Patents Assigned to The Family Trust U/T/A
  • Patent number: 5566439
    Abstract: A sheet of material formed about a flower pot to provide a decorative cover wherein a portion of the sheet of material near an outer peripheral surface thereof extends above an upper end of the flower pot and such portion is crimped to assist in holding the sheet of material formed about the flower pot. The crimping is accomplished by forming overlapping folds in the crimp portion of the sheet of material or by connecting the crimp portion to a portion of the flower pot by way of a bonding material or by way of a drawstring or ribbon or by way of reinforcing members in the sheet of material or by way of a shrinkable material formed in the sheet of material for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignees: Southpac Trust International, Inc., The Family Trust U/T/A
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 5567486
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a ribbon assembly having a decorative ribbon formed on a support member wherein an elastic member having a stretched condition and an unstretched condition extends between a piece of material and the support member for substantially automatically forming the decorative ribbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignees: The Family Trust U/T/A, Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 5564257
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically wrapping a sheet of material about a bouquet of flowers. A sheet of material having spaced apart defined first and second portions is placed against a support member, such as a prepared table top, and the bouquet is positioned on the sheet with the first and second portions of the sheet extending on right and left sides, respectively, of the bouquet. The first sheet portion is then moved in a path to at least partially encompass the bouquet, and the second sheet portion is moved in a path to at least partially encompass the bouquet and to extend over part of the first sheet portion. The two sheet portions may be secured together by a bonding material, or the first and second portions of the sheet of wrapping material can themselves act as a bonding material by application of appropriate heat sealing, sonic welding, vibratory welding, and similar methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignees: The Family Trust U/T/A, Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Fantz, Donald E. Weder, Franklin J. Craig
  • Patent number: 5564256
    Abstract: A wrapping apparatus having a springable base with attached arms which support a wrapping material. The spaced apart arms extend upward and outward from the perimeter of the springable base, which is flexible to assume an arched posture and a flat posture. In response to downward pressure on a central area of the springable base, the springable base snaps from the arched posture into the flat posture. When the springable base is in the arched posture, the arms and wrapping material are in an open position to receive an item to be wrapped. The arms and wrapping material move into a closed position when the springable base assumes the flat posture. The wrapping apparatus may be constructed with or without an upper skirt of wrapping material. The wrapping material may be inside the arms, outside the arms or may envelope the arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignees: Southpac Trust International, Inc., The Family Trust U/T/A
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 5564567
    Abstract: A method for preparing a plant package assembly for delivery to a predetermined location and for transporting the plant package assembly thereto. The plant package assembly comprises a plurality of floral groupings disposed within floral containers. Each floral container is bondingly connected at its base to a support surface by a bonding material disposed on the floral container base, the floral container positioned in a vertical orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignees: Southpac Trust International, Inc., The Family Trust U/T/A
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 5562210
    Abstract: A floral arrangement wrapped with a sheet of material. The sheet of material has a bonding material disposed thereon for crimping the sheet about the floral grouping. The sheet also has a pull tab with a bonding material thereon for gripping the sheet and holding the sheet in a crimped position about the floral arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignees: The Family Trust U/T/A, Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter, William F. Straeter
  • Patent number: 5561965
    Abstract: A wrapper for a floral grouping formed from a sheet of material having a closure bonding material on a portion thereof. The sheet of material is wrapped about the floral grouping with the closure bonding material securing the sheet of material in a wrapped position about the floral grouping to form the wrapper. A top flap is folded over an open upper end of the wrapper and connected to the wrapper to prevent the floral grouping from shifting in the wrapper and extending out from the open upper end of the wrapper. In one form, a bottom flap is connected to the wrapper and extends over an open lower end of the wrapper to prevent the floral grouping from shifting in the wrapper and extending out from the open lower end of the wrapper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignees: Southpac Trust International, Inc., The Family Trust U/T/A
    Inventor: William F. Straeter
  • Patent number: 5562798
