Method and apparatus for packaging horticultural products

Abstract

In a method and apparatus for packaging a horticultural product, especially cut flowers, for transportation, one or more stems are inserted through a flexible foam block formed from a low density, low compression force material disposed in an opening of container such that the foam is compressed. The compression of the foam forms a water-tight seal around each stem to prevent water or other liquid inside the container from leaking during shipment of the horticultural product and insulates each stem from each other stem. A tube may be placed in the foam block to provide fluid communication between an interior of the container and an exterior of the container.

1 . A method for packaging a horticultural product comprising the steps of: 
 providing a foam block;    providing a container, the container having an opening defined by a flexible wall, the container having a liquid disposed therein;    inserting a stem of the horticultural product into a passage formed in the foam block such that an end of the stem is exposed to the liquid;    placing the foam block in the opening of the container;    placing an elastic band around the flexible wall such that the foam block is under compression;    wherein the foam block is positioned such that the stem can take up the liquid and wherein the foam block forms a watertight seal around the stem such that the liquid is prevented from escaping from the container.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the foam block includes a plurality of passages formed therein, and wherein a stem is disposed in each of the passages such that each stem of each horticultural product is insulated from each other stem.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the foam block is compressed by at least 28%.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the foam block is compressed by at least 36% and no more than 84%.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the foam in the foam block is compressed by at least 33%.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the foam in the foam block is compressed by at least 42% and no more than 98.7%.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the foam block is a rubber-based foam.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the rubber-based foam is a vinyl nitride foam.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the foam block is polyethylene-based foam.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the foam block is polyurethane-based foam.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the foam block has a circular cross sectional shape.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the foam block has an oval cross sectional shape.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a flexible bag.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid comprises water.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid consists essentially of water.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the foam block has a density between 0.5 and 10 pounds per cubic foot (PC).  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the foam block has a compression force/deflection (C.D.) between 0.5 and 10 pounds per square inch (PSI).  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic band comprises rubber.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of placing a tube through the foam block such that fluid communication is established between an interior of the container and an exterior of the container.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of passing a liquid through the tube after the foam block has been compressed.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a bottom of the stem extends past a lower surface of the foam block.  
   
   
       22 . A packaged horticultural product comprising: 
 a container at least partially filled with a liquid, the container having an opening defined by a flexible wall;    a foam block disposed in the opening, the foam block having at least one passage formed therein;    an elastic band positioned around the flexible wall such that the foam block is under compression; and    at least one horticultural product having a stem, the stem being inserted into the at least one passage such that an end of the stem is exposed to the liquid;    wherein the foam block forms a watertight seal around the stem such that the liquid is prevented from escaping from the container.    
   
   
       23 . The product of  claim 22 , further comprising a plurality of horticultural products, wherein the foam block includes a plurality of passages formed therein, and wherein a single stem is disposed in each of the passages in the foam block such that each stem of each horticultural product is insulated from each other stem.  
   
   
       24 . The product of  claim 22 , wherein the foam block is compressed by at least 28%;  
   
   
       25 . The product of  claim 22 , wherein the foam block is compressed by at least 36% and not more than 84%.  
   
   
       26 . The product of  claim 22 , wherein the foam block is compressed by at least 56% and not more than 80%.  
   
   
       27 . The product of  claim 22 , wherein the foam in the foam block is compressed by at least 33%.  
   
   
       28 . The product of  claim 22 , wherein the foam in the foam block is compressed between 42% and 98.7%.  
   
   
       29 . The product of  claim 22 , wherein the foam block is a rubber-based foam.  
   
   
       30 . The product of  claim 29 , wherein the rubber-based foam is a vinyl nitrile foam.  
   
   
       31 . The product of  claim 22 , wherein the foam block is polyethylene-based foam.  
   
   
       32 . The product of  claim 22 , wherein the foam block is polyurethane-based foam.  
   
   
       33 . The product of  claim 22 , wherein the liquid has a viscosity approximately equal to water.  
   
   
       34 . The product of  claim 22 , wherein the liquid consists essentially of water.  
   
