US20030126837A1 - Wrapper for a floral grouping formed of a sheet of material having a contoured configuration - Google Patents

Abstract

A wrapper for a floral grouping includes a sheet of material having a contoured configuration such that the wrapper formed therefrom has a contoured configuration which closely approximates the configuration of the floral grouping, as well as methods for making same. The sheet of material may be constructed of waxed tissue, non-waxed tissue or a tissue substitute, such as a tissue having a texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of waxed tissue.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/760,689, filed Jan. 16, 2001, now abandoned.[0001]
• This application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 10/298,014, filed Nov. 14, 2002; which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/736,747, filed Dec. 14, 2000, now abandoned; which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/076,231, filed May 12, 1998, now abandoned; which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/717,791, filed Sep. 23, 1996, now abandoned; which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 08/438,818, filed May 11, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,557,882, issued Sep. 24, 1996.[0002]
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OF DEVELOPMENT
• Not Applicable.[0003]
BACKGROUND
• The present invention relates to methods of wrapping a floral grouping with a wrapper and, in particular, but not limited to, methods of wrapping a floral grouping with a wrapper formed of a sheet of material having a configuration contoured to approximate the configuration of the floral grouping.[0004]
• In the past, waxed tissue for wrapping floral bouquets has been sold wherein the waxed tissue was square or rectangular shaped, and upon wrapping such waxed tissue about the floral grouping, such as a bouquet of real or artificial cut flowers, portions of the material were overlapped so that the waxed tissue could be secured in a position about the floral grouping. Such waxed tissue has also been sold on rolls wherein rectangular or square sheets of material can be removed from the rolls for wrapping about floral groupings. However, such methods of wrapping floral groupings with square or rectangular sheets of material results in excess material being incorporated in the wrapper due to the overlapping portions of material in the wrapper, and therefore a need exists in the art to provide sheets of material for wrapping floral groupings which are more cost efficient and less bulky, thereby providing a more attractive and desirable wrapper for a floral grouping.[0005]
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sheet of material constructed in accordance with the present invention, the sheet of material having one corner turned upwardly to show a lower surface thereof.[0006]
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a sheet of material constructed in accordance with the present invention, the sheet of material having one corner turned upwardly to show a lower surface thereof.[0007]
• FIG. 3 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a sheet of material constructed in accordance with the present invention.[0008]
• FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the sheet of material of FIG. 3 having a floral grouping disposed thereon.[0009]
• FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the sheet of material and floral grouping of FIG. 4, wherein the sheet of material is being wrapped about the floral grouping.[0010]
• FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a wrapper for the floral grouping formed from the sheet of material of FIG. 4.[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention relates to sheets of material which may be employed to wrap floral groupings which avoid the defects and disadvantages of the prior art. The sheets of material of the present invention are provided with a contoured configuration which approximates the configuration of the floral grouping to be wrapped therein, thereby reducing the amount of material required to produce the wrapper and providing a more cost efficient and less bulky wrapper for floral groupings.[0012]
• Turning now to the Drawings, shown in FIG. 1 is a sheet of[0013]material10 constructed in accordance with the present invention. The sheet ofmaterial10 has anupper surface12, a lower surface14, afirst side16, a second side18, a third side20 and afourth side22. The sheet ofmaterial10 is provided with a substantially trapezoidal configuration, that is, the first andsecond sides16 and18 of the sheet ofmaterial10 are substantially parallel whereas the third andfourth sides20 and22 of the sheet ofmaterial10 are not parallel.
• The sheet of[0014]material10 may be constructed of any flexible material which can function as described herein in accordance with the present invention. Preferably, the sheet ofmaterial10 is constructed of waxed tissue. However, the sheet ofmaterial10 may be constructed of a tissue substitute, such as a polymeric film provided with a texture and/or appearance simulating the texture and/or appearance of waxed tissue. The sheet ofmaterial10 may also be constructed of a non-waxed tissue.
