US20050091921A1 - Expandable container for floral grouping - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention generally relates to expandable containers, more importantly, to expandable containers having a housing with at least one chamber devoid of a fill material in an unexpanded condition and in an expanded condition the chamber having a fill material disposed therein.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
• Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• 1. Field of the Invention
• This invention generally relates to expandable containers, more importantly, to expandable containers having a housing with at least one chamber and at least one fill material.
• 2. Brief Description of the Background of the Invention
• Many prior art containers are constructed from relatively heavy rigid materials, while other containers are formed from flexible materials such as a plastic fashioned into rigid or semi rigid configurations. Still other containers are constructed from materials, such as cardboard, that unfold into the shape of a container. Significant disadvantages of such containers are the difficulties encountered in erecting the containers, excessive weight, and space required to store and ship such containers and the lack of protection provided articles disposed within such containers unless dunnage is added to the interior of the container to assist in protecting the article from forces typically encountered during shipping. The disadvantages of requiring the use of dunnage in containers are dunnage compression, migration, disposal, and cost. To these ends, a container is needed which overcomes the before mentioned disadvantages of prior art containers. It is to such an expandable container that the present invention is directed.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• Broadly, the present invention relates to a container for floral groupings, the container having a collapsed condition and an expanded condition. In the expanded condition, the container includes a fill material and a housing. The housing has at least one chamber adapted to receive the fill material and at least one inlet for permitting introduction of the fill material into the chamber of the housing. The fill material can be any suitable material capable of expanding the chamber so as to move the container from the collapsed condition to the expanded condition.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container for a floral grouping constructed in accordance with the present invention, the container shown in an expanded condition and having a pump connected thereto.
• FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the container ofFIG. 1.
• FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the container ofFIG. 1 in a collapsed condition and without the pump connected thereto.
• FIG. 4 a perspective view of another embodiment of a container for a floral grouping constructed in accordance with the present invention, the container shown in an expanded condition.
• FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the container ofFIG. 4.
• FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the container ofFIG. 4 in a collapsed condition.
• FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the container of the presently disclosed invention, the container shown in a collapsed condition.
• FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the container ofFIG. 7 in an expanded condition.
DESCRIPTION
• Before explaining in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description (e.g., text, examples, data, and/or tables) or illustrated or shown in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting, and one of ordinary skill in the art, given the present specification, would be capable of making and using the presently claimed and disclosed invention in a broad and non-limiting manner.
• Referring now to the drawings, and in particular toFIGS. 1-3, shown therein and designated by thegeneral reference number10 is a container for afloral grouping12. Thecontainer10 is selectively movable between a collapsed condition (FIG. 3) and an expanded condition (FIGS. 1 and 2). In the expanded condition thecontainer10 has a substantially openupper end16, asidewall18, a substantially closedlower end22, an outerperipheral surface26, an innerperipheral surface28, and aretaining space30. Theretaining space30 is defined by the substantially closedlower end22 and thesidewall18. Theretaining space30 is typically sized and shaped so as to contain aflower pot32. Theflower pot32 may be filled with afloral holding material34 for supporting thefloral grouping12. Those of ordinary skill in the art will also readily recognize and understand that thecontainer10 and retainingspace30 may also be sized and shaped so as to contain a wide variety of other articles, such as a box, or a vase, or any other object having a mass.
• Thecontainer10, in the expanded condition, includes afill material38 and ahousing40. Thehousing40 is provided with achamber42 and aninlet44, wherein theinlet44 is in fluid communication with thechamber42 such that thefill material38 may be introduced into thechamber42 through theinlet44. Theinlet44 and thechamber42 are also configured such that thefill material38 can be evacuated from thechamber42 through theinlet44. In the expanded condition of thecontainer10, thechamber42 is substantially filled with thefill material38.
