Patent Publication Number: US-2004040208-A1

Title: Plant package

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
     [0001] The present application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/354,319, filed Jan. 29, 2003, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/180,206, filed Jun. 18, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,584,729; which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/461,800, filed Dec. 14, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,460,291; which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/062,277, filed Apr. 17, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,178,689; which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/749,626, filed Nov. 18, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,829,194, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 08/458,327, filed Jun. 2, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,133, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/386,859, filed Feb. 10, 1985, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,493,809. 
    
    
     
       [0002] Each of these patent applications and patents is hereby incorporated herein by reference.  
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       Not Applicable  
       FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0003] 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  
     [0004]FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a sleeve having a detaching element and bonding material constructed in accordance with the present invention.  
     [0005]FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve of FIG. 1, taken along line  2 A- 2 A thereof.  
     [0006]FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve of FIG. 1, taken along line  2 B- 2 B thereof.  
     [0007]FIG. 3 is a an elevational of a sleeve similar to the sleeve of FIG. 1 with a release material disposed adjacent a bonding material.  
     [0008]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve of FIG. 3, taken along line  4 - 4  thereof.  
     [0009]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve of FIG. 1 but having a release material disposed upon the bonding material.  
     [0010]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate version of the sleeve of FIG. 1 wherein areas of bonding material are disposed upon portions of both inner surfaces of the sleeve.  
     [0011]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate version of the sleeve of FIG. 6 having a release material disposed between the two areas of bonding material.  
     [0012]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the sleeve of FIG. 7.  
     [0013]FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate version of the sleeve of FIG. 6 wherein a release material is disposed upon areas of bonding material.  
     [0014]FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a sleeve having staggered areas of bonding material on inner surfaces.  
     [0015]FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a sleeve wherein bonding material is disposed upon a portion of a surface of a gusset facing an inner surface of the sleeve.  
     [0016]FIG. 12 is an elevational view of another sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.  
     [0017]FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve of FIG. 12, taken along line  13 - 13  thereof.  
     [0018]FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve of FIG. 12 having a release material disposed within an inner retaining space thereof.  
     [0019]FIG. 15 is an elevational view of another sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention wherein bonding material has an alternate pattern.  
     [0020]FIG. 16A is an elevational view of another sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention wherein the sleeve has a closure bonding material disposed thereon.  
     [0021]FIG. 16B is cross-sectional view of the sleeve of FIG. 16A, taken along line  16 B- 16 B thereof.  
     [0022]FIG. 17A is an elevational view of another sleeve having a closure bonding material disposed thereon.  
     [0023]FIG. 17B is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve of FIG. 17A, taken along line  17 B- 17 B thereof.  
     [0024]FIG. 17C is cross-sectional view of a sleeve having a closure bonding material disposed on two areas of the sleeve.  
     [0025]FIG. 18 is an elevational view of a sleeve of the present invention having an upper portion extending only slightly above an uppermost portion of a lower portion.  
     [0026]FIG. 19 is an elevational view of a sleeve like the sleeve in FIG. 18 yet having a bonding material on an inner surface thereof.  
     [0027]FIG. 20 is an elevational view of yet another sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.  
     [0028]FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve of FIG. 20, taken along line  21 - 21  thereof.  
     [0029]FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the sleeve of FIG. 20 in an opened configuration and with an upper portion removed.  
     [0030]FIG. 23 is an elevational view of another sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.  
     [0031]FIG. 24 is an elevational view of another sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention wherein an upper portion is constructed of a material different from a material of a lower portion.  
     [0032]FIG. 25 is an elevational view of a sleeve of the present invention wherein an upper portion is connected to a portion of a lower portion and removable via a tear strip.  
     [0033]FIG. 26 is an elevational view of a version of a sleeve wherein perforations have a scalloped pattern.  
     [0034]FIG. 27 is an elevational view of a version of a sleeve wherein perforations have an inverted scalloped pattern.  
     [0035]FIG. 28 is an elevational view of a version of a sleeve wherein perforations have a wave pattern.  
     [0036]FIG. 29 is an elevational view of a version of a sleeve wherein perforations have a zig-zag pattern.  
     [0037]FIG. 30 is an elevational view of a version of a sleeve wherein perforations have a rectangular pattern.  
     [0038]FIG. 31 is an elevational view of a version of a sleeve wherein perforations are diagonally slanted.  
     [0039]FIG. 32 is an elevational view of a sleeve having a tightening tab.  
     [0040]FIG. 33 is an elevational view of a sleeve having a pair of tightening tabs.  
     [0041]FIG. 34 is a perspective view of the sleeve of FIG. 33 tightened about a potted plant.  
     [0042]FIG. 35 is an elevational view of a sleeve having a pair of tab extensions with a bonding material disposed on the sleeve.  
     [0043]FIG. 36 is a perspective view of the sleeve of FIG. 35 tightened about a potted plant.  
     [0044]FIG. 37 is a cross-sectional view of a sleeve such as the sleeve of FIG. 35 but having a release material disposed upon the bonding material.  
     [0045]FIG. 38 is an elevational view of a sleeve such as the sleeve of FIG. 35 but also having a bonding material on the tabs.  
     [0046]FIG. 39 is a perspective view of a sleeve-forming apparatus showing a method of constructing a sleeve in accordance with the present invention.  
     [0047]FIG. 40 is schematic representation of a dual web roller feeding apparatus which can be used as an alternate method for feeding webs shown in FIG. 39.  
     [0048]FIG. 41 is a plan view of an alternate sleeve-forming configuration.  
     [0049]FIG. 42 is a plan view of another sleeve-forming configuration.  
     [0050]FIG. 43 is a plan view of yet another sleeve-forming configuration.  
