(en)The invention relates to a vase that is constituted by a package that comprises two faces that are connected together, both faces being flexible and presenting flap portions at both of their respective longitudinal ends, which flap portions are suitable for being folded inwards relative to said faces. In the bottom portion, each of the two flap portions presents an inside edge that constitutes a fold line that is interrupted by a cut line that presents an extreme point that lies on the straight line that is defined by the two side ends of said inside edge. In the top portion, the two flap portions include passage means for passing flower stems or stalks.

1.ApplicationNumber: US-201013376034-A
1.PublishNumber: US-2012073192-A1
2.Date Publish: 20120329
3.Inventor: TIERS GUY

4.Inventor Harmonized: TIERS GUY(FR)

5.Country: US
6.Claims:
(en)The invention relates to a vase that is constituted by a package that comprises two faces that are connected together, both faces being flexible and presenting flap portions at both of their respective longitudinal ends, which flap portions are suitable for being folded inwards relative to said faces. In the bottom portion, each of the two flap portions presents an inside edge that constitutes a fold line that is interrupted by a cut line that presents an extreme point that lies on the straight line that is defined by the two side ends of said inside edge. In the top portion, the two flap portions include passage means for passing flower stems or stalks.

7.Description:
(en)This is a 371 national phase application of PCT/FR2010/051087 filed 03 Jun. 2010, which claims priority to French Patent Application No. 0953704 filed 04 Jun. 2009, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.


FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vase that is constituted by a package that is fitted with a stabilization system, said vase finding its application in particular in giving flowers, by making it possible to improve the presentation of the flowers when they are being given, and also to eliminate the need for is the person to whom the flowers are being given to be in possession of a suitable vase.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Such a package may be produced in particular by manufactures of packaging made of cardboard or of composite materials, and very particularly finds its application in commercial premises of the flower-shop type.
The patent published under number FR 1 469 650 discloses a package made of cardboard for packaging and presenting certain varieties of plants. The package has the shape of a cube or even of a rectangular block, presenting in its top portion four flaps that are configured to constitute an opening through which plant stems can pass. The base of the cube or of the rectangular block enables the plant to be supported.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to design a vase that is constituted by a package that, in particular, is for receiving flowers or even any type of decorative object that presents a stem. An advantage of the vase of the invention is to improve the presentation of flowers when they are being given, and to enable the person to whom the flowers are being given to be able to display said flowers without needing to possess a vase of more traditional design, e.g., made of glass or of terracotta.
To this end, the invention relates to a vase that is constituted by a package that includes two adjoining faces of shapes that are longitudinal, and preferably similar. The two adjoining faces are directly connected together, at least at the common sides at one of the ends of their longitudinal edges, in the bottom portion. Preferably, the longitudinal edges are common to both faces over their entire length; however, it is possible to envisage the presence of side faces of conical shape interconnecting the two longitudinal faces, in which configuration the tips of the conical shapes constitute said ends that are common to the longitudinal edges.
In addition, both faces are flexible and present flap portions at both of their respective longitudinal ends, which flap portions may in particular be convex in shape. However, it is possible to envisage other similar shapes, such as a lozenge shape or some other shape. The flap portions are suitable for being folded inwards relative to said longitudinal faces, substantially at is right angles. Thus, putting the flap portions or flaps into place enables the two longitudinal faces to bulge out, creating a volume as a result of the convex or similar shape, said volume making it possible in particular for flower stems to be positioned. In the folded position, the flap portions shut off the two longitudinal ends of the volume created in this way, thereby making it possible to close said volume in part, and to contain the stems of the flowers.
Furthermore, and in remarkable manner, the two adjacent flap portions at one of the longitudinal ends of the two faces, i.e., the flap portions that are situated beside the common ends of the two bottom longitudinal edges, present respective inside edges, in particular of convex or similar shape, depending on the shape of said flap portions, the inside edges constituting respective fold lines. Each of the fold lines is interrupted by at least one respective cut line that curves towards the inside of the flap portion, the cut line being of concave or similar shape, for example, and presenting at least one extreme point that lies on a straight line that is defined by the two side ends of said inside edge, which side ends correspond to the common ends of the longitudinal edges. Thus, when the volume is formed, i.e., when the flap portions are more or less at right angles relative to the longitudinal faces, said longitudinal faces present respective bearing tabs that correspond to the curved cut lines and that present extreme points that lie in the same plane as the two ends of the inside edges, that are common to the adjacent flap portions of each of the longitudinal faces, and that correspond to the common ends of the longitudinal edges. Thus, the two extreme points of the bearing tabs and the two common ends are arranged in the same plane, thereby making it possible for the vase to stand in a vertical position in a suitably stable manner.