• Thehousing40 may be constructed, at least in part, from at least one flexible sheet ofmaterial43. The at least one flexible sheet ofmaterial43 is sized, shaped, and sealed so as to create thechamber42. The important aspect of the seal is that it substantially seals thechamber42 of thehousing40 such that thechamber42 is capable of containing thefill material38. Thechamber42 is constructed of a material and in such a manner that it is substantially impermeable to thefill material38. Examples of materials that can be sized, shaped, configured, sealed, and fitted with theinlet44 so as to form thechamber42, include but are not limited to rubber, plastic, mylar, foil, treated paper or pvc, and combinations and derivations thereof.
• The at least one flexible sheet ofmaterial43 may be constructed of a single layer of material or a plurality of layers of the same or different types of materials. The plurality of layers of material comprising the at least one flexible sheet ofmaterial43 may be laminated together or connected together by any method described herein or known to one of at least ordinary skill in the art.
• Theinlet44 of thehousing40 is constructed such that thefill material38 is introduced and disposed into thechamber42 of thehousing40 through theinlet44 and thefill material38 is contained and retained within thechamber42 of thehousing40 for so long as it is desired that thecontainer10 remain in the expanded condition. Thefill material38 may also be evacuated from thechamber42 of thehousing40 through theinlet44 so as to return thecontainer10 to the collapsed condition in order to conserve storage space until it is desired to use or reuse thecontainer10. To reuse thecontainer10, theinlet44 is reopened and thefill material38 is again introduced into thechamber42 of thehousing40 via theinlet44. In one embodiment, theinlet44 may be a valve similar to an air valve typically found on an automobile, motorcycle, or bicycle tire—i.e., an air valve having a valve stem and a cap. Theinlet44 may be of the type typically found on a beach ball or other inflatable object (such as an air mattress or pool flotation device)—i.e., theinlet44 having a hollow tube, a leak prevention gasket, and a leak proof cap.
• In the collapsed condition, as shown inFIG. 3, thechamber42 of thehousing40 is substantially free of thefill material38 such that the at least one flexible sheet ofmaterial43 from which thehousing40 is constructed folds upon itself forming a plurality of overlappingfolds46. In the collapsed condition, thehousing40 typically assumes a substantially planar or flat configuration (i.e., being flattened along and in conjunction with the plurality of overlapping folds46) to thereby provide a space saving functionality to thecontainer10 for convenient, economic shipping and storage.
• In the expanded condition, thechamber42 of thehousing40 is sufficiently pressurized and/or sufficiently filled with thefill material38 to overcome atmospheric pressure, diffuse the plurality of overlappingfolds46, and expand thechamber42 of thehousing40 to thereby articulate thecontainer10 into the expanded condition.
• Examples of materials that are utilized as fill materials include gases, liquids, granular solids, and combinations thereof. Examples of granular solids include but are not limited to sugar, salt, plastic, metal beads, wire, sand, bicarbonate of soda, or combinations and derivations thereof. Examples of gases include, but are not limited to air, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, helium, or carbon dioxide. Examples of liquids include but are not limited to water, hydraulic fluid, mercury, or vinegar.
• Typically, (and as shown inFIG. 3) if thefill material38 is a granular solid, theinlet44 is ahollow tube47 in fluid communication with thechamber42 of thehousing40 and acap48 capable of sealing thehollow tube47 and, thus, also thechamber42 of thehousing40. Typically, if thefill material38 is a gas or liquid, theinlet44 is avalve49, having avalve stem50 and acap51 of a type substantially similar to the type of valve typically found on an automobile, motorcycle, or bicycle tire which automatically opens and shuts in response to air or liquid pressure.
• The shape of thecontainer10, at least in part, in the expanded condition is provided by the shape of thechamber42 of thehousing40 and the balance between the expansive forces of thefill material38 and the resistance of the at least one flexible sheet ofmaterial43. It is important to note that the expansive force of thefill material38 should not exceed the flexing limit of the at least one flexible sheet ofmaterial43 used to construct thecontainer10, for example, the expansive force of thefill material38 should not be so great so as to burst or rupture thechamber42 of thehousing40.
• “Floral grouping” as used herein means cut fresh flowers, artificial flowers, a single flower, other fresh and/or artificial plants, or other floral materials that may include other secondary plants and/or ornamentation or artificial or natural materials which add to the aesthetics of the overall floral arrangement. Floral grouping may comprise a bloom or foliage portion and a stem portion. However, it will be understood that the floral grouping may consist of only a single bloom or only foliage. The term “floral grouping” may be used interchangeably herein with the term “floral arrangement.”
• The term “floral grouping” may be used interchangeably herein with the terms “plant” and/or “flower.” The term “floral grouping” may also be used interchangeably herein with the terms “botanical item” and/or “propagule.” The floral grouping may be cut flowers, a potted plant, or propagules.
