WO2004034784A2

WO2004034784A2 - Non-spill vessel for flowers

Info

Publication number: WO2004034784A2
Application number: PCT/IL2003/000823
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shay Zeltzer; Shimon Sigler
Original assignee: Sherman, Vladimir
Priority date: 2002-10-12
Filing date: 2003-10-12
Publication date: 2004-04-29
Also published as: AU2003272057A1; AU2003272057A8; WO2004034784A3

Abstract

A vessel for continuous hydration of an agricultural growth includes a main vessel module (11), including an inner (14) and outer (13) wall and a first and second end, wherein the inner and outer walls define a cavity that is closed at a neck (12) at the first end and open at the second end. A vessel base (25) is formed to contain a liquid-adsorbent material (30) and liquid, the vessel base is formed to fit the outer wall of the main vessel module, thereby sealing the cavity at the second end, with the material and liquid maintained therein. A receptacle (20) is adapted to receive the growth, the receptacle (20) defined by the inner wall, having a receptacle base and open at the neck.

Description

NON-SPILL VESSEL FOR FLOWERS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to transport and storage of cut flowers and plants, and more specifically to relates to devices and methods for extending the life of cut flowers by providing substantially continuous hydration of the flowers and/plants .

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Over 80% of the weight of a fresh flower consists of water. As in all organisms, water is an essential component, enabling cellular metabolic activity. In flowers, as with many skeleton-lacking organisms, water provides mechanical stability by exerting internal positive pressure, or turgor, which causes cell walls to be rigid.

The lifetime of a flower, while still attached to a plant, is typically longer compared to the lifetime of the flower following harvesting. A major reason for this phenomenon is the ability of the flower stem to maintain the transfer of water to the flower. Before flower harvesting, passages in the stem are completely filled with water, with a continuous supply of water passing from the roots of the plant through the stem to the flower and leaves, and then to the surroundings of the plant. The water supply and passage described above is the result of the difference of water potential between the roots of the plant and the plant surrounding. Essentially, the roots have a high water potential or concentration, which maintain turgor pressure in the leaves and the flower, as compared to the lower water potential or concentration of the surroundings. Harvesting, or cutting the flower stem, literally cuts off the higher potential water source from the stem. As a result, water is drawn from the stem-cut interface along the stem towards leaves and the flowers, and it then evaporates to the lower water potential surroundings. When the cut flower stems are not soaked in water or water solutions, hereafter called "liquid", air cavities form inside the stem, which block subsequent liquid flow, especially under low humidity conditions. These air cavities cannot be removed, making re-hydration of the stem virtually impossible.

Therefore, maintenance of the liquid transfer capability of the flower stem, thereby minimizing or avoiding the formation of air cavities in the stem, is a key element affecting the harvested life or "vase life" of cut flowers.

Harvested flowers are exposed to various periods where the stems are not in contact with a liquid, starting from harvesting in the farm or field, until the flowers arrive at a consumer location. Furthermore, when flowers are placed in a receptacle with the liquid, during handling or transport, the receptacle may sometimes be tipped and the liquid may spill from the receptacle. Such spills can cause the dual problem of soiling the surroundings and other items during transport and they may expose the flower stems to air. There are several techniques employed in flower retailing to compensate for periods of no hydration and/or to avoid the problem of spills: (a) ignoring the problem and trying to maintain delivery and transfer times as short as possible; (b) wrapping the base of the stems with paper or cloth soaked with liquid; (c) placing the base of the stems in a plastic bag filled with hydrated gel; and

(d) placing the flower stem in a tube filled with liquid (a technique used for single smooth stems such as orchids and anthurium) .

Only the the last technique, applicable to a limited variety of flowers, allows free liquid to be available for continuous flower hydration.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an improved apparatus and methods for continuous hydration with liquid of one or more harvested flowers with stems. In the context of the present patent application and in the claims, the word "liquid" is used broadly to refer to water or a water solution. According to some embodiments of the present invention, one or more flowers may be placed and secured in a non-spill double-walled vessel. The vessel may be formed from a main vessel module having inner and outer walls, joined at a neck, with an attachable base. The base, may be adapted to retain a liquid-absorbent material, wetted with liquid, and may be hermetically sealed with the main vessel module, creating a cavity between the inner and outer walls, which cavity may contain the material and the liquid. A seal, such as an O-ring, may be used to enhance the seal between the main vessel module and the base. According to some embodiment of the present invention, the base and the main vessel may be fabricated as one piece.

The inner wall forms a receptacle to receive the flowers. The receptacle, typically may have an inverted, truncated cone shape, extending from the neck to a base. The base has one or more openings, including slits and holes, thereby communicating the receptacle with the cavity, the material, and the liquid. The openings in the receptacle base may further provide for a flexible surface, with or without flexible hairs or teeth, which can retain flower stems inserted into the receptacle base.

