US 6,684,605 B2 · Modified atmosphere packaging for a floral grouping · patentgrep

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Abstract

Methods are provided for packaging floral groupings in a modified atmosphere at or near the site or harvest. The modified atmosphere package, which generally contains oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations which differ from those seen in air, is constructed of a material which has modified atmosphere characteristics such that the material is permeable to certain gases while impermeable to others. The package may also include fluid impermeable perforations to assist in the removal of the floral grouping from the package. A surface packaging agent, which maintains the appearance of the floral grouping and/or the modified atmosphere package, may also be present on the package, and a floral grouping maintenance agent, which maintains the appearance of the floral grouping, may also be disposed within the package with the floral grouping before partially sealing the modified atmosphere package about the floral grouping.

Claims134

Dependent claims

A method for providing a modified atmosphere package for a floral grouping to increase the life of the floral grouping, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a floral grouping, wherein the floral grouping is selected from the group consisting of cut flowers, potted plants and propagules, and wherein the floral grouping comprises at least one plant or flower selected from the group consisting of carnations, roses, orchids, tulips, narcissus, daffodils, anthurium, chrysanthemum, mimosa, gladiolus, snapdragon, lilies, ferns, freesia, and combinations thereof;
providing a package having an open first end, a closed second end and a sidewall, the closed second end and the sidewall cooperating to define a floral grouping retaining space openly communicating with the open first end of the package, the package constructed of a sheet of material having modified atmosphere characteristics such that the package is permeable to certain gases while impermeable to other gases, the package also having a bonding material present on a portion thereof;
disposing the floral grouping into the floral grouping retaining space of the package;
injecting a modified atmosphere into the floral grouping retaining space of the package, the modified atmosphere containing an oxygen concentration ranging from 0% to about 21% by volume, a carbon dioxide concentration ranging from 0% to about 30% by volume, and the remaining concentration of the modified atmosphere being substantially molecular nitrogen;
and
sealing the open first end of the package to provide a modified atmosphere package for the floral grouping, thereby increasing the life of the floral grouping.

3 more elements

A method for providing a modified atmosphere package for a floral grouping to increase the life of the floral grouping, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a floral grouping, wherein the floral grouping is selected from the group consisting of cut flowers, potted plants and propagules, and wherein the floral grouping comprises at least one plant or flower selected from the group consisting of carnations, roses, orchids, tulips, narcissus, daffodils, anthurium, chrysanthemum, mimosa, gladiolus, snapdragon, lilies, ferns, freesia, and combinations thereof;
providing a package having an open first end, a closed second end and a sidewall, the closed second end and the sidewall cooperating to define a floral grouping retaining space openly communicating with the open first end of the package, the package constructed of a sheet of material having modified atmosphere characteristics such that the package is permeable to certain gases while impermeable to other gases, the sheet of material having at least one surface packaging agent present on the sheet of material, the package also having a bonding material present on a portion thereof;
disposing the floral grouping into the floral grouping retaining space of the package;
injecting a modified atmosphere into the floral grouping retaining space of the package, the modified atmosphere containing an oxygen concentration ranging from 0% to about 21% by volume, a carbon dioxide concentration ranging from 0% to about 30% by volume, and the remaining concentration of the modified atmosphere being substantially molecular nitrogen;
and
sealing the open first end of the package to provide a modified atmosphere package for the floral grouping, thereby increasing the life of the floral grouping.

3 more elements

A method for providing a modified atmosphere package for a floral grouping to increase the life of the floral grouping, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a floral grouping, wherein the floral grouping is selected from the group consisting of cut flowers, potted plants and propagules, and wherein the floral grouping comprises at least one plant or flower selected from the group consisting of carnations, roses, orchids, tulips, narcissus, daffodils, anthurium, chrysanthemum, mimosa, gladiolus, snapdragon, lilies, ferns, freesia, and combinations thereof;
providing a package having an open first end, a closed second end and a sidewall, the closed second end and the sidewall cooperating to define a floral grouping retaining space openly communicating with the open first end of the package, the package constructed of a sheet of material having modified atmosphere characteristics such that the package is permeable to certain gases while impermeable to other gases, the sheet of material having at least one surface packaging agent present on the sheet of material, the package also having a bonding material present on a portion thereof;
disposing the floral grouping into the floral grouping retaining space of the package;
disposing within the package at least one floral grouping maintenance agent;
injecting a modified atmosphere into the floral grouping retaining space of the package, the modified atmosphere comprising an oxygen concentration ranging from 0% to about 21% by volume, a carbon dioxide concentration ranging from 0% to about 30% by volume, and the remaining concentration of the modified atmosphere being substantially all molecular nitrogen;
and
sealing the open first end of the package so as to provide a modified atmosphere package for the floral grouping, thereby increasing the life of the floral grouping.

