Claims
- 1. A decorative assembly, comprising:a plant having substantial horizontal growth, the plant having leaves and petioles; and a decorative cover for supporting leaves and petioles of a plant having substantial horizontal growth so as to prevent damage thereto, the decorative cover comprising: a flower pot cover comprising: a base having a closed lower end, an open upper end, an outer peripheral surface, an object retaining space and a horizontal axis; and a decorative border having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end of the decorative border connected to the open upper end of the base and extending from the open upper end of the base so as to be disposed at an upward and outward angle relative to the horizontal axis of the base; and a collar having a lower end, an upper end and an opening through a portion thereof, a lower portion of the collar being substantially adjacent the decorative border of the flower pot cover and the lower end of the collar generally disposed adjacent the upper end of the base of the flower pot cover and the lower end of the decorative border of the flower pot cover, the collar extending upwardly and outwardly from the flower pot cover at an angle relative to the horizontal axis of the base of the flower pot cover, a portion of the collar extending beyond the base of the flower pot cover having a length at least equal to the length of the leaves and petioles of the plant such that when the plant is disposed in the object retaining space of the base of the flower pot cover and the leaves and petioles are positioned on the collar, the angle of the collar and the angle of the decorative border of the flower pot cover relative to the horizontal axis of the base of the flower pot cover decreases such that the collar and the decorative border of the flower pot cover move toward a compressed condition, thereby permitting the collar to resiliently hold and gently support the individual leaves and petioles of the plant to prevent damage thereto and to accommodate horizontal growth of the leaves and petioles of the plant.
- 2. The decorative assembly of claim 1 wherein the flower pot cover is constructed of a sheet of material selected from the group consisting of paper, polymeric film, foil, metallized film, fabric, fiber, burlap and combinations thereof.
- 3. The decorative assembly of claim 2 wherein the sheet of material from which the flower pot cover is constructed is provided with a characteristic selected from the group consisting of designs, decorative patterns, colorings, coatings, embossings, flockings, metallic finishes, pearlescent finishes, translucent finishes, transparent finishes, iridescent finishes, neon finishes, holographic finishes or designs, opaque finishes, clear finishes and combinations thereof.
- 4. The decorative assembly of claim 1 wherein the flower pot cover is constructed from a sheet of material having a thickness in a range of from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mil.
- 5. The decorative assembly of claim 1 wherein the collar is formed of a sheet of material selected from the group consisting of paper, polymeric film, foil, metallized film, fabric, fiber, burlap and combinations thereof.
- 6. The decorative assembly of claim 1 wherein the collar is formed of a sheet of material having a thickness in a range of from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mil.
- 7. The decorative assembly of claim 1 wherein the collar is bondingly connected to the flower pot cover.
- 8. The decorative assembly of claim 1 wherein the upper end of the collar is positioned substantially adjacent the upper end of the decorative border of the flower pot cover.
- 9. The decorative assembly of claim 1 wherein the upper end of the collar extends beyond the upper end of the decorative border of the flower pot cover.
- 10. The decorative assembly of claim 1 wherein the plant having substantial horizontal growth is further defined as a gesneriad.
- 11. The decorative assembly of claim 10 wherein the plant having substantial horizontal growth is further defined as an African violet.
- 12. The decorative assembly of claim 1 wherein the angles of the decorative border of the flower pot cover and the collar relative to the horizontal axis of the base of the flower pot cover are at least about 40°.
- 13. The decorative assembly of claim 12 wherein the angles of the decorative border of the flower pot cover and the collar relative to the horizontal axis of the base of the flower pot cover are in a range of from about 40° to about 55°.
- 14. The decorative assembly of claim 1 wherein, when the plant is disposed in the object retaining space of the base of the flower pot cover and the leaves and petioles of the plant are positioned on the collar, the decorative border of the flower pot cover and the collar are in a compressed condition wherein the angles of the decorative border of the flower pot cover and the collar relative to the horizontal axis of the base of the flower pot cover are in a range of from about 25° to about 40°.
