NL2012152C2 - Receiving device for a potted plant, receiving device with a potted plant and blank for forming a wall for such a receiving device. - Google Patents

Description

Title: Receiving device for a potted plant, receiving device with a potted plant and blank for forming a wall for such a receiving device.

Description

The current invention, according to a first aspect, is related to a receiving device adapted to receive a potted plant. The receiving device is especially suitable as a package device for the purpose of transport, handling and presentation of a potted plant received therein.

It is known for potted plants to be transported and to be presented in supermarkets, for example, packed in a transparent, flexible foil embodied as a sleeve tapering from top to bottom, which is open at the bottom and the top to allow the packed plant and the substrate to be supplied with fresh air. The sleeve is dimensioned such that the lower part of the sleeve snugly encloses the pot of the potted plant, while the upper part of the sleeve provides space for the branches and the leaves of the plant. The sleeve extends up to and over substantially the total height of the plant, and often beyond. The pot provides rigidity for the potted plant to be handled by persons and to be shelved for storage and support. Usually, when potted plants received in a known sleeve are stored in a box, for example, 6 or 12 pots are each caught in a circular hole provided in a plastic or cardboard tray to prevent displacement of the potted plants during transport, which would damage the plant. A disadvantage of the known package for potted plants is that individually packed potted plants are difficult to handle and, amongst others due to instability, are vulnerable to damage. The objective of the first aspect of the current invention is to provide a receiving device as a potted plant package that provides better protection than the known potted plant packages. This objective, according to the current invention, is met with a receiving device adapted to receive a potted plant, the receiving device comprising a bottom element and a side wall, the bottom element comprising a plate-like bottom wall with a circular contour and an upright wall, extending conically away from, or from nearby, the circular contour of the bottom wall, wherein the side wall snugly surrounds the bottom element, and preferably the upright wall thereof and extends conically outwards from the bottom element, and has a resistance to deformation and elastic properties in the radial direction. The bottom element with the plate-like bottom wall provides support for the bottom of a pot of a potted plant received in the package. Further, because of the conical shape, the upright wall and part of the side wall support a side wall of the pot. The side wall with the resistance to deformation and elastic properties in the radial direction is able to protect the branches and leaves of a potted plant that is rooted in substrate received in the pot. Further, these properties make the side wall to return to its initial shape after deformation and prevent the part of the side wall surrounding the branches and leaves of the plant to come and/or stay closer to the branches and leaves then in its initial shape, and thus reduces unnecessary contact of the side wall with the branches and/or leaves. And said properties of the side wall will allow the side wall of the receiving device to be designed shorter compared to the known flexible foil, because the side wall of the receiving device according to the invention provides a better grip for people who intend to handle the package. This, in turn, makes better presentation of a potted plant received in the device possible, because of a better view at the branches and leaves for a potential buyer. Thus, the objective of the invention is met. Another advantage is that debris, like substrate that has fallen out of the pot during handling, will be caught by and maintained within the package. In the known sleeve, debris would fall through the open bottom.

In a preferred embodiment the bottom wall is made of an at least substantially shaped retaining material. The bottom wall may be rigid and is preferably substantially flat. Every single one of said properties, and any combination thereof, can contribute to good supporting properties of the receiving device.

The bottom wall is preferably permeable for water. In a preferred embodiment the bottom wall is provided with at least one through hole forming a drainage opening. The at least one trough hole may be situated in the centre of the bottom wall. The water permeability of the bottom wall allows drainage of water contained in the substrate of the pot, for example when the potted plant is watered just before it is put in the receiving device. The other way around it is also possible to put a potted plant, received in the receiving device, at a surface with a low layer of water, for example to prevent the risk of damage to plants as a result of lack of water over time.

The bottom element may be fastened to the side wall, but in a preferred embodiment the bottom element is detachably clamped in the side wall. As such, no attachment operation or attaching elements are needed to complete the receiving device.

The bottom element can just be inserted into the side wall and put itself in place. Gravity will increase the clamping of the bottom element in the side wall, because of the weight of the bottom element and possibly a potted plant supported by the bottom element. In a preferred embodiment the bottom element is fixed to the side wall using an adhesive to increase inherent stability of the package.

