COLLAR AND COVER FOR CO-ACTION WITH A FLOWER HOLDER

Abstract: The invention relates to a collar for co-action with a flower holder such that in fitted situation the collar connects onto an opened side of the flower holder, comprising at least one fitting lip protruding on an edge of the collar to be directed toward the flower holder. The invention also relates to a cover for fitting on such a collar. The invention likewise provides planos for manufacturing collar and cover. Finally, the invention provides a flower packaging assembled from a flower holder with at least one card holder located close to an edge part and a collar of the described type.

Description: COLLAR AND COVER FOR CO-ACTION WITH A FLOWER HOLDER The invention relates to a collar for co-action with a flower holder such that in fitted situation a collar connects onto an opened side of the holder. The invention also relates to a cover for fitting onto a side of a collar remote from the holder. The invention moreover relates to an assembled flower packaging and to pianos for manufacturing collar and cover. Flower storage and transport, particularly in the case of cut flowers, usually takes place in holders opened on one side. Cut flowers are placed vertically in such a holder, wherein the upper part of the flowers generally protrudes above the edge of the holder. Water may also be present in the holder. Such holders are much used for transport of cut flowers from producer to auc- tion and from auction to buyers . The existing holders are brought into circulation in large numbers by auctioneers as packaging. These holders are nestable in empty state but cannot be stacked when they are filled. Also known are flower holders for vertical cut flower transport on which a collar with associated cover can be placed. These holders are provided round the peripheral edge with an endless groove into which the collar can be placed. An associated cover which can be placed on the top part of the collar for closing purposes is provided with centering means whereby a holder for placing on a cover is positioned relative to the cover. These packagings are used on limited scale and have the drawback that they are relatively costly. Another drawback is that the flower transport in holders with collar requires an additional flower packing operation. The present invention has for its object to provide an improved collar and improved cover, whereby the existing holders applied on large scale can be provided with a collar superstructure. It is also an object to embody a flower packaging assembled from cover, collar and holder as robustly as possible with minimal means . The present invention provides for this purpose a collar for co-action with a flower holder such that in fitted situation the collar connects onto an opened side of the holder, comprising at least one fitting lip protruding on an edge of the collar to be directed toward the flower holder. The collar is preferably assembled from four substantially rectangular surfaces. Even more preferably each surface on the edge to be directed toward the flower holder is herein provided with a protruding fitting lip. Such a collar is very simple to manufacture from for instance cardboard or plastic. The protruding fitting lip is intended for co-action with a card holder located close to the edge of the flower holder. These card holders were used heretofore to attach a card to a flower holder with for instance product and producer information. By providing the collar with a protruding fitting lip this card holder can be employed for a stable fixing of the collar to the flower holder without the flower holder having to be modified for this purpose. The existing flower holders currently in circulation in large numbers are in any case provided with four card holders, each located close to an edge part adjoining the opening of the flower holder. When the collar is provided with four fitting lips a sturdy fitting of the collar can be assembled from four substantially rectangular surfaces and the collar connects well onto the flower holder and can be manufactured from a simple piano. Because the collars co-act with existing holders, the logistic problems are minimized by applying the additional packaging option. Subject to the desired application it is possible to choose a minimal collar size and cover size. The invention is particularly intended for use in combination with flower holders generally used in the " whole ornamental plant sector. In a preferred embodiment the collar is provided with at least one ventilation opening. The existing flower holders currently in circulation in large numbers are not provided with ventilation openings. In order to prevent cut flowers dying during transport or storage of flowers in a flower packaging assembled from flower holder, collar and cover, a ventilation opening must be present . To prevent unnecessary weakening of the cover, score lines are preferably not arranged in the cover. The only remaining possibility is to provide the collar with at least one ventilation opening. The collar preferably tapers in the direction away from the holder. The tapering construction minimizes material use for collar and cover and also strengthens the construction. Another advantage is that the cover connecting onto the collar can take a relatively small form whereby an automatic centering of stacked assembled flower packagings takes place. An attempt will in any case be made to place the bottom of an uppermost holder onto the cover of an underlying assembled flower packaging. If the covers take a larger form there is more freedom in the placing of the uppermost flower holder. Yet another advantage is that covers will be comparatively