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 method for providing a decorative cover for a flower pot, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a flower pot having an outer peripheral surface;    providing a sheet of polymeric material having an upper surface and a lower surface, at least a portion of the lower surface of the sheet of polymeric material being embossed, printed, lacquered or combinations thereof to provide an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of paper, the sheet of polymeric material having a bonding material disposed on at least a portion of the upper surface thereof whereby the sheet of polymeric material may be bondingly connected to itself or to the flower pot so that the sheet of polymeric material may be secured generally about the flower pot; and    forming the sheet of polymeric material about the outer peripheral surface of the flower pot to provide the decorative cover which substantially surrounds and encompasses the flower pot, at least a portion of one surface of the decorative cover being 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.    
     
     
         2 . The method of,  claim 1  wherein, in the step of providing the sheet of polymeric material, the bonding material is a pressure sensitive adhesive.  
     
     
         3 . A method for providing a decorative cover for a floral grouping, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a floral grouping;    providing a sheet of polymeric material having an upper surface and a lower surface, at least a portion of at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the sheet of polymeric material being printed, embossed, lacquered or combinations thereof to provide an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of paper, the sheet of polymeric material having a bonding material disposed on at least a portion of the upper surface thereof whereby the sheet of polymeric material may be bondingly connected to itself or to the floral grouping so that the sheet of polymeric material may be secured generally about the floral grouping; and    wrapping the sheet of polymeric material about at least a portion of the floral grouping to provide the decorative cover which substantially surrounds and encompasses at least a portion of the floral grouping, at least a portion of one surface of the decorative cover being 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 method of  claim 3  wherein, in the step of providing the sheet of polymeric material, 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 the appearance or texture simulating the appearance and texture of paper.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  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, and the embossed and printed patterns are in register with one another.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  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, and the embossed and printed patterns are out of register with one another.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4  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, and 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 method of  claim 3  wherein, in the step of providing the sheet of polymeric material, 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.  
     
     
         9 . A method for providing a decorative cover for a flower pot, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a flower pot having an outer peripheral surface;    providing 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 printed, embossed, lacquered or combinations thereof to provide an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of paper while maintaining structural and mechanical characteristics of the polymeric material; and    forming the polymeric material about the outer peripheral surface of the flower pot to provide the decorative cover, at least a portion of one surface of the decorative cover being 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.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein, in the step of providing the polymeric material, 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.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  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, and the embossed and printed patterns are in register with one another.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  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, and the embossed and printed patterns are out of register with one another.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  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, and 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.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9  wherein, in the step of providing the polymeric material, the polymeric material is an expanded core polymeric material having a thickness in the range of from about 0.5 mil to about 10 mil.  
     
     
         15 . A method for providing a decorative cover for a flower pot, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a flower pot having an outer peripheral surface;    providing a polymeric material having an upper surface and a lower surface wherein at least a portion of the lower surface is printed, embossed, lacquered or combinations thereof to provide a texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper while maintaining structural and mechanical characteristics of the polymeric material, the polymeric material having an acrylic heat sealable lacquer disposed on at least one of the upper and lower surfaces thereof; and    forming the polymeric material about the outer peripheral surface of the flower pot to provide the decorative cover, at least a portion of one surface of the decorative cover being 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.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein, in the step of providing the polymeric material, 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 the texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the embossed and printed patterns provided on the polymeric material are in registry with one another.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the embossed and printed patterns provided on the polymeric material are out of registry with one another.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  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.  
     
     
         20 . A method for providing a decorative cover for a flower pot, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a flower pot having an outer peripheral surface;    providing 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 substantially water impervious polymeric material laminated to the polymeric material to form the flexible laminated polymeric material; and  
 wherein at least a portion of one surface of one of the polymeric material and the substantially water impervious polymeric material is printed, embossed, lacquered or combinations thereof 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 while maintaining structural and mechanical characteristics of the flexible laminated polymeric material; and  
   forming the flexible laminated polymeric material about the outer peripheral surface of the flower pot to provide the decorative cover, the decorative cover being provided with the 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.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein, in the step of providing the flexible laminated polymeric material, the polymeric material and the substantially water impervious polymeric material are laminated with a colored adhesive.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the polymeric material has a thickness in the range of from about 0.5 mil to about 10 mil and the substantially water impervious polymeric material has a thickness in the range of from about 0.5 mil to about 10 mil.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20  wherein, in the step of providing the flexible laminated polymeric material, at least a portion of one surface of one of the polymeric material and the substantially water impervious polymeric material is further provided with an embossed pattern, a printed pattern or an embossed pattern and a printed pattern in addition to the texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20  wherein, in the step of providing the flexible laminated polymeric material, at least a portion of one surface of one of the polymeric material and the substantially water impervious polymeric material is further provided with an embossed pattern and at least a portion of one surface of one of the polymeric material and the substantially water impervious polymeric material is further provided with a printed pattern, and wherein the embossed and printed patterns are in register with one another.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20  wherein, in the step of providing the flexible laminated polymeric material, at least a portion of one surface of one of the polymeric material and the substantially water impervious polymeric material is further provided with an embossed pattern and at least a portion of one surface of one of the polymeric material and the substantially water impervious polymeric material is further provided with a printed pattern, and wherein the embossed and printed patterns are out of register with one another.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 20  wherein, in the step of providing the flexible laminated polymeric material, at least a portion of one surface of one of the polymeric material and the substantially water impervious polymeric material is further provided with an embossed pattern and at least a portion of one surface of one of the polymeric material and the substantially water impervious polymeric material 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.  
     
