Decorative floral sleeve

Abstract

A decorative floral cover or sleeve is configured to be used in connection with containers for plants and floral arrangements. A single sheet of material is configured to cover the sidewall portions of container, without covering the base of the container. In one exemplary embodiment, the decorative floral cover comprises a lower edge including a plurality of outwardly projecting surfaces, such that when the decorative cover substantially conforms to the outer surface of the container, the plurality of outwardly projecting surfaces extend below a bottom of the container, so that the outwardly projecting surfaces must be bent to enable the bottom of the container to contact a support surface the container is placed upon. The cover can be formed of a specialty paper that substantially does not wick water when an edge of the specialty paper is placed in water.

1 . A decorative cover for a floral container, comprising a flexible substrate, such that when a first portion of the substrate is coupled with a second portion of the substrate, the substrate substantially conforms to and covers an outer surface of the container, the substrate comprising one or more elements selected from a group consisting essentially of: 
 (a) a lower edge comprising a plurality of outwardly projecting surfaces, such that when the substrate substantially conforms to the outer surface of the container, the plurality of outwardly projecting surfaces extend below a bottom of the container, so that the outwardly projecting surfaces can be bent to enable the bottom of the container to contact a support surface on which the container is placed;    (b) an upper edge comprising a plurality of outwardly projecting surfaces, each outwardly projecting surface being configured to bend outwardly and away from a main body of the substrate, such that when the substrate substantially conforms to the outer surface of the container, the plurality of outwardly projecting surfaces extend outwardly and away from a top portion of the container;    (c) a generally T-shaped opening configured to receive a hanger, so that the hanger can extend over an object to support the container and the decorative cover from the object; and    (d) a specialty paper that substantially does not wick water when an edge of the specialty paper is placed in water.    
   
   
       2 . A decorative cover for a floral container, comprising a flexible substrate, such that when a first portion of the substrate is coupled with a second portion of the substrate, the substrate substantially conforms to and covers an outer surface of the container, the substrate comprising: 
 (a) a specialty paper that substantially does not wick water when an edge of the specialty paper is placed in water; and    (b) a lower edge having a plurality of outwardly projecting surfaces, each outwardly projecting surface being configured to extend beyond the outer surface of the container to enable the container to be placed upon a support surface, so that when a bottom of the container contacts the support surface, the outwardly projecting surfaces are bent outwardly and away from a main body of the substrate.    
   
   
       3 . The decorative cover of  claim 2 , wherein the specialty paper comprises a synthetic paper.  
   
   
       4 . The decorative cover of  claim 2 , wherein the substrate further comprises a substantially T-shaped opening configured to receive a hanger, such that when properly assembled, a combination comprising the container, the decorative cover, and the hanger can be attached to a supporting object.  
   
   
       5 . The decorative cover of  claim 2 , wherein the substrate further comprises an upper edge having a plurality of outwardly projecting surfaces, each outwardly projecting surface being configured to bend outwardly and away from a main body of the substrate, such that when the substrate substantially conforms to the outer surface of the container, the plurality of outwardly projecting surfaces extend outwardly and away from a top portion of the container.  
   
   
       6 . The decorative cover of  claim 2 , wherein one of the first portion of the substrate and the second portion of the substrate comprises an adhesive layer configured to facilitate coupling the first portion with the second portion.  
   
   
       7 . A decorative system comprising: 
 (a) an open-ended container defining a volume, the container comprising at least one side wall, a bottom, and an opening in the side wall, the opening being disposed adjacent an upper portion of the container defining an open end;    (b) a decorative cover configured to substantially conform to and cover an outer surface of the container, the decorative cover comprising a flexible substrate, such that when a first portion of the substrate is coupled with a second portion of the substrate, the substrate substantially conforms to and covers the outer surface of the container, the substrate comprising a specialty paper that substantially does not wick water when an edge of the specialty paper is placed in water, the substrate further comprising an opening configured to substantially align with the opening in the container when the decorative cover is used to cover the outer surface of the container; and    (c) a support structure configured to pass through the openings in the container and in the decorative cover, to enable the decorative system to be attached to an object with the support structure.    
   
   
       8 . The decorative system of  claim 7 , wherein the openings in the container and the substrate are generally circular, and wherein the support structure comprises a ribbon.  
   
   
       9 . The decorative system of  claim 7 , wherein the openings in the container and the substrate are generally T-shaped, and wherein the support structure comprises a clip having a corresponding T-shaped portion configured to engage the openings in the container and in the substrate.  
   
   
       10 . The decorative system of  claim 7 , wherein the support structure comprises a clip.  
   
   
       11 . The decorative system of  claim 7 , wherein the substrate comprises an upper edge comprising a plurality of outwardly projecting surfaces, each outwardly projecting surface being configured to bend outwardly and away from a main body of the substrate, such that when the substrate substantially conforms to the outer surface of the container, the plurality of outwardly projecting surfaces extend outwardly and away from a top portion of the container.  
   
