Patent Publication Number: US-6983564-B2

Title: Method of covering a potted plant

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 10/601,166, filed Jun. 20, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,860,063; which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/278,690, filed Oct. 21, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,601,344; which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/012,059, filed Dec. 7, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,467,218; which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/687,025, filed October 13, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,347,481; which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/366,440, filed August 3, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,141,906; which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/851,058, filed May 5, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,020; which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/237,078, filed May 3, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,625,979; which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 08/220,852, filed Mar. 31, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,572,851. Each of the applications listed above is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention generally relates to sleeves, and, more particularly, to sleeves used to wrap flower pots containing floral groupings and/or mediums containing floral groupings, and methods of using same. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an elevational view of a sleeve having a detaching element constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the sleeve of  FIG. 1  having a potted plant disposed therein. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a pot such as might be used with the sleeve of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the potted plant disposed in the sleeve of  FIG. 2  after an upper portion of the sleeve has been removed to provide a pot cover having a skirt. 
         FIG. 5  is an elevational view of a version of the sleeve of  FIG. 1  with a gusseted bottom. 
         FIG. 6  is a partial cutaway, elevational view of an alternate version of the sleeve of  FIG. 1  wherein a bonding material is disposed upon an upper end of the sleeve. 
         FIG. 7  is an elevational view of an alternate version of the sleeve of  FIG. 1  having a folding flap. 
         FIG. 8  is an elevational view of an alternate version of the sleeve of  FIG. 1  having a bonding material disposed on a portion of an inner surface of the sleeve. 
         FIG. 9  is an elevational view of an alternate version of the sleeve of  FIG. 1  having a bonding material disposed on a portion of an outer surface of the sleeve. 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view showing the sleeve of  FIG. 9  crimped about a pot. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the crimped sleeve of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve of  FIG. 9  wherein a crimped portion is formed above an upper end of a pot. 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the crimped sleeve of  FIG. 12  wherein a crimped portion is formed above a pot. 
         FIG. 14  is an elevational view of another version of the sleeve of  FIG. 1  having an extended portion serving as a support extension. 
         FIG. 15  is an elevational view of another version of the sleeve of  FIG. 1  having an extended portion serving as a handle. 
         FIG. 16  is an elevational view of another version of the sleeve of  FIG. 1  having an additional detaching element for enhancing the extension of a skirt portion of the sleeve after detachment of an upper portion of the sleeve. 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the sleeve of  FIG. 16  after the upper portion has been removed. 
         FIG. 18  is an elevational view of another version of the sleeve of  FIG. 1  having notched perforated areas for enhancing extension of a skirt portion of the sleeve after detachment of an upper portion of the sleeve. 
         FIG. 19  is a an elevational view of the sleeve of  FIG. 18  after the upper sleeve portion has been removed. 
         FIG. 20  is an elevational view of an alternate version of a sleeve of the present invention wherein an upper portion of the sleeve is constructed of a different material than a lower portion of the sleeve. 
         FIG. 21  is a perspective view of a version of a sleeve of the present invention wherein the sleeve comprises expansion elements for enhancing extension of a skirt portion once an upper portion is removed. 
         FIG. 22  is a perspective view of the sleeve of  FIG. 21  after the upper portion has been removed and the skirt portion is extended. 
         FIG. 23  is a perspective view of a sleeve similar to the sleeve of  FIG. 21  except the expansion elements do not extend completely to an upper end of the sleeve. 
         FIG. 24  is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve of  FIG. 23  taken along line  24 — 24  thereof. 
         FIG. 25  is a perspective view of another version of a sleeve of the present invention wherein the sleeve comprises z-shaped expansion elements for enhancing extension of a skirt portion. 
         FIG. 26  is a perspective view of the sleeve of  FIG. 25  after an upper portion has been removed to reveal the skirt portion. 
         FIG. 27  is a perspective view of a sleeve similar to the sleeve of  FIG. 25  except the z-shaped expansion elements do not extend completely to an upper end of the sleeve. 
         FIG. 28  is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve of  FIG. 27  taken along line  28 — 28  thereof. 
         FIG. 29  is a perspective view of a version of a sleeve of the present invention wherein the sleeve comprises fluted or groove-shaped expansion elements for enhancing extension of a skirt portion. 
         FIG. 30  is a perspective view of the sleeve of  FIG. 29  after an upper portion has been removed to reveal the skirt portion. 
         FIG. 31  is a perspective view of a sleeve similar to the sleeve of  FIG. 29  except the fluted or groove-shaped expansion elements do not extend completely to an upper end of the sleeve. 
         FIG. 32  is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve of  FIG. 31  taken along line  32 — 32  thereof. 
         FIG. 33  is a perspective view of a sleeve which is exactly the same as the sleeve of  FIG. 23  except it has a support extension on the upper end. 
         FIG. 34  is a perspective view of a sleeve which is exactly the same as  FIG. 23  except it has handles on the upper end. 
         FIG. 35  is a cross-sectional view of a pot used in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 36  is a cross-sectional view of a pot cover having a bonding material on a portion of its inner surface. 
         FIG. 37  is a cross-sectional view of the pot of  FIG. 35  disposed in the pot cover of  FIG. 36  showing the connection of the pot to an inner surface of the pot cover. 
         FIG. 38  is a cross-sectional view of a sleeve having an open lower end and having a bonding material on a portion of an inner surface near a lower end. 
         FIG. 39  is a cross-sectional view of the pot and cover of  FIG. 37  disposed within the sleeve of  FIG. 38  wherein a portion of an outer surface of the pot cover is connected to the sleeve. 
         FIG. 40  is a cross-sectional view of a pot cover having a bonding material on both a portion of an inner surface and on a portion of an outer surface of the pot cover. 
         FIG. 41  is a cross-sectional view of the pot cover of  FIG. 40  having disposed therein the pot of  FIG. 35  wherein the pot is connected to the inner surface of the pot cover by the bonding material on the inner surface of the pot cover. 
         FIG. 42  is a cross-sectional view of a sleeve having an open lower end similar to the sleeve of  FIG. 38  except having no bonding material on an inner surface. 
         FIG. 43  is a cross-sectional view of the pot cover and pot of  FIG. 41  disposed in the sleeve of  FIG. 42  wherein an outer surface of the pot cover is connected to the inner surface of the sleeve via bonding material on the outer surface of the pot cover. 
         FIG. 44  is a cross-sectional view of a pot cover and pot such as that shown in  FIG. 41  disposed in the sleeve of  FIG. 38  wherein the bonding material of the pot cover engages the bonding material on the sleeve. 
         FIG. 45  is a cross-sectional view of a pot having a bonding material on a portion of an outer surface thereof. 
         FIG. 46  is a cross-sectional view of a preformed pot cover having no bonding material thereon. 
         FIG. 47  is a cross-sectional view of the pot of  FIG. 45  disposed within the preformed pot cover of  FIG. 46  wherein the cover and pot are connected via the bonding material on the pot. 
         FIG. 48  is a cross-sectional view of the pot and preformed pot cover of  FIG. 47  disposed within the sleeve of  FIG. 38  wherein the preformed pot cover is connected to the sleeve via bonding material on the inner surface of the sleeve. 
         FIG. 49  is a cross-sectional view of a preformed pot cover having bonding material on a portion of an outer surface thereof. 
         FIG. 50  is a cross-sectional view of the pot of  FIG. 45  disposed within the pot cover of  FIG. 49  wherein the pot is connected to an inner surface of the pot cover via bonding material on the pot. 
         FIG. 51  is a cross-sectional view of the pot cover and pot of  FIG. 50  disposed within the sleeve of  FIG. 42  wherein the bonding material on the outer surface of the pot cover bonds to a portion of the inner surface of the sleeve. 
         FIG. 52  is a cross-sectional view of the pot of  FIG. 45  disposed within the pot cover of  FIG. 40  wherein the pot is connected to an inner surface of the pot cover via the bonding material disposed on a portion of the outer surface of the pot. 
         FIG. 53  is a cross-sectional view of the pot cover and pot of  FIG. 50  disposed within a sleeve exactly the same as the sleeve shown in  FIG. 38  wherein the bonding material on the outer surface of the pot cover connects with the bonding material on the inner surface of the sleeve. 
         FIG. 54  is a perspective view of an apparatus for pulling a sleeve about a pot cover. 
         FIG. 55  is a perspective view showing another step in using the apparatus of  FIG. 54 . 
         FIG. 56  is a perspective view of a plant package constructed in accordance with the present invention showing a sleeve connected to a potted plant via a bonding material on a lower end of the sleeve. 
         FIG. 57  is a perspective view of a sleeve connected to a potted plant via a bonding material on an upper end of a pot. 
         FIG. 58  is a perspective view of a plant package having a sleeve connected to a pot wherein a bonding material is on a lower end of the sleeve and on an upper end of the pot. 
         FIG. 59  is a perspective view of a plant package having a sleeve connected to a pot wherein a bonding material is disposed on an inner surface and an outer surface of a lower end of the sleeve. 
         FIG. 60  is a partial cutaway, perspective view of a sleeve having an up-turned lower end and having a bonding material disposed upon a portion of the up-turned lower end and wherein the bonding material is covered by a cover or release strip. 
         FIG. 61  is a perspective view of the sleeve of  FIG. 60  disposed about a pot with a portion of the release strip peeled away. 
