NL2020471B1 - Thermoformed container, assembly, and kit of parts - Google Patents

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a thermoformed container for holding plants. Said thermoformed container comprises at least one wall portion terminating in an edge of said thermoformed container, wherein said wall portion is provided with at least one integrally thermoformed snap-on connector for attachment of an accessory. Said snap-on connector is formed as a bulging protrusion protruding from said wall portion and terminating in said edge of the thermoformed container. Besides, the disclosure relates to such accessory, in particular a label plate, comprising a wall portion provided with a cut out for receiving at least a part of a bulging protrusion of a snap-on connector of such a thermoformed container.

Description

Patent center

Θ 2020471

(2?) Application number: 2020471 (22) Application submitted: 21 February 2018

Int. Cl .:

A01G 9/029 (2018.01)

0 Application registered: 0 Patent holder (s): August 29, 2019 Modiform B.V. in Leusden. 0 Request published: - 0 Inventor (s): Gerardus Hendrikus Smal in Leusden. 0 Patent granted: August 29, 2019 0 Authorized representative: 0 Patent issued: ir. C.M. Jansen et al. In The Hague. August 29, 2019

Thermoformed container, assembly, and kit or parts

The present disclosure relates to a thermoformed container for holding plants. Said thermoformed container includes at least one wall portion terminating in an edge or said thermoformed container, said said wall portion is provided with at least one integrally thermoformed snap-on connector for attachment or an accessory. Said snap-on connector is formed as a bulging protrusion protruding from said wall portion and terminating in said edge of the thermoformed container. Besides, the disclosure relates to such an accessory, in particular a label plate, including a wall portion provided with a cut out for receiving at least a part of a bulging protrusion or a snap-on connector or such a thermoformed container.

100, QT Z

02.

NL B1 2020471

This patent has been granted regardless of the attached result of the research into the state of the art and written opinion. The patent corresponds to the documents originally submitted.

P118229NL00

Title: Thermoformed container, assembly, and kit or parts

The invention relates to a thermoformed container for holding plants.

Such thermoformed containers are known and widely used in the plant industry and are often used for holding one or more plants. For example, such thermoformed container can be formed as a plant pot holding soil or other substrate and one or multiple plants. Further, thermoformed containers for holding plants are know that are formed as plant-packs. Such a plant-pack can contain multiple cavities that each can hold substrate and one or more plants, or the cavities of the plant-pack may be used to hold a plant pot within the cavity. Alternatively, the thermoformed container may be formed as a tray, in particular a trolley tray which can serve as a disposable shelf or disposable shelf cover for a trolley holding a variety of plants, for instance during transport and / or during display of said plants.

Such a known thermoformed container is manufactured in a process in which a heated plastic sheet is molded to a specific container shape. The then formed container can be cut out of the sheet and / or the thermoformed container can be trimmed by removing residual plastic sheet material. Usually, the thermoformed container comprises a flange, which flange is often formed as a substantially downwardly extending wall portion, which terminates in an edge. At the edge, said substantially downwardly extending flange of the container often comprises a relatively small flange itself, which relatively small flange may be extended substantially horizontally and may be formed by plastic sheet material that remained when the container was cut loose from further sheet material.

An advantage of thermoformed containers for holding plants may be that such containers are relatively cost efficient to produce, for instance as such products tend to have relatively thin wall thicknesses and / or tend to include relatively little material.

During use of a thermoformed container for holding plants, said container may be provided with one or more accessories, such as for instance a label plate containing information about a plant hold by said container, such as its name, retail price, etc. Usually, the accessory is only attached to the thermoformed container after the container is filled with plant substrate and / or plants, for instance such that the accessories do not prevent nesting the still empty thermoformed containers.

In order to install such a label plate or other accessory, said accessory is often simply stuck into plant substrate hero in the container, 10 and said accessory may therefore be provided with a tapered insertion part. A disadvantage of such accessories is that they can easily come loose. As a result, the container may unintentionally miss its accessory, which may contain a bar code and / or price tag. Besides, it may make it relatively easy for a malicious customer to switch a label plate with a label plate or a 15 relatively low-priced plant.

