Patent Publication Number: US-7219797-B2

Title: Box with insert that extends from a side and that divides the box into compartments and methods for forming and using

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
   This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional application No. 60/348,969, filed 14 Jan. 2002, which is presently pending. 

   BACKGROUND 
   Fresh flowers smell wonderful and are very special to the person who receives them as a gift. Combining accessories such as candies, a ring or any other type of jewelry, a stuffed animal, a vase, plant food or any other desired items, with the fresh flowers often emphasizes the emotion conveyed to the person receiving them. Consequently, many people want to include accessories with the flowers they send to a loved one. 
   To satisfy this desire, florists place a box containing the accessories into the box containing flowers. Because fresh flowers are typically fragile and would break or bruise after contact with the accessories box, many florists divide the interior of the flower box into compartments with a divider. One compartment contains the fragile flower portions of the flowers, while the other compartment contains the stem portions of the flowers and accessories box. Thus, the flower portions of the flowers are protected during shipment of the flowers and accessories. 
     FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a conventional flower box  20  used to ship flowers to consumers.  FIGS. 1 and 2  also illustrate a conventional insert  22  that includes a divider  24 . To package flowers and accessories for shipment to a consumer, the florist typically does the following. First, the florist generates the box  20  from a blank by folding the various panels  21  and then gluing some of the panels together. This typically involves folding each panel individually and applying an adhesive or inserting a flap. Then, the florist generates the insert  22  from a blank by folding the divider  24  away from the stem section  26  and then folding the flower section  28  parallel or substantially parallel to the stem section  26 . Next, he/she folds the sides  30  of the insert  22  to a position shown in  FIG. 2  so that the insert  22  can be inserted into the box  20 . After inserting the insert  22  into the box  20 , he/she inserts the flowers into the box  20  by threading them through the divider so that the flower portions of the flowers are under the flower section  28  and the stems of the flowers are above the stem section  26 . Then, he/she places the accessories box (not shown) above the stems. 
   Unfortunately, this packaging process has three problems. First the process is time consuming and can easily damage the flowers. Because each panel is typically folded individually, the process of generating the box  20  and insert  22 , and inserting the insert  22  into the box  20  can be time consuming. The flowers can be easily damaged when the florist threads the flowers through the divider because the stem portions and flowers portions can easily bruise when contacting the divider  24  or the panels  21  of the box  20 . Consequently, a florist usually bends the stem portion of the flowers to avoid bruising the stem and flower portions. But bending the stem portions can also damage the flowers. And once damaged, the flowers are typically replaced and thrown away. Second, a florist must keep track of two inventories—the blanks for the inserts  22  and the blanks for the boxes  20 , which requires additional work. And third, the blanks for the box  20  or insert  22  could be misplaced or used up before the blanks of the other component are used up, leaving the blanks of the other component temporarily unusable. 
   Thus there is a need for a box or container that can be quickly and easily generated from a blank that includes an insert with a divider to divide the interior of the box into two or more compartments and protect one or more flowers contained in the box during transportation. Furthermore, there is a need for an insert with a divider that allows one to place the one or more flowers in the box without bending, bruising or damaging them. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention provides boxes, blanks, intermediate box assemblies and methods for generating the boxes and intermediate box assemblies from the blanks and using the boxes. The boxes allow one to quickly and easily package flowers and accessories for shipment to a consumer without bending, bruising or otherwise damaging the flowers. The boxes include a plurality of sides and a bottom that are connected to each other to define an interior. The boxes also include an insert that extends from at least one of the sides or bottom. The insert includes a divider that can extend between one of the sides of the box to another side to divide the interior into two or more compartments when the insert is inserted into the interior of the box. To allow one to place the flowers in the box without bending, bruising or otherwise damaging the flowers, the divider initially extends along one of the sides of the box when the insert is inserted into the interior. Then, after the flowers are placed in the box, the divider can be pivoted to extend between two of the sides of the box and can be attached to the side it is pivoted toward to divide the interior into the compartments. Typically, one compartment contains the fragile flower portion of the flowers, while another compartment contains the less fragile stem portion of the flowers and the accessories. Thus, one can quickly and easily package the flowers in the box without bending, bruising or otherwise damaging the flowers, and the fragile flower portions of the flowers can be protected from the accessories or other items placed in the box that could damage the flower portions during shipment. 
