WO2003062058A2

WO2003062058A2 - Decorative cover and assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2003062058A2
Application number: PCT/US2002/001475
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marylou Marsh-Sanders
Original assignee: Marylou Marsh-Sanders
Priority date: 2002-01-18
Filing date: 2002-01-18
Publication date: 2003-07-31
Also published as: AU2002239969A1; WO2003062058A3

Abstract

A decorative pot cover (2) is described. The pot cover (2) is a tubular sleeve with two open ends made of a flexible, conformal material such as a knit or woven fabric. Each of the open ends is fitted with cinching means such as an elastic cord or a drawstring. The pot cover fits over a pot and the two ends are cinched to retain the pot cover at the top and bottom ends of the pot. Messages (18) and/or illustrations can be disposed on the outer surface of the pot cover. A decorative assembly is also described which combines the aforementioned pot cover with wire-mounted message tabs (34). The wire mounted message tabs are inserted into the potting soil (44) of a potted plant to which the pot cover has been fitted.

Description

DECORATIVE COVER AND ASSEMBLY

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to decorative covers for flower pots, and more particularly to a decorative cover made of a sheet of material secured both above the upper end and below the lower end of the flower pot. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Various devices for covering flower and plant pots are known in the prior art. Typically, these devices are used to enhance the appearance of the flower and plant pots on which the devices have been secured. The following prior art references are relevant to the field of the present invention.

U.S. Patent No. 6,279,264 to Weder discloses a flower pot with an expandable, preformed perforated sleeve covering into which a flower pot can be disposed.

In U.S. Patent No. 6,269,61 1 to Weder, there is disclosed a floral holding material and a sheet of material extending around the floral holding material and including a crimped portion formed in the sheet of material to hold it within the floral holding material. This patent is limited to a sheet of material that surrounds the pot or the floral holding material and is secured only at the upper end with a band 34.

In U.S. Patent No. 6,223,412 to Weder, there is disclosed a decorative flowerpot cover with a bonding material securing the upper end of the material to the pot.

Other flower pot covers of interest are disclosed in U.S Patent Nos. 5,551,140, 5,293,715, and 2,097,929. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, a decorative pot cover comprises a tubular sleeve formed of a flexible, conformal material, such as a knit or woven fabric. The sleeve has open ends to which cinching means are fitted. The cinching means can be drawstrings, elastic cords, or any other suitable means of cinching the ends of the sleeve.

The pot cover is fit over a suitable flower pot and is cinched at the top and bottom ends thereof to retain it thereto. The cinching action draws the pot cover taut around the pot. Prints, illustrations and/or lettered areas on the outer surface of the pot cover sleeve are thereby neatly and prominently displayed around the sides of the assembly. The lettered areas and/or illustrations on the outer surface of the pot cover can be printed, painted, embroidered, embossed, or formed by any other suitable means.

The pot cover can be combined with one or more wire-mounted message-bearing tabs to create a pot cover assembly. The wire mounted tabs consist of a message object (such as a tag, card, sign, or other suitable item) mounted to a distal end of a thin rod or wire. The other end of the rod or wire is inserted into potting soil (or other potting substrate material) of a potted plant to which the aforementioned pot cover has been assembled to maintain the message tabs in a readily viewable position.

Generally, the illustrations ) and/or lettered area(s) on the pot cover are selected to be appropriate to a holiday, occasion, event, or to convey a sentiment. Messages on the message-bearing tabs would generally be selected to reinforce, complement, or affirm the message(s) on the pot cover. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a decorative pot cover, in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a decorative pot cover, in accordance with the invention;

Figure 3a, 3b are diagrams illustrating assembly of the inventive pot cover to a pot, in accordance with the invention;

Figure 6 is a view of a wire-mounted message, in accordance with the invention; Figure 7 is a perspective view of a decorative assembly, in accordance with the invention; and

Figures 8A-8H are a series of views illustrating the process of manually assembling the inventive pot cover to a potted plant. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Detailed Description of the Apparatus

Referring now to Figure 1 , the inventive decorative pot cover 2A is a tubular sleeve 4 made of a flexible, conformal covering material, such as knit or woven fabric, or other suitable conformal covering material. The sleeve 4 can have one or more printed, painted, embroidered, or embossed illustrations 16 and one or more printed, painted, embroidered, or embossed lettered areas 18 disposed on an outer surface thereof. Upper and lower ends 12A and I 2B, respectively, of the sleeve 4 are fitted with elastic cinching means 10A (such as elastic cords or bands) for cinching the ends 12A and 12B of the sleeve 4. An important aspect of the present invention relates to the provision of the open end 12B of the sleeve 4, which is disposed at the bottom of a planted pot. This opening permits water drainage of the pot through the open end so that the sleeve 4 does not get damaged by the water drainage. Folded-over hem portions 6 capture and retain the elastic cinching means 10A. The folded- over hem portions are secured by stitching 8.

