Flower pot cover with crimped portion

Abstract: A flower pot cover consisting of a base (12) and a skirt (14). The base has an upper end (46) and a lower end (48) with a pot opening (52) being formed through the upper end of the base providing access to a pot receiving space (54). The skirt is connected to the upper end of the base and the skirt extends a distance outwardly from the base terminating with an outer periphery. A bonding material is disposed on the skirt or the base or both. A flower pot (44) is disposed in the pot receiving space and the portion of the skirt and/or the base having the bonding material thereon is crimped to provide a crimped portion (56) for cooperating to maintain the flower pot cover connected to the flower pot.

Description: FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to flower pot covers for providing decorative coverings for flower pots. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventional flower pot covers have had a propensity to fall off the flower pot for which they were intended to provide a decorative cover. This invention provides a flower pot cover and a method of covering a flower pot which overcomes this problem. U.S. Patent No. 4,771,573 discloses a cover having a gathered (crimped) portion near the upper end with an elastic band 5 in the gathered portion. Straps 6 secure the cover in a position about the pot. The reference does not disclose a cover having an adhesive or cohesive bonding material or a crimped portion which has connected overlapping folds therein. International Publication No. WO-A-9 003 311 discloses a sheet of material having an adhesive bonding material thereon which can be formed about a flower pot. However, 9003311 discloses only a flat sheet, not a preformed flower pot cover as presently claimed. Several other pot covers are disclosed the following documents: FR-A-2 467 796, FR-A-1 393 725, FR-A-1 376 047, FR-A-2 137 325, FR-A-2 619 698, and DE-U-8 905 250. However, each of these references also fails to disclose a cover having an adhesive or cohesive bonding material which bonds a crimped portion of the cover together. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention includes a preformed flower pot cover disposable about a flower pot comprising: a base having an upper end, a lower end, an outer peripheral surface and a pot opening formed through the upper end thereof providing access to a pot receiving space, the pot receiving space forming an inner peripheral surface in the base, characterized by: an adhesive or cohesive bonding material being disposed upon a portion of the base for forming a crimped portion, wherein when a flower pot is disposed in the pot receiving space the crimped portion can be formed in the base by crimping the portion of the base near the bonding material wherein bonded overlapping folds are formed in the crimped portion of the base disposed about the flower pot. The invention also includes a preformed flower pot cover disposable about a flower pot, comprising: a base having an upper end, a lower end, an outer peripheral surface and a pot opening formed through the upper end thereof providing access to a pot receiving space, forming an inner peripheral surface in the base; and a skirt connected to the upper end of the base, the skirt extending a distance outwardly from the upper end of the base terminating with an outer periphery, the skirt having an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface, characterized by an adhesive or cohesive bonding material being disposed on a portion of the skirt for forming a crimped portion, wherein when a flower pot is disposed in the pot receiving space of the base the crimped portion can be formed in the skirt by crimping together portions of the skirt near the bonding material with the bonding material wherein bonded overlapping folds are formed in the crimped portion of the flower pot cover on the flower pot. In addition, the invention includes a method for covering a flower pot, comprising: providing a preformed flower pot cover, the cover comprising a base having an upper end, a lower end, an outer peripheral surface, and a pot opening formed through the upper end of the base providing access to a pot receiving space, the pot receiving space forming an inner peripheral surface in the base, and the base having an adhesive or cohesive bonding material disposed upon a portion thereof; providing a flower pot having an upper end, a lower end and an outer peripheral surface; disposing the flower pot in the pot receiving space of the base of the cover; forming a crimped portion with bonded overlapping folds in the base by crimping together portions of the base with the bonding material