Apparatus for shipping preformed flower pot covers

Abstract

An apparatus and method for shipping a plurality of preformed flower pot covers is provided. Each preformed flower pot cover including a base formed into a shape sized to receive a flower pot. The preformed flower pot cover having a closed lower end and an open upper end with an object opening extending therethrough for receiving the flower pot. The apparatus includes a container provided with a top, a bottom, and a plurality of sidewalls cooperating to define an inner packing compartment. Each of the top, bottom and sidewalls have an interior surface and an exterior surface. The apparatus includes at least a first stacking shell configured to receive the base of the preformed flower pot cover. The first stacking shell extending from the interior surface of the bottom of the container. The apparatus further includes at least a second stacking shell configured to be received in the object opening of the preformed flower pot cover. The second stacking shell extending from the interior surface of the top of the container.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for shipping a plurality of preformed flower pot covers, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a container having a top, a bottom, and a plurality of sidewalls extending therebetween thereby defining an inner packing compartment;    providing at least one stacking shell in the inner packing compartment, the stacking shell adapted to support a plurality of preformed flower pot covers within the inner packing compartment of the container;    forming a stack of preformed flower pot covers on the at least one stacking shell; and    transporting the container.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one stacking shell is a flower pot having a closed lower end, an open upper end and a base support member between the lower and upper ends.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the container is constructed of a material selected from the Group  1  materials consisting of wood, plastic, cardboard, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each of the preformed flower pot covers is further provided with a base and a decorative skirt and wherein the at least one stacking shell is defined as having an interior base support member such that upon providing a stack of preformed flower pot covers, the preformed flower pot covers are supported on the at least one stacking shell so that the decorative skirt is in a non-load bearing relationship so as to prevent damage to the decorative skirt.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the preformed flower pot cover is further defined as having a height extending from a lower end of the base to the decorative skirt of the preformed flower pot cover and wherein an interior base support member of the at least one stacking shell is defined as having a height extending from a lower end to an upper end of the interior base support member of the at least one stacking shell, the height of the preformed flower pot cover measuring less than the height of the interior base support member of the at least one stacking shell.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the at least one stacking shell is a flower pot having a closed lower end, an open upper end and base support member between the lower and upper ends.  
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for shipping a plurality of preformed flower pot covers, comprising: 
 a container having a top, a bottom, and a plurality of sidewalls extending therebetween thereby defining an inner packing compartment;    at least one first stacking shell in the inner packing compartment the at least one first stacking shell adapted to support a plurality of preformed flower pot covers within the inner packing compartment; and    at least one second stacking shell comprising a flower pot having a closed lower end, an open upper end and an interior base support member extending between the closed lower end and the open upper end of the flower pot, the interior base support member of the flower pot configured to conform to the preformed flower pot covers and disposed in the inner packing compartment such that the flower pot is disposable into one of the plurality of preformed flower pot covers.    
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the container is constructed of material selected from a group of materials consisting of wood, plastic, or cardboard, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one first stacking shell is a Styrofoam form having the necessary size and configuration to support the preformed flower pot covers.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one first stacking shell is a cardboard tube having the necessary size and configuration to support the preformed flower pot covers.