U.S. patent application number 09/747227 was filed with the patent office on 2001-05-03 for flat sleeve convertible to a decorative container.
Invention is credited to Fantz, Paul, Straeter, Joseph G., Weder, Donald E..
Application Number | 20010000555 09/747227 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 24430227 |
Filed Date | 2001-05-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010000555 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Weder, Donald E. ; et
al. |
May 3, 2001 |
Flat sleeve convertible to a decorative container
Abstract
A sleeve used to wrap items such as potted plants or
comestibles. The sleeve has a closed bottom and an expansion
element for allowing expansion of the sleeve upon the depositing of
the pot or items into the sleeve. The expansion element may be a
gusset, pleats, random folds or elastic material for enabling the
lower portion of the sleeve to conform to the outer and bottom
surfaces of the pot to provide a decorative cover about the pot.
The sleeve optionally has a detachable upper portion.
Inventors: |
Weder, Donald E.; (Highland,
IL) ; Straeter, Joseph G.; (Highland, IL) ;
Fantz, Paul; (Imperial, MO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Dunlap, Codding & Rogers, P.C.
Attn: Christopher W. Corbett
Suite 420
9400 North Broadway
Oklahoma City
OK
73114
US
|
Family ID: |
24430227 |
Appl. No.: |
09/747227 |
Filed: |
December 22, 2000 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09747227 |
Dec 22, 2000 |
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09080771 |
May 18, 1998 |
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6182395 |
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09080771 |
May 18, 1998 |
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08606957 |
Feb 26, 1996 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
47/72 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 25/026 20130101;
B31B 2155/0014 20170801; B31B 2160/30 20170801; B31B 2155/0012
20170801; B65B 25/02 20130101; B31B 70/266 20170801; B31B 70/36
20170801; B31B 2155/00 20170801; B65D 75/008 20130101; B65D 81/36
20130101; B65D 85/52 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
47/72 |
International
Class: |
A01G 009/02 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A flattened sleeve for containing a pot means having an outer
peripheral surface and a bottom surface, the sleeve comprising: a
first panel having an upper end, a lower end, a first side and a
second side; a second panel having an upper end, a lower end, a
first side and a second side; and a gusset portion; and wherein the
first panel is disposed flatwise upon the second panel with the
first side of the first panel joined with the first side of the
second panel, and the second side of the first panel joined with
the second side of the second panel, and with the gusset portion
extending from the lower end of the first panel and from the lower
end of the second panel and inwardly folded to extend a distance
between the first panel and the second panel and the flattened
sleeve having a convexly curved lower end; and wherein the sleeve,
when expanded to an open state and disposed about the pot means,
has a side wall which substantially surrounds the outer peripheral
surface of the pot means and a bottom substantially without an
overlapped portion therein when the pot means rests upon the bottom
of the sleeve.
2. The sleeve of claim 1 wherein the bottom of the sleeve in the
open state substantially conforms to the circumferential curvature
of the bottom surface of the pot means.
3. The sleeve of claim 1 wherein the side wall of the sleeve in the
open state substantially conforms to the curvature of the outer
peripheral surface of the pot means.
4. The sleeve of claim 1 wherein the side wall of the sleeve in the
open state extends upwardly from the bottom of the sleeve at an
angle greater than 90 degrees when a pot is disposed within the
sleeve.
5. The sleeve of claim- wherein the side wall of the sleeve in the
open state extends upwardly at a substantially uniform angle from
the bottom of the sleeve along the outer peripheral surface of the
pot means disposed therein.
6. The sleeve of claim 1 further comprising an upper sleeve portion
extending from the upper end of the first panel and from the upper
end of the second panel and which is detachable therefrom via
detaching means.
7. The sleeve of claim 1 wherein the sleeve forms a decorative
cover when disposed about the pot means.
8. The sleeve of claim 1 wherein the gusset has a straight fold
extending from the first sides of the first and second panels to
the second sides of the first and second panels.
9. The sleeve of claim 1 wherein the gusset has a curved fold
extending from the first sides of the first and second panels to
the second sides of the first and second panels.
10. The sleeve of claim 1 further comprising a bonding material
disposed upon a portion thereof for connecting to the pot
means.
11. The sleeve 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.
12. The sleeve 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.
13. The sleeve 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.
14. The sleeve 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.
15. A plant package, comprising: a pot means having an outer
peripheral surface and a bottom surface; and a sleeve disposed
about the pot means, the sleeve comprising in a flattened state: a
first panel having an upper end, a lower end, a first side and a
second side, a second panel having an upper end, a lower end, a
first side and a second side, and a gusset portion, and wherein the
first panel is disposed flatwise upon the second panel with the
first side of the first panel joined with the first side of the
second panel, and the second side of the first panel joined with
the second side of the second panel, and with the gusset portion
extending from the lower end of the first panel and from the lower
end of the second panel and inwardly folded to extend a distance
between the first panel and the second panel and the flattened
sleeve having a convexly curved lower end and the sleeve when
opened and disposed about the pot means having a side wall
substantially surrounding the outer peripheral surface of the pot
and a bottom substantially without an overlapped portion therein
when the pot means rests upon the bottom of the sleeve.
16. The plant package of claim 15 wherein the bottom of the sleeve
disposed about the pot means substantially conforms to the
circumferential curvature of the bottom surface of the pot
means.
17. The plant package of claim 15 wherein the side wall of the
sleeve disposed about the pot means substantially conforms to the
curvature of the outer peripheral surface of the pot means.
18. The plant package of claim 15 wherein the side wall of the
sleeve disposed about the pot means extends upwardly from the
bottom of the sleeve at an angle greater than 90 degrees when a pot
is disposed within the sleeve.
19. The plant package of claim 15 wherein the side wall of the
sleeve disposed about the pot means extends upwardly at a
substantially uniform angle from the bottom of the sleeve along the
outer peripheral surface of the pot means disposed therein.
20. The plant package of claim 15 wherein the sleeve further
comprises an upper sleeve portion extending from the upper end of
the first panel and from the upper end of the second panel and
which is detachable therefrom via detaching means.
21. The plant package of claim 15 wherein the sleeve forms a
decorative cover about the pot means.
22. The plant package of claim 15 wherein the gusset of the sleeve
in the flattened state has a straight fold extending from the first
sides of the first and second panels to the second sides of the
first and second panels.
23. The plant package of claim 15 wherein the gusset of the sleeve
in the flattened state has a curved fold extending from the first
sides of the first and second panels to the second sides of the
first and second panels.
24. The plant package of claim 15 wherein the sleeve further
comprises a bonding material disposed upon a portion thereof for
connecting to the pot means.
25. The plant package of claim 15 wherein the sleeve is further
defined as constructed from a material having a thickness in a
range of from about 0.1 mils to about 30 mils.
26. The plant package of claim 15 wherein the sleeve is further
defined as constructed from a material having a thickness in a
range of from about 0.5 mils to about 10 mils.
27. The plant package of claim 15 wherein the sleeve is further
defined as constructed from a material having a thickness in a
range of from about 1 mil to about 5 mils.
28. The plant package of claim 15 wherein the sleeve is further
defined as constructed from a material selected from the group
consisting of treated paper, cellophane, metal foil, polymer film,
non-polymer film, cardboard, fiber, cloth, burlap, and laminations
thereof.
29. A flattened sleeve for containing a pot means having an outer
peripheral surface and a bottom surface with a characteristic
geometric shape, the sleeve comprising: a first panel having an
upper end, a lower end, a first side and a second side; a second
panel having an upper end, a lower end, a first side and a second
side; and a gusset portion; and wherein the first panel is disposed
flatwise upon the second panel with the first side of the first
panel joined with the first side of the second panel, and the
second side of the first panel joined with the second side of the
second panel, and with the gusset portion extending from the lower
end of the first panel and from the lower end of the second panel
and inwardly folded to extend a distance between the first panel
and the second panel; and wherein the sleeve, when expanded to an
open state and disposed about the pot means, has a side wall which
substantially surrounds the outer peripheral surface of the pot
means and a bottom having a shape which conforms to the
characteristic geometric shape of the bottom surface of the pot
means so that the bottom of the sleeve is left substantially
without an overlapped portion therein when the pot means rests upon
the bottom of the sleeve.
30. The sleeve of claim 29 wherein the side wall of the sleeve in
the open state extends upwardly from the bottom of the sleeve at an
angle greater than 90 degrees when a pot is disposed within the
sleeve.
