Thermoplastic flower pot with a thin skirt

Abstract

A flower pot cover constructed of a material for providing a decorative cover for an item, such as a floral grouping. The flower pot cover comprises a base portion and a skirt portion. The base portion has an upper end, a lower end, a bottom having a first thickness and a continuous sidewall extending generally between the upper and lower ends of the base portion. The skirt portion is positioned circumferentially about the upper end of the base portion and extends a distance therefrom. The skirt portion is substantially flexible and has a third thickness which is less than the first thickness of the bottom of the base portion. The base portion and the skirt portion cooperate to provide the flower pot cover with a shape sustaining configuration.

1 . A thermoformed flower pot cover, comprising: 
 a base portion defining a receiving space which is sized and shaped so as to substantially encompass and surround at least a portion of an outer surface of a flower pot, the base portion being thermoformed from a thermoformable plastic material, the base portion having an upper end, a lower end, and a sidewall extending between the upper end and the lower end, the sidewall being substantially devoid of overlapping folds;    a skirt portion extending circumferentially about at least a portion of the upper end of the base portion in a generally outwardly and upwardly direction and the skirt portion providing the thermoformed flower pot cover with a billowy appearance; and    decorative ornamentation associated with at least a portion of at least one of the base portion and the skirt portion.    
   
   
       2 . The thermoformed flower pot cover of  claim 1 , wherein the base portion further comprises a closed bottom.  
   
   
       3 . The thermoformed flower pot cover of  claim 1 , wherein the decorative ornamentation includes a printed pattern.  
   
   
       4 . The thermoformed flower pot cover of  claim 1 , wherein the decorative ornamentation is selected from a group consisting of printing, etching, embossing and texturing.  
   
   
       5 . A thermoformed flower pot cover, comprising: 
 a base portion defining a receiving space which is sized to substantially encompass and surround a flower pot, the base portion having an upper end, a lower end, and a sidewall extending between the upper end and the lower end, the sidewall being flexible and shape-sustaining, the sidewall being devoid of overlapping folds;    a skirt portion extending circumferentially about at least a portion of the upper end of the base portion in a generally outwardly and upwardly direction, the skirt portion providing the thermoformed flower pot cover with a billowy appearance; and    decorative ornamentation associated with at least a portion of at least one of the base portion and the skirt portion.    
   
   
       6 . The thermoformed flower pot cover of  claim 5 , wherein the base portion further comprises a closed bottom.  
   
   
       7 . The thermoformed flower pot cover of  claim 5 , wherein the decorative ornamentation is selected from a group consisting of printing, etching, embossing and texturing.  
   
   
       8 . A method of decoratively covering a flower pot, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a flower pot;    providing a thermoformed flower pot cover, comprising: 
 a base portion defining a receiving space which is sized and shaped so as to substantially encompass and surround at least a portion of an outer surface of a flower pot, the base portion being thermoformed from a thermoformable plastic material, the base portion having an upper end, a lower end, and a sidewall extending between the upper end and the lower end, the sidewall being substantially devoid of overlapping folds;  
 a skirt portion extending circumferentially about at least a portion of the upper end of the base portion in a generally outwardly and upwardly direction and the skirt portion providing the thermoformed flower pot cover with a billowy appearance; and  
 decorative ornamentation associated with at least a portion of at least one of the base portion and the skirt portion; and  
   disposing the flower pot in at least a portion of the receiving space of the base portion of the thermoformed flower pot cover.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein, in the step of providing the thermoformed flower pot cover, the base portion further comprises a closed bottom.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein, in the step of providing the thermoformed flower pot cover, the decorative ornamentation includes a printed pattern.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein, in the step of providing the thermoformed flower pot cover, the decorative ornamentation is selected from a group consisting of printing, etching, embossing and texturing.  
   
   
       12 . A method of decoratively covering a flower pot, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a flower pot;    providing a thermoformed flower pot cover, comprising: 
 a base portion defining a receiving space which is sized to substantially encompass and surround a flower pot, the base portion having an upper end, a lower end, and a sidewall extending between the upper end and the lower end, the sidewall being flexible and shape-sustaining, the sidewall being devoid of overlapping folds;  
 a skirt portion extending circumferentially about at least a portion of the upper end of the base portion in a generally outwardly and upwardly direction, the skirt portion providing the thermoformed flower pot cover with a billowy appearance; and  
 decorative ornamentation associated with at least a portion of at least one of the base portion and the skirt portion; and  
   disposing the flower pot in at least a portion of the receiving space of the base portion of the thermoformed flower pot cover.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein, in the step of providing the thermoformed flower pot cover, base portion further comprises a closed bottom.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein, in the step of providing the thermoformed flower pot cover, the decorative ornamentation is selected from a group consisting of printing, etching, embossing and texturing.