Plant package and methods of forming same using a thermoplastic flower pot

Abstract

A flower pot cover in combination with a retaining medium for holding and retaining a floral grouping. The flower pot cover includes a base portion defining a receiving space receiving at least a portion of the retaining medium so as to hold and retain the retaining medium. The base portion is constructed of a thermoformed plastic material, the base portion has an upper end, a lower end, and a sidewall extending between the upper end and the lower end. The sidewall is substantially devoid of overlapping folds and has decorative ornamentation associated with at least a portion of the sidewall.

1 . A plant package, comprising: 
 a decorative flower pot comprising: 
 a base portion defining a receiving space and being constructed of a thermoformed 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 and having decorative ornamentation associated with at least a portion of the sidewall; and  
   a retaining medium for holding and retaining a floral grouping, wherein at least a portion of the retaining medium is disposed in the receiving space of the base portion of the decorative flower pot and is held and retained therein.    
   
   
       2 . The plant package of  claim 1 , wherein the base portion of the decorative flower pot further comprises a closed bottom.  
   
   
       3 . The plant package of  claim 1 , wherein the base portion of the decorative flower pot further comprises an open bottom.  
   
   
       4 . The plant package of  claim 1 , wherein the base portion of the decorative flower pot further comprises a partially closed bottom wherein at least one open area is formed in the bottom.  
   
   
       5 . The plant package of  claim 1 , wherein the decorative ornamentation disposed on the decorative flower pot is selected from the group consisting of printing, etching, embossing, texturing and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       6 . The plant package of  claim 5 , wherein the decorative ornamentation includes at least two of the ornamentations selected from the group consisting of printing, etching, embossing and texturing.  
   
   
       7 . The plant package of  claim 1 , wherein the decorative flower pot further comprises a skirt extending from the sidewall of the base portion.  
   
   
       8 . The plant package of  claim 7 , wherein the sidewall of the base portion of the decorative flower pot comprises an inner surface, and wherein the skirt extends from at least a portion of the inner surface of the sidewall.  
   
   
       9 . The plant package of  claim 7 , wherein the sidewall of the base portion of the decorative flower pot comprises an inner surface, and wherein the skirt is connected to at least a portion of the inner surface of the sidewall.  
   
   
       10 . The plant package of  claim 7 , wherein the sidewall of the base portion of the decorative flower pot comprises an outer surface, and wherein the skirt extends from at least a portion of the outer surface of the sidewall.  
   
   
       11 . The plant package of  claim 7 , wherein the sidewall of the base portion of the decorative flower pot comprises an outer surface, and wherein the skirt is connected to at least a portion of the outer surface of the sidewall.  
   
   
       12 . The plant package of  claim 7 , wherein the sidewall of the base portion of the decorative flower pot comprises an inner surface, an outer surface, and a portion of the sidewall positioned between the inner surface and the outer surface, and wherein the skirt extends from at least a portion of the sidewall positioned between the inner surface and the outer surface of the sidewall.  
   
   
       13 . A method of providing a plant package, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a decorative flower pot comprising: 
 a base portion defining a receiving space and being constructed of a thermoformed 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 and having decorative ornamentation associated with at least a portion of the sidewall; and  
   disposing a retaining medium for holding and retaining a floral grouping with the decorative flower pot, wherein at least a portion of the retaining medium is disposed in the receiving space of the base portion of the decorative flower pot and is held and retained therein.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein, in the step of providing a decorative flower pot, the base portion of the decorative flower pot further comprises a closed bottom.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein, in the step of providing a decorative flower pot, the base portion of the decorative flower pot further comprises an open bottom.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein, in the step of providing a decorative flower pot, the base portion of the decorative flower pot further comprises a partially closed bottom wherein at least one open area is formed in the bottom.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein, in the step of providing a decorative flower pot, the decorative ornamentation disposed on the decorative flower pot is selected from the group consisting of printing, etching, embossing, texturing and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the decorative ornamentation includes at least two of the ornamentations selected from the group consisting of printing, etching, embossing and texturing.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 13  wherein, in the step of providing a decorative flower pot, the decorative flower pot further comprises a skirt extending from the sidewall of the base portion.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the sidewall of the base portion of the decorative flower pot comprises an inner surface, and wherein the skirt extends from at least a portion of the inner surface of the sidewall.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the sidewall of the base portion of the decorative flower pot comprises an inner surface, and wherein the skirt is connected to at least a portion of the inner surface of the sidewall.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the sidewall of the base portion of the decorative flower pot comprises an outer surface, and wherein the skirt extends from at least a portion of the outer surface of the sidewall.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the sidewall of the base portion of the decorative flower pot comprises an outer surface, and wherein the skirt is connected to at least a portion of the outer surface of the sidewall.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the sidewall of the base portion of the decorative flower pot comprises an inner surface, an outer surface, and a portion of the sidewall positioned between the inner surface and the outer surface, and wherein the skirt extends from at least a portion of the sidewall positioned between the inner surface and the outer surface of the sidewall.