Interfolded dispenser napkins

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6213346
  • Patent Number
    6,213,346
  • Date Filed
    Monday, June 29, 1998
    26 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, April 10, 2001
    24 years ago
Abstract
The present invention provides a napkin assembly for a dispenser. The napkin assembly may include a first napkin sheet further including a plurality of napkins and a second napkin sheet further including a plurality of napkins. Each napkin of both sheets having a basis weight from about 20 gsm to about 40 gsm may be connected to an adjacent napkin in series by a plurality of tabs. The second napkin sheet may be positioned proximate to the first napkin sheet in an offset relation and the first and second napkin sheets may be formed into a nested configuration for dispensing.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




This invention generally relates to the field of paper products, and more specifically, to dispenser napkins.




BACKGROUND




Dispensers may be used to provide napkins in settings such as restaurants and stadiums. Typically, the napkins are folded and stacked together, and then loaded into a dispenser. The user grasps the edge of the leading napkin in the dispenser opening for obtaining a napkin.




However, these stacked arrangements of napkins suffer several disadvantages. Often, the user cannot find an edge or flap of the leading napkin. As a result, the user pinches several napkins and removes them from the dispenser instead of dispensing the napkins one-at-a-time. Often, this is more napkins than the user needs. Consequently, napkins are wasted, which in turn, increases costs to the establishment owner. Furthermore, some napkins if improperly loaded may not properly dispense. As an example, loading a stack of napkins backward may not present an edge or a flap for a user to grasp. Consequently, the napkins must be removed from the dispenser and reloaded.




Accordingly, a stacked napkin arrangement that provides consistent one-at-a-time napkin dispensing to reduce waste and costs and variable loading arrangements will improve over conventional stacked napkins.




Definitions




As used herein, the term “cellulosic material” refers to material that may be prepared from cellulose fibers from synthetic source or natural sources, such as woody and non-woody plants. Woody plants include, for example, deciduous and coniferous trees. Non-woody plants include, for example, cotton, flax, esparto grass, milkweed, straw, jute, hemp, and bagasse. The cellulose fibers may be modified by various treatments such as, for example, thermal, chemical and/or mechanical treatments. It is contemplated that reconstituted and/or synthetic cellulose fibers may be used and/or blended with other cellulose fibers of the fibrous cellulosic material. Desirably, no synthetic fibers are woven into the cellulosic material fibers.




As used herein, the term “pulp” refers to cellulosic fibrous material from sources such as woody and non-woody plants. Woody plants include, for example, deciduous and coniferous trees. Non-woody plants include, for example, cotton, flax, esparto grass, milkweed, straw, jute, hemp, and bagasse. Pulp may be modified by various treatments such as, for example, thermal, chemical and/or mechanical treatments. Desirably, no synthetic fibers are woven into the pulp fibers.




As used herein, the term “nonwoven web” refers to a web that has a structure of individual fibers or filaments which are interlaid forming a matrix, but not in an identifiable repeating manner. Nonwoven webs have been, in the past, formed by a variety of processes known to those skilled in the art such as, for example, meltblowing, spunbonding, wet-forming and various bonded carded web processes.




As used herein, the term “spunbonded web” refers to a web of small diameter fibers and/or filaments which are formed by extruding a molten thermoplastic material as filaments from a plurality of fine, usually circular, capillaries in a spinneret with the diameter of the extruded filaments then being rapidly reduced, for example, by non-eductive or eductive fluid-drawing or other well known spunbonding mechanisms. The production of spunbonded nonwoven webs is illustrated in patents such as Appel, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,340,563.




As used herein, the term “meltblown fibers” means fibers formed by extruding a molten thermoplastic material through a plurality of fine, usually circular, die capillaries as molten threads or filaments into a high-velocity gas (e.g. air) stream which attenuates the filaments of molten thermoplastic material to reduce their diameters, which may be to microfiber diameter. Thereafter, the meltblown fibers are carried by the high-velocity gas stream and are deposited on a collecting surface to form a web of randomly disbursed meltblown fibers. The meltblown process is well-known and is described in various patents and publications, including NRL Report 4364, “Manufacture of Super-Fine Organic Fibers” by V. A. Wendt, E. L. Boone, and C. D. Fluharty; NRL Report 5265, “An Improved Device for the Formation of Super-Fine Thermoplastic Fibers” by K. D. Lawrence, R. T. Lukas, and J. A. Young; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,849,241, issued Nov. 19, 1974, to Buntin, et al.




