Sleeve with rounded lower end

Abstract
A floral sleeve initially having a flattened condition and openable therefrom for use in covering, containing or wrapping a floral grouping, botanical item, pot, or pot having a floral grouping or botanical item therein. The sleeve has a rounded lower end, and may have a detachable upper portion. The sleeve may have a non-linear or linear upper edge. When having a detachable upper portion, the sleeve has a detaching element which when employed to detach the upper portion, leaves a linear, or non-linear upper edge on the lower portion of the sleeve. The rounded lower end of the sleeve may have a gusset therein.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




This invention generally relates to sleeves, and more particularly, to sleeves used to wrap floral groupings or flower pots containing floral groupings and/or mediums containing floral groupings, and methods of using same. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,625,979 and 5,493,809 and pending U.S. Ser. No. 09/189,033 disclose subject matter which may be relevant to the invention contemplated and claimed herein and are hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is an elevational view of a 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 a sleeve such as the sleeve in

FIG. 1

having a floral grouping therein.





FIG. 4

is a perspective view of the sleeve of

FIG. 1

having a pot and floral grouping therein.





FIG. 5

is an elevational view of another embodiment of a sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.





FIG. 6

is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve of

FIG. 5

taken along line


6





6


.





FIG. 7

is an elevational view of another embodiment of a sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.





FIG. 8

is an elevational view of another embodiment of a sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.





FIG. 9

is an elevational view of another embodiment of a sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.





FIG. 10

is an elevational view of another embodiment of a sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.











DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




The present invention contemplates in a preferred version a preformed sleeve (also referred to herein as a “floral sleeve” or simply as “a sleeve”) having a tubular shape sized to contain and conform to a flower pot having an upper end, a lower end and an outer peripheral surface. The sleeve may further comprise a detachable upper portion which may be sized to surround and encompass a floral grouping.




The sleeve may form part of a plant package when used in conjunction with a floral grouping or a pot having a floral grouping therein, and wherein the pot and/or floral grouping is substantially surrounded and encompassed by the sleeve. The floral grouping is at least partially surrounded and encompassed and may be entirely enclosed by the upper portion when it forms a part of the sleeve.




Also, the sleeve may have a bonding material disposed on an inner portion thereof for bondingly connecting to a pot disposed therein. Alternatively, the bonding material may be disposed on an outer portion of the sleeve for forming a plurality of crimps in a portion of the sleeve.




When present, the lower portion of the sleeve may be constructed from a first material and the upper portion (when present) may be constructed from the first material or a second material different from the first material.




These embodiments and others of the present invention are now described in more detail below. It will be appreciated that the examples provided herein are not intended to limit the scope and extent of the claimed invention but are only intended to exemplify various embodiments of the invention contemplated herein.




Shown in

FIGS. 1-4

is a sleeve designated by the general reference numeral


10


. Sleeve


10


has an outer peripheral surface


12


, an inner peripheral surface


14


, a body


16


, a first sidewall edge


18


, a second sidewall edge


20


, an upper end


22


having an upper edge


24


, a skirt portion


26


, a rounded lower end


28


having a rounded lower edge


30


, and an inner space


32


. The sleeve


10


has a minimum width


34


at a narrowest portion of the body


16


, and the rounded lower end


28


has a maximum width


36


at a widest portion thereof. The minimum width


34


of the body


16


is less than the maximum width


36


of the rounded lower end


28


. The shape of the rounded lower end


28


may be elliptical, circular, ovoid, or any other rounded shape known in the art. The sleeve


10


is preferably individually sized so that a standard sized flower pot, such as a 3-inch, 3½-inch, 4-inch, 4½-inch, 5-inch, 5½-inch, 6-inch, 6½-inch, 7-inch or 8-inch pot, for example, can fit within the sleeve


10


, with the pot preferably substantially conforming to the inner peripheral surface


14


of the sleeve


10


. The body


16


of the sleeve


10


preferably has a tapered, frustoconical shape, but may also have a rectangular or cylindrical shape. The sleeve


10


is initially formed to have a flattened condition and is openable therefrom to an open state for containing a floral container such as a pot as described elsewhere herein.




In a preferred version of the invention shown in

FIGS. 1-4

and the upper edge


24


of the upper end


22


of the sleeve


10


has a non-linear pattern such as a curve, wave, arc, or serration. The upper edge


24


and the upper end


22


form the skirt portion


26


of the sleeve


10


for decorating a floral grouping


38


having a stem portion


40


and a bloom portion


42


disposed therein (

FIG. 3

) or a pot


44


having a lower end


46


and an upper end


48


(FIG.