• The term “botanical item” when used herein means a natural herbaceous or woody plant, taken singly or in combination. The term “botanical item” also means any portion or portions of natural herbaceous or woody plants including stems, leaves, flowers, blossoms, buds, blooms, cones, or roots, taken singly or in combination, or in groupings of such portions such as a bouquet or floral grouping.
• The term “propagule” when used herein means any structure capable of being propagated or acting as an agent of reproduction including seeds, shoots, stems, runners, tubers, plants, leaves, roots, or spores.
• The term “floral holding material” may be any type of material commonly referred to in the art as floral foam or Oasis™ or may be soil or artificial soil (organic or inorganic) or other earth composition so long as the material is capable of holding its predetermined shape and capable of receiving and supporting the floral grouping without any additional structural means such as, but not by way of limitation, a pot. The floral holding material may also be, in one embodiment, capable of receiving and holding water for the purpose of supplying water to the floral grouping. The floral holding material may also be, in one embodiment for example, sand, soil, fibrous material such as peat moss, or other materials used in the art of supporting plants or floral groupings. The floral holding material may also be a hollow conical or frusto-conical structure with a retaining space suitable for disposing at least a portion of a floral grouping therein, such as, a flexible sheet of plastic formed into a conical or frusto-conical configuration having an opening therein to form the retaining space and also to provide means for supporting and/or holding the floral grouping in place.
• The floral holding material may be any desired shape suitable for any particular application or may be particulate, granular, or in a “gel” type state. The floral holding material is preferably constructed of a material capable of receiving a portion of a floral grouping and holding or supporting the floral grouping. In some instances the floral holding material is capable of supporting the floral grouping without the need for a pot or other supporting type of assemblies.
• Theflower pot32 is provided with anupper end52, abottom end54, and a substantiallycontinuous sidewall56 extending between theupper end52 and thebottom end54 so as to form a substantially frusto-conical shaped item. Thebottom end54 and the substantiallycontinuous sidewall56 cooperate to define a receivingspace58 within theflower pot32. The receivingspace58 is sized and shaped so as to receive the floral holding material34 (seeFIG. 1) for supporting thefloral grouping12 in thecontainer10. As shown inFIG. 2, theflower pot32 is generally frustconically shaped. However, theflower pot32 may be any shape as may be desired in a particular application—i.e., conical, cylindrical, coniform, spherical, cubic, rectangular, hexagonal, octagonal, fanciful, or combinations and derivations thereof.
• Although thechamber42 is shown inFIGS. 1-3 as being formed between the outerperipheral surface26 and the innerperipheral surface28 of thecontainer10, those skilled in the art will also readily understand and appreciate that thehousing40 could be designed and configured such that thechamber42 is formed between only a portion of the innerperipheral surface28 and a portion of the outerperipheral surface26 of thecontainer10—i.e., cells may be created in thehousing40 so as to create a quilting effect.
• Although the outerperipheral surface26 and the retainingspace30 of thecontainer10 are shown inFIG. 1 as essentially frusto-conical in configuration those skilled in the art will readily appreciate and understand that a plurality of different housings could be designed with each different housing providing a different configuration for the outerperipheral surface26 and the retainingspace30 of thecontainer10, such as conical, cylindrical, coniform, spherical, cubic, rectangular, hexagonal, octagonal, fanciful, or combinations and derivations thereof.
• Although thehousing40 is described and shown inFIG. 1 as having only onechamber42 and oneinlet44, those skilled in the art will also readily understand and appreciate that thehousing40 could be designed and configured so as to provide a plurality of chambers with each chamber having at least one inlet.
• Thecontainer10 may have a decorative surface ornamentation such as colorings, coatings, embossings, flocking and/or metallic finishes, or other decorative surface ornamentation applied separately or simultaneously, or may be characterized totally or partially by pearlescent, translucent, transparent, iridescent, or the like qualities. Each of the above-named characteristics may occur alone or in combination and may be applied to the innerperipheral surface28 and/or the outerperipheral surface26 of thecontainer10. Moreover, each surface of the sheet of material may vary in the combination of such characteristics. Thecontainer10 may be opaque, translucent, clear, tinted, transparent, or any combination thereof.
