FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention generally relates to sleeves, and, more particularly, sleeves used to wrap floral groupings or flower pots containing floral groupings and/or mediums containing floral groupings, and methods of using same.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a side perspective view of a sleeve having a base portion with a decorative pattern having a curved upper boundary and having an upper detachable portion and constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a potted plant disposed within the sleeve of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the sleeve and potted plant of Figure 2 after the upper portion of the sleeve has been removed from the base portion of the sleeve.

Figure 4 is a side view of another sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 5 is a side view of another sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 6 is a side view of another sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 7 is a side view of yet another sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 8 is a side view of yet another sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 9 is a side view of yet another sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 10 is a side view of yet another sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 11 is a side view of yet another sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 12A is a side view of a sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention and having a decorative pattern having an upper boundary having a crenate or scalloped pattern.

Figure 12B is a side view of a sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention and having a decorative pattern having an upper boundary having an inverted crenate or inverted scalloped pattern.

Figure 12C is a side view of a sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention and having a decorative pattern having an upper boundary having a crenulate, toothed, or zig-zag pattern.

Figure 12D is a side view of a sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention and having a decorative pattern having an upper boundary having a crenelated or rectangular-shaped pattern.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention contemplates in a preferred version a preformed tubular sleeve for covering a pot means having an upper end, a lower end, and an outer peripheral surface. Said preformed sleeve comprises a base portion having an upper end, a lower end, and an interior space. The preformed sleeve may further comprise a detachable upper sleeve portion generally sized to surround and enclose a floral grouping. The upper portion when present may be detachable via perforations, tear strips, weakened areas, or zippers. The upper sleeve portion may have one or more apertures or an extended upper portion for serving as a handle or support device.

The tubular sleeve may form part of a plant package when used in conjunction with a pot assembly disposed within the retaining space of the base portion of the tubular sleeve, the pot assembly having a floral grouping disposed therein, and wherein the pot assembly is substantially surrounded and encompassed by the base portion and the floral grouping is substantially surrounded and encompassed and enclosed by the upper sleeve portion when it forms a part of the preformed sleeve.

Also, the base portion may comprise a bonding material <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> disposed on an inner portion thereof for bondingly connecting to a pot disposed therein. Or the bonding material may be disposed on an outer portion thereof.

The base portion of the preformed tubular sleeve may be constructed from a first material and the upper portion (where present) constructed from a second material different from the first material. The preformed sleeve may comprise a portion of a plant package which additionally comprises a pot assembly disposed within the sleeve, the pot assembly having a floral grouping disposed therein, and wherein the pot of the pot assembly is substantially surrounded and encompassed by the base portion.

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.

The Embodiments and Methods of Use of Figures 1-12D Shown in Figure 1 and designated therein by the general reference numeral 10 is a flexible preformed sleeve of unitary construction. The sleeve 10 preferably initially comprises a flexible flat collapsed piece of material which is openable in the form of a tube or sleeve. In an alternative embodiment, the sleeve may be formed in an opened frusto-conical configuration. The sleeve 10 is preferably tapered outwardly from the lower end toward

a larger diameter at its upper end. In its flattened state the sleeve 10 has an overall trapezoidal or modified trapezoidal shape, and when opened is substantially frusto-conical to coniform. It will be appreciated, however, that the sleeve 10 may comprise variations on the aforementioned shapes or may comprise significantly altered shapes such as square or rectangular, wherein the sleeve 10 when opened has a cylindrical form, as long as the sleeve 10 functions in accordance with the present invention in the manner described herein.

The sleeve 10 has an upper end 12, a lower end 14, an outer peripheral surface 16 and in its flattened state has a first side 18 and a second side 20. The sleeve 10 has an opening 22 at the upper end 12 and may be open at the lower end 14 (not shown), or closed with a bottom at the lower end 14. The sleeve 10 also has an inner peripheral surface 24 which, when the sleeve 10 is opened, defines and encompasses an inner retaining space as indicated in Figure 5. When the lower end 14 of the sleeve 10 is closed, a portion of the lower end 14 may be inwardly or outwardly folded to form one or more gussets 26 constructed in a manner well known to one of ordinary skill in the art as shown in Figure 1 for permitting a bottom of an object such as a potted plant to be disposed into the inner retaining space of the lower end 14 of the sleeve 10. Further the lower end 14 may be constructed in the manner shown in copending U. S. Serial No. 08/606,957, the specification of which is hereby incorporated herein in its

entirety. Figure 2 shows a sleeve 10a formed without a gusset in the lower end 14a.