4


). Other non-linear configurations of the upper edge


24


of the skirt portion


26


will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, for example, those shown in FIGS. 11-16 of U.S. Ser. No. 09/401,771, the entire specification of which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference.




Shown in

FIGS. 5-6

is a sleeve designated by the general reference numeral


10




a.


Sleeve


10




a


has an outer peripheral surface


12




a,


an inner peripheral surface


14




a,


a body


16




a,


a first sidewall edge


18




a,


a second sidewall edge


20




a,


an upper end


22




a


having an upper edge


24




a,


a rounded lower end


28




a


having a rounded lower edge


30




a,


and an inner space


32




a.


The sleeve


10




a


has a minimum width


34




a


at a narrowest portion of the body


16




a,


and the rounded lower end


28




a


has a maximum width


36




a


at a widest portion thereof. The minimum width


34




a


of the body


16




a


is less than the maximum width


36




a


of the rounded lower end


28




a.


Sleeve


10




a


differs from sleeve


10


shown above primarily in that the upper edge


24




a


of the upper end


22




a


is linear rather than non-linear.




Shown in

FIG. 7

is a sleeve designated by the general reference numeral


10




b.


Sleeve


10




b


has an outer peripheral surface


12




b,


a body


16




b,


a first sidewall edge


18




b,


a second sidewall edge


20




b,


an upper end


22




b


having an upper edge


24




b,


a skirt portion


26




b,


and a rounded lower end


28




b


having a rounded lower edge


30




b.


The sleeve


10




b


has a minimum width


34




b


at a narrowest portion of the body


16




b,


and the rounded lower end


28




b


has a maximum width


36




b


at a widest portion thereof. The minimum width


34




b


of the body


16




b


is less than the maximum width


36




b


of the rounded lower end


28




b.






Sleeve


10




b


is similar to sleeves


10


-


10




a


shown in

FIGS. 1-6

except sleeve


10




b


comprises both an upper portion


50


and a lower portion


52


. The upper portion


50


is detachable from the lower portion


52


via a detaching element


54


, such as perforations. The upper portion


50


generally is sized so that it can substantially surround the floral grouping


38


when alone or when disposed within the pot


44


disposed within the sleeve


10




b.


The upper portion


50


may have apertures


56


therein for enabling the sleeve


10




b


to be supported from a support device or assembly such as a wicket, in a manner well known to those of ordinary skill in the art.




Shown in

FIG. 8

is a sleeve designated by the general reference numeral


10




c.


Sleeve


10




c


has an outer peripheral surface


12




c,


a body


16




c,


a first sidewall edge


18




c,


a second sidewall edge


20




c,


an upper end


22




c


having an upper edge


24




c,


a skirt portion


26




c,


and a rounded lower end


28




c


having a rounded lower edge


30




c.


The sleeve


10




c


has a minimum width


34




c


at a narrowest portion of the body


16




c,


and the rounded lower end


28




c


has a maximum width


36




c


at a widest portion thereof. The minimum width


34




c


of the body


16




c


is less than the maximum width


36




c


of the rounded lower end


28




c.






Sleeve


10




c


is similar to sleeve


10




b


shown above in having an upper portion


50




c,


a lower portion


52




c,


a detaching element


54




c


and optionally, apertures


56


, but differs in that the upper portion


50




c


is designed to be removed from the lower portion


52




c


before the lower portion


52




c


is used to cover pot


44


or a floral grouping


38


and further, the upper portion


50




c


is generally not sized to enclose the floral grouping


38


.




Shown in

FIG. 9

is a sleeve designated by the general reference numeral


10




d.


Sleeve


10




d


has an outer peripheral surface


12




d,


a body


16




d,


a first sidewall edge


18




d,


a second sidewall edge


20




d,


an upper end


22




d


having an upper edge


24




d,


a skirt portion


26




d,


and a rounded lower end


28




d


having a rounded lower edge


30




d.


The sleeve


10




d


has a minimum width


34




d


at a narrowest portion of the body


16




d,


and the rounded lower end


28




d


has a maximum width


36




d


at a widest portion thereof. The minimum width


34




d


of the body


16




d


is less than the maximum width


36




d


of the rounded lower end


28




d.