• Adecorative pattern60, such as a color, a decal and/or an embossed pattern, and/or other decorative patterns may be applied to thehousing40 or the at least one flexible sheet ofmaterial43 from which thehousing40 is constructed. For instance, thedecorative pattern60 may be a printed design, coatings, colors, flocking, or metallic finishes. The at least one flexible sheet ofmaterial43 also may be a totally or partially clear or tinted transparent material. In the event the at least one flexible sheet ofmaterial43 is clear, partially clear, tinted, or tinted transparent material it may be desirable that thefill material38 have a color or decorative appearance for decorative purposes.
• Thedecorative pattern60 on thecontainer10 may be printed, etched, and/or embossed thereon using inks or other printing materials. Thedecorative pattern60 may also be one or more decorative patterns alone or in combination. When two or more decorative patterns are present, they may be in register with one another, out of register with one another, or partially in register and partially out of register with one another. Examples of printed designs other than decorative designs include, for example, but not by way of limitation, UPC information, price information, care and handling information, and company or brand logos. An example of an ink which may be applied to the at least one flexible sheet ofmaterial43 to provide thedecorative pattern60 is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,706, entitled, “Water Based Ink On Foil And/Or Synthetic Organic Polymer,” issued to Kingman on Sep. 15, 1991, the contents of which are hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference.
• Apump62 can be utilized to add thefill material38 through theinlet44 into thechamber42 of thehousing40 to expand thecontainer10 into the expanded condition. Although thepump62 has been shown as an electric pump, it should be understood that thepump62 may be a hand pump, a foot pump, a pressurized reservoir offill material38 such as by way of example a pressurized CO₂gas cartridge or a pressurized helium cartridge. Thepump62 may also include ahose64 and anozzle66 capable of being opened and closed. Thenozzle66 is configured such that it is matingly compatible with theinlet44 and substantially does not allow for thefill material38 to escape from thehose64 when in operable connection. Pumps, hoses, nozzles, and valves are well known by those of ordinary skill thus further discussion herein is not deemed necessary and these terms should be understood as having their broadest everyday art meaning.
• In one method of use, thehousing40 and sufficient quantities of the fill material38 (such as a granular type) are provided. Theinlet44 is disposed in the open position. Thehousing40 is at least partially expanded manually by gripping thehousing40 at or near the top67 of thehousing40 with one hand and grasping thehousing40 at or near the bottom68 of thehousing40 with the other hand and thereafter applying opposing forces such that thehousing40 assumes a partially expanded condition. Thefill material38 is then poured through theinlet44 and into thechamber42 so as to more fully expand thehousing40. A funnel, not shown, can be utilized to assist in pouring thefill material38 through theinlet44 and into thechamber42. Preferably, while pouring thefill material38 into thechamber42, thehousing40 is partially elevated such that the weight of thefill material38 fully expands thehousing40 and, in turn, thecontainer10.
• After a sufficient quantity offill material38 has been poured into thechamber42 so as to fully expand thehousing40, theinlet44 is closed so as to prevent thefill material38 from leaking out of thechamber42. Typically, when utilizing a granular solidtype fill material38 to expand thehousing40, theinlet44 is thehollow tube47 with thecap48.
• In another embodiment of the use of thecontainer10, thehousing40 and thepump62 are provided, and sufficient quantities of liquid or gaseous materials are used as thefill material38. Thepump62 is placed in contact with thefill material38 such that upon activation of thepump62 thefill material38 is pumped through thepump62 into thehose64 and thereafter to thenozzle66. Theinlet44 is opened and thenozzle66 of thepump62 is matingly connected to theinlet44. Thenozzle66 of thepump62 is opened and thepump62 is activated such that the fill material38 (i.e., the liquid or gaseous fill material) is forced through thehose64, through thenozzle66, through theinlet44, and into thechamber42. Thechamber42 is expanded by the pressure of thefill material38 being forced into thechamber42 until thechamber42 is substantially in the expanded condition. After introduction of thefill material38 into thechamber42, theinlet44 is closed such that thechamber42 remains in the substantially expanded condition to thereby provide the fully articulatedcontainer10. Thenozzle66 is thereafter closed and removed from theinlet44. Typically, when utilizing a liquid or gaseous fill material as thefill material38 to expand thehousing40, theinlet44 utilized is of the type described hereinabove as including thehollow tube47 that includes avalve stem50 that is capable of automatically opening and shutting in response to increased or decreased pressure.
• Referring now toFIGS. 4-6 shown therein is anexpandable container70 constructed in accordance with the present invention similar to thecontainer10. Theexpandable container70 has an expanded condition as shown inFIGS. 4 and 5 and a collapsed condition as shown inFIG. 6. Theexpandable container70 in the expanded condition includes at least onefill material76 similar to the fill material previously described. The collapsed condition of theexpandable container70 is similar to the collapsed condition of thecontainer10.
