Article forming system

1 2

ARTICLE FORMING SYSTEM tion. The article forming system 10 is adapted to form at

least one sheet of material into an article having a prede

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED termined shape, a sheet of material 12 being shown in FIGS.

APPLICATION 3A and 3B formed into a decorative flower pot cover article

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/108,093 5 14 for a flower pot 16, the flower pot 16 being shown in

filed on Aug. 17,1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,472,752, entitled Hnes "» mG- 3A

"ARTICLE FORMING SYSTEM"; which is a continuation & should be noted that the present invention is described

of U.S. Ser. No. 08/024,573, filed Mar. 1, 1993, entitled herein as being adapted to form the sheet of material 12 into

"ARTICLE FORMING SYSTEM", now abandoned; which the predetermined shape of a decorative flower pot cover

is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 07/464,694, filed Jan. 16, 10 type of article since one extremely advantageous use of the

1990, entitled "ARTICLE FORMING SYSTEM", now U.S. system of the present invention is to form such decorative

Pat. No. 5,208,027, issued May 4, 1993; which is a con- Sower pot cover types of articles. However, a decorative

tinuation of U.S. Ser. No. 07/219,083, filed Jul. 13, 1988, flower pot cover represents only one article which can be

entitled "ARTICLE FORMING SYSTEM", now U.S. Pat. formed into a predetermined shape in accordance with the

No. 4,897,031, issued Jan. 30,1990; which is a continuation 15 present invention and the present invention specifically

of U.S. Ser. No. 07/004,275, filed Jan. 5, 1987, entitled contemplates various and numerous other types of articles

"ARTICLE FORMING SYSTEM", now U.S. Pat. No. such as vases, hats, saucers, easter baskets, containers for

4,773,182, issued Sep. 27,1988; which is a continuation of use in microwave ovens, rose stem boxes, egg cartons,

U.S. Ser. No. 06/613,080, filed May 22, 1984, entitled potting trays, pans, trays, bowls, basket liners, candy trays,

"ARTICLE FORMING SYSTEM", now abandoned. 20 drinking cups, candy cups, flower pots, planter trays for

growing plants, disposable bowls and dishes, corsage boxes

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION and containers, food service trays (such as those used for

Field of the Invention bakery goods, french fries, ground beef, liver and other raw

_ ^. ^. , ^ „ ^ . , . meats in supermarkets, for example), boxes for hamburgers

The present.invention relates generally lo an article form- of ief, ^ and Qther The ^

mg system and an article formed usmg such artic e forming a$ used ^ tQ e MS ^ of me

system and, more particularly but not by way of limitation, Mc just mentioned and the term ^cie» aiso is

to an article like a decorative flower pot cover and an article ;„t„„j»j t„ K» »~ .,„,, „*w „,+i„i»

„. ^j-j-. , j x, ^ intended to be broad enough to encompass any other article

forming system for forming such a decorative flower pot , . . , , i. i * t

* . , r having a predetermined shape where the article to function cover article

30 must be capable of substantially maintaining such predeter

BRJEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS mined shape.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational, partial sectional, diagram- ^ present invention particularly contemplates articles

matte view of an article forming system which is constructed bemS formed into a predetermined shape from a sheet of

in accordance with the present invention. material having a relatively small thickness and being of the

FIG.2isaplanviewofmeplatformof&earticleforming 35 ^ referred to in the art as a "film".^More

system of FIG 1 particularly, the sheet of material contemplated by the

„,.'.' „ present invention is a processed, man-made organic polymer

FIG. 3A is a side elevational view of a flower pot cover ... fr(Jm me consisting of polypropylene, polyarticle formed using the article forming system of FIGS. 1 yi , ... or combinations thereof. ^ sheet of mate. and 2, and also showing a portion of a flower pot object ^ cont lated b me t invention is relativel thin (shown in dashed lines) with the flower pot cover article hayi a fj£dacss ^ ^ about , 5 ^ ^ ^ shget of being operatively disposed on such flower pot object ... is yay flexiWe and flimsy SQ that (he sheet of

