Floral Packaging Formed of Oxo-Biodegradable Polymeric Materials and Methods of Producing and Using Same

Abstract

A method for forming floral packaging materials from oxo-biodegradable polymeric materials is provided. Methods of utilizing such floral packaging materials are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for providing a decorative covering for a floral grouping and/or a flower pot, the method comprising the step of:
 disposing a decorative covering about at least a portion of a floral grouping and/or a flower pot, wherein at least a portion of the decorative covering is formed of a material consisting essentially of an oxo-biodegradable polymeric material, and wherein the decorative covering is provided with at least one of a color, a design, a portion of a design, a decorative pattern, and a portion of a decorative pattern disposed on at least a portion thereof.   
     
     
         2 . A method for providing a decorative covering for a floral grouping, the method comprising the step of:
 disposing a decorative covering about at least a portion of a floral grouping, wherein at least a portion of the decorative covering is formed of a material consisting essentially of an oxo-biodegradable polymeric material, and wherein the decorative covering is provided with at least one of a color, a design, a portion of a design, a decorative pattern, and a portion of a decorative pattern disposed on at least a portion thereof.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the floral grouping has at least one of a bloom portion and a stem portion. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the step of securing the decorative covering about the floral grouping. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the decorative covering is further characterized as having a bonding material disposed on at least a portion of at least one surface thereof for bondingly holding the decorative covering about the floral grouping. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the decorative covering comprises a sheet of material. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the decorative covering comprises a sleeve having an upper end, a lower end, an outer peripheral surface, an inner peripheral surface, and an inner retaining space, and wherein at least a portion of the floral grouping is disposed in at least a portion of the inner retaining space of the sleeve. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the color, design, and/or decorative pattern or portion thereof is provided by at least one of printing, etching, embossing, texturing, flocking, coating, and lacquering. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the color(s), design(s), and/or decorative pattern(s) simulate the texture and/or appearance of cloth. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the color(s), design(s), and/or decorative pattern(s) simulate the texture and/or appearance of paper. 
     
     
         11 . A method for providing a decorative covering for a flower pot, the method comprising the step of:
 disposing a decorative covering about at least a portion of a flower pot, wherein at least a portion of the decorative covering is formed of a material that consists essentially of an oxo-biodegradable polymeric material, and wherein the decorative covering is provided with at least one of a color, a design, a portion of a design, a decorative pattern, and a portion of a decorative pattern disposed on at least a portion thereof.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of securing the decorative covering about the flower pot. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the decorative covering is further characterized as having a bonding material disposed on at least a portion of at least one surface thereof for bondingly holding the decorative covering about the flower pot. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the decorative covering comprises a sheet of material, and wherein a lower end of the flower pot is disposed on an upper surface of the sheet of material, and the sheet of material is formed about at least a portion of an outer peripheral surface of the flower pot to provide the decorative covering. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the decorative covering comprises a preformed flower pot cover having an open upper end, a closed lower end, an inner peripheral surface, an outer peripheral surface, and an inner retaining space, the preformed flower pot cover having a plurality of overlapping folds formed therein, wherein at least a portion of the overlapping folds are bondingly connected to adjacently disposed portions of the preformed flower pot cover, and wherein at least a portion of the flower pot is disposed into at least a portion of an inner retaining space of the preformed flower pot cover. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the decorative covering comprises a sleeve having an upper end, a lower end, an outer peripheral surface, an inner peripheral surface, and an inner retaining space, and wherein at least a portion of the flower pot is disposed into at least a portion of the inner retaining space of the sleeve. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the sleeve is further defined as comprising a lower portion and an upper portion detachable therefrom. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the color, design, and/or decorative pattern or portion thereof is provided by at least one of printing, etching, embossing, texturing, flocking, coating, and lacquering. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the color(s), design(s), and/or decorative pattern(s) simulate the texture and/or appearance of cloth. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the color(s), design(s), and/or decorative pattern(s) simulate the texture and/or appearance of paper.