US20060027311A1 - Decorative elements provided with a curled or crimped configuration at point of sale or point of use - Google Patents

Abstract

Decorative grass and methods of providing same are disclosed wherein the decorative grass is either maintained in flattened configuration until restraint is removed and/or the decorative grass is curled and/or crimp at the point of use and/or sale.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 10/263,059, filed Oct. 1, 2002; which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/799,980, filed Mar. 6, 2001, now abandoned; U.S. Ser. No. 10/263,059 is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 10/068,241, filed Feb. 6, 2002; which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/538,412, filed Mar. 29, 2000, now abandoned; which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/226,321, filed Jan. 2, 1999, now abandoned; which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/796,182, filed Feb. 7, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,891,286, issued Apr. 6, 1999.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
• Not Applicable.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention relates to decorative elements and decorative grass and methods for producing same, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to decorative elements and decorative grass provided in a substantially flat configuration which, upon activation, assumes a curled or crimped configuration at the point of sale or point of use, as well as methods for producing same.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• Decorative grass has been used for many years in Easter baskets and for other decorative purposes. The decorative grass of the prior art has been produced by numerous methods and from a variety of materials such as polymeric materials, paper or the like. Typically, such materials are cut and shredded to produce segments having predetermined dimensions. One such prior art method for making decorative grass is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,292,266, issued to Weder et al. on Sep. 29, 1981, wherein a plastic film is extruded and cut into plastic strips which are passed through a slow-speed godet, an oven and a high-speed godet so that the strips are drawn down in width and thickness without breaking. From the high-speed godet, the strips or strands are chopped to a desired length and conveyed to a storage area for subsequent bagging and packaging.
• Traditionally, the decorative grasses are provided as individual, unattached segments of decorative grass. Such segments of decorative grass may be provided with certain conformations which provide volume and bulk to the packaging. For example, U.S. Ser. No. 09/586,901, entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING CURLED DECORATIVE GRASS”, which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference, discloses a method of providing curled configurations to decorative grass to provide improved bulk and volume to the decorative grass.
• While the prior art methods for making decorative grass have been widely accepted, new and improved methods for making, packaging, storing, shipping and displaying decorative grasses are being sought. It is to such decorative grasses and methods for producing same that the present invention is directed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention relates to decorative grasses and methods for producing same. Broadly, the present invention relates to decorative grasses produced in a substantially flat configuration which, upon activation, can assume a curled or crimped configuration, preferably at the point of sale or point of use, as well as improved methods of packaging, storing, shipping and displaying such decorative grasses. Such decorative grasses can also be utilized for non-decorative purposes, such as packing material, animal bedding, cat litter, mulch for soil and media for plants. In addition, the present invention also relates to decorative elements, such as glitter, which are produced in a similar manner and which can be activated to assume a three-dimensional configuration, as well as methods for producing same.
• An object of the present invention is to provide a decorative grass having a substantially flat configuration which can be curled or crimped at a point of sale or point of use.
• Another object of the present invention, while achieving the before-stated object, is to provide a method for producing a decorative grass having a substantially flat configuration which can be curled or crimped at a point of sale or point of use.
• Yet another object of the present invention, while achieving the before-stated objects, is to provide a method for producing decorative elements having a substantially flat configuration which can be activated to assume a three-dimensional configuration.
• Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sheet or web of laminated material constructed in accordance with the present invention, the sheet or web of laminated material having a distortion set therein.
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first sheet or web of material and a second sheet or web of material from which the sheet or web of laminated material ofFIG. 1 is constructed, the first sheet or web of material being provided with a length which is less than a length of the second sheet or web of material.
• FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first and second sheets or webs of material ofFIG. 2 wherein the length of the first sheet or web of material has been stretched so that such length is the same as the length of the second sheet or web of material.
• FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a sheet or web of laminated material having a substantially flat configuration.
• FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the sheet or web of laminated material ofFIG. 4 wherein the sheet or web of laminated material is curled.
• FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the sheet or web of laminated material ofFIG. 4 wherein the sheet or web of laminated material is crimped.
• FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a sheet or web of laminated material constructed in accordance with the present invention, the sheet or web of laminated material constructed from a sheet or web of material having a substantially flat configuration and a sheet or web of heat shrinkable material.
• FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the sheet or web of laminated material ofFIG. 7 wherein the sheet or web of laminated material has been exposed to heat.
• FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a sheet or web of laminated material constructed in accordance with the present invention, the sheet or web of laminated material formed of a sheet or web of material having a substantially flat configuration and a sheet or web of material having a hygroscopic agent disposed thereon.
• FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the sheet or web of laminated material ofFIG. 9 wherein the sheet or web of laminated material has been exposed to moisture.
• FIG. 11 is a schematic representation of a system for producing decorative grass in accordance with the present invention.
• FIG. 11A is a schematic representation of a first set of blades and a second set of blades of the system for producing decorative grass ofFIG. 11.
• FIG. 12 is a schematic representation of another embodiment of a system for producing decorative grass in accordance with the present invention.
• FIG. 12A is a schematic representation of a first set of blades and a second set of blades of the system for producing decorative grass ofFIG. 12, wherein the first set of blades may disengage the second set of blades.
• FIG. 12B is a perspective view of strands of decorative grass produced from the system for producing decorative grass ofFIG. 12 wherein the strands of decorative grass are connected to a header.
• FIG. 13 is a schematic representation of another embodiment of a system for producing decorative grass in accordance with the present invention.
• FIG. 13A is a schematic representation of a first set of blades and a second set of blades of the system for producing decorative grass ofFIG. 13.
• FIG. 14 is a schematic representation of yet another embodiment of a system for producing decorative grass in accordance with the present invention wherein a first set of blades of the system for producing decorative grass are provided with a radius notch.
• FIG. 14A is a schematic representation of the first set of blades and a second set of blades of the system for producing decorative grass ofFIG. 14.
• FIG. 14B is a perspective view of strands of decorative grass produced from the system for producing decorative grass ofFIG. 14 wherein the strands of decorative grass are connected to a header.
• FIG. 15 is a schematic representation of the system for producing decorative grass ofFIG. 14 wherein the radius notch of the first set of blades is partially in contact with the second set of blades.
• FIG. 16 is a schematic representation of the system for producing decorative grass ofFIG. 14 wherein the radius notch of the first set of blades is in contact with the second set of blades.
• FIG. 17 is a schematic representation of the system for producing decorative grass ofFIG. 14 wherein the radius notch of the first set of blades is partially in contact with the second set of blades.
• FIG. 18 is a schematic representation of the system for producing decorative grass ofFIG. 14 wherein a small portion of the radius notch of the first set of blades is in contact with the second set of blades.
• FIG. 19 is a schematic representation of the system for producing decorative grass ofFIG. 14 wherein the radius notch of the first set of blades is not in contact with the second set of blades.
• FIG. 20 is a schematic representation of yet another system for producing decorative grass in accordance with the present invention.
• FIG. 20A is a schematic representation of a set of blades disposed on a blade mandrel and in contact with a hardened mandrel of the system for producing decorative grass ofFIG. 20.
