Flattened decorative bag or sleeve having gussets convertible to a decorative bag for holding a basket and methods

Abstract

A flattened decorative bag having gussets which is convertible to a decorative bag for a basket which, when a basket is inserted therein, conforms to the shape of the basket. Methods of making and using a flattened decorative bag having gussets.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for covering a basket, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a basket having an outer surface;    providing a flattened decorative bag having an upper end, a closed lower end, an outer surface, a plurality of gussets disposed between the upper end and the closed lower end,    opening the bag such that the opening is sized to receive the basket;    expanding the plurality of gussets to both form a basket retaining space and permit the basket to be disposed within and retained in the basket retaining space; and    disposing the basket in the basket retaining space, the bag expanding and contacting via the plurality of gussets, the bag conforming to contours and an overall shape of the outer surface of the basket.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein in the step of providing a flattened decorative bag, the flattened decorative bag is further defined to comprise a bonding material.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the bonding material comprises an adhesive bonding material.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the bonding material comprises a cohesive bonding material.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein in the step of providing a flattened decorative bag, the bag is further defined as being constructed from a sheet of material selected from the group consisting of paper, cellophane, foil, plastic film, metallized film, fabric, fiber, burlap, and any combination thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein in the step of providing a flattened decorative bag, the bag is further defined as having characteristics selected from the group consisting of decorations, colorings, coatings, embossings, flockings, metallic finishes, pearlescent finishes, translucent finishes, transparent finishes, iridescent finishes, neon finishes, holographic finishes, holographic designs, opaque finishes, clear finishes, and any combination thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein in the step of providing a flattened decorative bag, the flattened decorative bag is further defined as being constructed from a sheet of material having a thickness in a range of about 0.5 mils to about 10 mils.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein in the step of providing a flattened decorative bag, the flattened decorative bag is further defined as being constructed from a sheet of material having a thickness in a range of about 1.0 mils to about 8 mils.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein in the step of disposing the basket into the decorative bag, the flattened decorative bag is further defined as being constructed from a sheet of material having a thickness in a range of about 1.0 mils to about 5 mils.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein in the step of disposing the basket in the decorative bag, the step further comprises the step of closing the bag about a handle of the basket.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein in the step of disposing the basket in the decorative bag, the step further comprises a step of closing the bag about the basket via the formation of a multi-loop bow.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein in the step of disposing the basket in the decorative bag, the step further comprises the step of closing the bag about the basket above the level of a handle on the basket.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein in the step of providing a flattened decorative bag, the plurality of gussets in the flattened decorative bag are further defined as comprising an excess of material comprising pleats.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein in the step of providing a flattened decorative bag, the bag is further defined as comprising at least one gusset disposed in the closed lower end.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one gusset in the closed lower end is further defined as comprising an excess of material comprising pleats.  
     