- 15. The decorative cover of claim 14 wherein, when the plant is disposed in the object retaining space of the base of the flower pot cover and the leaves and petioles of the plant are positioned on the collar, the decorative border of the flower pot cover and the collar are in a compressed condition and the angles of the decorative border of the flower pot cover and the collar relative to the horizontal axis of the base of the flower pot cover are about 30°.
- 16. A method of using a decorative cover with a plant having substantial horizontal growth, the method comprising the steps of:providing a plant having substantial horizontal growth, the plant having leaves and petioles, the plant contained within a flower pot having an outer peripheral surface; providing a decorative cover for supporting leaves and petioles of a plant having substantial horizontal growth so as to prevent damage thereto, the decorative cover comprising: a flower pot cover comprising: a base having a closed lower end, an open upper end, an outer peripheral surface, an object retaining space and a horizontal axis; and a decorative border having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end of the decorative border connected to the open upper end of the base and extending from the open upper end of the base so as to be disposed at an upward and outward angle relative to the horizontal axis of the base; and a collar having a lower end, an upper end and an opening through a portion thereof, a lower portion of the collar being substantially adjacent the decorative border of the flower pot cover and the lower end of the collar generally disposed adjacent the upper end of the base of the flower pot cover and the lower end of the decorative border of the flower pot cover, the collar extending upwardly and outwardly from the flower pot cover at an angle relative to the horizontal axis of the base of the flower pot cover; disposing the flower pot containing the plant having substantial horizontal growth into the object retaining space of the base of the flower pot cover of the decorative cover such that a portion of the collar extending beyond the base of the flower pot cover has a length at least equal to the length of the leaves and petioles of the plant; and positioning and arranging the leaves and petioles of the plant on the collar such that the angles of the decorative border of the flower pot cover and the collar relative to the horizontal axis of the base of the flower pot cover decrease so that the decorative border of the flower pot cover and the collar move toward a compressed condition, thereby permitting the collar to resiliently hold and gently support the individual leaves and petioles of the plant to prevent damage thereto and to accommodate horizontal growth of the leaves and petioles of the plant.
- 17. The method of claim 16 wherein, in the step of providing a decorative cover, the flower pot cover is formed of a sheet of material selected from the group consisting of paper, polymeric film, foil, metallized film, fabric, fiber, burlap and combinations thereof.
- 18. The method of claim 16 wherein, in the step of providing a decorative cover, the flower pot cover is formed of a sheet of material provided with a characteristic selected from the group consisting of designs, decorative pearlescent finishes, translucent finishes, transparent finishes, iridescent finishes, neon finishes, holographic finishes or designs, opaque finishes, clear finishes and combinations thereof.
- 19. The method of claim 16, wherein in the step of providing a decorative cover, the flower pot cover is formed of a sheet of material having a thickness in a range of from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mil.
- 20. The method of claim 16 wherein, in the step of providing a decorative cover, the collar is formed of a sheet of material selected from the group consisting of paper, polymeric film, foil, metallized film, fabric, fiber, burlap and combinations thereof.
- 21. The method of claim 16 wherein, in the step of providing a decorative cover, the collar is formed of a sheet of material having a thickness in a range of from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mil.
- 22. The method of claim 16 wherein, in the step of providing a decorative cover, the collar is bondingly connected to the flower pot cover.
- 23. The method of claim 16 wherein, in the step of providing the decorative cover, the upper end of the collar is positioned substantially adjacent to the upper end of the decorative border of the flower pot cover.
- 24. The method of claim 16 wherein, in the step of providing the decorative cover, the upper end of the collar extends beyond the upper end of the decorative border of the flower pot cover.
- 25. The method of claim 16 wherein, in the step of providing a plant having substantial horizontal growth, the plant having substantial horizontal growth is further defined as a gesneriad.
- 26. The method of claim 25 wherein the plant having substantial horizontal growth is further defined as an African violet.
