The present invention relates to a napkin ring having an integrated ring and a method of making the same.
Traditionally, napkins and napkin rings have been separately manufactured and distributed, only to be integrally used after purchase by consumers. This model of having two independent items provides a great deal of flexibility for consumers, permitting personalized purchases and interchangeability of both the napkins and the napkin rings. Even so, consumers are often frustrated when they cannot subsequently replace a broken or lost napkin ring, such as when manufacturers have discontinued a certain napkin ring. Further, in recent years as consumers are becoming more aware of the environmental impact of the products they buy, many consumers prefer more simplistic and livable items.
Therefore, it would be beneficial to provide a napkin and napkin ring alternative solution that is economical, simplistic, and livable while preferably not entirely sacrificing consumer flexibility or the aesthetic or useful characteristics of the napkin and napkin ring.
One or more embodiments of a napkin having an integrated ring and a method of making the napkin are disclosed herein that may address one or more of the above issues. According to embodiments of the present invention, a napkin is provided that includes an opening through which at least a portion of the napkin may be placed to create an aesthetic presentation of the napkin, such as, for example, where a portion of the napkin flairs outwardly from the opening. In certain embodiments, a center of the opening may be located at a position that is offset from a center of the napkin. The napkin may be substantially square with a perimeter having four sides or it may be substantially circular. In those embodiments having a square napkin, the center of the opening may be located a distant equidistant to two adjacent sides of the perimeter. In certain of those embodiments, the distance may be approximately ⅛ to ⅜ of a length of one of the four sides of the napkin. In still other of those embodiments, the distance may be approximately ¼ the length of one of the four sides. Where the length of each of the four sides is approximately eighteen inches (18″) the distance is approximately four and a half inches (4.5″). In those embodiments having a circular napkin, the center of the opening may be located a distance from the perimeter that is approximately ⅛ to ¾ of a radius of the napkin. In certain of those embodiments, the distance may be approximately ½ of the radius.
In certain embodiments, the opening may be substantially circular, square, or a slit. In some embodiments, the opening may have a periphery that is sewn. In other embodiments, a napkin and ring assembly may include a decoration attached around a circumference of the opening. For example, the decoration may include ribbons, beads, or similar aesthetically pleasing and attachable items.
In still other embodiments, a napkin and ring assembly may include a ring having an exterior circumference and an interior circumference defining the opening. The exterior may be substantially circular or square and the interior circumference may likewise, but independently, be substantially circular or square.
Some embodiments include a grommet as part of the napkin and ring assembly. The grommet may define the opening and may be made of plastic, ceramic, or metal. A grommet may include a first side portion and a second side portion. The first and second side portions may be different colors and/or different materials. A grommet may be selectively removable from and selectively attachable to the napkin.
Other embodiments of the present invention provide methods of making or manufacturing a napkin having an integrated napkin ring. For example, according to an embodiment, a method includes forming an opening in a napkin having a center and a perimeter such that a center of the opening is located in a position offset from the center of the napkin. The step of forming an opening may further involve positioning the center of the opening at a distance from the perimeter of the napkin that is less than ⅜ of a length of the perimeter. The step of forming an opening may also further involve sewing the napkin around a circumference of the opening. A method may also or alternatively comprise attaching a ring to the napkin and around the opening such that an interior circumference of the ring defines the opening.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such features and advantages be included herein within the scope of the present invention.
Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:
Various embodiments of the present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the inventions are shown. Indeed, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
Napkin
In various embodiments, the napkin 10 may be substantially rectangular, circular, oval, or any of a variety of other desired shapes, including those known and used in the art of napkins. According to those embodiments having a substantially rectangular napkin 10, the perimeter 11 comprises four sides, with a first set of two opposing sides having a length 16 and a second set of two opposing sides having a length 17. In certain embodiments having a rectangular napkin 10, the length 16 and the length 17 are not substantially the same. In one embodiment, the length 16 is approximately eighteen inches (18″) while the length 17 is approximately twenty inches (20″). In other embodiments, the lengths 16 and 17 of the two sets of four sides may be any dimension, including those known and used in the art of napkins. According to those embodiments having a substantially circular napkin 110, a perimeter 111 defines a circumference of the napkin. In certain embodiments, the circumference is approximately fifty to one hundred inches in length (50-100″).