Furthermore, the two flap portions adjacent to the other longitudinal ends of the two faces, in the top portion, include passage means that are arranged so as to allow flower stems or stalks in particular to pass when the vase is formed, the flap portions being positioned more or less at right angles. By way of example, the passage means are constituted by at least one perforation or hole in one of the adjacent flap portions, in which configuration the second flap portion slopes at slightly more than 90° relative to its longitudinal face, so as to enable stems or stalks to pass. However, in a variant, it is possible to provide at least one perforation or hole in each of the adjacent flap portions, the perforations corresponding when the adjacent flap portions are arranged substantially at right angles relative to their longitudinal face, thereby enabling stems or stalks to pass through so as to be inserted in the package constituting a vase.
In an embodiment of the present invention, in the bottom portion, the inside edge of each of the adjacent flap portions includes a single cut line that is curved and that is arranged centrally. However, other embodiments can be envisaged; for example, it is possible to provide two uniformly-distributed cut lines in each of the inside edges of the adjacent bottom flap portions.
In a preferred embodiment, the curved cut lines are circularly arcuate or concave in shape. However, it is possible to envisage other shapes, e.g., a triangular shape, that also make it possible to constitute extreme points that lie on the straight line that is defined by the two ends of the inside edge.
In an embodiment, the two longitudinal edges of the two longitudinal faces are rectilinear and parallel to each other. In particular, this makes it possible to increase the volume of the vase in its bottom portion, e.g., so as to arrange therein, flower foam into which the flower stems are pushed, or so as to arrange therein, ballast means or even water, when the flowers are real or fresh.
In a variant, the two longitudinal edges of the faces are rectilinear and slope relative to each other, forming a cone.
In a variant, on at least one of its faces, the package includes a transparent window that advantageously makes it possible to see the contents of said package, e.g., decorative beads or pebbles, or even the quantity of water present in the vase when said vase receives real flowers.
In the invention, the vase includes leaktight means that are configured so as to enable said vase to receive water in which the flower stems are arranged when said flowers are real flowers. This makes it possible to keep the flowers fresh over a longer period of time.
In a preferred design, the leaktight means are constituted by a leaktight pouch that is arranged inside the volume of the package.
In the invention, the vase includes ballast means that are arranged in the volume of the package, which ballast means make it possible to stabilize the vase and to compensate for the force exerted by the weight of the flowers, which tends to cause the vase to topple over.
In a preferred design, the ballast means are foam into which the ends of the flower stems can be pushed. However, it is also possible to envisage other ballast means, such as water contained in the above-mentioned leaktight pouch, or even pebbles, beads, or other means.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention appear on reading the following description which refers to the figures, in which:
FIGS. 1 to 4 show front and side views of a prior-art package in its deployed mode and in its folded use mode;
FIGS. 5 to 7 show front and side views of a first embodiment of the vase of the invention, in its deployed mode and in its folded use mode;
FIG. 8 is a front view showing a variant embodiment of the vase of the invention in its deployed mode, said package presenting a transparent window;
FIG. 9 shows the vase of the present invention; and
FIG. 10 shows another variant embodiment of the vase of the invention.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The prior art discloses a package 1 , as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 , that presents two faces 2 a and 2 b of identical shape and size and presenting a longitudinal shape. The adjacent longitudinal edges 3 a, 3 b and 4 a, 4 b of the two longitudinal faces 2 a, 2 b and connected together, e.g., by adhesive or by heat-sealing, depending on the material used, which material may be cardboard or a composite material, for example. The two longitudinal faces 2 a, 2 b are superposed and coincide, as shown in particular in FIG. 1 . Each of the longitudinal faces 2 a, 2 b comprises a central portion 5 a, 5 b together with two portions that are arranged at the longitudinal ends of said faces 2 a , 2 b, and referred to below as flap portions 6 a, 6 b, 7 a, 7 b, which portions present in particular a convex shape, each with an inside edge 8 a, 8 b, 9 a, 9 b of shape that is convex and that constitutes a fold line for folding said flap portions 6 a, 6 b, 7 a, 7 b.