- 27. The method of claim 16 wherein, in the step of providing a decorative cover, the angles of the decorative border of the flower pot cover and the collar relative to the horizontal axis of the base of the flower pot cover are at least about 40°.
- 28. The method of claim 27 wherein the angles of the decorative border of the flower pot cover and the collar relative to the horizontal axis of the base of the flower pot cover are in a range of from about 40° to about 55°.
- 29. The method of claim 16 wherein, in the step of positioning and arranging the leaves and petioles of the plant on the collar such that the angles of the decorative border of the flower pot cover and the collar relative to the horizontal axis of the base of the flower pot cover decreases so that the decorative border of the flower pot cover and the collar move toward a compressed condition, the angles of the decorative border of the flower pot cover and the collar relative to the horizontal axis of the base of the flower pot cover are in a range of from about 25° to about 40°.
- 30. The method of claim 29 wherein, in the step of positioning and arranging the leaves and petioles of the plant on the collar such that the angles of the decorative border of the flower pot cover and the collar relative to the horizontal axis of the base of the flower pot cover decreases so that the decorative border of the flower pot cover and the collar move toward a compressed condition, the angles of the decorative border of the flower pot cover and the collar relative to the horizontal axis of the base of the flower pot cover are about 30°.
- 31. A decorative cover for supporting leaves and petioles of a plant having substantial horizontal growth so as to prevent damage thereto, the decorative cover comprising:a base having a closed lower end, an open upper end, an outer peripheral surface, an object retaining space and a horizontal axis; and a decorative border having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end of the decorative border connected to the open upper end of the base and extending from the open upper end of the base so as to be disposed at an upward and outward angle with respect to the open upper end of the base wherein the angle of the decorative border relative to the horizontal axis of the base is at least about 40°, the decorative border having a curvilinear, undulating configuration which permits the decorative border to hold, support and cushion individual leaves and petioles of a plant when the plant is disposed in the object retaining space of the base of the decorative cover and the leaves and petioles are positioned on the decorative border, wherein when the leaves and petioles of the plant are positioned on the decorative border, the angle of the decorative border relative to the horizontal axis of the base decreases to an angle in a range of from about 25° to about 40° so that the decorative border moves toward a compressed condition, thereby permitting the decorative border to resiliently hold and gently support the individual leaves and petioles of the plant to prevent damage thereto and to accommodate horizontal growth of the leaves and petioles of the plant.
- 32. The decorative cover of claim 31 wherein the decorative cover is constructed of at least one sheet of flexible, non-shape sustaining material, and wherein the decorative cover is flexible, resilient and shape-sustaining such that the decorative cover may be substantially flattened and unflattened.
- 33. The decorative cover of claim 32 wherein the sheet of material is selected from the group consisting of paper, polymeric film, foil, metallized film, fabric, fiber, burlap and combinations thereof.
- 34. The decorative cover of claim 32 wherein the sheet of material is provided with a characteristic selected from the group consisting of designs, decorative patterns, colorings, coatings, embossings, flockings, metallic finishes, pearlescent finishes, translucent finishes, transparent finishes, iridescent finishes, neon finishes, holographic finishes or designs, opaque finishes, clear finishes and combinations thereof.
- 35. The decorative cover of claim 31 wherein the decorative cover is provided with a plurality of bondingly connected overlapping folds formed in at least a portion of the base of the decorative cover which cooperate to retain the decorative cover in a formed shape.
- 36. The decorative cover of claim 31 wherein the decorative cover is constructed from a sheet of material having a thickness in a range of from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mil.
- 37. The decorative cover of claim 31 wherein the plant having substantial horizontal growth is further defined as a gesneriad.
- 38. The decorative cover of claim 37 wherein the plant having substantial horizontal growth is further defined as an African violet.
- 39. The decorative cover of claim 31 wherein the angle of the decorative border relative to the horizontal axis of the base of the decorative cover is in a range of from about 40° to about 55°.