• Theexpandable container70 includes amulti-chambered housing78. Themulti-chambered housing78 has at least afirst chamber80 and asecond chamber82. Themulti-chambered housing78 of theexpandable container70 is constructed from at least one flexible sheet ofmaterial84 substantially impermeable to thefill material76 similar to the at least one sheet offlexible material43 from which thehousing40 of thecontainer10 is constructed. Themulti-chambered housing78 has afirst inlet86 and asecond inlet88 similar to theinlet44 of thehousing40 of thecontainer10. The first and thesecond chambers80 and82 of thehousing78 can be any size and shape and be formed by any method known in the art. The first andsecond chambers80 and82 may be formed, for example, by sealing aninner sidewall90 of themulti-chambered housing78 to anouter sidewall91 of themulti-chambered housing78 in a substantially horizontal line circumferentially approximately midway between a top92 and a bottom94 of themulti-chambered housing78.
• In the expandedcondition72, typically the first andsecond chambers80 and82 of thehousing78 are sufficiently pressurized and/or sufficiently filled with thefill material76 to overcome atmospheric pressure, thereby, expanding the first andsecond chambers80 and82. Theexpandable container70 in the expandedcondition72, has a substantially openupper end96, theinner sidewall90, theouter sidewall91, alower end102 which is substantially closed, a retainingspace104 defined by theinner sidewall90 and thelower end102, anouter periphery106 substantially defined by theouter sidewall91 and thelower end102, and an innerperipheral surface108 substantially defined by thelower end102 and theinside sidewall98. It should be noted that ahole110 optionally extends through thelower end102 to allow for drainage of water or other liquids from the retainingspace104. Themulti-chambered housing78 of theexpandable container70 is configured such that thehole110 in thelower end102 of theexpandable container70 does not allowfill material76 to escape from thechambers80 and82. The retainingspace104 is similar to the retainingspace30 of thecontainer10 and is also typically sized and shaped to contain or cover afloral grouping112, afloral holding material114, a flower pot (not shown), or combinations and derivations thereof.
• The shape of theexpandable container70, at least in part, in the expandedcondition72 is provided by the shape of the first andsecond chambers80 and82 formed in themulti-chambered housing78, the configuration and weight of thefloral grouping112, floral holdingmaterial114 and/or flower pot disposed in the retainingspace104, the horizontal, vertical, diagonal, or arcuate orientation of thechambers80 and82, the expansive forces of thefill material76 disposed within the first andsecond chambers80 and82, and the resistance of the at least one sheet offlexible material84. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize and understand that themulti-chambered housing78 can include any number of chambers.
• In this embodiment of theexpandable container70 thefirst chamber80 and thesecond chamber82 each surround a portion of the retainingspace104 of theexpandable container70. For instance, by sealing theinner sidewall90 of themulti-chambered housing78 to theouter sidewall91 of themulti-chambered housing78 in a substantially horizontal line circumferentially approximately midway between the openupper end96 and thelower end102 of themulti-chambered housing78 thefirst chamber80 is created and thesecond chamber82 is created. It should be noted thefirst chamber80 can be filled with afirst fill material122 such as a gas and thesecond chamber82 can be filled with asecond fill material124, different from thefirst fill material122 such as a granular solid for decorative or functional purposes. For instance, thesecond chamber82, may be constructed of a transparent material and filled with a colored granular solid or a colored liquid in order to provide stability and a decorative effect to theexpandable container70 and thefirst chamber80 may be filled with a gas to provide a smoothouter periphery106 to the upper portion of theexpandable container70.
• It should also be noted that although theexpandable container70 is shown and described as having first andsecond chambers80 and82, any number of chambers may be formed in themulti-chambered housing78 in either a horizontal orientation and/or in a vertical orientation.
• Referring now toFIGS. 7 and 8 shown therein is a self inflatingexpandable container130 constructed in accordance with the present invention similar to theexpandable container10. The self inflatingexpandable container130 has an expanded condition as shown inFIG. 8 and a collapsed condition as shown inFIG. 7. The collapsed condition of the self inflatingexpandable container130 is similar to the collapsed condition of thecontainer10. The self inflatingexpandable container130 includes amulti-chambered housing136 and at least afirst fill material138 and asecond fill material140. Themulti-chambered housing136 is constructed of at least one flexible sheet ofmaterial141 similar to the at least one flexible sheet ofmaterial43 used to construct thehousing40.
• Themulti-chambered housing136 has anouter chamber142 and aninner chamber144 disposed within theouter chamber142. Thefirst fill material138 is disposed in theinner chamber144. Thesecond fill material140 is disposed in theouter chamber142. Thefirst fill material138 and thesecond fill material140 are capable of producing a chemical reaction when they contact each other thereby producing an amount of gas, foam, or solid or semi-solid material to inflate themulti-chambered housing136 into the expandedcondition132.