• FIG. 21 is another embodiment of a system for producing decorative grass in accordance with the present invention.
• FIG. 21A is a schematic representation of a set of blades disposed on a blade mandrel and in contact with a hardened mandrel of the system for producing decorative grass ofFIG. 21, wherein the blade mandrel may be raised such that the set of blades are disengaged from the hardened mandrel.
• FIG. 21B is a perspective view of strands of decorative grass produced from the system for producing decorative grass ofFIG. 21 wherein the strands of decorative grass are connected to a header.
• FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a pair of crosslaid layers of curlable segments of decorative grass wherein the curlable segments are connected to a header.
• FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a pair of crosslaid layers of curled segments of decorative grass wherein the curled segments are connected to a header.
• FIG. 24 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a package containing a plurality of sheets of curlable material, the sheets containing a plurality of segments connected to a header and the package having a curling tool connected thereto.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention relates to a decorative grass having an activatable curling agent. Such decorative grass is produced by cutting or shredding a sheet or web of material having the activatable curling agent disposed thereon or incorporated therein. Individual strands of decorative grass produced therefrom are provided with a substantially flat configuration, and the strands of decorative grass will remain flat until heated, wetted, treated with a solvent or other methods known in the art to activate the curling agent and thereby produce curls in the strands of decorative grass. Optionally, upon activation, the strands of decorative grass may be provided with crimps or a combination of crimps and curls, depending on the distribution of activatable curling agent on the strands of decorative grass. Such decorative grass could be shipped and stored in a flattened condition and curled at or near the point of use so as to reduce freight costs, warehousing space and shelf space in a retail outlet.
• The present invention also relates to decorative grass which is produced with a curled or crimped configuration and retained in the flattened form at the production stage, as well as decorative grass allowed to curl at the production stage and re-flattened following production. Such decorative grass is then stored, shipped and displayed in the flattened form with the decorative grass being released to curl or crimp at or near the point of use. The curl or crimp could be retained in the flattened form by putting the decorative grass or the sheet or web of material from which the decorative grass is produced in a bag or other package of sufficient rigidity to prevent the material from curling or crimping. Optionally, the sheet or web of material or the decorative grass formed therefrom may be wound onto a roll. In a further alternative, the individual segments or strands of decorative grass may remain attached to an attachment area or header and the attachment area or header may be formed of another piece of material or to a dissimilar material such as cardboard, and the decorative grass may be retained in the flattened form by holding the attachment area or header with staples, adhesive, clips or other materials. For example, strands of decorative grass which have already been stretched so as to enable their curling when tension is released may be wrapped around a flat piece of plastic or cardboard so as to keep them in the flattened condition during storage and shipping. Such decorative grass may be released and allowed to curl or crimp at the point of sale or point of use by cutting or tearing the strands or segments of decorative grass from the attachment area or header or by simply freeing the attachment area or header from the rigid package and allowing the grass to curl or crimp while remaining attached at one or more attachment areas or headers. The attachment areas or headers provide an additional advantage in that they keep the strands or segments of decorative grass together in a neat bundle which provides for a decorative appearance but which also provide a cushioning effect so as to prevent damage to contents of baskets or boxes or other packages while avoiding the problem of having to clean up spilled strands of decorative grass.
• The present invention also relates to an assembly and method for producing curled decorative grass at or near the point of use and/or sale of the curled decorative grass. To provide a curled or crimped decorative grass at or near a point of use or sale, at least one sheet or web of material is provided at or near the point of sale, the at least one sheet or web of material capable of having a curled imparted thereto. A curl or crimp is formed in the at least one sheet or web of material at or near the point of sale or use to form a distortion therein. The distorted sheet or web of material is then cut into strands of decorative grass at or near the point of sale or use of the decorative grass.
• Another method of providing a decorative grass at or near the point of use or sale is to provide at least one curled sheet or web of material at or near a point of sale or use. Pressure is maintained on the at least one curled sheet or web of material so that the curled sheet or web of material is maintained in a substantially flat configuration. While maintained in the substantially flat configuration the curled sheet or web of material is cut into strands of decorative grass at or near the point of sale or use. If desired, the curled sheet or web of material can maintained in a non-flattened condition at or near the point of sale in which case the curled sheet or web of material is cut into strands at or near the point of use or sale while in the non-flattened condition.
• As previously stated, the present invention also relates to an assembly for producing curled decorative grass at or near a point of use or sale. The assembly includes an enclosure containing a plurality of sheets or web of material capable of having a curl imparted thereto. The enclosure is provided with an opening for permitting removal of at least one sheet at a time or at least a portion of the web of material from the enclosure. The enclosure is positioned at or near a point of sale or use of the curl of decorative grass. A curling tool capable of imparting a curl to the sheet or at least a portion of the web of material is also provided such that when at least one of the sheets or at least a portion of the web of material is withdrawn from the enclosure and brought into contact with the curling tool, a curled sheet of material or curled web of material is produced at or near the point of sale or use of decorative grass. Thereafter, the curled sheets or the curled web of material are cut to provide decorative grass at or near the point of sale or use of the decorative grass with a cutting tool.
• If desired, the sheets of material can be provided with a plurality of segments which are connected to a header. The sheets of material, once curled, can then be separated, if desired, by cutting the segments off the header. Further, it should be noted that the sheets of material and/or web of material can already have a curl imparted thereto, and if the sheets of material are provided with a plurality of side by side segments, such side by side segments may be connected to a header which can be removed at or near the point of sale or use of the decorative grass.
Description of FIGS.1-3
• Referring now to the Drawings, shown inFIG. 1 is a sheet or web oflaminated material10 from which decorative grass can be produced in accordance with the present invention, the sheet or web oflaminated material10 having a distortion set therein. The distortion is illustrated as being a curl; however, it should be understood that the distortion may also be at least one crimp, as will be described in more detail hereinafter. The sheet or web oflaminated material10 is formed of a first sheet or web ofmaterial12 and a second sheet or web ofmaterial14. The sheet or web oflaminated material10 has anupper surface16, alower surface18, alength20 and awidth22.
• Any sheet or web of material capable of being laminated to another sheet or web of material and capable of having a curl or crimp imparted thereto can be employed as the sheets or webs ofmaterial12 and14. However, desirable results can be achieved wherein the sheets or webs ofmaterial12 and14 are constructed from materials selected from the group consisting of paper, creped paper, polymeric film, wax paper, paper having a shape sustaining agent or laquer applied to at least a portion of one surface thereof, foil, metallized film, cloth, burlap and any combination or lamination thereof. The sheets or webs ofmaterial12 and14 may be provided with any thickness, as long as the sheets or webs ofmaterial12 and14 can function in accordance with the present invention. Desirably, each of the sheets or webs ofmaterial12 and14 are provided with a thickness in a range of from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mil.
• At least one of the sheets or webs ofmaterial12 and14 may be provided with a printed pattern and/or an embossed pattern disposed on at least a portion of one surface thereof, and the embossed pattern may be either in register or out of register with the printed pattern, or a portion of the embossed pattern may be in register with the printed pattern and a portion of the embossed pattern may be out of register with the printed pattern. The sheets or webs ofmaterial12 and14 may also vary in color.
