Shipping carton and method for shipping floral groupings

Claim 2

A shipping carton comprising: a box assembly having an inner surface and an outer surface and at least partially enclosing a retaining space, a bonding material disposed on at least a portion of the inner surface of the box assembly; and a plurality of flower pots, each pot having an upper end and a lower end, each of the pots being disposed in the retaining space in the box assembly and positioned whereby the bonding material engages and bondingly connects the lower ends of each of the pots to the inner surface of the box assembly for substantially preventing movement of the pots in the box assembly during movements of the box assembly, each of the pots being removable from the box assembly by disconnecting the pots from the bonding material.

Claim 3

The shipping carton of claim 1 wherein the box assembly further comprises: a box having a base and side walls, the base having an inner surface and an outer surface and the side walls having an inner surface and an outer surface with the inner and outer surfaces of the base and side walls cooperating to define the inner and outer surfaces of the box assembly, the side walls being connected to the base and extending a distance upwardly from the base, the side walls extending about an outer periphery of the base and cooperating with the base to at least partially enclose the retaining space, the bonding material being applied to the inner surface of the base.

Claim 4

The shipping carton of claim 2 wherein the side walls extend upwardly from the base forming an open upper end of the box, and wherein the box assembly further comprises: a plurality of lid flaps, each lid flap being connected to an upper end of a side wall and extending along the entire length of the side wall and a distance therefrom, each flap being movable between a closed position wherein the lid flaps extend over and substantially encloses the retaining space, and an open position wherein the lid flaps are substantially removed from the open upper end of the box.

Claim 5

The shipping carton of claim 3 wherein the bonding material is a material selected from the group of materials comprising an adhesive and a cohesive.

Claim 6

The shipping carton of claim 3 wherein each of the pots has a floral grouping disposed therein.

Claim 7

The shipping carton of claim 3 wherein the bonding material comprises at least one strip of bonding material disposed on the base.

Claim 8

The shipping carton of claim 3 wherein the base of the box comprises a first end, a second end, a first side and a second side, and wherein the bonding material comprises at least one strip of bonding material extending between the first and the second sides of the base.

Claim 9

The shipping carton of claim 2 wherein the side walls extend upwardly from the base forming an open upper end of the box, and wherein the box assembly further comprises: a box lid removably connectable to the open upper end of the box, the box lid cooperating with the side walls and the base to encompass the retaining space in a closed position.

Claim 10

The shipping carton of claim 8 wherein the bonding material is a material selected from the group of materials consisting of an adhesive and a cohesive.

Claim 11

The shipping carton of claim 8 wherein each of the pots has a floral grouping disposed therein.

Claim 12

The shipping carton of claim 8 wherein the bonding material comprises at least one strip of bonding material disposed on the base.

Claim 13

The shipping carton of claim 8 wherein the base of the box comprises a first end, a second end, a first side and a second side, and wherein the bonding material comprises at least one strip of bonding material extending between the first and the second sides of the base.

Claim 14

A shipping carton comprising: a box assembly having an inner surface and an outer surface and at least partially enclosing a retaining space, a bonding material disposed on at least a portion of the inner surface of the box assembly; a plurality of flower pots, each pot having an upper end and a lower end, each pot containing growing medium, a floral grouping disposed therein with a portion of the floral grouping extending above the upper end of the pot, each of the pots being disposed in the retaining space in the box assembly and positioned whereby the bonding material engages and bondingly connects each of the pots to the box assembly, each of the pots being removable from the box assembly by disconnecting the pots from the bonding material; and at least two retaining inserts, each retaining insert having an outer periphery with a plurality of retaining cutouts formed in the outer periphery, the cutouts being spaced a distance apart and each of the cutouts being sized and shaped to encompass at least a portion of the floral grouping in one of the pots, each retaining insert being disposed in the retaining space and positioned therein whereby each cutout on one of the retaining inserts surrounds and encompasses a portion of the floral grouping in one of the pots and each cutout of one of the other retaining inserts surrounds and encompasses at least a portion of the floral grouping in one of the pots with the retaining inserts being positioned so that each cutout in one of the retaining inserts cooperates with one of the cutouts in one of the other retaining inserts to encompass a substantial portion of the floral grouping in one of the pots thereby substantially enclosing the growing medium within the pot to retain the growing medium within the pot during movement of the box assembly.

