WO2007060085A1 - Packaging box for the display and/or transportation of potted plants - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a packaging box for the display and/or transportation of at least one potted plant of the family of the orchidaceae or a plant that has a scape whose height dimensions are similar to those of orchidaceae, the box being characterized in that it comprises at least three parts designed to be folded to form a packaging volume, each part comprising a base flap (121), (122) and a side (11) which are designed to form a base (1) defining a volume for holding said pot or pots; which sides (11) are each continued by a panel (21), (22) hinged to said corresponding side, said panels (21), (22) being designed to be brought together in the vicinity of their upper extremity to define a volume (2) for said scape or scapes.

Description

 PACKAGING CARDBOARD FOR PRESENTATION AND / OR TRANSPORT OF PLANTS IN POT

The field of the invention is that of packaging. More specifically, the invention relates to a carton for packaging a plant of the orchidaceae family, the latter being in pot or in a similar receptacle.

Orchids are imported from the early 20 ^th century to the botanical gardens, universities and private collections.

The knowledge on orchid cultivation has since developed. Thus, this plant is currently very common in the interiors of places of residence.

This plant is therefore often offered by florists, in different forms of packaging.

However, a first constraint related to the characteristics of Orchidaceae concerns the height dimensions of their flowering stems which regularly exceed 50 cm when they are proposed in pots.

Indeed, the flowers of the orchid are composed of three sepals and three petals, one of which is modified in lip. It is often curly and colored to attract pollinators to the stamens and the pistil, welded into an organ called a column. It is this structure that characterizes orchids. The flower stalk can therefore be relatively high depending on the number of flowers.

In addition, these plants can have a rigid foliage, whose size can be up to 50 cm in diameter.

It is noted that, although some species of orchids grow on epiphytes (on plants), for example on a cork plate or on fern roots, most species are grown in pots, for example in bark, fern root, osmonde fiber, sphagnum moss or a mixture of these components.

It is therefore desirable for florists to have a packaging adapted to orchids, or to plants with similar characteristics, that is to say, potted plants whose flower stalk is high (of the order of 50 cm and more).

The invention particularly aims to propose a package that meets this expectation not currently satisfied. More specifically, the invention aims to provide such a packaging that ensures the conditioning of a plant such as the orchid and the imposing floral stem protection of this plant during the presentation and / or transportation thereof .

The invention also aims to provide such a package that limits the effects of temperature variations on the plant.

The invention also aims to provide such a package that can be stored easily.

The invention also aims to provide such a package that can be made operational easily and quickly. Another object of the invention is to provide such a package that allows the development or presentation of the aesthetics of the plant.

The invention also aims to provide such a package that is simple in design, easy to implement and inexpensive to achieve.

These objectives as well as others which will appear later, are achieved thanks to the invention which has for object a cardboard packaging for the presentation and / or transport of at least one potted plant of the orchidaceae family. or a plant having a flower stem whose height dimensions are similar to those of orchidaceae, characterized in that it comprises at least three parts intended to be folded to form a packing volume, each part comprising a flap of base and one side for forming a base delimiting a receiving volume of said one or more pots, said sides each extending by an articulated pan on said corresponding side, said panels being intended to be grouped in the vicinity of their upper end so as to delimit a volume for said flower stalk (s). Thus, the invention provides a package for conditioning plants by satisfying two criteria: the package is intended to receive a pot in which the plant is presented; - the packaging ensures the protection of a tall floral stem.

In addition, as will become clearer later, this package can be proposed in the form of a flat cardboard, ready to be folded and shaped. In its flat form, the carton can be easily stored, including in relatively large numbers.

Furthermore, a package according to the invention has sufficient thermal inertia to limit the temperature variations inside the packaging, for example during transport, these variations being likely to cause the fall of the flower buds.

According to a preferred embodiment, the carton comprises four parts to be folded.

Note however that other embodiments are possible, the number of parts to be folded being sufficient from three to obtain a volume.

According to an advantageous solution, the carton has base flaps snap-in two by two.

In this way the package can be quickly shaped from a storage configuration in which it is flat. According to a preferred solution, said panels have at their upper end cutouts for forming a handle once said parts folded to form said packaging volume.

