PACKAGE COMPRISING FEEDING MATERIALS FOR CUT FLOWERS

Abstract: The invention relates to a sachet, in particular a sachet assembly, comprising a closed bag (2) which is formed from water-permeable filter paper, and a solid substance (3) which is contained in the bag and is at least partially water-soluble. The water-soluble solid substance comprises a preparation for cut flowers. In particular, the preparation comprises a foodstuff and/or conditioning agent and/or disinfectant and/or biocide and/or growth inhibitor. The invention also relates to a packaging assembly comprising a waterproof, or at least moisture-proof, outer packaging containing a large number of sachets according to the invention. The invention also relates to the use of a sachet made from water-permeable filter paper for administering a preparation to cut flowers which are standing in water.

Description: PACKAGE COMPRISING FEEDING MATERIALS FOR CUT FLOWERS The present invention relates to a sachet, in particular a sachet assembly, comprising: a closed bag which is formed from water-permeable filter paper and - a solid substance which is contained in the bag and is at least partially water- soluble. A sachet assembly of this type is known. One could think, for example, of a tea bag, which is formed from a filter paper, also known as tea bag paper, in which a certain quantity of optionally comminuted tea leaves is packaged. A tea bag of this type is, as is known, generally provided with a string which can be used to hang it in a tea cup or tea pot so that, once the tea has brewed sufficiently, the string can be used to remove it again from the cup or tea pot. It is an object of the present invention to provide a preparation for cut flowers in an administration form which is such that it is ensured and can be checked that a specific dose has been administered to the water in which the cut flowers are standing. According to the invention, this object is achieved by the fact that, in the sachet of the type described in the introduction, the water-soluble solid substance comprises a preparation for cut flowers. A sachet of this type can be placed in the water in a container holding cut flowers which are standing in water, after which the water can enter the bag via the filter paper, so that the preparation is dissolved, and then carries the preparation out of the bag in dissolved form. Since the bag is closed, administration of one bag ensures that a specific dose is administered. Furthermore, the bag will remain present even after it has been administered to the water, which makes it easy to check that the preparation has been administered. Therefore, it is possible for both the purchaser, such as a florist or consumer, to see that the cut flowers which have been purchased are in water which has been appropriately treated, and also it is possible for an inspection body to establish, in a simple and efficient way, that a specific dose has been administered to cut flowers. An inspection body of this type may, for example, be a body which checks the quality of goods on behalf of a professional association of cut- flower traders, but may also, for example, be a supplier or purchaser of cut flowers who wishes to check whether the cut flowers which he has supplied are treated correctly. Advantageously, the preparation in the sachet according to the invention will comprise a food and/or conditioning agent and/or disinfectant and/or biocide and/or growth inhibitor. In this context, the term conditioning agent is understood in particular as meaning an agent which is used to adjust the state of the water, such as its hardness or pH. The term growth inhibitor is understood as meaning an agent which inhibits the growth of microorganisms, so that the water uptake and food uptake by the cut flowers remains appropriate. Furthermore, in the sachet according to the invention, it is advantageous if the filter paper is semi-permeable. In this context, the term semi-permeable is understood as meaning in particular permeability to particles up to a maximum size of 100 to 400 μm. With a view to ease of production, it is advantageous, in the sachet according to the invention, if the bag is rectangular in shape. In connection with the final administration of a sachet of this type to a container, such as a bucket, holding a quantity of water of the order of magnitude of 1 to 5 litres, although sometimes more litres, it is in this case preferable if the rectangular bag has dimensions of 2 to 8 cm wide by 2 to 12 cm long. Furthermore, in a sachet according to the invention, it is advantageous if the bag is provided on the outside with an image, in particular obtained using a printing technique. Filter paper is eminently suitable for an image to be applied thereto, for example, with the aid of a printing technique such as a flexographic printing technique. The image may in this case be applied to the filter paper before the filter paper is formed into a bag. In this way, it is possible to provide the bag with an advertising message. In particular, however, it is advantageous for the bag in this way to be provided with instructions for use or application. However, it is also highly useful and advantageous for the bag to be provided with an indication of the preparation contained therein in this way. Such an indication may, for example, be a brand name, but may also be a list of the ingredients or active constituents. It is also possible to provide the bag with warnings in this way. Furthermore, in the sachet according to the invention, it is advantageous if the bag is made from a filter material which, when it takes up water, becomes transparent or translucent, in such a manner that the contents become visible. In this way, it is possible to check, when the bag has been put in water, that the contents are present in the bag. In this case, it is also advantageous if the entire contents are water-soluble. This is because in this way it is possible by visual inspection to determine whether the sachet is still active. This also makes it possible to prevent errors, since it can be determined visually whether an empty or used bag/sachet assembly has been added to the cut flowers. For this purpose, it is also possible to use an ink which changes colour when the active substances have been exhausted. In this regard, consideration may be given, for example, to pH indicators, such as litmus. Furthermore, in the sachet according to the invention, it may be advantageous if the water-soluble material is hygroscopic. The invention also relates to a packaging assembly comprising a