thereon. In addition, the invention also includes a method for covering a flower pot, comprising: providing a preformed flower pot cover, the cover comprising a base having an upper end, a lower end, an outer peripheral surface and a pot opening formed through the upper end of the base providing access to a pot receiving space, the pot receiving space forming an inner peripheral surface in the base, and a skirt connected to the upper end of the base, the skirt extending a distance outwardly from the upper end of the base terminating with an outer periphery, the skirt having an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface, an adhesive or cohesive bonding material being disposed on a portion of the skirt; disposing a flower pot having an upper end and a lower end in the pot receiving space of the base; and crimping portions of the skirt having the bonding material thereon to form a crimped portion having bonded overlapping folds therein. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of a flower pot cover constructed in accordance with the present invention. Figure 2 is an elevational view of the flower pot cover of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a sectional view of a flower pot with the flower pot cover of Figures 1 and 2 placed thereabout and with a crimped portion formed in the flower pot cover. Figure 4 is a perspective view of a modified flower pot cover constructed in accordance with the present invention. Figure 5 is a sectional view showing the flower pot cover of Figure 4 placed about a flower pot with the flower pot cover having a crimped portion formed therein. Figure 6 is a perspective view of yet another modified flower pot cover. Figure 7 is a sectional view showing the flower pot cover of Figure 6 disposed about a flower pot with a crimped portion being formed in the flower pot cover. Figure 8 is an elevational view of still another modified flower pot cover. Figure 9 is an elevational view of still another modified flower pot cover. Figure 10 is an elevational view of still another modified flower pot cover. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Shown in Figures 1 and 2 and designated therein by the general reference numeral 10 is a flower pot cover constructed in accordance with the present invention. The flower pot cover 10 comprises a base 12 and a skirt 14. In one preferred form, the flower pot cover 10 is formed by taking a sheet of material and placing it between a male and a female mold. In this embodiment, the male mold is brought into mating engagement with the female mold thereby forming the flower pot cover 10. In this process, a plurality of overlapping folds 16 (Figures 1 and 2) are formed in the base 12. The overlapping folds 16 cooperate to maintain the structural integrity of the base 12 and cooperate to maintain the base 12 in the preformed shape. Apparatus and methods for forming a flower pot cover as just described are disclosed in detail in United States Patent No. 4,773,182, entitled "ARTICLE FORMING SYSTEM" issued September 27, 1988 and assigned to the Assignee of the present invention. In contrast to the system disclosed in United States Patent No. 4,773,182, the present invention employs a bonding material disposed on cover 10 for forming a crimped portion in a portion of cover 10. The bonding material used for forming the crimped portion thereby acts to more securely hold cover 10 on a flower pot. The base 12 has an upper end 18, a lower end 20, and an outer peripheral surface 22. A pot opening 24 (Figure 1) is formed through the upper end 18 of the base 12 providing access to a pot receiving space 26 (Figure 1). The pot receiving space 26 forms an inner peripheral surface in the base 12. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the base 12 is generally cylindrically shaped, although the base 12 could be any geometric shape as may be desired in a particular application. In a preferred manner, the skirt 14 is formed integrally with the base 12. The skirt 14 is connected to the upper end 18 of the base 12 at a connection 30 (Figure 1) between the upper end 18 of the base 12 and the skirt 14. The skirt 14 extends a distance radially outwardly from the base 12 terminating with an outer periphery 32 (Figures 1 and 3). The skirt 14 has an inner peripheral surface 34 (Figures 1 and 3) and an outer peripheral surface 36 (Figures 2 and 3). In one form, shown in Figures 1 and 2, a plurality of folds 38 also are formed in the skirt 14 with most of the folds 38 extending radially outwardly from the upper end 18 of the base 12 toward the outer periphery 32 of the skirt 14. The base 12 and the skirt 14 may be constructed of any suitable material that is capable of being