US20050279022A1 - Sleeve with angular arcuate lower end - Google Patents

Abstract

A plant packaging and covering system comprising a floral sleeve having a lower portion and optionally an upper detachable portion which may be sized to surround a plant disposed in a pot. The floral sleeve has a lower end having an angular arcuate portion for improving the conformation of the sleeve to the shape of a pot.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• The present application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/691,064, filed Oct. 22, 2003, now abandoned, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/689,504, filed Oct. 13, 2000, now abandoned, the entirety of each of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein.
• This application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 10/418,886, filed Apr. 18, 2003, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/165,971, filed Jun. 7, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,571,536, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/746,383, filed Dec. 21, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,418,698, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/189,033, filed Nov. 10, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,815,904, which is a continuation-in-part 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 applications listed above 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 6,815,904 disclose subject matter which may be relevant to the invention contemplated and claimed herein and are hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference in their 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.
• FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.
• FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve ofFIG. 3 taken along line4-4.
• FIG. 5 is an elevational view of another embodiment of a sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.
• FIG. 6 is an elevational view of another embodiment of a sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.
• 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.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
• The present invention contemplates in a preferred version a preformed sleeve having a tubular shape sized to contain and conform to a flower pot having an upper end, a lower end and an outer peripheral surface. The preformed sleeve may further comprise a detachable upper portion which may be sized to surround and encompass a floral grouping.
• The tubular sleeve may form part of a plant package when used in conjunction with a flower pot disposed within an interior space of the preformed sleeve, the flower pot having a floral grouping disposed therein, and wherein the flower pot is substantially surrounded and encompassed by the sleeve. The floral grouping is at least partially surrounded and encompassed and may be entirely enclosed by the upper portion when it forms a part of the preformed sleeve.
• Also, the sleeve may have a bonding material disposed on an inner portion thereof for bondingly connecting 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 base portion of the preformed sleeve.
• The base portion of the preformed sleeve may be constructed from a first material and the upper portion (where 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.
• Turning now to the drawings, shown inFIGS. 1 and 2 is a floral sleeve designated by thegeneral reference numeral10. Sleeve10 is provided with afirst side12, asecond side14, anupper end16, alower end18, and afirst panel20 and asecond panel22 which are joined longitudinally alongfirst side12 andsecond side14, and an innerperipheral surface24. Sleeve10 is further provided with anupper opening28 and aninterior space29. Thesleeve10 is 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 substantially conforming to the innerperipheral surface24 of thesleeve10. Thesleeve10 preferably has a tapered, frustoconical shape, but may also have a rectangular or cylindrical shape, except for the angular arcuate portion described herein. Thesleeve10 is initially formed in a flattened condition and is openable therefrom to an open state for containing a floral container such as a flower pot as described herein.
• Thesleeve10 has an angulararcuate portion30 as described below. Thefirst side12 of thesleeve10 comprises afirst segment32 joined to asecond segment34 at afirst vertex36 forming afirst angle38 between thefirst segment32 andsecond segment34 offirst side12.Second segment34 has aterminal end40. Thefirst angle38 faces inwardly.
• Thesecond side14 has afirst segment42 joined to asecond segment44 at asecond vertex46 forming asecond angle48 between thefirst segment42 andsecond segment44 of thesecond side14. Thesecond segment44 has aterminal end50. Thesecond angle48 faces inwardly and opposes thefirst angle38.
• Thesleeve10 further comprises a convexly curvedarcuate portion52 extending between theterminal end40 of thesecond segment34 of thefirst side12 and theterminal end50 of thesecond segment44 of thesecond side14. Preferably thefirst side12, thesecond side14 and thearcuate portion52 are sealed along the entire lengths thereof. Together, thefirst angle38, thesecond segment34 of thefirst side12, thesecond angle48, thesecond segment44 of theend side14, and thearcuate portion52 comprise the angulararcuate portion30 of thesleeve10.
