The present invention relates to a method of packaging plants, in particular flowers for bulk transport. It will be convenient to describe the invention as it relates to packaging of flowers, although it is to be appreciated that the invention could be applied to a much wider variety of plants.

The bulk transport of goods such as flowers can be awkward and difficult, due to both their shape and fragility. Typically flowers are grown at commercial flower farms some distance from the outlets in which they are sold to consumers and it is usual to transport the flowers in bulk by truck from the farm to commercial markets. For this, the flowers can be placed in plant containers, which serve the dual function of holding the plants and providing a source of water to the plants during shipping. Typically the plant containers are buckets. Multiple buckets may be supported on a pallet. Some packaging arrangements for flowers employ stackable pallets or transport receptacle. If a receptacle is employed, the flowers are packed into the receptacle, generally in buckets, and a removable lid is usually placed over the open end of the receptacle. Further receptacles can then be placed alongside or stacked on top the receptacle for bulk transport.

While the flowers are generally adequately protected once they are within the receptacle, often the flowers can be damaged when they are loaded into the receptacle. For example, when lowering a bucket of flowers into an open receptacle and next to another bucket, the flower heads can be damaged either by being struck by the bucket being lowered or by impact with the side walls of the receptacle. This difficulty can be alleviated by placing a protective collar around the flowers, at the open end of the bucket. A lid can also be applied to the open end of the collar, so that the flowers are enclosed by the bucket, collar and lid before being placed into the receptacle. However, this arrangement is both time consuming and expensive.

It would therefore be desirable to provide a method of packaging that overcomes or at least alleviates the above problem.

The above discussion of background art is included to explain the context of the present invention. It is not to be taken as an admission of what was known or what was part of the common general knowledge at the filing date of this specification.

According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a method of packaging a plurality of plant containers for transport, the method including the steps of: (a) positioning a plurality of plant containers onto a base, said base having minimal impediment to prevent the plant containers from being individually placed on the base in a direction substantially lateral to the plane of the base; and

(b) wrapping a sleeve around the plant containers, to enclose and protect them.

Optionally, the method includes the further step:

(c) following completion of steps (a) and (b), placing a lid on the sleeve opposite the base to form a closed transport receptacle.

The present invention also provides a transport receptacle for plant containers comprising a base having minimal impediment to plant containers being placed on the base in a direction substantially lateral to the plane of the base, and a sleeve formed by wrapping a sheet of material around plant containers placed on the base to enclose and protect them. Optionally the receptacle also comprises a lid.

The method of the present invention advantageously can minimise or even eliminate damage to plants or flowers which are packaged for transport, because the method allows the plant containers to be placed on the base in a manner which is less damaging to the plants or flowers. For example, it is less likely that damage will occur to the parts of the plants or flowers which protrude from the plant containers if the plant containers are at least partly slid laterally into position on the base, rather than placing the containers vertically into position from above. By this method, the parts of the plants or flowers that

protrude from the plant containers are more protected against impact from downwardly placed plant containers. That impact can cause the plant or flower stems to bend or break, or for the leaves or petals to be damaged or even dislodged. In contrast, by facilitating substantially lateral movement of one plant container into position next to another, there will be more gentle contact between the protruding plants or flowers of the respective plant containers. Because of this, the necessity of providing a collar and lid attached to each plant container can be largely eliminated.

Substantially lateral movement of the plant containers into position on the base is intended to exclude or minimise vertical movement of all of the plant containers onto the base as such placement can cause plant damage, as discussed above. Some vertical movement may be acceptable, and the amount which is acceptable will vary depending upon the nature of the plant, and the proximity of the plant containers, but it is desirable that vertical movement be minimised. For example, it may be acceptable, particularly when loading the first few plant containers onto a base, to lower the containers vertically, but it is preferred that positioning of one plant container adjacent another occurs with a substantially lateral movement relative to the base. Thus the substantially lateral movement of the plant containers can occur above the base, or can be a sliding movement in which the plant container is contact with the base. Substantially lateral movement allows the containers to abut together when they are loaded onto the base and by that abutment, to be properly positioned relative to each other. The plant containers may be positioned without abutment, although in most cases, abutment is preferred. Advantageously, by abutting the plant containers together, relative movement between the plant containers during transport can be minimised.

