GB2513308A

GB2513308A - Packaging

Info

Publication number: GB2513308A
Application number: GB1307174.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham Kershaw
Original assignee: MACPAC Ltd
Current assignee: MACPAC Ltd
Priority date: 2013-04-22
Filing date: 2013-04-22
Publication date: 2014-10-29
Anticipated expiration: 2033-04-22
Also published as: GB2513308B; GB201307174D0

Abstract

A plant plug transport package (11) comprising a plastic moulding having multiple compartments (12) for plant plugs, each compartment comprising a root ball space (12a) at the base and an upper stem space (12b), and optional ventilation in the form of press out panels (13) in one or more stem space compartments. The press out panels may be defined by an outline of reduced wall thickness (13a) which may include a straight line section (13b) that acts as a hinge. An envelope may be provided having a flat base that enables the package to be stood upright for retail display and a cut-out carrying handle. The envelope may further comprise end-wise bend-in tabs which serve as detents to lock the plastic molding into the envelope.

Description

Packaging This invention relates to packaging, more particularly packing for transporting plant plugs.

Plant plug packaging is known e.g., from GB2488 173, particularly Figures 10 and 11.

The packaging is of plastics material, usually transparent so that the contents can be seen, and is, as there illustrated, in the fomi of a hinged container having a number of compartments each having a part for ho'ding the root ball and a part for holding the growing stem ofaplant plug, The container is held closed by tabs on one hinged part folding and locking into recesses in the other.

The packaging is used for transportation by mail order, and must hold the plant plugs in good condition over the course of several days. Not illustrated in GB2488173, but used in practice are ventilation apertures, essentially gaps between the edges of the hinged parts, when closed.

It is found, however, that some plants, notably lavender, do not tolerate this kind of packaging very well.

The invention provides a simple but effective and inexpensive modification to the packaging that renders it suitable for such plants, while not impairing its usefulness with plants that do cun'ently tolerate it.

The invention provides plant plug transport package comprising a plastic moulding having multiple compartments for plant plugs, each compartment comprising a root ball space at the base and an upper stern space, and optional ventilation in the form of press out panels in one or more stem space compartments.

The package may comprise complementary parts. which may be thermoformed, joined by a live hinge at the base.

The package may have in addition permanent ventilation in the form of the gaps aforemendoned, one being in the base and others being in the endwise edges.

At least the stem space compartments in which press out panels are provided may have flat faces. The press out panels may be defined by an outline of reduced wall thickness, which may include a straight-line section that can act as a live hinge.

A further inventive concept extends the usefulness of the packaging.

An envelope, for example of stiff paper or thin card may be provided having a flat base that enables the package to be stood upright for display in a retail environment. The envelope may have a carrying handle, which may be formed as a cut-out.

The envelope may be cuboidal and dimensioned so that the plastic moulding can be slid, when closed, into and out of the envelope. End-wise bend-in tabs may serve as detents locking the plastic moulding in the envelope.

The envelope may have a window exposing the stern space compartments, and particulady those having press out panels.

The envelope and the plastic moulding together constitute a display/caiTying package.

A plant plug transport package according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation; Figure 2 is a side elevation; Figure 3 is a front &evation of an envelope containing the package: and Figure 4 is a side elevation of the envelope/package of Figure 3.

Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings illustrate a plant plug transport package 11 comprising a plastic moulding having six compartments 12 for plant plugs, each compartment 12 comprising a root ball space 12a at the base and an upper stem space 12b, and optional ventilation in the form of press out panels 13 in two of the stem space compartments l2b.

The right hand panel 13 is shown hinged open.

The plastic moulding comprises two complementary parts, I Ia, I lb, hinged together below the root ball spaces 12a with a live hinge formed when the two parts are thermoformed in the same mould.

The package II has in addition permanent ventilation in the form of gaps 14 in the edges of the pails II a, II h when closed.

The stem space compartments i 2b in which press out panels 13 are provided have flat faces. The press out panels 13 are defined by an outline 13a of reduced wall thickness, which includes a straight-line section 13b that can act as a live hinge.

The parts I Ia, 1 lb are releasably secured together, when plant plugs have been inserted.

by tabs 16 snap-fitting into recesses 17.

