Patent Publication Number: US-6039180-A

Title: Protective shipping container for flowers

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a protective shipping container for flowers, such as roses or tulips. Flowers, such as roses, are grown in areas far removed from the population centers and markets which they serve. Hence, the provisions for shipping of such flowers is an important aspect of the economics of the flower business, and an inexpensive, lightweight, but highly protective shipping container is an optimum requirement. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A closeable shipping container for containment of a plurality of flowers with stems which includes separated protective bud-containing housings and/or separate stem supporting means. The container is made of plastic, or other lightweight, but strong materials. The container is dimensioned so that the volume it occupies, per dozen flowers, is most economical to ship. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of my invention showing the interior of the closeable container in open condition; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of FIG. 1 in closed condition; 
     FIG. 3 is an elevational end view of FIG. 2, as viewed along the direction of arrow A of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of FIG. 2, as viewed along the direction of arrow B of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of my invention; 
     FIG. 6 is an end elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 5 in closed condition, as seen from the right end of FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 6; and 
     FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of FIG. 5 taken in the direction of arrow C of FIG. 5. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The first preferred embodiment of shipping container 10 of my invention, shown in FIG. 1 comprises two elongated compartments 12 and 14, preferably hinged together along the right side wall (see also FIG. 2). Compartment 12 is the base compartment and comprises a flat horizontal floor 16 bounded by upstanding side walls 18a, 18b, and end walls 20a, 20b. At either end of base compartment 12 there is provided preferably six separate bud-conforming housings 22, each sized to contain one bud of a flower, e.g. a rose bud 25 whereby six rose buds may be laid within the six bud-conforming housings 22 and their stems 27 laid lengthwise within the base compartment 12, each stem 27 being supported intermediate its ends within notched bridging or support members 30a, 30b. The manner in which flowers, such as roses, are stably encapsulated within the bud-conforming housings 22 is shown, schematically, in FIG. 1. 
     The second compartment 14, designated as the lid compartment, also includes upstanding side walls 32a, 32b, and end walls 34a, 34b, and is hingeably engaged to the base compartment 12 at sidewall 18b. Compartment 14 is closeably engaged with the base compartment 12 by means of fasteners such as tongue and groove members 40, 42. The fastening members 40, 42 are flush with the side walls of the container 10, when the two compartments 12, 14 are closed, as shown in FIG. 3. 
     Openings 44 are provided at the ends of the container 10 preferably in both compartments 12 and 14 for venting of gases and air communication. In the lid compartment 14, an indented area 46 is provided intermediate its ends 34a, 34b for affixation of identification indicia. 
     The compartments 12, 14 the bud-conforming housings 22, the support members 30a, 30b, and all other components comprising the shipping container 10 are preferably made of conventional moldable plastic materials such as expanded polystyrene foam. Other lightweight conventional plastic materials, such polyethylene terepthalate, may also be used. The container 10 and all of its components parts are preferably integrally molded into a single unit. Container 10, which contains a dozen roses by way of example only, is preferably dimensioned as follows: 
     Width--101/2&#34;; 
     Length--301/2&#34;; and 
     Depth--17/8&#34; 
     In the second embodiment of the invention, a base compartment 112 is provided with an intermediate sloping floor portion 120 extending between upper and lower horizontal end portions 122, 124, respectively (See FIGS. 5-8 and FIGS. 5 and 6 in particular). Thus, the interior of the base compartment 112 is provided with a greater depth at the lower horizontal end portion of the base compartment, designated by the numeral 126, to thereby accommodate buds 25 (show in dotted line) within a plurality (e.g. twelve) of separate bud-conforming housings 128 whereas the stems 130 (also shown in dotted line) extend upwardly along, and in contact with, the intermediate sloping floor portion 120, terminating in the upper shallower end 122 of the base compartment 112. The base compartment 112 is closeable by lid panel 114 by conventional fastener means, e.g. by tongue and groove members 130, 132. The resulting closed base/lid container 112, 114 comprises a first container module. 
     In this second embodiment, a second base and lid compartment 140, 142 identical to the first base and lid compartments 112, 114, comprise a second container module and is aligned with the first module 112, 114 in a manner such that the deeper end of the said first module overlies the shallow end of the second module 140, 142, and the shallow end of the first container module 112, 114 is aligned with the deeper end of the second container module, as shown in FIG. 7. The first and second container modules are then physically bound to each other along slightly indented intermediate area 146 by adhesive means 148 elastic or other binding means. 
     The resultant first and second modules 112, 114 and 140, 142, when thus aligned, form in geometric terms, a three-dimensional solid having six rectangular surfaces or faces, i.e., a rectangular solid which is an optimum shape for shipping. FIGS. 5-8 illustrate the two modules, each of which contains one dozen roses or other flowers, carefully protected and nestled within their separate bud-conforming housings, the housings being arranged in two rows of six each, the rows extending across the width of the base compartment. The first and second modules 112, 114 and 140, 142 when aligned as shown in FIGS. 5-8 and physically bound are preferably dimensioned as follows: 
     Width--101/2&#34;; 
     Length--301/2&#34;; and 
     Depth--213/16&#34; 
     The base compartments 112 and 140 of each module are preferably integrally formed from moldable plastic materials, as described with reference to the first embodiment, FIGS. 1-4. Openings 150 are provided in the base compartments 112, 140 for venting of gases and air communication. 
     Modification of the foregoing embodiments may be suggested by those ordinarily skilled in the art, hence; I intend to be bound only by the claims, which follow.