GB2418417A

GB2418417A - Packaging for cut flowers

Info

Publication number: GB2418417A
Application number: GB0420995A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kevin Barry Hennessy
Original assignee: JARDIN CORRUGATED CASES Ltd
Current assignee: JARDIN CORRUGATED CASES Ltd
Priority date: 2004-09-22
Filing date: 2004-09-22
Publication date: 2006-03-29
Also published as: GB0420995D0

Abstract

A carton 1 of cuboid shape for transporting and displaying cut flowers comprises a base tray 2 and a separate, detachable lid 3 made from blanks of corrugated cardboard. The base tray 2 is provided with a plastic coating on the inner face to contain water during transportation to and display of cut flowers at the point of sale.

Description

Packaging This invention relates to improvements in packaging. The

invention has particular, but not exclusive application to packaging for transporting cut flowers that can also be used to display the cut flowers at the point of sale.

In order to maintain the quality of cut flowers it is important that no air enters the cut base of the stems. Thus, it is desirable that the base of the stems remain submerged in water from packing by the packers to purchase by the final customer in the supermarket.

One system commonly employed is to pack the cut flowers in a substantially upright attitude in plastic buckets which are transported to the supermarket in conventional cardboard cartons. On reaching the supermarket, the shelf stacker at the supermarket has to open the carton, pick up the bucket from the carton and place the bucket on display. Thus, the bucket used for transport is also used for display on the supermarket shelf and in this way the base of the cut flower stems can be maintained submerged under water from packing to purchase.

There are, however, a number of disadvantages to this system. Most importantly, the shelf stacker reaching into the carton to remove the bucket often may damage some of the cut flowers. Also, the buckets are of cylindrical or frusto-conical shape, thus having a circular footprint on the supermarket shelf and in the transport carton and not utilising the shelf space efficiently or the carton space efficiently.

When the flowers are sold and/or any unsold flowers are thrown away, the buckets are emptied and returned to the packer for re-use. This system does not readily allow for seasonal variations in demand for cut flowers, for example at Christmas or on special occasions such as Mothers Day, and there is also the problem of disposing of any buckets that are damaged. The plastics material of the buckets is often not suitable for re-cycling and the buckets have to be transported to landfill sites for disposal which incurs costs and is not environmentally friendly.

Recently, it has been proposed to provide the bucket with a cardboard spacer sleeve that locates on the rim of the bucket around the heads of the flowers and supports a plastics lid above the heads of the flowers. In this way, the flowers are protected during transport and, on arrival at the supermarket, the lid and sleeve are removed and the bucket placed on the supermarket shelf for display of the cut flowers. The sleeve is thrown away but the bucket and lid are collected and returned to the packer for re-use.

Although, the sleeve and lid provide better protection for the cut flowers, there is still the problem of disposing of any damaged buckets and lids and again the use of buckets and lids that are returned to the supplier does not allow for seasonal variations in demand.

In our co-pending UK patent application No.0322249.4, we propose an alternative system in which an outer cardboard carton is provided with a waterproof inner liner for holding water in which the stems of the cut flowers are placed and the outer carton has a line of weakness that allows an upper portion of the carton to be removed at the point of sale to display the heads of the cut flowers. The liner is made of cardboard coated with a plastics film on one side that, in use, is exposed to the water. The carton and liner are disposable and can be re-cycled after use.

This system can be adapted to seasonal variations in demand for cut flowers as it does not rely on any part of the packaging being returned to the packer. However, although the system has been found to work satisfactorily, the provision of an outer carton and inner liner that have to be assembled and placed one within the other is time consuming.

The present invention has been made from a consideration of the aforementioned systems and seeks to provide an improved packaging for transporting cut flowers.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided packaging for transporting cut flowers, comprising a cardboard carton having a base tray for holding water and cut flower stems in a substantially upright attitude, and a separate, detachable lid for mounting on the tray, in which the walls of the carton have a full transport height extending above the heads of the cut flowers and, on removal of the lid, the heads of the cut flowers are exposed in a display condition, wherein the base tray is made of corrugated cardboard having a water resistant coating on at least one side.

