The present invention relates to a cut flowers carrier card, e.g. of plastic coated paperboard, adapted to carry multiple cut flowers for transportation and/or display thereof, such as anthuriums, gerbera's, etc.

A cut flowers carrier card is disclosed in NL1015844 and embodiments thereof are nowadays used in the industry and are known under the trademark Flowerfix. As explained in NL1015844 the slots having mouths at the side of the card contribute to the ease and speed of the filling of the card with flowers, which is often done manually.

The present invention aims to provide improvements to the known cut flowers carrier card as well as provide a novel transportation system wherein cut flowers carrier cards are used.

According to a first aspect of the invention a cut flowers carrier card according to the preamble of claim 1 is provided, with the improvement that one or more incisions are formed in said bottom portion of the card body and define one or more bendable stem retaining tabs of the card, said one or more tabs being bendable out of the plane of the card to allow one or more of the stems, preferably all stems, of the flowers to be clampingly retained by said one or more tabs.

It has been found that by clampingly retaining the stems of the flowers the stems contribute to the stability of the card, which is beneficial for the handling of the filled card and also allows the card with flowers to be positioned in a vertical manner, e.g. as will be explained with regard to the third aspect of the invention.

A second aspect of the invention relates to the contact between the stem portion directly adjacent the flower head against the card body.

In NL 1015844 it is disclosed to form a stem supporting lip at the accommodation end of each slot by making suitable small incisions and folding the supporting lip over to the backside of the carrier. With this measure the transition between flower head and stem is supported by a soft (folding) edge, having double the thickness of the card while the supporting lip, which is folded over to the backside, engages resiliently the stem and prevents that a sharp bend is formed in the stem at the position of the transition to the flower head.

According to the second aspect of the invention a cut flowers carrier card according to the preamble of claim 10 is provided, wherein the improvement is that the body of the card forms a stem supporting lip at the accommodation end of each of the slots and- when present also at the insertion hole -, said stem supporting lip is angled forwardly with respect to the plane of the card body, the free end of the lip being directed towards the flower head when the card is in use. Preferably the stem supporting lip is directed at such an angle with respect to the card body that it generally extends along the stem of the flower. This may be enhanced by suitable flexibility of said lip.

It has been observed that this embodiment of the stem supporting lip provides better results than the prior art version, and also is easier to manufacture.

The present invention also relates to a cut flowers transportation system comprising at least one card according to the first and/or second aspect of the invention.

The present invention also relates to a cut flowers carrier card according to the first and second aspect of the invention.

The present invention also relates to a card according to the first and/or second aspect of the invention that is carrying multiple cut flowers.

A third aspect of the invention relates to a transportation system for transporting, and preferably also displaying (e.g. in a flower shop), cut flowers wherein use is made of a cut flowers carrier card.

In NL1015844, and in actual present use of the Flowerfix cards, cards are filed with flowers, and a small tube with water is fitted on the lower end of each flower stem. The cards, e.g. four cards, filled with flowers and with the water tubes fitted are placed in an elongated transportation cardboard box and the box is then closed by a lid. Transport takes place with the boxes in horizontal position.

Whilst far more attractive than other transportation systems for such cut flowers, it is an aim of the third aspect of the invention to provide a system that is even more attractive, or at least an alternative to the known system with cut flowers carrier cards. The third aspect of the invention achieves this aim by providing a system according to claim 11. By using this system it is no longer necessary to fit water tubes on the stems, as the stems can now project into the water-filled water bucket element. Also, as the one or more cards extend above the upper circumferential rim of the water bucket assembly, the flowers can now be displayed whilst still on the vertically oriented cards and without needing to remove the cards from the water bucket assembly. This facilitates the florist.

In a preferred embodiment all elements of the water bucket assembly are made of plastic and are re-usable multiple times. For instance it is envisaged to use as water bucket element a standard water bucket element currently used by the FloraHolland flower auction, e.g. as known under the codes 566, 577, 596, 597. Also the sleeve member may be a FloraHolland standard element, e.g. as known under the code.

Preferably the system of the third aspect is employed with cards according to the first and/or second aspect of the invention.

Most preferably the cards are at least according to the first aspect of the invention, as it has been found that the contribution of the clampingly retained stems to the stability of the card allows to keep the cards in upright position supported on the rim of the water bucket assembly, even though the cards themselves are simple planar cards, there is no additional support for the cards, and without placing undesirable constraints on the cards with respect to thickness and/or card material.

