PACKAGING FOR FLOWERS

Abstract: Packaging for flowers comprising a crate (1) and a box (2) to be placed on this crate with the base (3) at the top. The said box base (3) is removable or hingeable. This packaging is suitable for dry and wet packing of upright flowers. In the case of wet packing, the packaging cannot leak. By the easy removal or hing­ ing of the box base, the packed flowers can be displayed from the top and this base can be replaced in the closed position without any problem. By removing the box, the tightly packed flowers will fan out, so that transfer to a bucket is not necessary.

Description: The invention relates to a packaging for flowers comprising a lower box made of water-tight material, and an upper box having its base uppermost. Such a packaging is known from EP-A-0164795. Flowers can be transported both wet and dry over large distances provided they are packed in a suitable packaging. The disadvantage of wet packing is that growth can continue if the cooling is not well controlled. A disadvantage of dry packing is that drying out can take place and that the flowers must be unpacked rapidly and placed in water on arrival. A known wet packaging is a bucket or watertight box in an outer box. The flowers can be displayed by removing the entire outer box. In the case of a watertight inner box, there are two possibilities: one in which cardboard is coated with wax, and one in which cardboard is coated with plastic. The first possibility leads to leakage at the folds and the second possibility is expensive. Further the flowers have to be transferred on arrival in the shop or flower stall. The upper box of the packaging disclosed in EP-A-0164795 is a slip-over box slipping over the lower box to a position where it rests on the bottom or an other packaging. If the flowers have to be displayed in the auction, the upper box has to be removed completely. To bring it back in the original position is difficult and takes a lot of time. Further the lower box is made of cardboard with a water-tight coating. The leak proofness of such material is very poor. Since the lower box has perpendicular walls, it is not nestable in an equivalent box. The aim of the invention is to provide a relatively inexpensive packaging for upright packing of flowers, which is suitable for dry and wet packing and which, in the case of wet packing, cannot leak; furthermore, it is an objective of the inventlon to design this packaging so that the packed flowers can be displayed from the top by the simple removal or hinging of a part of the packaging and that the part can be replaced in the closed position without any problem. Finally, the packaging according to the invention is intended to enable, by removal of a part thereof, the flowers to be displayed to the public in a shop or flower stall without their having to be transferred to a bucket or the like. According to the invention, the packaging is characterized by the following features: the lower box is a plastic crate having inclined walls so that it is nestable in an equivalent crate, the upper edge of said crate is provided with a circumferential ridge or edge, the lower edge of the side walls of the upper box rests on said ridge or edge, and the base of the upper box is removable or hingable so that it can open and close. It is possible to seal the crate and upper box with one another solely with adhesive tape, however, it is better to also employ separate locking devices for the detachable locking of upper box and crate, for example, by using projecting lips and openings intended to receive these. To make the packaging easy to handle, the upper box is provided with hand-grip openings. The base could be connected to the upper box in a hingable manner. However, it is preferred to make the box base wholely removable and to provide it with folded-over projecting edges which can be fixed on the box by adhesive tape. The invention will now be illustrated in more detail with the aid of the figures, in which an example of an embodiment is shown. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a packaging in the dismantled state. Figure 2 shows a perspective view of this packaging in the assembled state. The packaging shown comprises a plastic crate 1 and a cardboard box 2, of which the base 3 is loose. The crate has a rectangular cross-section and the cross-section surface area decreases slightly from top to bottom, so that nesting of crates is possible. An upwardly projecting ridge 4, on which, as Figure 2 shows, the bottom edge of the box 2 can rest, is provided just below the top edge. The box 2, which, for example, can be made watertight with wax, has a rectangular cross-section such that it can be pushed over the top edge of the crate until the lower edge of the box rests on the ridge 4. The crate is also provided with two outwardly projecting lips 5, which can grip in openings 6 of the box to enable box and crate to be detachably locked to one another. In practice, the fixing of crate and box is reinforced by adhesive tape. The box also has a hand-grip opening 7 in each of its side faces. The loose base 3, which in fact forms the top of the packaging, is also made of cardboard and has projecting folded edges 8 which can be fixed to the box with adhesive tape. The packaging is filled with flowers while the box 2 is in position on the crate 1 without box base 3. After filling, the base 3 is firmly fixed on the box 2. The base 3 can temporarily be removed at the auction or the like to display the flowers from the top. In the shop or flower hall the box 2 is removed and the tightly packed flowers fan out. Transfer to a bucket is not necessary. In connection with saving of material and good cooling, the side walls of the crate 1 are provided with openings 9. A completely solid-walled crate is, however, entirely possible. The box 2 can be of various heights, depending on the length of the flowers to be packed. The lid 3 can be of various materials and shapes, depending on the manner of closure. A profile, which prevents the crate shifting on the lid, can also be provided in or on the lid.

Claims: 1. Packaging for flowers comprising a lower box (1) made of water-tight material, and an upper box (2) having its base (3) uppermost, characterized in that the lower box (1) is a plastic crate having inclined walls so that it is nestable in an equivalent crate that the upper edge of said crate is provided with a circumferential ridge or edge (4), that the lower edge of the side walls of the upper box (2) rests on said ridge or edge (4) and that the base (3) of the upper box is removable or hingable so that it can open and close. 2. Packaging according to claim 1, characterized by locking devices for the detachable locking of the upper box and the crate. 3. Packaging according to claim 2, characterized in that the locking devices consist of projecting lips (5) and openings (6) intended to receive these. 4. Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper box is provided with end-grip openings (7). 5. Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wholy removable base (3) of the upper box has folded over projecting edges (8).

Inventors: DE PAGTER, JANUS ADRIAAN WILLEM
Applicants: PAGTER & PARTNERS INTERNATIONAL B.V.
Application year: 1988
Main classification: B65D85
IPC codes: A01G5, B65D85