Patents by Inventor Donald E. Weder

Donald E. Weder has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • FLOWER POT COVER WITH INDENTED RING PORTION AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING SAME
    Publication number: 20120023820
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for forming a flower pot cover with at least one indented portion to retain the flower pot cover on the flower pot. The apparatus includes a male and female die. The female die has a plurality of fingers movable radially into an opening of the female die. The male die has a recess formed between the lower end and the upper end and adapted to receive the fingers of the female die to form the at least one indented portion of the flower pot cover when the sheet of material is pressed between the female die and the male die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Michael J. King
  • Method of covering a potted plant
    Patent number: 8104225
    Abstract: The present invention describes a method of covering a flower pot with an oversized sleeve, as well as a plant package formed therefrom. The sleeve has an inner diameter which is greater than the maximum diameter of a pot disposed therein. The sleeve may have a detachable upper portion, a skirt portion with a linear or non-linear upper end, or with or without gussets in the lower end or sides. The sleeve may be secured about the pot by crimping a portion of the sleeve having a bonding material thereon, or by using a securing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Wanda M. Weder & William F. Straeter
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • METHOD FOR MAKING CONTOURED DECORATIVE GRASS
    Publication number: 20120017541
    Abstract: A method for producing decorative grass having a decorative pattern thereon is disclosed. The decorative pattern may be printed material and/or an embossed pattern, or the decorative pattern may be a non-linear side edge that provides the decorative grass with a contoured configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • PLANT PACKAGE AND METHODS OF FORMING SAME USING A THERMOPLASTIC FLOWER POT
    Publication number: 20120005953
    Abstract: A flower pot in combination with a retaining medium for holding and retaining a floral grouping is disclosed. The flower pot includes a base portion defining a receiving space for receiving at least a portion of the retaining medium so as to hold and retain the retaining medium. The base portion is constructed of a thermoformed plastic material, and has an upper end, a lower end, and a sidewall extending between the upper end and the lower end. The sidewall is substantially devoid of overlapping folds and has decorative ornamentation associated with at least a portion of the sidewall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Inventors: Antonio V. Alcazar, Donald E. Weder
  • PACKAGING MATERIAL
    Publication number: 20120005989
    Abstract: A packaging material comprising a plurality of flexible strips of material integrally interconnected to one another along one end thereof so as to form a unitary mass and so that the strips of material are intertwineable with one another to form a resilient tuft. The strips of material interconnected via a border have a bonding material disposed thereon for bondingly connecting the packaging material to a container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Method of wrapping a floral grouping
    Patent number: 8091274
    Abstract: A method for wrapping a floral grouping is disclosed. In the method a substantially shape-sustaining sheet of material having a substantially circular shape is formed into a substantially frusto-conical shaped bouquet holder with an open upper end that has a diameter greater than the diameter of a lower end thereof. A floral grouping may be disposed within the bouquet holder, and the bouquet holder may be further provided with a skirt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Wanda M. Weder and William F. Straeter
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Plant package and methods of forming same using a thermoplastic flower pot
    Patent number: 8091278
    Abstract: A flower pot in combination with a retaining medium for holding and retaining a floral grouping. The flower pot includes a base portion defining a receiving space for receiving at least a portion of the retaining medium so as to hold and retain the retaining medium. The base portion is constructed of a thermoformed plastic material, and has an upper end, a lower end, and a sidewall extending between the upper end and the lower end. The sidewall is substantially devoid of overlapping folds and has decorative ornamentation associated with at least a portion of the sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Wanda M. Weder and William F. Straeter, not individually but soley as Trustees of The Family Trust
    Inventors: Antonio V. Alcazar, Donald E. Weder
  • Floral easel
    Patent number: 8091324
    Abstract: The presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) relates to an erectable and/or collapsible floral easel for holding a floral object, and more particularly but not by way of limitation, to an erectable or collapsible floral easel for holding a floral object. In one aspect, the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) relates to a floral easel for holding and/or supporting a floral object. In yet another aspect, the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) relates to methods of shipping a floral easel, methods of using a floral easel, methods of storing a floral easel, and methods of placing a floral object on a floral easel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Wanda M. Weder and William F. Straeter
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Method for wrapping a floral grouping
    Patent number: 8091273
    Abstract: A method for wrapping a floral grouping having a bloom end and a stem end is disclosed. A wrapper is formed from a sheet of material or bag which is wrapped about at least a portion of the stem end of the floral grouping. The wrapped floral grouping is then positioned within a receiving space of a preformed sleeve whereby the wrapper is secured in a stable position about at least a portion of the stem end of the floral grouping by the preformed sleeve. A detaching element defines the detachable upper portion and a lower portion of the preformed sleeve so that the upper portion can be removed from the lower portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Wanda M. Weder and William F. Straeter