     [0051]FIG. 44 is a plan view of yet another sleeve-forming configuration. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0052] The present invention contemplates a plant packaging system comprising a sleeve having a combination of a protective upper portion and a decorative lower portion having a base and skirt for packaging a potted plant. The protective upper portion can be detached from the decorative lower portion of the package system once the protective function of the upper portion has been completed, thereby exposing the decorative lower portion and allowing the skirt to extend outwardly from the base. The upper portion and decorative lower portion may comprise a unitary construction or may comprise separate components which are attached together by various bonding materials.  
     [0053] 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, and an outer peripheral surface, and having an opening extending from the upper end to the lower end, and (2) an upper sleeve portion extending from the upper end of the base portion and detachable therefrom, and wherein when the upper sleeve portion is detached from the upper end of the base portion, a portion of the base portion referred to as a skirt extends outwardly, upwardly or inwardly from the base. In general, the base portion is sized to substantially cover the outer peripheral surface of the pot. The upper sleeve 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.  
     [0054] A preferred version of the invention is a flexible sleeve which comprises a flattened body having a closed lower end, an open upper end, an outer peripheral surface, and an inner peripheral surface surrounding an inner retaining space. The sleeve further comprises a lower portion having an inner retaining space for enclosing a pot, an upper portion connected to the lower portion and sized to substantially surround and encompass a floral grouping when the pot and floral grouping are disposed within the sleeve. The upper portion is detachable from the lower portion via perforations positioned in a predetermined pattern, and a bonding material is disposed upon a portion of the inner peripheral surface. The bonding material bondingly connects a portion of the sleeve to the pot when the sleeve is opened and the pot is disposed within the inner retaining space, thereby holding the lower portion of the sleeve in a position about the pot and the upper portion of the sleeve in a position about the floral grouping.  
     [0055] The upper portion may be constructed from a first material and the lower portion from a second material different from the first material. The lower portion of the sleeve may comprise a skirt which extends from a base portion when the upper portion of the sleeve is detached. The sleeve may further comprise an extended portion of the upper portion for serving as a handle. The sleeve may further comprise a release material for preventing the bonding material from bondingly connecting to an opposing portion of an inner peripheral surface. A closure bonding material may be disposed upon the upper portion near the upper end for sealing the upper end of the sleeve for enclosing the floral grouping within the upper portion. The upper portion may further comprise apertures for enabling ventilation of the enclosed floral grouping.  
     [0056] The flattened body may be further defined as having a first side which has a first edge, a second edge, an upper edge, a lower edge, an outer surface and an inner surface, a second side which has a first edge, a second edge, an upper edge, a lower edge, an outer surface and an inner surface, and wherein in a flattened condition of the sleeve, the inner surface of the first side rests flatwise upon the inner surface of the second side and the first edge of the first side is sealed to the first edge of the second side and the second edge of the first side is sealed to the second edge of the second side.  
     [0057] In another embodiment, the sleeve may have a tab having a connected end and a free end, wherein the connected end is connected to the outer peripheral surface of the lower portion of the sleeve, and further may have a bonding material for bondingly connecting the free end of the tab to a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the lower portion for tightening the lower portion of the sleeve about a portion of a pot disposed within the sleeve for holding the sleeve in a position about the pot. The bonding material may be disposed upon the tab near the free end of the tab. Further, the bonding material may be disposed upon a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the lower portion of the flexible sleeve for receiving the free end of the tab. Alternatively, the bonding material may be disposed upon the tab near the free end of the tab and upon a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the lower portion of the flexible sleeve in a position to receive the free end of the tab when the tab is tightened. A removable release material may be disposed upon the bonding material.  
     [0058] In another version, the present invention comprises a method of packaging a potted plant, including the steps of, (1) providing a flexible sleeve in any of the versions described herein, (2) opening the flexible sleeve, rendering accessible an inner retaining space of the sleeve, (3) providing a pot containing a floral grouping, the pot having an outer peripheral surface, (4) disposing the pot within the inner retaining space of the flexible sleeve wherein a lower portion of the flexible sleeve is positioned adjacent the pot and an upper portion of the sleeve extends upwardly from the pot, the upper portion substantially surrounding and encompassing the floral grouping, and a bonding material positioned adjacent a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the pot, and (5) urging the lower portion of the sleeve having a bonding material on an inner surface thereof against the outer peripheral surface of the pot, thereby bondingly connecting the lower portion of the sleeve to the pot. The flexible sleeve may further comprise a release material for preventing the bonding material from bondingly connecting to an opposing portion of the inner peripheral surface of the flexible sleeve, and wherein, prior to the step of disposing the pot within the sleeve, the release material is removed from the sleeve. Alternatively, prior to the step of disposing the pot within the sleeve, the position of the release material may be shifted within the inner retaining space for exposing the bonding material. The method may further comprise the step of sealing an upper end of the sleeve for enclosing the floral grouping within the upper portion of the sleeve.  
     [0059] The present invention in another version is a potted plant package, comprising a potted plant and a flexible sleeve as described herein, and wherein the potted plant is disposed within an inner retaining space of the flexible sleeve, wherein a base portion of a lower portion of the flexible sleeve is positioned adjacent a pot and an upper portion of the sleeve extends upwardly from the pot, the upper portion substantially surrounding and encompassing a floral grouping, and a bonding material bondingly connecting the base portion to a portion of an outer peripheral surface of the pot for holding the base portion in a position about the pot and the upper portion in a position about the floral grouping.  
     [0060] The present invention further contemplates a method of preparing a potted plant package for sale. The method includes the steps of (1) providing a potted plant package such as one described herein comprising a potted plant contained within a flexible sleeve, wherein the potted plant is disposed within an inner retaining space of the flexible sleeve, wherein a base portion of a lower portion of the flexible sleeve is positioned adjacent a pot and an upper portion of the sleeve extends upwardly from the pot, the upper portion substantially surrounding and encompassing a floral grouping, and a bonding material bondingly connecting the base portion to a portion of an outer peripheral surface of the pot for holding the base portion in a position about the pot and the upper portion in a position about the floral grouping, and (2) removing the upper portion of the sleeve by tearing the upper portion away from the lower portion along perforations, wherein the lower portion of the sleeve remains disposed about the pot, the lower portion of the sleeve forming a decorative pot cover which substantially surrounds and encompasses the pot and wherein the lower portion is bondingly connected to the pot and held thereto by the bonding material on the inner peripheral surface of the lower portion. An upper end of the sleeve of the potted plant package may be closed.  
