CA2489977A1 - Floral sleeve and method of covering a flower pot - Google Patents

Abstract

A floral sleeve (10) has a bottom gusset (46) for forming a bottom in the sleeve wherein the gusset is concealed by the lower sidewall of the sleeve when the sleeve is opened and a pot (62) is disposed therein. The sleeve may have a detachable upper portion.

Description

FLORAL SLEEVE AND METHOD OF COVERING A FLOWER POT
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATTONS
This application claims Convention priority to and is a U.S.
continuation-in-part of U,S. Patent Application No. 09/972,499 (filed 5 October 2001), the entire contents of which are hereby expressly incorporated herein in their entirety by this reference.
This application also claims Convention priority to and is a U.S.
continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application No. 10/135,334 (filed 25 April 2002), the entire contents of which are hereby expressly incorporated herein in their entirety by this reference.
Both U.S. Patent Application Nos. 09/972,499 and 10/135,334 are entitled ~~Method of Covering a Pot with a Floral Sleeve Having a Side-Sealed Bottom Gusset."
BACKGROUND
This invention generally relates to sleeves, and, more particularly, to floral sleeves used to contain floral groupings and/or media, or used to wrap flower pots containing floral groupings and/or media containing floral grouping, and methods of using same. Unfortunately, when floral sleeves are applied about flower pots, portions of the sleeve are often caused to be crimped, overlapped, or folded, which causes distortions in images, designs or decorations which may be in or on the surface of the floral sleeve. This tendency for distortion severely limits the types of images which can be displayed upon the sleeve, and therefore limits the options available for using floral sleeves to decorate flower pots. It is to solving this problem which the present invention as described below is directed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is an elevational view of a floral sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the floral sleeve of Figure 1 taken along line 2-2 thereof.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the flora! sleeve of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the floral sleeve of Figure 1 in an opened condition and having a pot and floral grouping disposed therein.
Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the opened floral sleeve of Figure 4.
Figure 6 is an elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the floral sleeve of the present invention.
Figure 7 is an elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the floral sleeve of the present invention.
Figure 8 is an elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the floral sleeve of the present invention.
Figure 9 is an elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the floral sleeve of the present invention, Figure 10 is a perspective view of the floral sleeve of Figure 9 having a pot and floral grouping disposed therein.
Figure 11 is an elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the floral sleeve of the present invention.
Figure 12 is an elevations! view of an alternate embodiment of the floral sleeve of the present invention.
Figure 13 is an elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the floral sleeve of the present invention.
Figure 14 is an elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the floral sleeve of the present invention.
Figure 15 is an elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the floral sleeve of the present invention.
Figure 16 is an elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the floral sleeve of the present invention.
Figure 17 is an elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the floral sleeve of the present invention.
Figure 18 is an elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the floral sleeve of the present invention.
Figure 19 is an elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the floral sleeve of the present invention.
Figure 20 is a perspective view of the floral sleeve of Figure 10 having a pot and floral grouping disposed therein.
Figure 21 is an elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the floral sleeve of the present invention.
Figure ~2 is an elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the floral sleeve of the present invention.
Figure 23 is an elevational view of another embodiment of the floral sleeve of the present invention.
Figure 24 is an elevational view of another embodiment of the floral sleeve of the present invention.

Figure 25 is~an elevational view of another embodiment of the floral sleeve of the present invention.
Figure 26 is a cross-sectional view of the floral sleeve of Figure 25 taken along line 26-26 thereof.
Figure 27 is an elevational view of_another embodiment of the floral sleeve of the present invention.
Figure 28 is a perspective view of a sleeve of the present invention which is secured about a pot via a securing element.
Figure 29 is a perspective view of a sleeve of the present invention which is secured about a pot via a securing element.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention contemplates in a preferred version a preformed flexible floral sleeve having a tubular shape for covering a flower pot having an upper end, a lower end, and an outer peripheral surface. The preformed flexible floral sleeve comprises a body which may have a skirt portion and which may have a straight or non-linear upper edge. The preformed flexible floral sleeve may further comprise a detachable upper portion which may be sized to surround and encompass a floral grouping. The upper portion when present may be detachable via a detaching element, such as but not by way of limitation, perforations, tear strips, weakened areas, or zippers. The upper portion may have one or more apertures for serving as a handle or for enabling the preformed flexible floral sleeve to be supported from a support device such as a wicket or hanger.
The preformed flexible floral sleeve (also referred to herein as a floral sleeve, a sleeve or a sleeve cover) may form part of a plant package when used in conjunction with a flower pot disposed within an interior space of the body of the floral sleeve, the flower pot preferably having a floral grouping disposed therein, and wherein the flower pot is substantially surrounded and encompassed by the body and 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 floral sleeve.
Also, the body may comprise an adhesive or cohesive bonding material disposed on an inner surface thereof for bondingly connecting the body to a flower pot disposed therein. Alternately, a bonding material may be disposed on an outer surface of the body for securing a crimped portion having a plurality of crimped folds formed in the body.
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 of the embodiments of the invention contemplated herein.

Referring now to the drawings, shown in Figures 1-5 and designated therein by the general reference numeral 10 is a floral sleeve, also referred to herein simply as a sleeve. The floral sleeve 10 is initially in a substantially flattened state (Figures 1-3) and is openabfe to an opened condition (Figures 4-5) for containing and covering a flower pot.
The floral sleeve 10 has a body 12 having an upper end 14, a lower end 16, a first panel 18 having a first upper edge 20 and a first Power edge 22 and a second panel 24 having a second upper edge 26 and a second lower edge 28 which is generally parallel and adjacent to the first lower edge 22.
The body 12 has an interior space 30. The first panel 18 has an inner surtace 32 and an outer surface 34. The second panel 24 has an inner surface 36 and an outer surface 38.
In the flattened condition, the first pane! 18 and second panel 24 are positioned flatwise upon each other and are entirely connected along a single seated left side edge 40 and a single sealed right side edge 42 both of which extend from the upper end 14 to the lower end 16. The first panel 18 and second pane! 24 together comprise a sidewall 44 of the body 12. The body 12 further comprises a gusset 46 extending inwardly into the interior space 30 from the first tower edge 2Z and the second lower edge 28. The gusset 46 has an inner surface 48 exposed to the interior space 30 and an outer surface 50 exposed outwardly. The gusset 46 has a_n inner fold 52 which extends horizontally from the left side edge 40 to the right side edge 42. The body 12 preferably has a tapered shape in the flattened condition, wherein the body 12 is wider at the upper end 14 and more narrow at the lower end 16, such that in the opened condition the floral sleeve 10 preferably has a frusto-conical shape (Figure 4). As noted, the floral sleeve 10 preferably has a frusto-conical shape when opened, but may be cylindrical or may even have a rectangular shape when opened.
This type of gusset has the utilitarian advantage over other gussets used in sleeves in the floral industry in that a decoration placed on the first pane( 18 and/or on second panel 24 remains substantially undistorted by folds or overlaps in the sidewall 44 when the floral sleeve 10 (or other floral sleeves _ described herein) is used to cover a pot 62, thereby providing a more pleasing decorative appearance to the covered pot 62.
Further, since folds and overlapped portions are minimized, images and decorations can be placed in or on the floral sleeve 10 which will not be distorted when the floral sleeve 10 is applied about the pot 62. For example, the floral sleeve 10 may have a scene such as a pastoral scene or reproduction of a painting or photograph printed thereon which will not be distorfied or disturbed when the floral sleeve 10 is applied about the pot 62.
When the floral sleeve 10 is converted to an opened condition, the gusset 46 is unfolded to form a bottom 54 in the body 12. When a pot 62 is disposed within the interior space 30 and a bottom 68 of a lower end 66 of the pot 62 is disposed upon the bottom 54 of the body 12, the bottom 54 has three surface portions, including (1) a lower bottom surface 56 covering the bottom 68 of the pot 62, (2) a left side bottom surface 58 which extends upwardly from the lower bottom surface 56 and is disposed between the sidewall 44 of the body 12 and an outer peripheral surface 69 of the pot, and (3) a right side bottom surface 60 which extends upwardly from the Power bottom surface 56 and is disposed between the sidewall 44 of the body 12 and the outer peripheral surface 69 of the pot. In the opened condition of the floral sleeve 10, the bottom 54 of the body 12 is substantially completely hidden or concealed by a lower portion of the sidewall 44 of the body 12.
Referring now to Figure 6, another floral sleeve embodied in the present invention is designated therein by reference numeral 10a. Floral sleeve 10a has. a body 12a, an upper end i4a, a lower end 16a, an upper edge 20a, a sidewall 44a, a gusset 46a, and an inner gusset fold 52a. The floral sleeve 10a is essentially the same as floral sleeve 10 except the upper edge 20a has an angular pattern forming a skirt portion 72a in the body 12a. The skirt portion 72a is generally sued to extend a distance above an upper end 64 of the pot 62 (Fig. 4) when the pot 62 is disposed within the floral sleeve l0a when in the opened condition.
Referring now to Figure 7 another flora! sleeve embodied in the present invention is designated therein by reference numeral 10b. Floral sleeve 10b has a body 12b, an upper end 14b, a lower end 16b, an upper edge 20b, a sidewall 44b, a gusset 46b, and an inner gusset fold 52b. The floral sleeve 10b is essentially the same as floral sleeve 10 except the upper edge 20b has a curved pattern forming a skirt portion 72b in the body 12b. The skirt portion 72b is generally sized to extend a distance above the upper end 64 of the pot 62 when the pot 62 is disposed within the floral sleeve 10b when in the opened condition:
Referring now to Figure 8, another floral sleeve embodied in the present invention is designated therein by reference numeral 10c. Floral sleeve 10c has a body 12c, an upper end 14c, a lower end 16c, a sidevvall 44c, a gusset 46c, and an inner gusset fold 52c. The floral sleeve 10c is essentially similar to floral sleeve 10 except the floral sleeve 10c further comprises an upper support element 74c (also referred to herein as an upper portion) having an upper edge 77c, and apertures 76c and which is detachable via a detaching element 80c. The apertures 76c are optional and serve to adapt the upper support element 74c to support the entire floral sleeve 10c from a support assembly such as a wicket, or staple, for example. In an alternative embodiment, a plurality of floral sleeves 10c may be provided in a pad, with the upper support elements 74c of adjacent floral sleeves 10c connected together by an adhesive or cohesive bonding material in a manner well known in the art.

