STICKY NAPKIN AND TOWEL ROLL

Abstract

A sticky napkin is disclosed. The sticky napkin includes a first surface and an opposing second surface, a first fold line extending from the first side to the second side, a second fold line extending from the first side to the second side, a first adhesive strip overlaying the second surface of the first end section panel and extending in a direction from the first side to the second side, and a second adhesive strip overlaying the second surface of the second end section panel and extending in a direction from the first side to the second side.

Claims

1. A sticky napkin comprising a pre-folded paper napkin having a first surface and an opposing second surface with each surface defined by first, second, third and fourth sides, the first and second surfaces extending from a first end section panel to a second end section panel with a mid-section panel residing therebetween; a first fold line extending from the first side to the second side; a second fold line extending from the first side to the second side; the first and second fold lines being spaced apart from one another, the first fold line separating the first end section panel from the mid-section panel of the napkin and the second fold line separating the second end section panel from the mid-section panel of the napkin; the first fold line being configured to bias the first end section panel to fold over the mid-section panel such that the first surface of the first end section panel is facing the first surface of the mid-section panel when folded; the second fold line being configured to bias the second end section panel to fold over the mid-section panel such that the first surface of the second end section panel is facing the surface of the mid-section panel when folded; a first adhesive strip overlaying the second surface of the first end section panel and extending in a direction from the first side to the second side; a second adhesive strip overlaying the second surface of the second end section panel and extending in a direction from the first side to the second side; a third adhesive strip overlaying the second surface of the second end section panel and extending in a direction from the first side to the second side; said first, second, and third adhesive strips each being comprised of a re-adherable low-tack pressure sensitive adhesive; and wherein in the pre-folded state, the first adhesive strip adheres the second surface of the first end section panel to the first surface of the second end section panel.

2. The sticky napkin of claim 1, wherein said first, second, third, and fourth sides define a square.

3. The sticky napkin of claim 1, wherein said first, second, third, and fourth sides define a rectangle.

4. The sticky napkin of claim 1, wherein said first, second and third adhesive strips have varying dimensions as compared to one another.

5. The sticky napkin of claim 1, wherein one or more of said first, second and third adhesive strips extend to said first and second sides.

6. The sticky napkin of claim 1, wherein one or more of said first, second and third adhesive strips do not extend to said first and second sides.

7. The sticky napkin of claim 1, wherein one or more of said first, second and third adhesive strips are comprised of series of discrete deposits of a re-adherable low-tack pressure sensitive adhesive that are spaced apart from one another.

8. The sticky napkin of claim 7, wherein the series of discrete deposits of a re-adherable low-tack pressure sensitive adhesive that are spaced apart from one another are comprised of circular shaped dots that are space apart from one another.

9. The sticky napkin of claim 7, wherein the series of discrete deposits of a re-adherable low-tack pressure sensitive adhesive that are spaced apart from one another are comprised of rectangularly shaped adhesive deposits that are space apart from one another.

10. A package of sticky napkins of claim 1, wherein said second and third adhesive strips of the sticky napkin contained within the package are adhered to the second surface of the mid-section panel of adjacent sticky napkin.

11. A sticky napkin comprising: a pre-folded paper napkin having a first surface and an opposing second surface with each surface defined by first, second, third and fourth sides, the first and second surfaces extending from a first end section panel to a second end section panel with a mid-section panel residing therebetween; a first fold line extending from the first side to the second side; a second fold line extending from the first side to the second side; the first and second fold lines being spaced apart from one another, the first fold line separating the first end section panel from the mid-section panel of the napkin and the second fold line separating the second end section panel from the mid-section panel of the napkin; the first fold line being configured to bias the first end section panel to fold over the mid-section panel such that the first surface of the first end section panel is facing the first surface of the mid-section panel when folded; the second fold line being configured to bias the second end section panel to fold over the mid-section panel such that the first surface of the second end section panel is facing the surface of the mid-section panel when folded; a first adhesive strip overlaying the second surface of the first end section panel and extending in a direction from the first side to the second side; a second adhesive strip overlaying the second surface of the second end section panel and extending in a direction from the first side to the second side; said first and second adhesive strips each being comprised of a re-adherable low-tack pressure sensitive adhesive; and wherein in the pre-folded state, the first adhesive strip adheres the second surface of the first end section panel to the first surface of the second end section panel.