     [0061] Further detail and explanation of the articles and methods of the present invention are forthcoming in the description provided below.  
     [0062] The Embodiments and Methods of Use of FIGS.  1 - 15   
     [0063] Shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A- 2 B 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 flattened piece of material which is openable into the form of a tube or sleeve. The sleeve  10  may be tapered outwardly from a lower end toward a larger diameter at an upper end. In its flattened state, the sleeve  10  may have an overall trapezoidal, modified trapezoidal or contoured (non-linear) shape, and when opened is generally 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.  
     [0064] The sleeve  10  has an upper end  12 , a lower end  14 , an outer peripheral surface  16  and in its flattened state has a sealed first edge  18  and a sealed second edge  20  and a first side  22  and a second side  24 . The sleeve  10  has an opening  25  at the upper end  12  and preferably has a closed bottom at the lower end  14 . Preferably the lower end  14  is closed with a gusset  26  but it may be sealed along an edge. The first side  22  has a first inner peripheral surface  28  and the second side  24  has a second inner peripheral surface  30  which together, when the sleeve  10  is opened, define and encompass an inner retaining space  32  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, as noted above, for permitting a circular bottom of an object such as a potted plant to be disposed into the inner retaining space  32  of the lower end  14  of the sleeve  10 .  
     [0065] 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, 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.  
     [0066] The material from which the sleeve  10  is constructed preferably has a thickness in a range from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mils, although in some cases the sleeve may be much thicker, especially when the sleeve is constructed from multiple layers. 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 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 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 or potted plant or a floral grouping, as described herein. Additionally, an insulating material such as bubble film, preferably 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.  
     [0067] In one embodiment, the sleeve  10  may be constructed from two polypropylene films. The polypropylene films 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.  
     [0068] 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 a pot. This connecting engagement is preferably temporary in that the material may be easily removed, i.e., the cling material “clings” to the pot.  
     [0069] 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 in the sleeve  10 , i.e., generally, a larger pot 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.  
     [0070] The sleeve  10  is constructed from any suitable material that is capable of being formed into a sleeve and wrapped about a pot and a floral grouping disposed therein. 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.  
     [0071] The term “polymeric film” means a film 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.  
     [0072] 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 incorporated herein by reference.  
     [0073] In addition, the material may have various coloring, 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.  
     [0074] It will generally be desired to use the sleeve  10  as a covering for a potted plant such as is well known in the art. The term “pot” as used herein refers to any type of container used for holding a floral grouping or plant. 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 is adapted to receive a floral grouping in the retaining space. The floral grouping may be disposed within the pot 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, and any appropriate growing medium or other retaining medium, may be disposed in the sleeve  10  without a pot.  
     [0075] 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 comprises a bloom or foliage portion and a stem portion. Further, the floral grouping may comprise a growing potted plant having a root portion (not shown) as well. However, it will be appreciated that the floral grouping may consist of only a single bloom or only foliage, or a botanical item (not shown), or a propagule (not shown). The term “floral grouping” may be used interchangeably herein with both the terms “floral arrangement” and “potted plant”. The term “floral grouping” may also be used interchangeably herein with the terms “botanical item” and/or “propagule.” 
     [0076] 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.  
     [0077] 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.  
     [0078] 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.  
     [0079] In accordance with the present invention, a bonding material is preferably disposed on a portion of the sleeve  10  to assist in holding the sleeve  10  to the pot having the floral grouping therein when such a pot 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 a pot after the pot has been disposed therein, as will be discussed in further detail below.  
     [0080] It will be understood that the bonding material may be disposed as a strip or block on a surface of the sleeve  10  as is described in more detail herein. The bonding material may also be disposed upon either the first side  22 , the second side  24 , the first inner peripheral surface  28 , or the second inner peripheral surface  30 , of the sleeve  10 , as well as upon the pot. 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.  
     [0081] The bonding material may be covered by a cover material 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.  
     [0082] 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 or” 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.  
     [0083] The term “bonding material or” 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 which may be used in accordance with the present invention. 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.  
     [0084] Alternatively, a cold seal adhesive may be utilized as the bonding material. The cold seal 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 desired shape 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.  
     [0085] 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 barbtype 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 and which functions in accordance with the present invention.  
     [0086] Certain versions of the sleeve  10  described herein may be used in conjunction with a preformed pot cover as explained in greater detail below.  
     [0087] As shown in FIG. 1, the sleeve  10  is demarcated into an upper portion  36  and a lower portion  38 . The lower portion  38  of the sleeve  10  is generally sized to contain a potted plant. The upper portion  36  may optionally have apertures  39  near the upper end  12  thereof for allowing the sleeve  10  to be supported by a support mechanism, such as a pair of wickets (not shown), such as is known in the art. The upper portion  36  of the sleeve  10  is generally sized to substantially surround and encompass a floral grouping of the potted plant disposed within the lower portion  38  of the sleeve  10 . The sleeve  10  is demarcated into the upper portion  36  and the lower portion  38  by a detaching element  40  for enabling the detachment of the upper portion  36  of the sleeve  10  from the lower portion  38  of the sleeve  10 . In the version shown in FIG. 1, the detaching element  40  is a plurality of perforations which extend across the outer peripheral surface  16  of the sleeve  10  from the first edge  18  to the second edge  20 .  