more sturdy when they take a smaller form. They will therefore tear less quickly than if the collar did not take a tapering form and the cover was consequently larger. The invention also provides a cover for co- action with the collar. In a preferred embodiment this cover can be provided with standing edges, which edges taper outward in the direction away from the cover surface. The cover is preferably manufactured from a deformable material. If the material deforms to a limited extent, an uppermost flower holder will sink slightly into a cover of an underlying flower packaging during stacking of assembled flower holders . The sturdier cover edges, supported by the collar, can hereby also serve to centre and hold in position a flower holder placed thereon. This effect can be obtained for instance with a cover manufactured from cardboard. The invention also provides a flower packaging assembled from flower holder and collar as according to claim 11. If the collar has a dimension suitable for this purpose, this assembled flower packaging can be stacked without the collar having to be provided with a cover. It is conceivable for an uppermost flower holder to sink a limited distance into the top part of an underlying collar. A stacking is thus obtained without covers being required, which is cost-saving. Inward displaceable corner elements can also be arranged in the collar for this purpose, on which elements an uppermost holder can support . The invention likewise provides an assembled flower packaging consisting of flower holder, collar and cover to which reference has already been made above. Such an assembled packaging stacks very well and can also extend the shelf-life of the product. The flower packaging can be applied particularly advantageously for air transport of flowers . The present invention will be further elucidated with reference to the non-limitative embodiment shown in the following figure. The figure shows a perspective view of an assembled flower packaging according to the invention dismantled into individual parts . The figure shows an assembled flower packaging 1 consisting of a holder 2, a collar 3 and a cover 4, shown here in disassembled situation. Holder 2 tapers slightly toward the bottom, whereby a plurality of holders 2 are nestable. The opened top part of holder 2 is bounded by an edge 5 to which adjoin card holders 6. Card holders 6 comprise a protruding edge part 7 behind which a card can be pushed, for instance to identify a product packed in holder 2 and/or the origin of this product. The shown holder 2 roughly corresponds with holders such as are used in very large numbers in the flower trade. The collar 3 provided by the invention is provided on the side to be directed toward the holder 2 with four protruding fitting lips 8. These fitting lips 8 are dimensioned such that they can be placed in card holders 6 of holder 2. Collar 3 can be hereby connected to holder 2 in relatively sturdy manner. Collar 3 is assembled from four substantially rectangular surfaces 9,10,11,12. These latter are not exactly rectangular since they taper slightly in the direction away from holder 2. The collar 3 as a whole therefore tapers slightly in the direction away from holder 2. Ventilation openings 13 are arranged in two of the sides 9,11. The invention likewise provides a cover 4 which connects onto the part of collar 3 remote from holder 2. If the cover is manufactured from a slightly deformable material, a bottom of a holder 2 to be placed on cover 4 can sink slightly into cover 4. The holder 2 placed on cover 4 will hereby assume a relatively stable position.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Collar for co-action with a flower holder such that in fitted situation the collar connects onto an opened side of the flower holder, comprising at least one fitting lip protruding on an edge of the collar to be directed toward the flower holder. 2. Collar as claimed in claim 1, wherein the collar is assembled from four substantially rectangular surfaces . 3. Collar as claimed in claim 2, wherein each surface is provided with a protruding fitting lip on the edge to be directed toward the flower holder. 4. Collar as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the collar is provided with at least one ventilation opening. 5. Collar as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the collar tapers in the direction away from the holder. 6. Piano for manufacturing a collar as claimed in any of the claims 1-5. 7. Cover for fitting onto a side of a collar as claimed in any of the claims 1-5 to be directed away from the holder. 8. Cover as claimed in claim 7, wherein the cover is provided with standing edges, which edges taper outward in the direction away from the cover surface. 9. Cover as claimed in claim 7 or 8 , wherein the cover is manufactured from a deformable material . 10. Piano for manufacturing a cover as claimed in any of the claims 7-9. 11. Flower packaging assembled from a flower holder with at least one card holder located close to an edge part and a collar as claimed in any of the claims 1- 5, of which at least one protruding fitting lip is placed in a card holder of the flower holder. 12. Flower packaging as claimed in claim 11, wherein a cover as claimed in any of the claims 7-9 is placed on the side of the collar remote from the flower packaging.

Inventors: KOOP LAURENTIUS ALOYSIUS MARIA, VELTHUYZEN ERIC, KOOP, LAURENTIUS, ALOYSIUS, MARIA, VELTHUYZEN, ERIC
Applicants: BLOEMENVEILING HOLLAND B A COO, KOOP LAURENTIUS ALOYSIUS MARIA, VELTHUYZEN ERIC, COOP. BLOEMENVEILING HOLLAND B.A., KOOP, LAURENTIUS, ALOYSIUS, MARIA, VELTHUYZEN, ERIC
Application year: 1998
Main classification: B65D85
IPC codes: B65D85