Wrapper for floral grouping formed of cloth and polymeric film

Abstract

Wrappers and sleeves for floral groupings formed from a material constructed of a layer of cloth and a layer of polymeric film wherein at least a portion of the layer of polymeric film is laminated to the layer of cloth, as well as methods for forming same, are disclosed herein.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A method for wrapping a floral grouping, comprising: 
 providing a floral grouping having a bloom portion and a stem portion;    providing a sleeve formed of a laminated material comprising a layer of cloth and a layer of polymeric film, at least a portion of the layer of polymeric film laminated to the layer of cloth, the layer of cloth being selected from the group consisting of woven fabric, nonwoven fabric, welded fabric, spun-bonded fabric, knitted fabric, pressed fabric and combinations and blends thereof, the sleeve having an upper end, a lower end, an inner peripheral surface surrounding an inner retaining space, an outer peripheral surface, and a cinching tab having a bonding material disposed thereon, the cinching tab connected to the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve for holding overlapping portions of the sleeve in a crimped position substantially adjacent the stem portion of the floral grouping;    placing the floral grouping into the inner retaining space of the sleeve; and    crimping portions of the sleeve about the stem portion of the floral grouping such that at least a portion of the sleeve overlaps another portion of the sleeve, the bonding material disposed on the cinching tab engaging the overlapping portions of the sleeve together so that the sleeve is bound in a position about the floral grouping, thereby forming a decorative cover for the floral grouping.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein, in the step of providing a sleeve formed of a material comprising a layer of cloth and a layer of polymeric film, the layer of cloth has a thickness in a range of from about 0.5 mil to about 30 mil, and the layer of polymeric film has a thickness in a range of from about 0.5 mil to about 30 mil.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein, in the step of providing a sleeve formed of a material comprising a layer of cloth and a layer of polymeric film, the layer of polymeric film is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, cellophane, expanded core polymeric film, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         4 . A method for wrapping a floral grouping, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a floral grouping having a bloom portion and a stem portion;    providing a sleeve formed of a laminated material comprising a layer of cloth and a layer of polymeric film, at least a portion of the layer of polymeric film laminated to the layer of cloth, the layer of cloth being selected from the group consisting of woven fabric, nonwoven fabric, welded fabric, spun-bonded fabric, knitted fabric, pressed fabric and combinations and blends thereof, the sleeve having an upper end, a lower end, an inner peripheral surface surrounding an inner retaining space, and an outer peripheral surface;    placing the floral grouping into the inner retaining space of the sleeve; and    positioning a banding element about a portion of the sleeve disposed about the stem portion of the floral grouping so as to form a crimped portion of the sleeve, thereby binding the sleeve in a position about the floral grouping so as to form a wrapper for the floral grouping.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein, in the step of providing a sleeve formed of a material comprising a layer of cloth and a layer of polymeric film, the layer of cloth has a thickness in a range of from about 0.5 mil to about 30 mil, and the layer of polymeric film has a thickness in a range of from about 0.5 mil to about 30 mil.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein, in the step of providing a sleeve formed of a material comprising a layer of cloth and a layer of polymeric film, the layer of polymeric film is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, cellophane, expanded core polymeric film, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4  wherein, in the step of positioning a banding element about a portion of the sleeve, the banding element is selected from the group consisting of string, ribbon, an elastic band, a non-elastic band, an elastic or non-elastic piece of material, a round piece of material, a flat piece of material, a piece of paper strip, a piece of plastic strip, a piece of wire, a tie wrap, a twist tie and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         8 . A decorative sleeve positionable about at least a portion of a floral grouping, the decorative sleeve comprising: 
 a laminated material comprising a layer of cloth and a layer of polymeric film, at least a portion of the layer of polymeric film laminated to the layer of cloth, the layer of cloth being selected from the group consisting of woven fabric, nonwoven fabric, welded fabric, spun-bonded fabric, knitted fabric, pressed fabric and combinations and blends thereof, and the layer of polymeric film being selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, cellophane, expanded core polymeric film, and combinations thereof.    
     
     
         9 . The decorative sleeve of  claim 8  wherein the layer of cloth has a thickness in a range of from about 0.5 mil to about 10 mil, and the layer of polymeric film has a thickness in a range of from about 0.5 mil to about 10 mil.  
     
     
         10 . A laminated material capable of being formed into a decorative cover about a flower pot or a floral grouping, the material comprising: 
 a layer of cloth selected from the group consisting of woven fabric, nonwoven fabric, welded fabric, spun-bonded fabric, knitted fabric, pressed fabric and combinations and blends thereof; and    a layer of polymeric film having at least a portion of one surface thereof laminated to the layer of cloth.    
     
     
         11 . The material of  claim 10  wherein the layer of cloth has a thickness in a range of from about 0.5 mil to about 30 mil, and the layer of polymeric film has a thickness in a range of from about 0.5 mil to about 30 mil.  
     