Sleeve


10




d


is similar to sleeves


10


-


10




c


shown above except sleeve


10




d


has a gusset


58


in the lower end


28




d.


The gusset


58


further enables the lower end


28




d


to be expanded when the floral grouping


38


or pot


44


is disposed therein. Gussets and their construction are well known to persons of ordinary skill in the art, therefore further discussion of their methods of construction is not deemed necessary herein.




Shown in

FIG. 10

is a sleeve designated by the general reference numeral


10




e.


Sleeve


10




e


has an outer peripheral surface


12




e,


a body


16




e,


a first sidewall edge


18




e,


a second sidewall edge


20




e,


an upper end


22




e


having an upper edge


24




e,


and a rounded lower end


28




e


having a rounded lower edge


30




e.


The sleeve


10




e


has a minimum width


34




e


at a narrowest portion of the body


16




e


, and the rounded lower end


28




e


has a maximum width


36




e


at a widest portion thereof. The minimum width


34




e


of the body


16




e


is less than the maximum width


36




e


of the rounded lower end


28




e.






Sleeve


10




e


is similar to sleeve


10




b


shown above. Sleeve


10




e


has an upper portion


50




e,


a lower portion


52




e,


and a detaching element


54




e


for detaching the upper portion


50




e


from the lower portion


52




e.


Sleeve


10




e


optionally has apertures


56


for enabling the sleeve


10




e


to be supported from a support assembly as described above. Sleeve


10




e


differs from sleeve


10




b


primarily in that the detaching element


54




e


has a linear or arcuate pattern extending from first sidewall edge


18




e


to second sidewall edge


20




e


rather than a non-linear pattern as shown for detaching element


54


of sleeve


10




b


.




Any of the sleeves contemplated herein may also be equipped with drainage elements (e.g., one or more holes) in the lower end


28


-


28




e


thereof or ventilation holes (not shown), or can be made from permeable or impermeable materials.




Any thickness of material may be utilized in accordance with the present invention as long as the sleeves may be formed as described herein, and as long as the formed sleeves may contain at least a portion of the pot


44


or floral grouping


38


, as described herein. Additionally, an insulating material such as bubble film, preferable as one of two or more layers, can be utilized in order to provide additional protection for the item, such as the floral grouping


38


, contained therein.




The material from which the sleeves


10


-


10




e


described herein are constructed preferably has a thickness in a range from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mils. Often, the thicknesses of the sleeves are in a range from about 0.5 mil to about 10 mils or preferably, in a range from about 1.0 mil to about 5 mils. More preferably, the sleeves


10


-


10




e


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


10


-


10




e


may be constructed of a single layer of material or a plurality of layers of the same or different types of materials. The layers of material comprising the sleeves


10


-


10




e


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


10


-


10




e


are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,637, which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference.




The sleeves


10


-


10




e


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


44


and the floral grouping


38


(or the floral grouping


38


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




In one embodiment, the sleeves


10


-


10




e


contemplated herein may be constructed from sheets comprising two polypropylene films. The two polypropylene films comprising the sleeves


10


-


10




e


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


10


-


10




e


may be constructed from only one sheet of the polypropylene film.




The term “polymeric 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 materials comprising the sleeves


10


-


10




e


may vary in color and as described herein 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, which is hereby expressly 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. The material may further comprise, or have applied thereto, one or more scents. Each of the above-named characteristics may occur alone or in combination. Moreover, portions of the material used in constructing the sleeves


10


-


10




e


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


10


-


10




e


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. As noted earlier, the floral grouping


38


comprises the bloom portion


42


and the stem portion


40


. Further, the floral grouping


38


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


38


may consist of only a single bloom or only foliage, or a botanical item, or a propagule. The term “floral grouping” may be used interchangeably herein with both the terms “floral arrangement”. The term “potted plant” generally refers to the floral grouping


38


and the pot


44


along with a growing medium. 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 a bouquet or a 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.




In accordance with the present invention a bonding material (not shown) may optionally be disposed on a portion of any of the sleeves


10


-


10




e


described herein to attach each sleeve


10


-


10




e


to the pot


44


having the floral grouping


38


therein and disposed within the sleeve


10


-


10




e


. The bonding material may alternatively be a band, tie, string, ribbon, wire, tape, heat shrinkable material or other typing or banding device which may be constructed within or attached to the sleeve


10


-


10




e


before it is applied about the pot or floral grouping or may be provided only after the sleeve


10


-


10




e


is applied about the pot or floral grouping. A separate bonding material may also assist in closing or sealing the upper portion (when present) of the sleeve


10


-


10




e


or in adhering the sleeve


10


-


10




e


to the pot after the pot has been disposed therein. Examples of how a bonding material may be disposed on the sleeve are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,493,809 and 5,625,979, both of which are hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.




