Method of shipping prepormed flower pot covers

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 flowerpot. 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.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of shipping a plurality of preformed flower pot covers, each preformed flower pot cover including a sheet of material formed into a shape sized to receive a flower pot, the preformed flower pot cover having 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 comprising: 
 providing a portable platform having an upper surface and a plurality of stacking shells extending from the upper surface of the platform, each stacking shell configured to be received in the object opening of one of the preformed flower pot covers;    forming a stack of preformed flower pot covers on each of the stacking shells such that the preformed flower pot covers of the stacks are nested within one another and supported by the stacking shells; and    transporting the platform to a predetermined destination.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each of the preformed flower pot covers has a decorative skirt which flairs angularly upwardly and outwardly from the upper end of the base and wherein the stacks of preformed flower pot covers are supported on the S stacking shells so that the decorative skirt is in a non-load bearing relationship with respect to the platform so as to prevent damage to the decorative skirt.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 securing the stacks of preformed flower pot covers to the platform.  
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the securing step includes wrapping a flexible sheet of material about at least a portion of the periphery of the platform and the stacks of preformed flower pot covers.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the sheet of material is transparent.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising the step of positioning a tray having a plurality of sidewalls between the platform and the stacking shells so that the sidewalls extend about the stacking shells to provide further support to the stacks of preformed flower pot covers supported by the stacking shells.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the securing step comprises: 
 positioning a cover having a planar base o n the uppermost flower pot covers of the stacks of preformed flower pot covers; and  
 fastening the cover to the platform so as to hold the stacks of preformed flower pot covers on the platform.  
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the planar base of the cover has a plurality of openings corresponding with and dimensioned to receive the uppermost flower pot covers of the stacks of preformed flower pot covers.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the planar base of the cover has a plurality of spaced apart openings corresponding with and dimensioned to receive the uppermost flower pot covers of the stacks of preformed flower pot covers positioned along the periphery of the platform and a central opening corresponding with and dimensioned to receiving the uppermost flower pot covers of the other stacks of preformed flower pot covers.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising the step of positioning a tray having a plurality of sidewalls between the platform and the stacking shells so that the sidewalls extend about the stacking shells to provide further support to the stacks of preformed flower pot covers supported by the stacking shells.  
     
     
         11 . A method of packaging a plurality of preformed flower pot covers, each preformed flower pot cover including a sheet of material formed into a shape sized to receive a flower pot, the preformed flower pot cover having 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 comprising: 
 providing a portable platform having an upper surface;    positioning a plurality of stacking shells on the upper surface of the platform, each stacking shell configured to be received in the object opening of one of the preformed flower pot covers;    forming a stack of preformed flower pot covers on each of the stacking shells such that the preformed flower pot covers of the stacks are nested within one another and supported by the stacking shell.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein each of the preformed flower pot covers has a decorative skirt which flairs angularly upwardly and outwardly from the upper end of the base and wherein the stacks of preformed flower pot covers are supported on the stacking shells so that the decorative skirt is in a non-load bearing relationship with respect to the platform so as to prevent damage to the decorative skirt.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising: 
 securing the stacks of preformed flower pot covers to the platform.  
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the securing step includes wrapping a flexible sheet of material about the periphery of the platform and the stacks of preformed flower pot covers.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the sheet of material is transparent.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the step of positioning a tray having a plurality of sidewalls between the platform and the stacking shells so that the sidewalls extend about the stacking shells to provide further support to the stacks of preformed flower pot covers supported by the stacking shells.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the securing step comprises: 
 positioning a cover having a planar base on the uppermost flower pot covers of the stacks of preformed flower pot covers; and  
 fastening the cover to the platform so as to hold the stacks of preformed flower pot covers on the platform.  
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the planar base of the cover has a plurality of openings corresponding with and dimensioned to receive the uppermost flower pot covers of the stacks of preformed flower pot covers.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the planar base of the cover has a plurality of spaced apart openings corresponding with and dimensioned to receive the uppermost flower pot covers of the stacks of preformed flower pot covers positioned along the periphery of the platform and a central opening corresponding with and dimensioned to receiving the uppermost flower pot covers of the other stacks of preformed flower pot covers.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising the step of positioning a tray having a plurality of sidewalls between the platform and the stacking shells so that the sidewalls extend about the stacking shells to provide further support to the stacks of preformed flower pot covers supported by the stacking shells.  
     
     
         21 . A method of packaging a plurality of preformed flower pot covers, each preformed flower pot cover including a sheet of material formed into a shape sized to receive a flower pot, the preformed flower pot cover having 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 comprising: 
 positioning a portable platform having an upper surface and a plurality of stacking shells positioned on the upper surface of the platform and configured to be received in the object opening of one of the preformed flower pot covers on a turntable;    forming a stack of preformed flower pot covers on each of the stacking shells such that the preformed flower pot covers of the stacks are nested within one another and supported by the stacking shell;    providing a flexible sheet material having a leading edge;    positioning the leading edge of the flexible sheet material against one of the stacks of preformed flower pot covers;    rotating the turntable so as to cause the platform and the stacks of preformed flower pot covers to be rotated and thus cause the sheet material to be wrapped about the periphery of the stacks of preformed flower pot covers so as to secure the stacks of preformed flower pot covers to the platform.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein each of the preformed flower pot covers has a decorative skirt which flairs angularly upwardly and outwardly from the upper end of the base and wherein the stacks of preformed flower pot covers are supported on the stacking shells so that the decorative skirt is in a non-load bearing relationship with respect to the platform so as to prevent damage to the decorative skirt.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the sheet material is transparent.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising the step of positioning a tray having a plurality of sidewalls between the platform and the stacking shells so that the sidewalls extend about the stacking shells to provide further support to the stacks of preformed flower pot covers supported by the stacking shells.