Floral packaging material having great masters prints thereon

Abstract

An apparatus and method are disclosed for forming a decorative covering about a flower pot or a floral grouping from a sheet of material, the sheet of material having printed thereon a graphic image that is prominently displayed on a selected portion of the decorative covering. The graphic image may be a masterpiece of art produced by one of the Great Masters of the Renaissance, at least a portion of a musical score, or combinations thereof.

1 . A decorative covering for a flower pot, comprising: 
 a sleeve having an upper end, a lower end, and a retaining space, the sleeve having a graphic image disposed on at least a portion thereof wherein the graphic image is visible on at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve, wherein the graphic image is selected from the group consisting of a rendering of at least a portion of a masterpiece work of art, a rendering of at least a portion of a work of art of a Great Master, and combinations thereof, wherein the retaining space of the sleeve is sized to hold a flower pot such that at least a portion of the sleeve is substantially adjacent to and surrounds an outer peripheral surface of the flower pot and the graphic image is prominently displayed on the sleeve when the flower pot is disposed in the inner retaining space of the sleeve.    
   
   
       2 . The decorative covering of  claim 1  wherein the sleeve is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of paper, cloth, polymeric film, foil, combinations thereof and laminations thereof.  
   
   
       3 . The decorative covering of  claim 1  wherein the sleeve is formed of a material having a thickness in range of from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mil.  
   
   
       4 . The decorative covering of  claim 1  wherein the sleeve further comprises a base portion and a skirt portion, wherein the base portion of the lower portion of the sleeve is substantially adjacent to and surrounds the outer peripheral surface of the flower pot and the skirt portion of the lower portion of the sleeve extends above the flower pot and surrounds at least a portion of the floral grouping disposed in the flower pot.  
   
   
       5 . A decorative covering for a flower pot, comprising: 
 a sleeve having an upper end, a lower end, and a retaining space, the sleeve having a graphic image disposed on at least a portion thereof wherein the graphic image is visible on at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve, the sleeve having an upper portion and a lower portion wherein the upper portion is detachable from the lower portion via a detaching element, wherein the graphic image is selected from the group consisting of a rendering of at least a portion of a masterpiece work of art, a rendering of at least a portion of a work of art of a Great Master, and combinations thereof, wherein the retaining space of the sleeve is sized to hold a flower pot such that at least a portion of the lower portion of the sleeve is substantially adjacent to and surrounds an outer peripheral surface of the flower pot and the upper portion of the sleeve surrounds at least a portion of a floral grouping disposed in the flower pot and the graphic image is prominently displayed on the sleeve when the flower pot is disposed in the inner retaining space of the sleeve.    
   
   
       6 . The decorative covering of  claim 5  wherein the sleeve is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of paper, cloth, polymeric film, foil, combinations thereof and laminations thereof.  
   
   
       7 . The decorative covering of  claim 5  wherein the sleeve is formed of a material having a thickness in range of from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mil.  
   
   
       8 . The decorative covering of  claim 5  wherein the lower portion of the sleeve further comprises a base portion and a skirt portion, and upon removal of the upper portion of the sleeve therefrom, the lower portion of the sleeve forms the decorative covering disposed about the flower pot, wherein the base portion of the lower portion of the sleeve is substantially adjacent to and surrounds the outer peripheral surface of the flower pot and the skirt portion of the lower portion of the sleeve extends above the flower pot and surrounds at least a portion of the floral grouping disposed in the flower pot.  
   
   
       9 . The decorative covering of  claim 1  wherein the sleeve further comprises a base portion and a skirt portion.  
   
   
       10 . The decorative covering of  claim 1  wherein the lower end of the sleeve is substantially closed.  
   
   
       11 . The decorative covering of  claim 1  wherein the sleeve has at least one gusset formed therein.  
   
   
       12 . The decorative covering of  claim 1  further comprising a banding element for holding the sleeve in a position about the flower pot when the flower pot is disposed in the inner retaining space of the sleeve.  
   
   
       13 . The decorative covering of  claim 1  wherein a bonding material is disposed on at least a portion of at least one of the sleeve and the flower pot for holding the sleeve in a position about the flower pot when the flower pot is disposed in the inner retaining space of the sleeve.  
   
   
       14 . The decorative covering of  claim 1  wherein the sleeve is provided in the form of a pad comprising a plurality of sleeves, and wherein at least one sleeve is removed from the pad to form the decorative covering for the flower pot.  
   
   
       15 . The decorative covering of  claim 5  wherein the graphic image is visible on a portion of the upper portion of the sleeve.  
   
   
       16 . The decorative covering of  claim 5  wherein the graphic image is visible on a portion of the lower portion of the sleeve.  
   
   
       17 . The decorative covering of  claim 5  wherein the lower portion of the sleeve further comprises a base portion and a skirt portion.  
   
   
       18 . The decorative covering of  claim 5  wherein the lower end of the sleeve is substantially closed.  
   
   
       19 . The decorative covering of  claim 5  wherein the sleeve has at least one gusset formed therein.  
   
   
       20 . The decorative covering of  claim 5  further comprising a banding element for holding the sleeve in a position about the flower pot when the flower pot is disposed in the inner retaining space of the sleeve.  
   
   
       21 . The decorative covering of  claim 5  wherein a bonding material is disposed on at least a portion of at least one of the sleeve and the flower pot for holding the sleeve in a position about the flower pot when the flower pot is disposed in the inner retaining space of the sleeve.  
   