In an alternative known thermoformed container configuration, an upper ledge of the container interconnecting a substantially upwardly extending wall portion defining a plant receiving cavity of the container with a substantial downwardly extending flange or said container may be 20 provided with an insertion slot into which a barbed insertion portion or a label plate or other accessory can be inserted. Although the barbs may counteract removal of the accessory, such configuration may have the disadvantage that the label plate or other accessory may attach to the thermoformed container in a relatively wobbly manner. As an other disadvantage, it is noted that when the accessory is formed as a substantial flat label plate, its label holding portion may only extend substantially above the container's upper ledge provided with the insertion slot.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide an alternative thermoformed container for holding plants, especially an alternative thermoformed container for holding plants that alleviates or solves at least one of the disadvantages of a conventional thermoformed container for holding plants. In alternative, the present disclosure may provide an alternative thermoformed container for holding plants, said thermoformed container is provided with an accessory, in particular a label plate, in an alternative manner, preferably a manner being advantageous with respect to one or more known manners in which a thermoformed container for holding plants is provided with a label plate or another accessory,

In a first aspect, the present disclosure provides for a thermoformed container for holding plants, including at least one wall portion terminating in an edge or said thermoformed container, said said wall portion is provided with at least one integrally thermoformed snap-on connector for attachment or an accessory, said said snap-on connector is formed as a bulging protrusion protruding from said wall portion and terminating in said edge of the thermoformed container.

By providing the bulging protrusion that extends up to the edge of the thermoformed container, said thermoformed container can be provided with a snap-on connector that is integrally formed with the rest of the 20 container in a relatively simple manner, in particular by means of a relatively simple mold, more in particular a one-piece mold, that is free or negative-draft and / or undercut areas that would otherwise require a side action.

Additionally or alternatively, the integrally thermoformed snap-on 25 connector that protrudes from the wall portion of the container, in particular protruding from a flange of the container, more in particular an outer top flange, or the container, can facilitate that a wall portion or a label plate or other accessory provided with a corresponding cut-out can be attached to said snap-on connector. Hence, it may be facilitated for instance 30 that the wall portion of the label may extend along a part of the flange or other wall portion of the container, and may for instance extend both beyond a lower end and beyond an upper end of said flange or other wall portion of the container.

By letting at least a part of the bulging protrusion broaden out in a direction in which said bulging protrusion protrudes from the container's wall portion and / or by letting at least a part of the bulging protrusion taper towards said wall portion of the container from which said bulging protrusion, it can be facilitated that a snapped on label plate or other accessory is guided and / or forces towards said wall portion of the container. As a result of such a configuration, it may be facilitated that a rear side of a wall portion or a label plate or other accessory snapped onto the container's snap-on connector may substantially abut said wall portion of the container from which the bulging protrusion protrudes . Additionally, or alternatively, such a configuration may counteract that the accessory comes loose unintentionally.

In a further aspect, the present disclosure provides for an assembly comprising a trolley-tray, in particular a disposable and / or plastic and / or thennoformed trolley-tray, and a corresponding label plate, in particular a substantially strip-shaped label plate, said said trolley-tray and said label plate are arranged to snap the label plate onto the trolley-tray, in particular at an outer flange or the trolley-tray. As a result or such a snapon arrangement, the label plate can be attached to the trolley-tray in a relatively simple manner, which can make it unnecessary to use any additional tools and / or attachment means. Hence, it can be counteracted that adhesive tape or any other attachment means, which otherwise could have been utilized to temporarily fix a disposable label plate to a plant trolley and / or the trolley-tray, will stay behind on the plant trolley after removing the trolley-tray and the label plate from said plant trolley, which could be highly undesirable, especially as such tape or other attachment means, such as staples, could accumulate over time during the lifespan of the plant trolley, which, contrary to the trolley-tray and the label plate, usually intended and arranged for frequent use.

By providing the trolley-tray, especially at a corner of said trolley-tray, with a recess or identification for allowing an upright or post or a plant trolley to pass through an area left free by said recess or identification, a snap-on connector or said trolley-tray, which may be protruding outwardly from the trolley-tray, in particular from an outer flange or the trolley-tray, can stick out relatively far outwardly when the trolley-tray is installed on the plant trolley. In particular, the snap-on connector may protrude at least partly beyond a virtual plane abutting the outwardly facing outer surfaces or two adjacent uprights or posts of the plant trolley. As a result, an accessory, in particular a label plate, such as a substantial strip-shaped label plate, may be snapped onto the trolley tray in a manner in which it extends at least to some extent along a respective outwardly facing outer surface of one or more of such uprights or posts of the plant trolley, while, on the other hand, said accessory can be attached to the plant trolley in a relatively simple manner, free or additional attachments means, by snapping it onto the trolley-tray then already placed in or on the plant trolley.

