US20050262764A1 - Sleeve with curved lower end - Google Patents

Abstract

A floral sleeve initially having a flattened state and openable therefrom for use in covering, containing or wrapping a floral grouping, botanical item, pot, or pot having a floral grouping or botanical item therein. The sleeve has a concave lower end having an inwardly curved lower edge, and may have a detachable upper portion. The sleeve may have a non-linear or linear upper edge. when having a detachable upper portion, the sleeve has a detaching element which, when employed to detach the upper portion, leaves a linear or non-linear upper edge on the lower portion of the sleeve. The concave lower end of the sleeve may have a gusset therein.

Description

RELATED REFERENCES
• The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 10/687,253, filed Oct. 16, 2003, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/294,010, filed Nov. 12, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,662,495, issued Dec. 16, 2003, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/004,991, filed Dec. 4, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,477,804, issued Nov. 12, 2002, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/747,227, filed Dec. 22, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,341,446, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/080,771, filed May 18, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,182,395, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/606,957, filed Feb. 26, 1996, now abandoned. Each of the above-referenced patent applications is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• This invention generally relates to sleeves, and more particularly, to sleeves used to wrap floral groupings or flower pots containing floral groupings and/or mediums containing floral groupings, and methods of using same. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,625,979, 5,493,809, and 6,185,904 disclose subject matter which may be relevant to the invention contemplated and claimed herein and each is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.
• FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve ofFIG. 1 taken along line2-2 thereof.
• FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the sleeve ofFIG. 1 having a floral grouping therein.
• FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the sleeve ofFIG. 1 having a pot and floral grouping therein.
• FIG. 5 is an elevational view of another embodiment of a sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.
• FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve ofFIG. 5 taken along line6-6 thereof.
• FIG. 7 is an elevational view of another embodiment of a sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.
• FIG. 8 is an elevational view of another embodiment of a sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.
• FIG. 9 is an elevational view of another embodiment of a sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.
• FIG. 10 is an elevational view of another embodiment of a sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
• The present invention contemplates in a preferred version a preformed sleeve (also referred to herein as a “floral sleeve” or a “sleeve”) having a tubular shape sized to contain and generally conform to a flower pot having an upper end, a lower end and an outer peripheral surface. The sleeve may further comprise a lower portion and a detachable upper portion which may be sized to surround and encompass a floral grouping.
• The sleeve may form part of a plant package when used in conjunction with a floral grouping or a pot having a floral grouping therein, and wherein the pot and/or floral grouping are substantially surrounded and encompassed by the sleeve. The floral grouping is at least partially surrounded and encompassed and may be entirely enclosed by the upper portion when it forms a part of the preformed sleeve.
• The sleeve may have a bonding material disposed on an inner portion thereof for bondingly connecting the sleeve to a pot disposed therein. Alternatively, the bonding material may be disposed on an outer portion of the sleeve for forming a plurality of crimps in a portion of the sleeve.
• The lower portion of the sleeve may be constructed from a first material and the upper portion (when present) may be constructed from the first material or a second material different from the first material.
• These embodiments and others of the present invention are now described in more detail below. It will be appreciated that the examples provided herein are not intended to limit the scope and extent of the claimed invention but are only intended to exemplify various embodiments of the invention contemplated herein.