During transport the full height of the carton walls protect the cut flowers within and, on arrival at the point of sale, the carton lid is removed to expose the heads of the cut flowers for display. In this way, the base tray provides a container for holding water both during transport and for display at the point of sale. Afterwards, both the tray and lid can be re- cycled.

Preferably the waterproof coating is a plastic coating for example a polyester coating or, more preferably a polyethylene coating. For example, the base tray may be made from corrugated cardboard, one face of which is formed by paper laminated with a plastic film. For some applications we may employ corrugated cardboard with a plastic coating on both faces.

The lid could be made of the same material as the tray so that the whole interior of the carton is water resistant. This is not essential, however, as the interior of the lid does not normally come into contact with water held in the tray and the lid may therefore be made of cardboard faced with paper, ie without any plastic coating. For some applications, the lid may be made of corrugated cardboard where additional strength is required or desirable.

Preferably the carton is cuboid of standard dimensions for transport and delivery to and within a supermarket in standard pallets and trolleys. In this way, when packed with flowers and containing water in the tray, the carton is relatively stable for transportation in an upright condition and the lid can be removed at the point of sale for display of the cut flowers in the tray.

The cuboid shape also allows the cartons to be placed side by side and one on top of the other for effective use of available space when transporting the cartons to the point of sale. Typically the carton is sized to fit in standard pallets and trolleys used in supermarkets and the tray can be stored on a supermarket shelf efficiently.

Preferably, the base tray and lid have co-operating formations for detachably locating the lid on the base tray. For example, one of the base tray and lid may be provided with locating tongues co-planar with the side wall and spaced apart around the peripheral edge of the rim that are receive in aligned openings in the rim of the other of the base tray and lid. In this way, the lid does not extend outwardly of the side walls of the base tray. This also assists in making effective use of available space for transporting the cartons.

The lid may be releasably secured to the base tray by one or more straps that extend around the carton and prevent accidental removal of the lid.

The straps are cut by the stacker at the point of sale to allow the lid to be removed for displaying the flowers in the base tray.

Preferably the base tray includes holes in an upper region that provide hand grips for manually picking up the carton when the lid is attached and for positioning the base tray with the cut flowers for display after removal of the lid.

Preferably the base tray is printed on the outside with indicia that may provide information relating to the contents of the carton and/or which may be decorative. In this way, the information is visible when the lid is removed for displaying the cut flowers at the point of sale.

The base tray and lid can be recycled after use. This provides an environmentally friendly solution to the transportation and display of cut flowers. Also, because no part of the packaging is returned to the supplier, seasonal variations in demand for cut flowers does not create any problems as the supplier can readily assemble and pack the desired number of cartons and does not have to maintain a stock of re-usable parts such as the plastic buckets and lids aforementioned.

The base tray may include one or more dividers to separate the cut flowers into groups within the carton. In this way, when flowers are removed from the base tray by consumers at the point of sale, the remaining flowers are supported by the dividers. Also, the dividers may provide sections within the carton for packing different types of flowers.

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: l Figure 1 is a perspective view of a carton according to the present invention in the assembled condition; Figure 2 is a perspective view to an enlarged scale of the base tray of the carton shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective to an enlarged scale of part of the carton shown in Figure 1 depicting a detail of the location means for positioning the lid on the base tray; Figure 4 is a plan view of a blank for the base tray of the carton shown in Figure 1; Figures 5 to 8 are perspective views showing the assembly of the base tray of the carton from the blank shown in Figure 3; Figure 9 is a plan view of a blank for the lid of the carton shown in Figure 1; and Figures 10 to 13 are perspective views showing the assembly of the lid of the carton from the blank shown in Figure 8.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, there is depicted a carton 1 of cuboid shape for transporting and displaying cut flowers (not shown).

