Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Dunlap, Codding & Roger
  • Decorative grower's containers and methods for using same
    Patent number: 6625928
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for growing a plant in a grower's container having an aesthetically pleasing appearance without the use of a decorative container cover when a grown plant contained in the grower's container is on display. The apparatus and method include providing a grower's container, cleaning at least a portion of the grower's container to provide a clean area on which a decorative sticker is applied, disposing growing medium and a floral grouping in the floral grouping retaining space of the decorative grower's container, feeding and watering the floral grouping until it matures to a size desired for marketing, and the decorative grower's container so that the decorative pattern disposed thereon is visible when on display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Method of covering a potted plant
    Patent number: 6625930
    Abstract: A plant package produced by a method of covering a pot with a preformed tubular sleeve having a tapered shape, a non-linear upper edge, and free from an upper portion sized to surround and encompass the floral grouping disposed within the pot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Floral sleeve having an extendable skirt and methods
    Patent number: 6618992
    Abstract: A plant packaging and covering system comprising a floral sleeve having a base portion and skirt portion. The sleeve may have an upper protective sleeve portion which can surround a plant disposed in a pot and which can be detached once the protective function of the sleeve has been completed thereby allowing the skirt portion to extend angularly from the base portion. The sleeve has a plurality of folds, some constricted by constriction elements, the folds comprising expansion elements for allowing portions of the base portion to expand, and portions of the skirt portion to extend angularly, when a pot is disposed within the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Method of attaching a floral sleeve to a pot via bonding material
    Patent number: 6618991
    Abstract: A plant packaging method providing a tubular sleeve and attaching the sleeve to a potted plant via a bonding material disposed on the tubular sleeve, and a plant package produced by the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Thermoplastic flower pot with a thin skirt
    Patent number: 6618990
    Abstract: A flower pot cover constructed of a material for providing a decorative cover for an item, such as a floral grouping. The flower pot cover comprises a base portion and a skirt portion. The base portion has an upper end, a lower end, a bottom having a first thickness and a continuous sidewall extending generally between the upper and lower ends of the base portion. The skirt portion is positioned circumferentially about the upper end of the base portion and extends a distance therefrom. The skirt portion is substantially flexible and has a third thickness which is less than the first thickness of the bottom of the base portion. The base portion and the skirt portion cooperate to provide the flower pot cover with a shape sustaining configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Antonio V. Alcazar, Donald E. Weder
  • Sleeves formed of polymeric materials having a texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper
    Patent number: 6613409
    Abstract: A substantially flexible, shape-sustaining article having an appearance simulating paper made by forming a flexible, laminated material having a paper-like texture or appearance into a substantially flexible article for receiving an object. The substantially flexible article includes a base having a lower end, an open upper end with an object opening extending therethrough and a decorative border extending outwardly from the open upper end of the base. The lower end of the base of the article may be closed and may also contain a gusset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Method of containing a botanical item with a sleeve
    Patent number: 6606838
    Abstract: A method for containing a botanical item and a growing medium without a pot. A tubular sleeve is provided and the growing medium and botanical item are disposed therein. The tubular sleeve is secured thereabout by using a bonding material to crimp the tubular sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Synthetic decorative grass simulating spanish moss and method for making same
    Patent number: 6605170
    Abstract: Curled decorative grasses and methods for producing same are disclosed wherein the curled decorative grasses have improved bulk and simulate Spanish moss in color and appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Shipping package for a floral grouping
    Patent number: 6604632
    Abstract: A shipping package for a floral grouping including a sheet of material bonded to a support member and wrapped upwardly and gathered at a portion above the floral grouping to enclose the floral grouping. A bonding material joins the gathered portion, and a plurality of perforations in the sheet of material provides for the detachment of a detachable portion above the floral grouping. The support member can be provided as a foldable member to form an outer enclosure about the floral grouping with the sheet of material forming a substantially water tight enclosure between the floral grouping and the outer enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust Int'l. Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Method for forming a cover about a flower pot
    Patent number: 6604341
    Abstract: A method of wrapping a potted plant in a decorative cover wherein the cover is a flattened sleeve. Upon opening of the sleeve, the sleeve has a bottom which may be closed, and the sleeve is sized to cover a pot. The potted plant is disposed within the inner retaining space of the open sleeve, and the pot is positioned on the bottom of the sleeve such that the sleeve covers at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the pot to provide the decorative cover for the potted plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • 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
  • Apparatus and method for automatically forming an article
    Patent number: 6602173
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust Int'l. Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter, William F. Straeter, Frank Craig, Michael J. King, William C. Funk
  • Oilfield equipment identification method and apparatus
    Patent number: 6604063
    Abstract: An oilfield equipment identifying apparatus for tracking selected parameters for each of a plurality of pieces of oilfield equipment adapted to be inserted into a drill string supported by a drilling rig. The drilling rig also supports a drilling device for selectively rotating portions of the drill string to form a well bore. The apparatus comprises a computer loaded with an oilfield equipment database. A reader is provided for inputting into the computer a unique identification code for each piece of oilfield equipment added to the drill string so as to build a grid including a reference to each piece of oilfield equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Denny, Edward E. Patterson
  • Method of covering a potted plant
    Patent number: 6601344
    Abstract: A plant packaging method providing a tubular sleeve having excess material therein and attaching the sleeve to a potted plant via a bonding material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • 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 potted plant
    Patent number: 6598343
    Abstract: A plant packaging method providing a tubular sleeve having excess material therein and attaching the sleeve to a potted plant via a bonding material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Via connector and method of making same
    Patent number: 6598291
    Abstract: An insulator substrate or printed circuit board (PCB) having a filled and plated via. A sidewall of the via and preferably opposite sides of the insulator substrate are first plated with a conductive material. The plated via is then filled with an electrically conductive fill composition. A conductive cap layer is preferably formed over both ends of the conductive fill composition and the opposite surfaces of the insulator substrate, and can be bonded to a surface mount contact as a land or a pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Viasystems, Inc.
    Inventors: John L. Parker, Jr., Pamela L. Miscikowski
  • 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
  • Bench
    Patent number: D479920
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Inventors: Harold L. Ware, Dennis R. Beecham
  • Swing
    Patent number: D480224
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Inventors: Harold L. Ware, Dennis R. Beecham