• As shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, the first sheet or web ofmaterial12 of the sheet or web oflaminated material10 is provided with anupper surface24, alower surface26, alength28 and awidth30. The second sheet or web ofmaterial14 of the sheet or web oflaminated material10 is provided with anupper surface32, alower surface34, alength36 and awidth38. The first sheet or web ofmaterial12 is provided with a dimension which is less than the associated dimension of the second sheet or web ofmaterial14; that is, thewidth30 of the first sheet or web ofmaterial12 may be less than thewidth38 of the second sheet or web ofmaterial14, or thelength28 of the first sheet or web ofmaterial12 may be less than thelength36 of the second sheet or web ofmaterial14. The first sheet or web ofmaterial12 is thus stretched in one dimension to provide such dimension with the same size as the associated dimension of the second sheet or web ofmaterial14, and then the two sheets or webs ofmaterial12 and14 are laminated together. For example, as shown inFIG. 2, thelength28 of the first sheet or web ofmaterial12 is less than thelength36 of the second sheet or web ofmaterial14, and as shown inFIG. 3, the first sheet or web ofmaterial12 is stretched lengthwise so that thelength28 thereof is substantially the same as thelength36 of the second sheet or web ofmaterial14. Following stretching of the first sheet or web ofmaterial12, the two sheets or webs ofmaterial12 and14 are laminated together to form the sheet or web oflaminated material10, substantially as shown inFIG. 1. Following lamination, thelength28 of the first sheet or web ofmaterial12 contracts back to its original size, thereby causing a curl to be formed in thelength20 of the sheet or web oflaminated material10, as shown inFIG. 1. Decorative grass formed from the sheet or web oflaminated material10 shown inFIG. 1 will possess a torsion spring type curl if the sheet or web oflaminated material10 is cut in the direction of stretch, while the decorative grass will possess a helical spring curl if the sheet or web oflaminated material10 is cut at an angle to the direction of stretch. Such methods of providing a preset curl in a laminated material are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,891,286, entitled “METHODS OF FORMING CURLED OR CRIMPED DECORATIVE ELEMENTS HAVING AN OPTICAL EFFECT”, issued to Weder on Apr. 6, 1999, the Specification of which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference.
• However, prior to allowing the sheet or web oflaminated material10 to assume a curled configuration, the substantially flat sheet or web oflaminated material10 may be disposed in a bag or package of sufficient rigidity and size to retain the sheet or web oflaminated material10 in a substantially flat configuration, thus preventing the sheet or web oflaminated material10 from curling. In addition, the sheet or web oflaminated material10 may be provided in the form of a roll of material, and the process of winding the sheet or web ofmaterial10 onto the roll will provide sufficient pressure and rigidity to maintain the sheet or web oflaminated material10 in a substantially flat configuration until a portion of the sheet or web oflaminated material10 is unwound from the roll, thereby allowing such portion to assume the distorted configuration, i.e., a curled configuration. The process of cutting or shredding the sheet or web oflaminated material10 to provide strands of decorative grass will be discussed in detail herein after with regards toFIGS. 11-21B. In addition, the individual strands of decorative grass formed from the sheet or web oflaminated material10 may be held together at attachment points, as will be discussed in greater detail herein below, thereby providing easier manipulation of the strands of decorative grass, such as for placing between two pieces of cardboard or winding onto a roll.
Description of FIGS.4-6
• Shown inFIG. 4 is a sheet or web oflaminated material50 from which decorative grass may be produced in accordance with the present invention. The sheet or web oflaminated material50 is similar to the sheet or web oflaminated material10 described in detail herein above, except the sheet or web oflaminated material50 is produced in a substantially flat configuration and does not have a preset distortion therein. The sheet or web oflaminated material50 may be curled or crimped by any method known in the art before or after cutting or shredding the sheet or web of laminated material to produce strands of decorative grass, as will be described in detail hereinafter.
• The sheet or web oflaminated material50 has anupper surface52, alower surface54, alength56 and awidth58. The sheet or web oflaminated material50 is formed of a first sheet or web ofmaterial60 and a second sheet or web ofmaterial62. The sheets or webs ofmaterial60 and62 may be constructed of the same materials and in a similar manner as the sheets or webs ofmaterial12 and14.
• Following lamination of the first sheet or web ofmaterial60 to the second sheet or web ofmaterial62 to form the sheet or web oflaminated material50, the sheet or web oflaminated material50 may be curled to provide a curled sheet or web oflaminated material50a, as shown inFIG. 5, or crimped to provide a crimped sheet or web oflaminated material50b, as shown inFIG. 6. Methods and apparatus for providing a sheet of material with a curl or a crimp are described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,891,286, which has previously been incorporated herein by reference. However, the present invention is not limited to the use of such methods and apparatus, and any method know in the art for providing a curl or crimp to a sheet or web of material may be utilized in accordance with the present invention.
• Following production of the curled sheet or web oflaminated material50aor the crimped sheet or web oflaminated material50b, such sheet or web oflaminated material50aor50bmay be cut or shredded as described hereinafter with reference toFIGS. 11-21B to form strands of decorative grass which are curled or crimped. However, the strands of decorative grass may be retained in a substantially flat configuration during shipping and storage and may not assume the curled or crimped configuration until at the point of sale or point of use. The sheet or web oflaminated material50 may be provided with a curl or crimp therein as described above, and the curled sheet or web oflaminated material50aor the crimped sheet or web oflaminated material50bmay be maintained in the substantially flat configuration by placing such sheet or web oflaminated material50aor50bin a rigid, strained configuration, such as by applying pressure thereto by placing such sheet or web oflaminated material50aor50bbetween two pieces of cardboard or winding such sheet or web oflaminated material50aor50bonto a roll. Following shredding to form strands of decorative grass (as described herein below), the strands of decorative grass may be held in a rigid, strained configuration in a similar fashion as described above with reference to the sheet or web oflaminated material10 having a preset distortion therein ofFIG. 1 to maintain the decorative grass in a substantially flat configuration until curling or crimping is desired, such as at the point of sale or point of use. That is, the strands of decorative grass formed from the curled sheet or web oflaminated material50a(FIG. 5) or the crimped sheet or web oflaminated material50b(FIG. 6) may be held in a substantially flat configuration by placing the strands of decorative grass between two pieces of cardboard or by winding the strands of decorative grass on a roll. When desired to provide curling or crimping to the strands of decorative grass, the strands of decorative grass are removed from between the two pieces of cardboard or upon unwinding of the strands of decorative grass, thereby releasing the tension and pressure placed on the strands of decorative grass and providing a curled or crimped configuration thereto. Individual strands of decorative grass formed from the curled or crimped sheets or webs oflaminated material50aor50bmay be held together at attachment points, as will be discussed in detail herein below, thereby providing easier manipulation of the strands of decorative grass, such as by placing same between two pieces or cardboard of winding onto a roll.
• While the sheet or web oflaminated material50 used in the methods described herein before with reference toFIGS. 4-6 is laminated, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the use of a laminated material in such a method. That is, a sheet or web of unlamented material i.e. a single sheet or web of material, may be utilized in a similar manner as described hereinbefore with reference toFIGS. 4-6 whereby the sheet or web of unlaminated material is curled or crimped and then cut or shredded to provide strands of decorative grass, and the sheet or web of unlaminated material or the strands of decorative grass formed therefrom are maintained in a substantially flat configuration until same are curled and/or crimped. The sheet or web of unlaminated material may be provided with a substantially flat configuration following curling and/or crimping and prior to cutting or shredding to form decorative grass, or the sheet or web of unlaminated material may maintain the curled and/or crimped configuration, and following cutting or shredding thereof to form strands of decorative grass, pressure may be applied to temporarily provide a substantially flat configuration to the strands of decorative grass which is maintained until curling and/or crimping is desired, such as at the point of sale or point of use.
• In addition, the invention also includes a sheet or web of unlamented material formed of two or more sheets or webs of material which are unconnected. In this manner, the decorative grass is a mixture or two or more materials which are comingled and have the same crimped and/or curled configuration.
Description of FIGS.7-10
• Shown inFIG. 7 is a sheet or web oflaminated material70 from which decorative grass can be produced in accordance with the present invention. The sheet or web oflaminated material70 has anupper surface72, alower surface74, alength76 and awidth78.
