Decorative grass having a three-dimensional pattern and methods for producing same

Abstract

A method for making decorative grass having a three-dimensional pattern which constitutes at least a portion of the decor of the decorative grass. Printed designs or materials and/or embossed materials can also constitute a portion of the decor of the decorative grass. The method includes slitting a material having a three-dimensional pattern on at least a portion of at least one surface thereof and then cutting the slit material into segments of a predetermined length to provide the decorative grass having a three-dimensional pattern.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A method for making decorative grass having a three-dimensional pattern comprising: 
 providing a material having an upper surface, a lower surface and a three-dimensional pattern on at least a portion of one of the upper and lower surfaces thereof;    slitting the material to provide strips of material having a predetermined width; and    cutting the strips of material into segments to provide a decorative grass having a three-dimensional pattern.    
     
     
         2 . The method for making the decorative grass having a three-dimensional pattern of  claim 1  wherein, in the step of providing the material having a three-dimensional pattern on at least a portion of one of the upper and lower surfaces thereof, the material is further provided with a printed design or material thereon which cooperates with the three-dimensional pattern to provide at least a portion of the decor to the decorative grass  
     
     
         3 . The method for making the decorative grass having a three-dimensional pattern of  claim 2  wherein, in the step of providing the material having a three-dimensional pattern on at least a portion of one of the upper and lower surfaces thereof, the three-dimensional pattern and the printed design or material thereon which cooperates with the three-dimensional pattern to provide at least a portion of the decor to the decorative grass are positioned within the boundaries of the segments of the decorative grass.  
     
     
         4 . The method for making the decorative grass having a three-dimensional pattern of  claim 2  wherein, in the step of providing the material having a three-dimensional pattern on at least a portion of one of the upper and lower surfaces thereof, the material is further provided with embossed material thereon which cooperates with the three-dimensional pattern and the printed design or material to provide at least a portion of the decor to the decorative cover.  
     
     
         5 . The method for making the decorative grass having a three-dimensional pattern of  claim 4  wherein, in the step of providing the material having a three-dimensional pattern on at least a portion of one of the upper and lower surfaces thereof, the three-dimensional, the printed design or material and the embossed material thereon which cooperates with the three-dimensional pattern to provide at least a portion of the decor to the decorative grass are positioned within the boundaries of the segments of the decorative grass.  
     
     
         6 . The method for making the decorative grass having a three-dimensional pattern of  claim 4  wherein, in the step of providing the material having a three-dimensional pattern on at least a portion of one of the upper and lower surfaces thereof, at least a portion of the printed design or material and the embossed material are in registry with one another.  
     
     
         7 . The method for making the decorative grass having a three-dimensional pattern of  claim 4  wherein, in the step of providing the material having a three-dimensional pattern on at least a portion of one of the upper and lower surfaces thereof, at least a portion of the printed design or material and the embossed material are out of registry with one another.  
     
     
         8 . The method for making the decorative grass having a three-dimensional pattern of  claim 1  wherein, in the step of providing the material having a three-dimensional pattern on at least a portion of one of the upper and lower surfaces thereof, the material is further provided with embossed material thereon which cooperates with the three-dimensional pattern to provide at least a portion of the decor to the decorative grass.  
     
     
         9 . The method for making the decorative grass having a three-dimensional pattern of  claim 8  wherein, in the step of providing the material having a three-dimensional pattern on at least a portion of one of the upper and lower surfaces thereof, the three-dimensional and the embossed material thereon which cooperates with the three-dimensional pattern to provide at least a portion of the decor to the decorative grass are positioned within the boundaries of the segments of the decorative grass.  
     
     
         10 . Decorative grass for use in filling Easter baskets, candy boxes, preparing floral arrangements, wreaths and other decorative purposes comprising a mass of randomly arranged segments of material having a three-dimensional pattern provided on at least a portion of one surface of the segments and wherein the segments of the material have substantially the same width and length and a substantially rectangularly shaped cross-section, and are intertwined into a cohesive mass whereby the segments of the material are provided with flat portions, random longitudinal curls, random transverse curls, crimped or crinkled portions and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         11 . The decorative grass of  claim 10  wherein at least a portion of the segments of the material are further provided with printed designs or materials on at least one surface thereof which cooperates with the three-dimensional pattern to provide at least a portion of the decor of the decorative grass.  
     
     
         12 . The decorative grass of  claim 11  wherein at least a portion of the segments of the material are further provided with an embossed material on at least one surface thereof which cooperates with the three-dimensional pattern and the printed designs or materials to provide at least a portion of the decor of the decorative grass.  
     
     
         13 . The decorative grass of  claim 12  wherein at least a portion of the printed designs or materials and the embossed material on the segments of material are in registry with one another.  
     
     
         14 . The decorative grass of  claim 12  wherein at least a portion of the printed designs or materials and the embossed material on the segments of material are out of registry with one another.  
     
     
         15 . The decorative grass of  claim 10  wherein at least a portion of the segments of material are further provided with embossed material thereon which cooperates with the three-dimensional pattern to provide at least a portion of the decor of the decorative grass.  
     
     
         16 . A packing material in the form of decorative grass wherein the packing material comprises: 
 a plurality of undivided strands of material wherein at least a portion of the strands of material have a three-dimensional pattern thereon and wherein the strands of material have a substantially rectangularly-shaped cross-section.    
     
     
         17 . The packing material of  claim 16  wherein at least a portion of the strands of material are further provided with printed designs and materials thereon.  
     
     
         18 . The packing material of  claim 17  wherein at least a portion of the strands of material are further provided with an embossed material thereon.  
     
     
         19 . The packing material of  claim 18  wherein at least a portion of the printed designs and materials and the embossed materials on the strands of material are in registry with one another.  
     
     
         20 . The packing material of  claim 18  wherein at least a portion of the printed designs and materials and the embossed materials on the strands of material are out of registry with one another.  
     
     
         21 . The packing material of  claim 16  wherein at least a portion of the strands of material are further provided with an embossed material thereon.  
     
     
         22 . A method for providing a packing material in the form of decorative grass wherein the packing material comprises a plurality of individual strands of material wherein at least a portion of the strands of material have a three-dimensional pattern on at least one surface thereof, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a roll of material having a three-dimensional pattern on at least one surface thereof;    withdrawing a portion of the material having a three-dimensional pattern on at least one surface thereof from the roll of such material;    slitting the portion of the material withdrawn from the roll to provide a slit web material wherein at least a portion of the slit web material has a three-dimensional pattern on at least one surface thereof; and    cutting the slit web material to provide a plurality of segments having a substantially rectangular-shaped cross-section wherein at least a portion of the segments have a three-dimensional pattern.    
     
     
         23 . The method for providing a packing material of  claim 22  wherein, in the step of providing a roll of material having a three-dimensional pattern on at least one surface thereof, the material is further provided with printed designs and materials thereon.  
     
     
         24 . The method for providing a packing material of  claim 22  wherein, in the step of providing a roll of material having a three-dimensional pattern on at least one surface thereof, the material is further provided within embossed materials thereon.  
     
     
         25 . The method for providing a packing material of  claim 24  wherein segments of material having a substantially rectangular-shaped cross-section and a three-dimensional pattern provided on at least a portion of one surface of the segments are intertwined into a cohesive mass whereby the segments of the material are provided with flat portions, random longitudinal curls, random transverse curls, crimped or crinkled portions and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         26 . The method for providing a packing material of  claim 22  wherein, in the step of providing a roll of material having a three-dimensional pattern on at least one surface thereof, the material is further defined as having a thickness of from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mils.