Apparatus and method for the conservation, shipment and exhibition of fresh flowers

Abstract

The present disclosure includes an apparatus and method of use to facilitate storing, conserving and exhibition of individual fresh flowers or small individual bundles of fresh flowers.

1 . An apparatus for the conservation, shipment and exhibition of fresh flowers comprising;
 a closed external box, having at least one perforation in its lateral walls and one or more upper hinged lids;   a grid insert within the external box wherein the grid insert consists of (i) four (4) exterior walls and (ii) two (2) or more interior walls that extend between opposed exterior walls, said interior walls intersecting with each other to form a plurality of storage and transport regions for individual fresh flowers or individual fresh flower bundles;   a bucket which includes a water hydrated foam;   a plurality of individual fresh flowers or individual bundles of fresh flowers wherein the individual fresh flower or individual fresh flower bundle is inserted into one of the storage and transport regions and, the stems of the individual fresh flowers or individual bundles of fresh flowers are stuck into the hydrated foam; and   at least one protective stick that extends from the bucket and/or hydrated foam through each of the storage and transport regions to the one or more upper hinged lids.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising an inner box to support the grid insert. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  in which the inner box further comprises a semi-open top and at least one perforation in its lateral walls which perforation is at least partially co-linear with the perforation in the external box. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the grid insert further comprises one or more hinged lids. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , in which the semi-open top of the inner box is defined as a square circumscribed by another, where the interior square has its perimeter modified by outwardly bending portions shaped as arches and wherein an opening whose perimeter is defined by the modified interior square is sized to firmly hold the bucket for exhibition of the fresh flowers when removed for the external box and inverted. 
     
     
         11 . A method of using the apparatus defined in  claim 1  comprising;
 receiving delivery of the apparatus; 
 opening the closed external box; 
 removing the bucket with fresh flowers, protective sticks and hydrated foam; and 
 removing the protective sticks from the fresh flowers. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the grid insert is removed from the apparatus after the external box is opened and before removing the bucket with fresh flowers, protective sticks and hydrated foam from the external box. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the grid insert is removed from the external box with the bucket with fresh flowers, protective sticks and hydrated foam and after removal with the bucket with fresh flowers, protective sticks and hydrated foam the grid insert is moved from an upper region of the flower to a lower region near the flower stems or bucket. 
     
     
         14 . A method of using the apparatus defined in  claim 5  comprising;
 receiving delivery of the apparatus; 
 opening closed the external box; 
 removing the bucket with fresh flowers, protective sticks and hydrated foam from the external box; 
 removing the inverted exhibition box from the external box; and 
 placing the bucket with the fresh flowers in the semi-open top of the exhibition box after turning it right side up for exhibition of the fresh flowers. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the grid insert is removed from the apparatus after the external box is opened and before removing the bucket with fresh flowers, protective sticks and hydrated foam from the external box. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the grid insert is removed from the external box with the bucket with fresh flowers, protective sticks and hydrated foam and after removal with the bucket with fresh flowers, protective sticks and hydrated foam the grid insert is moved from an upper region of the flower to a lower region near the flower stems or bucket.