# US 5,350,473 A · Cover forming apparatus having pivoting forming members

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- Number: US 5,350,473 A
- Document ID: US5350473A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 07/982,921
- Filed: 1992-11-30
- Granted: 1994-09-27
- Earliest claimed: 1992-08-10
- Assignees: Highland Supply Corporation
- Inventors: Donald E. Weder; Paul Fantz
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5350473A

## CPC

- A47G 7/085: {made of flexible sheets of non-resilient material}
- B65B 25/026: {Packaging flower pots}
- Y10T 156/1028: by bending, drawing or stretch forming sheet to assume shape of configured lamina while in contact therewith
- Y10T 156/1033: Flexible sheet to cylinder lamina
- A47G: HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT (book-ends A47B5/00; knives B26B)
- B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A cover forming apparatus for forming a flower pot or flower pot cover from a sheet of material by engaging a sheet of material about the outer surface of a mold, die or pot. The cover forming apparatus includes a plurality of pivotable forming members resting in a surface which supports a sheet of material upon which is positioned a flower pot mold or flower pot. When the forming members are pivotally moved from the storage position to an extended position, the forming members cause the sheet of material to be appressed to or engaged with the mold or pot. The article formed in accordance with the present invention may be separable from the mold or pot and usable as a flower pot or flower pot cover or may be more or less securely attached to the pot by adhesive, cohesive, barbs, friction pinches or other securing means thereby forming a decorative cover connected to a flower pot. The forming members may be spaced by gaps in their closed positions, and gathering fingers can be employed in functional relationship to the forming members to produce different pot or cover features. The cover forming apparatus may be incorporated within a mobile platform enabling the cover forming apparatus to be moved from one location to another.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A cover forming apparatus for forming a flower pot or flower pot cover about an outer surface of an object, the object selected from a group consisting of a die, a mold, and a pot means, from a sheet of material, comprising:
support means upon which the sheet of material is disposable;
an object having an outer surface, said object supported above and near the sheet of material in a forming position;
a plurality of pivotable forming members; and
pivoting means coupled to said forming members for pivotally urging said forming members from a storage position spaced a distance from said outer surface and for moving said forming members to a closed position whereby said forming members cooperate to engage portions of the sheet of material and form the sheet material about said outer surface of said object, whereby the sheet of material is formed into the flower pot or flower pot cover; and
wherein said forming members include facial surfaces which engage the sheet of material, and edges on each side of said facial surfaces, and wherein said facial surfaces are sized such that, when in said closed position, gaps separate the edges of adjacent forming members, whereby as said forming members are being pivoted from said storage position to said closed position, the non-engaged portions of the material between adjacent forming members lag the movement of the engaged portions, thereby forming a plurality of outwardly directed pleats which project through said gaps when said forming members are in said closed position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The cover forming apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means enabling the cover forming apparatus to be moved from one location to another.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The cover forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
said pot means comprises a flower pot;
said apparatus forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot;
said forming members comprise heat sealing elements; and
the flower pot and sheet of material are, at least in part, heat sensitive or coated with a heat sensitive lacquer, such that the sheet of material is secured to the outer surface of the flower pot by heat sealing employing said heat sealing elements, said forming members having the capability of being heated to a temperature sufficient to cause the heat sealing of the forming material to the flower pot.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The cover forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
said pot means comprises a flower pot;
said apparatus forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot; and
said forming members further comprise sonic means for sonically sealing the sheet of material to the outer surface of the flower pot.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The cover forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
said pot means comprises a flower pot;
said apparatus forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot; and
said sheet of material includes an adhesive material on at least part of the surface portions thereof which engage and adhere to the flower pot.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The cover forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
said pot means comprises a flower pot;
said apparatus forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot; and
said forming members further comprise vibratory means for vibratingly sealing the sheet of material to the outer surface of the flower pot.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The cover forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: .
said pot means comprises a flower pot;
said apparatus forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot; and
the flower pot is further defined as including an adhesive material on at least portions of the outer surface of the flower pot, whereby, when the sheet of material is brought into contact with the outer surface of the flower pot, the portions of said sheet of material which engage the outer surface of the flower pot adhere to the outer surface of the flower pot.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The cover forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
said pot means comprises a flower pot;
said apparatus forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot;
the sheet of material disposable on the support surface further defined as including a cohesive material on at least part of one side of the sheet of material; and
the flower pot is further defined as including a cohesive material on at least one portion of the outer surface of the flower pot, whereby when the sheet of material is brought into contact with the outer surface of the flower pot by said forming members, the sheet of material cohesively coheres to the flower pot.