It is not essential that the plant containers be slid into position on the base, and it is possible that the plant containers be placed in position substantially laterally without sliding and still without causing damage to the protruding parts of the plants or flowers. This may be the preferred manner of loading on the base when loading or placement machinery is employed.

Whichever method of positioning the plant containers onto the base is employed, the method of the invention facilitates access to the base substantially without interference from receptacle walls upstanding from the base. In known receptacles, in which the upstanding walls are integral with or permanently or temporarily connected to the base, the first few plant containers placed in the receptacle may be positioned without damage to the protruding plants or flowers, but it is the latter plant containers which have less room to be manoeuvred within the transport receptacle that can suffer damage to the plants or flowers that protrude therefrom, or which can cause damage to the protruding plants or flowers of the already positioned plant containers. Principally this is because the plant containers must be positioned within the receptacle from above, because the upstanding walls of the transport receptacle do not allow access for positioning substantially laterally from the side. However in the present invention, the substantial absence of interference from upstanding receptacle walls when the plant containers are positioned on the base facilitates positioning of the plant containers from the side with significantly less potential for damage.

The present invention also provides for the sleeve to be laterally wrapped around the plant containers prior to connection of the sleeve with the base.

This may be contrasted with prior art receptacles having walls temporarily connected to a base in which the walls form a closed figure corresponding to the shape of the base, and which must be lowered vertically into position if the base is already loaded with plant containers. As a result, the walls are likely to damage protruding plants or flowers at the periphery of the base.

The method of the invention can apply to plant containers of any size, so that it is equally applicable to plant containers which are small or large. The base of the receptacle container can also be of any suitable size although it preferably will have dimensions in plan area and depth of standard transport pallets. The base can be formed of any suitable material, such as timber, although it preferably is a moulded plastic, such as a high density polyethylene. The base can be formed for lifting by a forklift or the like.

The base preferably is arranged to cooperate with the sleeve, for connecting the sleeve to the base. If the base is timber, then the sleeve can be connected to the base by staples or nails. If the base is moulded, then it can include a peripheral skirt or lip against or within which the lower edge of the sleeve is located. The skirt or lip is of the minimum height necessary to securely engage an edge of the sleeve, whilst still allowing substantially lateral movement of the plant containers onto the base. The skirt or lip may be continuous or may be discontinuous about the periphery of the base. Alternatively, a channel may be provided to receive an edge of the sleeve.

The sleeve may be held in place on a moulded base by its own weight, or may be detachably connected to the base, for example, by a complementary tab and slot arrangement. In a preferred embodiment, the base is provided with a low peripheral lip having an exterior surface and an interior surface and the sleeve abuts against the interior surface of the lip. The interior surface of the lip is provided with projecting lugs, which engage complementary slots in the sleeve when the sleeve is wrapped around the plant containers and placed into position against the interior surface of the lip. The engagement of the lugs within the slots prevents removal of the sleeve until the sleeve is deformed by applying pressure adjacent the slot to allow the lug to disengage from the slot.

Alternatively, the sleeve may rest on the base without fixing thereto and it may be connected in place by strapping which is applied when the base, sleeve and optionally, the lid, have been assembled together. Such strapping can also be applied alone, or in combination with the cooperating arrangements discussed above. The use of strapping advantageously allows the sleeve to be easily separated from the base by severing the strapping, so that the plant containers can be removed from the base after the sleeve has first been removed. The easily releasable nature of the sleeve from the base also facilitates re-use of the sleeve, which might not occur if the sleeve is fixed to the base by other means, such as by fasteners or adhesive and is damaged when removed from the base. Alternatives to strapping, such as wrapping with cling film or the like are also envisioned. Two or more receptacles may be stacked, and then strapped together or wrapped in cling film for subsequent handling as a single unit.

