Packaging systems for multiple potted plants and associated blanks and packaging methods

Abstract

A packaging system includes a packaging container including a lower wall and an opposed pair of sidewalls. The packaging system also includes a brace configured to extend between and to be coupled to the opposed pair of sidewalls.

1 . A packaging system comprising:
 a packaging container comprising a lower wall and an opposed pair of sidewalls; and   a brace configured to extend between and to be coupled to the opposed pair of sidewalls.   
     
     
         2 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of braces, wherein each one of the plurality of braces is configured to extend between and be coupled to the opposed pair of sidewalls of the packaging container. 
     
     
         3 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the brace is substantially planar; and   with the brace coupled to the opposed pair of the sidewalls, the brace is substantially parallel to the lower wall of the packaging container.   
     
     
         4 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the brace comprises:
 a first side; and 
 a second side coupled to the first side and oblique to the first side; and 
   with the braces coupled to the opposed pair of the sidewalls; the first side and the second side are oblique to the lower wall of the packaging container.   
     
     
         5 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the brace comprises:
 a first side; 
 a second side oblique to the first side; and 
 a third side coupled to the first side and to the second side and oblique to the first side and to the second side; and 
   with the brace coupled to the opposed pair of the sidewalls, the first side and the second side are oblique to the lower wall of the packaging container and the third side is parallel to the lower wall of the packaging container.   
     
     
         6 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the brace comprises:
 a web; 
 a first flange coupled to the web; and 
 a second flange coupled to the web opposite the first flange; and 
   with the brace coupled to the opposed pair of the sidewalls the web is perpendicular to the lower wall of the packaging container and the first flange, and the second flange are parallel to the lower wall of the packaging container.   
     
     
         7 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the packaging container further comprises:
 a second opposed pair of the sidewalls coupled to the lower wall;   a first wall-flange coupled to a first one of the second opposed pair of the sidewalls and parallel to the lower wall of the packaging container; and   a second wall-flange coupled to a second one of the second opposed pair of the sidewalls and parallel to the lower wall of the packaging container.   
     
     
         8 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , further comprising a shipping container comprising a lower wall, an upper wall, and a plurality of sidewalls and defining an internal volume,
 wherein the packaging container comprises an insert configured to be positioned within the internal volume of the shipping container.   
     
     
         9 . The packaging system of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the brace comprises:
 retainer portion; 
 a first extension portion extending from the retainer portion; and 
 a second extension portion extending from the retainer portion opposite to the first extension portion; and 
   with the brace coupled to the opposed pair of the sidewalls of the insert and the insert positioned within the internal volume of the shipping container, the retainer portion of the brace extends between the opposed pair of the sidewalls of the insert, the first extension portion extends between a first one of the opposed pair of the sidewalls of the insert and a first one of the plurality of sidewalls of the shipping container, and the second extension portion of the brace extends between a second one of the opposed pair of the sidewalls of the insert and a second one of the plurality of sidewalls of the shipping container.   
     
     
         10 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the packaging container further comprises an upper wall and a plurality of the sidewalls and defines an internal volume. 
     
     
         11 .- 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A packaging system comprising:
 a packaging container ( 102 ) comprising a lower wall, an upper wall, and a plurality of sidewalls and defining an internal volume;   a potted plant located within the internal volume and supported by the lower wall; and   a brace extending between and coupled to a first opposed pair of the plurality of sidewalls ( 108 ) within the internal volume,   wherein the brace engages a portion of the potted plant opposite the lower wall.   
     
     
         27 . The packaging system of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 a plurality of potted plants located within the internal volume and supported by the lower wall; and   a plurality of braces coupled to select ones of the plurality of sidewalls,   wherein each one of the plurality of braces engages a portion of at least two of the plurality of potted plants opposite the lower wall.   
     
     
         28 . The packaging system of  claim 27 , wherein a second one of the plurality of braces extends between and is coupled to the first opposed pair of the plurality of sidewalls within the internal volume. 
     
     
         29 . The packaging system of  claim 27 , wherein a second one of the plurality of braces extends between and is coupled to a second opposed pair of the plurality of sidewalls, within the internal volume. 
     
     
         30 . The packaging system of  claim 27 , wherein:
 the packaging container further comprises a plurality of push-in panels configured to extend into the internal volume; and   each one of the plurality of push-in panels engages a portion of one of the plurality of potted plants opposite the lower wall.   
     
     
         31 . A packaging system comprising:
 an insert comprising a lower wall, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall; and   a brace configured to extend between and to be coupled to the first sidewall and the second sidewall.   
     
     
         32 . The packaging system of  claim 31 , the insert further comprises a brace-receiving aperture formed through each one of the first sidewall and the second sidewall; and
 the brace-receiving aperture is configured to receive a portion of the brace.   
     
     
         33 . The packaging system of  claim 32 , wherein the brace comprises:
 a retainer portion configured to extend between the first sidewall ( 144 ) and the second sidewall;   a first extension portion extending from the retainer portion and configured to be inserted through the brace-receiving aperture of the first sidewall; and   a second extension portion extending from the retainer portion, opposite the first extension portion and configured to be inserted through the brace-receiving aperture of the second sidewall.   
     
     
         34 . The packaging system of  claim 31 , further comprising a shipping container comprising a lower wall, an upper wall, and a plurality of sidewalls and defining an internal volume,
 wherein the insert is configured to be positioned within the internal volume of the shipping container.   
     
     
         35 . The packaging system of  claim 34 , wherein:
 the insert further comprises an opposed pair of lower tabs extending from the lower wall of the insert; and   the opposed pair of lower tabs is configured to engage an opposing pair of the sidewalls of the shipping container.   
     
     
         36 - 56 . (canceled)