Patents by Inventor Joseph G. Straeter

Joseph G. Straeter 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).

  • Flexible vase
    Patent number: 6601343
    Abstract: A decorative assembly for a floral grouping comprising a floral holding material and a sheet of material. The floral holding material is constructed of a material capable of receiving a portion of a floral grouping and supporting the floral grouping. The sheet of material is extended about a portion of the floral holding material and a crimped portion is formed in the sheet of material with the crimped portion cooperating to hold the sheet of material about the floral holding material to provide a decorative covering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, William F. Straeter, Joseph G. Straeter, Michael J. King, Franklin J. Craig, Michael R. Klemme
  • Method of covering a pot or floral grouping with a sleeve having a concave lower end
    Patent number: 6601367
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter, Paul Fantz
  • Floral sleeve with a pleated skirt
    Patent number: 6598340
    Abstract: A plant packaging and covering system including a flexible floral sleeve having a base portion and a skirt portion, and optionally an upper detachable portion which may be sized to surround a plant disposed in a flower pot. The base portion is generally made from two flat panels substantially free of overlapping portions and the skirt portion has a plurality of overlapping portions which allow the skirt portion to expand outwardly from the upper end of the base portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter
  • METHOD OF COVERING A POT OR FLORAL GROUPING WITH A SLEEVE HAVING A CONCAVE LOWER END
    Publication number: 20030136081
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2001
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter, Paul Fantz
  • Method of manufacturing a tubular sleeve
    Publication number: 20030131561
    Abstract: A sleeve used to wrap items such as potted plants. The sleeve may have an open or closed bottom. When closed, the bottom may have a gusset for allowing expansion upon the depositing of the pot into the sleeve. The sleeve has a detachable upper portion. The sleeve may have a bonding material disposed upon an inner or outer portion of the sleeve for attaching the sleeve to the pot or item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter, William F. Straeter
  • Method of covering a pot with a floral sleeve having a side-sealed bottom gusset
    Publication number: 20030126835
    Abstract: A floral sleeve and method of using the floral sleeve to cover a pot. The floral sleeve has 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 a pot is disposed therein. The sleeve may have a detachable upper portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter, Michael R KLEMME
  • Decorative assembly for a floral grouping
    Patent number: 6588148
    Abstract: A decorative assembly for a floral grouping comprising a floral holding material and a sheet of material. The floral holding material is constructed of a material capable of receiving a portion of a floral grouping and supporting the floral grouping. The sheet of material is extended about a portion of the floral holding material and a crimped portion is formed in the sheet of material with the crimped portion cooperating to hold the sheet of material about the floral holding material to provide a decorative covering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, William F. Straeter, Joseph G. Straeter, Michael J. King, Franklin J. Craig, Michael R. Klemme
  • Sleeve with a triangular lower end
    Publication number: 20030121206
    Abstract: A tubular sleeve having a triangular lower end for covering a pot or floral grouping. The sleeve may have a detachable upper portion and may have a non-linear or linear upper edge and may have a gusset in the triangular lower end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2003
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter, Paul Fantz
  • Flexible vase
    Publication number: 20030115797
    Abstract: A decorative assembly for a floral grouping comprising a floral holding material and a sheet of material. The floral holding material is a shape-sustaining support member having an open upper end, an open lower end and a peripheral sidewall defining an internal chamber extending between the open upper end and the close lower end. The sheet of material is extended about a portion of the floral holding material to form a decorative cover and the decorative cover cooperates with the shape-sustaining support member to define a reservoir for confining a liquid a securing element secures the decorative cover about the shape-sustaining support member and a crimped portion is formed in the sheet of material with the crimped portion cooperating to hold the sheet of material about the floral holding material to provide a decorative covering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2003
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, William F. Straeter, Joseph G. Straeter, Michael J. King, Franklin J. Craig, Michael R. Klemme
  • Method of wrapping a pot with a cover having adhesive or cohesive thereon
    Publication number: 20030116268
    Abstract: An adhesive and material dispenser for dispensing single sheets of material from stacks of sheets of material or from rolls of material and applying an adhesive to the sheet. The adhesive is applied by contacting the adhesive portion of an adhesive transfer tape to the sheet. The sheet of material with the adhesive applied thereto can be used to wrap floral arrangements or flower pots or other articles. The dispenser may be combined with an automatic pot wrapping apparatus so the adhesive application and decorative pot wrapping sequence can be combined into one continuous operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2003
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter
  • Method of covering a pot or floral grouping with a sleeve having a curvilinear lower end
    Publication number: 20030110692
