Shipping package for a floral grouping

Abstract

A shipping package for a floral grouping including a sheet of material bonded to a support member and wrapped upwardly and gathered at a portion above the floral grouping to enclose the floral grouping. A bonding material joins the gathered portion, and a plurality of perforations in the sheet of material provides for the detachment of a detachable portion above the floral grouping. The support member can be provided as a foldable member to form an outer enclosure about the floral grouping with the sheet of material forming a substantially water tight enclosure between the floral grouping and the outer enclosure.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A packaging assembly, comprising: 
 a floral grouping;    a sheet of material having an upper surface and a lower surface, the sheet of material wrapped and secured about the floral grouping to enclose the floral grouping within the sheet of material and to provide a substantially water tight enclosure for the floral grouping; and    a support member having an upper support surface and a lower surface, wherein a medial portion of the lower surface of the sheet of material is attached to the upper support surface of the support member so that the sheet of material and the support member support the floral grouping in a desired position to prevent movement of the floral grouping relative to the support member during transport of the packaging assembly.    
     
     
         2 . The packaging assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a container having a substantially closed lower end and an open upper end with the floral grouping disposed therein in an upright position of the floral grouping and container, the lower end of the container supported by the support member with the sheet of material interposed between the lower end and the support member, and wherein the floral grouping and container are enclosed within the sheet of material and the floral grouping is supported in the upright position by the sheet of material and the support member to prevent the container and the floral grouping from toppling during transport of the packaging assembly.  
     
     
         3 . The packaging assembly of  claim 2  further comprising a growing medium disposed in the container for supporting the floral grouping.  
     
     
         4 . The packaging assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a supporting block having a lower end and an upper end supporting the floral grouping in an upright position of the floral grouping and supporting block, the lower end of the supporting block being supported by the support member with the sheet of material interposed between the lower end of the supporting block and the support member, and wherein the floral grouping and supporting block are enclosed within the sheet of material and the floral grouping is supported in the upright position by the sheet of material and the support member to prevent the supporting block and the floral grouping from toppling during transport of the packaging assembly.  
     
     
         5 . The packaging assembly of  claim 4  wherein the supporting block comprises a foam block.  
     
     
         6 . The packaging assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a growth medium supporting the floral grouping in an upright position, the growth medium supported by the support member with the sheet of material interposed between the growth medium and the support member, and wherein the floral grouping and growth medium are enclosed within the sheet of material to laterally support the growth medium so the floral grouping is supported in the upright position by the sheet of material and the support member to prevent the floral grouping from toppling during transport of the packaging assembly.  
     
     
         7 . The packaging assembly of  claim 1  wherein the outer portion of the sheet of material has a detachable portion that is selectively detachable from the outer portion of the sheet of material to expose the floral grouping without detaching the sheet of material from the support member.  
     
     
         8 . The packaging assembly of  claim 7  wherein the sheet of material further comprises a plurality of perforations delineating the detachable portion and the outer portion of the sheet of material.  
     
     
         9 . The packaging assembly of  claim 1  wherein the outer portion of the sheet of material is adapted to form a gathered portion above the floral grouping for enclosing the floral grouping within the sheet of material.  
     
     
         10 . The packaging assembly of  claim 7  further comprising means for securing the gathered portion.  
     
     
         11 . The packaging assembly of  claim 10  wherein the securing means is selected from the group consisting of adhesive, cohesive, tie, band, ribbon, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         12 . The packaging assembly of  claim 1  wherein the support member comprises a wall circumscribing the floral grouping with the sheet of material interposed between the wall and the floral grouping.  
     
     
         13 . A shipping package for a floral grouping, comprising: 
 a support member having an upper support surface and a lower surface; and    a sheet of material having an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein a medial portion of the lower surface of the sheet of material is attached to the upper support surface to anchor the sheet of material while an outer portion of the sheet of material is adapted for wrapping about and enclosing the floral grouping so that the support member in combination with the sheet of material supports the floral grouping in a substantially upright position during transport of the shipping package.    
     
     
         14 . The shipping package of  claim 13  wherein the outer portion of the sheet of material has a detachable portion that is selectively detachable from the outer portion of the sheet of material to expose the floral grouping without detaching the medial portion of the sheet of material from the support member.  
     
     
         15 . The shipping package of  claim 14  wherein the sheet of material further comprises a plurality of perforations interposed between the detachable portion of the outer portion of the sheet of material and the outer portion of the sheet of material that remains anchored to the support member after detachment of the detachable portion.  
     
     
         16 . The shipping package of  claim 13  wherein the outer portion of the sheet of material is adaptable to forming a gathered portion to enclose the floral grouping within the sheet of material.  
     
     
         17 . The shipping package of  claim 16  further comprising a means for securing the gathered portion to provide a substantially water tight enclosure for the floral grouping.  
     
     
         18 . The shipping package of  claim 17  wherein the securing means is selected from the group consisting of adhesive, cohesive, tie, band, ribbon, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         19 . The shipping package of  claim 13  wherein the support member comprises a wall circumscribing the floral grouping with the sheet of material interposed between the wall and the floral grouping.  
     
     
         20 . The shipping package of  claim 13  wherein the support member comprises a foldable member forming an outer enclosure about the floral grouping with the sheet of material interposed between the floral grouping and the outer enclosure.