Patent Publication Number: US-2003230028-A1

Title: Decorative floral sleeve

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
     [0001] The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 10/124,810, filed Apr. 12, 2002, the specification of which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] This invention generally relates to sleeves, and more particularly, decorative sleeves used to contain floral groupings with or without growing or retaining media, or used to wrap flower pots with or without floral groupings and/or media and methods of using same. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0003]FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.  
     [0004]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve of FIG. 1 taken along line  2 - 2 .  
     [0005]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve of FIG. 1 taken along line  3 - 3 .  
     [0006]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve of FIG. 1 taken along line  4 - 4 .  
     [0007]FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a flower pot.  
     [0008]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the flower pot of FIG. 5 taken along line  6 - 6 .  
     [0009]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the sleeve of FIG. 1 secured about the flower pot of FIG. 5 via a securing element.  
     [0010]FIG. 8 is another perspective view of the sleeve of FIG. 1 secured about the flower pot of FIG. 5 with the securing element positioned above an upper end of the flower pot.  
     [0011]FIG. 9 is an elevational view of another sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.  
     [0012]FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve of FIG. 9 taken along line  10 - 10 .  
     [0013]FIG. 11 is an elevational view of another sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.  
     [0014]FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve of FIG. 11 taken along line  12 - 12 .  
     [0015]FIG. 13 is an elevational view of another sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.  
     [0016]FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve of FIG. 13 taken along line  14 - 14 .  
     [0017]FIG. 15 is an elevational view of another sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.  
     [0018]FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve of FIG. 15 taken along line  16 - 16 .  
     [0019]FIG. 17 is an elevational view of another sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.  
     [0020]FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve of FIG. 17 taken along line  18 - 18 .  
     [0021]FIG. 19 is an elevational view of the sleeve of FIG. 17 after the support extension has been detached.  
     [0022]FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve of FIG. 19 taken along line  20 - 20 .  
     [0023]FIG. 21 is an elevational view of another sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.  
     [0024]FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve of FIG. 21 taken along line  22 - 22 .  
     [0025]FIG. 23 is an elevational view of another sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.  
     [0026]FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve of FIG. 23 taken along line  24 - 24 .  
     [0027]FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve of FIG. 23 taken along line  25 - 25 .  
     [0028]FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve of FIG. 23 taken along line  26 - 26 .  
     [0029]FIG. 27 is an elevational view of another sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.  
     [0030]FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve of FIG. 27 taken along line  28 - 28 .  
     [0031]FIG. 29 is an elevational view of another sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.  
     [0032]FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve of FIG. 29 taken along line  30 - 30 .  
     [0033]FIG. 31 is an elevational view of another sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.  
     [0034]FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve of FIG. 31 taken along line  32 - 32 .  
     [0035]FIG. 33 is an elevational view of another sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.  
     [0036]FIG. 34 is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve of FIG. 33 taken along line  34 - 34 .  
     [0037]FIG. 35 is an elevational view of another sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.  
     [0038]FIG. 36 is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve of FIG. 35 taken along line  36 - 36 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0039] The floral sleeves described and claimed herein have a number of advantages over preformed pot covers and sheets of material presently used in the floral industry to decorate and cover flower pots. In a preferred embodiment, the sleeves contemplated herein have polygonal shapes, such as hexagonal or heptagonal.  
     [0040] The floral sleeves contemplated herein generally are constructed of less material than many preformed pot covers, for example those covers known in the art as Speed Covers®. Constructed as they are in a flattened condition, they occupy less warehouse space. They are produced in a manner that allow them to be printed more economically and with a higher degree of quality and using a variety of printing techniques thereby achieving a wide variety of decorative effects. These sleeves reduce freight costs in comparison to covers having a three-dimensional or opened configuration. Sleeves such as claimed herein cost less to produce since their production is more highly automated. Less material is required to construct a flat floral sleeve than a Speed Covers® or other types of covers like injection-molded covers, sheets wrapped and banded about pots, or separate sleeves and covers used together. When used in conjunction with a “banding apparatus”, the sleeves contemplated herein lend themselves to being bandingly secured about pots more easily and efficiently than flat, non-tubular, sheets of material. Labor costs in the application of the presently claimed sleeves are reduced compared to most other types of covers since the pot covering portion and plant covering portion, where claimed herein, are applied simultaneously rather than in separate steps.  
     [0041] Also, the present sleeves automatically “center” themselves about the pot, unlike a flat sheet of material wherein the user must carefully position the pot on the flat sheet. This improves the efficiency of attaching the sleeve to the pot via an adhesive or cohesive material, or banding or other securing element, because correct placement of the cover is achieved more readily. Further, the application of labels to a sleeve is facilitated and more easily automated and is less costly than with many other types of covers. Further, production cost of making sleeves is reduced because tooling costs per unit are reduced, since it&#39;s easier to change from making one size of sleeves to another compared to changing the tooling for different sizes of Speed Covers®. Further the shape of the sleeve described herein, being somewhat oversized in relation to the pot intended to be placed in the sleeve, provides the sleeve with the billowy appearance, after being formed about the pot, of a flat sheet of material which has been formed about the pot, rather than the “flat” appearance of a sleeve placed about a pot. This billowy “sheet-like” appearance is greatly preferred by some purchasers over the traditional “sleeve-like” appearance of a sleeve. The present sleeve therefore provides an optimal solution to the problem of providing a floral sleeve which has the convenient features of a sleeve but which has the attractive billowy appearance of a flat sheet formed up about a pot.  
     [0042] Turning now to the drawings, shown in FIGS.  1 - 4 , and designated therein by the general reference numeral  10  is a flexible, preformed tubular floral sleeve (also referred to herein simply as a “sleeve”) having a hexagonal shape when in a flattened condition. The sleeve  10  can be opened from the flattened condition to an opened condition for receiving a pot, a flower pot, a floral grouping (alone or with a growing, ballast or retaining medium), or a pot with a botanical item disposed therein.  
     [0043] Sleeve  10  (FIGS.  1 - 4 ) comprises a body  12  having a hexagonal shape and having a front panel  14  and a back panel  16  which together comprise a sidewall  18  of the body  12 . The body  12  comprises a hexagon having six sides, including a lower left side  20 , a bottom side  22 , a lower right side  24 , an upper right side  26 , a top side  28  and an upper left side  30 . When the body  12  is opened from the flattened condition to an open condition, an interior space  32  sized to at least partially contain a pot  36  is exposed.  
