Sleeves formed of polymeric materials having a texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper

Abstract

A substantially flexible, shape-sustaining article having an appearance simulating paper made by forming a flexible, laminated material having a paper-like texture or appearance into a substantially flexible article for receiving an object. The substantially flexible article includes a base having a lower end, an open upper end with an object opening extending therethrough and a decorative border extending outwardly from the open upper end of the base. The lower end of the base of the article may be closed and may also contain a gusset.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A plant package produced from a laminated material wherein at least a portion of one surface of the plant package is modified or textured to provide at least a portion of the plant package with an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of paper, the plant package comprising: 
 a flower pot having a floral grouping disposed therein;    a sleeve formed of a laminated material wherein the laminated material is formed by laminating at least one sheet of polymeric material to at least one sheet of polymeric material or a sheet of metallized foil, the laminated material having at least a portion of one surface thereof textured or modified so as to provide the laminated material with an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of paper, the sleeve having a lower end, an upper end, an outer peripheral surface, and an inner peripheral surface surrounding an inner retaining space wherein at least a portion of at least one of the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve is textured or modified to provide at least a portion of such surface with an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of paper, and wherein the sleeve further comprises: 
 a base portion having an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface, the base portion being generally sized to contain the flower pot; and  
 a skirt portion extending beyond an open upper end of the flower pot and having an upper peripheral edge; and  
   wherein the flower pot is disposed within the inner retaining space of the sleeve such that the flower pot is substantially surrounded and encompassed by the base portion of the sleeve and the skirt portion of the sleeve freely extends at an angle from the base portion of the sleeve.    
     
     
         2 . The plant package of  claim 1  wherein the outer peripheral surface of the base portion of the sleeve is provided with an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of paper, and wherein at least one surface of the skirt portion of the sleeve is provided with an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of paper.  
     
     
         3 . The plant package of  claim 1  wherein the laminated material from which the sleeve is constructed is characterized as having a thickness in a range of from about 1 mil to about 20 mil.  
     
     
         4 . The plant package of  claim 1  wherein the laminated material from which the sleeve is constructed is further provided with a printed pattern disposed on at least a portion of one surface thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The plant package of  claim 4  wherein the laminated material from which the sleeve is constructed is further provided with an embossed pattern disposed on at least a portion of one surface thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The plant package of  claim 5  wherein the printed pattern and the embossed pattern are in register with one another.  
     
     
         7 . The plant package of  claim 5  wherein the printed pattern and the embossed pattern are out of register with one another.  
     
     
         8 . A plant package, comprising: 
 a flower pot having a floral grouping disposed therein;    a sleeve formed of a flexible, laminated polymeric material, the sleeve having a lower end, an upper end, an outer peripheral surface, and an inner peripheral surface surrounding an inner retaining space wherein at least a portion of at least one of the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve is modified or textured to provide the sleeve with an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of paper, and wherein the sleeve further comprises: 
 a base portion having an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface, the base portion being generally sized to contain the flower pot; and  
 a skirt portion extending beyond an open upper end of the flower pot and having an upper peripheral edge; and  
   wherein the flower pot is disposed within the inner retaining space of the sleeve such that the flower pot is substantially surrounded and encompassed by the base portion of the sleeve and the skirt portion of the sleeve freely extends at an angle from the base portion of the sleeve.    
     
     
         9 . A plant package, comprising: 
 a flower pot having a floral grouping disposed therein;    a sleeve formed of an expanded core polymeric material, the sleeve having a lower end, an upper end, an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface surrounding an inner retaining space wherein at least a portion of one of the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve is modified or textured to provide the sleeve with an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of paper, and wherein the sleeve further comprises: 
 a base portion having an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface, the base portion being generally sized to contain the flower pot, at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the base portion of the sleeve having an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of paper; and  
 a skirt portion extending beyond an open upper end of the flower pot and having an upper peripheral edge; and  
   wherein the flower pot is disposed within the inner retaining space of the sleeve such that the flower pot is substantially surrounded and encompassed by the base portion of the sleeve and the skirt portion of the sleeve freely extends at an angle from the base portion of the sleeve.    
     
     
         10 . The plant package of  claim 9  wherein at least a portion of one surface of the skirt portion of the sleeve has an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of paper.  
     
     
         11 . The plant package of  claim 9  wherein the expanded core polymeric material has a thickness of from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mil.  
     
     
         12 . The plant package of  claim 11  wherein the expanded core polymeric material has a thickness in a range of from about 0.5 mil to about 10 mil.  
     
     
         13 . The plant package of  claim 9  further comprising a second material laminated to the expanded core polymeric material such that the sleeve is formed of a laminated material comprising the expanded core polymeric material and the second material.  
     
     
         14 . The plant package of  claim 9  wherein the lower end of the sleeve is closed and provided with a gusset.  
     
     
         15 . A plant package, comprising: 
 a flower pot having a floral grouping disposed therein;    a sleeve formed of a sheet of polymeric material, the sleeve having a lower end, an upper end, an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface surrounding an inner retaining space wherein at least a portion of one of the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve is modified or textured to provide the sleeve with an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of paper, and wherein the sleeve further comprises: 
 a base portion having an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface, the base portion being generally sized to contain the flower pot, at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the base portion of the sleeve having an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of paper; and  
 a skirt portion extending beyond an open upper end of the flower pot and having an upper peripheral edge; and  
   wherein the flower pot is disposed within the inner retaining space of the sleeve such that the flower pot is substantially surrounded and encompassed by the base portion of the sleeve and the skirt portion of the sleeve freely extends at an angle from the base portion of the sleeve.    
     
     
         16 . The plant package of  claim 15  wherein at least a portion of one surface of the skirt portion of the sleeve has an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of paper.  
     
     
         17 . The plant package of  claim 15  wherein the sheet of polymeric material has a thickness of from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mil.  
     
     
         18 . The plant package of  claim 15  wherein the lower end of the sleeve is closed and provided with a gusset.