         FIG. 62  is a perspective view of the sleeve and pot of  FIG. 61  wherein the release strip is completely removed from the bonding material. 
         FIG. 63  is a perspective view of the sleeve and pot of  FIG. 62  wherein the up-turned portion of the sleeve with the bonding material is disposed partially downwardly about the pot. 
         FIG. 64  is a perspective view of the sleeve and pot of  FIG. 63  wherein the lower end of the sleeve is fully connected to the pot and a portion of the sleeve is detached at an upper end of the sleeve. 
         FIG. 65  is a perspective view of a preformed pot cover. 
         FIG. 66  is a perspective view of a preformed pot cover like the cover of  FIG. 65  but also having a bonding material disposed on a portion of an inner surface thereof. 
         FIG. 67  is a perspective view of the potted plant and sleeve of  FIG. 64  disposed in the preformed pot cover of either  FIG. 65  or  FIG. 66 . 
         FIG. 68  is a perspective view of a potted plant disposed within a decorative cover. 
         FIG. 69  is a perspective view of another sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention having a bonding material on an inner surface of the sleeve near an upper end of the sleeve and having expansion elements disposed within the sleeve. 
         FIG. 70  is a perspective view of the potted plant of  FIG. 68  with the upper end of the sleeve of  FIG. 69  connected to the pot cover by the bonding material on the sleeve. 
         FIG. 71  is a perspective view of the sleeve and potted plant of  FIG. 70  wherein a lower end of the sleeve has been pulled upwardly toward an upper end of the pot. 
         FIG. 72  is a perspective view of the sleeve and potted plant of  FIG. 71  after the sleeve has been pulled completely upwardly above the pot. 
         FIG. 73  is a perspective view of the sleeve and potted plant of  FIG. 72  after an upper portion of the sleeve has been detached leaving the lower end of the sleeve attached to an outer surface of the potted plant. 
         FIG. 74  is a cross-sectional view of another version of a sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention wherein a separate skirt portion is connected to an inner surface of the sleeve via a bonding material. 
         FIG. 75  is a perspective view of the sleeve and connected skirt of  FIG. 74 . 
         FIG. 76  is a perspective view of a potted plant disposed upon a sheet of material having a bonding material on a portion of a lower surface of the sheet of material. 
         FIG. 77  is a perspective view of the sheet of material of  FIG. 76  wrapped about the potted plant of  FIG. 76  to form a pot cover having bonding material on an outer surface thereof. 
         FIG. 78  is a perspective view of another sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 79  is a perspective view of the potted plant of  FIG. 77  disposed within the sleeve of  FIG. 78  wherein the sleeve of  FIG. 78  is connected to an outer portion of the pot cover of  FIG. 77  by the bonding material on the outer surface of the cover. 
         FIG. 80  is a partial cutaway, perspective view of a sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention, the sleeve having a bonding material disposed upon portions of an inner surface thereof. 
         FIG. 81  is a perspective view of a covered pot such as the covered pot of  FIG. 77  disposed within the sleeve of  FIG. 80  wherein the bonding material on the cover is connected to the bonding material on the sleeve. 
         FIG. 82  is an elevational view of a sheet of material having a bonding material near two edges of the sheet of material. 
         FIG. 83  is a perspective view of the sheet of material of  FIG. 82  wrapped about a covered potted plant in accordance with the method of the present invention. 
         FIG. 84  is an elevational view of a sheet of material having a bonding material disposed near three edges of the sheet of material. 
         FIG. 85  is a perspective view of the sheet of material of  FIG. 84  wrapped about a covered potted plant to form a sleeve with an upper end of the sleeve partially sealed. 
         FIG. 86  is a perspective view of the sleeve formed from the sheet of material of  FIG. 84  having the upper end thereof completely sealed. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention contemplates a plant packaging system comprising a combination of a protective sleeve portion and a decorative cover portion having a base and skirt for packaging a potted plant. The protective sleeve portion can be detached from the decorative cover portion of the package system once the protective function of the sleeve portion has been completed, thereby exposing the decorative cover portion and allowing the skirt to extend angularly from the base. The protective sleeve portion and decorative cover portion may be of unitary construction or may be separate components which are attached together by various bonding materials. 
     More specifically, the present invention contemplates a plant cover for covering a pot having an outer peripheral surface. The plant cover comprises (1) a base portion having a lower end, an upper end, an outer peripheral surface, and an area of excess material for allowing extension of a portion of the base portion and having an opening extending from the upper end to the lower end, and (2) an upper portion extending from the upper end of the base portion and detachable therefrom, and wherein when the upper portion is detached from the upper end of the base portion, the area of excess material expands causing portions of the base portion to extend angularly from the base. In general, the base portion is sized to substantially cover the outer peripheral surface of the pot. The upper portion may be detachable via a detaching element such as perforations, tear strips and zippers. The plant cover may have an extended portion extending from the upper portion for serving as a handle or support device. 
     More particularly, the present invention may be a plant cover comprising (1) a base portion having a lower end, an upper end, and an outer peripheral surface and having an opening extending from the upper end to the lower end, (2) an upper portion extending from the upper end of the base portion and detachable therefrom, (3) and an expansion element integral to the base portion and optionally integral to the upper portion, for allowing expansion of a portion of the base portion into a skirt portion extending angularly from the base portion when the upper portion is detached from the upper end of the base portion. The expansion element may be a plurality of vertical pleats, a plurality of vertical folds each having a Z-shaped cross section, a plurality of vertical accordion-type folds, or other similar types of expandable forms. 
     More particularly, the plant cover may comprise (1) a base portion having a lower end, an upper end, an outer peripheral surface, and having an opening extending from the upper end to the lower end, (2) a skirt portion attached to the base portion and having an upper end and extending a distance beyond the upper end of the base portion, (3) an expansion element integral to at least one of the skirt portion and the base portion for enabling at least a portion of the skirt portion to be extended angularly from the base portion, and (4) an upper portion attached to the upper end of the skirt portion and detachable therefrom, and wherein when the upper portion is detached from the upper end of the skirt portion, the expansion element enables the skirt portion to be extended angularly from the base portion. 
     The present invention further contemplates a tubular sleeve for containing a pot assembly, and having a lower end, an upper end, an outer peripheral surface, and an inner peripheral surface surrounding an inner retaining space. The tubular sleeve may comprise (1) a base portion having a lower end and an upper end and a retaining space for enclosing the pot assembly, and sized to substantially cover the pot assembly, (2) a skirt portion extending beyond the upper end of the base portion and continuous therewith and having an upper peripheral edge, and (3) an upper portion having an upper peripheral edge and a lower peripheral edge, the lower peripheral edge connected to the upper peripheral edge of the skirt portion and detachable therefrom and extending a distance therefrom, and sized to substantially surround and encompass a floral grouping, and wherein when the upper portion is detached from the upper peripheral edge of the skirt portion, the skirt portion extends angularly from the base portion. 
     The tubular sleeve may further comprise an expansion element integral to at least one of the skirt portion and the base portion for enhancing the angular extension of at least a portion of the skirt portion away from the base portion. The base portion and the skirt portion may be constructed from a first material and the upper portion may be constructed from a second material different from the first material. 
     The tubular sleeve may form part of a plant package when used in conjunction with a pot assembly disposed within the retaining space of the base portion of the tubular sleeve, the pot assembly having a floral grouping disposed therein, and wherein the pot assembly is substantially surrounded and encompassed by the base portion and the floral grouping is substantially surrounded and encompassed by the upper portion. 
     The present invention further contemplates a plant cover comprising, (1) a base portion having a lower end, an upper end, an outer peripheral surface, and having an opening extending from the upper end to the lower end, (2) a skirt portion attached to the base portion and extending a distance beyond the upper end of the base portion, and (3) an upper portion connected to the outer peripheral surface of the base portion and extending from the upper end of the base portion and detachable therefrom and substantially surrounding the skirt portion, and wherein when the upper portion is detached from the upper end of the base portion, the skirt portion is exposed allowing the skirt portion to extend angularly from the base portion. Further, the base portion may comprise a bonding material for bondingly connecting to the upper portion. Also, the base portion may comprise a bonding material for bondingly connecting to a pot disposed therein. Further, the upper portion may comprise a bonding material for bondingly connecting to the base portion. The plant cover may further comprise part of a plant package which includes a pot disposed within the inner retaining space of the base portion, the pot having a floral grouping disposed therein, and wherein the pot is substantially surrounded and encompassed by the base portion and the floral grouping is substantially surrounded and encompassed by the upper portion. 
     The present invention further contemplates a plant cover comprising (1) a tubular sleeve having a lower end, an upper end, an outer peripheral surface, and an inner peripheral surface surrounding an inner retaining space, and further comprising (a) a base portion for enclosing a pot, the base portion having an upper end and a lower end and sized to substantially cover the outer peripheral surface of the pot, and (b) an upper portion having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end detachably connected to the upper end of the base portion and extending a distance therefrom, and wherein the upper portion is sized to substantially surround and encompass a floral grouping disposed within the pot, and (2) a skirt portion positioned within the tubular sleeve and having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end attached to the inner peripheral surface of the base portion, the upper end of the skirt portion freely extending a distance beyond the upper end of the base portion and substantially surrounded and encompassed by the upper portion and wherein when the upper portion is detached from the upper end of the base portion, the skirt portion is exposed allowing the skirt portion to be extended angularly from the upper end of the base portion. 