The sleeve 10 is generally frusto-conically shaped, but the sleeve 10 may be, by way of example but not by way of limitation, cylindrical, frusto-conical, a combination of both frusto-conical and cylindrical, or any other shape, as long as the sleeve 10 functions as described herein as noted above. Further, the sleeve 10 may comprise any shape, whether geometric, non-geometric, asymmetrical and/or fanciful as long as it functions in accordance with the present invention. The sleeve 10 may also be equipped with drainage means (e. g., one or more holes) in the base portion or bottom thereof or ventilation holes (not shown) in the base or upper portion, or can be made from permeable or impermeable materials.

The material from which the sleeve 10 is constructed preferably has a thickness in a range from about 0.1 mils to about 30 mils. Often, the thickness of the sleeve 10 is in a range from about 0.5 mils to about 10 mils. Preferably, the sleeve 10 has a thickness in a range from about 1.0 mil to about 5 mils. More preferably, the sleeve 10 is constructed from a material which is flexible, semi-rigid, rigid, or any combination thereof. The sleeve 10 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 sleeve 10

may be connected together or laminated or may be separate layers.

Such materials used to construct the sleeve 10 are described in U. S. Patent No. 5,111,637 entitled"Method For Wrapping A Floral Grouping"issued to Weder et al., on May 12,1992, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Any thickness of material may be utilized in accordance with the present invention as long as the sleeve 10 may be formed as described herein, and as long as the formed sleeve 10 may contain at least a portion of a pot or potted plant or a 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.

In one embodiment, the sleeve 10 may be constructed from a sheet comprising two polypropylene films. The material comprising the sleeve 10 may be connected together or laminated or may be separate layers. In an alternative embodiment, the sleeve 10 may be constructed from only one of the polypropylene films.

The sleeve 10 is 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 paper (untreated or treated in any manner), cellophane, metal foil, polymer film, non-polymer film, fabric (woven or nonwoven or synthetic or natural), cardboard, fiber, cloth, burlap, or laminations or combinations thereof.

The term"polymer film"means a man-made 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 material comprising the sleeve 10 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 entitled"Water Based Ink On Foil And/Or Synthetic Organic Polymer"issued to Kingman on Sep. 15,1992 and which is hereby 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 sleeve 10. Moreover, portions of the material used in constructing the sleeve 10 may vary in the combination of such characteristics. The material utilized for the sleeve 10 itself 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 bouquet or 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 the sleeve 10 to attach the sleeve 10 to the pot having the 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 10 or in adhering the sleeve 10 to the pot after the pot has been disposed therein, as will be discussed in further detail below.

It will be understood that the bonding material may be disposed as a strip or block on a surface of the sleeve 10.

Further, the bonding material may be disposed as spots of bonding material, or in any other geometric, non-geometric, asymmetric, or fanciful form, and in any pattern including covering either the entire inner peripheral surface and/or outer peripheral surface of the sleeve 10 and/or the pot or pot cover. The bonding material may be covered by a cover or release strip which can be removed prior to the use of the sleeve, pot or pot cover. The bonding material can be applied by means known to those of ordinary skill in their art. One method for disposing a bonding material, in this case an adhesive, is described in U. S. Patent No. 5,111,637

entitled"Method For Wrapping A Floral Grouping"issued to Weder et al., on May 12,1992, which has been incorporated by reference above.

The term"bonding material or bonding means"when used herein means an adhesive, frequently a pressure sensitive adhesive, or a cohesive. When the bonding material is a cohesive, a similar cohesive material must be placed on the adjacent surface for bondingly contacting and bondingly engaging with the cohesive material. The term"bonding material or bonding means"also includes materials which are heat sealable and, in this instance, the adjacent portions of the material must be brought into contact and then heat must be applied to effect the seal. The term "bonding material or bonding means"also includes materials which are sonic sealable and vibratory sealable. The term"bonding material or bonding means"when used herein also means a heat sealing lacquer or hot melt material which may be applied to the material and, in this instance, heat, sound waves, or vibrations, also must be applied to effect the sealing.

Alternatively, a cold seal adhesive may be utilized as the bonding material or means. The cold seal adhesive adheres only to a similar substrate, acting similarly as a cohesive, and binds only to itself. The cold seal adhesive, since it bonds only to a similar substrate, does not cause a residue to build up on equipment, thereby both permitting much more rapid disposition and use of such equipment to form articles and reducing labor costs.

Further, since no heat is required to effect the seal, the dwell

time, that is, the time for the sheet of material to form and retain the shape of an article, such as a flower pot cover or flower pot, is reduced. A cold seal adhesive binds quickly and easily with minimal pressure, and such a seal is not readily releasable. This characteristic is different from, for example, a pressure sensitive adhesive.

