Decorative sleeve cover formed of a polymeric material having a texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of cloth

Abstract

Flexible materials having a texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of cloth suitable for use in the formation of decorative flower pot covers and flower pots are disclosed. The flexible materials include polymeric materials, paper and laminates thereof.

1 . A plant package comprising: 
 a sleeve formed of a flexible material having at least a portion of one surface thereof modified to provide the sleeve formed therefrom with a texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of cloth on at least a portion of one surface thereof, the sleeve having an inner retaining space;    a flower pot having an outer peripheral surface; and    wherein the flower pot is disposed in the inner retaining space of the sleeve whereby the sleeve substantially surrounds the outer peripheral surface of the flower pot and provides a decorative cover for the flower pot wherein the decorative cover has the texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of cloth on at least a portion of one surface thereof.    
   
   
       2 . The plant package of  claim 1  wherein the sleeve is formed from flexible material selected from the group consisting of paper and paper/polymeric film laminates.  
   
   
       3 . The plant package of  claim 1  wherein the flexible material has a thickness in a range of from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mil.  
   
   
       4 . The plant package of  claim 1  wherein the texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of cloth is provided on at least a portion of one surface of the flexible material by at least one of printing, embossing, flocking, applying a foamable lacquer, applying a foamable ink, applying a matting lacquer, applying a matted ink, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       5 . The plant package of  claim 4  wherein the texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of cloth is provided by a printed pattern disposed on at least a portion of one surface of the flexible material and an embossed pattern disposed on at least a portion of one surface of the flexible material.  
   
   
       6 . The plant package of  claim 5  wherein the printed and embossed patterns are in registry with one another.  
   
   
       7 . The plant package of  claim 5  wherein the printed and embossed patterns are out of registry with one another.  
   
   
       8 . The plant package of  claim 5  wherein at least a portion of the printed pattern is in registry with the embossed pattern, and at least a portion of the printed pattern is out of registry with the embossed pattern.  
   
   
       9 . The plant package of  claim 1  wherein the sleeve is provided with a closed lower end.  
   
   
       10 . A sheet of paper wrappable about a flower pot or a floral grouping to provide a decorative cover, the sheet of paper having a texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of cloth on at least a portion of one surface thereof such that upon wrapping the sheet of paper about the flower pot or floral grouping the decorative cover so produced has a cloth-like appearance.  
   
   
       11 . The sheet of paper of  claim 1  wherein the texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of cloth on at least a portion of one surface of the sheet of paper is provided by at least one of printing, embossing, lacquering, texturing, applying a matte finish, laminating, flocking and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       12 . The sheet of paper of  claim 10  wherein the sheet of paper has a thickness in the range of from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mil.  
   
   
       13 . The sheet of paper of  claim 12  wherein the texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of cloth is provided by a printed pattern disposed on at least a portion of one surface of the sheet of paper and an embossed pattern disposed on at least a portion of one surface of the sheet of paper.  
   
   
       14 . The sheet of material of  claim 13  wherein the printed and embossed patterns are in register with one another.  
   
   
       15 . The sheet of material of  claim 13  wherein the printed and embossed patterns are out of register with one another.  
   
   
       16 . The sheet of material of  claim 13  wherein at least a portion of the printed pattern is in register with the embossed pattern, and at least a portion of the printed pattern is out of registry with the embossed pattern.  
   
   
       17 . A decorative preformed flower pot cover having a texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of cloth on at least a portion of one surface thereof, the decorative preformed flower pot cover comprising: 
 a base having a closed lower end, an open upper end and a retaining space, the base of the decorative preformed flower pot cover having a plurality of overlapping folds of which at least a portion are permanently connected;    a decorative border extending outwardly from the open upper end of the base; and    wherein the decorative preformed flower pot cover is formed of a sheet of paper and wherein at least a portion of one surface of the sheet of paper is textured or modified so as to provide a texture of appearance simulating the texture or appearance of cloth so that at least a portion of one surface of the decorative preformed flower pot cover formed therefrom is provided with a texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of cloth.    
   
   
       18 . The decorative preformed flower pot cover of  claim 17  wherein the sheet of paper has a thickness in the range of from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mil.  
   
   
       19 . The decorative preformed flower pot cover of  claim 17  wherein a substantial portion of the overlapping folds in the base of the decorative preformed flower pot cover extend over different distances and at various and arbitrary angles.  
   
   
       20 . The decorative flower pot cover of  claim 17  where in the decorative border of the decorative preformed flower pot cover is substantially free of permanently connected overlapping folds.  
   
