Sleeves formed of polymeric materials having a texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper

Abstract

Methods of providing decorative covers for flower pots and floral groupings include providing a sleeve and disposing the sleeve about the flower pot or floral grouping. At least a portion of at least one of the inner and outer peripheral surfaces of the sleeve is provided with a texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper.

1 . A method of providing a decorative cover for a flower pot, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a flower pot;    providing a sleeve having an upper end, a lower end, an outer peripheral surface, an inner peripheral surface and an inner retaining space in which a flower pot may be disposed and wherein the inner retaining space is sized to substantially surround an outer peripheral surface of a flower pot when a flower pot is disposed in the sleeve, the sleeve formed of a polymeric material having at least a portion of one surface thereof modified to provide at least a portion of at least one of the inner and outer peripheral surfaces of the sleeve with the texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper; and    disposing the flower pot into the inner retaining space of the sleeve to provide a decorative cover for the flower pot.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the sleeve further comprises a lower portion generally sized to contain a flower pot, the lower portion comprising: 
 a base portion base portion having an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface; and    a skirt portion having an upper peripheral edge.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the base portion of the lower portion of the sleeve is provided with an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of paper.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein at least a portion of at least one surface of the skirt portion of the lower portion of the sleeve is provided with an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of paper.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 2  further wherein the sleeve further comprises an upper portion connected to at least one of the base and skirt portions of the lower portion and detachable therefrom via a detaching element.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein at least a portion of at least one surface of the upper portion of the sleeve is provided with an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of paper.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the upper portion is connected to the skirt portion of the lower portion of the sleeve.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the upper portion is detachable from the skirt portion of the sleeve via a detaching element.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising the step of detaching the upper portion of the sleeve from the skirt portion via the detaching element.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the detaching element is linear, thereby providing the skirt portion with a linear upper peripheral edge when the upper portion is removed from the sleeve via the detaching element.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the detaching element is non-linear, thereby providing the skirt portion with a non-linear upper peripheral edge when the upper portion is removed from the sleeve via the detaching element.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the upper portion is provided with a linear upper edge.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the upper portion is provided with a non-linear upper edge.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the base portion and the skirt portion of the lower portion of the sleeve are constructed from the polymeric material and the upper portion of the sleeve is constructed from a second material different than the polymeric material.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the lower portion is provided with a linear upper edge.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the lower portion is provided with a non-linear upper edge.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the skirt portion extends beyond an upper end of a flower pot when a flower pot is disposed in the sleeve.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the polymeric film from which the sleeve is constructed is further provided with at least one of a printed pattern and an embossed pattern disposed on at least a portion of one surface thereof.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the polymeric film from which the sleeve is constructed is further provided with a printed pattern disposed on at least a portion of one surface thereof and an embossed pattern disposed on at least a portion of one surface thereof.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the printed pattern and the embossed pattern are in register with one another.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the printed pattern and the embossed pattern are out of register with one another.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the lower end of the sleeve is closed and is provided with a gusset formed therein.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the sheet of polymeric film has a thickness in a range of from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mil.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the lower end of the sleeve is open.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the lower end of the sleeve is closed.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the sleeve has a drain hole formed therein.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising a gusset formed in the lower end of the sleeve.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of securing the sleeve about the flower pot via a bonding material disposed on at least a portion of at least one of the sleeve and the flower pot.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the sleeve has a flattened state.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the polymeric material from which the sleeve is formed is further defined as a laminated polymeric material.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the laminated polymeric material comprises: 
 a polymeric film having an upper surface and a lower surface;    a substantially water impervious polymeric film laminated to the polymeric film, the substantially water impervious polymeric film having an upper surface and a lower surface; and    wherein at least a portion of one of the upper and lower surfaces of one of the polymeric film and the substantially water impervious polymeric film is modified to provide the laminated polymeric material with a surface having a texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper.    
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the polymeric film and the substantially water impervious polymeric film are laminated with a colored adhesive.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the base portion and the skirt portion of the lower portion of the sleeve are constructed from the laminated polymeric material and the upper portion of the sleeve is constructed from a second material different than the laminated polymeric material.  
   
   
       34 . A method for providing a decorative cover for a floral grouping, the method comprising: 
 providing a floral grouping;    providing a sleeve having an upper end, a lower end, an outer peripheral surface, an inner peripheral surface and an inner retaining space in which a floral grouping may be disposed and wherein the inner retaining space is sized to substantially surround a floral grouping when the floral grouping is disposed in the sleeve, the sleeve formed of a polymeric material having at least a portion of at least one surface thereof modified to provide at least a portion of one of the inner and outer peripheral surfaces of the sleeve with the texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper; and    disposing the floral grouping into the inner retaining space of the sleeve to provide the decorative cover for the floral grouping.    
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34  further comprising the step of securing the sleeve about the floral grouping.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 35  wherein the sleeve further comprises a bonding material disposed on a portion thereof for securing the sleeve about the floral grouping.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 35  wherein the sleeve further comprises a cinching tab disposed on a portion of the sleeve for securing the sleeve about the floral grouping.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the polymeric film from which the sleeve is constructed is further provided with at least one of a printed pattern and an embossed pattern disposed on at least a portion of one surface thereof.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 38  wherein the polymeric film from which the sleeve is constructed is further provided with a printed pattern disposed on at least a portion of at least one surface thereof and an embossed pattern disposed on at least a portion of one surface thereof.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 39  wherein the printed pattern and the embossed pattern are in register with one another.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 39  wherein the printed pattern and the embossed pattern are out of register with one another.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the sheet of polymeric film has a thickness in a range of from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mil.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the lower end of the sleeve is open.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the lower end of the sleeve is closed.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 44  wherein the sleeve has a drain hole formed therein.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 44  further comprising a gusset formed in the lower end of the sleeve.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the sleeve has a flattened state.  
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the polymeric material from which the sleeve is formed is further defined as a laminated polymeric material.  
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 48  wherein the laminated polymeric material comprises: 
 a polymeric film having an upper surface and a lower surface;    a substantially water impervious polymeric film laminated to the polymeric film, the substantially water impervious polymeric film having an upper surface and a lower surface; and    wherein at least a portion of one of the upper and lower surfaces of one of the polymeric film and the substantially water impervious polymeric film is modified or textured to provide the laminated polymeric material with a surface having a texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper.    
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 49  wherein the polymeric film and the substantially water impervious polymeric film are laminated with a colored adhesive.