formed into the flower pot cover 10. Preferably, the material from which the flower pot cover 10 is constructed is a material selected from a group of materials consisting of paper, metal foil, cloth (natural or synthetic), denim, burlap, polymer film, or combinations thereof. The term "polymer film" as used herein means any polymer film. For example, but not by way of limitation, one polymer film is a polypropylene film. Another example of a polymer film, but not by way of limitation, is cellophane. The material has a thickness in a range from about 0.1 mils (.00254 mm) to about 30 mils (.762 mm). Preferably, the material has a'thickness in a range from about 0.1 mils (.00254 mm) to about 5 mils (.127 mm). The material may be any geometric shape. The material 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 or, in other words, the flower pot cover 10 may be utilized in accordance with the present invention as long as the material is formable into the flower pot cover 10 in some manner. The layers of material comprising the flower pot cover 10 may be connected together or laminated or may be separate layers. A decorative pattern, such as a color and/or an embossed pattern, and/or other decorative surface ornamentation may be applied to the inner peripheral surfaces 28 and 34 and/or the outer peripheral surfaces 22 and 36 of the flower pot cover 10 or portions thereof including, but not limited to printed design, coatings, colors, flocking, or metallic finishes. The sheet of material also may be totally or partially clear or tinted transparent material. A bonding material 40 (Figure 1) is disposed on a portion of the inner peripheral surface 34 of the skirt 14. The bonding material 40 more particularly is disposed near the connection 30 between the skirt 14 and the upper end 18 of the base 12. The bonding material 40 covers an area extending from the connection 30 of the skirt 14 to the upper end 18 of the base 12 a distance radially outwardly to a line 42 (Figure 1) spaced a distance radially outwardly from the connection 30. Although the bonding material 40 is shown in Figures 1 and 2 in the form of a continuous strip of the bonding material 40, the bonding material 40 may be in the form of spots or spaced apart strips or any other form desired in a particular application suitable for effecting the crimping described below. The term "bonding material" as used herein means an adhesive, preferably a pressure-sensitive adhesive or a cohesive. Where 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" as used herein also means a heat sealing lacquer which may be applied to the flower pot cover 10 and, in this instance, heat also must be applied to effect the sealing. As mentioned before, the bonding material 40 preferably is an adhesive or cohesive. More particularly, the bonding material 40 preferably is a cohesive. When the bonding material 40 is a cohesive, a plurality of the flower, pot covers 10 may be stacked one on top of the other with the base 12 of an adjacent flower pot cover being disposed in the pot receiving space 26 of an adjacent flower pot cover 10. When the bonding material 40 is a cohesive, the bonding material 40 will not cause one flower pot cover 10 to be bonded to an adjacent flower pot cover 10 when the flower pot covers 10 are stacked in the manner just described. The bonding material 40 may be applied to the sheet of material prior to forming the sheet of material into the flower pot cover 10 or the bonding material 40 may be applied during the forming of the sheet of material into the flower pot cover 10 or the bonding material 40 may be applied after the flower pot cover 10 has been formed. As mentioned before, the flower pot cover 10 is adapted and configured to be used with a flower pot, a flower pot being shown in Figure 3 and designated therein by the referenced numeral 44. As shown in Figure 3, the flower pot 44 has an upper end 46, a lower end 48, an outer peripheral surface 50 with an opening 52 being formed through the upper end 46 of the flower pot 44 providing access to a plant or flower receiving space 54. In use, the lower end 48 of the flower pot 44 is disposed through the pot opening 24 and into the pot receiving space 26 of the flower pot cover 10 to a position wherein the lower end 48 of the flower pot 44 is disposed near the lower end 20 of the flower pot cover 10 and the upper end 46 of the flower pot 44 is disposed near the upper end 18 of the flower pot cover 10. After the flower pot 44 has been disposed in the pot receiving space 26, a crimped portion 56 (Figure 3) is formed in the skirt 14 by bringing together adjacent portions of the skirt 14 about the bonding material 40 thereby causing the adjacent