The sleeve can be formed of any suitable material, such as sheet or corrugated cardboard or plastic, or wooden sheets such as plywood, Masonite™ or medium density fibreboard (MDF). If the receptacles are to be exposed to environmental elements, such as rain, the selection of sleeve material will preferably include water resistant material, such as plastics, or waxed cardboard. The choice of sleeve material may also be dependent on whether the transport receptacle is to be stacked. If the transport receptacle is to be stacked, it is necessary for the sleeve to be structurally stronger than if the transport receptacle will not be stacked.

The sleeve must have sufficient rigidity in the vertical direction to protect the plants and, in embodiments including a lid, to support the lid and any plant receptacles place upon it. The sleeve must also have sufficient flexibility in the horizontal direction to wrap around the plant containers. Flexibility may be confined to specific parts of the sleeve, for example by providing creases which act as hinges, or by attaching sheets of material to each other with mechanical hinges. Where a multilateral base (that is, one having three or more sides), is used, the hinges would be located at each corner of the base.

Preferably the sleeve is formed from a single rectangular sheet having an upper edge, a lower edge and two side edges, with vertical creases applied to provide flexible hinges. The creases may be applied to the sheet at the time of manufacture, or subsequently. In use, the hinges would be situated at the corners of a multilateral base. In one embodiment, the side edges of the sheet would be situated at one corner of the base; alternatively, they may be positioned part way along one side of the base, rather than at a corner. The sleeve may also be formed of two or more separate sheets, which abut at their respective side edges.

The method of the invention employs the step of wrapping the sleeve around the plant containers to enclose them. The wrapping step may be fulfilled by firstly positioning the plant containers on the base and then bringing the sleeve into position relative to the base and the plant containers, for wrapping around

the plant containers. Thus, in this method, the sleeve is kept separate from the base until the plant containers are all positioned on the base. This is the preferred method of the invention, although the invention does include within its scope, partial connecting of the sleeve to the base before or during positioning of the plant containers to the base. That is, it may be considered desirable to connect the sleeve to the base along one edge thereof, (assuming the base is square or rectangular) or along two or three edges, to provide a wall or walls against which the first plant containers can be abutted for positioning. In this form of the invention, the remaining sections of the sleeve that are not connected to the base, (so as to allow plant containers to be placed substantially laterally onto the base), can be connected to the base following positioning of all of the plant containers on the base. Thus, the remaining sections can swing or hinge about suitable crease lines or mechanical hinges already applied to the sleeve.

The sleeve is not required to be formed in a single section, although that is preferred. The sleeve could for example, be formed from two or more separate sections as may be convenient for connecting to the base. For example, if the base is square, the sleeve may be formed in two separate sections, which can each be formed into right-angled sections, with the first of the sections connected to the base, so as allow plant containers to be placed substantially laterally onto the base, prior to positioning of plant containers onto the base and the second of the sections being connected to the base when all of the plant containers have been positioned thereon.

If the base is other than square or rectangular, say for example circular, the sleeve can be formed to suit and if the base is circular, then the sleeve can be formed as a flat sheet with sufficient flexibility to allow it to be formed into a cylinder for connecting to the base. Alternate base shapes could include hexagonal and octagonal, with the sleeve produced suitably to be connected thereto. Flexing the sheet horizontally either uniformly in the case of a circular base or at specific locations in the case of a multilateral base can also add to the vertical rigidity of the sleeve that is formed.

The step of wrapping the sleeve to enclose the plant containers does not require that the sleeve be wrapped about the outer extremity of the base, but rather, it is preferred that it be wrapped in a manner connecting it at the outer edge region of the base. Thus, the sleeve may be connected to the base within the outer extremity thereof such as inboard of an upstanding lip of the base.