As used herein, the term “basis weight” (hereinafter may be referred to as “BW”) is the weight per unit area of a sample and may be reported as gram-force per meter squared and may be hereinafter abbreviated as “g


f


ms”. The basis weight may be calculated using test procedure ASTM D 3776-96.




As used herein, the term “napkin assembly” refers to a stacked, interfolded arrangement of napkins, which may be in the form of napkin sheets.




As used herein, the term “napkin sheet” refers to a plurality of napkins connected together in series by a plurality of tabs separated by slits perforating the sheet. Individual napkins may be separated at the perforations during dispensing. The napkin sheet may include one or more plies.




As used herein, the term “machine direction” (hereinafter may be referred to as “MD”) is the direction of a material parallel to its forward direction during processing.




As used herein, the term “machine direction tensile” (hereinafter may be referred to as “MDT”) is the breaking force in the machine direction required to rupture a three inch width specimen. The results may be reported as gram-force and abbreviated as “gf”. The MDT may be determined using test method number ASTM D5035-95.




As used herein, the term “tab strength” is the breaking force in the machine direction required to rupture a sheet product along its perforations. The results may be reported as gram-force and abbreviated as “gf”. The MDT may be determined using test method number ASTM D5035-95.




As used herein, the term “tab width to slit width ratio” (hereinafter may be referred to as “T/S”) refers to the ratio of the average width of a tab divided by the average width of a slit for a paper product.




As used herein, the term “caliper” refers to the thickness measurement of a sheet taken under constant force. The caliper may be determined using test method number TAPPI 411-OM-89.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The problems and needs described above are addressed by the present invention, which provides a napkin assembly for a dispenser. The napkin assembly may include a first napkin sheet further including a plurality of napkins and a second napkin sheet further including a plurality of napkins. Each napkin of both sheets has a basis weight from about 20 gsm to about 40 gsm and may be connected to an adjacent napkin in series by a plurality of tabs. The second napkin sheet may be positioned proximate to the first napkin sheet in an offset relation and the first and second napkin sheets may be formed into a nested configuration for dispensing.




Furthermore, each napkin of the first and second napkin sheets may include a first member integrally formed with a second member. These members may form a fold therebetween. At least one napkin from the first napkin sheet may terminate at about the fold of a respective napkin from the second napkin sheet.




Moreover, at least 500 napkins from the first napkin sheet may terminate at about the fold of a respective napkin from the second napkin sheet.




In addition, the napkin basis weight may be about 30 gsm, the machine direction tensile may be greater than about 2000 g


f


, the T/S ratio may be greater than about 0.03, and the tab strength may be greater than about 30 g


f


. What is more, the napkins may include pulp fibers.




Another embodiment of a napkin assembly for a dispenser may include a first napkin sheet further including a plurality of napkins and a second napkin sheet further including a plurality of napkins. Each napkin of both sheets may be connected to an adjacent napkin in series by a plurality of tabs. What is more, each napkin of the first and second napkin sheets may include a first member, a second member, and a third member wherein the first member may be formed integrally with the second member forming a first fold between the first and second members and the second member may be formed integrally with the third member forming a second fold between the second and third members. At least one napkin from the first napkin sheet may terminate at about the second fold of a respective napkin from the second napkin sheet when nestably configured for dispensing.




Furthermore, at least 500 napkins from the first napkin sheet may terminate at about the second fold of a respective napkin from the second napkin sheet. Also, the napkin basis weight may be from about 20 gsm to about 40 gsm. Moreover, the napkin basis weight may be about 30 gsm, the machine direction tensile may be greater than about 2000 g


f


, the T/S ratio may be greater than about 0.03, and the tab strength may be greater than about 30 g


f


. Additionally, the napkins may include pulp fibers.




A further embodiment of the present invention is a napkin assembly for a dispenser. The napkin assembly may include a first napkin sheet further including a plurality of napkins and a second napkin sheet further including a plurality of napkins. Each napkin may be connected to an adjacent napkin in series by a plurality of tabs. What is more, each napkin of the first and second napkin sheets may include a first member, a second member, a third member, and a fourth member. The first member may be formed integrally with the second member forming a first fold between the first and second members, the second member may be formed integrally with the third member forming a second fold between the second and third members, and the third member may be formed integrally with the fourth member forming a third fold between the third and fourth members. The second and third members may have a length about twice that of the first and fourth members. At least one napkin from the first napkin sheet may terminate at about the middle of a third member of a respective napkin from the second napkin sheet when nestably configured for dispensing.