• Theinner chamber144 is constructed, at least in part, of a material and of a thickness such that theinner chamber144 will break, rupture, tear, or separate without disrupting or disturbing theouter chamber142 and before theouter chamber142 breaks, ruptures, tears, or separates when similar forces are applied to theinner chamber144 and theouter chamber142. The material from which theinner chamber144 is constructed can include one ormore separating elements150. The separatingelements150 are impermeable to the first andsecond fill materials138 and140 when the separatingelements150 are intact. The separatingelements150 can be, for instance, thin or weakened areas or weakened seals, indentations, or combinations and derivations of the same designed to facilitate and insure that theinner chamber144 breaks, ruptures, tears, or separates before theouter chamber142 breaks, ruptures, tears, or separates when theinner chamber144 and theouter chamber142, are placed under similar simultaneous pressures, forces, or stresses. Thefirst fill material138 and thesecond fill material140 are isolated from each other until theinner chamber144 is selectively broken, ruptured, torn, or separated by an operator. The breaking, rupturing, tearing, or separation of theinner chamber144 allows thefirst fill material138 andsecond fill material140 to combine and mix.
• Thefirst fill material138 is a first chemical and thesecond fill material140 is a second chemical that, when combined, produce an expanding reaction which results in an expandingmaterial151. Such chemical combinations are well know in the art. The selection, quantity, and concentration of the first andsecond fill materials138 and140 are dependent, among other things, upon the amount of expandingmaterial151 desired. For example, thefirst fill material138 may be manganese dioxide and thesecond fill material140 could be an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide or thefirst fill material138 could be sodium bicarbonate and thesecond fill material140 could be acetic acid. Preferably, the first andsecond fill materials138 and140 are selected so as to not chemically react with each other at a high temperature, nor produce a gas which could damage themulti-chambered housing136, or which could be harmful to humans and/or animals if exposed thereto.
• The first andsecond fill materials138 and140 could be artificially colored for a decorative effect in the event theouter chamber142 and/orinner chamber144 or any portions thereof are transparent or translucent. Coloring agents such as food coloring, dyes, and paints are well known in the art and need not be described herein.
• In the expanded condition theouter chamber142 is sufficiently pressurized or sufficiently filled with the expandingmaterial151 to overcome atmospheric pressure, expand theouter chamber142 and thereby expand themulti-chambered housing136.
• The self inflatingexpandable container130 in the expanded condition has a substantially openupper end152, aninside sidewall154, anoutside sidewall156, a substantially closedlower end158, a retainingspace160 defined by theinside sidewall150 and the closedlower end158, an outerperipheral surface162 substantially defined by theoutside sidewall156 and closedlower end158, and an inner peripheral surface164 substantially defined by the closedlower end158 and theinside sidewall154. The retainingspace160 is typically sized and configured to contain or cover a floral grouping, a floral holding material, a flower pot, or combinations and derivations thereof similar to thefloral grouping12, floral holdingmaterial34, andflower pot32 previously described and shown.
• In use, themulti-chambered housing136 with thefirst fill material138 in theinner chamber144 and thesecond fill material140 in theouter chamber142 is provided. The operator applies a compressive force to themulti-chambered housing136 of sufficient magnitude (such as a squeezing between one or two hands) to cause theinner chamber144 to rupture but of insufficient magnitude to cause theouter chamber142 to rupture. As theinner chamber144 with thefirst fill material138 ruptures thefirst fill material138 flows from theinner chamber144, mixes with thesecond fill material140 in theouter chamber142, and produces the expandingmaterial151 thereby causing themulti-chambered housing136 to expand and provide the self inflatingexpandable container130 in its expanded condition.
• Thereafter, an item, such as theflower pot32, the floral holdingmaterial34, and thefloral grouping12, can be disposed into the retainingspace160 of the self inflatingexpandable container130.
• Changes may be made in the various elements, components, parts, and assemblies described herein or in the steps or sequences of steps of the methods described herein without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.
• From the above description, it is clear that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and to attain the advantages mentioned herein as well as those inherent in the invention. While presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been described for purposes of this disclosure, it will be understood that numerous changes may be made to various elements, components, parts, and assemblies described herein or in the steps or sequences of steps of the methods described herein which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (40)

