Decorative cover for flower pot or floral grouping formed of polymeric materials having a texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper

Abstract

A decorative cover positionable about a flower pot or floral grouping is formed of a polymeric material or a laminated polymeric material. The decorative cover has a texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper on at least a portion of one surface thereof while maintaining the structural and mechanical characteristics of the polymeric material from which the decorative cover is formed. In addition to the texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper, the decorative cover may further be provided with printed and/or embossed patterns, which may be in or out of register with one another.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A decorative cover positionable about a flower pot or a floral grouping, the decorative cover having an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of paper on at least a portion of one surface thereof and comprising: 
 a sheet of expanded core polymeric material having an upper surface and a lower surface wherein at least a portion of the lower surface of the sheet of expanded core polymeric material is embossed, printed, embossed and printed or textured to provide the lower surface of the sheet of expanded core polymeric material with an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of paper;    a bonding material disposed on at least a portion of the upper surface of the sheet of expanded core polymeric material wherein the sheet of expanded core polymeric material may be bondingly connected to itself or to the flower pot or floral grouping so that the sheet of expanded core polymeric material may be secured generally about the flower pot or floral grouping, thereby providing the decorative cover which substantially surrounds and encompasses the flower pot or floral grouping; and    wherein when the sheet of expanded core polymeric material is formed into the decorative cover which substantially surrounds and encompasses the flower pot or floral grouping, at least a portion of one surface of the decorative cover is provided with the texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper while maintaining structural and mechanical characteristics of the sheet of expanded core polymeric material from which the decorative cover is formed.    
     
     
         2 . The decorative cover of  claim 1  wherein the bonding material is a pressure sensitive adhesive.  
     
     
         3 . A decorative cover positionable about a flower pot or a floral grouping, the decorative cover having an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of paper on at least a portion of one surface thereof and comprising: 
 a sheet of polymeric material having an upper surface and a lower surface wherein at least a portion of at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the sheet of polymeric material is modified to provide an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of paper;    a bonding material disposed on at least a portion of the upper surface of the sheet of polymeric material wherein the sheet of polymeric material may be bondingly connected to itself or to the flower pot or floral grouping so that the sheet of polymeric material may be secured generally about the flower pot or floral grouping, thereby providing the decorative cover which substantially surrounds and encompasses the flower pot or floral grouping; and    wherein when the sheet of polymeric material is formed into the decorative cover which substantially surrounds and encompasses the flower pot or floral grouping, at least a portion of one surface of the decorative cover is provided with the texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper while maintaining structural and mechanical characteristics of the sheet of polymeric material from which the decorative cover is formed.    
     
     
         4 . The decorative cover of  claim 3  wherein at least a portion of one of the upper and lower surfaces of the sheet of polymeric material is further provided with an embossed pattern, a printed pattern or embossed and printed patterns which enhance the aesthetic characteristics of the sheet of polymeric material having an appearance or texture simulating the appearance and texture of paper.  
     
     
         5 . The decorative cover of  claim 3  wherein at least a portion of one of the upper and lower surfaces of the sheet of polymeric material is further provided with embossed and printed patterns which enhance the aesthetic characteristics of the sheet of polymeric material having an appearance or texture simulating the appearance and texture of paper, and wherein the embossed and printed patterns are in register with one another.  
     
     
         6 . The decorative cover of  claim 3  wherein at least a portion of one of the upper and lower surfaces of the sheet of polymeric material is further provided with embossed and printed patterns which enhance the aesthetic characteristics of the sheet of polymeric material having an appearance or texture simulating the appearance and texture of paper, and wherein the embossed and printed patterns are out of register with one another.  
     
     
         7 . The decorative cover of  claim 3  wherein at least a portion of one of the upper and lower surfaces of the sheet of polymeric material is further provided with embossed and printed patterns which enhance the aesthetic characteristics of the sheet of polymeric material having an appearance or texture simulating the appearance and texture of paper, and wherein a portion of the embossed and printed patterns are in register with one another and another portion of the embossed and printed patterns are out of register with one another.  
     
     
         8 . The decorative cover of  claim 3  wherein the sheet of polymeric material is a sheet of expanded core polymeric material having a thickness in the range of from about 0.5 mil to about 10 mil and wherein at least a portion of one of the upper and lower surfaces of the sheet of expanded core polymeric material is further provided with an embossed pattern, a printed pattern or embossed and printed patterns which enhance the aesthetic characteristics of the sheet of expanded core polymeric material having an appearance or texture simulating the appearance and texture of paper.  
     
