# US 5,704,161 A · Plant cover and sleeve formed from two materials > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,704,161 A - Document ID: US5704161A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/760,554 - Filed: 1996-12-05 - Granted: 1998-01-06 - Earliest claimed: 1992-09-04 - Assignees: Southpac Trust International, Inc. - Inventors: Donald E. Weder - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5704161A ## CPC - B65D 85/52: for living plants; for growing bulbs - A01G 5/04: Mountings for wreaths, or the like; Racks or holders for flowers - A47G 7/085: {made of flexible sheets of non-resilient material} - B65B 25/02: Packaging agricultural or horticultural products - B65B 25/026: {Packaging flower pots} - B65D 75/5827: {Tear-lines provided in a wall portion (B65D75/5805, B65D75/5816 take precedence)} - B65D 81/36: adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents - B65D 85/505: {for cut flowers} - Y10S 383/907: Peculiar, particular shape - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES - A01G: HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING (picking of fruits, vegetables, hops or the like A01D46/00; propagating unicellular algae C12N1/12) - 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) - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract A plant packaging system comprising a combination of a protective sleeve portion and a decorative cover portion having a base and skirt for packaging a potted plant. The protective sleeve can be detached from the decorative portion of the package system once the protective function of the sleeve has been completed, thereby exposing the decorative cover and allowing the skirt portion to extend angularly from the base. The protective sleeve and decorative cover components may comprise a unitary construction or may comprise separate components which are attached together by various bonding materials. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tubular sleeve, comprising: a base portion preformed to fit about a pot means having a specific size and shape and having a lower end, an upper end, an outer surface and a retaining space for enclosing the pot means, and sized to substantially cover the pot means; a skirt portion extending beyond the upper end of the base portion and having an upper peripheral edge; and a sleeve portion connected to one of the skirt portion and the outer surface of the base portion and detachable therefrom and extending a distance therefrom, the sleeve portion connected thereto prior to the deposition of the pot means into the retaining space of the base portion, and the sleeve portion sized to substantially surround and encompass a floral grouping, and wherein the base portion and the skirt portion are constructed from a first material and the sleeve portion is constructed from a second material different from the first material, and wherein when the sleeve portion is detached, the skirt portion extends angularly from the base portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tubular sleeve of claim 1 further comprising expansion means integral to at least one of the skirt portion and the base portion for enabling the angular extension of at least a portion of the skirt portion away from the base portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The tubular 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. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The tubular 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. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The tubular 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. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The tubular sleeve of claim 1 wherein each base, skirt and sleeve portion is 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. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The tubular sleeve of claim 1 wherein the sleeve portion is detachable via a detaching means selected from the group consisting of perforations, tear strips and zippers. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The tubular sleeve of claim 1 further comprising an extended portion of the sleeve portion for serving as a handle or support means. ### Claim 9 A plant package, comprising: a tubular sleeve having a lower end, an upper end, an outer peripheral surface, and an inner peripheral surface surrounding an inner retaining space, and further comprising: a base portion preformed to fit about a pot means having a specific size and shape and having a lower end, an upper end, an outer surface and a retaining space for enclosing the pot means, and sized to substantially cover the pot means, a skirt portion extending beyond the upper end of the base portion and having an upper peripheral edge, and a sleeve portion connected to one of the skirt portion and the outer surface of the base portion, detachable therefrom and extending a distance therefrom, the sleeve portion connected thereto prior to the deposition of the pot means into the retaining space of the base portion, and the sleeve portion sized to substantially surround and encompass a floral grouping, and wherein the base portion and the skirt portion are constructed from a first material and the sleeve portion is constructed from a second material different from the first material, and wherein when the sleeve portion is detached, the skirt portion is free to extend angularly from the base portion; and a pot means disposed within the retaining space of the base portion of the tubular sleeve, the pot means having a floral grouping disposed therein, and wherein the pot means is substantially surrounded by the base portion and the floral grouping is substantially surrounded by the sleeve portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The tubular sleeve of claim 9 further defined as constructed from a material having a thickness in a range of from about 0.1 mils to about 30 mils. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The tubular sleeve of claim 9 further defined as constructed from a material having a thickness in a range of from about 0.5 mils to about 10 mils. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The tubular sleeve of claim 9 further defined as constructed from a material having a thickness in a range of from about 1 mil to about 5 mils. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The tubular sleeve of claim 9 wherein each base, skirt and sleeve portion is 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. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The tubular sleeve of claim 9 wherein the sleeve portion is detachable via a detaching means selected from the group consisting of perforations, tear strips and zippers. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The tubular sleeve of claim 9 further comprising an extended portion of the sleeve portion for serving as a handle or support means. ### Claim 16 A plant cover for covering a pot means having an outer peripheral surface, comprising: a preformed pot cover comprising: a base portion preformed to fit about a pot means having a specific size and shape and having a lower end, an upper end, an outer peripheral surface, and having an opening extending from the upper end to the lower end, and a skirt portion attached to the base portion and extending a distance beyond the upper end of the base portion; and a sleeve portion connected to the outer peripheral surface of the base portion of the preformed cover prior to the deposition of the pot means into the opening of the base portion, and the sleeve portion extending from the upper end of the base portion and detachable therefrom and substantially surrounding the skirt portion, wherein the base portion and the skirt portion are constructed from a first material and the sleeve portion is constructed from a second material different from the first material, and wherein when the sleeve portion is detached from the base portion, the skirt portion is exposed allowing the skirt portion to extend angularly from the base portion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The plant cover of claim 16 further defined as constructed from a material having a thickness in a range of from about 0.1 mils to about 30 mils. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The plant cover of claim 16 further defined as constructed from a material having a thickness in a range of from about 0.5 mils to about 10 mils. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The plant cover of claim 16 further defined as constructed from a material having a thickness in a range of from about 1 mil to about 5 mils. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The plant cover of claim 16 wherein each base, skirt and sleeve portion is 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. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The plant cover of claim 16 wherein the sleeve portion is detachable via a detaching means selected from the group consisting of perforations, tear strips and zippers. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) The plant cover of claim 16 further comprising an extended portion of the sleeve portion for serving as a handle or support means.