The term “detaching element” when used generally herein, means any element or device such as, but not limited to, 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 element” known in the art, or any combination thereof, could be substituted therefore and/or used therewith.




The upper portion


50




b


,


50




c


or


50




e


of the sleeve


10




b


,


10




c


and


10




e


, respectively, may also have an additional substantial vertically disposed detaching element comprising a plurality of vertical perforations (not shown but well known in the art) for facilitating removal of the upper portion


50




b


,


50




c


or


50




e


thereof from the lower portion


52




b


,


52




c


or


52




e


, respectively.




As indicated above, it will be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art that equipment and devices for forming floral sleeves are commercially available, and are well known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Further detailed discussion of the construction of the sleeves described herein therefore is not deemed necessary. However, briefly, 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 portions 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 noted above, any of the sleeves


10


-


10




e


contemplated herein may have lower ends


28


-


28




e


which are open or closed. When the lower end


28


-


28




e


is closed, the lower end


28


-


28




e


may have one or more gussets


58


as described elsewhere herein formed therein for allowing expansion of the lower end


28


-


28




e


when an object with a broad lower end such as the pot


44


is disposed therein. In another version, the sleeve


10


-


10




e


may comprise a flap (not shown) which can be folded over and sealed with a bonding material to close the sleeve


10


-


10




e.






The term “pot” or “flower pot” as used herein refers to any type of container used for holding a floral grouping or plant, including vases. 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, and/or any combination thereof. The pot


44


is adapted to receive the floral grouping


38


in a retaining space thereof. The floral grouping


38


may be disposed within the pot


44


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


38


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


10


-


10




e


without the pot


44


for cultivating the floral grouping


38


or displaying the grown floral grouping


38


or botanical item.




It should also be noted that for all versions of sleeves described above which have a bonding material thereon, it may be desirable to have a release material or cover strip covering the adhesive or cohesive bonding material disposed on any portion of such sleeves for preventing the bonding material from bonding to another surface until such is desired. Further, in each of the cases described herein wherein a sleeve


10


-


10




e


is applied to the pot


44


, the sleeve


10


-


10




e


may be applied thereto either by depositing the pot


44


downwardly into the opened sleeve


10


-


10




e


, or the sleeve


10


-


10




e


may be brought upwardly about the pot


44


from below the pot


44


.




It should be further noted that various features of the versions of the present invention such as closure bonding areas, support apertures, handles or handle apertures, additional perforations, drainage elements, ventilation holes, combinations of material may be used alone or in combination as elements of any of the embodiments described above herein.