As shown in Figure 1, the sleeve 10 in one embodiment is demarcated into an upper portion 30 and a lower, or base, portion 32. The base portion 32 of the sleeve 10 is generally sized to contain a potted plant. Preferably, the base portion 32 is tapered to fit the shape of a standard pot. The upper portion 30 of the sleeve 10 is sized to substantially surround and enclose a floral grouping contained within the potted plant disposed within the base portion 32 of the sleeve 10. The sleeve 10 is demarcated into the upper portion 30 and the base portion 32 by a detaching element 34 for enabling the detachment of the upper portion 30 of the sleeve 10 from the base portion 32 of the sleeve 10. In the present version, the detaching element 34 is a plurality of horizontally- oriented perforations comprising a horizontal line which extends circumferentially across the outer peripheral surface 16 of the sleeve 10 from the first side 18 to the second side 20. The term "detaching element,"or"detaching means"as used generally herein, means any element or means, or combination of elements, or features, such as, but not by way of limitation, 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 elements"known in the art, or any combination thereof, could be substituted therefore and/or used therewith.

In a preferred embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, the sleeve 10 has a decorative pattern 36 disposed upon or inherent to the base portion 32. The decorative pattern 36 has a curved upper boundary 38 positioned below the detaching element 34, which in the preferred embodiment is a horizontal line of perforations. The decorative pattern 36 may be a solid color, or multicolored print, or may be comprised of a plurality of individual patterns such as a floral print composed of a pattern of leaves and blossoms.

Between the detaching element 34 and the curved upper boundary 38 is a clear zone 40 comprising an unprinted zone which is clear and transparent, and has no printing thereon. The curved upper boundary 38 may comprise a distinct demarcation between the clear zone 40 and the decorative pattern 36, or may comprise less definite boundary (for example, comprising edges of a floral print, but which when viewed from a distance still provides the sleeve 10 with an appearance of having a curved upper boundary 38. The decorative pattern 36 may cover all of, or just a portion of, the base portion 32 below the clear zone 40. In a preferred embodiment the curved upper boundary 38 has a plurality of peaks 42 and troughs 44. The peaks 42 are preferably within about 0.0 mm to about 25 mm of the detaching element 34 and the troughs 44 are

generally about 10 mm to about 60 mm below the detaching element 34. These distances are not absolute and the peaks 42 and troughs 44 of the curved upper boundary 38 may be lesser or greater than the distances listed above.

The decorative pattern 34 may be disposed upon or inherent to the entire surface of the base portion 32 below the clear zone 40, or it may be disposed upon only a portion of the surface of the base portion 32.

Shown in Figure 2 is a potted plant 48 disposed within the sleeve 10. The potted plant 48 comprises a pot 50 which has an upper rim 52 and a plant or floral grouping 54 disposed within the pot 50. When the upper portion 30 of the sleeve 10 is removed (Figure 3), the lower portion 32 is left remaining as a decorative covering 56 about the potted plant 48. Although the decorative covering 48 now has a substantially straight upper edge 58, the decorative covering has the appearance, or illusion, of having a curved upper edge, due to the curved upper boundary 38 of the decorative pattern 36 on the base portion 32 and since the clear zone 40 is clear and transparent, and therefore inconspicuous.

Three other embodiments of the invention are shown in Figures 4-6. Figure 4 shows a sleeve lOa which is exactly the same as sleeve 10 except sleeve lOa has apertures for enabling a plurality of sleeves lOa to be placed on a support device such as a wicket (not shown). Sleeve lOa has an upper portion 30a which is sized to substantially enclose a floral grouping. As shown in Figure 4, sleeve lOa does not have a gusset, but one of ordinary skill in the

art will understand that the sleeve lOa could be manufactured with a gusset in the lower end thereof. Figure 5 shows a sleeve lOb having an upper portion 30b which has apertures 60 for use in <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> supporting the sleeve lOb from a support device. Unlike the upper portion 30a of sleeve 10a, the upper portion 30b of sleeve lOb is not sized to enclose a floral grouping and is intended to be removed from the base portion 32b before the sleeve lOb is placed about a pot as a decorative covering. Further, as shown in Figure 6, sleeve lOc is the same as sleeves 10-lOb except it is constructed without a detachable upper portion such that sleeve lOc has a base portion 32c having a substantially straight upper edge 62. In effect, when sleeve lOc is placed as a decorative covering about a pot, it has the same overall appearance as the decorative covering 56 in Figure 3, after the upper portion 30 has been removed from sleeve 10.

Other embodiments of the present invention are shown in Figures 7-11. Shown in Figure 7 is sleeve 10d which is the same as sleeve 10 except sleeve 10d has a lower end 14d which has a curved end 64, rather than a straight end. Sleeve 10d is shown as having a detachable upper portion 30d, but it will be appreciated that sleeve 10d may be constructed having an upper portion similar to sleeves lOa or lOb, or may be constructed without an upper portion similar to sleeve lOc.

