Flat sleeve convertible to a decorative container

Abstract
A sleeve used to wrap items such as potted plants or comestibles. The sleeve has a closed curved bottom. The sleeve may also have an expansion element such as a gusset, pleats, random folds or elastic material for enabling the lower portion of the sleeve to conform to the outer and bottom surfaces of the pot to provide a decorative cover about the pot. The sleeve optionally has a detachable upper portion.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




This invention generally relates to sleeves to be used as containers and, more particularly, sleeves used to wrap flower pots containing floral groupings and/or media containing floral groupings, and methods of using same.




BACKGROUND




It is well known in the floral packaging industry to apply floral sleeves about potted plants for the purpose of erecting a protective sheath about the blooms and foliage of the potted plant for preventing damage to them and entanglement with adjacent plants. Such sleeves generally have an open bottom through which the inserted pot is exposed. U.S. Pat. No. 4,333,267 issued to Witte and U.S. Pat. No. 4,413,725 issued to Bruno, and Australian Patent 42319/78 show examples of such open-bottom sleeves.




Other sleeves have closed bottoms upon which the bottom of the pot can rest. However, in such closed sleeves, the lower portion does not have a shape which conforms to the shape of the bottom and outer sides of the pot. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,235,782 issued to Landau, an unattractive void space is formed about the pot when the pot is inserted into the sleeve. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,695, issued to Gilbert, when a pot is inserted into the sleeve, the outer sides of the pot fit within the taper of the sleeve but an empty void space is left underneath the pot which must then be tucked below the bottom of the pot to conceal it. The basic problem in applying a closed-bottom flat sleeve to a pot is that in going from a two-dimensional flat sleeve to a three-dimensional open sleeve, the shape of the opened sleeve does not conform to the shape of the pot.




There are no sleeves currently available which can be erected so that the sleeve closely conforms to the curvature of both the outer sidewall of the pot and to the bottom surface of the pot, whereby the lower portion of the sleeve forms an attractive decorative cover about the pot reminiscent of a preformed pot cover when the upper portion of the sleeve is detached. The object of the present invention is, therefore, to provide a flat, two-dimensional sleeve which is erectable into a three-dimensional wherein the erected sleeve has a shape which conforms to the shape of the pot without revealing unsightly extra material.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a flattened gusseted sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.





FIG. 2

is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve of

FIG. 1

taken along line


2





2


.





FIG. 3

is a perspective view of the sleeve of

FIG. 1

in an open state with a pot disposed therein.





FIG. 4

is a perspective view of the sleeve of

FIG. 3

after a flower pot has been disposed therein and an upper portion of the sleeve has been removed.





FIG. 5A

is a fragmented perspective view of the sleeve of

FIG. 1

with particular reference to a straight fold in the gusset.





FIG. 5B

is a bottom view of the sleeve of

FIG. 5A

when opened.





FIG. 5C

is a perspective view of the sleeve of

FIG. 5A

when opened.





FIG. 6A

is a fragmented perspective view of a sleeve like the sleeve of

FIG. 5A

but with a curved fold in the gusset.





FIG. 6B

is a bottom view of the sleeve of

FIG. 6A

when opened.





FIG. 6C

is a perspective view of the sleeve of

FIG. 6A

when opened.





FIG. 7

is a partially cutaway, elevational view of a sleeve wherein a bonding material is disposed upon a portion of an upper end of the sleeve for sealing the sleeve.





FIG. 8

is an elevational view of a sleeve having a folding flap for sealing the sleeve.





FIG. 9

is an elevational view of a sleeve having a bonding material disposed on an inner portion of the sleeve for bonding the sleeve to a pot.





FIG. 10

is an elevational view of a sleeve having an extended portion serving as a support extension.





FIG. 11

is an elevational view of a sleeve having an extended portion serving as a handle.





FIG. 12

is an elevational view of a sleeve showing an alternate pattern of perforations.





FIG. 13

is an elevational view of a sleeve showing another perforation pattern.





FIG. 14

is an elevational view of a sleeve showing another perforation pattern.





FIG. 15

is an elevational view of a sleeve showing another perforation pattern.





FIG. 16

is an elevational view of a sleeve showing another perforation pattern.





FIG. 17

is a perspective view of a sleeve like the sleeve of

FIG. 1

but without an upper sleeve portion.





FIG. 18

is an elevational view of a sleeve like the sleeve of

FIG. 1

but with the gusset folded outwardly.





FIG. 19

is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve of

FIG. 18

, taken along line


19





19


.





FIG. 20

is a perspective view of a sleeve like the sleeve of

FIG. 1

but having pleats.





FIG. 21

is a perspective view of a sleeve like the sleeve of

FIG. 20

but having a rounded bottom with no gusset.





FIG. 22

is a perspective view of a sleeve like the sleeve of

FIG. 20

but having a straight bottom.





FIG. 23

is a perspective view of a sleeve like the sleeve of

FIG. 20

but having a straight bottom and no gusset.





FIG. 24

is a perspective view of a sleeve like the sleeve of

FIG. 20

but having pleats extending only to near the perforations.





FIG. 25

is a perspective view of a sleeve like the sleeve of

FIG. 20

but having pleats extending just a short distance above a lower end thereof.





FIG. 26

is a perspective view of a sleeve like the sleeve of

FIG. 20

but without an upper sleeve portion.





FIG. 27

is a perspective view of a sleeve like the sleeve of

FIG. 21

but without an upper sleeve portion.





FIG. 28

is a perspective view of a sleeve like the sleeve of

FIG. 22

but without an upper sleeve portion.





FIG. 29

is a perspective view of a sleeve like the sleeve of

FIG. 23

but without an upper sleeve portion.





FIG. 30

is a perspective view of a sleeve like the sleeve of

FIG. 20

but wherein the pleats do not intersect the sides.





FIG. 31

is a perspective view of a sleeve like the sleeve of

FIG. 20

but having z-shaped pleats.





FIG. 32

is a perspective view of a sleeve like the sleeve of

FIG. 30

but having z-shaped pleats.





FIG. 33

is a perspective view of a sleeve like the sleeve of

FIG. 20

but having fluted folds.





FIG. 34

is a perspective view of a sleeve like the sleeve of

FIG. 30

but having fluted folds.





FIG. 35

is a perspective view of a sleeve like the sleeve in

FIG. 1

but having an elastomeric lower portion.





FIG. 36

is a perspective view of a sleeve like the sleeve in

FIG. 35

but without a gusset.





FIG. 37

is a perspective view of a sleeve like the sleeve in

FIG. 36

but with a straight lower end.





FIG. 38

is a perspective view of a sleeve like the sleeve in

FIG. 37

but with a gusset.





FIG. 39

is a perspective view of a sleeve like the sleeve in

FIG. 35

but wherein the elastomeric portion extends only partially up from a lower end on a lower portion.





FIG. 40

is a perspective view of a sleeve like the sleeve of

FIG. 35

, but wherein the elastomeric portion is only on a gusset thereof.





FIG. 41

is a perspective view of a sleeve like the sleeve in

FIG. 35

, but wherein an elastomeric portion extends over most of the surface of the sleeve.





FIG. 42

is a perspective view of a sleeve like the sleeve in

FIG. 20

, but rather than having pleats, having randomly positioned overlapping folds.





FIG. 43

is a perspective view of a sleeve v the sleeve in

FIG. 21

, but rather than having pleats, having randomly positioned overlapping folds.





FIG. 44

is a perspective view of a sleeve like the sleeve in

FIG. 22

, but rather than having pleats, having randomly positioned overlapping folds.





FIG. 45

is a perspective view of a sleeve like the sleeve in

FIG. 23

, but rather than having pleats, having randomly positioned overlapping folds.





FIG. 46

is a perspective view of a sleeve like the sleeve in

FIG. 24

, but rather than having pleats, having randomly positioned overlapping folds.





FIG. 47

is a perspective view of a sleeve like the sleeve in

FIG. 25

, but rather than having pleats, having randomly positioned overlapping folds.





FIG. 48

is a perspective view of a sleeve like the sleeve in

FIG. 40

, but rather than having an elastomeric portion, having randomly positioned overlapping folds.





FIG. 49

is a perspective view of a sleeve like the sleeve in

FIG. 1

except also having slits in a lower portion thereof.





FIG. 50

is an elevational view of a sleeve having a lower end without a gusset and having an alternate shape.





FIG. 51

is an elevational view of a sleeve having a lower end without a gusset and having yet another alternate shape.





FIG. 52

is an elevational view of a sleeve having a lower end without a gusset and having yet another alternate shape.





FIG. 53

is a an elevational view of a sleeve having a lower end without a gusset and having yet another alternate shape.





FIG. 54

is an elevational view of a sleeve having a lower end without a gusset and having yet another alternate shape.





FIG. 55

is an elevational view of a sleeve having a lower end without a gusset and having yet another alternate shape.