• Shown inFIGS. 1-4 is a sleeve designated by thegeneral reference numeral10. Thesleeve10 has an outerperipheral surface12, an innerperipheral surface14, anupper end20 having anupper edge22, askirt portion24, and aninner space30. Thesleeve10, in a flattened state, also includes afirst sidewall edge16, asecond sidewall edge18, and a concavelower end26 having an inwardly curvedlower edge28 which extends upwardly toward theupper end20 when thesleeve10 is in the flattened state.
• Thesleeve10 is initially formed to have the flattened state and is openable therefrom to an open state for containing a floral container, such as a pot as described elsewhere herein. The shape of the concavelower end26 may be elliptical, rounded, curvilinear, ovoid, or any other curved shape known in the art, but must be inwardly curved. Thesleeve10 is preferably individually sized so that a standard sized flower pot, such as a 3-inch, 3½-inch, 4-inch, 4½-inch, 5-inch, 5½-inch, 6-inch, 6½-inch, 7-inch or 8-inch pot, for example, can fit within thesleeve10, with the pot preferably substantially conforming to the innerperipheral surface14 of thesleeve10. While thesleeve10 preferably has a tapered, frusto-conical shape, thesleeve10 may also have a rectangular or cylindrical shape.
• In a preferred version of the invention shown inFIGS. 1-4, theupper edge22 of theupper end20 of thesleeve10 has a non-linear pattern such as a curve, wave, arc or serration. Theupper edge22 and theupper end20 form theskirt portion24 of thesleeve10 for decorating afloral grouping32. Thefloral grouping32 has astem portion34 and abloom portion36 disposed in the sleeve10 (FIG. 3). Thefloral grouping32 may be disposed in apot38 having alower end40 and anupper end42 which is disposed within the sleeve10 (FIG. 4). Other non-linear configurations of theupper edge22 of theskirt portion24 will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, for example, those shown inFIGS. 11-16 of U.S. Ser. No. 09/401,771, the entire specification of which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference.
• Shown inFIGS. 5-6 is a sleeve designated by thegeneral reference numeral10a. Thesleeve10ahas an outerperipheral surface12a, an inner peripheral surface14a, anupper end20ahaving anupper edge22a, and aninner space30a. Thesleeve10a, in a flattened state, also includes afirst sidewall edge16a, asecond sidewall edge18a, and a concavelower end26ahaving an inwardly curvedlower edge28a. The shape of the concavelower end26amay be elliptical, rounded, curvilinear, ovoid, or any other curved shape known in the art, but must be inwardly curved. Thesleeve10adiffers from thesleeve10 shown above primarily in that theupper edge22aof theupper end20ais linear rather than non-linear.
• Shown inFIG. 7 is a sleeve designated by thegeneral reference numeral10b. Thesleeve10bhas an outerperipheral surface12b, an inner peripheral surface (not shown), anupper end20bhaving anupper edge22b, askirt portion24b, and an inner space (also not shown). Thesleeve10b, in a flattened state, also includes afirst sidewall edge16b, asecond sidewall edge18b, and a concavelower end26bhaving an inwardly curvedlower edge28b. The shape of the concavelower end26bmay be elliptical, rounded, curvilinear, ovoid, or any other curved shape known in the art, but must be inwardly curved.
• Thesleeve10bis similar to thesleeves10 and10ashown inFIGS. 1-6, exceptsleeve10bcomprises both alower portion46 and anupper portion44. Theupper portion44 is detachable from thelower portion46 via a detachingelement48, such as perforations. Theupper portion44 is generally sized so that it can substantially surround and enclose a floral grouping, alone (not shown) or disposed within a pot disposed within thesleeve10b(not shown). Theupper portion44 may haveapertures50 therein for enabling thesleeve10bto be supported from a support device or assembly such as a wicket, in a manner well known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
• Shown inFIG. 8 is a sleeve designated by thegeneral reference numeral10c. Thesleeve10chas an outerperipheral surface12c, anupper end20chaving anupper edge22c, askirt portion24c, and an inner space (not shown). Thesleeve10c, in a flattened state, also includes afirst sidewall edge16c, asecond sidewall edge18c, and a concavelower end26chaving an inwardly curvedlower edge28c. The shape of the concavelower end26cmay be elliptical, rounded, curvilinear, ovoid, or any other curved shape known in the art, but must be inwardly curved.
• Sleeve10cis similar tosleeve10bin having an upper portion44c, alower portion46c, a detachingelement48c, and optionally,apertures50, but differs in that the upper portion44cis designed to be removed from thelower portion46cbefore thelower portion46cis used to cover a pot (not shown) or a floral grouping (not shown), and further, the upper portion44cis generally not sized to enclose a floral grouping.
• Shown inFIG. 9 is a sleeve designated by the general reference numeral10d. The sleeve10dhas an outerperipheral surface12d, an inner peripheral surface (not shown), anupper end20dhaving anupper edge22d, askirt portion24d, and an inner space (also not shown). The sleeve10d, in a flattened state, also includes afirst sidewall edge16d, asecond sidewall edge18d, and a concavelower end26dhaving an inwardly curvedlower edge28d. The shape of the concavelower end26dmay be elliptical, rounded, curvilinear, ovoid, or any other curved shape known in the art, but must be inwardly curved.