31. The sleeve of claim 29 wherein the side wall of the sleeve in
the open state extends upwardly at a substantially uniform angle
from the bottom of the sleeve along the outer peripheral surface of
the pot means disposed therein.
32. The sleeve of claim 29 further comprising an upper sleeve
portion extending from the upper end of the first panel and from
the upper end of the second panel and which is detachable therefrom
via detaching means.
33. The sleeve of claim 29 wherein the sleeve forms a decorative
cover when disposed about the pot means.
34. The sleeve of claim 29 further comprising a bonding material
disposed upon a portion thereof for connecting to the pot
means.
35. The sleeve of claim 29 further defined as constructed from a
material having a thickness in a range of from about 0.1 mils to
about 30 mils.
36. The sleeve of claim 29 further defined as constructed from a
material having a thickness in a range of from about 0.5 mils to
about 10 mils.
37. The sleeve of claim 29 further defined as constructed from a
material having a thickness in a range of from about 1 mil to about
5 mils.
38. The sleeve of claim 29 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.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
1. This is invention generally relates to sleeves, to be used as
containers and, more particularly, sleeves used to wrap flower pots
containing floral groupings and/or media containing floral
groupings, and methods of using same.
BACKGROUND
2. It is well known in the floral packaging industry to apply
tubular floral sleeves about potted plants for the purpose of
erecting a protective sheath about the blooms and foliage of the
potted plant for preventing damage to them and entanglement with
adjacent plants. Such sleeves generally have an open bottom through
which the inserted pot is exposed. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,333,267 issued
to Witte and 4,413,725 issued to Bruno, and Australian Patent
42319/78 show examples of such open-bottom sleeves.
3. Other sleeves have closed bottoms upon which the bottom of the
pot can rest. However, in such closed sleeves, the lower portion
does not have a shape which conforms to the shape of the bottom and
outer sides of the pot. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,235,782
issued to Landau, an unattractive void space is formed about the
pot when the pot is inserted into the sleeve. In U.S. Pat. No.
5,388,695, issued to Gilbert, when a pot is inserted into the
sleeve, the outer sides of the pot fit within the taper of the
sleeve but an empty void space is left underneath the pot which
must then be tucked below the bottom of the pot to conceal it. The
basic problem in applying a closed-bottom flat sleeve to a pot is
that in going from a two-dimensional flat sleeve, to a
three-dimensional open sleeve, the shape of the opened sleeve does
not conform to the shape of the pot.
4. There are no sleeves which are currently available which can be
erected so that the sleeve closely conforms to the curvature of
both the outer sidewall of the pot and to the bottom surface of the
pot, whereby the lower portion of the sleeve forms an attractive
decorative cover about the pot reminiscent of a preformed pot cover
when the upper portion of the sleeve is detached. The object of the
present invention is therefore to provide a flat, two-dimensioned
sleeve which is erectable into three-dimensions wherein the erected
sleeve has a shape which conforms to the shape of the pot without
revealing unsightly extra-material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
5. FIG. 1 is a side view of a flattened gussetted sleeve
constructed in accordance with the present invention.
6. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the sleeve of FIG. 1.
7. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of FIG. 1 with a pot disposed
therein.
8. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of FIG. 3 after an upper portion of
the sleeve has been removed.
9. FIG. 5A is a side view of the sleeve of FIG. 1 with particular
reference to the straight fold of the gusset.
10. FIG. 5B is a bottom view of the sleeve of FIG. 5A when
opened.
11. FIG. 5C is a perspective view of the sleeve of FIG. 5A when
opened.
12. FIG. 6A is a side view of a sleeve like the sleeve of FIG. 5A
but with a curved fold in the gusset.
13. FIG. 6B is a bottom view of the sleeve of FIG. 6A when
opened.
14. FIG. 6C is a perspective view of the sleeve of FIG. 6A when
opened.
15. FIG. 7 is an alternate version of the sleeve of FIG. 1 wherein
a bonding material is disposed upon a portion of the upper end of
the sleeve for sealing the sleeve.
16. FIG. 8 is an alternate version of the sleeve of FIG. 1 having a
folding flap for sealing the sleeve.
17. FIG. 9 is an alternate version of the sleeve of FIG. 1 having a
bonding material disposed on an inner portion of the sleeve for
bonding the sleeve to the pot.
18. FIG. 10 is yet another version of the sleeve of FIG. 1 having
an extended-portion serving as a support extension.
19. FIG. 11 is yet another version of the sleeve of FIG. 1 having
an extended portion serving as a handle.
20. FIG. 12 is a side view of a sleeve showing an alternate pattern
of perforations.
21. FIG. 13 is a side view of a sleeve showing another alternative
perforation pattern.
22. FIG. 14 is a side view of a sleeve showing another alternative
perforation pattern.
23. FIG. 15 is a side view of a sleeve showing another alternative
perforation pattern.
24. FIG. 16 is a side view of a sleeve showing another alternative
perforation pattern.
25. FIG. 17 is a side view of a sleeve like the sleeve of FIG. 1
but without an upper sleeve portion.
26. FIG. 18 is a side view of a sleeve like the sleeve of FIG. 1
but with the gusset folded outwardly.
27. FIG. 19 is a sectional view of the sleeve of FIG. 18.
28. FIG. 20 is a side view of a sleeve like the sleeve of FIG. 1
but having pleats.
29. FIG. 21 is a side view of a sleeve like the sleeve of FIG. 20
but having a rounded bottom with no gusset.
30. FIG. 22 is a side view of a sleeve like the sleeve of FIG. 20
but having a straight bottom.
31. FIG. 23 is a side view of a sleeve like the sleeve of FIG. 20
but having a straight bottom and no gusset.
32. FIG. 24 is a side view of a sleeve like the sleeve of FIG. 20
but having the pleats extending only to near the perforations.
33. FIG. 25 is a side view of a sleeve like the sleeve of FIG. 20
but having the pleats extending just a short distance above the
lower end.
34. FIG. 26 is a side view of a sleeve like the sleeve of FIG. 20
but without an upper sleeve portion.
35. FIG. 27 is a side view of a sleeve like the sleeve of FIG. 21
but without an upper sleeve portion.
36. FIG. 28 is a side view of a sleeve like the sleeve of FIG. 22
but without an upper sleeve portion.
37. FIG. 29 is a side view of a sleeve like the sleeve of FIG. 23
but without an upper sleeve portion.
38. FIG. 30 is a side view of a sleeve like the sleeve of FIG. 20
but where the pleats do not intersect the sides.
39. FIG. 31 is a side view of a sleeve like the sleeve of FIG. 20
but having z-shaped pleats.
40. FIG. 32 is a side view of a sleeve like the sleeve of FIG. 30
but having z-shaped pleats.
41. FIG. 33 is a side view of a sleeve like the sleeve of FIG. 20
but having fluted folds.
42. FIG. 34 is a side view of a sleeve like the sleeve of FIG. 30
but having fluted folds.
43. FIG. 35 is a side view of a sleeve like the sleeve in FIG. 1
but having an elastomeric lower portion.
44. FIG. 36 is a side view of a sleeve like the sleeve in FIG. 35
but without a gusset.
45. FIG. 37 is a side view of a sleeve like the sleeve in FIG. 36
but with a straight lower end.
46. FIG. 38 is a side view of a sleeve like the sleeve in FIG. 37
but with a gusset.
47. FIG. 39 is a side view of a sleeve like the sleeve in FIG. 35
but wherein the elastomeric portion extends only partially up from
the lower end on the lower portion.
48. FIG. 40 is a side view of a sleeve like the sleeve of FIG. 35
but wherein the elastomeric portion is only on the gusset.
49. FIG. 41 is a side view of a sleeve like the sleeve in FIG. 35
but wherein the elastomeric portion extends over most of the
surface of the sleeve.
50. FIG. 42 is a side view of a sleeve like the sleeve in FIG. 20
but rather than having pleats, the sleeve has randomly positioned
overlapping folds.
51. FIG. 43 is a side view of a sleeve like the sleeve in FIG. 21
but rather than having pleats, the sleeve has randomly positioned
overlapping folds.
52. FIG. 44 is a side view of a sleeve like the sleeve in FIG. 22
but rather than having pleats, the sleeve has randomly positioned
overlapping folds.
53. FIG. 45 is a side view of a sleeve like the sleeve in FIG. 23
but rather than having pleats, the sleeve has randomly positioned
overlapping folds.
54. FIG. 46 is a side view of a sleeve like the sleeve in FIG. 24
but rather than having pleats, the sleeve has randomly positioned
overlapping folds.
