Method of containing a botanical item

• US 20020069612A1
• Filed: 01/11/2002
• Published: 06/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1994
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donald E. Weder
• Original Assignee: Donald E. Weder
• Inventors: Weder, Donald E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,530,193 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 53/397
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 5/04 Mountings for wreaths, or the like; Racks or holders for flowers
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 7/085 made of flexible sheets of non-resilient material
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 25/02 Packaging agricultural or horticultural products
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 25/026 Packaging flower pots
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/5827 Tear-lines provided in a wall portion B65D75/5805, B65D75/5816 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/36 adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/505 for cut flowers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/52 for living plants; for growing bulbs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 383/907 Peculiar, particular shape

Abstract

A plant packaging system and method comprising a combination of a protective upper portion and a decorative lower portion having a base portion and a skirt portion for packaging a potted plant or a botanical item and a growing medium without a pot. The upper portion may be detachable from the lower portion of the sleeve. The lower portion may have a skirt portion which has a non-linear upper peripheral edge. The lower portion may be tapered and may have a gusset in the lower end.

Claims

99. A method of containing a botanical item, comprising:

providing a tubular sleeve comprising a lower portion having an upper end, a closed lower end, an inner peripheral surface, an outer peripheral surface, and an inner retaining space defined by the inner peripheral surface, the lower portion initially having a flattened state which is converted to an open state for receiving the growing medium and botanical item and having an opening formed through the upper end in communication with the inner retaining space, the lower portion having a base portion and a skirt portion, the skirt portion comprising a plurality of portions extending from the base portion, and

an upper portion connected to the lower portion and detachable therefrom via a detaching element;

providing a growing medium and the botanical item;

disposing the growing medium and botanical item into the inner retaining space of the lower portion of the tubular sleeve without a pot; and

separating the upper portion of the tubular sleeve from the lower portion by detaching the upper portion along the detaching element forming an edge along the upper end of the lower portion.

100. The method of claim 99 wherein in the step of providing a tubular sleeve, the tubular sleeve is further defined as constructed from a material having a thickness in a range of from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mils.

101. The method of claim 99 wherein in the step of providing a tubular sleeve, the tubular sleeve is further defined as constructed from a material having a thickness in a range of from about 0.5 mil to about 10 mils.

102. The method of claim 99 wherein in the step of providing a tubular sleeve, the tubular sleeve is further defined as constructed from a material having a thickness in a range of from about 1 mil to about 5 mils.

103. The method of claim 99 wherein in the step of providing a tubular sleeve, the tubular sleeve is further defined as constructed from a material selected from the group consisting of treated or untreated paper, metal foil, polymeric film, non-polymeric film, cardboard, fiber, cloth, burlap, and laminations or combinations thereof.

104. The method of claim 99 wherein in the step of providing the tubular sleeve, the detaching element is selected from the group consisting of perforations, tear strips, and zippers.

105. The method of claim 99 wherein in the step of providing the tubular sleeve, the tubular sleeve is further defined as comprising an extended portion for serving as a handle or support element.

127. The method of claim 99 wherein in the step of providing the tubular sleeve, the closed lower end has a gusset.

128. The method of claim 99 wherein in the step of providing the tubular sleeve, the upper portion is adapted to support the tubular sleeve from a wicket.

129. The method of claim 99 wherein in the step of providing the tubular sleeve, the tubular sleeve has a drainage hole therein.

130. The method of claim 99 wherein in the step of providing the tubular sleeve, the upper portion is sized to substantially surround and encompass a bloom portion of the botanical item.

131. A method of containing a botanical item, comprising:

providing a tubular sleeve comprising a lower portion having an upper end, a closed lower end, an inner peripheral surface, an outer peripheral surface and an inner retaining space defined by the inner peripheral surface, the lower portion initially having a flattened state which is converted to an open state for receiving a growing medium and the botanical item and having an opening formed through the upper end in communication with the inner retaining space, the lower portion having a base portion and a skirt portion, the skirt portion comprising a plurality of portions extending from the base portion, and

an upper portion connected to the lower portion and detachable therefrom via a detaching element;

separating the upper portion of the tubular sleeve from the lower portion by detaching the upper portion along the detaching element forming an edge along the upper end of the lower portion;

providing the growing medium and the botanical item; and

disposing the growing medium and botanical item in the inner retaining space of the lower portion of the tubular sleeve without a pot.