     The base portion and the skirt portion of the tubular sleeve may be constructed from a first material and the upper portion constructed from a second material different from the first material. The base portion and the upper portion of the tubular sleeve may be constructed from a first material and the skirt portion constructed from a second material different from the first material. The plant cover may comprise a portion of a plant package which additionally comprises a pot disposed within the tubular sleeve, the pot having a floral grouping disposed therein, and wherein the pot is substantially surrounded and encompassed by the base portion and the floral grouping is substantially surrounded and encompassed by the upper portion. 
     These embodiments and others of the present invention are now described in more detail below. 
     The Embodiments and Methods of Use of  FIGS. 1–20   
     Shown in  FIG. 1  and designated therein by the general reference numeral  10  is a flexible bag or sleeve of unitary construction. The sleeve  10  initially comprises a flexible flat collapsed piece of material which is openable in the form of a tube or sleeve. The sleeve  10  may be tapered outwardly from the lower end toward a larger diameter at its upper end. In its flattened state the sleeve  10  has an overall trapezoidal or modified trapezoidal shape, and when opened is substantially frusto-conical to coniform. It will be appreciated, however, that the sleeve  10  may comprise variations on the aforementioned shapes or may comprise significantly altered shapes such as square or rectangular, wherein the sleeve  10  when opened has a cylindrical form, as long as the sleeve  10  functions in accordance with the present invention in the manner described herein. 
     The sleeve  10  has an upper end  12 , a lower end  14 , an outer peripheral surface  16  and in its flattened state has a first side  18  and a second side  20 . The sleeve  10  has an opening  21  ( FIG. 2 ) at the upper end  12  and may be open at the lower end  14 , or provided with excess material at least sufficient to form a closed bottom of the sleeve  10  at the lower end  14 . The sleeve  10  also has an inner peripheral surface  22  which, when the sleeve  10  is opened, defines and encompasses an inner retaining space  24  as shown in  FIG. 2 . When the lower end  14  of the sleeve  10  has a closed bottom, a portion of the lower end  14  may be inwardly folded to form one or more gussets for permitting a circular bottom of an object such as a potted plant  30  ( FIGS. 2 and 4 ) to be disposed into the inner retaining space  24  of the lower end  14  of the sleeve  10 . 
     The sleeve  10  is generally frusto-conically shaped, but the sleeve  10  may be, by way of example but not by way of limitation, cylindrical, frusto-conical, a combination of both frusto-conical and cylindrical, or any other shape, as long as the sleeve  10  functions as described herein as noted above. Further, the sleeve  10  may comprise any shape, whether geometric, non-geometric, asymmetrical and/or fanciful as long as it functions in accordance with the present invention. The sleeve  10  may also be equipped with drains or ventilation holes (not shown), or can be made from permeable or impermeable materials. In a preferred embodiment the lower end  14  of the tubular sleeve  10  can retain water or other liquid or semi-solid materials such as gels. 
     The material from which the sleeve  10  is constructed has a thickness in a range from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mils. Often, the thickness of the sleeve  10  is in a range from about 0.5 mil to about 10 mils. Preferably, the sleeve  10  has a thickness in a range from about 1.0 mil to about 5 mils. More preferably, the sleeve  10  is constructed from a material which is flexible, semi-rigid, rigid, or any combination thereof. The sleeve  10  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 may be utilized as long as the material functions in accordance with the present invention as described herein. The layers of material comprising the sleeve  10  may be connected together or laminated or may be separate layers. Such materials used to construct the sleeve  10  are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,637 entitled “Method For Wrapping A Floral Grouping” issued to Weder et al., on May 12, 1992, which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference. Any thickness of material may be utilized in accordance with the present invention as long as the sleeve  10  may be formed as described herein, and as long as the formed sleeve  10  may contain at least a portion of a pot  32  or the potted plant  30  or a floral grouping, as described herein. Additionally, an insulating material such as bubble film, preferable as one of two or more layers, can be utilized in order to provide additional protection for the item, such as the floral grouping, contained therein. 
     In one embodiment, the sleeve  10  may be constructed from two polypropylene films. The material comprising the sleeve  10  may be connected together or laminated or may be separate layers. In an alternative embodiment, the sleeve  10  may be constructed from only one of the polypropylene films. 
     The sleeve  10  may also be constructed, in whole or in part, from a cling material. “Cling Wrap or Material” when used herein means any material which is capable of connecting to the sheet of material and/or itself upon contacting engagement during the wrapping process and is wrappable about an item whereby portions of the cling material contactingly engage and connect to other portions of another material, or, alternatively, itself, for generally securing the material wrapped about at least a portion of the pot  32 . This connecting engagement is preferably temporary in that the material may be easily removed, i.e., the cling material “clings” to the pot  32 . 
     The cling material is constructed and treated if necessary, from polyethylene such as Cling Wrap made by Glad®, First Brands Corporation, Danbury, Conn. The thickness of the cling material will, in part, depend upon the size of sleeve  10  and the size of the pot  32  in the sleeve  10 , i.e., generally, a larger pot  32  may require a thicker and therefore stronger cling material. The cling material will range in thickness from less than about 0.1 mil to about 10 mils, and preferably less than about 0.5 mil to about 2.5 mils and most preferably from less than about 0.6 mil to about 2 mils. However, any thickness of cling material may be utilized in accordance with the present invention which permits the cling material to function as described herein. 
     The sleeve  10  is constructed from any suitable material that is capable of being formed into a sleeve and wrapped about the potted plant  30  or the pot  32 . Preferably, the material comprises paper (untreated or treated in any manner), metal foil, polymeric film, non-polymeric film, fabric (woven or nonwoven or synthetic or natural), cardboard, fiber, cloth, burlap, or laminations or combinations thereof. 
     The term “polymeric film” means a material made of a synthetic polymer such as a polypropylene or a naturally occurring polymer such as cellophane. A polymeric film is relatively strong and not as subject to tearing (substantially non-tearable), as might be the case with paper or foil. 
     The material employed in the construction of the sleeve  10  may vary in color and may consist of designs or decorative patterns which are printed, etched, and/or embossed thereon using inks or other printing materials. An example of an ink which may be applied to the surface of the material is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,706 entitled “Water Based Ink On Foil And/Or Synthetic Organic Polymer” issued to Kingman on Sep. 15, 1992 and which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
     In addition, the material may have various colorings, coatings, flocking and/or metallic finishes, or other decorative surface ornamentation applied separately or simultaneously or may be characterized totally or partially by pearlescent, translucent, transparent, iridescent, neon, or the like, qualities. Each of the above-named characteristics may occur alone or in combination and may be applied to the upper and/or lower surface of the material comprising the sleeve  10 . Moreover, portions of the material used in constructing the sleeve  10  may vary in the combination of such characteristics. The material utilized for the sleeve  10  itself may be opaque, translucent, transparent, or partially clear or tinted transparent. 
     It will generally be desired to use the sleeve  10  as a covering for the potted plant  30  ( FIG. 2 ). As shown in  FIG. 3 , the potted plant  30  comprises the pot  32  having an upper rim (upper end)  34 , a lower end  36 , an outer peripheral surface  38 , and an inner peripheral surface which encompasses an inner retaining space  40  for retaining a floral grouping or plant  42 . The lower end  36  of the pot  32  is closed but may have holes for permitting water drainage. The term “pot” as used herein refers to any type of container used for holding the floral grouping or plant  42 . Examples of 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 pot  32  is adapted to receive the floral grouping  42  in the inner retaining space  40 . The floral grouping  42  may be disposed within the pot  32  along with a suitable growing medium described in further detail below, or other retaining medium, such as a floral foam. It will also be understood that the floral grouping  42 , and any appropriate growing medium or other retaining medium, may be disposed in the sleeve  10  without the pot  32 . 
     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  42  comprises a bloom or foliage portion and a stem portion. Further, the floral grouping  42  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” and “potted plant”. The term “floral grouping” may also be used interchangeably herein with the terms “botanical item” and/or “propagule.” 
     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. 
     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. 
     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. 
     In accordance with the present invention, a bonding material may be disposed on a portion of the sleeve  10  to assist in holding the sleeve  10  to the pot  32  having the floral grouping  42  therein when such a pot  32  is disposed within the sleeve  10  or to assist in closing the upper end  12  of the sleeve  10  or adhering the sleeve  10  to the pot  32  after the pot  32  has been disposed therein, as will be discussed in further detail below. 
     It will be understood that the bonding material may be disposed as a strip or block on a surface of the sleeve  10 . The bonding material may also be disposed upon either the outer peripheral surface  16  or the inner peripheral surface  22  of the sleeve  10 , as well as upon the pot  32 . Further, the bonding material may be disposed as spots of bonding material, or in any other geometric, non-geometric, asymmetric, or fanciful form, and in any pattern including covering either the entire inner peripheral surface and/or outer peripheral surface of the sleeve  10  and/or the pot or pot cover. The bonding material may be covered by a cover or release strip which can be removed prior to the use of the sleeve, pot or pot cover. The bonding material can be applied by means known to those of ordinary skill in their art. One method for disposing a bonding material, in this case an adhesive, is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,637 entitled “Method For Wrapping A Floral Grouping” issued to Weder et al., on May 12, 1992, which has been incorporated by reference above. 
     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. 
