NAPKIN

Abstract

A method of applying adhesive to a napkin includes spraying first and second adhesive portions on to a first surface of a napkin, and folding the napkin along a fold such that the first and second adhesive portions are brought into engagement with each other, in which the adhesive is of a type that will allow the first and second adhesive portions to separate and allow the napkin to be adhered to an object.

Claims

1. A napkin comprising: a sheet having a first surface; and first and second adhesive portions applied onto said first surface; wherein the sheet is folded along a first fold before said first and second adhesive portions are applied onto the first surface of the sheet; and wherein said first and second adhesive portions are adapted to engage each other when said sheet is folded along a second fold, and said adhesive is of a type that will allow said first and second adhesive portions to separate and allow said sheet to be adhered to an object.

2. A napkin according to claim 1, wherein said first and said second adhesive portions together form a strip of adhesive extending along said first surface parallel to said first fold.

3. A napkin according to claim 2, wherein said strip of adhesive extends along an edge of said napkin parallel to said first fold.

4. A napkin according to claim 1, wherein the first and second adhesive portions are sprayed onto the first surface.

Description

[0050] Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only and not in any limitative sense, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0051] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a napkin to which adhesive has been applied in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0052] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the napkin in FIG. 1 into which a first fold is being introduced;

[0053] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the napkin in FIG. 2 into which a second fold is being introduced;

[0054] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a napkin to which adhesive has been applied in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0055] FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the napkin in FIG. 4 into which first and second folds have been introduced;

[0056] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a napkin to which adhesive has been applied in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention;

[0057] FIG. 5A is a cross sectional view of a tape portion which has been applied to the napkin in FIG. 5;

[0058] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the napkin in FIG. 6 being prepared for use;

[0059] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a napkin to which adhesive has been applied in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

[0060] FIG. 8 is a first perspective view of the napkin in FIG. 7 being prepared for use; and

[0061] FIG. 8A is a second perspective view of the napkin in FIG. 7 being prepared for use.

[0062] In order to modify a napkin 100 in accordance with the present invention adhesive must be applied to it. In accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention, first and second adhesive portions 102, 104 are applied to a first surface 106 of a napkin 100, as shown in FIG. 1. Typically such adhesive may be applied by spraying it directly onto the napkin 100 but may be done using any other method. The napkin 100 is then folded along a first fold 108 so that the first and second adhesive portions 102, 104 are brought into engagement with each other, as shown in FIG. 2. The napkin 100 may then be folded along a second fold 109, see FIG. 3. Any other number of folds may be further introduced into the napkin 100 so that the folded napkin is of a required size.

[0063] The adhesive of the first and second adhesive portions 102, 104 is to be of a type that will allow the first and second adhesive portions 102, 104 to separate so that after unfolding a napkin 100 which was previously folded like in FIG. 2, the napkin may to be subsequently adhered to a person, a person's clothing, or any other object. An example of an adhesive product that can be used in the implementation of the present invention is 3M's Re-Mount spray or any similar product that can be sprayed onto a surface and adhered to another surface. Another example is the 3M product sold under the brand Spray 75 which is also a repositionable adhesive. In selecting the adhesive used consideration must be give to the fact paper napkins are often compressed in order to remove air from the packaging and thereby reduce the volume of the packaged napkin for transportation and storage. This causes the layers of adhesive to be pressed into close engagement and can cause the bonding between the adjacent layers of adhesive to be too strong leading to the napkins becoming damaged on opening. This is not the case when the Re-Mount Spray is applied.

[0064] In accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention the first and second adhesive portions 102, 104 may together form a strip of adhesive extending along the first surface 106 perpendicular to the first fold 108, as shown in FIG. 4. This strip may be right on the edge of the napkin 100 or simply adjacent to the edge.

[0065] Referring to FIG. 5 in which parts in common with those in FIG. 1 have been labelled with like reference numerals increased by 100, a napkin 200 modified in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention will now be described. In this embodiment instead of simply applying a body of adhesive onto a napkin 200 the use of first and second double sided sticky tape portions 202, 204 is required. Such portions will hereon in be referred to as first and second tape portions 202, 204.

[0066] The tape portions 202, 204, illustrated in FIG. 5A, are made up of a layer of tape 205 to which adhesive has been applied to both sides, one side of which is adhered to the surface of a napkin 200. The other side of the tape 205 has a removable cover 207 partially adhered to it. The part of the cover 207 which is not adhered to the tape 205 is referred to as the tab 211. The tab 211 is adapted to be grasped by a user and pulled in order to remove the cover 207 from the tape 205 so as to expose the adhesive thereby enabling the napkin 200 to be used in accordance with the present invention, that is enabling the napkin to be adhered to a person, a person's clothing, or any other object.

[0067] With reference to FIG. 6 typically the tab portion 214 of the tape portions 202, 204 are located away from the respective opposing edges 218, 220 of the napkin 200 towards which the tabs 211 are intended to be pulled by applying forces along directions 213, 215 so as to peel the covers 207 from the napkin 100.

[0068] In accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention the first and second tape portions 202, 204 may together form a strip extending along the first surface 206 of a napkin 200 perpendicular to the first fold 208, the strip being made up of two elongate tape portions 202, 204 which engage each other adjacent their respective tabs 211, see FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. 8A shows the covers 207 being peeled away from the napkin 200 in FIG. 7 by a person.

[0069] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the above embodiments have been described by way of example only and not in any limitative sense, and that various alterations and modifications are possible without departure from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. For example, the napkin 100, 200 may comprise a sheet of paper, card, cloth or any other material. Furthermore, a napkin 100, 200 may be folded before adhesive portions 102, 104, 202, 204 are applied to it in accordance with any aspect of the present invention. By folding the napkin in half first, then applying a line of adhesive to the napkin parallel to the fold before folding the napkin for a second time, perpendicular to the first fold, the advantage is provided that when the adhesive portions have been separated, the napkin can be attached to the clothes, for example at chest height. The weight of the napkin then causes the first fold to open. It should also be noted that the present invention can be applied to any form of napkin including paper napkins of one or multiple plies and woven fabric napkins.

[0070] Furthermore, it will be apparent that the apparatus for applying adhesive can be part of a napkin manufacturing machine. The device that applies the adhesive may be a retro-fit to an existing napkin making machine or may be formed as part of a napkin making device. The napkins are formed from a larger sheet of material and the adhesive may be applied either before or after the sheet is cut into individual napkins.