Decorative plant cover with attached sleeve

• US 5,595,023 A
• Filed: 06/05/1995
• Issued: 01/21/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Southpac Trust International
• Original Assignee: Southpac Trust International
• Inventors: Weder, Donald E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Raduazo, Henry E.
• Application Number:
  US08/465,510
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 47/72, 229/400, 206/428
• US Class Current: 47/72
• 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 comprising a combination of a protective sleeve portion and a decorative cover portion having a base and skirt for packaging a potted plant. The protective sleeve can be detached from the decorative portion of the package system once the protective function of the sleeve has been completed, thereby exposing the decorative cover and allowing the skirt portion to extend angularly from the base. The protective sleeve and decorative cover components may comprise a unitary construction or may comprise separate components which are attached together by various bonding materials.

Claims

1. A plant cover for covering a pot means having an outer peripheral surface, comprising:

a base portion preformed to fit about a pot means having a specific size and shape and having a lower end, an upper end, an outer peripheral surface, an inner peripheral surface, and having an opening extending from the upper end to the lower end;

a skirt portion attached to the base portion and extending a distance beyond the upper end of the base portion; and

a sleeve portion bondingly connected by an adhesive or cohesive to a surface of the base portion and extending from the upper end of the base portion and detachable therefrom and wherein when the sleeve portion is detached from the upper end of the base portion, the skirt portion is exposed allowing the skirt portion to extend angularly from the base portion.

2. The plant cover of claim 1 wherein the base portion is further defined as being sized to substantially cover the outer peripheral surface of the pot means.

3. The plant cover of claim 1 wherein the base portion comprises a bonding material for bondingly connecting to the sleeve portion.

4. The plant cover of claim 1 wherein the base portion comprises a bonding material for bondingly connecting to a pot disposed within the base portion.

5. The plant cover of claim 1 wherein the sleeve portion comprises a bonding material for bondingly connecting to the base portion.

6. The plant cover of claim 1 wherein the base portion comprises a bonding material for bondingly connecting to the sleeve portion and the sleeve portion comprises a bonding material for bondingly connecting to the base portion.

7. The plant cover of claim 1 further defined as constructed from a material having a thickness in a range of from about 0.1 mils to about 30 mils.

8. The plant cover of claim 1 further defined as constructed from a material having a thickness in a range of from about 0.5 mils to about 10 mils.

9. The plant cover of claim 1 further defined as constructed from a material having a thickness in a range of from about 1 mil to about 5 mils.

10. The plant cover of claim 1 further defined as constructed from a material selected from the group consisting of treated or untreated paper, cellophane, metal foil, polymer film, non-polymer film, cardboard, fiber, cloth, burlap, and laminations or combinations thereof.

11. The plant cover of claim 1 wherein the sleeve portion is detachable via a detaching means selected from the group consisting of perforations, tear strips and zippers.

12. The plant cover of claim 1 further comprising an extended portion of the sleeve portion for serving as a handle or support means.

13. The plant cover of claim 1 wherein the sleeve portion is connected to a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the base portion and wherein the sleeve, when attached to the base portion, encloses the skirt portion.

14. The plant cover of claim 1 wherein the sleeve portion is connected to a portion of the inner peripheral surface of the base portion, the skirt portion disposed outside a portion of the sleeve portion.

15. The plant cover of claim 1 wherein the sleeve portion has an upper end which has adhesive or cohesive means thereon for sealing the upper end of the sleeve portion.

16. The plant cover of claim 1 wherein an upper portion of the sleeve is detachable thereby leaving a lower portion of the sleeve remaining on the base portion.

17. A plant package, comprising:

a base portion preformed to fit about a pot means having a specific size and shape and having a lower end, an upper end, an inner peripheral surface, an outer peripheral surface, and having an opening extending from the upper end to the lower end, and an inner pot retaining space;

a skirt portion attached to the base portion and extending a distance beyond the upper end of the base portion;

a sleeve portion bondingly connected by an adhesive or cohesive to a surface of the base portion and detachable therefrom and extending a distance beyond the upper end of the base portion and wherein when the sleeve portion is detached from the base portion, the skirt portion is exposed allowing the skirt portion to be extended angularly from the base portion; and

a pot means disposed within the inner retaining space of the base portion, the pot means having a floral grouping disposed therein, and wherein the pot means is substantially surrounded and encompassed by the base portion and the floral grouping is substantially surrounded and encompassed by the sleeve portion.

18. The plant package of claim 17 wherein the base portion is further defined as being sized to substantially cover the outer peripheral surface of the pot means.

19. The plant package of claim 17 wherein the base portion comprises a bonding material for bondingly connecting to the sleeve portion.

20. The plant package of claim 17 wherein the base portion comprises a bonding material for bondingly connecting to the pot means disposed within the base portion.

21. The plant package of claim 17 wherein the sleeve portion comprises a bonding material for bondingly connecting to the base portion.

22. The plant package of claim 17 wherein the base portion comprises a bonding material for bondingly connecting to the sleeve portion and the sleeve portion comprises a bonding material for bondingly connecting to the base portion.

23. The plant package of claim 17 wherein the base portion, skirt portion and sleeve portion are further defined as constructed from materials having a thickness in a range of from about 0.1 mils to about 30 mils.

24. The plant package of claim 17 wherein the base portion, skirt portion and sleeve portion are further defined as constructed from materials having a thickness in a range of from about 0.5 mils to about 10 mils.

25. The plant package of claim 17 wherein the base portion, skirt portion and sleeve portion are further defined as constructed from materials having a thickness in a range of from about 1 mil to about 5 mils.

26. The plant package of claim 17 wherein the base portion, skirt portion and sleeve portion are further defined as constructed from materials selected from the group consisting of treated or untreated paper, cellophane, metal foil, polymer film, non-polymer film, cardboard, fiber, cloth, burlap, and laminations or combinations thereof.

27. The plant package of claim 17 wherein the sleeve portion is detachable via a detaching means selected from the group consisting of perforations, tear strips and zippers.

28. The plant cover of claim 17 wherein the sleeve portion is connected to a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the base portion and wherein the sleeve, when attached to the base portion, encloses the skirt portion.

29. The plant cover of claim 17 wherein the sleeve portion is connected to a portion of the inner peripheral surface of the base portion, the skirt portion disposed outside a portion of the sleeve portion.

30. The plant cover of claim 17 wherein the sleeve portion has an upper end which has adhesive or cohesive means thereon for sealing the upper end of the sleeve portion.

31. The plant cover of claim 17 wherein an upper portion of the sleeve is detachable thereby leaving a lower portion of the sleeve remaining on the base portion.