The side wall preferably is made of an at least substantially moisture resistant material. The substrate of the potted plant, and possibly the leaves of the plant itself, can be wet or moist. Moisture resistant material cannot be affected by such moist.

If the side wall extends in essentially the same angle with respect to the bottom wall as the upright wall of the bottom element does, a snugly fit between the upright wall and the side wall is ensured, since the bottom element will sink into the sleeve formed by the side wall until it contacts the circumference. As a result of the congruency the side wall will contact the upright wall over the full height thereof, or at least over the mutually overlapping surfaces.

In a preferred embodiment of the current invention the side wall comprises a support opening in the half of the side wall that directs away from the bottom element, which support opening is adapted to allow fingers of a person to be inserted for carrying the receiving device. The support opening allows easy handling by personnel or a buyer of the product.

It is advantageous when the side wall has an upper edge which, at least on average, extends in an angle a with respect to the bottom wall of the bottom element, wherein a is in the range of 5° to 60°, preferably in the range of 10° to 45°. A relatively long side wall part thus can be combined with a relatively large exposure surface for exposure of the plant to sunlight or to the public. The relatively long part of the side wall can provide an engagement surface for a person and may be provided with the support opening. The relatively short part of the side wall may allow light to reach the plant and provides good presentation properties of a plant packed in the receiving device. Exposure to light allows the plant to grow when received in the receiving device.

The side wall preferably is made from a blank which is wrapped conically around the upright wall of the bottom element, and two opposite side edges thereof along a fixing line extend transverse from the bottom wall and are fixed to each other. In use, transverse from the bottom wall means substantially vertically. The opposite side edges can be fixed together by means of gluing, melting (in case of a plastics side wall) or otherwise.

Due to friction between the backside of plant leaves and the interior of the receiving device and due to the lack of access through the bottom element with the plate-like bottom wall, physical access to the receiving device from below is prevented. This means that it will be substantially impossible or at least challenging for a user to remove the plant inside the receiving device from the receiving device by pushing the pot of a potted plant received in the package in an upwards direction. The receiving device is arranged in such a way that it needs to be opened in order to allow the plant to be removed in an easy way. This will ensure that plants will not be separated from the receiving device during handling and transport and it is prevented that the plant intended to be inside the receiving device is replaced e.g. with plant products of other origin.

The side wall is provided with a weakened line, which at least substantially extends transverse to the bottom wall, and the receiving device can be torn open along the line thus formed to gain good access to a potted plant received in the device to take the potted plant out of the device. The weakened line can extend along the total height of the side wall, as a result of which the side wall can be removed from the bottom element after tearing the side wall open, leaving the potted plant formerly received in the device free. The weakened line can be a perforated line, or the material can be weakened otherwise. Alternatively, the fixing between the side edges of the side wall can be made easily detachable, such that the fixing line behaves as the weakened line.

Preferably aside of the weakened line, and/or the extension thereof, a tear lip is provided. The tear lip makes it even easier to tear the side wall open along the weakened line.

The bottom wall has a lower diameter which is preferably in the range of 4 to 20 cm, more preferably in the range of 5 to 16 cm and even more preferably in the range of 6 to 12 cm. These ranges, and other ranges which are mentioned hereafter, may correspond to ranges of sizes of pots for potted plants.

For example, the side wall, at the level of the shortest part of the side wall, preferably has a circular cross-section with an upper diameter in the range of 8 to 40 cm, preferably in the range of 10 to 35 cm and more preferably in the range of 12 to 30 cm. These ranges are typically in conformity with the circumference of the plant to be received in the receiving device.

The side wall preferably has a shortest vertical length in the range of 5 to 30 cm, more preferably in the range of 7 to 25 cm and even more preferably in the range of 9 to 20 cm. As such, the shortest vertical length of the side wall can overlap the corresponding part of the pot to be received in the receiving device, while providing good exposure possibilities for a plant to be received in the receiving device.

