Cover forming apparatus having pivoting forming members

Claim 2

A cover forming apparatus for forming a flower pot or flower pot cover about an outer surface of an object, the object selected from a group consisting of a die, a mold, and a pot means, from a sheet of material, comprising: support means upon which the sheet of material is disposable; an object having an outer surface, said object supported above and near the sheet of material in a forming position; a plurality of pivotable forming members; and pivoting means coupled to said forming members for pivotally urging said forming members from a storage position spaced a distance from said outer surface and for moving said forming members to a closed position whereby said forming members cooperate to engage portions of the sheet of material and form the sheet material about said outer surface of said object, whereby the sheet of material is formed into the flower pot or flower pot cover; and wherein said forming members include facial surfaces which engage the sheet of material, and edges on each side of said facial surfaces, and wherein said facial surfaces are sized such that, when in said closed position, gaps separate the edges of adjacent forming members, whereby as said forming members are being pivoted from said storage position to said closed position, the non-engaged portions of the material between adjacent forming members lag the movement of the engaged portions, thereby forming a plurality of outwardly directed pleats which project through said gaps when said forming members are in said closed position.

Claim 3

The cover forming apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means enabling the cover forming apparatus to be moved from one location to another.

Claim 4

The cover forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said pot means comprises a flower pot; said apparatus forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot; said forming members comprise heat sealing elements; and the flower pot and sheet of material are, at least in part, heat sensitive or coated with a heat sensitive lacquer, such that the sheet of material is secured to the outer surface of the flower pot by heat sealing employing said heat sealing elements, said forming members having the capability of being heated to a temperature sufficient to cause the heat sealing of the forming material to the flower pot.

Claim 5

The cover forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said pot means comprises a flower pot; said apparatus forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot; and said forming members further comprise sonic means for sonically sealing the sheet of material to the outer surface of the flower pot.

Claim 6

The cover forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said pot means comprises a flower pot; said apparatus forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot; and said sheet of material includes an adhesive material on at least part of the surface portions thereof which engage and adhere to the flower pot.

Claim 7

The cover forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said pot means comprises a flower pot; said apparatus forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot; and said forming members further comprise vibratory means for vibratingly sealing the sheet of material to the outer surface of the flower pot.

Claim 8

The cover forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: . said pot means comprises a flower pot; said apparatus forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot; and the flower pot is further defined as including an adhesive material on at least portions of the outer surface of the flower pot, whereby, when the sheet of material is brought into contact with the outer surface of the flower pot, the portions of said sheet of material which engage the outer surface of the flower pot adhere to the outer surface of the flower pot.

Claim 9

The cover forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said pot means comprises a flower pot; said apparatus forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot; the sheet of material disposable on the support surface further defined as including a cohesive material on at least part of one side of the sheet of material; and the flower pot is further defined as including a cohesive material on at least one portion of the outer surface of the flower pot, whereby when the sheet of material is brought into contact with the outer surface of the flower pot by said forming members, the sheet of material cohesively coheres to the flower pot.

Claim 12

The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein: said pot means comprises a flower pot, and said method forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot; the sheet of material is heat sensitive; and said method includes the step of heat sealing the sheet of material to the outer surface of the flower pot.

Claim 13

The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein: said pot means comprises a flower pot, and said method forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot; and said method includes the step of sonically sealing the sheet of material to the outer surface of the flower pot.

Claim 14

The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein: said pot means comprises a flower pot, and said method forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot; and said method includes the step of vibratingly sealing the sheet of material to the outer surface of the flower pot.

Claim 15

The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the material of the sheet of material is selected from the group consisting of: man-made organic polymer films; fibers or fabric (woven or non-woven, synthetic or natural); metallic or non-metallic foils; paper (coated or uncoated, treated or untreated); cellulose (including cellophane); leather; burlap; "dead-fold" or semi-rigid sheet material including "dead-fold" plastic sheets, wire laminated flexible sheet material, waxed sheet material, starched or sugared sheet material; and laminations or combinations thereof.

Claim 16

The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the sheet of material has an adhesive material on at least part of the facing surface portions of the pleats, and the sheet of material substantially retains its shape by the contacting facing surface portions which are securely connected to each other, and the shape is further maintained when the cover thus formed is removed from the object.