The present invention further relates to a method for transporting cut flowers, e.g. anthuriums, wherein use is made of a card and/or system as disclosed herein.

It is noted here that the first and second aspect of the invention are also suitable and advantageous in a transportation system wherein one or more flower filled cards are packaged in a box or other container.

The aspects of the invention, and preferred embodiments thereof, will now be discussed in more detail with reference to the drawing. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a cut flowers carrier card according to the invention. Figure 1 shows an example of a cut flowers carrier card 1 according to the first and second aspect of the invention. As will be explained the card 1 is also adapted as part of the system according to the third aspect of the invention.

The card 1 has a planar card body cut out of a sheet of suitable card material, in this example plastic coated paperboard as is preferred. The card 1 is adapted to carry multiple, in this example five, cut flowers for transportation and/or display thereof, such as anthuriums, gerbera's, etc.

The card body is shown from the front, and has a rear, as well as a top end 2, a bottom end 3, and vertical sides 4, 5.

The card body is provided with multiple flower stem slots 10, each of said slots 10 extending from a corresponding mouth 11 formed in a side 4,5 of frie card (here two slots at each side) to a flower stem accommodation end 12 of the slot, allowing to slide the stem of a cut flower sideways into the mouth 11 and arrive at the accommodation end 12 of the slot, the flower head then extending on the front of the card body and the stem at the rear of the card body.

As is preferred the slots 10 each extend generally inward and downward from the mouth 11 to the end 12. The end 12 may have a lower boundary located further down than the adjacent slot section in order to provide a recess in which the stem will be retained as is shown in figure 1.

Preferably the length of the slots inward from the associated side is such that the flower heads do not extend over the sides of the card. The same holds for the distance between the uppermost slot or slots and the top end of the card.

The card body has a bottom portion 15 between the bottom end 3 of the card 1 and a lowermost flower stem slot 10.

As can be seen in the example of figure 1 a single incision 20 has been made in said bottom portion of the card body, which incision here defines two bendable stem retaining tabs 21, 22 of the card 1 , said tabs 21 , 22 being bendable out of the plane of the card 1 to allow one or more of the stems, preferably all stems, of the flowers to be clampingly retained by said tabs 21 , 22. In this example the tabs 21 , 22 are formed to extend in transverse direction with respect to a vertical axis of the card 1 and are located one above the other, the tabs having hinge portions at alternating locations seen in transverse direction of the card.

It can be seen that the single incision 20 adjoins a bottom edge 3a of the card 1. It could also adjoin the lower section of one of the sides of the card. This allows the person filling the card 1 with flowers, to take all the stems (that extend preferably downwardly beyond the bottom of the card) of the flowers placed on the card and lightly pull these stems to the front of the card, so that the tabs 21 , 22 are bend out of the plane of the card and the stems become clamped between the tabs 21, 22 and the card body. This simple action suffices to arrange the stems such with respect to the tabs, that the tabs act to clampingly retain the stems. A portion of the stems may then lie over the front side of one or more of the tabs and even in front of the plane of the card.

By clampingly retaining the stems on the bottom portion of the card, the stems contribute to the stability of the card, e.g. allowing the card with the flowers to be placed, stored, transported and displayed in vertical orientation.

As is preferred the uppermost tab 22 has a tab edge 22a and the card body has a neighbouring card edge 1a, both of said edges 22a, 1a being formed by a flexible lip 22b, 1 b respectively, which lips are flexible so as to avoid damage to the stems. The lips 22b, 1b are created by suitable incisions and/or fold lines or similar in the card body.

In this embodiment the card 1 has a single flower stem insertion hole 25 surrounded by the card body in the bottom portion of the card, above the stem retaining tabs 21, 22, said single flower stem insertion hole 25 allowing to insert a flower stem therein from the front of the card, so that the flower head of said flower extends on the front of the card, substantially below the flower heads of the flowers received in the slots 10 of the card. This measure allows for an attractive presentation of the flowers, in particular when the card has slots at each of the sides and the single flower stem insertion hole 25 is positbned on or near a vertical centreline of the card. The hole 25 may also be used to insert a green leaf, possibly in combination with a flower.