• Any thickness or stiffness of the sheet of[0015]material10 may be utilized in accordance with the present invention as long as the sheet ofmaterial10 is flexible and may be wrapped about at least a portion of a floral grouping, as described herein. Generally, the sheet ofmaterial10 will have a thickness in a range of from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mil, and desirably in a range of from about 0.2 mil to about 10 mil.
• The term “polymer film” when used herein refers to a synthetic polymer such as a polypropylene or polyethylene or a naturally occurring polymer such as cellophane. A polymer film is relatively strong and not as subject to tearing (substantially non-tearable), as might be the case with tissue.[0016]
• The sheet of[0017]material10 may vary in color. Further, the sheet ofmaterial10 may be provided with decorative patterns or designs which are printed, etched, and/or embossed on at least a portion of one of the upper andlower surfaces12 and14 thereof. In addition, the sheet ofmaterial10 may have various colorings, coatings, flocking and/or metallic finishes applied separately or simultaneously, or the sheet ofmaterial10 may be characterized totally or partially by pearlescent, opaque, translucent, transparent, tinted, iridescent or the like qualities. Each of the above-named characteristics may occur alone or in combination. Moreover, each of the upper andlower surfaces12 and14 of the sheet ofmaterial10 may vary in the combination of such characteristics. Further, one of the above-named characteristics may occur on only a portion of one of the upper andlower surfaces12 and14 of the sheet ofmaterial10. For example, a lower portion of the sheet ofmaterial10 may be provided with a printed pattern thereon while an upper portion of the sheet ofmaterial10 may be transparent such that a bloom portion of a floral grouping disposed in a wrapper formed from the sheet ofmaterial10 may be visible through the wrapper.
• The sheet of[0018]material10 has alength24 extending generally between thefirst side16 and the second side18, respectively, sufficiently sized whereby the sheet ofmaterial10 can be wrapped about and encompass a substantial portion of a floral grouping. Thefirst side16 of the sheet ofmaterial10 has a width26 extending generally between the third side20 and thefourth side22, while the second side18 of the sheet ofmaterial10 has a width28 extending generally between the third side20 and thefourth side22 of the sheet ofmaterial10. The width26 of thefirst side16 of the sheet ofmaterial10 is substantially larger than the width28 of the second side18 of the sheet ofmaterial10, and therefore the sheet ofmaterial10 is tapered downwardly from thefirst side16 to the second side18 thereof to provide the sheet ofmaterial10 with a substantially trapezoidal configuration. The width26 of thefirst side16 of the sheet ofmaterial10 is sufficiently sized whereby an upper portion of the sheet ofmaterial10 extends over a substantial portion of a bloom portion of a floral grouping when the sheet ofmaterial10 has been wrapped about the floral grouping in accordance with the present invention, as described in detail herein below, whereas the width28 of the second side18 of the sheet ofmaterial10 is sufficiently sized whereby a lower portion of the sheet ofmaterial10 extends over a substantial portion of a stem portion of a floral grouping when the sheet ofmaterial10 has been wrapped about the floral grouping in accordance with the present invention, as described in detail herein below.
• Shown in FIG. 2 is a sheet of[0019]material10awhich is similar to the sheet ofmaterial10 shown in FIG. 1, except that a first side16aof the sheet ofmaterial10ais provided with a non-linear configuration, i.e., a scalloped configuration, whereas thefirst side16 of the sheet ofmaterial10 of FIG. 1 is provided with a linear configuration substantially as shown. While thefirst sides16 and16aof the sheets ofmaterial10 and10aare illustrated as having linear and non-linear configurations, respectively, it will be understood that the ends of the sheets of material of the present invention may be provided with other configurations, such as curved configurations, ornamental or non-ornamental configurations, geometrical, non-geometrical, asymmetrical or fanciful configurations. Further, it will be understood that any of the sides of the sheets ofmaterial10 or10amay be provided with such decorative configurations, either alone or in combination.
• Shown in FIGS.[0020]3-5 is another embodiment of a sheet of material designated therein by thereference numeral30. The sheet ofmaterial30 is similar to the sheet ofmaterial10 described herein before with reference to FIG. 1, except as described herein below. The sheet ofmaterial30 is provided with anupper surface32, a lower surface34 (FIG. 5), afirst side36, asecond side38, athird side40 and afourth side42. The sheet ofmaterial30 is provided with a substantially triangular configuration. The first andsecond sides36 and38 thereof are provided with a substantially curved configuration, wherein the configuration of thefirst side36 is substantially convex and the configuration of thesecond side38 is substantially concave. However, it is to be understood that the configuration of thefirst side36 may be substantially concave and the configuration of thesecond side38 may be substantially convex, or the configurations of the first andsecond sides36 and38 may both be substantially concave or substantially convex.
