U.S. patent application number 09/941994 was filed with the patent office on 2003-07-24 for method of covering a pot or floral grouping with a sleeve having a concave lower end.
Invention is credited to Fantz, Paul, Straeter, Joseph G., Weder, Donald E..
Application Number | 20030136081 09/941994 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25477422 |
Filed Date | 2003-07-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030136081 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Weder, Donald E. ; et
al. |
July 24, 2003 |
METHOD OF COVERING A POT OR FLORAL GROUPING WITH A SLEEVE HAVING A
CONCAVE LOWER END
Abstract
A floral sleeve initially having a flattened state and openable
therefrom for use in covering, containing or wrapping a floral
grouping, botanical item, pot, or pot having a floral grouping or
botanical item therein. The sleeve has a concave lower end having
an inwardly curved lower edge, and may have a detachable upper
portion. The sleeve may have a non-linear or linear upper edge.
When having a detachable upper portion, the sleeve has a detaching
element which, when employed to detach the upper portion, leaves a
linear or non-linear upper edge on the lower portion of the sleeve.
The concave lower end of the sleeve may have a gusset therein.
Inventors: |
Weder, Donald E.; (Highland,
IL) ; Straeter, Joseph G.; (Highland, IL) ;
Fantz, Paul; (Imperial, MO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DUNLAP, CODDING & ROGERS P.C.
PO BOX 16370
OKLAHOMA CITY
OK
73114
US
|
Family ID: |
25477422 |
Appl. No.: |
09/941994 |
Filed: |
August 29, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/397 ; 53/412;
53/459 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 85/505 20130101;
Y10S 383/907 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
53/397 ; 53/412;
53/459 |
International
Class: |
B65B 011/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of covering a pot or floral grouping comprising:
providing a sleeve initially having a flattened state, and openable
to an opened state and in the flattened state comprising: an outer
peripheral surface, an inner peripheral surface, a first sidewall
edge, a second sidewall edge, an upper end having an upper edge,
and a concave lower end having an inwardly curved lower edge, and
the sleeve further comprising an inner space in the opened state:
opening the sleeve to expose the inner space thereof; and disposing
a pot or floral grouping into the inner space of the sleeve.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein in the step of providing a sleeve
the concave lower end of the sleeve has a shape which is
elliptical, curvilinear, rounded or ovoid.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein in the step of providing a sleeve
the sleeve comprises a gusset in the concave lower end of the
sleeve.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein in the step of providing a sleeve
the sleeve further comprises a detaching element for enabling
detachment of an upper portion of the sleeve from a lower portion
of the sleeve.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein in the step of providing the
sleeve the detaching element comprises perforations.
6. The method of claim 4 wherein in the step of providing the
sleeve the detaching element has a non-linear pattern such that
when the upper portion is detached, the lower portion is left with
an upper end having a non-linear upper edge.
7. The method of claim 4 wherein in the step of providing the
sleeve the detaching element has a linear pattern such that when
the upper portion is detached, the lower portion is left with an
upper end having a linear upper edge.
8. The method of claim 4 wherein in the step of providing the
sleeve the upper portion is sized to substantially surround and
enclose the flora grouping.
9. The method of claim 4 wherein in the step of providing the
sleeve the upper portion is adapted to support the sleeve from a
support element.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein in the step of providing the
sleeve the sleeve further comprises a skirt portion.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein in the step of providing the
sleeve the sleeve has a generally frusto-conical shape when in the
opened state.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein in the step of providing the
sleeve the upper edge of the upper end of the sleeve in
non-linear.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein in the step of providing the
sleeve the upper edge of the upper end of the sleeve in linear.