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Wrapper with decorative extension and method
    Patent number: 8061081
    Abstract: A wrapper for wrapping a flower pot and/or floral grouping is disclosed. The wrapper is constructed of a sheet of material having an extension attached to a portion of the sheet of material. When the wrapper is formed about a flower pot to form a decorative cover, upper edges of the sheet of material and extension cooperate to form a skirt portion preferably having at least two separate edges providing a “two-sheet” effect in the decorative cover. The wrapper may have extensions on opposing ends of the sheet of material and may have one or more additional overlapping extensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Wanda M. Weder and William F. Straeter
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MAKING AND BAGGING DECORATIVE GRASS
    Publication number: 20110277422
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing and bagging decorative grass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Flower pot cover with indented ring portion and apparatus for forming same
    Patent number: 8056283
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for forming a flower pot cover with at least one indented portion to retain the flower pot cover on the flower pot. The apparatus includes a male and female die. The female die has a plurality of fingers movable radially into an opening of the female die. The male die has a recess formed between the lower end and the upper end and adapted to receive the fingers of the female die to form the at least one indented portion of the flower pot cover when the sheet of material is pressed between the female die and the male die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Wanda M. Weder and William F. Straeter
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Michael J. King
  • DECORATIVE SHREDDED MATERIAL
    Publication number: 20110272324
    Abstract: A decorative shredded material having a complete pattern contained on each strip or piece of the decorative shredded material is disclosed, as well as methods for making decorative shredded material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Sonny K. Burnside
  • COMPRESSED PACKAGED ARTICLES AND METHODS OF MAKING, TRANSPORTING, SHIPPING AND USING SAME
    Publication number: 20110258971
    Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to articles that are packaged in a compressed state relative to an uncompressed fully articulated state and methods of making and using same. In a specific embodiment, but not to be considered as limiting, the articles so packaged in a compressed state are plant covers that are either substantially rigid and/or substantially flexible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • DECORATIVE GRASS HAVING AN APPEARANCE SIMULATING THE APPEARANCE OF CLOTH
    Publication number: 20110258968
    Abstract: Decorative grasses having an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of cloth are disclosed, as are methods for making such decorative grasses from materials, wherein at least one surface of the material is modified to simulate the appearance or texture of cloth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • METHOD OF COVERING A POT WITH A FLORAL SLEEVE
    Publication number: 20110252706
    Abstract: A floral sleeve and method of using the floral sleeve to cover a pot. The floral sleeve has a body and an insert or extension attached thereto. The floral sleeve may have an inwardly folded bottom gusset for forming a bottom in the sleeve which is concealed by the lower sidewall of the sleeve when the sleeve is opened and the pot is disposed therein. The sleeve may have a detachable upper portion for enclosing a floral grouping disposed within the pot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter, Michael R. Klemme
  • CURLED DECORATIVE ELEMENTS AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING SAME
    Publication number: 20110253286
    Abstract: Methods of forming decorative elements such as decorative grass, and glitter possessing a unique optical effect from a laminated sheet of optical effect material. The decorative elements have a curl or a crimp set therein to enhance the light-reflecting characteristics of the decorative elements and to provide greater volume of the decorative elements for a given weight of decorative elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • METHOD FOR FORMING A DECORATIVE COVER FOR A FLOWER POT WITH A SHEET OF MATERIAL HAVING PRINTED AND EMBOSSED PATTERNS THEREON
    Publication number: 20110253294
    Abstract: A decorative covering for a flower pot wherein a sheet of material having embossed and printed patterns thereon is formed about at least a portion of the flower pot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • PREFORMED DECORATIVE WRAPPER AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF
    Publication number: 20110247270
    Abstract: A preformed decorative wrapper for covering a flower pot has an open upper end, an open lower end, and a sidewall extending therebetween. At least a portion of the preformed decorative wrapper extends beyond an upper end of the pot and at least a portion of a lower end of the flower pot extends through the open lower end of the preformed decorative wrapper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Wrapper with decorative extension and method
    Patent number: 8033051
    Abstract: A wrapper for wrapping a flower pot and/or floral grouping is disclosed. The wrapper is constructed of a sheet of material having an extension attached to a portion of the sheet of material. When the wrapper is formed about a flower pot to form a decorative cover, upper edges of the sheet of material and extension cooperate to form a skirt portion preferably having at least two separate edges providing a “two-sheet” effect in the decorative cover. The wrapper may have extensions on opposing ends of the sheet of material and may have one or more additional overlapping extensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder