Patent Publication Number: US-2004040206-A1

Title: Pot cover having an elastic portion

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
     [0001] The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 10/124,811, filed Apr. 10, 2002; which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/651,567, filed Aug. 29, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,385,905; which 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; the specifications of each of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002] The present invention pertains to, but is not limited to, the field related to sleeves or covers used to cover floral containers such as pots, or to the field related to containers used to contain plants or floral groupings. U.S. Pat. No. 5,625,979 contains subject matter which may be related to that of the present invention and is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0003]FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a floral sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.  
     [0004]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the floral sleeve of FIG. 1 taken along line  2 - 2 .  
     [0005]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the floral sleeve of FIG. 1 having a pot disposed therein.  
     [0006]FIG. 4 is an elevational view of another floral sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.  
     [0007]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the floral sleeve of FIG. 4 taken along line  5 - 5 .  
     [0008]FIG. 6 is an elevational view of another floral sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.  
     [0009]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the floral sleeve of FIG. 6 taken along line  7 - 7 .  
     [0010]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of yet another floral sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention wherein the floral sleeve is in a substantially flattened state.  
     [0011]FIG. 9 is an elevational view of another floral sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.  
     [0012]FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the floral sleeve of FIG. 9 taken along line  10 - 10 .  
     [0013]FIG. 11 is an elevational view of another floral sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0014] Turning now to the drawings, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and designated therein by the general reference numeral  10 , is a preformed floral sleeve (also referred to herein as a sleeve, floral sleeve, or cover) having a first side  12 , a second side  14 , an upper end  16 , a lower end  18 , a first panel  20 , and a second panel  22 . Preferably, the upper end  16  has a non-linear configuration which forms a decorative skirt  23 . The upper end  16 , when non-linear, may be, for example, curved, wavy, sine wave, sinusoidal, scalloped, crenulate, crenelate, zig-zagged, or toothed, in any regular or irregular pattern as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,493,809 (FIGS. 26-31), the specification of which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The upper end  16  in alternate embodiments may be straight, i.e., linear, or arced. All of the covers described herein may have upper ends which form decorative skirt portions as described above. The floral sleeve  10  preferably is initially formed in a flattened condition (FIG. 1) and is openable to have a generally tubular shape, preferably a tapered, inverted frustoconical shape as shown in FIG. 3. It will be appreciated, however, that the floral sleeve  10  may comprise variations on the aforementioned shapes or may comprise significantly altered shapes such as square or rectangular, as long as the floral sleeve  10  functions in accordance with the present invention in the manner described herein. The floral sleeve  10  further comprises a first inner peripheral surface  24 , a second inner peripheral surface  26 , an inner retaining space  28  and an upper opening  29 .  
     [0015] The floral sleeve  10  further comprises a lower portion  30  which forms an elastic portion which comprises a first elastic portion  32 , a second elastic portion  34  and an elastic gusset portion  36 . The first elastic portion  32  comprises a lower portion of the first panel  20  and the second elastic portion  34  comprises a lower portion of the second panel  22 . Extending from an upper end  38  of the lower portion  30  to the upper end  16  of the floral sleeve  10  is an upper portion  40  which comprises that portion of the floral sleeve  10  which is not constructed of the same elastic material used to construct the lower portion  30 . The upper portion  40  may be constructed of a material having a slight degree of elasticity, such as a polypropylene film; however, the upper portion  40  has significantly less elasticity than the lower portion  30 . Preferably, the lower portion  30  is constructed from a material which has elastic properties such that when a floral container, such as a flower pot  41  having a bottom  41   a  is disposed within the inner retaining space  28  of the floral sleeve  10 , the lower portion  30  expands to conform to the shape and bottom  41   a  of the flower pot  41 , thereby “gripping” the flower pot  41  wherein the floral sleeve  10  is held about the flower pot  41 . In particular, the elastic material used to construct the lower portion  30  may comprise a natural or synthetic rubber, or a rubberized material such as a latex-coated or impregnated fabric. Elastic polyurethanes, such as spandex or a fabric made with spandex, may also be used.  
     [0016] In one embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 3, the upper portion  40  may be oversized such that when the floral sleeve  10  is placed about the flower pot  41 , the upper portion  40  is loose about the flower pot  41  and it is only by virtue of the gripping connection of the lower portion  30  to the flower pot  41  that the floral sleeve  10  can be secured about the flower pot  41  without an additional attaching element such as a string, tie, ribbon, wire, or adhesive or cohesive bonding material. Preferably, the lower portion  30  covers the entire bottom  41   a  of the flower pot  41 . The lower portion  30  may be connected to the upper portion  40  via a butt seal, a seam seal, a lap seal, a fin seal, or any adhesion or sealing technique which is effective in connecting the elastic material of the lower portion  30  to the material from which the upper portion  40  is constructed.  