- 40. The decorative cover of claim 31 wherein, when the plant is disposed in the object retaining space of the base of the decorative cover and the leaves and petioles of the plant are positioned on the decorative border of the decorative cover, the decorative border is in a compressed condition wherein the angle of the decorative border relative to the horizontal axis of the base is about 30°.
- 41. A decorative assembly, comprising:a plant having substantial horizontal growth, the plant having leaves and petioles; and a decorative cover for supporting leaves and petioles of a plant having substantial horizontal growth so as to prevent damage thereto, the decorative cover comprising: a base having a closed lower end, an open upper end, an outer peripheral surface, an object retaining space and a horizontal axis; and a decorative border having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end of the decorative border connected to the open upper end of the base and extending from the open upper end of the base so as to be disposed at an upward and outward angle with respect to the open upper end of the base, the decorative border having a curvilinear, undulating configuration which permits the decorative border to hold, support and cushion individual leaves and petioles of a plant when the plant is disposed in the object retaining space of the base of the decorative cover and the leaves and petioles are positioned on the decorative border, wherein when the leaves and petioles of the plant are positioned on the decorative border, the angle of the decorative border relative to the horizontal axis of the base decreases to about 30° so that the decorative border moves toward a compressed condition, thereby permitting the decorative border to resiliently hold and gently support the individual leaves and petioles of the plant to prevent damage thereto and to accommodate horizontal growth of the leaves and petioles of the plant.
- 42. The decorative assembly of claim 41 wherein the decorative cover is constructed of at least one sheet of flexible, non-shape sustaining material, and wherein the decorative cover is flexible, resilient and shape-sustaining such that the decorative cover may be substantially flattened and unflattened.
- 43. The decorative assembly of claim 42 wherein the sheet of material from which the decorative cover is constructed is selected from the group consisting of paper, polymeric film, foil, metallized film, fabric, fiber, burlap and combinations thereof.
- 44. The decorative assembly of claim 42 wherein the sheet of material from which the decorative cover is constructed is provided with a characteristic selected from the group consisting of designs, decorative patterns, colorings, coatings, embossings, flockings, metallic finishes, pearlescent finishes, translucent finishes, transparent finishes, iridescent finishes, neon finishes, holographic finishes or designs, opaque finishes, clear finishes and combinations thereof.
- 45. The decorative assembly of claim 41 wherein the decorative cover is provided with a plurality of bondingly connected overlapping folds formed in at least a portion of the base of the decorative cover which cooperate to retain the decorative cover in a formed shape.
- 46. The decorative assembly of claim 41 wherein the decorative cover is constructed from a sheet of material having a thickness in a range of from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mil.
- 47. The decorative assembly of claim 41 wherein the plant having substantial horizontal growth is further defined as a gesneriad.
- 48. The decorative assembly of claim 47 wherein the plant having substantial horizontal growth is further defined as an African violet.
- 49. The decorative assembly of claim 41 wherein the angle of the decorative border of the decorative cover relative to the horizontal axis of the base of the decorative cover is at least about 40°.
- 50. The decorative assembly of claim 49 wherein the angle of the decorative border of the decorative cover relative to the horizontal axis of the base of the decorative cover is in a range of from about 40° to about 55°.
