Decorative cover for flower pot or floral grouping formed of polymeric materials having a texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper

Abstract

A decorative cover positionable about a flower pot or floral grouping is formed of a polymeric material or a laminated polymeric material. The decorative cover has a texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper on at least a portion of one surface thereof while exhibiting improved durability and decreased sensitivity to water, humidity and pressure when compared to a decorative cover formed of paper. In addition to the texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper, the decorative cover may further be provided with printed and/or embossed patterns, which may be in or out of register with one another.

1 . A method for providing a decorative cover for a flower pot wherein the decorative cover is provided with a texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper on at least a portion thereof while exhibiting improved durability and decreased sensitivity to water, humidity and pressure when compared to a decorative cover formed of paper, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a flower pot having an outer peripheral surface;    providing a polymeric material wherein at least a portion of at least one surface of the polymeric material is modified to provide an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of paper while exhibiting improved durability and decreased sensitivity to water, humidity and pressure when compared to paper; and    forming the polymeric material about the outer peripheral surface of the flower pot to provide the decorative cover wherein at least a portion of at least one surface of the decorative cover is provided with the texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper while exhibiting improved durability and decreased sensitivity to water, humidity and pressure when compared to a decorative cover formed of paper.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein, in the step of providing a polymeric material, the modification to provide the texture or appearance simulating paper is selected from the group consisting of printing, embossing, texturing, matting, flocking, lacquering and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein, in the step of providing a polymeric material, the polymeric material has a bonding material disposed on at least a portion of at least one surface thereof whereby the polymeric material may be bondingly connected to itself and/or to the flower pot so that the polymeric material may be secured generally about the flower pot.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the bonding material is a pressure sensitive adhesive.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein, in the step of providing the polymeric material, at least a portion of at least one surface of the polymeric material is further provided with an embossed pattern, a printed pattern or embossed and printed patterns which enhance the aesthetic characteristics of the polymeric material having an appearance or texture simulating the appearance and texture of paper.  
   
   
       6 . The method of claim wherein at least a portion of at least one surface of the polymeric material is further provided with embossed and printed patterns thereon.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein, in the step of providing the polymeric material, the polymeric material is an expanded core polymeric material having a thickness in the range of from about 0.5 mil to about 10 mil.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein, in the step of providing the polymeric material, the polymeric material is a flexible laminated polymeric material comprising: 
 a polymeric material;    a material laminated to the polymeric material, wherein the material is selected from the group consisting of a polymeric material, a substantially water impervious polymeric material, an expanded core polymeric film, a metallized film, foil, and combinations thereof; and    wherein at least a portion of at least one surface of at least one of the polymeric material and the material laminated thereto is modified so as to provide the flexible laminated polymeric material with a texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper on at least a portion thereof while exhibiting improved durability and decreased sensitivity to water, humidity and pressure when compared to paper.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the polymeric material has a thickness in the range of from about 0.5 mil to about 10 mil and the material laminated thereto has a thickness in the range of from about 0.5 mil to about 10 mil.  
   
   
       10 . A method for providing a decorative cover for a floral grouping wherein the decorative cover is provided with a texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper on at least a portion thereof while exhibiting improved durability and decreased sensitivity to water, humidity and pressure when compared to a decorative cover formed of paper, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a floral grouping;    providing a polymeric material wherein at least a portion of at least one surface of the polymeric material is modified to provide an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of paper while exhibiting improved durability and decreased sensitivity to water, humidity and pressure when compared to paper; and    wrapping the polymeric material about at least a portion of the floral grouping to provide the decorative cover wherein at least a portion of at least one surface of the decorative cover is provided with the texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper while exhibiting improved durability and decreased sensitivity to water, humidity and pressure when compared to a decorative cover formed of paper.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein, in the step of providing a polymeric material, the modification to provide the texture or appearance simulating paper is selected from the group consisting of printing, embossing, texturing, matting, flocking, lacquering and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein, in the step of providing a polymeric material, the polymeric material has a bonding material disposed on at least a portion of at least one surface thereof whereby the polymeric material may be bondingly connected to itself and/or to the floral grouping so that the polymeric material may be secured generally about the floral grouping.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the bonding material is a pressure sensitive adhesive.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein, in the step of providing the polymeric material, at least a portion of at least one surface of the polymeric material is further provided with at least one of an embossed pattern, a printed pattern and combinations thereof which enhance the aesthetic characteristics of the polymeric material having the appearance or texture simulating the appearance and texture of paper.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein at least a portion of at least one surface of the polymeric material is further provided with embossed and printed patterns thereon.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10  wherein, in the step of providing a polymeric material, the polymeric material is an expanded core polymeric material having a thickness in the range of from about 0.5 mil to about 10 mil.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 10  wherein, in the step of providing the polymeric material, the polymeric material is further defined as a flexible laminated polymeric material comprising: 
 a polymeric material;    a material laminated to the polymeric material, wherein the material is selected from the group consisting of a polymeric material, a substantially water impervious polymeric material, an expanded core polymeric film, a metallized film, foil, and combinations thereof; and    wherein at least a portion of at least one surface of at least one of the polymeric material and the material laminated thereto is modified so as to provide the flexible laminated polymeric material with a texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper on at least a portion thereof while exhibiting improved durability and decreased sensitivity to water, humidity and pressure when compared to paper.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the polymeric material has a thickness in the range of from about 0.5 mil to about 10 mil and the material laminated thereto has a thickness in the range of from about 0.5 mil to about 10 mil.