### Claim 9

A method for forming a flower pot or flower pot cover about an outer surface of an object selected from a group consisting of a die, a mold and a pot means, from a sheet of material, comprising the steps of:
providing a sheet of material;
positioning the sheet of material on a support surface;
supporting the object, having an outer surface, above and near the sheet of material in a mold position; and
engaging portions of the sheet of material, and forming the engaged portions of the sheet of material about the outer surface of the object, whereby the sheet of material is formed into the flower pot or flower pot cover;
whereby, as said engaged portions are formed about the object, the non-engaged portions of the material, between the engaged portions, lag the movement of the engaged portions, the non-engaged portions thereby forming a plurality of pleats which project radially outwardly when the engaged portions of the material are brought into engagement with the object.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein:
said pot means comprises a flower pot, and said method forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot;
the sheet of material is heat sensitive; and
said method includes the step of heat sealing the sheet of material to the outer surface of the flower pot.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein:
said pot means comprises a flower pot, and said method forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot; and
said method includes the step of sonically sealing the sheet of material to the outer surface of the flower pot.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein:
said pot means comprises a flower pot, and said method forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot; and
said method includes the step of vibratingly sealing the sheet of material to the outer surface of the flower pot.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the material of the sheet of material is selected from the group consisting of: man-made organic polymer films; fibers or fabric (woven or non-woven, synthetic or natural); metallic or non-metallic foils; paper (coated or uncoated, treated or untreated); cellulose (including cellophane); leather; burlap; "dead-fold" or semi-rigid sheet material including "dead-fold" plastic sheets, wire laminated flexible sheet material, waxed sheet material, starched or sugared sheet material; and laminations or combinations thereof.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the sheet of material has an adhesive material on at least part of the facing surface portions of the pleats, and the sheet of material substantially retains its shape by the contacting facing surface portions which are securely connected to each other, and the shape is further maintained when the cover thus formed is removed from the object.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the sheet of material is further defined as being formable into shapes and as being settable, so that the cover is self supporting and substantially retains its shape after it is formed and is removed from the object.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein:
said pot means comprises a flower pot, and said method forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot; and
the sheet of material includes an adhesive material on at least part of the surface portions thereof which engage and adhere to the flower pot.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said adhesive material includes a pressure sensitive adhesive material on at least a portion of the side of said sheet of material to be engaged with the outer surface of the flower pot, so that the portions of said sheet of material which engage the outer surface of the flower pot adhere to the outer surface of the flower pot, and the portions of the sheet of material which form the pleats do not adhere.

### Claim 18 (depends on 9)

The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein:
said pot means comprises a flower pot, and said method forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot; and
the flower pot is further defined as including an adhesive material on at least portions of the outer surface of the flower pot, whereby, when the sheet of material is brought into contact with the outer surface of the flower pot, the portions of said sheet of material which engage the outer surface of the flower pot adhere to the outer surface of the flower pot.

### Claim 19 (depends on 9)

The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein:
said pot means comprises a flower pot, and said method forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot;
the sheet of material disposable on the support surface is further defined as including a cohesive material on at least part of one side of the sheet of material; and
the flower pot is further defined as including a cohesive material on at least one portion of the outer surface of the flower pot, whereby when the sheet of material is brought into contact with the outer surface of the flower pot, the sheet of material cohesively coheres to the flower pot.

### Claim 20

A cover forming apparatus for forming a flower pot or flower pot cover about an outer surface of an object, the object selected from a group consisting of a die, a mold and a pot means, from a sheet of material, comprising:
support means upon which the sheet of material is disposable;
an object having an outer surface, said object supported above and near the sheet of material in a forming position;
a plurality of pivotable forming members;
pivoting means coupled to said forming members for pivotally urging said forming members from a storage position spaced a distance from said outer surface and for moving said forming members to a closed position wherein said forming members cooperate to engage portions of the sheet of material and form the sheet of material about said outer surface of said mold; and
a plurality of movable fingers cooperating to engage portions of the sheet of material and bring the portions engaged by said fingers into contact with the outer surface of the object in advance of the portions of the sheet of material engaged by said forming members;
whereby the sheet of material is formed into a flower pot or flower pot cover, between the object and said forming members, with the portions engaged by said fingers forming internal overlapping folds in the formed flower pot or flower pot cover in the vicinity of said fingers.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The cover forming apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein:
said pot means comprises a flower pot;
said apparatus forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot; and
said forming members further comprise sonic means for sonically sealing the sheet of material to the outer surface of the flower pot.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The cover forming apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein:
said pot means comprises a flower pot;
said apparatus forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot; and
said forming members further comprise vibratory means for vibratingly sealing the sheet of material to the outer surface of the flower pot.