- 51. A method of using a decorative cover with a plant having substantial horizontal growth, the method comprising the steps of:providing a plant having substantial horizontal growth, the plant having leaves and petioles, the plant contained within a flower pot having an outer peripheral surface; forming at least one sheet of flexible, non-shape sustaining material into a decorative cover which is flexible, resilient and substantially shape-sustaining, the decorative cover comprising: a base having a closed lower end, an open upper end, an outer peripheral surface, an object retaining space and a horizontal axis; and a decorative border having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end of the decorative border connected to the open upper end of the base and extending from the open upper end of the base so as to be disposed at an upward and outward angle with respect to the open upper end of the base, the decorative border having a curvilinear, undulating configuration which permits the decorative border to hold, support and cushion individual leaves and petioles of a plant when the plant is disposed in the object retaining space of the base of the decorative cover and the leaves and petioles are positioned on the decorative border; disposing the flower pot containing the plant having substantial horizontal growth into the object retaining space of the base of the decorative cover, the base of the decorative cover substantially surrounding and encompassing the outer peripheral surface of the flower pot; and positioning and arranging the leaves and petioles of the plant on the decorative border such that the angle of the decorative border relative to the horizontal axis of the base decreases to about 30° so that the decorative border moves toward a compressed condition, thereby permitting the decorative border to resiliently hold and gently support the individual leaves and petioles of the plant to prevent damage thereto and to accommodate horizontal growth of the leaves and petioles of the plant.
- 52. The method of claim 51 wherein, in the step of forming at least one sheet of flexible, non-shape sustaining material into a decorative cover, the decorative cover may be substantially flattened and unflattened.
- 53. The method of claim 51 wherein, in the step of forming at least one sheet of flexible, non-shape sustaining material into a decorative cover, the decorative cover is provided with a plurality of bondingly connected overlapping folds formed in at least a portion of the base of the decorative cover which cooperate to retain the decorative cover in a formed shape.
- 54. The method of claim 51 wherein, in the step of forming at least one sheet of flexible, non-shape sustaining material into a decorative cover, the sheet of material is selected from the group consisting of paper, polymeric film, foil, metallized film, fabric, fiber, burlap and combinations thereof.
- 55. The method of claim 51 wherein, in the step of forming at least one sheet of flexible, non-shape sustaining material into a decorative cover, the sheet of material is provided with a characteristic selected from the group consisting of designs, decorative patterns, colorings, coatings, embossings, flockings, metallic finishes, pearlescent finishes, translucent finishes, transparent finishes, iridescent finishes, neon finishes, holographic finishes or designs, opaque finishes, clear finishes and combinations thereof.
- 56. The method of claim 51 wherein, in the step of forming at least one sheet of flexible, non-shape sustaining material into a decorative cover, the sheet of material has a thickness in a range of from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mil.
- 57. The method of claim 51 wherein, in the step of providing a plant having substantial horizontal growth, the plant having substantial horizontal growth is further defined as a gesneriad.
- 58. The method of claim 57 wherein the plant having substantial horizontal growth is further defined as an African violet.
- 59. The method of claim 51 wherein, in the step of forming at least one sheet of flexible, non-shape sustaining material into a decorative cover, the angle of the decorative border of the decorative cover relative to the horizontal axis of the base of the decorative cover is at least about 40°.
- 60. The method of claim 59 wherein, in the step of forming at least one sheet of flexible, non-shape sustaining material into a decorative cover, the angle of the decorative border of the decorative cover relative to the horizontal axis of the base of the decorative cover is in a range of from about 40° to about 55°.
- 61. A decorative assembly, comprising:a plant having substantial horizontal growth, the plant having leaves and petioles and disposed in a flower pot having an upper end; and a collar for supporting leaves and petioles of a plant having substantial horizontal growth so as to prevent damage thereto, the collar having a lower end, an upper end, an opening through a portion thereof and a length extending between the upper and lower ends thereof, a lower portion of the collar being disposed near the upper end of the flower pot and the collar extending upwardly and outwardly at an angle with respect to the upper end of the flower pot, the length of the collar being at least equal to the length of the leaves and petioles of the plant such that when the leaves and petioles of the plant are positioned on the collar, the angle of the collar relative to a horizontal axis of the flower pot decreases to about 30° so that the collar moves toward a compressed condition, thereby permitting the collar to resiliently hold and gently support the individual leaves and petioles of the plant to prevent damage thereto and to accommodate horizontal growth of the leaves and petioles of the plant.
- 62. The decorative assembly of claim 61 wherein the collar is formed of a sheet of material selected from the group consisting of paper, polymeric film, foil, metallized film, fabric, fiber, burlap and combinations thereof.