Advantageously, the trolley tray may be a thermoformed container for holding plants, which thermoformed container then comprises at least one wall portion terminating in an edge or said thermoformed container, said said wall portion is provided with at least one integrally thermoformed snap-on connector for attachment of the accessory, said said snap-on connector is formed as a bulging protrusion protruding from said wall portion and terminating in said edge of the thermoformed container. As a result, the trolley-tray may incorporate one or more of the advantages of the thermoformed container mentioned above in the context of the first aspect of the present disclosure.

By making the accessory and a container, such as a trolley-tray, or the same or a similar material, it can for instance be facilitated that said container and said accessory can be disposed together in a single stream or a multiple stream recycling system. In particular, it may be facilitated that one can relatively easily dispose of the thermoformed container into a separate recycling stream without having to remove the accessory from said container, which could be neglected as that could be considered too time consuming and / or too labor insensitive .

In a further aspect, the present disclosure also relates to an accessory, in particular a label plate, including a wall portion provided with a cut out for receiving at least a part of a bulging protrusion or a snapon connector or a thermoformed container for holding plants , which bulging protrusion protrudes from a wall portion of said thermoformed container, which wall portion terminates in an edge or said thennoformed container, and said bulging protrusion is integrally thermoformed with the thermoformed container and terminates in said edge of the thermoformed container. Advantageously, at least a part of the cut out is substantially formed as a slot, for instance a substantial horseshoe shaped slot or a substantial U-shaped slot. In particular, said slot can define a tongue or tab or bp that can extend into a hollow room defined by the bulging protrusion when the accessory is snapped onto said bulging protrusion.

The present disclosure also relates to an assembly including a trolley and a thermoformed container formed as a trolley-tray. Further, the present disclosure relates to a kit or parts including at least one thermoformed container and at least one accessory to be attached to an integrally thermoformed snap-on connector or said container.

Advantageous according to aspects of the present disclosure are described in the appended claims.

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By way of non-limiting examples only, exponential aspects of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment or a thermoformed container according to an aspect of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective view or a detail or a second edition of the thermoformed container for holding plants;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic perspective view or a detail of the thermoformed container or Fig. 2 and a label plate attached to said container;

FIG. 4 shows a schematic perspective view or a detail or a third edition of the thermoformed container and a label plate attached to said container;

FIG. 5 shows a schematic perspective view of a trolley provided with the thermoformed container and label plate or Fig. 4 and two additional thermoformed containers; and

FIG. 6 shows a schematic perspective view of the label plate shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

It is noted that the figures show merely preferred according to aspects of the present disclosure. In the figures, the same or similar reference signs or numbers refer to equal or corresponding parts.

Figure 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a thermoformed container 1 for holding plants, or a so-called thermoformed plant container

1. Figures 2 and 3 show an almost identical embodiment of the thermoformed container 1, which differs from the container 1 or Figure 1, among others, in that respective outer flange 15 or the containers 1 has different designs in both. In particular, said flange 15 extends relatively straight along a side of the container 1 in the embodiment of Figure 1, while the flange 15 of the container 1 or Figures 2 and 3 is staggered to some extent, more or less like a square wave.

It will be appreciated that, at least in the context of the present disclosure, a vacuum formed container 1 can be considered as a thermoformed container 1, in particular a thermoformed container 1 formed by means of a relatively simple version of thermoforming.

The thermoformed container 1, which may be disposable or a so-called one-way container 1, can be manufactured in a thermoforming process in which a heated plastic sheet is molded to its specific container shape. The then formed container 1 can be cut out of the sheet and / or thermoformed container 1 can be trimmed by removing residual plastic sheet material. The cutting edge 10 or trimming edge 10 may then form an edge 10 of the container 1, in particular an outer edge 10 of the container 1.

The thermoformed container 1 may contain a flange 15, in particular a flange 15 substantially formed as a substantially downwardly extending wall portion 15, which terminates in an edge 10. At the edge 10, said substantially downwardly extending flange 15 or the container 1 may contain a relatively small flange 16. Said relatively small flange 16 may extend substantially horizontally and may be formed by plastic sheet material that remained when the thermoformed container 1 was cut loose.