     [0088] The term “detaching element,” as used generally herein, means any element, or combination of elements, or features, such as, but not limited to, perforations, tear strips, tear starts, zippers, and any other devices or elements of this nature known in the art, or any combination thereof, which enable or facilitate 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 combinations thereof, could be substituted therefor and/or used therewith. The sleeve  10  may comprise drainage or ventilation holes in the upper or lower portions for allowing movement of gases or moisture to and away from the inner space of the sleeve (not shown).  
     [0089] In a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the lower portion  38  of the sleeve  10  further comprises a base portion  42 , and a skirt portion  44 . The base portion  42  comprises that part of the lower portion  38  which, when a pot is placed into the lower portion  38 , has an inner peripheral surface which is substantially adjacent to and surrounds the outer peripheral surface of the pot. The skirt portion  44  comprises that part of the lower portion  38  which extends beyond the upper rim of the pot and adjacent at least a portion of a floral grouping contained within the pot and which is left to freely extend straight from or at an angle, inwardly or outwardly, from the base portion  42  when the upper portion  36  of the sleeve  10  is detached from the lower portion  38  of the sleeve  10  by actuation of the detaching element  40 . In the intact sleeve  10 , the skirt portion  44  comprises an upper peripheral edge  46  generally congruent with the detaching element  40  which is connected to a lower peripheral edge  48  of the upper portion  36  of the sleeve  10 , also congruent with the detaching element  40 . In FIG. 1, the upper peripheral edge  46  of the skirt portion  44  is congruent with a series of perforations which together comprise the detaching element  40 .  
     [0090] The upper portion  36  of the sleeve  10  may also have an additional detaching element (not shown), such as a plurality of vertical perforations, for facilitating removal of the upper portion  36  and which are disposed more or less vertically therein extending from the detaching element  40  to the upper end  12  of the sleeve  10 . When the vertical detaching element is present, the upper portion  36  of the sleeve  10  is separable from the lower portion  38  of the sleeve  10  by tearing the upper portion  36  along both the vertical detaching element and along the detaching element  40 , thereby separating the upper portion  36  from the lower portion  38  of the sleeve  10 . The lower portion  38  of the sleeve  10  remains disposed as the base portion  42  about the pot and as the skirt portion  44  about the floral grouping which extends from the pot, forming a decorative cover which substantially surrounds and encompasses the flower pot.  
     [0091] It will be understood that equipment and devices for forming standard floral sleeves are commercially available, and are well known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. A preferred method is discussed below.  
     [0092] As noted above, the sleeve  10  preferably has a closed lower end  14 . When the lower end  14  is closed, the lower end  14  may have one or more gussets  26  formed therein for allowing expansion of the lower end  14  when an object with a broad lower end, such as a pot, is disposed therein. In another version of the present invention the lower end  14  may be completely or partially open.  
     [0093] In the preferred version of the present invention, the sleeve  10  further comprises an area of bonding material  50  disposed upon a portion of the first inner peripheral surface  28  of the base portion  42  of the sleeve  10 . In another version of the present invention (not shown), the sleeve may be constructed without a bonding material thereon. In that case, the sleeve may be attached to the outer surface of the pot disposed therein by a bonding material applied to the outer surface of the pot. The area of bonding material  50 , when present, functions to enable the first inner peripheral surface  28 , or a portion thereof, to be bondingly connected to the outer peripheral surface of the pot disposed therein, causing the sleeve  10  to be bondingly connected to the pot.  
     [0094] The sleeve  10  in FIG. 2A is shown as partially opened, however, the sleeve  10  is generally provided to the operator in a substantially flattened condition and usually as one of a stack of sleeves  10 . During the process of covering a pot, the sleeve  10  is opened, manually or automatically. In the flattened condition of the sleeve  10 , the pot bonding material  50  may partially adhere to the opposite second inner peripheral surface  30  of the sleeve  10 . Obviously, it is desirable to avoid a situation in which the pot bonding material  50  is permanently or strongly bonded to the second inner peripheral surface  30  of the sleeve  10  because this would make it difficult for the sleeve  10  to be manually or automatically opened for insertion of the pot. As a result, the pot bonding material  50  may be made of an adhesive composition which has a low degree of tackiness such that if the pot bonding material  50  does adhere to the second inner peripheral surface  30 , it can be easily separated from the second inner peripheral surface  30  when the sleeve  10  is opened. Such adhesives with low tackiness are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art and are commercially available.  
     [0095] Alternatively, the pot bonding material  50  can be composed of a cohesive material. Since the cohesive is applied to only one of the inner peripheral surfaces (first inner peripheral surface  28  as shown in FIG. 2A or  2 B), the cohesive will not bond to the opposite surface (second inner peripheral surface  30  in FIG. 2A or  2 B) as long as there is no opposing cohesive material to which it can bond. In this version of the invention, in order for the first inner peripheral surface  28  of the sleeve  10  to be bonded to a pot disposed therein, an area of cohesive material to which the pot bonding material  50  can cohere must be present on at least a portion of the outer surface of the pot (not shown). Once the pot is inserted into the sleeve  10 , the areas of bonding material  50  can be pressed together to bondingly connect the sleeve  10  to the pot.  
     [0096] In yet another version of the present invention, shown in FIGS.  12 - 15  of U.S. Pat. No. 5,675,979, which is incorporated by reference herein, a bonding material is disposed on a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the base portion of the sleeve  10 . After a pot is disposed in the retaining space of the base portion, the sleeve  10  is manually or automatically crimped about the outer peripheral surface of the pot in the vicinity of the bonding material thereby forming overlapping folds in the base portion which are bondingly connected together by the bonding material to add structural integrity to the base portion of the sleeve and to cooperate to hold the base portion in the shape of a pot cover or for causing the base portion of the sleeve  10  to engage the outer peripheral surface of the pot and be held firmly thereabout. The bonding material may be disposed on the sleeve  10  at a position below the upper rim of the pot or may be disposed at a position on the base portion of the sleeve  10  above the upper rim of the pot such that the overlapping folds crimpingly formed are located in a position generally above the upper rim of the pot.  
