Flower pot transport and display container

Abstract

A unified transport and display mechanism is particularly suited for transporting and displaying buckets and items within buckets. The items include, but are not limited to, flowers or other plant specimens. The mechanism includes a container and a lid for covering the container. The lid includes one or more perforated areas, the removal of which forms one or more corresponding apertures. Each aperture is sized and adapted for receiving an item such as a bucket in a display mode. When received, the bucket extends into the aperture at a level below a top surface of the lid, and partially extends above the lid top surface to allow visual access to the items.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 60/478,007, filed Jun. 11, 2003.

BACKGROUND

The following description relates to transport and display systems, and more particularly to a container for transporting and displaying items such as potted flowers or plants in a bucket.

Flowers and other plant specimens are particularly difficult to transport from one location to another. These specimens are sensitive to environmental factors of temperature, humidity, sunlight, etc. Exacerbating the difficulty is having to transfer such specimens from a transportation mechanism to a display mechanism. The transfer process may require specialized transfer equipment, as well as separate specialized display equipment.

SUMMARY

This document discloses a system and method for transporting and displaying items, including, without limitation, potted flowers and other plant specimens. According to one embodiment, a system includes a container lid provided with a plurality of apertures. The apertures are sized and configured to receive a bucket. Flowers and other plant specimens can be placed in the bucket when the lid is in a display mode.

In another embodiment, a system includes a container for containing buckets of plant specimens. The system includes a lid provided with a plurality of perforated areas, and sized to sealably cover the container. The perforated areas can be removed from the lid to form a plurality of apertures. The apertures are arranged and sized on the lid so that each aperture accommodates one of the buckets. In operation, the buckets can be placed inside the container, which is then closed with the lid in a transport configuration or mode. In a display configuration or mode, the buckets can be removed from the container, the perforated areas removed from the lid to form the apertures, and the buckets individually placed in one of the apertures. The container lid with displayed buckets can be replaced onto the container for providing height to the display configuration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects will now be described in detail with reference to the following drawings.

FIG. 1 shows exploded and assembled views of a flower pot transport and display system.

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of a container lid and arrangement for receiving and displaying a bucket.

FIG. 3 shows a flower pot transport and display container in a display mode of operation; and

FIG. 4 shows a method of transporting and displaying one or more items.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows exploded and assembled views of a flower pot transport and display system 100. The system 100 includes a container 102. The container is preferably a four-sided rectangular or squared box, but can be any shape with a bottom and having a volume of space defined thereby. The system further includes a lid 104. The lid 104 is sized to sealably cover an open top of the container 102. The degree to which the lid 104 seals on the container 102 can be variable. Preferably, the container 102 and the lid 104 are made of corrugated or reinforced cardboard, but can be made of plastic, metal, or any other rigid or semi-rigid material that substantially maintains its assembled shape.

The lid 104 includes a plurality of perforated areas 106. In one arrangement, the perforated areas 106 are circular, but other shapes are possible. In the pictured example, the lid includes six such perforated areas 106 arranged in two rows of three areas, however any number arrangement of perforated areas can be used. The perforated areas 106 can be maintained intact with the lid 104 in a transport mode, i.e. when the lid 104 is affixed to the container 102 and/or while carrying an object or objects inside the container 102. The perforated areas 106 can be removed or bent away from the top surface of the lid 104, individually or collectively, to form one or more apertures 108 in the lid 104. Each aperture 108 can have a predetermined diameter or shape, configured to accommodate a bucket or some other object for being placed therein.

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of a lid 104 and arrangement for receiving and displaying a bucket 120. The lid 104 includes one or more apertures 108, each being sized and shaped to receive the bucket 120 or other object. In one arrangement, the apertures 108 are sized to receive a bucket 120 with a flanged edge 122. Thus, only a relatively small portion of the bucket 120 extends above the lid 104, while the remainder of the bucket 120 extends below the top surface 110 of the lid 104. The lid 104 can be formed with four side walls 112, the top surface 110 and a bottom surface 114 (obscured in the pictured example).

The size, arrangement and number of apertures 108 shown in FIG. 2 are for example only. Thus, the lid 104 can include any number or arrangement of apertures 108, of any size or shape, within the scope of this description. The lid 104 is sized and formed for being placed over a container (not shown) or other object to provide a suitable height to the lid 104 for display. The lid 104 may also be formed with one or more handles (not shown) for easing lifting and moving of the lid 104 and buckets 120 or other objects placed therein.