The vessel may be suitable for wet packing of flowers, including bunches of flowers, in an upright or in tilted or horizontal positions. When flower stems are retained in the receptacle base, they may be maintained in contact with the absorbent material and thus with the liquid, even if the vessel lies on its side. The vessel, may be constructed of a plastic material or any other functionally comparable material, and may be employed for use in the delivery of flower bunches handled in cardboard boxes, as commonly used by Fed-Ex and other couriers. Furthermore, the vessel may be used for display of flowers or may be used for transport, storage, and display of plants. There is therefore provided, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a vessel for continuous hydration of an agricultural growth including: a main vessel module including an inner and outer wall and a first and second end, where the inner and outer walls may define a cavity that is closed at a neck at the first end and open at the second end; a vessel base, which may be formed to contain a liquid-adsorbent material and liquid, and the vessel base may be formed to fit the outer wall of the main vessel module, thereby sealing the cavity at the second end, with the material and liquid maintained therein; and a receptacle adapted to receive the growth, the receptacle defined by the inner wall, having a receptacle base and open at the neck. Preferably, the vessel has a seal which is adapted to be placed between the surfaces of the outer wall and the vessel base to enhance the sealing of the cavity at the second end. Furthermore, the receptacle base may have a plurality of openings formed in it, so as to communicate the receptacle with the cavity, the material, and the liquid. Furthermore, the openings may be formed so that the receptacle base has flexible hairs or teeth which may retain the growth inserted into it. Preferably, the growth includes at least one cut flower having a stem. Further preferably, the growth includes a plant.

In one embodiment, the first and second ends are of substantially circular shape, the second end having a larger diameter than the first . Preferably, the main vessel and the vessel base are made of plastic.

There is also provided, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method for continuous hydration of an agricultural growth comprising the steps of: creating a main vessel module including an inner and outer wall and a first and second end, and the inner and outer walls define a cavity that is closed at a neck at the first end and open at the second end; forming a vessel base, which is adapted to contain a liquid-adsorbent material and liquid, and the vessel base is formed to fit the outer wall of the main vessel module, thereby sealing the cavity at the second end, with the material and liquid maintained therein; and receiving the growth in a receptacle defined by the inner wall, the receptacle open at the neck end and having a receptacle base.

Preferably, the method includes forming a plurality of openings in the receptacle base so as to communicate the receptacle with the cavity, the material, and the liquid. Further preferably, sealing the cavity includes placing a seal between the surfaces of the outer wall and the vessel base to enhance the sealing of the cavity at the second end. Most preferably, creating a plurality of openings includes forming a flexible receptacle base, thus retaining the growth inserted into it. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of the embodiments thereof, taken together with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1A is a pictorial illustration of a non-spill vessel for flowers in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. IB is a schematic sectional view of Fig. 1A, taken along the line IB-IB;

Figs . 1C and ID are a sectional drawing and a pictorial illustration, respectively, illustrating separated components of the vessel;

Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5 are respective sets of a top view (a) and a side view (b) of the main vessel module, vessel base, liquid-absorbent material, and seal, as shown in Fig. ID; and

Fig. 6 and 7 are sectional schematic side view diagrams of a liquid level within the vessel in two respective orientations, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Reference is now made to Figs. 1A - ID, which schematically illustrate a non-spill vessel 10 for flowers, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1A is a pictorial illustration of vessel 10. Fig. IB is a schematic sectional view of the vessel, taken along the line IB-IB. Fig. 1C is a additional sectional view of the vessel, with vessel components, described hereinbelow, separated to show vessel 10 fabrication. Fig. ID is an additional pictorial illustration of the vessel showing the vessel components, described hereinbelow, separated. Vessel 10 comprises a main vessel module 11, a vessel base 25, a liquid adsorbent material 30, and a seal 40. Vessel 10 is used to hold one or more flower stems (not shown in the figures) and to substantially continuously maintain the stems in contact with a liquid, typically water or an aqueous solution, which is introduced into the vessel, as described hereinbelow. Main vessel module 11 has a generally cylindrical or tapered cyldindrical shape, comprising a neck 12, an outer wall 13, and an inner wall 14, which is joined with outer wall 13 along neck 12. Outer wall 13 terminates in a base 15, which has a larger diameter than neck 12. Neck 12 and base 15 are substantially parallel. Inner wall 14 forms a substantially inverted truncated conical shape, forming a receptacle 20. The conical shape of receptacle 20 is suited to receive one or more flower stems (not shown), as in a flower bunch. Receptacle 20 has a flexible base 22 which is created by forming one or more openings 24 in which flower stems are placed and secured. Typical shapes of openings 24 are holes and slits . Vessel base 25 has a substantial dish shape and is formed to receive and retain liquid-absorbent material 30 and seal 40. Seal 40 serves to hermetically seal vessel base 25 to base 15. The liquid-absorbent material 30, may be either an organic or synthetic sponge, or any functionally similar material, known today or to be devised in the future, and may have a circular shape. The thickness of the material may be determined so that it is maintained and at least partially fixed in position, below flexible base 22 and within base 15, when vessel base 25 and base 15 are sealed together. Vessel base 25 and base 15 are typically joined by threaded joints, snap connection, or other joining mechanisms as known in the art. When sealed together, vessel base 25 and vessel module 11 may form an inner space 50, which serves to retain liquid therein, as shown below in Figs. 6 and 7. Vessel base 25 and main vessel module 11 are typically formed from a lightweight and liquid-impervious material such as plastic.

