Abstract:
An improved cover for potted plants and method for covering potted plants is described. The cover provides a water tight seal at its base while at the same time protecting the plant from contact with water leaking out of the plant. The cover is in the form of a flat, tear-away bag that customers of florists and plant nurseries can use themselves without assistance.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to wrapping plants for purposes of display and transportation, and in particular to covering potted plants for such purposes. 
     Florists, plant nursery professionals, and the like, have a variety of means at their disposal for wrapping potted plants in an attractive fashion. The coverings must be easy to use, relatively economical, convenient for customers to carry after they have made a purchase, and present the potted plants in an inviting manner. Currently preformed potcovers are available that are leakproof, and can be obtained in a variety of colors and sizes to accommodate pots for plants of varying dimensions. Additionally a preformed plastic wrapping has been disclosed by Daniel Lapalud in French Patent No. 8809110 (filed Jun. 30, 1988-- issued Jan. 5, 1990). 
     While these wrappings provide and suggest useful conveniences in the merchandising of potted plants, the instant invention offers important additional improvements. Present wrappings either have their base open to permit moisture to drain away from the plant, or provide a leak proof seal at the base. In the former case moisture can be messy during storage and transport, and in the latter case water collecting at the base of the plant can cause vegetation to rot. And preformed potcovers have the disadvantage of being restricted to pots for plants of specific sizes. Also preformed covers tend to be bulky to store in large quantities. 
     The instant invention addresses these problems, and provides additional conveniences including accommodating a variety of pot dimensions in a particular size covering, built-in means for gripping the covering, means for including a greeting card within the cover, and means for securing large quantities of the covering to a hanger from which the covering can be easily torn away. Further, the aesthetic qualities of the covering are improved by having the cover laminated, with a decorative edge, such as a fluted edge. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A primary object of the invention is to provide a covering for potted plants to aid in the prevention of rotting of the plant due to contact with excess water. 
     A further object is to provide a convenient tear-away potted plant cover. 
     An additional object is to accommodate a variety of sizes of potted plants in a single covering. 
     Another object is to provide means for conveniently transporting potted plants. 
     A further object is to provide attractive, easily storable potted plant covers with means for holding and displaying a greeting card. 
     These and other objects are obtained with this improved covering for potted plants and method for covering potted plants. 
     In the instant invention a potted plant cover is formed in the shape of a bag, with an open top portion and a sealed base portion. The open top portion extends approximately half of the total length of the bag, being generally conically shaped, with the base portion of the bag being generally cylindrical in shape. This bag can be made out of a variety of materials such as paper, plastic, aluminum foil, etc., but is preferably made out of a suitable plastic, which can, of course, be laminated for decorative purposes. 
     The bag is preferably supplied flat with additional material being folded to extend within the base portion of the bag. This folded additional material is sealed at its bottom edge, so that the base portion of the bag provides a liquid seal when a potted plant is placed therein. This folded additional material within the base portion of the bag can be provided in a variety of shapes, the preferred shape being in the form of a &#34;gusset&#34;, i.e. an additional triangular piece of material. The function of this gusset is two-fold; to provide for comfortably accommodating a number of differently sized cylindrically shaped potted plants, while at the same time providing a void area at the periphery of the base portion of the bag, away from the base of the potted plant. Water draining out of the potted plant will drain into this void area, away from the plant, and thereby prevent rotting of the plant vegetation which may occur if the water were permitted to remain in contact with the base of the plant. 
     The bag is also provided with additional material connected to the outwardly extending portion of the cone shaped top portion. This top portion additional material is connected to the top portion of the bag in a manner that will facilitate tearing the top portion of the bag, and hence the entire bag, away from this top portion additional material. This top portion additional material is connected to the rest of the bag by means of a weakened tear line, a perforated line, etc. Holes may be provided in this top portion additional material, so that is may be secured on a hanger, or hanging posts. In this manner large quantities of these bags can be made accessible to customers of florists and plant nurseries, enabling said customers to help themselves to a plant covering when they have made a selection of a potted plant to purchase. The tear line connecting this top portion additional material to the rest of the bag is preferably arranged so that when the bag is torn away a decorative edge is formed at the outwardly flaring conical edge of the top portion of the bag, as, for example, a fluted edge. 