portions to be bonded together for forming the crimped portion 56. The crimping of the skirt 14 may be accomplished by hand or with a device or machine as may be desired in a particular application. The crimped portion 56 extends a distance radially inwardly above the upper end 46 of the flower pot 44. The crimped portion 56 is disposed about adjacent the upper end 46 of the flower pot 44 and the crimped portion 56 engages a portion of the upper end 46 of the flower pot 44 for cooperating to maintain the flower pot cover 10 assembled around or connected to the flower pot 44. The crimped portion 56 preferably extends circumferentially about the upper end 18 of the flowerpot cover 10 and preferably circumferentially around the upper end 46 of the flower pot 44. In some applications, it may be desirable to form the crimped portion 56 only at certain positions spaced circumferentially about the upper end 18 of the base 12. The flower pot cover 10 substantially encompasses the flower pot 44 when the flower pot 44 is disposed in the pot receiving space 26. Embodiment of Figures 4 and 5 Shown in Figures 4 and 5 is a modified flower pot cover 10a which is constructed exactly like the flower pot cover 10 shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3 and described in detail before, except the flower pot cover 10a also includes a bonding material 58 disposed on the inner peripheral surface 28a of the base 12a near the upper end 18a of the base 12a in addition to the bonding material 40a disposed on the inner peripheral surface 34a of the skirt 14a. The bonding material 58 extends from the upper end 18a of the base 12a a distance toward the lower end 20a of the base 12a to a line 60 disposed near and spaced a distance from the upper end 18a of the base 12a. The bonding material 58 extends circumferentially about the upper end 18a of the base 12a. The bonding material 58 substantially covers the entire area between the upper end 18a of the base 12a and the line 60. It should be noted that the bonding material 58, although shown as a continuous strip in Figure 4, could be spots or spaced apart strips if desired in a particular application. In operation, as illustrated in Figure 5, the flower pot cover 10a is disposed about the flower pot 44 in the manner described before in connection with the flower pot 10 shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, and the crimped portion 56a is formed in the flower pot cover 10a in a manner exactly like that described before in connection with the flower pot cover 10 and the crimped portion 56 shown in Figure 3. In addition, the bonding material 58 on the inner peripheral surface 28a of the base 12a bondingly engages to a portion of the outer peripheral surface 50 of the flower pot 44 near the upper end 46 of the flower pot 44. The bonding engagement between the bonding material 58 and the flower pot 44 further cooperates to secure the flower pot cover 10a to the flower pot 44. In those instances where the bonding material 58 is a cohesive, a cohesive material also is included on the outer peripheral surface 50 of the flower pot 44 for bondingly engaging with the bonding material 58 on the flower pot cover 10a. Embodiment of Figures 6 and 7 Shown in Figure 6 is another modified flower pot cover 10b which is constructed exactly like the flower pot cover 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2, except the flower pot cover 10b does not include bonding material on the skirt 14b like the bonding material 40 on the skirt 14 shown in Figures 1 and 2. Rather, the flower pot cover 10b includes bonding material 62 disposed on the inner peripheral surface 28b of the flower pot cover 10b near the upper end 18b of the base 12b. The bonding material 62 extends circumferentially about the upper end 18b of the base 12b. The bonding material 62 extends from the upper end 18b to a line 64 spaced a distance from the upper end 18b of the base 12b. The bonding material 62 substantially covers the entire area between the upper end 18b and the line 64. The bonding material 62 could be in the form of spots or spaced apart strips if desired in a particular application. In use, the flower pot 44 is disposed in the pot receiving space 26b of the flower pot cover 10b, as shown in Figure 7. The crimped portion 56b is formed in the flower pot cover 10b by crimping together portions of the flower pot cover 10b near the bonding material 62 with the bonding material 62 cooperating to bond the overlapping crimped portions for maintaining the shape of the crimped portion 56b in a manner like that described before. In this application, the crimped portion 56b is formed in the base 12b, rather than in the skirt 14b as is the