EP0543746B1 - Receptacle for displaying, decorating and protecting potted plants - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an improvement made to the receptacles used in many sectors for ensuring the presentation, decoration, or even protection of various products, such as in particular potted plants. In the following description, the invention will be described for such an application and the receptacle according to the invention designated by the expression "cache-pot", but it is obvious that this is not limiting and that the The invention also covers all types of containers or containers which can contain various objects, such as baskets for the presentation of food products (bread, fruit, etc.).

Furthermore, the invention will be described for a receptacle comprising a base of circular shape, but it could be envisaged, without departing from the scope of the invention, to produce receptacles which may have a rectangular base or any other, in a similar manner. other form.

• à entourer le pot avec une "manchette" constituée par un tube plissé, notamment en papier ou en matière plastique ;
• à disposer le pot dans un contenant (cache), souple ou rigide, éventuellement décoré et qui a des dimensions supérieures à celles dudit pot;
• à entourer le pot avec une feuille décorée, de forme circulaire et qui, en général, a été prédécoupée.

To date, to carry out the presentation, decoration and even the protection of potted plants, various solutions are used by florists, the most widespread of which are:

• surrounding the pot with a "cuff" consisting of a pleated tube, in particular made of paper or plastic;
• placing the pot in a container (cover), flexible or rigid, possibly decorated and which has dimensions greater than those of said pot;
• to surround the pot with a decorated sheet, of circular shape and which, in general, has been precut.

The plant thus presented is optionally packaged using a flat sheet (paper or film in particular), the edges of which are secured (stapling, bonding, etc.) after being placed around the article.

Although commonly used, these solutions are not entirely satisfactory.

Indeed, if the articles comprising a pleated wall (and being in the form of an open tube surrounding only the periphery of the pot or possibly in the form of a cover having a bottom), allow a use for pots of different diameters, the presence of folds leads to a deformation of the patterns which can be printed on the surface (decor, text).

The covers having a smooth peripheral surface have the drawback of being able to be used only for one and the same type of pot.

Furthermore, all the solutions proposed to date are either not waterproof (case of the peripheral cuff), or waterproof (cover surrounding the base and the side wall of the pot), and do not allow to choose between one or the other. 'Another of these possibilities, while it is desirable to have a perfectly sealed receptacle during the transport of the pot and we very often wish that the irrigation water can flow outward when the plant is unpacked.

Finally, apart from the receptacles of the "pleated cuff" type which are very elastic and do not take up storage space, the other types of pot holders, although to a certain extent stackable, occupy a large volume.

Now we have found, and this is what is the subject of the present invention, a method making it possible to produce a new type of receptacle which makes it possible to solve these drawbacks, which, not only, can be stored flat and not be shaped only at the time of its use (thus facilitating the transport, the storage of the empty receptacles), but which can be printed on the surface with any type of non-deformed patterns during the shaping of said receptacle, and be made from a very wide range of raw materials, in particular recycled and / or recyclable.

Furthermore, when the receptacle according to the invention is intended for potted plants, it can be used for pots having different dimensions and, in a preferred embodiment, be used either in sealed form or made non-sealed, and user choice.

In general, the method according to the invention for producing a new type of receptacle which can be used for the presentation, decoration or even the protection of various articles such as in particular potted plants, consists of material comparable to the teachings of WO-88/01593, to form a flat, transparent or colored sheet, possibly printed according to an appropriate decoration, said sheet comprising a central zone whose shape and dimensions correspond to the base of the pot and, extending from this zone, radiating bands whose total surface is at least equal to the developed surface of the volume of the article surrounded by said receptacle after shaping of the sheet.

• on réalise un flan prédécoupé, la matière étant éliminée entre les bandes rayonnantes ;
• la feuille est à base d'une matière ayant une épaisseur et une rigidité telles que les bandes rayonnantes ne puissent se déformer sous leur propre poids lorsqu'elles sont orientées verticalement ou pratiquement verticalement ;
• la mise en forme de la dite feuille est obtenue en relevant par pliage les bandes rayonnantes par rapport à la zone centrale, les bandes rayonnantes se juxtaposant bord à bord, avec recouvrement éventuel, les bandes repliées et la partie centrale plane étant maintenues dans cette position soit par des moyens de maintien situés à la base des bandes rayonnantes, soit par thermoformage de ladite base.

The method according to the invention is characterized in that:

• a precut blank is produced, the material being eliminated between the radiating bands;
• the sheet is based on a material having a thickness and a rigidity such that the radiating bands cannot deform under their own weight when they are oriented vertically or practically vertically;
• the shaping of said sheet is obtained by folding up the radiating strips with respect to the central zone, the radiating strips juxtaposing edge to edge, with possible overlap, the folded strips and the flat central part being maintained in this position either by holding means located at the base of the radiating strips, or by thermoforming of said base.