     The term “bonding material” when used herein also means any type of material or thing which can be used to effect the bonding or connecting of the two adjacent portions of the material or sheet of material to effect the connection or bonding described herein. The term “bonding material” may also include ties, labels, bands, ribbons, strings, tapes (including single or double-sided adhesive tapes), staples or combinations thereof. Some of the bonding materials would secure the ends of the material while other bonding material may bind the circumference of a wrapper, or a sleeve, or, alternatively and/or in addition, the bonding materials would secure overlapping folds in the material and/or sleeve. Another way to secure the wrapping and/or sleeve is to heat seal the ends of the material to another portion of the material. One way to do this is to contact the ends with an iron of sufficient heat to heat seal the material. 
     Alternatively, a cold seal adhesive may be utilized as the bonding material. The cold seal adhesive adheres only to a similar substrate, acting similarly as a cohesive, and binds only to itself. The cold seal adhesive, since it bonds only to a similar substrate, does not cause a residue to build up on equipment, thereby both permitting much more rapid disposition and use of such equipment to form articles and reducing labor costs. Further, since no heat is required to effect the seal, the dwell time, that is, the time for the sheet of material to form and retain the shape of an article, such as a flower pot cover or flower pot, is reduced. A cold seal adhesive binds quickly and easily with minimal pressure, and such a seal is not readily releasable. This characteristic is different from, for example, a pressure sensitive adhesive. 
     The term “bonding material” when used herein also means any heat or chemically shrinkable material, and static electrical or other electrical materials, chemical welding materials, magnetic materials, mechanical or barb-type fastening materials or clamps, curl-type characteristics of the film or materials incorporated in material which can cause the material to take on certain shapes, cling films, slots, grooves, shrinkable materials and bands, curl materials, springs, and any type of welding method which may weld portions of the material to itself or to the pot, or to both the material itself and the pot. 
     Certain versions of the sleeve  10  described herein may be used in conjunction with a preformed plant cover as explained in greater detail below. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the sleeve  10  is demarcated into an upper portion  44  having an outer surface area  45  and a lower portion  46  having an outer surface area  47 . The lower portion  46  of the sleeve  10  is generally sized to contain and tapered to fit the potted plant  30  or pot  32 . The upper portion  44  of the sleeve  10  is sized to substantially surround and encompass the floral grouping  42  of the potted plant  30  disposed within the lower portion  46  of the sleeve  10 . The sleeve  10  is demarcated into the upper portion  44  and the lower portion  46  by a detaching element  48  for enabling the detachment of the upper portion  44  of the sleeve  10  from the lower portion  46  of the sleeve  10 . In the present version, the detaching element  48  is a plurality of generally laterally-oriented or alternatingly diagonally-oriented perforations which extend circumferentially across the outer peripheral surface  16  of the sleeve  10  from the first side  18  to the second side  20 . The term “detaching element,” as used generally herein, means any element, or combination of elements, or features, such as, but not by way of limitation, perforations, tear strips, zippers, and any other devices or elements of this nature known in the art, or any combination thereof, which enable the tearing away or detachment of one object from another. Therefore, while perforations are shown and described in detail herein, it will be understood that tear strips, zippers, or any other “detaching elements” known in the art, or any combination thereof, could be substituted therefore and/or used therewith. 
     In a preferred embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4 , the lower portion  46  of the sleeve  10  further comprises a base portion  50 , and a skirt portion  52 . The base portion  50  comprises that part of the lower portion  46  which, when the pot  32  is placed into the lower portion  46 , has an inner peripheral surface which is substantially adjacent to and surrounds the outer peripheral surface  38  of the pot  32 . The skirt portion  52  comprises that part of the lower portion  46  which comprises a plurality of portions  53  which extend beyond the upper rim  34  of the pot  32  and adjacent at least a portion of the floral grouping  42  contained within the pot  32  and which is left to freely extend at an angle, inwardly or outwardly, from the base portion  50  when the upper portion  44  of the sleeve  10  is detached from the lower portion  46  of the sleeve  10  by actuation of the detaching element  48 . In the intact sleeve  10 , the skirt portion  52  comprises an upper peripheral edge congruent with the detaching element  48  which is connected to a lower peripheral edge, also congruent with the detaching element  48 , of the upper portion  44  of the sleeve  10 . In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the upper peripheral edge of the skirt portion  52  is congruent with a series of alternatingly diagonally-oriented lines of perforations which together form a zig-zag and comprise the detaching element  48 . 
     The upper portion  44  of the sleeve  10  may also have an additional detaching element  54  indicated as a plurality of vertical perforations for facilitating removal of the upper portion  44  and which are disposed more or less vertically therein extending between the detaching element  48  and the upper end  12  of the sleeve  10 . The upper portion  44  of the sleeve  10  is separable from the lower portion  46  of the sleeve  10  by tearing the upper portion  44  along both the detaching element  54  and the detaching element  48 , thereby separating the upper portion  44  from the lower portion  46  of the sleeve  10 . The lower portion  46  of the sleeve  10  remains disposed as the base portion  50  about the pot  32  and as the skirt portion  52  about the floral grouping  42  forming a decorative cover  56  as shown in  FIG. 4  which substantially surrounds and encompasses the flower pot  32 . 
     It will be understood that equipment and devices for forming floral sleeves are commercially available, and are well known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. 
     As noted above, the sleeve  10  may have an open or closed lower end  14 . When the lower end  14  is closed, the lower end  14  has a horizontally-sealed portion or may have one or more gussets  60  formed therein such as that seen in sleeve  10   a  in  FIG. 5  for allowing expansion of the lower end  14  when an object with a broad lower end such as the pot  32  is disposed therein. In another version of the present invention, as shown in sleeve  10   b  in  FIG. 6 , a strip of bonding material  62  may be disposed on the inner peripheral surface  22  of the upper portion  44  of the sleeve  10   b  generally in the vicinity of the upper end  12  of the sleeve  10   b  for allowing the upper end  12  to be sealed for enclosing the upper portion  44  of the sleeve  10   b  about a floral grouping disposed therein. In another version of the present invention shown in FIG.  7 , a sleeve  10   c  comprises a flap  64  positioned at the upper end  12  which can be folded over and sealed with a flap bonding strip  66  to an adjacent portion of the outer peripheral surface  16  of the sleeve  10   c  near the upper end  12  thereof. Other versions of the sleeve (not shown) may comprise ventilation holes or drainage for allowing movement of gases or moisture to and away from the inner space of the sleeve. 
     In another version of the present invention, shown in  FIG. 8 , a sleeve  10   d  is exactly like the sleeve  10  but further comprises an inner strip of bonding material  68  disposed upon a portion of the inner peripheral surface  22  of the base portion  50  of the sleeve  10   d . The strip of bonding material  68  functions to enable the inner peripheral surface  22 , or a portion thereof, to be bondingly connected to the outer peripheral surface  38  of the pot  32  disposed therein causing the sleeve  10   d  to be bondingly connected to the pot  32 . 
     In yet another version of the present invention, shown in  FIGS. 9–13 , a bonding material  70  is disposed on a portion of the outer peripheral surface  16  of the base portion  50  of a sleeve  10   e . After the pot  32  is disposed in the inner retaining space  24  of the base portion  50 , the sleeve  10   e  is manually or automatically crimped about the outer peripheral surface  38  of the pot  32  in the vicinity of the bonding material  70  thereby forming overlapping folds  72  in the base portion  50  which are bondingly connected together by the bonding material  70  to add structural integrity to the base portion  50  and to cooperate to hold the base portion  50  in the shape of a pot cover or for causing the base portion  50  of the sleeve  10   e  to engage the outer peripheral surface  38  of the pot  32  and be held firmly thereabout. The bonding material  70  may be disposed on the sleeve  10   e  at a position below the upper rim  34  of the pot  32  ( FIGS. 9–11 ) or may be disposed at a position on the base portion  50  of the sleeve  10   e  above the upper rim  34  of the pot  32  (such as shown in  FIGS. 12–13 ) such that the overlapping folds  72  crimpingly formed are located in a position generally above the upper rim  34  of the pot  32 . 
     In another embodiment, shown in  FIG. 14 , the sleeve designated as  10   f , may further comprise an extended portion comprising a support extension  76  which extends away from a portion of the upper end  12  of the sleeve  10   f . The support extension  76  has one or more apertures  78  disposed therein thereby adapting the sleeve  10   f  to be supported on a support assembly (not shown) commercially available and known by one of ordinary skill in the art such as a pair of wickets for shipment, storage, assembly of the sleeve  10   f , placement of the pot  32  within the sleeve  10   f , or other functions known in the art. The support extension  76  may have a plurality of perforations  80  or other detaching elements for allowing the support extension  76  to be removed from the upper end  12  of the sleeve  10   f  after the sleeve  10   f  has been provided for use as described elsewhere herein. In another version of the invention, shown in  FIG. 15 , a sleeve  10   g  has an extended portion comprising a handle  82  for carrying the potted plant package inside the sleeve  10   g . The sleeve  10   g  may further comprise a detaching element  84  comprising perforations for removing the handle  82  at a later time. 
     Other versions of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 16–19 , may comprise additional perforated areas for enhancing angularity of the extension of the skirt portion away from the base portion after the upper portion of the sleeve has been detached. For example, sleeve  10   h  in  FIG. 16  comprises perforations  86  which extend vertically downward from the downward-pointing apexes  88  in the detaching element  48 , comprising lateral perforations, which demarcates the upper peripheral edge of the skirt portion  52  of the sleeve  10   h . After the upper portion  44  of the sleeve  10   h  is detached, the perforations  86  are open, allowing adjacent portions of the skirt portion  52  to be deflected at an increased angle to the base portion  50  as shown in  FIG. 17 . 