     [0097] A material can be disposed between the pot bonding material  50  and the second inner peripheral surface  30  for preventing the adherence of the pot bonding material  50  to the second inner peripheral surface  30 . Shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, is a sleeve  10 a exactly like sleeve  10  except that a piece of release material  52  is disposed within an inner retaining space  32   a  of the sleeve  10   a  wherein the release material  52  serves as a barrier between the pot bonding material  50  which is disposed on a first inner peripheral surface  28   a  and a second inner peripheral surface  30   a , thereby preventing the pot bonding material  50  from bonding to the second inner peripheral surface  30   a . The release material  52  is constructed of a material which will not adhere to the pot bonding material  50 . Such release materials are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art and are available commercially.  
     [0098] During operation, when the sleeve  10   a  is opened in anticipation of disposing a pot therein, after opening, the release material  52  can be removed from the inner retaining space  32   a  of the sleeve  10   a  prior to insertion of the pot therein. In yet another version of the invention, FIG. 5 shows a sleeve  10   b  having the pot bonding material  50  having a piece of release material  54  disposed directly thereon in a manner well known in the art. The release material  54  can be removed from the opened sleeve  10   b  immediately before insertion of a pot.  
     [0099] Shown in FIG. 6 is a sleeve  10   c  exactly like sleeve  10  except that in addition to having the pot bonding material  50  disposed on a first inner peripheral surface  28   c , the sleeve  10   c  also has an opposing pot bonding material  50   a  disposed on a second inner peripheral surface  30   c . The pot bonding materials  50  and  50   a  are constructed of a material having low tackiness so that in the event the bonding material  50  adheres to the bonding material  50   a , the sleeve  10   c  can still be easily opened for insertion of a pot. FIG. 7 shows a sleeve  10   d  which is exactly the same as sleeve  10   c  except that a piece of release material  52  is inserted into an inner retaining space  32   d  of the sleeve  10   d  in the same manner as that shown in FIG. 4, wherein the release material  52  is disposed between the areas of pot bonding material  50  and  50   a . FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the opened sleeve  10   d  with the release material  52  still disposed therein.  
     [0100]FIG. 9 shows a sleeve  10   e  which is exactly the same as sleeve  10   c  FIG. 6 except that each area of pot bonding material  50  and  50   a  has the release material  54  and a release material  54   a  disposed directly thereon, respectively, in a manner as discussed above for sleeve  10   b.    
     [0101]FIG. 10 shows a sleeve  10   f  which is exactly like sleeve  10  except the sleeve  10   f  has a first area of pot bonding material  56  and a second area of pot bonding material  58  which are disposed on opposite first and second inner peripheral surfaces  28   f  and  30   f , respectively, and which are disposed at staggered positions such that the pot bonding material  58  is positioned lower than the pot bonding material  56 .  
     [0102]FIG. 11 shows a sleeve log which is exactly the same as sleeve  10  except that the sleeve  10   g  has a pot bonding material  60  which is disposed on the inner bottom surface of the sleeve  10   g , for example, upon the portion of the sleeve  10   g  which forms a gusset  26   g  of the sleeve  10   g . When the sleeve log is opened for insertion of a pot, the outer bottom surface of the pot is bondingly connected to the inner bottom of the sleeve log by the pot bonding material  60 .  
     [0103]FIGS. 12 and 13 show a sleeve  10   h  constructed in accordance with the present invention which is exactly the same as sleeve  10  except for differences in the positioning of a pot bonding material disposed upon inner peripheral surfaces  28   h  and  30   h  of the sleeve  10   h . Sleeve  10   h  is shown as having four areas of pot bonding material  62   a ,  62   b ,  62   c  and  62   d . The areas of pot bonding material  62   a - 62   d  are alternately positioned upon the first and second inner peripheral surfaces  28   h  and  30   h  of the sleeve  10   h  as shown in FIG. 13, so that the areas of pot bonding material  62   a - d  are staggered and so that if the sleeve  10   h  is flattened, no area of pot bonding material  62   a - d  will be pressed against another area of pot bonding material  62   a - d.  The sleeve  10   h  can thus be more easily opened.  
     [0104]FIG. 14 shows a sleeve  10   i  which is exactly the same as sleeve  10   h  except that sleeve  10   i  has the piece of release material  52  inserted into an inner retaining space  32   i  so that the areas of pot bonding material  62   a  and  62   c  are separated from the areas of bonding material  62   b  and  62   d , whereby the areas of pot bonding material  62   a - d  do not adhere to opposite first and second inner peripheral surfaces  28   i  and  30   i  of the sleeve  10   i.    
     [0105] Shown in FIG. 15 is a sleeve  10   j  which is exactly the same as sleeve  10   h  except that sleeve  10   j  has areas of pot bonding material  64   a - d  which substantially correspond to the areas of pot bonding material  62   a - d  in sleeve  10   h , except that the areas of pot bonding material  64   a - d  have triangular instead of rectangular shapes. In fact, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the number of areas of pot bonding material on the first and second inner peripheral surfaces of the sleeve and their shapes and arrangements can be varied. In another version of the invention, not shown, the pot bonding material may be positioned in a spiral pattern on the inner surface of the lower portion of the sleeve.  
     Embodiments of FIGS.  16 A- 17 C  
     [0106] Shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B is a sleeve  10   k  constructed exactly the same as sleeve  10  except that a closure bonding material  68  is disposed upon a portion of a second inner peripheral surface  30   k  (or alternatively, first inner peripheral surface  28   k ). After a pot has been disposed within the sleeve  10   k , the upper ends of the sleeve  10   k  can be pressed together, causing the closure bonding material  68  to adhere to a portion of the first inner peripheral surface  28   k  to effect closure of an upper end  12   k  of the sleeve  10   k.    