55. FIG. 47 is a side view of a sleeve like the sleeve in FIG. 25
but rather than having pleats, the sleeve has randomly positioned
overlapping folds.
56. FIG. 48 is a side view of a sleeve like the sleeve in FIG. 40
but rather than having an elastomeric portion, the sleeve has
randomly positioned overlapping folds.
57. FIG. 49 is a side view of a sleeve like the sleeve in FIG. 1
except also having slits in the lower portion.
58. FIG. 50 is a side view of a sleeve having a lower end without a
gusset having an alternate shape.
59. FIG. 51 is a side view of a sleeve having a lower end without a
gusset and having yet another alternate shape.
60. FIG. 52 is a side view of a sleeve having a lower end without a
gusset and having yet another alternate shape.
61. FIG. 53 is a side view of a sleeve having a lower end without a
gusset and having yet another alternate shape.
62. FIG. 54 is a side view of a sleeve having a lower end without a
gusset and having yet another alternate shape.
63. FIG. 55 is a side view of a sleeve having a lower end without a
gusset and having yet another alternate shape.
64. FIG. 56 is a side view of a sleeve having a lower end without a
gusset and having yet another alternate shape.
65. FIG. 57 is a side view of a sleeve having an open lower end
with a band.
66. FIG. 58 is a perspective view of the sleeve of FIG. 57.
67. FIG. 59 is a perspective view of an apparatus and process for
making a sleeve in accordance with the present invention.
68. FIG. 60 is a side view of the gusset sealing mechanism of the
apparatus of FIG. 57.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
69. The present invention contemplates in a preferred embodiment a
plant packaging system comprising a floral sleeve further
comprising a combination of a protective upper sleeve portion and a
decorative lower cover portion for packaging a potted plant. The
protective upper sleeve can be detached from the decorative lower
cover portion of the package system once the protective function of
the sleeve has been completed, thereby leaving the decorative lower
cover portion in a position covering the pot. The protective upper
sleeve and decorative lower cover components may comprise a unitary
construction or may comprise separate components which are attached
together by various bonding materials or other sealing or attaching
methods.
70. More specifically, in a preferred embodiment, the present
invention contemplates a sleeve-type plant cover for covering a pot
means having a bottom surface and an outer peripheral surface. The
plant cover comprises (1) a decorative lower portion having a lower
end, an upper end, an outer peripheral surface, and an expansion
element for allowing expansion of a portion of the lower portion
and (2) an upper sleeve portion extending from the upper end of the
lower portion and detachable therefrom. As used herein, the term
"expansion element" means an amount of material or alternately a
type of material which can be expanded or unfolded to cover a
greater area than in the unexpanded state. The expansion element
may be an infolded or outfolded gusset, a pleated or folded area,
overlapping folds, or elastic material. When the pot is inserted
into the lower portion, the expansion element expands to allow the
pot to fit into the lower portion of the sleeve. The lower portion
is sized to substantially cover and conform to the outer peripheral
and bottom surface of the pot means once the lower portion has been
expanded about the pot means.
71. In a preferred embodiment, the sleeve is constructed so that
when the pot is disposed within the sleeve, the sleeve conforms to
the shape of the pot so that the bottom of the pot is coplanar with
the inner bottom surface of the sleeve wherein there are
substantially no overlapping folded portions in that portion of the
sleeve which is underneath the pot. Further, it is also preferred
that the side wall of the sleeve in the erected position extends
angularly from the bottom of the sleeve upwardly from the bottom.
Preferably the side wall of the expanded sleeve extends upwardly
from the bottom of the sleeve at a substantially uniform angle so
that there are no outwardly extending "ears" such as those seen in
U.S. Pat. No. 5,235,782 described above. More preferably the side
wall of the sleeve in the expanded condition extends upwardly from
the bottom at substantially the same angle at which the side wall
of the pot extends from the bottom of the pot. Preferably, the
bottom of the sleeve in the expanded condition conforms to the
curvature of the circumference of the bottom of the pot disposed
therein. Also, preferably, the side wall of the sleeve in the
expanded condition conforms to the curvature of the circumference
of the outer peripheral surface of the pot or to the circumference
taken through a plane thereof.
72. In a preferred embodiment, the sleeve is constructed such that
when the sleeve is converted to the expanded position and a pot is
disposed therein, both the bottom and the side walls of the sleeve
fit closely against the bottom and sidewalls of the pot leaving
substantially no void space or gaps there between. In an
alternative preferred embodiment, if a gap does exist between the
walls of the sleeve and the walls of the pot, the gap is
substantially uniform for the entire length of the side wall of the
sleeve from the bottom of the sleeve to the upper end of the pot in
any given plane.
73. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the present invention
comprises a flattened sleeve for containing a pot means having an
outer peripheral surface and a bottom surface. The sleeve comprises
a first panel having an upper end, a lower end, a first side and a
second side, a second panel having an upper end, a lower end, a
first side and a second side, and a gusset portion. In this
embodiment of the flattened sleeve, the first panel is disposed
flatwise upon the second panel with the first side of the first
panel joined with the first side of the second panel, and with the
second side of the first panel joined with the second side of the
second panel, and with the gusset portion extending from the lower
end of the first panel and from the lower end of the second panel.
The gusset is inwardly folded to extend a distance between the
first panel and the second panel.
74. In this embodiment, the flattened sleeve has a convexly curved
lower end, and when the sleeve is expanded to an open state and
disposed about the pot means, the sleeve has a side wall which
substantially surrounds the outer peripheral surface of the pot
means and a bottom substantially without an overlapped portion
therein when the pot means rests upon the bottom of the sleeve.
Preferably, the bottom of the sleeve in the open state
substantially conforms to the circumferential curvature of the
bottom surface of the pot means. Also preferably, the side wall of
the sleeve in the open state substantially conforms to the
curvature of the outer peripheral surface of the pot means. The
side wall of the sleeve in the open state may extend upwardly from
the bottom of the sleeve at an angle greater than 90 degrees when a
pot is disposed within the sleeve. Also, the side wall of the
sleeve in the open state may extend upwardly at a substantially
uniform angle from the bottom of the sleeve along the outer
peripheral surface of the pot means disposed therein.
75. Preferably, the sleeve comprises an upper sleeve portion
extending from the upper end of the first panel and from the upper
end of the second panel and which is detachable therefrom via
detaching means. Additionally, the sleeve forms a decorative cover
when disposed about the pot means. Further, the gusset in a
preferred embodiment has a straight fold extending from the first
sides of the first and second panels to the second sides of the
first and second panels. Alternatively, the gusset has a curved
fold extending from the first sides of the first and second panels
to the second sides of the first and second panels. Moreover, a
bonding material may be disposed upon a portion of the sleeve for
connecting to the pot means. The present invention may also
comprise a package comprising a flower pot or other items described
herein disposed within the sleeve described above, or any other
sleeve described herein. The present invention may also comprise a
method of assembling a package comprising a flower pot or other
items described elsewhere herein disposed within the sleeve
described above, or any other sleeve described herein.
76. In another embodiment, the flattened sleeve is defined as above
with a first panel, second panel and gusset and is for containing a
pot means having a bottom surface with a characteristic geometric
shape. In this embodiment, the sleeve is not defined as having a
convexly curved lower end but rather as having, in the open state,
a bottom having a shape which conforms to the characteristic
geometric shape of the bottom surface of the pot means so that the
bottom of the sleeve is left substantially without an overlapped
portion therein when the pot means rests upon the bottom of the
sleeve. Where used herein, the term "substantially without an
overlapped portion" in the bottom of the sleeve means that the
bottom has no single fold the length of which exceeds one radius of
the diameter of the bottom surface of the pot or plurality of folds
the total lengths of which exceed one diameter of the bottom
surface of the pot.
77. The upper sleeve portion when present may be detachable via a
detaching means such as perforations, tear strips and zippers. The
plant cover may have an extended portion extending from the upper
portion for serving as a handle or support device. Further, the
expansion element is optionally constructed and positioned in the
sleeve for allowing expansion of a portion of the lower portion
into a decorative skirt extending angularly from the decorative
lower portion when the upper sleeve portion is detached from the
upper end of the lower portion. The expansion element may be
infolded or outfolded gussets, a plurality of vertical pleats, a
plurality of vertical folds each having a z-shaped cross section, a
plurality of vertical accordion-type folds, or other similar types
of expandable forms. The expansion element may comprise a plurality
of randomly positioned overlapping folds. Any of the folds
described herein may be connected or unconnected. The expansion
element may be an elastic material which expands to fit the outer
surface and bottom surface of the pot when the pot is inserted into
the lower portion. These embodiments are all described in further
detail below.