• The sleeve10dis similar tosleeve10 described above, except sleeve10dhas agusset52 in the concavelower end26dwhich enables the concavelower end26dto be expanded when a floral grouping (not shown) or a pot (not shown) is disposed therein. Gussets, such asgusset52, and their construction are well known to persons of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, further discussion of these methods of construction is not deemed necessary herein.
• Shown inFIG. 10 is a sleeve designated by thegeneral reference numeral10e. Thesleeve10ehas an outerperipheral surface12e, an inner peripheral surface (not shown), anupper end20ehaving anupper edge22e, and an inner space (also not shown). Thesleeve10e, in a flattened state, also includes afirst sidewall edge16e, asecond sidewall edge18e, and a concavelower end26ehaving an inwardly curvedlower edge28e. The shape of the concavelower end26emay be elliptical, rounded, curvilinear, ovoid, or any other curved shape known in the art, but must be inwardly curved.
• Thesleeve10eis similar to thesleeve10bin thatsleeve10ehas anupper portion44e, alower portion46e, a detachingelement48e, and may optionally haveapertures50.Sleeve10ediffers fromsleeve10bprimarily in that the detachingelement48ehas a linear or arcuate pattern which, when thesleeve10eis in a flattened state, extends from thefirst sidewall edge16eto thesecond sidewall edge18e, rather than a non-linear pattern as shown for the detachingelement48 ofsleeve10b.
• Any of the sleeves10-10econtemplated herein may also be equipped with drainage elements (e.g., one or more holes) in the lower end thereof or ventilation holes (not shown), or can be made from permeable or impermeable materials.
• Any thickness of material may be utilized in accordance with the present invention as long as the sleeves10-10emay be formed as described herein, and as long as the sleeves10-10emay contain at least a portion of a pot or floral grouping, as described herein. Additionally, an insulating material such as bubble film, preferably one of two or more layers, can be utilized in order to provide additional protection for the item, such as the floral grouping, contained therein.
• The material from which the sleeves10-10edescribed herein are constructed preferably has a thickness in a range from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mils. Often, the thicknesses of the sleeves are in a range from about 0.5 mil to about 10 mils or preferably, in a range from about 1.0 mil to about 5 mils. More preferably, the sleeves10-10eare constructed from a material which is flexible, semi-rigid, rigid, or any combination thereof. The sleeves10-10emay be constructed of a single layer of material or a plurality of layers of the same or different types of materials. The layers of material comprising the sleeves10-10emay be connected together or laminated or may be separate layers. Such materials used to construct the sleeves10-10eare described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,637, which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference.
• The sleeves10-10eare constructed from any suitable material that is capable of being formed into a sleeve and wrapped about a pot and a floral grouping (or a floral grouping alone) disposed therein. Preferably, the material comprises treated or untreated paper, metal foil, polymeric film, non-polymeric film, woven or non-woven fabric, or synthetic or natural fabric, cardboard, fiber, cloth, burlap, or laminations or combinations thereof.
• In one embodiment, the sleeves10-10econtemplated herein may be constructed from sheets comprising two polypropylene films which may be connected together or laminated or may be separate layers. In an alternative embodiment, the sleeves10-10emay be constructed from only one sheet of the polypropylene film.
• The term “polymeric film” means 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.
• The materials comprising the sleeves10-10emay vary in color and, as described herein, may consist of designs or decorative patterns which are printed, etched, and/or embossed thereon using inks or other printing materials. An example of an ink which may be applied to the surface of the material is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,706, 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. Moreover, portions of the material used in constructing the sleeves10-10emay vary in the combination of such characteristics. The material utilized for the sleeves10-10emay 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. As noted earlier, the floral grouping comprises a bloom portion and a stem portion. Further, the floral grouping may comprise a growing potted plant having a root portion (not shown). However, it will be appreciated that the floral grouping may consist of only a single bloom or only foliage, or a botanical item, or a propagule. The term “floral grouping” may be used interchangeably herein with both the terms “floral arrangement” and “potted plant”. The term “potted plant” generally refers to a floral grouping and a pot along with a growing medium. 