• The sheet of[0021]material30 is further provided with abonding material44 disposed on at least a portion of one of theupper surface32 and thelower surface34 thereof. For example, thebonding material44 is illustrated in FIGS.3-5 as being in the form of a strip ofbonding material44 which is disposed on a portion of theupper surface32 of the sheet ofmaterial30 substantially adjacent thefourth side42 thereof and extending between the first andsecond sides36 and38 of the sheet ofmaterial30. However, thebonding material44 may be disposed as spots or in any other geometric, non-geometric, asymmetric, or fanciful form, and in any pattern including covering either the entireupper surface32 and/or the entirelower surface34 of the sheet ofmaterial30. The bondingmaterial44 may be covered by a cover or release strip which can be removed prior to the use of the sheet ofmaterial30. The bondingmaterial44 can be applied by methods known to those of ordinary skill in their art. One method for disposing a bonding material, in this case an adhesive, is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,637, which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference.
• The term “bonding material” when used herein can include an adhesive, frequently a pressure sensitive adhesive, a cohesive or any adhesive/cohesive combination having adhesive qualities (i.e., qualities of adhesion or adhesion/cohesion, respectively) sufficient to cause the attachment of a portion of the sheet of[0022]material10 to itself or to a portion of a floral grouping. It will be appreciated that both adhesives and cohesives are known in the art, and both are commercially available. When thebonding material44 is a cohesive, a similar cohesive material must be placed on the opposite surface of the sheet ofmaterial30 for bondingly contacting and bondingly engaging with the cohesive material. Other types of bonding materials are known in the art, and it will be understood that different types of bonding materials not described herein which are known to a person of ordinary skill in the art may be employed in the present invention.
• The term “bonding material” when used herein also includes any type of material or thing which can be used to effect the bonding or connecting of the two adjacent portions of the material or sheet of material to effect the connection or bonding described herein. The term “bonding material” may also include ties, labels, bands, ribbons, strings, tapes (including single or double-sided adhesive tapes), staples or combinations thereof.[0023]
• While only the sheet of[0024]material30 is described and illustrated herein as having a bonding material disposed thereon, it will be understood that any of the sheets of material described herein may be provided with a bonding material disposed thereon in a similar manner, and that such sheets of material having a bonding material disposed thereon may be employed to wrap a floral grouping as described in detail herein below. It will also be understood that the sheet ofmaterial30 may be free of a bonding material.
• Shown in FIGS.[0025]4-6 is a method of use of one of the sheets of material of the present invention to wrap a floral grouping. While the method will be described in detail with reference to the sheet ofmaterial30, it will be understood that the sheets ofmaterial10 and10aor any other sheets of material described herein may be utilized to wrap a floral grouping in a substantially similar manner, and therefore the invention is not limited to the embodiment shown in FIGS.4-6.
• As illustrated in FIG. 4, a[0026]floral grouping50 is disposed on theupper surface32 of the sheet ofmaterial30. Thefloral grouping50 comprises abloom portion52 and astem portion54. Thefloral grouping50 is disposed on the sheet ofmaterial30 such that thebloom portion52 of thefloral grouping50, which is substantially wider than thestem portion54 of the floral grouping, is substantially adjacent the portion of the sheet ofmaterial30 having the greatest width, that is, a portion of thebloom portion52 is disposed substantially adjacent thefirst side36 of the sheet ofmaterial30, whereas a portion of thestem portion54 is disposed substantially adjacent thesecond side38 of the sheet ofmaterial30.
• The sheet of[0027]material30 is wrapped about thefloral grouping50 by any method known in the art. For example, as shown in FIGS.4-6, thethird side40 of the sheet ofmaterial30 may be placed over thefloral grouping50 as shown in FIG. 5. Then the sheet ofmaterial30 and thefloral grouping50 may be rolled in a direction toward thefourth side42 until the upper surface.32 of the sheet ofmaterial30 adjacent thefourth side42 engages thelower surface34 of the sheet ofmaterial30 such that thebonding material44 bondingly connects the upper andlower surfaces32 and34 of the sheet ofmaterial30, thereby forming adecorative wrapper60 for thefloral grouping50, substantially as shown in FIG. 6. Thedecorative wrapper60 substantially encompasses and surrounds a substantial portion of thefloral grouping50.