The side wall preferably has a longest vertical length in the range of 10 to 50 cm, more preferably in the range of 12 to 45 cm and even more preferably in the range of 15 to 40 cm. This allows the side wall to have a part extending relatively high, maybe even to above the top of a plant to be received in the receiving device, for good access of that part of the side wall for handling purposes.

The upright wall and/or the side wall preferably extend in an angle in the range of 95° to 125° with respect to the bottom wall, more preferably in the range of 98° to 120° and even more preferably in the range of 100° to 115° with respect to the bottom wall. The inclination of the side wall can thus correspond to that of a pot to be received in the receiving device.

The receiving device can be made from a broad range of materials, as mentioned earlier, preferably water repellent materials. Preferred materials for the side wall are plastics or cardboard, especially cardboard provided with a water repellent material, and especially of a plastics or cardboard blank. Blanks made of the right material can be wrapped easily to be in conformity with the properties of the invention.

The bottom element, to the contrary, is preferably an integral element, preferably made of plastics. The element can be made by injection moulding, for example. An integral element can provide the strength needed for the bottom element, for example to support a potted plant or to provide a rigid element at the lower side of the side wall.

According to a second aspect the current invention relates to a receiving device according to the first aspect of the invention, wherein a potted plant is received. The problems of known receiving devices, as discussed earlier, correspond to the problems of a known receiving device and also the advantages correspond that of the first aspect of the invention.

In a preferred embodiment the receiving device snugly encloses the pot, at least the bottom part of the pot. If the receiving device encloses the pot over the entire height of the pot, like the known flexible sheet does, no space between the pot and the side wall of the receiving device available for debris or the like and the pot will be received relatively stable in the receiving device. The pot, in its turn, can improve the rigidity and shape retainability of the side wall, since pots for potted plants are usually rather rigid and can thus help to maintain the intended shape of the side wall of the receiving device. However, the inherent resistance to deformation and elastic properties in the radial direction of the receiving device according to the current invention allow the side wall to extend away, in the direction from the bottom element to the top edge, from the side wall of a pot received in the device. Thus compared to the thin plastic sleeve, the receiving device according to the invention allows more space to the upper part of the pot and lower part of the leaves, thus reducing the risk of damaging the lower leaves and thus reducing the risk of fungal infection.

In an alternative embodiment, the bottom of the pot has a smaller diameter then the bottom wall of the bottom element. The side wall than extends upward at a distance of the pot, for example with a mutual distance of at least 0,5 cm or at least 1 cm between the pot and the side wall. In this embodiment, especially if the angle defined by the side wall and the bottom wall of the receiving device is equal to or more obtuse than the angle defined by the pot’s side wall and the pot’s bottom, relatively more space is available for the branches and the leaves of the pot, providing better protection thus even further reducing the risk of damaging the lower leaves and thus reducing the risk of fungal infection

In a preferred embodiment the pot extends to at maximum %, preferably to at maximum halfway, the shortest vertical length of the receiving device, starting at the bottom element. Thus, the pot of the potted plant is fully overlapped by the side wall of the receiving device and provides protection to the lower part of the plant, leaving the top of the plant free to be exposed to the public.

According to a third aspect the invention is related to a receiving device according to the first aspect of the invention in which a bunch of cut flowers is received. While the ratio of the diameter and vertical length dimensions may differ when cut flowers are packed in the receiving device, compared to that of a receiving device intended for potted plants, the strength of the package, especially the side wall, can protect cut flowers packed in the receiving device. When bunches of flowers are packed in the receiving device according to the invention are stacked in a lying orientation, thus with the central axis of the cone defined by the side wall, for example, the risk of damage to the flowers is reduced compared to flowers packed in flexible plastic foil or paper. Further the bottom element provides good support for the cut flowers. Like in the case of a potted plant, the exposure or presentation of flowers to possible buyers is attractive, especially when the side wall has a relatively small vertical length at one side compared to the vertical length of the opposite part of the side wall. If provided with the support opening, a bunch of flowers can be hung to a wall, rack or display.

In a preferred embodiment the receiving device includes a water absorbent material at the bottom wall of the bottom element, which supports the cut flowers. The water absorbent material can be wetted to present a wet bottom to the cut flowers for a better conservation of the cut flowers.

