Patents Represented by Law Firm Dunlap & Codding
  • Method of crimping a floral sleeve about a pot
    Patent number: 6026631
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Southpac Trust Int'l, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Method for forming a cover about a flower pot
    Patent number: 6026630
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Method of wrapping a floral grouping
    Patent number: 6023912
    Abstract: A method for wrapping a wrapper about a floral grouping wherein the wrapper is a sleeve or sheet of material having a clinching tab or strip of bonding material or both and a detaching means such as perforations for detaching a portion of the sleeve or sheet of material. 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 clinching tab is attached near one end of the sheet or sleeve. The clinching 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, William F. Straeter
  • Disk singulating apparatus
    Patent number: 6024532
    Abstract: An apparatus for discharging disks from the bottom of a stack of aligned disks one at a time is provided. The apparatus includes a pair of feed gate subassemblies supported in a spaced apart, diametrically opposing relationship so as to define a disk receiving opening therebetween. The feed gate subassemblies are adapted to cooperatively support the stack of disks in the disk receiving opening and sequentially engage opposing portions of the outer peripheral edge of the disk positioned at the bottom of the stack of disks so as to cause the bottom disk to be discharged from the stack of disks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Ashby Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Harrel Dean Ashby
  • Floral sleeve having a decorative pattern
    Patent number: 6023885
    Abstract: A plant packaging and covering system comprising a floral sleeve having a base portion having a decorative pattern thereon. The sleeve may have an upper sleeve portion which can surround a plant disposed in a pot and which can be detached once the protective function of the sleeve is complete or which can be used to support the sleeve from a support device prior to use. The decorative pattern has a curved or non-linear upper boundary which gives the sleeve the appearance of having a curved or non-linear upper skirt extending from the base portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Lint glove
    Patent number: 6024970
    Abstract: A lint mitt having a compartment for a user's fingers, a compartment for a user's thumb, and which firmly holds the mitt about a user's wrist. The lint mitt has disposed thereon an adhesive having sufficient tack to adhere lint to the lint mitt when the lint mitt is disposed upon a lint-filled surface. Methods for using a lint mitt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Marjorie P. Woodard
    Inventor: Marjorie P. Woodard
  • Floral wrapper utilizing a breathable packaging material
    Patent number: 6022627
    Abstract: A breathable packaging material used for packaging items, such as floral groupings, flower pots, fresh produce, food, medical supplies/equipment, pharmaceutical products, and the like, thereby forming a breathable package for containing said items. The breathable packaging material comprises a sheet of material having controlled atmosphere characteristics, and having a desiccant and/or an antimicrobial agent. Methods for using breathable packaging material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Method for covering a flower pot and floral grouping
    Patent number: 6021558
    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 abut the floral grouping to a position wherein the sheet extension extends about a substantial portion of the floral grouping to a position wherein the sheet extension extends about a substantial portion of the floral grouping to provide a protective covering. A portion of the sheet of material is then crimped wherein the sheet is held about the pot by the crimped portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: Southpac Trust Int'l., Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Voltage regulator spacing member
    Patent number: 6020662
    Abstract: A spacing member for use with an alternator of the type having an electrical generating assembly housed in a frame with an external mounting surface to which a voltage regulator is adapted to be mounted. A brush assembly is connected to the voltage regulator and has a pair of brushes adapted to engage a pair of slip rings of the electric generating assembly when the brush assembly is positioned in a slip ring engaging position, the spacing member supports the voltage regulator in a spaced apart relationship relative to the mounting surface of the frame so as to provide an air flow passage between the voltage regulator and the mounting surface for enhancing heat transfer away from the voltage regulator and the spacing member supports the voltage regulator in a spaced apart relationship relative to the brush assembly so as to support the brush assembly in the slip ring engaging position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Unit Parts Company
    Inventors: Jianing Chen, Michael D. Ballard
  • Method for forming a cover about a flower pot
    Patent number: 6016642
    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 base having drainage means therein. The cover may be bondingly connected to or crimped about the pot means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Southpac Trust Int'l, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Shipping device
    Patent number: 6016912
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Southpac Trust Int'l, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Pot wrapping apparatus and method
    Patent number: 6014852
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for covering a flower pot by automatically providing a sheet of material and automatically wrapping the sheet about the flower pot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: Southpac Trust Int'l, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter
  • Plant cover and sleeve formed from two materials
    Patent number: 6009664
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Floral sleeve having scalloped perforations
    Patent number: 6009687
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Southpac Trust Int'l., Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Method for providing a decorative cover for a flower pot
    Patent number: 6009665
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for providing a decorative cover for a flower pot. The method includes the steps of (a) providing a sheet of material having a design indicia bearing portion and an opening adapted to receive a lower portion of a flower pot 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; (b) disposing a lower portion of a flower pot in the opening in the sheet of material; and (c) forming the sheet of material into a decorative cover about the flower pot such that the indicia bearing portion of the decorative cover extends above the remainder of the decorative cover and thereby enhances the visual aesthetic effect of decorative cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Article packaging system
    Patent number: 6006500
    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: January 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Craig, Joseph G. Straeter, Donald E. Weder
  • Deer call
    Patent number: D418772
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Inventor: Steve D. Eubanks
  • Floral wrapping material
    Patent number: D419784
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Annie M. Weder
  • Flower pot cover
    Patent number: D419914
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter
  • Floral wrapping material
    Patent number: D420518
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Annie M. Weder