78. The lower portion of the sleeve may be constructed from a first
material and the upper sleeve portion may be constructed from a
second material different from the first material. Or a portion of
the lower portion may be constructed from the same material as the
upper sleeve portion. Or the expansion element may be constructed
of one material and the remainder of the lower portion and/or upper
portion of the sleeve constructed of another material.
79. 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 lower 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 lower
portion and the floral grouping is substantially surrounded and
encompassed by the upper sleeve portion.
80. Further, the lower portion may comprise a bonding material for
bondingly connecting to the upper sleeve portion. Also, the lower
portion may comprise a bonding material for bondingly connecting to
a pot disposed therein. Further, the upper sleeve portion may
comprise a bonding material for bondingly connecting to the lower
portion. The plant cover may further comprise part of a plant
package which includes a pot assembly disposed within the inner
retaining space of the lower portion, the pot means having a floral
grouping disposed therein, and wherein the pot assembly is
substantially surrounded and encompassed by the decorative lower
portion and the floral grouping is substantially surrounded and
encompassed by the upper sleeve portion.
81. The lower decorative portion of the tubular sleeve may be
constructed from a first material and from a second material
different from the first material.
82. While the various sleeve embodiments disclosed herein are
primarily directed to use with round bottom flower pots, it will
also be clear to one of ordinary skill in the art that one may
construct sleeves using the technology described herein which are
adapted to fit about and enclose pots having configurations other
than round, such as square, rectangular, triangular, trapezoidal,
cylindrical, ovoid and other well-known geometric shapes, and which
function in accordance with the present invention to substantially
conform to the shape of the pot. An example of such a sleeve is
shown in FIGS. 20-23 in U.S. Ser. No. 08/386,859, the specification
and drawings of which are hereby specifically incorporated herein
by reference in their entirety. Where a pot has a shape other than
a curved shape, i.e., such as a square, the sleeve conforms to the
perimeter of the pot, or to the perimeter of a plane
therethrough.
83. The sleeve described herein can also be used in various
embodiments as a growing container or flower pot for growing and
cultivating various botanical items. The sleeve described herein
may also be used as a combination growing pot and decorative cover
for a botanical item, wherein the botanical is first cultivated in
the sleeve, then displayed in the decorative portion of the sleeve.
The sleeve in its various embodiments described herein may also be
used to contain various comestible items such as candy, treats,
popcorn, french fries, chicken nuggets, and other fried items, and
frozen confections. The sleeve may further be used to contain
liquids for drinking or storage; the sleeve may be a collapsible
cup, for example.
The Embodiments and Methods of Use of FIGS. 1-6C
84. A preferred embodiment of the present invention as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2 and designated therein by the general reference
numeral 10 is a flexible tubular bag or sleeve. The sleeve 10
initially comprises a flexible flat collapsed piece of material
which is openable in the form of a tube or sleeve. The sleeve 10
preferably is tapered outwardly from the lower end toward a larger
diameter at its upper end. In its flattened state the sleeve 10
generally has overall trapezoidoil 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 or columnar form, as
long as the sleeve 10 functions in accordance with the present
invention in the manner described herein.
85. The flattened sleeve 10 has an upper end 12, a lower end 14, a
first side 16 and a second side 18. The sleeve 10 has an opening at
the upper end 12 and in a preferred embodiment is closed at the
lower end 14.
86. The sleeve 10 comprises a first panel 20 and a second panel 22
which lay flatwise upon each other and are longitudinally sealed,
connected, or otherwise continuous along first side 16 and second
side 18. The sleeve 10 in its flattened, folded state further
comprises a gusset 24 having a length 25 and which has a fold 26
extending between sides 16 and 18 whereby the gusset 24 is inwardly
folded between panels 20 and 22. The inwardly folded gusset 24
comprises the expansion element in this embodiment. The fold 26 may
be straight (i.e., FIGS. 1 or 5A) or curved (FIG. 6A). The outer
edge of the gusset 24 is continuous with the lower edge 28 of first
panel 20 and with the lower edge 30 of second panel 22 thereby
forming the closed and flattened lower end 14 of the sleeve 10. The
lower edge 28-and lower edge 30 are convexly curved and therefore
cause the sleeve 10 to have a convexly curved lower end 14. The
first panel 20 has an outer surface 34 and an inner surface 36 and
the second panel 22 has an outer surface 38 and an inner surface
40. The gusset 24 has an outer surface 44, and an inner surface 45.
The inner surfaces 36, 40 and 45 together define the boundaries of
the interior space 46 of the sleeve 10. In another embodiment, the
sleeve has a sealed rounded lower end with no gusset, such as that
shown in FIGS. 43 and 44 in U.S. Ser. No. 08/386,859, the
specification and drawings of which are hereby incorporated herein
by reference in their entirety.
87. The construction of the lower end 14 of the sleeve 10,
comprising a rounded gusset 24 with a fold 26, permits the circular
bottom of an object such as a potted plant to be disposed within
the interior space 46 and therein cause the lower portion of the
sleeve 10 to conform closely to the frusto-conical shape of the pot
as shown in FIG. 3 as described in detail below. Briefly, the
bottom of the pot rests upon at least a portion of the inner
surface 45 of the gusset 24, and the outer side walls of the pot
rest closely against at least a portion of the inner surfaces 36
and 40 of the first and second panels 20 and 22, respectively. Once
expanded, the sleeve 10 has a side wall 48 and a bottom 49 for
supporting the pot. The gusset 24 may be constructed from a
separate material from the panels 20 and 22 or, as will be clear to
one of ordinary skill in the art, the gusset 24 may be constructed
from the same web used to form the first and second panels 20 and
22 by sealing, then folding portions thereof. An example of how the
gusset 24 may be formed from a separate sheet of material different
from the web used to form the first and second panels 20 and 22 is
shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,380,646, issued to Doyen in FIGS. 9 and 10
and discussion thereof, which is incorporated herein by
references.
88. As shown in FIG. 1, the sleeve 10 is demarcated into an upper
protective portion 50 and a lower decorative portion 52. The lower
portion 52 of the sleeve 10 is sized to contain a pot of a size
standard in the floral industry and well known to persons of
ordinary skill in the art. The upper portion 50 of the sleeve 10 is
sized to substantially surround and encompass a floral grouping
disposed in the pot. The sleeve 10 is demarcated into the upper
portion 50 and the lower portion 52 by a detaching element 54 for
enabling the detachment of the upper portion 50 of the sleeve 10
from the lower portion 52 of the sleeve 10. In the preferred
version, the detaching element 54 is a plurality of perforations in
a crenulated or wavy pattern which extends circumferentially across
the first panel 20 and second panel 22 of the sleeve 10 from the
first side 16 to the second side 18. 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.
89. In a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lower
portion 52 of the sleeve 10 further comprises a base portion 56,
and a skirt or fringe portion 58. The base portion 56 comprises
that part of the lower portion 52 which, when the pot is placed
into the lower portion 52, has an inner peripheral surface which is
substantially adjacent to and surrounds the outer peripheral
surface of the pot. The skirt or fringe portion 58 comprises that
part of the lower portion 52 which extends beyond an upper rim of
the pot and adjacent at least a portion of the floral grouping
contained within the pot and which is left to freely extend at an
angle, inwardly or outwardly or upwardly, from the base portion 56
when the upper portion 50 of the sleeve 10 is detached from the
lower portion 52 of the sleeve 10 by actuation of the detaching
means 54. In the intact sleeve 10, the skirt portion 58 comprises
an upper peripheral edge congruent with the detaching means 54
which is connected to a lower peripheral edge, also congruent with
the detaching element 54, of the upper portion 50 of the sleeve 10.
In FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper peripheral edge of the skirt portion 58
is congruent with a series of curved lines of perforations which
together form an undulating line and comprise the detaching element
54.
90. The upper portion 50 of the sleeve 10 may optionally have an
additional detaching element 60 indicated as a plurality of
vertical perforations for facilitating removal of the upper portion
50 and which are disposed more or less vertically therein extending
between the detaching element 54 of the sleeve 10 and the upper end
12. The upper portion 50 of the sleeve 10 is separable from the
lower portion 52 of the sleeve 10 by tearing the upper portion 50
along both the vertical perforations 60 and the detaching element
54, thereby separating the upper portion 50 from the lower portion
52 of the sleeve 10. The lower portion 52 of the sleeve 10 remains
disposed as the base portion 56 about the pot and as the skirt
portion 58 about the floral grouping forming a decorative cover 64
as shown in FIG. 4 which substantially surrounds and encompasses
the pot and floral grouping therein. The upper portion 50 may have
apertures 62 near the upper end thereof so the sleeve may be
supported on a wicket.
91. As noted above, it will generally be desired to use the sleeve
10 as a covering for a plant as floral grouping contained with a
pot 70, as shown in FIG. 3. The pot 70 having an upper end 72, a
lower end 74, an outer peripheral surface 76, a bottom surface 78
and an inner peripheral surface 80 which encompasses an inner space
82 for retaining a floral grouping or plant 84. The lower end 74 of
the pot 70 is generally 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 84. 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, or any combination
thereof. The pot 70 is adapted to receive a floral grouping 84 in
the inner space 82. The floral grouping 84 may be disposed within
the pot 70 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 84, and
any appropriate growing medium or other retaining medium, may be
disposed in the sleeve 10 without a pot 70.
92. 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 square or rectangular in cross-section, or any
other shape, including geometric, non-geometric, asymmetrical
and/or fanciful as long as it functions in accordance with the
present invention described herein. The sleeve 10 may also be
equipped with drains or ventilation holes (not shown), or can be
made from permeable or impermeable materials.
93. The material from which the sleeve 10 is constructed 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. Pat. No. 5,111,637 entitled "Method For
Wrapping A Floral Grouping" issued to Weder et al., on May 12,
1992, the specification of which is hereby incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety. 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 70 or
plant 84, 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.
94. In one embodiment, the sleeve 10 may be constructed from 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.
95. The sleeve 10 may also be constructed, in whole or in part,
from a cling material. "Cling Wrap or Material" when used herein
means any material which is capable of connecting to the sleeve 10
upon contacting engagement during the wrapping process and is
wrappable about an item whereby portions of the cling material
contactingly engage and connect to other portions of another
material, or, alternatively, itself, for generally securing the
sleeve wrapped about at least a portion of the pot 70. This
connecting engagement is preferably temporary in that the material
may be easily removed, i.e., the cling material "clings" to the pot
70.
96. The cling material is constructed and treated if necessary,
from polyethylene such as Cling Wrap made by Glad.RTM., First
Brands Corporation, Danbury, Conn. The thickness of the cling
material will, in part, depend upon the size of sleeve 10 and the
size of the pot 70 in the sleeve 10, i.e., generally, a larger pot
70 may require a thicker and therefore stronger cling material. The
cling material will range in thickness from less than about 0.1
mils to about 10 mils, and preferably less than about 0.5 mils to
about 2.5 mils and most preferably from less than about 0.6 mils to
about 2 mils. However, any thickness of cling material may be
utilized in accordance with the present invention which permits the
cling material to function as described herein.
97. The sleeve 10 is constructed from any suitable material that is
capable of being formed into a sleeve and wrapped about a pot 70
and a floral grouping 82 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.
98. 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.
99. The material comprising the sleeve 10 may vary in color and 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 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.
100. 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. 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.
101. 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 82 generally comprises a bloom or
foliage portion and a stem portion. Preferably, the floral grouping
82 comprises 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."
102. 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.
103. 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.
104. 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.
105. Further, in accordance with the present invention, a bonding
material may be disposed on a portion of the sleeve 10 to assist in
holding the sleeve 10 to the pot 70 having the floral grouping 84
therein when such a pot 70 is disposed within the sleeve 10 or to
assist in closing the upper end 14 of the sleeve 10 or adhering the
sleeve 10 to the pot 70 after the pot 70 has been disposed therein,
as will be discussed in further detail below.
106. Preferably the bonding material, when present, is disposed as
a strip or block on an inner surface 36 or 40 of the sleeve 10. The
bonding material may also be disposed upon either outer peripheral
surface 34 or 38 of the sleeve 10, as well as upon the pot 70.
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. Pat. 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.
107. 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.
108. 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.
109. The fold 26 in the gusset 24 may be straight from side 16 to
side 18, as shown in FIG. 5A, or the fold may be curved upwardly as
explained below for FIG. 6A. When the fold 26 is straight, and when
a pot is inserted into the sleeve 10, the pot 70 which is sized to
optimally fit therein has a bottom diameter 86. Bottom diameter 86
preferably is in a range of from about 0.5x to about 0.75x where
"x" is the length 25.
110. When the pot 70 is deposited into the sleeve 10 having the
straight fold 26, a portion 88 of the gusset 24 is positioned
against the bottom surface 78 of the pot 70 to form part of the
bottom 49 of the sleeve 10. Additionally, a portion 90 of the first
panel 20 forms another portion of the bottom 49 of the sleeve 10.
Also, a portion 92 of second panel 22 which is a mirror image of
portion 90 of the first panel 20 forms another portion of the
bottom 49. Together, portions 88, 90 and 92 form the bottom 49 of
the sleeve 10 in the expanded state as shown in FIG. 5B.
Preferably, the bottom 49 of the open sleeve conforms to the
curvature of the circumference of the bottom 78 of the pot.
111. Further, when the pot 70 having the bottom diameter 86 is
inserted into the sleeve 10, two mirror image side portions 94 and
96 of the gusset 24 (see FIG. 5A) becomes part of the side wall 48
of the expanded sleeve 10, as shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C. Thus, it
can be seen then that in a preferred embodiment, the gusset 24 of
the sleeve 10 in the flattened state surprisingly does not solely
constitute the bottom 49 of the sleeve 10 in its expanded state.
Rather, the bottom 49 is constituted of portions 90 and 92 of both
first and second panels 20 and 22, and of portion 88 of the gusset
24. Additionally, the side wall 48 of the expanded sleeve is
constituted of side portions 94 and 96 of the gusset 24 as well as
of portions of the first and second panels 20 and 22. The side wall
conforms to the curvature and shape of the pot disposed within the
sleeve.
112. Alternatively, the fold in the gusset 24 may be curved, as
represented by fold 26a in FIG. 6A. Fold 26a extends further
inwardly between panels 20 and 22 toward the upper end 12 than does
the straight fold 26 in the sleeve 10 shown in FIG. 5A. When the
pot 70 is deposited into the sleeve 10 with a curved fold 26a, a
circular portion 100 of the gusset 24 is positioned against the
bottom surface 78 of the pot 70 to form the bottom 49 of the sleeve
10 and which also conforms to the curvature of the bottom of the
pot. Additionally, two mirror image side portions 102 and 104 of
the gusset 24 become part of the side wall 48 of the expanded
sleeve 10, as shown in FIGS. 6B and 6C. It can be seen then that in
a preferred version of the invention having a curved fold 26a in
the gusset 24 in the flattened state, the portion 100 of the gusset
24 comprises substantially the entire bottom 49 of the sleeve 10
when expanded and that the side wall 48 of the sleeve 10 is formed
both from the first and second panels 20 and 22, and from portions
102 and 104 of the gusset 24. It will also be understood by one of
ordinary skill in the art that the fold in the gusset 24 may be
intermediate in curvature between the straight fold 26 and the
curved fold 26a (or even may be convex rather than concave) and
therein may possess properties of the straight fold 26 but to a
lesser degree. Any of the sleeves described anywhere herein which
comprise a gusset may have a gusset having a straight fold, or a
fold which is curved.
Embodiments of FIGS. 7-19
113. Another version of the present invention is shown as sleeve
10b in FIG. 7 and is exactly the same as the various embodiments of
sleeves shown above or elsewhere herein except a strip of bonding
material 110 is disposed on the inner peripheral surface 36 and/or
40 of the upper portion 50 of the sleeve 10b generally in the
vicinity of the upper end 12 of the sleeve 10b for allowing the
upper end 12 to be sealed for enclosing the upper portion 50 of the
sleeve 10b about a pot 70 and a floral grouping 84 disposed
therein.
114. Another version of the present invention is shown in FIG. 8
and is exactly the same as the various embodiments of sleeves shown
above or elsewhere herein except the sleeve, designated as sleeve
10c, comprises a flap 112 positioned at the upper end 12 which can
be folded over and sealed with a flap bonding strip 114 to an
adjacent portion of the outer surface 34 of first panel 20 of the
sleeve 10c near the upper end 12 thereof. Other versions of the
sleeve (not shown) may comprise ventilation holes or drainage for
allowing movement of gases or moisture to and away from the inner
space of the sleeve.