Furthermore, at least 500 napkins from the first napkin sheet may terminate at about the middle of a third member of a respective napkin from the second napkin sheet. Additionally, the napkin basis weight may be from about 20 gsm to about 40 gsm. Likewise, the napkin basis weight may be about 30 gsm, the machine direction tensile may be greater than about 2000 g


f


, the T/S ratio may be greater than about 0.03, and the tab strength may be greater than about 30 g


f


. In addition, the napkins may include pulp fibers.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a front, plan view, but not necessarily to scale, of one embodiment of a plurality of napkins.





FIG. 2

is a side, exploded view, but not necessarily to scale, of one embodiment of a napkin assembly having two interfolded napkin sheets.





FIG. 3

is a side, elevational view, but not necessarily to scale, of one embodiment of a napkin assembly in a nested configuration.





FIG. 4

is a front, plan view, but not necessarily to scale, of a second embodiment of a plurality of napkins.





FIG. 5

is a side, exploded view, but not necessarily to scale, of a second embodiment of a napkin assembly having two interfolded napkin sheets.





FIG. 6

is a side, elevational view, but not necessarily to scale, of a third embodiment of a napkin assembly in a nested configuration.





FIG. 7

is a front, plan view, but not necessarily to scale, of a third embodiment of a plurality of napkins.





FIG. 8

is a side, exploded view, but not necessarily to scale, of a third embodiment of a napkin assembly having two interfolded napkin sheets.





FIG. 9

is a side, elevational view but not necessarily to scale, of a third embodiment of a napkin assembly in a nested configuration.





FIG. 10

is a perspective view of an open napkin dispenser housing a napkin assembly.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)




Referring now to the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding structure throughout the views and like reference numerals used in conjunction with sequentially ordered lower case letters refer to a series of substantially identical items or components. Referring in particular to

FIGS. 1-3

, there is depicted a napkin assembly


100


having a first napkin sheet


110


and a second napkin sheet


150


. The first and second napkin sheets


110


and


150


may be substantially identical. As a result, only the first napkin sheet


110


is discussed in detail hereinafter.




The first napkin sheet


110


may include a plurality of napkins


115


. Referring to

FIGS. 2 and 3

, nodes (identified by the letter “N”) may be placed on the drawings to merely indicate perforations or slits


126


separating individual napkins. These nodes are not actually present on the desired embodiments.




Referring to

FIG. 1

, there is shown a portion of a napkin sheet


110


depicting a plurality of napkins


115


that may include napkins


120




a


and


120




b.


The napkins may be attached together with a plurality of tabs


124


. These tabs may be separated by a plurality of slits


126


perforating the sheet


110


. The tabs


124


may range from about 1 millimeter to about 10 millimeter and may be manufactured by any method readily recognizable to one of ordinary skill in the art. Furthermore, although the tabs


124


are depicted as having the same length and as evenly spaced across the sheet


110


, it should be understood that the tabs


124


may be of various sizes or unevenly spaced in alternative embodiments. As an example, the tabs


124


may be positioned on only one half of the sheet


110


. In addition, the tabs


124


may be varied in size in relation to the slits


126


depending upon the properties of the sheet


110


. As an example, some or all of the tabs


124


may have a length twice that of an adjacent slit


126


. This tabbed structure may permit separating the napkins


120




a


and


120




b


during dispensing and may be used to connect subsequent napkins, such as the napkins


120




c


and


120




d,


as well. Napkins


120




a


and


120




b


may be substantially identical, consequently, only napkin


120




a


is discussed in detail hereinafter.




The napkin


120




a


may include a first member


128




a


and a second member


130




a.


The members


128




a


and


130




a


having approximately the same dimensions may be formed integrally together creating a fold


140




a


therebetween. The fold


140




a


may permit the napkin


120




a


from the first sheet


110


to be interfolded with a napkin


160




a


from the second sheet


150


.




The first and second napkin sheets


110


and


150


may be interfolded to form a nested configuration


185


as shown in FIG.


3


. Although the depicted napkin assembly


100


consists of eight napkins, desirably the napkin assembly


100


may include from about 200 to about 1000 napkins. Furthermore, it is contemplated that even larger numbers of napkins may be used.