Connection of a lid to the sleeve can be completed in any suitable manner and in the preferred arrangement, the lid is placed on the upper edge of the sleeve after it is connected to the base and strapping is applied to the transport container to maintain the lid in position relative to the sleeve and the base. Advantageously, this renders the lid easily removable from the sleeve as discussed earlier by severing of the straps. Alternatively, the lid may be otherwise fixed to the sleeve by fasteners or by adhesive. Still alternatively, the lid may be placed on the upper edge of the sleeve and held in place by its own weight without otherwise being connected to the sleeve. In a preferred embodiment the lid may be connected to the sleeve by a complementary lug and slot arrangement, as previously described in relation to the connection between the sleeve and the base.

If the sleeve is formed as a single part, the free edges at either side of the sleeve may be fixed to each other after the sleeve has been connected to the base and for this purpose, a glue lap or staple lap may be provided. However, in the preferred arrangement, the free edges abut, overlap or closely approach each other, without being fixed together. Again, the absence of any fixing between the free edges further enhances the reusability of the sleeve and the transport receptacle. Alternatively, the free edges may be detachably fixed to each other by re-useable fixing means, such as hook and loop fastening strip or a complementary tab and slot arrangement. Where the sleeve comprises more than one part, the side edges of adjacent parts may be provided with suitable lap joints, or abut or be detachably connected, just as described above in the case of sleeves formed in single parts.

It is to be appreciated that the use of the expression "plant containers" is intended to cover all forms of containers used for plants and flowers, including buckets, punnets and pots.

The attached drawings show an example embodiment of the invention of the foregoing kind. The particularity of those drawings and the associated description does not supersede the generality of the preceding broad description of the invention.

Figure 1 illustrates a base and a sleeve according to one embodiment of the present invention, in which the base and sleeve are separated.

Figure 2 illustrates the base of Figure 1 on which a plurality of plant containers have been positioned.

Figure 3 illustrates the base and sleeve of Figure 1 in an assembled condition.

Figure 4 illustrates the assembly of Figure 3 and additionally a lid ready for a connection to that assembly.

With reference to Figure 1 , a base 10 and a sleeve 1 1 are illustrated. The base 10 is of a form that can receive the tines of a forklift within downwardly open recesses 12. The base 10 further includes a supporting surface 13 and an upstanding lip 14 which extends upwardly from the surface 13 fully about the periphery of the base 10. The lip 14 is coextensive with each of sides 15 of the base 10.

The base 10 is formed square in plan view, and typically would have size dimensions equivalent to standard pallets used in the transport industry.

In the embodiment shown, the sleeve 1 1 includes four substantially equally dimensioned sections 16 to 19 and each of the sections 16 to 19 is separated from the other by a crease 20. The material of the sleeve 1 1 typically would be corrugated plastic or cardboard, although it alternatively can be formed from

other sheet materials, such as stiff cardboard or plastic. Preferably the sleeve 1 1 is formed from a single rectangular sheet, with creases applied to form flexible hinges. In the embodiment shown, the free edges 20 and 21 of the sleeve 1 1 are positioned at a corner of the base 10, but in an alternative embodiment they may also be positioned part way along a side of base 10.

The dimensions of the sleeve 1 1 are such as to fit snugly within the upstanding lip 14. In that position, the free edges 20 and 21 of the sleeve 1 1 will be closely adjacent or in abutting contact; alternatively, there may be some overlap provided. Preferably the height of the lip 14 above the base 10 is just sufficient to engage the lower edge 24 of the sleeve 1 1 , so as to minimize the requirement for vertical movement of a plant container 22 (see Figure 2) when placing the plant container 22 on the supporting surface 13 of base 10.