   The blanks allow one to quickly and easily generate the boxes and ensure that all of the components of the boxes will be available to protect the flowers during shipment. The blanks include at least two side sections and a bottom section connected to each other that define an interior when the sections are pivoted relative to each other to form the box. The blanks also include an insert section that extends from one of the side sections and can include at least two insert portions that can be pivoted relative to each other to generate the insert. The insert section includes a divider that extends from one of the insert portions and that, when desired, can divide the interior into two compartments when the interior is generated. With the insert section extending from one of the side or bottom sections of the blank, the insert section is retained to the blank. Thus, the blanks ensure that an insert will be available to protect the flowers during shipment in the generated box. This also eliminates the need to keep track of two sets of inventory and greatly reduces the possibility of not being able to generate a box with an insert because either the insert or box is missing. 
   The intermediate box assemblies eliminate most of the time consuming work performed by one in generating the box before packaging the flowers and accessories because the manufacturer of the blanks can easily generate the intermediate box assemblies from the blanks with conventional automated box forming equipment. Furthermore, because the intermediate box assemblies are flat or substantially flat, the intermediate box assemblies can be easily shipped to and stored by one packaging the flowers for shipment (typically a florist). In this and certain other embodiments, to generate the intermediate box assembly, one pivots a flap of a first side section of the blank. Then one pivots a flap of a bottom side section of the blank and attaches a first portion of the flap to the flap of the first side section. Then one pivots a second portion of the flap of the bottom section, pivots a flap of the second side section of the blank, and attaches the flap of the second side section to the second portion of the flap of the bottom section by pivoting the second side section toward the bottom section. Then, to generate the box from the intermediate box assemblies, one pivots the second side section away from the bottom section. This causes the flaps of the sections to pivot away from the bottom section of the blank and generates an interior of the box. Next, one generates the insert from the insert section and inserts the insert into the interior of the box. Thus, one can quickly and easily generate the box from the intermediate box assembly. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a conventional flower box with a separate conventional insert that is inserted into the conventional box; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the conventional flower box in  FIG.1  receiving the conventional insert in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a box according to an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the box in  FIG. 3  closed and ready for shipping according to an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the box in  FIGS. 3 and 4  before inserting an insert according to an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a partial perspective view of the box in  FIGS. 3 and 4  showing a divider in the box before placing flowers in the box, according to an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a partial perspective view of the box in  FIGS. 3 and 4  showing a divider in the box after placing flowers in the box, according to an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 8  is a partial perspective view of the box in  FIGS. 3 and 4  showing a divider dividing the interior of the box into two compartments after placing the flowers in the box, according to an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 9  is a plan view of a blank that can be formed into the box in  FIGS. 3–5  according to an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the blank in  FIG. 9  showing a first step in forming the blank into the box of  FIGS. 3–5  according to an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the blank in  FIG. 10  showing a next step in forming the blank into the box of  FIGS. 3–5  according to an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the blank in  FIG. 11  showing a next step in forming the blank into the box of  FIGS. 3–5  according to an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the blank in  FIG. 12  showing a next step in forming the blank into the box of  FIGS. 3–5  according to an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view of an intermediate box assembly formed by the method illustrated in  FIGS. 10–13  according to an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 15  is a perspective view of multiple intermediate box assemblies like the assembly in  FIG. 14  bundled for shipping or storing; 
       FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the intermediate box assembly in  FIG. 14  showing a first step in forming the intermediate box assembly into the box of  FIGS. 3–5  according to an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the intermediate box assembly in  FIG. 16  showing a next step in forming the intermediate box assembly into the box of  FIGS. 3–5  according to an embodiment of the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   All terms used herein, including those specifically described below in this section, are used in accordance with their ordinary meanings unless the context or definition indicates otherwise. Also, unless indicated otherwise, except within the claims, the use of “or” includes “and” and vice-versa. Non-limiting terms are not to be construed as limiting unless expressly stated (for example, “including” and “comprising” mean “including without limitation” unless expressly stated otherwise). 