Preferably, the body 12c of the flora) sleeve 10c is detached from the upper support element 74c before the body 10c is placed about the pot 62.
Referring now to Figures 9 and 10, another floral sleeve embodied in the present invention is designated therein by reference numeral 10d. Floral sleeve 10d has a body 12d, an upper end 14d, a lower end 16d, a sidewall 44d, a gusset 46d, and an inner gusset fold 52d. The floral sleeve 10d is essentially similar to floral sleeve 10 except the floral sleeve 10d further comprises upper portion 70d having an upper edge 77d, apertures 76d and which is detachable via a detaching element 80d. The apertures 76d are optional and serve to adapt the upper portion 70c to support the entire floral sleeve 10d from a support assembly such as a wicket, or staple, for example. In an alternative embodiment, a plurality offloral sleeves 10d may be provided in a pad, with the upper portions 70d of adjacent floral sleeves 10d connected together by an adhesive or cohesive bonding material in a manner well known in the art.
The upper portion 70d is generally sized to surround and enclose a floral grouping 82 having a lower portion 84 and an upper portion 86 comprising blooms or foliage, which is disposed within the pot 62 when the pot 62 and floral grouping 82 therein is disposed within the opened floral sleeve 10d.
The upper portion 70d is generally detached from the body 12d via the detaching element 80d at some time after the floral sleeve 10d has been disposed about the pot 62 and floral grouping 82, for example after the pot 62 and floral grouping 82 therein have been shipped to a vendor, but may be detached at any time, either before or after the pot 62 and floral grouping 82 are placed within the floral sleeve 10d.
Referring now to Figure 11, another floral sleeve embodied in the present invention is designated therein by reference numeral 10e. Floral sleeve 10e has a body 12e, an upper end 14e, a lower end 16e, a sidewall 44e, a gusset 46e, and an inner gusset fold 52e. The flora! sleeve 10e is essentially similar to floral sleeve 10c in that the floral sleeve 10e comprises an upper support element 74e (also referred to herein as an upper portion) having an upper edge 77e, apertures 76e and which is detachable via a detaching element 80e. The apertures 76e are optional and serve to adapt the upper support elements 74e to support the entire floral sleeve 10e from a support assembly such as a wicket, or staple, for example. In an alternative embodiment, a plurality of floral sleeves 10e may be provided in a pad, with the upper portions 74e of adjacent ftorat sleeves 10e connected together by an adhesive or cohesive bonding material or other attaching device in a manner well known in the art.
Preferably, the body 12e of the floral sleeve 10e is detached from the upper support elements 74e before the body 10e is placed about the pot 62.
The detaching element 80e differs from detaching element 80c of floral sleeve 10c in that detaching element 80e has an angular pattern rather than a substantially horizontal problem, such that when the upper support elements ll 74e is detached from the body 12e, a skirt portion 72e is left on the body 12e.
The skirt portion 72e preferably is sized to extend above the upper end 64 of the pot 62 when disposed within the floral sleeve 10e.
Referring now to Figure 12, another floral sleeve embodied in the present invention is designated therein by reference numeral 10f. Floral sleeve 10f has a body 12f, an upper end 14f, a lower end 16f, a sidewall 44f, a gusset 46f, and an inner gusset fold 52f. The floral sleeve 10f is essentially similar to floral sleeve 10d in that the floral sleeve 10f comprises upper portion 70f having an upper edge 77f, apertures 76f and which is detachable via a detaching element 80f. The apertures 76f are optional and serve to adapt the upper portion 70f to support the entire flora! sleeve 10f from a support assembly such as a wicket, or staple, for example. In an alternative embodiment, a plurality of floral sleeves 10f may be provided in a pad, with the upper portions 70f of adjacent floral sleeves 10f connected together by an adhesive or cohesive bonding material or other attaching device in a manner well known in the art.
The upper portion 70f is generally sized to surround and enclose the floral grouping 82 having the lower portion 84 and the upper portion 86 comprising blooms or foliage, which is disposed within the pot 62 when the pot 62 and flora! grouping 82 therein is disposed within the opened floral sleeve 10f.
The upper portion 70f is generally detached from the body 12f via the detaching element 80f at some time after the floral sleeve 10f has been disposed about the pot 62 and the floral grouping 82, for example after the pot 62 and floral grouping 82 therein have been shipped to a vendor, but may be detached at any time, either before or after the pot 62 and floral grouping 82 are placed within the floral sleeve 10f.
The detaching element 80f differs from detaching element 80d of floral sleeve 10d in that detaching element SOf has an angular pattern rather than a substantially horizontal problem, such that when the upper portion 70f is detached from the body 12f, a skirt portion 72f is left on the body 12f. The skirt portion 72f preferably is sized to extend above the upper end 64 of the pot 62 when disposed within the floral sleeve 10f.
Referring now to Figure 13, another floral sleeve embodied in the present invention is designated therein by reference numeral 10g. Floral sleeve lOg has a body 12g, an upper end 14g, a lower end 16g, a sidewall 44g, a gusset 46g, and an inner gusset fold 52g. The floral sleeve lOg is essentially similar to floral sleeve 10c in that the floral sleeve 10g comprises an upper support element 74g (also referred to herein as an upper portion) having an upper edge 77f, apertures 76f and which is detachable via a detaching element SOg. The apertures 76f are optional and serve to adapt the upper support element 74g to support the entire floral sleeve 10g from a support assembly such as a wicket, or staple, for example. In an alternative embodiment, a plurality of floral sleeves 10g may be provided in a pad, with the upper support elements 74g of adjacent floral sleeves 10g connected together by an adhesive or cohesive bonding material or other attaching device in a manner well known in the art. Preferably, the body 12g of the floral sleeve 10g is detached from the upper support element 74g before the body 10g is placed about the pot 62.
The detaching element 80g differs from detaching element 80c of floral sleeve 10c in that detaching element 80g has an curved pattern rather than a substantially horizontal problem, such that when the upper portion 74g is detached from the body 12g, a skirt portion 72g is left on the body 12g. The skirt portion 72g preferably is sized to extend above the upper end 64 of the pot 62 when disposed within the floral sleeve 10g.
Referring now to Figure 14, another floral sleeve embodied in the present invention is designated therein by reference numeral 10h. Floral sleeve 10h has a body 12h, an upper end 14h, a lower end 16h, a sidewall 44h, a gusset 46h, and an inner gusset fold 52h. The floral sleeve 10h is essentially similar to floral sleeve 10d in that the floral sleeve 10h comprises an upper portion 70h having an upper edge 77h, and apertures 76h and which is detachable via a detaching element 80h. The apertures 76h are optional and serve to adapt the upper portion 70h to support the entire floral sleeve 10h from a support assembly such as a wicket, or staple, for example. In an alternative embodiment, a plurality of floral sleeves 10h may be provided in a pad, with upper portions 70h of adjacent floral sleeves 10h connected together by an adhesive or cohesive bonding material or other attaching device in a manner well known in the art.
The upper portion 70h is sized to surround and enclose a floral groupirig 82 having a lower portion 84 and an upper portion 86 comprising blooms or foliage, disposed within the pot 62 when the pot 62 and floral grouping 82 therein is disposed within the opened floral sleeve 10h. The upper portion 70h is generally detached from the body 12h via the detaching element 80h at some time after the floral sleeve 10h has been disposed about the pot 62 and floral grouping 82, for example after the pot 62 and floral grouping 82 therein have been shipped to a vendor, but may be detached at any time, either before or after the pot 62 and floral grouping 82 are placed within the floral sleeve 10h.
The detaching element 80h differs from detaching element 80d of floral sleeve 10d in that detaching element 80h has an curved pattern rather than a substantially horizontal problem, such that when the upper portion 70h is detached from the body 12h, a skirt portion 72h is left on the body 12h. The skirt portion 72h preferably is sized to extend above the upper end 64 of the pot 62 when disposed within the floral sleeve 10h.
Referring now to Figure 15, another floral sleeve embodied in the present invention is designated therein by reference numeral 10i. Floral sleeve 10i has a body 12i, an upper end 14i, a lower end 16i, a skirt upper edge~20i, a sidewall 44i, a gusset 46i, and an inner gusset fold 52i. The skirt upper edge 20i is unsealed and can be opened for disposition of the pot 62. The floral sleeve 10i is essentially the same as floral sleeve 10a except the upper edge 20i has a slightly differently configured non-linear (angular) pattern forming a skirt portion 72i in the body i2i. Generally, the skirt portion 72i is sized to extend a distance above an upper end 64 of the pot 62 (as in Fig. 4) when the pot 62 is disposed within the floral sleeve 10i when in the opened condition.
Alternatively, the skirt portion 72i may be sized so that when the pot 62 is disposed therein, the upper edge 20i may be positioned partially or entirely below the upper end 64 of the pot 62.
Referring now to Figure 16 another floral sleeve embodied in the present invention is designated therein by reference numeral 10j. Floral sleeve 10j has a body 12j, an upper end 14j, a lower end 16j, an upper edge 20j, a sidewali 44j, a gusset 46j, and an inner gusset fold 52j. The floral sleeve i0j is essentially the same as floral sleeve 10i except the upper edge 20j has a skirt portion 72j which has an outwardly flared portion 73j extending beyond the body 12j. The skirt portion 72j is preferably sized to extend a distance above the upper end 64 of the pot 62 when the pot 62 is disposed within the flora!
sleeve i0j when in the opened condition but may alternatively be sized to be below the upper end 64 of the pot 62. The skirt upper edge 20j, and the outwardly flared portion 73j of the skirt portion 72j extending beyond the body ~2j are unsealed.

Referring now to Figure 17, a preferred floral sleeve embodiment of in the present invention is designated therein by reference numeral 10k. Floral sleeve 10k has a body 12k, a skirt portion 72k in the body i2k, an upper end 14k, a lower end 16k, a skirt upper edge 20k, a sidewall 44k, a gusset 46k, and an inner gusset fold 52k. The floral sleeve 10k is essentially similar to floral sleeve 10i except the floral sleeve 10k further comprises a pair of upper support elements 74k preferably each having an aperture 76k and which are each detachable via a detaching element 78k. There is a gap or notch 75k between the upper support elements 74k which increases the ease with which the sleeve 10k can be opened and the pot 62 disposed therein by reducing excess material which could interfere with deposition of the pot 62 into the sleeve 10k. The apertures 76k serve to adapt each upper support element 74k to support the entire floral sleeve 10k from a support assembly such as a wicket, hanger, staple, pin, clip, hook, or rod, for example. For example, a plurality of sleeves 10k may be supported on a portable banding device, such as the banding device shown in U.S. Serial No. 10/118,748, which can be used manually or automatically to apply one of such sleeves 10k about a potted plant. As the sleeve 10k is removed, the upper support elements 74k remain behind on the portable banding device. In an alternative embodiment, a plurality of floral sleeves 10k may be provided in a pad (as can any sleeve described herein), with the upper support element 74k of adjacent flora( sleeves 10k connected together by an adhesive or cohesive bonding material, a staple, clip, or pin in a manner well known in the art. Preferably, the body 12k and skirt portion 72k of the floral sleeve 10k are detached from the upper support element 74k before the sleeve 10k is placed about the pot 62.
Referring now to Figure 18, another floral sleeve embodied in the present invention is designated therein by reference numeral 10.x. Floral sleeve 10.~
has a body 12.x, a skirt portion 72.~ in the body 12.x, an upper end 14.x, a lower end 16.f, a sidevirall 44.x, a skirt upper edge 20.x, a gusset 46.x, and an inner gusset fold 52.x. The floral sleeve i0.~ is essentially similar to floral sleeve 10k in that the floral sleeve 10.~ comprises upper support elements 74.2 each preferably having at least one aperture 76.~ and which is detachable via a detaching element 78.2. There is a gap or notch 75.~ between the upper support elements 74.x. The apertures 76~ serve to adapt each upper support element 74.~ to support the entire floral sleeve 10.~ from a support assembly as defined above. The skirt portion 72.~ has outwardly flared portions 73.2 which preferably are unsealed, as is the remainder of the upper edge 20.x. In an alternative embodiment as described above, a plurality of floral sleeves 10.~ may be provided in a pad, with the upper support elements 74.~ of adjacent floral sleeves 10.~ connected together by an adhesive or cohesive bonding material or other attaching device in a manner well known in the art. Preferably, the body 12.~ and skirt portion 72.~ of the floral sleeve 10.r? are detached from the upper portion 74.~ before the sleeve 10.~ is placed about the pot 62.
Referring now to Figures 19 and 20, another floral sleeve embodied in the present invention is designated therein by reference numeral lOm. Floral sleeve 10m has a body .12m, a skirt portion 72m in the body i2m, an upper end 14m, a lower end 16m, a sidewall 44m in the body 12m, a gusset 46m, and an inner gusset fold 52m. The floral sleeve 10m further comprises an upper portion 70m and an upper support element 74m having apertures 76m and an upper edge77m which is detachable from the upper portion 70m via a detaching element 78m. The apertures 76m are optional and serve to adapt the upper portion 70m to support the entire floral sleeve lOm from a support assembly as defined elsewhere herein. In an alternative embodiment, a plurality of floral sleeves lOm may be provided in a pad, with the upper portions 70m of adjacent floral sleeves 10m connected together by an adhesive or cohesive bonding material or other connecting device in a manner well known in the art.
The upper portion 70m is generally sized to surround and enclose a floral grouping 82 having a lower portion 84 and an upper portion 86 comprising blooms and/or foliage, which is disposed within the pot 62 when the pot 62 and floral grouping 82 therein is disposed within the opened floral sleeve 10m.
The upper portion 70m can be detached from the body 12m via a detaching element 80m at some time after the floral sleeve 10m has been disposed about the pot 62 and floral grouping 82, for example after the pot 62 and floral grouping 82 therein have been shipped to a vendor, but may be detached at any time, either before or after the pot 62 and flora! grouping 82 have been placed within the floral sleeve 10m. When the upper portion 70m is detached, the skirt portion 72m remains with the body 12m leaving a covering similar to that of sleeve 10i disposed about the pot 62. The detaching element 80m leaves a skirt upper edge 20m on the skirt portion 72m in the body 12m. The skirt portion 72m preferably is sized to extend above the upper end 64 of the pot 62 when disposed within the floral sleeve 10m although the skirt upper edge 20m may be below the upper end 64 of the pot 62.
Referring now to Figure 21, another floral sleeve embodied in the present invention is designated therein by reference numeral 10n. Floral sleeve 10n has a body 12n having a skirt portion 72n, an upper end 14n, a lower end 16n, a skirt upper edge 20n, a sidewall 44n, a gusset 46n, and an inner gusset fold 52n. The floral sleeve 10n is similar to floral sleeve 10k in that the floral sleeve 10n comprises upper support elements 74n and preferably having apertures 76n and which are detachable via detaching elements 78n. There is a gap or notch 75n between upper support elements 74n. The apertures 76n are optional and serve to adapt the upper support elements 74n to support the entire floral sleeve ion from a support assembly as described elsewhere herein.
In an alternative embodiment, a plurality of floral sleeves 10n may be provided in a pad, as described elsewhere herein.
The detaching element 78n and skirt upper edge 20n differ from detaching element 78k and upper skirt edge 20k of floral sleeve 10k in that detaching element 78n and upper skirt edge 20n have a curved non-linear pattern rather than an angular non-linear pattern, such that when the upper support elements 74n are detached from the body 12n, the skirt portion 72n is left with the curved upper edge 20n. The skirt portion 72n preferably is sized to extend above the upper end 64 of the pot 62 when disposed within the floral sleeve 10n but may be sized to be below the upper end 64 of the pot 62 in an alternate embodiment.
Referring now to Figure 22, another floral sleeve embodied in the present invention is designated therein by reference numeral 10p. Floral sleeve i0p has a body 12p, an upper end 14p, a lower end 16p, a sidewall 44p, a gusset 46p, and an inner gusset fold 52p. The floral sleeve 10p is essentially similar to floral sleeve 10f in that the floral sleeve 10p comprises an upper portion 70p having apertures 76p and which is detachable from a skirt portion 72p via a detaching element 80p. The apertures 76p are optional and serve to adapt the upper portion 70p to support the entire floral sleeve 10p from a support assembly such as described elsewhere herein.
The upper portion 70p preferably is sized to surround and enclose the floral grouping 82 as described for sleeve 10f. The upper portion 70p is generally detached from the body 12p via the detaching element 80p preferably at some time after the floral sleeve 10p has been disposed about the pot 62 and floral grouping 82, but may be detached at any time, either before or after the pot 62 and floral grouping 82 are placed within the flora( sleeve 10p.
The detaching element 80p differs from detaching element 80f of floral sleeve 10f in that detaching element SOp has a curved non-linear pattern rather than an angular non-linear pattern, such that when the upper portion 70p is detached from the body 12p, the skirt portion 72p is left extending from the body 12p, in a manner similar to other sleeves described herein.
Referring now to Figure 23, another floral sleeve embodied in the present invention is designated therein by reference numeral 10q which is similar to sleeve 10k, comprising a body 12q having a sidewall 44q, a skirt portion 72q in the body 12q, the skirt portion 72q having a skirt upper edge 20q and support elements 74q. Sleeve 10q further comprises a slit 90q (which may also comprise perforations or may be entirely severed) which extends from a center point 21q in skirt upper edge 20q and extends a distance downwardly into body 12q for enabling the skirt portion 72q to extend further outwardly when the pot 62 is disposed therein. Any of the sleeves described herein may comprise a slit such as slit 90q positioned therein.
Referring now to Figure 24, another floral sleeve embodiment of the present invention is designated therein by reference numeral lOr. Floral sleeve lOr has a lower portion 92r and an upper portion 70r. The lower portion 92r has a body 12r and a lower end 16r, a sidewall 44r in the body 12r, a skirt portion 72r in the body 12r, and a detaching element 80r in the lower portion 92r. The upper portion 70r is attached to the lower portion 92r along a horizontal seal 94r extending across sleeve 10r. Between the horizontal seal 94r and the detaching element 80r is a medial portion 96r which is removed along with the upper portion 70r when the upper portion 70r is detached.
The upper portion 70r and the lower portion 92r are constructed of separate webs of material connected along the horizontal seal 94r. Preferably, the lower portion 92r is constructed of a decorative material and the upper portion 70r is constructed of a clear or,transparent material. Sleeve lOr is similar to sleeve lOm in that in sleeve lOr, the upper portion 70r further comprises a support element 74r preferably having apertures 76r, an upper edge 77r and is detachable via a detaching element 78r in a manner similar to sleeve 10m. In an alternative embodiment, the sleeve lOr may be constructed without a support element 74r in a manner similar to sleeve 10f. Lower portion 92r further comprises in the body 12r a gusset 46r and an inner gusset fold 52r. The apertures 76r serve to support the sleeve lOr in a manner as described elsewhere herein before, and a - plurality of sleeves 10r may be connected into a pad as described elsewhere herein before. Sleeve 10r is further similar to sleeves 10m and 10f in that the upper portion 70r is preferably sized to surround and enclose the floral grouping 82 when disposed within the opened floral sleeve 10r, as described elsewhere herein.
When the upper portion 70r and the medial portion 96r are removed, the skirt portion 72r and body 12r provide a covering such as sleeve 10i disposed about the pot 62. In an alternative version, no skirt portion is left in the body when an upper portion is removed, and may provide a covering similar to sleeve 10, or may provide a covering having an upper edge which is positioned below the upper end 64 of the pot 62 when the pot 62 is disposed therein.
Referring now to Figures 25 and 26, another floral sleeve embodied in the present invention is designated therein by reference numeral 10s. Floral sleeve 10s is similar to sleeve 10i for example, in that it comprises a body 12s, and upper end 14s, a lower end 16s, a sidewall 44s, a gusset 46s with an inner fold 52s, and a skirt portion 72s in the body 12s. The sleeve 10s further comprises a skirt insert 98s which extends beyond an upper edge 20s of the skirt portion 72s. The skirt insert 98s is preferably attached or laminated via a skirt seal 100s to portions of an inner surface 32s of a first panel 18s and inner surface 36s of a second panel 24s of the sleeve 10s (Figure 26). Preferably, the skirt insert 98s is constructed of a material which is different from the remainder of the material used to construct the body 12s and skirt portion 72s, or is a material which has a different color or pattern but which is otherwise similar to the material used to construct the body 12s and the skirt portion 72s.
For example, the body 12s, skirt portion 72s, and skirt insert 98s may be constructed of metallized film, polymer film, foil, spun bonded or melt blown material, lace material, fabric, or cellophane, any of which may have different colors, patterns or textures. For example, the body 12s and skirt portion 72s may be constructed of a metallized polymer film while the skirt insert 98s is constructed of a fabric, lace material, or spun bonded material. Other combinations will readily come to the mind of the person of ordinary skill in the art.
Further, the skirt insert 98s may be attached to only one of the first panel 18s or the second panel 24s of the sleeve 10s rather than to both the first panel 18s and second panel 24s as shown in Figure 26. Further, any of the sleeves described herein may be constructed to have a skirt insert such as skirt insert 98s. For example, sleeve 10 described above may be constructed to have a skirt insert such as skirt insert 98s which is attached near the upper end 14 of the body 12 of sleeve 10. Further, any of the sleeves described herein may have more than one skirt insert such as shown in Figure 27 wherein a floral sleeve 10t comprises a body 12t, a skirt portion 72t, a first skirt insert 98t and a second skirt insert 102t. Any of the sleeves described herein may have two or more skirt insets such as shown for sleeve 10t, and, each of the skirt inserts may each be constructed of different materials or materials having different colors or patterns.
It will also be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art that although the location of the skirt seal 100s of the skirt insert 98s is shown as being positioned near the upper end i4s, the skirt seal 100s may in fact be positioned at any location below the upper end 14s at any position on the inner surface 32s and inner surface 36s of the sleeve 10s (as shown in phantom in Figure 26). Further, the skirt insert 98s may be attached after the body 12s and skirt portion 72s of sleeve 10s have been formed, or before the material has been formed into the body 12s and skirt portion 72s by the sleeve forming apparatus. In other words, the separate materials used to construct the body 12s and the skirt insert 98s may be laminated together while the webs of material are in a flattened, unformed condition. Where used herein, the term "skirt insert" may also be used interchangeably with the term "skirt extension"
in that the "skirt insert" may not actually have been "inserted" into the sleeve but may have been "pre-attached" by lamination as described above.
As noted above, the sleeves described herein can be constructed, in whole or in part, from materials including, but not limited to, polymer films, metallized polymer films, natural films, metallized natural films, printed materials of any type, matted materials of any type, cloth, fabric, spun bonded or melt blown materials, paper, tissue, cellophane, biodegradable materials, recyclable materials, and metal foils.
As noted above, any of the sleeves described herein rnay comprise a skirt insert. In those sleeve embodiments having both a skirt insert and an upper portion sized to surround and enclose a floral grouping, and/or for supporting the sleeve from a support assembly or as an attachment within a pad, the upper portion may be attached to the body, to the skirt portion,. or to the skirt insert of the sleeve.
Any of the sleeves described herein may be banded about a potted plant as shown in Figures 28 and 29. Figure 28 shows a sleeve 10u having a body 12u and a skirt portion 72u positioned about the pot 62 and floral grouping 82, the steeve 10u secured about the pot 62 via a securing element 104u, wherein the securing element 104n is positioned below the upper end 64 of the pot 62.
Figure ~ 29 shows a sleeve 10v having a body 12v and a skirt portion 72v positioned about the pot.62 and floral grouping 82 and secured thereto via a securing element 104v, wherein the securing element 104v is positioned above the upper end 64 of the pot 62. More than one securing element 104u or 104v can be used. The securing elements 104u and 104v preferably are banding elements such as, elastic bands, plastic bands, strings, ribbons, ties, wires, collars, stribbons, .rubber bands, but may also be adhesive or cohesive materials, barbs on the pot 62, pins, clips, springs, staples, magnets, or any other binding or securing materials known in the art.
The upper edges ZOa and 20b of sleeves 10a and 10b, respectively and the detaching element 80e-80h of sleeves 10e-10h, respectively, among other sleeves described herein, are shown as having angular or curved non-linear patterns. The angular and curved patterns are but two non-linear patterns which may be employed in the construction of the floral sleeves contemplated herein. Other configurations will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, for example, those shown in Figures 2A-2F of U.S. Patent No.

5,829,225.
Any of the flexible floral sleeves contemplated herein may also be equipped with drainage elements (e.g., one or more holes) in the bodies 12-12v thereof or ventilation holes (not shown) in the bodies 12-12v or upper portions 70d, 70f, 70k, 70m, 70p, or 70r or can be made from permeable or impermeable materials.
Any of the sleeves described herein in any embodiments can be used to contain floral groupings or plants with or without pots, and with or without a growing medium or support medium such as a floral foam. When used With a growing medium, they may be used to cultivate a botanical item. The sleeves described herein may be used as flexible vases to contain floral groupings and preferably are waterproof or leak resistant. The sleeves described herein may be used as covers for jardinieres, for pots or for vases, or any type of floral grouping or flora! container. Any of the sleeves described herein may be equipped with reservoirs, pouches or packets for containing moisture, fertilizers, growing media, or other items useful or beneficial for growth or presentation of floral grouping or other botanical items. The reservoirs, pouches or packets may be attached to an inner portion of the sleeve.
Any of the sleeves described herein can be constructed using multiple webs of material which are laminated or attached together to achieve contrasting effects in the completed sleeve, produced for example by using webs of materials having different patterns, colors, or textures.
For example, a 20" x 20" sheet of metallized film may be used in conjunction with a 24" x 24" sheet of spun bonded material; or, a 20" x 20"
sheet of metallized material may be used with a 24" x 24" sheet of lace material and with a 28" x 28" sheet of spun bonded material.
Further, by laminating a narrower web and a wider web, centering the narrower web on the wider web. Any number of consecutive webs can be used in the process. These webs need not be laminated but could be left un-laminated and held in place only by the seal on the sleeve. However, for ease of processing, it may be preferable in some instances and with some equipment to laminate either by overall adhesivefy laminating or spot laminating or strip laminating the material. It may be preferable to leave certain portions of the material un-laminated so as to provide the appearance of separate sheets.

Using the lamination technique or using a sleeve made without lamination but using multiple materials, it is not necessary to use an entire standard web.
For example, it is possible to take a 20" web as the base web and to laminate two additional webs of 3" each, for example, overlapping 1" of each of the two additional 3" strips over the base web and laminating them at that point or simply feeding them into the machine at that point and forming them. Or, entirely overlapping webs could be used, that is, one 20" web is centered on a 24" web. It could be laminated or un-laminated as it passes through the sleeve forming machine.
The material from which the flexible floral sleeves 10-lOv are constructed preferably has a thickness in a range from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mils.
Often, the thicknesses of the floral sleeves 10-10v 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 mils. Preferably, the flora! sleeves 10-10v are constructed from a material which is flexible, semi-rigid, rigid, or any combination thereof. The floral sleeves 10-lOv 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 fle~cible floral sleeves may be connected together or laminated or may be separate layers. Such materials used to construct the floral sleeves are described in U.S. Patent No. 5,111,637. Any thickness of material may be utilized in accordance with the present invention as long as the floral sleeves 10-10v may be formed as described herein, and as long as the floral sleeves 10-lOv may contain at least a portion of a flower pot, potted plant, growing medium or floral grouping, as described herein: Additionally, an insulating material such as bubble film, preferable as one of two or more layers, can be utilized in order to provide additional protection for the item, such as the floral grouping, contained therein.
The floral sleeves 10-10v are constructed from any suitable material that is capable of being formed into a floral sleeve as contemplated herein and wrapped about a flower pot and a floral grouping disposed therein. Preferably, the material comprises treated or untreated paper, metal foil, polymeric film, non-polymeric film woven, or nonwoven fabric, or synthetic or natural fabric, cardboard, fiber, cloth, burlap, or laminations or combinations thereof.
The term "polymeric film" when used herein 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.
In one embodiment, the floral sleeves 10-10v may be constructed from sheets comprising two polypropylene films. The material comprising the flexible floral sleeves 10-10h may be connected together or laminated or may be separate layers. In an alternative embodiment, the flexible floral sleeves 10-10h may be constructed from only one sheet of the polypropylene film.
The materials comprising the floral sleeves 10-lOv may vary in color and as described herein consists 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. Patent No. 5,147,706.
In addition, the material may have various colorings, coatings, flocking and/or metallic finishes, or other decorative surface ornamentation applied separately or simultaneously or may be characterized totally or partially by pearlescent, translucent, transparent, iridescent, neon, or the like, qualities.
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 floral sleeves 10-lOv. Moreover, portions of the material used in constructing the floral sleeves 10-10v may vary in the combination of such characteristics. The material utilized for the floral sleeves 10-10v may be opaque, translucent, transparent, or partially clear or tinted transparent.
The term "floral grouping" as used herein means cut fresh flowers, artificial flowers, a single filower or other fresh and/or artificial plants or other flora! 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".
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, foam, and including the nutrients, fertilizers or hormones or combinations thereof required by the plants or propagules for growth.
The term "botanical item" when used herein means a natural or artificial herbaceous or woody plant, taken singly or in combination. The term "botanical iteni" 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 of floral grouping. The term ~~propagule" when used herein means any structure capable of being propagated or acting as an agent of reproduction including seeds, shoots, stems, runners, tubers, plants, leaves, roots, or spores.
In accordance with the present invention a bonding material may optionally be used with or disposed on a portion of any of the floral sleeves 10v described herein to attach each floral sleeve 10-10v to a flower pot 62 having a floral grouping 82 therein when such a flower pot 62 is disposed within the floral sleeve 10-10v or to assist in closing or sealing an upper portion of the floral sleeve or in adhering the floral sleeve 10-10v to the flower pot 62 after the flower pot 62 has been disposed therein. Examples of how a bonding material may be disposed on the floral sleeve 10-10v are shown in U.S. Patent No. 5,493,809 and in 5,625,979.
The term "detaching element" when used herein, means any element or device such as, but not limited to, perforations, tear strips, zippers, and any other devices or elements of this nature known in the art, or any combination thereof, which enable the tearing away or detachment of one object from another. Therefore, while pertorations are shown and described in detail herein in the figures, it will be understood that tear strips, zippers, or any other "detaching element" known in the art, or any combination thereof, could be substituted therefore and/or used therewith.
The upper portions of any of the sleeves described herein may also have an additional vertical detaching element comprising a plurality of vertical perforations (not shown) for facilitating removal of the upper portion and which are disposed more or less vertically therein.
It will be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art that equipment and devices for forming flexible floral sleeves are commercially available, and are well known to a person of ordinary skill in the art.
Therefore, further detailed discussion of the construction of the sleeves described herein is not deemed necessary. However, briefly, the flexible floral sleeves 10-10v described herein may be formed by intermittently advancing, one or two webs preformed in the form of a tube, or a single web folded double, indenting the lower end to form a folded pouch portion for forming the gusset, and sealing the longitudinal sides of the two facing panels, then cutting the floral sleeve 10-10v thus formed from the webs or web. Machines which can form flora! sleeves 10-10v from such single webs or tubes are known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
The term "pot" or "flower pot" as used herein refers to any type of container used for holding a floral grouping or plant, including vases.
Examples of pots, used in. accordance with the present invention include, but are not limited to, clay pots, foam pots, wooden pots, plastic pots, pots made from natural and/or synthetic fibers, and/or any combination thereof. The flower pot 62 is adapted to receive a floral grouping 82 in the retaining space thereof.
The floral grouping 82 may be disposed within the flower pot 62 along with a suitable growing medium described elsewhere herein, or other ,retaining medium, such as a floral foam. It will also be understood that a floral grouping, botanical item or propagule and any appropriate growing medium or other retaining medium, may be disposed in the floral sleeve 10-10v without the flower pot 62 for displaying, transporting or cultivating the item disposed within the floral sleeve 10-10v.
Preferably the floral sleeve 10-10v is sized to contain and conform to one of a variety of standard sizes of pots known to those of ordinary skill in the art, such as 4 inch, 4 '/a inch, 5 inch, 5 '/z inch, 6 inch, 6 '/2 inch, 7 inch, ~
'/a inch, 8 inch and 8 '/2 inch pots or pots that are larger than, smaller than, or intermediate between such pot sizes.
Although not shown herein, any of the sleeves 10-10v described herein may be used as a container for a growing medium and a floral grouping 82 wherein the floral grouping 82 is disposed within the growing medium without using a pot 62. In a preferred version, at least a portion of the sleeve 10-10v is constructed of a material resistant or impermeable to leakage, while the detachable upper portion, if present, is preferably constructed of a thinner transparent material.
Any of the floral sleeves described or contemplated herein, such as floral sleeves 10-10v may be secured about the pot 62 by a banding element (for example as shown in Figures 28 and 29) or by forming a crimped portion which is held in a crimped shape by an adhesive or cohesive bonding material. The term "banding element" when used herein may include elastic bands, ties, wires, labels, bands, ribbons, strings, tapes, staples and/or combinations thereof or other banding or tying devices. The banding element or crimped portion could be positioned either below (Fig. 28) or above (Fig. 29) the upper end 64 of the pot 62 when the pot 62 is disposed in the interior space 30 of the floral sleeve 10-10v.
It should be further noted that various features of the versions of the present invention such as closure bonding areas, support apertures, handles or handle apertures, 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.
The method of the present invention comprises providing any of the sleeves 10-10v described herein, or similar variations thereof, opening them to an opened condition, and disposing a potted plant therein. Upper support elements such as upper support elements (upper portions) 74c, 74e, 74g, 741<, 74.x, 74m, 74n, 74q, and 74r are generally removed from the respective sleeves before application about a pot, while upper portions 70d, 70f, 70h, 70m, 70p, and 70r are generally removed from the respective sleeves after the sleeve has been applied about the pot.

The invention includes a floral sleeve and method of using the floral sleeve to cover a pot. The floral sleeve has a bottom gusset for forming a bottom in the sleeve wherein the gusset is concealed by the lower sidewall of the sleeve when the sleeve is opened and a pot is disposed therein. The sleeve may have a detachable upper portion.
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.
Al! of the numerical and quantitative measurements set forth in this application (including in the examples and in the claims) are approximations.
The invention illustratively disclosed or claimed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed or claimed herein. Thus, the invention may comprise, consist of, of consist essentially of the elements disclosed or claimed herein.
The following claims are entitled to the broadest possible scope consistent with this application. The claims shall not necessarily be limited to the preferred embodiments or to the embodiments shown in the examples.
3~

REFERENCES
I
FORM

Attorneys Docket Number PCT
Serial Number 8403.396wo Not Yet Assi ned '~
INFORMATION
DISCLOSURE
Appp~ant Donatd E.
Weder et al.
STATEMENT
BY
APPLICANT
(use severa~
sheets if necessary) T"e:
FLORAL
SLEEVE
AND
METHOD
OF
COVERING
A
FLOWER
PDT

U.
S.
PATENT
DOCUMENTS

EXAM PATENT PATENTEE CLASSSUBCLASSFILING
NUMBER DATEIF
INII. ISSUE APPROPRIATE
DATE

AA 5 2 4 1 9 0$/o~/is9aSchmidt AB 7 3 2 8 9 07/07/1903Paver AC 9 5 0 8 5 03/01/1910Pene AD 1 0 4 4 6 0 11/12/1912Schfoss AE 1 0 6 3 5 4 05/27/1913Ber en AF 1 4 4 6 6 3 02/27/1923Hu hes AG 1 5 2 0 4 7 12/23/1924Henni an AH 1 S 2 5 1 S 02/03/1925Weeks AT 1 6 1 0 5 2 12/14/1926Bouchard AJ 1 6 9 7 5 I 01/01/1929Blake 229 87 AK 1 7 9 4 1 2 01/18/1929Sn der AL 1 8 1 1 7 4 03/14/1930Barrett AM 1 8 6 3 1 6 06/24/1932Wordin 2 ham AN 1 9 7 8 3 1 10/30/1934Herrlin 91 68 6 er AO 2 0 4 8 2 3 07/21/1936Howard 229 87 AP R E 2 1 6 5 OS/02/1939Co eman 93 2 A 2 1 7 0 4 7 08/22/1939Lane 206 56 AR 2 2 0 0 1 1 05/07/1940Bensel 229 1.5 AS 2 2 7 8 7 3 04/07/1942Savada 154 43 6 et al.

AT 2 3 0 2 5 9 il/17/I942Rothfuss 41 10 AU 2 3 2 3 8 7 07/06/1943Amber 229 53 AV 2 3 5 S S 9 08/08/1944Renner 229 8 S

AW 2 3 7 1 8 5 03 20 1945Freiber 206 46 U.
S.
PATENT
DOCUMENTS
t E%AM PATENT ISSUE PATEMEE CLA55SUBCIASBFILING
INIT. NUMBER DATE DATE

BA 2 3 9 5 0 7 7 02/1911946Southwick, Jr.

BB 2 4 1 1 3 2 8 11/19/1946MacNab 33 12 BC 2 5 1 0 1 2 0 06/06/1950Leander 117 122 BD 2 5 2 9 0 6 0 11/07/1950Triilich 117 68.5 BE 2 6 2 1 1 4 2 12/09/1952Wetherell 154 117 BF 2 6 4 8 4 8 7 08/11/1953Linda 229 55 BG 2 6 8 8 3 5 4 09/07/1954Ber er 150 28 BH 2 7 7 4 1 8 7 12/18/1956Sinithers 47 41 BI 2 8 2 2 2 8 7 02/04/1958Ave 117 14 B) 2 8 4 6 0 6 0 08/05/1958Yount 206 58 BIC2 8 5 0 8 4 2 09109/1958Eubank 47 58 Jr.

BL 2 8 8 3 2 6 2 04/21/1959Borin 21 56 BM 2 9 8 9 8 2 8 06/27/1961War 53 390 BN 3 0 2 2 6 0 5 02/27/1962Re nolds 47 58 BQ 3 0 8 0 6 8 0 03/12/1963Re nolds 47 37 BP 3 0 9 4 8 1 0 06/25/1963Kal in 47 37 BQ 3 1 Z 1 6 4 7 02/18/1964Harris 128 202 et al.

BR 3 1 3 0 1 1 .3 04/21/1964Silman 161 97 BS 3 3 1 6 6 7 5 OS/02/1965Cartwright, Jr.

BT 3 2 7 1 9 2 2 09/13/1966waiierstein53 3 et al.

BU 3 3 2 2 3 2 5 05/30/1967Bush 229 62 BV 3 3 7 6 6 6 6 04/09/1968Leonard 47 41 BW 3 3 8 0 6 4 6 04/30/1968Do en et 229 57 al.

BX 3 4 3 .1 7 0 6 03/11/1969Stuck 53 390 BY 3 S 0 8 3 7 2 04/28/1970waiierstein53 3 et ai.

BZ 3 5 1 0 0 5 4 05/05/1970Sanni et 229 66 at.

i BZA3 5 1 2 7 0 0 05 19 Evans et 229 53 1970 al.

U.
S.
PATENT
DOCUMENTS

EXAM PATENT ISSUE PATENTEE CLASSSUBCtA55FttING
]NTI. NUMBER DATE DATEIF

APPROPRIATE

CA 3 5 5 0 3 1 8 12/29/1970Remke et 47 37 at.

CB 3 5 5 2 0 5 9 01/05/1971Moore 47 41.12 CC 3 5 5 4 4 3 4 01/12/1971Anderson 229 55 CD 3 5 5 6 3 8 9 01/19/1971Gre oire 229 53 CE 3 5 5 7 5 1 6 01/26/1971Brandt 53 14 CF 3 6 2 0 3 6 6 11/16/1971Parkinson 206 59 CG 3 6 8 1 1 0 5 08/01/1972Milutin 117 15 CH 3 7 3 9 5 2 2 06/19/1973Greenbaum 47 34.13 C1 3 7 6 7 1.0 4 10/23/1973Bachman 229 7 et a!.

CJ 3 7 9 3 7 9 9 02/26/1974Nowe 53 32 CfC3 8 6 9 8 2 8 03/11/1975Matsumoto 47 34.11 CL 3 8 8 8 4 4 3 06/10/1975Flani en 248 152 CM 3 9 6 2 5 0 3 06/08/1976Crawford 428 40 CN 4 0 4 3 0 7 7 08/23/1977Stonehocker47 66 CO 4 0 5 4 6 9 7 10/18/1977Reed et 428 40 at.

CP 4 0 9 1 9 2 5 05/30/1978Griffo et 206 423 at.

C 4 1 1 3 1 0 0 09/12/1978So'a et 206 602 al.

CR 4 1 1 8 8 9 0 10/10/1978Shore 47 28 CS 4 1 8 9 8 6 8 02/26/1980Tymchuck 47 84 et ai.

CT 4 1 4 9 3 3 9 04/17/1979Hall et 47 67 al.

CU 4 2 1 6 6 2 0 08/12/1980Weder et 47 72 al.

CV 4 2 4 8 3 4 7 02/03/1981Trimbee 206 423 CW 4 2 6 5 0 4 9 05/05/1981Gorewitz 47 26 CX D 2 5 9 3 3 3 05/26/1981CharbonneauD9 306 CY 4 2 8 0 3 1 4 07/28/1981Stuck 53 241 CZ 4 2 9 7 8 1 1 11/03/1981Weder 47 72 cZa,4 3 3 3 2 6 7 06/08/1982Witte 47 84 4 3 4 7 6 8 6 09 07 Wood 47 73 U.
S.
PATENT
DOCUMENTS

NUMBER RATE DATEIF
IN1T. AGPROPRIATE

DA 4 3 8 0 5 6 4 04/19/1983Cancio et 428 167 al.

DB 4 4 0 0 9 1 0 08/30/1983~oudstall 47 84 et al.

DC 4 4 1 3 7 2 5 11/08/1983Bruno et 206 45.33 al.

DD D 2 7 9 2 7 9 06/18/1985Wa ner D11 143 DE 4 5 4 6 8 7 5 10/15/1985Zweber 206 0.82 ~DF 4 6 2 l 7 3 3 11/11/1986Harris 206 423 ' DG 4 6 4 0 0 7 9 02/03/1987Stuck 53 390 DH 4 7 1 7 2 6 2 01/05/1988Roen et 383 120 al.

DI 4 7 3 3 5 2 1 03/29/1988Weder et 53 580 a!.

D) 4 7 6 5 4 6 4 08/23/1988Ristvedt 206 0.82 DK 4 7 7 1 5 7 3 09/20/1988Sten e1 47 67 DL 4 7 7 3 1 8 2 09/27/1988Weder et 47 72 a1.

DM 4 8 0 1 0 1 4 01/31/1989Meadows 206 423 DN 4 8 1 0 1 0 9 03/07/1989Castef 383 105 DO 4 8 3 5 8 3 4 06/06/1989Weder 29 525 DP D 3 0 1 9 9 1 07/04/1989Van Sant D11 149 DQ 4 8 5 4 7 3 3 07!08/1989Schwinn 383 29 DR 4 9 4 6 2 9 0 07/07/1990Mat ~a 383 10 DS 4 9 4 I 5 7 2 07/17/1990Harris 206 423 DT 4 9 8 0 2 0 9 12/25/1990Hii! 428 34.1 DU 4 9 8 9 3 9 6 02/05/1991Weder et 53 397 al.

DV D 3 1 5 7 0 0 03/26/1991Ste hens D11 151 DW 5 0 7 3 1 6 1 12117/1991Weder et 493 154 al.

DX 5 0 7 4 6 7 5 12/24/1991Os ood 383 122 DY 5 0 8 Q 6 4 3 0111411992Mitchell 493 195 et al.

DZ 5 1 0 5 5 9 9 04/2!/1992Weder 53 399 5 1 1 1 6 3 8 92 Weder 53 397 I flZB5 1 2 0 3 8 2 _ _ 156 212 1 1 f 1 06/09/ _ ~
1992 W eder ~
~

U.
S.
PATENT
DOCUMENTS

EXAM PATENT ISSUE DATEPATENTEE CtA55SUBCIASSFI1JNG
INLT. NUMBER DATE
IF
APPRpPRIATE

EA 5 1 3 9 1 5 1 08/18/1992Chelak 206 523 EB 5 i 5 2 1 0 0 10/06/1992Weder et 47 72 al.

EC 5 1 8 1 3 6 4 01/26/1993Weder 53 397 ED 5 1 9 9 2 4 2 04/06/1993Weder et 53 397 a(.

EE 5 2 0 5 1 0 8 04/27/1993Weder et 53 397 al.

EF D 3 3 5 1 0 5 04/27/1993ottenwalderDI1 164 et a1.

EG 5 2 2 8 2 3 4 07!20/1993de Klerk 47 41,01 et al, EH 5 2 3 5 7 8 2 08/17/1993Landau 47 72 EI 5 2 3 9 7 7 5 08/31/1993Landau 47 72 E) 5 2 4 9 4 0 7 10/05/1993Stuck 53 399 EK 5 2 5 9 1 0 6 11./09/1993Weder et 29 469.5 af.

EL 5 3 0 7 6 0 6 05/03/1994Weder 53 410 EM 5 3 1 5 7 8 5 05/31/1994Avot et 47 72 al.

EN 5 3 5 0 2 4 0 09/27/1994Bi((man 383 104 et al.

EO 5 3 5 3 5 7 5 10/11/1994Ste anek 53 461 EP 5 3 6 I 4 8 2 1I/O8/1994Weder et 29 469 al.

EQ 5 3 8 8 6 9 5 02/14/1995Gi(bert 206 423 ER 5 4 2 8 9 3 9 04/04/1995Weder et 53 397 al.

ES 5 4 4 3 6 7 0 08/22/1995Landau 156 191 ET 5 4 9 3 8 0 9 02/27/1996Weder et 47 72 al.

EU 5 4 9 6 2 5 1 03/05/1996Chen 493 224 EV 5 4 9 6 2 5 2 03/05/1996Gi(bert 493 224 EW D 3 6 8 0 2 5 03/19/1996Sekerak D9 305 et al.

EX 5 5 2 6 9 3 2 06/18j1996Weder 206 423 EY 5 5 5 1 5 7 0 09/03/2001Shaffer 206 575 et al.

II EZ 5 5 7 2 8 4 9 11/12/1996Weder et 53 399 a(.

EZA5 5 7 2 8 5 1 11/12/1996Weder ~ 53 399 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ , U.S.
PATENT
DOCUMENTS

EXAM PATENT ISSUE PATENTEE CUt55SUBCLASSFILING
]NF7. NUMBER DATE DATE
IF

APPROPRIATE

FA 5 5 7 5 I 3 3 11(19/1996Weder et 53 397 al.

FB 5 6 1 7 7 0 3 04/08/1997Weder 53 413 FC 5 6 2 4 3 2 0 04/29/1997Martinez 472 51 FD 5 6 2 5 9 7 9 05/06/1997Weder Fi= 5 6 4 7 1 6 8 07/15/1997Giibert 47 72 f FF 5 6 4 7 1 9 3 07/I5/I997Weder et 53 465 ai.

FG 5 7 1 5 9 4 4 02/10/1998Windisch 206 423 i FH D 4 0 4 6 8 4 01/26/1999Shea D11 164 FI 5 9 7 4 7 3 0 11/02/1999Chien 47 41.01 FJ D 4 1 9 4 3 6 01/25/2000Cettorius D9 305 et at.

FK 6 0 9 8 3 3 6 08/08/2000Fer uson 206 423 FL 6 1 2 9 2 0 8 i0/IO/2000Fer uson 206 423 i FM 6 1 2 9 2 0 9 10/10/2000Tchira 206 423 FOREIGN
PATENT
OR
PUBLISHED
FOREIGN
PATENT
APPLICATION

E%AM Trdn5lation ]NIT. DOCUMENT PUB11CATIONCOUNTRY CtA55SUBC1A55 NUMBER DATE OR PATENF YESNO
OFFICE

Fi'14 2 3 1 9 7 8 06/21/1979Australia FO 6 5 4 4 2 7 01/02/1965Bel ium X

FR I 3 7 6 0 4 7 09/14/1964France X

FS 2 0 3 6 1 6 3 12/24/1970France X

FT Z 1 3 7 3 2 5 12/29/1972France X

FU 2 2 7 2 9 1 4 12/26/1975France X

FV 2 4 8 9 1 2 6 03 05 France X

FOREIGN
PATENT
OR
PUBLISHED
FOREIGN
PATENT
APPLICATION

E%AM Translation S

1NIT. DOCUMENT PUBLICATIONCOUNTRY CtH55SUBCLAS
NUMBER DATE OR PATENT YES NO

FW 2 5 6 7 0 6 8 07/0511984France X

FX 2 6 0 3 I 5 9 03/04/1989France X

FY 2 6 I 0 6 0 4 08/12/1988Prance'(see X
FN below) GA 2 6 I 9 6 9 8 03/1989 France X

Gg 1 5 5 5 0 06/0217 Gerrr~any X

GC 3 4 5 4 6 4 12/1211921Germany X

GD 5 1 3 9 7 1 11/27/1930German X

GE I 1 6 6 6 9 2 03/26/1964German X

GF I 9 6 2 9 4 7 06/24/1971German X

GG 2 0 6 0 3 I 2 11/04/1971German X

GN 2 7 4 ~ 6 2 6 05/03/1979German X

GT 3 4 4 5 7 9 9 06/19/1986German X

GJ 3 8 2 9 2 8 I 05/18/1989German X

GK 3 9 1 1 8 4 7 10/25/1990German X

GL 2 2 4 5 0 7 04/30/1996Ital X

GM 5 4 2 9 5 8 02/23/1993Ja an X

GN 6 1 2 7 5 5 5 05/10/1994Ja an X

GO 8 1 9 3 3 4 01.j23/I996)a an X

GP 0 3 3 9 5 4 02/02/2000Japan X

GQ 1 1 8 5 3 6 04/25/2000Japan X

GR I 0 0 0 6 S 8 01/05/1996Netherlands X

GS 8 3 0 I 7 0 9 12/1984 Netherlands X

GT 9 3 I 5 9 7 9 08/19!1993PCT X

GU 9 7 1 2 8 1 9 04/10/1.997PCT X

GV 5 6 0 5 3 2 04151.975Switzerland X

FOREIGN
PATENT
OR
PUBLISHED
FOREIGN
PATENT
APPLICATION

EXAth L Translation INrt. DOCUMENT PUBLICATIONCOUNTRY CtA55SUBC
NUMBER DATE OR PATENT ASS yE5NO
OFFICE

GW 5 6 0 5 05/06/1885United Kingdom GX 1 2 0 4 6 4 7 09/09/1970united Kingdom GY 2 0 5 6 4 1 0 03/18/1981United Kingdom HA ~ 0 7 4 5 4 2 11/04/1981United Kingdom HB 2 1 2 8 0 8 3 04/26/1984United Kingdom HC 2 2 0 3 1 2 7 10/12/1988United Kingdom HD 2 2 1 2 1 3 6 07/19/1989united Kingdom HE ~ 2 S Z 7 0 8 08/19/1992united Z ~ ~ f ~ ~ ~ ~ Kingdom ~ ~

EXAM OTHER
INIT. MATERIALS

Indudin Author Title Date Relevant Pa es Place of publication.**

HF SPeed Cover Brochure, "The Simple Solution For Those Peak Volume Periods", Highland Supply Corporation, ~1989.

HG "SPeed Sheets and Speed Rolls"
Brochure, Highland Supply Corporation, ~1990.

HH "Color Them Happy with Highlander Products"
~1992.

HI ~~Costa Keeps the Christmas Spirit", Supermarket Floral, September 15, 1992.

f..i~"Super Seller", Supermarket Floral, September 15, 1992.

N~ "Halloween", Link Magazine, September I992.

..~~"Now More Than Ever", Supermarket Floral, September 25, 1992.

HM Le Plant Sac Advertisement, published prior to September 26, 1987.

..~~"A
World of Cut Flower and Pot Plant Packaging"
Brochure, Klerk's Plastic Products Manufacturing, Inc., published prior to March a es.

HD Chantler &
Chantler brochure showing Zipper Sleeve""
and Florasheet~, Published prior to March 31, 1994, pages.

HQ "Stand Alone Plastic Bagmaking"
brochure, AMI, Atlanta, GA, February 15, 1996, pages.

HQ "Foil Jackets"
brochure, Custom Medallion, Inc., December, 2996, pages.

HR "Derwent Abstract"
of FR
2610604A.
It is noted that the abstract is an incorrect English translation of the contents of the French atent.
The French atent does not enable or disclose adhesivel attachin the coverin to the container.
1988.

HS "Silver Linings"
Brochure, Affinity Diversified Industries, Inc., 1986.
The Silver Linings brochure shows a floral sleeve with a closed bottom.
The brochure shows in one embodiment, a vase with flowers inside a "cut flower"
sleeve with the sleeve tied with a ribbon about the neck of the vase.

EXAM OTHER MATERIALS
INft.
Incfudin Author Title Date Relevant Pa es Place of PublScation.' I

NT "SPecfaf Occasion Printed Highlophane Bags" Brochure, Highland Supply Corporation, 1990, 2 pages.

j.tU"Creative Packaging" Brochure, )nhn Henry Company, Sept. 1992.

HV "Make H's h4ander Your Head uarters" Brochure Hi hland Su I Cor oration 1991_ lA "The packaging way for a great variety of products from 1 gr. To 5 kgr." Emzo, brochure 5 pages, available prior to Se tember 2000.

IB "Automatic Packa in Machines" Emzo 1 a a available riot to Se tember 2D00.

IC "H.E.R. The group for flexible packaging for liquids"
Emzo, Hensen, Robopac, 2 pages, available prior to September aooD.

ID "Machinery for Packaging" )ones, Pouch produced on BHL 1-R form fill and seal machine, 3 pages, avaflabte prior to Se tember 2000.

IE "Machines for the Packa in Indust " Windmolfer & Holscher 3 a es available riot Eo Se tember 2D00.

IF "Fillip our acka in needs" Robert's Packa fn Inc.
3 a es available riot to Se tember 2000.

EXAMINER
DAZE
CONSIDERED

EXAMINER:
7nittaf if citation considered, whether or not dtatton is in contocmance and not considered.
Include copy of Ws form witO
next tammunitatton to applicant-"Place of i Publtcationrefers to name of ublication in which the Informatton was ublished.

Claims (23)

1. A floral sleeve, comprising:
a body having an upper end, a lower end, a first panel having a first upper edge and a first lower edge, a second panel having a second upper edge and a second lower edge, an interior space sized to contain a pot and a gusset extending inwardly from the lower end into the interior space, the body having a single left side edge entirely connected from the upper end to the lower end, a single right side edge entirely connected from the upper end to the tower end, the first panel and the second panel together forming a sidewall in the body, the body tapered such that the upper end is wider than the lower end, the gusset having an inner fold extending horizontally from the left side edge to the right side edge, the body initially constructed in a flattened condition, and wherein when the body is opened from the flattened condition to an opened condition, the gusset is expanded to form a bottom in the body, the bottom having a lower bottom surface, a left side bottom surface extending upwardly from the lower bottom surface to the left side edge, and a right side bottom surface extending upwardly from the lower bottom surface to the right side edge.

2. The floral sleeve of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first upper edge and the second upper edge of the body has a substantially horizontal pattern.

3. The floral sleeve of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first upper edge and the second upper edge of the body has a non-linear pattern.

4. The floral sleeve of claim 1 further comprising an upper portion extending from the upper end of the body, wherein the upper portion is detachable from the upper end of the body via a detaching element.

5. The floral sleeve of claim 1 further comprising:
an upper portion extending from the upper end of the body, wherein the upper portion is detachable from the upper end of the body via a detaching element having a non-linear pattern, such that when the upper portion is detached from the upper end of the body, the upper end of the body is left with an upper edge having a non-linear pattern.

6. The floral sleeve of claim 4 wherein the upper portion is adapted to support the body from a support device.

7. The floral sleeve of claim 4 wherein the upper portion is sized to surround and encompass a floral grouping disposed within a pot disposed within the floral sleeve in the opened condition.

8. The floral sleeve of claim 4 wherein the detaching element comprises a plurality of perforations.

9. The floral sleeve of claim 1 further comprising a skirt portion in the body and a decorative skirt extension having an upper edge and which is attached to an inner surface of the body and which is not detachable from the body via perforations.

10. The floral sleeve of claim 9 wherein the decorative skirt extension is constructed of a material which is different from or has a different color or pattern than the material used to construct the body and skirt portion.

11. The floral sleeve of claim 9 wherein the upper edge of the decorative skirt extension and an upper edge of the skirt portion of the body each have a non-linear pattern.

12. The floral sleeve of claim 9 further comprising a support element.

13. A pad comprising a plurality of the floral sleeves as claimed in claim 1.

14. The pad of claim 13 wherein the plurality of floral sleeves in the pad are connected in the pad via a connecting element.

15. The pad of claim 14 wherein the connecting element is selected from the group consisting of an adhesive or cohesive connecting bonding material, a wicket, a staple, a clip, a pin, a tie or a wire.

16. A method of covering a pot, comprising:
providing the floral sleeve as claimed in any one of Claims 1-12 or providing one of the floral sleeves from the pad claimed in any one of Claims 13-15;
providing a potted plant comprising a pot and a floral grouping; and disposing the potted plant within the interior space of the floral sleeve in the opened condition wherein a bottom of the pot is disposed upon the bottom formed in the floral sleeve, and wherein the bottom of the floral sleeve is substantially hidden by the sidewall of the floral sleeve.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein in the step of providing a floral sleeve, the floral sleeve is provided by detaching the floral sleeve from the pad of floral sleeves.

18. The method of claim 16 comprising the additional step of securing the floral sleeve about the pot by disposing a securing element about the floral sleeve after the floral sleeve has been disposed about the pot.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the securing element is selected from the group consisting of elastic bands, plastic bands, strings, ribbons, ties, wires, stribbons, rubber bands, barbs, collars, staples and clips.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the securing element is placed above an upper end of the pot.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the securing element is placed below an upper end of the pot.

22. A plant package comprising a potted plant and a floral sleeve, the plant package produced by the method of claim 16.

23. A floral sleeve, comprising:
a body having an upper end, a lower end, a first panel having a first upper edge and a first lower edge, a second panel having a second upper edge and a second lower edge, an interior space sized to contain a pot and a gusset extending inwardly from the tower end into the interior space.