Abstract
A napkin is provided with an adhering portion and an engaging location that can releasably adhere together. The adhering portion is located on an upper side of the napkin and the engaging location is located on the lower side such that the napkin can be wrapped around items of cutlery and secured to form a wrap by engaging the adhering portion with the engaging location. The adhering portion and the engaging location are provided with mutually adhesive material that allows the adhering portion and the engaging location to releasably adhere to each other but which mutually adhesive material does not adhere to the napkin material. A cutlery wrap using the napkin of this design and a method for wrapping cutlery are also provided.
Claims
1. A folded napkin, wherein the napkin is formed from a sheet of napkin material, having an inner surface and an outer surface and being folded at least once with the inner surface inwards, the folded napkin having an upper side and a lower side and four corners and being provided with an adhering portion and an engaging location with both the adhering portion and the engaging location being located on the outer surface, the adhering portion being located on the upper side and the engaging location being located on the lower side at corresponding positions such that the napkin can be wrapped around an object and secured by engaging the adhering portion with the engaging location and can be subsequently unfolded for use, the adhering portion and the engaging location being provided with a mutually adhesive material to allow the adhering portion and the engaging location to releasably adhere to each other, wherein the mutually adhesive material does not adhere to the napkin material, and wherein the engaging location is located close to a center of the napkin and wherein corners on the lower side are devoid of the mutually adhesive material.
2. The napkin of claim 1, wherein the adhering portion is located at a first corner of the napkin.
3. The napkin of claim 2, wherein the engaging location comprises a zone extending substantially from the first corner to a diagonally opposite second corner, wherein the adhesive material of the adhering portion and the engaging location comprises a water based acrylic adhesive, a pressure sensitive hot melt, a cold seal adhesive, male-male connections or male-female connections, wherein the engaging location is provided only at positions such that the napkin can be stacked with similar napkins with the engaging location not aligned and not engaged with the adhering portion of an adjacent napkin, wherein the napkin is formed from a sheet having an inner surface and an outer surface and being folded at least once with the inner surface inwards, both the adhering portion and the engaging location being located on the outer surface, and wherein the sheet is at least twice-folded to form the napkin with the outer surface exposed.
4. The napkin of claim 1, wherein the adhesive material of the adhering portion and the engaging location comprises a water based acrylic adhesive, a pressure sensitive hot melt, a cold seal adhesive, male-male connections or male-female connections.
5. The napkin of claim 1, wherein the engaging location is provided only at positions such that the napkin can be stacked with similar napkins with the engaging location not aligned and not engaged with the adhering portion of an adjacent napkin.
6. The napkin of claim 1, wherein the sheet is at least twice-folded to form the napkin with the outer surface exposed.
7. The napkin of claim 1, wherein the sheet is a multi-ply tissue having a weight per ply of between 14 and 30 g/m.sup.2.
8. The napkin of claim 1, wherein the sheet is a single-ply air-laid non-woven having a weight of between 25 and 80 g/m.sup.2.
9. The napkin of claim 1, wherein the sheet is a single-ply tissue having a weight of between 14 and 40 g/m.sup.2.
10. The napkin of claim 1, wherein the sheet has maximum dimensions of between 20 cm and 60 cm.
11. The napkin of claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the sheet is patterned or embossed.
12. A cutlery wrap, comprising: the napkin of claim 1; and one or more items of cutlery, wrapped in the napkin, the wrap being secured by engagement of the adhering portion with the engaging location.
13. A method of wrapping cutlery to form a cutlery wrap, the method comprising: providing a folded napkin, wherein the napkin is formed from a sheet of napkin material, having an inner surface and an outer surface and being folded at least once with the inner surface inwards, the folded napkin having an upper side, a lower side, four corners and being provided with, an adhering portion and an engaging location with both the adhering portion and the engaging potion being located on the outer surface, the adhering portion being located on the upper side, and the engaging location being located on the lower side at corresponding positions such that the napkin can be wrapped around an object and secured by engaging the adhering portion with the engaging location and can be subsequently unfolded for use, the adhering portion and the engaging location being provided with a mutually adhesive material to allow the adhering portion and the engaging location to releasably adhere to each other, wherein the mutually adhesive material does not adhere to the napkin material, and wherein the engaging location is located close to a center of the napkin and wherein corners on the lower side are devoid of the mutually adhesive material; placing one or more items of cutlery onto the napkin; wrapping the cutlery in the napkin; and engaging the adhering portion with the engaging location on the napkin to secure the wrap.