14. A method of covering a pot or floral grouping, comprising:
providing a sleeve initially having a flattened state and openable
to an opened state, and in the flattened state comprising: an outer
peripheral surface, in inner peripheral surface, a first sidewall
edge, a second sidewall edge, an upper end having an upper edge,
and a concave lower end having an inwardly curved lower edge, and
the sleeve further comprising an inner space in the opened state,
and the sleeve having a detaching element extending from the first
sidewall edge to the second sidewall edge for detaching an upper
portion of the sleeve from a lower portion of the sleeve; opening
the sleeve to expose the inner space thereof; and disposing a pot
or floral grouping into the inner space of the sleeve.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein in the step of providing the
sleeve the concave lower end of the sleeve has a shape which is
elliptical, curvilinear, rounded or ovoid.
16. The method of claim 14 wherein in the step of providing the
sleeve the sleeve comprises a gusset in the concave lower end of
the sleeve.
17. The method of claim 14 wherein in the step of providing the
sleeve the detaching element comprises perforations.
18. The method of claim 14 wherein in the step of providing the
sleeve the detaching element has a nonlinear pattern such that when
the upper portion is detached, the lower portion is left with an
upper end having a non-linear upper edge.
19. The method of claim 14 wherein in the step of providing the
sleeve the detaching element has a linear pattern such that when
the upper portion is detached, the lower portion is left with an
upper end having a linear upper edge.
20. The method of claim 14 wherein in the step of providing the
sleeve the upper portion is sized to substantially surround and
enclose the floral grouping.
21. The method of claim 14 wherein in the step of providing the
sleeve the upper portion is adapted to support the sleeve from a
support element.
22. The method of claim 14 wherein in the step of providing the
sleeve the sleeve further comprises a skirt portion.
23. The method of claim 14 wherein in the step of providing the
sleeve the sleeve has a generally frusto-conical shape when in the
opened state.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention generally relates to sleeves, and more
particularly, to sleeves used to wrap floral groupings or flower
pots containing floral groupings and/or mediums containing floral
groupings, and methods of using same. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,625,979 and
5,493,809 and pending U.S. Ser. No. 09/189,033 disclose subject
matter which may be relevant to the invention contemplated and
claimed herein and each is hereby expressly incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0002] FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a sleeve constructed in
accordance with the present invention.
[0003] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve of FIG. 1
taken along line 2-2 thereof.
[0004] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the sleeve of FIG. 1 having
a floral grouping therein.
[0005] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the sleeve of FIG. 1 having
a pot and floral grouping therein.
[0006] FIG. 5 is an elevational view of another embodiment of a
sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.
[0007] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve of FIG. 5
taken along line 6-6 thereof.
[0008] FIG. 7 is an elevational view of another embodiment of a
sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 8 is an elevational view of another embodiment of a
sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 9 is an elevational view of another embodiment of a
sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 10 is an elevational view of another embodiment of a
sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0012] The present invention contemplates in a preferred version a
preformed sleeve (also referred to herein as a "floral sleeve" or a
"sleeve") having a tubular shape sized to contain and generally
conform to a flower pot having an upper end, a lower end and an
outer peripheral surface. The sleeve may further comprise a lower
portion and a detachable upper portion which may be sized to
surround and encompass a floral grouping.
[0013] The sleeve may form part of a plant package when used in
conjunction with a floral grouping or a pot having a floral
grouping therein, and wherein the pot and/or floral grouping are
substantially surrounded and encompassed by the sleeve. The floral
grouping is at least partially surrounded and encompassed and may
be entirely enclosed by the upper portion when it forms a part of
the preformed sleeve.
[0014] The sleeve may have a bonding material disposed on an inner
portion thereof for bondingly connecting the sleeve to a pot
disposed therein. Alternatively, the bonding material may be
disposed on an outer portion of the sleeve for forming a plurality
of crimps in a portion of the sleeve.
[0015] The lower portion of the sleeve may be constructed from a
first material and the upper portion (when present) may be
constructed from the first material or a second material different
from the first material.