12. The sticky napkin of claim 11, wherein said first, second, third, and fourth sides define a square.

13. The sticky napkin of claim 11, wherein said first, second, third, and fourth sides define a rectangle.

14. The sticky napkin of claim 11, wherein said first and second adhesive strips have varying dimensions as compared to one another.

15. The sticky napkin of claim 11, wherein one or more of said first and second adhesive strips extend to said first and second sides.

16. The sticky napkin of claim 11, wherein one or more of said first and second adhesive strips do not extend to said first and second sides.

17. The sticky napkin of claim 11, wherein one or more of said first and second adhesive strips are comprised of series of discrete deposits of a re-adherable low-tack pressure sensitive adhesive that are spaced apart from one another.

18. The sticky napkin of claim 17, wherein the series of discrete deposits of a re-adherable low-tack pressure sensitive adhesive that are spaced apart from one another are comprised of circular shaped dots that are space apart from one another.

19. The sticky napkin of claim 17, wherein the series of discrete deposits of a re-adherable low-tack pressure sensitive adhesive that are spaced apart from one another are comprised of rectangularly shaped adhesive deposits that are space apart from one another.

20. A package of sticky napkins of claim 10, wherein said second adhesive strip of the sticky napkin contained within the package is adhered to the second surface of the mid-section panel of an adjacent sticky napkin.

21. A method of using a sticky napkin of claim 10 contained within a stacked package of pre-folded sticky napkins extending from a top sticky napkin to a bottom sticky napkin comprising: detaching the second surface of the mid-section panel of the top sticky napkin from the second and third adhesive strips of the underlying adjacent second surface of the second end section panel; unfolding the top sticky napkin along its second fold-line to separate the second end-section panel from the first adhesive strip on the first end section panel and away from the mid-section panel; unfolding the top sticky napkin along its first fold-line to separate the first end-section panel away from the mid-section panel; applying pressure to the sticky napkin against a surface to adhere the sticky napkin to that surface via one or more of the adhesive strips on the surface thereof; and removing the sticky napkin from the surface and disposing the napkin in a waste container.

22. A paper towel roll comprising: concentric circles of a plurality of pre-perforated paper towel sheets; each sheet being defined by an inwardly facing surface, an opposing outwardly facing surface, opposing sides, a leading edge, and a trailing edge adjacent to the pre-perforation for the sheet; and one or more re-adherable low-tack pressure sensitive adhesive strips that extend along the inner surface of the trailing edge sheet in contact with the outwardly facing surface of an underlying sheet in the paper towel roll, wherein the one or more re-adherable low-tack pressure sensitive adhesive strips are adapted to mitigate against the paper towel roll unravelling while also capable of adhere sheet separated from the paper roll to another surface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate certain aspects of the subject matter disclosed herein and together with the description, help explain aspects associated with the disclosed implementations. When practical, the same or similar reference numbers denote the same or similar structures, features, or elements.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sticky napkin in tri-folded position showing aspects thereof in accordance with the disclosed subject matter.

[0019] FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the sticky napkin of FIG. 1 with the sticky napkin unfolded to show the inner surface.

[0020] FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the sticky napkin of FIG. 1 with the sticky napkin unfolded to show the outer surface.

[0021] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a stacked package of the sticky napkin of FIG. 1.

[0022] FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a pre-perforated paper roll in accordance with the disclosed subject matter, wherein the trailing edge of the sheets in the paper roll includes a re-adherable low-tack pressure sensitive adhesive strips that extends proximate to its trailing edge and that faces the underlying sheet in the roll.

[0023] FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional schematic representation of the paper roll of FIG. 5A. The concentric circles represent the paper towel sheets connected together. The spaces between the sheets are for illustration purposes only. In application, the inward facing surface of the outer sheets together with the re-adherable low-tack pressure sensitive adhesive strips thereon would be in contact with the outer facing surfaces of the underlying sheets.