   The invention provides boxes and methods that allow one to quickly and easily package flowers and accessories for shipment to a consumer without bending, bruising or otherwise damaging the flowers. In addition, the invention provides blanks and methods that allow one to quickly and easily generate the boxes and that ensure all of the components of the boxes will be available for properly packaging the flowers and accessories for shipment. Also, the invention provides intermediate box assemblies that are generated from the blanks and can be easily bundled together for shipment to or storage by the florist. These intermediate box assemblies eliminate most of the time consuming work performed by the packager of the flowers in generating the box before placing the flowers and accessories in the box. These intermediate box assemblies also eliminate one&#39;s need to keep track of two sets of inventory relating to the two conventional, separate components of the box—the box and the insert. Consequently, one can quickly and easily generate a box that can protect the flowers from the accessories during shipment and that can allow one to package the flowers without bending, bruising or otherwise damaging the flowers. 
   The boxes include a plurality of sides and a bottom that are connected to each other to define an interior, and an insert that extends from at least one of the sides or bottom. The blanks include at least two side sections and a bottom section connected to each other and an insert section that extends from one of the side or bottom sections. With the insert and insert section extending from one of the sides or bottom of the box, or one of the side or bottom sections of the blank, respectively, the insert or insert section is retained to the respective box or blank. This eliminates the need to keep track of two sets of inventory and greatly reduces the possibility of not being able to generate a box because either component—the insert or the box—is missing. The insert includes a divider that can extend from one of the sides of the box to another side to divide the interior into two or more compartments when the insert is inserted into the interior. Typically, one compartment contains the fragile flower portion of the flowers, while another compartment contains the less fragile stem portion of the flowers and the accessories. Thus, the fragile flower portions of the flowers are protected during shipment. The divider is typically attached to one or more of the sides after the flowers have been placed in the interior of the box. Thus, one can package the flowers in the box without bending, bruising or otherwise damaging the flowers. 
     FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate a box according to an embodiment of the invention.  FIGS. 5–8  illustrate the box of  FIGS. 3 and 4  and a method of inserting the insert and flowers into the interior of the box and then dividing the interior into two compartments.  FIG. 9  illustrates a blank that can easily generate the box of  FIGS. 3 and 4  according to an embodiment of the invention.  FIGS. 10–13  illustrate the blank of  FIG. 9  and a method of generating an intermediate box assembly according to an embodiment of the invention.  FIGS. 14 and 15  illustrate an intermediate box assembly according to an embodiment of the invention. And  FIGS. 16 and 17  illustrate a method of generating the box of  FIGS. 3–5  from the intermediate box assembly according to an embodiment of the invention. 
     FIGS. 3 and 4  are perspective views of a box  32  according to an embodiment of the invention. The box  32  can be made of any desirable material such as cardboard, corrugated cardboard, particle board, plastic, resilient rubber, or any other desired material, and the box  32  can be generated from the blank  80  shown and discussed in greater detail elsewhere herein or by any desired conventional technique. In this and certain other embodiments, the box  32  includes four sides  34   a – 34   d , that include a first side  34   a , a second side  34   b  and a bottom  36  that are connected to each other and define a rectangular interior  38 . The box  32  also includes an insert  40  that extends from the first side  34   a  and is inserted into the interior  38  by pivoting the insert  40  relative to the first side  34   a . The insert  40  includes a divider  42  that extends from the insert  40  toward the first side  34   a  and is attached to the first side  34   a . By extending between the first and second sides  34   a  and  34   b , the divider  42  divides the interior  38  into two compartments  44   a  and  44   b  that have equal or substantially equal volumes. The flower portions of the flowers are typically contained in the compartment  44   a  while the stems and accessories box  46  are contained in the compartment  44   b . Thus, the accessories box is substantially prevented from bruising or otherwise damaging the fragile flower portions contained in the compartment  44   a.    