When the receptacle according to the invention is intended to constitute a pot cover, the central area of the precut blank will preferably be circular.

For such an application, according to an embodiment in accordance with the invention, the shaping of the sheet and its maintenance is obtained by means of a shaping element which remains associated with the cover after completion; advantageously, such a shaping element is in the form of a set of cups, recessed one inside the other, and between which is kept trapped the central zone of the flat sheet constituting the receptacle as well as the base of radiating bands; in such a case, the bottom of the small section cup has a weakened zone which optionally allows the user to make the receptacle not waterproof.

According to a variant, it can be envisaged to ensure the maintenance of the folded sheet by providing, either in the bottom of the shaping element (cup) or on the surface of the sheet, an adhesive material.

According to another variant, the shaping and keeping in shape of the flat sheet is carried out by thermoforming of said sheet produced either directly at the user, or possibly in the factory (in the latter case, it is obvious that one loses the advantage of flat storage before use).

Finally, it can be envisaged to produce a receptacle in accordance with the invention which not only surrounds the pot over its entire height, but also the plant that said pot contains, said receptacle then being able to be used as receptacle during transport between the sales site and place of use, and then as a simple cover or receptacle after cutting the radiating strips over part of their height.

• la figure 1 illustre, vue en plan, la moitié d'une feuille plane permettant de réaliser un réceptacle conforme à l'invention destiné plus particulièrement à la formation d'un cache pour plantes en pot ;
• la figure 2 et les figures 3a,3b,3c illustrent un mode de réalisation d'un moyen permettant de réaliser la mise en forme de la feuille illustrée à la figure 1 pour obtenir ledit cache-pot;
• les figures 4a à 4e illustrent de manière schématique, la manière dont est réalisé un réceptacle conforme à l'invention à partir des éléments illustrés aux figures 1, 2 et 3a,3b,3c.

The invention and the advantages which it brings will however be better understood thanks to the embodiment given below by way of indication but not limitation, and which is illustrated by the attached diagrams in which:

• FIG. 1 illustrates, in plan view, half of a flat sheet making it possible to produce a receptacle according to the invention intended more particularly for the formation of a cache for potted plants;
• Figure 2 and Figures 3a, 3b, 3c illustrate an embodiment of a means for carrying out the shaping of the sheet illustrated in Figure 1 to obtain said plant pot;
• Figures 4a to 4e schematically illustrate the manner in which a receptacle according to the invention is produced from the elements illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3a, 3b, 3c.

If reference is made to the appended diagrams, in order to produce a receptacle in accordance with the invention and which makes it possible to ensure, in the example of embodiment given, the presentation, decoration and protection of pots intended to receive plants or flowers , essentially using a flat sheet as shown in Figure 1 and which is in the form of a pre-cut blank. Such a flat sheet, designated by the general reference (1), comprises a circular central zone (2), the diameter D1 of which determines the maximum diameter of the pots that it can contain, any pot of smaller diameter can of course be arranged to inside such a cache. This central area presents, in the embodiment shown in Figure 1, an opening (3). From this central area (1) extend a plurality of radiating bands (4a, 4b ..) separated from each other, and whose total area is at least equal to the developed area of the volume which must surround the pot of the plant to present.

The material in which such a sheet (1) is made can be of any type, but will preferably be chosen from materials such as cardboard, polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate ( FART). The sheet (1) can be transparent or colored, and optionally printed according to a specific pattern.

To enable a receptacle or cover according to the invention to be produced, such a sheet must, however, have a thickness and a rigidity such that the radiating strips (4a, 4b, etc.) cannot deform under their own weight, especially when 'They are arranged vertically or substantially vertically. To improve the rigidity of the sheet, it can be envisaged to provide, along the length of the radiating strips (4a, 4b, etc.), reinforcement zones formed, for example, by "ribs" obtained directly during folding.

The shaping of the receptacle according to the invention can be obtained by compressing the aforementioned sheet in its central zone. Such a compression operation causes the raising of the radiating bands (4a, 4b) which are juxtaposed edge to edge (possibly with a partial overlap), the folded bands and the flat bottom being maintained in this position. Different solutions can be envisaged to achieve such a conformation.

According to an embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 to 4e, the shaping and the maintenance of the sheet (1) is obtained by means of an assembly essentially comprising two cups, designated by the general references (5) and (6 ), one (5) (figure 2) being able to be embedded in the second (6) (figures 3a to 3c), by trapping between them the circular base (2) of the sheet and part of the height of the precut areas close to the diameter D1 in FIG. 1.