Referring to Figure 2, this shows the base 10 of Figure 1 having been loaded with a plurality of plant containers 22. The plant containers 22 are shown without protruding plant or flower parts, although it will be readily appreciated that in use, the plant containers 22 will each contain plants or flowers, or bunches of flowers, with portions of those plants or flowers sometimes protruding from the open ends thereof.

It will be appreciated that the plant containers 22 can be easily positioned on the supporting surface 13 of the base 10, when the sleeve 1 1 is not located on the base 10. Thus, the plant containers 22 can be easily assembled or positioned on the base 10 without hindrance from the sleeve 1 1. The plant containers 22 may be placed on the supporting surface 13 in a direction which is substantially lateral to the plane of the supporting surface 13, that is, in a direction which is substantially parallel to the plane of the supporting surface 13. It will be appreciated that the lip 14 offers minimal impediment to the placement of the plant containers 22 and that placement of the plane containers 22 in this manner facilitates loading of the plant containers 22 onto the base 10 with minimal damage to the plants contained in the plant containers 22 due to vertical movement of the plant containers 22 relative to neighbouring plant containers 22.

Once the base 10 has been loaded with the plant containers 22, in the preferred arrangement, the sleeve 1 1 is then applied to the base 10. As this is preferred only, it is possible for the sleeve 1 1 to be applied to the base 10 before the plant containers 22 are all loaded on the base 10, or when only several of them have been loaded on the base 10, and if that method is adopted, then the sleeve 1 1 can be applied to the base 10, with one, two or three of either sections 16 to 18 or 17 to 19 in position on the base 10, leaving the remaining section or sections yet to be positioned and thereby allowing access for substantially lateral loading of the plant containers 22 on to base 10.

Whichever method is chosen, when the sleeve is applied to the base 10, the base and sleeve form a receptacle assembly 23 as shown in Figure 3. It will be appreciated, that the cooperation between the lower edge 24 of the sleeve 11 (see Figure 1 ), and the upstanding lip 14 of the base 10 provides some restraint for the sleeve 1 1 to retain a generally rectangular folded condition. That condition can be further maintained by connection of the free edges 20 and 21 (again see Figure 1 ), together, although for this, it may be preferable to provide either a glue or staple lap so that one free edge overlaps the other. In some applications connection of the free edges is not required, so that bringing the free edges 20 and 21 closely adjacent or into abutting engagement is sufficient; in other applications permanent or temporary connection of free edges 20 and 21 is preferred.

With reference to Figure 4, this shows the receptacle assembly 23 of Figure 3, and a lid 25 in position for application to the upper end of the sleeve 1 1 opposite to the base 10. The lid 25 as illustrated, is intended to be identical to the base 10, although it can be formed differently as required. It will be appreciated from Figure 4, that the lid 25 will fit about the upper edge 26 of the sleeve 1 1 , and will snugly receive the upper edge 26 in the same manner the lower edge 24 is received snugly within the lip 14 of the base 10.

Having applied the lid 25 to the sleeve 1 1 , the transport container is fully assembled, and if necessary, packaging such as strapping or cling wrap can be

applied about the base 10 and the lid 25 to maintain the base 10, the sleeve 11 and the lid 25 in connection. However it may not be necessary to apply packaging, or to apply any other form of fixed connection between those components, particularly if the lid is of a weight in which displacement of the lid 25 from the sleeve 11 is unlikely. It will further be appreciated, that by snug engagement of the lid 25 over the upper edge 26 of the sleeve 1 1 , that the folded condition of the sleeve 1 1 is further maintained.

It will be appreciated that once the transport receptacle arrives at its destination, it is possible to gain direct access to the plant containers by removing the sleeve from the base, so that the plant containers may be taken laterally from the base. This avoids the need to reach past protruding flowers or foliage in the plant containers to lift the plant containers from the base, which may also cause damage to the plants.

The invention described herein is susceptible to variations, modifications and/or additions other than those specifically described and it is to be understood that the invention includes all such variations, modifications and/or additions which fall within the spirit and scope of the above description.