   In this and certain other embodiments, the compartments  44   a  and  44   b  have equal or substantially equal volumes but in other embodiments, the compartments can have volumes that are not substantially equal. For example, if the flowers to be packaged and shipped include flower portions that are concentrated on ends of the flowers, then the compartment  44   a  can have a volume that is less than the volume of the compartment  44   b . Or, if the flowers include large flower portions and small stem portions, then the compartment  44   a  can have a volume more than the volume of the compartment  44   b . In addition, the compartment  44   a  can be located anywhere in the interior  38 . For example, the compartment  44   a  can be located at either end of the interior  38  or the compartment  44   a  can be located in the middle of the interior  38  with the compartment  44   b  located at at least one end of the interior  38 . 
   Still referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the insert  40  can extend from any desired location on the sides  34   a – 34   b  or the bottom  36 . In this and certain other embodiments, the insert  40  extends from a top end  48   a  of the first side  34   a . But in other embodiments, the insert  40  may extend from the top end  48   b  of the second side  34   b  or the insert  40  may extend from any location on the bottom  36 . For example, the insert  40  can extend from the corner where the bottom  36  and first side  34   a  meet or the corner where the bottom  36  and the second side  34   b  meet. Furthermore, in this and certain other embodiments, the insert  40  is integral to the first side  34   a  that it extends from. In other embodiments, however, the insert  40  can be attached to the top end  48   a  of the first side  34   a  by any desired conventional technique gluing, stitching, stapling, or any desired mechanical fastening technique. 
   Still referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the insert  40  includes a divider  42  that is shaped to permit the stem portion of the flowers to extend into the compartment  44   b  while preventing the accessories box or other items contained in the compartment  44   b  from entering the compartment  44   a . In addition, the divider  42  can be attached to one of the sides  34   a – 34   b  after the flowers have been placed in the interior  38  of the box  32 . In this and certain other embodiments, the divider  42  includes a plurality of flexible fingers  49  that extend from the divider  42  and allow one to use the same or substantially same divider  42  to package different quantities of flowers. Thus, the box can have one standard insert that can be used to ship different quantities of flowers. In addition, the divider  42  is shaped like an upside down “U” and has the same or approximately the same height as the first and second sides  34   a  and  34   b . In other embodiments, the divider  42  can have any desired shape that permits the stem portions to extend into the compartment  44   b  while preventing other items contained in the compartment  44   b  from entering the compartment  44   a , such as an upside down “W”, and can have a height different that the first and second sides  34   a  and  34   b . To divide the interior  38  into the compartments  44   a  and  44   b  and protect the flower portions contained in the compartment  44   a , the divider  42  extends between the first and second sides  34   a  and  34   b  and can be attached to the side  34   a  by inserting a divider end  50  between the insert  40  and the side  34   a . In other embodiments, the divider  42  can extend between other sides such as  34   c  and  34   d , or  34   a  and either  34   c  or  34   d , or  34   b  and either  34   c  and  34   d . In addition, the divider  42  can be attached to any of the sides  34   a – 34   b  using conventional fasteners such as Velcro®, snaps, string or wire, or by any desired fastening technique. 
   Still referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the insert  40  can also include tie-down holes  52  that can be used to help retain the flowers in the interior  38  and an insert top  54  that can cover the compartment  44   a  to help protect the flower portions contained in the compartment  44   a . In this and certain other embodiments, six tie-down holes  52  (three tie-down holes shown) are located in an insert bottom  56  at various distances between each other and the divider  42  to accommodate different flower sizes and different quantities of flowers that can be contained in the box  32 . To tie down the flowers in the box  32 , a metal wire  58  is threaded through two of the tie-down holes  52  and wrapped around the stem portions of the flowers. The ends  60  of the metal wire  58  are then tied together to retain the flowers to the insert bottom  56 . In other embodiments, string made of any desired material or plastic ties or straps with adjustable latches can be used to tie down the flowers in the box  32 . In this and certain other embodiments, the insert top  54  typically extends from the top end  48   a  of the first side  34   a  and is pivoted relative to the first side  34   a  to cover the compartment  44   a  as desired. That is, the insert top  54  can be pivoted or remain un-pivoted relative to the first side  34   a  irrespective of whether or not the insert  40  is inserted into the interior region  38 . In other embodiments, the insert top  54  may only cover a portion of the compartment  44   a  as desired. 