FIG. 3 shows a flower pot transport and display system 300 in a display mode of operation. In an embodiment of the system 300, a lid 104 holds one or more potted flowers or other plant specimens 124, via buckets or other objects placed into apertures formed in the lid 104. The lid 104 is also placed onto a container 102 to provide the potted flowers to a desired height, and to adequately encompass a portion of buckets or other objects that extends below the top surface of the lid 104. The lid 104 and/or container 102 can be formed with handles, such as elongated perforated apertures formed into opposing sides of the container 102, for ease of lifting and moving.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method 400 for transporting and displaying items using a container. At 402, one or more items are placed in the container. The container is preferably a four-sided box, but can be circular or any other shape. The container can be made of corrugated cardboard, paper, plastic or metal, or any other rigid or semi-rigid material. At 404, a lid is placed onto the container to close the container. The lid can include a top surface and a number of downward-extending edges connected to the top surface for fitting around the peripheral top edge of the container.

At 406, the items are transported in the closed container. Alternatively, the items may be transported or moved when the container is still open, without the lid. At 408, the lid is removed to expose the items contained within the container. At 410, one or more apertures are formed in the lid. The apertures can be formed by removing or bending predefined areas within the top surface of the lid. For example, the apertures can be defined by perforations in the lid. Alternatively, the apertures are cut into the lid, and may be formed by moving a corresponding area of the lid away from the top surface of the lid. In one example, the area can be attached to the top surface by a biased latch or similar mechanism. Lines or markings or the like can also be provided to the lid to indicate where the apertures can be formed.

At 412, at least one of the items is placed into an aperture. The items can include potted plants or the like. For instance, a pot containing a plant can include a lip or flange on an upper edge to engage the top surface of the lid and inhibit further insertion of the item into the aperture beyond a particular level. The lid is replaced back onto the container at 414, to provide the lid and items to a particular height in a display configuration, and to support the lid and items in a particular position.

Although a few embodiments have been described in detail above, other modifications are possible. Other embodiments may be within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. An item transport and display system, comprising:

a container configured to hold one or more items in a transport mode; and

a lid for covering an open top side of the container, the lid including a top surface with one or more perforated areas formed therein.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the one or more perforated areas are configurable to form one or more apertures, wherein each aperture is sized to receive one of the items in a display mode.

3. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the container is a squared box.

4. A system in accordance with claim 3, wherein the lid includes a four sides connected to the top side for engaging around a top edge of the box.

5. A system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the one or more apertures are circular.

6. A system in accordance with claim 5, wherein the one or more items include a round pot.

7. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the container and lid are formed of corrugated cardboard.

8. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the container and lid are formed of plastic.

9. A system for transporting and displaying items, comprising:

a container sized to contain the items;

a lid sized and adapted to cover an open top end of the container; and

one or more apertures formed in a top surface of the lid for receiving and holding one of the items in a position at least partially extending above the top surface.

10. A system in accordance with claim 9, wherein the one or more apertures are formed by removing a perforated area from the top surface of the lid.

11. A system in accordance with claim 9, wherein at least one aperture is circular.

12. A system in accordance with claim 9, wherein the container is a squared box.

13. A system in accordance with claim 9, wherein the container includes three or more side walls connected to a closed bottom end.

14. A system in accordance with claim 13, wherein the container includes four side walls.

15. A system in accordance with claim 9, wherein the container is formed of corrugated cardboard.

16. A system in accordance with claim 9, wherein the lid includes one or more areas defining the apertures each connected to the lid by a biased latch, and wherein the areas are biased to conform to the top surface of the lid in a transport mode, and extend away perpendicularly from the top surface of the lid in a display mode.

17. A method of transporting and displaying one or more items in a container having an open top end that is closable by a lid, comprising:

forming one or more apertures in the lid;

placing at least one item into one of the apertures until the item extends at least partially above a top surface of the lid; and

placing the lid and at least one item onto the open top end of the container.

18. A method in accordance with claim 17, further comprising:

placing the one or more items into the container; and

closing the container with the lid.

19. A method in accordance with claim 18, further comprising transporting the one or more items in the container closed by the lid.

20. A method in accordance with claim 17, wherein forming one or more apertures includes removing an area defined by a perforation from the lid.