• In a preferred version of the invention, theupper end16 of thesleeve10 has anedge54 which has a non-linear shape, for example having a curve as shown inFIG. 1, thereby forming askirt portion56 which preferably extends a distance above an upper rim of a pot when thesleeve10 is disposed about a pot. Alternatively, theedge54 may be straight, or arcuate. Other non-linear configurations ofedge54 and ofskirt56 will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, for example those shown inFIGS. 2A-2F of U.S. Pat. No. 5,829,225, the entire specification of which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference. Each of thefirst angle38 and thesecond angle48 in the angulararcuate portion30 is greater than about 90° and less than about 180°. More preferably, each of thefirst angle38 and thesecond angle48 is between about 110° and 175°. More preferably, each of thefirst angle38 and thesecond angle48 is between about 120° and 170°. More preferably, each of thefirst angle38 and thesecond angle48 is between about 130° and 160°. More preferably, each of thefirst angle38 and thesecond angle48 is between about 135° and 155°. More preferably, each of thefirst angle38 and thesecond angle48 is between about 140° and 150°.
• An alternative embodiment of a sleeve of the present invention is shown inFIGS. 3 and 4 and is designated therein by thegeneral reference numeral60.
• Sleeve60 is similar tosleeve10 described above except for the construction of the lower portion.Sleeve60 is provided with afirst side62, asecond side64, anupper end66, alower end68, and afirst panel70 and a second panel72 (FIG. 4) which are joined longitudinally along thefirst side62 and thesecond side64 of thesleeve60, and an innerperipheral surface74.Sleeve60 is further provided with anupper opening78 and aninterior space79. Thesleeve60 is 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 thesleeve60, with the pot substantially conforming to the innerperipheral surface74 of thesleeve60. Thesleeve60 preferably has a tapered, frustoconical shape, but may also have a rectangular or cylindrical shape, except for the angular arcuate portion described herein. Thesleeve60 is initially formed in a flattened condition and is openable therefrom to an open state for containing a floral container such as a flower pot as described herein.
• Thesleeve60 has an angulararcuate portion80 as described below. Thefirst side62 of thesleeve60 comprises afirst segment82 joined to asecond segment84 at afirst vertex88, and athird segment86 joined to thesecond segment84 at asecond vertex92. Thethird segment86 has aterminal end96. Thefirst vertex88 forms afirst angle90 between thefirst segment82 and thesecond segment84 offirst side62. Thefirst angle90 faces inwardly. Thesecond vertex92 forms asecond angle94 between thesecond segment84 and thethird segment86 of thefirst side62. Thesecond angle94 also faces inwardly.
• Thesecond side64 of thesleeve60 comprises afirst segment98 joined to asecond segment100 at athird vertex104, and athird segment102 joined to thesecond segment100 at afourth vertex108. Thethird segment102 has aterminal end112. Thethird vertex104 forms athird angle106 between thefirst segment98 and thesecond segment100 of thesecond side64. Thethird angle106 faces inwardly. Thefourth vertex108 forms afourth angle110 between thesecond segment100 and thethird segment102 of thesecond side64. Thefourth angle110 faces inwardly. Thethird angle106 opposes thefirst angle90 and thefourth angle110 opposes thesecond angle94.
• Thesleeve60 further comprises a convexly curvedarcuate portion114 extending between theterminal end96 of thethird segment86 of thefirst side62 and theterminal end112 of thethird segment102 of thesecond side64. Preferably thefirst side62, thesecond side64 of thesleeve60 and thearcuate portion114 are sealed along the entire lengths thereof. Together, thefirst angle90, thesecond angle94, thesecond segment84, thethird segment86 of thefirst side62, thethird angle106, thefourth angle110, thesecond segment100, thethird segment102 of thesecond side64 and thearcuate portion114 comprise the angulararcuate portion80 of thesleeve60.
• In a preferred version, thesleeve60 has anupper end66 having anedge116 which has a non-linear shape, for example having a curve as shown inFIG. 3. Alternatively, theedge116 may be straight or arcuate, or may have a shape as shown inFIGS. 2A-2F of U.S. Pat. No. 5,829,225 described above.
• Each of thefirst angle90, thesecond angle94, thethird angle106 and thefourth angle110 is greater than about 90° and less than about 180°. More preferably each of thefirst angle90,second angle94,third angle106 andfourth angle110 is between about 110° and 175°. More preferably each of thefirst angle90,second angle94,third angle106 andfourth angle110 is between about 120° and 170°. More preferably each of thefirst angle90,second angle94,third angle106 andfourth angle110 is between about 130° and 160°. More preferably, each of thefirst angle90,second angle94,third angle106 andfourth angle110 is between about 135° and 155°. More preferably each of thefirst angle90,second angle94,third angle106 andfourth angle110 is between about 140° and 150°.
• Shown inFIG. 5 and designated therein by thegeneral reference numeral120 is an alternate embodiment of a sleeve of the present invention.Sleeve120 is similar tosleeve10 shown inFIG. 1 exceptsleeve120 comprises both alower portion122 and anupper portion124. Theupper portion124 is detachable from thelower portion122 via a detachingelement126, such as perforations. Theupper portion124 is generally sized so that it can substantially surround and encompass a floral grouping disposed within a pot disposed within thelower portion122 of thesleeve120. Theupper portion124 may haveapertures128 therein for enabling thesleeve120 to be supported from a support device such as a wicket, in a manner well known to persons of ordinary skill in the art.
• Shown inFIG. 6 and designated therein by thegeneral reference numeral130 is a sleeve similar tosleeve120.Sleeve130 comprises alower portion132, and anupper portion134.Upper portion134 is detachable via a detachingelement136 such as perforations. Theupper portion134 is constructed withapertures138 therein for enabling thesleeve130 to be supported by a support device such as a wicket, in a manner well known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Theupper portion134 of thesleeve130 is designed to be removed from thelower portion132 of thesleeve130 before thelower portion132 is used to cover a pot.