     [0044] The body  12  has a maximum width  34  when in the flattened condition. The pot  36  (FIGS. 5 and 6) has an upper end  38  and a lower end  40 . The pot  36  has a maximum diameter  42  which is usually near the upper end  38  and a minimum diameter  44  which is usually near the lower end  40 .  
     [0045] The body  12  of sleeve  10  has six internal angles including angle  2  between upper left side  30  and lower left side  20 , angle  3  between upper right side  26  and lower right side  24 , angle  4  between lower left side  20  and bottom side  22 , angle  5  between lower right side  24  and bottom side  22 , angle  6  between upper left side  30  and top side  28 , and angle  7  between upper right side  26  and top side  28 . Each of angles  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6  and  7  is less than 180°.  
     [0046] The maximum width  34  of the body  12  is generally the distance between angle  2  and angle  3 . The lower left side  20 , the bottom side  22  and the lower right side  24  are preferably closed (sealed for example with a lap seal, a heat seal, a butt seal, a fin seal, or any other appropriate seal or connection in any conventional manner known by a person of ordinary skill in the art) as shown in FIG. 2. Portions of the lower left side  20  and lower right side  24  which are near angles  2  and  3 , respectively, may not be completely sealed to allow some expansion of those portions of the sleeve  10 . The upper left side  30 , the top side  28  and the upper right side  26  are preferably open, that is, unsealed, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, so they can be more effectively spread out when the pot  36  is disposed within the interior space  32  of the body  12  thereby providing the sleeve  10  with the appearance of a decorative flat sheet of material formed about the pot  36  as described above. The open upper left side  30  and open upper right side  26  enable portions of the body  12  to be flared out and adjusted upwardly, downwardly, inwardly, or outwardly to tailor the decorative effect provided by the sleeve  10 .  
     [0047] In a preferred version of the invention, the pot  36  having a floral grouping  46  disposed therein is disposed within the sleeve  10  as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Shown in FIG. 7 is the sleeve  10  and the pot  36  which has been disposed within the interior space  32 . In a preferred version of the method of use of the sleeve  10  contemplated herein (or any other sleeve described elsewhere herein), when the pot  36  is placed within the sleeve  10 , a securing element  50  is manually or automatically placed about the sleeve  10  and the pot  36  for securing the sleeve  10  about the pot  36  and for forming a decorative effect provided when overlapping folds  52  are formed in the sidewall  18  of the sleeve  10  the securing element  50  may be positioned below the upper end  38  of the pot  36  (FIG. 7) or above the upper end  38  of the pot  36  (FIG. 8). The securing element  50  may be, for example, an elastic band, a rubber band, a plastic strip, a string, a tie, a wire, a ribbon, a heat shrinkable material, a paper collar, a polymer strip, a stribbon, a tape, a label, or other device typically used in the art as a securing device.  
     [0048] The sleeve  10  comprises “excess material” wherein the interior space  32  is substantially larger than necessary to contain the pot  36 . When the sleeve  10  is applied about the pot  36  and secured thereabout forming the overlapping folds  52 , the sleeve  10  provides the decorative appearance of a flat sheet of material which has been formed about the pot  36  and tied about the pot  36  with a tie. The overlapping folds  52  are restrained in an overlapping condition by the securing element  50 .  
     [0049] In a preferred embodiment, the sleeve  10  has approximate dimensions of: about 3.75 inches for the upper left side  30  and upper right side  26 , about 8.25 inches for the lower left side  20  and lower right side  24 , about 5.25 inches for the bottom side  22 , about 14.5 inches for the top side and about 17 inches for the maximum width  34 . A sleeve  10  having these dimensions is sized to contain a pot  36  having an approximate maximum diameter  42  of six inches and an approximate minimum diameter  44  of four inches (a pot known in the floral industry as a “6-inch” pot).  
     [0050] Equivalent sizes of any of the sleeves described herein can be readily manufactured using methods known by persons of ordinary skill in the art for other standard sizes of pots such as 4 inch, 4.5 inch, 5 inch, 5.5 inch, 6 inch, 6.5 inch, 7 inch, 7.5 inch, 8 inch, and other sizes well known in the art and commercially available. In particular, as noted above, it is desirable to have excess material in the sidewall  18  of the sleeve  10  such that when the pot  36  is disposed in the sleeve  10  and the sleeve  10  is secured about the pot  36  via the securing element  50 , overlapping folds  52  are formed in the sidewall  18 . In order to provide sufficient excess material in the sidewall  18 , the maximum width  34  of the body  12  is preferably a factor of at least 2.1 times greater than the maximum diameter  42  of the pot  36 . Alternatively, the factor may be 2.16, 2.5, 2.8, 3.0 or 3.2, for example. Further, the maximum width  34  of the body  12  is preferably a factor of at least 3.2 times greater than the minimum diameter of the pot  36 . Alternatively, the factor may be 3.5, 3.75, 4.0, 4.25, 4.5 or 4.75, for example.  
     [0051] In general, when a flat sleeve has a maximum width  34  which is a factor of about 1.66 greater than the maximum diameter of a pot, and which is a factor of about 2.5 greater than the minimum diameter of a pot, such a sleeve will fit closely about that pot. Therefore, in general, the maximum width  34  of the body  12  described herein will have a factor greater than 1.66 when compared to the maximum diameter  42  of the pot  36  and will have a factor greater than 2.5 when compared to the minimum diameter  44  of the pot  36 .  
     [0052] Shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 and referred to therein as floral sleeve  10   a  is a sleeve which is similar in all ways to sleeve  10  as described above, except as explained below. Sleeve  10   a  has a body  12   a , a front panel  14   a , a back panel  16   a , a sidewall  18   a  comprising the front panel  14   a  and back panel  16   a , a lower left side  20   a , a bottom side  22   a , a lower right side  24   a , an upper right side  26   a , a top side  28   a , and an upper left side  30   a.    