The carton 1 comprises a base tray 2 of corrugated cardboard coated on one side with polyethylene and a separate, detachable lid 3 of corrugated carbdboard. The lid 3 is releasably secured to the base tray 2 by one or more fastening straps (not shown) that extend around the carton to prevent removal of the lid 3. The fastening straps may be cut when it is desired to remove the lid 3 to expose the cut flowers in the base tray 2.

The base tray 2 is of rectangular shape in plan view with a base wall 4 and sidewalls 5, 6, 7, 8 extending normal to the base wall 4. The base tray 2 is assembled from a blank 9 shown in Figure 4 with the polyethylene coating on the interior face of the base wall 4 and side walls 5,6,7,8. Various stages in the assembly of the base tray 2 from the blank 9 are shown in Figures 5 to 8.

The blank 9 comprises a rectangular array of nine panels defined by fold lines 10 of which the centre panel 9a forms the base wall 4 and the intermediate panels 9b,c,d,e on each side form the side walls 5,6,7,8 of the assembled base tray 2. The corner panels 9f,g,h,j are formed with diagonal fold lines 11 to fold over and form external flaps 12,13,14,15 that overlie the side walls 6,8 of the assembled base tray 2. In this way, the base tray 2 is waterproof on the interior and can contain water up to the height "h" of the fold lines 11 on the exterior of the side walls 6,8 before any cut edge of the blank 9 comes onto contact with the water.

One pair of opposed intermediate panels 9b,d is provided with elliptical tabs 16,17 defined by lines of weakness that allow the tabs 16,17 to be partially separated and folded inwards to provide openings just below the rim of the base tray 2 which serve as hand grips for manually lifting the base tray 2.

The other pair of opposed intermediate panels 9c,e is provided with arcuate flaps 18,19 having tongues 20,21. The flaps 18,19 fold over the side walls 6,8 on the outside of the flaps 12,13,14,15 and the tongues 20,21 are folded inwards under the flaps 18,19 and locate behind the flaps 12,13,14,15 to retain the base tray 2 in the assembled condition without the use of adhesive or other means.

As shown, the flaps 18,19 are separated from the intermediate panels 9c,e by a narrow strip 22,23 of rectangular shape defined by fold lines 24,25.

The strips 22,23 extend over the top of the side walls 6,8 in the assembled condition and are provided with cut-outs that form upwardly open slots 26,27 in the rim of the assembled base tray 2.

The lid 3 is also of rectangular shape in plan view with a top wall 28 and sidewalls 29,30,31,32 extending normal to the top wall 28. The lid 3 is assembled from a blank 33 shown in Figure 9. Various stages in the assembly of the lid 3 from the blank 33 are shown in Figures 10 to 13.

The blank 33 comprises a rectangular array of eight panels defined by fold lines 34 and cuts 35. Four of the panels 33a,b,c,d form the side walls 29,30,31,32 of the lid and the other four panels 33e,f,g,h form the top wall 28. Ventilation holes (not shown) may be provided in one or more of the side walls 29,30,31,32. One of the end panels 33a has a flap 36 that folds over and is bonded to the other end panel 33d to secure the lid 3 in the assembled condition. Two of the panels 33b,d are provided with tabs that form feet 37,38 that are received in the slots 26,27 in the rim of the base tray 2 to locate the lid 3 on the base tray 2 in the assembled condition with the lower ends of the other panels 33a,c received inside the side walls 5,7 of the base tray 2. In this way, the lid 3 does not overhang the base tray 2 and a plurality of cartons 1 can be packed side by side in close proximity.

The carton is shown in the assembled condition in Figure 1 where the lid 3 is located on the base tray 2. The combined height of the side walls of the base tray 2 and lid 3 is greater than the height of the cut flowers so that the flowers can be transported in a substantially upright condition within the carton with their stems submerged in water contained in the base tray 2. The height of the side walls of the base tray 2 is less than the height of the flowers so that, when the lid 3 is removed at the point of sale, the heads of the flowers are exposed with the flowers supported in a substantially upright condition within the base tray 2 for display to customers with their stems submerged in the water in the base tray 2. The base tray 2 may be printed with decorative designs or any indicia as required such as information of the contents of the base tray 2.

