Abstract:
A system for displaying flowers having a display platform having a plurality of coded receptacles for receiving coded flower containers, a plurality of coded flower containers located within corresponding coded flower receptacles, and a characteristic code on each coded receptacle and each coded flower container identifying a flower characteristic. The coded flower containers are constructed of disposable, water-impermeable material, and the characteristic code identifies aspects such as price, species, and freshness or expiration date of flowers. The characteristic codes on the coded receptacles and the coded flower containers enable a salesperson to quickly set up a flower display by placing the coded flower containers in the coded receptacles having matching characteristic codes.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a system for displaying fresh cut flowers for retail sale, and more particularly, to a coded modular bucket system for displaying and replenishing flowers to be sold inside a flower cooler.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
       [0002]     Selling a perishable commodity such as freshly cut flowers in a retail environment has many challenges. Flowers typically are displayed in a cooler having several shelves for flower buckets. Different types of flowers are placed within the buckets at random locations throughout the display cooler. These flower buckets are typically plastic, and each bucket must be cleaned and disinfected before a new set of flowers is placed within each flower bucket, otherwise mold and bacteria can harm the new flowers. The labor cost associated with cleaning and maintaining these flower buckets can quickly cut into the profits of a flower retailer, such as supermarkets and mass markets.  
         [0003]     Organizing and sorting new flowers for sale is an ongoing problem. Retail flower displays are typically a mixture of various types of flowers placed at random throughout the display cooler. A customer must sort through numerous types of flowers to find the type or price of flower he or she desires. Moreover, a flower clerk, associate, or flower manager, has the non-enviable task of trying to determine which types or species of flowers need to be restocked, and which of the currently displayed flower types or species are becoming too old or past their freshness date. This task requires the flower manager to be extremely familiar with flowers and the specific flower display-arrangement. A passing clerk, associate, or store manager is generally unable to determine, by looking at the flower display, which flowers need to be replaced or which flowers are becoming too old to sell. These additional skills required of an employee increases labor cost and reduces profit.  
         [0004]     Furthermore, flower assortments are typically sent by growers to retailers in unmarked, plastic, ten-inch diameter buckets. Eight bunches of mixed or similar type flowers are generally shipped in each bucket. Upon receiving the flower buckets full of flowers from a grower, a skilled flower manager or clerk must recognize and determine which specific types of flowers are located within each bucket. The skilled flower person must then organize and transfer each specific flower bunch to the proper location within the retail display, such as a flower cooler. This process takes additional time and requires skilled labor to accomplish, which further cuts into a retailer&#39;s profit.  
         [0005]     Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a flower display format and system enabling a typical out of department clerk, associate or store manager, who does not possess expertise in flowers, to quickly determine which flower species need to be restocked in a flower display and which flowers are too old to sell.  
       OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
       [0006]     In order to overcome these deficiencies in the prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide a system for coding a display case and flower buckets so that an out of department clerk or store manager, who does not have any special knowledge of flowers, can quickly determine if a species of flowers needs to be restocked or replaced.  
         [0007]     Another object of the present invention to eliminate labor cost associated with cleaning the flower buckets of a flower display case by using disposable flower buckets.  
         [0008]     A further object of the present invention is to provide a system enabling a typical clerk or flower associate to quickly organize newly received flowers from a grower and place the appropriate types of flowers at pre-designated locations within a retail flower display.  