FIG. 56

is an elevational view of a sleeve having a lower end without a gusset and having yet another alternate shape.





FIG. 57

is an elevational view of a sleeve having an open lower end with a band.





FIG. 58

is a perspective view of the sleeve of

FIG. 57

in an open state with a pot disposed therein.





FIG. 59

is a perspective view of an apparatus and process for making a sleeve in accordance with the present invention.





FIG. 60

is a partial cross-sectional view of a gusset sealing mechanism of the apparatus of

FIG. 59

, taken along line


60





60


.











DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




The present invention contemplates in a preferred embodiment a plant packaging system comprising a floral sleeve (also referred to herein as a “sleeve”) further comprising a combination of a protective upper sleeve portion (also referred to herein as an “upper portion”) and a decorative lower cover portion (also referred to herein as a “lower portion”) for packaging a potted plant. The protective upper sleeve portion can be detached from the decorative lower cover portion of the floral sleeve once the protective function of the sleeve has been completed, thereby leaving the decorative lower cover portion in a position covering the pot. The protective upper sleeve portion and decorative lower cover portion may be of unitary construction or may be separate components which are attached together by various bonding materials or other sealing or attaching methods.




More specifically, in a preferred embodiment, the present invention contemplates a sleeve-type plant cover for covering a pot having a bottom surface and an outer peripheral surface. The plant cover comprises (1) a lower portion having a lower end, an upper end, an outer peripheral surface, and an expansion element for allowing expansion of a portion of the lower portion and (2) an upper portion extending from the upper end of the lower portion and detachable therefrom. As used herein, the term “expansion element” means an amount of material or alternately, a type of material which can be expanded or unfolded to cover a greater area than in the unexpanded state. The expansion element may be an infolded or outfolded gusset, a pleated or folded area, overlapping folds, or elastic material. When the pot is inserted into the lower portion, the expansion element expands to allow the pot to fit into the lower portion of the sleeve. The lower portion is sized to substantially cover and conform to the outer peripheral and bottom surfaces of the pot once the lower portion has been expanded about the pot.




In a preferred embodiment, the sleeve is constructed so that when the pot is disposed within the sleeve, the sleeve conforms to the shape of the pot so that the bottom of the pot is coplanar with the inner bottom surface of the sleeve, wherein there are substantially no overlapping folded portions in that portion of the sleeve which is underneath the pot. Further, it is also preferred that a sidewall of the sleeve in the erected position extends angularly from the bottom of the sleeve upwardly from the bottom. Preferably the sidewall of the expanded sleeve extends upwardly from the bottom of the sleeve at a substantially uniform angle so that there are no outwardly extending “ears” such as those seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,235,782, described above. More preferably, the sidewall of the sleeve in the expanded condition extends upwardly from the bottom at substantially the same angle at which the sidewall of the pot extends from the bottom of the pot. Preferably, the bottom of the sleeve in the expanded condition conforms to the curvature of the circumference of the bottom of the pot disposed therein. Also, preferably, the sidewall of the sleeve in the expanded condition conforms to the curvature of the circumference of the outer peripheral surface of the pot or to the circumference taken through a plane thereof.




In a preferred embodiment, the sleeve is constructed such that when the sleeve is converted to the expanded position and a pot is disposed therein, both the bottom and the sidewall of the sleeve fit closely against the bottom and sidewall of the pot leaving substantially no void space or gaps there between. In an alternative preferred embodiment, if a gap does exist between the sidewall of the sleeve and the sidewall of the pot, the gap is substantially uniform for the entire length of the sidewall of the sleeve from the bottom of the sleeve to the upper end of the pot in any given plane.




In a particularly preferred embodiment, the present invention comprises a flattened sleeve for containing a pot having an outer peripheral surface and a bottom surface. The sleeve comprises a first panel having an upper end, a lower end, a first side and a second side; a second panel having an upper end, a lower end, a first side and a second side; and a gusset portion. In this embodiment of the flattened sleeve, the first panel is disposed flatwise upon the second panel with the first side of the first panel joined with the first side of the second panel, and with the second side of the first panel joined with the second side of the second panel, and with the gusset portion extending from the lower end of the first panel and from the lower end of the second panel. The gusset is inwardly folded to extend a distance between the first panel and the second panel.




In this embodiment, the flattened sleeve has a convexly curved lower end, and when the sleeve is expanded to an open state and disposed about the pot, the sleeve has a sidewall which substantially surrounds the outer peripheral surface of the pot and a bottom substantially without an overlapped portion therein when the pot rests upon the bottom of the sleeve. Preferably, the bottom of the sleeve in the open state substantially conforms to the circumferential curvature of the bottom surface of the pot. Also preferably, the sidewall of the sleeve in the open state substantially conforms to the curvature of the outer peripheral surface of the pot. The sidewall of the sleeve in the open state may extend upwardly from the bottom of the sleeve at an angle greater than 90 degrees when a pot is disposed within the sleeve. Also, the sidewall of the sleeve in the open state may extend upwardly at a substantially uniform angle from the bottom of the sleeve along the outer peripheral surface of the pot disposed therein.




Preferably, the sleeve comprises an upper sleeve portion extending from the upper end of the first panel and from the upper end of the second panel and which is detachable therefrom via a detaching element or assembly. Additionally, the sleeve forms a decorative cover when disposed about the pot. Further, the gusset, in a preferred embodiment, has a straight fold extending from the first sides of the first and second panels to the second sides of the first and second panels. Alternatively, the gusset has a curved fold extending from the first sides of the first and second panels to the second sides of the first and second panels. Moreover, a bonding material may be disposed upon a portion of the sleeve for connecting to the pot. The present invention may also comprise a package comprising a flower pot or other items described herein disposed within the sleeve described above, or any other sleeve described herein. The present invention may also comprise a method of assembling a package comprising a flower pot or other items described elsewhere herein disposed within the sleeve described above, or any other sleeve described herein.




In another embodiment, the flattened sleeve is defined as above with a first panel, second panel and gusset and is for containing a pot having a bottom surface with a characteristic geometric shape. In this embodiment, the sleeve is not defined as having a convexly curved lower end but rather as having, in the open state, a bottom having a shape which conforms to the characteristic geometric shape of the bottom surface of the pot so that the bottom of the sleeve is left substantially without an overlapped portion therein when the pot rests upon the bottom of the sleeve. Where used herein, the term “substantially without an overlapped portion” in the bottom of the sleeve means that the bottom has no single fold the length of which exceeds one radius of the diameter of the bottom surface of the pot or a plurality of folds, the total lengths of which exceed one diameter of the bottom surface of the pot.




The upper portion, when present, may be detachable via a detaching element such as perforations, tear strips and zippers. The sleeve may have an extended portion extending from the upper portion for serving as a handle or support device. Further, an expansion element is optionally constructed and positioned in the sleeve for allowing expansion of a portion of the lower portion into a decorative skirt extending angularly from the lower portion when the upper portion of the sleeve is detached from the upper end of the lower portion. The expansion element may be infolded or outfolded gussets, a plurality of vertical pleats, a plurality of vertical folds each having a z-shaped cross section, a plurality of vertical accordion-type folds, or other similar types of expandable forms. The expansion element may comprise a plurality of randomly positioned overlapping folds. Any of the folds described herein may be connected or unconnected. The expansion element may be an elastic material which expands to fit the outer surface and the bottom surface of the pot when the pot is inserted into the lower portion of the sleeve. These embodiments are all described in further detail below.




The lower portion of the sleeve may be constructed from a first material and the upper portion of the sleeve may be constructed from a second material different from the first material; or, a portion of the lower portion may be constructed from the same material as the upper sleeve portion; or, the expansion element may be constructed of one material and the remainder of the lower portion and/or upper portion of the sleeve constructed of another material.




The sleeve may form part of a plant package when used in conjunction with a pot disposed within the retaining space of the lower portion of the sleeve, the pot having a floral grouping disposed therein, and wherein the pot is substantially surrounded and encompassed by the lower portion of the sleeve and the floral grouping is substantially surrounded and encompassed by the upper portion of the sleeve.




Further, the lower portion may include a bonding material for bondingly connecting to the upper portion. Also, the lower portion may include a bonding material for bondingly connecting to a pot disposed therein. Further, the upper portion may include a bonding material for bondingly connecting to the lower portion. The sleeve may further comprise part of a plant package which includes a pot disposed within the inner retaining space of the lower portion, the pot having a floral grouping disposed therein, and wherein the pot is substantially surrounded and encompassed by the lower portion and the floral grouping is substantially surrounded and encompassed by the upper portion.




The lower portion of the sleeve may be constructed from a first material and from a second material different from the first material.