FIG. 3B is a top plan view of the flower pot cover article material will not normally maintain or hold a predetermined

of FIG. 3A. formed shape under normal, usual conditions (non-shape

FIG. 3C is a sectional view of a portion of the base of the 45 sustaining). Li some instances and for various reasons, it

flower pot cover article of FIGS. 3A and 3B showing some may be desirable to utilize more than one sheet of material

of the overlapping folds. and, m these instances, the sheets of material are layered,

FIG. 4 is a side elevational, partial sectional view of a placed one on the other, when the sheets of material are

modified platform which may be used in the article forming formed into the predetermined shape to form the desired

system shown in FIGS, land 2 in lieu of the platform shown 50 article; however, even in these instances, the combined

in FIGS. 1 and 2. thickness of the sheets of material still is less than about 3.0

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an automatic article mils. The present invention provides a means for forming a

forming system utilizing four article forming apparatus. sheet of material of the type just described into a predeter

FIG. 6 is a side elevational, partial sectional view of the mined shape so the formed sheet of material substantially

article forming system shown in FIG. 5. 55 retains or maintains the formed shape thereby providing a

FIG. 7A is a front elevational, partial sectional view of means for making articles from such sheets of material in a

another modified article forming system which is con- more economical manner.

structed like the article forming system of FIG. 1 and 2, As shown in dashed lines in FIG. 3A, the flower pot object

except the article forming system shown inFIG.7A includes 16 has an upper end 18, a lower end 20 and an outer

a modified support. 60 peripheral surface 22. In the embodiment of the flower pot

FIG. 7B is a top plan view of the article forming system object 16 snown in mG- 3A> me diameter of the flower pot

of FIG. 7A. object 16, generally near the lower end 20, is less than the

diameter of the flower pot object 16, generally near the

DF^CRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED upper end 18 me flower pot object 16 tapering outwardly

EMBODIMENTS 65 generaliy fr0nl the lower end 20 toward the upper end 18

Shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is an article forming system 10 thereby giving the flower pot object 16 a generally overall

which is constructed in accordance with the present inven- frusto-conically shaped outer peripheral surface 22. In this 3 4

embodiment, the flower pot object 16 includes a rim 24 the base 26 and at various positions between the upper and

formed at the upper end 18 which extends circumferentialiy the lower ends 28 and 30 of the base 26. The overlapping

about the flower pots object 16, although it should be noted folds 42 provide an overall decorative appearance to the

that some flower pots objects do not include a rim and flower base 26; however, more significantly, the overlapping folds

pot also have various shapes as generally well known, and 5 42 provide a mechanical strength to the base 26 for enabling

the present invention is not limited to any particular shape of the base 26 to stand upright (substantially retain the shape

a flower pot. formed by the system 10 of the present invention) on the

The decorative flower pot cover article 14 preferably, closed lower end 30 of the base 26. In this manner, the base

although not exclusively, is formed from a generally square- 26 of the decorative flower pot cover 14 has sufficient

shaped sheet of material 12 having four corners. As shown 10 mechanical strength to stand upright about the flower pot 16

in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the decorative flower pot cover article without the necessity of mechanically connecting the base

14 formed from the generally square-shaped sheet of mate- 26 to the flower pot 16, other than the connection normally

rial 12 utilizing the system 10 of the present invention provided when the lower end 20 of the flower pot 16 engages

includes a base 26 having an opened upper end 28, a closed the lower end 30 of the decorative flower pot cover 14 when

lower end 30, an object opening 32 extending through the ^ the decorative flower pot cover 14 is operatively connected

upper end 28 and a decorative border 34 which extends to the flower pot 16. Each overlapping fold 42 extend an

angularly upwardly and outwardly from the upper end 28 of arbitrary distance and most of the overlapping folds 42

the base 26. The decorative border 34 includes four accen- extend at arbitrary angles over the base 26 which enhances

tuated and sculptured flared petal-like portions 36, each the mechanical strength of the base 26 as compared to the

flared petal-like portion 36 terminating with a pointed end 2o mechanical strength which might be imparted to the base 26

38 which is formed by one of the four corners of the by overlapping folds extending only in vertical or horizontal

square-shaped sheet of material 12. Each flared petal portion directions. Significantly, the overlapping folds 42 permit

