Plant product, components therefor and methods relating thereto

Abstract

A plant product includes a plant item and an envelope attached directly to the plant item wherein a flat object, such as a flattened vase, an instruction card, a storybook, a seed packet or a greeting card, is disposed in the envelope's interior. The plant item may be wrapped in a wrapper to which the envelope is secured, such as by an adhesive. Also disclosed is a structure for an exemplary envelope and flattened vase combination. A method utilizing these articles is also described. Where a flattened vase is used, it is of a type that can be selectively configured to an expanded state to receive the plant item.

1 . A plant product comprising:
 a) a plant item;   b) an envelope including first and second panels joined along a portion of a peripheral margin in closely confronting relation so as to have an interior, said envelope being attached directly or indirectly to said plant item; and   c) at least one flat object disposed in the interior of said envelope, said at least one flat object being selected from the group consisting of a vase, an instruction card, a storybook, a seed packet, and a greeting card.   
   
   
       2 . A plant product according to  claim 1  wherein said envelope is tethered to said plant item. 
   
   
       3 . A plant product according to  claim 1  wherein said flat object is a vase adapted to be alternatively configured
 a) into a flattened state such that it may be received in the interior of said envelope, and   b) into an expanded state adapted to support said plant item.   
   
   
       4 . A plant product according to  claim 1  further including a wrapper extending around said plant item. 
   
   
       5 . A plant product according to  claim 4  wherein said envelope is secured to said wrapper. 
   
   
       6 . A plant product according to  claim 5  wherein said envelope is secured to said wrapper by an adhesive material. 
   
   
       7 . A plant product comprising:
 a) a plant item;   b) a wrapper extending around said plant item;   c) an envelope having an interior and being secured to said wrapper; and   d) a vase disposed in the interior of said envelope in a received state, wherein said vase is adapted to be alternatively configured into a flattened state such that it may be received in the interior of said envelope, and into an expanded state adapted to support a plant item.   
   
   
       8 . A plant product according to  claim 7  wherein said envelope is secured to said wrapper by an adhesive material. 
   
   
       9 . A plant product comprising:
 a) a plant item; and   b) a vase attached directly or indirectly to said plant item, said vase being adapted to be alternatively configured into a flattened state and into an expanded state adapted to support said plant item.   
   
   
       10 . An article of manufacture, comprising:
 a) an envelope including front and back panels joined along a portion of a peripheral margin in closely confronting relation so as to have an interior;   b) an adhesive disposed on said back panel and adapted for securing said envelope to a surface; and   c) a vase disposed in the interior of said envelope, wherein said vase is adapted to be alternatively configured into a flattened state such that it may be received in the interior of said envelope, and into an expanded state adapted to support a plant item.   
   
   
       11 . An article of manufacture according to  claim 10  further including a removable backing panel covering said adhesive. 
   
   
       12 . An article of manufacture according to  claim 10  wherein said vase is folded over itself when in the received state. 
   
   
       13 . An article of manufacture according to  claim 10  wherein said envelope is constructed of a substantially transparent material. 
   
   
       14 . An article of manufacture according to  claim 13  further comprising an instruction card disposed in the interior of said envelope, said instruction card provided with instructions correlated to configuration of said vase from the flattened state to the expanded state. 
   
   
       15 . A method for creating a flora product comprising in any order:
 a) selecting a plant item;   b) engaging said selected plant item with a wrapper;   c) securing an envelope directly or indirectly to said selected plant item; and   d) inserting a collapsed vase into said envelope, said vase being expandable to support said selected plant item.   
   
   
       16 . A method for providing an arrangement of flora comprising in any order:
 a) providing a vase adapted to be alternatively configured into a flattened state and into an expanded state adapted to support a plant item;   b) selecting a plant item;   c) engaging said plant item with a wrapping;   d) securing an envelope to said wrapping, wherein said envelope has an interior; and   e) inserting said vase into the interior of said envelope while said vase is in the flattened state,   
     such that, after completion of steps (a)-(e), a packaged product is defined. 
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 16  further comprising displaying said packaged product for commercial sale. 
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 16  further comprising the steps of:
 f) removing said vase from the envelope;   g) configuring said vase into the expanded state; and   h) placing the selected plant item in said vase such that the selected plant item is supported by said vase.