• The sheet or web oflaminated material70 includes a first sheet or web ofmaterial80 and a second sheet or web ofmaterial82. The second sheet or web ofmaterial82 is provided with a substantially flat configuration. The second sheet or web ofmaterial82 may be constructed of any material capable of having another sheet or web of material laminated thereto and capable of functioning as described herein. For example, the second sheet or web ofmaterial82 may be constructed from paper, creped paper, polymeric film, wax paper, paper having a shape sustaining agent or laquer applied to at least a portion of one surface thereof, foil, metallized film, cloth, burlap and any combination or lamination thereof.
• The first sheet or web ofmaterial80 is constructed of a material which is provided with a substantially flat configuration, but which contracts or shrinks when exposed to a sufficient level of heat, while the second sheet or web ofmaterial82 does not react by shrinking when exposed to the same temperature or sufficient level of heat as the first sheet or web ofmaterial80. That is, the first sheet or web ofmaterial80 shrinks at a lower temperature than the second sheet or web ofmaterial82, or the first and second sheets or webs ofmaterial80 and82 both shrink in response to heat but at differential rates in the same temperature range. In this manner, the sheet or web oflaminated material70 may be shredded or cut to produce decorative grass wherein the individual strands of decorative grass are provided with a substantially linear, flat configuration. The strands of decorative grass may be packaged, stored, shipped and displayed in such a substantially linear, flat configuration, allowing the consumer to curl the decorative grass at the point of sale or use by heating the strands of decorative grass, such as by exposure of the decorative grass to a hair dryer or an oven, or by placing same between two sheets of cardboard in a microwave oven (so as to absorb the microwave energy). In this manner, the substantially flat, individual strands of decorative grass are more easily separated by the consumer than strands of decorative grass having curled or crimped configurations which are intertwined in a cohesive mass. In addition, such method allows for easy removal of a portion of the stands of decorative grass and easy storage of the remaining portion of the decorative grass for future use. However, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to curling the decorative grass at the point of sale or the point of use, and decorative grass formed as described above may be curled at the point of production, if desired.
• Optionally, the sheet or web oflaminated material70 may be curled by exposure to heat prior to cutting or shredding the sheet or web oflaminated material70 to form decorative grass. Shown inFIG. 8 is the sheet or web oflaminated material70 which has been exposed to heat, and therefore a curl has been formed along thelength76 thereof. Following curling of the sheet or web oflaminated material70, the curled sheet or web oflaminated material70 and/or the strands of decorative grass formed therefrom may be retained in a constrained condition as described in detail hereinabove which provides a substantially flat configuration thereto until such constraints are removed, thereby allowing the sheet or web oflaminated material70 or the strands of decorative grass formed therefrom to assume the relaxed, curled configuration.
• In addition, while it is described and illustrated herein that the sheet or web oflaminated material70, and therefore the strands of decorative grass formed therefrom, is provided with a curl along thelength76 thereof, it is to be understood that the sheet or web oflaminated material70, as well as the strands of decorative grass formed therefrom, may be provided with a curl along thewidth78 thereof, or the curl may be disposed diagonally and span both thelength76 andwidth78 thereof.
• Such strands of decorative grass may also be attached to an attachment point, as described in detail herein below. By providing an attachment point of the same material or dissimilar material to the individual strands of decorative grass, the strands of decorative grass can be manipulated in an easier manner, by holding the individual strands of decorative grass in the same direction and in substantially the same configuration and by preventing unwanted intertwining and comingling of the individual strands of decorative grass.
• Other methods of providing the second sheet or web of material with a substantially flat configuration which can be activated to form a curled or crimped configuration may be utilized. Shown inFIG. 9 is a sheet or web oflaminated material90 from which decorative grass can be produced in accordance with the present invention. The sheet or web oflaminated material90 has anupper surface92, alower surface94, alength96 and awidth98.
• The sheet or web oflaminated material90 includes a first sheet or web ofmaterial100 and a second sheet or web ofmaterial102. The first sheet or web ofmaterial100 has anupper surface104 and alower surface106 and is provided with a substantially flat configuration. The second sheet or web ofmaterial102 has anupper surface108 and alower surface110 and is also provided with a substantially flat configuration. At least a portion of theupper surface108 of the second sheet or web ofmaterial102 is laminated to thelower surface106 of the first sheet or web ofmaterial100.
• The second sheet or web ofmaterial102 may be constructed of any material capable of having another sheet or web of material laminated thereto and capable of functioning as described herein. For example, the second sheet or web ofmaterial102 may be constructed from paper, creped paper, polymeric film, wax paper, paper having a shape sustaining agent or laquer applied to at least a portion of one surface thereof, foil, metallized film, cloth, burlap and any combination or lamination thereof.
• The first sheet or web ofmaterial100 contains ahygroscopic agent112 which is activated by exposure to moisture, wherein thehygroscopic agent112 expands upon exposure to moisture and thereby imparts a curl to the first sheet or web ofmaterial100 and thus to the sheet or web oflaminated material90 formed therefrom and/or to the strands of decorative grass cut from the sheet or web oflaminated material90. Thehygroscopic agent112 may be incorporated in the first sheet or web ofmaterial100 upon formation of the first sheet or web ofmaterial100, or thehygroscopic agent112 may be applied to at least a portion of one of the upper andlower surfaces104 and106 of the first sheet or web ofmaterial100. For example, as shown inFIG. 9, thehygroscopic agent112 is incorporated in a lacquer, such as anacrylic lacquer114, which is applied to at least a portion of theupper surface104 of the first sheet or web ofmaterial100.
• The term “hygroscopic agent” as used herein will be understood to refer to any material which can be applied to or incorporated in a sheet or web of material or a lacquer applied to the sheet or web of material and which expands or swells upon exposure to moisture. Many types of hygroscopic agents are known to those of ordinary skill in the art and could be utilized in the manner described herein. In particular, gelatin and pectin have been utilized as hygroscopic agents in the manner described herein; however, the invention is not limited to the use of such compounds as hygroscopic agents.
• The sheet or web oflaminated material90 may be shredded or cut to produce decorative grass wherein the individual strands of decorative grass are provided with a substantially linear, flat configuration. The strands of decorative grass may be packaged, stored, shipped and displayed in such a substantially linear, flat configuration, allowing the consumer to curl the decorative grass at the point of sale and/or use by exposing the strands of decorative grass to moisture. In this manner, the substantially flat, individual strands of decorative grass are more easily separated by the consumer than strands of decorative grass having curled or crimped configurations which are intertwined in a cohesive mass. In addition, such method allows for easy removal of a portion of the stands of decorative grass and easy storage of the remaining portion of the decorative grass for future use. However, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to curling the decorative grass at the point of sale or the point of use, and decorative grass formed as described above may be curled at the point of production, if desired.
• Optionally, the sheet or web oflaminated material90 may be curled by exposure to moisture prior to cutting or shredding to form decorative grass. Shown inFIG. 10 is the sheet or web oflaminated material90 which has been exposed to moisture, and therefore a curl has been formed along thelength96 thereof. Following curling of the sheet or web oflaminated material90, the curled sheet or web oflaminated material90 and/or the strands of decorative grass formed therefrom may be retained in a constrained manner as described in detail hereinabove which provides a substantially flat configuration thereto until such constraints are removed, thereby allowing the sheet or web oflaminated material90 or the strands of decorative grass formed therefrom to assume the relaxed, curled configuration.
• In addition, while it is described and illustrated herein that the sheet or web oflaminated material90, and therefore the strands of decorative grass formed therefrom, is provided with a curl along thelength96 thereof, it is to be understood that the sheet or web oflaminated material90, as well as the strands of decorative grass formed therefrom, may be provided with a curl along thewidth98 thereof, or the curl may be disposed diagonally and span both thelength96 andwidth98 thereof.
• Such strands of decorative grass may also be attached to an attachment point, as described in detail herein below. By providing an attachment point of the same material or dissimilar material to the individual strands of decorative grass, the strands of decorative grass can be manipulated in an easier manner, by holding the individual strands of decorative grass in the same manner and in substantially the same configuration and by preventing unwanted intertwining and comingling of the individual strands of decorative grass.