   Still referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the box  32  can also include a top that covers the interior region  38  of the box, and thus both compartments  44   a  and  44   b , to protect the flowers and accessories during shipment. In this and certain other embodiments, the top extends from the top end  48   b  of the second side  34   b  and is integral to the second side  34   b . But in other embodiments, the top  62  can extend from the top end  48   a  of the first side  34   a  or the top  62  can extend from the sides  34   c  and  34   d  or any location on the bottom  36 . Furthermore, in other embodiments, the top  62  can be attached to the top end  48   b  by any desired conventional technique such as gluing, stitching, stapling, or any other desired mechanical fastening technique. The top  62  is also sized to cover the interior region  38  and to contact the outer surface of the second side  34   b —the surface outside the interior  38 —when the top  62  is pivoted toward the interior  38  to close the box  32 . 
   Still referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , to keep the box  32  closed during shipment, the top  62  includes and attachment strip  64  that substantially extends the width of the top  62 . The attachment strip  64  can be made of any desired adhesive or composite of any adhesive and any other desired material. For example, the attachment strip  64  can be double sided tape with one side adhering to the top  62  and a film adhering to the other side that, before attaching the attachment strip  64  to the first side  34   a , must be peeled away. In other embodiments, the attachment strip  64  can be made of any water or other chemically activated adhesive. 
   Still referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , to open the box  32 , after the attachment strip  64  has been attached to the first side  34   a , the top  62  includes a tear strip  66  that also extends the width of the top  62  and is located between the attachment strip  64  and the top end  48   b  of the second side  34   b . The tear strip  66  can be made by any desired technique that allows the tear strip  66  to be easily removed from the top  62  and yet retain the attachment strip  64  to the top  62  when the tear strip  66  is not removed. For example, the tear strip  66  can be made by perforating a section of the top  62 . In other embodiments, the tear strip  66  can be a cord or thread that removably stitches the attachment strip  64  to the top  62  such that when the cord or thread is pulled the stitching unravels and the attachment strip  64  is removed from the top  62 . 
   Although the box  32  in  FIGS. 3 and 4  is shown and described as a rectangular box, the box  32  can have any desired number of sides such as three, five or six. 
     FIGS. 5–8  illustrate the box  32  of  FIGS. 3 and 4  and a method of inserting the insert and flowers into the interior  38  of the box  32  and then dividing the interior  38  into two compartments  44   a  and  44   b  with the divider  42 . With this method, one can quickly and easily insert the insert  40  into the interior  38  of the box  32  and package flowers in the box  32  without bending, bruising or otherwise damaging the flowers. 
   Referring to  FIG. 5 , in this and certain other embodiments, one first threads a metal wire  58  through two or more of the tie-down holes  52 , as discussed elsewhere herein. Then one pivots the insert  40  about the top end  48   a  of the first side  34   a  and toward the interior  38  to insert the insert  40  into the interior  38 . When inserted, the insert  40  nests in the interior  38  between the sides  34   a  and  34   b  and the bottom  36 . For example, the first insert side  68 , the insert bottom  56  and the second insert side  72 , each of the insert  40 , can respectively contact the first side  34   a , the bottom  36  and the second side  34   b . The divider  42  does not extend between the sides  34   a  and  34   b  yet but rather is located adjacent the second side  34   b  or can also contact the second side  34   b . With the divider in this position, one can place the flowers into the interior region  38  and against the insert bottom  56  and the bottom  36  of the box  32  without bending, bruising or otherwise damaging the flowers. 