   
       35 . The product of  claim 22 , wherein the container comprises a flexible bag.  
   
   
       36 . The product of  claim 22 , wherein the elastic band comprises rubber.  
   
   
       37 . The product of  claim 22 , further comprising a tube, the tube being disposed in a second passage formed in the foam block, the tube having a first end outside the container and a second end in fluid communication with an interior of the container such the tube provides fluid communication between an inside of the container and an outside of the container thereby providing a path through which liquid may be added to the container.  
   
   
       38 . The product of  claim 37 , further comprising a plug inserted into the first end of the tube to seal the first end.  
   
   
       39 . The product of  claim 37 , further comprising a cap placed over the first end of the tube to seal the first end.  
   
   
       40 . The product of  claim 22 , wherein a bottom of the stem extends past a lower surface of the foam block such that the bottom of the stem is submerged in the liquid.  
   
   
       41 . A method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a container, the container having an opening;    providing a foam block;    inserting a stem of the horticultural product into a first passage formed in the foam block such that the stem is exposed to a liquid in the container;    inserting a tube through a second passage formed in the foam block such the tube provides fluid communication between an inside of the container and an outside of the container;    placing the foam block in the opening of the container such that the foam block is under compression; and    passing a liquid through the tube to the inside of the container;    wherein the foam block is positioned such the stem can take up the liquid and wherein the foam block forms a watertight seal around the stem.    
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising the step of, after the passing step, placing a plug into an end of the tube to seal the tube and prevent fluid communication between the inside and the outside of the container.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising the step of, after the passing step, placing a cap over an end of the tube to seal the tube and prevent fluid communication between the inside and the outside of the container.  
   
   
       44 . A device comprising: 
 a plurality of arms, each of the arms having a balloon stretching projection attached thereto, each of the arms being movable between a first position in which the balloon stretching projections of each of the arms are in close proximity to each other and a second position in which the balloon stretching projections of each of the arms are spaced apart from each other, whereby a neck of a balloon in which the balloon stretching projections are inserted while the arms are in the first position will stretch and become enlarged when the arms are in the second position;    a fill tube, the fill tube being positioned to supply a liquid through the neck to an interior of the balloon; and    a valve connected between the fill tube and a supply of the liquid, the valve being operable to establish fluid communication between the fill tube and the supply when the arms are in the second position.    
   
   
       45 . The device of  claim 44 , wherein the fill tube is connected to one of the arms.  
   
   
       46 . A method for preparing a packaged horticultural product comprising the steps of: 
 placing a neck of a balloon around a plurality of balloon stretching projections, each of the balloon stretching projections being in close proximity to each other and being attached to a corresponding movable arm;    moving the arms apart from each other such that the balloon stretching projections are spaced apart, thereby stretching and enlarging the neck of the balloon; and    activating a valve connected between a supply of liquid and a fill tube, the fill tube being positioned such that the liquid is deposited in an interior of the balloon when the valve is activated.    
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 46 , further comprising the steps of: 
 placing a foam block in the neck of the balloon while the arms are spaced apart; and    moving the arms toward each other such that the neck closes around the foam block.    
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 46 , further comprising the step of placing an elastic band around an outside of the neck of the balloon such that the elastic band is stretched and enlarged when the neck is stretched and enlarged.  
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the fill tube is connected to one of the arms.  
   
   
       50 . A fulfillment device comprising: 
 a base, the base having an upper surface;    a receptacle attached to the base, the receptacle having a shoulder for supporting a foam block having a plurality of passages formed therethrough;    an insert disposed within the receptacle, the insert being sized and positioned to prevent stems from being inserted through a portion of the passages in the foam block such that a bottom of the stems reach a bottom of the receptacle; and    a rack attached to the base and sized and positioned to support a plurality of cut flowers whose stems have been inserted into the passages of the foam block.    
   
   
       51 . The fulfillment device of  claim 50 , wherein the insert is aligned with approximately half of the passages of the foam block.  
   
   
       52 . The fulfillment device of  claim 50 , wherein the upper surface forms an acuate, non-zero angle with respect to a surface on which the base is placed.  
   