Claim 15

A shipping carton comprising: a box assembly having an inner surface and an outer surface and at least partially enclosing a retaining space, a bonding material disposed on at least a portion of the inner surface of the box assembly; a plurality of flower pots, each pot having an upper end and a lower end, each pot containing growing medium, a floral grouping disposed therein with a portion of the floral grouping extending above the upper end of the pot, each of the pots being disposed in the retaining space in the box assembly and positioned whereby the bonding material engages and bondingly connects each of the pots to the box assembly, each of the pots being removable from the box assembly by disconnecting the pots from the bonding material; and at least two retaining inserts, each retaining insert having an outer periphery with a plurality of retaining cutouts formed in the outer periphery, the cutouts being spaced a distance apart and each of the cutouts being sized and shaped to encompass at least a portion of the floral grouping in one of the pots, each retaining insert being disposed in the retaining space and positioned therein whereby each cutout on one of the retaining inserts surrounds and encompasses a portion of the floral grouping in one of the pots and each cutout of one of the other retaining inserts surrounds and encompasses at least a portion of the floral grouping in one of the pots with the retaining inserts being positioned so that each cutout in one of the retaining inserts cooperates with one of the cutouts in one of the other retaining inserts to encompass a substantial portion of the floral grouping in one of the pots thereby substantially enclosing the growing medium within the pot to retain the growing medium within the pot during movement of the box assembly.

Claim 16

The shipping carton of claim 13 wherein the box assembly further comprises: a box having a base and side walls, the base having an inner surface and an outer surface and the side walls having an inner surface and an outer surface with the inner and outer surfaces of the base and side walls cooperating to define the inner and outer surfaces of the box assembly, the side walls being connected to the base and extending a distance upwardly from the base, the side walls extending about an outer periphery of the base and cooperating with the base to at least partially enclose the retaining space, the bonding material being applied to the inner surface of the base.

Claim 17

The shipping carton of claim 14 wherein the side walls extend upwardly from the base forming an open upper end of the box, and wherein the box assembly further comprises: a plurality of lid flaps, each lid flap being connected to an upper end of a side wall and extending along the entire length of the side wall and a distance therefrom, each flap being movable between a closed position wherein the lid flaps extend over and substantially encloses the retaining space, and an open position wherein the lid flaps are substantially removed from the open upper end of the box.

Claim 18

The shipping carton of claim 15 wherein the bonding material is a material selected from the group of materials consisting of an adhesive and a cohesive.

Claim 19

The shipping carton of claim 15 wherein each of the pots has a floral grouping disposed therein.

Claim 20

The shipping carton of claim 15 wherein the bonding material comprises at least one strip of bonding material disposed on the base.

Claim 21

The shipping carton of claim 15 wherein the base of the box comprises a first end, a second end, a first side and a second side, and wherein the bonding material comprises at least one strip of bonding material extending between the first and the second sides of the base.

Claim 22

The shipping carton of claim 15 wherein the retaining inserts may be further defined as having two fold lines, the distance between said fold lines approximating the distance between the first and second ends of the box assembly, and the distance between each fold line and the end of the retaining insert most proximal to that fold line approximating the height of the flower pots, whereby the sections of the retaining insert between the fold lines and the first and second ends of the box assembly are moveable to a position wherein said sections extend approximately perpendicularly to the portion of the retaining insert between the fold lines such that, when disposed in the retaining space of the box, the outer periphery of the ends of the retaining insert cooperate with the base of the box assembly to provide additional support to the retaining insert.

Claim 23

The shipping carton of claim 15 in which the box assembly further comprises: means for securing each insert to the box assembly.

Claim 24

The shipping carton of claim 21 in which the means for securing each insert to the box assembly comprises a clip.

Claim 25

The shipping carton of claim 14 wherein the side walls extend upwardly from the base forming an open upper end of the box, and wherein the box assembly further comprises: a box lid removably connectable to the open upper end of the box, the box lid cooperating with the side walls and the base to encompass the retaining space in a closed position.

Claim 26

The shipping carton of claim 23 wherein the bonding material is a material selected from the group of materials consisting of an adhesive and a cohesive.