Claim 17

The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the sheet of material is further defined as being formable into shapes and as being settable, so that the cover is self supporting and substantially retains its shape after it is formed and is removed from the object.

Claim 18

The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein: said pot means comprises a flower pot, and said method forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot; and the sheet of material includes an adhesive material on at least part of the surface portions thereof which engage and adhere to the flower pot.

Claim 19

The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said adhesive material includes a pressure sensitive adhesive material on at least a portion of the side of said sheet of material to be engaged with the outer surface of the flower pot, so that the portions of said sheet of material which engage the outer surface of the flower pot adhere to the outer surface of the flower pot, and the portions of the sheet of material which form the pleats do not adhere.

Claim 20

The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein: said pot means comprises a flower pot, and said method forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot; and the flower pot is further defined as including an adhesive material on at least portions of the outer surface of the flower pot, whereby, when the sheet of material is brought into contact with the outer surface of the flower pot, the portions of said sheet of material which engage the outer surface of the flower pot adhere to the outer surface of the flower pot.

Claim 21

The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein: said pot means comprises a flower pot, and said method forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot; the sheet of material disposable on the support surface is further defined as including a cohesive material on at least part of one side of the sheet of material; and the flower pot is further defined as including a cohesive material on at least one portion of the outer surface of the flower pot, whereby when the sheet of material is brought into contact with the outer surface of the flower pot, the sheet of material cohesively coheres to the flower pot.

Claim 22

A cover forming apparatus for forming a flower pot or flower pot cover about an outer surface of an object, the object selected from a group consisting of a die, a mold and a pot means, from a sheet of material, comprising: support means upon which the sheet of material is disposable; an object having an outer surface, said object supported above and near the sheet of material in a forming position; a plurality of pivotable forming members; pivoting means coupled to said forming members for pivotally urging said forming members from a storage position spaced a distance from said outer surface and for moving said forming members to a closed position wherein said forming members cooperate to engage portions of the sheet of material and form the sheet of material about said outer surface of said mold; and a plurality of movable fingers cooperating to engage portions of the sheet of material and bring the portions engaged by said fingers into contact with the outer surface of the object in advance of the portions of the sheet of material engaged by said forming members; whereby the sheet of material is formed into a flower pot or flower pot cover, between the object and said forming members, with the portions engaged by said fingers forming internal overlapping folds in the formed flower pot or flower pot cover in the vicinity of said fingers.

Claim 23

A cover forming apparatus for forming a flower pot or flower pot cover about an outer surface of an object, the object selected from a group consisting of a die, a mold and a pot means, from a sheet of material, comprising: support means upon which the sheet of material is disposable; an object having an outer surface, said object supported above and near the sheet of material in a forming position; a plurality of pivotable forming members; pivoting means coupled to said forming members for pivotally urging said forming members from a storage position spaced a distance from said outer surface and for moving said forming members to a closed position wherein said forming members cooperate to engage portions of the sheet of material and form the sheet of material about said outer surface of said mold; and a plurality of movable fingers cooperating to engage portions of the sheet of material and bring the portions engaged by said fingers into contact with the outer surface of the object in advance of the portions of the sheet of material engaged by said forming members; whereby the sheet of material is formed into a flower pot or flower pot cover, between the object and said forming members, with the portions engaged by said fingers forming internal overlapping folds in the formed flower pot or flower pot cover in the vicinity of said fingers.

Claim 24

The cover forming apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein: said pot means comprises a flower pot; said apparatus forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot; and said forming members further comprise sonic means for sonically sealing the sheet of material to the outer surface of the flower pot.

Claim 25

The cover forming apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein: said pot means comprises a flower pot; said apparatus forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot; and said forming members further comprise vibratory means for vibratingly sealing the sheet of material to the outer surface of the flower pot.

Claim 26

The cover forming apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein: said forming members comprise heat sealing elements; and the sheet of material is, at least in part, heat sensitive or coated with a heat sensitive lacquer, such that the internal overlapping folds of the sheet of material are securely attached to the formed flower pot cover by heat sealing employing said heat sealing elements, said forming members having the capability of being heated to a temperature sufficient to cause the heat sealing of the forming material.

Claim 27

The cover forming apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein: said forming members further comprise sonic means for sonically sealing the internal overlapping folds to the formed flower pot cover.