   
       21 . The decorative preformed flower pot cover of  claim 17  wherein the sheet of paper is further provided with printed patterns, embossed patterns, and combinations thereof in addition to the texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of cloth.  
   
   
       22 . The decorative preformed flower pot cover of  claim 17  wherein the sheet of paper is printed with a matted ink to provide the texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of cloth.  
   
   
       23 . The decorative preformed flower pot cover of  claim 17  wherein the sheet of paper is printed with a foamable ink to provide the texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of cloth.  
   
   
       24 . A sleeve for containing a flower pot having a plant disposed therein wherein the sleeve is provided with texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of cloth on at least a portion of one surface thereof, the sleeve comprising: 
 a lower portion generally sized to contain the flower pot, the lower portion comprising: 
 a base portion having an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface, the inner peripheral surface of the base portion being substantially adjacent to and surrounding an outer peripheral surface of the flower when the flower is disposed in the sleeve and at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the base portion being provided with a texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of cloth, and  
 a skirt portion attached to the base portion and extending beyond an open upper end of the flower pot and adjacent at least a portion of the plant disposed in the flower pot when the flower pot is disposed in the sleeve;  
 an upper portion connected to the skirt portion of the lower portion and sized to substantially surround and encompass the plant disposed in the flower pot when the flower pot is disposed in the sleeve, the upper portion being detachable from the skirt portion of the lower portion via a plurality of perforations whereby, upon detachment of the upper portion of the sleeve from the lower portion, the base portion of the lower portion of the sleeve remains in a position surrounding the flower pot and the skirt portion of the lower portion of the sleeve freely extends at an angle from the base portion of the lower portion of the sleeve; and  
 wherein the sleeve is formed of a sheet of paper having at least a portion of one surface thereof textured or modified to provide a texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of cloth such that at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the base portion of the lower portion of the sleeve formed therefrom is provided with the texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of cloth.  
   
   
   
       25 . The sleeve of  claim 24  wherein at least a portion of one surface of the skirt portion of the lower portion of the sleeve is provided with the appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of cloth.  
   
   
       26 . The sleeve of  claim 25  wherein at least a portion of one surface of the upper portion of the sleeve is provided with the appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of cloth.  
   
   
       27 . The sleeve of  claim 24  wherein the sheet of paper has a thickness of from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mil.  
   
   
       28 . A sleeve for containing a flower pot having a plant disposed therein wherein the sleeve is provided with a texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of cloth on at least a portion of one surface thereof, the sleeve comprising: 
 a lower portion generally sized to contain the flower pot, the lower portion comprising: 
 a base portion having an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface, at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the base portion being provided with a texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of cloth; and  
 a skirt portion attached to the base portion and extending beyond an open upper end of the flower pot;  
 an upper portion connected to the skirt portion of the lower portion, the upper portion being detachable from the skirt portion of the lower portion via a plurality of perforations whereby, upon detachment of the upper portion of the sleeve from the lower portion, the base portion of the lower portion of the sleeve remains in a position surrounding the flower pot and the skirt portion of the lower portion of the sleeve freely extends at an angle from the base portion of the lower portion of the sleeve; and  
 wherein the sleeve is formed of paper having at least a portion of one surface thereof modified to provide a texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of cloth such that at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the base portion of the lower portion of the sleeve formed therefrom is provided with the texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of cloth.  
   
   
   
       29 . The sleeve of  claim 28  wherein the modification to provide the sheet of paper with the texture or appearance of cloth is selected from the group consisting of printing with a matted ink, lacquering with a matting lacquer, printing with a foamable ink, lacquering with a foamable lacquer, flocking, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       30 . The sleeve of  claim 28  wherein at least a portion of one surface of the upper portion of the sleeve is provided with the texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of cloth.  
   
   
       31 . A plant package produced from a sheet of paper 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 cloth, the plant package comprising: 
 a flower pot having a floral grouping disposed therein;    a sleeve formed of a sheet of paper having at least a portion of one surface thereof textured or modified so as to provide the sheet of paper with an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of cloth, the sleeve having an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface, at least a portion of at least one of the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve being textured or modified to provide at least a portion of such surface with an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of cloth, and wherein the sleeve further comprises: 
 a base portion sized to contain the flower pot; and  
 a skirt portion extending beyond an open upper end of the flower pot; 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.    
   
   
       32 . The plant package of  claim 31  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 cloth, 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 cloth.  
   
   
       33 . The plant package of  claim 31  wherein the paper from which the sleeve is constructed is characterized as having a thickness in a range of from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mil.  
   
   
       34 . The plant package of  claim 31  wherein the paper from which the sleeve is constructed is further provided with a printed pattern disposed on at least a portion of one surface thereof.  
   
   
       35 . The plant package of  claim 34  wherein the paper from which the sleeve is constructed is further provided with an embossed pattern disposed on at least a portion of one surface thereof.  
   
   
       36 . The plant package of  claim 35  wherein the printed pattern and the embossed pattern are in register with one another.  
   
   
       37 . The plant package of  claim 35  wherein the printed pattern and the embossed pattern are out of register with one another.  
   
   
       38 . A method for wrapping a floral grouping with a sleeve having an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of cloth, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a floral grouping having a bloom portion and a stem portion;    providing a sleeve formed of paper, at least a portion of the sleeve being provided with an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of cloth;    disposing the floral grouping into the sleeve; and    binding the sleeve about the floral grouping by tightening a portion of the sleeve about a portion of the stem portion of the floral grouping for holding the sleeve about the floral grouping, thereby forming a decorative cover for the floral grouping.    
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 38  wherein, in the step of providing the sleeve, the sleeve is provided with a bonding material disposed on a portion of an outer peripheral surface of the sleeve for securing the sleeve about the floral grouping.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 38  wherein, in the step of providing the sleeve, the sleeve is provided with a bonding material disposed on a portion of an inner peripheral surface of the sleeve for securing the sleeve about the floral grouping.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 38  wherein, in the step of providing the sleeve, the sleeve is provided with a bonding material disposed on portions of an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface of the sleeve.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 38  wherein, in the step of providing the sleeve, the sleeve is further provided with a printed pattern disposed on at least a portion of one surface thereof in addition to the texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of cloth.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 42  wherein, in the step of providing the sleeve, the sleeve is further provided with an embossed pattern disposed on at least a portion of one surface thereof.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 43  wherein at least a portion of the printed pattern and the embossed pattern are in registry with one another.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 43  wherein at least a portion of the printed pattern and the embossed pattern are out of register with one another.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 38  wherein, in the step of providing the sleeve, the sleeve is further provided with an embossed pattern disposed on at least a portion of one surface thereof in addition to the texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of cloth.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 38  wherein, in the step of providing the sleeve, the texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of cloth is provided by at least one of printing, embossing, lacquering, texturing, matting, flocking and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       48 . A method for providing a decorative cover for a flower pot, the method comprising the steps of: 
 provided a flower pot having an outer peripheral surface;    providing a sheet of paper having an upper surface and a lower surface, at least a portion of one of the upper and lower surfaces of the sheet of paper being textured or modified to provide at least a portion of one of the upper and lower surfaces of the sheet of paper with an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of cloth; and    forming the sheet of paper 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 cloth.    
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 48  wherein, in the step of providing the sheet of paper, at least a portion of one of the upper and lower surfaces of the paper is further provided with an embossed pattern, a printed pattern, or embossed and printed patterns which enhance the aesthetic characteristics of the paper having an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of cloth.  
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 49  wherein at least a portion of one of the upper and lower surfaces of the paper is further provided with embossed and printed patterns, and the embossed and printed patterns are in register with one another.  
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 49  wherein at least a portion of one of the upper and lower surfaces of the paper is further provided with embossed and printed patterns, and the embossed and printed patterns are out of register with one another.  
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 49  wherein at least a portion of one of the upper and lower surfaces of the paper 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.  
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 48  wherein, in the step of provided the sheet of paper, the paper has a thickness in the range of from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mil.  
   
   
       54 . A method for providing a decorative cover for a floral grouping, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a floral grouping;    providing a paper material having an upper surface and a lower surface, at least a portion of one of the upper and lower surfaces of the paper material being printed, embossed, lacquered or combinations thereof to provide the paper material with an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of cloth; and    wrapping the paper 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 cloth while maintaining structural and mechanical characteristics of the paper material from which the decorative cover is formed.    
   
   
       55 . The method of  claim 54  wherein, in the step of providing the paper material, at least a portion of one of the upper and lower surfaces of the paper material is further provided with an embossed pattern, a printed pattern, or embossed and printed patterns which enhance the aesthetic characteristics of the paper material having the appearance or texture simulating the appearance and texture of cloth.  
   
   
       56 . The method of  claim 55  wherein at least a portion of one of the upper and lower surfaces of the paper material is further provided with embossed and printed patterns, and the embossing and printed patterns are in register with one another.  
   