     [0107] Shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B is a sleeve  10   m  which is an alternate version of the sleeve  10  in which an upper end of a second side  24   m  extends a distance beyond an upper end of a first side  22   m . Disposed upon the upper end of second inner peripheral surface  30   m  of the second side  24   m  is a closure bonding material  68 . After a pot is disposed within the sleeve  10   m , the upper end of the second side  24   m  with closure bonding material  68  disposed thereon can be folded in a direction  70  onto an upper end of the first side  22   m , thereby sealing an upper end  12   m  of the sleeve  10   m.    
     [0108] Shown in FIG. 17C is a sleeve  10   n  which is exactly the same as sleeve  10   m  except there is a second closure bonding material  72  which is disposed upon an upper end of a first side  22   n . When an upper end of a second side  24   n  having the closure bonding material  68  is folded over onto a first side  22   n , the closure bonding material  68  bondingly engages closure bonding material  72 , thereby affecting a seal in an upper end  12   n  of the sleeve  10   n . Preferably, in this version, the closure bonding materials  68  and  72  are both cohesive materials so that when another sleeve  10   n  is pressed against the sleeve  10   n , neither closure bonding material  68  nor  72  will cause the adjacent sleeves  10   n  to be connected to each other, thereby facilitating the separation of sleeves  10   n  from each other. It will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the arrangements and types of closure bonding materials described in FIGS.  16 A- 17 C are applicable to all other embodiments of sleeves described herein including sleeves with and without a pot bonding material.  
     Embodiments of FIGS.  18 - 25   
     [0109] Shown in FIG. 18 is a sleeve  10   p  which is exactly the same as sleeve  10  except that (1) it does not have a pot bonding material disposed upon a portion of the first and second inner peripheral surfaces thereof and (2) an upper portion  36   p  is not sized so as to substantially encompass a floral grouping portion of a potted plant disposed therein. Rather, the upper portion  36   p  performs the primary function of holding a lower portion  38   p  upon a support assembly, such as a wicket as described above. The upper portion  36   p  is then intended to be removed before the potted plant is placed in the sleeve  10   p.    
     [0110]FIG. 19 shows a sleeve  10   q  which is exactly the same as sleeve  10   p  except that it has the pot bonding material  50  disposed therein for connecting to a pot disposed therein. Further, optionally, sleeve  10   p  may be equipped with the release material  52  which is attached to an upper portion  36   q  of the sleeve  10   q , or which extends to near the upper end  12   q  of the sleeve  10   q  so that when the upper portion  36   q  is detached from the sleeve  10   q  during use of this version of the invention, the release material  52  is removed along with the upper portion  36   q  thereby eliminating the separate step of removing the release material  52  separately.  
     [0111]FIGS. 20 and 21 show a sleeve  10   r  which is exactly the same as sleeve  10   p  except the sleeve  10   r  has a gusset  26   r  which is constructed in a slightly different manner. The sleeve  10   r  when opened, and after an upper portion  36   r  has been removed from a lower portion  38   r , is shown in FIG. 22. It will be appreciated that the sleeve  10   r  may also have a pot bonding material disposed upon a portion of the first and second inner peripheral surfaces thereof as described elsewhere herein.  
     [0112]FIG. 23 shows a sleeve  10   s  constructed exactly the same as the other sleeves described herein except that the sleeve  10   s  is formed from a tube of material which has been flattened and in which portions of a portion of the sleeve  10   s  have been removed to form a tapered lower portion  38   s  in the sleeve  10   s . A gusset  26   s  may be formed in the lower end  14   s  of the sleeve  10   s  or the sleeve  10   s  may be left without a gusset in the lower end  14   s.    
     [0113] Shown in FIG. 24 is a sleeve  10   t  having an upper portion  36   t  and a lower portion  38   t , each of which is constructed of different materials (as indicated by the cross-hatching in the lower portion  38   t ). Preferably, the upper portion  36   t  is constructed of a transparent material. A detaching element  40   t , for example, perforations, is disposed in the upper portion  36   t  of the sleeve  10   t  in a position slightly above a skirt portion  44   t  of the lower portion  38   t , wherein when the upper portion  36   t  is removed from the lower portion  38   t , if an uneven edge is left, the uneven edge comprises a portion of the transparent upper portion  36   t  of the sleeve  10   t  and is not obvious against the background of a floral grouping disposed within the sleeve  10   t.    
     [0114] Shown in FIG. 25 is a sleeve  10   u  similar to sleeve  10   t  except that an upper portion  36   u  is removably attached to a portion of a lower portion  38   u  at a position below a skirt portion  44   u . A detaching element which serves to enable separation of the upper portion  36   u  from the lower portion  38   u  is a tear strip  74  such as is well known by one of ordinary skill in the art. Each of sleeves  10   t  and  10   u  may, of course, have a pot bonding and/or closure bonding material disposed upon portions thereof, as described elsewhere herein. The lower portions  38   t  and  38   u , respectively, of the sleeves  10   t  and  10   u  may be preformed pot covers to which the upper portions  36   t  and  36   u , respectively, are attached. The material of the upper portion of any of the sleeves described herein, including the sleeves of FIGS. 24 and 25 may be made of a material having a lighter, heavier, or equal gauge as the material of the lower portion.  
     Embodiments of FIGS.  26 - 31   
     [0115] Shown in FIGS.  26 - 31  are sleeves  10   v - 10   aa  which are exactly like sleeve  10  except that each has an alternative arrangement of perforations for enabling separation of an upper portion of each sleeve from a lower portion. Sleeve  10   v  in FIG. 26 has a detaching element  40   v  comprising perforations having a scalloped pattern. FIG. 27 shows sleeve  10   w  which has a detaching element  40   w  comprising perforations having a upside-down, or inverted, scalloped pattern. FIG. 28 shows sleeve  10   x  which has a detaching element  40   x  comprising perforations having a wavy or sine-wave type pattern. FIG. 29 shows sleeve  10   y  which as a detaching element  40   y  having a toothed or zig-zag perforation pattern.  