Claim 28

The cover forming apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein: said forming members further comprise vibratory means for vibratingly sealing the internal overlapping folds to the formed flower pot cover.

Claim 29

The cover forming apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein: said pot means comprises a flower pot; said apparatus forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot; and said sheet of material includes an adhesive material on at least part of the surface portions thereof which engage and adhere to the flower pot.

Claim 30

The cover forming apparatus of claim 20 further comprising means enabling the cover forming apparatus to be moved from one location to another.

Claim 31

The cover forming apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein: said pot means comprises a flower pot; said apparatus forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot; and the flower pot is further defined as including an adhesive material on at least portions of the outer surface of the flower pot, whereby, when the sheet of material is brought into contact with the outer surface of the flower pot, the portions of said sheet of material which engage the outer surface of the flower pot adhere to the outer surface of the flower pot.

Claim 32

The cover forming apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein: said pot means comprises a flower pot; said apparatus forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot; the sheet of material disposable on the support surface is further defined as including a cohesive material on at least part of one side of the sheet of material; and the flower pot is further defined as including a cohesive material on at least one portion of the outer surface of the flower pot, whereby when the sheet of material is brought into contact with the outer surface of the flower pot by said forming members, the sheet of material cohesively coheres to the flower pot.

Claim 33

The cover forming apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein: said pot means comprises a flower pot; said apparatus forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot; said forming members comprise heat sealing elements; and the flower pot and sheet of material are, at least in part, heat sensitive or coated with a heat sensitive lacquer, such that the sheet of material is secured to the outer surface of the flower pot by heat sealing employing said heat sealing elements, said forming members having the capability of being heated to a temperature sufficient to cause the heat sealing of the forming material to the flower pot.

Claim 36

The method as claimed in claim 31, wherein: said pot means comprises a flower pot; said method forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot; and said method includes sonically sealing the sheet of material to the outer surface of the flower pot.

Claim 37

The method as claimed in claim 31, wherein: said pot means comprises a flower pot; said method forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot; and said method includes vibratingly sealing the sheet of material to the outer surface of the flower pot.

Claim 38

The method as claimed in claim 31, wherein: the sheet of material is, at least in part, heat sensitive or coated with a heat sensitive lacquer; and said method includes securely attaching the internal overlapping folds of the sheet of material to the formed flower pot cover by heat sealing at a temperature sufficient to cause the heat sealing of the forming material.

Claim 39

The method as claimed in claim 31, including the step of sonically sealing the internal overlapping folds to the formed flower pot cover.

Claim 40

The method as claimed in claim 31, including the step of vibratingly sealing the internal overlapping folds to the formed flower pot cover.

Claim 41

The method as claimed in claim 31, wherein the material of the sheet of material is selected from the group consisting of: man-made organic polymer films; fibers or fabric (woven or non-woven, synthetic or natural); metallic or non-metallic foils; paper (coated or uncoated, treated or untreated); cellulose (including cellophane); leather; burlap; "dead-fold" or semi-rigid sheet material including "dead-fold" plastic sheets, wire laminated flexible sheet material, waxed sheet material, starched or sugared sheet material; and laminations or combinations thereof.

Claim 42

The method as claimed in claim 31, wherein the sheet of material is further defined as being formable into shapes and as being settable, so that the cover is self supporting and substantially retains its shape after it is formed and is removed from said object.

Claim 43

The method as claimed in claim 31, wherein: said pot means comprises a flower pot; said method forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot; and said sheet of material includes an adhesive material on at least part of the surface portions thereof which engage and adhere to the flower pot.

Claim 44

The method as claimed in claim 39, wherein said adhesive material includes a pressure sensitive adhesive material on at least a portion of the side of said sheet of material to be engaged with the outer surface of the flower pot, so that the portions of said sheet of material which engage the outer surface of the flower pot adhere to the outer surface of the flower pot.

Claim 45

The method as claimed in claim 31, wherein: said pot means comprises a flower pot; said method forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot; and the flower pot is further defined as including an adhesive material on at least portions of the outer surface of the flower pot, whereby, when the sheet of material is brought into contact with the outer surface of the flower pot, the portions of sheet of material which engage the outer surface of the flower pot adhere to the outer surface of the flower pot.