     
         9 . The decorative cover of  claim 8  wherein at least a portion of one of the upper and lower surfaces of the sheet of expanded core polymeric material is further provided with embossed and printed patterns which are in register with one another.  
     
     
         10 . The decorative cover of  claim 8  wherein at least a portion of one of the upper and lower surfaces of the sheet of expanded core polymeric material is further provided with embossed and printed patterns which are out of register with one another.  
     
     
         11 . The decorative cover of  claim 8  wherein at least a portion of one of the upper and lower surfaces of the sheet of expanded core polymeric material is further provided with embossed and printed patterns wherein a portion of the embossed and printed patterns are in register with one another and another portion of the embossed and printed patterns are out of register with one another.  
     
     
         12 . A decorative cover positionable about a flower pot or a floral grouping, the decorative cover having an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of paper on at least a portion of one surface thereof and comprising: 
 a polymeric material having an upper surface and a lower surface, at least a portion of one of the upper and lower surfaces of the polymeric material being modified to provide an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of paper, wherein when the polymeric material is formed into the decorative cover about the flower pot or floral grouping, at least a portion of one surface of the decorative cover is provided with the texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper while maintaining structural and mechanical characteristics of the polymeric material from which the decorative cover is formed.    
     
     
         13 . The decorative cover of  claim 12  wherein at least a portion of one of the upper and lower surfaces of the polymeric material is further provided with an embossed pattern, a printed pattern or embossed and printed patterns which enhance the aesthetic characteristics of the polymeric material having an appearance or texture simulating the appearance and texture of paper.  
     
     
         14 . The decorative cover of  claim 12  wherein at least a portion of one of the upper and lower surfaces of the polymeric material is further provided with embossed and printed patterns which enhance the aesthetic characteristics of the polymeric material having an appearance or texture simulating the appearance and texture of paper, and wherein the embossed and printed patterns are in register with one another.  
     
     
         15 . The decorative cover of  claim 12  wherein at least a portion of one of the upper and lower surfaces of the polymeric material is further provided with embossed and printed patterns which enhance the aesthetic characteristics of the polymeric material having an appearance or texture simulating the appearance and texture of paper, and wherein the embossed and printed patterns are out of register with one another.  
     
     
         16 . The decorative cover of  claim 12  wherein at least a portion of one of the upper and lower surfaces of the polymeric material is further provided with embossed and printed patterns which enhance the aesthetic characteristics of the polymeric material having an appearance or texture simulating the appearance and texture of paper, and wherein a portion of the embossed and printed patterns are in register with one another and another portion of the embossed and printed patterns are out of register with one another.  
     
     
         17 . The decorative cover of  claim 12  wherein the polymeric material having an appearance or texture simulating the appearance and texture of paper is an expanded core polymeric material having a thickness in the range of from about 0.5 mil to about 10 mil.  
     
     
         18 . A decorative cover positionable about a flower pot or a floral grouping, the decorative cover having an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of paper on at least a portion of one surface thereof and comprising: 
 a polymeric material having an upper surface and a lower surface wherein at least a portion of the lower surface is provided with a texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper;    an acrylic heat sealable lacquer disposed on at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the polymeric material; and    wherein when the polymeric material is formed into the decorative cover about the flower pot or floral grouping, at least a portion of one surface of the decorative cover is provided with the texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper while maintaining structural and mechanical characteristics of the polymeric material from which the decorative cover is formed.    
     
     
         19 . The decorative cover of  claim 18  wherein at least a portion of the one of the upper and lower surfaces of the polymeric material is further provided with embossed and printed patterns which enhance the aesthetic characteristics of the polymeric material having a texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper.  
     
     
         20 . The decorative cover of  claim 19  wherein the embossed and printed patterns provided on the polymeric material are in registry with one another.  
     
     
         21 . The decorative cover of  claim 19  wherein the embossed and printed patterns provided on the polymeric material are out of registry with one another.  
     
     
         22 . The decorative cover of  claim 19  wherein a portion of the embossed and printed patterns provided on the polymeric material are in register with one another and a portion of the embossed and printed patterns provided on the polymeric material are out of register with one another.  
     