While the various sleeve embodiments disclosed herein are primarily directed to use with round bottom flower pots, it will also be clear to one of ordinary skill in the art that one may construct sleeves using the technology described herein which are adapted to fit about and enclose pots having configurations other than round, such as square, rectangular, triangular, trapezoidal, cylindrical, ovoid and other well-known geometric shapes, and which function in accordance with the present invention to substantially conform to the shape of the pot. An example of such a sleeve is shown in FIGS. 20-23 in U.S. Pat. No. 5,493,809, the specification and drawings of which are hereby specifically incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Where a pot has a shape other than a curved shape, i.e., such as a square, the sleeve conforms to the outer peripheral surface of the pot, or to the perimeter of a plane therethrough.




The sleeve described herein can also be used in various embodiments as a growing container or flower pot for growing and cultivating various botanical items. The sleeve described herein may also be used as a combination growing pot and decorative cover for a botanical item, wherein the botanical item is first cultivated in the sleeve, then displayed in the lower portion of the sleeve. The sleeve in its various embodiments described herein may also be used to contain various comestible items such as candy, treats, popcorn, french fries, chicken nuggets, and other fried items, and frozen confections. The sleeve may further be used to contain liquids for drinking or storage; the sleeve may be a collapsible cup, for example.




The Embodiments and Methods of Use of

FIGS. 1-6C






A preferred embodiment of the present invention as shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2

and designated therein by the general reference numeral


10


, is a flexible tubular bag or sleeve. The sleeve


10


initially comprises a flexible, flat, collapsed piece of material which is openable in the form of a tube or sleeve. The sleeve


10


preferably is tapered outwardly from its lower end toward a larger diameter at its upper end. In its flattened state the sleeve


10


generally has an overall trapezoidal or modified trapezoidal shape, and when opened is substantially frusto-conical to coniform. It will be appreciated, however, that the sleeve


10


may comprise variations on the aforementioned shapes or may comprise significantly altered shapes such as square or rectangular, wherein the sleeve


10


when opened has a cylindrical or columnar form, as long as the sleeve


10


functions in accordance with the present invention in the manner described herein.




The flattened sleeve


10


has an upper end


12


, a lower end


14


, a first side


16


and a second side


18


. The sleeve


10


has an opening


19


at the upper end


12


and in a preferred embodiment is closed at the lower end


14


.




The sleeve


10


comprises a first panel


20


and a second panel


22


which lie flatwise upon each other and are longitudinally sealed, connected, or otherwise continuous along first side


16


and second side


18


. The sleeve


10


in its flattened, folded state further comprises a gusset


24


having a length


25


and which has a fold


26


extending between first side


16


and second side


18


whereby the gusset


24


is inwardly folded between first panel


20


and second panel


22


. The gusset


24


comprises the expansion element in this embodiment. The fold


26


may be straight (i.e.,

FIGS. 1

or


5


A) or curved (FIG.


6


A). An outer edge


27


of the gusset


24


is continuous with a lower edge


28


of first panel


20


and with a lower edge


30


of second panel


22


thereby forming the lower end


14


of the sleeve


10


in a closed and flattened condition. The lower edge


28


and lower edge


30


are convexly curved and therefore cause the sleeve


10


to have a convexly curved lower end


14


. The first panel


20


has an outer surface


34


and an inner surface


36


and the second panel


22


has an outer surface


38


and an inner surface


40


. The gusset


24


has an outer surface


44


, and an inner surface


45


. The inner surfaces


36


,


40


and


45


of the first and second panels


20


and


22


and the gusset


24


, respectively, together define the boundaries of an interior space


46


of the sleeve


10


. In another embodiment, the sleeve has a sealed rounded lower end with no gusset, such as that shown in

FIGS. 43 and 44

in U.S. Pat. No. 5,493,809, the specification and drawings of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.




The construction of the lower end


14


of the sleeve


10


, comprising the gusset


24


with the fold


26


, permits the circular bottom of an object such as a potted plant to be disposed within the interior space


46


and therein causes a lower portion of the sleeve


10


to conform closely to the frusto-conical shape of the pot


70


as shown in FIG.


3


and described in detail below. Briefly, the bottom of the pot


70


rests upon at least a portion of the inner surface


45


of the gusset


24


, and the outer sidewall of the pot


70


rest closely against at least a portion of each of the inner surface


36


and the inner surface


40


of the first and second panels


20


and


22


, respectively. Once expanded, the sleeve


10


has a sidewall


48


and a bottom


49


for supporting the pot


70


. The gusset


24


may be constructed from a separate material from the first and second panels


20


and


22


or, as will be clear to one of ordinary skill in the art, the gusset


24


may be constructed from the same web used to form the first and second panels


20


and


22


by sealing, then folding portions thereof. An example of how the gusset


24


may be formed from a separate sheet of material different from the web used to form the first and second panels


20


and


22


is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,380,646, issued to Doyen in

FIGS. 9 and 10

and discussion thereof, which is incorporated herein by reference.




The sleeve


10


is demarcated into an upper portion


50


which is protective and a lower portion


52


which is decorative. The lower portion


52


of the sleeve


10


is sized to contain the pot


70


(

FIG. 3

) which is of a size standard in the floral industry and well known to persons of ordinary skill in the art. The upper portion


50


of the sleeve


10


is sized to substantially surround and encompass a floral grouping disposed in the pot


70


. The sleeve


10


is demarcated into the upper portion


50


and the lower portion


52


by a detaching element


54


for enabling the detachment of the upper portion


50


of the sleeve


10


from the lower portion


52


of the sleeve


10


. In the preferred version, the detaching element


54


is a plurality of perforations


61


in a crenulated or wavy pattern which extends circumferentially across the first panel


20


and second panel


22


of the sleeve


10


from the first side


16


to the second side


18


. The term “detaching element”, as used generally herein, means any element or combination of elements or features, such as, but not by way of limitation, perforations, tear strips, zippers, and any other devices or elements of this nature known in the art, or any combination thereof, which enable the tearing away or detachment of one object from another. Therefore, while perforations are shown and described in detail herein, it will be understood that tear strips, zippers, or any other “detaching elements” known in the art, or any combination thereof, could be substituted therefore and/or used therewith.




In a preferred embodiment, as shown in

FIGS. 1 and 3

, the lower portion


52


of the sleeve


10


further comprises a base portion


56


, and a skirt (or fringe) portion


58


. The base portion


56


comprises that part of the lower portion


52


which, when the pot


70


is placed into the lower portion


52


, has an inner peripheral surface which is substantially adjacent to and surrounds an outer peripheral surface of the pot


70


. The skirt (or fringe) portion


58


comprises that part of the lower portion


52


which extends beyond an upper rim of the pot


70


and adjacent at least a portion of a floral grouping contained within the pot


70


and which is left to freely extend at an angle, inwardly or outwardly or upwardly, from the base portion


56


when the upper portion


50


of the sleeve


10


is detached from the lower portion


52


of the sleeve


10


by actuation of the detaching element


54


. In the intact sleeve


10


, the skirt portion


58


comprises an upper peripheral edge


59


congruent with the detaching element


54


which is connected to a lower peripheral edge


60


, also congruent with the detaching element


54


, of the upper portion


50


of the sleeve


10


. In

FIGS. 1 and 3

, the upper peripheral edge


59


of the skirt portion


58


is congruent with a series of curved lines of the plurality of perforations


61


which together form an undulating line and comprise the detaching element


54


.




The upper portion


50


of the sleeve


10


may optionally have a vertical detaching element


62


indicated as a plurality of vertical perforations


63


for facilitating removal of the upper portion


50


and which are disposed more or less vertically therein extending between the detaching element


54


of the sleeve


10


and the upper end


12


thereof. The upper portion


50


of the sleeve


10


is separable from the lower portion


52


of the sleeve


10


by tearing the upper portion


50


along both the vertical detaching element


62


and the detaching element


54


, thereby separating the upper portion


50


from the lower portion


52


of the sleeve


10


. The lower portion


52


of the sleeve


10


remains disposed as the base portion


56


about the pot


70


and as the skirt portion


58


about a floral grouping


84


, forming a decorative cover


64


as shown in

FIG. 4

, which substantially surrounds and encompasses the pot


70


and a portion of the floral grouping


84


therein. The upper portion


50


may have apertures


65


near the upper end


12


thereof so the sleeve


10


may be supported on a wicket (not shown).




As noted above, it will generally be desired to use the sleeve


10


as a covering for the plant or the floral grouping


84


contained within the pot


70


, as shown in FIG.


4


. The pot


70


has an upper end


72


, a lower end


74


, an outer peripheral surface


76


, a bottom


78


and an inner peripheral surface


80


which encompasses an inner space


82


for retaining the floral grouping or plant


84


. The lower end


74


of the pot


70


is generally closed but may have holes for permitting water drainage (not shown). The term “pot” as used herein refers to any type of container used for holding the floral grouping


84


or plant. Examples of pots used in accordance with the present invention include, but not by way of limitation, clay pots, wooden pots, plastic pots, pots made from natural and/or synthetic fibers, or any combination thereof. The pot


70


is adapted to receive the floral grouping


84


in the inner space


82


. The floral grouping


84


may be disposed within the pot


70


along with a suitable growing medium described in further detail below, or other retaining medium, such as a floral foam. It will also be understood that the floral grouping


84


, and any appropriate growing medium or other retaining medium, may be disposed in the sleeve


10


without the pot


70


.