According to a third aspect the current invention relates to a blank, adapted to form a side wall of a receiving device according to the first aspect of the current invention. An advantage of blanks to form a receiving device, or at least a side wall thereof, is that the blanks, before being transformed to the side wall, can be easily stacked without occupying unnecessary space. Further, stacked blanks are not vulnerable for being damaged.

Preferably the blank comprises a first segment of a a reference circle forming curve, corresponding with the lower edge of the side wall, at one end of which curve a first side edge extends away from the middle of the reference circle and substantially perpendicularly and straight over a first distance, and at an opposite end of the curve a second side edge extends away from the centre of the reference circle, substantially perpendicularly and straight over a distance corresponding to the first distance, wherein an upper edge corresponding with the upper edge of the side wall, extends parallel or optionally erratic with respect to the lower edge between the edges opposite to the respective side edges which direct away from the lower edge.

Hereafter, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective side view of a package as a preferred embodiment of a receiving device according to the current invention;

Fig. 2 shows a plan view at a blank for forming a side wall of the package of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a perspective side view of a bottom element of the package of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 shows a perspective side view of the package of Fig. 1, receiving a potted plant;

Fig. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of a package as a receiving device according to the current invention in which a potted plant is received; and

Fig. 6 shows a perspective side view of still another embodiment of a package as an embodiment of a receiving device according to the current invention, in which a bunch of cut flowers is received.

Now looking at Fig. 1 a package 1 as a receiving device according to the current invention is shown in a perspective side view. Package 1 includes an injection moulding bottom element 2 of Polystyrene having a bottom wall 3 with a diameter of 8,5 cm provided with a through hole 5 and an upright wall 4 having a height of 4,5 cm. A side wall 6 made from a polypropylene sheet, is snugly wrapped around the upright wall 4 and extends conically away from the bottom element 2. Side wall 6 has an upper edge 7 having a substantially horizontal front part 7a, from which the upper edge 7 at both sides inclines slightly upwards over side parts 7b, 7c, and then inclines relatively steep upwards in rear side parts 7d, 7e to a substantially horizontal rear part 7f. At the back side of package 1 there is provided a support opening 8. In a side part of package 1 is provided a weakened line embodied as a perforated tearing line 9, extending over the full height of the side wall 6 and ending close to tearing lip 10. The relatively short front part of side wall 6 has a height of 18,3 cm while the relatively long rear part of the side wall has a height of 28,3 cm. The diameter of the horizontal cross section of the package 1 at the level of the upper edge part 7a amounts 18 cm.

Fig. 2 shows a plan view of a blank 6’ from which the side wall 6 of package 1 is to be formed. In figure 2 the parts are referred to with the same reference signs as the corresponding parts shown in Fig. 1. Also shown in Fig. 2 is an adhering strip 11.

Fig. 3 shows a perspective side view of the bottom element 2 shown in claim 1, having a bottom wall 3 and an upright wall 4, extending conically away from bottom wall 3.

Fig. 4 shows a perspective side view of the package 1 from Fig. 1 in which a pot 12 with substrate (not shown) in which a plant 13 is rooted, is received.

Fig. 5 shows a perspective side view of the package 1 of Fig. 1 in which a smaller pot 12’ and a plant 13’ are received.

Fig. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of a package 31 as a receiving device according to the current invention in which a bunch of flowers 45 is received. In Figure 6 elements are provided with reference signs increased by 30 compared to corresponding elements of the package 1 from Fig. 1. On top of the bottom wall 33 of bottom element 32 a water absorbent material 44 is provided. Stem 43 of flowers 45 are supported by the water absorbent material 44. In this embodiment a tearing line 40 is provided by a relatively weak adhesion provided at the adhesive strip.

