Method of manufacturing a tubular sleeve

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.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A floral sleeve manufactured by a method, comprising: 
 providing at least one web of material;    automatically advancing a portion of the at least one web of material;    applying a bonding material to a portion of only a single surface of the at least one web of material;    automatically forming a flattened tubular sleeve from the portion of the at least one web of material having the bonding material applied to the portion of the single surface thereof, wherein the flattened tubular sleeve thus formed has a closed lower end, an upper end, an outer peripheral surface, and an inner peripheral surface, the sleeve further comprising: 
 a lower portion, and  
 an upper portion detachable from the lower portion via perforations positioned in a predetermined pattern, and wherein the bonding material disposed upon a portion of the single surface of the sleeve is positioned on a portion of the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve.  
   
     
     
         2 . The floral sleeve of  claim 1  wherein the flattened tubular sleeve comprises a flattened body comprising: 
 a first side having a first edge, a second edge, an upper edge, a lower edge, an outer surface and an inner surface;  
 a second side having a first edge, a second edge, an upper edge, a lower edge, an outer surface and an inner surface;  
 and wherein in a flattened condition of the sleeve, the inner surface of the first side rests flatwise upon the inner surface of the second side and the first edge of the first side is sealed to the first edge of the second side and the second edge of the first side is sealed to the second edge of the second side.  
 
     
     
         3 . The floral sleeve of  claim 1  further comprising the step of applying a separate release material to the bonding material.  
     
     
         4 . The floral sleeve of  claim 1  wherein the bonding material comprises a pressure-sensitive adhesive or cohesive bonding material.  
     
     
         5 . A floral sleeve manufactured by a method, comprising: 
 providing at least one web of material;    automatically advancing a portion of the at least one web of material;    applying a bonding material to a portion of only a single surface of the at least one web of material; and    automatically forming a flattened tubular sleeve having a closed lower end from the portion of the at least one web of material having the bonding material applied thereto, wherein the flattened tubular sleeve thus formed has an inner surface, and wherein the bonding material is positioned on a portion of the inner surface which is exposed to an inner retaining space of the flattened tubular sleeve.    
     
     
         6 . The floral sleeve of  claim 5  wherein the closed lower end of the sleeve has a gusset.  
     
     
         7 . The floral sleeve of  claim 5  comprising the additional step of introducing perforations into portions of the flattened tubular sleeve for enabling separation of portions of the sleeve.  
     
     
         8 . The floral sleeve of  claim 5  wherein the bonding material comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive or bonding material.  
     
     
         9 . The floral sleeve of  claim 5  wherein in the step of forming the flattened tubular sleeve, the sleeve has a frustoconical shape when in the opened position.  
     
     
         10 . The floral sleeve of  claim 5  comprising the additional step of applying a separate release material to the bonding material.  
     
     
         11 . The floral sleeve of  claim 5  wherein the bonding material is a cohesive bonding material.  
     
     
         12 . The floral sleeve of  claim 5  comprising using a second web of material wherein portions of both the first web of material and the second web of material are used in the step of forming the flattened tubular sleeve.  
     
     
         13 . The floral sleeve of  claim 5  wherein in the forming step the sleeve is formed by doubling over portions of the at least one web of material.