   
       12 . The decorative system of  claim 7 , wherein the substrate comprises a lower edge having a plurality of outwardly projecting surfaces, such that when the substrate substantially conforms to the outer surface of the container, the plurality of outwardly projecting surfaces extend below a bottom of the container and are bent to enable the bottom of the container to contact a support surface on which the container is placed.  
   
   
       13 . The decorative system of  claim 7 , wherein the substrate comprises an upper edge, a lower edge, a first outer edge, and a second outer edge, the first outer edge corresponding to the first portion and the second outer edge corresponding to the second portion, a first slit being disposed adjacent to the first outer edge and extending from the lower edge toward the upper edge, a second slit being disposed adjacent to the second outer edge and extending from the upper edge toward the lower edge, the first and second slits cooperating to enable the first portion and the second portion to be coupled together to transform the substrate from a generally planar structure to a three-dimensional structure substantially conforming to the outer surface of the container.  
   
   
       14 . The decorative system of  claim 7 , wherein the support structure comprises: 
 (a) a vertically elongated front leg having upper and lower ends and a front surface;    (b) a rear mounting hook extending from the upper end of the front leg, first rearwardly and then downwardly, said rear mounting hook being configured to engage an upper portion of an object, to secure the support structure to the object with the front leg depending from the mounting hook on a side of the object;    (c) said front leg including a container hook adjacent to its upper end, said container hook having a base portion that extends forwardly from the front leg and a front portion which extends upwardly from the base portion;    (d) a hook throat defined by and between the front portion of the container hook and an adjacent upper front portion of the front leg;    (e) said front portion of the container hook being sized and shaped to be inserted into the opening in the container;    (f) said hook throat being sized and shaped to receive and accommodate a portion of the container side wall disposed above the opening in the container, following insertion of the front portion of the container hook through the opening in the container;    (g) said front surface of said front leg making stabilizing contact with the container below the opening in the container when the container is hanging from said container hook; and    (h) wherein the rear mounting hook has a downwardly directed hook entrance that is initially narrower than the upper portion of the object to which the support structure is to be attached, said rear mounting hook being readily bendable in position away from the front leg, so that the downwardly directed hook throat can be enlarged for receiving the upper portion of the object, said rear mounting hook being sufficiently elastomeric to spring back towards an initial position after being placed on the support structure, and said front leg including a rearwardly directed stiffening web.    
   
   
       15 . The decorative system of  claim 7 , wherein the support structure comprises: 
 (a) a vertically elongated front leg having upper and lower ends and a front surface;    (b) a rear mounting hook extending from the upper end of the leg, first rearwardly and then downwardly, said rear mounting hook being configured to engage an upper portion of the object, to secure the support structure to the object with the front leg depending from the mounting hook on a side of the object;    (c) said front leg including a container hook adjacent to its upper end, said container hook having a base portion that extends forwardly from the leg and a front portion that extends upwardly from the base portion;    (d) a hook throat defined by and between the front portion of the container hook and an adjacent upper front portion of the front leg;    (e) said front portion of the container hook being sized and shaped to be inserted into the opening in the container;    (f) said hook throat being sized and shaped to receive and accommodate a portion of the side wall of the container disposed above the opening in the container, following insertion of the front portion of the container hook through the opening in the container;    (g) said front surface of said front leg making stabilizing contact with the container below the opening in the container when the container is hanging from said container hook; and    (h) a web extending rearwardly from at least a lower portion of the front leg of the support structure and increasing in depth as it extends downwardly, said web contacting the object to help establish the attitude of the support structure on the object.    
   
   
       16 . The decorative system of  claim 7 , wherein the opening in the container comprises a horizontally elongated upper portion and a vertically elongated lower portion, and wherein the support structure comprises: 
 (a) a front part;    (b) a rear mounting hook extending from the front part rearwardly and then downwardly, said rear mounting hook being configured to engage an upper portion of an object, to secure the support structure to the object, with the front part depending from the mounting hook on a side of the object;    (c) said front part including a container hook having a base portion that extends forwardly from the front portion and a front portion that extends upwardly from the base portion;    (d) a hook throat defined by and between the front portion of the container hook and an adjacent portion of the front part;    (e) said base portion of the container hook being configured to extend through the opening in the container, such that when the decorative system is assembled, a portion of the container side wall above the opening is disposed adjacent to the hook throat, and a lower edge of the portion of the container side wall above the opening rests on the base portion of the container hook;    (f) when the system is assembled, a weight of the container and its contents are transferred to the container mount by contact between an edge surface of the portion of the container side wall above the opening and the base portion of the container hook;    (h) the front part of the container mount comprises a front leg which depends from the rear mounting hook along a side of the object, the container hook being disposed adjacent to the upper end of the front leg, and the container contacting said front leg below the opening in the container when the decorative system is assembled; and    (i) wherein the front leg of the container mount includes a stem portion extending vertically downwardly from the front portion of the container hook, wherein the stem portion fits into the lower portion of the opening in the container.    
   