     
         27 . A method for providing a decorative cover for a flower pot, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a flower pot having an outer peripheral surface;    providing 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 printed, embossed, lacquered or combinations thereof so as to provide the texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper while maintaining structural and mechanical characteristics of the flexible laminated polymeric material; and  
   forming the flexible laminated polymeric material about the outer peripheral surface of the flower pot to provide the decorative cover, the decorative cover being provided with the 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.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein, in the step of providing the flexible laminated polymeric material, 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.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27  wherein, in the step of providing the flexible laminated polymeric material, 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 in addition to the texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  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 the embossed and printed patterns are in register with one another.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29  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 the embossed and printed patterns are out of register with one another.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29  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 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.  
     
     
         33 . A method for providing a decorative cover for a floral grouping, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a floral grouping;    providing 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 printed, embossed, lacquered or combinations thereof to provide an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of paper while maintaining structural and mechanical characteristics of the polymeric material; and    wrapping the polymeric material about at least a portion of the floral grouping to provide the decorative cover, at least a portion of one surface of the decorative cover being 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.    
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33  wherein, in the step of providing the polymeric material, 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 the appearance or texture simulating the appearance and texture of paper.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34  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, and the embossed and printed patterns are in register with one another.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34  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, and the embossed and printed patterns are out of register with one another.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 34  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, and 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.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 33  wherein, in the step of providing a polymeric material, the polymeric material is an expanded core polymeric material having a thickness in the range of from about 0.5 mil to about 10 mil.  
     
     
         39 . A method for providing a decorative cover for a floral grouping, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a floral grouping;    providing a polymeric material having an upper surface and a lower surface wherein at least a portion of the lower surface is printed, embossed, lacquered or combinations thereof to provide a texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper while maintaining structural and mechanical characteristics of the polymeric material, the polymeric material having an acrylic heat sealable lacquer disposed on at least one of the upper and lower surfaces thereof; and    wrapping the polymeric material about at least a portion of the floral grouping to provide the decorative cover, at least a portion of one surface of the decorative cover being 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.    
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39  wherein, in the step of providing a polymeric material, 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 the texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the embossed and printed patterns provided on the polymeric material are in registry with, one another.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the embossed and printed patterns provided on the polymeric material are out of registry with one another.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 40  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.  
     
     
         44 . A method for providing a decorative cover for a floral grouping, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a floral grouping;    providing 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 substantially water impervious polymeric material laminated to the polymeric material to form the flexible laminated polymeric material; and  
 wherein at least a portion of one surface of one of the polymeric material and the substantially water impervious polymeric material is printed, embossed, lacquered or combinations thereof 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 while maintaining structural and mechanical characteristics of the flexible laminated polymeric material; and  
   wrapping the flexible laminated polymeric material about at least a portion of the floral grouping to provide the decorative cover, the decorative cover being provided with the 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.    
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44  wherein, in the step of providing a flexible laminated polymeric material, the polymeric material and the substantially water impervious polymeric material are laminated with a colored adhesive.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45  wherein, in the step of providing a flexible laminated polymeric material, the polymeric material has a thickness in the range of from about 0.5 mil to about 10 mil and the substantially water impervious polymeric material has a thickness in the range of from about 0.5 mil to about 10 mil.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 44  wherein, in the step of providing a flexible laminated polymeric material, at least a portion of one surface of one of the polymeric material and the substantially water impervious polymeric material is further provided with an embossed pattern, a printed pattern or an embossed pattern and a printed pattern in addition to the texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 44  wherein, in the step of providing a flexible laminated polymeric material, at least a portion of one surface of one of the polymeric material and the substantially water impervious polymeric material is further provided with an embossed pattern and at least a portion of one surface of one of the polymeric material and the substantially water impervious polymeric material is further provided with a printed pattern, and wherein the embossed and printed patterns are in register with one another.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 44  wherein, in the step of providing a flexible laminated polymeric material, at least a portion of one surface of one of the polymeric material and the substantially water impervious polymeric material is further provided with an embossed pattern and at least a portion of one surface of one of the polymeric material and the substantially water impervious polymeric material is further provided with a printed pattern, and wherein the embossed and printed patterns are out of register with one another.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 44  wherein, in the step of providing a flexible laminated polymeric material, at least a portion of one surface of one of the polymeric material and the substantially water impervious polymeric material is further provided with an embossed pattern and at least a portion of one surface of one of the polymeric material and the substantially water impervious polymeric material 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.  
     
     
         51 . A method for providing a decorative cover for a floral grouping, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a floral grouping;    providing 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 printed, embossed, lacquered or combinations thereof so as to provide a texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper while maintaining structural and mechanical characteristics of the flexible laminated polymeric material; and  
   wrapping the flexible laminated polymeric material about at least a portion of the floral grouping to provide the decorative cover, the decorative cover being provided with the 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.    
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51  wherein, in the step of providing a flexible laminated polymeric material, 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.  
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 51  wherein, in the step of providing a flexible laminated polymeric material, 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 in addition to the texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper.  
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 51  wherein, in the step of providing a flexible laminated polymeric material, 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.  
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 51  wherein, in the step of providing a flexible laminated polymeric material, 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 of register with one another.  
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 51  wherein, in the step of providing a flexible laminated polymeric material, 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.