Claim 27

The shipping carton of claim 23 wherein each of the pots has a floral grouping disposed therein.

Claim 28

The shipping carton of claim 23 wherein the bonding material comprises at least one strip of bonding material disposed on the base.

Claim 29

The shipping carton of claim 23 wherein the base of the box comprises a first end, a second end, a first side and a second side, and wherein the bonding material comprises at least one strip of bonding material extending between the first and the second sides of the base.

Claim 30

The shipping carton of claim 23 wherein the retaining inserts may be further defined as having two fold lines, the distance between said fold lines approximating the distance between the first and second ends of the box assembly, and the distance between each fold line and the end of the retaining insert most proximal to that fold line approximating the height of the flower pots, whereby the sections of the retaining insert between the fold lines and the first and second ends of the box assembly are moveable to a position wherein said sections extend approximately perpendicularly to the portion of the retaining insert between the fold lines such that, when disposed in the retaining space of the box, the outer periphery of the ends of the retaining insert cooperate with the base of the box assembly to provide additional support to the retaining insert.

Claim 31

The shipping carton of claim 23 in which the box assembly further comprises: means for securing each insert to the box assembly.

Claim 32

The shipping carton of claim 29 in which the means for securing each insert to the box assembly comprises a clip.

Claim 33

A shipping carton comprising; a plurality of flower pots each of which contains a growing medium and a floral grouping disposed therein; a box assembly having an inner surface and an outer surface and at least partially enclosing a retaining space, a bonding material disposed on at least a portion of the inner surface of the box assembly; and at least two retaining inserts, each retaining insert having an outer periphery with a plurality of retaining cutouts formed in the outer periphery, the cutouts being spaced a distance apart and each of the cutouts being sized and shaped to encompass at least a portion of the floral grouping in one of the pots, each retaining insert being disposed in the retaining space and positioned therein whereby each cutout on one of the retaining inserts surrounds and encompasses a portion of the floral grouping in one of the pots and each cutout of one of the other retaining inserts surrounds and encompasses at least a portion of the floral grouping in one of the pots with the retaining inserts being positioned so that each cutout in one of the retaining inserts cooperates with one of the cutouts in one of the other retaining inserts to encompass a substantial portion of the floral grouping in one of the pots thereby substantially enclosing the growing medium within the pot to retain the growing medium within the pot during movement of the box assembly.

Claim 34

A shipping carton comprising; a plurality of flower pots each of which contains a growing medium and a floral grouping disposed therein; a box assembly having an inner surface and an outer surface and at least partially enclosing a retaining space, a bonding material disposed on at least a portion of the inner surface of the box assembly; and at least two retaining inserts, each retaining insert having an outer periphery with a plurality of retaining cutouts formed in the outer periphery, the cutouts being spaced a distance apart and each of the cutouts being sized and shaped to encompass at least a portion of the floral grouping in one of the pots, each retaining insert being disposed in the retaining space and positioned therein whereby each cutout on one of the retaining inserts surrounds and encompasses a portion of the floral grouping in one of the pots and each cutout of one of the other retaining inserts surrounds and encompasses at least a portion of the floral grouping in one of the pots with the retaining inserts being positioned so that each cutout in one of the retaining inserts cooperates with one of the cutouts in one of the other retaining inserts to encompass a substantial portion of the floral grouping in one of the pots thereby substantially enclosing the growing medium within the pot to retain the growing medium within the pot during movement of the box assembly.

Claim 35

The shipping carton of claim 31 wherein the box assembly further comprises: a box having a base and side walls, the base having an inner surface and an outer surface and the side walls having an inner surface and an outer surface with the inner and outer surfaces of the base and side walls cooperating to define the inner and outer surfaces of the box assembly, the side walls being connected to the base and extending a distance upwardly from the base, the side walls extending about an outer periphery of the base and cooperating with the base to at least partially enclose the retaining space, the bonding means being applied to the inner surface of the base.

Claim 36

The shipping carton of claim 32 wherein the bonding means comprises at least one strip of bonding material disposed on the base.

Claim 37

The shipping carton of claim 32 wherein the base of the box comprises a first end, a second end, a first side and a second side, and wherein the bonding means comprises at least one strip of bonding material extending between the first and the second sides of the base.