### Claim 23 (depends on 20)

The cover forming apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein:
said forming members comprise heat sealing elements; and
the sheet of material is, at least in part, heat sensitive or coated with a heat sensitive lacquer, such that the internal overlapping folds of the sheet of material are securely attached to the formed flower pot cover by heat sealing employing said heat sealing elements, said forming members having the capability of being heated to a temperature sufficient to cause the heat sealing of the forming material.

### Claim 24 (depends on 20)

The cover forming apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein:
said forming members further comprise sonic means for sonically sealing the internal overlapping folds to the formed flower pot cover.

### Claim 25 (depends on 20)

The cover forming apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein:
said forming members further comprise vibratory means for vibratingly sealing the internal overlapping folds to the formed flower pot cover.

### Claim 26 (depends on 20)

The cover forming apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein:
said pot means comprises a flower pot;
said apparatus forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot; and
said sheet of material includes an adhesive material on at least part of the surface portions thereof which engage and adhere to the flower pot.

### Claim 27 (depends on 20)

The cover forming apparatus of claim 20 further comprising means enabling the cover forming apparatus to be moved from one location to another.

### Claim 28 (depends on 20)

The cover forming apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein:
said pot means comprises a flower pot;
said apparatus forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot; and
the flower pot is further defined as including an adhesive material on at least portions of the outer surface of the flower pot, whereby, when the sheet of material is brought into contact with the outer surface of the flower pot, the portions of said sheet of material which engage the outer surface of the flower pot adhere to the outer surface of the flower pot.

### Claim 29 (depends on 20)

The cover forming apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein:
said pot means comprises a flower pot;
said apparatus forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot;
the sheet of material disposable on the support surface is further defined as including a cohesive material on at least part of one side of the sheet of material; and
the flower pot is further defined as including a cohesive material on at least one portion of the outer surface of the flower pot, whereby when the sheet of material is brought into contact with the outer surface of the flower pot by said forming members, the sheet of material cohesively coheres to the flower pot.

### Claim 30 (depends on 20)

The cover forming apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein:
said pot means comprises a flower pot;
said apparatus forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot;
said forming members comprise heat sealing elements; and
the flower pot and sheet of material are, at least in part, heat sensitive or coated with a heat sensitive lacquer, such that the sheet of material is secured to the outer surface of the flower pot by heat sealing employing said heat sealing elements, said forming members having the capability of being heated to a temperature sufficient to cause the heat sealing of the forming material to the flower pot.

### Claim 31

A method of forming a flower pot or flower pot cover about an outer surface of an object, the object selected from a group consisting of a die, a mold and a pot means, from a sheet of material, comprising the steps of:
providing a sheet of material;
positioning the sheet of material on a support surface;
supporting an object, having an outer surface, above and near the sheet of material in a forming position;
engaging first portions of the sheet material, and bringing the engaged first portions of the sheet material into contact with the outer surface of the object;
engaging second portions of the sheet of material intermediate said first portions and bringing the engaged second portions into contact with the outer surface of the object after engagement of the first portions of the sheet of material;
whereby the sheet of material is formed into a flower pot or flower pot cover, with the first engaged portions forming internal overlapping folds in the formed flower pot or flower pot cover.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The method as claimed in claim 31, wherein:
said pot means comprises a flower pot;
said method forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot; and
said method includes sonically sealing the sheet of material to the outer surface of the flower pot.

### Claim 33 (depends on 31)

The method as claimed in claim 31, wherein:
said pot means comprises a flower pot;
said method forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot; and
said method includes vibratingly sealing the sheet of material to the outer surface of the flower pot.

### Claim 34 (depends on 31)

The method as claimed in claim 31, wherein:
the sheet of material is, at least in part, heat sensitive or coated with a heat sensitive lacquer; and
said method includes securely attaching the internal overlapping folds of the sheet of material to the formed flower pot cover by heat sealing at a temperature sufficient to cause the heat sealing of the forming material.

### Claim 35 (depends on 31)

The method as claimed in claim 31, including the step of sonically sealing the internal overlapping folds to the formed flower pot cover.