Reference is now made to Figs. 2 - 5, which are respective sets of a top view (a) and a side view (b) of main vessel module 11, vessel base 25, liquid-absorbent material 30, and seal 40. Reference is now made to Figs. 6 and 7, which are sectional schematic side view diagrams of a liquid level within vessel 10 in two respective orientations, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The vessel shown in Fig. 6 is oriented resting on vessel base 25. The vessel is filled with a quantity of liquid, as indicated by the liquid level. The vessel orientation and liquid level shown in Fig. 6 are typical for normal storage, transport, and display of flowers. In the orientation shown, one or more flower stems (not shown) are placed in the vessel, as described hereinabove, so that the stems contact the liquid. The vessel shown in Fig. 7 has an orientation representing a tipping of vessel 10, with vessel base 25 oriented vertically. In the present orientation, the liquid level is indicated horizontally, maintained within cavity 50, without spilling out of the vessel. It can be seen in the respective orientations of Figs. 6 and 7, that liquid absorbent-material 30 is maintained in contact with some or all of the liquid, thereby ensuring continuous hydration of flower stems inserted in the vessel.

It is noted that although the overall shape of vessel 10 has been shown with base 15, liquid-absorbent material 30, seal 40 and vessel base 25 having circular shapes, other symmetric geometric shapes such as triangle, square, hexagon, etc., or any other matching geometrical shapes may be also used.

It will thus be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather, the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and subcombinations of the various features described hereinabove, as well as variations and modifications thereof that are not in the prior art, which would occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description.

Claims

1. A vessel for continuous-, hydration of an agricultural growth comprising: a main vessel module comprising an inner and outer wall and a first and second end, wherein the inner and outer walls define a cavity that is closed at a neck at the first end and open at the second end; a vessel base, which is formed to contain a liquid- adsorbent material and liquid, and wherein the vessel base is formed to fit the outer wall of the main vessel module, thereby sealing the cavity at the second end, with the material and liquid maintained therein; and a receptacle adapted to receive the growth, the receptacle defined by the inner wall, having a receptacle base and open at the neck.

2. A vessel according to claim 1, wherein a seal is adapted to be placed between the surfaces of the outer wall and the vessel base to enhance the sealing of the cavity at the second end.

3. A vessel according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle base has a plurality of openings formed in it, so as to communicate the receptacle with the cavity, the material, and the liquid.

4. A vessel according to claim 3, wherein the openings are formed so that the receptacle base is flexible, thus retaining the growth inserted into it.

5. A vessel according to claim 4, wherein the growth comprises at least one cut flower having a stem.

6. A vessel according to claim 4, wherein the growth comprises a plant.

7. A vessel according to claim 1, wherein the first and second ends are of substantially circular shape, the second end having a larger diameter than the first.

8. A vessel according to claim 1, wherein the main vessel and the vessel base are made of plastic.

9. A method for continuous hydration of an agricultural growth comprising the steps of: creating a main vessel module comprising an inner and outer wall and a first and second end, wherein the inner and outer walls define a cavity that is closed at a neck at the first end and open at the second end; forming a vessel base, which is adapted to contain a liquid-adsorbent material and liquid, and wherein the vessel base is formed to fit the outer wall of the main vessel module, thereby sealing the cavity at the second end, with the material and liquid maintained therein; and receiving the growth in a receptacle defined by the inner wall, the receptacle open at the neck end and having a receptacle base.

10. A method according to claim 9, and comprising forming a plurality of openings in the receptacle base so as to communicate the receptacle with the cavity, the material, and the liquid.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein sealing the cavity comprises placing a seal between the surfaces of the outer wall and the vessel base to enhance the sealing of the cavity at the second end.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein creating a plurality of openings comprises forming a flexible receptacle base, thus retaining the growth inserted into it.

13. A method according to claim 9, wherein the agricultural growth comprises at least one cut flower having a stem.

14. A method according to claim 9, wherein the agricultural growth comprises a plant.

15. A method according to claim 9, wherein the main vessel and the vessel base are made of plastic.