     
         23 . A decorative cover positionable about a flower pot or a floral grouping, the decorative cover formed from a flexible laminated polymeric material having an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of paper on at least a portion of one surface thereof, the flexible laminated polymeric material comprising: 
 an expanded core polymeric material having an upper surface and a lower surface;    a substantially water impervious polymeric material laminated to the expanded core polymeric material to form the flexible laminated polymeric material; and    wherein at least a portion of one surface of one of the expanded core polymeric material and the substantially water impervious polymeric material is modified so as to provide a texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper such that at least a portion of one surface of the flexible laminated polymeric material is provided with a texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper, wherein when the flexible laminated polymeric material is formed into the decorative cover about the flower pot or floral grouping, the decorative cover is provided with a texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper on at least a portion of one surface thereof while maintaining structural and mechanical characteristics of the flexible laminated polymeric material from which the decorative cover is formed.    
     
     
         24 . The decorative cover of  claim 23  wherein the expanded core polymeric material and the substantially water impervious polymeric material are laminated with a colored adhesive.  
     
     
         25 . The decorative cover of  claim 24  wherein the expanded core polymeric film has a thickness in the range of from about 0.5 mil to about 10 mil and the substantially water impervious polymeric film has a thickness in the range of from about 0.5 mil to about 10 mil.  
     
     
         26 . The decorative cover of  claim 23  wherein at least a portion of one surface of one of the expanded core polymeric film and the substantially water impervious polymeric film is further provided with an embossed pattern, a printed pattern or an embossed pattern and a printed pattern.  
     
     
         27 . The decorative cover of  claim 23  wherein at least a portion of one surface of one of the expanded core polymeric film and the substantially water impervious polymeric film is further provided with an embossed pattern and at least a portion of one surface of one of the expanded core polymeric film and the substantially water impervious polymeric film is further provided with a printed pattern, and wherein the embossed and printed patterns are in register with one another.  
     
     
         28 . The decorative cover of  claim 23  wherein at least a portion of one surface of one of the expanded core polymeric film and the substantially water impervious polymeric film is further provided with an embossed pattern and at least a portion of one surface of one of the expanded core polymeric film and the substantially water impervious polymeric film is further provided with a printed pattern, and wherein the embossed and printed patterns are out of register with one another.  
     
     
         29 . The decorative cover of  claim 23  wherein at least a portion of one surface of one of the expanded core polymeric film and the substantially water impervious polymeric film is further provided with an embossed pattern and at least a portion of one surface of one of the expanded core polymeric film and the substantially water impervious polymeric film is further provided with a printed pattern, and wherein a portion of the embossed and printed patterns are in register with one another and a portion of the embossed and printed patterns are out of register with one another.  
     
     
         30 . A decorative cover positionable about a flower pot or floral grouping, the decorative cover formed from a flexible laminated polymeric material having an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of paper on at least a portion of one surface thereof, the flexible laminated polymeric material comprising: 
 a polymeric material having an upper surface and a lower surface;    a material laminated to the polymeric material wherein the material laminated to the polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of a metallized foil and a polymeric material; and    wherein at least a portion of one surface of one of the polymeric material and the material laminated thereto is modified so as to provide a texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper such that when the flexible laminated polymeric material is formed into the decorative cover about the flower pot or floral grouping, the decorative cover is provided with a texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper on at least a portion of one surface thereof while maintaining structural and mechanical characteristics of the flexible laminated polymeric material from which the decorative cover is formed.    
     
     
         31 . The decorative cover of  claim 30  wherein the polymeric material and the material selected from the group consisting of a metallized foil and a polymeric material are laminated with a colored adhesive.  
     
     
         32 . The decorative cover of  claim 30  wherein at least a portion of one surface of one of the polymeric material and the material selected from the group consisting of a metallized foil and a polymeric material is further provided with an embossed pattern, a printed pattern or an embossed pattern and a printed pattern.  
     
     
         33 . The decorative cover of  claim 30  wherein at least a portion of one surface of one of the polymeric material and the material selected from the group consisting of a metallized foil and a polymeric material is further provided with embossed and printed patterns and wherein the embossed and printed patterns are in register with one another.  
     
     
         34 . The decorative cover of  claim 30  wherein at least a portion of one surface of one of the polymeric material and the material selected from the group consisting of a metallized foil and a polymeric material is further provided with embossed and printed patterns and wherein the embossed and printed patterns are out or register with one another.  
     
     
         35 . The decorative cover of  claim 30  wherein at least a portion of one surface of one of the polymeric material and the material selected from the group consisting of a metallized foil and a polymeric material is further provided with embossed and printed patterns and wherein a portion of the embossed and printed patterns are in register with one another and a portion of the embossed and printed patterns are out of register with one another.