   Referring to  FIG. 6 , in this and certain other embodiments, one next pivots a portion  74  of the divider  42  about a gate axis  76  and away from the bottom  36  of the box  32  to permit one to extend the divider between the first and second sides  34   a  and  34   b  after the flowers have been placed in the box  32 . If the portion  74  of the divider  42  remained extended toward the bottom  36  of the box  32 , one would not be able to pivot the divider  42  about the divider axis  78  to extend the divider  42  between the sides  34   a  and  34   b . Consequently, the gate axis  76  can be located anywhere on the divider  42  that sufficiently moves the portion  74 , when the portion  74  is pivoted, to permit the divider  42  to be pivoted about the divider axis  78  after the flowers are in the box  32 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 7 , in this and certain other embodiments, one next places the flowers against the insert bottom  56  and the bottom  36 . With the divider  42  adjacent to or contacting the second sided  34   b , the flowers can be inserted into the box  32  containing the insert  40  without bending, bruising or otherwise damaging the flowers. Next, one wraps the metal wire  58  around the stem portions of the flowers and twists the ends  60  of the metal wire  58  to retain the flowers to the insert bottom  56  and thus keep the flower portions of the flowers from bruising or otherwise damaging themselves during shipment. 
   Referring to  FIG. 8 , in this and certain other embodiments, one pivots the divider  42  about the divider axis  78  and toward the first side  34   a  to extend the divider  42  between the sides  34   a  and  34   b  and divide the interior region  38  into two compartments  44   a  and  44   b . Then to complete the extension of the divider  42  between the sides  34   a  and  34   b , one pivots the portion  74  about the gate axis  76  and toward the bottom  36 . Then one pivots the divider end  50  relative to the portion  74  and inserts the divider end  50  between the first insert side  68  and the first side  34   a  of the box  32  to attach the divider to the first side  34   a . Thus, the divider  42  divides the interior region  38  into two compartments and can prevent the accessories (not shown) contained in the compartment  44   b  from bruising or otherwise damaging the flowers contained in the compartment  44   a.    
   The invention also provides blanks and methods that allow one to quickly and easily generate the boxes and that ensure an insert will be available for properly packaging the flowers and accessories for shipment. The blanks include at least two side sections and a bottom section connected to each other that define an interior when the sections are pivoted relative to each other to form the box  32  of  FIGS. 3–5 . The blanks also include an insert section extending from one of the side sections and including at least two insert portions that can be pivoted relative to each other to generate an insert. When the insert and the interior defined by the side and bottom sections are generated, the insert can be inserted into the interior to prepare the box  32  of  FIGS. 3–5  for packaging flowers and accessories. Thus, the blanks ensure that an insert will be available to protect the flowers during shipment in the generated box. The insert section also includes a divider that extends from one of the insert portions and that, when desired, can divide the interior into two compartments when the interior is generated. 
     FIG. 9  is a top view of a blank  80  that can be easily generated into the box  32  of  FIGS. 3–5  according to an embodiment of the invention. In this and certain other embodiments, the blank  80  includes an insert section  82 , a first side section  84 , a bottom section  86 , a second side section  88  and a top section  90  that are connected to each other by being integral to each other. But in other embodiments, the sections  82 – 90  can be connected to each other by any desired fastening technique such as fastening them together with stitches, adhesive, staples, or any other desired mechanical fasteners. More specifically, the insert section  82  extends from the first side section  84 , and the first side section  84  is connected to the bottom section  86  opposite the insert section  82 . Opposite the first side section  84 , the second side section  88  is connected to the bottom section  86 , and the top section  90  is connected to the second side section  88  opposite the bottom section  86 . Thus, the insert section  82  corresponds to the insert  40  in  FIGS. 3–5 , and the sections  84 – 90  respectively correspond to the first side  34   a , the bottom  36 , the second side  34   b  and the top  62  of the box  32  in  FIGS. 3–5 . 