[0016] These embodiments and others of the present invention are
now described in more detail below. It will be appreciated that the
examples provided herein are not intended to limit the scope and
extent of the claimed invention but are only intended to exemplify
various embodiments of the invention contemplated herein.
[0017] Shown in FIGS. 1-4 is a sleeve designated by the general
reference numeral 10. The sleeve 10 has an outer peripheral surface
12, an inner peripheral surface 14, an upper end 20 having an upper
edge 22, a skirt portion 24, and an inner space 30. The sleeve 10,
in a flattened state, also includes a first sidewall edge 16, a
second sidewall edge 18, and a concave lower end 26 having an
inwardly curved lower edge 28.
[0018] The sleeve 10 is initially formed to have a flattened state
and is openable therefrom to an open state for containing a floral
container, such as a pot as described elsewhere herein. The shape
of the concave lower end 26 may be elliptical, rounded,
curvilinear, ovoid, or any other curved shape known in the art, but
must be inwardly curved. The sleeve 10 is preferably individually
sized so that a standard sized flower pot, such as a 3-inch,
31/2-inch, 4-inch, 41/2-inch, 5-inch, 51/2-inch, 6-inch, 61/2-inch,
7-inch or 8-inch pot, for example, can fit within the sleeve 10,
with the pot preferably substantially conforming to the inner
peripheral surface 14 of the sleeve 10. While the sleeve 10
preferably has a tapered, frusto-conical shape, the sleeve 10 may
also have a rectangular or cylindrical shape.
[0019] In a preferred version of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-4,
the upper edge 22 of the upper end 20 of the sleeve 10 has a
non-linear pattern such as a curve, wave, arc or serration. The
upper edge 22 and the upper end 20 form the skirt portion 24 of the
sleeve 10 for decorating a floral grouping 32. The floral grouping
32 has a stem portion 34 and a bloom portion 36 disposed in the
sleeve 10 (FIG. 3). The floral grouping 32 may be disposed in a pot
38 having a lower end 40 and an upper end 42 which is disposed
within the sleeve 10 (FIG. 4). Other non-linear configurations of
the upper edge 22 of the skirt portion 24 will be readily apparent
to one of ordinary skill in the art, for example, those shown in
FIGS. 11-16 of U.S. Ser. No. 09/401,771, the entire specification
of which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference.
[0020] Shown in FIGS. 5-6 is a sleeve designated by the general
reference numeral 10a. The sleeve 10a has an outer peripheral
surface 12a, an inner peripheral surface 14a, an upper end 20a
having an upper edge 22a, and an inner space 30a. The sleeve 10a,
in a flattened state, also includes a first sidewall edge 16a, a
second sidewall edge 18a, and a concave lower end 26a having an
inwardly curved lower edge 28a. The shape of the concave lower end
26a may be elliptical, rounded, curvilinear, ovoid, or any other
curved shape known in the art, but must be inwardly curved. The
sleeve 10a differs from the sleeve 10 shown above primarily in that
the upper edge 22a of the upper end 20a is linear rather than
non-linear.
[0021] Shown in FIG. 7 is a sleeve designated by the general
reference numeral 10b. The sleeve 10b has an outer peripheral
surface 12b, an inner peripheral surface (not shown), an upper end
20b having an upper edge 22b, a skirt portion 24b, and an inner
space (also not shown). The sleeve 10b, in a flattened state, also
includes a first sidewall edge 16b, a second sidewall edge 18b, and
a concave lower end 26b having an inwardly curved lower edge 28b.
The shape of the concave lower end 26b may be elliptical, rounded,
curvilinear, ovoid, or any other curved shape known in the art, but
must be inwardly curved.
[0022] The sleeve 10b is similar to the sleeves 10 and 10a shown in
FIGS. 1-6, except sleeve 10b comprises both a lower portion 46 and
an upper portion 44. The upper portion 44 is detachable from the
lower portion 46 via a detaching element 48, such as perforations.
