Abstract:
This invention relates generally to an apparatus for shipping flowers that provides moisture and nutrients to the flowers during shipping which significantly increases their life expectancy provides protection to the fragile stem ends.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     1. Field of Invention  
         [0002]     This invention relates generally to an apparatus for shipping flowers that provides moisture and nutrients to the flowers during shipping which significantly increases their life expectancy and a method of using same.  
         [0003]     2. Prior Art  
         [0004]     U.S. Pat. No. 3,552,059 Moore 1971 disclosed a block of absorbent floral foam enclosed in a cardboard box with a large opening at the top which is covered by a thin, flower stem penetrable plastic film. The foam is soaked in water and flower stems are individually punched through the plastic film and buried into the water soaked foam. This system is prone to leakage and is limited in that the flowers must be individually inserted, the boxes and film are expensive to make and time consuming to use and the foam dries up over time.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,115,915 Harris 1992 aftempts to resolve these problems by providing a water filled or a water soaked floral foam filled container with cut flower stems inserted and a rigid, non-absorbent, foamed in-place block of material to seal the moisture in the bottom section and provide support to the cut flower stems. This system is also relatively expensive and time consuming.  
         [0006]     2005/0138862 O&#39;Conner 2005 discloses another approach to solve the problem of moisture leaking from a water well with flower stems inserted by providing a foam block with openings through it, slightly larger than the flower stems in question inserted, in a flexible ring above water surface. After the flower stems are individually inserted into their individual channels the ring is radially compressed, sealing each stem in its own passageway. Again this is a time consuming and expensive system to utilize.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,475 Weder et al. 1994 discloses a simpler less expensive system by providing a sheet of moisture absorbing and releasing material to be soaked in water and wrapped around a group of cut flower stems and secured with a rubber band. This product often allows the flower stems in the center a bundle to be out of contact with the moisture-carrying sheet of material or crushed by rough handling or packing and allows the onset of stenosis before the flowers are delivered.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0008]     An object of the present invention is to provide a leak free apparatus and a method of using same for providing moisture at the cut end of the stems of flower bundles during shipping.  
         [0009]     A further object of the present invention is to provide a leak free apparatus and a method of using same for providing moisture at the cut end of the stems of flower bundles during shipping which allows a single flower stem or the full bundle to be entered into the moisture carrying medium with just one insertion.  
         [0010]     A further object is to provide a leak free apparatus and a method of using same for providing moisture at the cut end of the stems of flower bundles during shipping wherein the moisture carrying medium is encased on all sides and the perimeter of the bottom with an impervious barrier, leaving the top surface open for floral insertion and the center of the bottom surface open for excess moisture drainage before bagging.  
         [0011]     A further object is to provide a leak free apparatus and a method of using same for providing moisture at the cut end of the stems of flower bundles during shipping wherein various sizes and shapes of moisture carrying medium apparatus are provided for different size and groupings of cut flowers.  
         [0012]     A further object is to provide a leak free apparatus and a method of using same for providing moisture at the cut end of the stems of flower bundles during shipping wherein the flower stems are inserted into the moisture carrier medium and soaked in water until moisture carrier medium is saturated and flower stems have absorbed as much moisture as they can, and packaged for shipping in an economic and efficient process.  
         [0013]     A further object is to provide a leak free apparatus and a method of using same for providing moisture at the cut end of the stems of flower bundles during shipping wherein the moisture carrying medium is highly compressible or compatible, reducing landfill disposal requirements.  
         [0014]     A further object is to provide a leak free apparatus and a method of using same for providing moisture at the cut end of the stems of flower bundles during shipping wherein the cut ends of the flower stems to be shipped are protected from bruising or crushing that would block the flow of moisture into the cut ends of the stems.  
         [0015]     A further object is to provide a leak free apparatus and a method of using same for providing moisture at the cut end of the stems of flower bundles during shipping wherein the moisture carrying medium is not crushed by insertion of the cut flower stems either by providing clearance wells or by giving the displaced material room to move and floral foam block stability is enhanced by the banding effect of shrink-wrapping the perimeter walls.  
         [0016]     The present invention, in its several embodiments, meets the above mentioned objectives.  