• In an optional method of wrapping the sheet of[0028]material30 about thefloral grouping50, following the placement of thethird side40 of the sheet ofmaterial30 over thefloral grouping50 as shown in FIG. 5, the fourth side.42 of the sheet ofmaterial30 may also be brought up and placed over thefloral grouping50 as well as thethird side40 of the sheet ofmaterial30 until theupper surface32 of the sheet ofmaterial30 adjacent thefourth side42 engages thelower surface34 of the sheet ofmaterial30 such that thebonding material44 bondingly connects the upper andlower surfaces32 and34 of the sheet ofmaterial30, thereby forming thedecorative wrapper60 which substantially surrounds and encompasses thefloral grouping50 as shown in FIG. 6.
• The[0029]decorative wrapper60 has an openupper end62 and a lower end64. Thebloom portion52 of thefloral grouping50 is disposed substantially adjacent the openupper end62 of thedecorative wrapper60 and thestem portion54 of thefloral grouping50 is disposed substantially adjacent the lower end64 of thedecorative wrapper60. The lower end64 of thedecorative wrapper60 may be closed such that thestem portion54 of thefloral grouping50 is maintained in thedecorative wrapper60 and is not exposed beyond the lower end64 of thedecorative wrapper60.
• The[0030]decorative wrapper60 is provided with a substantially conical configuration, i.e., thedecorative wrapper60 is tapered downwardly from the openupper end62 thereof to a substantially smaller diameter at the lower end64 thereof. In this fashion, thedecorative wrapper60 is contoured to approximate the configuration of thefloral grouping50, that is, thedecorative wrapper60 is provided with a larger diameter at the openupper end62 thereof so that such diameter closely approximates the size of thebloom portion52 of thefloral grouping50 disposed therein, while thedecorative wrapper60 is provided with a substantially smaller diameter at thelower end54 thereof so that such diameter closely approximates the size of thestem portion54 of thefloral grouping50 disposed therein. By forming thedecorative wrapper60 in this manner, a smaller amount of material is required to form the sheet ofmaterial30 than the square or rectangular sheets of the prior art, thereby providing a more cost efficient method of forming adecorative wrapper60 as well as providing adecorative wrapper60 containing less bulk of material by minimizing the amount of overlapping material.
• As stated herein before, a decorative wrapper substantially similar to and formed in a similar manner as the[0031]decorative wrapper60 described herein before with reference to FIGS.4-6 may be formed from either of the sheets ofmaterial10 or10aor any other sheets of material described herein. While the configurations may vary somewhat depending on the specific configuration and contour of the sheet of material, such decorative wrappers will also be provided with a contoured configuration which approximates the configuration of thefloral grouping50, and such decorative wrappers will also be provided with an open upper end disposed substantially adjacent thebloom portion52 of thefloral grouping50 and a lower end disposed substantially adjacent thestem portion54 of thefloral grouping50. For example, a decorative wrapper formed from one of the sheets ofmaterial10 or10awill have a substantially frusto-conical configuration which approximates the configuration of thefloral grouping50. When the decorative wrapper is formed from the sheet ofmaterial10, the upper end of such decorative wrapper will be substantially linear, whereas the upper end of a decorative wrapper formed from the sheet ofmaterial10awill be provided with a scalloped configuration which provides a decorative appearance upon disposing the upper end of the decorative wrapper substantially adjacent to thebloom portion52 of the floral grouping. In a further alternative, a sheet of material may be utilized which is substantially similar to the sheets ofmaterial10 and10a, except that the sheet of material is provided with a curved upper end similar to the curved configuration of thefirst side36 of the sheet ofmaterial30 as shown in FIG. 3. When a decorative wrapper is formed from such sheet of material, an upper end thereof will be substantially linear in three-dimensions. Further, a sheet of material may be employed which is provided with other ornamental shapings on an upper end thereof such that a decorative wrapper formed therefrom is provided with an upper end having a decorative ornamental appearance.
• Changes may be made in the construction and the operation of the various components, elements and assemblies described herein or in the steps or the sequence of steps of the methods described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.[0032]