   Still referring to  FIG. 9 , in this and certain other embodiments, the insert section  82  includes a first insert-side portion  92  extending from the first side section  84 , an insert-bottom portion  94  extending from the first insert-side portion  92  opposite the first side section  84 , and a second insert-side portion  96  extending from the insert-bottom portion  94  opposite the first insert-side portion  92 . These insert portions  92 – 96  respectively correspond to the first insert side  68  in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the insert bottom  56  in  FIGS. 3 and 4  and the second insert side  72  in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The insert section  82  also includes the divider  42  in  FIGS. 3–8  that extends from the second insert-side portion  96  and can be pivoted about the divider axis  78  to extend the insert  40  between the sides  34   a  and  34   b  as shown in  FIGS. 3–8 . 
   Still referring to  FIG. 9 , in this and certain other embodiments, the first side section  84  includes a first-side-section body  98   a  having a first, second, third and fourth first-side-section end,  100   a – 100   d , respectively, and a first and second first-side-section flap  102   a  and  102   b  extending from the third and fourth first-side-section ends  102   c  and  102   d  respectively. The first first-side-section flap  102   a  can be pivoted about the third first-side-section end  100   c  while the second first-side-section flap  102   b  can be pivoted about the fourth first-side-section end  100   d  to combine with the flaps of the other sections  98   b  and  98   c , discussed elsewhere herein, to form the sides  34   c  and  34   d  of the box  32  in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
   Still referring to  FIG. 9 , in this and certain other embodiments, the bottom section  86  includes a bottom-section body  98   b  having a first, second, third and fourth bottom-section end,  104   a – 104   d , respectively, and a first and second bottom-section flap  106   a  and  106   b  extending from the third and fourth bottom-section ends  104   c  and  104   d , respectively. The first bottom-section flap  106   a  can be pivoted about the third bottom-section end  104   c  while the second bottom-section flap  106   b  can be pivoted about the fourth bottom-section end  104   d  to combine with the flaps of the other sections  98   a  and  98   c , discussed elsewhere herein, to form the sides  34   c  and  34   d  of the box  32  in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
   Still referring to  FIG. 9 , in this and certain other embodiments, the second side section  88  includes a second-side-section body  98   c  having a first, second, third and fourth second-side-section end,  108   a – 108   d , respectively, and a first and second second-side-section flap  110   a  and  110   b  extending from the third and fourth second-side-section ends  108   c  and  108   d , respectively. The first second-side-section flap  110   a  can be pivoted about the third second-side-section end  108   c  while the second second-side-section flap  108   b  can be pivoted about the fourth second-side-section end  104   d  to combine with the flaps of the other sections  98   a  and  98   b , discussed elsewhere herein, to form the sides  34   c  and  34   d  of the box  32  in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
   Still referring to  FIG. 9 , in this and certain other embodiments, the sections  84 – 88 , the insert portions  92 – 96 , the divider  42  and the flaps  102   a  and  102   b ,  106   a  and  106   b , and  110   a  and  110   b  of each section  84 – 88  are integral to the respective elements each extends from. In other embodiments, however, the sections  84 – 88 , the insert portions  92 – 96 , the divider  42  and the flaps  102   a  and  102   b ,  106   a  and  106   b , and  110   a  and  110   b  of each section  84 – 88  can be attached to the respective elements each extends from by any desired fastening technique such as gluing, stitching, stapling, or any other desired mechanical fastening technique. 