         [0017]     Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and accompanying drawings. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof, and in which are shown, by way of illustration, four specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be subscribed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice this invention, and be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views.  
     
    
     DRAWINGS  
       [0018]     In order that the invention may be more fully understood it will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying exemplary drawings in which:  
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a foam cylindrical block.  
         [0020]      FIG. 1A  is a top perspective view of a sleeve type shrink-wrapped cylindrical block of floral foam with no overlap on top.  
         [0021]      FIG. 1B  is a bottom perspective view of a sleeve type shrink-wrapped cylindrical block of floral foam with no overlap on Bottom.  
         [0022]      FIG. 1C  is a top perspective view of a sleeve type shrink-wrapped cylindrical block of floral foam with an overlap on top.  
         [0023]      FIG. 1D  is a bottom perspective view of a sleeve type shrink-wrapped cylindrical block of floral foam with an overlap on bottom.  
         [0024]      FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of a foam cubical Block.  
         [0025]      FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of a twice-required length cylindrical block of floral foam.  
         [0026]      FIG. 3A  is a top perspective view of a shrink-wrapped twice-required length cylindrical block of floral foam.  
         [0027]      FIG. 3B  is a bottom perspective view of a shrink-wrapped foam cylindrical block severed into two equal parts.  
         [0028]      FIG. 3C  is a bottom perspective view of a shrink-wrapped foam cylindrical block severed into two equal parts with drain holes in the bottom of the shrink-wrap material.  
         [0029]      FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of a twice-required length rectangular block of floral foam.  
         [0030]      FIG. 4A  is a top perspective view of a shrink-wrapped twice-required length rectangular block of floral foam.  
         [0031]      FIG. 4B  is a bottom perspective view of a shrink-wrapped foam rectangular block severed into two equal parts.  
         [0032]      FIG. 4C  is a bottom perspective view of a shrink-wrapped foam rectangular block severed into two equal parts with drain holes in the bottom of the shrink-wrap material.  
         [0033]      FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of a foam cylindrical block with flower stems inserted.  
         [0034]     FIG. 6  is a front view of a foam block with flower stems inserted being soaked in moisture loading tank.  
         [0035]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a soaked foam cylindrical block with flower stems inserted in a plastic bag, ready for shipment.  
         [0036]      FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of a cubical plastic case with living hinge snap-seal lid, open with a cubical block of floral foam inserted.  
         [0037]      FIG. 8   b  is a perspective view of a cubical plastic case with living hinge snap sealed lid closed, with a cubical block of floral foam inserted.  
         [0038]      FIG. 8C  is an enlarged partial section view showing the snap details on the inside edge of the lid and mating detail on the outside of the plastic case.  
         [0039]      FIG. 8D  is a bottom perspective view of a cubical plastic case with a cubical block of floral foam inserted without a drain hole.  
         [0040]      FIG. 8E  is a bottom perspective view of a cubical plastic case with a cubical block of floral foam inserted with a drain hole.  
         [0041]      FIG. 8F  is a top perspective view of a cubical plastic case with a cubical block of floral foam with a pattern of stem wells inserted.  
         [0042]      FIG. 9A  is a perspective view of a cylindrical plastic case with a closed snap sealed lid with a cylindrical block of floral foam inserted.  
         [0043]      FIG. 9B  is bottom perspective view of a cylindrical plastic case with a closed snap sealed lid with a cylindrical block of floral foam inserted with a drain hole in the bottom surface.  
         [0044]      FIG. 9C  is a perspective view of a cylindrical plastic case with a closed snap sealed lid with a cylindrical block of floral foam with a pattern of stem wells inserted.  
         [0045]      FIG. 10A  is a top perspective view showing a cylindrical block of floral foam with stem wells.  
         [0046]      FIG. 10B  is a front perspective view of a shrink-wrapped foam cylindrical block with a pattern of stem wells.  
         [0047]      FIG. 10C  is a front perspective view of a sleeve type shrink-wrapped cylindrical block of floral foam with a pattern of stem wells.  
         [0048]      FIG. 11A  is a front perspective view showing a cubical block of floral foam with stem wells.  
         [0049]      FIG. 11B  is a front perspective view of a shrink-wrapped foam cubical block with a pattern of stem wells. 