         [0009]     In order to achieve these objects, the present invention provides a system for displaying flowers having a display platform with a plurality of coded receptacles for receiving coded flower containers, a plurality of coded flower containers located within corresponding coded flower receptacles, and a characteristic code on each coded receptacle and each coded flower container identifying a flower characteristic. The coded flower containers are preferably constructed of disposable, water-impermeable treated paper buckets that hold water for at least twenty days, and a characteristic code can identify price, species, and expiration date of flowers. The coded receptacles further enable a clerk or floral associate to quickly organize a retail flower display by matching the characteristic codes of the flower buckets with the characteristic codes of the flower receptacles. Additionally, the disposable flower containers eliminate the labor cost and time delay associated with cleaning and maintaining conventional, reusable flower buckets. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a retail display cooler of freshly cut flowers featuring color-coded buckets and receptacles configured in accordance with the present invention; and  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a table flower display configured in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
       [0012]     While the invention will be described in connection with the preferred embodiments, there is no intent to limit the invention to those embodiments. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all its alternatives, modifications, and equivalents included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0013]     Turning now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  illustrates a flower display  10  configured in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. A cooler cabinet  11  includes glass sides  9  with glass doors  13  having handles  14 . The cooler cabinet  11  includes shelves  17 , 18 , 19  for holding flower buckets  20 ,  22 ,  24 . The cabinet  11  and shelves  17 , 18 , 19  can be constructed of numerous materials, such as wood or plastic. The frame  15  of the cooler cabinet  11  generally is constructed of steel. The cooler cabinet includes a compressor (not shown) for cooling.  
         [0014]     In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, the flower buckets  20 , 22 , 24  are constructed of disposable, water-impermeable material, so that the flower buckets  20 , 22 , 24  can be simply discarded when the flowers contained within are sold. The disposable material preferably is environmentally friendly, so as not to harm the environment or landfills. An example of a preferred material is paper coated with a water-resistant material, similar to paper milk cartons or paper orange juice containers, which are commonly sold in grocery stores.  
         [0015]     Milk cartons are typically constructed of polyethylene-coated paper-board. In aseptic versions of drink-filled cartons, aluminum foil lamina is generally incorporated. U.S. Pat. No. 4,691,858, issued to Peer, Jr., which is hereby incorporated by reference, teaches numerous materials and processes for constructing disposable water-impermeable material for milk cartons, which can be the same material for constructing the disposable flower buckets  20 , 22 , 24  of the present invention. Furthermore, disposable, water-impermeable food buckets, similar to those used by KFC (previously Kentucky Fried Chicken) restaurants, may be used as flower buckets  20 , 22 , 24 . Instawares, a restaurant supply store, currently sells waxed, water-impermeable food buckets, which may be used as disposable flower buckets  20 , 22 , 24  for the present invention. In the preferred embodiment, the disposable, water-impermeable flower buckets consist of a gauge or thickness approximately four times that of the well-known KFC family chicken bucket. The buckets are preferably a standardized size of 7.5 inches tall and have a diameter of 7.5 at the top opening. Of course, different size disposable, water-impermeable flower buckets may be used in accordance with the invention.  
         [0016]     In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, the flower cooler cabinet  11  provides shelves  17 , 18 , 19  for holding the coded flower containers  20 , 22 , 24 , which are located within corresponding or matching coded receptacles  30 , 32 , 34 . The coded receptacles  30 , 32 , 34  are preferably indentations or slots within the shelves  17 , 18 , 19 , but a receptacle may include a hole  36  passing completely through the shelf  18 . Flowers of the same species, or potted plants, may be located within a single flower bucket. Pon poms  40 , daisies  42 , or roses  44 . Similar flowers may also include bulb type flowers, such as tulips. Furthermore, a flower bucket  38  may include mixed bouquets  46  or consumer bunches.  
         [0017]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , each flower container or bucket  20 , 22 , 24  holds a particular type or species of flower. For example, pon poms  40  are held in a first flower container  20 , daisies  42  are held in a second flower container  22 , and roses  44  are held in a third flower container  24 . Each species of flower is associated with a code characteristic, such as color. For example, pon poms  40  are held in containers  20  having a purple color  50 , daisies  42  are held in container  22  having a yellow color  52 , and roses  44  are held in containers containers  24  having red color  54 . Similarly, purple containers  20  are placed in purple receptacles  30 , yellow containers  22  are placed in yellow receptacles  32 , and red containers  24  are placed in red receptacles  34 , and so forth. The coloring  50 , 52 , 54  of the flower containers or buckets  20 , 22 , 24  is preferably on the outside of the flower containers  20 , 22 , 24 . The coloring of the receptacles  30 , 32 , 34 , 36  preferably is located on the inside rim  55 , top surface  56 , or periphery  57  of the receptacles  30 , 32 , 34 , 36 .  
