Decorative grass having an appearance simulating the appearance of cloth

Abstract

Decorative grasses having an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of cloth are disclosed, as are methods for making such decorative grasses from materials wherein at least one surface of the material is modified to simulate the appearance or texture of cloth.

1 . A method for producing decorative grass having an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of cloth, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a sheet or web of polymeric material having an upper surface and a lower surface wherein at least a portion of one of the upper and lower surfaces thereof is printed to provide the sheet or web of polymeric material with an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of cloth on at least a portion of one surface thereof; and    cutting at least a portion of the sheet or web of polymeric material into segments to produce decorative grass having an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of cloth on at least a portion of one surface thereof.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein, in the step of providing the sheet or web of polymeric material, the sheet or web of polymeric material has a thickness in a range of about 0.5 mil to about 10 mil.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of cloth is provided on the decorative grass by printing.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of cloth is provided on the decorative grass by printing with a foamable ink.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of cutting at least a portion of the sheet or web of polymeric material to form decorative grass comprises: 
 slitting the sheet or web of polymeric material to provide a slit polymeric material having a plurality of strips; and    cutting the plurality of strips of the slit polymeric material into segments to form the decorative grass.    
   
   
       6 . A method for producing decorative grass comprising the steps of: 
 providing a sheet or web of polymeric material having an upper surface and a lower surface, the sheet or web of polymeric material having a lacquer disposed on at least a portion of one of the upper and lower surfaces of the sheet or web of polymeric material the lacquer provides at least a portion of one of the upper and lower surfaces of the sheet or web of polymeric material with an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of cloth; and    cutting at least a portion of the sheet or web of polymeric material into segments to produce decorative grass wherein the lacquer provides the decorative grass with an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of cloth.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein, in the step of providing a sheet or web of polymeric material, the sheet or web of polymeric material has a thickness in a range of about 0.5 mil to about 10 mil.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the lacquer is a matting lacquer.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the lacquer is a foamable lacquer.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the step of cutting at least a portion of the sheet or web of polymeric material to form decorative grass comprises: 
 slitting the sheet or web of polymeric material to provide a slit polymeric material having a plurality of strips; and    cutting the plurality of strips of the slit polymeric material into segments to form the decorative grass.    
   
   
       11 . A method for producing decorative grass having an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of cloth, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a sheet or web of flexible, laminated material comprising: 
 a sheet or web of polymeric material having an upper surface and a lower surface;  
 a sheet or web of material laminated to at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the sheet or web of polymeric material; and  
 a lacquer disposed on at least a portion of one surface of one of the sheet or web of polymeric material and the sheet or web of material laminated thereto; and  
   cutting at least a portion of the sheet or web of flexible, laminated material into segments to produce decorative grass wherein the lacquer provides the decorative grass with an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of cloth.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein, in the step of providing a sheet of flexible, laminated material, the sheet or web of polymeric material has a thickness in a range of about 0.5 mil to about 10 mil, and the sheet or web of material laminated thereto has a thickness in a range of about 0.5 mil to about 10 mil.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein, in the step of providing a sheet of flexible, laminated material, the sheet or web of material laminated to the sheet or web of polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of polymeric film, paper, metallized foil and combinations or laminates thereof.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein, the lacquer is a matting lacquer.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the step of cutting at least a portion of the sheet of flexible, laminated material to form decorative grass comprises: 
 slitting the sheet of flexible, laminated material to provide a slit laminated material having a plurality of strips; and    cutting the plurality of strips of the slit laminated material into segments to form the decorative grass.    
   
   
       16 . A method for producing decorative grass having an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of cloth, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a sheet or web of polymeric material having an upper surface, and a lower surface; and    cutting at least a portion of the sheet or web of polymeric material into segments to produce decorative grass having an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of cloth on at least a portion of one surface thereof wherein the appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of cloth is provided by a combination of a printed pattern and an embossed pattern.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein, in the step of providing a sheet or web of polymeric material, the sheet or web of polymeric material has a thickness in a range of about 0.5 mil to about 10 mil and is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene and expanded core polymeric film.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the printed pattern and the embossed pattern are in register with one another.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the printed pattern and the embossed pattern are out of register with one another.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein at least a portion of the printed pattern is in register with a portion of the embossed pattern, and at least a portion of the printed pattern is out of register with a portion of the embossed pattern.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the printed pattern is provided by printing with a matted ink.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the printed pattern is provided by printing with a foamable ink.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the step of cutting at least a portion of the sheet or web of polymeric material into segments to form decorative grass comprises: 
 slitting the sheet or web of polymeric material to provide a slit polymeric material having a plurality of strips; and    cutting the plurality of strips of the slit polymeric material into segments to form the decorative grass.    
   
   
       24 . A method for producing decorative grass comprising the steps of: 
 providing a sheet or web of polymeric material; and    cutting at least a portion of the sheet or web of polymeric material into segments to produce decorative grass wherein at least a portion of the decorative grass has an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of cloth.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein, in the step of providing the sheet or web of polymeric material, the sheet or web of polymeric material has a thickness in a range of about 0.5 mil to about 10 mil.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the step of cutting at least a portion of the sheet or web of polymeric material to form decorative grass comprises: 
 slitting the sheet or web of polymeric material to provide a slit polymeric material having a plurality of strips; and    cutting the plurality of strips of the slit polymeric material into segments to form the decorative grass.