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, 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 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 a bouquet or a 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 (not shown) may optionally be disposed on a portion of any of the sleeves10-10edescribed herein, or provided separately, to attach each sleeve10-10eto a pot having a floral grouping therein and disposed within the sleeve10-10e. The bonding material may alternatively be a band, tie, string, ribbon, wire, tape, heat shrinkable material or other tying or banding device which may be constructed within or attached to the sleeve10-10ebefore it is applied about the pot or floral grouping or may be provided only after the sleeve10-10eis applied about the pot or floral grouping. A separate bonding material may also assist in closing or sealing the upper portion (when present) of the sleeve10-10eor in adhering the sleeve10-10eto the pot after the pot has been disposed therein. Examples of how a bonding material may be disposed on the sleeve are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,493,809 and 5,625,979, both of which are hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
• The term “detaching element” when 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.
• Each of theupper portions44,44cor44eof thesleeves10b,10cand10e, respectively, may also have an additional substantial vertically disposed detaching element comprising a plurality of vertical perforations (not shown but well known in the art) for facilitating removal of theupper portion44,44cor44efrom thelower portion46,46cor46e, respectively.
• As indicated above, it will be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art that equipment and devices for forming floral sleeves are commercially available, and are well known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Further detailed discussion of the construction of the sleeves described herein therefore is not deemed necessary. However, briefly, the sleeves described herein may be formed by intermittently advancing two separate webs, one or two webs preformed in the form of a tube, or a single web folded double and sealing the longitudinal sides and bottom portions of the two facing panels then cutting the sleeve thus formed from the webs or web. Machines which can form sleeves from such single webs or pairs of webs are well within the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art.
• As noted above, any of the sleeves10-10econtemplated herein may have a lower end26-26e, respectively, which is open or closed. When the lower end26-26eis closed, the lower end26-26emay have one ormore gussets52, as described elsewhere herein, formed therein for allowing expansion of the lower end26-26ewhen an object with a broad lower end, such as a pot, is disposed therein. In another version, the sleeve10-10emay include a flap (not shown) which can be folded over and sealed with a bonding material to close the sleeve10-10e.
• 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 not by way of limitation, clay pots, wooden pots, plastic pots, foam pots, pots made from natural and/or synthetic fibers, and/or any combination thereof. The pot is adapted to receive a floral grouping in a retaining space thereof. The floral grouping may be disposed within the pot along with a suitable growing medium described elsewhere herein, or other retaining medium, such as a floral foam. It will also be understood that the floral grouping, and any appropriate growing medium or other retaining medium, may be disposed in the sleeve without a pot for cultivating the floral grouping or displaying a grown floral grouping or botanical item.
• It should also be noted that for all versions of sleeves described above which have a bonding material thereon, it may be desirable to have a release material or cover strip covering the adhesive or cohesive bonding material disposed on any portion of such sleeves for preventing the bonding material from bonding to another surface until such is desired. Further, in each of the cases described herein wherein a sleeve is applied to a pot, the sleeve may be applied thereto either by depositing the pot downwardly into the opened sleeve, or the sleeve may be brought upwardly about the pot from below the pot.
• 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 elements, ventilation holes, combinations of material may be used alone or in combination as elements of any of the embodiments described above herein.
• 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.