Claims (12)

What is claimed:

1. A method for wrapping a floral grouping, comprising the steps of:

providing a floral grouping having a bloom portion and a stem portion;

providing a sheet of material formed of waxed tissue wherein the sheet of material is provided with a substantially trapezoidal configuration, the sheet of material having an upper surface, a lower surface, a first side, a second side, a third side and a fourth side;

placing the floral grouping on the upper surface of the sheet of material; and

wrapping the sheet of material about the floral grouping to provide a decorative wrapper for the floral grouping, the decorative wrapper having a substantially frusto-conical configuration which closely approximates the configuration of the floral grouping.

2. The method ofclaim 1 wherein, in the step of providing the sheet of material, the sheet of material is provided with a bonding material disposed on at least a portion of the upper surface thereof.

3. The method ofclaim 2 wherein, in the step of wrapping the sheet of material about the floral grouping, the sheet of material is secured about the floral grouping via the bonding material.

4. The method ofclaim 1 wherein, in the step of providing the sheet of material, at least one of the first, second, third and fourth sides of the sheet of material is provided with a linear configuration.

5. The method ofclaim 1 wherein, in the step of providing the sheet of material, at least one of the first, second, third and fourth sides of the sheet of material is provided with a non-linear configuration such that an upper end of the decorative wrapper formed therefrom is linear in three-dimensions.

6. The method ofclaim 1 wherein, in the step of providing the sheet of material, at least one of the first, second, third and fourth sides of the sheet of material is provided with a scalloped configuration such that the decorative wrapper formed therefrom is provided with a scalloped upper end.

7. A method for wrapping a floral grouping, comprising the steps of:

providing a floral grouping having a bloom portion and a stem portion;

providing a sheet of material formed of waxed tissue wherein the sheet of material is provided with a substantially triangular configuration, the sheet of material having an upper surface, a lower surface, a first side, a second side, a third side and a fourth side;

placing the floral grouping on the upper surface of the sheet of material; and

wrapping the sheet of material about the floral grouping to provide a decorative wrapper for the floral grouping, the decorative wrapper having a substantially conical configuration which closely approximates the configuration of the floral grouping.

8. The method ofclaim 7 wherein, in the step of providing the sheet of material, the sheet of material is provided with a bonding material disposed on at least a portion of the upper surface thereof.

9. The method ofclaim 8 wherein, in the step of wrapping the sheet of material about the floral grouping, the sheet of material is secured about the floral grouping via the bonding material.

10. The method ofclaim 7 wherein, in the step of providing the sheet of material, at least one of the first, second, third and fourth sides of the sheet of material is provided with a linear configuration.

11. The method ofclaim 7 wherein, in the step of providing the sheet of material, at least one of the first, second, third and fourth sides of the sheet of material is provided with a non-linear configuration such that an upper end of the decorative wrapper formed therefrom is linear in three-dimensions.

12. The method ofclaim 7 wherein, in the step of providing the sheet of material, at least one of the first, second, third and fourth sides of the sheet of material is provided with a scalloped configuration such that the decorative wrapper formed therefrom is provided with a scalloped upper end.

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