[0024] FIG. 6A is a perspective view of an embodiment of another representative implementation of a sticky napkin with the sticky napkin unfolded to show the outer surface.

[0025] FIG. 6B is another perspective view of the sticky napkin of FIG. 6A with the sticky napkin unfolded to show the inner surface.

[0026] FIG. 7A is a perspective view of the sticky napkin of FIG. 6A with the sticky napkin folded in half along a fold line 690 to form a folded napkin.

[0027] FIG. 7B is another perspective view of the sticky napkin of FIG. 6A with the sticky napkin folded in half along a fold line to form a folded napkin. It is a depiction of the opposite side of the folded napkin illustrated in FIG. 7A.

[0028] FIG. 8A is a perspective view of the sticky napkin of FIG. 7A with the sticky napkin folded further in half along another fold line 680 to form a double folded napkin.

[0029] FIG. 8B is a depiction of the opposite side of the double folded sticky napkin illustrated in FIG. 8A.

[0030] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a stacked package of the double folded napkin illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B.

[0031] The illustration depicts the re-adherable low-tack pressure sensitive adhesive strips facing upward. However, in application, the user may invert the stacked package so that the re-adherable low-tack pressure sensitive adhesive strips are facing downward, such that the user could peel-off the napkin on the top of the stack from the underlying napkin to which napkin is secured via the one or more re-adherable low-tack pressure sensitive adhesive strips.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] An exemplary sticky napkin 100 can be a paper napkin pre-folded in three folds as shown in FIG. 1. The exemplary sticky napkin 100 has an inner surface 200 defined by a first side 10, a second side 20, a third side 30 and a fourth side 40, as best shown in FIG. 2. The inner surface 200 can further extend from an inner surface 250 of a first end section panel 50 to an inner surface 260 of a second end section panel 60 with an inner surface 270 of a mid-section panel 70 residing therebetween.

[0033] The exemplary sticky napkin 100 has an outer surface 300 that is opposing to the inner surface 200. The outer surface 300 can also be defined by the first side 10, the second side 20, the third side 30 and the fourth side 40, as best shown in FIG. 3. The outer surface 300 can further extend from an outer surface 350 of the first end section panel 50 to an outer surface 360 of the second end section panel 60 with an outer surface 370 of the mid-section panel 70 residing therebetween.

[0034] The sticky napkin 100 can comprise a first fold line 80 extending from the first side 10 to the second side 20. The sticky napkin 100 further comprises a second fold line 90 extending from the first side 10 to the second side 20. The first and second fold lines 80, 90 are spaced apart from one another with the first fold line 80 separating the first end section panel 50 from the mid-section panel 70 and the second fold line 90 separating the second end section panel 60 from the mid-section panel 70.

[0035] As best shown in FIG. 2, the first fold line 80 is configured to bias the first end section panel 50 to fold over the mid-section panel 70 such that the inner surface 250 of the first end section panel 50 is facing the inner surface 270 of the mid-section panel 70 when folded. The second fold line 90 is configured to bias the second end section panel 60 to fold over the mid-section panel 70 such that the inner surface 260 of the second end section panel 60 is facing the inner surface 270 of the mid-section panel 70 when folded.

[0036] A first adhesive strip 410 can overlay the outer surface 350 of the first end section panel 50 and extend in a direction from the first side 10 to the second side 20. A second adhesive strip 420 can overlay the outer surface 360 of the second end section panel 60 and extend in a direction from the first side 10 to the second side 10. An optional third adhesive strip 430 can overlay the outer surface 360 of the second end section panel 60 and extend in a direction from the first side 10 to the second side 10.