Claims (29)

1. A sleeve having a flattened state and openable therefrom to an opened state, the sleeve having an inner space in its flattened state and comprising an outer peripheral surface, an inner peripheral surface, a first sidewall edge, a second sidewall edge, an upper end having an upper edge, and the sleeve having a lower end and a tapered shape in the flattened state, the lower end in the flattened state having a single inwardly curved lower edge which extends from the first sidewall edge to the second sidewall edge and curves upwardly toward the upper end when in the flattened state, and wherein the lower end is substantially closed in the flattened state.

2. The sleeve ofclaim 1 wherein the lower end has a shape which is elliptical, curvilinear, rounded or ovoid.

3. The sleeve ofclaim 1 further comprising a gusset in the lower end.

4. The sleeve ofclaim 1 further comprising a detaching element for enabling detachment of an upper portion of the sleeve from a lower portion of the sleeve.

5. The sleeve ofclaim 4 wherein the detaching element comprises perforations.

6. The sleeve ofclaim 4 wherein the detaching element has a non-linear pattern such that when the upper portion is detached, the lower portion is left with an upper end having a non-linear upper edge.

7. The sleeve ofclaim 4 wherein the detaching element has a linear pattern such that when the upper portion is detached, the lower portion is left with an upper end having a linear upper edge.

8. The sleeve ofclaim 4 wherein the upper portion is sized to substantially surround and enclose a floral grouping.

9. The sleeve ofclaim 4 wherein the upper portion is adapted to support the sleeve from a support element.

10. The sleeve ofclaim 1 further comprising a skirt portion.

11. The sleeve ofclaim 1 wherein the sleeve has a generally frusto-conical shape when in the opened state.

12. The sleeve ofclaim 1 wherein the upper edge of the upper end is non-linear.

13. The sleeve ofclaim 1 wherein the upper edge of the upper end is linear.

14. A sleeve having a flattened state and openable therefrom to an opened state, the sleeve having an inner space in the flattened state, the sleeve comprising:

an outer peripheral surface, an inner peripheral surface, a first sidewall edge, a second sidewall edge, an upper end having an upper edge, and the sleeve having a lower end and a tapered shape in the flattened state, the lower end in the flattened state having a single inwardly curved lower edge which extends from the first sidewall edge to the second sidewall edge and curves upwardly toward the upper end when in the flattened state, and wherein the lower end is substantially closed in the flattened state; and

a detaching element extending from the first sidewall edge to the second sidewall edge for detaching an upper portion of the sleeve from a lower portion of the sleeve.

15. The sleeve ofclaim 14 wherein the lower end has a shape which is elliptical, curvilinear, rounded or ovoid.

16. The sleeve ofclaim 14 further comprising a gusset in the lower end.

17. The sleeve ofclaim 14 wherein the detaching element comprises perforations.

18. The sleeve ofclaim 14 wherein the detaching element has a non-linear pattern such that when the upper portion is detached, the lower portion is left with an upper end having a non-linear upper edge.

19. The sleeve ofclaim 14 wherein the detaching element has a linear pattern such that when the upper portion is detached, the lower portion is left with an upper end having a linear upper edge.

20. The sleeve ofclaim 14 wherein the upper portion is sized to substantially surround and enclose a floral grouping.

21. The sleeve ofclaim 14 wherein the upper portion is adapted to support the sleeve from a support element.

22. The sleeve ofclaim 14 further comprising a skirt portion.

23. The sleeve ofclaim 14 wherein the sleeve has a generally frusto-conical shape when in the opened state.

24. The sleeve ofclaim 1 further comprising a drainage hole in the lower end.

25. The sleeve ofclaim 1 wherein the lower end is substantially closed.

26. A pad comprising the sleeves ofclaim 1.

27. The sleeve ofclaim 14 further comprising a drainage hole in the lower end.

28. The sleeve ofclaim 14 wherein the lower end is substantially closed.

29. A pad comprising the sleeves ofclaim 14.

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