Such a structure facilitates the handling of the package when it incorporates a plant and its pot, which is therefore very convenient for transporting the plant. In this case, two of said parts preferably have at their upper end extensions provided with at least one slot intended to cooperate with a recess formed on either side of said handle to ensure the maintenance of said cutouts against each other. other. Advantageously, said extensions comprise two panels foldable against each other.

One can thus increase the rigidity of the extensions, this thanks to the double thickness obtained by folding the panels against each other.

According to a preferred solution, the carton comprises means for wedging said one or more pots.

This prevents damage to the plant, it may intervene during transport as the packaging movements or shaking on it.

In this case, according to a preferred solution, at least one cutout is formed in at least one of said sides so as to define at least one foldable tab towards the inside of said base, at least two of said flaps being advantageously provided with said cutout defining a folding flap.

The invention also relates to a cardboard packaging for the presentation and / or transport of at least one potted plant of the family of orchids or of plants having a floral stem whose height dimensions are similar to those of orchidaceae, characterized in that it comprises a base comprising a bottom and at least three sides, said base delimiting a receiving volume of said at least one pot, said sides each extending by an articulated pan on said corresponding side, said patches being grouped together in the vicinity of their upper end so as to delimit a volume for said one or more floral stems.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, given by way of illustrative and nonlimiting example, and the appended drawings among which: Figures 1 and 2 are views of a flat cardboard for forming a package according to the invention, respectively seen from the front and seen in perspective; Figures 3, 4, 4b and 5 to 7 are views of the folding steps of the carton illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 to form a package according to the invention; Figure 8 is a perspective view of a package formed from the carton shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 9 is a view of a flat carton for forming a transport tray; Figure 10 is a view of a flat carton for forming a protective cap.

As indicated above, the principle of the invention lies in the fact of providing a corresponding packaging carton and packaging suitable for the presentation and / or transport in pots of plants of the orchidaceae family.

(or plants with flower stalks of a height similar to that of Orchidaceae), the package comprising a reception volume for the pot of the plant and a volume of protection for the flower stalk.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, it is proposed for this purpose, a flat carton comprising folding parts to form a volume package.

Such a carton includes:

sides 11 intended to form the walls of a base 1 as it appears in FIG. 8, this base delimiting a receiving volume for the pot of the plant; flaps 121, 122 secured to the sides 11 and foldable relative thereto in order to form the bottom of the base 1; panels 21, 22 integral with the sides 11 and foldable relative thereto, these panels 21, 22 being intended to be grouped in the vicinity of their upper end to form a volume 2 (FIG. 8) for receiving the floral stalk of the plant. According to the present embodiment, the carton comprises four parts each comprising a base side, a base flap and a side panel.

It is noted that a volume package according to the invention could be obtained using only three parts, particular modes of cooperation between the parties then to be provided.

Shaping and holding such a carton are illustrated with reference to Figures 3 to 7.

According to a first step illustrated in FIG. 3, the carton is folded along the folding lines 3 (indicated in FIG. 1) so as to form the volume delimited by the base 1.

The holding of the carton in this position is obtained by means of a tongue 111 carried by one of the sides 11. This tongue has lugs

1111 intended to be inserted into slots 112 formed in a side 11 contiguous to the side 11 carrying the tongue 111 once the carton folded along the fold lines 3.

The bottom of the base is made by snapping two of two flaps 121 (Figure 4) and 122 (Figure 5).

The flaps 121 each have tabs 1211 of inverted shapes which are intended to be folded towards the inside of the base 1, this accordion as shown in Figure 4b. Thus, the tabs 1211 define between them a receiving space inside which the pot is intended to be placed and wedged.

Regarding the flaps 122, one of them has a slot 1221 (Figure 1) in which the end of the other flap 122 is intended to be engaged. Once the steps illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 are completed, we obtain a base whose structure is similar to that of the boxes called "American boxes".

Referring to Figures 6 and 7, the panels 21, 22 are then grouped by their upper end. At first, the ends of the panels 21 are assembled, the sections 22 occupying a release position such as that shown in Figures 6 and 7.

According to the present embodiment, the panels 21, 22 have at their upper end cutouts intended to form a handle such as that illustrated in FIG.