The sleeve


10


is generally frusto-conically shaped, but the sleeve


10


may be, by way of example but not by way of limitation, cylindrical, frusto-conical, a combination of both frusto-conical and cylindrical, or square or rectangular in cross-section, or any other shape, including geometric, non-geometric, asymmetrical and/or fanciful as long as it functions in accordance with the present invention described herein. The sleeve


10


may also be equipped with drains or ventilation holes (not shown), or can be made from permeable or impermeable materials.




The material from which the sleeve


10


is constructed has a thickness in a range from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mils. Often, the thickness of the sleeve


10


is in a range from about 0.5 mil to about 10 mils. Preferably, the sleeve


10


has a thickness in a range from about 1.0 mil to about 5 mils. More preferably, the sleeve


10


is constructed from a material which is flexible, semi-rigid, rigid, or any combination thereof. The sleeve


10


may be constructed of a single layer of material or a plurality of layers of the same or different types of materials. Any thickness of the material may be utilized as long as the material functions in accordance with the present invention as described herein. The layers of material comprising the sleeve


10


may be connected together or laminated or may be separate layers. Such materials used to construct the sleeve


10


are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,637 entitled “Method For Wrapping A Floral Grouping” issued to Weder et al., on May 12, 1992, the specification of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Any thickness of material may be utilized in accordance with the present invention as long as the sleeve


10


may be formed as described herein, and as long as the formed sleeve


10


may contain at least a portion of the pot


70


or the floral grouping


84


, as described herein. Additionally, an insulating material (not shown) such as bubble film, preferably one of two or more layers, can be utilized in order to provide additional protection for the item, such as the floral grouping


84


, contained therein.




In one embodiment, the sleeve


10


may be constructed from two polypropylene films. The material comprising the sleeve


10


may be connected together or laminated or may be separate layers. In an alternative embodiment, the sleeve


10


may be constructed from only one of the polypropylene films. The sleeve


10


may also be constructed, in whole or in part, from a cling material. “Cling Wrap or Material” when used herein means any material which is capable of connecting to the sleeve


10


upon contacting engagement during the wrapping process and is wrappable about an item whereby portions of the cling material contactingly engage and connect to other portions of another material, or, alternatively, itself, for generally securing the sleeve


10


wrapped about at least a portion of the pot


70


. This connecting engagement is preferably temporary in that the material may be easily removed, i.e., the cling material “clings” to the pot


70


.




The cling material is constructed and treated if necessary, from polyethylene such as Cling Wrap made by Glad®, First Brands Corporation, Danbury, Conn. The thickness of the cling material will, in part, depend upon the size of the sleeve


10


and the size of the pot


70


in the sleeve


10


, i.e., generally, a larger pot


70


may require a thicker and therefore stronger cling material. The cling material will range in thickness from less than about 0.1 mil to about 10 mils, and preferably less than about 0.5 mil to about 2.5 mils and most preferably from less than about 0.6 mil to about 2 mils. However, any thickness of cling material may be utilized in accordance with the present invention which permits the cling material to function as described herein.




The sleeve


10


is constructed from any suitable material that is capable of being formed into a sleeve and wrapped about the pot


70


and the floral grouping


84


disposed therein. Preferably, the material comprises untreated or treated paper, metal foil, polymer film, non-polymer film, woven or nonwoven or synthetic or natural fabric, cardboard, fiber, cloth, burlap, or laminations or combinations thereof.




The term “polymer film” means a synthetic polymer such as a polypropylene or a naturally occurring polymer such as cellophane. A polymer film is relatively strong and not as subject to tearing (substantially non-tearable), as might be the case with paper or foil.




The material comprising the sleeve


10


may vary in color and may consist of designs or decorative patterns which are printed, etched, and/or embossed thereon using inks or other printing materials. An example of an ink which may be applied to the surface of the material 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, 1992 and which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.




In addition, the material may have various colorings, coatings, 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, neon, or the like, qualities. Each of the above-named characteristics may occur alone or in combination and may be applied to the upper and/or lower surface of the material comprising the sleeve


10


. Moreover, portions of the material used in constructing the sleeve


10


may vary in the combination of such characteristics. The material utilized for the sleeve


10


itself may be opaque, translucent, transparent, or partially clear or tinted transparent.




The term “floral grouping” as used herein means cut fresh flowers, artificial flowers, a single flower or other fresh and/or artificial plants or other floral materials and may include other secondary plants and/or ornamentation or artificial or natural materials which add to the aesthetics of the overall floral grouping


84


. The floral grouping


84


generally comprises a bloom or foliage portion and a stem portion. Preferably, the floral grouping


84


comprises a growing potted plant having a root portion (not shown) as well. However, it will be appreciated that the floral grouping


84


may consist of only a single bloom or only foliage, or a botanical item (not shown), or a propagule (not shown). The term “floral grouping” may be used interchangeably herein with any of the terms “floral arrangement”, “potted plant” or “plant”. The term “floral grouping” may also be used interchangeably herein with the terms “botanical item” and/or “propagule.”




The term “growing medium” when used herein means any liquid, solid or gaseous material used for plant growth or for the cultivation of propagules, including organic and inorganic materials such as soil, humus, perlite, vermiculite, sand, water, and including the nutrients, fertilizers or hormones or combinations thereof required by the plants or propagules for growth.




The term “botanical item” when used herein means a natural or artificial herbaceous or woody plant, taken singly or in combination. The term “botanical item” also means any portion or portions of natural or artificial 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 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.




Further, in accordance with the present invention, a bonding material may be disposed on a portion of the sleeve


10


to assist in holding the sleeve


10


to the pot


70


having the floral grouping


84


therein when the pot


70


is disposed within the sleeve


10


or to assist in closing the upper end


12


of the sleeve


10


or adhering the sleeve


10


to the pot


70


after the pot


70


has been disposed therein, as will be discussed in further detail below.




Preferably the bonding material, when present, is disposed as a strip or block on the inner surface


36


or


40


of the first and second panels


20


and


22


of the sleeve


10


. The bonding material may also be disposed upon either outer surface


34


or


38


of the first and second panels


20


and


22


of the sleeve


10


, as well as upon the pot


70


. Further, the bonding material may be disposed as spots of bonding material, or in any other geometric, non-geometric, asymmetric, or fanciful form, and in any pattern including covering either the entire inner surfaces


36


and


40


and/or outer surfaces


34


and


38


of the first and second panels


20


and


22


of the sleeve


10


and/or the pot


70


or the decorative cover


64


. The bonding material may be covered by a cover or release strip which can be removed prior to the use of the sleeve


10


or the decorative cover


64


. The bonding material can be applied by means known to those of ordinary skill in the art. One method for disposing a bonding material, in this case an adhesive, is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,637 entitled “Method For Wrapping A Floral Grouping” issued to Weder et al., on May 12, 1992, which has been incorporated herein by reference above.




The term “bonding material” when used herein means an adhesive, frequently a pressure sensitive adhesive, or a cohesive. When the bonding material is a cohesive, a similar cohesive material must be placed on the adjacent surface for bondingly contacting and bondingly engaging with the cohesive material. The term “bonding material” also includes materials which are heat sealable and, in this instance, the adjacent portions of the material must be brought into contact and then heat must be applied to effect the seal. The term “bonding material” also includes materials which are sonic sealable and vibratory sealable. The term “bonding material” when used herein also means a heat sealing lacquer or hot melt material which may be applied to the material and, in this instance, heat, sound waves, or vibrations, also must be applied to effect the sealing.




Alternatively, a cold seal adhesive may be utilized as the bonding material. The cold seal adhesive adheres only to a similar substrate, acting similarly as a cohesive, and binds only to itself. The cold seal adhesive, since it bonds only to a similar substrate, does not cause a residue to build up on equipment, thereby both permitting much more rapid disposition and use of such equipment to form articles and reducing labor costs. Further, since no heat is required to effect the seal, the dwell time, that is, the time for the sheet of material to form and retain the shape of an article, such as a flower pot cover or flower pot, is reduced. A cold seal adhesive binds quickly and easily with minimal pressure, and such a seal is not readily releasable. This characteristic is different from, for example, a pressure sensitive adhesive.




The fold in the gusset


24


may be a straight fold


26


extending from the first side


16


to the second side


18


, as shown in

FIG. 5A

, or the fold may be curved upwardly to form a fold


26




a


as explained below for FIG.


6


A. When the fold is the straight fold


26


, and when the pot


70


is inserted into the sleeve


10


, the pot


70


which is sized to optimally fit therein has a bottom diameter


86


(FIGS.


5


A and


5


B). Bottom diameter


86


preferably is in a range of from about 0.5x to about 0.75x where “x” is the length


25


(FIG.