Here, in Figures 1-3, said thermoformed container 1 is formed as a plant-pack that comprises multiple cavities 11, for example forming one or more plant compartments 11, that may be open at their upper ends and may be defined by surrounding wall 12 and a bottom 13, which for instance may include one or more opening or through holes, for instance drainage holes for allowing surplus water to exit the respective cavity 11. Additional or alternatively, the container 1, in particular at least one of its one or more cavity 11 forming compartments, may be provided with one or more feet 14, for example to elevate one or more drainage holes above a surface on which the thermoformed container 1 can be positioned during use. Although the cavity 11 may be a plant compartment 11 that can hold substrate and one or more plants, the one or multiple cavities 11 or the plant-pack 1 may alternatively be arranged and / or used for holding a plant pot within the respective cavity 11 .

Although the thermoformed container 1 may be formed as a plant-pack, it may alternatively be formed as an other container for holding plants. For example, the thermoformed container 1 may contain a single plant compartment 11 and / or may be formed as a plant pot, which can be arranged and / or used for holding soil or other substrate and one or multiple plants. As another example, the thermoformed container 1 may be formed as a tray, in particular a trolley-tray lb, an exemplary embodiment 10 which is shown in Figures 4-6.

It is noted that the thermoformed container 1 comprises at least one wall portion 15 that terminates in an edge 10 or said thermoformed container 1. Said wall portion 15 terminates in the edge 10 can for instance be formed as a substantial upright wall portion 15, ie a wall portion 15 15 extending substantially in a substantially upward direction. It will be appreciated that said substantially upright wall portion 15 does not need to extend in a vertical plane, and may slope to some extent, and may be angled between 1 ° and 8 °, for instance to ease release of the thermoformed container from a mold or mold part.

As for instance can be seen in Figures 2 and 3, said wall portion 15 terminating in the edge 10 of the container 1 is provided with at least one integrally thennoformed snap-on connector 100 for attachment or an accessory 2 to the container 1. Said snap-on connector 100 is formed as a bulging protrusion 101 or so-called bulge 101, protuberance 101, protrusion

101 or projection 101, which protrudes from said wall portion 15 and terminates in the edge 10 of the thermoformed container 1. Said edge 10 of the thermoformed container 1 may thus be a flanged edge 10, for instance having a relatively small flange 16, which relatively small flange 16 may have stayed behind when residual sheet material has been cut off from the 30 thermoformed container 1.

Due to that bulging protrusion 101 protrudes from said wall portion 15 terminates in the edge 10 and terminates into said same edge 10, a portion 10a or the edge 10 of the thermoformed container 1 at the location of the bulging protrusion 101 may thus be offset or so-called staggered with 5 respect to adjacent portions 10b or said edge 10, as for instance can be seen in Figure 2.

In the shown, the edge 10 of the container 1 is located at the lower end of the wall portion 15 provided with the integrally thermoformed snap-on connector 100, such that a bottom side of the bulging 10 protrusion 101 is thus open, as can for instance seen relatively well in Figures 2-4.

Although the wall portion 15 terminating in the edge 10 and provided with at least one integrally thermoformed snap-on connector 100 can be formed as at least a part of a flange 15 of the container 1, it may alternatively be formed otherwise. For example, said wall portion 15 may be substantially upwardly extending wall defining a cavity, such as a plant compartment, for receiving a plant or a plant pot. In such cases, the wall portion may for example terminate in an edge located at the upper end of said wall portion, and the bulging protrusion 101 terminating in said edge

10 may then thus be open at its top side. Furthermore, it is noted that the wall portion 15 terminating in the edge 10 of the container does not just need to be a substantially upwardly extending wall portion.

Advantageously, at least a part of the bulging protrusion 101 can broaden out in a direction DI in which said bulging protrusion 101 protrudes from the container's wall portion 15. For example, as can be seen in the exemplary edition of Figures 1 and 2, the bulging protrusion 101 may have a first width W1 near the wall portion 15 from which it protrudes, which first width W1 is narrower than a second width W2 or said bulging protrusion 101, which second width is located further away from said wall portion 15. Additional or alternatively, the bulging protrusion 101 may near said wall portion have a height being narrower than a height thereafter at more remote, further protruding, section of said bulging protrusion 101.