• It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the use of laminated materials when heat shrinkable and hygroscopic materials are utilized as activatable curling agents. For example, the decorative grass may be formed of an unlaminated sheet or web of material having a lacquer containing a hygroscopic agent disposed on at least a portion of one surface thereof. In a further alternative, a sheet or web of heat shrinkable material may be formed by extruding with a multiple extruder into the same die or into different dies two resins that contract at a different rate when heated or exposed to moisture. In yet another alternative, a sheet or web of heat shrinkable material may be formed by extruding through a multiple screw extruder or through multiple extruders by placing resin into the same die or into multiple dies different melt temperature webs and pulling the material away from the die after one of the webs has partially or completely solidified, thereby imparting stress or stretch in one of the webs which is a lesser amount of stretch than in the other web. Optionally, the before described method may be utilized with the stretch occurring after both webs have solidified. Any of the above described methods may be utilized wherein one web is mated to the other web within the flow of resin occurring at an angle to the first web, thereby imparting a differential contraction level at an angle to the machine direction, thereby facilitating production of helically curled strands of decorative grass. In addition, any of the above described methods may be utilized together and alternated so as to cause varying curls in the same strand or different strands of decorative grass cut from the same web.
• Another method of causing a sheet or web of material from which decorative grass is produced to curl involves coextruding a shrinkable material with a non-shrinkable material and heating them subsequently. Such method may be used in conjunction with prestretching the film at or after the time of extrusion. Indeed, any of the methods described herein which include the use of heat shrinkable materials may also be combined with the method of prestretching the sheet or web of material from which the decorative grass is produced.
• In addition, it is also to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the use of heat shrinkable and hygroscopic materials as activatable curling agents which allow the decorative grass to be curled upon activation. The present invention also envisions other activatable curling agents, such as the use of chemicals which will curl the decorative grass upon treatment with solvents or other chemicals, as well as other methods of incorporating activatable curling agents which are known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
• Another method of curling the decorative grass at the point of sale or the point of use involves simply stretching the strands of decorative grass to impart a curled configuration thereto.
• While methods of providing decorative grass with a curled configuration have been described herein, all of the above described methods can be used to provide decorative grass with configurations other than curls. For example, rather than applying differentially expanding or contracting materials in an overall or uniform manner, such materials may be applied in a manner which allows the contracting or expanding material to be applied at only certain points, or such materials may be applied at differential thicknesses at different points, or, in the case of the hygroscopic materials, such materials may be applied with barriers to moisture absorption at certain points. Application of such materials in the above described methods results in differential folding of the strands of decorative grass, and rather than having a curl of roughly smooth and uniform dimensions, a crimped material or a combination of crimped and curled material could be achieved.
• Additionally in lieu of applying the above-noted expanding or contracting materials to a sheet or web of material in the form of strips, such materials could be applied in any shape, such as a circle, so that when contraction occurs, a three dimensional configuration would be formed which could serve decorative and/or cushioning and/or insulating purposes.
• In a further alternative, the strands of decorative grass need not be curled solely in a concentric or torsion spring manner or in a helical or bed spring-type manner, resulting from differential contraction or expansion across the length of the strands, but such strands could also be curled or curved due to differential contraction or expansion across the width of the strand.
Description of FIGS.11-12B
• Several methods of shredding a sheet or web of material to produce decorative grass or other decorative elements are known in the art and may be utilized to produce the decorative grass of the present invention from the sheets or webs of material described herein. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,891,286, which has previously been incorporated herein by reference, discloses methods and apparatus for producing decorative grass and decorative elements such as glitter, and such methods may be utilized to cut the sheets or webs of material described herein to produce the decorative grass of the present invention. In addition, any of the methods known in the art may be utilized to shred the sheet or web of material parallel to a stretch, curl or crimp disposed therein, or perpendicular to the stretch, curl or crimp, or at an angle to the stretch, curl or crimp.
• Optionally, shown inFIGS. 11 and 11A is asystem150 for producing decorative grass in accordance with the present invention. Thesystem150 is a rotary knife-type shredder assembly and includes a first set ofblades152 and a second set ofblades154. The first set ofblades152 are disposed on afirst mandrel156 and the second set ofblades154 are disposed on asecond mandrel158. Each individual blade of the first set ofblades152 has afirst side153 and asecond side155, while each individual blade of the second set ofblades154 has afirst side157 and asecond side159.
• When thefirst mandrel156 is rotated in adirection160 while thesecond mandrel158 is rotated in adirection162, as illustrated inFIG. 11, the first and second set ofblades152 and154 overlap such that thesecond side155 of each individual blade of the first set ofblades152 is in contact with thefirst side157 of an individual blade of the second set of blades154 (FIG. 11A), and a sheet or web of material, such as one of the sheets or webs oflaminated material10,50,70 or90 described herein above (the sheet or web ofmaterial10 shown inFIG. 11 for illustration purposes only), is passed in between the first and second set ofblades152 and154, thereby resulting in shredding of the sheet or web of material to form individual strands ofdecorative grass164. The individual blades of the first and second set ofblades152 and154 are positioned at a certain distance away from one another, and agap166 formed by this distance determines the width of the individual strands ofdecorative grass164.
• Thesystem150 can be employed to cut sheets of material so as to produce strands ofdecorative grass164 having a predetermined length based on the length of the sheet of material, or thesystem150 can be employed to cut rolls of material to form a shredded roll of material, in which case the individual strands ofdecorative grass164 having a desired predetermined length would have to be cut from the shredded roll of material subsequent to the shredding process. Such a method of shredding a web or roll of material and subsequently cutting the shredded roll of material into individual strands of decorative grass has been disclosed in U.S. Ser. No. 09/586,901, which has previously been expressly incorporated herein by reference. Other methods of shredding a web or roll of material and subsequently cutting the shredded web or roll of material into individual strands of decorative grass are known in the art and may be utilized in accordance with the present invention.
• Shown inFIGS. 12 and 12A is asystem150 for producingdecorative grass150a. Thesystem150ais similar to thesystem150 described herein above, except that thesystem150ahas been adapted so as to leave uncut areas in the sheet or web of material passed through thesystem150awhich serve as a attached point for the strands of decorative grass. Thesystem150aincludes a first set ofblades152adisposed on afirst mandrel156aand a second set ofblades154adisposed on asecond mandrel158a. When thefirst mandrel156ais rotated in adirection160aand thesecond mandrel158ais rotated in adirection162a, the blades of the first and second set ofblades152aand154aoverlap and touch with side pressure, and agap166abetween individual blades of the first and second set ofblades152aand154a(FIG. 12A) determine the width of individual strands ofdecorative grass164aformed from a sheet or web of material (the sheet or web ofmaterial10 illustrated inFIG. 12 for illustration purposes only) passed between the first and second set ofblades152aand154aof the system for producingdecorative grass150a. In addition, thefirst mandrel156amoves up and down at an angle, as indicated by anarrow168 inFIG. 12A, thereby allowing the first set ofblades152ato engage and disengage the second set ofblades154a. When the first set ofblades152adisengage the second set ofblades154a, an attachment area or header170 (FIG. 12B) is formed in which the individual strands ofdecorative grass164aare connected. Shown inFIG. 12B is a group of individual strands ofdecorative grass164aproduced from thesystem150a, wherein the individual strands ofdecorative grass164aare connected to each other via the attachment area orheader170. The length of the sheet or web of material which passes through thesystem150awhile thefirst mandrel156ais raised and the first and second set ofblades152aand154aare disengaged determines the length of the attachment area orheader170 to which the strands ofdecorative grass164aare attached.
Description of FIGS.13-19
