Plant husbandry – Receptacle for growing medium – Jardiniere
Reexamination Certificate
2002-06-06
2003-12-23
Poon, Peter M. (Department: 3643)
Plant husbandry
Receptacle for growing medium
Jardiniere
C047S041010, C047S065700, C047S065800, C206S423000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06665982
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a protective shield for a floral bouquet, and more particularly, to an improved apparatus and method for transporting and displaying the floral bouquet.
2. Description of the Related Art
When a bouquet of cut flowers is purchased at a floral shop or stand, the form in which they are usually presented to the purchaser by the seller is with an over-wrap of foil or cellophane, with the stem portion fastened with a staple or tied with elastics, rubber bands, twist ties, ribbon or the like. Sometimes a peak at the flared top end of the wrap is folded over the flower heads and also secured in place, e.g. by tucking or stapling.
There are clearly some advantages to this manner of presentation, ones which no doubt have contributed to its prevalence. It is inexpensive, the wrapping material is easy to obtain and to store, and sometimes the bouquets can be wrapped ahead of time and the wrap tips kept immersed in water so that the time needed to execute a sale and delivery is kept to a minimum.
However, there also are drawbacks to this manner of presentation. The bouquets often must be wrapped at the place of sale because foil and cellophane do a poor job of protecting the bouquets from being crushed during transport to the place of sale. It also can be difficult to remove an individual bouquet from a display container containing multiple bouquets, often requiring the purchaser to reach down to the bottom of the bouquet to find a place to conveniently grasp the bouquet. This exposes the person to personal injury from thorns protruding from the flower stems and to slimy growth on the leaves and in the water. Also, the person also may get his or her hands wet reaching down into the display container. Additionally, there is a tendency for the bouquet to fall out of the wrapping unless the bouquet is maintained in an upright condition. The bouquet also tend to separate within the wrap unless the wrap is wrapped tightly enough. This, however, tends to damage the flowers and limits the display desirability. No doubt these and other drawbacks are evident to those having frequent occasion to use such means for wrapping and carrying bouquets.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One embodiment of the invention is a bag sleeve for protecting a floral bouquet while transporting or carrying the floral bouquet. The bag sleeve includes a shield portion defining a bouquet receiving space, wherein said shield portion has a blossom end and a stem end, at least one handle attached to the blossom end of the shield portion, and a water-resistant base portion extending from the stem end of the shield portion, wherein the base portion has an opening therein permitting stems of the floral bouquet to protrude from the bag sleeve. In one embodiment, the shield portion is made of two dissimilar layers: a paper layer, and a water-resistant layer.
In another embodiment, the invention is a bag sleeve for protecting a floral bouquet while transporting or carrying the floral bouquet. The bag sleeve includes a shield portion defining a bouquet receiving space, wherein the shield portion has a blossom end and a stem end, wherein said shield portion has a first opening in the blossom end and a second opening in the stem end permitting stems from the floral bouquet to protrude from the bag sleeve, and where the shield portion comprises a rigid paper layer and a water-resistant layer attached to said paper layer. The bag sleeve also includes at least one handle attached to the blossom end of the shield portion. In one embodiment, the shield portion exhibits selfexpanding properties.
In another embodiment, the invention is a method of displaying a floral bouquet in a protective bag sleeve. The method includes inserting a floral bouquet into a bag sleeve having an upper blossom portion and a lower stem portion, such that at least one stem of the floral bouquet protrudes from a water-resistant base portion in the stem portion of the bag sleeve, securing the floral bouquet in the bag sleeve by wrapping a member around the water-resistant base portion with the stem protruding therefrom, and displaying handles attached to the bag sleeve such that the handles extend above the upper blossom portion of the bag sleeve.
In another embodiment, the invention is a method of carrying a floral bouquet in a protective bag sleeve. The method includes inserting a floral bouquet into a bag sleeve having an upper blossom portion and a lower stem portion, such that at least one stem of the floral bouquet protrudes from a water-resistant base portion in the stem portion of the bag shield, securing the floral bouquet in the bag sleeve by wrapping a member around the water-resistant base portion with the at least one stem protruding therefrom, and carrying the bag sleeve with handles attached to the blossom portion such that the handles extend above the upper blossom portion of the bag sleeve.
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Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP
Poon Peter M.
Valenti Andrea
Westland Floral Company
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