Binding wrap and method for hydrating cut flowers

Abstract

A binding wrap for maintaining the hydration of cut flowers is disclosed. The wrap is formed by folding a flexible, absorbent sheet over and around the stems of cut flowers. An assembly of a bouquet of cut flowers with a flexible, absorbent binding wrap folded around its stems is also disclosed as is a method of forming such a wrap.

Claims

1. A method of maintaining hydration in a bunch of cut flowers, the method comprising the steps of providing a binding wrap comprising a sheet of flexible, absorbent material, the binding wrap having an upper part, a lower part, and a central section which connects the upper part and the lower part, wherein the upper part and the lower part each have a width, the upper part and the lower part being connected at the central section along a portion of said widths such that the upper part and the lower part are laterally offset from one another; wrapping the upper part of the binding wrap around the stems of the flowers; folding the lower part of the binding wrap upwards over the ends of the flower stems and wrapping around a lower portion of the upper part of the binding wrap; folding an upper portion of the upper part downwards over the lower part to secure the binding wrap in place.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sheet is elastically extendable.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sheet comprises a foam material.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the binding wrap comprises two lateral incisions defining a border between the upper part and the lower part, extending from side edges of the sheet towards each other and separated by an intact central section.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the lower part has a width that is equal to a width of the upper part.

6. The method according to claim 1 further including placing the binding wrap into water or a liquid solution prior to folding it around the stems.

7. The method according to claim 1 further including placing the wrapped stems into the open end of a plastic bag.

8. An assembly of a bouquet of cut flowers and an absorbent binding wrap assembled in accordance with the method of claim 1, wherein the binding wrap is in contact with ends of stems of the flowers such as to be able to provide hydration thereto; the upper part of the binding wrap is wrapped around the flower stems; the lower part of the binding wrap is folded upwards over the ends of the flower stems and wrapped around the lower portion of the upper part; and the upper portion of the upper part is folded downwards over the lower part securing the binding wrap in place.

9. The assembly according to claim 8, wherein the upper portion of the upper part engages and retains the lower part wrapped around the flower stems, without further securing means.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which corresponding reference symbols indicate corresponding parts.

(2) FIG. 1 schematically shows a bunch of cut flowers with a folded binding wrap, according to an embodiment of the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a detailed image of the sheet used to form the binding wrap of FIG. 1;

(4) FIGS. 3A to 3F show different steps in the folding of the sheet of FIG. 2 to form the wrap according to FIG. 1.

(5) FIGS. 4A to 4E show different alternative embodiments of the invention.

(6) The figures are for illustrative purposes only, and do not serve as a restriction on the scope or the protection as laid down by the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(7) FIG. 1 schematically shows a bunch of cut flowers 10, where a folded binding wrap 12 is attached to the stems 14. The binding wrap 12 is formed from a sheet 8 of flexible absorbent material having an inner face 6 that contacts the stems 14 and an outer face 4.

(8) FIG. 2 shows a detailed image of the sheet 8 of FIG. 1 in the unfolded state, viewed on the inner face 6. The sheet 8 comprises two rectangular parts, being the upper part 16 and the lower part 18. The upper part 16 has a width W and a length L1. The lower part 18 has a length L2 and, in this embodiment, is of the same width as the upper part 16 but offset laterally by a distance X. An upper portion 16a of the upper part has a length L1-L2. The remaining lower portion 16b of the upper part 16 has the length L2. Lateral incisions 20 are applied from the two sides at the border between the upper and lower parts. The two parts are connected by a central section 22.

(9) Use of the sheet 8 to form the binding wrap 12 according to the invention will now be explained with reference to FIGS. 3a to 3f, which schematically show different steps of a method to apply the binding wrap 12 to a bunch of flowers.

(10) FIG. 3A shows the stems 14 of a bunch of flowers laid over the upper part 16 of the sheet 8, on the inner face 6. The stems 14 are aligned with the length dimension L1 of the upper part 16 of the sheet 8. The upper part 16 is then folded forwards around the stems 14.

(11) FIG. 3B shows the result of the upper part 16 folded around the stems 14, whereby the stems 14 are fully enclosed and surrounded by the upper part 16. In a following step, the lower part 18 can be folded upwards over the cut ends 24 of the stems 14.

(12) FIG. 3C shows the result of step according to FIG. 3b) with the ends 24 of the stems 14 fully covered and only the outer face 4 of the sheet 8 visible. In the next step, the lower part 18 can be folded backwards around the lower portion 16b of the upper part 16.

(13) FIG. 3D shows the result of the folding of the lower part 18 around the lower portion 16b of the upper part 16. At this point, the upper portion 16a of the upper part 16 can be folded downwards over the lower part 18.

(14) FIG. 3E shows the finished result of the previous steps, namely a folded binding wrap 12, attached around the stems 14 of the flowers 10.

(15) FIG. 3F shows the flower stems 14 with the binding wrap 12 inside a plastic bag. The bag is held around the stems 14 with a tie 32. Although not depicted, the binding wrap 12 has been dipped in water and soaked prior to insertion into the plastic bag 30.

(16) FIGS. 4A to 4E show alternative embodiments of the binding wrap.

(17) FIG. 4A shows a binding wrap 112 which does not have incisions.

(18) FIG. 4B shows a binding wrap 212 which comprises an upper part 216 and a lower part 218, wherein both parts have equal lengths L1 and L2.

(19) FIG. 4C shows a binding wrap 312, wherein incisions 3 are cut-outs or recesses, reducing the width of a central section 322 in between an upper part 316 and a lower part 318.

(20) FIG. 4D shows a binding wrap 412 which includes decorations 440, 442 on a lower part 418, being a drawn line 440 and a series of cut holes 442, which give the folded wrap the appearance of a shirt collar.

(21) FIG. 4E shows a binding wrap 512, which comprises an upper portion 516a of an upper part 516, which has a triangular shape. As a result, the folded wrap looks like a heart-shape. This is an appealing shape, especially suitable when bouquets of flowers are presented as a gift for expressing love, for example on Valentine's Day. In this case the binding wrap may preferentially be formed from red foam.

(22) Although the present figures consider binding wraps with specific designs, it will be clear that also other designs are included in the present invention. Alternative designs that result in a particular appearance of the binding wrap may include designs based on hourglass-shapes, parallelograms, trapezoids, polygons, and the like.

(23) The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that alternative and equivalent embodiments of the invention can be conceived and reduced to practice. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.