- 63. The decorative assembly of claim 62 wherein the sheet of material from which the collar is formed is provided with a characteristic selected from the group consisting of designs, decorative patterns, colorings, coatings, embossings, flockings, metallic finishes, pearlescent finishes, translucent finishes, transparent finishes, iridescent finishes, neon finishes, holographic finishes or designs, opaque finishes, clear finishes and combinations thereof.
- 64. The decorative assembly of claim 62 wherein the sheet of material from which the collar is formed has a thickness in a range of from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mil.
- 65. The decorative assembly of claim 61 wherein the plant having substantial horizontal growth is further defined as a gesneriad.
- 66. The decorative assembly of claim 65 wherein the plant having substantial horizontal growth is further defined as an African violet.
- 67. The decorative assembly of claim 61 wherein the angle of the collar relative to the horizontal axis of the flower pot is at least about 40°.
- 68. The decorative assembly of claim 67 wherein the angle of the collar relative to the horizontal axis of the flower pot is in a range of from about 40° to about 55°.
- 69. The decorative assembly of claim 61 wherein the collar is bondingly connected to the flower pot.
- 70. A method of using a collar with a plant having substantial horizontal growth, the method comprising the steps of:providing a plant having substantial horizontal growth, the plant having leaves and petioles, the plant contained within a flower pot having an upper end and an outer peripheral surface; providing a collar for supporting leaves and petioles of a plant having substantial horizontal growth so as to prevent damage thereto, the collar having a lower end, an upper end, an opening through a portion thereof and a length extending between the upper and lower ends thereof; disposing the collar about the flower pot such that a lower portion of the collar is disposed near the upper end of the flower pot and the collar extends upwardly and outwardly at an angle with respect to the upper end of the flower pot, the length of the collar being at least equal to the length of the leaves and petioles of the plant; and positioning and arranging the leaves and petioles of the plant on the collar such that the angle of the collar relative to a horizontal axis of the flower pot decreases to about 30° so that the collar moves toward a compressed condition, thereby permitting the collar to resiliently hold and gently support the individual leaves and petioles of the plant to prevent damage thereto and to accommodate horizontal growth of the leaves and petioles of the plant.
- 71. The method of claim 70 wherein, in the step of providing a collar, the collar is formed of a sheet of material selected from the group consisting of paper, polymeric film, foil, metallized film, fabric, fiber, burlap and combinations thereof.
- 72. The method of claim 70 wherein, in the step of providing a collar, the collar is formed of a sheet of material provided with a characteristic selected from the group consisting of designs, decorative patterns, colorings, coatings, embossings, flockings, metallic finishes, pearlescent finishes, translucent finishes, transparent finishes, iridescent finishes, neon finishes; holographic finishes or designs, opaque finishes, clear finishes and combinations thereof.
- 73. The method of claim 70 wherein, in the step of providing a collar, the collar is formed of a sheet of material having a thickness in a range of from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mil.
- 74. The method of claim 70 wherein, in the step of providing a plant having substantial horizontal growth, the plant having substantial horizontal growth is further defined as a gesneriad.
- 75. The method of claim 74 wherein the plant having substantial horizontal growth is further defined as an African violet.
- 76. The method of claim 70 wherein, in the step of providing a collar, the angle of the collar relative to the horizontal axis of the flower pot is at least about 40°.
- 77. The method of claim 76 wherein the angle of the collar relative to the horizontal axis of the flower pot is in a range of from about 40° to about 55°.
- 78. The method of claim 70 wherein, in the step of disposing the collar about the flower pot, the collar is bondingly connected to the flower pot.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Ser. No. 60/207,594, entitled SYSTEM FOR FORMING A DECORATIVE COVER FOR A PLANT HAVING SUBSTANTIAL HORIZONTAL GROWTH, filed May 26, 2000.
US Referenced Citations (17)
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60/207594 |
May 2000 |
US |