   
       53 . The fulfillment device of  claim 52 , wherein the receptacle has an interior wall with a cross sectional shape corresponding to but slightly larger than a cross sectional shape of the foam block.  
   
   
       54 . A method for packaging a hand-tied bouquet including a plurality of stems, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a foam block, the foam block having a center portion with a plurality of arms protruding therefrom;    providing a container, the container having an opening, the container having a liquid disposed therein;    inserting the stems into the foam block such that each of the stems is disposed within a space between adjacent arms of the foam block; and    placing the foam block in the opening of the container such the foam block is compressed,    wherein the foam block is positioned such that the stems can take up the liquid and wherein the foam block insulates each stem and forms a watertight seal around the stems such that the liquid is prevented from escaping from the container.    
   
   
       55 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the opening of the container is defined by a flexible material.  
   
   
       56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the foam is compressed by placing an elastic band around the material defining the opening of the container.  
   
   
       57 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the opening is defined by a rigid material and is smaller than the foam block such that the foam block is compressed when it is placed in the opening of the container.  
   
   
       58 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the foam block has a density between 0.5 and 10 pounds per cubic foot (PCF) and a compression force/deflection (CFD) between 0.5 and 10 pounds per square inch (PSI).  
   
   
       59 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the foam is compressed by at least 28%.  
   
   
       60 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the foam block is compressed by at least 36% and no more than 84%.  
   
   
       61 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the foam in the foam block is compressed by at least 33%.  
   
   
       62 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the foam in the foam block is compressed by at least 42% and no more than 98.7%.  
   
   
       63 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the foam block is a rubber-based foam.  
   
   
       64 . A method for packaging a pre-made bunch including a plurality of stems, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a foam block, the foam block having a center portion with at least one hole formed therein and a plurality of arms protruding from the center portion;    providing a container, the container having an opening, the container having a liquid disposed therein;    inserting one of the plurality of stems into the at least one hole formed in the center portion of the foam block;    inserting other stems of the pre-made bunch into a respective space between adjacent arms of the foam block;    folding the arms of the foam block over the stems; and    placing the foam block in the opening of the container such the foam block is compressed,    wherein the foam block insulates each steam and is positioned such that the stems can take up the liquid and wherein the foam block forms a watertight seal around the stems such that the liquid is prevented from escaping from the container.    
   
   
       65 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein the arms of the foam block are curved.  
   
   
       66 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein the opening of the container is defined by a flexible material.  
   
   
       67 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein the foam is compressed by placing an elastic band around the material defining the opening of the container.  
   
   
       68 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein the opening is defined by a rigid material and is smaller than the foam block such that the foam block is compressed when it is placed in the opening of the container.  
   
   
       69 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein the foam block has a density between 0.5 and 10 pounds per cubic foot (PCF) and a compression force/deflection (CFD) between 0.5 and 10 pounds per square inch (PSI).  
   
   
       70 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein the foam is compressed by at least 28%.  
   
   
       71 . A method for packaging a cut tree comprising the steps of: 
 surrounding a portion of a trunk of the cut tree with a layer of foam;    placing the portion of the trunk into an opening of a container, the container including a liquid disposed therein, the trunk being placed into the opening such that a cut end of the trunk is exposed to the liquid; and    compressing the foam such that the cross sectional area of the foam is reduced by at least 33%;    wherein the foam forms a watertight seal around the portion of the trunk such that the liquid is prevented from escaping from the container.    
   
   
       72 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein the opening of the container is flexible and wherein a band is placed around the opening to compress the foam.  
   
   
       73 . The method of  claim 72 , wherein the band is elastic.  
   
   
       74 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein the opening of the container is a rigid opening and has a diameter larger than a width of the portion of the trunk but smaller than a width of the portion of the trunk and the foam surrounding the portion of the trunk such that the foam is compressed when it is placed into the rigid opening.  
   
   
       75 . The method of  claim 71 , further comprising the step of providing a fill tube in fluid communication with an interior of the container and an exterior of the container such that liquid may be added to the container after the compressing step has been completed.