case in connection with the flower pot cover 10 shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3. Embodiment of Figure 8 Shown in Figure 8 is another modified flower pot cover 10c which is constructed exactly like the flower pot cover 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2 and described in detail before, except the flower pot cover 10c includes bonding material 66 on the outer peripheral surface 36c of the skirt 14c near the upper end 18c of the base 12c. The bonding material 66 extends circumferentially near upper end 18c of the base 12c. The bonding material 16 extends from the upper end 18c of the base 12c to a line 68 on skirt 14c spaced a distance from the upper end 18c of the base 12c. In use, the flower pot cover 10c is disposed about a flower pot 44 and the crimped portion is formed by crimping together portions of the flower pot cover near and adjacent the bonding material 66 to form the crimped portion in a manner like that described before in connection with the flower pot cover 10b shown in Figure 7, except the bonding material 66 is on the outer peripheral surface 36c of the skirt 14c, rather than the inner peripheral surface 28b as is the case with the flower pot cover 10b shown in Figure 7. Embodiment of Figure 9 Shown in Figure 9 is a flower pot cover 10d which is constructed exactly like the flower pot cover 10c shown in Figure 8 described in detail before, except the flower pot cover 10d also includes bonding material 70 on the outer peripheral surface 22d of the base 12d near the connection 30d. In this instance, the crimped portion is formed by crimping together portions of the base 12d and the skirt 14d having the bonding materials 70 and 66 respectively, thereon. Embodiment of Figure 10 Shown in Figure 10 is another modified flower pot cover 10e which is constructed exactly like the flower pot cover 10d, except the flower pot cover 10e does not include the bonding material 66 on the skirt. Rather, the flower pot cover 10e includes only a bonding material 74 on the base 12e which extends to a line 76. The flower pot cover 10e will operate to form the crimped portion in a manner exactly like that described before with respect to the flower pot covers 10c and 10d shown in Figures 8 and 9, except the crimped portion only will be formed by crimping together portions of the bonding material 74 on the base 12e. Changes may be made in the construction and the operation of the various components, elements, and assemblies described herein and changes may be made in the steps or the sequence of steps of the methods described herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims: A preformed flower pot cover (10b) disposable about a flower pot (44) comprising: a base (12b) having an upper end (18b), a lower end (20b), an outer peripheral surface (22b) and a pot opening (24b) formed through the upper end (18b) thereof providing access to a pot receiving space (26b), the pot receiving space (26b) forming an inner peripheral surface (28b) in the base (12b), characterized by : an adhesive or cohesive bonding material (62) being disposed upon a portion of the base (12b) for forming a crimped portion, wherein when a flower pot (44) is disposed in the pot receiving space (26b) the crimped portion can be formed in the base (12b) by crimping the portion of the base (12b) near the bonding material (62) wherein bonded overlapping folds (56b) are formed in the crimped portion (56b) of the base (12b) disposed about the flower pot (44). The preformed flower pot cover (10b) of Claim 1, wherein the upper end (18b) of the base (12b) is disposed above the upper end (46b) of the flower pot (44) when the flower pot (44) is disposed in the pot receiving spacc (26b) and wherein the crimped portion (56b) is positioned above the upper end (46b) of the flower pot (44) when the flower pot (44) is disposed in the pot receiving space (26b). The preformed flower pot cover (10b) of Claim 1 or 2, wherein the crimped portion (56b) is defined further as extending circumferentially and radially inwardly about the base (12b). The preformed flower pot cover (10b) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bonding material (62) is defined further as being disposed on the inner peripheral surface (28b) of the base (12b) near the upper end (18b) of the base (12b). The preformed flower pot cover (10b) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bonding material (62) is defined further as being disposed on the outer peripheral surface (22b) of the base (12b) near the upper end (18b) of the base (12b). The preformed flower pot cover (10b) of any one of the preceding claims further comprising: a skirt (14b) connected to the upper end (18b) of the base (12b), the skirt (14a) extending a distance outwardly from the base (12b) terminating with an outer periphery (32b), the skirt (14b) having an outer peripheral surface (36b) and an inner peripheral surface (34b), an adhesive or cohesive bonding material (40) being disposed on the skirt (14b), the crimped portion (56b) being formed by crimping together portions of the flower pot cover (10b) with the bonding material (40) and (62), respectively, on the skirt (14b) and on the base (12b). The preformed flower pot cover (10b) of Claims 6, wherein the bonding material (40) on the skirt (14b) is defined further as extending circumferentially about a portion of the skirt (14b) and being disposed near the upper end (18b) of the base (12b). The preformed flower pot cover (10b) of Claim 6 or 7, wherein the bonding material (40) on the skirt (14b) is defined further as being disposed on the inner peripheral surface (34) of the skirt (14b). The preformed flower pot cover (10b) of any one of Claims 6 to 8, wherein the bonding material (40) is defined further as being disposed on the outer peripheral surface (36b) of the skirt (14b) and near the upper end (18b) of the base (12b). A preformed flower pot cover (10) disposable about a flower pot (44), comprising: a base (12) having an upper end (18), a lower end (20), an outer peripheral surface (22) and a pot opening (24) formed through the upper end (18) thereof providing access to a pot receiving space (26), forming an inner peripheral surface (28) in the base (12); and a skirt (14) connected to the upper end (18) of the base (12), the skirt (14) extending a distance outwardly from the upper end (18) of the base (12) terminating with an outer periphery (32), the skirt (14) having an outer peripheral surface (36) and an inner peripheral surface (34), characterized by : an adhesive or cohesive bonding material (40) being disposed on a portion of the skirt (14) for forming a crimped portion, wherein when a flower pot (44) is disposed in the pot receiving space (26) of the base (12) the crimped portion can be formed in the skirt (14) by crimping together portions of the skirt (14) near the bonding material (40) with the bonding material (40) wherein bonded overlapping folds are formed in the crimped portion (56) of the flower pot cover (10) on the flower pot (44). The preformed flower pot cover (10) of Claim 10, wherein the crimped portion (56) extends circumferentially about the upper end (18) of the base (12). The preformed flower pot cover (10) of Claim 10, wherein the bonding material (40) is defined further as being disposed on the inner peripheral surface (34) of the skirt (14). The preformed flower pot cover (10) of Claim 10, wherein the bonding material (40) is defined further as being disposed on the outer peripheral surface (36) of the skirt (14). A method for covering a flower pot (44), comprising: providing a preformed flower pot cover, the cover (10b) comprising a base (12b) having an upper end (18b), a lower end (20b), an outer peripheral surface (22b), and a pot opening (24b) formed through the upper end (18b) of the base (12b) providing access to a pot receiving space (26b), the pot receiving space (26b) forming an inner peripheral surface (28b) in the base (12b), and the base (12b) having an adhesive or cohesive bonding material (40) disposed upon a portion thereof; providing a flower pot (44) having an upper end (46), a lower end (48) and an outer peripheral surface (50); disposing the flower pot (44) in the pot receiving space (26b) of the base (12b) of the cover (10b); forming a crimped portion (56b) with bonded overlapping folds in the base (12b) by crimping together portions of the base (12b) with the bonding material (62) thereon. The method of Claim 14, wherein the bonding material is disposed upon the base near the upper end of the base and wherein the upper end (18b) of the base (12b) is disposed above the upper end (46b) of the pot (44) and wherein the step of forming the crimped portion (56b) is defined further as forming the crimped portion ' (56b) in the base (12b) at a position above the upper end (46b) of the flower pot (44). The method of Claim 14 or 15, wherein the step of forming the crimped portion (56b) is defined further as forming the crimped portion (56b) extending circumferentially about the base (12b) near the upper end (18b) of the base (12b). The method of any one of Claims 14 through 16, wherein in the step of providing the preformed pot cover, the base (12b) is defined further as having the bonding material (62) disposed on the inner peripheral surface (28b) thereof. The method of any one of Claims 14 through 17, wherein the step of providing the preformed pot cover