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).

  • Article packaging system
    Publication number: 20010054276
    Abstract: The present invention is a modular system for packaging articles for shipment. In particular, a potted plant is sorted according to a grade, placed in a decorative cover, then automatically deposited into a protective sleeve. The potted plant thus packaged is ready for containment within a shipping carton. Various components of the system may be adapted for various packaging needs and circumstances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2001
    Publication date: December 27, 2001
    Inventors: Frank Craig, Joseph G. Straeter, Donald E. Weder
  • Decorative assembly for a floral grouping
    Publication number: 20010047619
    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: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Publication date: December 6, 2001
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, William F. Straeter, Joseph G. Straeter, Michael J. King
  • Flexible vase
    Publication number: 20010045059
    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: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Publication date: November 29, 2001
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, William F. Straeter, Joseph G. Straeter, Michael J. King, Franklin J. Craig, Michael R. Klemme
  • Floral covering
    Publication number: 20010045058
    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 has a bonding material disposed upon an inner and/or outer portion of the sleeve for crimping the sleeve adjacent the pot to hold the sleeve about the pot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Publication date: November 29, 2001
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter, William F. Straeter
  • Floral grouping with handle incorporated therein
    Publication number: 20010039756
    Abstract: A wrapper for wrapping about a floral grouping and a method for wrapping the floral grouping, the wrapper having a handle formed from a portion of the sheet of material for carrying the wrapper with the floral grouping disposed therein. The wrapper may comprise one or more sheets of material. The sheet may have more than one handle portion formed thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Publication date: November 15, 2001
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter, John Bergstrand
  • Article packaging system
    Patent number: 6311461
    Abstract: The present invention is a modular system for packaging articles for shipment. In particular, a potted plant is sorted according to a grade, placed in a decorative cover, then automatically deposited into a protective sleeve. The potted plant thus packaged is ready for containment within a shipping carton. Various components of the system may be adapted for various packaging needs and circumstances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Craig, Joseph G. Straeter, Donald E. Weder
  • Apparatus and method for automatically forming an article
    Publication number: 20010036891
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically forming at least two sheets of material into an article, such as a flower pot cover, is provided. The apparatus includes a first roll of sheet material, a second roll of sheet material, a female die and a male die. A first sheet of material and a second sheet of material are automatically formed from the first and second rolls of sheet material, respectively, and the first and second sheets of material are positioned between the male die and the female die. The male and female dies are shaped such that at least a portion of the male die is receivable in the opening of the female die to form the article. The formed articles are automatically stacked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2001
    Publication date: November 1, 2001
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter, William F. Straeter, Frank Craig, Michael J. King, William C. Funk
  • Flat sleeve convertible to a decorative container
    Patent number: 6298601
    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: April 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Southpac Trust Int'l, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter, Paul Fantz
  • Floral grouping wrapper with handle incorporated therein
    Patent number: 6295758
    Abstract: A wrapper for wrapping about a floral grouping and a method for wrapping the floral grouping, the wrapper having a handle formed from a portion of the sheet of material for carrying the wrapper with the floral grouping disposed therein. The wrapper may comprise one or more sheets of material. The sheet may have more than one handle portion formed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter, John Bergstrand
  • Method for providing a decorative cover for a flower pot using a collar
    Patent number: 6295791
    Abstract: Method for providing a decorative cover for a flower pot comprising a collar wherein the collar clamps a sheet of material to the flower pot or wherein the sheet of material is connected to the collar and the collar is connectable to the flower pot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Franklin J. Craig, William F. Straeter, Joseph G. Straeter
  • Floral covering
    Patent number: 6286255
    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 has a bonding material disposed upon an inner and/or outer portion of the sleeve for crimping the sleeve adjacent the pot to hold the sleeve about the pot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter, William F. Straeter
  • Article packaging system
    Publication number: 20010008062
    Abstract: The present invention is a modular system for packaging articles for shipment. In particular, a potted plant is sorted according to a grade, placed in a decorative cover, then automatically deposited into a protective sleeve. The potted plant thus packaged is ready for containment within a shipping carton. Various components of the system may be adapted for various packaging needs and circumstances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Publication date: July 19, 2001
    Inventors: Frank Craig, Joseph G. Straeter, Donald E. Weder
  • Decorative flower pot sleeve
    Patent number: 6230441
    Abstract: A decorative flower pot sleeve having a closed bottom and an expansion element for allowing expansion of the sleeve upon the position of the pot into the sleeve. The sleeve is movable from a flattened state to an open position, in the flattened state the sleeve having a convexly curved lower end and in the open position the sleeve having a base portion containing a closed bottom, the base portion substantially corresponding in size and configuration to the outer peripheral surface of the pot and the closed bottom substantially corresponding in size and configuration to the bottom surface of the pot when the pot is disposed therein. The sleeve optionally has a detachable upper portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter, Paul Fantz
  • Single station covering and fastening system
    Publication number: 20010000560
    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 invention satisfies the need for a means for rapidly covering and fastening the cover about an article with a minimal amount of manual effort and in a location having a limited amount of available space. The apparatus comprises a platform having at least one opening sized to receive the article. The apparatus comprises a tying device for automatically applying a band or fastener about a portion of the outer surface of the covered article for fastening the cover about the article after the sheet is formed into a cover about the article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Publication date: May 3, 2001
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter, Paul Fantz
  • Flat sleeve convertible to a decorative container
    Publication number: 20010000555
    Abstract: A sleeve used to wrap items such as potted plants or comestibles. The sleeve has a closed bottom and an expansion element for allowing expansion of the sleeve upon the depositing of the pot or items into the sleeve. The expansion element may be 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: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Publication date: May 3, 2001
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter, Paul Fantz
  • Apparatus and method for automatically forming an article
    Patent number: 6213926
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a sheet of material into an article, such as a flower pot cover, is provided. The apparatus includes a female die and a male die. A sheet of material is positioned between the male die and the female die. The male and female dies are shaped such that at least a portion of the male die is receivable in the opening of the female die to form the article. The apparatus further includes means for supplying a stream of air between the female die and the formed article to release the formed article from the female die and means for holding the formed article against the male die as the male die and the female die are positioned from a forming position to a discharge position whereby the formed article is removed from the female die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter, William F. Straeter, Frank Craig, Michael J. King, William C. Funk
  • Article packaging system
    Patent number: 6189295
    Abstract: The present invention is a modular system for packaging articles for shipment. In particular, a potted plant is sorted according to a grade, placed in a decorative cover, then automatically deposited into a protective sleeve. The potted plant thus packaged is ready for containment within a shipping carton. Various components of the system may be adapted for various packaging needs and circumstances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Craig, Joseph G. Straeter, Donald E. Weder
  • Method of wrapping a pot with a conformable sleeve
    Patent number: 6185904
    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: November 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter, Paul Fantz
  • Method of covering a flower pot with a sleeve
    Patent number: 6185903
    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 has a bonding material disposed upon an inner and/or outer portion of the sleeve for crimping the sleeve adjacent the pot to hold the sleeve about the pot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter, William F. Straeter
  • Flat sleeve convertible to a decorative container
    Patent number: 6182395
    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: May 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter, Paul Fantz