Claims:
1. A plastic package for cut flowers having a champagne glass configuration in which a lower open end portion of the package is dimensioned to grip the stems of the flowers along a substantial portion of the length of the stems and in which an upper open end portion of the package is dimensioned to permit adequate air circulation about the blossoms to prevent condensation of moisture and rotting of the blossoms and in which the champagne glass curvature of the midportion of the package provides a smoothly curved, rapid transition from the narrow lower end portion to the wide upper end portion to thereby maximize the effectiveness of the stem holding portion of the package and the blossom shielding portion of the
2. A package for cut flowers having a lower region, a transition region and an upper region, said lower region being elongated and having a generally circular cross section dimensioned to grip the stems of cut flowers along a substantial portion of the length of the stems, said transition region having a generally circular cross section that rapidly increases in diameter in the upward direction, said upper region being elongated and having a generally circular cross section of sufficient diameter to permit the blossoms to breathe without condensation of moisture.
Description:
This invention relates to packaging and more particularly to packaging of cut flowers.
The particular field for which this packaging technique is designed is for use in the packaging and handling of cut flowers.
There are several different techniques generally employed for packaging and handling cut flowers. Among these is the technique of simply rolling the cut flowers and stems in wrapping paper where the final package has a generally conical shape. Another has been to employ a preformed conically shaped package where the stems of the cut flowers are contained in the smaller section and the blossoms are contained in the larger section.
While each of these prior art packaging techniques shields the cut flower blossoms, they both have the distinct disadvantage of tightly bunching the blossoms together. This bunching results in two injurious effects to the blossoms. First, it can cause blossom crushing, especially where the upper part of the package contacts the blossoms. Second, and more serious, the bunching causes the blossoms to perspire without adequate space for air circulation. The moisture produced by this perspiration collects on the blossoms and can cause spoilage and rotting.
It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to package cut flowers in a way that will protect the blossoms and reduce or eliminate the crushing and rotting of the cut flowers. This is accomplished in the present invention by using a package that has a champagne glass shape. The lower, narrow part of the package grips the stems and the upper, wider part of the package shields and protects the blossoms. The upper part of the package performs the shielding function while allowing ample space for the blossoms to breathe and transpire. Since the blossoms are loose and free in the upper part of the package, they are free to breathe or transpire without condensing moisture. The blossoms are therefore prevented from rotting.
The package design of the present invention readily lends itself to a simple method of manufacture. The package configurations are such that they may be sealed and cut, from an extruded plastic tube, without waste of the material from which the packages are made.
In addition, the package design is such that it also permits a convenient and simple method for loading the flowers into the package. The packages are nested in bunches of 50 or more and are placed over the open end of a pipe. The packages are then applied to the flower bunches by inserting the stems of a flower bunch into the pipe and then pulling one individual package out of the nested bunch of packages and onto the individual flower bunch. Because the package is tapered, it can be nested and it not necessary to pick up and open an individual package as would be the case with a flat sided package.
A packaging technique having these specific features effective to function in the manner described constitutes a further object of the present invention.
Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show a preferred embodiment of the present invention and the principles thereof and what are now considered to be the best modes contemplated for applying these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.
IN THE DRAWINGS:
FIG. 1 is a top elevation view of a package, in the collapsed position, constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an end elevation view of the package shown in FIG. 1 with the package partly opened;
FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the package of FIG. 1 when opened and ready to receive cut flowers;
FIGS. 2 and 3 with flowers contained therein;
FIG. 5 is a top elevation view showing the method of manufacturing packages in accordance with the present invention; and
FIG. 6 is a side elevation view showing a method of loading the cut flowers in the package in accordance with the present invention.
In FIGS. 1 through 4 a package constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention is indicated generally by the reference numeral 11. FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the package 11 in the collapsed or flat position, whereas FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the package in the open position.
Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 and 3, the package 11 includes a lower open end portion 13, a midportion 15, and an upper open end portion 17. These three parts of the package are generally positioned between the dotted lines A-B, B-C and C-D. As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the lower part 13 had diameters that increase gradually in the upward direction. This part of the package is dimensioned to grip the stems of the flowers along a substantial portion of the length of the stems. The transition portion 15 has diameters that increase rapidly in the upward direction. The upper part 17 has diameters that increase gradually in the upward direction.
The package has a lower opening 19 and an upper opening 21 for receiving the stems and blossoms.
As best illustrated in FIG. 2, the package is preferably formed from two pieced of plastic material 23 and 25, and the edges 27 and 29 are sealed by heat sealing.
FIG. 4 shows the package with cut flowers inside. From FIG. 4 it can be seen that the stems 21 of the flower bunch are supported by the lower part 13. The package is designed to accommodate different stem lengths, since the lower end of the stems may extend through opening 19. It should be particularly noted that lower part 13 contains and supports the lower part of the stems in a relatively compact or bunched manner. The transition part 15 makes a rapid transition to the upper part 17. Because the stems are supported in this manner, the blossoms will be principally supported by the stems and not by the upper part 17 of the package. Therefore, the blossoms are shielded and protected by the upper part 17 of the package while still having ample space for the blossoms to breathe and transpire.
FIG. 5 illustrates the method for manufacturing the package shown in FIGS. 1 through 4. A polyethylene tube, having sidewalls 35 and 37, is cut to form the individual packages as illustrated. The edges 27, 29, 39 and 41 may be heat sealed as they are cut. The edges 47 and 49 of the tube are trimmed off to open the tops and bottoms of the packages.
FIG. 6 is an elevation view showing one method for loading the cut flowers in the package in accordance with the present invention. A hollow pipe 51 has one end open and the other end supported by a support member 53. The pipe 51 may be supported in the vertical position, with the open end down, as shown, or the open end up, or it may be positioned horizontal or at some angle depending upon convenience and ease of operation. The pipe 51 has an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the end 19 of package 11. In operation, the end 19 is slipped over the open end of the pipe 51, the flower stems 31 are then inserted into the open end of pipe 51, and the flowers and package are removed together from the pipe. While only a single package has been illustrated in FIG. 6, in practice a nested bunch of packages will be placed on the pipe, as described above.
While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alternations as fall within the purview of the following claims.