     Similarly, sleeve  10   i  in  FIG. 18  comprises notch perforations  90  which allow the removal of a notch of material  92  in the vicinity of the downward-pointing apexes  88  in the detaching element  48 , comprising lateral perforations, which demarcates the upper peripheral edge of the skirt portion  52  of the sleeve  10   i . After the upper portion  44  of the sleeve  10   i  is detached, the notches  92  are removed, allowing the adjacent portions of the skirt portion  52  to be deflected at an increased angle to the base portion  50  as shown in  FIG. 19 . 
     Sleeve  10   j , shown in  FIG. 20 , is an example of a sleeve constructed generally in accordance with the invention as described herein except the sleeve  10   j  has an upper portion  94  which is constructed of a material different from a lower portion  95 . The upper portion  94  and lower portion  95  are shown as bondingly connected along a sealed area  96 . The upper portion  94 , along with a portion of the lower portion  95  may be disconnected from each other via a detaching element such as perforations  97  and  98 , as described earlier. 
     Embodiments and Methods of Use of  FIGS. 21–34   
     Attention is now drawn to the sleeve shown in  FIG. 21  which is designated by the general reference numeral  100 . The sleeve  100  comprises a unitary construction and has a base portion  102  having a sidewall  103 , skirt portion  104 , a sleeve portion  106  and at least one expansion element  108  and further has an outer peripheral surface  110 , an open upper end  112  and a lower end  114  which may or may not be open or closed. The sleeve  100  has an inner retaining space  116  which extends from the open upper end  112  to the lower end  114  and which is encompassed by an inner peripheral surface  118  of the sleeve  100 . The base portion  102  is sized to substantially cover the outer peripheral surface  38  of the pot  32  and the sleeve portion  106  is sized to substantially surround the floral grouping  42  within the pot  32  which is disposed within the inner retaining space  116  of the sleeve  100 . 
     The sleeve portion  106  extends from and is attached to the upper end  120  of the skirt portion  104  and is detachable therefrom via a detaching element  122  such as one described in detail above. The expansion element  108  is integral to at least one of the base portion  102  and the skirt portion  104  and may extend into the sleeve portion  106  as shown in  FIG. 21 . The expansion element  108  functions to allow expansion of a portion of the skirt portion  104  of the sleeve  100  into a skirt  124 , such as the skirt  124  of a decorative cover  126  formed therefrom and shown in  FIG. 22  which extends angularly from the base portion  102  when the sleeve portion  106  is detached from the upper end  120  of the skirt portion  104 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 21 , each expansion element  108  of the sleeve  100  comprises one or more areas of excess material shaped in the form of a pleat which extends from the base portion  102  to the upper end  112  of the sleeve  100 . As used herein, the term “excess material” means an amount of material which has a greater surface area than would actually be necessary to form that portion of the plant covering were that portion of the plant covering actually flattened. The expansion element  108  can expand causing portions of the skirt portion  104  to extend angularly from the base portion  102  forming the skirt  124  and the decorative cover  126  about a portion of the floral grouping  42  of the potted plant  30  as shown in  FIG. 22 . It should be noted that although the illustrated floral grouping  42  of  FIG. 2  and others are different from the floral group illustrated in, for example,  FIG. 22 , no practical difference is intended. The expansion element  108  may further comprise a plurality of detachable notches such as shown in  FIGS. 18 and 19  and as explained above. 
     Shown in  FIG. 23  is a sleeve designated by the reference numeral  100   a  which is exactly the same as sleeve  100  except that sleeve  100   a  has a plurality of expansion elements  108   a  which do not extend from the base portion  102   a  all the way to the upper end  112   a  of the sleeve portion  106   a  of the sleeve  100   a  but only to a position below the upper end  112   a  of the sleeve  100   a . Shown in  FIG. 24  is a cross-section through the sleeve  100   a  which reveals the pleated nature of the expansion elements  108   a  therein. When the sleeve portion  106   a  is removed, the expansion elements  108   a  can expand as for sleeve  100  as described above causing portions of the skirt portion  104   a  to extend angularly from the base portion  102   a  forming a skirt (not shown—a skirt exactly the same as the skirt  124  of the decorative cover  126  shown in  FIG. 22 ). 
     Attention is now drawn to  FIG. 25  and to the sleeve shown therein which is designated by the general reference numeral  100   b . Sleeve  100   b  is exactly the same as sleeve  100  except that the sleeve  100   b  has a plurality of Z-shaped expansion elements  108   b . As for expansion element  108  of sleeve  100 , the expansion elements  108   b  of sleeve  100   b  can expand causing portions of a skirt portion  104   b  to extend angularly from a base portion  102   b  forming a skirt  124   b  in a decorative cover  126   b  about a portion of the floral grouping  42  of the potted plant  30  as shown in  FIG. 26 . 
     Similarly, shown in  FIG. 27  is a sleeve designated by the reference numeral  100   c  and which is exactly the same as sleeve  100   b  except that sleeve  100   c  has a plurality of expansion elements  108   c  which do not extend from the base portion  102   c  all the way to an upper end  112   c  of an upper portion  106   c  of the sleeve  100   c  but only to a position below the upper end  112   c  of the sleeve  100   c . Shown in  FIG. 28  is a cross-section through the sleeve  100   c  of  FIG. 27  which reveals the Z-shaped nature of the expansion elements  108   c  therein. When the upper portion  106   c  is removed, the expansion elements  108   c  can expand as for sleeve  100   b  causing portions of a skirt portion  104   c  to extend angularly from the base portion  102   c  forming a skirt exactly the same as the skirt  124   b  of the decorative cover  126   b  shown in  FIG. 26 . 
     Attention is now drawn to  FIG. 29  and to the sleeve shown therein which is designated by the general reference numeral  100   d . Sleeve  100   d  is exactly the same as sleeve  100  except that the sleeve  100   d  has a plurality of fluted or groove-shaped expansion elements  108   d . As for expansion element  108  of sleeve  100 , the expansion elements  108   d  of sleeve  100   d  can expand causing portions of a skirt portion  104   d  to extend angularly from a base portion  102   d  forming a skirt  124   d  of a decorative cover  126   d  about a portion of the floral grouping  42  of the potted plant  30  as shown in  FIG. 30 . 
     Similarly, shown in  FIG. 31 , is a sleeve designated by the reference numeral  100   e  and which is exactly the same as sleeve  100   d  except that sleeve  100   e  has a plurality of expansion elements  108   e  which do not extend from a base portion  102   e  all the way to an upper end  112   e  of an upper sleeve portion  106   e  of the sleeve  100   e  but only to a position below the upper end  112   e  of the sleeve  100   e . Shown in  FIG. 32  is a cross-section through the sleeve  100   e  of  FIG. 31  which reveals the fluted nature of the expansion elements  108   e  therein. When the upper portion  106   e  is removed, the expansion elements  108   e  can expand as for sleeve  100   d  causing portions of the skirt portion  104   e  to extend angularly from the base portion  102   e  forming a skirt exactly the same as skirt  124   d  of the decorative cover  126   d  shown in  FIG. 30 . 
     It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the shapes of the expansion elements described above are but several of the shapes which can be contemplated for the present invention. Other shapes which may be contemplated are gussets, fans, and “accordion-folds” to name but a few. 
     Each of the sleeves  100 – 100   e  may further comprise a support extension  130  which extends away from a portion of the upper end of the sleeve such as for the sleeve  100   f  as shown in  FIG. 33 . The support extension  130  has one or more apertures  132  disposed therein for allowing the sleeve  100   f  to be supported on a support assembly  134  which may comprise, for example, a pair of wickets  136  for shipment, storage, assembly of the sleeve  100   f , placement of a pot within the sleeve  100   f , or other functions known in the art. The support extension  130  may have a plurality of perforations  138  or other detaching elements for allowing the support extension  130  to be removed from the sleeve  100   f  after the sleeve  100   f  has been provided for use as described elsewhere herein. In another version of the invention, and applicable to any of the sleeves described above, or elsewhere herein, shown in  FIG. 34  is a sleeve  10   g  which has a handle  140  for carrying the potted plant package by the sleeve  100   g . The sleeve  10   g  further comprises a detaching element  142  comprising perforations for removing a handle  140  at a later time. 
     As noted above, the protective sleeve and decorative cover components of the present invention may comprise a unitary construction, as described in the versions of the invention exemplified in  FIGS. 1–34 , or may comprise separately formed components which are attached together by various bonding materials, as described below. 
     For example, the invention may comprise, in one series of embodiments, a sleeve-cover combination and a method for packaging a pot or potted plant. In the method, a preformed decorative plant cover is provided. The plant cover has a bonding material disposed upon a portion of its inner peripheral surface for bonding the cover to the outer peripheral surface of a pot. In one embodiment, a bonding material is also disposed upon a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the pot. In the case where a decorative cover is provided which does not have a bonding material disposed on the inner peripheral surface thereof, a pot having a bonding material disposed upon a portion of the outer peripheral surface thereof is provided for bonding to a portion of the inner peripheral surface of the decorative cover. The pot is inserted into the pot retaining space of the preformed pot cover whereby the bonding material engages the inner peripheral surface of the cover and bondingly connects the outer peripheral surface of the pot thereto providing a covered pot. 