         [0018]     The color code of the flower container or bucket indicates which flower type or species is located within each bucket. Specific flower species, or groups of flowers, are placed within specifically colored flower containers. In this manner, a salesperson can quickly prepare and fill a flower display by simply placing the color coded buckets in a matching color coded receptacle. In a similar manner, a salesperson or store manager can quickly determine which flower buckets having a particular type or types of flowers need to be restocked by observing the color of the empty or available colored receptacles.  
         [0019]     Moreover, a flower bucket  38  may be coded by a ring  39  on the periphery  41 , or by the wrapping paper  26  surrounding the flowers  46  within the bucket  38 . The variations for marking the flower buckets can be quite numerous. Additionally, coding can be achieved by methods other than color, such as graphic designs, symbols, or even pictures. Furthermore, the coding characteristic of the flower buckets  20 , 22 , 24  and receptacles  30 , 32 , 34  may identify additional information, such as price or freshness expiration date. In this manner, a flower display can be ensured to include fresh flowers having a broad variety of species at various price levels. The coding also can designate particular flower arrangements or the number of flowers contained within each flower container.  
         [0020]     While the receptacles  30 , 32 , 34  are preferably a cutout, slot, or indentation in the shelves  17 , 18 , the receptacles  37  may include a hole passing completely through the shelf  18 . If the receptacle  37  includes a hole, a bottom portion  28  of the flower bucket may pass through the shelf  18 . Furthermore, the receptacles  36  may simply be a designated location  56  on the shelf  19 , designated by a circle or ring  57  on the flat, top surface of the shelf  19 . The ring  57  is preferably colored to identify the proper flower species container or bucket to be place at that location.  
         [0021]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a flower display  100  table is illustrated in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention. A table  102  provides a flower display platform for receptacles  130 , 132 , 134 . Furthermore, flower wrappers  110 , 112 , 114  are color coded to designate flower characteristics. In this embodiment, the flowers containers  120 , 122 , 124  may remain on the table  102  when flowers are sold, and new flower wrappers  110 ,  112 , 114  holding the appropriate flower type or species, and matching the characteristic code of an open flower container  120 , 122 , 124 , is used to properly identify, match and refill the open flower container  120 , 122 , 124 . Similar to the flower display cabinet  11  in  FIG. 1 , a salesperson or store manager can quickly determine which flowers need to be restocked by looking at the open coded flower containers  120 , 122 , 124  or receptacles  130 ,  132 ,  134  on the table  102 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  also shows how colored paper or wrapping  108  overhanging the outer lip of the flower container  120  can be used to identify the characteristic code a flower container or flower bucket. In this example, the overhanging wrapping paper  108  is color coded purple to identify the pon poms  140  to be located within the flower bucket  120 . Similarly, the wrapping paper  110  is color coded purple to identify that the pon poms  140  are to be placed within the purple bucket  120 .  
         [0023]     In keeping with modern technology, the characteristic code may be identified by using a Universal Product Code (UPC) sticker  150  or a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Integrated Circuit (IC)  152  chip. In such an embodiment, a salesperson uses a scanner or receiver to identify and determine the characteristic code of a coded flower container.  
         [0024]     In accordance with a method of the present invention, flower bunches are sent from a whole seller in color coded wrappers  110 ,  112 ,  114  and color coded disposable flower buckets  120 , 122 , 124 . The flower associate at the retailer, upon receipt of the coded flower buckets  120 , 122 , 124 , simply places the flower buckets  120 , 122 , 124 , which include flower bunches corresponding to the coded flower bucket, within receptacles  130 , 132 , 134  having matching characteristic codes to those of the coded flower buckets. In this manner, flowers received by the retailer from the whole seller can be quickly and economically unpacked and displayed at the proper locations of a retail flower display by a clerk who does not have any specialized knowledge about flowers. Afterwards, the flower display can be easily maintained by observing which coded flower receptacles need to be restocked, and simply restocking empty flower receptacles or old flowers with new flower bunches or flower buckets having a matching characteristic code.