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 having a flattened condition and openable therefrom, comprising:a body, an outer peripheral surface, an inner peripheral surface, a first sidewall edge, a second sidewall edge, an upper end having an upper edge, a rounded lower end having a rounded lower edge, and an inner space, and the body having a minimum width at a narrowest portion of the body, and the rounded lower end having a maximum width at a widest portion of the rounded lower end, and wherein the minimum width of the body is less than the maximum width of the rounded lower end, and wherein the body has a generally cylindrical shape when opened from the flattened condition.
  • 2. The sleeve of claim 1 wherein the rounded lower end has a shape which is elliptical, circular or ovoid.
  • 3. The sleeve of claim 1 further comprising a gusset in the rounded lower end.
  • 4. The sleeve of claim 1 wherein the body further comprises an upper portion, a lower portion and a detaching element for detaching the upper portion of the body from the lower portion of the body.
  • 5. The sleeve of claim 4 wherein the detaching element comprises perforations.
  • 6. The sleeve of claim 4 wherein the detaching element has a non-linear pattern such that when the upper portion of the body is detached, the lower portion of the body is left with an upper end having a non-linear upper edge.
  • 7. The sleeve of claim 4 wherein the detaching element has a linear pattern such that when the upper portion of the body is detached, the lower portion of the body is left with an upper end having a linear upper edge.
  • 8. The sleeve of claim 4 wherein the upper portion is sized to substantially surround and enclose a floral grouping.
  • 9. The sleeve of claim 4 wherein the upper portion is adapted to support the sleeve from a support element.
  • 10. The sleeve of claim 1 further comprising a skirt portion.
  • 11. The sleeve of claim 1 wherein the upper end has a non-linear edge.
  • 12. The sleeve of claim 1 wherein the upper end has a linear edge.
  • 13. A sleeve having a flattened condition and openable therefrom, comprising:a body, an outer peripheral surface, an inner peripheral surface, a first sidewall edge, a second sidewall edge, an upper end having any upper edge, a rounded lower end having a rounded lower edge, and an inner space, and the body having a minimum width at a narrowest portion of the body, and the rounded lower end having a maximum width at a widest portion of the rounded lower end, and wherein the minimum width of the body is less than the maximum width of the rounded lower end; and the sleeve further having a detaching element extending across the body for detaching an upper portion of the body from a lower portion of the body.
  • 14. The sleeve of claim 13 wherein the rounded lower end has a shape which is elliptical, circular or ovoid.
  • 15. The sleeve of claim 13 further comprising a gusset in the rounded lower end.
  • 16. The sleeve of claim 13 wherein the detaching element comprises perforations.
  • 17. The sleeve of claim 13 wherein the detaching element has a non-linear pattern such that when the upper portion of the body is detached, the lower portion of the body is left with an upper end having a non-linear upper edge.
  • 18. The sleeve of claim 13 wherein the detaching element has a linear pattern such that when the upper portion of the body is detached, the lower portion of the body is left with an upper end having a linear upper edge.
  • 19. The sleeve of claim 13 wherein the upper portion is sized to substantially surround and enclose a floral grouping.
  • 20. The sleeve of claim 13 wherein the upper portion is adapted to support the sleeve from a support element.
  • 21. The sleeve of claim 13 further comprising a skirt portion.
  • 22. The sleeve of claim 13 wherein the body has a generally frustoconical shape when opened from the flattened condition.
  • 23. A sleeve having a flattened condition and openable therefrom, comprising:a body, an outer peripheral surface, an inner peripheral surface, a first sidewall edge, a second sidewall edge, an upper end having an upper edge, a rounded lower end having a rounded lower edge, and an inner space, and the body having a minimum width at a narrowest portion of the body, and the rounded lower end having a maximum width at a widest portion of the rounded lower end, and wherein the minimum width of the body is less than the maximum width of the rounded lower end, and wherein the body has a generally frustoconical shape when opened from the flattened condition.
  • 24. The sleeve of claim 23 wherein the rounded lower end has a shape which is elliptical, circular or ovoid.
  • 25. The sleeve of claim 23 further comprising a gusset in the rounded lower end.
  • 26. The sleeve of claim 23 wherein the body further comprises an upper portion, a lower portion and a detaching element for detaching the upper portion of the body from the lower portion of the body.
  • 27. The sleeve of claim 26 wherein the detaching element comprises perforations.
  • 28. The sleeve of claim 26 wherein the detaching element has a non-linear pattern such that when the upper portion of the body is detached, the lower portion of the body is left with an upper end having a non-linear upper edge.
  • 29. The sleeve of claim 26 wherein the detaching element has a linear pattern such that when the upper portion of the body is detached, the lower portion of the body is left with an upper end having a linear upper edge.
  • 30. The sleeve of claim 26 wherein the upper portion is sized to substantially surround and enclose a floral grouping.
  • 31. The sleeve of claim 26 wherein the upper portion is adapted to support the sleeve from a support element.
  • 32. The sleeve of claim 23 further comprising a skirt portion.
  • 33. The sleeve of claim 23 wherein the upper end has a non-linear edge.
  • 34. The sleeve of claim 23 wherein the upper end has a linear edge.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/401,771, filed Sep. 22, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,230,441, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/606,957, filed Feb. 26,1996, now abandoned.