5


A).




When the pot


70


is deposited into the sleeve


10


having the straight fold


26


, a portion


88


of the gusset


24


is positioned against the bottom surface


78


of the pot


70


to form part of the bottom


49


of the sleeve


10


. Additionally, a portion


90


of the first panel


20


forms another portion of the bottom


49


of the sleeve


10


. Also, a portion


92


of second panel


22


which is a mirror image of portion


90


of the first panel


20


forms another portion of the bottom


49


. Together, portions


88


,


90


and


92


form the bottom


49


of the sleeve


10


in the expanded state as shown in FIG.


5


B. Preferably, the bottom


49


of the open sleeve


10


conforms to the curvature of the circumference of the bottom


78


of the pot


70


(FIG.


5


C).




Further, when the pot


70


having the bottom diameter


86


is inserted into the sleeve


10


, two mirror image side portions


94


and


96


of the gusset


24


(see

FIG. 5A

) become part of the side wall


48


of the expanded sleeve


10


, as shown in

FIGS. 5B and 5C

. Thus, it can be seen then that in a preferred embodiment, the gusset


24


of the sleeve


10


in the flattened state surprisingly does not solely constitute the bottom


49


of the sleeve


10


in its expanded state. Rather, the bottom


49


is comprised of portions


90


and


92


of both first panel


20


and second panel


22


, and of portion


88


of the gusset


24


. Additionally, the side wall


48


of the expanded sleeve


10


is comprised of side portions


94


and


96


of the gusset


24


as well as of portions


90


and


92


of the first panel


20


and second panel


22


. The side wall


48


conforms to the curvature and shape of the pot


70


disposed within the sleeve


10


.




Alternatively, the fold in a gusset


24


a may be curved, as represented by fold


26




a


in sleeve


10




a


in FIG.


6


A. Fold


26




a


extends further inwardly between a first panel


20




a


and a second panel


22




a


toward an upper end of the sleeve


10




a


than does the straight fold


26


in the sleeve


10


shown in FIG.


5


A. When the pot


70


is deposited into the sleeve


10




a


having the fold


26




a,


a circular portion


100


of the gusset


24




a


is positioned against the bottom


78


of the pot


70


to form a bottom


49




a


of the sleeve


10




a


and which also conforms to the curvature of the bottom


78


of the pot


70


. Additionally, first and second mirror image side portions


102


and


104


of the gusset


24




a


become part of a sidewall


48




a


of the sleeve


10




a


when expanded, as shown in

FIGS. 6B and 6C

. It can be seen then that in a preferred version of the invention having the fold


26




a


in the gusset


24




a


in the flattened state, the portion


100


of the gusset


24




a


comprises substantially the entire bottom


49




a


of the sleeve


10




a


when expanded and that the side wall


48




a


of the sleeve


10




a


is formed both from the first and second panels


20




a


and


22




a,


and from portions


102


and


104


of the gusset


24




a.


It will also be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the fold


26




a


in the gusset


24




a


may be intermediate in curvature between the straight fold


26


of FIG.


5


A and the curved fold


26




a


of

FIG. 6A

(or even may be convex rather than concave) and therein may possess properties of the straight fold


26


but to a lesser degree. Any of the sleeves described anywhere herein which comprise a gusset may have a gusset having a straight fold, or a fold which is curved.




Embodiments of FIGS.


7


-


19






Another version of the present invention is shown as sleeve


10




b


in FIG.


7


and is exactly the same as the various embodiments of sleeves shown above or elsewhere herein except a strip of bonding material


110


is disposed on an inner surface


36




b


and/or


40




b


of a first and a second panel


20




b


and


22




b


such that an upper portion


50




b


of the sleeve


10




b


generally in the vicinity of an upper end


12




b


of the sleeve


10




b


can be sealed for enclosing the upper portion


50




b


of the sleeve


10




b


about the pot


70


and the floral grouping


84


disposed therein (not shown).




Another version of the present invention is shown in FIG.


8


and is exactly the same as the various embodiments of sleeves shown above or elsewhere herein except the sleeve, designated as sleeve


10




c,


includes a flap


112


positioned at an upper end


12




c


which can be folded over and sealed with a flap bonding strip


114


to an adjacent portion of an outer surface


34




c


of a first panel


20




c


of the sleeve


10




c


near the upper end


12




c


thereof. Other versions of the sleeve (not shown) may comprise ventilation holes or drainage holes for allowing movement of gases or moisture to and away from the inner space of the sleeve.




Another version of the present invention is shown in FIG.


9


and is exactly the same as the various embodiments of sleeves shown above or elsewhere herein except the sleeve, designated as sleeve


10




d,


further includes an inner strip of bonding material


116


disposed upon a portion of either of inner surfaces


36




d


or


40




d


(not shown) of a first panel


20




d


or a second panel


22




d


(not shown) of the sleeve


10




d.


The strip of bonding material


116


functions to enable portions of either the inner surface


36




d


or the inner surface


40




d


to be bondingly connected to an outer peripheral surface of a pot disposed therein causing the sleeve


10




d


to be bondingly connected to the pot (not shown).




In another version of the present invention, after the pot has been disposed within the sleeve, the bonding material on the pot may be used to crimp a portion of the sleeve to secure the sleeve in a position about the pot. A description of a preferred crimping method is shown in

FIGS. 10-13

, and described on pages 30-31, lines 10 through 2, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,625,979, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. A description of other methods which may be used in a crimping process in accordance with the present invention are shown in

FIGS. 5-7

, and


15


-


20


, and the corresponding description in U.S. Pat. No. 5,526,932, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.




Another embodiment is shown in FIG.


10


and is exactly the same as the various embodiments of sleeves shown above or elsewhere herein except the sleeve, designated as


10




e,


may further include an extended portion comprising a support extension


118


which extends away from a portion of an upper end


12




e


of the sleeve


10




e.


The support extension


118


has one or more apertures


120


disposed therein for allowing the sleeve


10




e


to be supported on a support assembly (not shown) which is commercially available and known by one of ordinary skill in the art, such as a pair of wickets for shipment, storage, assembly of the sleeve


10




e,


placement of a pot within the sleeve


10




e,


or other functions known in the art. The support extension


118


may have a plurality of perforations


122


or other detaching element for allowing the support extension


118


to be removed from the upper end


12




e


of sleeve


10




e


after the sleeve


10




e


has been provided for use as described elsewhere herein.




Another version of the invention is shown in FIG.


11


and is exactly the same as the various embodiments of sleeves shown above and elsewhere herein except the sleeve, designated as sleeve


10




f,


has an extended portion comprising a handle


124


for carrying a potted plant package (not shown) by the sleeve


10




f.


The sleeve


10




f


may further include a detaching element


126


comprising a plurality of perforations


127


for removing the handle


124


at a later time.




The sleeves described herein may be formed by intermittently advancing two separate webs, one or two webs preformed in the form of a tube, or a single web folded double and sealing the longitudinal sides and bottom of the two facing panels then cutting the sleeve thus formed from the webs or web. Machines which can form sleeves from such single webs or pairs of webs are well within the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art.




As shown in

FIG. 1

, the detaching element


54


is preferably the line of perforations


61


having a regular or irregular curved or wavy pattern on both the first panel


20


and the second panel


22


, which extend from the first side


16


to the second side


18


. It will be understood that the line of perforations


61


in any of the sleeves described herein may be constructed in any number of other decorative patterns, several being shown in

FIGS. 12-16

. For example,

FIG. 12

shows a detaching element


54




a


having a crenate or scalloped pattern in a sleeve


10




g.



FIG. 13

shows a detaching element


54




b


having a crenate or scalloped pattern in a sleeve


10




h


which is inverted.

FIG. 14

shows a detaching element


54




c


having a crenulate toothed or zig-zag pattern in a sleeve


10




i.



FIG. 15

shows a detaching element


54




d


having a crenelated or rectangular-shaped pattern in a sleeve


10




j.



FIG. 16

shows a detaching element


54




e


having a diagonal pattern slanted upwardly from one side of a sleeve


10




k


to the other side of the sleeve


10




k.


One of ordinary skill in the art will understand these are but a few of the patterns that the perforations may form and one of ordinary skill could contemplate many other suitable patterns.




In another embodiment, the sleeve designated in

FIG. 17

as sleeve


130


is formed exactly as any of the versions of the sleeves described herein except that it is formed without an upper protective portion. In this version, the sleeve


130


serves as a decorative cover and may be formed with or without a decorative skirt portion or decorative border which extends from or comprises an upper edge


131


of the sleeve


130


.