In cars, at least a part of the bulging protrusion 101 may taper in a direction D2 towards the container's wall portion 15 from which said bulging protrusion 101 protrudes. Although such tapering can be considered as a progressive narrowing or the bulging protrusion 101 towards the container's wall portion 15, the narrowing may also be stepwise in alternative exponent. For example, the bulging protrusion 101 may then include a relatively narrow and / or low section located relatively near the container's wall portion 15 from which said bulging protrusion 101 protrudes, and may include a relatively wide and / or high section located more offset from said wall portion 15. In such a, a transition section between said relatively narrow and / or low section and said relatively wide and / or high section may then form a stop surface which may be counteract that an accessory 2 snapped onto the snap-on connector 100 formed as the bulging protrusion 101 may be slide off from said snap-on connector 100.

Advantageously, the bulging protrusion 101 can include a first segment 111 being spaced apart from a section 151 or the container's wall portion 15 from which said bulging protrusion 101 protrudes. The bulging protrusion 101 may then further include one or more intermediate segments 112 interconnecting said section of the container's wall portion 15 and said bulging protrusion's first segment 111. The first segment 111 of the bulging protrusion 101 can be formed as a substantial wall shaped segment 111 , preferably extending substantially in similar directions as the section 151 or the container's wall portion 15 from which said bulging protrusion 101 protrudes and / or substantially parallel with said section 151 or the container's wall portion 15 from which said bulging protrusion 101 protrudes.

At a side of the section 151 of the container's wall section 15 at which the bulging protrusion 101 protrudes, in particular at the outer side of the container 1, at least one of said one or more intermediate segments 112 and said section 151 of the container's wall portion 15 can together substantial and acute angle a in a virtual plane that extends substantially transverse to said at least one intermediate segment 112 and substantially transverse to said section 151 of the container's wall portion 15. It will be appreciated that the acute angle a , or so-called sharp angle, is an angle that is narrower than a right angle, ie an angle that is less than 90 degrees.

The thermoformed snap-on connector 100 that is formed as the bulging protrusion 101 is for attachment or an accessory to the thermoformed container 1. The accessory 2, which can be label plate 2, for instance such as is shown in the exemplary embodiment of Figure 3 , can be 15 attached, in particular clicked onto, or so-called snapped onto, to the snapon connector 100. The accessory 2 for attachment to the thermoformed container 1 may be provided with one or more connector parts 200. Such connector part 200 or the accessory 2 may be arranged for cooperation with the snap-on connector 100 or the container 1, in particular in a manner in which said connector part 200 and said snap-on connector 100 can interlockingly engage each other. For example, the accessory 2 can be provided with a recess 201 or opening 201, in particular a cut out 201, which can receive at least a part of the bulging protrusion 101. In an installed state of the accessory 2, at least a part of the bulging protrusion may then extend through the cut out 201. Advantageously, the accessory 2 can include a wall portion 20 provided with a cut out 201 through which at least a part of the bulging protrusion 101 extends when said accessory has been snapped onto the thermoformed container 1.

In several, at least a part of the cut out 201 is substantially 30 formed as a slot, for instance a substantial horseshoe shaped slot or a substantial U-shape lock, as for instance can be seen as relatively well in Figure 6, which shows an embodiment of an accessory 2, in which the accessory is a strip-shaped label plate 22. Advantageously, the accessory's connector part 200 may include a tongue 202 or tab 202 or lip 202, which, upon attaching the accessory 2, may snap into a hollow room 102 defined by the bulging protrusion 101. Said tongue 202 or tab 202 or lip 202 can for instance be defined by the cut out 201, in particular in case said cut out 201 is substantially formed as a slot.

The tongue 202 or tab 202 or lip 202, which may be for counteracting that the accessory 2 has been released unintentionally, may be hingedly or pivotably connected to an adjacent part of the accessory 2, in particular an adjacent part of the wall portion 20 of said accessory 2. Alternatively or additionally, the tongue 202 or tab 202 or lip 202 may be substantially flexible. For example, the tongue 202 or tab 202 or lip 202, and preferably also any wall portion 20 or which said tongue 202 or tab 202 or lip 202 may form an integral part, may be made from a plastic material, for instance plastic sheet material .