     
         12 . The material of  claim 10  wherein the layer of polymeric film is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, cellophane, expanded core polymeric film, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         13 . A laminated material capable of being formed into a decorative cover about a flower pot or a floral grouping, the laminated material having an upper surface and a lower surface, the laminated material comprising: 
 a layer of cloth selected from the group consisting of woven fabric, nonwoven fabric, welded fabric, spun-bonded fabric, knitted fabric, pressed fabric and combinations and blends thereof;    a layer of polymeric film having at least a portion of one surface thereof laminated to the layer of cloth; and    a bonding material disposed on at least a portion of one of the upper and lower surfaces of the material.    
     
     
         14 . The material of  claim 13  wherein the layer of cloth has a thickness in a range of from about 0.5 mil to about 30 mil, and the layer of polymeric film has a thickness in a range of from about 0.5 mil to about 30 mil.  
     
     
         15 . The material of  claim 13  wherein the layer of polymeric film is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, cellophane, expanded core polymeric film, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         16 . The material of  claim 13  wherein the material is further characterized as having a first side, a second side, a third side and a fourth side, and wherein the bonding material is disposed on a portion of the upper surface of the material substantially adjacent at least one of the first, second, third and fourth sides of the material.  
     
     
         17 . A method for wrapping a floral grouping, comprising: 
 providing a floral grouping having a bloom portion and a stem portion;    providing a sleeve formed of a laminated material comprising a layer of cloth, a first layer of polymeric film and a second layer of polymeric film, at least a portion of each of the first and second layers of polymeric film laminated to the layer of cloth, the layer of cloth being selected from the group consisting of woven fabric, nonwoven fabric, welded fabric, spun-bonded fabric, knitted fabric, pressed fabric and combinations and blends thereof, the sleeve having an upper end, a lower end, an inner peripheral surface surrounding an inner retaining space, an outer peripheral surface, and a cinching tab having a bonding material disposed thereon, the cinching tab connected to the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve for holding overlapping portions of the sleeve in a crimped position substantially adjacent the stem portion of the floral grouping;    placing the floral grouping into the inner retaining space of the sleeve; and    crimping portions of the sleeve about the stem portion of the floral grouping such that at least a portion of the sleeve overlaps another portion of the sleeve, the bonding material disposed on the cinching tab engaging the overlapping portions of the sleeve together so that the sleeve is bound in a position about the floral grouping, thereby forming a decorative cover for the floral grouping.    
     
     
         18 . A method for wrapping a floral grouping, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a floral grouping having a bloom portion and a stem portion;    providing a sleeve formed of a laminated material comprising a layer of cloth, a first layer of polymeric film and a second layer of polymeric film, at least a portion of each of the first and second layers of polymeric film laminated to the layer of cloth, the layer of cloth being selected from the group consisting of woven fabric, nonwoven fabric, welded fabric, spun-bonded fabric, knitted fabric, pressed fabric and combinations and blends thereof, the sleeve having an upper end, a lower end, an inner peripheral surface surrounding an inner retaining space, and an outer peripheral surface;    placing the floral grouping into the inner retaining space of the sleeve; and    positioning a banding element about a portion of the sleeve disposed about the stem portion of the floral grouping so as to form a crimped portion of the sleeve, thereby binding the sleeve in a position about the floral grouping so as to form a wrapper for the floral grouping.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein, in the step of positioning a banding element about a portion of the sleeve, the banding element is selected from the group consisting of string, ribbon, an elastic band, a non-elastic band, an elastic or non-elastic piece of material, a round piece of material, a flat piece of material, a piece of paper strip, a piece of plastic strip, a piece of wire, a tie wrap, a twist tie and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         20 . A decorative sleeve positionable about at least a portion of a floral grouping, the decorative sleeve comprising: 
 a laminated material comprising a layer of cloth, a first layer of polymeric film and a second layer of polymeric film, at least a portion of each of the first and second layers of polymeric film laminated to the layer of cloth, the layer of cloth being selected from the group consisting of woven fabric, nonwoven fabric, welded fabric, spun-bonded fabric, knitted fabric, pressed fabric and combinations and blends thereof, and the layer of polymeric film being selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, cellophane, expanded core polymeric film, and combinations thereof.    
     
     
         21 . A laminated material capable of being formed into a decorative cover about a flower pot or a floral grouping, the laminated material comprising: 
 a layer of cloth selected from the group consisting of woven fabric, nonwoven fabric, welded fabric, spun-bonded fabric, knitted fabric, pressed fabric and combinations and blends thereof;    a first layer of polymeric film having at least one surface thereof laminated to the layer of cloth; and    a second layer of polymeric film having at least one surface thereof laminated to the layer of cloth.    
     
     
         22 . A laminated material capable of being formed into a decorative cover about a flower pot or a floral grouping, the laminated material having an upper surface and a lower surface, the laminated material comprising: 
 a layer of cloth selected from the group consisting of woven fabric, nonwoven fabric, welded fabric, spun-bonded fabric, knitted fabric, pressed fabric and combinations and blends thereof;    a first layer of polymeric film having at least one surface thereof laminated to the layer of cloth;    a second layer of polymeric film having at least one surface thereof laminated to the layer of cloth; and    a bonding material disposed on at least a portion of one of the upper and lower surfaces of the material.