Claim 46

The method as claimed in claim 31, wherein: said pot means comprises a flower pot; said method forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot; the sheet of material disposable on the support surface is further defined as including a cohesive material on at least part of one side of the sheet of material; and the flower pot is further defined as including a cohesive material on at least one portion of the outer surface of the flower pot, whereby when the sheet of material is brought into contact with the outer surface of the flower pot, the sheet of material cohesively coheres to the flower pot.

Claim 47

The method as claimed in claim 31, wherein: said pot means comprises a flower pot; said method forms a flower pot cover about the outer surface of the flower pot; the flower pot and sheet of material are, at least in part, heat sensitive or are coated with a heat sensitive lacquer; and said method includes securing the sheet of material to the outer surface of the flower pot cover by heat sealing at a temperature sufficient to cause the heat sealing of the forming material to the flower pot.

Claim 48

A cover forming apparatus for forming a flower pot or flower pot cover about an outer surface of an object, the object selected from a group consisting of a die, a mold, and a pot means, from a sheet of material, comprising: support means upon which the sheet of material is diposable; an object having an outer surface, said object supported above and near the sheet of material in a forming position; a plurality of pivotable forming members; pivoting means coupled to said forming members for pivotally urging said forming members from a storage position spaced a distance from said outer surface and for moving said forming members to a closed position wherein said forming members cooperate to engage portions of the sheet of material and form the sheet of material about said outer surface of said object; and a plurality of movable fingers cooperating to engage portions of the sheet of material and bring the portions engaged by said fingers into contact with the outer surface of the object in advance of the portions of the sheet of material engaged by said forming members; wherein said forming members include facial surfaces which engage the sheet of material, and edges on each side of said facial surfaces, and wherein said facial surfaces are sized such that, when in said closed position, gaps separate the edges of adjacent forming members, whereby as said forming members are being pivoted from said storage position to said closed position, the non-engaged portions of the material between adjacent forming members lag the movement of the engaged portions, thereby forming a plurality of outwardly directed pleats which project through said gaps when said forming members are in said closed position; and whereby the sheet of material is formed into a flower pot flower pot cover, between the object and said forming members, with the non-engaged portions forming outwardly directed pleats, and with the portions engaged by said fingers forming internal overlapping folds in the formed flower pot or flower pot cover in the vicinity of said fingers.

Claim 49

A cover forming apparatus for forming a flower pot or flower pot cover about an outer surface of an object, the object selected from a group consisting of a die, a mold, and a pot means, from a sheet of material, comprising: support means upon which the sheet of material is diposable; an object having an outer surface, said object supported above and near the sheet of material in a forming position; a plurality of pivotable forming members; pivoting means coupled to said forming members for pivotally urging said forming members from a storage position spaced a distance from said outer surface and for moving said forming members to a closed position wherein said forming members cooperate to engage portions of the sheet of material and form the sheet of material about said outer surface of said object; and a plurality of movable fingers cooperating to engage portions of the sheet of material and bring the portions engaged by said fingers into contact with the outer surface of the object in advance of the portions of the sheet of material engaged by said forming members; wherein said forming members include facial surfaces which engage the sheet of material, and edges on each side of said facial surfaces, and wherein said facial surfaces are sized such that, when in said closed position, gaps separate the edges of adjacent forming members, whereby as said forming members are being pivoted from said storage position to said closed position, the non-engaged portions of the material between adjacent forming members lag the movement of the engaged portions, thereby forming a plurality of outwardly directed pleats which project through said gaps when said forming members are in said closed position; and whereby the sheet of material is formed into a flower pot flower pot cover, between the object and said forming members, with the non-engaged portions forming outwardly directed pleats, and with the portions engaged by said fingers forming internal overlapping folds in the formed flower pot or flower pot cover in the vicinity of said fingers.

Claim 50

The cover forming apparatus of claim 44 further comprising means enabling the cover forming apparatus to be moved from one location to another.

Claim 53

The method of claim 46, wherein the step of providing a sheet of material further comprises providing a sheet having an adhesive or cohesive bonding material disposed thereon for bondingly connecting the sheet of material to the outer surface of the object.

Claim 54

The method of claim 46, wherein the adhesive or cohesive bonding material is applied to the sheet of material immediately prior to the step of positioning the sheet of material on a support surface.

Claim 55

The method of claim 46, wherein in the step of supporting an object, the object is further defined as having an adhesive or cohesive bonding material disposed upon at least portions of the outer surface of the object for bondingly connecting the sheet of material to the outer surface of the object.

Claim 58

A cover forming apparatus for forming a flower pot or flower pot cover about an outer surface of an object, the object selected from a group consisting of a die, a mold, and a pot means, from a sheet of material, comprising: support means upon which the sheet of material is disposable; an object having an outer surface, said object supported above and near the sheet of material in a forming position; a plurality of pivotable forming members; pivoting means coupled to said forming members for pivotally urging said forming members from a storage position spaced a distance from said outer surface and for moving said forming members to a closed position wherein said forming members cooperate to engage portions of the sheet of material and form the sheet of material about said outer surface of said object; and a plurality of movable fingers cooperating to engage portions of the sheet of material and bring the portions engaged by said fingers into contact with the outer surface of the object in advance of the portions of the sheet of material engaged by said forming members; whereby the sheet of material is formed into a flower pot or flower pot cover, between the object and said forming members, with the portions engaged by said fingers forming internal overlapping folds in the formed flower pot or flower pot cover in the vicinity of said fingers, and with the portions not engaged by said fingers form external overlapping folds.

Claim 59

A cover forming apparatus for forming a flower pot or flower pot cover about an outer surface of an object, the object selected from a group consisting of a die, a mold, and a pot means, from a sheet of material, comprising: support means upon which the sheet of material is disposable; an object having an outer surface, said object supported above and near the sheet of material in a forming position; a plurality of pivotable forming members; pivoting means coupled to said forming members for pivotally urging said forming members from a storage position spaced a distance from said outer surface and for moving said forming members to a closed position wherein said forming members cooperate to engage portions of the sheet of material and form the sheet of material about said outer surface of said object; and a plurality of movable fingers cooperating to engage portions of the sheet of material and bring the portions engaged by said fingers into contact with the outer surface of the object in advance of the portions of the sheet of material engaged by said forming members; whereby the sheet of material is formed into a flower pot or flower pot cover, between the object and said forming members, with the portions engaged by said fingers forming internal overlapping folds in the formed flower pot or flower pot cover in the vicinity of said fingers, and with the portions not engaged by said fingers form external overlapping folds.

Claim 60

The cover forming apparatus of claim 51 further comprising means enabling the cover forming apparatus to be moved from one location to another.

Claim 63

The method of claim 53 wherein the step of providing a sheet of material further comprises providing a sheet having an adhesive or cohesive bonding material disposed thereon for bondingly connecting the sheet of material to the outer surface of the object.

Claim 64

The method of claim 54 wherein the adhesive or cohesive bonding material is applied to the sheet of material immediately prior to the step of positioning the sheet of material on a support surface.

Claim 65

The method of claim 53 wherein in the step of supporting an object, the object is further defined as having an adhesive or cohesive bonding material disposed upon at least portions of the outer surface of the object for bondingly connecting the sheet of material to the outer surface of the object.

Claim 68

The method of claim 57 wherein the step of providing a sheet of material further comprises providing a sheet having an adhesive or cohesive bonding material disposed thereon for bondingly connecting the sheet of material to the outer surface of the object.

Claim 69

The method of claim 58 wherein the adhesive or cohesive bonding material is applied to the sheet of material immediately prior to the step of positioning the sheet of material on a support surface.

Claim 70

The method of claim 57 wherein in the step of supporting an object, the object is further defined as having an adhesive or cohesive bonding material disposed upon at least portions of the outer surface of the object for bondingly connecting the sheet of material to the outer surface of the object.

Claim 73

The method of claim 61 wherein the step of providing a sheet of material further comprises providing a sheet having an adhesive or cohesive bonding material disposed thereon for bondingly connecting the sheet of material to the outer surface of the object.

Claim 74

The method of claim 62 wherein the adhesive or cohesive bonding material is applied to the sheet of material immediately prior to the step of positioning the sheet of material on a support surface.

Claim 75

The method of claim 61 wherein in the step of supporting an object, the object is further defined as having an adhesive or cohesive bonding material disposed upon at least portions of the outer surface of the object for bondingly connecting the sheet of material to the outer surface of the object.