     
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS  
       [0050]     The same reference numbers are used to refer to the same or similar parts in the various views. 
     12 —Aquapac System      14 —cylindrical floral foam block      15 —cylindrical floral foam block with stem wells      16 —cubical floral foam block      17 —cubical floral foam block with stem wells      18 —twice-required length cylindrical foam block      19 —Plastic shrink-wrap      20 —twice-required length rectangular foam block      21 —Plastic sleeve shrink-wrap      22 —cut flower stems      24 —plastic bag      26 —bag top fasteners      28 —soak tank      30 —foam block top surface      32 —foam block bottom surface      34 —foam block perimeter wall      36 —flower bundle      38 —preservative packets      40 —preservative solution      42 —living hinges      44 —lid snap-latch bead      46 —case snap-latch bead      48 —lid      50 —cylindrical plastic case      52 —individual stem wells      53 —cubical plastic case      54 —cubical plastic case with hinged snap-sealed lid      56 —shrink-wrapped twice-length cylindrical floral foam block      58 —severed segment of shrink-wrapped twice-length cylindrical floral foam block      60 —shrink-wrapped twice-length rectangular floral foam block      62 —severed segment of shrink-wrapped twice-length rectangular floral foam block      64 —cubical plastic case assembly      66 —cylindrical plastic case assembly      68 —severed segment of shrink-wrapped twice-length cylindrical floral foam block with stem wells      70 —severed segment of shrink-wrapped twice-length rectangular foam block with stem wells      72 —cylindrical plastic case assembly with stem wells      74 —cubical plastic assembly with stem wells      76 —excess water drain hole      78 —sleeve shrink-wrapped cylindrical foam block with top overlap      80 —sleeve shrink-wrapped cylindrical foam block with bottom overlap      82 —sleeve shrink-wrapped cylindrical foam block with no top overlap      84 —sleeve shrink-wrapped cylindrical foam block with stem wells with no bottom overlap      86 —cubical plastic case assembly with drain hole      88 —cylindrical plastic case with drain hole      90 —cylindrical plastic case assembly with drain hole      92 —cylindrical block of floral foam sleeve shrink-wrapped with stem wells      94 —severed segment of shrink-wrapped twice-length cylindrical floral foam block with drain hole      96 —severed segment of shrink-wrapped twice-length rectangular floral floral foam block with drain hole    
 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0099]     Four embodiments of Aquapac  12  will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying  FIGS. 1 through 11 B.  
         [0100]     The first preferred embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  and  5 - 7 .  FIGS. 1 and 2  show floral foam blocks  14  and  16  in cylindrical and cubic shapes respectively. Floral foam blocks  14  and  16  can be cut from an extruded block of fine open cell floral foam such AQUAFOAM® from Syndicate Sales, Inc. in various predetermined diameter or diagonal dimensions. Blocks  14  and  16  are sized to have sufficient cross-sectional areas to receive cut flower stems  22  of the desired size shipping flower bundle  36 . They also are sized to contain sufficient moisture carrying capabilities to provide the moisture and or nutrients required allowing flower bundles  36  to arrive at their destinations in a hydrated state. Blocks made from this material crush to a powder form, dramatically reducing landfill disposal requirements.  
         [0000]     Operation:  
         [0101]     Foam blocks  14  and  16 , plastic bags  24 , preservative packets  38  and bag top fasteners  26  are delivered to florist or wholesaler for use in packing flowers, maximizing their life expectancy.  
         [0102]     Cut flower stems  22  are inserted through foam block top surface  30 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , and buried in floral foam block  14  and  16 .  
         [0103]     Flower bundles  36  with their cut stems  22  buried in floral foam blocks  14  and  16 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , are then submersed in soak tank  28 .  FIG. 6  shows a front view of same. Floral foam blocks  14  and  16  with cut stems  22  inserted are left in soak tank  28  a sufficient time for floral foam bock  14  and  16  to become saturated and for cut flower stems  22  to become as fully hydrated as possible. Typically this occurs overnight but would vary with different size bundles and different species of flowers. Soak tank  28  is preferably filled with preservative solution  40 . Solution  40  can be of cool water or a mixture of water, nutrients and preservatives.  