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing the napkin in a stack of napkins with the upper side of a top napkin exposed and the items of cutlery are placed onto the upper side of the top napkin.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The features and advantages of the invention will be appreciated upon reference to the following drawings. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the invention and, together with the general description given above and the detailed description given below, explain the one or more embodiments of the invention.
(2) FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a napkin according to a first embodiment.
(3) FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the napkin of FIG. 1, formed into a cutlery wrap.
(4) FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of a stack of the napkins of FIG. 1.
(5) FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the stack of FIG. 3, with the uppermost napkin partially folded back to reveal further elements thereof.
(6) FIG. 5 is a top plan view of an unfolded napkin in accordance with one embodiment.
(7) FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the unfolded napkin of FIG. 5, with the adhering portion positioned at a different location.
(8) FIG. 7 is a top plan view of an alternative embodiment of an unfolded napkin.
(9) FIG. 8 is a top plan view of yet another embodiment of an unfolded napkin.
(10) FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a further embodiment of an unfolded napkin.
(11) FIG. 10 is a top plan view of another embodiment of an unfolded napkin.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(12) FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a napkin 1 according to a first embodiment together with a cutlery service 5. The napkin 1 has an upper side 2 that is visible in FIG. 1 and four corners 4 A-D. The lower side 3 of the napkin 1 is not visible in this view.
(13) The napkin 1 is a conventional 3-ply paper tissue sheet 6 having a weight of 45 g/m.sup.2 and maximum dimensions of 39 cm×39 cm unfolded size. As shown in FIG. 1, the napkin is in a twice folded state, having dimensions of 19.5 cm×19.5 cm. It will be understood that other sizes and constructions may be equally applicable. The points 8 A-D of the tissue sheet are gathered at the first corner 4A. At the diagonally opposite second corner 4B there is provided an adhering portion 10. The adhering portion 10 is a triangular region of 2 cm.sup.2 that has been coated with a cold seal adhesive, such as Loctite® Liofol CS22-422.
(14) FIG. 2 shows the napkin 1 of FIG. 1, rolled around the cutlery service 5 to form a wrap 20. In this view, the lower side 3 of the napkin 1 is visible, while the upper side 2 of the napkin 1 is turned inwards towards the cutlery service 5. The napkin 1 has been rolled, starting from the first corner 4A and the second corner 4B is outermost. In this state, the adhering portion 10 engages over an engaging location 16 on the lower side 3 of the napkin 1 and engages therewith by the action of the adhering portion 10. The engaging portion has also been coated with a cold seal adhesive, such as Loctite® Liofol CS22-422. The engagement between the adhering portion 10 and the engaging location 16 should be sufficient to secure the wrap 20 against spontaneous unwrapping even after handling of wraps 20 during setting of tables or the like. In particular embodiments, it should also be sufficient to remain engaged for a period of at least 24 hours. On the other hand, it should not be so well adhered that the wrap 20 may not be opened without damaging the napkin 1 to the extent that it may be unacceptable to a user.
(15) The napkin may or may not be provided with a releasing portion 12. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the napkin is provided with a releasing portion 12 located on the lower side 3 at the second corner 4B, such that it directly corresponds to the position of the adhering portion 10.
(16) FIG. 3 shows a stack 30 of napkins 1 according to FIG. 1. All of the napkins 1 in the stack 30 are located with their upper side 2 upwards and the adhering portion 10 of the uppermost napkin 1 is visible. The napkins may or may not be provided with a releasing portion.
(17) FIG. 4 shows the stack of FIG. 3, with the uppermost napkin 1 partially turned back to reveal its lower side 3 and the upper side 2 of the napkin 1 below. Also visible is the releasing portion 12 on the lower side 3 of the uppermost napkin 1. It will be understood that the engagement between the adhering portion 10 and the releasing portion 12 allows a stable stack 30 of napkins 1 to be maintained and also ensures that suitable release of the uppermost napkin 1 is possible, without damaging the material of the napkin 1. In this sense, operation may be considered similar to the well-known sticky notes although with the particularity that in the case of the stack 30, the adhering portion 10 is provided on the upper side.
(18) In use, a user may quickly and efficiently form cutlery wraps 20 directly from the stack 30, by placing the cutlery service 5 onto the stack 30 and wrapping or rolling the uppermost napkin 1 from the first corner 4A towards the second corner 4B to the point at which the engaging location 16 engages the adhering portion 10. At this point, continued rolling of the wrap 20, will release it from the stack 30, which is ready to receive the next cutlery service 5.