     [0116]FIG. 30 shows sleeve  10   z  which has a detaching element  40   z  comprising perforations having a rectangular pattern. Shown in FIG. 31 is sleeve  10   aa  having a detaching element  40   aa  which comprises perforations having a diagonally-oriented pattern. Each of these sleeves, as for the other sleeves described herein, may have a vertically-oriented line of perforations or other detaching element extending from the upper end of the sleeve to the other line of perforations for facilitating removal of the upper portion.  
     Embodiments of FIGS.  32 - 38   
     [0117]FIG. 32 shows a sleeve  10   bb  which is exactly like sleeve  10  except for the absence of a pot bonding material on first and second inner peripheral surfaces of a lower portion  38   bb . Instead, sleeve  10   bb  comprises a tab  76  having a connected end  78  which is connected to a portion of the lower portion  38   bb  and having a free end  80  which has a bonding material  82  disposed upon a portion thereof. The tab  76  functions to tighten the lower portion  38   bb  about a pot disposed within the sleeve  10   bb . FIGS. 33 and 34 show a sleeve  10   cc  which is exactly the same as sleeve  10   bb  except that it has a second tab  84  having a connected end  86  which is connected to a portion of a lower portion  38   cc  and having a free end  88  which has a bonding material  90  disposed thereon. Both tabs  76  and  84  function to enable the lower portion  38   cc  of the sleeve  10   cc  to be tightened about a pot disposed within the sleeve  10   cc , such as is shown in FIG. 34, wherein tabs  76  and  84  and the bonding material  82  and  90  thereon are pressed against an outer peripheral surface  16   cc  of the sleeve  10   cc  to hold the sleeve  10   cc  about an external surface of the pot of a potted plant  92  disposed therein.  
     [0118] Another version of the present invention shown in FIGS. 35 and 36 is a sleeve  10   dd  which has a first tab  94  having a free end  96  and a second tab  98  having a free end  100 . Disposed upon a portion of an outer peripheral surface  16   dd  is a bonding material  102  positioned adjacent the tabs  94  and  98 . The tabs  94  and  98  can be used to tighten the sleeve  10   dd  about a pot in substantially the same manner as shown in FIG. 34, except that the tabs  94  and  98  are attached to the sleeve  10   dd  by pressing the free ends  96  and  100  of the tabs  94  and  98 , respectively, against the bonding material  102 . This scenario is shown in FIG. 36.  
     [0119]FIG. 37 shows a cross-sectional view of a sleeve  10   ee  which is exactly the same as sleeve  10   dd  except a release material  104  is disposed over the bonding material  102  for preventing the bonding material  102  from inadvertently connecting to another object, such as another sleeve  10   ee  in a stack of sleeves. Shown in FIG. 38 is a sleeve  10   ff  having the bonding material  102  disposed upon a portion of an outer peripheral surface  16   ff , a first tab  106  having a bonding material  108  thereon and a second tab  110  having a bonding material  112  thereon. In a preferred version of sleeve  10   ff , the bonding materials  102 ,  108  and  112  are cohesive materials. Thus, when a pot is disposed within the sleeve  10   ff , the sleeve  10   ff  can be tightened about the pot by cinching the tab  106  and bondingly connecting bonding material  108  to bonding material  102  and cinching tab  110  and bondingly connecting bonding material  112  to bonding material  102 , resulting in a sleeve appearing exactly the same as sleeve  10   dd  in FIG. 36 as discussed above. The advantage in the bonding materials  102 ,  108  and  112  being cohesive lies in the lack of bonding which will occur between sleeves  10   ff  when placed in a stack.  
     [0120] Preferably, the sleeves described in FIGS.  32 - 38  are characterized in that they are substantially without preformed creases, folds, or score lines in the outer peripheral surfaces thereof, except along the sides of the sleeve, or in the lower end of the sleeve in those versions where the lower end is sealed or closed.  
     [0121] The absence of preformed score lines, creases or folds facilitates application of the sleeve about the pot in that it allows folds to be formed in positions in the sleeve other than those predetermined by the preformed lines or creases and does not necessarily cause folds to be formed in non-preferred positions in the sleeve.  
     Construction of the Sleeves—FIGS.  39 - 44   
     [0122] It will be readily appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that processes for making standard floral sleeves which have open upper and lower ends are well known. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sleeve is constructed with a closed bottom which may simply comprise a seal along the lower end of the sleeve or, more preferably, the closed bottom comprises an infolded portion such as a gusset which, when opened, enables expansion of the bottom of the sleeve for allowing insertion of a pot therein.  
     [0123] One version of the apparatus and process used to construct a sleeve as described herein is shown in FIG. 39. A single web of material  130  from a roll  131  is fed by a drive mechanism, such as an electric motor (not shown), to a folding assembly  132  which causes the web of material  130  to fold and double-up on itself to form a folded web  134  having an open side  136  and a folded side  138 . The folded web  134  is supported upon a conveyor or other support surface  140 . As the folded web  134  is advanced by drive rollers  141  or other advancing mechanism in a direction  142 , the folded side  138  is caused, in a continuous process, to be infolded or pouched by an infolding device  144  forming a pouch  146  which extends the length of the folded web  134 . The folded web  134  with the pouch  146  therein continues to be advanced in direction  142  to a sealing position  148 . A sealing bar (not shown), such as is common in the art, is then activated, forming a pair of sealed edges  150  and  152 . The sealed edges  150  and  152  extend from the pouch  146  to the open side  136  and form a sealed bottom or gusset  154 .  