    Abstract: A floral sleeve initially having a flattened condition 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 curvilinear lower end, 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 curvilinear lower end of the sleeve may have a gusset therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter, Paul Fantz
  • Conveyable cover former and fastening system
    Publication number: 20030101649
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a cover about an article and for automatically fastening the cover to the article, and optionally for automatically placing a label on the covered article. The article may be an article such as a potted plant and the cover may be a decorative cover. The apparatus includes a platform having at least one opening sized to allow passage therethrough of an article a conveyable cover forming assembly having contacting portions for contacting the sheet of material, and a tying device for automatically applying a band or fastener about a portion of the outer surface of a covered article for fastening a cover about the article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2003
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter
  • Method of wrapping a pot with a conformable sleeve
    Patent number: 6571536
    Abstract: A sleeve used to wrap items such as potted plants or comestibles. The sleeve has a closed curved bottom. The sleeve may also have an expansion element such as a gusset, pleats, random folds or elastic material for enabling the lower portion of the sleeve to conform to the outer and bottom surfaces of the pot to provide a decorative cover about the pot. The sleeve optionally has a detachable upper portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter, Paul Fantz
  • Method of covering a pot or floral grouping with a sleeve having a triangular lower end
    Patent number: 6560924
    Abstract: A tubular sleeve having a triangular lower end for covering a pot or floral grouping. The sleeve may have a detachable upper portion and may have a non-linear or linear upper edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter, Paul Fantz
  • Conveyable cover former and fastening system
    Publication number: 20030084612
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a cover about an article and for automatically fastening the cover to the article, and optionally for automatically placing a label on the covered article. The article may be an article such as a potted plant and the cover may be a decorative cover. The apparatus includes a platform having at least one opening sized to allow passage therethrough of an article a conveyable cover forming assembly having contacting portions for contacting the sheet of material, and a tying device for automatically applying a band or fastener about a portion of the outer surface of a covered article for fastening a cover about the article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter
  • Conveyable cover former and fastening system
    Publication number: 20030079406
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a cover about an article and for automatically fastening the cover to the article, and optionally for automatically placing a label on the covered article. The article may be an article such as a potted plant and the cover may be a decorative cover. The apparatus includes a platform having at least one opening sized to allow passage therethrough of an article a conveyable cover forming assembly having contacting portions for contacting the sheet of material, and a tying device for automatically applying a band or fastener about a portion of the outer surface of a covered article for fastening a cover about the article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter
  • Sleeve with curvilinear lower end
    Publication number: 20030079404
    Abstract: A floral sleeve initially having a flattened condition 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 curvilinear lower end, 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 curvilinear lower end of the sleeve may have a gusset therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter, Paul Fantz
  • Conveyable cover former and fastening system
    Publication number: 20030079408
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a cover about an article and for automatically fastening the cover to the article, and optionally for automatically placing a label on the covered article. The article may be an article such as a potted plant and the cover may be a decorative cover. The apparatus includes a platform having at least one opening sized to allow passage therethrough of an article a conveyable cover forming assembly having contacting portions for contacting the sheet of material, and a tying device for automatically applying a band or fastener about a portion of the outer surface of a covered article for fastening a cover about the article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter
  • Conveyable cover former and fastening system
    Publication number: 20030079409
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a cover about an article and for automatically fastening the cover to the article, and optionally for automatically placing a label on the covered article. The article may be an article such as a potted plant and the cover may be a decorative cover. The apparatus includes a platform having at least one opening sized to allow passage therethrough of an article a conveyable cover forming assembly having contacting portions for contacting the sheet of material, and a tying device for automatically applying a band or fastener about a portion of the outer surface of a covered article for fastening a cover about the article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter
  • Sleeve with biconcave lower end
    Publication number: 20030079410
    Abstract: A floral sleeve initially having a flattened condition 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 biconcave lower end, 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 biconcave lower end of the sleeve may have a gusset therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter, Paul Fantz