Article packaging system

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.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of covering a potted plant comprising the steps of: 
 providing a first preformed cover having an interior space;    removing a second preformed cover from a set of nested preformed covers, the second preformed cover having a frustoconical shape and having an interior space;    disposing the second preformed cover into the interior space of the first preformed cover;    providing a potted plant; and    disposing the potted plant into the interior space of the second preformed cover after the second preformed cover has been disposed within the interior space of the first preformed cover.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of bondingly connecting the potted plant to the second preformed cover via a bonding material.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein, in the step of providing the first preformed cover, the first preformed cover is composed of a material selected from a group of materials consisting of paper (untreated or treated in any manner), cellophane, foil, synthetic organic polymeric film, fiber (woven or nonwoven or synthetic or natural), cloth (woven or nonwoven or natural or synthetic), or burlap.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein, in the step of providing the second preformed cover, the second preformed cover is composed of a material selected from a group of materials consisting of paper (untreated or treated in any manner), cellophane, foil, synthetic organic polymeric film, fiber (woven or nonwoven or synthetic or natural), cloth (woven or nonwoven or natural or synthetic), or burlap.  
     
     
         5 . A method of covering a potted plant comprising the steps of: 
 providing a first preformed cover having an interior space;    removing a second preformed cover from a set of vested preformed covers, the second preformed cover having a frustoconical shape and having an interior space;    disposing the second preformed cover into the interior space of the first preformed cover;    providing a potted plant;    disposing the potted plant into the interior space of the second preformed cover after the second preformed cover has been disposed within the interior space of the first preformed cover; and    bondingly connecting the potted plant to the second preformed cover.    
     
     
         6 . A method of covering a potted plant comprising the steps of: 
 providing a first preformed cover having an interior space;    removing a second preformed cover from a set of nested preformed covers, the second preformed cover having a frustoconical shape and having an interior space;    disposing the second preformed cover into the interior space of the first preformed cover;    providing a potted plant;    disposing the potted plant into the interior space of the second preformed cover after the second preformed cover has been disposed within the interior space of the first preformed cover; and    bondingly connecting the potted plant to the second preformed cover via a bonding material selected from the group consisting of adhesive or cohesive materials, heat sealable materials, sonic sealable material, vibratory sealable materials, ties, labels, bands, ribbons, string, tape, staples, or combinations thereof.