It is noted that a respective accessory 2 may be attached to the container 1 by means of multiple snap-on connectors 100 each formed as a bulging protrusion 101, such as for instance is the case in Figures 4 and 5. Alternatively, a respective accessory 2 may be attached to the container 1 by means of a single snap-on connector 100 formed as a bulging protrusion 101, such as for instance is the case in Figure 3. In particular in cases in which a single snap-on connector is 100 used, the snap-on connector 100 of the thermoformed container 1 and / or the corresponding connector part 200 of the accessory 2 may be arranged such as to counteract undesired rotation of the accessory 2, in particular about a virtual axis substantially extending in the direction DI in which the bulging protrusion 101 or the snap-on connector 100 protrudes and / or in the direction D2 in which the accessory 2 is snapped onto the container 1. For example thereto, the snap-on protrusion 101 and / or the snap- on recess 20 1 or opening 201, in particular formed as a cut out 201, or the accessory may have a non-circular form, in particular when seen in one or said two directions D1, D2. This may in particular be advantageous when the accessory's connector part 200 does not include a tongue 202 or tab 202 or lip 202 that can counteract unintentional rotation or the accessory 2.

Furthermore, it is noted that the accessory 2 and the thermoformed container 1 may be made of the same or similar material, in particular a same or similar plastic material, more in particular a same or similar thermoplastic material, which can be pliable or formable when heated to a certain extent. Using the same or similar material may facilitate the container 1 and the accessory 2 can be disposed together in a single stream or a multiple stream recycling system. In particular, it may be facilitated that one can relatively easily dispose of the thermoformed container 1 into an appropriate recycling stream without having to remove the accessory 2 from said container 1.

It will be appreciated that the accessory 2 can be a throw-away accessory 2 for single use or for using a limited number of times. Additionally or alternatively, the thermoformed container can be a throw-away container 1, e.g. a throw-away tray lb, for single use or for using at limited times.

As noted above, the thermoformed container 1 may be formed as a tray, in particular a trolley tray lb. The trolley-tray lb, an exemplary embodiment of which is shown in Figures 4-6, can for instance serve as a removable and / or disposable plastic shelf lb or as a disposable and / or removable plastic shelf cover lb for a trolley 3 holding a variety of plants, for instance during transport and / or during display of said plants.

With respect to the trolley 3, it is noted that said trolley 3 may include a base 30 provided with wheels 31, in particular castors 31 or casters 31. One or more of said wheels 31 may be arranged as a swivel wheel, in particular a swivel castor or swivel caster. Advantageously, the trolley 3 may be provided with one or multiple brakes, which for instance may be integrated in a respective one of the castors 31 or casters 31. The base 30, which may be or substantially rectangular design, may be provided 5 with more or more uprights 32 or posts 32. In particular, the trolley 3 may be provided with four uprights 32 or posts 32 each provided at a corner of the trolley 3. Additionally or alternatively, the trolley 3 may include one or more tray supports 33, which for instance may be arranged to receive and support a removable thermoformed trolley-tray lb. The tray support 33 and / or the thermoformed trolley tray lb can be an example of a substantially rectangular design.

Advantageously, the trolley-tray lb, especially at a corner 17 or said trolley-tray lb can be provided with a recess 18 or indentation 18 for allowing an upright 32 or post 32 or a plant trolley 3 to pass through an area 15 left free by said recess 18 or identification 18, such as can be seen in the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 5. One or more snap-on connectors 100 or said trolley-tray lb, which may be protruding outwardly from the trolley-tray lb, in particular from an outer flange 15 of the trolley-tray lb, can stick out relatively far outwardly when the trolley-tray lb is installed on 20 the plant trolley 3. As can be understood from the upper one lb 'or the three trolley trays lb shown in Figure 5, the respective snap-on connectors 100 can protrude at least partly outside the trolley, in particular, the respective snap-on connectors 100 may extend at least partly beyond a virtual plane abutting the outwardly facing outer surfaces 320 or two adjacent uprights 32 25 or posts 3 2 of the plant trolley 3. As a result, a respective accessory 2, in particular a label plate 2, such as a substantial strip-shaped label plate 22, may be snap onto, or so-called snap-fitted, to the trolley tray lb in a manner in which at least one or more parts 223 or said accessory 2 can extend partly along one or more respective outwardly facing outer surface 30 320 or one or more or such uprights 32 or posts 32 of the plant trolley 3.

Such as for instance can be understood from Figure 4, the accessory, in particular when formed as a substantial strip-shaped label plate 22, may include a first end 221 and a second end 222, and may be folded and or bend in order to at least partly surround or enclose at least part of the container 1, for instance in a manner in which it 2, 22 also extends at least partly around a part of a respective uprights 32 or posts 31 or a plant trolley

3.

