Plant shipping system

Abstract

A plant shipping system for transporting horticultural products and the like that is both user and plant friendly. The system includes opposing trays that form the top and bottom of a crate that are spaced apart by a support structure. The support structure comprises a plurality of interlocked upstanding panels to provide a sufficiently strong plant support system. The interlocking of the panels is facilitated by slots formed in each upstanding panel. A portion of a central panel is folded over to bolster the interlocking engagement of the upstanding panels and to maintain the panels in a substantially perpendicular orientation. Each end of the central panel comprises end member that engages a portion of the outermost upstanding panels. The upstanding panels include a plurality of apertures located on predetermined portions of the panels. Support members are inserted into predetermined apertures to define rack locations within the columns for housing of plants. The resulting support structure of the present invention provides strong, light-weight system for transporting products that has easy access to the interior storage space and enhances air flow therethrough.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A lightweight stackable crate particularly suited for storing and transporting products, comprising: 
 (a) opposing trays forming a top and bottom for said stackable crate, each of said trays having sidewalls and end walls;    (b) a support structure separating said opposing trays, said support structure comprising: 
 a plurality of upstanding interlocked panels that define an interior volume for said stackable crate;  
 at least two of said upstanding panels being parallel and joined to another upstanding panel of said plurality of upstanding panels which is a central panel;  
 a plurality of apertures formed on a predetermined portion of at least one of said upstanding panels; and  
 a plurality of support members positioned within predetermined apertures to define locations adapted to securely receive products; and  
   (c) at least two perimeter panels disposed around said support structure, but within an interior area defined by the side walls and end walls of the trays, with the ends of the perimeter panels overlapping one another, thereby forming a substantially enclosed crate.    
     
     
         2 . The stackable crate of  claim 1  wherein said trays, said support structure, and perimeter panels comprise any one of the group consisting of corrugated cardboard, fiberboard, plywood, pegboard and pressed board.  
     
     
         3 . The stackable crate of  claim 2  wherein each of said upstanding panels comprises at least one slot for interlocking the panels, such that the slot of one upstanding panel engages the slot of another upstanding panel.  
     
     
         4 . The stackable crate of  claim 3  wherein said apertures are formed in the upstanding panels in a random array.  
     
     
         5 . The stackable crate of  claim 3  wherein said apertures are formed in a vertical configuration on the upstanding panels.  
     
     
         6 . The stackable crate of  3  wherein the central panel comprises: 
 a bendable segment, a central segment, a first end and a second end  
 the bendable segment connected to the central segment via a bend, a plurality of slots formed on the bendable segment, such that each slot extends from an edge opposite the bend and across a portion of the bendable segment;  
 the central segment comprising a plurality of slots extending from an edge opposite the bend and shaped such that when the bendable segment is bent to overlay a portion of the central segment, the slots of the bendable segment trace the slots of the central segment; and  
 an end member formed on the first and second ends.  
 
     
     
         7 . The stackable crate of  claim 6  wherein said trays, support structure and perimeter panels are made of corrugated cardboard.  
     
     
         8 . The stackable crate of  claim 6  wherein: 
 a slot is formed adjacent each end member; and  
 each end member comprises two portions, one portion pivotally attached to the central segment and the other portion pivotally attached to the bendable segment such that when the bendable segment is bent to overlay the central segment and an upstanding panel is interlocked with the slot adjacent an end member, the two portions of the end member bolster the rigid engagement of the interlocked panels.  
 
     
     
         9 . The stackable crate of  claim 8  wherein the interlocking of one slot with another slot is achieved by frictional engagement, such that the engagement resists axial and transverse forces in order to maintain the defined interior volume of the crate.  
     
     
         10 . The stackable crate of  claim 1  wherein the support members are removably positioned within the apertures such that the support members may be repositioned to accommodate the storage of varying sized products within the crate.  
     
     
         11 . The stackable crate of  claim 7  wherein the crate is made of recyclable material.  
     
     
         12 . A recyclable horticultural container for storing and transporting, the container comprising: 
 (a) opposing trays forming a top and bottom for said container, each of said trays having sidewalls and end walls;    (b) a support structure separating said opposing trays, said support structure comprising: 
 a plurality of upstanding interlocked panels that define the container interior configuration;  
 at least two of said upstanding panels being parallel and joined to one other upstanding panel of said plurality of upstanding panels which is a central panel;  
 a plurality of apertures formed on a predetermined portion of at least one of said upstanding panels; and  
 a plurality of support members positioned within the predetermined apertures to define locations adapted to securely receive plants;  
   (c) at least two perimeter panels disposed around said support structure, but within an interior area defined by the tray side walls and end walls, with the ends of the perimeter panels overlapping one another, thereby forming a substantially enclosed crate;    (d) each of said upstanding panels comprises at least one slot for interlocking the panels, such that the slot of one panel engages the slot of another upstanding panel;    (e) the central panel comprises: 
 a bendable segment, a central segment, a first end and a second end  
 the bendable segment connected to the central segment via a bend, a plurality of slots formed on the bendable segment, such that each slot extends from an edge opposite the bend and across a portion of the bendable segment;  
 the central segment comprising a plurality of slots extending from an edge opposite the bend and shaped such that when the bendable segment is bent to overlay a portion of the central segment, the slots of the bendable segment trace the slots of the central segment;  
 an end member formed on the first and second ends; and  
 each end member comprises two portions, one portion pivotally attached to the central segment and the other portion pivotally attached to the bendable segment such that when the bendable segment is bent to overlay the central segment and an upstanding panel is interlocked with the slot adjacent an end member, the two portions of the end member bolster the rigid engagement of the interlocked panels; and  
   (f) the interlocking of one slot with another slot is achieved by frictional engagement, such that the engagement resists axial and transverse forces to maintain the configured interior of the container.    
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 12  wherein said trays, said support structure, and said perimeter panels are made of corrugated cardboard.  
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 12  wherein container is substantially water-resistant.  
     
     
         15 . A method of forming a lightweight stackable crate particularly suited for transporting and temporary storage of horticultural products, comprising: 
 (a) opposing trays that form a top and bottom for said stackable crate, each have said trays having sidewalls and end walls;    (b) separating said opposing trays with a support structure, the support structure having: 
 a plurality of upstanding interlocked panels which define the crate interior volume;  
 at least two of said upstanding panels being parallel and joined to one other upstanding panel of said plurality of upstanding panels which is a central panel;  
 a plurality of apertures formed on a predetermined portion of at least one of said upstanding panels; and  
 a plurality of support members positioned within the predetermined apertures to define locations adapted to securely receive horticultural products to be stored and transported; and  
   (c) providing at least two perimeter panels disposed around said support structure, but within an interior area defined by the opposing tray side walls and end walls, with the ends of the perimeter panels overlapping one another such that a substantially enclosed crate is formed.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein providing the support structure comprises: 
 providing a plurality of upstanding panels and a central panel having a plurality of slots formed thereon;  
 bending a bendable segment of the central panel to overlay another portion of the central panel such that slots in the bendable segment trace slots formed in the overlayed portion of the central panel; and  
 interlocking a plurality of upstanding panels with the central panel via frictional engagement of a slot of one upstanding panel with a slot of the central panel, wherein the frictional engagement resists axial and transverse forces to maintain the defined crate interior.  
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein providing the support structure comprises 
 providing an end member on each end of the central panel, the end members comprising two portions, each portion pivotally attached to the central panel such that when a segment of the central panel is bent to overlay another segment of the central panel and an upstanding panel is interlocked with a slot adjacent an end member, the two portions of the end member resists deformation forces applied to the crate.