To do this, the panels 21 each have a cutout 211 in the form of a loop, notches 2111 being formed on each side of the handles.

At the same time, the panels 22 each have a slot 221 in which an indentation of the panels 21 is intended to be inserted, keeping the panels 21, 22 in position (FIG. 8).

The step of producing the reception volume of the floral shaft is thus obtained by gathering the upper ends of the panels 21 and then bringing the ends of each panel 22 to the level of the upper ends of the panels 21, so as to slide the slots 221. panels 22 on the panels 21 until these slots 221 take place in the notches 2111 of the panels

21.

Preferably, the upper ends of the panels 22 each comprise two panels 222, 223 (Figure 1) foldable against each other, the pan 222 having a slot 2221 intended to correspond with the slot 221 of the pan 223.

Note that some of the panels 21, 22 (or all), in this case the panels 21, have recesses 212 allowing visual access to the interior of the package when it is shaped.

It is also noted that the panels 21 have curved edges 213 to give a curve to the corresponding pan when the package is shaped as shown in Figure 8.

Furthermore, the carton which has just been described advantageously comprises means for setting the pot of the plant inside the base 1 of the package. To do this, it is realized in the carton, at the level of the sides 11, at least a cutout, intended to delimit a folding flap 224 towards the inside of the base 1.

Of course, this or these lugs 224 are sized to come into contact with the pot to limit or block the movement thereof inside the package.

According to the present embodiment, a foldable tab 224 is provided on each of the sides 11 extending by a panel 22, these folding tabs cooperating with the tongues 1211 folded accordion mentioned above to obtain a complete setting of the pot of the plant. As an indication, a packaging carton according to the invention has for example the following dimensions: the sides 11 have a width of about 350 mm and a height of 226 mm; the panels 21, 22 have a height of about 665 mm. Figures 9 and 10 each illustrate a carton intended to be used in a complementary manner of the package according to the invention.

Figure 9 is a view of a flat carton to be folded to form a tray 9 for transporting five potted plants packaged in a package according to the invention. FIG. 10 is a view of a flat carton intended to be folded to form a protective cap 10 intended to be attached to packages presented in a tray 9 such as that illustrated in FIG. 9.

Claims

Packing carton for displaying and / or transporting at least one potted plant of the orchidaceae family or of a plant having a flowering stem whose height dimensions are similar to those of orchidaceae, characterized in that it comprises at least three parts intended to be folded together to form a packing volume, each part comprising a base flap (121), (122) and a side (11) for forming a base (1) delimiting a receiving volume said one or said pots, said sides (11) each extending by a pan (21), (22) articulated on said corresponding side, said panels (21), (22) being intended to be grouped in the vicinity of their upper end so as to delimit a volume (2) for said one or more floral stems.

2. Packaging carton according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises four parts intended to be folded.

3. Packaging carton according to claim 2, characterized in that it has base flaps (21), (22) snap-in two by two.

4. Carton packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said panels (21) have at their upper end cutouts (211) to form a handle once said parts folded to form said volume packaging.

5. Carton packaging according to claims 2 and 4, characterized in that two of said portions have at their upper end extensions provided with at least one slot (221) intended to cooperate with a notch (2111) provided on both sides. other of said loop to ensure the maintenance of said cutouts (211) against each other.

6. Packaging carton according to claim 5, characterized in that said extensions comprise two foldable panels (222), (223) against each other.

7. Carton packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises means for setting said pot or said pots.

Packaging carton according to claim 7, characterized in that at least one cutout is formed in at least one of said sides (11) so as to define at least one folding flap (224) towards the inside of said base. .

9. Packaging carton according to claim 8, characterized in that at least two of said sides (11) are provided with said cutout defining a flap (224).

10. Cardboard packaging for the presentation and / or transport of at least one potted plant of the orchid family or of plants having a flowering stem whose height dimensions are similar to those of orchidaceae, characterized in that comprises a base (1) comprising a bottom (21),

(22) and at least three sides (11), said base (1) delimiting a receiving volume of said at least one pot, said sides (11) each extending by a pan (21), (22) hinged to said corresponding side , said panels (21), (22) being grouped in the vicinity of their upper end so as to delimit a volume (2) for said one or more floral stems.