It is noted that for the purpose of clarity and a concise description features are described as part of the same or separate, however, it will be appreciated that the scope of the present disclosure may include being combinations of all or some of the features described.

Further, it is noted that the claimed invention is not restricted to the described described. It will be understood that many variants are possible.

For example, it is noted that although the exemplary accessories shown in the exemplary expired are formed as label plates, the accessory may be any other suitable accessory, such as, but not limited to, a flower or plant divider, a partition board, a container interior, a container extension, a sign holder, etc.

Such and other variants will be apparent to the person skilled in the art and are considered within the scope of the respective invention as formulated in the following claim set.

Claims (16)

Conclusions A thermoformed container for accommodating plants, comprising at least one wall portion terminating in an edge of said thermoformed container, said wall portion comprising at least one integrally thermoformed on snap connector for attaching an accessory, said snap-on The connector is shaped like a protruding protrusion that protrudes from said wall portion and terminates in said edge of the thermoformed container. A thermoformed container according to claim 1, wherein, viewed in a direction in which said protruding protrusion protrudes from the wall portion of the container, at least a portion of the protruding protrusion widens. The thermoformed container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least a portion of the protruding protrusion narrows toward the wall portion of the container from which said protruding protrusion protrudes. A thermoformed container according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the protruding protrusion comprises a first segment spaced from a section of the wall portion of the container from which said protruding protrusion protrudes, and the protruding protrusion further comprises one or more intermediate segments connecting said section of the wall portion of the container and said protruding protrusion. The thermoformed container according to claim 4, wherein, on one side of the section of the wall portion of the container on which the protruding protrusion protrudes, at least one of said one or more intermediate segments and said section of the wall portion of the container together substantially comprise a include an acute angle in a virtual plane extending substantially transversely to said at least one intermediate segment and substantially transversely to said section of the wall portion of the container. A thermoformed container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said container is a plant pot, a plant package, or a tray or tray or tray. A thermoformed container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said wall portion that ends in the edge is shaped as a substantially upright wall portion, i.e., a wall portion that extends in a substantially upward direction. A thermoformed container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said wall portion, which ends in the edge, is formed as at least a part of a flange of the container. Thermoformed container as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein an accessory, in particular a label plate, is attached to the container. The thermoformed container according to claim 9, wherein the accessory comprises a wall portion which is provided with a cut-out through which at least a part of the protruding protrusion extends. A thermoformed container according to claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the cutout is formed substantially as a slot, for example, a substantially horseshoe-shaped slot or a substantially U-shaped slot, which slot can define a tongue or tab or lip that extend into a hollow space defined by the protruding protrusion. An assembly comprising a trolley and a thermoformed container according to any of the preceding containers, wherein said thermoformed container is a thermoformed trolley platform or trolley tray or trolley tray. An assembly according to claim 12, further comprising an accessory, wherein the trolley is a plant trolley with at least one post or post, and wherein said accessory, which is preferably shaped as a substantially strip-shaped label plate, extends to some extent along a outward facing outer surface of said upright or post. A parts kit comprising at least one thermoformed container according to any of claims 1-8, and at least one accessory to be attached to the at least one integrally thermoformed snap-on connector of said container. A parts kit according to claim 14, wherein the accessory comprises a wall portion which is provided with a cut-out for receiving at least a part of the protruding protrusion of the container, preferably wherein at least a part of the cut-out is substantially shaped as a slot, more preferably wherein said slot defines a tongue or tab or lip that can extend into a hollow space defined by the protruding protrusion when the accessory is clicked on said protruding protrusion. An accessory, in particular a label plate, adapted for attachment to a thermoformed container according to any of claims 1-11, wherein said accessory comprises a wall portion which is provided with a cut-out for receiving at least a part of a protruding protrusion of a snap-on connector of a thermoformed container for accommodating plants, which protruding protrusion protrudes from a wall portion of said thermoformed container, which wall portion terminates in an edge of said thermoformed container, and wherein said protruding protrusion is integrally thermoformed with the thermoformed container and ends in said edge of the thermoformed container. CM 100.101 2/6 112 CM LL o 3/6 5/6 3? 6/6 hrs Title: Thermoformed container, assembly, and kit or parts