Abstract: A method for producing carbon nanotubes by contacting a carbon containing gas with metallic catalytic particles. The catalytic particles contain at least one metal from Group VIII, including for example Co, Ni, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ir, and Pt, and at least one metal from Group VIb including for example Mo, W and Cr. The metal component may be deposited on a support. Preferably, a substantial percentage of the nanotubes formed are single-walled carbon nanotubes. Further, a method for determining catalyst composition and reaction conditions for optimizing production of single-walled carbon nanotubes is also disclosed.

Abstract: A plant cover for covering a flower pot includes a tubular sleeve, the tubular sleeve having upper and lower portions wherein the upper portion is detachable from the lower portion. The lower portion of the sleeve may be constructed from a first material and the upper portion of the sleeve may be constructed from a second material different from the first material. The lower portion includes a base portion and a skirt portion, wherein the base portion may be constructed from a first material and the skirt portion may be constructed from a second material different from the first material.

Abstract: An apparatus having a face mask removably attachable to a firefighting hood is provided. The face mask used in cooperation with a breathing apparatus such as a self-contained breathing assembly or a respirator. The face mask has a rim supporting a seal member that operatively sealingly engages the user's face providing a breathing chamber between the user's face and the face mask that is sealed off from the external environment. The firefighting hood has a compliant material enclosing the wearer's head and a support frame surrounding a front opening in the firefighting hood exposing the wearer's face. The firefighting hood matingly engages the face mask such that a perimeter portion of the firefighting hood around the front opening is nested behind the rim of the face mask so as to prevent gaps between the firefighting hood and the face mask.

Abstract: A decorative flower pot cover and method for producing same is disclosed wherein the decorative flower pot cover is provided with a multi-layered upper portion formed of a plurality of sheets of material wherein each sheet of material is provided with an opening therein adapted to receiver a lower potion of a flower pot such that, upon positioning the lower end of the flower pot through the openings in the sheets of material, a portion of the sheets of material are connected to a portion of a sidewall of the flower pot and the sheets of material forming the multi-layered upper portion of the decorative flower pot cover extend substantially independent of one another in an upwardly and outwardly angular direction from the sidewall of the flower pot so that an open upper end of the flower pot remains substantially uncovered by the decorative flower pot cover.

Abstract: A flexible sleeve disposable about at least a portion of a flower pot or floral grouping is disclosed wherein the flexible sleeve is formed of a flexible, expanded core polymeric material in which at least one surface of the material has been textured or modified so that the material is provided with a cloth-like appearance. The flexible sleeve having a cloth-like appearance may also be provided with perforations at preselected areas. A method for making the perforations in the sleeve in preselected areas further comprises both vertical perforations and circumferential perforations.

Abstract: A flower pot cover constructed of a thermoplastic 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.

Abstract: A sensor system for determining the position of at least one edge of a web of material traveling along a predetermined path. The sensor system has a transmitter assembly capable of selectively transmitting at least one collimated light curtain and a receiver assembly capable of generating output signals in response to receiving portions of the collimated light curtain transmitted by the transmitter assembly. The receiver assembly is spaced a distance from the transmitter assembly so as to define a travel path therebetween whereby at least a portion of the web of material traveling along a predetermined travel path blocks at least a portion of the collimated light curtain transmitted by the transmitter assembly. The output signal generated by the receiver assembly is indicative of the position of the web of material as the same is moved along the travel path between the transmitter assembly and the receiver assembly.

Abstract: A plant packaging system and method comprising a combination of a protective upper portion and a decorative lower portion having a base portion and a skirt portion for packaging a potted plant or a botanical item and a growing medium without a pot. The protective upper portion can be detached from the lower portion of the package system once the protective function of the upper portion has been completed. The sleeve may be provided without a detachable upper portion. The lower portion may have a skirt portion which has a non-linear upper peripheral edge. The lower portion may be tapered and may have a gusset in the lower end.

Abstract: A wrapper for flower pots. The wrapper is a segmented sheet with each segment having a lower portion sized to surround a pot and an upper portion detachable from the lower portion via a detaching element such as perforations. The sheet can be formed about a pot and the adjacent edges of the segment joined and sealed.

Abstract: A method of covering a flower pot with a floral grouping disposed therein. In the method, a sheet of material with a sheet extension connected to the outer peripheral edge of the sheet of material and extending a distance therefrom is formed about the flower pot to a position wherein the sheet of material extends about substantially the entire outer peripheral surface of the flower pot to provide a decorative covering and the sheet extension is formed about the floral grouping to a position wherein the sheet extension extends about a portion of the floral grouping to provide a protective covering. A portion of the sheet of material is then crimped to form a crimped portion in the sheet of material.

