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: The present invention relates to a conveyor belt having a plurality of link assemblies. Each of the link assemblies has a forward end, a rearward end, a first side and a second side. A forward shaft opening extends through the forward end of each link assembly and a rearward shaft opening extends through the rearward end of each link assembly. A plurality of link shafts are provided for interconnecting adjacently disposed link assemblies such that the link assemblies are laterally movable relative to adjacently disposed link assemblies. One of the link shafts extends through the forward shaft opening of each of the link assemblies and through the rearward shaft openings of an adjacently disposed link assembly.

Abstract: A packaging material comprising a plurality of flexible strips of material intertwined with and bondably connected to one another so as to form a cohesive cushioning unit and method for forming same is provided. The strips of material have a bonding material disposed thereon for bondingly connecting the strips of material to one another and enabling the strips of material to be bondingly connected to a container and an article.

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.

Abstract: Method for storing methane in light hydrocarbons at moderate temperatures and pressures such that the resulting solution has a high energy density. The method includes combining methane at a 50 to 80 mole percent concentration with a light hydrocarbon, such as butane, propane or liquid petroleum gas (LPG). Then the resulting solution is maintained at a temperature of between -1.degree. C. and 38.degree. C. and a pressure of between 8 and 14 MPa. Under these parameters, the solution has an energy density which is 40 to 67 percent that of gasoline. A motor vehicle fuel storage apparatus for the method includes an insulated storage tank containing the 50 to 80 mole percent methane solution and a cooling mechanism for maintaining the methane solution between -1.degree. C. and 38.degree. C. The cooling mechanism may be an arrangement of expansion valves, or connection to the air conditioning system of the vehicle, or both.

Abstract: A storage unit for a vehicle having a cargo bed defined by a floor and a plurality of side panels is provided. The storage unit includes a first upper cabinet, a first lower cabinet, a second upper cabinet, and a second lower cabinet. A floor plate is secured between the first and second lower cabinets so as to define a drawer receiving space beneath the floor plate. A drawer is slidably mounted in the drawer receiving space. A plurality of clamp assemblies are utilized to connect the first and second upper cabinets to the flange of the adjacent side panels of the vehicle such that the first and second upper cabinets, the first and second lower cabinets, and the drawer are removably secured to the vehicle without structurally altering the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for wrapping a wrapper about a floral grouping wherein the wrapper is a sleeve or sheet of material having a cinching tab or strip of bonding material or both. The floral grouping is placed on the sheet of material which is wrapped thereabout, or the floral grouping is disposed in the interior space of the sleeve. The cinching tab is attached near one end of the sheet or sleeve. The cinching tab has a bonding material disposed thereon which, when the cinching tab is pulled tightly about the wrapper, causes the wrapper to be crimped and tightly bound about the stems of the floral grouping. When a sheet or sleeve having a strip of bonding material is used, the portion of the wrapper having the strip of bonding material is crimped manually or automatically about a portion of the stems of the floral grouping causing portions of the wrapper to overlap and bond to each other causing the wrapper to be held firmly about the stems of the floral grouping.

Abstract: Methods of forming decorative elements such as decorative grass and glitter possessing a unique optical effect from a laminated sheet of optical effect material. The decorative elements have a curl or a crimp set therein to enhance the light-reflecting characteristics of the decorative elements and to provide greater volume of the decorative elements for a given weight of decorative elements.

Abstract: A cutting attachment for a rotary cutting apparatus wherein the cutting attachment has a substantially rigid body and a plurality of cutting members. Each cutting member has a blade portion and a head portion. An aperture extends through the head portion of the cutting member for connecting the cutting members to the substantially rigid body of the cutting attachment such that, in a connected position, the blade portion of the cutting member extends outwardly from the substantially rigid body of the cutting attachment. The cutting attachment further includes a brake assembly for reducing the speed of rotation of the cutting members when the cutting members are rotated in response to actuation of the rotary cutting apparatus.

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: A method of wrapping a floral grouping, preferably an orchid, with a wrapper which may be a sheet of material, a sleeve or a preformed pot cover. The wrapper is preferably constructed from a laminated material made up of at least a waxy layer and a support layer which are superposed upon each other and connected or laminated to each other. A second waxy layer may be connected or laminated to the other surface of the support surface. The waxy layer is made from a waxy material which may be a waxed paper or waxed tissue. The wrapped floral grouping may also contain a shredded material for cushioning the blooms of the floral grouping.

Abstract: A self-erecting container which is collapsible into a flat storage position. The container includes a bottom member and a plurality of walls pivotally connected to the bottom member. The container further includes a biasing assembly for biasing the wall members in an erected position, for permitting the wall members to be moved to a collapsed position from the erected position by a bias overcoming force exerted on the wall members, and for drawing the wall members from the collapsed position to the erected position when the bias overcoming force is removed from the wall members.

Abstract: A method and composition for the topical application of a yohimbine or derivative or stereoisomer thereof, or effective .alpha..sub.2 -antagonists, skin for inhibiting melanogenesis in the skin leading to skin lightening. The yohimbine may be provided as a natural extract, for example, as an extract of Johimbe bark.

Abstract: An animal amusement device includes a base having an upwardly opening recess in which a corrugated scratch pad is installed. A pole extends upwardly from the base through the scratch pad and journals at its upper end a rotatable arm. The arm suspends an object by a flexible tether cord radially outward of the pole and above the level of the upper surface of the scratch pad. In another embodiment, the arm is mounted to a drive shaft of a motor secured in the pole whereby the object may be driven in a circular path about the pole by the motor.

Abstract: A wrapping material for wrapping an item, such as a floral grouping is provided. The wrapping material has a bonding material on a surface so that, when the wrapping material is formed into a wrapper, the wrapper may be releasably attached to a mounting surface, such as a board or wall, by way of the bonding material.

Abstract: A method for making decorative grass from an optical effect material having a holographic design which imparts at least a portion of an optical effect to the decorative grass. The optical effect material may include printed matter and/or an embossed pattern to provide at least a portion of the decor of the decorative grass. The method includes slitting the sheet of optical effect material to provide strips; and chopping the strips of optical effect material into segments of a predetermined length to provide the decorative grass.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cleaning cylindrical objects such as bolts and pipes is provided. The apparatus includes a support frame to which at least three shafts are rotatably mounted. Each shaft is provided with a circular brush secured to a portion thereof such that the brushes are arranged in a coplanar relationship and spaced apart to define an object receiving passage wherein each of the brushes engages the object when the object is disposed in the object receiving passage. The brushes are caused to be rotated in the same direction but with one of the brushes rotating at a different rate than the other brushes so that the object is caused to rotate in response to the rotation of the brushes.