Abstract:
A reusable temporary cover for indoor house plants to retain moisture for the plant. The cover is formed of flexible transparent plastic sheet material with tie means to completely enclose a house plant and includes a water retention portion to catch and store excess water. By enclosing the plants after watering, a terrarium effect is produced and moisture is retained within the cover for a long period of time.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to covers for indoor house plants that are to be used as a temporary measure when the plants cannot be watered or sprayed for an extended period of time. 
     Usually, when one wanted to be sure that their indoor house plants would be properly watered and/or sprayed during a period of absence such as a vacation, it was necessary either to transport all of the plants to another house where proper care could be given or a person would be authorized to enter the residence for the purpose of caring for the plants. Neither alternative worked well since in the former situation, the change in environment could seriously affect the plants while in the latter situation, the person employed to care for the plants would not always be diligent in his responsibilities. 
     There thus exists a need for an inexpensive device that is easy to use and will keep plants watered for a long period of time witout the need for constant care. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved cover for indoor house plants. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved plant cover that can be easily placed about the plants and will permit light to pass through to the plants. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a reusable plant cover that will catch and retain any excess water placed on the plants. 
     It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a reusable plant cover that can be easily made in different sizes to fit the many types and sizes of house plants and which is relatively easy to manufacture and inexpensive in cost. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The above outlined objectives as well as other objects and features of the present invention are accomplished by a reusable cover comprising a sheet of flexible material such as polyethylene having tie means to retain the cover about the plant. In one embodiment for use with plants resting on a floor or other surface, the cover includes a pair of the tie means for securing the cover to the plant container as well as tieing the cover to a closed position above the plant. A lip along the inner lower portion of the cover prevents leakage of excess water from the cover. In a second embodiment for use with hanging plants, the cover includes a closed lower portion which encloses the plant container to retain any excess water, an upper tie means to fully enclose the plant and a hook on the upper portion of the cover to assist in supporting the cover. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a full understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a house plant resting on a horizontal surface and enclosure by a temporary plant cover in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows: 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the temporary plant cover of the present invention for use with a hanging plant; 
     FIG. 5 is a view in partially folded condition of the second embodiment of the temporary plant cover of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6--6 of FIG. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawing in detail, where like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several figures, reference numeral 10 indicates a first embodiment of the temporary plant cover of the present invention for use with a plant in a container 12 adapted to sit on a horizontal surface 14 such as a floor, shelf, or a table. 
     The temporary plant cover 10 is preferably made from a heat-sealable plastic sheet material such as polyethylene although other types of flexible sheet material may be used. As will be discussed below, polyethylene is preferred for its heat sealing capability as well as its light transmitting and water impermeable characteristics. 
     The temporary plant cover 10, as seen best in FIG. 2, comprises a substantially rectangular sheet 16 having an upper edge 18, a lower edge 20 and side edges 22,24. Although sheet 16 is shown rectangular with edges 18,20 being the longer dimension, it should be obvious that other shapes including squares can be utilized depending on the size of the plant to be covered. The upper edge 18 is formed by folding a portion of sheet 16 and heat sealing the folded portion along line 26 which is sufficiently spaced from upper edge 18 to form an opening or channel 28 for an upper tie means such as drawstring 30. The lower edge 20 is formed by folding a portion of sheet 16 and heat sealing the folded portion along line 32 which is sufficiently spaced from lower edge 20 to form an opening or channel 34 for a lower tie means such as drawstring 36. As discussed previously, if polyethylene is used then the openings 28,34 are preferably formed by heat sealing along lines 26,32 respectively, however, if other materials are used then other suitable means such as adhesive or sewing can be utilized, however, as discussed below, it is important that the lower seal line 32 be a continuous seal. 
     As seen best in FIG. 3, the lower folded portion is formed of a larger portion of sheet 16 then the upper folded portion with seal line 32 being between lower edge 20 and the distal edge 38 of the lower folded portion. The portion between seal line 32 and distal edge 38 forms an open trough 40 to catch and retain excess water and is preferably of greater dimension than the portion between lower edge 20 and seal line 32. 
     To use the temporary plant cover 10 shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a user initially places the cover 10 in back of the plant with the surface of the cover as shown in FIG. 2 facing the user so that the trough 40 will be on the inside of the cover when the cover envelopes the plant completely. The user then brings the edges 22,24 about the plant and tightens the bottom edge 20 about the plant container 12 by pulling on drawstring 36. The upper edge 18 is then closed about the upper portion of the plant by pulling on drawstring 30. The edges 22,24 should be overlapping to provide complete enclosure of the plant. Watering and/or spraying of the plant is best done just before fully enveloping the plant and any excess water will run down sheet 16 into trough 40 where it will provide additional moisture for the plant through evaporation. 
     Reference should now be made to FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 where reference numeral 42 indicates a second embodiment of the temporary plant cover of the present invention for use with a plant in a hanging container 44 adapted to be suspended from an overhead surface 46 such as a ceiling through the usual chain link support 48. 
     The temporary plant cover 42 is preferably formed from a rectangular sheet of material 50 folded about itself to form sides 52,54 connected by common edge 56. The sides 52,54 are also joined, preferably by heat sealing, along bottom edge 58 and partial side edge 60. The lower portion of edge 56, bottom edge 58 and partial edge 60 define a trough 62 to catch and retain excess water. The sides 52,54 of sheet 50 are not joined above lower partial side edge 60 to enable the cover 42 to be placed about the plant. The cover 42 further includes an upper edge 64 formed by folding a portion of sheet 50 and heat sealing the folded portion along line 66 to form an opening or channel 68 for an upper tie means such as drawstring 70. 
     A hook member 72 may be attached to the cover 42 adjacent upper edge 60 and common edge 56 for a purpose described below. 
     As previously discussed, cover 42 is preferably made of a single sheet of material folded along common edge 52. However, it should be obvious that other methods of construction can be utilized including the use of two separate sheets of material with common edge 52 produced by appropriate means such as heat sealing. 
     To use the temporary plant cover 42 shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, a user initially spreads apart sides 52 and 54 and places the plant and its container into the cover so that the container 44 is substantially within trough 62. The hook 72 may then be placed onto one of the links in chain link support 44 to provide additional support for the cover. The upper portions of sides 52,54 are then brought around and over the plant and drawstring 70 is pulled to close the cover completely about the plant. The edges of sides 52,54 above the lower edge 60 should overlap to provide complete enclosure for the plant. Watering and/or spraying of the plant is best done just before fully enveloping the plant so that any excess water will run down sheet 50 into trough 62 where it will provide additional moisture for the plant through evaporation. 
     It has been found that the temporary plant covers of the present invention made of polyethlene on a similar impermeable transparent or translucent material when placed around a plant after watering will keep the plant in a proper environment for a substantial period of time. It appears that the cover provides a terrarium like container for the plants and provides a proper balance of moisture, light and air for the plants. 
     It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above are efficiently attained and since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or as shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.