[0037] The first, second, and third adhesive strips 410, 420, 430 each can be comprised of a re-adherable low-tack pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA). The re-adherable low-tack pressure sensitive adhesive applied to adhesive strips 410, 420, 430 allow the outer surfaces 350, 360 to be easily attached to, removed from and even re-attached to other surfaces, e.g., paper, wood, metal, temporarily without lifting fibers or delaminating the sticky napkin 100. Details of pressure sensitive adhesive are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,194,299 owned by Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company (3M), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0038] In a pre-folded state, as shown in FIG. 1, the first adhesive strip 410 adheres the outer surface 350 of the first end section panel 50 to the inner surface 260 of the second end section panel 60.

[0039] In some embodiments, the first side 10, second side 20, third side 30 and fourth side 40 define a contour of the sticky napkin 100 when the napkin is unfolded. In one embodiment, the contour of the sticky napkin 100 is a square. In another embodiment, the contour of the sticky napkin 100 is a rectangle.

[0040] In some embodiments, each of the first adhesive strip 410, second adhesive strip 420 and third adhesive strip 430 has varying dimensions as compared to one another. In some embodiments, one or more of the first, second and third adhesive strips 410, 420, 430 extend to the first and second sides 10, 20. In some embodiments, one or more of the first, second and third adhesive strips 410, 420, 430 do not extend to the first and second sides 10, 20.

[0041] In some embodiments, one or more of the first, second and third adhesive strips 410, 420, 430 are comprised of series of discrete deposits of a re-adherable low-tack pressure sensitive adhesive that are spaced apart from one another. In some embodiments, the series of discrete deposits of a re-adherable low-tack pressure sensitive adhesive that are spaced apart from one another are comprised of circular shaped dots that are space apart from one another. In some embodiments, the series of discrete deposits of a re-adherable low-tack pressure sensitive adhesive that are spaced apart from one another are comprised of rectangularly shaped adhesive deposits that are space apart from one another.

[0042] When the napkins are placed in as a stacked package as best shown in FIG. 4, in some embodiments, the second adhesive strip 420 of one sticky napkin contained within the package is adhered to the outer surface 370 of the mid-section panel 70 of an adjacent sticky napkin. In some embodiments, the second and third adhesive strips 420, 430 of one sticky napkin contained within the package are adhered to the outer surface 370 of the mid-section panel 70 of an adjacent sticky napkin.

[0043] In some embodiments, the sticky napkin 100 is formed by 2-ply papers. In some embodiments, the sticky napkin 100 is formed by 3-ply papers. In some embodiments, the sticky napkin 100 is formed by 4-ply papers. In some embodiments, the sticky napkin 100 is made of recycled material.

[0044] In operation, in some embodiments, the sticky napkin 100 contained within a stacked package of pre-folded sticky napkins extending from a top sticky napkin to a bottom sticky napkin (as best shown in FIG. 4) can be obtained by detaching the outer surface 370 of the mid-section panel 70 of the top sticky napkin 100 from the second adhesive strip 420 (or second and third adhesive strips 420, 430) of the underlying adjacent outer surface 360 of the second end section panel 60.

[0045] In some embodiments, the sticky napkin 100 can be unfolded by first unfolding the top sticky napkin 100 along its second fold-line 90 to separate the second end-section panel 60 from the first adhesive strip 410 on the first end section panel 50 and away from the mid-section panel 70, and then unfolding the top sticky napkin 100 along its first fold-line 80 to separate the first end-section panel 50 away from the mid-section panel 70.

[0046] In some embodiments, the sticky napkin 100 can be applied to an object or surface by applying pressure to the sticky napkin against the object or surface to adhere the sticky napkin 100 to that object or surface via one or more of the adhesive strips 410, 420, 430 on the object or surface thereof.

[0047] In some embodiments, the sticky napkin 100 attached to one object or surface can be removed from the object or surface by removing the sticky napkin 100 from the object or surface and disposing the napkin in a waste container. In some embodiments, the removed sticky napkin 100 can be reattached to the same object or surface or to a new object or surface.

[0048] FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a paper roll 500 in accordance with the disclosed subject matter. FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the paper roll 500 of FIG. 5A.

