Patent ID: 12202666

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.1shows an exemplary embodiment of a packaging box configuration according to the invention, for protectively packaging one or more potted plants (not shown), comprising a basic box1made of sheet material, preferably cardboard, having a fixed bottom/rear wall, referred to below as fixed wall2, four side walls3and an open top/front side which can be closed by a lid or door, referred to below as open side4, which basic box1is intended and configured so that it can be used either vertically (seeFIG.1), in which case one of the side walls3athen serves as a bottom wall and the fixed wall2as a rear wall, or so that it can be used horizontally (seeFIG.2), in which case the fixed wall2then serves as a bottom wall.

For both uses, the vertical and the horizontal, each of the two mutually opposite side walls3bof the basic box1is provided with two folding lips5which can be pushed in from the outside to the inside along a fold line5a, via which fold line5athe folding lip is connected to the side wall3band also remains connected after having been pushed in, which fold line3bextends parallel to the imaginary intersecting line6of the face of this side wall3band the face of the fixed wall2.

For vertical use of the basic box for packaging a potted plant in that position (seeFIG.1), the packaging box configuration comprises a first bearing platform7made of sheet material, preferably cardboard, comprising a carrier leaf7bwhich is at least provided with one pot opening7a, and at least two oppositely positioned side leaves7cwhich are configured to be folded down before the first bearing platform7is used in combination with the basic box1. In addition, the first bearing platform7, in the illustrated embodiment, comprises a front leaf7dwhich can be folded down and can be used to pull the first bearing platform7out of the basic box1. All this is configured in such a way that the carrier leaf7aof the first bearing platform7extends inside the basic box1under the bottom folding lips5in the vertical side walls3bof the basic box1and parallel to the side wall3awhich, in that position of the basic box, serves as a bottom wall, following which the pot of the potted plant to be packaged can be placed in the pot opening.

For vertical use of the basic box for packaging a potted plant in that vertical position, the packaging box configuration furthermore comprises a first support platform8made of sheet material, preferably cardboard, comprising a support leaf8ahaving an opening8bwhich is configured to lock and/or support, and in this way support, the one or more plant pots and/or potted plants during use, while the first support platform8furthermore comprises at least two oppositely positioned side leaves8cwhich are provided with a folding lip9and which are configured to be folded down before the first support platform8is used in combination with the basic box1. All this is configured in such a way that the support leaf8aof the first support platform8extends inside the basic box1above the bottom folding lips5in the vertical side walls3bof the basic box1and parallel to the side wall3awhich, in that position of the basic box1, serves as a bottom wall, while the folding lips9in the side leaves8care positioned in such a manner that, when placing the potted plant in the first bearing platform, the potted plant and/or the pot of that potted plant is embraced by the U-shaped or fork-shaped support leaf8aand is supported while the folding lips9in the side leaves8cof the first support platform8are pushed inwards by pushing the folding lips5provided in the side walls of the basic box1inwards from the outside of the basic box1(by a user), since the positions of the folding lips5correspond to the positions of the folding lips9.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the folding lips9in the side leaves8cof the first support platform8are of a double design, because they each comprise a first folding lip9a, the position of the fold line9bof which, during use of the first support platform8in combination with the basic box1, corresponds to the position of the fold line5aof the respective folding lip5in the side wall3bof the basic box1, as a result of which both folding lips can be folded over in an identical manner when they are being pushed inwards from the outside. However, the fold length (distance between the fold line and the foldable, free end) of this first folding lip9ais shorter than the fold length of the respective folding lip5in the side wall3bof the basic box1.

Each of the side leaves8cof the first support platform8also comprises a second folding lip9c, the position of the fold line9dof which, during use of the first support platform8in combination with the basic box1, is situated on the side of, but outside the reach of the free end of, the respective folding lip5in the side wall3bof the basic box1, while the position of the free end of the second folding lip9cis inside the reach of the free end of the respective folding lip5in the side wall of the basic box1, all this in such a way that when the respective folding lip5in the side wall3bof the basic box1is pushed inwards, the free end of this folding lip5touches, and then passes, the free end of the respective second folding lip9c, as a result of which the free end of the folding lip5in the side wall3bof the basic box1is blocked by the second folding lip9cin the side leaf8cof the first support platform8.

FIG.2shows the same exemplary embodiment asFIG.1, but with the basic box being used in horizontal “chest mode”.

For horizontal use of the basic box1for packaging potted plants in that position, the packaging box configuration comprises a second bearing platform10made of sheet material, preferably cardboard, comprising a carrier leaf10bwhich is provided with pot openings10a, and two oppositely positioned side leaves10cwhich are configured to be folded down before the second bearing platform10is used in combination with the basic box1. All this is configured in such a way that the carrier leaf10bof the second bearing platform10extends inside the basic box1and is supported by its side leaves10con the fixed wall2serving as a bottom wall.