115. Another version of the present invention is shown in FIG. 9
and is exactly the same as the various embodiments of sleeves shown
above or elsewhere herein except the sleeve, designated as sleeve
11d, further comprises an inner strip of bonding material 116
disposed upon a portion of either of the inner surfaces 36 or 40 of
the sleeve 10d. The strip of bonding material 116 functions to
enable either the inner peripheral surface 36 or the inner surface
40 portions thereof, to be bondingly connected to the outer
peripheral surface 76 of the pot 70 disposed therein causing the
sleeve 10d to be bondingly connected to the pot 70.
116. In another version of the present invention, after the pot has
been disposed within the sleeve, the bonding material on the pot
may be used to crimp a portion of the sleeve to secure the sleeve
in a position about the pot. A description of a preferred crimping
method is shown in FIGS. 10-13, and described on pages 30-31, lines
10 through 2, in U.S. Serial No. 08/237,078, which is hereby
incorporated herein by reference. A description of other methods
which may be used in a crimping process in accordance with the
present invention are shown in FIGS. 5-7, and 15-20, and the
corresponding description in U.S. Ser. No. 08/347,611, which is
hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
117. Another embodiment shown in FIG. 10 and is exactly the same as
the various embodiments of sleeves shown above or elsewhere herein
except the sleeve, designated as 10e, may further comprise an
extended portion comprising a support extension 118 which extends
away from a portion of the upper end 12 of the sleeve 10. The
support extension 118 has one or more apertures 120 disposed
therein for allowing the sleeve 10e to be supported on a support
assembly which is commercially available and known by one of
ordinary skill in the art such as a pair of wickets for shipment,
storage, assembly of the sleeve 10e, placement of the pot 70 within
the sleeve 10e, or other functions known in the art. The support
extension 118 may have a plurality of perforations 122 or other
detaching means for allowing the support extension 118 to be
removed from the upper end 12 sleeve 10e after the sleeve 10e has
been provided for use as described elsewhere herein.
118. Another version of the invention is shown in FIG. 11 and is
exactly the same as the various embodiments of sleeves shown above
and elsewhere herein except the sleeve, designated as sleeve 10f,
has an extended portion comprising a handle 124 for carrying the
potted plant package by the sleeve 10f. The sleeve 10f may further
comprise a detaching element 126 comprising perforations for
removing the handle 124 at a later time.
119. 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.
120. As shown in FIG. 1, the detaching element 54 is preferably a
line of perforations having a regular or irregular curved or wavy
pattern extending from side 16 to side 18 on both the first panel
20 and second panel 22. It will be understood that the perforations
in any of the sleeves described herein may be constructed in any
number of other decorative patterns, several being shown in FIGS.
12-16. For example, FIG. 12 shows a crenate or scalloped pattern
54a. FIG. 13 shows a crenate or scalloped pattern 54b which is
inverted. FIG. 14 shows a crenulate toothed or zig-zag pattern 54c.
FIG. 15 shows a crenelated or rectangular-shaped pattern 54d. FIG.
16 shows a diagonal pattern 54e slanted upwardly from one side of
the sleeve to the other. 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.
121. In another embodiment, the sleeve designated in FIG. 17 as
sleeve or flat cover 130 is formed exactly as any of the versions
of the sleeves described herein except that it is formed without an
upper protective sleeve portion. In this version the sleeve serves
as a decorative cover and may be formed with or without a
decorative skirt portion or decorative border which extends from or
comprises the upper edge of the cover.
122. The flat cover 130 has an upper end 132, a lower end 134, a
first side 136, and a second side 138. The flat cover 130 has an
opening at the upper end 132 and is closed at the lower end 134.
The flat cover 130 comprises a first panel 140 and a second panel
142 which lay flatwise upon each other and are longitudinally
sealed, connected or otherwise continuous along first side 136 and
second side 138. The flat cover 130 further comprises a gusset 144
having a length 145 and which has a fold 146 extending between
sides 136 and 138 whereby the gusset 144 is inwardly folded between
panels 140 and 142. The inwardly folded gusset 144 comprises the
expansion element in this embodiment. The fold 146 may be straight
or curved as described above for sleeve 10 in FIGS. 5A and 6A and
functions in a similar manner. As shown here, the flat cover 130
has essentially the same construction as sleeve 10, or any other
sleeves shown elsewhere herein, except it is not formed with a
detachable upper protective sleeve portion. As for the sleeve 10,
the construction of the lower end 134 of the flat cover 130
comprising a rounded gusset 144 with a fold 146 permits the
circular bottom of an object such as a potted plant to be disposed
therein causing the lower portion of the flat cover 130 to conform
closely to the frusto conical shape of the pot as shown in FIG. 4
and described in detail elsewhere herein.
123. The sleeve or flat cover 130, thus formed, may be equipped
with or absent of apertures 148 near the upper end 132 for enabling
the sleeve to be placed on a wicket for transport and ease of
handling. The flat cover 130 may further be constructed with an
upper end 132 having a border having a shape like any of the
perforation patterns described elsewhere herein, for example, in
FIGS. 12-16.
124. Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS.
18-19 and is designated by the reference numeral 150. Sleeve 150 is
exactly the same as sleeve 10 or any of the other gussetted sleeves
described herein except that sleeve 150 comprises a gusset 152
which is outwardly folded back upon the outer surface of the sleeve
rather than inwardly folded as in sleeve 10.
Embodiments and Methods of Use of FIGS. 20-34
125. Attention is now drawn to the versions of the present
invention which are shown in FIGS. 20-34 and more specifically to
the sleeve in FIG. 20 which is designated therein by the reference
numeral 160, and which is the same as the sleeves described
elsewhere herein except for the differences described below. The
sleeve 160, comprises a unitary construction and has a lower
decorative portion 162, an optional skirt portion (not shown herein
but which is described in U.S. Ser. No. 08/237,078, the
specification of which is hereby incorporated herein by-reference
in its entirety), an upper protective sleeve portion 164 and a
plurality of pleats comprising expansion elements 166 (only a few
of which are specifically designated as such in FIG. 20) and
further has an outer peripheral surface 168, an open upper end 170
and a closed lower end 172 which in FIG. 20 is rounded. The sleeve
160, like the sleeves discussed elsewhere herein, has an inner
retaining space 174 which extends from the open upper end 170 to
the lower end 172 and which is bounded by an inner peripheral
surface 176 of the sleeve 160. The lower portion 162 is sized to
substantially cover the outer peripheral surface 76 of a pot 70 as
described elsewhere herein and the upper protective sleeve portion
164 is sized to substantially surround the floral portion 84 within
the pot 70 which is disposed within the inner retaining space 174
of the sleeve 160.
126. The upper protective sleeve portion 164 is detachable from the
lower portion 162 via a detaching element 178 such as one described
in detail in regard to sleeve 10 above. The expansion elements 166
are integral to at least a portion of the lower decorative portion
162 and upper protective sleeve portion 164 as shown in FIG. 20.
The expansion elements 166 function to allow expansion of a portion
of the lower decorative portion 162 about the bottom and/or outer
peripheral surface of a pot disposed therein so that the lower
decorative portion fits closely thereto as described in more detail
above for sleeve 10 and for other sleeves described herein.
127. As shown in FIG. 20, each expansion element 166 of the sleeve
160 comprises one or more areas of excess material shaped in the
form of a pleat. The expansion element may also be positioned so
that portions of the skirt portion, when present, can be extended
angularly from the lower portion 162 forming a decorative skirt
portion about a portion of the floral grouping 84 of the potted
plant 70 as shown in U.S. Ser. No. 08/237,078 referred to
above.
128. The lower end 172 of the lower portion 162 may be constructed
in a variety of configurations. For example, the lower end 172 may
have a rounded bottom with a gussetted inverted portion (FIG. 20).
FIG. 21 shows an alternative embodiment in a sleeve 160a having a
closed lower end 172a which is rounded without a gusset. FIG. 22
shows an alternative embodiment in a sleeve 160b having a straight
bottom 172b with an inwardly folded gusset to allow further
expansion of the bottom. FIG. 23 shows a sleeve 160c with a lower
end 172c which is straight across without a gusset.
129. As noted above, the pleats or expansion elements 166 may
extend the entire distance between the lower end 172 and the upper
end 170 as shown in FIGS. 20-23. Alternatively, the pleats 166 may
extend from any position intermediate between end 172 and 170, for
example, from a lower end 172d of a sleeve 160d to near or just
below the perforations (or detaching element) 178d, as shown in
FIG. 24. Alternatively, the pleats or expansion elements 166 may
extend from a lower end 172e in a sleeve 160e to a distance just
above the lower end 172e, as shown in FIG. 25.