### Claim 36 (depends on 31)

The method as claimed in claim 31, including the step of vibratingly sealing the internal overlapping folds to the formed flower pot cover.

### Claim 37 (depends on 31)

The method as claimed in claim 31, wherein the material of the sheet of material is selected from the group consisting of: man-made organic polymer films; fibers or fabric (woven or non-woven, synthetic or natural); metallic or non-metallic foils; paper (coated or uncoated, treated or untreated); cellulose (including cellophane); leather; burlap; "dead-fold" or semi-rigid sheet material including "dead-fold" plastic sheets, wire laminated flexible sheet material, waxed sheet material, starched or sugared sheet material; and laminations or combinations thereof.

### Claim 38 (depends on 31)

The method as claimed in claim 31, wherein the sheet of material is further defined as being formable into shapes and as being settable, so that the cover is self supporting and substantially retains its shape after it is formed and is removed from said object.

### Claim 39 (depends on 31)

The method as claimed in claim 31, wherein:
said pot means comprises a flower pot;
said method forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot; and
said sheet of material includes an adhesive material on at least part of the surface portions thereof which engage and adhere to the flower pot.

### Claim 40 (depends on 39)

The method as claimed in claim 39, wherein said adhesive material includes a pressure sensitive adhesive material on at least a portion of the side of said sheet of material to be engaged with the outer surface of the flower pot, so that the portions of said sheet of material which engage the outer surface of the flower pot adhere to the outer surface of the flower pot.

### Claim 41 (depends on 31)

The method as claimed in claim 31, wherein:
said pot means comprises a flower pot;
said method forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot; and
the flower pot is further defined as including an adhesive material on at least portions of the outer surface of the flower pot, whereby, when the sheet of material is brought into contact with the outer surface of the flower pot, the portions of sheet of material which engage the outer surface of the flower pot adhere to the outer surface of the flower pot.

### Claim 42 (depends on 31)

The method as claimed in claim 31, wherein:
said pot means comprises a flower pot;
said method forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot;
the sheet of material disposable on the support surface is further defined as including a cohesive material on at least part of one side of the sheet of material; and
the flower pot is further defined as including a cohesive material on at least one portion of the outer surface of the flower pot, whereby when the sheet of material is brought into contact with the outer surface of the flower pot, the sheet of material cohesively coheres to the flower pot.

### Claim 43 (depends on 31)

The method as claimed in claim 31, wherein:
said pot means comprises a flower pot;
said method forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot;
the flower pot and sheet of material are, at least in part, heat sensitive or are coated with a heat sensitive lacquer; and
said method includes securing the sheet of material to the outer surface of the flower pot cover by heat sealing at a temperature sufficient to cause the heat sealing of the forming material to the flower pot.

### Claim 44

A cover forming apparatus for forming a flower pot or flower pot cover about an outer surface of an object, the object selected from a group consisting of a die, a mold, and a pot means, from a sheet of material, comprising:
support means upon which the sheet of material is diposable;
an object having an outer surface, said object supported above and near the sheet of material in a forming position;
a plurality of pivotable forming members;
pivoting means coupled to said forming members for pivotally urging said forming members from a storage position spaced a distance from said outer surface and for moving said forming members to a closed position wherein said forming members cooperate to engage portions of the sheet of material and form the sheet of material about said outer surface of said object; and
a plurality of movable fingers cooperating to engage portions of the sheet of material and bring the portions engaged by said fingers into contact with the outer surface of the object in advance of the portions of the sheet of material engaged by said forming members;
wherein said forming members include facial surfaces which engage the sheet of material, and edges on each side of said facial surfaces, and wherein said facial surfaces are sized such that, when in said closed position, gaps separate the edges of adjacent forming members, whereby as said forming members are being pivoted from said storage position to said closed position, the non-engaged portions of the material between adjacent forming members lag the movement of the engaged portions, thereby forming a plurality of outwardly directed pleats which project through said gaps when said forming members are in said closed position; and
whereby the sheet of material is formed into a flower pot flower pot cover, between the object and said forming members, with the non-engaged portions forming outwardly directed pleats, and with the portions engaged by said fingers forming internal overlapping folds in the formed flower pot or flower pot cover in the vicinity of said fingers.

### Claim 45 (depends on 44)

The cover forming apparatus of claim 44 further comprising means enabling the cover forming apparatus to be moved from one location to another.