(19) FIG. 5 is a plan view of the napkin 1 of FIG. 1 after unfolding the tissue sheet 6 to reveal its outer surface 32 and its four points 8A-D. The sheet 6 is twice-folded, across fold X and subsequently across fold Y to form the napkin 1. The upper side 2 of the napkin 1 is on the left side of the fold Y, while the lower side 3 of the napkin 1 is the portion on the right side of the fold Y. In this embodiment, the adhering portion 10 is located close to the center of the tissue sheet 6. The engaging location 16 is located centrally of the lower side 3 and as can be seen in this view, is considerably larger than either the adhering portion 10. The reason for this is that the wrap 20 may vary considerably in size, depending upon the cutlery service 5 and the position at which the adhering portion 10 engages with the lower side 3 of the napkin 1 may also be variable. If a releasing portion 12 is present, it is located adjacent to the adhering portion 10, with the adhering portion 10 and the releasing portion 12 on either side of the fold Y.
(20) FIG. 6 is a plan view of a tissue sheet 6 that is otherwise identical to the tissue sheet of FIG. 5, with the exception of the location of the adhering portion 10 and the releasing portion 12, if present. In this case, the adhering portion 10 is located adjacent of the tissue sheet close to the third corner 4C. If a releasing portion 12 is present, it is located adjacent to the adhering portion 10, with the adhering portion 10 and the releasing portion 12 on either side of the fold Y. This has the advantage that the adhering portion 10 and, if a releasing portion 12 is present, the releasing portion 12 are kept away from the central region of the tissue sheet 6, where they might be more visible during use of the napkin.
(21) FIG. 7 is a plan view of an unfolded napkin 101 according to an alternative embodiment. Like numerals preceded by 100 are used to designate similar elements. In this embodiment, the tissue sheet 106 is provided with a tape element 107, carrying the adhering portion 110 and the releasing portion 112. In this embodiment, both the adhering portion 110 and the releasing portion 112 are provided on the same tape element 107. It will however be understood that they could also be provided on separate tape elements and could also be spaced from each other. The tape element 107 is permanently adhered to the tissue sheet at the third corner 104C, corresponding to the alternative shown in FIG. 6, and is aligned such that the adhering portion 110 will attach to the engaging location 116. It will be understood that the tape element 107 could have been located at the second corner as in the embodiment of FIG. 5. In all other respects, this embodiment operates in a similar manner to the previous embodiment.
(22) FIG. 8 is a plan view of an unfolded napkin 201 according to a still further embodiment. Like numerals preceded by 200 are used to designate similar elements to those of the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the adhering portion 210 is moved away from the third corner 204C in a diagonal direction towards the center C of the napkin 201. In this embodiment, the releasing portion 212 is located at a corresponding distance from what will become the fourth corner 204D, once the napkin 201 is folded, in the direction of the center C′ of the lower side 203 of the napkin. This position of the releasing portion 212 ensures that it can also act as the engaging location if the distance between the adhering portion 210 and the releasing portion 212 corresponds to the wrapping circumference of the cutlery item. In the case of the embodiment of FIG. 8, napkins 201 will be stacked alternately with the third corner 204C overlying the fourth corner 204D of the napkin beneath and vice versa. In this way, the releasing portion 212 will overly the adhesive portion 210 of the napkin below.
(23) FIG. 9 is a plan view of an unfolded napkin 301 according to a still further embodiment. Like numerals preceded by 300 are used to designate similar elements to those of the first embodiment and of the second embodiment. The upper side 2 is on the right side of the fold Y, while the lower side 3 is at the left side of the fold Y. In this embodiment, the adhering portion 310 is located on the upper side 2 adjacent the third corner 304C. The engaging location 316 is located on the lower side 3 on the diagonal from the third corner 304C to the fourth corner 304D close to the center C of the napkin 301. The engaging location 316 is considerably larger than the adhering portion 310. The adhering portion 310 comprises for example a circular portion with a diameter of 26 mm, the engaging location 316 comprises for example a circular portion with a diameter of 64 mm.
(24) FIG. 10 is a plan view of an unfolded napkin 401 according to a still further embodiment. Like numerals preceded by 400 are used to designate similar elements to those of the previous embodiments. The embodiment of FIG. 10 is identical to the embodiment of FIG. 9, with the exception of the engaging location 416. The engaging location 416 is located on the lower side 3 of the napkin 401 and extends from the third corner 404C to the fourth corner 404D.
(25) Thus, the invention has been described by reference to the embodiments discussed above. It will be recognized that these embodiments are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms well known to those of skill in the art. In particular, the arrangement of adhering portions and engaging locations may be distinct from the schematically illustrated designs both in position and in shape.
(26) Many modifications in addition to those described above may be made to the structures and techniques described herein without departing from the invention. Accordingly, although specific embodiments have been described, these are examples only and are not limiting upon the scope of the invention.