• Shown inFIG. 13 is anothersystem180 for producingdecorative grass180 in accordance with the present invention. Thesystem180 is a rotary knife-type shredder which has a first set ofblades182 and a second set ofblades184. As shown inFIG. 13A, each individual blade of the first set ofblades182 has afirst side186 and asecond side188; and each individual blade of the second set ofblades184 has afirst side190 and asecond side192. The first set ofblades182 are disposed on afirst mandrel194 while the second set ofblades184 are disposed on asecond mandrel196. When thefirst mandrel194 is rotated in adirection198 and thesecond mandrel196 is rotated in adirection200, as illustrated inFIG. 13, the first and second set ofblades182 and184 overlap, substantially as shown inFIG. 13A, such that thefirst side186 of an individual blade of the first set ofblades182 touches thesecond side192 of an individual blade of the second set ofblades182, while thesecond side188 of an individual blade of the first set ofblades182 touches thefirst side190 of an individual blade of the second set ofblades184.
• A sheet or web of material, such as one of the sheets or webs oflaminated material10,50,70 or90 described herein above (the sheet or web oflaminated material10 shown inFIG. 13 for illustration purposes only) may be passed between the overlapping region of the first and second set ofblades182 and184, resulting in shredding of the sheet or web oflaminated material10 to form individual strands ofdecorative grass202.
• The individual blades of the first set ofblades182 are provided with awidth204, and the individual blades of the second set ofblades184 are provided with awidth206, and thewidths204 and206 are substantially the same. Thewidths204 and206 determine the width of the individual strands ofdecorative grass202.
• Thesystem180 can cut sheets of material so as to produce strands ofdecorative grass202 having a predetermined length based on the length of the sheet of material, or thesystem180 can cut rolls of material to form a shredded roll of material, in which case the individual strands ofdecorative grass202 having a desired predetermined length would have to be cut from the shredded roll of material subsequent to the shredding process. Such a method of shredding a web or roll of material and subsequently cutting into individual strands of decorative grass has been disclosed in U.S. Ser. No. 09/586,901, which has previously been expressly incorporated herein by reference. Other methods of shredding a web or roll of material and subsequently cutting into individual strands of decorative grass are known in the art and may be utilized in accordance with the present invention.
• Shown inFIGS. 14 and 14A is asystem180afor producing decorative grass in accordance with the present invention. Thesystem180ais similar to thesystem180 described herein above, except that thesystem180ahas been adapted so as to leave uncut areas in the sheet or web of material passed there through which serve as attachment area or a header for the strands of decorative grass. Thesystem180aincludes a first set ofblades182adisposed on afirst mandrel194aand a second set ofblades184adisposed on asecond mandrel196a. As shown inFIG. 14A, each individual blade of the first set ofblades182ahas afirst side186aand asecond side188a; and each individual blade of the second set ofblades184ahas afirst side190aand asecond side192a. When thefirst mandrel194ais rotated in adirection198aand thesecond mandrel196ais rotated in adirection200a, as illustrated inFIG. 14, the first and second set ofblades182aand184aoverlap, substantially as shown inFIG. 14a. Thus, thefirst side186aof an individual blade of the first set ofblades182atouches thesecond side192aof an individual blade of the second set ofblades184a, while thesecond side188aof an individual blade of the first set ofblades182atouches thefirst side190aof an individual blade of the second set ofblades184a.
• A sheet or web of material, such as the sheet or web oflaminated material10 shown inFIG. 14 for illustration purposes only, may be passed between the overlapping region of the first and second set ofblades182aand184a, resulting in shredding of the sheet or web oflaminated material10 to form individual strands ofdecorative grass202a.
• The individual blades of the first set ofblades182aare provided with awidth204a, and the individual blades of the second set ofblades184aare provided with awidth206a, and thewidths204aand206aare substantially the same. Thewidths204aand206adetermine the width of the individual strands ofdecorative grass202a.
• In thesystem180a, the first set ofblades182ais provided with aradius notch208. Upon rotation of thefirst mandrel194ain thedirection198aand thesecond mandrel196ain thedirection200a, the region of the first set ofblades182acontaining theradius notch208 does not contact a sheet or web of material (such as the sheet or web oflaminated material10 shown inFIG. 14), and therefore the sheet or web of material which passes through thesystem180abetween the second set ofblades184aand theradius notch208 of the first set ofblades182ais not cut but rather is left intact to form an attachment area orheader210 to which the individual strands ofdecorative grass202apreviously cut from the sheet or web of material are connected. Shown inFIG. 14bis a group of individual strands ofdecorative grass202aproduced from thesystem180ain which the individual strands ofdecorative grass202aare connected to each other via the attachment area orheader210.
• Shown inFIGS. 15-19 are various stages of thesystem180afor producing decorative grass. Shown inFIG. 14 is the initial contact between theradius notch208 of the first set ofblades182aand the second set ofblades184a. InFIG. 15, a first portion of theradius notch208 of the first set ofblades182ais in contact with the second set ofblades184asuch that the sheet or web ofmaterial10 passed therebetween is not being split but rather is forming a lower portion of the attachment area orheader210. InFIG. 16, all of theradius notch208 of the first set ofblades182ais in contact with the second set ofblades184asuch that the sheet or web ofmaterial10 passed therebetween is forming the attachment area orheader210. InFIG. 17, a portion of theradius notch208 of the first set ofblades182ais still in contact with the second set ofblades184aand forming an upper portion of the attachment area orheader210, while another portion of the first set ofblades182ais contacting the second set ofblades184asuch that the sheet or web ofmaterial10 passed between this connection is cut to release the strands ofdecorative grass202ahaving the attachment area orheader210 connected thereto, and the portion of the sheet or web ofmaterial10 is then again being shredded to form another section of individual strands ofdecorative grass202a. As shown inFIGS. 18 and 19, theradius notch208 of the first set ofblades182amoves beyond the second set ofblades184asuch that the connection between the first and second set ofblades182aand184ais blade-to-blade, as shown inFIG. 14a. It is important to note inFIGS. 15-19 that the first set ofblades182anever totally disengages the second set ofblades184a.
Description of FIGS.20-20A
• Shown inFIG. 20 is asystem220 for producing decorative grass in accordance with the present invention. Thesystem220 is a score cutting-style arrangement shredding process. Thesystem220 includes a set ofblades222 disposed on ablade mandrel224, and ahardened mandrel226, which is made of a substantially shape sustaining material. The set ofblades222 disposed on theblade mandrel224 are in downward physical contact with thehardened mandrel226. A sheet or web of material, such as the sheet or web oflaminated material10 shown inFIG. 20 for purposes of illustration only, is passed between theblade mandrel224 and thehardened mandrel226, and when theblade mandrel224 is rotated in adirection228 and thehardened mandrel226 is rotated in adirection230, the sheet or web of material comes into contact with the set ofblades222 and is shredded to form individual strands ofdecorative grass232. The individual blades of the set ofblades222 are disposed at adistance234 from each other, and thedistance234 determines the width of the individual strands ofdecorative grass232.
• Thesystem220 can produce individual strands ofdecorative grass232 from sheets of material wherein the strands ofdecorative grass232 have a predetermined length based on the length of the sheet of material, or thesystem220 can cut rolls of material to form a shredded roll of material, in which case the individual strands ofdecorative grass232 having a desired predetermined length would have to be cut from the shredded roll of material subsequent to the shredding process. Such a method of shredding a web or roll of material and subsequently cutting into individual strands of decorative grass has been disclosed in U.S. Ser. No. 09/586,901, which has previously been incorporated by reference herein. Other methods of shredding a web or roll of material and subsequently cutting into individual strands of decorative grass are known in the art and may be utilized in accordance with the present invention.
Description of FIGS.21-21B
• Shown inFIGS. 21 and 21A is asystem220afor producing decorative grass in accordance with the present invention. Thesystem220ais similar to thesystem220 described herein above, except that thesystem220ahas been adapted so as to leave uncut areas in the sheet or web of material passed there through which serves as an attachment area for the strands of decorative grass. Thesystem220aincludes a set ofblades222adisposed on ablade mandrel224a, and ahardened mandrel226a, which is made of a substantially shape sustaining material. The set ofblades222adisposed on theblade mandrel224aare in downward physical contact with thehardened mandrel226a. A sheet or web of material, such as the sheet or web oflaminated material10 shown inFIG. 21 for purposes of illustration only, is passed between theblade mandrel224aand thehardened mandrel226a, and when theblade mandrel224ais rotated in adirection228aand thehardened mandrel226ais rotated in adirection230a, the sheet or web ofmaterial10 comes into contact with the set ofblades222aand is shredded to form individual strands ofdecorative grass232a. The individual blades of the set ofblades222aare disposed at adistance234afrom each other, and thedistance234adetermines the width of the individual strands ofdecorative grass232a.