### Claim 46

A method of forming a flower pot or flower pot cover about an object selected from a group consisting of a die, a mold, and a pot means, comprising the steps of:
providing a sheet of material;
positioning the sheet of material on a support surface;
supporting an object, having an outer surface, above and near the sheet of material in a forming position;
engaging first portions of the sheet material, and bringing the engaged first portions of the sheet material into contact with the outer surface of the object;
engaging second portions of the sheet of material intermediate said first portions and bringing the engaged second portions into contact with the outer surface of the object after engagement of the first portions of the sheet of material wherein at least some of those portions of the sheet of material which engage the outer surface of the mold are bondingly connected thereto;
whereby the sheet of material is formed into a flower pot or flower pot cover, with the first engaged portions forming internal overlapping folds in the formed flower pot or flower pot cover, with the second engaged portions forming external overlapping folds in the formed flower pot or flower pot cover.

### Claim 47 (depends on 46)

The method of claim 46, wherein the step of providing a sheet of material further comprises providing a sheet having an adhesive or cohesive bonding material disposed thereon for bondingly connecting the sheet of material to the outer surface of the object.

### Claim 48 (depends on 46)

The method of claim 46, wherein the adhesive or cohesive bonding material is applied to the sheet of material immediately prior to the step of positioning the sheet of material on a support surface.

### Claim 49 (depends on 46)

The method of claim 46, wherein in the step of supporting an object, the object is further defined as having an adhesive or cohesive bonding material disposed upon at least portions of the outer surface of the object for bondingly connecting the sheet of material to the outer surface of the object.

### Claim 50

A method for forming a flower pot or flower pot cover about an outer surface of an object, the object selected from a group consisting of a die, a mold, and a pot means, from a sheet of material, comprising the steps of:
providing a sheet of material;
positioning the sheet of material on a support surface;
supporting an object, having an outer surface, above and near the sheet of material in a mold position; and
engaging first portions of the sheet material, and bringing the engaged first portions of the sheet material into contact with the outer surface of the object;
engaging second portions of the sheet of material intermediate said first portions and bringing the engaged second portions contact with the outer surface of the object after engagement of the first portions of the sheet of material;
whereby, as said engaged portions are formed about the object, the non-engaged portions of the material, between the engaged portions, lag the movement of the engaged portions, the non-engaged portions thereby forming a plurality of pleats which project radially outwardly when the engaged portions of the material are brought into engagement with the object, the sheet of material being formed with the first engaged portions forming internal overlapping folds in the formed flower pot or flower pot cover.

### Claim 51

A cover forming apparatus for forming a flower pot or flower pot cover about an outer surface of an object, the object selected from a group consisting of a die, a mold, and a pot means, from a sheet of material, comprising:
support means upon which the sheet of material is disposable;
an object having an outer surface, said object supported above and near the sheet of material in a forming position;
a plurality of pivotable forming members;
pivoting means coupled to said forming members for pivotally urging said forming members from a storage position spaced a distance from said outer surface and for moving said forming members to a closed position wherein said forming members cooperate to engage portions of the sheet of material and form the sheet of material about said outer surface of said object; and
a plurality of movable fingers cooperating to engage portions of the sheet of material and bring the portions engaged by said fingers into contact with the outer surface of the object in advance of the portions of the sheet of material engaged by said forming members;
whereby the sheet of material is formed into a flower pot or flower pot cover, between the object and said forming members, with the portions engaged by said fingers forming internal overlapping folds in the formed flower pot or flower pot cover in the vicinity of said fingers, and with the portions not engaged by said fingers form external overlapping folds.

### Claim 52 (depends on 51)

The cover forming apparatus of claim 51 further comprising means enabling the cover forming apparatus to be moved from one location to another.

### Claim 53

A method for forming a flower pot or flower pot cover about an object selected from the group consisting of a die, a mold and a pot means, comprising the steps of:
providing a sheet of material;
positioning the sheet of material on a support surface;
supporting the object, having an outer surface, above and near the sheet of material in a mold position; and
engaging portions of the sheet of material, and forming the engaged portions of the sheet of material about the outer surface of the object, whereby the sheet of material is formed into the flower pot or flower pot cover and portions of the sheet of material are bondingly connected to the outer surface of the object;
whereby, as said engaged portions are formed about the object, the non-engaged portions of the material, between the engaged portions, lag the movement of the engaged portions, the non-engaged portions thereby forming a plurality of pleats which project radially outwardly when the engaged portions of the material are brought into engagement with the object.

### Claim 54 (depends on 53)

The method of claim 53 wherein the step of providing a sheet of material further comprises providing a sheet having an adhesive or cohesive bonding material disposed thereon for bondingly connecting the sheet of material to the outer surface of the object.