US Referenced Citations (141)
Number Name Date Kind
524219 Schmidt Aug 1894 A
732889 Paver Jul 1903 A
950785 Pene Mar 1910 A
1044260 Schloss Nov 1912 A
1063154 Bergen May 1913 A
1446563 Hughes Feb 1923 A
1520647 Hennigan Dec 1924 A
1525015 Weeks Feb 1925 A
1610652 Bouchard Dec 1926 A
1697751 Blake Jan 1929 A
1794212 Snyder Feb 1931 A
1811574 Barrett Jun 1931 A
1863216 Wordingham Jun 1932 A
1978631 Herrlinger Oct 1934 A
2048123 Howard Jul 1936 A
RE21065 Copeman May 1939 E
2170147 Lane Aug 1939 A
2200111 Bensel May 1940 A
2278673 Savada et al. Apr 1942 A
2302259 Rothfuss Nov 1942 A
2323287 Amberg Jul 1943 A
2355559 Renner Aug 1944 A
2371985 Freiberg Mar 1945 A
2411328 MacNab Oct 1946 A
2510120 Leander Jun 1950 A
2529060 Trillich Nov 1950 A
2621142 Wetherell Dec 1952 A
2648487 Linda Aug 1953 A
2688354 Berger Sep 1954 A
2774187 Smithers Dec 1956 A
2822287 Avery Feb 1958 A
2846060 Yount Aug 1958 A
2850842 Eubank, Jr. Sep 1958 A
2883262 Borin Apr 1959 A
2989828 Warp Jun 1961 A
3022605 Reynolds Feb 1962 A
3080680 Reynolds Mar 1963 A
3094810 Kalpin Jun 1963 A
3121647 Harris et al. Feb 1964 A
3130113 Silman Apr 1964 A
3271922 Wallerstein et al. Sep 1966 A
3322325 Bush May 1967 A
3376666 Leonard Apr 1968 A
3380646 Doyen et al. Apr 1968 A
3431706 Stuck Mar 1969 A
3508372 Wallerstein et al. Apr 1970 A
3510054 Sanni et al. May 1970 A
3512700 Evans et al. May 1970 A
3550318 Remke et al. Dec 1970 A
3552059 Moore Jan 1971 A
3554434 Anderson Jan 1971 A
3556389 Gregoire Jan 1971 A
3557516 Brandt Jan 1971 A
3620366 Parkinson Nov 1971 A
3681105 Milutin Aug 1972 A
3767104 Bachman et al. Oct 1973 A
3793799 Howe Feb 1974 A
3869828 Matsumoto Mar 1975 A
3888443 Flanigen Jun 1975 A
3962503 Crawford Jun 1976 A
4043077 Stonehocker Aug 1977 A
4054697 Reed et al. Oct 1977 A
4091925 Griffo et al. May 1978 A
4113100 Soja et al. Sep 1978 A
4118890 Shore Oct 1978 A
4189868 Tymchuck et al. Feb 1980 A
4216620 Weder et al. Aug 1980 A
4248347 Trimbee Feb 1981 A
D259333 Charbonneau May 1981 S
4265049 Gorewitz May 1981 A
4280314 Stuck Jul 1981 A
4297811 Weder Nov 1981 A
4333267 Witte Jun 1982 A
4347686 Wood Sep 1982 A
4380564 Cancio et al. Apr 1983 A
4400910 Koudstall et al. Aug 1983 A
4413725 Bruno et al. Nov 1983 A
D279279 Wagner Jun 1985 S
4546875 Zweber Oct 1985 A
4621733 Harris Nov 1986 A
4640079 Stuck Feb 1987 A
4717262 Roen et al. Jan 1988 A
4733521 Weder et al. Mar 1988 A
4765464 Ristvedt Aug 1988 A
4771573 Stengel Sep 1988 A
4773182 Weder et al. Sep 1988 A
4801014 Meadows Jan 1989 A
4810109 Castel Mar 1989 A
4835834 Weder Jun 1989 A
D301991 Van Sant Jul 1989 S
4914860 Richardson Apr 1990 A
4941572 Harris Jul 1990 A
4980209 Hill Dec 1990 A
4989396 Weder et al. Feb 1991 A
D315700 Stephens Mar 1991 S
5073161 Weder et al. Dec 1991 A
5074675 Osgood Dec 1991 A
5105599 Weder Apr 1992 A
5111638 Weder May 1992 A
5120382 Weder Jun 1992 A
5152100 Weder et al. Oct 1992 A
5181364 Weder Jan 1993 A
D335105 Ottenwalder et al. Apr 1993 S
5199242 Weder et al. Apr 1993 A
5205108 Weder et al. Apr 1993 A
5228234 de Klerk et al. Jul 1993 A
5235782 Landau Aug 1993 A
5239775 Landau Aug 1993 A
5249407 Stuck Oct 1993 A
5259106 Weder et al. Nov 1993 A
5307606 Weder May 1994 A
5315785 Avôt et al. May 1994 A
5350240 Billman et al. Sep 1994 A
5353575 Stepanek Oct 1994 A