   
       17 . The decorative system of  claim 7 , wherein the opening in the container comprises a horizontally elongated upper portion and a vertically elongated lower portion, and wherein the support structure comprises: 
 (a) a vertically elongated front leg having upper and lower ends and a front surface;    (b) a rear mounting hook extending from the upper end of the leg, first rearwardly and then downwardly, said rear mounting hook being configured to engage an upper portion of an object, to secure the support structure to the object with the front leg depending from the mounting hook on a side of the object;    (c) said front leg including a container hook adjacent to its upper end, said container hook having a base portion that extends forwardly from the leg and a front portion that extends upwardly from the base portion;    (d) a hook throat defined by and between the front portion of the container hook and an adjacent upper front portion of the front leg;    (e) said front portion of the container hook being sized and shaped to be inserted into the opening in the container;    (f) the front leg including a stem portion extending vertically downwardly from the front portion of the container hook, and the front portion of the container hook being configured to fit into the upper portion of the opening in the container, and the stem portion being configured to fit into the lower portion of the opening in the container, with an interfit of the stem portion of the front leg with the lower portion of the opening in the container functioning to brace the container against sideways rotation when the decorative system is assembled;    (g) said hook throat being dimensioned to receive and accommodate a portion of the container side wall disposed above the opening in the container, following insertion of the front portion of the container hook through the opening in the container; and    (h) said front surface of said front leg making stabilizing contact with the container below the opening in the container when the container is hanging from said container hook.    
   
   
       18 . A method for decorating a floral container, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a decorative cover configured to substantially conform to and cover an outer surface of the container, the decorative cover comprising a substantially flexible substrate, the substrate comprising a specialty paper that generally does not wick water when an edge of the specialty paper is placed in water; and    (b) coupling a first portion of the decorative cover with a second portion of the decorative cover, such that the decorative cover substantially conforms to and covers the outer surface of the container.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the step of providing a decorative cover comprises the step of providing an edge on the flexible substrate comprising a plurality of outwardly projecting surfaces, each outwardly projecting surface being configured to extend beyond the outer surface of the container, and further comprising the step of bending the outwardly projecting surfaces outwardly and away from a main body of the substrate, such that the outwardly projecting surfaces extend outwardly and away from the container.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the step of providing a decorative cover comprises the step of providing a lower edge on the flexible substrate comprising a plurality of outwardly projecting surfaces, each outwardly projecting surface being configured to extend beyond a bottom of the container, and further comprising the step of bending the outwardly projecting surfaces outwardly and away from a main body of the substrate and from the bottom of the container, such that the outwardly projecting surfaces extend outwardly and away from the container, the outwardly projecting surfaces being oriented substantially parallel to a support surface when the bottom of the container is placed upon the support surface.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the step of coupling a first portion of the decorative cover with a second portion of the decorative cover, such that the decorative cover substantially conforms to and covers the outer surface of the container comprises the step of transforming the decorative cover from a generally planar configuration to a three-dimensional configuration substantially conforming to the outer surface of the container by engaging a first slit in the decorative cover with a second slit in the decorative cover, the first slit being disposed adjacent to the first portion of the decorative cover and extending from a lower edge of the decorative cover towards an upper edge of the decorative cover, the second slit being disposed adjacent to the second portion of the decorative cover and extending from the upper edge of the decorative cover towards the lower edge of the decorative cover.  
   
   
       22 . A decorative kit comprising: 
 (a) a container defining a volume, the container comprising a bottom portion and a sidewall portion, and an opening in the sidewall portion, the opening being disposed adjacent to an upper portion of the container;    (b) a decorative cover configured to substantially conform to and cover the sidewall portion of the container, the decorative cover comprising a flexible substrate that is initially substantially planar, such that when a first portion of the substrate is coupled with a second portion of the substrate, the substrate substantially conforms to and covers the sidewall portion of the container, the substrate further comprising an opening configured to substantially align with the opening in the container when the decorative cover is used to cover the sidewall portion of the container;    (c) a coordinating gift tag; and    (d) a coupler configured to attach the coordinating gift tag to the container after the decorative cover has been placed on the container, by engaging the openings in the container and in the decorative cover.    
   
   
       23 . The decorative kit of  claim 22 , wherein the substrate comprises a specialty paper that generally does not wick water when an edge of the specialty paper is placed in water.  
   
   
       24 . The decorative kit of  claim 22 , wherein the substrate comprises a lower edge having a plurality of outwardly projecting surfaces, such that when the substrate substantially conforms to the outer surface of the container, the plurality of outwardly projecting surfaces extend below a bottom of the container and can be bent to enable the bottom of the container to contact a support surface on which the container is placed.