The upper portion 44 is generally sized so that it can
substantially surround and enclose a floral grouping, alone (not
shown) or disposed within a pot disposed within the sleeve 10b (not
shown). The upper portion 44 may have apertures 50 therein for
enabling the sleeve 10b to be supported from a support device or
assembly such as a wicket, in a manner well known to those of
ordinary skill in the art.
[0023] Shown in FIG. 8 is a sleeve designated by the general
reference numeral 10c. The sleeve 10c has an outer peripheral
surface 12c, an upper end 20c having an upper edge 22c, a skirt
portion 24c, and an inner space (not shown). The sleeve 10c, in a
flattened state, also includes a first sidewall edge 16c, a second
sidewall edge 18c, and a concave lower end 26c having an inwardly
curved lower edge 28c. The shape of the concave lower end 26c may
be elliptical, rounded, curvilinear, ovoid, or any other curved
shape known in the art, but must be inwardly curved.
[0024] Sleeve 10c is similar to sleeve 10b in having an upper
portion 44c, a lower portion 46c, a detaching element 48c, and
optionally, apertures 50, but differs in that the upper portion 44c
is designed to be removed from the lower portion 46c before the
lower portion 46c is used to cover a pot (not shown) or a floral
grouping (not shown), and further, the upper portion 44c is
generally not sized to enclose a floral grouping.
[0025] Shown in FIG. 9 is a sleeve designated by the general
reference numeral 10d. The sleeve 10d has an outer peripheral
surface 12d, an inner peripheral surface (not shown), an upper end
20d having an upper edge 22d, a skirt portion 24d, and an inner
space (also not shown). The sleeve 10d, in a flattened state, also
includes a first sidewall edge 16d, a second sidewall edge 18d, and
a concave lower end 26d having an inwardly curved lower edge 28d.
The shape of the concave lower end 26d may be elliptical, rounded,
curvilinear, ovoid, or any other curved shape known in the art, but
must be inwardly curved.
[0026] The sleeve 10d is similar to sleeve 10 described above,
except sleeve 10d has a gusset 52 in the concave lower end 26d
which enables the concave lower end 26d to be expanded when a
floral grouping (not shown) or a pot (not shown) is disposed
therein. Gussets, such as gusset 52, and their construction are
well known to persons of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore,
further discussion of these methods of construction is not deemed
necessary herein.
[0027] Shown in FIG. 10 is a sleeve designated by the general
reference numeral 10e. The sleeve 10e has an outer peripheral
surface 12e, an inner peripheral surface (not shown), an upper end
20e having an upper edge 22e, and an inner space (also not shown)
The sleeve 10e, in a flattened state, also includes a first
sidewall edge 16e, a second sidewall edge 18e, and a concave lower
end 26e having an inwardly curved lower edge 28e. The shape of the
concave lower end 26e may be elliptical, rounded, curvilinear,
ovoid, or any other curved shape known in the art, but must be
inwardly curved.
[0028] The sleeve 10e is similar to the sleeve 10b in that sleeve
10e has an upper portion 44e, a lower portion 46e, a detaching
element 48e, and may optionally have apertures 50. Sleeve 10e
differs from sleeve 10b primarily in that the detaching element 48e
has a linear or arcuate pattern which, when the sleeve 10e is in a
flattened state, extends from the first sidewall edge 16e to the
second sidewall edge 18e, rather than a non-linear pattern as shown
for the detaching element 48 of sleeve 10b.
[0029] Any of the sleeves 10-10e contemplated herein may also be
equipped with drainage elements (e.g., one or more holes) in the
lower end thereof or ventilation holes (not shown), or can be made
from permeable or impermeable materials.
[0030] Any thickness of material may be utilized in accordance with
the present invention as long as the sleeves 10-10e may be formed
as described herein, and as long as the sleeves 10-10e may contain
at least a portion of a pot or floral grouping, as described
herein. Additionally, an insulating material such as bubble film,
preferably 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.