     [0053] Sleeve  10   a  differs from sleeve  10  in that it further comprises a support extension  58   a  which extends from a top end  56   a  of back panel  16   a . Front panel  14   a  has a top end  54   a . The support extension  58   a  is detachable via a detaching element  60   a  which is shown in FIG. 9 as comprising apertures  62   a  and a line of perforations but which may be in alternate embodiments, or tear strip, a zipper, or score line or weakened area, or any other device used as a detaching or tearing device. The support extension  58   a  serves to support the sleeve  10   a  from a support device such as a wicket, pin, hanger, staple, clip, adhesive or cohesive material, or other devices or means well known in the art for connecting or hanging sleeves together in a pad.  
     [0054] Generally, the support extension  58   a  is removed before the sleeve  10   a  is disposed about the pot  36  but may be removed after the sleeve  10   a  is disposed about the pot  36 . The top side  28   a  comprises the top end  54   a  of the front panel  14   a  and the top end  56   a  of the back panel  16   a  (which is exposed as an edge when the support extension  58   a  is detached via the detaching element  60   a ).  
     [0055] The body  12   a  of sleeve  10   a  has six internal angles including angle  2   a  between upper left side  30   a  and lower left side  20   a , angle  3   a  between upper right side  26   a  and lower right side  24   a , angle  4   a  between lower left side  20   a  and bottom side  22   a , angle  5   a  between lower right side  24   a  and bottom side  22   a , angle  6   a  between upper left side  30   a  and top side  28   a , and angle  7   a  between upper right side  26   a  and top side  28   a . Each of angles  2   a ,  3   a ,  4   a ,  5   a ,  6   a  and  7   a  is less than 180°.  
     [0056] Shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 and referred to therein as floral sleeve  10   b  is a sleeve which is similar in all ways to sleeve  10  as described above except as explained below.  
     [0057] Sleeve  10   b  has a body  12   b , a front panel  14   b , a back panel  16   b , a sidewall  18   b , comprising the front panel  14   b  and back panel  16   b , a lower left side  20   b , a bottom side  22   b , a lower right side  24   b , an upper right side  26   b , a top side  28   b , and an upper left side  30   b . Sleeve  10   b  differs from sleeve  10  in that it further comprises a support extension  58   b  which extends from the top side  28   b  which further comprises a front panel extension  64   b  which extends from a top end  54   b  of front panel  14   b  and a back panel extension  66   b  which extends from a top end  56   b  of back panel  16   b . Support extension  58   b  has a top end  59   b  which may be open (unsealed) or closed (sealed). The support extension  58   b  preferably comprises apertures  62   b  adapted for use with a support device as described herein.  
     [0058] The support extension  58   b  is detachable via a front panel detaching element  68   b  for detaching the front panel extension  64   b  and a back panel detaching element  70   b  for detaching the back panel extension  66   b , wherein the detaching elements  68   b  and  70   b  are like those defined elsewhere hereinabove. The support extension  58   b  serves to support the sleeve  10   b  from a support device such as a wicket, pin, hanger, staple, clip, adhesive or cohesive material, or other devices or means well known in the art for connecting or hanging sleeves together in a pad. As described above, the support extension  58   b  may be detached before or after the pot  36  is placed within the sleeve  10   b.    
     [0059] The body  12   b  of sleeve  10   b  has six internal angles including angle  2   b  between upper left side  30   b  and lower left side  20   b , angle  3   b  between upper right side  26   b  and lower right side  24   b , angle  4   b  between lower left side  20   b  and bottom side  22   b , angle  5   b  between lower right side  24   b  and bottom side  22   b , angle  6   b  between upper left side  30   b  and top side  28   b , and angle  7   b  between upper right side  26   b  and top side  28   b . Each of angles  2   b ,  3   b ,  4   b ,  5   b ,  6   b  and  7   b  is less than 180°.  
     [0060] Shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 and referred to therein as floral sleeve  10   c  is a sleeve which is similar in all ways to sleeve  10  as described above, except as explained herein.  
     [0061] Sleeve  10   c  has a body  12   c , a front panel  14   c , a back panel  16   c , a sidewall  18   c , comprising the front panel  14   c  and back panel  16   c , a lower left side  20   c , a bottom side  22   c , a lower right side  24   c , an upper right side  26   c , a top side  28   c , and an upper left side  30   c . Sleeve  10   c  differs from sleeve  10  in that it further comprises an upper portion  72   c  which extends beyond the topside  28   c . The upper portion  72   c  is shown as optionally having apertures  62   c  for supporting the sleeve  10   c  from a support device such as a wicket.  
     [0062] Upper portion  72   c  has an upper end  73   c  and is attached to a portion of an inner surface  74   c  of front panel  14   c  and to a portion of an inner surface  76   c  of back panel  16   c  at an attached area  78   c . The upper portion  72   c  has a tubular shape for enclosing and surrounding all of, or a portion of, the floral grouping  46  when the pot  36  and floral grouping  46  or floral grouping  46  alone is disposed within the sleeve  10   c . The upper portion  72   c  can be detached from the body  12   c  after the pot  36  and/or floral grouping  46  have been disposed within the body  12   c . The upper portion  72   c  may be detached via a detaching element (not shown) in the sleeve  10   c . The upper portion  72   c  may also comprise apertures (not shown) for supporting the sleeve  10   c  from a support device as described elsewhere herein. The sleeve  10   c  may be gathered and/or connected into a pad as described elsewhere herein.  
     [0063] The body  12   c  of sleeve  10   c  has six internal angles including angle  2   c  between upper left side  30   c  and lower left side  20   c , angle  3   c  between upper right side  26   c  and lower right side  24   c , angle  4   c  between lower left side  20   c  and bottom side  22   c , angle  5   c  between lower right side  24   c  and bottom side  22   c , angle  6   c  between upper left side  30   c  and top side.  28   c , and angle  7   c  between upper right side  26   c  and top side  28   c . Each of angles  2   c ,  3   c ,  4   c ,  5   c ,  6   c  and  7   c  is less than 180°.  
     [0064] Shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 and referred to therein as floral sleeve  10   d  is a sleeve which is similar to sleeve  10   c  as described above, except as explained herein.  
     [0065] Sleeve  10   d  has a body  12   d , a front panel  14   d , a back panel  16   d , a sidewall  18   d  comprising the front panel  14   d  and back panel  16   d , a lower left side  20   d , a bottom side  22   d , a lower right side  24   d , an upper right side  26   d , a top side  28   d , and an upper left side  30   d . Sleeve  10   d  differs from sleeve  10   c  in that sleeve  10   d  comprises an upper portion  72   d  which is like upper portion  72   c  of sleeve  10   c  except upper portion  72   d  is attached to an outer surface  80   d  of front panel  14   d  and to an outer surface  82   d  of back panel  16   d  at an attached area  78   d . Otherwise, sleeve  10   d  functions in a manner similar to sleeve  10   c . The upper portion  72   d  is shown as optionally having apertures  62   d  for supporting the sleeve  10   d  from a support device such as a wicket.  