• In addition, theblade mandrel224amoves up and down off of thehardened mandrel226aby use of an air cylinder or cam in the directions indicated by an arrow236 (FIG. 21A), thereby raising the set ofblades222aout of contact with thehardened mandrel226aand thus the sheet or web ofmaterial10 passed between theblade mandrel224aand thehardened mandrel226a. When theblade mandrel224ais moved in an upward direction as indicated by thearrow236 such that the set ofblades222adisengage thehardened mandrel226a, an attachment area or header238 (FIG. 21B) is formed in which the individual strands ofdecorative grass232aare connected. Shown inFIG. 21B is a group of individual strands ofdecorative grass232aproduced from thesystem220awherein the individual strands ofdecorative grass232aare connected to each other via the attachment area orheader238. The length of the sheet or web of material which passes through the system for producingdecorative grass220awhile theblade mandrel224ais raised in the direction indicated by thearrow236, so as to disengage the set ofblades222afrom thehardened mandrel226adetermines the length of the attachment area orheader238 to which the strands ofdecorative grass232aare attached.
Description of FIGS.22 and23
• Shown inFIG. 22 are two sheets of curlable segments ofdecorative grass250. The two sheets of curlable segments ofdecorative grass250 are substantially normally disposed relative to one another; and each sheet of curlable segment ofdecorative grass250 has a plurality ofindividual segments252 connected to an attachment area orheader254. The sheets of curlabledecorative grass250 can be fabricated of any of the materials herein before described so that a curl can be imparted to the sheets of curlabledecorative grass250 at or near the point of sale or use of one or more sheets of curlabledecorative grass250. Any method for imparting a curl to thesegments250 of the curlable sheets of curlabledecorative grass250 herein before described can be employed and the particular method chosen will be determined by the end user. However, it should be understood that the method for imparting a curl to thesegments250 is not limited to the methods described herein, but include any method and/or apparatus known within the art. For example, the methods and apparatus for providing a curl to thesegment250 or to any sheet and/or web of material hereinbefore or hereinafter described include the methods and apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,436,324 B1, entitled “Method for Making Curled Decorative Grass”, issued to Weder et al on Aug. 20, 2002, the entire contents of which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference.
• While only two sheets of curlabledecorative grass250 have been shown, it should be understood that additional sheets of curlabledecorative grass250 can be employed to form a start of sheets of curlable decorative grass, and that eahc of the sheets and curlabledecorative grass250 has been shown as a single sheet or layer, laminates can also be employed as the sheet of curlabledecorative grass250.
• Shown inFIG. 23 are two sheets ofdecorative grass260 wherein a destortion, such as a curl, has been imparted to each of the sheets of thedecorative grass260. It should be noted that while the destortion has been shown as a curl, the destortion may be a crimp and/or a crimp and a curl as herein before described. The two sheets ofdecorative grass260 are substantially normally disposed relative to one another; and each sheet ofdecorative grass260 has a plurality ofsegments262 connected to an attachment area orheader264. The sheets ofdecorative grass260 can be fabricated of any of the materials herein before described; and as previously stated, the distortion can be formed utilizing any method herein before described or known and can include curls having various configurations, crimps and combination of curls and crimps, included but not limited to the methods and apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,436,324 B1 which has been previously incorporated herein by reference. Thesegments262 of each of the sheets ofdecorative grass260 are desirably retained in a substantially flattened condition prior to use at or near the point of sale. To ensure that thesegments262 of each of the sheets ofdecorative grass260 are maintained in a substantially flat condition prior to use and/or sale, the sheets ofdecorative grass260 may be disposed in a bag or package of sufficient rigidity which is sized to retain the sheets of decorative grass in a substantially flat configuration, thus preventing thesegments262 of the sheets ofdecorative grass260 from curling or being distorted prior to use and/or sale.
Description of FIG.24
• Referring now toFIG. 24 shown therein is a cutaway perspective view of apackage270 containing a plurality of sheets271 which have been at least partially cut to provide side byside strips272 which can be curled to form curled decorative grass. Thepackage270 includes an enclosure or box273 having anopening274 near one end275 thereof and a curling tool276 disposed within or aligned with theopening274 such that upon pulling one of the sheets271 from thepackage270 and drawing the sheet271 over the curling tool276, a curl is imparted to thestrips272 of the sheets271 at or near the point of use or sale of one or more of the sheets271. While thepackage270 is shown as being a substantially rectangular shaped enclosure273 sized and configured to contain a plurality of sheets271, it should be understood that thepackage270 can be provided with any suitable configuration as long as it is capable of containing the sheets, such as the sheets271.
• The sheets271, in addition to the plurality of side byside strips272 includes an attachment area orheader278 to which thestrips272 are connected. It should be noted that while theenclosure270 has been shown as containing a plurality of sheets271, individual strips which can be curled by pulling over the curling tool276 to impart the desired curl thereto can be stored within the enclosure273, and thepackage270 may include a roll of material (not shown) formed of a plurality of side by side strips. When using a roll of material, a predetermined amount of a material is unrolled and passed over the curling tool276. The curled strips of material are then severed from the roll of material by any conventional cutting element, such as sizzors, a cutting edge and the like.
• The material from which the sheets are fabricated can be any of the materials herein before described, including laminates thereof. Similarly, the curling tool can be any curling tool well known in the art and can be a single bar curling tool, a multiple bar curling tool and the like. The configuration of the curling tool, as well as the number of curling tools employed will vary depending upon the particular configuration of curl imparted to the sheet of material and the and/or strips.
• While the curling tool276 has been shown as being incorporated into the package270 (FIG. 24), it should be understood that the curling tool276 assembly can be located separate of thepackage270, in which case the curling tool will desirably be positioned near the point of sale and/or use of the decorative grass.
• Several prior art methods and apparatus can be employed for providing a curl or a crimp to the sheet or strand of decorative grass. An example of such a method and apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,891,286, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,436,324, each of which has previously been incorporated herein by reference. However, is to be understood that the method and apparatus for imparting a curl to sheet of decorative grass is not limited to the use of such methods and apparatus, and any method known in the art for providing a curl and/or crimp to a sheet or strand of material may be utilized in accordance with the present invention for imparting a curl and/or crimp to a sheet or strand of material removed from a package.
• It is to be understood that any method of forming the decorative grass of the present invention, such as the systems for producing decorative grass described herein as well as any method known in the art, could be performed in line with an extrusion operation using razor blades or any other cutting method, shredding in wider strips and stretching these strips to form narrower and thinner strips.
• As stated above, the sheet or web of material from which the decorative grass is produced may be provided in a substantially flat configuration and cut or shredded to produce strands of decorative grass having a substantially flat configuration, or the sheet or web of material from which the decorative grass is produced may be curled prior to cutting. The sheet or web of material may be placed under stress, causing the sheet or web of material to temporarily assume a substantially flat configuration, and upon shredding, the strands of decorative grass formed therefrom may be retained in the substantially flat configuration until curling or crimping is desired, or the strands of decorative grass cut from the sheet or web of material may be allowed to curl or crimp upon shredding from the sheet or web of material. In a third option, the sheet or web of material may be curled and cut or shredded in such a curled or crimped configuration. The strands of decorative grass formed therefrom may then be exposed to sufficient pressure to cause the strands of decorative grass to assume a substantially flat configuration until crimping or curling is desired, at which time the strands of decorative grass are released from such pressure and allowed to relax and curl or crimp. Any of the above described embodiments may also be employed with strands of decorative grass attached at an attachment area or header.
• 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.