   
       57 . The method of  claim 55  wherein at least a portion of one of the upper and lower surfaces of the paper material is further provided with embossed and printed patterns, and the embossed and printed patterns are out of register with one another.  
   
   
       58 . The method of  claim 55  wherein at least a portion of one of the upper and lower surfaces of the paper 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.  
   
   
       59 . The method of  claim 54  wherein, in the step of providing a paper material, the paper material has a thickness in the range of from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mil.  
   
   
       60 . A method for providing a decorative preformed flower pot cover having a texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of cloth, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing at least one sheet of paper having an upper surface, a lower surface, at least a portion of one of the upper and lower surfaces of the paper being textured or modified to provide a texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of cloth, while maintaining the mechanical and structural characteristics of the paper material from which the sheet of paper is formed; and    forming the sheet of paper into a preformed flower pot cover comprising: 
 a base having a closed lower end, an open upper end, an outer peripheral surface, an inner peripheral surface and a retaining space, the base of the decorative preformed flower pot cover having a plurality of overlapping folds of which at least a portion are permanently connected so that the decorative preformed flower pot cover may be substantially flattened and then unflattened to assume the original shape of the decorative preformed flower pot cover;  
 a decorative border which extends outwardly from the open upper end of the base, the decorative border having an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface; and  
 wherein at least a portion of one of the outer peripheral surface of the base, the outer peripheral surface of the decorative border and the inner peripheral surface of the decorative border of the decorative preformed flower pot cover is provided with the texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of cloth.  
   
   
   
       61 . The method of  claim 60  wherein, in the step of forming the sheet of paper into a preformed flower pot cover, a substantial portion of the overlapping folds in the base of the decorative preformed flower pot cover extend over different distances and at various and arbitrary angles.  
   
   
       62 . The method of  claim 60  wherein, in the step of forming the sheet of paper into a preformed flower pot cover, the decorative border of the decorative preformed flower pot cover is substantially free of permanently connected overlapping folds.  
   
   
       63 . The method of  claim 60  wherein, in the step of providing the at least one sheet of paper, the at least one sheet of paper comprises: 
 a sheet of paper having an upper surface and a lower surface, at least a portion of the lower surface of the paper being printed, embossed, lacquered or combinations thereof so as to provide a texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of cloth; and    an acrylic heat sealable lacquer disposed on at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the paper whereby, upon forming the sheet of paper material into the decorative preformed flower pot cover, at least a portion of the overlapping folds formed in the base of the decorative preformed flower pot cover are connected via the acrylic heat sealable lacquer.    
   
   
       64 . The method of  claim 63  wherein at least a portion of one of the upper and lower surfaces of the paper is further provided with at least one of a printed pattern, an embossed pattern and combinations thereof in addition to the texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of cloth.  
   
   
       65 . The method of  claim 64  wherein the paper is further provided with printed and embossed patterns on at least a portion of one of the upper and lower surfaces thereof, and the printed and embossed patterns are in registry with one another.  
   
   
       66 . The method of  claim 64  wherein the paper is further provided with printed and embossed patterns on at least a portion of one of the upper and lower surfaces thereof, and the printed and embossed patterns are out of registry with one another.  
   
   
       67 . A method for providing a decorative flower pot, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a sheet of paper having an upper surface and a lower surface, at least a portion of the lower surface of the sheet of paper textured or modified to provide at least a portion of the lower surface of the sheet of paper with an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of cloth; and    forming the sheet of paper into a flower pot having an upper end, a lower end, an outer peripheral surface, an opening intersecting the upper end and forming an inner peripheral surface which defines a retaining space, the outer peripheral surface of the flower pot corresponding to the lower surface of the sheet of paper such that at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the flower pot is provided with an appearance or texture of cloth.    
   
   
       68 . A flower pot formed of a paper material, the flower pot comprising: 
 a bottom, an outer peripheral surface which cooperates with an open upper end to define a retaining space, at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface being textured or modified to provide the flower pot with an appearance or texture simulating cloth.    
   
   
       69 . The flower pot of  claim 68  further comprises a rim extending about the outer peripheral surface of the flower pot at a position substantially adjacent the open upper end thereof.  
   
   
       70 . The flower pot of  claim 68  further comprises at least one drain hole positioned in the bottom of the flower pot.  
   
   
       71 . The flower pot of  claim 70  further comprising at least one drain hole positioned through a sidewall of the flower pot such that the at least one drain hole is near a lower end of the flower pot.  
   
   
       72 . The flower pot of  claim 68  further comprising at least one drain hole positioned through a sidewall of the flower pot such that the at least one drain hole is near a lower end of the flower pot.