132. The method of claim 131 wherein in the step of providing a tubular sleeve, the tubular sleeve is further defined as constructed from a material having a thickness in a range of from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mils.

133. The method of claim 131 wherein in the step of providing a tubular sleeve, the tubular sleeve is further defined as constructed from a material having a thickness in a range of from about 0.5 mil to about 10 mils.

134. The method of claim 131 wherein in the step of providing a tubular sleeve, the tubular sleeve is further defined as constructed from a material having a thickness in a range of from about 1 mil to about 5 mils.

135. The method of claim 131 wherein in the step of providing a tubular sleeve, the tubular sleeve is further defined as constructed from a material s elected from the group consisting of treated or untreated paper, metal foil, polymeric film, non-polymeric film, cardboard, fiber, cloth, burlap, and laminations or combinations thereof.

136. The method of claim 131 wherein in the step of providing the tubular sleeve, the detaching element is selected from the group consisting of perforations, tear strips, and zippers.

137. The method of claim 131 wherein in the step of providing the tubular sleeve, the tubular sleeve is further defined as comprising an extended portion for serving as a handle or support element.

138. The method of claim 131 wherein in the step of providing the tubular sleeve, the closed lower end has a gusset.

139. The method of claim 131 wherein in the step of providing the tubular sleeve, the upper portion is adapted to support the tubular sleeve from a wicket.

140. The method of claim 131 wherein in the step of providing the tubular sleeve, the tubular sleeve has a drainage hole therein.

141. The method of claim 131 wherein in the step of providing the tubular sleeve, the upper portion is sized to substantially surround and encompass a bloom portion of the botanical item.

142. A method of containing a botanical item, comprising:

providing a tubular sleeve comprising a lower portion having an upper end, a closed lower end, an inner peripheral surface, an outer peripheral surface and an inner retaining space defined by the inner peripheral surface, the lower portion initially having a flattened state which is converted to an open state for receiving a growing medium and the botanical item and having an opening formed through the upper end in communication with the inner retaining space, the lower portion having a base portion and a skirt portion, the skirt portion comprising a plurality of portions extending from the base portion, and

an upper portion connected to the lower portion and detachable therefrom via a detaching element;

providing the growing medium and the botanical item;

disposing the growing medium and botanical item in the inner retaining space of the lower portion of the tubular sleeve without a pot; and

separating the upper portion of the tubular sleeve from the lower portion by detaching the upper portion along the detaching element forming a non-linear edge along the upper end of the lower portion.

143. The method of claim 142 wherein in the step of providing a tubular sleeve, the tubular sleeve is further defined as constructed from a material having a thickness in a range of from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mils.

144. The method of claim 142 wherein in the step of providing a tubular sleeve, the tubular sleeve is further defined as constructed from a material having a thickness in a range of from about 0.5 mil to about 10 mils.

145. The method of claim 142 wherein in the step of providing a tubular sleeve, the tubular sleeve is further defined as constructed from a material having a thickness in a range of from about 1 mil to about 5 mils.

146. The method of claim 142 wherein in the step of providing a tubular sleeve, the tubular sleeve is further defined as constructed from a material selected from the group consisting of treated or untreated paper, metal foil, polymer film, non-polymer film, cardboard, fiber, cloth, burlap, and laminations or combinations thereof.

147. The method of claim 142 wherein in the step of providing the tubular sleeve, the detaching element is selected from the group consisting of perforations, tear strips, and zippers.

148. The method of claim 142 wherein in the step of providing the tubular sleeve, the tubular sleeve is further defined as comprising an extended portion for serving as a handle or support element.

149. The method of claim 142 wherein in the step of providing the tubular sleeve, the closed lower end has a gusset.

150. The method of claim 142 wherein in the step of providing the tubular sleeve, the upper portion is adapted to support the tubular sleeve from a wicket.

151. The method of claim 142 wherein in the step of providing the tubular sleeve, the tubular sleeve has a drainage hole therein.

152. The method of claim 142 wherein in the step of providing the tubular sleeve, the upper portion is sized to substantially surround and encompass a bloom portion of the botanical item.

