoining card parts 11,12 restricted by the perforation line and second folding lines 40, 41. These parts are glued together. By separating the knife part 50 and the message carrying part 51 of the flower message card 10, the risk that plant or flower saps end up on 25 the message carrying part 51 of the flower message card 10, or any other place, is reduced. The flower message card 10 can be attached to one or more flowers or plants (not shown) that may be wrapped in cellophane, by means of attaching means 60, comprising a circular opening 61 in outer card part 13. The flower message card 10 is attached to the one or more flowers by means of a cord 62 that extends through the circular opening and surrounds the 30 stems of the one or flowers (not shown).

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Clauses 1. Flower message card (10) provided with a stem cutting means (20) for cutting one or more stems, said cutting means (20) comprising a cutting edge (22).

5 2. Flower message card (10) according to claim 1, further comprising attaching means (60) for attaching the flower message card (10) to one or more flowers or plants.

3. Flower message card (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein one edge of the 10 card (10) or part thereof forms the cutting edge (22) of the stem cutting means (20).

4. Flower message card (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the stem cutting means (20) is secured between two layers forming the card or parts of a card with the cutting edge (22) being exposed such that the one or more stems can be cut.

15 5. Flower message card (10) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising - a first folding line (30) along which the card (10) is folded; - two adjoining card parts (11, 12), adjacent to both sides of said first folding line (30), 20 for holding the cutting means (20) between them; - a stem cutting means (20); - and a recess (21) along a part of the first folding line (30), for exposing the cutting edge (22) of the stem cutting means (20) such that the one or more stems can be cut; wherein said stem cutting means (20) is secured between the adjoining card parts 25 (11,12) of the folded card (10) and placed near or against said first folding line (30), and wherein the ratio between the cross-section of the recess (21) and the diameter of the one or more stems to be cut is between 1:1 and 10:1.

6. Flower message card (10) according to claim 5, wherein adjoining card parts 30 (11,12) between which the stem cutting means (20) is secured, are at least partly joined together with an adhesive such that the stem cutting means (20) is secured between said adjoining card parts (11, 12).

7. Flower message card (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein 35 the card (10) is made of paper, cardboard or plastic, or a combination thereof; or paper or cardboard laminated with a thin layer of plastic, or a combination thereof.

-8- 8. Flower message card (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the stem cutting means (20) is made of metal, preferably stainless steel, plastic, a natural or synthetic fiber, ceramics, glass, or combinations thereof.

5 9. Flower message card (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the stem cutting means (20) has a smooth or saw-toothed cutting edge (22) or wherein said stem cutting means (20) is a thread, preferably a cotton wire interlaced with glass particles.

10. Flower message card (10) according to one of the preceding claims 5-9, 10 wherein the cross-section of the recess (21) is sufficiently large to comprise a stem such that the stem is between the cutting edge (22) and the edge of the recess (21).

11. Flower message card (10) according to one of the preceding claims 5-10, further comprising at least one second folding line (40, 41) along which the adjoining card 15 parts (11, 12) of the folded card (10) can be folded, thereby creating two outer card parts (13, 14) in such a way that the at least one second folding line (40, 41) is adjoined by an adjoining card part (11, 12) and an outer card part (13, 14).

12. Flower message card (10) according to one of the preceding claims, further 20 comprising a perforation line (43).

13. Flower message card (10) according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the at least one second folding line (40, 41) is perforated.

25 14. Flower message card (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the flower message card (10) carries a message or greeting on at least one of its sides.

15. Method for manufacturing the flower message card (10) according to claim 5, comprising the steps of 30 a) folding a card (10) along a first folding line (30), thereby forming two adjoining card parts (11, 12); b) creating a recess (21) along a part of the first folding line (30); c) placing a stem cutting means (20) between the adjoining card parts (11, 12); d) applying adhesive to at least a part of at least one of the adjoining card parts (11, 35 12) for joining the adjoining card parts (11, 12); e) joining the adjoining card parts (11, 12) of the flower message card (10) for securing the stem cutting means (20) and allowing the adhesive to harden; -9- wherein the ratio between the cross-section of the recess (21) and the diameter of the one or more stems to be cut is between 1:1 and 10:1, and wherein the stem cutting means (20) is placed such that at least a part of the cutting edge (22) of the stem cutting means (20) is exposed through the recess (21) in order to be able to cut the one or more stems.

