Floral shipping container

Abstract

A floral shipping container comprising a base portion, a tube and a lid. The base portion has sidewalls, an upper end, a closed lower end and a retaining space encompassed by the sidewalls, the upper end, and the lower end thereof. The tube is adapted to receive at least one or a plurality of flowers. The tube is supported by the upper end of the base portion such that the tube extends into the retaining space of the base portion. The lid is supported by the base portion such that the lid extends above the upper end of the base portion to encompass the flowers.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A shipment, comprising: 
 a plurality of flowers;    a plurality of growing mediums;    a base portion having a sidewall, an open upper end, a closed lower end and a retaining space encompassed by the sidewall, the upper end, and the lower end thereof, the sidewall and the upper end of the base portion being constructed of a substantially rigid material;    a plurality of tubes with each of the tubes having a rigid sidewall defining a reservoir and receiving at least one flower and at least one of the growing mediums, the tubes supported by the base portion in a spaced apart relation; and    a lid supported by the base portion such that the lid extends above the upper end of the base portion to encompass the flowers, the lid being constructed of a substantially rigid material.    
     
     
         2 . The shipment of  claim 1 , wherein the upper end of the base portion includes a plurality of spatially disposed openings formed there through with each of the openings being sized and dimensioned to receive one tube and with one tube being disposed in a plurality of the openings.  
     
     
         3 . The shipment of  claim 1 , further comprising a stopper disposed in at least one of the tubes to prevent spillage of the growing medium from the tube, the stopper including at least one opening formed there through, each opening being sized and dimensioned to receive at least a portion of a stem of the flower.  
     
     
         4 . The shipment of  claim 3 , wherein a plurality of openings are formed in the stopper with each opening being sized and dimensioned to receive at least a portion of a flower.  
     
     
         5 . The shipment of  claim 1 , wherein the lower end of the base portion defines a plurality of spatially disposed vent holes formed in the lower end of the base portion so as to permit air to circulate into the retaining space of the base portion.  
     
     
         6 . The shipment of  claim 1 , wherein the lid comprises a handle connected to the upper end of the lid, the handle being sized and dimensioned to be gripped by the hand of an individual.  
     
     
         7 . The shipment of  claim 6 , wherein the handle is further defined as a U-shaped member sized and dimensioned to be gripped by the hand of an individual.  
     
     
         8 . The shipment of  claim 1 , wherein the lid defines a plurality of vent holes with the vent holes being spatially disposed about the lid so as to permit air to circulate about the flower.  
     
     
         9 . The shipment of  claim 1 , wherein the base portion comprises an opening formed through the upper end of the base portion to receive the tube and the base portion further comprises a plurality of resilient fingers extending about the opening formed through the upper end of the base portion, the resilient fingers engaging the tube so as to maintain the tube in a stable position.  
     
     
         10 . The shipment of  claim 1 , further comprising a latch assembly engaging the base portion and the lid so as to securely maintain the lid on the base portion.  
     
     
         11 . The shipment of  claim 10 , wherein the lid includes a sidewall, and the latch assembly comprises: 
 an opening formed through the sidewall of the lid; and    a member extending outwardly from the sidewall of the base portion with the latch member being positioned such that the latch member is positioned within the opening formed through the sidewall of the lid when the lid is disposed on the base portion so as to securely maintain the lid on the base portion.    
     
     
         12 . The shipment of  claim 1 , wherein the lid further comprises a transparent window such that an individual can look into the floral shipping container.  
     
     
         13 . The shipment of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of raised portions are formed on the lower portion of the base portion, the raised portions being contoured to receive lower ends of the tubes so as to cooperate with the upper end of the base portion to securely maintain the tubes in a stable position.  
     
     
         14 . The shipment of  claim 13 , wherein the raised portions are contoured so as to matingly receive the lower ends of the tubes.  
     
     
         15 . The shipment of  claim 1 , further comprising a bottom holding device positioned in the base portion between the upper end and the lower end of the base portion, the bottom holding device engaging at least a portion of the tube and cooperating with the upper end of the base portion to maintain the tube in a stable position.  
     
     
         16 . The shipment of  claim 15 , wherein the bottom holding device includes an opening formed there through to receive at least a portion of the tube.  
     
     
         17 . A method for shipping at least one flower having a stem, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a floral shipping container comprising: 
 a base portion having sidewalls, an upper end, a closed lower end and a retaining space encompassed by the sidewalls, the upper end, and the lower end thereof; and  
 a lid securable to the base portion such that the lid extends above the upper end of the base portion to form a cavity for receiving and encompassing the flower;  
   supporting the tube in the base portion such that at least a portion of the tube extends into the retaining space of the base portion, the tube receiving a stem of a flower, and a growing medium;    securing the lid to at least a portion of the base portion such that the lid extends above the upper end of the base portion to encompass the bloom of the flower; and    shipping the shipment containing the flower from a first location to a second location.