1. A container for a floral grouping, the container having a collapsed condition and an expanded condition, the container comprising:

a housing having a chamber for receiving and retaining a fill material, in the collapsed condition the fill material external to the chamber and in the expanded condition the fill material disposed within the chamber such that the chamber is substantially full of the fill material and thereby expands the chamber and the housing so as to provide the container with a retaining space for containing the floral grouping.

2. The container ofclaim 1 wherein the housing further comprises an inlet for permitting selective introduction and removal of the fill material from the chamber.

3. The container ofclaim 2 wherein the fill material is a gas.

4. The container ofclaim 3 wherein the inlet is an air valve.

5. The container ofclaim 2 wherein the fill material is a liquid.

6. The container ofclaim 5 wherein the inlet is a hollow tube and a cap for selectively sealing and unsealing the hollow tube.

7. The container ofclaim 2 wherein the fill material is a granular solid.

8. The container ofclaim 1 wherein in the expanded condition the container has a frusto-conical configuration.

9. The container ofclaim 1 wherein in the expanded condition the container has a conical configuration.

10. The container ofclaim 1 wherein in the expanded condition the container has a cubic configuration.

11. The container ofclaim 1 wherein in the expanded condition the container has a cylindrical configuration.

12. The container ofclaim 1 wherein the housing comprises a plurality of chambers.

13. A self inflating container for containing a floral grouping, the self inflating container comprising;

a housing, the housing having inner chamber impermeable to a first fill material disposed in the inner chamber and an outer chamber impermeable to a second fill material disposed in the outer chamber, the inner chamber disposed within the outer chamber, the inner chamber constructed of a material such that when a force is applied to the housing, the internal chamber is ruptured causing the first fill material to mix with the second fill material causing a chemical reaction producing an expanding material which causes the outer chamber and the housing to expand and provide a retaining space configured for containing the floral grouping.

