GB2061863A - Packaged plants - Google Patents

Abstract

A plant or flower is packaged in a sealed gas-filled enclosure which is formed from a flexible transparent moisture retaining material and particularly from an open-topped plastics bag (11). The plant (12) is inserted into the bag, the bag is inflated with the gas (which may be air or nitrogen) and the open top (16) is then heat-sealed. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Packaged plants This invention relates to the packaging of plants. The term plants is used herein to encompass both whole living plants and also fresh cut parts of plants such as leaves, flower-bearing stems and the like.

In the case of house plants sold in shops it is necessary to protect same from rough handling and also to provide proper care and attention if it is to be ensured that appreciable numbers of the plants do not die, nor wilt or otherwise adopt an unattractive damaged or sickly state, whilst in the shop or shortly after purchase of same by customers. Since it is not always possible or practical to ensure provision of adequate such protection and care and attention the sale of plants by shops may be problematical.

An object of the present invention is to overcome or at least minimise such problems by packaging plants in such a manner that they can be maintained for an appreciable period of time in a healthy thriving state even when subjected to rough handling and inattention.

According to the invention therefore there is provided a packaged plant, wherein the plant is totally enclosed within a sealed enclosure, said enclosure being formed from a transparent material which acts to retain moisture within the enclosure and which is filled with a gaseous substance.

With this arrangement it has been found possible to maintain a plant in a healthy thriving state for an appreciable period of time.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention the plant is a whole living plant which may be rooted in a suitable soil or the like which may be contained in a pot or other container within the said enclosure; and the said enclosure is filled with air and is formed from a material which permits slow ingress of gases such as air into the enclosure but prevents passage therethrough of larger molecules, such as water vapour, and of particles and organisms such as dust, bacteria, fungus spores, insects and the like. Preferably also the transparent material of the enclosure is so formed or treated or coated on the inner surface thereof as to prevent misting or fogging by deposition of small water droplets thereon, condensed water vapour instead forming large droplets which can run down to the bottom of the enclosure.

In accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, the plant is a fresh cut plant part, particularly a flower-bearing stem, and the said enclosure is filled with a gas other than air, particularly an inert gas such as nitrogen, and the enclosure is formed from a material which, like the enclosure of the above-mentioned first embodiment, prevents passage therethrough of water vapour, particles, organisms and the like and preferably is formed or treated or coated on the inner surface to prevent misting or fogging.

The enclosure of the packaged plant of the invention is preferably formed from a flexible sheet material, such as plastics sheet material and this is filled with the said gaseous substance under pressure so that the enclosure is maintained in stiff or semi-stiff inflated state.

In this way protection can be afforded against damage caused by rough handling. At least in the case of the aforesaid first embodiment, the enclosure is formed from flexible co-extruded polyethylene sheeting which has the desired property of permitting slow passage therethrough of small molecules such as 2 and CO2 but prevents passage of larger molecules such as water vapour. For the aforesaid second embodiment it may be advantageous to use a material which is wholly or substantially wholly impervious to such gases.

In the case where an inflated flexible plastics enclosure is used, most preferably, formation of the packaged plant may be effected by introducing the plant into an open-topped bag formed from the flexible plastics sheet material, holding the open top of the bag between jaws beneath a gas outlet which blows the gaseous substance into the bag to inflate same, and then heat-sealing the open top of the bag between the jaws immediately beneath the end of the gas outlet.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figures 1 and 2 are diagrammatic elevations of two forms of packaged plants according to the present invention; and Figure 3 is a diagrammatic representation illustrating one step in the manufacture of the packaged plants of Figs. 1 and 2.

With reference to Fig. 1, a plant 1 in the form of of a potted whole living plant is enclosed within an inflated tubular plastics bag 2 which is totally sealed. The bag 2 is of elongate form and has transverse heat welded zones 3, 4 along top and bottom ends thereof. The bag 2 also has four longitudinally extending seams and/or heat-welded folds 5.

The bag 2 is inflated with air at a pressure slightly in excess of atmospheric pressure, and the plastics material of the bag constitutes a co-extruded, colourless, transparent polyethylene sheeting having the property of allowing passage of small gaseous molecules therethrough such as 02 and CO2, but not allowing passage of larger molecules such as water vapour. The material also prevents ingress of particles, organisms, insects and the like. Further, the material is such as to prevent fogging or misting by deposition of fine water droplets on the inner surface thereof.