   
       22 . The decorative covering of  claim 5  wherein the sleeve is provided in the form of a pad comprising a plurality of sleeves, and wherein at least one sleeve is removed from the pad to form the decorative covering for the flower pot.  
   
   
       23 . A decorative covering for a flower pot, comprising: 
 a sleeve having an upper end, a lower end, and a retaining space, the sleeve having a graphic image disposed on at least a portion thereof wherein the graphic image is visible on at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve, wherein the graphic image is a rendering of at least a portion of a musical score, wherein the retaining space of the sleeve is sized to hold a flower pot such that at least a portion of the sleeve is substantially adjacent to and surrounds an outer peripheral surface of the flower pot and the graphic image is prominently displayed on the sleeve when the flower pot is disposed in the inner retaining space of the sleeve.    
   
   
       24 . The decorative covering of  claim 23  wherein the sleeve is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of paper, cloth, polymeric film, foil, combinations thereof and laminations thereof.  
   
   
       25 . The decorative covering of  claim 23  wherein the sleeve is formed of a material having a thickness in range of from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mil.  
   
   
       26 . The decorative covering of  claim 23  wherein the sleeve further comprises a base portion and a skirt portion, wherein the base portion of the lower portion of the sleeve is substantially adjacent to and surrounds the outer peripheral surface of the flower pot and the skirt portion of the lower portion of the sleeve extends above the flower pot and surrounds at least a portion of the floral grouping disposed in the flower pot.  
   
   
       27 . The decorative covering of  claim 23  wherein the sleeve further comprises a base portion and a skirt portion.  
   
   
       28 . The decorative covering of  claim 23  wherein the lower end of the sleeve is substantially closed.  
   
   
       29 . The decorative covering of  claim 23  wherein the sleeve has at least one gusset formed therein.  
   
   
       30 . The decorative covering of  claim 23  further comprising a banding element for holding the sleeve in a position about the flower pot when the flower pot is disposed in the inner retaining space of the sleeve.  
   
   
       31 . The decorative covering of  claim 23  wherein a bonding material is disposed on at least a portion of at least one of the sleeve and the flower pot for holding the sleeve in a position about the flower pot when the flower pot is disposed in the inner retaining space of the sleeve.  
   
   
       32 . The decorative covering of  claim 23  wherein the sleeve is provided in the form of a pad comprising a plurality of sleeves, and wherein at least one sleeve is removed from the pad to form the decorative covering for the flower pot.  
   
   
       33 . A decorative covering for a flower pot, comprising: 
 a sleeve having an upper end, a lower end, and a retaining space, the sleeve having a graphic image disposed on at least a portion thereof wherein the graphic image is visible on at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve, the sleeve having an upper portion and a lower portion wherein the upper portion is detachable from the lower portion via a detaching element, wherein the graphic image is a rendering of at least a portion of a musical score, wherein the retaining space of the sleeve is sized to hold a flower pot such that at least a portion of the lower portion of the sleeve is substantially adjacent to and surrounds an outer peripheral surface of the flower pot and the upper portion of the sleeve surrounds at least a portion of a floral grouping disposed in the flower pot and the graphic image is prominently displayed on the sleeve when the flower pot is disposed in the inner retaining space of the sleeve.    
   
   
       34 . The decorative covering of  claim 33  wherein the sleeve is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of paper, cloth, polymeric film, foil, combinations thereof and laminations thereof.  
   
   
       35 . The decorative covering of  claim 33  wherein the sleeve is formed of a material having a thickness in range of from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mil.  
   
   
       36 . The decorative covering of  claim 33  wherein the lower portion of the sleeve further comprises a base portion and a skirt portion, and upon removal of the upper portion of the sleeve therefrom, the lower portion of the sleeve forms the decorative covering disposed about the flower pot, wherein the base portion of the lower portion of the sleeve is substantially adjacent to and surrounds the outer peripheral surface of the flower pot and the skirt portion of the lower portion of the sleeve extends above the flower pot and surrounds at least a portion of the floral grouping disposed in the flower pot.  
   
   
       37 . The decorative covering of  claim 33  wherein the graphic image is visible on a portion of the upper portion of the sleeve.  
   
   
       38 . The decorative covering of  claim 33  wherein the graphic image is visible on a portion of the lower portion of the sleeve.  
   
   
       39 . The decorative covering of  claim 33  wherein the lower portion of the sleeve further comprises a base portion and a skirt portion.  
   
   
       40 . The decorative covering of  claim 33  wherein the lower end of the sleeve is substantially closed.  
   
   
       41 . The decorative covering of  claim 33  wherein the sleeve has at least one gusset formed therein.  
   
   
       42 . The decorative covering of  claim 33  further comprising a banding element for holding the sleeve in a position about the flower pot when the flower pot is disposed in the inner retaining space of the sleeve.  
   
   
       43 . The decorative covering of  claim 33  wherein a bonding material is disposed on at least a portion of at least one of the sleeve and the flower pot for holding the sleeve in a position about the flower pot when the flower pot is disposed in the inner retaining space of the sleeve.  
   
   
       44 . The decorative covering of  claim 33  wherein the sleeve is provided in the form of a pad comprising a plurality of sleeves, and wherein at least one sleeve is removed from the pad to form the decorative covering for the flower pot.