Referring to

FIGS. 2 and 3

, the sheets


110


and


150


may be positioned in an offset relation


180


. The second sheet


150


may include a plurality of napkins


155


where each napkin


160




a-d


may include, respectively, a first member


168




a-d,


a second member


170




a-d,


and a fold


172




a-d,


similar to the previously described napkins


120




a-d


of the first napkin sheet


110


. When the assembly


100


is formed into the nested configuration


185


, the napkin


120




a


may terminate at tabs


124


at about the corresponding location of the fold


172




a


of the napkin


160




a.


This position may align the perforated section of the napkin


120




a


with the fold


172




a


of the napkin


160




a


. Napkins


120




b-d


of the first sheet


110


may terminate in the same manner to correspond with respective napkins


160




b-d


of the second sheet


150


.




Referring to

FIGS. 4-6

, there is depicted another napkin assembly


200


having a first napkin sheet


210


and a second napkin sheet


260


. The first and second napkin sheets


210


and


260


may be substantially identical. As a result, only the first napkin sheet


210


is discussed in detail hereinafter.




The first napkin sheet


210


may include a plurality of napkins


215


. Ref erring to

FIGS. 5 and 6

, nodes “N” are placed on the drawings to merely indicate the perforations or slits


226


separating individual napkins. These nodes are not actually present on the desired embodiments.




Referring to

FIG. 4

, there is shown a portion of a napkin sheet


210


depicting a plurality of napkins


215


that may include napkins


220




a


and


220




b.


The napkins


220




a


and


220




b


may be attached together with a plurality of tabs


224


. These tabs


224


may be separated by a plurality of slits


226


perforating the sheet


210


. The tabs


224


may range from about 1 millimeter to about 10 millimeter and may be manufactured by any method readily recognizable to one of ordinary skill in the art. Furthermore, although the tabs


224


are depicted as having the same width and as evenly spaced across the sheet


210


, it should be understood that the tabs


224


may be of various sizes or unevenly spaced in alternative embodiments. As an example, the tabs


224


may be positioned on only one half of the sheet


210


. In addition, the tabs


224


may be varied in size in relation to the slits


226


depending upon the properties of the sheet


210


. As an example, some or all of the tabs


224


may have a length twice that of an adjacent slit


226


. This tabbed structure may permit separating the napkins


220




a


and


220




b


during dispensing and may be used to connect subsequent napkins, such as napkins


220




c


and


220




d,


as well. Napkins


220




a


and


220




b


may be substantially identical, consequently, only napkin


220




a


is discussed in detail hereinafter.




The napkin


220




a


may include a first member


228




a,


a second member


230




a,


and a third member


232




a.


The members


228




a,




230




a,


and


232




a


having approximately the same dimensions may be formed integrally together. Members


228




a


and


230




a


may form a fold


240




a


and members


230




a


and


232




a


may form a fold


242




a.


The folds


240




a


and


242




a


may permit the napkin


220




a


from the first sheet


210


to be interfolded with a napkin


270




a


from the second sheet


260


.




The first and second napkin sheets


210


and


260


may be interfolded to form a nested configuration


295


as shown in FIG.


6


. Although the depicted napkin assembly


200


consists of eight napkins, desirably the napkin assembly


200


may include from about 200 to about 1000 napkins. Furthermore, it is contemplated that even larger numbers of napkins may be used.




Referring to

FIGS. 5 and 6

, the sheets


210


and


260


may be positioned in an offset relation


292


. The second napkin sheet


260


may include a plurality of napkins


265


where each napkin


270




a-d


may include a first member


278




a-d,


a second member


280




a-d,


a third member


282




a-d


, a first fold


284




a-d


, and a second fold


286




a-d


, similar to the previously described napkins


220




a-d


of the first napkin sheet


210


. When the assembly


200


is formed into the nested configuration


295


, the napkin


220




a


may terminate at tabs


224


at about the corresponding location of the second fold


286




a


of the second sheet napkin


270




a.


This position may align the perforated section of the napkin


220




a


with the fold


286




a


of the napkin


270




a


. Napkins


220




b-d


of the first sheet


210


may terminate in the same manner to correspond with respective napkins


270




b-d


of the second sheet


260


.




Referring to

FIGS. 7-9

, there is depicted a further napkin assembly


300


having a first napkin sheet


310


and a second napkin sheet


360


. The first and second napkin sheets


310


and


360


may be substantially identical. As a result, only the first napkin sheet


310


is discussed in detail hereinafter.