• Shown inFIG. 7 and designated therein by thegeneral reference numeral140 is an alternate embodiment of a sleeve of the present invention.Sleeve140 is similar tosleeve10 shown inFIG. 1 exceptsleeve140 has agusset142 in an angulararcuate portion144 thereof. Thegusset142 further enables the angulararcuate portion144 to be opened and to conform to a bottome portion of a pot disposed therein. Gussets and their construction are well known to persons of ordinary skill in the art, therefore further discussion of their methods of construction is not deemed necessary herein.
• Shown inFIG. 8 and designated therein by thegeneral reference numeral150 is an alternate embodiment of a sleeve of the present invention.Sleeve150 is similar tosleeve140, and has agusset152 in an angulararcuate portion154 thereof, except thegusset152 is positioned lower in the angular arcuate portion154 (below afirst angle156 and a second angle158) of thesleeve150.
• Any of the sleeves contemplated herein may also be equipped with drainage elements (e.g., one or more holes) in the base portion or bottom 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 sleeves may be formed as described herein, and as long as the formed sleeves may contain at least a portion of a pot or potted plant 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 material from which the sleeves described herein are constructed preferably has a thickness in a range from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mils. Often, the thicknesses of the sleeves are in a range from about 0.5 mil to about 10 mils or preferably, in a range from about 1.0 mil to about 5 mils. More preferably, the sleeves are constructed from a material which is flexible, semi-rigid, rigid, or any combination thereof. The sleeves may 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 sleeves may be connected together or laminated or may be separate layers. Such materials used to construct the sleeves are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,637, which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference.
• The sleeves are constructed from any suitable material that is capable of being formed into a sleeve and wrapped about a pot and a floral grouping disposed therein. Preferably, the material comprises treated or untreated paper, metal foil, polymer film, non-polymer film, woven or nonwoven fabric, or synthetic or natural fabric, cardboard, fiber, cloth, burlap, or laminations or combinations thereof.
• In one embodiment, the sleeves contemplated herein may be constructed from sheets comprising two polypropylene films. The material comprising the sleeves may be connected together or laminated or may be separate layers. In an alternative embodiment, the sleeves may be constructed from only one sheet of the polypropylene film.
• The term “polymer film” means a synthetic polymer such as a polypropylene or a naturally occurring polymer such as cellophane. A polymer 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 sleeves may 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 and may be applied to the upper and/or lower surface of the material comprising the sleeves. Moreover, portions of the material used in constructing the sleeves may vary in the combination of such characteristics. The material utilized for the sleeves 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 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”.
• 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 may optionally be disposed on a portion of any of the sleeves described herein to attach each sleeve to a pot having a floral grouping therein when such a pot is disposed within the sleeve or to assist in closing or sealing the upper portion of the sleeve or in adhering the sleeve to 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.
• Theupper portion124 or134 of thesleeve120 or130, respectively, may also have an additional substantial vertically disposed detaching element comprising a plurality of vertical perforations (not shown) for facilitating removal of theupper portion124 or134 thereof from thelower portion122 or132, 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 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 sleeves contemplated herein may have an open or closed lower end. When the lower end is closed, the lower end may have one or more gussets as described elsewhere herein formed therein for allowing expansion of the lower end when an object with a broad lower end such as a pot is disposed therein. In another version, the sleeve may comprise a flap which can be folded over and sealed with a bonding material to close the sleeve.
• The term “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, pots made from natural and/or synthetic fibers, and/or any combination thereof. The pot is adapted to receive a floral grouping in the 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 flower pot for cultivating the floral grouping or displaying a grown floral grouping.
• 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 the sleeve for preventing the bonding material from bonding to another surface until the desired time. Further, in each of the cases described herein wherein a sleeve is applied to a pot or a covered pot, the sleeve may be applied thereto either by depositing the pot or covered pot downwardly into the open retaining space of the sleeve, or the sleeve may be brought upwardly about the pot or covered pot from below the pot or a covered 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 (17)

1. A sleeve initially constructed in a flattened condition and openable therefrom, comprising:

an upper end, a lower end, a first side, a second side, and a first panel and a second panel which are connected along the first side and the second side, the sleeve in the flattened condition having a single arcuate portion in or near the lower end thereof, the first side having a first angle which faces inwardly and which is greater than 90° and less than 180° and the second side having a second angle which faces inwardly and which is greater than 90° and less than 180°, the first angle, second angle, and single arcuate portion cooperating to define an angular arcuate portion of the sleeve when the sleeve is in the flattened condition prior to being opened and the sleeve having a generally tapered shape when in an opened condition and absent a gusset in the lower end when in the flattened condition.

2. The sleeve ofclaim 1 wherein the first angle is between about 120° and about 160° and the second angle is between about 120° and about 160°.

3. The sleeve ofclaim 1 wherein the first angle is between about 135° and about 155° and the second angle is between about 135° and about 155°.

4. The sleeve ofclaim 1 further comprising a detachable upper portion and a detaching element for permitting detachment of the detachable upper portion of the sleeve.

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

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

7. The sleeve ofclaim 4 wherein the detachable upper portion is adapted to support the sleeve from a support assembly.

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

9. The sleeve ofclaim 1 wherein the upper end has a non-linear edge.

10. A sleeve initially constructed in a flattened condition and openable therefrom, comprising:

an upper end, a lower end, a first side, a second side, and a first panel and a second panel which are connected along the first side and the second side, the sleeve in the flattened condition having a single arcuate portion in or near the lower end thereof, and the first side having a first angle and a second angle, both of which face inwardly, and both of which are each between about 110° and about 175° and the second side having a third angle and a fourth angle, both of which face inwardly and both of which are each between about 110° and about 175°, the first angle, second angle, third angle, fourth angle and the single arcuate portion cooperating to define an angular arcuate portion of the sleeve when the sleeve is in the flattened condition prior to being opened and the sleeve having a generally tapered shape when in an opened condition and absent a gusset in the lower end when in the flattened condition.

11. The sleeve ofclaim 10 wherein the first angle and the third angle are between about 125° and about 150°, and wherein the second angle and the fourth angle are between about 125° and about 150°.

12. The sleeve ofclaim 10 further comprising a detachable upper portion.

13. The sleeve ofclaim 12 wherein the detachable upper portion is detachable via perforations in the sleeve.

14. The sleeve ofclaim 12 wherein the detachable upper portion is sized to substantially surround and enclose a floral grouping.

15. The sleeve ofclaim 12 wherein the detachable upper portion is adapted to support the sleeve from a support assembly.

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

17. The sleeve ofclaim 10 wherein the upper end has a non-linear edge.

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