     [0066] The body  12   d  of sleeve  10   d  has six internal angles including angle  2   d  between upper left side  30   d  and lower left side  20   d , angle  3   d  between upper right side  26   d  and lower right side  24   d , angle  4   d  between lower left side  20   d  and bottom side  22   d , angle  5   d  between lower right side  24   d  and bottom side  22   d , angle  6   d  between upper left side  30   d  and top side  28   d , and angle  7   d  between upper right side  26   d  and top side  28   d . Each of angles  2   d ,  3   d ,  4   d ,  5   d ,  6   d  and  7   d  is less than 180°.  
     [0067] Shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 and referred to therein as floral sleeve  10   e  is a sleeve which is similar in all ways to sleeve  10  as described above, except as explained herein.  
     [0068] Sleeve  10   e  has a body  12   e , a front panel  14   e , a back panel  16   e , a sidewall  18   e , comprising the front panel  14   e  and back panel  16   e , a lower left side  20   e , a bottom side  22   e , a lower right side  24   e , an upper right side  26   e , a top side  28   e , and an upper left side  30   e.    
     [0069] The body  12   e  of sleeve  10   e  has six internal angles including angle  2   e  between upper left side  30   e  and lower left side  20   e , angle  3   e  between upper right side  26   e  and lower right side  24   e , angle  4   e  between lower left side  20   e  and bottom side  22   e , angle  5   e  between lower right side  24   e  and bottom side  22   e , angle  6   e  between upper left side  30   e  and top side  28   e , and angle  7   e  between upper right side  26   e  and top side  28   e . Each of angles  2   e ,  3   e ,  4   e ,  5   e ,  6   e  and  7   e  is less than 180°.  
     [0070] Sleeve  10   e  differs from sleeve  10  in that sleeve  10   e  further comprises a front decorative extension  90   e  which is attached at an attached area  78   e  to a portion of inner surface  74   e  of front panel  14   e  and a back decorative extension  92   e  which is attached to a portion of inner surface  76   e  of back panel  16   e  at attached area  78   e . In one embodiment, as shown in FIG.  17 , the sleeve  10   e  further comprises a support extension  94   e  having an upper end  95   e  which extends from the back decorative extension  92   e  (or alternatively, also from front decorative extension  90   e ) and which is detachable from back decorative extension  94   e  via a detaching element  96   e  as defined elsewhere herein. The support extension  94   e  may have apertures  62   e  therein for supporting the sleeve  10   e  from a support device such as a wicket or hook, or the support extension  94   e  may serve to attach a plurality of sleeves  10   e  together in a pad. The front decorative extension  90   e  has an upper peripheral edge  98   e  (FIGS.  17 - 19 ) and once the support extension  94   e  is detached, the back decorative extension  92   e  has an upper peripheral edge  100   e  (FIG. 20). Alternatively, the sleeve  10   e  may be constructed without the support extension  94   e  to initially have the configuration shown in FIG. 20. Preferably portions of the upper peripheral edges  98   e  and  100   e  of the front decorative extension  90   e  and the back decorative extension  92   e , respectively, which extend from the body  12   e  near angles  2   e  and  3   e , respectively, are unconnected or unsealed, although portions of upper peripheral edges  98   e  and  100   e  which are adjacent the angles  2   e  and  3   e  of the body  12   e  may be connected.  
     [0071] The upper peripheral edges  98   e  and  100   e  preferably generally correspond to the topside  28   e , upper left side  30   e  and upper right side  26   e  of the body  12   e . When a pot and/or floral grouping is disposed within the sleeve  10   e , the sleeve  10   e , due to the presence of the front decorative extension  90   e  and back decorative extension  92   e , has the appearance of being formed from at least two separate sheets of material, thereby significantly enhancing the decorative effect of the sleeve  10   e . The present invention also contemplates a sleeve such as sleeve  10   e  which has more than one front decorative extension  90   e , more than one back decorative extension  92   e , or more than one front decorative extension  90   e  and back decorative extension  92   e  for further enhancing the decorative effect of the sleeve.  
     [0072] In an alternative embodiment, the upper peripheral edges  98   e  and  100   e  may have shapes or patterns other than the straight edge pattern shown in FIGS. 17 and 19. For example, the upper peripheral edges  98   e  and  100   e  may be curved, wavy, irregular, toothed, notched, or have any other non-linear pattern. The upper left side  30   e , top side  28   e  and upper right side  26   e  may similarly have non-linear shapes or patterns, while upper peripheral edges  98   e  and  100   e  are either straight or non-linear. Preferably at least a portion of upper peripheral edges  98   e  and  100   e  correspond to (i.e., match the shape or pattern of, e.g., are parallel to) all or portions of upper left side  30   e , top side  28   e , and upper right side  26   e  (and as are other sleeves described herein).  
     [0073] Shown in FIGS. 21 and 22 and referred to therein as floral sleeve  10   f  is a sleeve which is similar to sleeve  10   e  as described above, except as explained herein.  
     [0074] Sleeve  10   f  has a body  12   f , a front panel  14   f , a back panel  16   f , a sidewall  18   f  comprising the front panel  14   f  and back panel  16   f , a lower left side  20   f , a bottom side  22   f , a lower right side  24   f , an upper right side  26   f  a top side  28   f , and an upper left side  30   f.    
     [0075] The body  12   f  of sleeve  10   f  has six internal angles including angle  2   f  between upper left side  30   f  and lower left side  20   f , angle  3   f  between upper right side  26   f  and lower right side  24   f , angle  4   f  between lower left side  20   f  and bottom side  22   f , angle  5   f  between lower right side  24   f  and bottom side  22   f , angle  6   f  between upper left side  30   f  and top side  28   f , and angle  7   f  between upper right side  26   f  and top side  28   f . Each of angles  2   f ,  3   f ,  4   f ,  5   f ,  6   f  and  7   f  is less than 180°.  
