Floral sleeve with constriction element

Abstract

A plant packaging and covering system comprising a floral sleeve having a base portion. The sleeve may have an upper sleeve portion which can surround a plant disposed in a pot and which can be detached once the function of the sleeve has been completed. The sleeve has a plurality of folds, some constricted by a constriction element, the folds comprising expansion elements for allowing portions of the base portion to expand, when a pot is disposed within the sleeve.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A preformed sleeve for covering a pot having an upper end, a lower end, and an outer peripheral surface, comprising: 
 a base portion having an upper end, a lower end, an outer peripheral surface, and an interior space when opened;    a plurality of preformed folds in the base portion; and    a constriction element preattached to a portion of the base portion forming a constricted area in the plurality of preformed folds in a portion of the base portion and wherein the constriction element completely surrounds the outer peripheral surface of the base portion.    
     
     
         2 . The preformed sleeve of  claim 1  further comprising an upper portion which is detachable.  
     
     
         3 . The preformed sleeve of  claim 1  wherein the base portion is further defined as being sized to substantially cover the outer peripheral surface of the pot.  
     
     
         4 . The preformed sleeve of  claim 1  further defined as constructed from a material having a thickness in a range of from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mils.  
     
     
         5 . The preformed sleeve of  claim 1  further defined as constructed from a material having a thickness in a range of from about 0.5 mil to about 10 mils.  
     
     
         6 . The preformed sleeve of  claim 1  further defined as constructed from a material having a thickness in a range of from about 1 mil to about 5 mils.  
     
     
         7 . The preformed sleeve of  claim 1  further defined as constructed from a material selected from the group consisting of treated or untreated paper, metal foil, polymer film, non-polymer film, cardboard, fiber, cloth, burlap, and laminations or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The preformed sleeve of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of folds further comprises a plurality of pleats, a plurality of folds each having a z-shaped cross section, or a plurality of accordion-type folds.  
     
     
         9 . The preformed sleeve of  claim 1  further comprising an extended portion for serving as a handle or support device.  
     
     
         10 . The preformed sleeve of  claim 1  wherein the base portion has a drainage element therein.  
     
     
         11 . The preformed sleeve of  claim 1  further comprising a gusset in the lower end of the base portion.  
     
     
         12 . A method of covering a pot having an upper end, a lower end, and an outer peripheral surface, the method comprising: 
 providing a preformed sleeve comprising a base portion having an upper end, a lower end, an outer peripheral surface, and an interior space when opened,    a plurality of preformed folds in the base portion, and    a constriction element preattached to a portion of the base portion forming a constricted area in the plurality of preformed folds in a portion of the base portion and wherein the constriction element completely surrounds the outer peripheral surface of the base portion; and    disposing the pot into the base portion of the preformed sleeve after the preformed sleeve has been opened.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein in the step of providing the preformed sleeve, the base portion is further defined as being sized to substantially cover the outer peripheral surface of the pot.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein in the step of providing the preformed sleeve, the plurality of folds further comprises a plurality of pleats, a plurality of folds each having a z-shaped cross section, or a plurality of accordion-type folds.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein in the step of providing the preformed sleeve further comprises a detachable upper portion.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  wherein in the step of disposing the pot, the pot has a floral grouping disposed therein.  
     
     
         17 . A plant package comprising a pot and a preformed sleeve, the pot having a floral grouping disposed therein, the plant package produced by the method of  claim 12.