the base (12b) is defined further as having the bonding material (62) disposed on the outer peripheral surface (22b) thereof. The method of any one of Claims 14 through 18, wherein the step of providing the preformed pot cover, the base (12b) is defined further as having a skirt (14b) connected to the upper end (18b) of the base (12b), the skirt (14b) extending the distance outwardly from the upper end (18b) of the base (12b) terminating with an outer periphery (32), the skirt (14b) having an outer peripheral surface (36b) and an inner peripheral surface (34b), and wherein an adhesive or cohesive bonding material (40) is disposed on the skirt (14b) near the connection (30) of the skirt (14b) to the base (12b), and wherein the step of forming the crimped portion (56b) is defined further as crimping portions of the base (12b) and the skirt (14b) with the bonding materials (40) thereon bonding adjacent crimped portions (12b, 14b) for forming the crimped portion (56). The method of Claim 19, wherein in the step of providing the preformed pot cover, the base (12b) and the skirt (14b) are further defined as having the bonding material (40) disposed on the inner peripheral surfaces (34b) and (28b) thereof. The method of Claim 19 or 20, wherein the step of forming the crimped portion (56) is defined further as forming the crimped portion (56) extending circumferentially about the connection of the skirt (14b) to the base (12b). The method of Claim 19, wherein in the step of providing the preformed pot cover, the base (12b) and the skirt (14b) are further defined as having the bonding material (40) disposed on the outer peripheral surfaces (22b and 36b) of the base (12b) and of the skirt (14b) respectively. The method of Claim 19, wherein in the step of providing the preformed pot cover, the bonding material (40) is further defined as being disposed on the inner peripheral surface (34) of the skirt (14b). The method of Claim 19, wherein in the step of providing the preformed pot cover, the bonding material (40) is further defined as being disposed on the outer peripheral surface (36) of the skirt (14b). The method of any one of Claims 14 to 24, wherein the step of forming the crimped portion (56) is defined further as forming the crimped portion (56) extending a distance radially inwardly above the upper end (46) of the flower pot (44). A method for covering a flower pot, comprising: providing a preformed flower pot cover, the cover (10) comprising a base (12b) having an upper end (18b), a lower end (20b), an outer peripheral surface (22b) and a pot opening (24b) formed through the upper end (18b) of the base (12b) providing access to a pot receiving space (26b), the pot receiving space (26b) forming an inner peripheral surface (28b) in the base (12b), and a skirt (14b) connected to the upper end (18b) of the base (12b), the skirt (14b) extending a distance outwardly from the upper end (18b) of the base (12b) terminating with an outer periphery (32), the skirt (14) having an outer peripheral surface (36) and an inner peripheral surface (34), an adhesive or cohesive bonding material (40) being disposed on a portion of the skirt (14); disposing a flower pot (44) having an upper end (46) and a lower end (48) in the pot receiving space (26) of the base (12); and crimping portions of the skirt (14) having the bonding material (40) thereon to form a crimped portion (56) having bonded overlapping folds therein. The method of Claim 26, wherein the step of forming the crimped portion (56) is defined further as forming the crimped portion (56) extending circumferentially about the skirt (14) near the connection of the base (12) and the skirt (14). The method of Claim 26 or 27, wherein the step of providing the cover (10) is defined further as providing the base (12) with the skirt (14) having the bonding material (40) disposed on the inner peripheral surface (34) of the skirt (14). The method of Claims 26 or 27, wherein the step of providing the cover (10) is defined further as providing the base (12) with the skirt (14) having the bonding material (40) being disposed on the outer peripheral surface (36) of the skirt (14). The method of any one of Claims 26 through 29, wherein the step of forming the crimped portion is defined further as forming the crimped portion (56) extending a distance radially inwardly above the upper end (46) of the flower pot (44).

Inventors: STRAETER WILLIAM F, WEDER DONALD E, STRAETER, WILLIAM F., WEDER, DONALD E.
Applicants: SOUTHPAC TRUST INT INC, SOUTHPAC TRUST INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Application year: 1993
Main classification: A47G7
IPC codes: A01G5, B65B25, B29C61, B65D81, B65D85, B29C57, A47G7, B65D75, B31B45