### Claim 55 (depends on 54)

The method of claim 54 wherein the adhesive or cohesive bonding material is applied to the sheet of material immediately prior to the step of positioning the sheet of material on a support surface.

### Claim 56 (depends on 53)

The method of claim 53 wherein in the step of supporting an object, the object is further defined as having an adhesive or cohesive bonding material disposed upon at least portions of the outer surface of the object for bondingly connecting the sheet of material to the outer surface of the object.

### Claim 57

A method of forming a flower pot or flower pot cover about an object selected from a group consisting of a die, a mold and a pot means comprising the steps of:
providing a sheet of material;
positioning the sheet of material on a support surface;
supporting an object, having an outer surface, above and near the sheet of material in a forming position;
engaging first portions of the sheet material, and bringing the engaged first portions of the sheet material into contact with the outer surface of the object wherein at least some of the engaged first portions of the sheet of material which engage the outer surface of the object are connectingly bonded thereto;
engaging second portions of the sheet of material intermediate said first portions and bringing the engaged second portions into contact with the outer surface of the object after engagement of the first portions of the sheet of material;
whereby the sheet of material is formed into a flower pot or flower pot cover, with the first engaged portions forming internal overlapping folds in the formed flower pot or flower pot cover.

### Claim 58 (depends on 57)

The method of claim 57 wherein the step of providing a sheet of material further comprises providing a sheet having an adhesive or cohesive bonding material disposed thereon for bondingly connecting the sheet of material to the outer surface of the object.

### Claim 59 (depends on 58)

The method of claim 58 wherein the adhesive or cohesive bonding material is applied to the sheet of material immediately prior to the step of positioning the sheet of material on a support surface.

### Claim 60 (depends on 57)

The method of claim 57 wherein in the step of supporting an object, the object is further defined as having an adhesive or cohesive bonding material disposed upon at least portions of the outer surface of the object for bondingly connecting the sheet of material to the outer surface of the object.

### Claim 61

A method for forming a flower pot or flower pot cover about an object selected from a group consisting of a die, a mold, and a pot means, comprising the steps of:
providing a sheet of material;
positioning the sheet of material on a support surface;
supporting an object, having an outer surface, above and near the sheet of material in a mold position; and
engaging first portions of the sheet material, and bringing the engaged first portions of the sheet material into contact with the outer surface of the object wherein at least some of the engaged first portions of the sheet of material which engage the outer surface of the mold are bondingly connected thereto;
engaging second portions of the sheet of material intermediate said first portions and bringing the engaged second portions into contact with the outer surface of the object after engagement of the first portions of the sheet of material;
whereby, as said engaged portions are formed about the object, the non-engaged portions of the material, between the engaged portions, lag the movement of the engaged portions, the non-engaged portions thereby forming a plurality of pleats which project radially outwardly when the engaged portions of the material are brought into engagement with the object, the sheet of material being formed with the first engaged portions forming internal overlapping folds in the formed flower pot or flower pot cover.

### Claim 62 (depends on 61)

The method of claim 61 wherein the step of providing a sheet of material further comprises providing a sheet having an adhesive or cohesive bonding material disposed thereon for bondingly connecting the sheet of material to the outer surface of the object.

### Claim 63 (depends on 62)

The method of claim 62 wherein the adhesive or cohesive bonding material is applied to the sheet of material immediately prior to the step of positioning the sheet of material on a support surface.

### Claim 64 (depends on 61)

The method of claim 61 wherein in the step of supporting an object, the object is further defined as having an adhesive or cohesive bonding material disposed upon at least portions of the outer surface of the object for bondingly connecting the sheet of material to the outer surface of the object.

### Claim 65

A method of forming a flower pot or flower pot cover about an outer surface of an object, the object selected from a group consisting of a die, a mold, and a pot means, from a sheet of material, comprising the steps of:
providing a sheet of material;
positioning the sheet of material on a support surface;
supporting an object, having an outer surface, above and near the sheet of material in a forming position;
engaging first portions of the sheet material, and bringing the engaged first portions of the sheet material into contact with the outer surface of the object;
engaging second portions of the sheet of material intermediate said first portions and bringing the engaged second portions into contact with the outer surface of the object after engagement of the first portions of the sheet of material;
whereby the sheet of material is formed into a flower pot or flower pot cover, with the first engaged portions forming internal overlapping folds in the formed flower pot or flower pot cover, and with the second engaged portions forming external overlapping folds in the formed flower pot or flower pot cover.