Abstract: A method of forming a plurality of floral sleeves having a uniform design or pattern and printed circumferentially about a lower end thereof without requiring the waste of significant portions of sheet material is provided. The method includes the step of sealing and severing a pair of web portions along lines defined by coextensive first side edges and coextensive second side edges of printed portions. In another aspect, the method includes the step of sealing and severing a pair of overlapping web portions provided with a plurality of printed portions along a plurality of lines which traverse the printed portions and each of the corresponding unprinted portions to form a plurality of sleeves wherein each sleeve has an upper portion and a lower portion with the lower portion having a printed portion extending continuously about the exterior circumference of the lower portion of the sleeve while the upper portion is free of any printing contained in the lower portion of an adjacently formed sleeve.

Abstract: A method of shipping a plurality of preformed flower pot covers is provided. Each preformed flower pot cover includes a sheet of material formed into a shape sized to receive a flower pot. The preformed flower pot cover has a base with a closed lower end and an open upper end with an object opening extending therethrough for receiving the flower pot. The method includes providing a portable platform having a plurality of stacking shells disposed therefrom. Each stacking shell is configured to be received in the object opening of one of the preformed flower pot covers. A stack of preformed flower pot covers is formed on each of the stacking shells such that the preformed flower pot covers of the stack are nested within one another and supported on the stacking shell and secured to the portable platform. The platform with the preformed flower pot covers is then transported to a predetermined destination.

Abstract: A cover forming apparatus and method for forming and securing a sheet of material about a flower pot having an outer peripheral surface is provided. The cover forming apparatus includes a former. The former has a bowl shaped configuration and an open upper end, a lower end, a sidewall extending from the open upper end to the lower end, and a pot opening. The sidewall has an outer surface and an inner surface with the outer surface having an upper inwardly tapered portion. The pot opening is sized to receive at least a portion of the flower pot together with the sheet of material such that upon disposing the flower pot into the pot opening with the sheet of material positioned between the upper end of the former and the flower pot causes the sheet of material to be formed about the outer peripheral surface of the flower pot.

Abstract: A pot cover constructed such that a decoration can be included on the pot cover and the integrity of the decoration is maintained because the configuration of the pot cover does not result in the formation of arbitrary overlapping folds. The configuration of the pot cover allows a flower pot to be covered while the integrity of the decoration, such as a design or pattern, printed on each segment is maintained so that a decoration is presented throughout the outer peripheral surface of the formed pot cover.

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: 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.

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.

Abstract: A plant packaging and covering system including a floral sleeve having a decorative pattern thereon. The sleeve may have a lower portion sized to cover a pot and an upper portion which dan surround a plant disposed in the pot and which can be detached after the protective function of the upper portion is complete or which can be used to support the sleeve from a support device prior to use. The decorative pattern preferably has an arcuate upper boundary in the flattened condition which when opened, gives the sleeve the appearance of having an upper edge which is parallel to the upper rim of the pot disposed within the sleeve.

Abstract: A cover forming apparatus and method for forming and securing a sheet of material about a flower pot having an outer peripheral surface is provided. The cover forming apparatus includes a former. The former has a bowl shaped configuration and an open upper end, a lower end, a sidewall extending from the open upper end to the lower end, and a pot opening. The sidewall has an outer surface and an inner surface with the outer surface having an upper inwardly tapered portion. The pot opening is sized to receive at least a portion of the flower pot together with the sheet of material such that upon disposing the flower pot into the pot opening with the sheet of material positioned between the upper end of the former and the flower pot causes the sheet of material to be formed about the outer peripheral surface of the flower pot.

Abstract: A packaging material comprising a plurality of flexible strips of material integrally interconnected to one another along one end thereof so as to form a unitary mass and so that the strips of material are intertwineable with one another to form a resilient tuft. The strips of material interconnected via a border have a bonding material disposed thereon for bondingly connecting the packaging material to a container.

Abstract: A packaging material for use in filling baskets and protecting articles. The packaging material includes a flexible bag having an exterior surface and an interior surface and a mass of individual, thin, flexible strips of material intertwined with one another to form a cohesive, resilient tuft. The mass of individual, thin, flexible strips are bondingly are disposed in the bag and bondingly connected to the interior surface of the bag.

Abstract: A packaging material comprising a plurality of cushioning members for cushioning an article in a container is provided. The cushioning members being formed by crumpling a flexible sheet of material into a globular configuration having a plurality of random folds, a plurality of random engaged portions, and a plurality of voids. The sheet of material has an upper surface and a lower surface with at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface having a bonding material disposed thereon such that at least a portion of the engaged portions are bondably connected thereby increasing the resiliency of the folds.

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 upper portion may be detachable from the lower portion of the sleeve. 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 plant packaging method of providing a tubular sleeve having a lower portion and an upper portion detachable from the lower portion and disposing the tubular sleeve about a potted plant.

Abstract: A pot cover constructed such that a decoration can be included on the pot cover and the integrity of the decoration is maintained because the configuration of the pot cover does not result in the formation of arbitrary overlapping folds. The configuration of the pot cover allows a flower pot to be covered while the integrity of the decoration, such as a design or pattern, printed on each segment is maintained so that a decoration is presented throughout the outer peripheral surface of the formed pot cover.

Abstract: A floral sleeve having an upper portion, a lower portion and a medial portion. The floral sleeve can be placed about a plant container, such as a potted plant, such that the lower portion contains a pot, and the upper portion surrounds a floral grouping. When desired, the upper portion and lower portion can be detached, leaving the medial portion which can be attached to the pot forming a skirt extending from the upper end thereof.

Abstract: A plant packaging method of providing a tubular sleeve having a lower portion and an upper portion detachable from the lower portion and disposing the tubular sleeve about a potted plant.

Abstract: A method of forming a plurality of floral sleeves having a uniform design or pattern and printed circumferentially about a lower end thereof without requiring the waste of significant portions of sheet material is provided. The method includes the step of sealing and severing a pair of web portions along lines defined by coextensive first side edges and coextensive second side edges of printed portions. In another aspect, the method includes the step of sealing and severing a pair of overlapping web portions provided with a plurality of printed portions along a plurality of lines which traverse the printed portions and each of the corresponding unprinted portions to form a plurality of sleeves wherein each sleeve has an upper portion and a lower portion with the lower portion having a printed portion extending continuously about the exterior circumference of the lower portion of the sleeve while the upper portion is free of any printing contained in the lower portion of an adjacently formed sleeve.

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 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 warp 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.