130. In another set of embodiments shown in FIGS. 26-29, sleeves
180-180c are formed exactly as described above for sleeves
160-160c, respectively and which function in the same way, but are
formed without upper protective sleeve portions. In these versions
the lower portion serves as a decorative cover and may be formed
with a decorative skirt portion which extends from the upper edge
of the cover or may have a decorative border as described
elsewhere.
131. The present invention also contemplates sleeves (not shown)
which are similar to sleeves 180-180c but have pleats positioned in
the manner shown for sleeves 160d and 160e. Further, the present
invention contemplates sleeves, with or without upper protective
portions wherein the pleats are not in the side panels but are
found only in the gussetted portions. It is further contemplated
that in those sleeves with gussetted portions, the pleats may be
positioned in both the gussetted portion and first and second panel
portions, or only in the first and second panel portions, or in
only one of the first or second panel portions.
132. It is also noted that in the embodiments of the sleeves shown
in FIGS. 20-29, the pleats or expansion elements 166 are
substantially parallel. However, it is further contemplated that
any of the pleated sleeves specifically described or otherwise
contemplated herein may comprise a plurality of pleats 166a each of
which extend from the upper end to the lower end of the sleeve as
shown in sleeve 160f in FIG. 30, that is the pleats 166a do not
intersect with the sides of the sleeve but rather tend to converge
from the upper end to the lower end.
133. Attention is now drawn to FIG. 31 and to the sleeve shown
therein which is designated by the general reference numeral 190.
Sleeve 190 is exactly the same as sleeve 160 in FIG. 20 except that
the sleeve 190 has a plurality of z-shaped pleated expansion
elements 192. The expansion elements 192 of sleeve 190 serve the
same purpose as the pleated expansion elements 166 of sleeve 160.
FIG. 32 shows a sleeve 190a which is constructed like sleeve 90 but
has the pleats 192a which are positioned in the same manner as the
pleats 166a of sleeve 160f in FIG. 30.
134. Attention is now drawn to FIG. 33 and to the sleeve shown
therein which is designated by the general reference numeral 196.
Sleeve 196 is exactly the same as sleeve 160 in FIG. 20 or sleeve
190 in FIG. 31 except that the sleeve 196 has a plurality of fluted
or groove-shaped expansion elements 198 which serve the same
purpose as the pleated expansion elements 166 of sleeve 160 and can
expand to cause the sleeve to fit closely to the bottom and outer
peripheral surface of the pot to form a decorative cover about a
portion of the potted plant 70. It will be understood that the
sleeve comprising the plurality of groove-shaped expansion elements
may be constructed in the same embodiments as described above, for
example in FIGS. 21-30 and as described and contemplated elsewhere
herein. FIG. 34, for example, shows a sleeve 196a having pleats
198a positioned in the same converging way as the sleeve 160f in
FIG. 30 or as the pleats 192a in sleeve 190a.
135. It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art
that the shapes of the expansion elements described above are but
several of the shapes which can be contemplated for the present
invention. Other shapes which may be contemplated are gussets,
fans, and "accordion-folds" to name but a few.
Embodiments and Methods of Use of FIGS. 35-41
136. Shown in FIG. 35 and referred to there by reference numeral
200 is another version of a sleeve constructed in accordance with
the present invention. The sleeve 200 and versions thereof are the
same in all respects to the various embodiments of the sleeves
described elsewhere herein except the expansion element comprises
an elastomeric portion. The sleeve 200 has a lower portion 202
constructed of material having elastomeric properties which allows
the lower portion 202 to expand when a pot is disposed within the
sleeve 200 when the elastomeric lower portion 202 of the sleeve 200
is stretched about a lower portion of the pot. The elastomeric
portion may be comprised of lycra, rubber, elasticized fabrics, or
any other sheet materials which have elastic properties. The
elastomeric portion of the sleeve 200 will grip the adjacent
portion of the pot and will cause the lower portion 202 of the
sleeve 200 to closely conform to the shape of the pot and will
secure the sleeve 200 to the pot leaving substantially no void
space as explained above. The sleeve 200 preferably has an upper
portion 204 constructed from the same material as non-elastomeric
sleeves described herein above.
137. The lower elastomeric portion 202 may be a separate component
connected to the lower end of the upper portion 204 of the sleeve
200. Alternatively, the lower elastomeric component 202 may be of
unitary construction with the upper portion 204 of the sleeve 200
which is non-elastomeric. The lower portion 202 may be an
elasticized or rubberized extension of upper portion 204. For
example, the sleeve 200 may be constructed from a fabric which is
impregnated with an elastic material in one portion to form an
elastomeric lower portion.
138. Shown in FIGS. 36, 37 and 38 are sleeves 200a, 200b, and 200c,
respectively, which represent alternative versions of the invention
which are similar to sleeve embodiments 160a-160c, respectively, in
FIGS. 21-23. The sleeve embodiments comprising portions with
elastomeric properties may further be constructed like sleeves
180-180c in FIGS. 26-29, respectively, that is, without an upper
sleeve portion. In another series of versions the present invention
contemplates sleeves having expansion elements similar to those of
FIGS. 20-34 and which also have elastomeric properties.
139. The elastomeric portion of the sleeve may comprise most or all
of the lower portion of the sleeve as shown in FIG. 35.
Alternatively, the elastomeric portion may comprise only a portion
of a lower portion 202d of a sleeve 200d. Or, the elastomeric
portion may comprise only the gusset portion 204 as shown in FIG.
40.
140. It will be understood that the elastomeric portion, when
expanded about the pot may cover only the bottom surface of the
pot, or may cover the bottom surface of the pot and a portion of
the outer peripheral surface of the pot above the bottom of the
pot. In yet another version of the elastomeric sleeve, the
elastomeric portion of the sleeve may be constructed in such a way
that the bottom of the pot disposed within the sleeve may be
covered by a non-elastomeric portion of the sleeve, while a portion
of the outer peripheral surface of the pot is the portion
surrounded by the elastomeric portion of the sleeve. The
elastomeric portion of the sleeve functions to eliminate or
minimize the void space between the inner surface of the sleeve and
the outer surface or bottom of the pot. Finally, the elastomeric
portion may comprise the entire sleeve, as shown in sleeve 200f in
FIG. 41.
Embodiments and Methods of Use of FIGS. 42-58
141. Attention is now drawn to another set of embodiments of the
present invention, the first of which is designated by the general
reference numeral 210 shown in FIG. 42. In this version of the
invention, the expansion elements comprise a plurality of
overlapping folds 212 which are randomly positioned on the panels
214 and 216 and on gusset 218 of the sleeve 210. The overlapping
portions of the overlapping folds 212 may be connected via a
bonding material or they may be unconnected or some may be
connected and some unconnected. The overlapping folds 212 may be
distributed over the entire surface of the panels of the sleeve
from the upper end to the lower end as shown in sleeve 210 in FIG.
42 or they may be disposed over only the lower portion of the
sleeve (FIG. 46), for example, or over only an area adjacent the
lower end of the sleeve (FIG. 47). The overlapping folds may be
positioned only along the panels of the sleeve, only upon the
gusset portion of the sleeve (FIG. 48), or upon both the panels and
the gusset (FIGS. 42-44).
142. Sleeves with overlapping folds are shown as having the same
lower end configuration as sleeves described above herein, for
example, the sleeves of FIGS. 20-23, respectively.
143. The sleeves having overlapping folds may be constructed in any
of the manners and configurations shown elsewhere herein.
144. For example, each of the sleeves 210-210f may further comprise
a support extension as mentioned previously which extends away from
a portion of the upper end of the sleeve such as for the sleeve 10e
as shown in FIG. 10. As described earlier the support extension has
one or more apertures disposed therein for allowing the sleeve to
be supported on a support assembly which may comprise, for example,
a pair of wickets for shipment, storage, assembly of the sleeve,
placement of a pot within the sleeve, or other functions known in
the art. As noted above, the support extension may have a plurality
of perforations or other detaching means for allowing the support
extension to be removed from the sleeve after the sleeve has been
provided for use as described elsewhere herein. In another version
of the invention, and applicable to any of the sleeves described
above, or elsewhere herein, a sleeve has a handle for carrying the
potted plant package by the sleeve. The sleeve further comprises a
detaching element comprising perforations for removing the handle
at a later time.
145. As noted above, the protective sleeve and decorative cover
components of the present invention may comprise a unitary
construction. Or, may comprise separately formed components which
are attached or sealed together by various bonding materials, as
shown and described elsewhere herein.