Claims

A floral text card (10) provided with a stem cutting means (20) for cutting through one or more stems, wherein said cutting means (20) comprises a cutting edge (22).

The floral text card (10) according to claim 1, further comprising an attachment means (60) for attaching the floral text card (10) to one or more flowers or plants.

The floral text card (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein one edge of the card (10) or a portion thereof forms the cutting edge (22) of the stem cutting means (20).

A floral text card (10) according to any preceding claim, wherein the stem cutting means (20) is secured between two layers forming the card or a portion of a card, the cutting edge (22) being exposed so that one or more stems are cut through could be.

Floral text card (10) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising 15. a first folding line (30) along which the card (10) is folded; two adjacent card portions (11, 12), between which the cutting means (20) is held, on either side of said first folding line (30); a stem cutting means (20); and a notch (21) along a portion of the first folding line (30), for exposing the cutting edge (22) of the stem cutting means (20), so that the one or more stems can be cut; wherein said stem cutting means (20) is held between the adjacent card portions (11, 12) of the folded card (10) and placed near or against said first folding line (30), and wherein the ratio between the cross-section of the recess (21) and the diameter of one or more stems to be cut is between 1: 1 and 10: 1.

6. Floral text card (10) according to claim 5, wherein adjacent card parts (11, 12) between which the stem cutting means (20) is held are at least partially joined with an adhesive so that the stem cutting means (20) is held between said adjacent card parts (11) , 12).

The floral text card (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the card (10) is made of paper, cardboard or plastic, or a combination thereof; or paper or cardboard laminated with a thin layer of plastic, or a combination thereof. -11 -

A floral text card (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the stem cutting means (20) is made of metal, preferably stainless steel, plastic, a natural or synthetic fiber, ceramic, glass, or combinations thereof.

Floral text card (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the stem cutting means (20) has a smooth or serrated cutting edge (22), or wherein said stem cutting means (20) is a thread, preferably a cotton thread interlaced with glass particles.

A floral text card (10) according to any one of the preceding claims 5-9, wherein the cross-section of the recess (21) is sufficiently large to comprise a stem in such a way that the stem extends between the cutting edge (22) and the edge of the recess (21).

The floral text card (10) according to any of the preceding claims 5-10, further comprising at least a second folding line (40, 41) along which the adjacent card parts (11, 12) of the folded card (10) can be folded, whereby two 15 outer card portions (13, 14) are formed in such a way that at least one second fold line (40, 41) borders an adjacent card portion (11, 12) and an outer card portion (13, 14).

A floral text card (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a perforation line (43).

The floral text card (10) according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the at least one second fold line (40, 41) is perforated.

A floral text card (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the card (10) carries a message or greeting on at least one of the sides.

15. Method for manufacturing the floral text card (10) according to claim 5, comprising the steps of a) folding a card (10) along a first folding line (30), wherein two adjacent card parts (11, 12) are formed ; b) creating a recess (21) along a portion of the first folding line (30); C) placing a stem cutting means (20) between the adjacent card parts (11, 12); d) applying glue to at least a part of at least one of the adjacent card parts (11, 12) for joining the adjacent card parts (11, 12); E) joining adjacent card portions (11, 12) of the floral text card (10) to hold the stem cutting means (20), and curing the glue; - 12 - wherein the ratio between the cross-section of the recess (21) and the diameter of the one or more stems for cutting is between 1: 1 and 10: 1, and wherein the stalk cutting means (20) is placed in such a way that at least a portion of the cutting edge (22) around the stem cutting member (20) is exposed through the recess (21) to be able to cut through the one or more stems.

The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of f) folding at least one of the adjacent card portions (11, 12) of the card (10) along a second folding line (40, 41); wherein the adhesive applied in step d) is applied to at least that portion 10 or portions of the at least one of the adjacent card portions (11, 12) bounded by the first fold line (30) and second fold line (40, 41) .