Claim 38

The shipping carton of claim 32 wherein the retaining inserts may be further defined as having two fold lines, the distance between said fold lines approximating the distance between the first and second ends of the box assembly, and the distance between each fold line and the end of the retaining insert most proximal to that fold line approximating the height of the flower pots, whereby the sections of the retaining insert between the fold lines and the first and second ends of the box assembly are moveable to a position wherein said sections extend approximately perpendicularly to the portion of the retaining insert between the fold lines such that, when disposed in the retaining space of the box, the outer periphery of the ends of the retaining insert cooperate with the base of the box assembly to provide additional support to the retaining insert.

Claim 39

The shipping carton of claim 32 in which the box assembly further comprises: means for securing each insert to the box assembly.

Claim 40

The shipping carton of claim 32 in which the means for securing each insert to the box comprises a clip.

Claim 41

The shipping carton of claim 32 wherein the side walls extend upwardly from the base forming an open upper end of the box, and wherein the box assembly further comprises: a plurality of lid flaps, each lid flap being connected to an upper end of a side wall and extending along the entire length of the side wall and a distance therefrom, each flap being movable between a closed position wherein the lid flaps extend over and substantially enclose the retaining space, and an open position wherein the lid flaps are substantially removed from the open upper end of the box.

Claim 42

The shipping carton of claim 32 wherein the side walls extend upwardly from the base forming an open upper end of the box, and wherein the box assembly further comprises: a box lid removably connectable to the open upper end of the box, the box lid cooperating with the side walls and the base to encompass the retaining space in a closed position.

Claim 45

The method of claim 40 further comprising the step of moving the shipping carton lid to a closed position whereby the retaining space of the shipping carton and the flower pots containing the floral groupings are substantially enclosed within the retaining space of the shipping carton.

Claim 46

The method of claim 41 wherein the shipping carton further comprises a first lid flap, a second lid flap, a third lid flap and a fourth lid flap, and the step of moving the shipping carton lid to a closed position comprises: moving the first lid flap to a closed position whereby the first lid flap partially encloses the retaining space of the shipping carton; moving the second lid flap to a closed position whereby the second lid flap partially encloses the retaining space of the shipping carton; moving the third lid flap to a closed position whereby the third lid flap partially covers the first and second lid flaps; and moving the fourth lid flap to a closed position whereby the fourth lid flap substantially covers the portions of the first and second lid flaps not covered by the third lid flap, thereby substantially enclosing the flower pots containing the floral groupings within the retaining space of the shipping carton.

Claim 47

The method of claim 42 further comprising the step of securing each lid flap in the closed position with an adhesive tape or other securing means.

Claim 48

The method of claim 41 wherein the shipping carton further comprises side walls, a base, and a shipping carton lid that is removably connectable to the open upper end of the box, and the step of moving the shipping carton lid to a closed position comprises: connecting the shipping carton lid to the shipping carton whereby the shipping carton lid cooperates with the side walls and the base of the shipping carton to encompass the retaining space of the shipping carton.

Claim 49

The method of claim 44 further comprising the step of securing the shipping carton lid in the closed position with an adhesive tape or other securing means.

Claim 50

The method of claim 40 further comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of retaining inserts having cutouts; disposing the retaining inserts within the retaining space of the shipping carton whereby the retaining inserts cooperate with the upper end of the flower pots and the cutouts of the retaining inserts substantially surround the stem portion of the floral grouping thereby substantially enclosing the growing medium within the retaining space of the flower pot.

Claim 51

The method of claim 46 wherein the retaining inserts are approximately the same length as the width of the retaining space of the shipping carton whereby the retaining insert is held in place by the force exerted on the retaining insert by the side walls of the shipping carton after the retaining insert is disposed in the retaining space of the shipping carton.

Claim 52

The method of claim 46 further comprising the step of moving the shipping carton lid to a closed position whereby the retaining space of the shipping carton and the flower pots containing the floral groupings are substantially enclosed within the retaining space of the shipping carton.

Claim 53

The method of claim 48 further comprising the step of securing the shipping carton lid in the closed position with an adhesive tape or other securing means.