146. In yet another version of the invention, a sleeve designated
by the general reference numeral 220 is shown in FIG. 49. Sleeve
220 is exactly the same as sleeve 10 or any of the various versions
and embodiments described or shown in figures elsewhere herein
except 220 further comprises a plurality of slits 222 disposed in
the lower portion 224 thereof for enabling the lower portion 224 to
be more easily expanded to fit snugly about the outer peripheral
surface of a pot disposed therein.
147. Referring now to the embodiments of FIGS. 50-54, shown therein
are several alternative shapes of the lower ends of sleeves which
may be constructed in accordance with the present invention. Shown
in FIGS. 50-54 are sleeves designated with the general reference
numerals 230, 232, 234, 236 and 238, respectively. Each of sleeves
230-238 have non-gussetted lower ends which are sealed closed in a
manner similar to either of the sleeves shown in FIGS. 21 or 23 and
are ideally suited to any of the sleeves described herein having
expansion elements, for example, such as pleats, overlapping folds,
slits, and elastomeric portions. The lower ends may have a
partially rounded shape (FIG. 50), an outwardly-directed partially
trapezoidal shape (FIG. 51), an expanded rounded or bulbous shape
(FIG. 52), a curved pointed shape (FIG. 53), a triangular shape
(FIG. 54), an inwardly-directed trapezoidal shape (FIG. 55), or a
curved or wavy shape (FIG. 56).
148. In another version of the invention, shown in FIGS. 57 and 58,
and a sleeve designated by the general reference numeral 244, is
constructed exactly the same as the sleeves discussed elsewhere
herein except that the sleeve 244 has an open lower end 246 and a
strap or band 248 which extends across the open lower end 246. The
band 248 functions to prevent the sleeve 244 from "riding up" on a
pot disposed within the sleeve 244, or to prevent the pot from
dropping through the open lower end 246 of the sleeve 244.
Construction of the Sleeves-FIGS. 59-60
149. It will be readily appreciated by those of ordinary skill in
the art that processes for making standard floral sleeves which
have open upper and lower ends are well known. In the preferred
embodiment of the present invention, the sleeve is constructed with
a closed bottom which may simply comprise a seal along the lower
end of the sleeve or more preferably the closed bottom comprises an
infolded portion such as a gusset which when opened enables
expansion of the bottom of the sleeve for allowing insertion of a
pot therein and a close, conforming fit thereto.
150. One version of an apparatus and process used to construct a
sleeve such as sleeve 10 described herein is shown in FIG. 59. A
single web of material 250 from a roll 251 is fed by drive means
such as an electric motor (not shown) to a folding assembly 252
which causes the web 250 to fold and double up on itself to form a
folded web 254 having an open side 256 and a folded side 258. The
folded web 254 is supported upon a conveyor or other support
surface 260. As the folded web 254 is advanced by drive rollers 261
or other advancing means in direction 262, the folded side 258 is
caused in a continuous process to be infolded or pouched by an
infolding device 264 forming a pouch 266 which extends the length
of the web 254 therefrom. The web 254 with the pouch 266 therein
continues to be advanced in direction 262 to a sealing position
268. A sealing bar (not shown), such as is common and well known in
the art, is then activated forming a pair of longitudinally sealed
edges 269 and 270. The sealed edges 269 and 270 extend from near
the pouch 266 to the open side 256 and may extend completely about
the lower end of the incipient sleeve if a gusset is not formed
therein.
151. In the embodiment of the sleeve formed using the apparatus of
FIG. 59, not only is the lower end formed with a rounded bottom,
but a gusset is also formed. The gusset is formed when portions of
the infolded pouch 266 of the web 254 are sealed by a sealing
device such as the double sealing mechanism 271 shown in FIGS. 59
and 60. The sealing mechanism 271 is comprised of an upper sealing
portion 272 and a lower sealing portion 274. The upper sealing
portion moves in a direction 276 and presses an infolded portion of
the web 254 against the upper side 278 of the infolding device 264
and seals a portion 280 of the web 254 by heating, pressure or
other sealing means well known to those of ordinary skill in the
art. Similarly the lower sealing portion 274 moves in a direction
282 and presses an infolded portion of the web 254 against the
lower side 284 of the infolding device 264 and seals a portion 286
of the web 254 as above. In this manner a rounded gusset 288 is
formed.
152. The web 254, now having a sleeve outlined by the sealed edges
269 and 270 and with a gusset 288, is further advanced to a
perforating position 290 where perforations 291 are punched into
the sleeve and optionally support apertures are also punched into
the sleeve for enabling a collection of sleeves to be collected in
a stack and held on a support mechanism such as a wicket.
Ventilation holes may also be punched into the sleeve at this
point. In the next step the sleeve, now with sealed edges 269 and
270, gusset 288, and perforations 291, is advanced to a cutting
position 292 where the sleeve is cut by a cutting die or blade (not
shown), such as is well known in the art, from the web 254 to form
a complete sleeve 294. Excess material 296 may be removed to
facilitate removal and storage of the sleeve 294. It will be
understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the steps of
sealing, perforating and cutting the sleeves may be performed
together in a single step, or two steps at one or two
positions.
153. The process outlined above describes the construction of a
sleeve 294 similar to a sleeve 10 without a bonding material
disposed upon any portion thereof. However, as explained above, in
an alternative version of the invention, a bonding material for
bonding a portion of the sleeve to a pot is located on a portion of
the inner surface of the sleeve. Shown in FIG. 59 is a bonding
material applicator 298 such as a sprayer or pad applicator which
can be used to apply an area of bonding material 300 to a portion
of the inner surface of a sleeve. The bonding material applicator
298 may be reciprocatingly activated by a reciprocating assembly
(not shown) which is preferably automatically controlled and
construction of which is well within the level of ordinary skill in
the art. The bonding material 300 is preferably applied to the web
250 prior to the doubling over of the web 250 so that when the web
250 is doubled over to form the folded web 254, the bonding
material 300 is oriented on a portion of the inner surface of the
sleeve 294 preferably in the lower portion of the sleeve 294. The
result is the production of a sleeve such as one of those shown in
FIGS. 7-9.
154. The process described herein can be modified to produce
sleeves such as any of the other sleeves described elsewhere
herein. For example, a sleeve can be produced by inserting a piece
of release material (not shown) into the sleeve 294 at some point
during the sleeve production process, either manually or
automatically, for example, after the bonding material 300 has been
applied but before the web 250 has been folded over to form the
folded web 254. The piece of release material may be inserted
manually by hand or automatically using a device which
automatically shoots or blows or deposits such pieces of material
and which is well within the skill of one of ordinary skill in the
art. Alternatively, the release material may be applied directly
upon the bonding material 300 when the bonding material 300 is
applied to the web 250. An additional area of bonding material may
be applied to another portion of the web with another adhesive
applicator (not shown) thereby forming sleeves having bonding
material 300 distributed on different portions of the sleeve.
155. FIG. 59 shows both edges of open side 256 of the web 254 as
being an equal distance from the folded side 258. It will be
understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the two edges
which comprise the open side 256 of the web 254 can be offset
during the folding process to form a sleeve such as a sleeve shown
in FIGS. 8, 10, or 11 having an upper end flap which can be folded
over to close the upper end or an upper portion used to form an
extension of the sleeve.
156. FIG. 59 shows a sleeve-forming process in which a single web
is doubled over to form the double-layered web. The sleeve formed
as described herein may also be formed during a process using two
or more separate webs in a manner well-known in the art. A first
roll of material and a second roll of material provide a first web
of material and a second web of material, respectively. These webs
are fed to a position where one side of the two webs are sealed by
a sealing assembly. If a gusset in the finished sleeve is desired,
the sealed side can be infolded to form a pouched side as described
in the process of FIG. 59. The remainder of the operation can be
formed as described above for the process of FIG. 59.
157. Sleeves formed in accordance with the present invention can
also be formed from tubular materials such as are commercially
available. For example, a sleeve can be formed by cutting a portion
of a tube, forming a gusset in the lower end of the tube, or
sealing the lower end of the tube to form a closed bottom, then
sealing and cutting off portions of the lower end of the tube
forming a sleeve having a tapered lower end. Adhesive may be
applied to an interior portion of the sleeve by opening the tube
and spraying a bonding material onto a portion of the inner surface
of the sleeve, for example. In another version of the invention,
the process of forming the tubular material from one or more flat
webs of material may comprise a step in the process of forming a
sleeve.
158. 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.
* * * * *