The first napkin sheet


310


may include a plurality of napkins


315


. Referring to

FIGS. 8 and 9

, nodes “N” are placed on the drawings to merely indicate perforations separating individual napkins. These nodes are not actually present on the desired embodiments.




Referring to

FIG. 7

, there is shown a portion of a napkin sheet


310


depicting a plurality of napkins


215


that may include napkins


320




a


and


320




b


. The napkins


320




a


and


320




b


may be attached together with a plurality of tabs


324


. These tabs


324


may be separated by a plurality of slits


326


perforating the sheet


310


. The tabs


324


may range from about 1 millimeter to about 10 millimeter and may be manufactured by any method readily recognizable to one of ordinary skill in the art. Furthermore, although the tabs


324


are depicted as having the same width and as evenly spaced across the sheet


310


, it should be understood that the tabs


324


may be of various sizes or unevenly spaced in alternative embodiments. As an example, the tabs


324


may be positioned on only one half of the sheet


310


. In addition, the tabs


324


may be varied in size in relation to the slits


326


depending upon the properties of the sheet


310


. As an example, some or all of the tabs


324


may have a length twice that of an adjacent slit


326


. This tabbed structure may permit separating the napkins


320




a


and


320




b


during dispensing and may be used to connect subsequent napkins, such as napkins


320




c


and


320




d


, as well. Napkins


320




a


and


320




b


may be substantially identical, consequently, only napkin


320




a


is discussed in detail hereinafter.




The napkin


320




a


may include a first member


328




a


, a second member


332




a


, a third member


336




a


, and a fourth member


340




a


. The members


328




a


,


332




a


,


336




a


, and


340




a


may be formed integrally together. Members


328




a


and


332




a


may form a fold


344




a


, members


332




a


and


336




a


may form a fold


346




a


, and members


336




a


and


340




a


may form a fold


348




a


. The lengths


330




a


and


342




a


of respective members


328




a


and


340




a


may be about half the length


334




a


and


338




a


of respective members


332




a


and


336




a


. The folds


344




a


,


346




a


, and


348




a


may permit the napkin


320




a


from the first sheet


310


to be interfolded with a napkin


370




a


from the second sheet


360


.




The first and second napkin sheets


310


and


360


may be interfolded to form a nested configuration


395


as shown in FIG.


9


. Although the napkin assembly


300


consists eight napkins, desirably the napkin assembly


300


may include from about 200 to about 1000 napkins. Furthermore, it is contemplated that even larger numbers of napkins may be used.




Referring to

FIGS. 8 and 9

, the sheets


310


and


360


may be positioned in an offset relation


392


. The second napkin sheet


360


may include a plurality of napkins


365


where each napkin


370




a-d


may include a first member


378




a-d


, a second member


380




a-d


, a third member


382




a-d


, and a fourth member


384




a-d


, similar to the previously described napkins


320




a-d


of the first napkin sheet


310


. When the assembly


300


is formed into the nested configuration


395


, the napkin


320




a


may terminate at tabs


324


at about the corresponding location of the middle of the third member


382




a


of the napkin


370




a


. This positions may align the perforated section of the napkin


320




a


with about the midpoint of the member


382




a


. Napkins


320




b-d


of the first sheet


310


may terminate in the same manner to correspond with respective napkins


370




b-d


of the second sheet


360


.




The napkins may be constructed from cellulosic fibers, nonwoven materials, or combinations of both materials. The basis weight of the napkins may vary from about 10 gram-force per square meter (hereinafter may be abbreviated as “gsm”) to about 50 gsm, desirably from about 20 gsm to about 40 gsm, and more desirably about 30 gsm.




These napkins may be interfolded using any method or machine known by one of ordinary skill in the art, such as those disclosed by U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,253,644, 1,302,241, and 1,457,978, which are hereby incorporated by reference.