Figure 2 shows an alternative embodiment 2B of a decorative pot cover 2A in accordance with the invention. The decorative pot cover 2B of Figure 2 is identical to the decorative pot cover 2A of Figure I in all respects except that ends 12A and 12B of the tubular, cylindrical sleeve are fitted with drawstring cinching means 10B rather than elastic cinching means. Exposed ends 14 of the drawstrings 10B permit the drawstrings 10B to be pulled tight to cinch the ends 12A and 12B of the sleeve. To assemble the inventive decorative cover to a pot, such as a flower pot, the pot is inserted into the sleeve, and the ends of the tubular, cylindrical covering are cinched together, partially covering the top and bottom of the pot, thereby stretching the covering taut and retaining it in place at both the top and bottom of the pot.

Figure 3A is an exploded view showing a potted plant 20A and decorative pot cover 2, prior to assembly of decorative pot cover 2 to the potted plant 20A. The potted plant 20A has a pot 22A having a substantially open top end 24A and a substantially closed bottom end 26A. The pot 22A is inserted into the decorative pot covering 2 as generally indicated by an arrow in Figure 3A.

Figure 3B shows the completed assembly 28A of the pot 22A and decorative pot cover 2, with cinched ends of the decorative pot cover 2 retaining it in place and pulling it taut around the pot 22A. The cinched end of the decorative pot cover 2 at the top end 24A of the pot 22B forms an opening 30 through which a plant can protrude. With the decorative pot cover 2 drawn taut around the pot 22A, any illustrations 16 or lettered areas 18 are neatly and prominently displayed on the sides of the pot and cover assembly 28A. Due to the flexible, conformal material from which the decorative cover sleeve is formed, the decorative cover can have considerable flexibility in the shapes of the pots it can accommodate. For example, if a stretchable knit fabric is employed, a tapering of the pot can be readily accommodated. Figure 4A is an exploded view showing a potted plant 20B and decorative pot cover 2, prior to assembly of decorative pot cover 2 to the potted plant 20A. The potted plant 20B has a tapered pot 22B having a substantially open top end 24A and a substantially closed bottom end 26B, typically with a drainage opening in the center. Due to the tapered shape of the pot 22B, the bottom end 26B is generally smaller than the top end 24B. The pot 22B is inserted into the decorative pot covering 2 in similar fashion to that shown and described hereinabove with respect to Figure 3A.

Figure 4B shows the completed assembly 28B of the pot 22B and decorative pot cover 2, with cinched ends of the decorative pot cover 2 retaining it in place and pulling it taut around the pot 22. Because of the conformal nature of the material from which the pot cover 2 is made, the pot cover 2 stretches as necessary to conform to the tapered shape of the pot 22B. In similar fashion to that described hereinabove with respect to Figure 3B, the cinched end of the decorative pot cover 2 at the top end 24B of the pot 22B forms an opening 30 through which a plant can protrude. The bottom end of the pot cover 2 also has a hole or opening, as previously described, to provide drainage for the pot. With the decorative pot cover 2 drawn taut around the pot 22B, any illustrations 16 or lettered areas 18 are neatly and prominently displayed on the sides of the pot and cover assembly 28B.

In some cases, it may be desirable to retain a straight, cylindrical shape of the pot and cover assembly. If so, this can be accommodated by employing a spacer plate or dish at the bottom of the pot, where the plate has substantially the same outer diameter as the wider opening at the top of the pot. This is illustrated in Figures 5A and 5B.