In use mode, the flap portions 6 a, 6 b, 7 a, 7 b should be folded inwards relative to the portions 5 a, 5 b of the longitudinal faces 2 a, 2 b through an angle that is approximately equal to 90°, thereby enabling the two longitudinal faces 2 a, 2 b to bulge out, both in their central portions 5 a, 5 b and in their flap portions 6 a, 6 b, 7 a, 7 b, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 . In the use position, in which the flap portions are put into place as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , the package thus defines a volume that serves, in the prior art, to contain items such as fabrics, cosmetics, confectionery, or other items, while the flap portions 6 a, 6 b, 7 a, 7 b close said volume.
Variant shapes may be obtained depending on the convex shape given to the flap portions 6 a, 6 b, 7 a, 7 b that, in the extreme limit, may consist of a lozenge, thereby making it possible to obtain, in the use position, a package that presents sharp edges, in particular at the middle axes of the longitudinal faces.
The vase of the present invention, shown in several variants in FIGS. 5 to 10 , has characteristics that are similar to the characteristics of the package 1 of the prior art shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 . Thus, the variants shown in FIGS. 5 to 9 include in common a package 10 , 12 , 44 that presents two faces 14 a, 14 b, each of which comprises a central portion 15 a, 15 b and two portions 16 a, 16 b, 17 a, 17 b that are arranged at the longitudinal ends of the faces 14 a, 14 b, said portions being referred to below as flap portions 16 a , 16 b, 17 a, 17 b.
Compared to the package 1 of the prior art shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 , the essential difference in the package constituting the vase of the present invention, in the various possible variants, relates to the inside edges of the bottom flap portions 17 a, 17 b, which inside edges enable said flap portions to be folded relative to the central portions 15 a, 15 b, so as to shape the package to define a volume that enables flower stems to be received.
In this respect, in a first embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 , it should be observed that the bottom inside edges 18 a, 18 b that connect the flap portions 17 a, 17 b to the central portions 15 a, 15 b comprise respective fold lines 19 a, 19 b that are interrupted by cut lines 20 a, 20 b that curve towards the insides of said flap portions 17 a, 17 b. The cut lines 20 a, 20 b present respective extreme points 21 a, 21 b that lie on the straight line d 1 that is defined by the two ends 22 a & 23 a, 22 b & 23 b of each of said inside edges 18 a, 18 b, as shown in FIG. 5 . In contrast, and as shown in FIG. 5 , the top flap portions 16 a, 16 b include respective inside edges 24 a, 24 b that are similar to the inside edges of the prior art, i.e., comprising respective convex fold lines that extend over its entire width. Thus, when the flap portions 16 a , 16 b, 17 a, 17 b are put into place, i.e., when they are folded inwards at right angles relative to the central portions 15 a, 15 b of the two faces 14 a, 14 b, the package 10 constituting the vase thus enables two lugs 25 a, 25 b to appear, which lugs present two extreme points 21 a, 21 b that lie in the same plane P 1 as the common side ends 22 a, 22 b, 23 a, 23 b of the inside edges 18 a, 18 b , thereby guaranteeing that the package 10 formed in this way is stable.
Exactly the same characteristics are found in the variant embodiment of the package 12 constituting the vase as shown in FIG. 8 , the flap portions 17 a, 17 b in the bottom portion of each of the faces 14 a, 14 b of said package 12 , each including respective inside edges 18 a, 18 b that present fold lines 19 a, 19 b that are interrupted by respective cut lines 20 a, 20 b that curve towards the insides of the flap portions, each cut line presenting an extreme point 21 a, 21 b that lies on the straight line d 1 defined by the ends 22 a & 23 a , 22 b & 23 b of the inside edges 18 a, 18 b.
In the variant shown in FIG. 8 , the package 12 constituting the vase includes a window 35 that is arranged in one of the faces 14 b. However, it is possible to provide such a window in each of the faces 14 a, 14 b, or even a plurality of windows 35 in one or both faces. The window 35 may be constituted by a mere cutout in the longitudinal face 14 b, or even by the use of a transparent material so as to allow the contents of the vase, e.g., water, beads, or pebbles, to appear in part.