Now looking at Figs. 1-3 package 1 is made by adhering adhesive strip 11 provided at a side of blank 6’ to a strip of the opposite side 11’ of blank 6. Then the bottom element 2 is introduced from above in the conical extending side wall 6 thus formed. At the lower end of the side wall the bottom element 2 contacts the inner side of side wall 6 and is adhered thereto by a suitable glue. Now a package 1 is formed in which a potted plant can be received as will be discussed hereinafter. The lower horizontal front part 7a, defining an upper edge 7 of the shortest part of the side wall 6 allows a potted plant to be received in the package 1 to be presented attractively to the public. Starting at part 7a, upper edge 7 extends relatively low in both directions until the rear side parts 7d, 7e, which extend relatively steep to an upper rear part 7f defining the side wall part having a longest vertical length of the side wall 6. As such, the rear side of the side wall 6, especially the upper part thereof defined by rear side parts 7d, 7e and rear part 7f of upper edge 7, and including support opening 8 provides for an easy handling of the package 1, even if a potted plant is received in the package 1. Support opening 8 can also be used for the purpose of hanging package 1 to a wall or a display, for example. Package 1 can be torn open along tearing line 9, for example, by grasping tearing lip 10 and pulling tearing lip 10 down. This is an easy way to gain access to a potted plant received in package 1, for example at home by a consumer who just bought the plant. If bottom element 2 is adhered weakly to side wall 6, or isn’t adhered thereto at all, it is even possible to remove the side wall 6 from the bottom element 2.

Fig. 4 shows a perspective side view of package 1 in which a pot 12 with a potted plant 13 is received. The pot 12 is supported by as well the bottom wall 3 of the bottom element 2 as by the upright wall 4 and side wall 6, because the pot 12 snugly fits in package 1. Side wall 6 and pot 12 cooperate in that side wall 6 partly supports the side wall of pot 12 at one hand, and in that pot 12 helps to retain the shape of side wall 6 at the other hand. Because of the conical shape of side wall 6, relatively much space is available for plant 13, reducing the risk of leaves to be damaged. As discussed before, the relatively low front part of side wall 6 allows plant 13 to be presented in an attractive way.

Now looking at Fig. 5, a relatively small pot 12’ is received in package 1. Pot 12’ is supported by the bottom wall 3 of package 1, however, the side wall of pot 12’ is not in contact with side wall 6 of package 1. Compared to the combination of package 1 and pot 12 of Fig. 4, the combination of Fig. 5 provides even more space for a plant 13’ received in package 1. This further reduces the risk of damage to leaves of plant 13’. Further, even if a leaf would break from the plant 13’ it can fall down in the space between side wall 6 and the side wall of pot 12’. This reduces the risk of fungal growth, because the broken leaf will be retained in a relatively dry environment. Even in the case of fungal growth the risk of fungal infection is reduced, because of the greater distance between the broken leaf and the leaves still connected to the plant 13’.

Now looking at Fig. 6 a perspective view is shown of package 31 in which a bunch of cut flowers 45 is received. On top of bottom wall 33 of bottom element 32 is a wad of cotton 44 as water a absorbent material, which cotton is wetted. Stems 43 of flowers 45 are supported by the wad of cotton 44 which allows the stems 43 to take up water from the cotton for a better conservation of the flowers 45.

It is to be noted that the enclosed drawings and the above description thereof do not limit the protection of the invention. Many changes, which may or may not be obvious for the skilled person, can be made within the scope of protection which is defined by the claims. For example, while only a few materials are defined, as well the bottom element as the side wall can be made of alternative suitable materials like different plastics or cardboard treated with a water repellent material.

Instead of a wad of cotton another water absorbent material can be used. The packages can have alternative dimensions and alternative ratios of dimensions resulting in different rates of inclination of the side wall. The weakened line can be embodied in different ways. While the overlapping parts of the side wall are described as being adhered to each other, alternative ways of joining both edges to each other, like by means of stapling, for example. The bottom element is described as being adhered to the side wall. Alternatively the bottom element and the side wall do not have to be glued together, or even to be attached to each other. As a result of the shape of both elements, the bottom can be placed in the side wall, where it will then be clamped in place.