153. (New) A method of containing a botanical item, comprising:

providing a tubular sleeve comprising a lower portion having an upper end, a closed lower end, an inner peripheral surface, an outer peripheral surface and an inner retaining space defined by the inner peripheral surface, the lower portion initially having a flattened state which is converted to an open state for receiving a growing medium and the botanical item and having an opening formed through the upper end in communication with the inner retaining space, the lower portion having a base portion and a skirt portion, the skirt portion comprising a plurality of portions extending from the base portion, and

an upper portion connected to the lower portion and detachable therefrom via a detaching element;

separating the upper portion of the tubular sleeve from the lower portion by detaching the upper portion along the detaching element forming a non-linear edge along the upper end of the lower portion;

providing the growing medium and the botanical item; and

disposing the growing medium and botanical item in the inner retaining space of the lower portion of the tubular sleeve without a pot.

154. The method of claim 153 wherein in the step of providing a tubular sleeve, the tubular sleeve is further defined as constructed from a material having a thickness in a range of from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mils.

155. The method of claim 153 wherein in the step of providing a tubular sleeve, the tubular sleeve is further defined as constructed from a material having a thickness in a range of from about 0.5 mil to about 10 mils.

156. The method of claim 153 wherein in the step of providing a tubular sleeve, the tubular sleeve is further defined as constructed from a material having a thickness in a range of from about 1 mil to about 5 mils.

157. The method of claim 153 wherein in the step of providing a tubular sleeve, the tubular sleeve is further defined as constructed from a material s elected from the group consisting of treated or untreated paper, metal foil, polymeric film, non-polymeric film, cardboard, fiber, cloth, burlap, and laminations or combinations thereof.

158. The method of claim 153 wherein in the step of providing the tubular sleeve, the detaching element is selected from the group consisting of perforations, tear strips, and zippers.

159. The method of claim 153 wherein in the step of providing the tubular sleeve, the tubular sleeve is further defined as comprising an extended portion for serving as a handle or support element.

160. The method of claim 153 wherein in the step of providing the tubular sleeve, the closed lower end has a gusset.

161. The method of claim 153 wherein in the step of providing the tubular sleeve, the upper portion is adapted to support the tubular sleeve from a wicket.

162. The method of claim 153 wherein in the step of providing the tubular sleeve, the tubular sleeve has a drainage hole therein.

163. The method of claim 153 wherein in the step of providing the tubular sleeve, the upper portion is sized to substantially surround and encompass a bloom portion of the botanical item.

164. A method of containing a botanical item, comprising:

providing a tubular sleeve comprising a lower portion having an upper end, a closed lower end, an inner peripheral surface, an outer peripheral surface and an inner retaining space defined by the inner peripheral surface, the lower portion initially having a flattened state which is converted to an open state for receiving a growing medium and the botanical item and having an opening formed through the upper end in communication with the inner retaining space, the lower portion having a base portion and a skirt portion, the skirt portion comprising a plurality of portions extending from the base portion, and

an upper portion connected to the lower portion and detachable therefrom via a detaching element;

providing the growing medium and the botanical item; and

disposing the growing medium and botanical item in the interior space of the lower portion of the tubular sleeve without a pot.

165. The method of claim 164 wherein in the step of providing a tubular sleeve, the tubular sleeve is further defined as constructed from a material having a thickness in a range of from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mils.

166. The method of claim 164 wherein in the step of providing a tubular sleeve, the tubular sleeve is further defined as constructed from a material having a thickness in a range of from about 0.5 mil to about 10 mils.

167. The method of claim 164 wherein in the step of providing a tubular sleeve, the tubular sleeve is further defined as constructed from a material having a thickness in a range of from about 1 mil to about 5 mils.

168. The method of claim 164 wherein in the step of providing a tubular sleeve, the tubular sleeve is further defined as constructed from a material selected from the group consisting of treated or untreated paper, metal foil, polymer film, non-polymer film, cardboard, fiber, cloth, burlap, and laminations or combinations thereof.

169. The method of claim 164 wherein in the step of providing the tubular sleeve, the detaching element is selected from the group consisting of perforations, tear strips, and zippers.

170. The method of claim 164 wherein in the step of providing the tubular sleeve, the tubular sleeve is further defined as comprising an extended portion for serving as a handle or support element.

171. The method of claim 164 wherein in the step of providing the tubular sleeve, the closed lower end having a gusset.

172. The method of claim 164 wherein in the step of providing the tubular sleeve, the upper portion is adapted to support the tubular sleeve from a wicket.

173. The method of claim 164 wherein in the step of providing the tubular sleeve, the tubular sleeve has a drainage hole therein.

174. The method of claim 164 wherein in the step of providing the tubular sleeve, the upper portion is sized to substantially surround and encompass a bloom portion of the botanical item.