[0049] Referring to both FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B, the paper roll 500 comprises a plurality of designated sheets 510 separated by pre-perforated lines 520 that the plurality of designated sheets 510 form a long stripe that can be rolled into a roll for transportation, storage, use, etc. In a preferable embodiment, an inner side of the trailing edge 530 of each of the sheets 510 comprise an adhesive strip 540.

[0050] In some embodiments, the adhesive strip 540 comprises a series of discrete deposits of a re-adherable low-tack pressure sensitive adhesive that are spaced apart from one another. In some embodiments, the series of discrete deposits of a re-adherable low-tack pressure sensitive adhesive that are spaced apart from one another are comprised of circular shaped dots that are space apart from one another. In some embodiments, the series of discrete deposits of a re-adherable low-tack pressure sensitive adhesive that are spaced apart from one another are comprised of rectangularly shaped adhesive deposits that are space apart from one another.

[0051] When use, a user can easily pull a sheet 510a along the pre-perforated lines 520a from the roll 500 while the trailing edge 530a of that sheet 510a would be adhered to the sheet underneath 550a if the pulling force is greater than the adhesive force between the adhesive strip 540a and the sheet underneath 550a.

[0052] Once the sheet 510a is pulled off from the paper roll 500, the sheet 510a could be adhered to another surface by the adhesive strip 540a.

[0053] Referring to FIGS. 6A-8B, the exemplary sticky napkin 600 can be a paper napkin pre-folded in four folds as shown in FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B. The exemplary sticky napkin 600 has an outer surface 670 defined by a first side 610, a second side 620, a third side 630 and a fourth side 640, as best shown in FIG. 6A.

[0054] The sticky napkin 600 can comprise a first fold line 680 extending from the first side 610 to the second side 620. The first fold line 680 can be substantially parallel to the third side 630 and the fourth side 640 with substantially the same distance from the third side 630 and the fourth side 640. The sticky napkin 600 further comprises a second fold line 690 extending from the third side 630 to the fourth side 640. The second fold line 690 can be substantially parallel to the first side 610 and the second side 620 with substantially the same distance from the first side 610 and the second side 620.

[0055] The first and second fold lines 680, 690 can divide the sticky napkin 600 into four quadrants with each quadrant corresponds to a section panel naming the first section panel 651, the second section panel 652, the third section panel 653, and the fourth section panel 654. In this configuration, the first fold line 680 separates the first section panel 651 and the second section panel 652 from the third section panel 653 and the fourth section panel 654, while the second fold line 690 separates the first section panel 651 and the fourth section panel 654 from the second section panel 652 and the third section panel 653.

[0056] The outer surface 670 can further be divided into four outer surface portions 671, 672, 673, 674 with each one of the four outer surface portions 671, 672, 673, 674 corresponds to one of the four section panels 651, 652, 653, 654, respectively.

[0057] The exemplary sticky napkin 600 has an inner surface 660 that is opposing to the outer surface 670, as best shown in FIG. 6B, which is shown as a rotation of the sticky napkin 600 of FIG. 6A by 180° about fold line 680. The inner surface 660 can further be divided into four outer surface portions 661, 662, 663, 664 by fold lines 680, 690 with each one of the four inner surface portions 661, 662, 663, 664 corresponds to one of the four section panels 651, 652, 653, 654, respectively.

[0058] As best shown in FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, the second fold line 690 is configured to bias the first section panel 651 and the fourth section panel 654 to fold over the second section panel 652 and the third section panel 653, as shown in FIG. 7A, such that the inner surface 661 of the first section panel 651 is facing the inner surface 662 of the second section panel 652 and the inner surface 663 of the third section panel 653 is facing the inner surface 664 of the fourth section panel 654 when folded. FIG. 7B is shown as a rotation of the sticky napkin 600 of FIG. 7A by 180° about fold line 690.

[0059] The sticky napkin 600 of FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B can be further folded along fold line 680 to form a double folded napkin as shown in FIG. 8A. FIG. 8B is shown as a rotation of the sticky napkin 600 of FIG. 8A by 180° about fold line 680.