5361482 Weder et al. Nov 1994 A
5388695 Gilbert Feb 1995 A
5428939 Weder et al. Jul 1995 A
5443670 Landau Aug 1995 A
5493809 Weder et al. Feb 1996 A
D368025 Sekerak et al. Mar 1996 S
5496251 Cheng Mar 1996 A
5496252 Gilbert Mar 1996 A
5526932 Weder Jun 1996 A
5551570 Shaffer et al. Sep 1996 A
5572849 Weder et al. Nov 1996 A
5572851 Weder Nov 1996 A
5575133 Weder et al. Nov 1996 A
5617703 Weder Apr 1997 A
5624320 Martinez Apr 1997 A
5625979 Weder May 1997 A
5647168 Gilbert Jul 1997 A
5647193 Weder et al. Jul 1997 A
5715944 Windisch Feb 1998 A
D404684 Shea Jan 1999 S
D419436 Celtorius et al. Jan 2000 S
6129209 Tchira Oct 2000 A
6182395 Weder et al. Feb 2001 B1
6185904 Weder et al. Feb 2001 B1
6230441 Weder et al. May 2001 B1
6298601 Weder et al. Oct 2001 B1
20010000555 Weder et al. May 2001 A1
Foreign Referenced Citations (33)
Number Date Country
4231978 Jun 1979 AU
654427 Jan 1965 BE
560532 Apr 1975 CH
345464 Dec 1921 DE
513971 Nov 1930 DE
1166692 Mar 1964 DE
1962947 Jun 1971 DE
2060812 Nov 1971 DE
2748626 May 1979 DE
3445799 Jun 1986 DE
3829281 May 1989 DE
3911847 Oct 1990 DE
0050990 May 1982 EP
0791543 Aug 1997 EP
1376047 Sep 1964 FR
2036163 Dec 1970 FR
2137325 Dec 1972 FR
2272914 Dec 1975 FR
2489126 Mar 1982 FR
2610604 Aug 1988 FR
2603159 Mar 1989 FR
2619698 Mar 1989 FR
5605 May 1885 GB
1204647 Sep 1970 GB
2056410 Mar 1981 GB
2074542 Nov 1981 GB
2128083 Apr 1984 GB
2252708 Aug 1992 GB
224507 Apr 1996 IT
542958 Feb 1993 JP
8301709 Dec 1984 NL
1000658 Jan 1996 NL
9315979 Aug 1993 WO
Non-Patent Literature Citations (17)
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.
“Costa Keeps the Christmas Spirit”, Supermarket Floral, Sep. 15, 1992.
“Super Seller”, Supermarket Floral, Sep. 15, 1992.
“Halloween”, Link Magazine, Sep. 1992.
“Now More Than Ever”, Supermarket Floral, Sep. 15, 1992.
Le Plant Sac Advertisement, published prior to Sep. 26, 1987.
“A World of Cut Flower and Pot Plant Packaging” Brochure, Klerk's Plastic Products Manufacturing, Inc., published prior to Mar. 31, 1994, 6 pages.
Chantler & Chantler brochure showing Zipper Sleeve™ and Floralsheet®, published prior to Mar. 31, 1994, 2 pages.
“Stand Alone Plastic Bagmaking” brochure, AMI, Atlanta, GA, Feb. 15, 1996, 2 pages.
“Foil Jackets”, brochure, Custom Medallion, Inc., Dec., 1996, 2 pages.
“Derwent” of FR 2610604A. It is noted that the abstract is an incorrect English translation of the contents of the French patent. The French patent does not enable or disclose adhesively attaching the covering to the container. 1988.
“Silver Linings” Brochure, Affinity Diversified Industries, Inc., 1986. The Silver Linings brochure shows a floral sleeve with a closed bottom. The brochure shows, in one embodiment, a vase with flowers inside a “cut flower” sleeve with the sleeve tied with a ribbon about the neck of the vase.
“Special Occasion Printed Highlophane Bags” Brochure, Highland Supply Corporation, 1990, 2 pages.
“Creative Packaging” Brochure, John Henry Company, Sep. 1992.
“Make Highlander Your Headquarters” Brochure, Highland Supply Corporation, 1991.
Continuations (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 08/606957 Feb 1996 US
Child 09/401771 US
Continuation in Parts (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 09/401771 Sep 1999 US
Child 09/848162 US