14. The self inflating container ofclaim 13 wherein the first fill material is manganese dioxide and the second fill material is our aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide.

15. The self inflating container ofclaim 13 wherein the first fill material is a sodium bicarbonate and the second fill material is an acetic acid.

16. The self inflating container ofclaim 13 wherein in the expanded condition the container has a frusto-conical configuration.

17. The self inflating container ofclaim 13 wherein in the expanded condition the container has a conical configuration.

18. The self inflating container ofclaim 13 wherein in the expanded condition the container has a cubic configuration.

19. The self inflating container ofclaim 13 wherein in the expanded condition the container has a cylindrical configuration.

20. A method of expanding a container from a collapsed condition to an expanded condition for containing a floral grouping the method comprising the steps of:

providing a fill material;

providing a housing, the housing having a chamber for receiving and retaining the fill material, in the collapsed condition the chamber being substantially devoid of the fill material such that the flexible material folds forming a plurality of overlapping folds, and in the expanded condition the chamber being substantially full of the fill material such that the fill material causes the overlapping folds to disperse and the chamber to expand and cause the housing to expand and thereby provide the container with a retaining space configured for containing at least part of the floral grouping; and

disposing a sufficient amount of the fill material into the chamber to expand the chamber and the housing and provide the container with the retaining space for disposing the floral grouping therein.

21. The method ofclaim 20 wherein the fill material is a gas.

22. The method ofclaim 20 wherein the fill material is a liquid.

23. The method ofclaim 20 wherein the fill material is a granular solid.

24. The method ofclaim 20 wherein the fill material is a combination of gas, liquid and granular solids.

25. The method ofclaim 20 wherein the housing further includes an inlet for permitting selective introduction and removal of the fill material into and from the chamber.

26. The method ofclaim 20 further including providing a pump for pumping fill material into the chamber of the housing.

27. The container ofclaim 20 further wherein the pump for adding fill material into the chamber of the housing is an electric pump.

28. The container ofclaim 20 further wherein the pump for adding fill material into the chamber of the housing is a hand pump.

29. The container ofclaim 20 further wherein the pump for adding fill material into the chamber of the housing is a pressurized reservoir of fill material.

30. The container ofclaim 29 wherein the pressurized reservoir of fill material is a CO₂gas cartridge.

31. The method ofclaim 20 wherein in the expanded condition the expandable container has a frusto-conical configuration.

32. The method ofclaim 20 wherein in the expanded condition the expandable container has a conical configuration.

33. The method ofclaim 20 wherein in the expanded condition the expandable container has a cubic configuration.

34. The method ofclaim 20 wherein in the expanded condition the expandable container has a cylindrical configuration.

35. The method ofclaim 20 wherein the housing has a plurality of chambers.

36. A method of inflating a self inflating container for containing a floral grouping, the method comprising the steps of:

providing the self inflating container for a floral grouping, the self inflating expandable container for a floral grouping comprising:

a housing having an inner chamber impermeable to a first fill material disposed in the inner chamber and an outer chamber impermeable to a second fill material disposed in the outer chamber, the inner chamber disposed in the outer chamber, the inner chamber constructed such that when a force is applied to the housing the inner chamber ruptures causing the first fill material to mix with the second fill material causing a chemical reaction producing an expanding material which causes the outer chamber and the housing to expand and thereby providing a retaining space configured for containing the floral grouping; and

applying a force to the housing such that the inner chamber ruptures, combining the first fill material with the second fill material, producing the expanding material, causing the outer chamber and housing to expand and thereby inflating the self inflatable container and providing the retaining space configured for containing the floral grouping.

37. The method ofclaim 36 wherein the self inflating container in the expanded condition has a frusto-conical configuration.

38. The method ofclaim 36 wherein the self inflating container in the expanded condition has a conical configuration.

39. The method ofclaim 36 wherein the self inflating container in the expanded condition has a cubic configuration.

40. The method ofclaim 36 wherein the self inflating container in the expanded condition has a cylindrical configuration.

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