In general the card may contain one or more stem insertion holes in addition to the slots, e.g. in one or more vertical rows in a region between slots on both sides of the card. As can be seen in figure 1 the body of the card 1 forms a stem supporting lip 30 at the accommodation end 12 of each of the slots 10 and in this example also at the insertion hole 25, said stem supporting lip 30 being folded forwardly with respect to the plane of the card body, the free end of the lip 30 being directed towards the flower head when the card is in use. So the lip 30 is not doubled over onto the front of the card, but extend generally along the top portion of the stem or the portion where the stem adjoins the flower head. As can be seen the lips 30 here are formed by suitable incisions and possibly a fold line in the card body.

The card 1 also in the bottom portion of the card body at each of the sides a support edge portion 40 that is configured to support the card 1 in substantial vertical orientation on the upper circumferential rim of a water bucket assembly or other similar support structure providing support slats or other support members for each of the support edge portions 40.

The combination of one or more cards 1 with a bucket assembly (which will be explained in more detail below) is considered the basis of a cut flower transportation system according to the invention.

As can be seen the support edge portions 40 are located at a level above the one or more stem retaining tabs 21, 22, yet below the slots 10, and more preferably below the flower heads of the flowers received in the one or more lowermost slots of the cards. This causes the advantageous effect that the card with flower heads projects above the upper circumferential rim or similar and thus is visible for the customer.

The bottom portion of the card, in particular the lower sections 4a, 5a of the sides 4,5 of the card, are preferably adapted to extend into the water bucket assembly, preferably so as to obtain a light clamping effect between the lower sections of the sides and the water bucket assembly.

As the stems of the flowers 1 are retained by the one or more tabs 21 , 22 at a level below the support edge portions, and as the stems generally extend further down into the water bucket assembly, the stems contribute in maintaining the vertical orientation of the card 1 , without the need for any further support at a level above the portions 40, thereby obviating the need for any support that may hinder the view on the flower heads and/or the access to the flowers.

A water bucket assembly is generally known in the field for the transportation of cut flowers In general the assembly will include at least a water bucket member having a base allowing to place the water bucket on the ground in a stable manner and having an open topped water reservoir. The water bucket member can be a ventilated member having one or more openings in the side above the water level to allow access of fresh air.

As is also known in the art the water bucket assembly may in addition to the water bucket member include a sleeve member to be positioned on top of the bucket member.

The upper circumferential rim of the assembly is then either formed by the water bucket member or by the sleeve member positioned on top of the water bucket member.

In a preferred embodiment both the water bucket assembly and the sleeve member are reusable plastic products. In a variant the sleeve member is of disposable material, e.g. of paper board.

This water bucket assembly preferably includes one or more standard members used nowadays by the flower auction FloraHolland, Aalsmeer, the Netherlands. For instance bucket members known under the FloraHolland catalogue codes 566, 577, 596, 597, which are made of plastic and allow for use many times over are employed in combination with the card 1.

A bucket assembly may hold between 4 to 6 cards 1 filled with flowers. The bucket assembly with cards 1 can be transported by lorry, e.g. to florists.

In a possible embodiment the system further includes an annular card spacing member, said card spacing member being adapted to be mounted on the upper circumferential rim and having spacing formations, e.g. indentations or undulations, allowing to position multiple cards at suitable spacing on the water bucket assembly. The annular card spacing member may be disposable, e.g. made of paperboard.

When desired a (further) card spacing member can be provided to cooperate with the top ends of the cards, e.g. embodied as a ring of limited height, e.g. less than δcentimetres, or, as is preferred as a member extending over the top ends of the cards, and e.g. having indentations to receive the top ends at spaced intervals. It is envisaged to remove said upper card spacing member when the flowers are to be displayed, e.g. at a flower shop. Preferably the system further includes a transparent bag to be slided over each card when filled with flowers before placing the card on the upper circumferential rim of the bucket assembly.

Preferably the system further includes an outer cover member adapted to cover the cards extending above the water bucket assembly at least from the sides.

In a practical embodiment the outer cover member is a bag, preferably a (transparent) plastic bag, that can be placed over all the cards extending above the water bucket arrangement. This allows e.g. to keep the flowers protected against cold temperatures.

In an alternative version the outer cover member is an annular cover member, e.g. of plastic coated paperboard, adapted to fit, preferably clampingly, around the cards extending above the water bucket arrangement, possibly the annular cover member being integral with a top wall so as to form a lid.

The card and transportation system disclosed herein allow for efficient handling, storage, transportation and display of cut flowers, e.g. for anthuriums, gerbera's.