Claims (29)

A pick-up device adapted to receive a pot with a pot plant therein, the pick-up device comprising a bottom member and a side wall, the bottom member comprising a plate-shaped bottom wall with a circular contour and a conically extending outwardly or at least near the circular contour upright edge, wherein the side wall, the bottom member, and preferably the upright edge of the bottom member, encloses tightly and extends conically outward from the bottom member and has resistance to deformation and radial elastic properties. 2. A pick-up device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the bottom wall is made of an at least substantially form-retaining material. Recording device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the bottom wall is permeable to water. A pick-up device as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the bottom wall is provided with at least one continuous drainage opening. A pick-up device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bottom member is detachably clamped in the side wall. 6. A pick-up device as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side wall is made of an at least at least substantially moisture-resistant material. Pick-up device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side wall extends at substantially the same angle relative to the bottom wall as the upright edge of the bottom member. 8. A pick-up device as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the side wall in a top half remote from the bottom member comprises a bearing opening which is adapted to allow the fingers of a person to protrude therethrough. 9. A pick-up device as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the side wall has an upper edge which, at least on average, extends at an angle α with respect to the bottom wall of the bottom member, wherein α is located in the range of 5 ° to 60 °, preferably in the range of 10 ° to 45 °. 10. A pick-up device according to the preceding claim 9, characterized in that the upper edge has an upper edge part that extends relatively steeply with respect to the bottom wall and has an upper edge part that extends relatively less steeply with respect to the bottom wall. 11. A pick-up device as claimed in claim 9 or 10, depending on claim 8, characterized in that the support opening in the side wall is provided in a part in which the side wall extends relatively far away from the bottom member. 12. Pick-up device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side wall is made of a blank that is conically wrapped around the upright edge of the bottom wall, and two of which are opposite sides of each other along a transverse to the bottom line extending fastening line overlap and are attached to each other. A pick-up device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side wall is provided with a weakening line extending at least substantially transversely to the bottom wall. A pick-up device according to claim 13, characterized in that a pull tab is provided in addition to the line of weakening and / or the extension thereof. A pick-up device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bottom wall has a bottom diameter that is in the range of 4 to 20 cm. A pick-up device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side wall has a circular horizontal cross-section with an upper diameter in the range of 8 to 40 cm at the height of the shortest part of the side wall. A pick-up device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side wall has a shortest vertical length that is in the range of 5 to 30 cm. A pick-up device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side wall has a longest vertical length that is in the range of 10 to 50 cm. Recording device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the raised edge and / or the side wall extends at an angle in the range of 95 ° to 125 ° with respect to the bottom wall. 20. A pick-up device as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the side wall is made of plastic or cardboard, in particular a cardboard provided with a water-repellent material, in particular a plastic or a cardboard blank. 21. Pick-up device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bottom member is an integral member, preferably made of plastic. 22. Pick-up device according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which a pot containing a pot plant is included. 23. Pick-up device with a pot containing a pot plant according to claim 22, characterized in that the pick-up device closely encloses the pot, at least insofar as it overlaps the pick-up device. A pick-up device with a pot containing a pot plant according to claim 22, characterized in that the bottom of the pot has a smaller diameter than the bottom wall of the bottom member. A pick-up device in which a pot containing a pot plant is included according to claim 22, 23 or 24, characterized in that the pot extends from the bottom member to a maximum of 3Λ, preferably to a maximum of halfway the shortest vertical length of the pick-up device. A pick-up device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a bunch of flowers is included. 27. Pick-up device in which a bunch of flowers is included according to claim 26, comprising a water-absorbing material on the bottom wall of the bottom member. A blank adapted to form a side wall of a pick-up device according to one or more of claims 1 to 21. 29. Blank as claimed in claim 28, comprising a first edge forming an arc of a circle segment of a reference circle, corresponding to the bottom edge of the side wall, at one end of which a first side edge is away from the center of the reference circle and substantially perpendicular and extends straight over a first distance, and at the opposite end of which a second side edge extends away from the center of the reference circle and extends substantially perpendicular and straight over a distance corresponding to the first distance, wherein a distance corresponding to the upper edge of the side wall extends upper edge extends parallel or optionally erratically with respect to the lower edge between the ends of the respective side edges remote from the lower edge.