     FIGS. 10–13 ,  16  and  17  are perspective views of the blank  80  of  FIG. 9  and illustrate a method of generating the box  32  of  FIGS. 3–5  from the blank  80  according to an embodiment of the invention.  FIGS. 14 and 15  are perspective views of an intermediate box assembly that can be generated from the blank  80  by the method illustrated in  FIGS. 10–13  and that can be used with the method illustrated in  FIGS. 16 and 17  to quickly and easily generate the box  32 . With these methods, one can generate an intermediate box assembly that can be easily bundled and shipped to or stored by one packaging the flowers for shipment. Then, when one needs to ship flowers to a customer, one can quickly and easily generate the box  32 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 10–13 , the flaps  102   a  and  102   b ,  106   a  and  106   b , and  110   a  and  110   b  are pivoted and then attached to each other to form an intermediate box assembly  112  shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 . Referring to  FIG. 10 , in this and certain other embodiments, one first pivots each of the first and second first-side-section flaps  102   a  and  102   b  about a respective first-side-section axis  114  in the direction shown by the arrows  116 . Then, referring to  FIG. 11 , one applies adhesive  118  on the first and second first-side-section flaps  102   a  and  102   b . The adhesive  118  can be any desired conventional adhesive that will sufficiently attach the flaps  102   a  and  102   b ,  106   a  and  106   b , and  110   a  and  110   b  together so that the box  32  can be generated and flowers contained in the box can be protected during shipment. Then, one attaches a first portion  120  of each of the first and second bottom-section flaps  106   a  and  106   b  to the first and second first-side-section flaps  102   a  and  102   b , respectively, by pivoting each of the flaps  106   a  and  106   b  about the third and fourth bottom-section ends  104   c  and  104   d , respectively, in the direction shown by the arrows  122 . Then, referring to  FIG. 12 , one pivots a second portion  124  of each of the first and second bottom-section flaps  106   a  and  106   b  about a respective bottom-section-flap axis  125  in the direction of the arrow  126 . Then, one applies adhesive  118  to the second portion  124  of each of the first and second bottom-section flaps  106   a  and  106   b . Then, one pivots each of the first and second second-side-section flaps  110   a  and  110   b  about the third and fourth second-side-section ends  108   c  and  108   d , respectively, in the direction shown by the arrows  128 . Then, referring to  FIG. 13 , one pivots the second side section  88  about the second bottom-section end  104   b  in the direction shown by the arrows  130  and attaches the first and second second-side-section flaps  110   a  and  110   b  to respective second portions  124  so that the second side section  88  is parallel or substantially parallel to the bottom section  86 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 14 and 15 , thus, the intermediate box assembly  112  is generated from the blank  80  of  FIG. 9 . Typically, the method is performed by the manufacturer of the blank and can be quickly and easily executed with conventional automated box forming machinery. Thus, one no longer has to spend valuable time pivoting and gluing the sides of a convention blank to generate a conventional box. Furthermore, the intermediate box assembly  112  can be easily bundled as shown in  FIG. 15  for shipment to or storage by one packaging the flowers for shipment because the intermediate box assembly  112  is flat or substantially flat. Then, when the florist needs to ship some flowers to a customer, he/she can easily generate the box  32  of  FIGS. 3–5  by completing the method as illustrated in  FIGS. 16 and 17 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 16 and 17 , one can generate the box  32  in  FIGS. 3–5  from the intermediate box assembly  112  in  FIGS. 14 and 15  quickly and easily. Referring to  FIG. 16 , in this and certain other embodiments, one pivots the top section  90  about the second second-side-section end  108   b  in the direction of the arrow  132  and gently pivots the second side section  88  about the second bottom-section end  104   b  and away from the bottom section  86 . Referring to  FIG. 17 , because the first section flaps  102   a ,  106   a  and  110   a  are attached to each other and the second section flaps  102   b ,  106   b  and  110   b  are attached to each other, the sections  84 – 88  are urged to generate the sides  34   a – 34   d  and the bottom  36  that define a rectangular interior  38 . To help generate the rectangular interior  38 , one can push or pull the sides  34   c  and  34   d  in the direction shown by the arrows  138  away from the interior  38 . With the generation of the interior  38 , the insert  40  can be generated from the insert section  82  and inserted into the interior  38  to generate the box  32 . 
   Although the box, blank, intermediate box assembly and methods for generating the box and intermediate box assembly and methods for using the box have been described in considerable detail with reference to certain embodiments for purposes of illustration, other embodiments are possible. Therefore the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the above description of the embodiments; the present invention includes suitable modifications as well as all permutations and combinations of the subject matter set forth herein.