Figure 8 shows a sleeve lOe which may be constructed exactly the same as any of sleeves 10-lOb or 10d except a closure bonding material 66 is disposed on or near an upper end portion of the

upper portion 30e of the sleeve lOe for enabling closure of the upper portion 30e after a potted plant has been disposed within the sleeve 10e.

Figure 9 shows a sleeve lOf having a bonding material 68 disposed upon a portion of the inner surface of a base portion 32f of the sleeve lOf, otherwise the sleeve lOf may be constructed in a manner similar to any of sleeves 10-lOe. The bonding material 68 may be used to attach the base portion 32f to a pot disposed therein, or it may be used in forming a crimped portion (not shown) in the base portion 32f after a pot is disposed therein.

Figure 10 shows a sleeve lOg which may be constructed the same as any of sleeves 10-lOf, except sleeve lOg has a bonding material 70 on an outer surface of the base portion 32g thereof. The bonding material 70 may be used to form a crimped portion (not shown) in the lower portion 32g.

Figure 11 shows a sleeve lOh having an aperture 72 in an upper end of the upper portion 30h for use as a handle, for enabling the sleeve lOh having a pot disposed therein to be carried. Sleeve lOh may be constructed the same as any of the sleeves described elsewhere herein which have an upper portion sized to enclose a potted plant.

The upper portion 30 of the sleeve 10 may also have an additional vertical detaching element comprising a plurality of vertical perforations (not shown) for facilitating removal of the upper portion 30 and which are disposed more or less vertically therein extending between the detaching element 34 of the sleeve 10

and the upper end 12. The upper portion 30 of the sleeve 10 is separable from the base portion 32 of the sleeve 10 by tearing the upper portion 30 along both the vertical perforations (when present) and the detaching element 34, thereby separating the upper portion 30 from the base portion 32 of the sleeve 10. The base portion 32 of the sleeve 10 remains disposed about the pot forming a decorative cover which substantially surrounds and encompasses the pot of the potted plant.

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. Therefore, further discussion of the construction of the covers described herein is not deemed necessary.

As noted above, any of sleeves 10-lOh may have an open or closed lower end. When the lower end is closed, the lower end may have one or more gussets 26 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 of sleeve 10e, the sleeve may comprise a flap positioned at the upper end of the upper portion 30e which can be folded over and sealed with a flap bonding strip to an adjacent portion of the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve near the upper end thereof. Other versions of the sleeve <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> (not shown) may comprise ventilation holes or drainage means (e. g., holes) in the base portion 32 for allowing movement of gases or moisture to and away from the inner space of the sleeve.

As noted above, it will generally be desired to use the sleeves described herein as coverings for a potted plant. As shown in Figure 2, the potted plant comprises a pot having an upper end, a lower end, an outer peripheral surface, and an inner peripheral surface which encompasses an inner space for retaining a floral grouping or plant. The lower end of the pot is closed but may have holes for permitting water drainage. The term"pot"as used herein refers to any type of container used for holding a floral grouping or plant. 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 mad/or synthetic fibers, or any combination thereof. The pot is adapted to receive a floral grouping in the retaining space. The floral grouping may be disposed within the pot along with a suitable growing medium described in further detail below, 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.

In an alternative version of the invention, a bonding material may be disposed on the outer surface of the pot while the sleeve 10-lOh is free of a bonding material. In this case, when the pot is disposed into the open sleeve, the bonding material on the outer peripheral surface of the pot engages a portion of the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve causing the sleeve to be bondingly connected to a portion of the outer surface of the pot.

In yet another version of the method of the present invention, a bonding material may be disposed on the both outer surface of the pot and the inner peripheral surface of any of the sleeves mentioned herein. In such a case, preferably the bonding material both of the pot and the sleeve is a cohesive which allows bonding to a surface covered with the cohesive but not to dissimilar surfaces.

As shown in Figures 1-11, the decorative pattern preferably comprises a curved upper boundary. However, the configuration of the upper boundary of the decorative pattern is not necessarily meant to be limited to a"curved"design and may be constructed in any number of other"non-linear"patterns, several being shown in Figures 12A-12D. For example, Figure 12A shows a sleeve lOi having an upper boundary 38i having a crenate or scalloped pattern.

Figure 12B shows sleeve lOj having an upper boundary 38j having a crenate or scalloped pattern which is inverted. Figure 12C shows a sleeve 10k having an upper boundary 38k having a crenulate toothed or zig-zag pattern. Figure 12D shows a sleeve 101 having an upper boundary 381 having a crenelated or rectangular-shaped pattern. One of ordinary skill in the art will understand these are but a few of the patterns that the perforations may form and one of ordinary skill could contemplate many other suitable patterns.

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.

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 e apertures, additional perforations, drainage means, 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.