[0060] A adhesive strip 710 can overlay the outer surface 671 of the first end section panel 651 and the outer surface 672 of the second end section panel 652 and extend in a direction from the first side 610 to the second side 620. The adhesive strip 710 can comprises a re-adherable low-tack pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA). The re-adherable low-tack pressure sensitive adhesive applied to adhesive strip 710 allow the outer surfaces 671, 672 to be easily attached to, removed from and even re-attached to other surfaces, e.g., paper, wood, metal, temporarily without lifting fibers or delaminating the sticky napkin 100.

[0061] In a pre-folded state, as shown in FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B, the adhesive strip 710 does not adhere to other portion of the sticky napkin 600. When the sticky napkin 600 is double folded as shown in FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B, the adhesive strip 710 adheres the outer surface 671 of the first section panel 651 to the outer surface 674 of the fourth section panel 654.

[0062] In some embodiments, the first side 610, second side 620, third side 630 and fourth side 640 define a contour of the sticky napkin 600 when the napkin is unfolded. In one embodiment, the contour of the sticky napkin 600 is a square. In another embodiment, the contour of the sticky napkin 600 is a rectangle.

[0063] In some embodiments, the adhesive strip 710 has varying dimensions. In some embodiments, the adhesive strip 710 extends to the first and second sides 610, 620. In some embodiments, the adhesive strip 710 does not extend to the first and second sides 610, 620.

[0064] In some embodiments, the adhesive strip 710 comprises a series of discrete deposits of a re-adherable low-tack pressure sensitive adhesive that are spaced apart from one another. In some embodiments, the series of discrete deposits of a re-adherable low-tack pressure sensitive adhesive that are spaced apart from one another are comprised of circular shaped dots that are space apart from one another. In some embodiments, the series of discrete deposits of a re-adherable low-tack pressure sensitive adhesive that are spaced apart from one another are comprised of rectangularly shaped adhesive deposits that are space apart from one another.

[0065] When the napkins 600 are placed in as a stacked package as best shown in FIG. 9, in some embodiments, the adhesive strip 710 on the outer surface 672 of the second panel 652 of one sticky napkin contained within the package is adhered to the outer surface 673 of the third panel 653 of an adjacent sticky napkin.

[0066] In some embodiments, the sticky napkin 600 is formed by 2-ply papers. In some embodiments, the sticky napkin 600 is formed by 3-ply papers. In some embodiments, the sticky napkin 600 is formed by 4-ply papers. In some embodiments, the sticky napkin 600 is made of recycled material.

[0067] In operation, in some embodiments, the sticky napkin 600 contained within a stacked package of pre-folded sticky napkins extending from a top sticky napkin to a bottom sticky napkin (as best shown in FIG. 9) can be obtained by detaching the outer surface 673 of the third section panel 653 of the top sticky napkin from the adhesive strip 710 of the underlying adjacent outer surface 672 of the second section panel 652.

[0068] In some embodiments, the sticky napkin 600 can be applied to an object or surface by applying pressure to the sticky napkin 600 against the object or surface to adhere the sticky napkin 600 to that object or surface via the adhesive strip 710 on the object or surface thereof.

[0069] In some embodiments, the sticky napkin 600 attached to one object or surface can be removed from the object or surface by removing the sticky napkin 600 from the object or surface and disposing the napkin in a waste container. In some embodiments, the removed sticky napkin 600 can be reattached to the same object or surface or to a new object or surface.

[0070] It should be understood that the scope of this disclosure includes the various combinations or sub-combinations of the specific features and aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein, such that the various features, modes of implementation and operation, and aspects of the disclosed subject matter may be combined with or substituted for one another. Structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made that fall within the scope of this disclosure, which is intended to cover any adaptations and variations of the particular implemented described herein and combination of the various features and component elements thereof.

[0071] The foregoing and various features, constructions, configurations, and aspects, together with those set forth in the claims and summarized above or otherwise disclosed herein, including the drawings, may alone or in any combination form claims for a device, apparatus, system, method of manufacture, and/or use without limitation. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the present invention herein disclosed should not be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments or implementations described above, but should be determined only by a fair reading of the claims.