     In the next step of the method, a sleeve portion is provided for applying to the covered pot for providing protection to the plant already, or soon to be, disposed within the retaining space of the pot. The sleeve portion is preferably an open-ended, frusto-conically shaped, or semi frusto-conically shaped, tube similar to sleeves well known to persons of ordinary skill in the art. The sleeve may be free of any bonding material disposed thereon, or a bonding material may be disposed on a portion of the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve, preferably near the lower end of the sleeve. The sleeve is opened and the covered pot, as described, is deposited into the inner retaining space of the sleeve. As noted above, the decorative cover which covers the pot may have a bonding material disposed upon a portion of the outer peripheral surface thereof. 
     In one version of the method, a covered pot free of any externally-disposed bonding material is deposited into a sleeve having a bonding material disposed on a portion of the inner peripheral surface thereof. As the covered pot is moved downwardly into the sleeve, the bonding material on the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve engages a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the cover causing the sleeve to be bondingly connected to the cover disposed about the covered plant. Preferably, the sleeve bondingly engages a portion of the cover near the upper end of the base portion of the cover yet below the skirt portion of the cover to allow free extension of the skirt portion of the cover. 
     In an alternative version of the invention, as noted above, the bonding material may be disposed on the outer surface of the cover of the covered pot while the sleeve may be free of a bonding material. In this case, when the covered pot is disposed into the open sleeve, the bonding material on the outer peripheral surface of the cover engages a portion of the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve causing the sleeve to be bondingly connected to the cover of the covered plant. Again, preferably the sleeve bondingly engages a portion of the cover near the upper end of the base portion of the cover yet below the skirt portion of the cover. 
     In yet another version of the method of the present invention, the bonding material may be disposed on both the outer surface of the covered pot and the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve. In such a case, preferably the bonding material both of the cover and the sleeve is a cohesive which allows bonding to itself but not to dissimilar surfaces. The embodiments of the sleeve/cover combination or package briefly described above are described in more detail below in relation to  FIGS. 35–57 . 
     Embodiments of FIGS.  35 – 44   
     Attention is now drawn to the embodiments of the present invention as shown in  FIGS. 35–39 . Represented by the general reference numeral  150  in  FIG. 35  is a pot. The pot  150  has an upper end  152 , a lower end  154 , an outer peripheral surface  156 , an upper opening  158 , and an inner retaining space  160 . Shown in  FIGS. 36 and 37  is a plant cover referred to by the general reference numeral  162 . The plant cover  162  has an outer peripheral surface  164 , an upper end  166 , a lower end  168 , a base portion  170  sized generally to accommodate pot  150 , a skirt portion  172  which extends from the base portion  170 , an upper opening  174 , an inner or pot retaining space  176 , an inner peripheral surface  178 , and a bonding material  180  which is disposed upon at least a portion of the inner peripheral surface  178 . Shown in  FIG. 37  is the pot  150  which has been inserted into the pot retaining space  176  of the plant cover  162 . 
     As indicated in  FIG. 37  the bonding material  180  on the inner peripheral surface  178  of the plant cover  162  is bondingly connected to the outer peripheral surface  156  of the pot  150 . The bonding material  180  is shown in the Figures as being preferably disposed near an upper end of the base portion  170  of the plant cover  162  wherein the bonding material  180  bonds at a position near the upper end  152  of the pot  150 . However, the bonding material  180  may be disposed at other locations on the inner peripheral surface  178  of the plant cover  162  for bonding to other positions or points of the outer peripheral surface  156  of the pot  150 . 
     Shown in  FIG. 38  is a sleeve designated by the reference numeral  182 . The sleeve  182  has an upper end  184 , an upper opening  186 , a lower end  188 , a lower opening  190 , an outer peripheral surface  192 , an inner peripheral surface  194 , and an inner retaining space  196  which is encompassed generally by the inner peripheral surface  194 . A bonding material  198  is disposed upon a portion of the inner peripheral surface  194 . In  FIG. 38  the bonding material  198  is shown disposed on the inner peripheral surface  194  near the lower end  188  of the sleeve  182 , but it will be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art that the bonding material  198  may be disposed elsewhere on the inner peripheral surface  194  of the sleeve  182 . 
     Sleeve  182  further comprises lateral perforations  200  and vertical perforations  202  for allowing detachment of an upper portion of the sleeve  182 . Perforations  202  may also represent other forms of detaching elements for detaching the upper portion of the sleeve  182 .  FIG. 39  shows a sleeve/cover package  204  comprising the plant cover  162  and pot  150  as shown in  FIG. 37  and the sleeve  182  as shown in  FIG. 38  after the pot  150  and plant cover  162  have been inserted into the inner retaining space  196  of the sleeve  182 . As shown in  FIG. 39 , the bonding material  198  bondingly connects a portion of the outer peripheral surface  164  of the plant cover  162  to the inner peripheral surface  194  of the sleeve  182  at a position generally near an upper end of the base portion  170  of the plant cover  162 . Once the plant cover  162  with the pot  150  therein has been disposed into the inner retaining space  196  of the sleeve  182 , the skirt portion  172  of the plant cover  162  is substantially surrounded and encompassed by the sleeve  182 . As will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, a portion of the sleeve portion  182  can be removed from the sleeve/cover package  204  when it is desired to decoratively display a plant contained within the pot  150 . 
     Shown in  FIG. 40  is a preformed plant cover represented by the general reference numeral  162   a . The plant cover  162   a  is exactly the same as the plant cover  162  shown in  FIG. 36  except that the plant cover  162   a  has an outer bonding material  181   a  disposed on an outer peripheral surface  164   a  in addition to a bonding material  180   a  which is disposed upon an inner peripheral surface  178   a  of the plant cover  162   a . Shown in  FIG. 41  is a pot  150  which has been disposed within a pot retaining space  176   a  of the plant cover  162   a  wherein the bonding material  180   a  of the plant cover  162   a  has bondingly connected to a portion of the outer peripheral surface  156  of the pot  150 . The bonding material  181   a  is shown on the outer peripheral surface  164   a  of the plant cover  162   a.    
     Shown in  FIG. 42  is a sleeve  182   a  having an outer peripheral surface  192   a , a lower end  188   a , and an inner peripheral surface  194   a . The sleeve  182   a  is exactly the same as the sleeve  182  shown in  FIG. 38  except that sleeve  182   a  does not have a bonding material disposed on the inner peripheral surface  194   a  near the lower end  188   a  of the sleeve  182   a .  FIG. 43  shows a sleeve/cover package  204   a  combination exactly as shown in  FIG. 41  which has been disposed into an inner retaining space  196   a  of the sleeve  182   a  wherein the bonding material  181   a  on the outer peripheral surface  164   a  of the plant cover  162   a  has bondingly connected to a portion of the inner peripheral surface  194   a  of the sleeve  182   a  to form the sleeve/cover package  204   a . As before, the skirt portion  172   a  of the plant cover  162   a  is substantially surrounded and encompassed by the sleeve  182   a.    
     Shown in  FIG. 44  is a sleeve/cover package  204   b  which is comprised of the pot  150  as described above, a plant cover  162   a  as described above in  FIG. 40  and a sleeve  182  as described above in  FIG. 38 . Sleeve/cover package  204   b  thus comprises the plant cover  162   a  having the bonding material  181   a  on the outer peripheral surface  164   a  thereof, which is bondingly connected to the bonding material  198  which is on a portion of the inner peripheral surface  194  of the sleeve  182 . In a preferred embodiment, the bonding materials  181   a  and  198  of sleeve/cover package  204   b  are cohesive materials but may be any bonding material described previously herein. 
     Embodiments of FIGS.  45 – 55   
     Shown in  FIG. 45  is a pot designated by the reference numeral  150   a  which is exactly the same as pot  150  described previously herein except that the pot  150   a , which has an upper end  152   a , a lower end  154   a , and an outer peripheral surface  156   a , also has a bonding material  161   a  disposed on at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface  156   a . Shown in  FIG. 46  is a preformed plant cover designated by the general reference numeral  162   b  which has an outer peripheral surface  164   b , a base portion  170   b , a skirt portion  172   b  and an inner peripheral surface  178   b . The plant cover  162   b  is exactly the same as the plant cover  162  except that the plant cover  162   b  does not have a bonding material such as the bonding material  180  disposed upon a portion of the inner peripheral surface  178   b.    
     Shown in  FIG. 47  is the plant cover  162   b  with the pot  150   a  disposed therein, wherein the bonding material  161   a  of the pot  150   a  is bondingly connected to a portion of the inner peripheral surface  178   b  of the plant cover  162   b . Shown in  FIG. 48  is a sleeve/cover package  204   c  which is comprised of the plant cover  162   b  having the pot  150   a  therein as shown in  FIG. 47  and the sleeve  182  as shown in  FIG. 38  which has the inner peripheral surface  194  and the bonding material  198  disposed upon a portion of the inner peripheral surface  194 . The bonding material  198  of the sleeve  182  is bondingly connected to a portion of the outer peripheral surface  164   b  of the base portion  170   b  of the plant cover  162   b . The skirt portion  172   b  of the plant cover  162   b  is thus substantially surrounded and encompassed by the sleeve  182 . 