    Abstract: A sleeve forming method and apparatus where sleeves are formed by use of overlapping webs. The webs are twisted in one direction to form a seal at one side of a sleeve and later twisted in the opposite direction to form the seal at the opposite side of a sleeve, such that all of the sleeves are oriented in the same direction, such as with the large openings of the sleeves facing upwardly and the smaller openings of the sleeves facing downwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignees: Southpac Trust International, Inc., The Family Trust U/T/A
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Frank Craig
  • Patent number: 5560488
    Abstract: A decorative plant assembly and a method for making such including a flower pot or other pot or plant container, a sheet of material having an opening formed through a portion of the sheet of material and a bonding means for holding the sheet of material in a position about the outer peripheral surface of the pot. When placed about the pot, at least a portion of the sheet of material engages a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the pot. At least a portion of the bottom of the pot means is exposed through the opening in the sheet of material. A portion of the sheet of material may extend away from the upper end of the pot means to form a skirt. The sheet of material when extended about the outer peripheral surface of the pot may further comprise a plurality of folds. The sheet of material may further comprise a tubular extension extending from the lower surface of the sheet of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignees: Southpac Trust International, Inc., The Family Trust U/T/A
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 5560181
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for covering portions of an object having an outer peripheral surface with a sheet of material having an upper surface and a lower surface with a pressure sensitive adhesive on at least a portion of the lower surface by wrapping the sheet of material about portions of the outer peripheral surface and positioning the sheet of material so that the pressure sensitive coating either contacts portions of the outer peripheral surface of the object and is bonded thereto or contacts overlapping portions of the sheet of material and is bonded to other adjacent portions of the sheet of material having the pressure sensitive coating thereon or overlapping portions of the sheet of material are bonded by the pressure sensitive adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignees: Southpac Trust International, Inc., The Family Trust U/T/A
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 5542169
    Abstract: A covering for a flower pot with a floral grouping disposed therein and extending a distance above an upper end of the flower pot wherein the flower pot has a lower end and an outer peripheral surface. The covering includes a sheet of material having an upper surface, a lower surface and an outer peripheral surface with a sheet extension connected to the outer peripheral surface of the sheet of material and extending a distance from the outer peripheral surface of the sheet of material. The sheet of material is formed about the flower pot to a position wherein the sheet of material extends about substantially the entire outer peripheral surface of the flower pot to provide a decorative covering and the sheet extension is formed about the floral grouping to a position wherein the sheet extension extends about a substantial portion of the floral grouping to provide a protective covering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignees: The Family Trust U/T/A, Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 5537799
    Abstract: A wrapper for a floral grouping formed from a sheet of material having a closure bonding material on a portion thereof. The sheet of material is wrapped about the floral grouping with the closure bonding material securing the sheet of material in a wrapped position about the floral grouping to form the wrapper. A top flap is folded over an open upper end of the wrapper and connected to the wrapper to prevent the floral grouping from shifting in the wrapper and extending out from the open upper end of the wrapper. In one form, a bottom flap is connected to the wrapper and extends over an open lower end of the wrapper to prevent the floral grouping from shifting in the wrapper and extending out from the open lower end of the wrapper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignees: The Family Trust U/T/A, Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: William F. Straeter
  • Patent number: D372439
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignees: The Family Trust U/T/A, Southpac Trust International, Inc.,
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter
  • Patent number: D373746
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignees: The Family Trust U/T/A, Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter
  • Patent number: D374204
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignees: The Family Trust U/T/A, Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: D374414
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignees: The Family Trust U/T/A, Southpac Trust International, Inc.,
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter
  • Patent number: D374639
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignees: The Family Trust U/T/A, Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter
  • Patent number: D374640
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignees: The Family Trust U/T/A, Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Jon S. Shryock
  • Patent number: D374844
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignees: The Family Trust U/T/A, Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter
  • Patent number: D375258
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignees: The Family Trust U/T/A, Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Lisa Straeter, Ken Barker, Sherry Hall