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Cut flower packagingRelated Patent Categories: Plant Husbandry, Flower HolderCut flower packaging description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060283077, Cut flower packaging. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/534,257, filed Jan. 5, 2004. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention concerns packaging for cut flowers or similar plants. More particularly, the invention concerns a bag, container, holder or the like for cut flowers has a lower severally cylindrical portion or base which fans out to an upper portion to an opening at the top. The lower portion is operable to retain an amount of fluid (i.e., a reservoir) and remain in an upright or otherwise substantially vertical (i.e., free standing) orientation. [0004] 2. Reference to Related Art [0005] Cut flowers and similar plants are typically wrapped in paper wrapping for delivery to a customer at the point of sale. The flowers are removed from water and paper wrapping is rolled around the flowers or formed into a cone-shaped sleeve covering the flowers and stems. When the flowers are wrapped, they are deprived of water until placed in a vase by a customer. Notably though, even a short deprivation of water will hasten the degradation of the flowers. It is also known to ship flowers in a glass vase filled with water. However, this is costly and both the flowers and the vase are then wrapped in paper. [0006] Included among the prior art efforts to package cut flowers and plants is U.S. Pat. No. 5,235,782 to Landau, which is directed to an Improved Cover for Potted Plants. In Landau, a cover provides a watertight seal at its base while at the same time protecting the plant from contact with water leaking out of the plant. The cover is in the form of a flat, tear-away bag that customers of florists and plant nurseries can use themselves without assistance. [0007] A second notable reference is U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,290 to Matyja, which is directed to an Expandable Bag. Specifically, the Matyja patent describes a flexible bag having a tapered body with a closed bottom that is narrower than the top of the body. The bag has a handle and a folding portion that couples the body to the handle. The handle includes two handle halves that are separable to open the bag. The bag is movable from a flat position in which the holding portion is folded to an expanded unfolded position in response to the weight of objects to be carried. [0008] Another reference is U.S. Pat. No. 6,665,982 to Van Wingerden, which is directed to a Floral Bouquet Bag. More particularly, Van Wingerden discusses a bag sleeve that provides a protective packaging for a floral bouquet while also providing a convenient way to pick up and carry the bouquet. The bag sleeve has a shield portion that defines a bouquet receiving space that made of a rigid paper layer and a water-resistant layer attached to the paper layer. At least one handle is attached to a blossom end of the shield portion. A water-resistant base portion extends from a stern end of the shield portion, wherein the base portion has an opening that permits stems of the floral bouquet to protrude from the bag sleeve. [0009] A final reference is U.K. Patent Application No. GB 2056410 to Illovy, which is directed to a Flower Transporting Container. The Illovy application discloses a container for transporting cut flowers that includes a tapering flexible bag formed of sheet plastics material and is provided with handles. The bag is formed by folding a sheet of polythene about a fold line and securing the overlying sheets together by welds. In use, a small quantity of water is put into the bag to form a reservoir into which the stems of the flowers extend. [0010] Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide an easy to use and affordable packaging for the cut flowers that preserves the flowers during the transportation, has a body that is at least partially water impermeable so that it may retain an amount of fluid and can remain in an upright or otherwise substantially vertical (i.e., free standing) orientation when not in use or when holding a cut flower(s) or plant. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0011] A packaging apparatus, bag, container, holder or the like for cut flowers is disclosed that is operable to retain a reservoir of fluid and remain in an upright or otherwise substantially vertical (i.e., free standing) orientation. The packaging includes a collapsible, generally elongated body. The body has closed base, an upper portion that extends up from the base and has an open end and a handle. [0012] The base is generally cylindrical has a pair of gussets, a flat bottom and can hold an amount of fluid, such that the base may function as a reservoir for a cut flower or plant. [0013] The upper portion of the body flares upwardly from the base and includes a front panel and a rear panel that are secured together along two edges. The panels provide the apparatus with open top. Indicia (such as logos or other advertising) may also be print on the outside of the each panel. [0014] The handles of the apparatus are fashioned from strips of flexible material that are formed into an inverted U and secured to the upper portion of the body of the apparatus proximate the open top. [0015] In operation, the fluid (e.g., water) in the base can urge open the front panel and rear panel and gussets so that the body takes on a generally cylindrical shape having a flat bottom. Cut flowers or similar plants are then placed (stems down) in the apparatus. The fluid in the base functions to further support the body in a substantially vertical orientation. Accordingly, the cut plants have the advantage of being positioned in a reservoir of water while during transport. Further, the fanned upper portion of the apparatus provides the cut flowers with ample space to accommodate the stem, leaves and petal portions of the flower(s). BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING [0016] Reference will now be made to the attached figures, wherein like reference numbers refer to like parts throughout and wherein: [0017] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a packaging apparatus for cut flowers constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and [0018] FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the packaging apparatus for cut flowers shown in FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0019] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a packaging apparatus 10 for cut flowers F. As shown, the apparatus 10 includes a body 12 having a closed base 14 and an upper portion 16 that extends from the base 14. The upper portion 16 has an open top 18 and the base 14 is operable to function as a reservoir for a fluid 19 (e.g., water, or solution of water and plant food) to thereby assist in the apparatus 10 in remaining in an upright or otherwise substantially vertical (i.e., free standing) orientation. One or more strips of flexible material 20 are formed into an inverted U and secured to the upper portion proximate the top 18 to function as handles for carrying the apparatus 10. Further, this application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/534,257, filed Jan. 5, 2004, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Continue reading about Cut flower packaging... Full patent description for Cut flower packaging Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Cut flower packaging patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Cut flower packaging or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Insect trap comprising a transparent adhesive film Next Patent Application: Sound emitting flower bouquet Industry Class: Plant husbandry ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Cut flower packaging patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.14031 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Novartis , Pfizer , Philips , Polaroid , Procter & Gamble , 174 |
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