Different types of means can be envisaged to block the cup (5) inside the outer cup (6). In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 to 3c, the blocking is obtained by means of a clipping system which allows, during the shaping of the sheet (1), also to maintain the latter on the cup (5 ) to facilitate handling and allow centering. In the illustrated embodiment, the internal cup (5) comprises, at its base (see FIGS. 3a and 3b) four equidistant sectors (9) forming clips and which, when said cup (5) is associated with the external cup (6 ), ensure the connection of the two cups between them. FIG. 3c is an enlarged view showing the structure of such sectors (9), structure such that they can be force-fitted inside an opening (8) provided in the central part of the external cup (6) . Furthermore, in this embodiment, the internal cup (5) advantageously comprises in its central part, a weakened zone (10) which allows the user to obtain a non-waterproof cover allowing a flow of water from watering.

FIGS. 4a to 4e illustrate the manner in which such a receptacle is produced from a set of elements comprising a sheet (1) and two cups (5,6), these elements being shown side by side in FIG. 1.

First, (Figure 4b), the user places the precut sheet (1) around the cup (5), so that it comes to rest against the base (5a) of said cup (see figure 3b), which makes it possible to maintain said sheet thanks to the presence of clips (9) which pass through the central open area (3) of the sheet (1). This positioning of the sheet (1) on the cup (5) being carried out, the user presents the assembly (cup (5) + sheet (1)) above the concave part of the second cup (6 ) (see Figure 4c). Imprisonment of the circular bottom (2) of the sheet (1) by the user, causes the radiating bands (4a, 4b ..) to straighten, this operation being able to be carried out either by action of the user on the bottom of the cup (5) as shown in Figure 4, or possibly by directly placing the pot inside the cover thus formed. The user causes the two cups (5,6) to be blocked one inside the other, so as to maintain the sheet (1) thus formed in position (see FIG. 4e).

The two cups (5,6) being nested one inside the other, one obtains a receptacle having the form of a pot-holder, the pre-cut radiating strips being maintained substantially vertically, edge to edge or possibly with a slight overlap . If such a receptacle or cover can be used as it is, it can be envisaged to join together the edges of the radiating strips (4a, 4b, etc.), for example by stapling or adding a peripheral link.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. Thus, it could be envisaged to use as a shaping and retaining element the flat sheet (1), a single cup (6), the retention of the folded sheet then being obtained for example by providing either in the bottom of the cup ( 6), or on the surface of the sheet (1) an adhesive material.

It can also be envisaged to produce such a cover without adding additional cups or holding means, for example by shaping the sheet by a thermoforming operation during which the radiating strips (4a, 4b) are straightened and the maintenance in this form of the receptacle produced.

Finally, as said previously, it can be envisaged to produce, in accordance with the invention, receptacles having a base other than circular, for example receptacles having a rectangular base and which can be used in other fields, such as for example to present objects (food, etc.).

Claims (8)

1. Method for the realisation of a receptacle which can be used for displaying, decorating and even protecting various articles, such as pot plants by forming a plane sheet, which is transparent or coloured, and possibly printed with a suitable decoration, said sheet comprising a central zone (2), whose shape and dimensions correspond to the base of the pot and, extending from this central zone (2), radiating strips (4a, 4b, 4c...), whose total surface area is at least equal to the developped surface area of the volume surrounded by said receptacle after forming, characterized in that:

   - a precut blank is realized, the radiating strips being separated from one another ;

   - said sheet (1) is based on a substance having a thickness and a rigidity such that the radiating strips (4a, 4b, 4c,...) cannot deform under their own weight when they are oriented vertically or practically vertically ;

   - forming of said sheet (1) is achieved by lifting up with folding the radiating strips with respect to the central zone (2), the radiating strips (4a, 4b, 4c,...) coming together edge to edge, with possible overlap, the folded-up strips (4a, 4b, 4c...) and the flat bottom (2) being held in this position, either by holding means provided at the basis of the radiating strips, or by thermoforming of said base.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the substance from which the sheet (1) is produced is chosen from among materials, possibly recycled and/or recyclable, such as card, sheets of plastic (polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, etc).
3. Method according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the central zone (2) of the precut blank (1) is of circular shape.
4. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sheet (1) is formed and held by means of a shaping element which remains associated with said receptacle after production.
5. Method according to Claims 4, characterized in that the shaping element is in the form of a set of cups (5,6) which can be nested one inside the other and between which the central zone (2) of the plane sheet constituting the receptacle as well as the base of the radiating strips (4a, 4b, 4c, etc...) is held captive.
6. Method according to Claim 5, characterized in that the bottom of the cup (5) of small cross-section comprises a weakened zone (10) possibly allowing the user to make the receptacle non-leaktight.
7. Method according to Claim 4, charaterized in that the folded-up sheet (1) is held in shape by bonding between the central part (2) and the base of the shaping element.
8. Receptacle obtained by implementing the method according to one of Claims 1 to 7.

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