     [0017] Shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is another version of a sleeve of the present invention designated by the general reference numeral  10   a . Sleeve  10   a  is similar to sleeve  10  described in detail above, and has a first side  12   a , a second side  14   a , an upper end  16   a , a lower end  18   a , a first panel  20   a , a second panel  22   a , a decorative skirt portion  23   a , a first inner peripheral surface  24   a , a second inner peripheral surface  26   a , an inner retaining space  28   a , an upper opening  29   a , a lower portion  30   a  having a first elastic side  32   a , a second elastic side  34   a , an elastic gusset portion  36   a , an upper end  38   a  of the lower portion  30   a , and an upper portion  40   a  which extends from the upper end  38   a  of the lower portion  30   a . Sleeve  10   a  differs from sleeve  10  in that the upper end  38   a  of the lower portion  30   a  extends higher on the first panel  20   a  and on the second panel  22   a  than the upper end  38  extends on the first panel  20  and on the second panel  22  of sleeve  10 . In this manner the lower portion  30   a  of the sleeve  10   a  can extend higher above the bottom  41   a  of the flower pot  41  when the sleeve  10   a  is disposed about the flower pot  41 .  
     [0018] Shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is another version of a sleeve of the present invention designated by the general reference numeral  10   b . Sleeve  10   b  is similar to sleeves  10  or  10   a  described in detail above and has a first side  12   b , a second side  14   b , an upper end  16   b , a lower end  18   b , a first panel  20   b , a second panel  22   b , a decorative skirt portion  23   b , a first inner peripheral surface  24   b , a second inner peripheral surface  26   b , an inner retaining space  28   b , an upper opening  29   b , a lower portion  30   b  having a first elastic side  32   b , a second elastic side  34   b , an upper end  38   b  of the lower portion  30   b , and an upper portion  40   b  which extends from the upper end  38   b  of the lower portion  30   b.    
     [0019] Sleeve  10   b  differs from sleeves  10  and  10   a  in that the lower portion  30   b  does not comprise a gusset portion; instead, the lower end  18   b  has a straight seal thereacross.  
     [0020] Shown in FIG. 8 is another version of a sleeve of the present invention designated by the general reference numeral  10   c . Sleeve  10   c  has an upper end  16   c , a lower end  18   c , a first panel  20   c , a second panel  22   c , a lower portion  30   c , a gusset portion  36   c  and an upper portion  40   c . Sleeve  10   c  differs from sleeves  10  and  10   a  primarily in that the only portion of the lower portion  30   c  which comprises an elastic material is the gusset portion  36   c . That is, first panel  20   c  and second panel  22   c  are substantially free of the elastic material used in the construction of the gusset portion  36   c  except for marginal portions at the lower end  18   c  where the gusset portion  36   c  is sealed to or otherwise attached to the first panel  20   c  and the second panel  22   c.    
     [0021] Shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 is another version of a sleeve of the present invention designated by the general reference numeral  10   d . Sleeve  10   d  is similar to sleeve  10  described in detail herein and has a first side  12   d , a second side  14   d , an upper end  16   d , a lower end  18   d , a first panel  20   d , a second panel  22   d , a decorative skirt portion  23   d , a first inner peripheral surface  24   d , a second inner peripheral surface  26   d , an inner retaining space  28   d , an upper opening  29   d , a lower portion  30   d  having a first elastic portion  32   d , a second elastic portion  34   d , an elastic gusset portion  36   d , an upper end  38   d  of the lower portion  30   d , and an upper portion  40   d  which extends from the upper end  38   d  of the lower portion  30   d . Sleeve  10   d  differs from sleeve  10  in that sleeve  10   d  further comprises a detachable extension  42  having an upper end  44 . The extension  42  is attached to the upper end  16   d  of the upper portion  40   d  and is detachable from the upper portion  40   d  via a detaching element  46  which in a preferred embodiment is a line of perforations as indicated in FIG. 9. The detaching element  46  may be perforations, a zipper, a tear strip, or any other detaching mechanism known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. The extension  42  may be sized to surround and encompass a floral grouping disposed in and extending from a flower pot for the purpose of protecting the floral grouping or may extend from the upper portion  40   d  only a distance sufficient to enable the extension  46  to be used as a support member to support the sleeve  10   d  from a support assembly such as a wicket, staple, or other support assembly known to a person of ordinary skill in the art.  
