Collapsible floral container

Abstract

A collapsible floral container stored and shipped in a substantially planar configuration and expanded into the form of a flower pot or flower pot cover is disclosed. The collapsible container includes a plurality of segments and a connecting member for connecting the segments such that the segments define a sidewall and such that the segments are movable between an expanded position wherein the segments cooperate with one another to form an object receiving space and to provide the sidewall with a unitary appearance and a collapsed position wherein the sidewall is substantially flattened.

1 . A plant package, comprising:
 a floral container comprising a plurality of segments movable from a collapsed position to an expanded position wherein in the collapsed position all of the segments remain at least in part moveably connected such that each segment remains moveably connected to at least two other segments, at least a portion of the plurality of segments being rigid, wherein in the expanded position the segments form a sidewall and cooperate to define an object receiving space wherein the object receiving space is sized and shaped to receive at least one of a flower, a plant and a flower or plant support member, and wherein when the sidewall of the container is disposed in the collapsed position, an inner surface of each segment is disposed near an inner surface of another segment;   at least one of a flower, a plant and a flower or plant support member disposed within the floral container; and   wherein the plant package is formed in the absence of a waterproof liner disposed in the object receiving space of the floral container.   
   
   
       2 . The plant package of  claim 1 , wherein the floral container has a substantially closed lower end. 
   
   
       3 . The plant package of  claim 2 , wherein the floral container further comprises a base member having a bottom surface and a top surface, wherein the base member forms a substantially closed lower end of the floral container. 
   
   
       4 . The plant package of  claim 1 , wherein the segments of the floral container are constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of ceramic, clay, concrete, plastic, metal, rock, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       5 . The plant package of  claim 1 , wherein each of the segments of the floral container has an inner surface, an outer surface, and a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge, and wherein at least one of:
 (A) each of the longitudinal edges is angled such that the first longitudinal edge of one segment abuttingly engages the second longitudinal edge of the adjacent segment in the expanded position; and   (B) the first longitudinal edge has an inner lip extending therefrom and the second longitudinal edge has an outer lip extending therefrom such that the inner lip of the first longitudinal edge overlaps the outer lip of the second longitudinal edge of an adjacent segment when the segments are in the expanded position.   
   
   
       6 . The plant package of  claim 1 , wherein the segments of the floral container have at least one of a substantially planar configuration and a substantially curved configuration. 
   
   
       7 . The plant package of  claim 1 , wherein the floral container further comprises at least one of:
 (A) a plurality of living hinges, wherein each living hinge has one portion connected to one of a first segment and another portion connected to a second segment adjacent the first segment;   (B) at least one annular clip positioned over the upper edge of the segments so as to link each of the segments together;   (C) at least one elastic ring member positioned in the object receiving space and biased against the interior surface of the sidewall formed by the segments, and wherein each of the segments has a groove formed on an interior surface thereof which is alignable with the grooves of the other segments to form an annular groove in the interior surface of the sidewall adapted to receive the elastic ring member;   (D) at least one elastic ring member biased against the exterior surface of the sidewall formed by the segments, and wherein each of the segments has a groove formed on an exterior surface thereof which is alignable with the grooves of the other segments to form an annular groove in the exterior surface of the sidewall adapted to receive the elastic ring member; and   (E) a sheet of material having a portion secured to at least a portion of the segments so as to define a skirt.   
   
   
       8 . The plant package of  claim 1 , wherein the first side edge of each segment of the floral container has a tongue and the second side edge of each segment has a groove for receiving the tongue of an adjacent segment. 
   
   
       9 . A method of providing a plant package, comprising the steps of:
 providing a floral container in a collapsed position, the floral container comprising a plurality of segments movable from a collapsed position to an expanded position wherein in the collapsed position all of the segments remain at least in part moveably connected such that each segment remains moveably connected to at least two other segments, at least a portion of the plurality of segments being rigid, wherein when the sidewall of the container is disposed in the collapsed position, an inner surface of each segment is disposed near an inner surface of another segment;   moving the floral container from the collapsed position to the expanded position, wherein in the expanded position the segments form a sidewall and cooperate to define an object receiving space wherein the object receiving space is sized and shaped to receive at least one of a flower, a plant and a flower or plant support member;   providing at least one of a flower, a plant, and a flower or plant support member; and   disposing the at least one of a flower, a plant, and a flower or plant support member in the floral container to form a plant package, and wherein the plant package is absent a waterproof liner disposed in the object receiving space of the floral container.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein, in the step of providing a floral container, the floral container has a substantially closed lower end. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the floral container further comprises a base member having a bottom surface and a top surface, wherein the base member forms a substantially closed lower end of the floral container. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein, in the step of providing a floral container, the segments of the floral container are constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of ceramic, clay, concrete, plastic, metal, rock, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 9  wherein, in the step of providing a floral container, each of the segments of the floral container has an inner surface, an outer surface, and a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge, and wherein at least one of:
 (A) each of the longitudinal edges is angled such that the first longitudinal edge of one segment abuttingly engages the second longitudinal edge of the adjacent segment in the expanded position; and   (B) the first longitudinal edge has an inner lip extending therefrom and the second longitudinal edge has an outer lip extending therefrom such that the inner lip of the first longitudinal edge overlaps the outer lip of the second longitudinal edge of an adjacent segment when the segments are in the expanded position.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 9  wherein, in the step of providing a floral container, the segments of the floral container have at least one of a substantially planar configuration and a substantially curved configuration. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 9  wherein, in the step of providing a floral container, the floral container further comprises at least one of:
 (A) a plurality of living hinges, wherein each living hinge has one portion connected to one of a first segment and another portion connected to a second segment adjacent to the first segment;   (B) at least one annular clip positioned over the upper edge of the segments so as to link each of the segments together;   (C) at least one elastic ring member positioned in the object receiving space and biased against the interior surface of the sidewall formed by the segments, and wherein each of the segments has a groove formed on an interior surface thereof which is alignable with the grooves of the other segments to form an annular groove in the interior surface of the sidewall adapted to receive the elastic ring member;   (D) at least one elastic ring member biased against the exterior surface of the sidewall formed by the segments, and wherein each of the segments has a groove formed on an exterior surface thereof which is alignable with the grooves of the other segments to form an annular groove in the exterior surface of the sidewall adapted to receive the elastic ring member; and   (E) a sheet of material having a portion secured to at least a portion of the segments so as to define a skirt.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 9  wherein, in the step of providing a floral container, the first side edge of each segment of the floral container has a tongue and the second side edge of each segment has a groove for receiving the tongue of an adjacent segment.