         [0104]      FIG. 7  shows saturated block  14  or  16  with cut flower stems  22  inserted, placed into plastic bag  24  with several preservative packets  38  wrapped around the top of the bag and secured by bag top fasteners  26  such as wire ties or rubber bands. Bag top fasteners  26  hold preservative packets  38  in place. They also seal the top opening of plastic bag  24  tight enough to flower stems  22  to prevent leakage or evaporation of the needed moisture, but not so tight as to collapse the moisture carrying capillaries in cut flower stems  22 . The hydrated bouquet in Aquapac  12  package is then placed in a shipping container, not shown or part of this invention.  
         [0105]     The second preferred embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 1A-1D ,  3 - 3 C and  4 - 4 C and is processed in the same manner as the first embodiment above except it provides another step in evaporation prevention.  FIGS. 3 and 4  show floral foam blocks  18  and  20  in cylindrical and rectangular forms respectively that are twice as long as required. Floral foam blocks  18  and  20  are then shrink-wrapped using conventional total enclosure shrink-wrap materials  19  and processes; or are shrink-wrapped utilizing the conventional sleeve type of shrink-wrapping materials  21  and processes.  
         [0106]     The conventional shrink-wrapping process creates shrink-wrapped twice-length cylindrical floral foam block  56  and shrink-wrapped twice-length rectangular floral foam block  60  respectively as shown in  FIGS. 3A and 4A . These shrink-wrapped floral foam block assemblies  56  and  60  are then severed into two approximately equal length cylindrical segments  58  and cubical segments  62  respectively as shown in  FIGS. 3B and 4B . This operation leaves foam block bottom surface  32  and foam block perimeter walls  34  impervious to moisture and foam block top surface  30  open for insertion of cut flower stems  22 . Shrink-wrap materials  19  on the bottom and perimeter walls  32  and  34  reduce exposed surface area and proportionally reduce evaporation of absorbed moisture.  FIGS. 3C and 4C  show drain hole  76  may be cut in the bottom of shrink-wrap material  19  of severed segments  94  and  96  to allow any excess preservative solution  40  to drain from foam before it is placed in plastic bag  24  and sealed with bag top fasteners  26 .  
         [0107]     A sleeve type shrink-wrapping process option eliminates the severing operation and drain hole  76  cutting process steps by using a cylindrical sleeve of shrink-wrap material  21  that may be sized to shrink to the exact length of the cylindrical foam block  14  used or slightly longer than cylindrical floral foam block  14  that is being encased. The excess material can be wrapped either on top or under cylindrical floral foam block  14  or some overlap allowed on both top and bottom surfaces  30  and  32  respectively as is shown in  FIGS. 1A-1D  and  10 C.  
         [0000]     Operation:  
         [0108]     Shrink-wrapped foam segments  58 ,  62 ,  78 ,  80 ,  82 ,  84 ,  94  and  96 , plastic bags  24 , preservative packets  38  and bag top fasteners  26  are delivered to florist or wholesaler for use in packaging flowers, maximizing their life expectancy.  
         [0109]     The process of floral insertion, soaking and bagging is then the same as in embodiment one above.  
         [0110]     The third embodiment replaces the shrink-wrap encasements  58 ,  62 ,  78 ,  80 ,  82 ,  84 ,  94  and  96  from embodiment two above with cylindrical plastic cases  50  and  88  with drain hole  76  or cubical plastic cases  53 ,  54  or  86  with drain hole  76 , with snap-on lids  48  with openings through which to insert cut flower stems  22  as shown in FIGS.  8 A-E and  9 A and  9 B. In this embodiment, floral foam blocks  14  and  16  are inserted into plastic cases  50  and  86 , or  53 ,  54  and  88  respectively and lids  48  are snapped into place, forming cubical plastic case assemblies  64 ,  74  and  86  and cylindrical plastic case assemblies  66 ,  72  and  90 . A preferred snap detail is shown in the enlarged cross section view of  FIG. 8C  where bead  46  runs around the outside of perimeter walls  34  close to the top of the case. An overlapping or snap-over bead  44  is located on the inside bottom edge of lids  48 . Either cylindrical case  50  and  88 , or cubical cases  53 ,  54  and  86  can be easily molded with lids  48  attached to case walls  34  with living hinges  42  as shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B  or with separate lids  48  as shown in FIGS.  8 D-F and  9 A-C and any of the standard plastic case lid fasteners would suffice.  