     [0022]FIG. 11 shows a sleeve designated by the general reference number  10   e  which is similar to sleeve  10  and having an upper end  16   e , a lower end  18   e , a first panel  20   e  and a second panel (not shown) and having an inner surface (not shown). Sleeve  10   e  has a first bonding material  50  disposed on a portion of the inner surface thereof and a second bonding material  52  disposed on a portion of the inner surface near the upper end  16   e.    
     [0023] The first bonding material  50  may be used to assist in connecting or securing the sleeve  10   e  to a flower pot having a floral grouping therein when such a flower pot is disposed within the sleeve  10   e . The second bonding material  52  may be used to assist in closing or sealing the upper end  16   e  of the sleeve  10   e  after the flower pot  41  has been disposed, therein for, example in the manner shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,493,809, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Each of sleeves  10 - 10   d  may be modified to have a bonding material disposed thereon in a similar manner.  
     [0024] It will be understood that the bonding material  50  or  52 , when used, may be disposed as a strip or block on a surface of the sleeve  10   e . The bonding material  50  or  52  may be covered by a cover or release strip (not shown) which can be removed prior to the use of the sleeve, pot or pot cover.  
     [0025] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a sheet of material (not shown) could be formed about a flower pot before the floral sleeves  10 - 10   e  are placed about the flower pot, with the floral sleeves  10 - 10   e  serving to secure the sheet of material in a position formed about the flower pot.  
     [0026] The floral sleeves  10 - 10   e  defined herein may form part of a plant package when used in conjunction with a flower pot disposed therein, or with the flower pot also having a floral grouping disposed therein, and wherein the flower pot is substantially surrounded and encompassed by a lower portion  30  and an upper portion of a sleeve, such as shown in FIG. 3 wherein the flower pot  41  is substantially surrounded and encompassed by a lower portion of the upper portion  40  of the sleeve  10 . Preferably, the bottom  41   a  of the flower pot  41  is completely covered by the lower portion  30  of the sleeve  10 .  
     [0027] The sleeves  10 - 10   e  may also be equipped with a drainage element (e.g., one or more holes) in the lower portion thereof or ventilation holes (not shown) or can be made from permeable or impermeable materials.  
     [0028] Preferably the sleeves  10 - 10   e  are sized to contain and conform to one of a variety of standard sizes of flower pots known to those of ordinary skill in the art, such as 3-inch, 4-inch, 4½-inch, 5-inch, 6-inch, and 8-inch flower pots. In fact, the floral sleeves  10 - 10   e  may be used to contain a floral grouping and a growing medium without the use of a flower pot  41  for cultivating a floral grouping or displaying a grown floral grouping.  
     [0029] 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. The floral grouping may comprise a bloom or foliage portion and a stem portion. Further, the floral grouping may comprise a growing potted plant having a root portion (not shown) as well. However, it will be appreciated that the floral grouping may consist of only a single bloom or only foliage, or a botanical item (not shown), or a propagule (not shown). The term “floral grouping” may be used interchangeably herein with both the terms “floral arrangement”. The term “floral grouping” may also be used interchangeably herein with the terms “botanical item” and/or “propagule.” 
     [0030] 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.  
     [0031] 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 bouquet or floral grouping.  
     [0032] 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.  
     [0033] The term “bonding material,” when used herein, means an adhesive, frequently a pressure sensitive adhesive, or a cohesive. When 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” also includes materials which are sonic sealable and vibratory sealable. The term “bonding material” when used herein also means a heat sealing lacquer or hot melt material which may be applied to the material and, in this instance, heat, sound waves, or vibrations, also must be applied to effect the sealing.  
     [0034] It will be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art that equipment and devices for forming floral sleeves such as those contemplated herein are commercially available, and are well known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the sleeves described herein may be formed by 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 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.  
     [0035] The term “flower pot” is used interchangeably with the term “floral container” and as used herein, refers to any type of container used for holding a floral grouping or plant. Examples of flower 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, or any combination thereof. The flower pot is adapted to receive a floral grouping in the retaining space. The floral grouping may be disposed within the flower pot along with a suitable growing medium as described herein, or other retaining medium, such as a floral foam. It will also be understood that the floral grouping, and any appropriate growing medium or other retaining medium, may be disposed in the floral sleeves  10 - 10   e  without a pot.  
     [0036] 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.