Abstract: A covering for a flower pot with a floral grouping disposed therein and extending a distance above an upper end of the flower pot wherein the flower pot has a lower end and an outer peripheral surface. The covering includes a sheet of material having an upper surface, a lower surface and an outer peripheral surface with a sheet extension connected to the outer peripheral surface of the sheet of material and extending a distance from the outer peripheral surface of the sheet of material. The sheet of material is formed about the flower pot to a position wherein the sheet of material extends about substantially the entire outer peripheral surface of the flower pot to provide a decorative covering and the sheet extension is formed about the floral grouping to a position wherein the sheet extension extends about a substantial portion of the floral grouping to provide a protective covering.

Abstract: A plant package, comprising a pot containing a floral grouping and a flexible sleeve having detaching elements at preselected areas, the sleeve further including a bonding material which connects the sleeve to the pot when the pot is positioned within the sleeve. The sleeve is positioned about the pot and a lower portion of the sleeve closely surrounds and encompasses the pot, an upper portion of the sleeve extending upwardly from the pot and substantially surrounding and encompassing the floral grouping contained within the pot, at least a portion of the sleeve being removable via the detaching elements, leaving a portion of the sleeve which is a decorative plant cover.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and associated method for protecting an object from the effects of inclement weather. In one aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus comprising a cover which has a central portion and a skirt portion. The central portion further comprises a plurality of pad members which are disposed about the central portion to allow an efficient and convenient method for folding the apparatus. The skirt portion further comprises webbing and eyelets which are used to secure the apparatus to an object in the presence of inclement weather.

Abstract: A decorative cover for a floral grouping wherein the decorative cover is provided with a design indicia bearing portion which extends above the remainder of the decorative cover and thereby enhances the visual aesthetic effect of the decorative cover. The decorative cover is formed from a sheet of material having a design indicia and an opening extending therethrough wherein the opening is offset from a central portion of the sheet of material in a direction generally away from the indicia bearing portion of the sheet of material. A lower portion of a stem end of a floral grouping is inserted through the opening in the sheet of material and the sheet of material is wrapped about the floral grouping to provide a decorative cover having a design indicia bearing portion which extends above the remainder of the decorative cover and thereby enhances the visual aesthetic effect of the decorative cover.

Abstract: A cover for covering a flower pot is provided. The cover includes a planar base, a sidewall extending from an outer periphery of the base, and a securing member for securing the sidewall to the flower pot. The sidewall is movable relative to the base between a substantially flattened position wherein the sidewall is in a substantially coplanar relation with respect to the base and an upright position wherein the sidewall and the base cooperate to define a pot receiving space. The sidewall has a plurality of folds formed therein so as to cause the sidewall to take a predetermined shape upon moving the sidewall from the flattened position to the upright position.

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.

Abstract: A plant cover, comprising a base formed from a sheet of material, said base having an upper end, a lower end, and an outer peripheral surface, an opening intersecting the upper end forming an inner peripheral surface and a retaining space, a skirt formed from a sheet of material, said skirt connected to the upper end of the base, and expansion means formed integrally with the base, the expansion means comprising an excess of material, the expansion means permitting the base to expand and contract to both closely encompass and follow the contours of a pot. Methods of using a plant cover.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for monitoring equipment. A computer having an enclosure defining an enclosure space is initially provided. Disposed within the enclosure space is a central processing unit including a memory and an arithmetic logic unit. The computer is provided with communication means operably connected to the central processing unit for permitting communication between the central processing unit and a peripheral device. An alarm sensor is disposed within the enclosure space of the computer. When the alarm sensor senses an alarm condition, the security system outputs a data signal indicative of the alarm condition for sounding an alarm, for example.

Abstract: A lightweight flow control valve for use in cooling towers is provided. The valve includes a lightweight, thin-walled valve body having a flow bore, an inlet port, and an outlet port. The outlet port is disposed in a substantially perpendicular relationship relative to the inlet port. The valve body has a substantially frusto-conically shaped interior surface defining the flow bore. A lightweight, thin-walled barrel having an inlet, an outlet, and a fluid passageway extending between the inlet and the outlet is disposed within the flow bore of the valve body. The inlet of the barrel is concentrically positioned relative to the inlet port of the valve body and the outlet of the barrel is disposed in a substantially perpendicular relationship relative to the inlet of the barrel.

Abstract: A plant cover, comprising a base formed from a sheet of material, the base having an upper end, a lower end, and an outer peripheral surface, an opening intersecting the upper end forming an inner peripheral surface and a retaining space, a skirt formed from a sheet of material, the skirt connected to the upper end of the base, and an expansion element formed integrally with the base, the expansion element comprising an excess of material, the expansion element permitting the base to expand and contract to both closely encompass and follow the contours of a pot. Methods of using a plant cover.