Claims (11)

1. A method of providing a curled or crimped decorative grass at a point of use or a point of sale, the method comprising:

providing at least one sheet or web of material at a point of sale or use, the at least one sheet or web of material capable of having a curl or a crimp imparted thereto;

forming a curl or crimp in the at least one sheet or web of material at the point of sale or use to form a distortion in the at least one sheet or web of material; and

cutting the sheet or web of material having the distortion formed therein into strands of decorative grass at the point of sale or use of the decorative grass.

2. A method of providing a curled decorative grass at a point of use or a point of sale, the method comprising:

providing at least one curled sheet or web of material at a point of sale or use;

maintaining pressure on the at least one curled sheet or web of material to maintain the curled sheet or web of material in a substantially flat configuration; and

cutting the curled sheet or web of material into strands of decorative grass at the point of sale or use of the decorative grass while the curled sheet or web of material is maintained in the substantially flat configuration.

3. A method of providing a curled decorative grass at a point of use or a point of sale, the method comprising:

providing at least one curled sheet or web of material at a point of sale or use; and

cutting the curled sheet or web of material into strands of decorative grass at the point of sale or use of the decorative grass.

4. A method of providing a curled decorative grass at a point of use or a point of sale, the method comprising:

providing at least one sheet or web of material at a point of sale or use, the at least one sheet of web of material having a preset distortion therein; and

cutting the curled sheet or web of material having the preset distortion therein into strands to provide decorative grass at the point of sale or use of the decorative grass wherein at least a portion of the strands have the preset distortion.

5. The method ofclaim 4 wherein the preset distortion is selected from the group consisting of curls, crimps and combinations thereof.

6. The method ofclaim 4 wherein, in the step of providing at least one sheet or web of material at a point of sale or use, the at least one sheet of material comprises a header having a plurality a strips of material connected thereto and wherein the preset distortion is at least one curl imparted to at least the plurality of strips of material and wherein in the step of cutting the curled sheet or web of material having the preset distortion, the header is removed from the plurality of strips of material to provide curled segments of decorative grass at the point of sale or use of the decorative grass.

7. The method ofclaim 4 wherein, in the step of providing at least one sheet or web of material at a point of sale or use, the at least one sheet or web of material is a laminated material having a preset curl formed therein.

8. The method ofclaim 4 wherein, in the step of providing at least one sheet or web of material at a point of sale or use, the at least one sheet or web of material is a laminated material having a preset curl formed therein, and wherein the laminated material is prepared by the steps of:

providing a first sheet or web of material;

providing a second sheet or web of material, one of the first and second sheets or webs of material having a size less than the other sheet of material;

stretching the sheet or web of material having a size less than the other sheet or web of material to provide a stretched sheet or web of material; and

laminating the stretched sheet or web of material to the other sheet or web of material to form the laminated material having a preset curl formed therein.

9. A method for providing curled decorative grass at a point of sale or use of the curled decorative grass, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of sheets or a web of material capable of having a curl imparted thereto at a point of sale or use of the curled decorative grass;

providing curling tool capable of imparting a curl to the sheets or web of material when the sheets or web of material is brought into contact with the curling tool;

contacting the sheets or web of material with the curling tool so as to impart a curl to the sheets or webs of material and provide curled sheets or a curled web of material at the point of sale or use; and

cutting the curled sheets or web of material to provide curled decorative grass at the point of sale or use of the curled decorative grass.

10. The method for providing curled decorative grass at a point of sale or use of the curled decorative grass ofclaim 9 wherein, in the step of cutting the curled sheets or web of material to provide curled decorative grass at the point of sale or use of the curled decorative grass, strands of curled decorative grass are held together via a header.

11. An assembly for producing curled decorative grass at a point of use or sale, the assembly comprising:

an enclosure containing a plurality of sheets or web of material capable of having a curl imparted thereto, the enclosure having an opening therein for permitting removal of at least one sheet at a time or at least a portion of the web of material from the enclosure, the enclosure being located at or near a point of sale or point of use of curled decorative grass; and

a curling tool for imparting a curl to the sheets or at least a portion of the web of material to provide curled sheets of a curled web material when at least one of the sheets or at least a portion of the web of material are withdrawn from the enclosure and brought into contact with curling tool at or near the point of sale or use of decorative grass; and

a cutting tool for cutting the curled sheets or the curled web material to provide curled decorative grass at or near the point of sale or use of the curled decorative grass.

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