Figure 5A is an exploded view showing a potted plant 20C and decorative pot cover 2, prior to assembly of decorative pot cover 2 to the potted plant 20C. The potted plant 20C has a tapered pot 22C having a substantially open top end 24C and a substantially closed bottom end 26C. Due to the tapered shape of the pot 22C, the bottom end 26C is generally smaller than the top end 24C. A spacing plate or dish 32 is disposed at the bottom end 26C of the pot 22C. The spacing plate 32 has substantially the same diameter as the top end 24C of the pot 22C. The pot 22C and plate 32 are inserted into the decorative pot covering 2 in similar fashion to that shown and described hereinabove with respect to Figures 3A and 4A. Figure 5B shows the completed assembly 28C of the pot 22C, spacing plate 32 and decorative pot cover 2, with cinched ends of the decorative pot cover 2 retaining it in place and pulling it taut around the pot 22C and spacing plate 32. Because the spacing plate 32 has substantially the same diameter as the larger, open top end 24C of the pot, the pot cover 2 is formed into a substantially cylindrical shape with straight, vertical sidewalls. In similar fashion to that described hereinabove with respect to Figures 3B and 4B, the cinched end of the decorative pot cover 2 at the top end 24C of the pot 22C forms an opening 30 through which a plant can protrude. With the decorative pot cover 2 drawn taut around the pot 22C and spacing plate 32, any illustrations 16 or lettered areas 18 are neatly and prominently displayed on the sides of the pot and cover assembly 28C.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will immediately recognize that the inventive pot cover can accommodate other than round, cylindrical or tapered pots. For example, the inventive pot cover can easily and effectively be fitted to pots with any polygonal shape (e.g., rectangular, octagonal, etc.), and to irregularly shaped pots. Such applications are anticipated by the present invention, and it is fully within the scope and intent of the present invention to employ the inventive pot cover in combination with any suitable pot shape.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will also immediately recognize that there are suitable alternative methods of retaining the elastic cinching means. By way of example, the folded-over hem portions 6, as shown in Figure 1 , could be glued rather than stitched. By way of further example, the cinching means (e.g., 10A or 10B) could be retained by a separate covering or retainer stitched or glued to the inside or outside of the sleeve 4. Alternatively, loose stitching or staples could be used to retain the cinching means (10A or 10B). It is fully within the scope and intent of the present invention to employ any suitable technique for cinching the ends (12A and 12B) of the sleeve 4. As described hereinabove, the pot cover can have illustrated and/or lettered areas on the outside surface thereof, for the purpose of placing topical images and affirmations, greetings, quotations, etc. Such illustrations and lettered areas would generally be selected to be suitable for a special occasion, event, or sentiment. Examples would be holidays, graduations, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, funerals, sympathy, get-well wishes, etc! To enhance and reinforce the illustrations and lettering on the pot cover, the inventive pot cover can be used in combination with one or more wire-mounted "messages".

Each "message" is displayed on a card, sign or tab mounted at one end of a long, thin wire or rod. The rod can be a flexible wire, plastic rod, or other suitable type of rod. The opposite end (away from the "message" end) of the rod is inserted into the potting soil (or other base material) of the potted plant or flower and extends generally upward so that the message is visible. Messages displayed in this manner would be chosen to reinforce or affirm the image and lettering on the pot cover.

Figure 6 shows a wire-mounted message 36 in accordance with the invention. A message tab 38 is attached to one end of a wire 36. The message tab 38 can be a card, sign, tag, ornament, or any suitable object capable of displaying a message thereon. The wire 36 can be a flexible steel wire, a plastic rod, or any other suitable supporting means.

Figure 7 shows a decorative assembly 40 comprising a potted plant 42, a pot cover 2 disposed over the potted plant 42, and a plurality of wire-mounted messages 34. The potted plant 42 includes a potting substrate material 44, e.g., potting soil. The non-message ends of the wire-mounted messages (i.e., the ends opposite the ends bearing the message tabs) are pushed into the potting substrate material such that the message tabs are held in a readily viewable position.

Figures 8A-8H are a series of views illustrating the process of manually assembling the inventive pot cover to a potted plant.

Figure 8A shows the inventive pot cover 2 being held at its open top end 12A. Folded-over cinching cord retaining portions 6 are visible at top and bottom ends 12A and I2B of the pot cover 2. In Figure 8A, the top end 12A is being pulled open against the elastic cinching force. The bottom end 12B is dangling free and is partially cinched. Figure 8B shows the inventive pot cover held such that a view through the open bottom end 12B is seen.

Figure 8C is a view of a potted plant 20 to which the pot cover 2 is to be assembled.

Figure 8D show the potted plant 20 situated on top of the pot cover 2 with its open top end 12A being stretched open around the bottom of the potted plant 20 in preparation for pulling the pot cover 2 up and around the potted plant.

Figure 8E shows the potted plant 20 and pot cover 2, with the open top end 12 of the pot cover 2 partially lifted around the sides of the potted plant 20.

Figure 8F shows the potted plant 20 and pot cover 2 with the open top end 12A lifted well around the sides of the potted plant 20 such that any loose portions of the pot cover 20 are drawn out from under the potted plant 20 and pulled up over the sides thereof.

Figure 8G shows the potted plant 20 and pot cover 2, with the pot cover being gripped by its stretched open top portion 12A in preparation for lifting it over the edge of the pot 22 in which the potted plant 20 sits.

Figure 8H shows the completed assembly of pot cover 2 to potted plant 20, with the open top portion 12 of the pot cover 12 cinched over the top edge of the pot 22 and with the open bottom end 14 of the pot cover 2 cinched over the bottom of the pot.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that many pots have a small opening at their bottom to permit drainage. The open bottom end (14) of the inventive pot cover accommodates this opening, thereby permitting drainage to occur unimpeded. Although the invention has been described in connection with several particular embodiments, it will be appreciated that various adaptations and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention, as set forth in the claims.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A decorative pot cover, comprising: a tubular sleeve formed of a flexible, conformal material, said sleeve having open ends and an outer surface; cinching means disposed at and retained to each open end of the sleeve; wherein: said sleeve is sized to fit over a pot and said cinching means are adapted to retaining the sleeve to the pot at top and bottom ends thereof.

2. A decorative pot cover according to claim 1 , wherein: at least one cinching means is an elastic cord.

3. A decorative pot cover according to claim 1, wherein: at least one cinching means is a drawstring.

4. A decorative pot cover according to claim 1, wherein: the flexible, conformal material is a woven fabric.

5. A decorative pot cover according to claim 1, wherein: the flexible, conformal material is a knit fabric.

6. A decorative pot cover according to claim 1, further comprising: at least one illustration disposed on the outer surface of the sleeve.

7. A decorative pot cover according to claim 6, wherein: at least one illustration is painted onto the sleeve.

8. A decorative pot cover according to claim 6, wherein: at least one illustration is printed onto the sleeve.

9. A decorative pot cover according to claim 6, wherein: at least one illustration is embroidered onto the sleeve

10. A decorative pot cover according to claim 1 , further comprising: at least one lettered area disposed on the outer surface of the sleeve.

1 1. A decorative pot cover according to claim 10, wherein: at least one lettered area is painted onto the sleeve.

12. A decorative pot cover according to claim 10, wherein: at least one lettered area is printed onto the sleeve.

13. A decorative pot cover according to claim 10, wherein: at least one lettered area is embroidered onto the sleeve.

14. A decorative pot cover assembly comprising: a tubular sleeve formed of a flexible, conformal material, said sleeve having open ends and an outer surface; cinching means disposed at and retained to each open end of the sleeve; and at least one wire-mounted message, said wire-mounted message further comprising: a message-bearing tab secured to one end of a supporting rod: wherein: said sleeve is sized to fit over a pot and said cinching means are adapted to retaining to sleeve to the pot at top and bottom ends thereof.

15. A decorative pot cover according to claim 14, wherein: at least one cinching means is an elastic cord.

16. A decorative pot cover according to claim 14, wherein: at least one cinching means is a drawstring.

17. A decorative assembly comprising: a potted plant comprising a pot, potting substrate material and a plant disposed within the potting substrate material; and a decorative pot cover further comprising: a tubular sleeve formed of a flexible, conformal material, said sleeve having open ends and an outer surface; and cinching means disposed at and retained to each open end of the sleeve; said decorative pot cover being disposed over the pot and said cinching means cinching the open ends of the sleeve to retain the sleeve to the pot at top and bottom ends thereof.

18. A decorative assembly according to claim 17, further comprising: at least one lettered area disposed on the outer surface of the sleeve.

19. A decorative assembly according to claim 17, further comprising: at least one illustration disposed on the outer surface of the sleeve.

20. A decorative assembly according to claim 17, further comprising: at least one wire-mounted message.