System and Method for Displaying and Marketing Indoor Flower Bulbs

Abstract

A system and method for producing flowers and stems from flower bulbs and marketing them by securing a desired number of bulbs to a uniquely configured support device and causing the bulbs to develop roots and shoots. The support tray is then transferred and inserted into a transparent display container where the support device is elevated from the bottom of the container by a predetermined distance, and a nourishing liquid is added to the container. The combined display container and support device is then shipped directly to retailers for sale.

1 ) A system for displaying and marketing flower bulbs comprised of: 
 a transparent, hollow display container with a top and a bottom having a uniform lateral cross sectional shape and uniform dimensions in a plane parallel to its base extending from its top to its bottom;    support device means with a top surface and a bottom surface having a uniform lateral cross sectional shape duplicating that of said display container and uniform lateral cross sectional dimensions less than that of said display container for retaining flower bulbs in place within said display container and for displacing said support device means a predetermined distance from the bottom thereof; and    a predetermined amount of liquid in the bottom of said display container.    
   
   
       2 ) The system of  claim 1  wherein said support device means has a generally flat top surface across which are disposed a plurality of spikes pointing upwardly therefrom at an approximate 90 degree angle with the top surface and a plurality of spikes pointing downwardly therefrom at an approximate 90 degree angle with the bottom surface thereof.  
   
   
       3 ) The system of  claim 2  wherein said support device means incorporates a plurality of perforations spaced apart across said top surface and extending entirely therethrough.  
   
   
       4 ) The system of  claim 3  wherein said support device means is either transparent or translucent.  
   
   
       5 ) The system of  claim 4  wherein said support device means has uniform lateral cross sectional dimensions small enough to permit friction free insertion into the hollow space within said display container.  
   
   
       6 ) The system of  claim 1  wherein the predetermined amount of said liquid is that amount necessary to fill said display container from the bottom thereof up to the bottom surface of said support device means.  
   
   
       7 ) The system of  claim 6  wherein said liquid further comprises a mixture of water and nutrients.  
   
   
       8 ) The system of  claim 6  wherein the predetermined distance equals at least one inch.  
   
   
       9 ) The system of  claim 1  further comprising rooting container means for displacing said support device means above the bottom thereof, for containing a liquid and for permitting roots and sprouts to develop from the flower bulbs.  
   
   
       10 ) The system of  claim 9  wherein said rooting container means has a bottom surface and sides and wherein further zigzag, opposing, raised areas are integrated into the bottom surface thereof.  
   
   
       11 ) A system for displaying and marketing flower bulbs comprising: 
 a transparent, hollow display container with a top and a bottom having a uniform lateral cross sectional shape, uniform dimensions in a plane parallel to its base from its top to its bottom;    support device means with a top surface and a bottom surface having a uniform lateral cross sectional shape duplicating that of said display container and uniform lateral cross sectional dimensions less than that of said display container wherein a plurality of upwardly pointing spikes is disposed across the top surface thereof at an approximate 90 degree angle with the top surface thereof for retaining flower bulbs in place and a plurality of downwardly pointing spikes disposed across the bottom surface thereof at an approximate 90 degree angle with the bottom surface thereof for displacing said support device means a predetermined distance from the bottom of said container; and    a predetermined amount of liquid in the bottom of said display container.    
   
   
       12 ) The system of  claim 11  wherein said support device means is either transparent or translucent.  
   
   
       13 ) The system of  claim 11  wherein the predetermined amount of said liquid is that amount necessary to fill said display container from the bottom thereof up to the bottom surface of said support device means.  
   
   
       14 ) The system of  claim 11  wherein said support device means includes a plurality of perforations distributed across the top surface thereof and extending entirely through said support device means.  
   
   
       15 ) A system for displaying and marketing flower bulbs comprising: 
 a transparent, hollow display container with a top and a bottom having a uniform lateral cross sectional shape, uniform dimensions in a plane parallel to its base from its top to its bottom;    support device means with a top surface and a bottom surface including a plurality of perforations extending distributed across the top surface thereof and extending entirely therethrough having a uniform lateral cross sectional shape duplicating that of said display container and uniform lateral cross sectional dimensions less than that of said display container wherein a plurality of upwardly pointing spikes is disposed across the top surface thereof at an approximate 90 degree angle with the top surface thereof and a plurality of downwardly pointing spikes disposed across the bottom surface thereof at an approximate 90 degree angle with the bottom surface thereof;    rooting container means having sides and a bottom surface into which zigzag, opposing, raised areas are integrated for displacing said support device means above the bottom thereof, for containing a liquid and for permitting roots and sprouts to develop from the flower bulbs during a period before said support device means is inserted into said display container; and    a predetermined amount of liquid in the bottom of said display container.    
   
   
       16 ) A method for preparing a hollow flower bulb display container having an open top for sale a spike-bearing flower bulb support device having a top surface and a bottom surface and a rooting container comprising: 
 selecting a display container;    further selecting a support device sized to fit within said container;    securing a desired number of flower bulbs on said support device by positioning the base of each flower bulb between at least two spikes extending perpendicularly away from the top surface of said support device and forcing the bulb downward until the base of the flower bulb comes into contact with the top surface of said support device so that each spike pierces the outside periphery of the flower bulb;    placing said support device into a rooting container wherein said support device is displaced from the bottom surface of said rooting container;    adding a predetermined amount of liquid to the bottom of said display container;    storing said rooting container in an environment having a temperature and humidity and for the period of time required for roots and sprouts to grow from each flower bulb on said support device;    further adding a predetermined amount of liquid to the bottom of said display container;    transferring said support device into said display container by inserting said support device into the opening at the top of said display container with the top surface of said support device oriented toward that opening; and    urging said support device to slide down the inside of said display container until it reaches a predetermined distance from the bottom thereof where it is held in place.    
   
   
       17 ) The method of  claim 16  wherein said support device is displaced from the bottom surface of said rooting container by means of a grill or wire mesh.  
   
   
       18 ) The method of  claim 16  wherein said support device is displaced form the bottom surface of said rooting container by means of opposing, zigzag, elevated ridges integrated into the bottom of said rooting container.  
   
   
       19 ) The method of  claim 16  wherein said support device is held in place by means of a shelf formed in the bottom of said display container at the predetermined distance from the bottom thereof.  
   
   
       20 ) The method of  claim 16  wherein said support device is held in place above the bottom of said display container by means of a plurality of spikes protruding perpendicularly away from the bottom of said support device for the predetermined distance.