The sleeve


130


has an upper end


132


, a lower end


134


, a first side


136


, and a second side


138


. The sleeve


130


has an opening


139


at the upper end


132


and is closed at the lower end


134


. The sleeve


130


comprises a first panel


140


and a second panel


142


which lie flatwise upon each other and are longitudinally sealed, connected or otherwise continuous along first side


136


and second side


138


of the sleeve


130


. The sleeve


130


further comprises a gusset


144


having a length


145


and which has a fold


146


extending between the first and second sides


136


and


138


whereby the gusset


144


is inwardly folded between the first and second panels


140


and


142


. The inwardly folded gusset


144


comprises the expansion element in this embodiment. The fold


146


may be straight or curved as described above for sleeves


10


and


10




a


in

FIGS. 5A and 6A

, respectively, and functions in a similar manner. As shown here, the sleeve


130


has essentially the same construction as sleeve


10


, or any other sleeves shown elsewhere herein, except it is not formed with a detachable upper portion. As for the sleeve


10


, the construction of the lower end


134


of the sleeve


130


comprising the rounded gusset


144


with the fold


146


, permits the circular bottom of an object such as a pot or potted plant to be disposed therein causing the lower portion of the sleeve


130


to conform closely to the frusto-conical shape of the pot


70


as shown in FIG.


4


and described in detail elsewhere herein.




The sleeve


130


, thus formed, may be equipped with or absent apertures


148


near the upper end


132


for enabling the sleeve


130


to be placed on a wicket (not shown) for transport and ease of handling. The sleeve


130


may further be constructed with the upper end


132


having a border having a shape like any of the perforation patterns of detaching elements described elsewhere herein, for example, in sleeves


10




g


-


10




k


of

FIGS. 12-16

.




Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in

FIGS. 18-19

and is designated by the reference numeral


150


. Sleeve


150


is exactly the same as sleeve


10


or any of the other gusseted sleeves described herein except that sleeve


150


includes a gusset


152


which is outwardly folded back upon an outer surface


154


of the sleeve


150


rather than inwardly folded as in sleeve


10


.




Embodiments and Methods of Use of FIGS.


20


-


34






Attention is now drawn to the versions of the present invention which are shown in

FIGS. 20-34

and more specifically to the sleeve in

FIG. 20

which is designated therein by the reference numeral


160


, and which is the same as the sleeves described elsewhere herein except for the differences described below. The sleeve


160


, comprises a unitary construction and has a lower portion


162


, an optional skirt portion


163


(not shown herein but which is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,625,979, the specification of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), an upper portion


164


and a plurality of pleats


165


comprising expansion elements


166


(only a few of which are specifically designated as such in

FIG. 20

) and further has an outer peripheral surface


168


, an open upper end


170


and a closed lower end


172


, which in

FIG. 20

is rounded. The sleeve


160


, like the sleeves discussed elsewhere herein, has an inner retaining space


174


which extends from the open upper end


170


to the closed lower end


172


and which is bounded by an inner peripheral surface


176


of the sleeve


160


. The lower portion


162


is sized to substantially cover the outer peripheral surface


76


of the pot


70


as described elsewhere herein and the upper portion


164


is sized to substantially surround the floral grouping


84


within the pot


70


which is disposed within the inner retaining space


174


of the sleeve


160


.




The upper portion


164


is detachable from the lower portion


162


via a detaching element


178


such as is described in detail with regard to sleeve


10


above. The expansion elements


166


are integral to at least a portion of the lower portion


162


and upper portion


164


, as shown in FIG.


20


. The expansion elements


166


function to allow expansion of a portion of the lower portion


162


about the bottom


78


and/or outer peripheral surface


76


of the pot


70


disposed therein so that the lower portion


162


fits closely thereto, as described in more detail above for sleeve


10


and for other sleeves described herein.




As shown in

FIG. 20

, each expansion element


166


of the sleeve


160


comprises one or more areas of excess material shaped in the form of a pleat


165


. The expansion element


166


may also be positioned so that portions of the skirt portion


163


, when present, can be extended angularly from the lower portion


162


forming the skirt portion


163


about a portion of the floral grouping


84


of the pot


70


as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,625,979, referred to above.




The closed lower end


172


of the lower portion


162


may be constructed in a variety of configurations. For example, the closed lower end


172


may have a rounded bottom with a gusseted inverted portion


173


(FIG.


20


).

FIG. 21

shows an alternative embodiment of a sleeve


160




a


having expansion elements


166




a


and having a closed lower end


172




a


which is rounded without a gusset.

FIG. 22

shows an alternative embodiment of a sleeve


160




b


having expansion elements


166




b


and having a straight closed lower end


172




b


with a gusseted inverted portion


173




b


to allow further expansion of the closed lower end


172




b.



FIG. 23

shows a sleeve


160




c


having expansion elements


166




c


and having a closed lower end


172




c


which is straight across without a gusset.




As noted above, the expansion elements


166


-


166




c


may extend the entire distance between the closed lower ends


172


-


172




c


and the open upper ends


170


-


170




c,


as shown in

FIGS. 20-23

, respectively. Alternatively, the expansion elements


166


-


166




c


may extend from any position intermediate between the closed lower ends


172


-


172




c


and the open upper ends


170


-


170




c,


respectively. For example, expansion elements


166




d


of sleeve


160




d


are shown to extend from a closed lower end


172




d


of the sleeve


160




d


to near or just below a detaching element


178




d,


as shown in FIG.


24


. Alternatively, expansion elements


166




e


may extend from a closed lower end


172




e


of a sleeve


160




e


to a distance just above the closed lower end


172




e,


as shown in FIG.


25


.




In another set of embodiments shown in

FIGS. 26-29

, sleeves


180


-


180




c


having expansion elements


168


-


168




c,


respectively, are formed exactly as described above for sleeves


160


-


160




c,


respectively, and function in the same way, but are formed without upper portions. In these versions, lower portions


182


-


182




c


serve as decorative covers and may be formed with decorative skirt portions


184


-


184




c,


respectively, which extend from the sleeves


180


-


180




c


or may have a decorative border as described elsewhere herein.




The present invention also contemplates sleeves (not shown) which are similar to sleeves


180


-


180




c


but have expansion elements positioned in the manner shown for sleeves


160




d


and


160




e.


Further, the present invention contemplates sleeves, with or without upper portions, wherein the expansion elements are not in the side panels but are found only in the gusseted portions. It is further contemplated that in those sleeves with gusseted portions, the expansion elements may be positioned in both the gusseted portion and first and second panel portions, or only in the first and second panel portions, or in only one of the first or second panel portions.




It is also noted that in the embodiments of the sleeves shown in

FIGS. 20-29

, the expansion elements


166


-


166




e


and


168


-


168




c


are substantially parallel. However, it is further contemplated that any of the pleated sleeves specifically described or otherwise contemplated herein may comprise a plurality of expansion elements


166




f,


each of which extends from an open upper end


170




f


to a closed lower end


172




f


of the sleeve as shown in sleeve


160




f


in FIG.


30


. That is, the expansion elements


166




f


do not intersect with the first and second sides


16




f


and


18




f


of the sleeve


160




f


but rather tend to converge from the open upper end


170




f


to the closed lower end


172




f.






Attention is now drawn to FIG.


31


and to the sleeve shown therein which is designated by the general reference numeral


190


. Sleeve


190


is exactly the same as sleeve


160


in

FIG. 20

except that the sleeve


190


has a plurality of z-shaped pleated expansion elements


192


. The expansion elements


192


of sleeve


190


serve the same purpose as the pleated expansion elements


166


of sleeve


160


.

FIG. 32

shows a sleeve


190




a


which is constructed like sleeve


90


but has a plurality of expansion elements


192




a


which are positioned in the same manner as the expansion elements


166




f


of sleeve


160




f


in FIG.


30


.




Attention is now drawn to FIG.


33


and to a sleeve shown therein which is designated by the general reference numeral


196


. Sleeve


196


is exactly the same as sleeve


160


in

FIG. 20

or the sleeve


190


in

FIG. 31

except that the sleeve


196


has a plurality of fluted or groove-shaped expansion elements


198


which serve the same purpose as the pleated expansion elements


166


of sleeve


160


and can expand to cause the sleeve


196


to fit closely to the bottom


78


and outer peripheral surface


76


of the pot


70


to form a decorative cover about a portion of the pot


70


. It will be understood that the sleeve


196


comprising the plurality of fluted or groove-shaped expansion elements


198


may be constructed in the same embodiments as described above, for example in

FIGS. 21-30

and as described and contemplated elsewhere herein.

FIG. 34

, for example, shows a sleeve


196




a


having a plurality of expansion elements


198




a


positioned in the same converging way as the expansion elements


166




f


of sleeve


160




f


in

FIG. 30

or as the expansion elements


192




a


in sleeve


190




a.






It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the shapes of the expansion elements described above are but several of the shapes which can be contemplated for the present invention. Other shapes which may be contemplated are gussets, fans, and “accordion-folds” to name but a few.




Embodiments and Methods of Use of FIGS.


35


-


41






Shown in FIG.


