1
METHOD OF COVERING A POT OR
FLORAL GROUPING WITH A SLEEVE
HAVING A TRAPEZOIDAL LOWER END
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED 5
APPLICATIONS
The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/401,771, filed Sep. 22, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,230,441, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/606, 957, filed Feb. 26, 1996, now abandoned.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to sleeves, and more particularly, to sleeves used to wrap floral groupings or 15 flower pots containing floral groupings and/or mediums containing floral groupings, and methods of using same. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,625,979 and 5,493,809 and pending U.S. Ser. No. 09/189,033 disclose subject matter which may be relevant to the invention contemplated and claimed herein 20 and are hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve of FIG. 1 taken along line 2—2.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a sleeve such as the sleeve 30 in FIG. 1 having a floral grouping therein.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the sleeve of FIG. 1 having a pot and floral grouping therein.
FIG. 5 is an elevational view of another embodiment of a sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention. 35
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve of FIG. 5 taken along line 6—6.
FIG. 7 is an elevational view of another embodiment of a sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention. 40
FIG. 8 is an elevational view of another embodiment of a sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 9 is an elevational view of another embodiment of a sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 10 is an elevational view of another embodiment of 45 a sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
EMBODIMENTS 50
The present invention contemplates in a preferred version a preformed sleeve (also referred to herein as a "floral sleeve" or simply as "a sleeve") having a tubular shape sized to contain and conform to a flower pot having an upper end, 55 a lower end and an outer peripheral surface. The sleeve may further comprise a detachable upper portion which may be sized to surround and encompass a floral grouping.
The sleeve may form part of a plant package when used in conjunction with a floral grouping or a pot having a floral go grouping therein, and wherein the pot and/or floral grouping is substantially surrounded and encompassed by the sleeve. The floral grouping is at least partially surrounded and encompassed and may be entirely enclosed by the upper portion when it forms a part of the sleeve. 65
Also, the sleeve may have a bonding material disposed on an inner portion thereof for bondingly connecting to a pot
2
disposed therein. Alternatively, the bonding material may be disposed on an outer portion of the sleeve for forming a plurality of crimps in a portion of the sleeve.
When present, the lower portion of the sleeve may be constructed from a first material and the upper portion (when present) may be constructed from the first material or a second material different from the first material.
These embodiments and others of the present invention are now described in more detail below. It will be appreciated that the examples provided 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.
Shown in FIGS. 1-4 is a sleeve designated by the general reference numeral 10. Sleeve 10 has an outer peripheral surface 12, an inner peripheral surface 14, a body 16, a first sidewall edge 18, a second sidewall edge 20, an upper end 22 having an upper edge 24, a skirt portion 26, a trapezoidal lower end 28 and an inner space 44. The trapezoidal lower end 28 has a first lower side edge 30, a second lower side edge 32, and a bottom edge 34. The first lower side edge 30 forms a first angle 36 with the bottom edge 34 and the second lower side edge 32 forms a second angle 38 with the bottom edge 34. The first angle 36 and the second angle 38 face each other and are each less than 90°. The sleeve 10 has a minimum width 40 in the body 16 thereof and a width 42 in the trapezoidal lower end 28 thereof. The minimum width 40 of the body 16 is less than the width 42 of the trapezoidal lower end 28. The sleeve 10 is preferably individually sized so that a standard sized flower pot, such as a 3-inch, 3%-inch, 4-inch, 4%-inch, 5-inch, 5%-inch, 6-inch, 6%-inch, 7-inch or 8-inch pot, for example, can fit within the sleeve 10, with the pot preferably substantially conforming to the inner peripheral surface 14 of the sleeve 10. The body 16 of the sleeve 10 preferably has a tapered, frustoconical shape, but may also have a rectangular or cylindrical shape. The sleeve 10 is initially formed to have a flattened condition and is openable therefrom to an open state for containing a floral container such as a pot as described elsewhere herein.
In a preferred version of sleeve 10, the first angle 36 and second angle 38 are each in a range of from about 85° to about 5°, or from about 80° to about f 0°, or from about 75° to about f 5°, or from about 70° to about 20°, or from about 65° to about 25°, or from about 60° to about 30°, or from about 55° to about 35°, or from about 50° to about 40°, or from about 48° to about 42°, and preferably are about 45°.
In a preferred version of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-4, the upper edge 24 of the upper end 22 of the sleeve 10 has a non-linear pattern such as a curve, wave, or serration. The upper edge 24 and the upper end 22 form the skirt portion 26 of the sleeve 10 for decorating a floral grouping 46 having a stem portion 48 and a bloom portion 50 disposed therein (FIG. 3) or a pot 52 having a lower end 54 and an upper end 56 (FIG. 4). Other non-linear configurations of the upper edge 24 of the skirt portion 26 will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, for example, those shown in FIGS. 11-16 of U.S. Ser. No. 09/401,771, the entire specification of which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference.
Shown in FIGS. 5-6 is a sleeve designated by the general reference numeral 10a. Sleeve 10a has an outer peripheral surface 12a, aft inner peripheral surface 14a, a body 16a, a first sidewall edge 18a, a second sidewall edge 20a, an upper end 22a having an upper edge 24a, a trapezoidal lower end 28a and an inner space 44a. The trapezoidal lower end 28a has a first lower side edge 30a, a second lower side edge 32a,
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and a bottom edge 34a. The first lower side edge 30a forms a first angle 36a with the bottom edge 34a and the second lower side edge 32a forms a second angle 38a with the bottom edge 34a. The first angle 36a and the second angle 38a face each other and are each less than 90°. The sleeve 10a has a minimum width 40a in the body 16a thereof and a width 42a in the trapezoidal lower end 28a thereof. The minimum width 40a of the body 16a is less than the width 42a of the trapezoidal lower end 28a. Sleeve 10a is similar to sleeve 10 shown above except the upper edge 24a of the upper end 22a is linear rather than non-linear.
Shown in FIG. 7 is a sleeve designated by the general reference numeral lOfc. Sleeve lOfc has an outer peripheral surface 12b, a body 16b, a first sidewall edge 18fc, a second sidewall edge 20b, an upper end 22b having an upper edge 24b, a skirt portion 26b, and a trapezoidal lower end 28b. The trapezoidal lower end 28b has a first lower side edge 30fc, a second lower side edge 32b, and a bottom edge 34b. The first lower side edge 30fc forms a first angle 36fc with the bottom edge 34b and the second lower side edge 32b forms a second angle 38fc with the bottom edge 34b. The first angle 36fc and the second angle 38fc face each other and are each less than 90°. The sleeve lOfc has a minimum width 40b in the body 16b thereof and a width 42b in the trapezoidal lower end 28b thereof. The minimum width 40 of the body 16 is less than the width 42b of the trapezoidal lower end 28b.
Sleeve lOfc is basically similar to sleeves 10-10a shown in FIGS. 1-6 except sleeve lOfc comprises both an upper portion 58 and a lower portion 60. The upper portion 58 is detachable from the lower portion 60 via a detaching element 62, such as perforations. The upper portion 58 generally is sized so that it can substantially surround the floral grouping 46 alone or disposed within the pot 52 disposed within the sleeve lOfc. The upper portion 58 may have apertures 64 therein for enabling the sleeve lOfc to be supported from a support device or assembly such as a wicket, in a manner well known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
Shown in FIG. 8 is a sleeve designated by the general reference numeral 10c. Sleeve 10c has an outer peripheral surface 12c, a body 16c, a first sidewall edge 18c, a second sidewall edge 20c, an upper end 22c having an upper edge 24c, a skirt portion 26c, and a trapezoidal lower end 28c. The trapezoidal lower end 28c has a first lower side edge 30c, a second lower side edge 32c, and a bottom edge 34c. The first lower side edge 30c forms a first angle 36c with the bottom edge 34c and the second lower side edge 32c forms a second angle 38c with the bottom edge 34c. The first angle 36c and the second angle 38c face each other and are each less than 90°. The sleeve 10c has a minimum width 40c in the body 16c thereof and a width 42c in the trapezoidal lower end 28cthereof. The minimum width 40c of the body 16c is less than the width 42c of the trapezoidal lower end 28c. Sleeve 10c is similar to sleeve lOfc in having an upper portion 58c, a lower portion 60c, a detaching element 62c, and optionally apertures 64, but differs in that the upper portion 58c is designed to be removed from the lower portion 60c before the lower portion 60c is used to cover pot 52 or floral grouping 46, and further, the upper portion 58c is generally not sized to enclose the floral grouping 46.
Shown in FIG. 9 is a sleeve designated by the general reference numeral lOd. Sleeve lOd has an outer peripheral surface 12d, a body 16d, a first sidewall edge 18d, a second sidewall edge 20d, an upper end 22d having an upper edge 24d, a skirt portion 26d, and a trapezoidal lower end 28d. The trapezoidal lower end 28d has a first lower side edge
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30d, a second lower side edge 32d, and a bottom edge 34d. The first lower side edge 30d forms a first angle 36d with the bottom edge 34d and the second lower side edge 32d forms a second angle 38d with the bottom edge 34d. The first angle
5 36d and the second angle 38d face each other and are each less than 90°. The sleeve 10 has a minimum width 40d in the body 16d thereof and a width 42d in the trapezoidal lower end 28d thereof. The minimum width 40d of the body 16d is less than the width 42d of the trapezoidal lower end 28d.
10 Sleeve lOd is similar to sleeves 10-10c described above except sleeve lOd has a gusset 66 in the trapezoidal lower end 28d. The gusset 66 further enables the trapezoidal lower end 28d to be expanded when the floral grouping 46 or pot 52 is disposed therein. Gussets and methods for constructing
15 them are well known to persons of ordinary skill in the art, therefore further discussion of their methods of construction is not deemed necessary herein.
Shown in FIG. 10 is a sleeve designated by the general reference numeral lOe. Sleeve lOe has an outer peripheral
20 surface 12e, a body 16e, a first sidewall edge 18e, a second sidewall edge 20e, an upper end 22e having an upper edge 24e, and a trapezoidal lower end 28e. The trapezoidal lower end 28e has a first lower side edge 30e, a second lower side edge 32e, and a bottom edge 34e. The first lower side edge
25 30e forms a first angle 36e with the bottom edge 34e and the second lower side edge 32e forms a second angle 38e with the bottom edge 34e. The first angle 36e and the second angle 38e face each other and are each less than 90°. The sleeve lOe has a minimum width 40e in the body 16e thereof
30 and a width 42e in the trapezoidal lower end 28e thereof. The minimum width 40e of the body 16e is less than the width 42e of the trapezoidal lower end 28e. Sleeve lOe is similar to sleeve lOfc described above. Sleeve lOe has an upper portion 58e, a lower portion 60e and a detaching
35 element 62e for detaching the upper portion 58e from the lower portion 60e. Sleeve lOe optionally has apertures 64 for enabling the sleeve lOe to be supported from a support device or assembly as previously described.
4Q Sleeve lOe differs from sleeve lOfc primarily in that the detaching element 62e has a linear or arcuate pattern extending from first sidewall edge 18e to second sidewall edge 20e rather than a non-linear pattern as shown for detaching element 62 of sleeve lOfc.
45 Any of the sleeves contemplated herein may also be equipped with drainage elements (e.g., one or more holes) in the lower end 28-28e thereof or ventilation holes (not shown), or can be made from permeable or impermeable materials.
50 Any thickness of material may be utilized in accordance with the present invention as long as the sleeves may be formed as described herein, and as long as the formed sleeves may contain at least a portion of the pot 52 or floral grouping 46, as described herein. Additionally, an insulating
55 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.
The material from which the sleeves 10-10e described
60 herein are constructed preferably has a thickness in a range from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mils. Often, the thicknesses of the sleeves are in a range from about 0.5 mil to about 10 mils or preferably, in a range from about 1.0 mil to about 5 mils. More preferably, the sleeves 10-10e are constructed
65 from a material which is flexible, semi-rigid, rigid, or any combination thereof. The sleeves 10-10e may be constructed of a single layer of material or a plurality of layers
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