     [0076] Sleeve  10   f  differs from sleeve  10   e  in that sleeve  10   f  has a front decorative extension  90   f  which is like front decorative extension  90   e , but instead is attached to an outer surface  80   f  of front panel  14   f  at an attached area  78   f . Sleeve  10   f  further has a back decorative extension  92   f  which is like back decorative extension  92   e  but instead is attached to an outer surface  82   f  of back panel  16   f  at attached area  78   f . Front decorative extension  90   f  has an upper peripheral edge  98   f  and back decorative extension  92   f  has an upper peripheral edge  10   f . Upper peripheral edges  98   f  and  100   f  may be above, flush with, or below the left upper side  30   f , top side  28   f , and right upper side  26   f , and may have shapes or patterns as described above for sleeve  10   e . Further, sleeve  10   f  is shown without a detachable support extension like support extension  94   e  of sleeve  10   e , but may alternately be equipped with such a support extension.  
     [0077] Shown in FIGS.  23 - 26 , and designated therein by the general reference numeral log is a sleeve similar to sleeve  10  except having a heptagonal (seven-sided) shape when in a flattened condition. The sleeve  10   g  can be opened from the flattened condition to an opened condition for receiving a pot, a flower pot, a floral grouping (alone or with a growing, ballast or retaining medium), or a pot with a botanical item disposed therein.  
     [0078] Sleeve  10   g  comprises a body  12   g  having a heptagonal shape and having a front panel  14   g  and a back panel  16   g  which together comprise a sidewall  18   g  of the body  12   g . The body  12   g  comprises a septagon having seven sides, including a lower left side  20   g , a bottom side  22   g , a lower right side  24   g , an upper right side  26   g , a right top side  28   g , a left top side  29   g , and an upper left side  30   g . When the body  12   g  is opened from the flattened condition to an open condition, an interior space  32   g  sized to at least partially contain a pot  36  is exposed. The body  12   g  has a maximum width  34   g  when in the flattened condition.  
     [0079] The body  12   g  of sleeve log has seven internal angles including an angle  2   g  between upper left side  30   g  and lower left side  20   g , an angle  3   g  between upper right side  26   g  and lower right side  24   g , an angle  4   g  between lower left side  20   g  and bottom side  22   g , an angle  5   g  between lower right side  24   g  and bottom side  22   g , an angle  6   g  between upper left side  30   g  and left top side  29   g , an angle  7   g  between left top side  29   g  and right top side  28   g , and angle  8   g  between upper right side  26   g  and right top side  28   g . Each of angles  2   g ,  3   g ,  4   g ,  5   g ,  6   g , and  8   g  is less than 180°. Angle  7   g  is generally greater than 180°.  
     [0080] The maximum width  34   g  of the body  12   g  is generally the distance between angle  2   g  and angle  3   g . The lower left side  20   g , the bottom side  22   g  and the lower right side  24   g  are preferably closed (sealed for example with a lap seal, a heat seal, a butt seal, a fin seal, or any other appropriate seal or connection in any conventional manner known by a person of ordinary skill in the art) as shown in FIG. 24. The upper left side  30   g , the left top side  29   g , right top side  28   g , and the upper right side  26   g  are preferably entirely open, that is, unsealed, (FIGS. 24 and 25), so they can be more effectively spread out when the pot  36  is disposed within the interior space  32   g  of the body  12   g  thereby providing the sleeve  10   g  with the appearance of a flat decorative sheet of material rather than a sleeve, which has been formed about the pot  36 . The open upper left side  30   g  and open upper right side  26   g  enable portions of the body  12   g  to be flared out and adjusted upwardly, downwardly, inwardly, or outwardly to tailor the decorative effect provided by the sleeve  10   g.    
     [0081] In a preferred embodiment, the sleeve log has approximate dimensions of: about 3.75 inches for the upper left side  30   g  and upper right side  26   g , about 8.25 inches for the lower left side  20   g  and lower right side  24   g , about 5.25 inches for the bottom side  22   g , about 7.5 inches for the left top side  29   g  and the right top side  28   g  and about 17 inches for the maximum width  34   g . A sleeve log having these dimensions is sized to contain a pot  36  having an approximate maximum diameter  42  of six inches and an approximate minimum diameter  44  of four inches (a pot known in the floral industry as a “6-inch” pot).  
     [0082] Shown in FIGS. 27 and 28 and referred to therein as floral sleeve  10   h  is a sleeve which is similar in all ways to sleeve  10   g  as described above, except as explained below. Sleeve  10   h  has a body  12   h , a front panel  14   h , a back panel  16   h , a sidewall- 18   h  comprising the front panel  14   h  and back panel  16   h , a lower left side  20   h , a bottom side  22   h , a lower right side  24   h , an upper right side  26   h , a left top side  29   h , a right top side  28   h , and an upper left side  30   h.    
     [0083] Sleeve  10   h  differs from sleeve  10   h  primarily in that it further comprises a support extension  58   h  which extends from a top end  56   h  of back panel  16   h . Front panel  14   h  has a top end  54   h . The support extension  58   h  may have apertures  62   h  and is detachable via a detaching element  60   h  which is shown in FIG. 27 as also comprising a line of perforations but which may be in alternate embodiments, or tear strip, a zipper, or score line or weakened area, or any other device used as a detaching or tearing device. The support extension  58   h  (like other support extensions described herein) serves to support the sleeve  10   h  from a support device such as a wicket, pin, hanger, staple, clip, adhesive or cohesive material, or other devices or means well known in the art for connecting or hanging sleeves together in a pad.  
     [0084] Generally, the support extension  58   h  is removed before the sleeve  10   h  is disposed about the pot  36  but may be removed after the sleeve  10   h  is disposed about the pot  36 . The left top side  29   h  and right top side  28   h  together comprise the top end  54   h  of the front panel  14   h  and the top end  56   h  of the back panel  16   h  (which is exposed as a free edge when the support extension  58   h  is detached via the detaching element  60   h ).  
     [0085] The body  12   h  of sleeve  10   h  has seven internal angles including angle  2   a  between upper left side  30   a  and lower left side  20   a , angle  3   a  between upper right side  26   a  and lower right side  24   a , angle  4   a  between lower left side  20   a  and bottom side  22   a , angle  5   a  between lower right side  24   a  and bottom side  22   a , angle  6   h  between upper left side  30   a  and left top side  29   h , an angle  7   h  between left top side  29   h  and right top side  28   h , and angle  8   h  between upper right side  26   a  and right top side  28   h . Each of angles  2   h ,  3   h ,  4   h ,  5   h ,  6   h  and  8   h  is less than 180°. Angle  7   h  is generally greater than 180°.  
     [0086] Shown in FIGS. 29 and 30 and referred to therein as floral sleeve  10   i  is a sleeve which is similar in all ways to sleeve log as described above except as explained below.  
     [0087] Sleeve  10   i  has a body  12   i , a front panel  14   i , a back panel  16   i , a sidewall  18   i , comprising the front panel  14   i  and back panel  16   i , a lower left side  20   i , a bottom side  22   i , a lower right side  24   i , an upper right side  26   i , a left top side  29   i , a right top side  28   i , and an upper left side  30   i . Sleeve  10   i  differs from sleeve  10   g  in that it further comprises a support extension  58   i  which extends from the right top side  28   i  and left top side  29   i  which further comprises a front panel extension  64   i  which extends from front panel  14   i  and a back panel extension  66   i  which extends from back panel  16   i . Support extension  58   i  has a top end  59   i  which may be open (unsealed) or closed (sealed). The support extension  58   i  preferably comprises apertures  62   b  adapted for use with a support device as described herein.  
     [0088] The support extension  58   i  is detachable via a front panel detaching element  68   i  for detaching the front panel extension  64   i  and a back panel detaching element  70   i  for detaching the back panel extension  66   i , wherein the detaching elements  68   i  and  70   i  are like those defined elsewhere hereinabove. The support extension  58   i  serves to support the sleeve  10   i  from a support device such as a wicket, pin, hanger, staple, clip, adhesive or cohesive material, or other devices or means well known in the art for connecting or hanging sleeves together in a pad. As described above, the support extension  58   i  may be detached before or after the pot  36  is placed within the sleeve  10   i.    
     [0089] The body  12   i  of sleeve  10   i  has seven internal angles including angle  2   i  between upper left side  30   i  and lower left side  20   i , angle  3   i  between upper right side  26   i  and lower right side  24   i , angle  4   i  between lower left side  20   i  and bottom side  22   i , angle  5   i  between lower right side  24   i  and bottom side  22   i , angle  6   i  between upper left side  30   i  and left top side  29   i , angle  7   i  between left top side  29   i  and right top side  28   i , and angle  8   i  between upper right side  26   i  and top right side  28   i . Each of angles  2   i ,  3   i ,  4   i ,  5   i ,  6   i  and  8   i  is less than 180°. Angle  7   i  is generally greater than 180°.  
     [0090] Shown in FIGS. 31 and 32 and referred to therein as floral sleeve  10   i  is a sleeve which is similar in all ways to sleeve log as described above, except as explained herein.  
     [0091] Sleeve  10   j  has a body  12   j , a front panel  14   j , a back panel  16   j , a sidewall  18   j , comprising the front panel  14   j  and back panel  16   j , a lower left side  20   j , a bottom side  22   j , a lower right side  24   j , an upper right side  26   j , a left top side  29   j , a right top side  28   j , and an upper left side  30   j . Sleeve  10   j  differs from sleeve  10   g  in that it further comprises a front decorative extension  90   j  and a back decorative extension  92   j.    
     [0092] Front decorative extension  90   j  has an upper peripheral edge  98   j  and is attached to a portion of an inner surface  74   j  of front panel  14   j  at an attached area  78   j . The back decorative extension  92   j  has an upper peripheral edge  100   j  and is attached to a portion of inner surface  76   j  of back panel  16   j  at attached area  78   j . The sleeve  10   j  may be gathered with a plurality of sleeves  10   j  and connected as a pad as described elsewhere herein.  
     [0093] The body  12   j  of sleeve  10   j  has seven internal angles including an angle  2   j  between upper left side  30   j  and lower left side  20   j , angle  3   j  between upper right side  26   j  and lower right side  24   j , angle  4   j  between lower left side  20   j  and bottom side  22   j , angle  5   j  between lower right side  24   j  and bottom side  22   j , angle  6   j  between upper left side  30   j  and left top side  29   j , an angle  7   j  between left top side  29   j  and right top side  28   j , and angle  8   j  between upper right side  26   j  and right top side  28   j . Each of angles  2   j ,  3   j ,  4   j ,  5   j ,  6   j  and  8   j  is less than 180°. Angle  7   j  is generally greater than 180°.  
     [0094] The upper peripheral edges  98   j  and  100   j  preferably generally correspond to the left top side  29   j , right top side  28   j , upper left side  30   j , and upper right side  26   j  of the body  12   j . When a pot and/or floral grouping is disposed within the sleeve  10   j , the sleeve  10   j , due to the presence of the front decorative extension  90   j  and back decorative extension  92   j , has the appearance of being formed from at least two separate sheets of material, thereby significantly enhancing the decorative effect of the sleeve  10   j . The present invention also contemplates a sleeve such as sleeve  10   j  which has more than one front decorative extension  90   j , more than one back decorative extension  92   j , or more than one front decorative extension  90   j  and back decorative extension  92   j  for further enhancing the decorative effect of the sleeve.  
     [0095] In an alternative embodiment, the upper peripheral edges  98   j  and  100   j  may have shapes or patterns other than the angular pattern shown in FIGS. 31 and 32. For example, the upper peripheral edges  98   j  and  100   j  may be curved, wavy, irregular, toothed, notched, or having other non-linear pattern. The upper left side  30   j , left and right top sides  28   j  and  29   j  and upper right side  26   j  may similarly have non-linear shapes or patterns, while upper peripheral edges  98   j  and  100   j  are either straight, angular or non-linear.  
     [0096] Shown in FIGS. 33 and 34 and referred to therein as floral sleeve  10   k  is a sleeve which is similar in all ways to sleeve  10   j  as described above, except as explained herein.  
