Floral sleeve having expansion elements

Abstract

A plant packaging and covering system comprising a floral sleeve having a base portion. The sleeve may have an upper sleeve portion which in one embodiment is sized to 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 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, the preformed sleeve initially having a flattened state, comprising: 
 a base portion having an upper end, a lower end, and an interior space when opened;    extension elements comprising a plurality of folds in the base portion; and    a connected portion comprising portions of the plurality of folds in the base portion which are connected for constricting expansion of a portion of the base portion.    
     
     
         2 . The preformed sleeve of  claim 1  wherein the base portion is further defined as being sized to substantially cover an outer peripheral surface of a pot.  
     
     
         3 . 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.  
     
     
         4 . The preformed sleeve of  claim 1  further defined as having a gusset in the lower end of the base portion.  
     
     
         5 . 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, polymeric film, non-polymeric film, cardboard, fiber, cloth, burlap, and laminations or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The preformed sleeve of  claim 1  further comprising an extended portion for serving as a handle or support device.  
     
     
         7 . The preformed sleeve of  claim 1  wherein the base portion has a drainage element therein.  
     
     
         8 . The preformed sleeve of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of folds in the extension elements are continuous in the base portion from the lower end to the upper end of the base portion.  
     
     
         9 . A preformed sleeve for covering a pot, the preformed sleeve initially having a flattened state, comprising: 
 a lower portion having an upper end and an interior space when opened;    a detachable upper portion extending from the upper end of the lower portion;    extension elements comprising a plurality of folds in the lower portion; and    a connected portion comprising portions of the folds in the lower portion which are connected for constricting expansion of a portion of the lower portion.    
     
     
         10 . The preformed sleeve of  claim 9  wherein the lower portion is further defined as being sized to contain the pot.  
     
     
         11 . The preformed sleeve of  claim 9  further defined as constructed from a material having a thickness in a range of from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mils.  
     
     
         12 . The preformed sleeve of  claim 9  further defined as constructed from a material selected from the group consisting of treated or untreated paper, metal foil, polymeric film, non-polymeric film, cardboard, fiber, cloth, burlap, and laminations or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         13 . The preformed sleeve of  claim 9  further comprising an extended portion for serving as a handle or support device.  
     
     
         14 . The preformed sleeve of  claim 9  wherein the lower portion has drainage element therein.  
     
     
         15 . The preformed sleeve of  claim 9  wherein the plurality of folds in the extension elements are continuous within the lower portion.  
     
     
         16 . A method of covering a pot having an upper end, a lower end, and an outer peripheral surface, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a preformed sleeve initially having a flattened state, comprising: 
 a base portion having an upper end, a lower end, and an interior space when opened, and;  
 extension elements comprising a plurality of folds in the base portion, and the base portion having a connected portion comprising portions of the folds which are connected for constricting expansion of a portion of the base portion;  
   opening the preformed sleeve to expose the interior space; and    disposing a pot into the interior space of the preformed sleeve.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein in the step of providing a preformed sleeve, at least a portion of the plurality of folds are continuous between the lower end and the upper end of the base portion.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein in the step of providing a preformed sleeve, the base portion comprises a gusset in the lower end thereof.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein in the step of providing a preformed sleeve, the preformed sleeve further comprises an upper portion which is detachable via a detaching element in the preformed sleeve.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein in the step of disposing a pot, the pot has a floral grouping disposed therein.  
     
     
         21 . A plant package comprising a pot and a preformed sleeve disposed about the pot, the plant package produced by the method of  claim 16 .  
     
     
         22 . A plant package comprising a pot and a preformed sleeve disposed about the pot, the plant package produced by the method of  claim 19 .  
     
     
         23 . A plant package comprising a pot and a preformed sleeve disposed about the pot, the plant package produced by the method of  claim 20.