35


and referred to therein by reference numeral


200


is another version of a sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention. The sleeve


200


and versions thereof are the same in all respects to the various embodiments of the sleeves described elsewhere herein except the expansion element is constructed from an elastomeric material. The sleeve


200


has an elastomeric lower portion


202


constructed of material having elastomeric properties which allows the elastomeric lower portion


202


to expand when the pot


70


is disposed within the sleeve


200


when the elastomeric lower portion


202


of the sleeve


200


is stretched about a lower end


74


of the pot


70


. The elastomeric lower portion


202


may be comprised of lycra, rubber, elasticized fabrics, or any other sheet materials which have elastic properties. The elastomeric lower portion


202


of the sleeve


200


will grip the adjacent portion of the pot


70


and will cause the elastomeric lower portion


202


of the sleeve


200


to closely conform to the shape of the pot


70


and will secure the sleeve


200


to the pot


70


leaving substantially no void space as explained above. The sleeve


200


preferably has an upper portion


204


constructed from the same material as non-elastomeric sleeves described herein above.




The elastomeric lower portion


202


may be a separate component connected to a lower end


205


of the upper portion


204


of the sleeve


200


. Alternatively, the lower elastomeric portion


202


may be of unitary construction with the upper portion


204


of the sleeve


200


which is non-elastomeric. The elastomeric lower portion


202


may be an elasticized or rubberized extension of upper portion


204


. For example, the sleeve


200


may be constructed from a fabric which is impregnated with an elastic material in one portion to form the elastomeric lower portion


202


.




Shown in

FIGS. 36

,


37


and


38


are sleeves


200




a,




200




b,


and


200




c,


having lower portions


202




a,




202




b,


and


202




c,


respectively, and having upper portions


204




a,




204




b


and


204




c,


respectively, which represent alternative versions of the invention which are similar to the sleeves


160




a


-


160




c,


respectively, in

FIGS. 21-23

. The sleeves


200




a


-


200




c


comprising lower portions


202




a


-


202




c


with elastomeric properties may further be constructed like sleeves


180


-


180




c


in

FIGS. 26-29

, respectively, that is, without upper portions


204




a


-


204




c.


In another series of versions, the present invention contemplates sleeves having expansion elements similar to those of

FIGS. 20-34

and which also have elastomeric properties.




The elastomeric material of the sleeves


200


-


200




c


may comprise most or all of the elastomeric lower portions


202


-


202




c


of the sleeves


200


-


200




c


as shown in

FIGS. 35-38

. Alternatively, the elastomeric material may comprise only a portion of the lower portion of the sleeve as shown in a lower portion


202




d


of a sleeve


200




d


(FIG.


39


), also having upper portion


204




d.


Or, the elastomeric material may comprise only a gusset portion


206


as shown in sleeve


200




e


in

FIG. 40

, also having upper portion


204




e


and lower portion


202




e.






It will be understood that the elastomeric lower portion, when expanded about the pot


70


may cover only the bottom


78


of the pot


70


, or may cover the bottom


78


of the pot


70


and a portion of the outer peripheral surface


76


of the pot


70


above the bottom


78


of the pot


70


. In yet another version (not shown) of the elastomeric sleeve, the elastomeric portion of the sleeve may be constructed in such a way that the bottom


78


of the pot


70


disposed within the sleeve may be covered by a non-elastomeric portion of the sleeve, while a portion of the outer peripheral surface


76


of the pot


70


is the portion surrounded by the elastomeric portion of the sleeve. The elastomeric portion of the sleeve functions to eliminate or minimize the void space between the inner surface of the sleeve and the outer peripheral surface


76


or bottom


78


of the pot


70


. Finally, the elastomeric portion may comprise the entire sleeve, as shown in sleeve


200




f


in

FIG. 41

, which has lower portion


202




f


and upper portion


204




f.






Embodiments and Methods of Use of FIGS.


42


-


58






Attention is now drawn to another set of embodiments of the present invention, the first of which is designated by the general reference numeral


210


shown in FIG.


42


. In this version of the invention, the expansion elements comprise a plurality of overlapping folds


212


which are randomly positioned on a first panel


214


and second panel


216


and on a gusset


218


in a lower portion


217


of the sleeve


210


. The overlapping portions of the overlapping folds


212


may be connected via a bonding material or they may be unconnected or some may be connected and some unconnected. The overlapping folds


212


may be distributed over the entire surface of the first and second panels


214


and


216


of the sleeve


210


from an upper end


215


to a lower end


219


as shown in the sleeve


210


in

FIG. 42

or overlapping folds


212




d


may be disposed over only a lower portion


217




d


of a sleeve


210




d


with an upper end


215




d


(FIG.


46


), for example, or over only an area


223


adjacent a lower end


219




e


of a sleeve


210




e


with an upper end


215




e


and lower portion


217




e


(FIG.


47


).

FIG. 43

shows a sleeve


210




a


having overlapping folds


212




a,


a first panel


214




a,


a second panel


216




a,


an upper end


215




a


and a lower end


219




a,


and which is similar to sleeve


210


, but does not have a gusset portion. The overlapping folds may be positioned only along the first and second panels


214




c


and


216




c,


respectively, of the sleeve, such as sleeve


210




c


(FIG.


45


); only upon a gusset portion


218




f


of a sleeve


210




f


(FIG.


48


); or upon both the first and second panels


214


,


214




b


and


216


,


216




b,


respectively, and the gusset portion


218


,


218




b,


as in sleeves


210


and


210




b,


respectively (FIGS.


42


and


44


).




Sleeves with overlapping folds are shown as having the same lower end configuration as sleeves described above herein, for example, the sleeves of

FIGS. 20-23

, respectively.




The sleeves having overlapping folds may be constructed in any of the manners and configurations shown elsewhere herein.




For example, each of the sleeves


210


-


210




f


may further comprise a support extension as mentioned previously which extends away from a portion of the upper end of the sleeve such as for the sleeve


10




e


as shown in FIG.


10


. As described earlier the support extension has one or more apertures disposed therein for allowing the sleeve to be supported on a support assembly which may comprise, for example, a pair of wickets for shipment, storage, assembly of the sleeve, placement of a pot within the sleeve, or other functions known in the art. As noted above, the support extension may have a plurality of perforations or other detaching element for allowing the support extension to be removed from the sleeve after the sleeve has been provided for use as described elsewhere herein. In another version of the invention, and applicable to any of the sleeves described above, or elsewhere herein, a sleeve has a handle for carrying the potted plant package by the sleeve. The sleeve further comprises a detaching element comprising perforations for removing the handle at a later time.




As noted above, the upper portions and lower portions of the sleeves of the present invention may comprise a unitary construction; or, the sleeves may comprise separately formed components which are attached or sealed together by various bonding materials, as shown and described elsewhere herein.




In yet another version of the invention, a sleeve designated by the general reference numeral


220


is shown in FIG.


49


. Sleeve


220


is exactly the same as sleeve


10


or any of the various versions and embodiments described or shown in figures elsewhere herein except sleeve


220


further comprises a plurality of slits


222


disposed in a lower portion


224


thereof for enabling the lower portion


224


to be more easily expanded to fit snugly about the outer peripheral surface


76


of a pot


70


disposed therein.




Referring now to the embodiments of

FIGS. 50-56

, shown therein are several alternative shapes of the lower ends of sleeves which may be constructed in accordance with the present invention. Shown in

FIGS. 50-56

are sleeves designated with the general reference numerals


230


,


232


,


234


,


236


,


238


,


240


and


242


, respectively. Each of sleeves


230


-


242


has a non-gusseted lower end


231


,


233


,


235


,


237


,


239


,


241


and


243


, respectively, which is sealed closed in a manner similar to either of the sleeves


160




a


or


160




c


shown in

FIGS. 21 and 23

, respectively, and are ideally suited to any of the sleeves described herein having expansion elements, for example, such as pleats, overlapping folds, slits, and elastomeric portions. The lower ends


231


-


243


may have a partially rounded shape (lower end


231


, FIG.


50


), an outwardly-directed partially trapezoidal shape (lower end


233


, FIG.


51


), an expanded rounded or bulbous shape (lower end


235


, FIG.


52


), a curved pointed shape (lower end


237


, FIG.


53


), a triangular shape (lower end


239


, FIG.


54


), an inwardly-directed trapezoidal shape (lower end


241


, FIG.


55


), or a curved or wavy shape (lower end


243


, FIG.


56


).




In another version of the invention, shown in

FIGS. 57 and 58

, is a sleeve designated by the general reference numeral


244


, and constructed exactly the same as the sleeves discussed elsewhere herein except that the sleeve


244


has an open lower end


246


and a strap or band


248


which extends across the open lower end


246


. The band


248


functions to prevent the sleeve


244


from “riding up” on the pot


70


disposed within the sleeve


244


, or to prevent the pot


70


from dropping through the open lower end


246


of the sleeve


244


(FIG.


58


).




Construction of the Sleeves—FIGS.


59


-


60






It will be readily appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that processes for making standard floral sleeves which have open upper and lower ends are well known. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sleeve is constructed with a closed bottom which may simply comprise a seal along the lower end of the sleeve or more preferably the closed bottom comprises an infolded portion such as a gusset which when opened enables expansion of the bottom of the sleeve for allowing insertion of a pot therein and a close, conforming fit thereto.




One version of an apparatus and process used to construct a sleeve, such as sleeve


10


described herein, is shown in

FIG. 59. A

single web of material


250


from a roll


251


is fed by a drive mechanism such as an electric motor (not shown) to a folding assembly


252


which causes the single web of material


250


to fold and double up on itself to form a folded web


254


having an open side


256


and a folded side


258


. The folded web


254


is supported upon a conveyor or other support surface


260


. As the folded web


254


is advanced by drive rollers


261


or other advancing mechanism in a direction


262


, the folded side


258


is caused in a continuous process to be infolded or pouched by an infolding device


264


forming a pouch


266


which extends the length of the folded web


254


therefrom. The folded web


254


with the pouch


266


therein continues to be advanced in the direction


262


to a sealing position


268


. A sealing bar (not shown), such as is common and well known in the art, is then activated forming a pair of longitudinally sealed edges


269


and


270


. The sealed edges


269


and


270


extend from near the pouch


266


to the open side


256


and may extend completely about the lower end of the incipient sleeve if a gusset is not formed therein.




In the embodiment of the sleeve formed using the apparatus of

FIG. 59

, not only is the lower end formed with a rounded bottom, but a gusset is also formed. The gusset is formed when portions of the infolded pouch


266


of the folded web


254


are sealed by a sealing device such as the double sealing mechanism


271


shown in

FIGS. 59 and 60

. The sealing mechanism


271


is comprised of an upper sealing portion


272


and a lower sealing portion


274


. The upper sealing portion


272


moves in a direction


276


and presses an infolded portion of the folded web


254


against an upper side


278


of the infolding device


264


and seals a portion


280


of the folded web


254


by heating, pressure or other sealing mechanism well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Similarly the lower sealing portion


274


moves in a direction


282


and presses an infolded portion of the folded web


254


against a lower side


284


of the infolding device


264


and seals a portion


286


of the folded web


254


as above. In this manner a rounded gusset


288


is formed.




The folded web


254


, now having a sleeve outlined by the sealed edges


269


and


270


and with a gusset


288


, is further advanced to a perforating position


290


where perforations


291


are punched into the sleeve and optionally support apertures are also punched into the sleeve for enabling a collection of sleeves to be collected in a stack and held on a support mechanism such as a wicket. Ventilation holes may also be punched into the sleeve at this point. In the next step, the sleeve, now with sealed edges


269


and


270


, gusset


288


, and perforations


291


, is advanced to a cutting position


292


where the sleeve is cut by a cutting die or blade (not shown), such as is well known in the art, from the web


254


to form a complete sleeve


294


. Excess material


296


may be removed to facilitate removal and storage of the sleeve


294


. It will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the steps of sealing, perforating and cutting the sleeves may be performed together in a single step, or two steps at one or two positions.




The process outlined above describes the construction of the sleeve


294


similar to a sleeve


10


without a bonding material disposed upon any portion thereof. However, as explained above, in an alternative version of the invention, a bonding material for bonding a portion of the sleeve to a pot is located on a portion of the inner surface of the sleeve. Shown in

FIG. 59

is a bonding material applicator


298


such as a sprayer or pad applicator which can be used to apply an area of bonding material


300


to a portion of the inner surface of a sleeve. The bonding material applicator


298


may be reciprocatingly activated by a reciprocating assembly (not shown) which is preferably automatically controlled and construction of which is well within the level of ordinary skill in the art. The bonding material


300


is preferably applied to the single web of material


250


prior to the doubling over of the single web of material


250


so that when the single web of material


250


is doubled over to form the folded web


254


, the bonding material


300


is oriented on a portion of the inner surface of the sleeve


294


preferably in the lower portion of the sleeve


294


. The result is the production of a sleeve such as one of those shown in

FIGS. 7-9

.




The process described herein can be modified to produce sleeves such as any of the other sleeves described elsewhere herein. For example, a sleeve can be produced by inserting a piece of release material (not shown) into the sleeve


294


at some point during the sleeve production process, either manually or automatically, for example, after the bonding material


300


has been applied but before the single web of material


250


has been folded over to form the folded web


254


. The piece of release material may be inserted manually by hand or automatically using a device which automatically shoots or blows or deposits such pieces of material and which is well within the skill of one of ordinary skill in the art. Alternatively, the release material may be applied directly upon the bonding material


300


when the bonding material


300


is applied to the single web of material


250


. An additional area of bonding material may be applied to another portion of the web with another adhesive applicator (not shown) thereby forming sleeves having the bonding material


300


distributed on different portions of the sleeve.





FIG. 59

shows both edges of open side


256


of the folded web


254


as being an equal distance from the folded side


258


. It will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the two edges which comprise the open side


256


of the folded web


254


can be offset during the folding process to form a sleeve such as a sleeve shown in

FIG. 8

,


10


, or


11


having an upper end flap which can be folded over to close the upper end or an upper portion used to form an extension of the sleeve.





FIG. 59

shows a sleeve-forming process in which a single web is doubled over to form the double-layered web. The sleeve formed as described herein may also be formed during a process using two or more separate webs in a manner well-known in the art (not shown). A first roll of material and a second roll of material provide a first web of material and a second web of material, respectively. These webs are fed to a position where one side of the two webs are sealed by a sealing assembly. If a gusset in the finished sleeve is desired, the sealed side can be infolded to form a pouched side as described in the process of FIG.


59


. The remainder of the operation can be formed as described above for the process of FIG.


59


.




Sleeves formed in accordance with the present invention can also be formed from tubular materials (not shown) such as are commercially available. For example, a sleeve can be formed by cutting a portion of a tube, forming a gusset in the lower end of the tube, or sealing the lower end of the tube to form a closed bottom, then sealing and cutting off portions of the lower end of the tube forming a sleeve having a tapered lower end. Adhesive may be applied to an interior portion of the sleeve by opening the tube and spraying a bonding material onto a portion of the inner surface of the sleeve, for example. In another version of the invention, the process of forming the tubular material from one or more flat webs of material may comprise a step in the process of forming a sleeve.




Changes may be made in the construction and the operation of the various components, elements and assemblies described herein or in the steps or the sequence of steps of the methods described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.



Claims
  • 1. A sleeve for covering a pot, the sleeve initially having a flattened condition and comprising:a sidewall portion having a tapered shape, a convexly curved lower end, and an inner space; and the convexly curved lower end of the sidewall having a gusset portion having an inner fold and when opened to an opened state, the sleeve having a generally frusto-conical shape and a substantially flat bottom.
  • 2. The sleeve of claim 1 wherein the flat bottom of the sleeve in the opened state has a substantially circular configuration.
  • 3. The sleeve of claim 1 wherein the inner fold of the gusset portion is straight when the sleeve is in the flattened condition.
  • 4. The sleeve of claim 1 wherein the inner fold of the gusset portion is curved when the sleeve is in the flattened condition.
  • 5. The sleeve of claim 1 wherein the bottom of the sleeve in the open state substantially conforms to a circumferential curvature of a bottom surface of a pot.
  • 6. The sleeve of claim 1 wherein the sidewall of the sleeve in the open state substantially conforms to a curvature of an outer peripheral surface of a pot.
  • 7. The sleeve of claim 1 wherein the sleeve forms a decorative cover when disposed about a pot.
  • 8. The sleeve of claim 1 further comprising a bonding material disposed upon a portion thereof for connecting to a pot.
  • 9. The sleeve of claim 1 further defined as constructed from a material selected from the group consisting of treated or untreated paper, metal foil, polymeric film, non-polymeric film, cardboard, fiber, cloth, burlap, and laminations or combinations thereof.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/004,991, filed Dec. 4, 2001, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/747,227, filed Dec. 22, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,341,446, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/080,771, filed May 18, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,182,395, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/606,957, filed Feb. 26, 1996, now abandoned.

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Entry
Speed Cover Brochure, “The Simple Solution For Those Peak Volume Periods”, Highland Supply Corporation, ©1989.
“Speed Sheets and Speed Rolls” Brochure, Highland Supply Corporation, ©1990.
“Color Them Happy with Highlander Products” ©1992.
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“Super Seller”, Supermarket Floral, Sep. 15, 1992.
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Chantler & Chantler brochure showing Zipper Sleeve™ and Florasheet®, published prior to Mar. 31, 1994, 2 pages.
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Continuations (4)
Number Date Country
Parent 10/004991 Dec 2001 US
Child 10/190278 US
Parent 09/747227 Dec 2000 US
Child 10/004991 US
Parent 09/080771 May 1998 US
Child 09/747227 US
Parent 08/606957 Feb 1996 US
Child 09/080771 US