     Shown in  FIGS. 49 and 50  is a plant cover  162   c  having an outer peripheral surface  164   c , a base portion  170   c , a skirt portion  172   c , and an inner peripheral surface  178   c . The plant cover  162   c  is exactly the same as the plant cover  162   b  of  FIG. 46  except that the plant cover  162   c  further comprises a bonding material  181   c  disposed upon the portion of the outer peripheral surface  164   c  of the cover  162   c . Shown in  FIG. 50  is the plant cover  162   c  containing the pot  150   a  ( FIG. 45 ). The pot  150   a  is bondingly connected to the inner peripheral surface  178   c  of the plant cover  162   c  via the bonding material  161   a  as described previously. Shown in  FIG. 51  is sleeve/cover package  204   d . The sleeve/cover package  204   d  comprises the pot  150   a  contained within the plant cover  162   c  as described in  FIG. 50  which is disposed in the inner retaining space  196   a  of sleeve  182   a  shown in  FIG. 42 . A portion of the inner peripheral surface  194   a  of the sleeve  182   a  is bondingly connected to a portion of the outer peripheral surface  164   c  of the plant cover  162   c  via the bonding material  181   c . The skirt portion  172   c  of the plant cover  162   c  is substantially surrounded and encompassed by the sleeve  182   a.    
     Shown in  FIG. 52  is the pot  150   a  disposed within the pot retaining space  176   a  of a plant cover  162   a  shown in  FIG. 40 . The plant cover  162   a  comprises the bonding material  180   a  disposed on the inner peripheral surface  178   a  thereof and the bonding material  181   a  disposed on the outer peripheral surface  164   a  thereof. The bonding material  161   a  of the pot  150   a  is connected to the bonding material  180   a  of the plant cover  162   a . The pot  150   a  and cover  162   a  may be disposed within a sleeve such as sleeve  182  or sleeve  182   a.    
     Shown in  FIG. 53  is a sleeve/cover package  204   e  comprising the pot  150   a  and plant cover  162   c  disposed within the inner retaining space  196  of the sleeve  182  described in  FIG. 38  previously. As indicated in  FIG. 53 , the bonding material  181   c  of the plant cover  162   c  is bondingly connected to the bonding material  198  of the sleeve  182  thereby connecting the outer peripheral surface  164   c  of the plant cover  162   c  to a portion of the inner peripheral surface  194  of the sleeve  182 . As discussed previously, in the case of using a plant cover having a bonding material on the outer peripheral surface thereof along with a sleeve having a bonding material on the inner peripheral surface thereof, preferably the bonding material is a cohesive. It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that other combinations of pots, covers and sleeves other than those specifically delineated herein are practicable and are well within the spirit of the embodiments described herein. 
     Shown in  FIGS. 54 and 55  is one example of a method and apparatus which can be used to cause a sleeve to be attached to the outer peripheral surface of a decorative cover surrounding a potted plant. A pedestal is represented by the reference numeral  210 . The pedestal  210  is comprised of a post  212 , a base  214  and a pot support surface  216 . A potted plant  218  is placed upon the pot support surface  216 , the potted plant  218  having a bonding material  220  disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the cover of the potted plant  218 . A plurality of sleeves  222  is disposed upon the pedestal  210  near the base  214 . A single sleeve  224  is caused to be brought up around the outside of the potted plant  218 . The individual sleeve  224  has an inner peripheral surface  226 , an upper end  228 , and a bonding material  230  disposed upon a portion of the inner peripheral surface  226  preferably near the lower end of the sleeve  224 . Shown in  FIG. 55  is a sleeve  224  which has been brought up about the exterior of the potted plant  218  wherein the bonding material  230  on the sleeve  224  is caused to be bondingly connected to the bonding material  220  on the exterior surface of the potted plant  218 . The sleeve  224  and the potted plant  218  together comprise a sleeve and cover package  232 . 
     Embodiments of FIGS.  56 – 67   
     Shown in  FIG. 56  and represented by the general reference numeral  238  is a sleeve/plant package comprising a pot  240  and a sleeve  242 . The sleeve  242  has an outer peripheral surface  244 , an inner peripheral surface  246 , a lower end  248 , an upper end  250 , a plurality of perforations  252  and an inner bonding material  254  disposed on a portion of the inner peripheral surface  246  thereof. The inner bonding material  254  serves to bondingly connect the lower end  248  of the sleeve  242  to a portion of the pot  240 , preferably an upper end of the pot  240 . It will also be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the object as represented by the pot  240  could also be a pot covered with a decorative pot cover as described elsewhere herein. In that case the bonding material  254  on the sleeve  242  would bondingly connect the inner peripheral surface  246  of the sleeve  242  to a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the decorative cover surrounding the pot  240 . 
     An alternative embodiment of a sleeve  242   a  of a sleeve/plant package  238   a  is shown in  FIG. 57 . In this embodiment of the sleeve/plant package  238   a , the sleeve  242   a  has no bonding material thereon. Instead, a bonding material  256   a  is disposed on a portion of an outer peripheral surface  241   a  of a pot  240   a  for bondingly connecting the sleeve  242   a  to the pot  240   a . An additional embodiment is represented in  FIG. 58  by a sleeve/plant package designated by the reference numeral  238   b . The sleeve/plant package  238   b  comprises a sleeve  242   b  having a bonding material  254   b  disposed on a portion of an inner peripheral surface  246   b  of the sleeve  242   b . In addition, the pot  240   a  has a bonding material  256   a  disposed on a portion of an outer peripheral surface  241   a  of the pot  240   a . Together the bonding materials  254   b  and  256   a , which preferably are cohesives, cause the sleeve  242   b  to be bondingly connected to the pot  240   a.    
     Shown in  FIG. 59  is yet another version of the present invention comprising a sleeve/plant package designated by the reference numeral  238   c . The sleeve/plant package  238   c  comprises a sleeve  242   c  and a pot  240 . The sleeve  242   c  has both an inner bonding material  254   c  which is disposed upon a portion of an inner peripheral surface  246   c  of the sleeve  242   c  and an outer bonding material  258   c  which is disposed upon a portion of an outer peripheral surface  244   c  of the sleeve  242   c . As noted above, any of the sleeve/plant packages  238 ,  238   a ,  238   b , and  238   c  may comprise a potted plant having a decorative pot cover in lieu of the pot  240  or  240   a  to which the aforementioned sleeves are attached. 
     An alternate version of a sleeve as used in the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 60 ,  61 ,  62 ,  63  and  64 , and is designated by the general reference numeral  260 . The sleeve  260  comprises an upper end  262 , a lower end  264 , an outer peripheral surface  266 , an inner peripheral surface  268 , a plurality of perforations or other detaching element  270 , an inverted portion  272  ( FIGS. 60–63 ) disposed at the lower end  264  and a cover strip  274  ( FIGS. 61 and 62 ) which conceals a bonding material  276  ( FIGS. 61–63 ) disposed upon an external portion  277  of the inverted portion  272 . In use, as shown in  FIG. 61 , the sleeve  260  is disposed about the pot  240  wherein a portion of the lower end  264  of the sleeve  260  is placed adjacent a portion of an outer peripheral surface  241  of the pot  240 . The cover strip  274  can then be removed revealing the bonding material  276  disposed upon a portion of an externally facing portion  277  of the inverted portion  272 , as shown in  FIGS. 61 and 62 . The inverted portion  272  is then turned down as shown in  FIG. 63  wherein the bonding material  276  is caused to face a portion of the outer peripheral surface  241  of the pot  240 . Finally, shown in  FIG. 64 , is a sleeve/plant package  278  which is produced when the sleeve  260  is bondingly connected at the lower end  264  thereof to the pot  240 . 
     Shown in  FIGS. 65 and 66  are two pot covers  280  and  280   a , respectively. The pot cover  280  shown in  FIG. 65  is a pot cover such as those well known in the art and described previously herein and having a retaining space  282 . The pot cover  280   a  has a retaining space  282   a  and a bonding material  284  disposed upon a portion of an inner peripheral surface  285  of the pot cover  280   a . Any of the sleeve plant packages shown previously in  FIGS. 56–64  may be disposed in either of the pot covers  280  or  280   a . For example, sleeve/plant packages  238 ,  238   a ,  238   b , and  278  may be disposed in the pot retaining space  282   a  of the pot cover  280   a . The bonding material  284  disposed on the inner peripheral surface  285  of the pot cover  280   a  can be caused to bondingly connect to a portion of the sleeve/plant package  238 ,  238   a ,  238   b  or  278 , sleeve/plant package  278  being shown, resulting in the sleeve/plant package  286  shown in  FIG. 67 . Alternatively, the sleeve/plant package  238   c  which has the bonding material  258   c  disposed on the outer peripheral surface  244  thereof can be disposed in pot cover  280 . The pot cover  280 , having no adhesive or bonding material disposed thereon, is bondingly connected to the sleeve/plant package  238   c  via the bonding material  258   c.    