     [0097] Sleeve  10   k  has a body  12   k , a front panel  14   k , a back panel  16   k , a sidewall  18   k , comprising the front panel  14   k  and back panel  16   k , a lower left side  20   k , a bottom side  22   k , a lower right side  24   k , an upper right side  26   k , a left top side  29   k , a right top side  28   k , and an upper left side  30   k . Sleeve  10   k  is similar to sleeve  10   j  in that it comprises a front decorative extension  90   k  and a back decorative extension  92   k , each having an upper peripheral edge  98   k  and  100   k  respectively, and which are attached to a portion of an inner surface  74   k  of front panel  14   k  and to a portion of an inner surface  76   k  of back panel  16   k  at an attached area  78   k , respectively. Sleeve  10   k  differs from sleeve  10   j  in that upper peripheral edges  98   k  and  100   k  are either flush with, or below, upper right side  26   k , upper left side  30   k , left top side  29   k  and right top side  28   k . The sleeve  10   k  may further comprise a support extension which may be detached via a detaching element, as described elsewhere herein, and which may extend from any or all of the front panel  14   k , the back panel  16   k , the front decorative extension  90   k , and/or the back decorative extension  92   k . The sleeve  10   k  may be gathered and/or connected into a pad as described elsewhere herein.  
     [0098] The body  12   k  of sleeve  10   k  has seven internal angles including an angle  2   k  between upper left side  30   k  and lower left side  20   k , angle  3   k  between upper right side  26   k  and lower right side  24   k , angle  4   k  between lower left side  20   k  and bottom side  22   k , angle  5   k  between lower right side  24   k  and bottom side  22   k , angle  6   k  between upper left side  30   k  and left top side  29   k , angle  7   k  between left top side  29   k  and right top side  28   k , and angle  8   k  between upper right side  26   k  and right top side  28   k . Each of angles  2   k ,  3   k ,  4   k ,  5   k ,  6   k  and  8   k  is less than 180°. Angle  7   k  is generally greater than 180°.  
     [0099] In al alternative embodiment, the upper peripheral edges  98   j  and  100   j  may have shapes or patterns other than the angular pattern shown in FIGS. 33 and 34. For example, the upper peripheral edges  98   j  and  100   j  may be curved, wavy, irregular, toothed, notched, or have any other non-linear pattern. The upper left side  30   j  left and right top sides  28   j  and  29   j  and upper right side  26   j  may similarly have non-linear shapes or patterns, while upper peripheral edges  98   j  and  100   j  are either straight, angular or non-linear.  
     [0100] Shown in FIGS. 35 and 36 and referred to therein as floral sleeve  10   m  is a sleeve which is similar in all ways to sleeve  10   j  as described above, except as explained herein.  
     [0101] Sleeve  10   m  has a body  12   m , a front panel  14   m , a back panel  16   m , a sidewall  18   m , comprising the front panel  14   m  and back panel  16   m , a lower left side  20   m , a bottom side  22   m , a lower right side  24   m , an upper right side  26   m , a left top side  29   m , a right top side  28   m , and an upper left side  30   m , a front decorative extension  90   m  attached at attached area  78   m , and a back decorative extension  92   m  attached at attached area  78   m . Sleeve  10   m  differs from sleeve  10   j  in that it further comprises a detachable front support extension  94   m  which extends from front decorative extension  90   m  and a detachable back support extension  95   m  which extends from back decorative extension  92   m.    
     [0102] The front support extension  94   m  is detachable via a detaching element  96   m  and the back support extension  95   m  is detachable via a detaching element  97   m . The front support extension  94   m  and back support extension  95   m  may have apertures  62   m  for supporting the sleeve  10   m  from a support device as described elsewhere herein, or the sleeve  10   m  may be gathered and/or connected into a pad as described elsewhere herein. The sleeve  10   m  may, in an alternative embodiment, have only one of front support extension  94   m  or back support extension  95   m.    
     [0103] The body  12   m  of sleeve  10   m  has seven internal angles including angle  2   m  between upper left side  30   m  and lower left side  20   m , angle  3   m  between upper right side  26   m  and lower right side  24   m , angle  4   m  between lower left side  20   m  and bottom side  22   m , angle  5   m  between lower right side  24   m  and bottom side  22   m , angle  6   m  between upper left side  30   m  and left top side  29   m , angle  7   m  between left top side  29   m  and right top side  28   m , and angle  8   m  between upper right side  26   m  and right top side  28   m . Each of angles  2   m ,  3   m ,  4   m ,  5   m ,  6   m  and  8   m  is less than 180°. Angle  7   m  is generally greater than 180°.  
     [0104] In an alternative embodiment, (not shown), the present invention comprises a sleeve such as sleeve  10   k  except wherein the sleeve has support extensions, such as front and back support extensions  94   m  and  95   m  of sleeve  10   m , which extend from either the front and back panels  14   k  and/or  16   k , respectively, and/or from the front and back decorative extensions  90   k  and/or  92   k , respectively. Such support extensions would be detachable via detaching elements as described elsewhere herein.  
     [0105] Any of the sleeves described herein may have edges which are not straight, but which have curved, wavy, toothed, angular, irregular, or otherwise non-linear shapes or patterns. The pattern or shape may also comprise an identifiable form, design or decoration such as a cartoon figure, a rabbit, heart, flowers, stars or other figure or graphic representation. Of course, the bodies of any of the sleeves described herein may also have decorations, designs, printing, colorations, or other decorative features or representations, including works of art.  
     [0106] As discussed elsewhere herein, a plurality of sleeves  10 - 10   m  may be stacked together to form a pad and which may be supported on a support assembly such as a wicket, hanger or on a belt worn by a floral worker, for example in a greenhouse or plant warehouse or packaging or shipping facility such as shown in U.S. Ser. No. 10/124,810, which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.  
     [0107] Any of the sleeves  10 - 10   m  shown herein or variations thereof contemplated or covered by the present description herein may be secured about the pot  36  in the manner shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.  
     [0108] The securing element  50  may be, for example, a rubber, elastic or cloth band, a string, a ribbon, a metal, paper or plastic collar, a wire, a band, a heat shrinkable strip, band or loop, an adhesive or cohesive, a label, a staple, or another banding device known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. The securing element  50  may be, in an alternative embodiment, preconnected to the sleeves  10 - 10   m  described herein before application of the sleeve about the pot  36  or it may be applied, either manually or automatically after the pot  36  has been disposed within the sleeves  10 - 10   m.    
     [0109] The sleeves  10 - 10   m  are preferably constructed from material which is flexible, semi-rigid, rigid, or any combination thereof. The sleeves  10 - 10   m  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 and is expandable to an open position as described herein. The layers of material comprising the sleeves  10 - 10   m  may be connected together or laminated or may be separate layers. Such materials used to construct the sleeves  10 - 10   m  are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,637, for example, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Any thickness of material may be utilized in accordance with the present invention as long as the sleeves  10 - 10   m  may be formed as described herein, and as long as the sleeves  10 - 10   m  may contain at least a portion of the pot  36  or potted plant or floral grouping  46 , 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  46 , contained therein.  
     [0110] Generally the material from which the sleeves  10 - 10   m  are constructed has a thickness in a range from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mils. Often, the thickness of the material used to construct the sleeves  10 - 10   m  ranges from about 0.5 mil to about 10 mils. Preferably, the sleeves  10 - 10   m  have a thickness in a range from about 1.0 mil to about 5 mils.  
     [0111] In one embodiment, the sleeves  10 - 10   m  may be constructed from a sheet comprising two polypropylene films. The material comprising the sleeves  10 - 10   m  may be connected together or laminated or may be separate layers. In alternative embodiments, the sleeves  10 - 10   m  may be constructed from only one of the polypropylene films.  
     [0112] The sleeves  10 - 10   m  are constructed from any suitable material that is capable of being formed into sleeves  10 - 10   m  and wrapped about pot  36  and floral grouping  46  disposed therein. Preferably, the material comprises untreated or treated paper, metal foil, polymeric film, non-polymeric film, woven or nonwoven fabrics, synthetic or natural fabrics, cardboard, fiber, cloth, burlap, or laminations or combinations thereof.  
     [0113] The term “polymeric film” means a man-made 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.  
     [0114] The material comprising the sleeves  10 - 10   m  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, and which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.  
     [0115] In addition, the material used to construct the sleeves  10 - 10   m  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. The material may further comprise, or have applied thereto, one or more scents. 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 sleeves  10 - 10   m . Moreover, portions of the material used in constructing the sleeve may vary in the combination of such characteristics. The material utilized for the sleeves  10 - 10   m  may be opaque, translucent, transparent, or partially clear or tinted transparent. Any portion of the sleeves  10 - 10   m , or the entire sleeves  10 - 10   m  may have a design, pattern or decoration printed thereon.  
     [0116] 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.” 
     [0117] 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, foam, humus, perlite, vermiculite, sand, beads, water, and including the nutrients, fertilizers or hormones or combinations thereof required by the plants or propagules for growth and also may merely be a “retaining” or “ballast” material which does not aid in growth but helps in supporting the sleeve  10 - 10   m  in an opened condition.  
     [0118] 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.  
     [0119] 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.  
     [0120] An adhesive or cohesive bonding material may be disposed on a portion of the sleeves  10 - 10   m  to assist in holding the sleeves  10 - 10   m  to the pot  36  therein when such the pot  36  is disposed within the sleeves  10 - 10   m . A second bonding material (not shown) may be applied to an upper portion of the upper portions  72   c  and  72   d  (or other upper portions shown herein) near the upper ends  73   c  and  73   d , respectively, for sealing the upper portion  72   c - 72   d  of the sleeve  10   c - 10   d , after the pot  36  has been disposed therein.  
     [0121] Where present, the bonding materials may be disposed as a strip or block on a surface of the sleeves  10 - 10   m . Further, the bonding materials may be disposed as spots, or in any other geometric, non-geometric, asymmetric, or fanciful form, and in any pattern including covering either the entire inner surfaces of the sleeves  10 - 10   m . The bonding materials may be covered by a cover or release strip which can be removed prior to the use of the sleeves  10 - 10   m . The bonding materials can be applied by means known to those of ordinary skill in their art.  
     [0122] 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 (e.g. on the outer surface of the pot) 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.  
     [0123] Any of the sleeves  10 - 10   m  described herein may also be equipped with one or more drainage holes in or near a bottom side  22 - 22   m , respectively, thereof or ventilation holes (not shown) or can be made from permeable or impermeable materials.  
     [0124] Preferably the sleeves  10 - 10   m  are sized to contain and conform to one of a variety of standard sizes of pots  36  known to those of ordinary skill in the art, such as described above. As noted above, the sleeves  10 - 10   m  may be used to contain a plant and a growing medium without the use of the pot  36 .  
     [0125] In an alternative embodiment, any of the floral sleeves described herein may be constructed of a dead fold material (i.e., a material such as a metal foil, or metalized polymer film which after forming is able to hold a non-flat shape) such that when a pot and/or floral grouping is disposed within the interior space of the body of the floral sleeve and overlapping folds are formed therein, a separate securing element is not necessary in order to restrain the overlapping folds in an overlapping condition.  
     [0126] In alternate embodiments of the invention, the polygonal shape of the floral sleeve may include (but is not limited to) pentagonal, octagonal, nonagonal or decagonal shapes.  
     [0127] The term “pot” as used herein refers to any type of container or vase 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, foam pots, plastic pots, pots made from natural and/or synthetic fibers, or any combination thereof. The pot is generally 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 or ballast medium, may be disposed in the sleeves  10 - 10   m  without the pot  36  or other container.  
     [0128] The sleeves  10 - 10   m  described herein may be formed in a manner well known in the art by advancing two separate webs, one or two webs preformed in the form of a tube, or a single web folded double, or multiple parallel overlapping webs and sealing potions of the longitudinal sides and sealing the bottom side of the two facing panels then cutting the sleeve thus formed from the webs or web. Machines which can form sleeves from such single webs, or multiple pairs of webs are well within the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art.  
     [0129] It should be further noted that various other features of the versions of the present invention described herein such as closure bonding areas, support extensions, handles, additional perforations, drainage holes, ventilation holes, combinations of material may be used alone or in combination as elements of any of the embodiments described above herein.  
     [0130] The sleeves  10 - 10   m  may comprise a portion of a plant package as shown for example in FIGS. 7 and 8, which additionally comprises the pot  36  disposed within the sleeve  10 - 10   m , the pot  36  may have the floral grouping  46  disposed therein wherein the pot assembly is substantially surrounded and encompassed by the sleeve  10 - 10   m  or a portion thereof. Alternatively, the plant package may comprise only the sleeve  10 - 10   m , the floral grouping  46 , and a retaining, ballast, or growing medium for supporting the floral grouping  46 .  
     [0131] These embodiments described herein are not intended to limit the scope and extent of the claimed invention but are only intended to exemplify various embodiments of the invention contemplated herein.  
     [0132] 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.