waterproof, or at least moisture-proof, outer packaging containing a large number of sachets according to the invention. A packaging assembly of this type can be used to ensure that the sachets arrive at the user in good condition and, moreover, can be stored in good condition for a certain time by the user. The outer packaging will in this case preferably be a wateφroof or at least moisture-proof recloseable outer packaging. Consideration may be given, for example, to a plastic bucket with a lid which can seal onto the upper rim of the bucket via a, preferably clamping, labyrinth seal. The invention also relates to the use of a sachet made from water-permeable filter paper for administering a preparation, such as a food, and/or conditioning agent and/or disinfectant and/or biocide and/or growth inhibitor for microorganisms, to cut flowers which are standing in water. In the text which follows, the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an example which is illustrated in the drawing, in which: Fig. 1 shows a diagrammatic and perspective, partially cut-away view of a sachet assembly according to the invention; and Fig. 2 shows a diagrammatic and perspective, partially cut-away view of a bucket holding cut flowers, which contains a sachet assembly according to the invention. Fig. 1 shows a sachet 1 according to the invention. The sachet 1 according to the invention comprises a bag 2 comprising water-permeable filter paper. The bag 2 is composed of a rectangular upper panel 4 and a rectangular lower panel 5, which panels are joined together along their periphery, for example by an adhesive bond. A preparation 3, which is partially shown in a cut-away section, is situated in the bag 2. This preparation 3 contains in particular, a food and/or a disinfectant and/or a biocide. The preparation 3 may be a powder or granules, but may also be a solid substance in some other form. The preparation 3 may be entirely water-soluble, but may also be partially water-soluble. In particular, it is conceivable for the preparation 3 to comprise a substrate which is not water-soluble, in which substrate the soluble preparation is situated. Then, when the substrate comes into contact with water, the preparation will be dissolved and will be released from the substrate. As shown in Fig. 1 for the upper panel 4, the bag 2 may be printed. In the example illustrated, the printing represents instructions for use, namely "put sachet without opening in 2 litres of water". The length L of the sachet which is illustrated by way of example in Fig. 1 is approximately 9 cm, while its width W is approximately 5 cm. However, it should be clear that these dimensions, which are given by way of example for the length L and width W, are purely illustrative. These dimensions may vary within wide limits. By way of example, the dimension for the length L may vary in a range from 2 to 16 cm, although smaller or larger dimensions for the length L are also conceivable. The width dimension W may, for example, vary in a range from 2 to 10 cm, although in this case too, both smaller and larger width dimensions are conceivable. It should be noted that, although Fig. 1 shows a rectangular sachet, the sachet may also be square, round, triangular or trapezium-shaped, or whatever other form may be desired. Fig. 2 shows, by way of example, a bucket 10 containing cut flowers 12 standing in water 11. A sachet 1 according to the invention is situated in this bucket. Fig. 3 shows, by way of example, a strand 15 according to the invention comprising a multiplicity of sachets 1 according to the invention. Fig. 4 shows, by way of example, a web 16 according to the invention comprising a multiplicity of sachets 1 according to the invention. The web 16 can be considered as being composed of a number of parallel strands 15 as shown in Fig. 3 which are joined together at their sides. Providing the sachets according to the invention in web, sheet or strand form has the considerable advantage of increasing the ease of handling, in particular for automated processing, of the sachets considerably.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Sachet (1) comprising: a closed bag (2) which is formed from water-permeable filter paper, and - a solid substance (3) which is contained in the bag and is at least partially water-soluble, characterized in that the water-soluble solid substance (3) comprises a preparation for cut flowers. 2. Sachet (1) according to Claim 1, in which the preparation comprises a food and/or conditioning agent and/or disinfectant and/or biocide and /or growth inhibitor. 3. Sachet (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the filter paper is semi-permeable. 4. Sachet (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the bag has a rectangular shape, preferably with dimensions of 2 to 8 cm wide by 2 to 12 cm long. 5. Sachet (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the bag is provided on the outside with an image, in particular obtained using a printing technique. 6. Sachet (1) according to Claim 5, in which the image comprises instructions for use or application. 7. Sachet (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the bag is made from a filter material which, when it takes up water, becomes transparent or translucent, in such a manner that the contents (3) become visible. 8. Strand comprising a large number of sachets according to one of the preceding claims which are joined together to form a strand. 9. Sheet or web comprising a large number of sachets according to one of the preceding claims which are joined together to form a sheet or web, for example comprising a number of parallel strands according to Claim 8 which are joined laterally to one another. 10. Packaging comprising a waterproof, or at least moisture-proof, outer packaging containing a plurality of sachets (1) according to one of the preceding claims. 11. Use of a sachet (2) made from water-permeable filter paper for administering a preparation, such as a food and/or conditioning agent and/or disinfectant and/or biocide and/or growth inhibitor, to cut flower (12) which are standing in water (11).

Inventors: GROENEWOUD EWALD, HERMAN PAUL THOMAS DIRK, VAN DER SCHAAF TJERK PIER, GROENEWOUD, EWALD, HERMAN, PAUL, THOMAS, DIRK, VAN DER SCHAAF, TJERK, PIER
Applicants: GROENEWOUD EWALD, HERMAN PAUL THOMAS DIRK, POKON & CHRYSAL B V, SCHAAF TJERK PIER V D, GROENEWOUD, EWALD, HERMAN, PAUL, THOMAS, DIRK, POKON & CHRYSAL B.V., VAN DER SCHAAF, TJERK, PIER
Application year: 2001
Main classification: B65D81
IPC codes: A01N3, B65D75, B65D77, B65D81, B65D85