As will now be appreciated, the present invention provides packaging with a waterproof base tray to contain water for transporting cut flowers without leakage of the water and/or deterioration of the base tray from ingress of water to the interior of the corrugated cardboard from which the base tray is formed. The lid is removable to expose the cut flowers at the point of sale and, after use, both the base tray and lid can be recycled.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment above-described. For example, the base tray and lid can be constructed from blanks to have any desired individual and combined height depending on the size of the cut flowers to be transported. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the lid is approximately twice the height of the base tray and it will be appreciated that the height of the base tray may be increased and/or the height of the lid decreased to suit the length and type of cut flowers being transported.

Although the invention has been described with reference to packaging for transporting cut flowers, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to such use and the packaging could be used for other purposes.

For example, the packaging with waterproof base tray and detachable lid could be used to transport any perishable products that require a supply of water to maintain quality. The packaging may also have application to transportation of perishable products in a frozen condition and/or packed with ice to maintain freshness. For example, meat or fish may be transported in this way and the size of the base tray and lid may be adapted to suit the type of products being transported. r

Claims

1. Packaging for transporting cut flowers, comprising a cardboard carton having a base tray for holding water and cut flower stems in a substantially upright attitude, and a separate, detachable lid for mounting on the tray, in which the walls of the carton have a full transport height extending above the heads of the cut flowers and, on removal of the lid, the heads of the cut flowers are exposed in a display condition, wherein the base tray is made of corrugated cardboard having a water resistant coating on at least one side.

2. Packaging according to claim 1 wherein, the base tray provides a container for holding water both during transport and for display at the point of sale.

3. Packaging according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein, the waterproof coating is a plastic coating.

4. Packaging according to claim 3 wherein, the plastic coating is a polyester coating or a polyethylene coating.

5. Packaging according to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein, the base tray is made from corrugated cardboard faced with a plastic coating on at least one side.

6. Packaging according to claim 5 wherein, the corrugated cardboard is faced with a plastic coating on both sides.

7. Packaging according to claim 5 or claim 6 wherein, the plastic coating comprises a plastic film laminated with paper.

8. Packaging according to any one of the preceding claims wherein, the lid is made of the same material as the tray so that the whole interior of the carton is water resistant.

9. Packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein, the lid is made of cardboard faced with paper.

10. Packaging according to claim 9 wherein, the lid is made of corrugated cardboard.

11. Packaging according to any one of the preceding claims wherein, the carton is of cuboid shape.

12. Packaging according to any one of the preceding claims wherein, the base tray and lid have co-operating formations for detachably locating the lid on the base tray.

13. Packaging according to claim 12 wherein, one of the base tray and lid is provided with locating tongues co-planar with the side wall and spaced apart around the peripheral edge of the rim that are received in aligned openings in the rim of the other of the base tray and lid.

14. Packaging according to any one of the preceding claims wherein, the lid is releasably secured to the base tray by one or more straps that extend around the carton.

15. Packaging according to any one of the preceding claims wherein, the base tray includes holes in an upper region that provide hand grips for manually picking up the carton when the lid is attached and for positioning the base tray with the cut flowers for display after removal of the lid.

16. Packaging according to any one of the preceding claims wherein, the base tray is printed on the outside with indicia.

17. Packaging according to claim 16 wherein, the indicia provide information relating to the contents of the carton and/or are decorative.

18. Packaging according to any one of the preceding claims wherein, the base tray and lid are recyclable after use.

19. Packaging according to any one of the preceding claims wherein, the base tray includes one or more dividers to separate the cut flowers into groups within the carton.

20. Packaging for transporting cut flowers substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.