The permanent ventilation is adequate for most plants, but there are some plants such as lavender that prefer to be dry and can be intolerant of the environment of the package II after two or three days in a mailing package. For such plants, additional ventilation using the press out panels 13 better controls the plant environment. The provision, which is straightforward in a package that has flat faces to the stem spaces 12b, is a simple and inexpensive solution to the problem, which would otherwise require a special pack to be designed with more permanent ventilation and substantial tooling, administration and inventory costs.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate an envelope 31 of stiff paper or thin card having a flat base 3 lb that enables the package II to be stood upright for display in a retail environment. The envelope 31 has a crying handle 32, which formed as a cut-out.

The envelope 31 is cuboidal and dimensioned so that the package ii can be slid, when closed, into and out of the envelope 31. End-wise bend-in tabs 33 serve as detents locking the package II in the envelope 31.

The envelope 31 has a window 34 exposing the stem space compartments 12b, and particularly those having press out panels 13.

The envelope 31 and the plastic moulding 11 together constitute a display/carrying package, the window 34 allowing light to the stem parts when on display.

Claims

Claims: 1 A plant plug transport package comprising a plastic mouMing having multiple compartments for plant plugs, each compartment comprising a root ball space at the base and an upper stem space, and optional ventilation in the form of press out panels in one or more stem space compartments.
2 A package according to claim 1. having in addition permanent ventilation in the form of gaps between the edges of the hinged parts, when dosed.
3 A package according to claim I or claim 2, in which qt least the stem space compartments in which press out pands are provided have tiat faces.
4 A package according to any one of claims I to 3, in which the press out panels are defined by an outline of reduced wall thickness.
A package according to claim 4, in which said outline includes a straight-line section that can act as a live hinge.
6 A combination of a package according to any one of claims 1 to 5, and an envelope having a flat base that enables the package to be stood upright for display in a retail environment.
7 A combination according to claim 6. in which the envelope is of stiff paper or thin card.
8 A combination according to claim 6 or claim 7, in which the envelope has a carrying handle, which may be formed as a cut-out.
9 A combination according to any one of claims 6 to 8, in which the envelope is cuboidal and dimensioned so that the plastic moulding can be slid, when closed, into and out of the envelope.A combination according to any one of claims 6 to 9, in which the envelope comprises end-wise bend-in tabs serving as detents locking the plastic moulding in the envelope.Ii A combination according to any one of claims 6 to 10, in which the envelope has a window exposing the stem space compartments, and particularly those having press out panels.Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claims: 1 A plant plug transport packagc comprising a plastic moulding having multiplc compartmenLs br plant plugs, each comparimeni comprising a root hafl space ai ihe base and an upper stem space, and optional ventilation in the form of press out panels in one or more stem space compartments.2 A package according to claim 1, comprising complementary parts, which may he thermoformed, joined by a live hinge at the base.3 A package according to claim 2, having in addition permanent ventilation in the lorm of gaps heiween the edges of ihe hinged paris, when dosed.4 A package according to any onc of claims 1 to 3, in which at least the stem space compartmenLs in which press out panels are provided have Ilal faces.A package according to any onc of claims 1 to 4, in which thc press out panels are defined hy an oulline ol reduced wall thickness.6 A package according to claim 5, in which said outline includes a straight-line seclion ihal can act as a live hinge.7 A combination of a package according to any one of claims 1 to 6, and an 0 envelope having a flal base that enables the package Lo bc stood uprighi for display in a r 25 retail environmenL.S A combination according to claim 7, in which the cnvelope is of stiff paper or thin O card.9 A combination according to claim 7 or claim 5, in which the envelope has a carrying handle, which may he formed as a cuL-ouL.A combination according to any one of claims 7 to 9, in which the envclope is cuhoidal and dimensioned so ihal ihe plaslic moulding can he slid, when closed, mb and out of the envelope.Ii A combination according Lo any one of claims 7 to 10, in which the envelope comprises end-wise bend-in tabs serving as detents locking the plastic moulding in the cnvclope.12 A combination according to any one of claims 7 to 11, in which the envelope has a window exposing the sbem space compariments, and particularly Lhose having press oul panels.