The plastics bag is a self-supporting semi stiff structure due to the inflation of same, and the longitudinal seams or folds 5 assist in this respect.

With the arrangement of Fig. 1 it will be appreciated that the inflated bag acts to pro tect the plant against damage caused by rough handling. Also it will be appreciated that the bag defines a relatively stable environment for the plant in so far as the requisite amount of moisture is retained within the bag around the plant and necessary gaseous substances such as oxygen and carbon dioxide can pass as required into the bag; also harmful organisms and the like can be kept away from the plant. The packaged plant can therefore be kept in a healthy thriving condition for an appreciable period of time without requiring special care to be taken with regard to the handling of same and without requiring continual attention with regard to watering and otherwise controlling the environmental conditions of same.

The arrangement of Fig. 2 is similar to that of Fig. 1 in that it comprises a plant 6 enclosed within a gasfilled plastics bag 7, the plastics material being the same as that described above (although this is not essential).

However, the gas used is not air but instead is an inert gas, and also, if desired, the seams or folds 5 may be omitted. Further, the plant 6 comprises a fresh cut flower-bearing stem.

Fresh cut flowers are of course usually only expected to have a limited life and the object of the packaging described herein with reference to Fig. 2 is to arrest or slow down the deaths of the plant to the extent that storage of the plant in the bag for an appreciable period of time will not prevent the plant from subsequently being displayed in a fresh, healthy state when the plant is eventually removed from the bag and transferred, for example to a vase in the home of a person who has purchased the plant. In this respect, it has been found possible to achieve this object when using as the inert gas nitrogen although of course it is possible that other gases, which are inert in the sense that they arrest or retard plant development, may be used.

With reference to Fig. 3, the packaged plants of Figs. 1 and 2 may be manufactured using apparatus having a support surface 10, which may comprise a conveyor belt, on which open-topped plastics bags 11 containing the plants 1 2 are placed. A compressor or other source of compressed gas (not shown) is connected to a fixed gas outlet 1 3 which has an end 14 terminating at a position spaced above the support surface and directed downwardly. A pair of jaws 1 5 incorporating electrical heating devices are positioned slightly below the end 14 of the gas outlet 1 3 and are movable towards and away from each other.

In use, the open top of a plant-containing bag 11 is positioned between the jaws 1 5 and around the gas outlet 1 3. The jaws 1 5 are actuated to grip the bag mouth 1 6 and hold same tightly in position around the gas outlet 1 3 without actually sealing the bag mouth. Gas is then admitted under pressure into the bag to inflate same. After a predetermined period of inflation the gas flow is discontinued and the jaws 1 5 are heated and moved together to heat weld the bag mouth 16, immediately below the outlet end 14, so as to seal the bag.

Above the top welded zone 4, the bag may be provided with an attached label or the like and/or may be provided with an eyelet to enable the packaged plant to be hung on a display stand. If desired, printing may be applied directly to the bag material.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiments which are described by way of example only.

Claims (14)

1. A packaged plant, wherein the plant is totally enclosed within a sealed enclosure, said enclosure being formed from a flexible transparent material which acts to retain moisture within the enclosure and which is filled with a gaseous substance.

2. A packaged plant according to claim 1, wherein the plant is a whole living plant rooted in soil or the like contained in a container within the said enclosure.

3. A packaged plant according to claim 2, wherein the enclosure is filled with air.

4. A packaged plant according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the enclosure is formed from a material which permits slow ingress of air into the enclosure but prevents passage therethrough of water vapour and particles and organisms.

5. A packaged plant according to claim 1, wherein the plant is a fresh cut plant part and the enclosure is filled with a gas other than air.

6. A packaged plant according to claim 5, wherein the plant part is a flower bearing stem.

7. A packaged plant according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the gas is an inert gas.

8. A packaged plant according to claim 7, wherein the inert gas is nitrogen.

9. A packaged plant according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the enclosure is filled with the gaseous substance under pressure.

1 0. A packaged plant according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the transparent material comprises polyethylene sheeting.

11. A packaged plant substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

1 2. A method of forming a packaged plant according to any one of claims 1 to 10, comprising the steps of introducing the plant into an open-topped bag formed from flexible transparent plastics sheet material, holding the open top of the bag between jaws beneath a gas outlet which blows the gaseous substance into the bag to inflate same, and then heat-sealing the open top of the bag between the jaws immediately beneath the end of the gas outlet.

1 3. A method according to claim 12, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

14. A packaged plant when formed by the method of claim 12 or 13.