     A hand grip cut out in opposite faces of the top portion of the bag is provided, so that customers can conveniently carry the selected potted plant. Additionally, when the conical top portion of the bag is folded down for full viewing of the plant, a slot for holding a greeting card is provided. The bag is preferably made in a laminated plastic to facilitate a metal foil appearance, for printing directly on the bag, and for other decorative techniques. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the improved cover for potted plants of the invention showing a laminated construction, and the gusset portion of the cover shown in phantom. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cover of the invention showing ease of transport, with a potted plant secured in the cover illustrating the void area developed by the gusset at the base of the cover. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cover of the invention, with the top portion pulled down to show the potted plant, illustrating the placement of a greeting card within a slot in the top portion of the cover. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to FIG. 1 a preferred embodiment of the cover of the invention is shown. The cover is shown in the shape of a bag 10 with a top portion 14, and a base portion 12. Bag 10 can be fabricated in a variety of ways, as, for example, from paper, plastic, aluminum foil, etc. Preferably bag 10 is made in one piece, and is supplied flat for ease in storage and handling. When in use, the top portion 14 of bag 10 has an open end 20, and the base portion 12 is sealed at the bottom edge 22 of gusset 24. The top portion 14 is generally conical in shape, flaring outward towards said open end 20 of top portion 14. A cut out 18 is provided in top portion 14, and an identical cut out (not shown) in the opposite wall of top portion 14 provides a hand grip 30 (FIG. 2) for bag 10 when a potted plant 34 (FIG. 2) is secured within said bag. 
     Top portion 14 has additional material 28 initially connected to the open end 20 of top portion 14. This additional material 28 is weakly connected to top portion 14 at tear line 26. This tear line goes completely around the circumference of the open end 20 of bag 10. The tear line 26 can be made with perforations along its circumference or by other well known means for weakening this connection of additional material 28 to top portion 14. Holes 36 and 46 provide a convenient way for securing bag 10 to a hanger (not shown), or hanging posts (not shown). In actual use the bag can be place on said hanger in large quantities since said bag is supplied flat. Customers having selected a potted plant for purchase can then simply tear away bag 10 from said hanger leaving additional material 28 behind on the hanger. Additionally, the means for causing the weak connection of additional material 28 to top portion 14 can be arranged in a manner to cause the tear to form a decorative edge at the open top of top portion 14, as, for example, a fluted edge 38. 
     Base portion 12 of bag 10 is generally cylindrical throughout its length, comprising approximately half the length of complete bag 10. Bend line 28 forms the junction between top portion 14 and base portion 12. Additional material which can be added in the shape of a gusset 24 (i.e. an additional triangular piece of material), extends within base portion 12 of bag 10. Bottom edge 22 of gusset 24 forms the liquid seal for bag 10. In actual use the gusset serves the double function of comfortably accommodating a variety of sizes of a cylindrically shaped plant container 34 (FIG. 2), while at the same time providing a void area 36 (FIG. 2) at the periphery of the bottom of base portion 12. When plant container 34 together with plant 32 is placed within bag 10, the base of plant container 34 contacts the bottom edge 22 of gusset 24 so that gusset 24 expands outwardly and downwardly to accommodate the base of plant container 34, and void area 36 is created at the periphery of the bottom of base portion 12. Water (not shown) that may drain out of plant 32 and container 34 is now free to drain away from the base of container 34, thereby protecting plant 32 from rot that might occur if said plant remained in contact with said water. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates placing a greeting card 42 within a slot 40 in the inner surface of top portion 14 of bag 10. When the open end 20 is folded down over base portion 12 slot 40 becomes visible. A greeting card 42 previously placed within slot 40 now becomes visible and accessible. 
     Fabricating bag 10 as a plastic laminate, with an outside layer 44 (FIG. 1) and an inside layer 16 (FIG. 1) permits printing informative material, and decorations directly on the surface of the bag. 
     As can be understood from the foregoing bag 10 provides an attractive and useful cover and method for displaying, protecting, and transporting potted plants. 
     While the present invention has been disclosed in connection with the preferred embodiments shown and described in detail, various modifications and improvements thereon will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the spirit and scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims: