US20030126835A1 - Method of covering a pot with a floral sleeve having a side-sealed bottom gusset - Google Patents

Abstract

A floral sleeve and method of using the floral sleeve to cover a pot. The floral sleeve has an inwardly folded bottom gusset for forming a bottom in the sleeve which 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.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• Not applicable.[0001]
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.[0002]
• U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,595,022; 5,615,535; 5,740,657; 5,816,023; 5,687,845; 5,810,169; 5,944,187 and 6,152,301, contain subject matter which may be relevant to the present application. The disclosures of each of the above-mentioned patents are hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference.[0003]
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a floral sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.[0004]
• FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the floral sleeve of FIG. 1 taken along line[0005]2-2 thereof.
• FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the floral sleeve of FIG. 1.[0006]
• FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the floral sleeve of FIG. 1 in an opened condition and having a pot and floral grouping disposed therein.[0007]
• FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the opened floral sleeve of FIG. 4.[0008]
• FIG. 6 is an elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the floral sleeve of the present invention.[0009]
• FIG. 7 is an elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the floral sleeve of the present invention.[0010]
• FIG. 8 is an elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the floral sleeve of the present invention.[0011]
• FIG. 9 is an elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the floral sleeve of the present invention.[0012]
• FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the floral sleeve of FIG. 9 having a pot and floral grouping disposed therein.[0013]
• FIG. 11 is an elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the floral sleeve of the present invention.[0014]
• FIG. 12 is an elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the floral sleeve of the present invention.[0015]
• FIG. 13 is an elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the floral sleeve of the present invention.[0016]
• FIG. 14 is an elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the floral sleeve of the present invention.[0017]
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.[0018]
• 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.[0019]
• 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.[0020]
• 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.[0021]
Embodiments of FIGS.1-14
• Referring now to the drawing, shown in FIGS.[0022]1-5 and designated therein by thegeneral reference numeral10 is a floral sleeve, also referred to herein simply as a sleeve. Thefloral sleeve10 is initially in a substantially flattened state (FIGS.1-3) and is openable to an opened condition (FIGS.4-5) for containing and covering a flower pot.
• The[0023]floral sleeve10 has abody12 having anupper end14, alower end16, afirst panel18 having a firstupper edge20 and a firstlower edge22 and asecond panel24 having a secondupper edge26 and a secondlower edge28 which is generally parallel and adjacent to the firstlower edge22.
• The[0024]body12 has aninterior space30. Thefirst panel18 has aninner surface32 and anouter surface34. Thesecond panel24 has aninner surface36 and an outer surface38.
• In the flattened condition, the[0025]first panel18 andsecond panel24 are positioned flatwise upon each other and are connected along a sealedleft side edge40 and a sealedright side edge42 both of which extend from theupper end14 to thelower end16. Thefirst panel18 andsecond panel24 together comprise asidewall44 of thebody12. Thebody12 further comprises agusset46 extending inwardly into theinterior space30 from the firstlower edge22 and the secondlower edge28. Thegusset46 has aninner surface48 exposed to theinterior space30 and anouter surface50 exposed outwardly. Thegusset46 has aninner fold52 which extends from theleft side edge40 to theright side edge42. Thebody12 preferably has a tapered shape in the flattened condition, wherein thebody12 is wider at theupper end14 and more narrow at thelower end16, such that in the opened condition thefloral sleeve10 preferably has a frusto-conical shape (FIG. 4). As noted, thefloral sleeve10 preferably has a frusto-conical shape when opened, but may be cylindrical or may even have a rectangular shape when opened.
• When the[0026]floral sleeve10 is converted to an opened condition, thegusset46 is unfolded to form abottom54 in thebody12. When apot62 is disposed within theinterior space30 and abottom68 of alower end66 of thepot62 is disposed upon thebottom54 of thebody12, thebottom54 has three surface portions, including (1) alower bottom surface56 covering thebottom68 Of thepot62, (2) a leftside bottom surface58 which extends upwardly from thelower bottom surface56 and is disposed between thesidewall44 of thebody12 and an outerperipheral surface70 of the pot, and (3) a rightside bottom surface60 which extends upwardly from thelower bottom surface56 and is disposed between thesidewall44 of thebody12 and the outerperipheral surface70 of the pot. In the opened condition of thefloral sleeve10, thebottom54 of thebody12 is substantially completely concealed by a lower portion of thesidewall44 of thebody12.
• Referring now to FIG. 6, another floral sleeve embodied in the present invention is designated therein by[0027]reference numeral10a.Floral sleeve10ahas abody12a, anupper end14a, alower end16a, anupper edge20a, asidewall44a, agusset46a, and an inner gusset fold52a. Thefloral sleeve10ais essentially the same asfloral sleeve10 except theupper edge20ahas an angular pattern forming askirt portion72 in thebody12a. Theskirt portion72 is generally sized to extend a distance above anupper end64 of the pot62 (FIG. 4) when thepot62 is disposed within thefloral sleeve10awhen in the opened condition.
• Referring now to FIG. 7 another floral sleeve embodied in the present invention is designated therein by[0028]reference numeral10b.Floral sleeve10bhas abody12b, an upper end14b, alower end16b, anupper edge20b, a sidewall44b, agusset46b, and aninner gusset fold52b. Thefloral sleeve10bis essentially the same asfloral sleeve10 except theupper edge20bhas a curved pattern forming askirt portion72bin thebody12b. Theskirt portion72bis generally sized to extend a distance above theupper end64 of thepot62 when thepot62 is disposed within thefloral sleeve10bwhen in the opened condition.
• Referring now to FIG. 8, another floral sleeve embodied in the present invention is designated therein by[0029]reference numeral10c.Floral sleeve10chas abody12c, anupper end14c, alower end16c, a sidewall44c, agusset46c, and aninner gusset fold52c. Thefloral sleeve10cis essentially similar tofloral sleeve10 except thefloral sleeve10cfurther comprises anupper portion74 having anupper edge76, andapertures78 and which is detachable via a detachingelement80. Theapertures78 are optional and serve to adapt theupper portion74 to support the entirefloral sleeve10cfrom a support assembly such as a wicket, or staple, for example. In an alternative embodiment, a plurality offloral sleeves10cmay be provided in a pad, with theupper portions74 of adjacentfloral sleeves10cconnected together by an adhesive or cohesive bonding material in a manner well known in the art. Preferably, thebody12cof thefloral sleeve10cis detached from theupper portion74 before thebody10cis placed about thepot62.
• Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, another floral sleeve embodied in the present invention is designated therein by[0030]reference numeral10d.Floral sleeve10dhas abody12d, anupper end14d, alower end16d, asidewall44d, agusset46d, and aninner gusset fold52d. Thefloral sleeve10dis essentially similar tofloral sleeve10 except thefloral sleeve10dfurther comprisesupper portion74dhaving anupper edge76,apertures78 and which is detachable via a detachingelement80d. Theapertures78 are optional and serve to adapt theupper portion74dto support the entirefloral sleeve10dfrom a support assembly such as a wicket, or staple, for example. In an alternative embodiment, a plurality offloral sleeves10dmay be provided in a pad, with theupper portions74dof adjacentfloral sleeves10dconnected together by an adhesive or cohesive bonding material in a manner well known in the art.
• The[0031]upper portion74dis generally sized to surround and enclose afloral grouping82 having alower portion84 and anupper portion86 comprising blooms or foliage, which is disposed within thepot62 when thepot62 andfloral grouping82 therein is disposed within the openedfloral sleeve10d. Theupper portion74dis generally detached from thebody12dvia the detachingelement80dat some time after thefloral sleeve10dhas been disposed about thepot62 andfloral grouping82, for example after thepot62 andfloral grouping82 therein have been shipped to a vendor, but may be detached at any time, either before or after thepot62 andfloral grouping82 are placed within thefloral sleeve10d.
• Referring now to FIG. 11, another floral sleeve embodied in the present invention is designated therein by reference numeral[0032]10e. Floral sleeve10ehas abody12e, anupper end14e, alower end16e, asidewall44e, agusset46e, and aninner gusset fold52e. The floral sleeve10eis essentially similar tofloral sleeve10cin that the floral sleeve10ecomprisesupper portion74ehaving anupper edge76,apertures78 and which is detachable via a detachingelement80e. Theapertures78 are optional and serve to adapt theupper portion74eto support the entire floral sleeve10efrom a support assembly such as a wicket, or staple, for example. In an alternative embodiment, a plurality of floral sleeves10emay be provided in a pad, with theupper portions74eof adjacent floral sleeves10econnected together by an adhesive or cohesive bonding material or other attaching device in a manner well known in the art. Preferably, thebody12eof the floral sleeve10eis detached from theupper portion74ebefore the body10eis placed about thepot62.
• The detaching[0033]element80ediffers from detachingelement80 offloral sleeve10cin that detachingelement80ehas an angular pattern rather than a substantially horizontal problem, such that when theupper portion74eis detached from thebody12e, askirt portion72eis left on thebody12e. Theskirt portion72epreferably is sized to extend above theupper end64 of thepot62 when disposed within the floral sleeve10e.
• Referring now to FIG. 12, another floral sleeve embodied in the present invention is designated therein by[0034]reference numeral10f.Floral sleeve10fhas abody12f, anupper end14f, alower end16f, asidewall44f, agusset46f, and aninner gusset fold52f. Thefloral sleeve10fis essentially similar tofloral sleeve10din that thefloral sleeve10fcomprisesupper portion74fhaving anupper edge76f,apertures78 and which is detachable via a detachingelement80f. Theapertures78 are optional and serve to adapt theupper portion74fto support the entirefloral sleeve10ffrom a support assembly such as a wicket, or staple, for example. In an alternative embodiment, a plurality offloral sleeves10fmay be provided in a pad, with theupper portions74fof adjacentfloral sleeves10fconnected together by an adhesive or cohesive bonding material or other attaching device in a manner well known in the art.
• The[0035]upper portion74fis generally sized to surround and enclose thefloral grouping82 having thelower portion84 and theupper portion86 comprising blooms or foliage, which is disposed within thepot62 when thepot62 andfloral grouping82 therein is disposed within the openedfloral sleeve10f. Theupper portion74fis generally detached from thebody12fvia the detachingelement80fat some time after thefloral sleeve10fhas been disposed about thepot62 and thefloral grouping82, for example after thepot62 andfloral grouping82 therein have been shipped to a vendor, but may be detached at any time, either before or after thepot62 andfloral grouping82 are placed within thefloral sleeve10d.
• The detaching[0036]element80fdiffers from detachingelement80 offloral sleeve10din that detachingelement80fhas an angular pattern rather than a substantially horizontal problem, such that when theupper portion74fis detached from thebody12f, askirt portion72fis left on thebody12f. Theskirt portion72fpreferably is sized to extend above theupper end64 of thepot62 when disposed within thefloral sleeve10f.
• Referring now to FIG. 13, another floral sleeve embodied in the present invention is designated therein by reference numeral[0037]10g. Floral sleeve10ghas a body12g, an upper end14g, a lower end16g, a sidewall44g, a gusset46g, and an inner gusset fold52g. The floral sleeve log is essentially similar tofloral sleeve10cin that the floral sleeve10gcomprises an upper portion74ghaving anupper edge76,apertures78 and which is detachable via a detaching element80g. Theapertures78 are optional and serve to adapt the upper portion74gto support the entire floral sleeve log from a support assembly such as a wicket, or staple, for example. In an alternative embodiment, a plurality of floral sleeves10gmay be provided in a pad, with the upper portions74gof adjacent floral sleeves log connected together by an adhesive or cohesive bonding material or other attaching device in a manner well known in the art. Preferably, the body12gof the floral sleeve10gis detached from the upper portion74gbefore the body10gis placed about thepot62.
• The detaching element[0038]80gdiffers from detachingelement80 offloral sleeve10cin that detaching element80ghas an curved pattern rather than a substantially horizontal problem, such that when the upper portion74gis detached from the body12g, a skirt portion72gis left on the body12g. The skirt portion72gpreferably is sized to extend above theupper end64 of thepot62 when disposed within the floral sleeve10g.
• Referring now to FIG. 14, another floral sleeve embodied in the present invention is designated therein by[0039]reference numeral10h.Floral sleeve10hhas abody12h, anupper end14h, alower end16h, asidewall44h, agusset46h, and aninner gusset fold52h. Thefloral sleeve10his essentially similar tofloral sleeve10din that thefloral sleeve10hcomprises an upper portion74hhaving anupper edge76, andapertures78 and which is detachable via a detachingelement80h. Theapertures78 are optional and serve to adapt the upper portion74hto support the entirefloral sleeve10hfrom a support assembly such as a wicket, or staple, for example. In an alternative embodiment, a plurality offloral sleeves10hmay be provided in a pad, with upper portions74hof adjacentfloral sleeves10hconnected together by an adhesive or cohesive bonding material or other attaching device in a manner well known in the art.
• The upper portion[0040]74his sized to surround and enclose afloral grouping82 having alower portion84 and anupper portion86 comprising blooms or foliage, disposed within thepot62 when thepot62 andfloral grouping82 therein is disposed within the openedfloral sleeve10h. The upper portion74his generally detached from thebody12hvia the detachingelement80hat some time after thefloral sleeve10hhas been disposed about thepot62 andfloral grouping82, for example after thepot62 andfloral grouping82 therein have been shipped to a vendor, but may be detached at any time, either before or after thepot62 andfloral grouping82 are placed within thefloral sleeve10d.
• The detaching[0041]element80hdiffers from detachingelement80 offloral sleeve10din that detachingelement80hhas an curved pattern rather than a substantially horizontal problem, such that when the upper portion74his detached from thebody12h, askirt portion72his left on thebody12h. Theskirt portion72hpreferably is sized to extend above theupper end64 of thepot62 when disposed within thefloral sleeve10h.
• The upper edges[0042]20aand20bofsleeves10aand10b, respectively, and the detachingelement80e-80hofsleeves10e-10h, respectively, 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 FIGS.2A-2F of U.S. Pat. No. 5,829,225, the specification of which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
• Any of the flexible floral sleeves contemplated herein may also be equipped with drainage elements (e.g., one or more holes) in the bodies[0043]10-10hthereof or ventilation holes (not shown) in the bodies10-10horupper portions74d,74for74hor can be made from permeable or impermeable materials.
• The material from which the flexible floral sleeves[0044]10-10hare constructed preferably has a thickness in a range from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mils. Often, the thicknesses of the floral sleeves10-10hare 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. Preferably, the floral sleeves10-10hare constructed from a material which is flexible, semi-rigid, rigid, or any combination thereof. The floral sleeves10-10hmay 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 flexible 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. Pat. No. 5,111,637, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Any thickness of material may be utilized in accordance with the present invention as long as the floral sleeves10-10hmay be formed as described herein, and as long as the floral sleeves10-10hmay 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[0045]10-10hare 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.[0046]
• In one embodiment, the floral sleeves[0047]10-10hmay be constructed from sheets comprising two polypropylene films. The material comprising the flexible floral sleeves10-10hmay be connected together or laminated or may be separate layers. In an alternative embodiment, the flexible floral sleeves10-10hmay be constructed from only one sheet of the polypropylene film.
• The materials comprising the floral sleeves[0048]10-10hmay 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. Pat. No. 5,147,706, which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference.
• In addition, the material may have various colorings, coatings, flocking and/or metallic finishes, or other decorative surface ornamentation applied separately or simultaneously or may be characterized totally or partially by pearlescent, translucent, transparent, iridescent, neon, or the like, qualities. 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[0049]10-10h. Moreover, portions of the material used in constructing the floral sleeves10-10hmay vary in the combination of such characteristics. The material utilized for the floral sleeves10-10hmay 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 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”.[0050]
• 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.[0051]
• 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 of floral grouping.[0052]
• 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.[0053]
• In accordance with the present invention a bonding material may optionally be disposed on a portion of any of the floral sleeves[0054]10-10hdescribed herein to attach each floral sleeve10-10hto aflower pot62 having afloral grouping82 therein when such aflower pot62 is disposed within the floral sleeve10-10hor to assist in closing or sealing theupper portion74 or74d-74hof thefloral sleeve10c-10hor in adhering the floral sleeve10-10hto theflower pot62 after theflower pot62 has been disposed therein. Examples of how a bonding material may be disposed on the floral sleeve10-10hare shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,493,809 and in 5,625,979, each of which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
• The term “detaching element”[0055]80 and80d-80hwhen used generally 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 perforations are shown and described in detail herein, 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[0056]upper portions74 and74d-74hof thefloral sleeves10c-10h, respectively may also have an additional vertical detaching element comprising a plurality of vertical perforations (not shown) for facilitating removal of theupper portion74 or74d-74hand 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.[0057]
• However, briefly, the flexible floral sleeves[0058]10-10hdescribed 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 sleeve10-10hthus formed from the webs or web. Machines which can form floral sleeves10-10hfrom such single webs or tubes are well within the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art.
• The term “[0059]flower pot62” 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. Theflower pot62 is adapted to receive afloral grouping82 in the retaining space thereof. Thefloral grouping82 may be disposed within theflower pot62 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 sleeve10-10hwithout theflower pot62 for displaying, transporting or cultivating the item disposed within the floral sleeve10-10h.
• Preferably the floral sleeve[0060]10-10his 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, 4½ inch, 5 inch, 5½ inch, 6 inch, 6½ inch, 7 inch, 7½ inch, 8 inch and 8½ inch pots or pots that are larger than, smaller than, or intermediate between such pot sizes.
• Although not shown herein, any of the sleeves[0061]10-10hdescribed herein may be used as a container for a growing medium and afloral grouping82 wherein thefloral grouping82 is disposed within the growing medium without using apot62. In a preferred version, at least a portion of the sleeve10-10his 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[0062]10-10hmay be secured about thepot62 by a banding element 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. The banding element or crimped portion could be positioned either above or below theupper end66 of thepot62 when thepot62 is disposed in theinterior space30 of the floral sleeve10-10h.
• 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.[0063]
• 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.[0064]

Claims (14)

What is claimed is:

1. A method of covering a pot, comprising:

providing 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 and a gusset extending inwardly from the lower end into the interior space, the body having a left side edge sealed from the upper end to the lower end, a right side edge sealed from the upper end to the lower end, the first panel and the second panel together forming a sidewall in the body, the body tapered from the upper end to the lower end, the gusset having an inner fold extending from the left side edge to the right side edge, the body initially having a flattened condition, and wherein when the body is opened from the flattened condition to an opened condition for containing a pot, the gusset is unfolded 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;

opening the floral sleeve to expose the interior space; and

disposing a pot within the interior space to form a covered pot.

2. The method ofclaim 1 wherein in the step of providing a floral sleeve, at least one of the first upper edge and the second upper edge of the body has a substantially horizontal pattern.

3. The method ofclaim 1 wherein in the step of providing a floral sleeve, at least one of the first upper edge and the second upper edge of the body has an angular pattern.

4. The method ofclaim 1 wherein in the step of providing a floral sleeve, at least one of the first upper edge and the second upper edge of the body has a non-linear pattern.

5. The method ofclaim 1 wherein in the step of providing a floral sleeve, the floral sleeve further comprises 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.

6. The methodclaim 5 wherein the upper portion is adapted to support the body from a support device.

7. The method ofclaim 5 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 method ofclaim 5 wherein the upper portion is adapted to support the body from a support device 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.

9. The method ofclaim 5 wherein the detaching element comprises a plurality of perforations.

10. The method ofclaim 1 wherein in the step of providing a floral sleeve, the floral sleeve is provided by detaching the floral sleeve from a pad of the floral sleeves.

11. The method ofclaim 10 wherein the floral sleeves are connected in the pad via a connecting bonding material disposed between the upper portions of adjacent floral sleeves in the pad.

12. The method ofclaim 10 wherein the floral sleeves are connected in the pad via a staple, clip, wicket, pin, tie or wire.

13. A method of covering a pot, comprising:

providing 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 and a gusset extending inwardly from the lower end into the interior space, the body having a left side edge sealed from the upper end to the lower end, a right side edge sealed from the upper end to the lower end, the first panel and the second panel together forming a sidewall in the body, the body tapered from the upper end to the lower end, the gusset having an inner fold extending from the left side edge to the right side edge, the body initially having a flattened condition, and wherein when the body is opened from the flattened condition to an opened condition for containing a pot, the gusset is unfolded 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, and

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, and wherein the detaching element comprises a plurality of perforations 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;

opening the floral sleeve to expose the interior space; and

disposing a pot withing the interior space to form a covered pot.

14. The method ofclaim 13 wherein in the step of providing a floral sleeve, the floral sleeve is provided by detaching the floral sleeve from pad of floral sleeves.

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