In the embodiment of the package constituting the vase shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 , the connected-together adjacent longitudinal edges 36 a & 36 b , 37 a, & 37 b of each of the two longitudinal faces 14 a, 14 b are rectilinear and slope towards each other forming a cone. In FIGS. 5 to 7 , the cone is oriented upwards. However, in a variant embodiment of a vase constituted by such a package and as shown in FIG. 9 , it is possible to provide, in similar manner, a cone that slopes downwards. In the variant shown in FIG. 8 , the longitudinal edges 38 a & 38 b, 39 a & 39 b of each of the two longitudinal faces 14 a, 14 b are rectilinear and parallel to each other.
Naturally other variants can be envisaged without going beyond the ambit of the present invention.
In the various embodiments shown in FIGS. 5 to 10 , each inside edge 18 a, 18 b of the package 10 , 12 , 44 , 49 constituting the vase includes a single cut line 20 a, 20 b in the shape of circular arcs and that is arranged centrally or in the middle. However, it is possible to provide a plurality of cut lines on each bottom inside edge 18 a, 18 b, which cut lines are uniformly distributed and are possibly of some other different shape, e.g., triangular, each having an extreme point lying on the straight line d 1 .
As shown in FIG. 9 , once put into shape, the package 44 constitutes the vase of the invention, said vase presenting a shape that flares upwards. In its bottom portion, the package 44 thus includes lugs 45 that constitute bearing tabs as described above for the other variants shown in FIGS. 5 to 8 . Furthermore, in the top portion, the flap portions 46 a, 46 b include perforations or holes 47 through which flower stems can pass, as shown in FIG. 9 . Such perforations or holes 47 also appear in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 . In FIG. 8 , there can be seen a variant embodiment of the perforations or holes 47 a.
It is possible to envisage forming the perforations or holes 47 , 47 a in the two top flap portions 16 a, 16 b. In this configuration, the two flap portions 16 a, 16 b are folded at right angles, i.e., through an angle approximately equal to 90°, producing a configuration such as the configuration shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 .
In a variant, it is possible to envisage forming the perforations or holes 47 , 47 a in only one of the top flap portions 16 a or 16 b. In this configuration, only the flap portion 16 a or 16 b that is provided with the perforation or hole 47 , 47 a is folded, the other flap portion 16 b or 16 a continuing to extend the central portion 15 b or 15 a. This makes it possible to produce attractive effects on the vase. Other variants of passage means for passing flower stems or stalks can be envisaged without going beyond the ambit of the invention.
Naturally, the vase constituted by such a package 10 , 12 , 44 , 49 is not leaktight and is therefore suitable for receiving artificial flowers. However, for real flowers, it is possible to envisage adding a small leaktight pouch inside the vase, in which pouch water is poured so as to preserve the real flowers. It is possible to provide other leaktight means that make it possible to fill the vase with water.
It is also possible to envisage adding ballast means into the vase, e.g., foam into which the ends of artificial flower stems are poked, or water that is poured into the pouch so as to preserve real flowers. It is also possible to provide beads or pebbles that also ballast the vase and that may produce attractive effects when the package 12 constituting said vase includes a window 35 as shown in FIG. 8 .
In the variant shown in FIG. 10 , it should be observed that the longitudinal faces 48 a, 48 b of the package 49 constituting the vase of the invention, are interconnected by means of side faces 50 a, 50 b that are triangular or conical in shape, the tips or vertex angles 51 a, 51 b pointing downwards. The longitudinal edges 52 a & 52 b, 53 a & 53 b of the two longitudinal faces 48 a, 48 b constitute the sides of the vertex angles, the bottom ends of said longitudinal edges, constituting the vertex angles 51 a , 51 b, being in common. Thus, the use of flap portions in accordance with the invention and as described for the above variants, makes it possible to provide a bearing tab 54 b on each longitudinal face 48 a, 48 b, each bearing tab presenting an extreme point 55 b that is arranged in the same plane P 3 as the common ends of the two longitudinal edges, constituted by the vertex angles 51 a, 51 b.
In the variant shown in FIG. 10 , it should be observed that the vase includes a plurality of perforations or holes 47 b, 47 c, 47 d through which the flower stems can pass.
Naturally, it is possible to provide other variant embodiments that combine the above-described characteristics for a variety of variant vases.
Such a package constituting the vase of the invention is fabricated by manufacturers of items made of cardboard, or by manufacturers of items made of polymer or composite material. The package is for use in various types of commercial premises, in particular florists.