     
         16 . A method for covering a basket, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a basket having a lower end and an outer surface;    providing a flattened decorative bag having an upper end, a closed lower end having at least one gusset disposed in the closed lower end, an outer surface and an opening in the upper end;    opening the bag such that the opening is sized to receive the basket;    expanding the gusset to both form a basket retaining space and permit the basket to be disposed within and retained in the basket retaining space; and    disposing the basket in the basket retaining space, the bag expanding and contacting via the gusset and conforming to contours of the outer surface of the lower end of the basket.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein in the step of providing a flattened decorative bag, the flattened decorative bag is further defined to comprise a bonding material.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the bonding material comprises an adhesive bonding material.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the bonding material comprises a cohesive bonding material.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein in the step of providing a flattened decorative bag, the bag is further defined as being constructed from a sheet of material selected from the group consisting of paper, cellophane, foil, plastic film, metallized film, fabric, fiber, burlap, and any combination thereof.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16  wherein in the step of providing a flattened decorative bag, the bag is further defined as having characteristics selected from the group consisting of decorations, colorings, coatings, embossings, flockings, metallic finishes, pearlescent finishes, translucent finishes, transparent finishes, iridescent finishes, neon finishes, holographic finishes, holographic designs, opaque finishes, clear finishes, and any combination thereof.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16  wherein in the step of providing a flattened decorative bag, the flattened decorative bag is further defined as being constructed from a sheet of material having a thickness in a range of about 0.5 mils to about 10 mils.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16  wherein in the step of providing a flattened decorative bag, the flattened decorative bag is further defined as being constructed from a sheet of material having a thickness in a range of about 1.0 mils to about 8 mils.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 16  wherein in the step of disposing the basket into the decorative bag, the flattened decorative bag is further defined as being constructed from a sheet of material having a thickness in a range of about 1.0 mils to about 5 mils.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 16  wherein in the step of disposing the basket in the decorative bag, the step further comprises the step of closing the bag about a handle of the basket.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 16  wherein in the step of disposing the basket in the decorative bag, the step further comprises a step of closing the bag about the basket via the formation of a multi-loop bow.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 16  wherein in the step of disposing the basket in the decorative bag, the step further comprises the step of closing the bag about the basket above the level of a handle on the basket.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 16  wherein in the step of providing a flattened decorative bag, the at least one gusset in the closed lower end is further defined as comprising an excess of material comprising pleats.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 16  wherein in the step of providing a flattened decorative bag, the bag is further defined as comprising a plurality of gussets disposed between the upper end and the closed lower end of the bag.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the plurality of gussets are further defined as comprising an excess of material comprising pleats.  
     
     
         31 . A method for covering a basket, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a basket having an outer surface;    providing a decorative bag having an upper end, a closed lower end, an outer surface and an opening in the upper end, the decorative bag formed from an excess of material comprising a plurality of folds, said plurality of folds substantially flattening when the decorative bag is not retaining a basket therein, said plurality of folds expanding when the decorative bag is opened, said plurality of folds conforming to contours of a basket when a basket is disposed in the decorative bag;    opening the bag such that the opening is sized to receive a basket;    expanding the plurality of folds to both form a basket retaining space and permit the basket to be disposed within and retained in the basket retaining space; and    disposing the basket in the basket retaining space, the bag expanding and contracting via the plurality of folds, the bag conforming to contours and an overall shape of the outer surface of the basket.    
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31  wherein in the step of providing a flattened decorative bag, the flattened decorative bag is further defined to comprise a bonding material.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the bonding material comprises an adhesive bonding material.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the bonding material comprises a cohesive bonding material.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31  wherein in the step of providing a flattened decorative bag, the bag is further defined as being constructed from a sheet of material selected from the group consisting of paper, cellophane, foil, plastic film, metallized film, fabric, fiber, burlap, and any combination thereof.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31  wherein in the step of providing a flattened decorative bag, the bag is further defined as having characteristics selected from the group consisting of decorations, colorings, coatings, embossings, flockings, metallic finishes, pearlescent finishes, translucent finishes, transparent finishes, iridescent finishes, neon finishes, holographic finishes, holographic designs, opaque finishes, clear finishes, and any combination thereof.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 31  wherein in the step of providing a flattened decorative bag, the flattened decorative bag is further defined as being constructed from a sheet of material having a thickness in a range of about 0.5 mils to about 10 mils.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 31  wherein in the step of providing a flattened decorative bag, the flattened decorative bag is further defined as being constructed from a sheet of material having a thickness in a range of about 1.0 mils to about 8 mils.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 31  wherein in the step of disposing the basket into the decorative bag, the flattened decorative bag is further defined as being constructed from a sheet of material having a thickness in a range of about 1.0 mils to about 5 mils.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 31  wherein in the step of disposing the basket in the decorative bag, the step further comprises the step of closing the bag about a handle of the basket.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 31  wherein in the step of disposing the basket in the decorative bag, the step further comprises a step of closing the bag about the basket via the formation of a multi-loop bow.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 31  wherein in the step of disposing the basket in the decorative bag, the step further comprises the step of closing the bag about the basket above the level of a handle on the basket.