[0031] The material from which the sleeves 10-10e described herein
are constructed preferably has a thickness in a range from about
0.1 mil to about 30 mils. Often, the thicknesses of the sleeves are
in a range from about 0.5 mil to about 10 mils or preferably, in a
range from about 1.0 mil to about 5 mils. More preferably, the
sleeves 10-10e are constructed from a material which is flexible,
semi-rigid, rigid, or any combination thereof. The sleeves 10-10e
may be constructed of a single layer of material or a plurality of
layers of the same or different types of materials. The layers of
material comprising the sleeves 10-10e may be connected together or
laminated or may be separate layers. Such materials used to
construct the sleeves 10-10e are described in U.S. Pat. No.
5,111,637, which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by
reference.
[0032] The sleeves 10-10e are constructed from any suitable
material that is capable of being formed into a sleeve and wrapped
about a pot and a floral grouping (or a floral grouping alone)
disposed therein. Preferably, the material comprises treated or
untreated paper, metal foil, polymeric film, non-polymeric film,
woven or non-woven fabric, or synthetic or natural fabric,
cardboard, fiber, cloth, burlap, or laminations or combinations
thereof.
[0033] In one embodiment, the sleeves 10-10e contemplated herein
may be constructed from sheets comprising two polypropylene films
which may be connected together or laminated or may be separate
layers. In an alternative embodiment, the sleeves 10-10e may be
constructed from only one sheet of the polypropylene film.
[0034] The term "polymeric film" means a synthetic polymer such as
a polypropylene or a naturally occurring polymer such as
cellophane. A polymeric film is relatively strong and not as
subject to tearing (substantially non-tearable), as might be the
case with paper or foil.
[0035] The materials comprising the sleeves 10-10e may vary in
color and, as described herein, may consist of designs or
decorative patterns which are printed, etched, and/or embossed
thereon using inks or other printing materials. An example of an
ink which may be applied to the surface of the material is
described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,706, which is hereby expressly
incorporated herein by reference.
[0036] In addition, the material may have various colorings,
coatings, flocking and/or metallic finishes, or other decorative
surface ornamentation applied separately or simultaneously or may
be characterized totally or partially by pearlescent, translucent,
transparent, iridescent, neon, or the like, qualities. The material
may further comprise, or have applied thereto, one or more scents.
Each of the above-named characteristics may occur alone or in
combination. Moreover, portions of the material used in
constructing the sleeves 10-10e may vary in the combination of such
characteristics. The material utilized for the sleeves 10-10e may
be opaque, translucent, transparent, or partially clear or tinted
transparent.
[0037] 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. As noted earlier, the floral grouping comprises a bloom
portion and a stem portion. Further, the floral grouping may
comprise a growing potted plant having a root portion (not shown)
However, it will be appreciated that the floral grouping may
consist of only a single bloom or only foliage, or a botanical
item, or a propagule. The term "floral grouping" may be used
interchangeably herein with both the terms "floral arrangement" and
"potted plant". The term "potted plant" generally refers to a
floral grouping and a pot along with a growing medium. The term
"floral grouping" may also be used interchangeably herein with the
terms "botanical item" and/or "propagule".
[0038] 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.
[0039] The term "botanical item" when used herein means a natural
or artificial herbaceous or woody plant, taken singly or in
combination. The term "botanical item" also means any portion or
portions of natural or artificial herbaceous or woody plants
including stems, leaves, flowers, blossoms, buds, blooms, cones, or
roots, taken singly or in combination, or in groupings of such
portions such as a bouquet or a floral grouping.
[0040] 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.