     [0124] The folded web  134 , now having a sleeve outlined by the sealed edges  150  and  152 , is further advanced to a perforating position  155  where perforations  156  are punched into the sleeve and, optionally, support apertures  158  are also punched into the sleeve for enabling a collection of sleeves to be collected in a stack and held on a support mechanism such as a wicket. Ventilation holes (not shown) may also be punched into the sleeve at this point. In the next step the sleeve, now with sealed edges  150  and  152  and with perforations  156 , is advanced to a cutting position  159  where the sleeve is cut by a cutting die or blade (not shown), which is well known in the art, from the folded web  134  to form a completed sleeve  160 . Excess material  162  may be removed to facilitate removal and storage of the sleeve  160 . It will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the steps of sealing, perforating and cutting the sleeves may be performed together in a single step, or two steps at one or two positions.  
     [0125] The process outlined above describes the construction of a sleeve  160  without a bonding material disposed upon any portion thereof. However, as explained above, in a preferred version of the invention, a bonding material for bonding a portion of the sleeve to a pot is located on a portion of the inner surface of the sleeve. Shown in FIG. 39 is a bonding material applicator  164  such as a sprayer or pad applicator which can be used to apply an area of bonding material  166  to a portion of the first and second inner peripheral surfaces of a sleeve. The bonding material applicator  164  may be reciprocatingly activated by a reciprocating assembly (not shown) which is preferably automatically controlled and the construction of which is well within the level of ordinary skill in the art. The bonding material  166  is preferably applied to the web  130  prior to the doubling over of the web  130  so that when the web  130  is doubled over to form the folded web  134 , the bonding material  166  is oriented on a portion of the inner surface of the sleeve  160 , preferably in the lower portion of the sleeve  160 . The result is the production of a sleeve like sleeve  10  in FIG. 2.  
     [0126] The process described herein can be modified to produce sleeves such as any of the other sleeves described elsewhere herein. For example, a sleeve such as sleeve  10   a  in FIG. 3 can be produced by inserting a piece of release material  52  into the sleeve  10   a  at some point during the sleeve production process, either manually or automatically, for example, after the bonding material  166  has been applied but before the web  130  has been folded over to form the folded web  134 . The piece of release material  52  may be inserted manually by hand or automatically using a device which automatically shoots or blows or deposits such pieces of material and which is well within the skill of one of ordinary skill in the art. Alternatively, the release material may be applied directly upon the bonding material  166  when the bonding material  166  is applied to the web  130 , ultimately resulting in a sleeve such as sleeve  10   b  shown in FIG. 5. An additional area of bonding material may be applied to another portion of the web with another adhesive applicator (not shown) thereby forming sleeves such as the sleeves shown in FIGS.  6 - 10 ,  13 ,  14  and  16 A- 17 C.  
     [0127]FIG. 39 shows both edges of open side  136  of the folded web  134  as being an equal distance from the folded side  138 . It will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the two edges which comprise the open side  136  of the folded web  134  can be offset during the folding process to form a sleeve such as sleeve  10   m  or  10   n  in FIGS. 17A, 17B and  17 C having an upper end flap which can be folded over to close the upper end of the sleeve.  
     [0128]FIG. 39 shows a sleeve-forming process in which a single web is doubled over to form the double-layered web. The sleeve formed as described herein may also be formed during a process using two or more separate webs as shown in FIG. 40. FIG. 40 shows a first roll of material  170  and a second roll of material  172  from which are unrolled a first web of material  174  and a second web of material  176 , respectively. These webs of material  174  and  176  are fed in direction  178  to a position where one side of the two webs  174  and  176  are sealed by a sealing assembly  180 . If a gusset in the finished sleeve is desired, the sealed side can be infolded to form a pouched side as described in the process of FIG. 39. The remainder of the operation can be formed as described above for the process of FIG. 39.  
     [0129] Sleeves formed in accordance with the present invention can also be formed from tubular materials such as are commercially available. For example, a sleeve such as sleeve  10   s  in FIG. 23 can be formed by cutting a portion of a tube, forming a gusset in the lower end of the tube, or sealing the lower end of the tube to form a closed bottom, then sealing and cutting off portions of the lower end of the tube forming a sleeve having a tapered lower end. Adhesive may be applied to an interior portion of the sleeve by opening the tube and spraying a bonding material onto a portion of the inner surface of the sleeve, for example. In another version of the invention, the process of forming the tubular material from one or more flat webs of material may comprise a step in the process of forming a sleeve.  
     [0130] FIGS.  41 - 44  show other configurations of sleeves having sealed lower ends which can be formed. Shown in FIG. 41 is a process in which both sides  184  and  186  of the webs  174  and  176  (FIG. 40) are sealed and sleeves  10   gg  formed in the web are positioned in an alternating upward and downward orientation to maximize usage of the web material. A sleeve like sleeve  10   gg  formed in this method, when severed from the web, has an upper gusset  190  in the upper end and a lower gusset  192  in the lower end of the sleeve  10   gg  and thus is initially closed at both the upper and lower ends. Therefore, after severing the sleeve  10   gg  from the web, the upper gusset  190  of the sleeve  10   gg  must be cut away from the sleeve  10   gg  to form an open end in the sleeve  10   gg . This may be done, for example, after the sleeves  10   gg  have been stacked to save time. FIG. 42 shows another version of a sleeve  10   hh  having a different shape, formed in a manner similar to that shown in FIG. 41 wherein upper and lower gussets  190  and  192  are formed during the sleeve forming process. FIGS. 43 and 44 show alternate versions of sleeves  10   ii  and  10   jj , respectively, which may be formed in accordance with the present invention, wherein the lower end  194  and  196 , respectively, of the sleeves  10   ii  and  10   jj  shown in FIGS. 43 and 44 are heat sealed but not gussetted. It will be appreciated that all of the sleeves described in FIGS.  41 - 44  may comprise any of the sleeve embodiments discussed elsewhere herein. For example, perforations  200  are shown in sleeve  10   jj.    
     [0131] 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.