Abstract: A wrapping material for wrapping a floral arrangement, a flower pot, or for forming a flower pot, comprising a sheet of material, an extension of the sheet of material attached to the sheet of material, the extension having design indicia thereon, wherein the sheet of material is sized to wrap about and substantially surround and encompass a floral arrangement, a flower pot, or contain a floral arrangement or potted plant. Methods of using the wrapping material to wrap a floral arrangement, a flower pot, and to form a flower pot.

Abstract: An article and method for shaping a sheet of material around an object such as a flower pot, the article comprising a ring-shaped collar adapted to be secured around the object. The collar may comprise pinch rings or barbed piercing elements, disposed about the periphery of the collar for attaching the sheet of material to the collar, or the collar may be adapted to be secured around at least a portion of the object so that the sheet of material is held between the object and the collar. The article also may be used alone for shaping a sheet of material.

Abstract: A wrapper for a floral grouping comprising a first and a second sheet of material. The first sheet of material is constructed of a polymer film, metal foil, fabric, denim, cellophane or burlap. The second sheet of material is constructed of a paper. At least one of the first and the second sheets of material includes a closure bonding material on at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of such sheet of material. The second sheet of material is disposed adjacent the first sheet of material and the two sheets of material then are wrapped about the floral grouping with the closure bonding material bondingly engaging a portion of at least one of the first and the second sheets of material for cooperating to secure the first and the second sheets of material in a wrapped condition about the floral grouping to form the wrapper.

Abstract: A method for covering a floral grouping by automatically providing a sheet of material and automatically wrapping the sheet about the floral grouping.

Abstract: A method for covering a pot means, the cover is a flattened sleeve comprising a base portion sized to fit a pot and having an upper portion which is detachable leaving an upper edge and a closed bottom in the base. The cover may be bondingly connected to or crimped about the pot means.

Abstract: A cover for a flower pot, the cover comprising a sheet of material sized to substantially surround and encompass the outer peripheral surface of the flower pot and a fastener comprised of elastic or elasticized materials and forming a generally continuous loop, the fastener connectingly held generally coplanar to either the upper surface or the lower surface of the sheet of material. The fastener can be stretched to an extent sufficient to enable the fastener to be disposed about the outer peripheral surface of the flower pot and to hold the sheet of material applied thereabout. The invention further comprises a method for wrapping a pot with a covering such as described above, and a preformed pot cover having a fastener connected circumferentially to the interior surface of the pot cover.

Abstract: An improved teething apparatus having a constant pliability over a broad temperature range whereby the pliability of the teething device remains substantially constant regardless of its temperature is provided. The teething device includes a resilient, fluid impervious body member sized to be received in a mouth of an infant. A body of self-sustaining, non-flowable, pliable gel is disposed in the interior cavity of the body member such that the body of gel substantially fills an interior cavity of the body member. The body of gel is characterized by the properties of maintaining the self-sustension and pliability over a temperature range of from about -20.degree. to 215.degree. F. whereby the body member and the body of gel can be heated or cooled over a temperature range of from about -20.degree. to 215.degree. F. without substantially altering the resilience of the body member and the pliability of the body of gel.

Abstract: A sticky element, comprising a sticky element having an insect-attracting color and an insect-attracting scent, the sticky element comprising sufficient sticky qualities to cause an insect to become permanently attached to the sticky element when any portion of the insect contacts with the sticky element, the sticky element adaptable to being disposed upon a surface. The surface may comprise a wrapping material, a flower pot cover, a flower pot, a floral arrangement, or other surface. When the sticky element is disposed on a wrapping material, the wrapping material is used to wrap a floral arrangement or decoratively cover a flower pot.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preparing a floral assembly for shipment. Disposing at least one floral assembly on a shipping device formed from a thermoplastic or resinous material having a connecting bonding material thereon wherein the floral assembly is connectingly bonded to the shipping device.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a particulate support matrix, a solid dosage form made therefrom, and processes for making such support matrices and dosage forms, which disintegrate or dissolve in a matter of just a few seconds once placed into the oral cavity.First, a porous particulate powder which will serve as the tablet support matrix is produced. In the second step, the pharmaceutical, for example an antihistamine, decongestant, or antibiotic is combined with the powder. Other additives may also be added to the mixture. In the third step the mixture is formed into a tablet. Finally, in the fourth step, a coating may be applied to the outer surface of the tablet to enhance the intactness and durability of the tablet.

Abstract: A method for forming a decorative cover about a floral grouping from a sheet of optical effect material having at least one hologram such that the hologram is visible and constitutes at least a portion of the decor of the decorative cover. The sheet of optical effect material may include printed matter and/or embossed pattern to provide at least a portion of the decor of the decorative cover.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a guide apparatus for guiding a moving web of material having a tuft portion mounted on a backing portion such that the backing portion extends outwardly from the tuft portion to form at least one tuft edge. The web is movable in a web direction through a travel path threaded through the guide apparatus. The guide apparatus comprises a base and a platform pivotally mounted on the base to pivot about a pivot range. At least two parallel steering rollers are mounted on the platform and disposed transversely of the web direction of travel when the web travels across the platform. A sensor is positioned substantially adjacent to the travel path of the web to sense a lateral position of the tuft edge and to output an output signal indicative of the lateral position of the tuft edge when the web travels through the travel path.

Abstract: A dietary supplement comprising herbs and herbal extracts, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids effective in modulating hematological toxicities, enhancing the immune system and maintaining appetite and weight.

Abstract: An article forming system for forming at least one sheet of material into an article, such as a decorative flower pot cover for example, and a novel article formed utilizing such a system. The article forming system includes a male die, a female die and a platform having a support surface and an opening extending through the support surface. The female die is disposed generally within the opening in the platform with the upper end of the female die being disposed near the support surface. The article forming system includes means for slidingly holding portions of the sheet of material generally against portions of the support surface while permitting such held portions to slide on the support surface during the forming of the article for cooperating in forming a decorative border on the decorative flower pot cover type of article which flares generally away from the flower pot object when the decorative flower pot cover article is applied to the flower pot.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for the contactless detection of the position of a moving webs. The web has on one side of the web a detector electrode covering its entire width and on the other side in the area of the web edges transmission electrodes fed by an oscillator in phase opposition, so that the capacitive couplings between the transmission electrodes and the detector electrode respond in opposing fashion to deviations of the web from the central position. The signal received by the detector electrode is processed by a current to voltage converter with a very small input impedance so that the potential of the detector electrode remains at zero, and virtually no capacitive displacement currents flow to a screening electrode In this way, the sensitivity of the measurement array is independent of the web width.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a purified soluble form of human granule membrane protein 140 (GMP-140) which lacks an amino acid sequence comprising a transmembrane domain and which is effective in inhibiting leukocyte adherence mediated by granule membrane protein 140. Nucleic acid encoding the soluble form of GMP-140 is disclosed.

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.

Abstract: A band applicator for applying a band about a sheet of material disposed about a pot to provide a decorative cover for the pot. The band applicator includes a pot frame having a pot opening and a band holder configured to releasably hold a plurality of bands. The sheet of material is extended about the outer peripheral surface of the pot, and the pot with the sheet of material disposed thereabout is disposed in a pot receiving space in the pot frame. The pot frame holds the sheet of material positioned about the pot. A band is removed from the band holder and disposed about the sheet of material and pot for cooperating to hold the sheet of material positioned about the pot.

Abstract: A method for treating a fluid or gas containing contaminants wherein the fluid or gas is passed through a contactor having at least one reticulated foam structured fluid treatment element formed from metal particles bound together in an interconnected form and capable of promoting a reduction/oxidation reaction between the contaminants and the reticulated foam structured fluid treatment element. The metal particles employed in the fabrication of the reticulated foam structured fluid treatment element are selected from a group of particles comprising zinc, copper or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A plant package assembly, comprising a pot containing a floral grouping and a flexible sleeve having curved, circumferentially oriented detaching elements. The sleeve is positioned about the pot so that a lower portion of the sleeve closely surrounds and encompasses the pot, and an upper portion of the sleeve extends upwardly from the pot and substantially surrounds and encompasses the floral grouping contained within the pot. The upper portion of the sleeve is removable via the detaching elements, leaving a curved upper end of the lower portion which extends upwardly focusing attention on the upper portion of the floral grouping.