36 extends a distance angularly upwardly and outwardly relatively thin sheets (films) of material to be utilized to form

from the upper end 28 of the base 26 terminating with the the decorative flower pot cover 14, in a manner and for

pointed end 38. The flared petal-like portions 36 are spaced 25 reasons to be discussed further below,

apart circumferentialiy about the decorative border 34 with As shown in FIG. 3C, the sheet of material 12 has an

the flared petal-like portions 36 being spaced at about ninety upper surface 41 and a lower surface 43 and, in accordance

degree intervals, and a flare connecting portion 40 is dis- with the present invention, either the upper surface 41 or the

posed between each pair of adjacent flared portions 36, the lower surface 43 or both of the sheet of material 12 is

flare connecting portions 40 also each extending a distance 30 adapted to be bondable so that, when portions of the

angularly upwardly and outwardly from the upper end 28 of bondable surface are brought into bondable contact, such

the base 26 which is less than the distances which the portions are bondably connected. The overlapping folds 42

pointed ends 38 of the flared portions 36 extend from the are formed by overlapping portions of the bondable surface

upper end 28 of the base 26. and bringing such overlapping portions into bondable

The object opening 32 in the decorative flower pot cover 35 engagement or contact. In this manner, the overlapping folds 14 is shaped and sized to receive the flower pot object 16. 42 are permanently fixed in the article. When the flower pot 16 is operatively disposed in the object when an overlapping fold 42 is formed with a portion of opening 32 of the decorative flower pot cover 14, as shown the sheet of material 12 during the forming of the decorative in FIG. 3A, the base 26 substantially encompasses the outer flower pot cover 14, portions of the upper surface 41 are peripheral surface 22 of the flower pot 16 extending gener- 40 overlapped and brought into bondable contact or engageally between the upper and the lower ends 18 and 20 of the ment and, with respect to the same overlapping fold 42, flower pot 16, with the upper end 28 of the base 26 being portions of the lower surface 43 also are overlapped and disposed generally near the upper end 18 of the flower pot brought into bondable contact or engagement. As mentioned 16 and the lower end 30 of the decorative flower pot cover before, at least one of the tapper and the lower surfaces 41 14 being disposed generally near the lower end 20 of the 45 and 43 is prepared to be bondable to form a bondable surface flower pot 16, the closed lower end 30 of the decorative which is adapted to be bonded to portions of a similar flower pot cover 14 extending across and encompassing the bondable surface when bondably contacted with a similar lower end 20 of the flower pot 16. In this position with the bondable surface portion. Thus, in those instances where decorative flower pot cover 14 operatively connected to the only the lower surface 43 is prepared to form a bondable flower pot 16, the decorative border 34 of the decorative 50 lower surface 43, the overlapping portions of the bondable flower pot cover 14 extends a distance angularly upwardly lower surface 43 are brought into bondable contact during and outwardly from the upper end 18 of the flower pot 16 the forming of the decorative flower pot cover 14 and such and the decorative flower pot cover 14 extends generally overlapping portions are bonded to form the overlapping circumferentialiy about the upper end 18 portion of the folds 42, and, in this instance, the corresponding overlapflower pot 16. 55 ping portions of the upper surface 41 are not bonded. In

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3C, the base 26 of the those instances where only the upper surface 41 is prepared

decorative flower pot cover 14 formed utilizing the system to form a bondable upper surface 41, the overlapping

10 of the present invention includes a plurality of overlap- portions of the bondable upper surface 41 are brought into

ping folds 42 (only some of the overlapping folds 42 being bondable contact during the forming of the decorative flower

designated by a reference numeral in the drawings). A 60 pot cover 14 and such overlapping portions are bonded to

substantial portion of the overlapping folds 42 extend at form the overlapping folds 42 and, in this instance, the

angles to a vertical direction and at angles to a horizontal corresponding overlapping portions of the lower surface 42

direction, the various angles being arbitrary and varying are not bonded. In those instances where both the upper and

from one overlapping fold 42 to another overlapping fold 42. the lower surfaces 41 and 43 are prepared to form bondable

Further, the base 26 includes a plurality of overlapping folds 65 upper and lower surfaces 41 and 43, the overlapping por

42 with the various overlapping folds 42 being positioned at lions of the upper and the lower surfaces 41 and 43 forming

various positions about the entire outer peripheral surface of each overlapping fold 42 are brought into bondable contact