[0041] In accordance with the present invention a bonding material
(not shown) may optionally be disposed on a portion of any of the
sleeves 10-10e described herein, or provided separately, to attach
each sleeve 10-10e to a pot having a floral grouping therein and
disposed within the sleeve 10-10e. The bonding material may
alternatively be a band, tie, string, ribbon, wire, tape, heat
shrinkable material or other tying or banding device which may be
constructed within or attached to the sleeve 10-10e before it is
applied about the pot or floral grouping or may be provided only
after the sleeve 10-10e is applied about the pot or floral
grouping. A separate bonding material may also assist in closing or
sealing the upper portion (when present) of the sleeve 10-10e or in
adhering the sleeve 10-10e to the pot after the pot has been
disposed therein. Examples of how a bonding material may be
disposed on the sleeve are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,493,809 and
5,625,979, both of which are hereby expressly incorporated herein
by reference in their entirety.
[0042] The term "detaching element" when used generally herein,
means any element or device such as, but not limited to,
perforations, tear strips, zippers, and any other devices or
elements of this nature known in the art, or any combination
thereof, which enable the tearing away or detachment of one object
from another. Therefore, while perforations are shown and described
in detail herein, it will be understood that tear strips, zippers,
or any other "detaching element" known in the art, or any
combination thereof, could be substituted therefore and/or used
therewith.
[0043] Each of the upper portions 44, 44c or 44e of the sleeves
lob, 10c and 10e, respectively, may also have an additional
substantial vertically disposed detaching element comprising a
plurality of vertical perforations (not shown but well known in the
art) for facilitating removal of the upper portion 44, 44c or 44e
from the lower portion 46, 46c or 46e, respectively.
[0044] As indicated above, it will be understood by a person of
ordinary skill in the art that equipment and devices for forming
floral sleeves are commercially available, and are well known to a
person of ordinary skill in the art. Further detailed discussion of
the construction of the sleeves described herein therefore is not
deemed necessary. However, briefly, the sleeves described herein
may be formed by intermittently advancing two separate webs, one or
two webs preformed in the form of a tube, or a single web folded
double and sealing the longitudinal sides and bottom portions 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.
[0045] As noted above, any of the sleeves 10-10e contemplated
herein may have a lower end 26-26e, respectively, which is open or
closed. When the lower end 26-26e is closed, the lower end 26-26e
may have one or more gussets 52, as described elsewhere herein,
formed therein for allowing expansion of the lower end 26-26e when
an object with a broad lower end, such as a pot, is disposed
therein. In another version, the sleeve 10-10e may include a flap
(not shown) which can be folded over and sealed with a bonding
material to close the sleeve 10-10e.
[0046] The term "pot" or "flower pot," as used herein, refers to
any type of container used for holding a floral grouping or plant,
including vases. Examples of pots, used in accordance with the
present invention include, but not by way of limitation, clay pots,
wooden pots, plastic pots, foam pots, pots made from natural and/or
synthetic fibers, and/or any combination thereof. The pot is
adapted to receive a floral grouping in a retaining space thereof.
The floral grouping may be disposed within the pot along with a
suitable growing medium described elsewhere herein, or other
retaining medium, such as a floral foam. It will also be understood
that the floral grouping, and any appropriate growing medium or
other retaining medium, may be disposed in the sleeve without a pot
for cultivating the floral grouping or displaying a grown floral
grouping or botanical item.
[0047] It should also be noted that for all versions of sleeves
described above which have a bonding material thereon, it may be
desirable to have a release material or cover strip covering the
adhesive or cohesive bonding material disposed on any portion of
such sleeves for preventing the bonding material from bonding to
another surface until such is desired. Further, in each of the
cases described herein wherein a sleeve is applied to a pot, the
sleeve may be applied thereto either by depositing the pot
downwardly into the opened sleeve, or the sleeve may be brought
upwardly about the pot from below the pot.
[0048] It should be further noted that various features of the
versions of the present invention such as closure bonding areas,
support apertures, handles or handle apertures, additional
perforations, drainage elements, ventilation holes, combinations of
material may be used alone or in combination as elements of any of
the embodiments described above herein.
[0049] 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.
* * * * *