An exemplary napkin dispenser


400


, which is disclosed in application Ser. No. 08/991,669, entitled, “Container And Cartridge For Dispensing Paper Product,” hereby incorporated by reference, may hold a napkin assembly


300


, although napkin assemblies


100


and


200


may be used as well. The dispenser


400


may be vertical with the napkins fed by gravity or horizontal with a spring to force napkins from the dispenser. A first member


328


of the napkin sheet


310


may protrude from the dispenser to be grasped by a user. Grasping and pulling the member


328




a


may pull a portion of the napkin


370




a


of the second sheet


360


from the dispenser


400


. The user may pull the napkin


320




a


to tear along the tabs


324


for obtaining one napkin. Thus, the user may obtain a napkin


320




a


for use while still leaving a portion of the next napkin outside the dispenser for the next user to grasp. As a result, this invention may permit one-at-a-time napkin dispensing and minimize waste. It should be understood that the other napkin assemblies


100


and


200


operate in the same manner. In particular, removing one napkin from a sheet results in the positioning a napkin from the other sheet outside the dispenser


400


for grasping by a user. Furthermore, the napkin assemblies


200


,


300


, and


400


may be inverted so that either end may dispense individual napkins.




Comparison Data




Generally, the ratio of tab width to slit width (hereinafter may be referred to as “T/S”) is greater in napkin assemblies of the present invention than toilet tissue products. The T/S value of napkins is generally 0.04 while the T/S value of toilet tissue products is generally 0.02. This higher ratio creates a stronger connection between napkins, which in turn, prevents inadvertent separation of the napkins within the dispenser during dispensing.




Table 1 depicts data from a napkin sheet of the present invention and an interfolded toilet tissue.















TABLE 1











Napkin




Toilet Tissue Product




























Basis Weight (g


f


)




29




14







Caliper




0.20




0.064







(millimeter)







Machine Direction




5700




1200







Tensile (g


f


)















As depicted, the napkin tends to have a higher basis weight, caliper measurement, and machine direction tensile than the toilet tissue product. Thus, the napkin has different physical properties created for its intended use, which may present different dispensing properties than toilet tissue.




Table 2 depicts data regarding perforated structure for the paper products of Table 1.















TABLE 2











Napkin




Toilet Tissue Product




























Tab Width (millimeter)




0.48




0.48







Slit Width (millimeter)




12




28







Tab Strength (g


f


)




92




20















Although the tab widths for the napkin of the present invention and the toilet tissue product are the same, the slit width of the toilet tissue product is over twice that of the napkin, and likewise, the tab strength is less than a quarter of the napkin. Generally, greater slit widths in toilet tissue result in less tabs present in the sheet. Toilet tissue may be constructed with less tabs because of its smaller sheet size, which may require less pulling force during dispensing. Napkins tend to be bigger sheet products, and as a result, more force may be required to pull napkins from the dispenser. Thus, smaller slit widths, and thereby more tabs, may prevent unintentional napkin sheet separation during dispensing.




While the present invention has been described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the subject matter encompassed by way of the present invention is not to be limited to those specific embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended for the subject matter of the invention to include all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as can be included within the spirit and scope of the following claims.



Claims
  • 1. A napkin assembly for a dispenser, the napkin assembly comprising:a first continuous napkin sheet further comprising a plurality of napkins wherein each napkin is connected to an adjacent napkin in series by a plurality of tabs; a second continuous napkin sheet further comprising a plurality of napkins wherein each napkin is connected to an adjacent napkin in series by a plurality of tabs; each napkin of the first and second napkin sheets further includes a first member, a second member, and a third member wherein the first member is formed integrally with the second member forming a first fold between the first and second members and the second member is formed integrally with the third member forming a second fold between the second and third members; and at least one napkin from the first napkin sheet terminates at the tabs connecting the third member of the napkin to the first member of the adjacent napkin at about the second fold of a respective napkin from the second napkin sheet when nestably configured for dispensing.
  • 2. The napkin assembly of claim 1 wherein the napkins comprise pulp fibers.
  • 3. The napkin assembly of claim 1 wherein the machine direction tensile is greater than about 2000 gf.
  • 4. The napkin assembly of claim 1 wherein the T/S ratio is greater than about 0.03.
  • 5. The napkin assembly of claim 1 wherein the tab strength is greater than about 30 gf.
  • 6. The napkin assembly of claim 1 wherein at least 500 napkins from the first napkin sheet terminate at about the second fold of a respective napkin from the second napkin sheet.
  • 7. The napkin assembly of claim 1 wherein the napkin basis weight is from about 20 gsm to about 40 gsm.
  • 8. The napkin assembly of claim 1 wherein the napkin basis weight is about 30 gsm.
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Entry
Counterpart PCT International Search Report, mailed Oct. 13, 1999.