For horizontal use of the basic box1for packaging potted plants in that position, the packaging box configuration furthermore comprises, for example, two second support platforms11made of sheet material, preferably cardboard, comprising a support leaf11ahaving one or more cavities or openings11b, configured to lock and/or support the one or more plant pots and/or potted plants during use. The support platforms comprise at least two oppositely positioned side leaves11cwhich are provided with locking openings11dwhich are configured to be able to engage, behind or around the folding lips5which were pushed in beforehand and folded over towards the fixed wall2, in the vertical side walls3bof the basic box1in order to lock that second support platform11.

All this is configured in such a manner that the carrier leaf10bof the second bearing platform10extends inside the basic box and is supported by its side leaves10con the fixed wall2serving as a bottom wall, while the side leaves11cof the second support platforms11are pushed between the side leaves10cof the second bearing platform10and the (inside of the) side walls3bof the basic box1, wherein the locking openings11dprovided in the side leaves11cof the respective second support platform11engage, around and/or behind the folding lips5which were pushed in beforehand and folded over towards the fixed wall2, in the vertical side walls3bof the basic box1(“click-fit”) in order to lock that second support platform11.

The open side4of the basic box1in addition comprises a lid or door12which is connected thereto so as to be foldable and configured to close off and thus protect the basic box1and its contents after either the first bearing platform7, the first support platform8and the at least one potted plant, or the second bearing platform10, the second support platform11and the one or more potted plants have been installed in the basic box1as its contents.

FIG.3shows yet another exemplary embodiment of the packaging box configuration according to the invention, wherein the basic box is used in vertical mode for packaging hanging plants. In this case as well, like in the exemplary embodiment fromFIG.1, a support platform8′ is used in an upright box, approximately similar to the support platform8illustrated inFIG.1, which is supported by the two folding lips5of the basic box1which can be pushed inwards from the outside to the inside. In this embodiment, the top side of the basic box1is provided with a suspension element13(for example by means of a fastening platform16), from which one or more hanging plants14including pot15and bearing frame16can be suspended. In this case, the bearing frames16are suspended through an opening8′bin the support leaf8′aof the support platform8′, as a result of which the hanging plants can swing to and fro only to a very limited extent.

Thus, the present invention provides a packaging configuration for potted plants in which the same basic box can be used in either an upright, vertical position (“wardrobe mode”) for packaging, for example, one relatively large potted plant, or in a horizontal position (“chest mode”) for packaging, for example, several relatively small potted plants.

With regard to the Korean patent KR2020/0011287A, mentioned in the Dutch novelty report as D1, the following may be mentioned.

D1also shows a packaging box configuration intended and configured for protectively packaging one or more potted plants, comprising a box made of sheet material, preferably cardboard, having a fixed bottom/rear wall, four side walls and an open side which can be closed off by a lid or door.

The box disclosed in D1is provided with lug-shaped wall parts which can be pushed inwards in the corners (ribs) of the box, which serve to block a bearing platform for a plant pot against being displaced upwards.

In the configuration according to the invention, the side walls (3a,3b) of the box (not in the corners/ribs, as is the case with the prior-art box) are provided with lips (5) which can be pushed inwards. When the box is being used in an upright position, seeFIG.1andFIG.3, these lips (5) in the walls serve (and are configured) to fix both a bearing platform (7) and a support platform (8) which is to be installed above the latter, with the position of these two platforms being locked by the same lips in the side walls (3a,3b). The same lips also serve to fix another, similar bearing platform (10) and support platform (11) which are used when the plant box is used in a horizontal position, seeFIG.2.

The fixing lips (5) which are provided at various locations in the side walls allow multifunctional use of the plant box, asFIGS.1,2and3illustrate, and this is not known or suggested in said prior art document and which not possible even when using the push-in lugs in the corners/ribs of the plant box.

As a result of the cooperation between said fixing lips (5) with blocking lips (9) in the support platforms which are described in more detail above, a configuration is obtained which is not only multifunctional, as has already been said, but in addition ensures, on the one hand, an improved connection between the plant box and the various platforms while, on the other hand, making it possible to remove these platforms quickly and easily by folding back the blocking lips (9) and fixing lips (5), following which the plant box and platforms can, if desired, be re-used again and may optionally be assembled to form another vertical or horizontal configuration.

In this way, a configuration is obtained which is new and inventive compared to said prior art and has more options for use and re-use and, in addition, is a more coherent and solid structure due to the use of the described fixing and blocking lips.