4 more elements

A method for providing a modified atmosphere package for a floral grouping to increase the life of the floral grouping, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a floral grouping, wherein the floral grouping is selected from the group consisting of cut flowers, potted plants and propagules, and wherein the floral grouping comprises at least one plant or flower selected from the group consisting of carnations, roses, orchids, tulips, narcissus, daffodils, anthurium, chrysanthemum, mimosa, gladiolus, snapdragon, lilies, ferns, freesia, and combinations thereof;
providing a package having an open first end, a closed second end and a sidewall, the closed second end and the sidewall cooperating to define a floral grouping retaining space openly communicating with the open first end of the package, the package constructed of a sheet of material having modified atmosphere characteristics such that the package is permeable to certain gases while impermeable to other gases, the package also having a bonding material present on a portion thereof;
disposing the floral grouping into the floral grouping retaining space of the package;
partially sealing the open first end of the package to provide a small opening in the first end of the package;
injecting a modified atmosphere through the small opening in the first end of the package into the floral grouping retaining space of the package, the modified atmosphere containing an oxygen concentration ranging from 0% to about 21% by volume, a carbon dioxide concentration ranging from 0% to about 30% by volume, and the remaining concentration of the modified atmosphere being substantially molecular nitrogen;
and
sealing the small opening in the first end of the package to provide a modified atmosphere package for the floral grouping, thereby increasing the life of the floral grouping.

4 more elements

A method for providing a modified atmosphere package for a floral grouping to increase the life of the floral grouping, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a floral grouping, wherein the floral grouping is selected from the group consisting of cut flowers, potted plants and propagules, and wherein the floral grouping comprises at least one plant or flower selected from the group consisting of carnations, roses, orchids, tulips, narcissus, daffodils, anthurium, chrysanthemum, mimosa, gladiolus, snapdragon, lilies, ferns, freesia, and combinations thereof;
providing a package having an open first end, a closed second end and a sidewall, the closed second end and the sidewall cooperating to define a floral grouping retaining space openly communicating with the open first end of the package, the package constructed of a sheet of material having modified atmosphere characteristics such that the package is permeable to certain gases while impermeable to other gases, the sheet of material having at least one surface packaging agent present on the sheet of material, the package also having a bonding material present on a portion thereof;
disposing the floral grouping into the floral grouping retaining space of the package;
partially sealing the open first end of the package to provide a small opening in the first end of the package;
injecting a modified atmosphere through the small opening in the first end of the package into the floral grouping retaining space of the package, the modified atmosphere containing an oxygen concentration ranging from 0% to about 21% by volume, a carbon dioxide concentration ranging from 0% to about 30% by volume, and the remaining concentration of the modified atmosphere being substantially molecular nitrogen;
and
sealing the small opening in the first end of the package to provide a modified atmosphere package for the floral grouping, thereby increasing the life of the floral grouping.

4 more elements

A method for providing a modified atmosphere package for a floral grouping to increase the life of the floral grouping, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a floral grouping, wherein the floral grouping is selected from the group consisting of cut flowers, potted plants and propagules, and wherein the floral grouping comprises at least one plant or flower selected from the group consisting of carnations, roses, orchids, tulips, narcissus, daffodils, anthurium, chrysanthemum, mimosa, gladiolus, snapdragon, lilies, ferns, freesia, and combinations thereof;
providing a package having an open first end, a closed second end and a sidewall, the closed second end and the sidewall cooperating to define a floral grouping retaining space openly communicating with the open first end of the package, the package constructed of a sheet of material having modified atmosphere characteristics such that the package is permeable to certain gases while impermeable to other gases, the sheet of material having at least one surface packaging agent present on the sheet of material, the package also having a bonding material present on a portion thereof;
disposing the floral grouping into the floral grouping retaining space of the package;
disposing within the package at least one floral grouping maintenance agent;
partially sealing the open first end of the package to provide a small opening in the first end of the package;
injecting a modified atmosphere through the small opening in the first end of the package into the floral grouping retaining space of the package, the modified atmosphere comprising an oxygen concentration ranging from 0% to about 21% by volume, a carbon dioxide concentration ranging from 0% to about 30% by volume, and the remaining concentration of the modified atmosphere being substantially all molecular nitrogen;
and
sealing the small opening in the first end of the package so as to provide a modified atmosphere package for the floral grouping, thereby increasing the life of the floral grouping.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/202,068Filed 23 Jul 2002 · continuation
Priority: 3 Aug 1999
Published: US 2002/0194819 A126 Dec 2002
Granted: 3 Feb 2004
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

B65D 81/2084
In a special atmosphere: in a flexible container
A01G 5/06
Floral handling: devices for preserving flowers
B65B 25/023
Packaging agricultural or horticultural products: packaging flower bouquets
B65B 31/00
Packaging articles or materials under special atmospheric or gaseous conditions

Family

Application09/366,507Parent of this continuation · filed 3 Aug 1999
Application09/908,535Parent of this continuation · filed 18 Jul 2001
US 6,357,207 B1Parent of this continuation · filed 19 Mar 2002
US 2002/0194819 A1Pre-grant publication · published 26 Dec 2002
US 6,460,316 B1Parent of this continuation
US 6,684,605 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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Citations

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