     Embodiments of FIGS.  68 – 73   
     Another version of the present invention and its use thereof is shown in  FIGS. 68–73 .  FIG. 68  shows a covered potted plant designated by the general reference numeral  288 . The covered potted plant  288  is comprised of a pot cover  290  which has a skirt portion  292 , a base portion  294 , an outer peripheral surface  296 , and a retaining space  297 . A potted plant  298  is disposed within the retaining space  297  of the pot cover  290 . Shown in  FIG. 69  is a sleeve designated by the general reference numeral  300  having a generally cylindrical shape and having an upper end  302 , a lower end  304 , an outer peripheral surface  306 , an inner peripheral surface  308 , a bonding material  310  disposed in the vicinity of the upper end  302 , a vertical perforation  312  extending from near the upper end  302  to the lower end  304 , a lateral perforation  314  extending circumferentially around the sleeve  300 , and one or more expansion elements  316 . In use the sleeve  300  is drawn up about the base portion  294  of the covered potted plant  288  of  FIG. 68  wherein the bonding material  310  of the sleeve  300  is caused to be bondingly connected to a portion of the outer peripheral surface  296  of the pot cover  290  as shown in  FIG. 70 . The sleeve  300  can be then brought up about the covered potted plant  288  by grasping the lower end  304  of the sleeve  300  and drawing the lower end  304  in the direction  318  over the upper end of the covered potted plant  288  as shown in  FIG. 71 . Once fully drawn up about the covered potted plant  288 , the sleeve  300  encompasses the skirt portion  292  of the pot cover  290  of the covered potted plant  288 . The resulting sleeve/plant package is designated in  FIG. 72  by the general reference numeral  320 . Shown in  FIG. 73  is the sleeve/plant package  320  after the upper portion of the sleeve  300  has been removed causing the skirt portion  292  of the pot cover  290  of the covered potted plant  288  to be exposed and the remaining portion  322  of the sleeve  300  left bondingly connected to a portion of the base portion  294  of the pot cover  290  of the covered potted plant  288 . 
     In an alternative embodiment of a sleeve/cover combination, a sleeve having a skirt portion attached therein is shown in  FIGS. 74 and 75  and designated by the general reference numeral  326 . The sleeve/cover combination  326  comprises a sleeve  328 . The sleeve  328  comprises a base portion  330  having a lower end  332 , a sleeve portion  334  having an upper end  336 , an outer peripheral surface  338 , and an inner peripheral surface  340 . A skirt component  342  comprising a lower end  344 , an upper end  346 , an outer peripheral surface  348 , an inner peripheral surface  350  and a bonding material  352  is shown disposed within the sleeve  328 . The skirt component  342  is bondingly connected at a portion of its outer peripheral surface  348  to a portion of the inner peripheral surface  340  of the sleeve  328  via the bonding material  352 . The upper end  346  of the skirt component  342  is substantially surrounded and encompassed by the sleeve portion  334  of the sleeve  328 . Shown in  FIG. 75  is an alternate view of the skirt component  342  bondingly connected by the bonding material  352  to a portion of the inner peripheral surface  340  of the sleeve  328 . Also shown in  FIG. 75  are perforations  354  in the sleeve  328  for allowing detachment of the sleeve portion  334  away from the skirt component  342  and the base portion  330  thereby allowing the skirt component  342  to be exposed. 
     Embodiments of FIGS.  76 – 86   
     In yet another version of the present invention rather than providing a preformed pot cover, a sheet of material may be provided for forming a cover about a pot. In an embodiment as shown in  FIG. 76  a sheet of material  360  is provided. The sheet of material  360  has an inner surface  362 , an outer surface  364 , a first edge  366 , a second edge  368 , a third edge  370 , a fourth edge  372 , and a bonding material  374  which is disposed upon a portion of the outer surface  364 . A potted plant  298  can be disposed upon the inner surface  362  of the sheet of material  360 , which can then be wrapped and formed into a decorative cover  376  about the potted plant  298  as shown in  FIG. 77  in a manner well known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. The decorative cover  376  thus formed comprises a base portion  378 , and a skirt portion  380 . The bonding material  374  is therefore disposed upon an outer surface  381  of the decorative cover  376 . Shown in  FIGS. 78 and 79 , and designated by the general reference numeral  382 , is a sleeve having an outer peripheral surface  384 , an inner peripheral surface  386 , and an inner retaining space  387  surrounded by the inner peripheral surface  386 . The potted plant  298  shown in  FIG. 77  having the decorative cover  376  is then disposed in the inner retaining space  387  of the sleeve  382  wherein the bonding material  374  of the decorative cover  376  engages a portion of the inner peripheral surface  386  of the sleeve  382  thereby bondingly connecting a portion of the outer peripheral surface  381  of the decorative cover  376  to the inner peripheral surface  386  of the sleeve  382  in forming a sleeve/plant package  388  as shown in  FIG. 79 . 
     In an alternate version of the invention shown in  FIGS. 80 and 81 , a sleeve  382   a  having an outer peripheral surface  384   a , an inner peripheral surface  386   a , and an inner retaining space  387   a  is provided. Disposed upon a portion of the inner peripheral surface  386   a  of the sleeve  382   a  is a bonding material  390 . A potted plant  298  such as that shown in  FIG. 77  having a decorative cover  376  which has a bonding material  374  thereon is disposed within the inner retaining space  387   a  of the sleeve  382   a  to form a sleeve/cover package  388   a  wherein the bonding material  390  of the sleeve  382   a  bondingly connects to the bonding material  374  of the decorative cover  376 . Preferably, when both the sleeve  382   a  and the decorative cover  376  have a bonding material thereon the bonding material is a cohesive wherein the bonding material  390  cohesively connects to the bonding material  374 . 
     In an alternative version of the present invention, as shown in  FIGS. 82 and 83 , the sleeve may not be a tube but instead may be formed of a flat sheet of material having a generally trapezoidal, square or rectangular shape. It will be appreciated that any size or shape of sheet of material may be utilized as long as this sheet of material functions in the manner described herein in accordance with the present invention. Shown in  FIG. 82  is a sheet of material designated by the general reference numeral  394 . The sheet of material  394  has an inner surface  396 , an outer surface  398 , a first edge  400 , a second edge  402 , a third edge  404  and a fourth edge  406 . The sheet  394  further has vertical perforations  408  and lateral perforations  410  which represent detaching elements. The sheet  394  further has a first bonding strip  412  flanking the second edge  402  and a second bonding strip  414  which is disposed horizontally and flanks the third edge  404 . The covered potted plant  288  having the pot cover  290  is provided as shown previously in  FIG. 73  herein. The sheet of material  394  can then be wrapped about the covered potted plant  288  forming a generally frusto-conical shaped sleeve  416  as shown in  FIG. 83 . The first bonding strip  412  which here is shown to be vertically oriented is caused to engage and bondingly connect to the fourth edge  406  of the sheet of material  394  as indicated in  FIG. 83  thereby forming an overlapping sealed area between the first bonding strip  412  and the portion of the surface of the sheet of material  394  near the fourth edge  406 . The second bonding strip  414  which here is shown to be horizontally oriented is caused to engage and bondingly connect circumferentially about a portion of the outer peripheral surface  296  of the pot cover  290  formed about the covered potted plant  288  thereby forming a generally frusto-conical shaped sleeve  416  and forming a sleeve/cover package  418  comprising the covered potted plant  288  and then the sleeve  416 . A portion of the sleeve  416  can then be removed by detaching the portion along the perforations  408  and  410 . 
     Another version of the invention, as shown in  FIGS. 84–86 . In  FIG. 84 , a sheet of material designated by the general reference numeral  394   a  is provided. The sheet of material  394   a  has an inner surface  396   a , an outer surface  398   a , a first edge  400   a , a second edge  402   a , a third edge  404   a  and a fourth edge  406   a . The sheet of material  394   a  further has a plurality of vertical perforations  408   a  and a plurality of lateral perforations  410   a . Further, the sheet of material  394   a  has a first bonding strip  412   a  which is generally disposed along the second edge  402   a , a second bonding strip  414   a  which is generally disposed along the third edge  404   a  and a sealing strip  420   a  which is generally disposed along the first edge  400   a . As indicated in the embodiment previously shown in  FIGS. 82 and 83  the sheet of material  394   a  can be wrapped about the covered potted plant  288  to form a sleeve/cover package  424 . As shown in  FIGS. 85 and 86  the sealing strip  420   a  can be sealed along its length to seal the upper end  421  of the sleeve  422  formed therefrom for reducing gas exchange or moisture loss from the covered potted plant  288 . 
     It should also be noted that for all versions of preformed covers and sheets of material described above and elsewhere herein, an additional bonding material may be disposed either on the outer surface of the cover, the inner surface of the cover, or both the outer and inner surfaces of the cover for allowing portions of the cover to be crimpingly connected to the pot in exactly the same manner as described elsewhere herein. Further, in each of these versions described herein the sleeve which is bondingly connected to the cover comprises a detaching element as described earlier for allowing the sleeve or portion thereof to be detached from the cover thereby exposing the skirt portion of the base of the cover or another portion of the base and allowing the portion thereby exposed to extend angularly from the base of the cover. Further, in any of the versions of the present invention described herein, it may be desirable to have a cover strip covering the bonding material disposed on any portion of the object for preventing the bonding material from bonding to a surface until the desired time. Further in each of the cases described herein wherein a sleeve is applied to a pot or a covered pot, the sleeve may be applied thereto either by depositing the pot or covered pot downwardly into the open retaining space of the sleeve, or the sleeve may be brought upwardly about the pot or covered pot from below the pot or covered pot as shown for example using the pedestal of  FIGS. 54 and 55 . 
     It should be further noted that features of the versions of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 6–20  such as closure bonding areas, support extensions, handles, additional perforations and combinations of material may be used alone or in combination as elements of any of the embodiments described above herein. 
     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.