         [0000]     Operation:  
         [0111]     Plastic case assemblies  64 ,  66 ,  72 ,  74 , and  86 , plastic bags  24 , preservative packets  38  and bag top fasteners  26  are delivered to florist or wholesaler for use in packaging flowers, maximizing their life expectancy.  
         [0112]     Bundles of cut flower stems  20  are then inserted though the openings in lids  48  and buried in foam blocks  14  and  16 . The process of soaking and bagging is then the same as in embodiments one and two above. The additional rigidity of plastic cases  50  and  86 , or  53 ,  54  and  88  provides an extra measure of crush and or bruise protection to the relatively fragile cut ends of the flower stems  22  which must remain open to allow moisture flow into stems  22 .  
         [0113]     The fourth embodiment entails adding stem wells  52  into the floral foam blocks to minimize crushing of the foam material from flower stem insertion as illustrated in  FIGS. 8F, 9C ,  10 A- 10 C and  11 A and  11 B.  
         [0114]     Addition of stem wells  52  in floral foam blocks  15  and  17  is shown in  FIGS. 10A and 11A  respectively. Stem wells  52  provide clearance for stems  22 , maximizing the moisture absorption capability of these foam blocks by reducing the crushing of the floral foam from forcing flower stems  22  into solid floral foam blocks. This modification entails forming stem wells  52  in a pattern to fit the size and number of stems  22  in the intended bundle  36  to be shipped. Stem wells  52  are preferably formed starting at top surface  30  and progressing to a depth of approximately one half of perimeter wall  34  length. Stem wells  52  preferably have an appropriate diameter such that the stem  22  walls remain in contact with the moisture bearing floral foam. The pattern of stem wells  52  needs to be such as to keep an inscribed annular ring of approximately  2  cm. in width clear of any stem wells  52  to maintain stability of foam blocks  15  and  17 . Although stem wells  52  can be sized to provide a light slip fit to individual stems  22 , they also can provide for an easier insertion into the dry foam of a bundle of flower stems by giving the displaced foam from stem insertion a place to move without crushing.  
         [0115]      FIGS. 10B, 10C  and  11 B show similar modifications to shrink-wrapped cylindrical floral foam block with stem wells  68 , to shrink-wrapped cubical floral foam block with stem wells  70 , and to sleeve shrink-wrapped cylindrical floral foam block with stem wells  92  that provide similar crush reduction and moisture absorption improvements.  
         [0116]      FIGS. 8F and 9C  show case assemblies  74  and  72  with similar patterns of stem wells  52 . Sufficient clearance between the outboard tangents of the well diameter and the I.D. of the lid  48  opening are required to keep flower stems  22  from riding on the plastic lid  48  edge. FIGS.  8 E-F shows optional cubical case design  53  without living hinges  42 .  
         [0000]     Operation:  
         [0117]     Foam blocks  15  and  17 , shrink-wrapped foam segments  68 ,  70 ,  92 ,  94 , and  96 , plastic case assemblies  72 ,  74 ,  86  and  90 , plastic bags  24 , preservative packets  38  and bag top fasteners  26  are delivered to florist or wholesaler for use in packaging flowers, maximizing their life expectancy.  
         [0118]     This embodiment with the individual stem well  52  patterns requires a little more care in the insertion of stems  22  into wells  52  but provides more beneficial contact between the stem  22  walls and the moisture bearing floral foam when individual stems  22  are inserted into the individual stem wells  52 . The ease of insertion of an entire bundle of stems  22  is also enhanced even if the stems  22  do not fit into wells  52  because the foam material displaced by the penetrating flower stems  22  has a space in which to relocate provided by the stem wells  52 . After flower stem  22  insertions, the rest of the soaking, bagging and shipping process is the same as in previously described embodiments.  
         [0119]     While this invention has been described with reference to four illustrative embodiments, it will be understood that this description is not limiting as to size, scale or construction materials. Rather, the scope of this invention is defined by the following claims.