Decorative grass having an appearance simulating the appearance of cloth

Abstract

Decorative grasses having an appearance and/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 and/or texture of cloth.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A decorative grass having an appearance and/or texture simulating the appearance and/or texture of cloth, the decorative grass comprising a plurality of segments, wherein at least a portion of at least one surface of the segments is provided with spatially disposed holes formed therein that provide the appearance and/or texture simulating the appearance and/or texture of cloth. 
     
     
         2 . The decorative grass of  claim 1 , wherein the at least a portion of at least one surface of the segments further comprises at least one modification selected from the group consisting of printing, embossing, lacquering, flocking, application of a foamable lacquer, application of a foamable ink, extrusion, lamination, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The decorative grass of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one additional modification cooperates with the spatially disposed holes to provide the appearance and/or texture simulating the appearance and/or texture of cloth. 
     
     
         4 . The decorative grass of  claim 1 , wherein the decorative grass is produced in the absence of extrusion and stretching steps, which draw down the decorative grass and reduce at least one of a thickness and a width of the decorative grass. 
     
     
         5 . The decorative grass of  claim 1 , wherein each segment of decorative grass has a thickness in a range of from about 0.5 mil to about 10 mil. 
     
     
         6 . The decorative grass of  claim 1 , wherein the decorative grass is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of polymeric film, paper, metalized polymeric material, and combinations and laminations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The decorative grass of  claim 1 , wherein the material from which the decorative grass is constructed is a laminated polymeric material. 
     
     
         8 . The decorative grass of  claim 1 , wherein the segments of decorative grass are provided with a substantially flat configuration. 
     
     
         9 . A method of producing a decorative grass having an appearance and/or texture simulating the appearance and/or texture of cloth, the method comprising the steps of:
 cutting at least a portion of a sheet or web of material into segments to produce decorative grass having an appearance and/or texture simulating the appearance and/or texture of cloth, the decorative grass comprising a plurality of segments, wherein at least a portion of at least one surface of the segments is provided with spatially disposed holes formed therein that provide the appearance and/or texture simulating the appearance and/or texture of cloth.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the decorative grass is produced in the absence of extrusion and stretching steps, which draw down the decorative grass and reduce at least one of a thickness and a width of the decorative grass. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of at least one surface of the segments further comprises at least one modification selected from the group consisting of printing, embossing, lacquering, flocking, application of a foamable lacquer, application of a foamable ink, extrusion, lamination, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one additional modification cooperates with the spatially disposed holes to provide the appearance and/or texture simulating the appearance and/or texture of cloth. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the sheet or web of material has a thickness in a range of from about 0.5 mil to about 10 mil. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the sheet or web of material is selected from the group consisting of polymeric film, paper, metalized polymeric material, and combinations and laminations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the sheet or web of material is a laminated polymeric material. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of cutting at least a portion of the sheet or web of material to produce decorative grass comprises the steps of:
 slitting a portion of the sheet or web of material to provide a slit material having a plurality of strips; and   cutting the plurality of strips of the slit material into segments to form decorative grass having an appearance and/or texture simulating the appearance and/or texture of cloth on at least a portion of one surface thereof.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of packaging the decorative grass. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the segments of decorative grass are provided with a substantially flat configuration.