In various embodiments, the napkin may be constructed of a fabric material. The fabric material may include, but is not limited to, linen, cotton, polyester, rayon, nylon, acrylic, acetate, or any combination of the same. In other embodiments, the napkin may be constructed of one or more of a variety of fabric and non-fabric materials, such as flexible materials including but not limited to, vinyl and paper, as known and understood in the art of napkins.
Opening
In various embodiments, as shown in
The opening 20 is sized to receive at least a portion of the napkin 10 therethrough. In certain embodiments having a circular opening 20, the opening may have a diameter of approximately two inches (2″). In other embodiments, the diameter of the opening 20 may be approximately one to three inches (1-3″). In certain embodiments having a substantially square or rectangular opening 20, a length of one of the sides of the square or rectangular opening may be approximately two inches (2″). In other of those embodiments, the length of one of the sides may be approximately one to three inches (1-3″). In certain embodiments having a slit opening 20, the length of the slit may be approximately one to three inches (1-3″). In various other embodiments, the size of the opening 20 may be any size as known or understood in the art as being sufficient to permit at least a portion of the napkin 10 to be received there through.
Center Offset
In various embodiments, the opening 20 is offset from the center 15 of the napkin 10. For example, in certain embodiments, the center 25 of the opening 20 is located a first distance 18 and a second distance 19 from the perimeter 11 of the napkin 10. In certain embodiments, the first distance 18 and the second distance 19 are identical, such that the center 25 is located equidistant in the two adjacent directions from the perimeter 11 of the napkin. In other embodiments, the first distance 18 and the second distance 19 may be different, such that the center 25 is not located equidistance in all directions from the perimeter 11 of the napkin 10. In several of those embodiments having a substantially square or rectangular napkin 10, the distances 18 and 19 are approximately ⅛ to ⅜ of the lengths 16 and 17 of the sides formed by the perimeter 11. In other substantially square or rectangular napkin embodiments, the distances 18 and 19 are approximately ¼ of the lengths 16 and 17 of the sides. In one embodiment where the lengths 16 and 17 are approximately eighteen inches (18″), the first distance 18 and the second distance 19 are approximately four and half inches (4.5″). In other embodiments, the first and second distances 18 and 19 may be expressed as any ratio less than a one-to-two ratio relative to the lengths 16 and 17. Ratios of less than one-to-two may provide the center 25 of the opening 20 to be offset from (i.e., does not align with) the center 15 of the napkin 10. This configuration enables the napkin 10 to replicate a traditionally desirable flair shape when at least a portion of the napkin 10 is pulled through the opening 20.
In certain embodiments having a substantially circular napkin 110, as shown in
Ring
In various embodiments, the napkin and ring assembly 5 includes a ring 22 having an exterior edge 23 and an interior edge 24. The interior edge 24, according to various embodiments, defines the opening 20. In certain embodiments, the exterior edge 23 may be substantially circular, thereby defining an exterior circumference of the ring 22. In other embodiments, the exterior edge 23 may be substantially square, triangular, trapezoidal, star-shaped, snowflake shaped, or any other shape as commonly known or understood in the art to be desirable to consumers. The interior edge 24, according to certain embodiments, may be substantially circular in shape, thereby defining an interior circumference of the ring 22 that likewise defines the opening 20. In other embodiments, the interior edge 24 may be substantially square, rectangular, or any other shape as commonly known or understood in the art to be capable of receiving at least a portion of the napkin 10 therethrough.
In one embodiment, for example, as illustrated in
In various embodiments, the ring 22 is sized to receive at least a portion of the napkin 10 therethrough. In certain embodiments having a circular ring 22, the ring has an interior diameter (defined by the interior edge 24) of approximately two inches (2″). In other of those embodiments, the diameter of the ring 22 may be approximately one to three inches (1-3″). In certain embodiments having a substantially square, triangular, or rectangular ring 22, a length of one of the sides of the square or rectangular ring may be approximately two inches (2″). In other of those embodiments, the length of one of the sides may be approximately one to three inches (1-3″). In various other embodiments, the size of the ring 22 may be any size as commonly known or understood in the art as being sufficient to permit at least a portion of the napkin 10 to be received there through.
In various embodiments, the ring 22 may be constructed from one or more of a variety of materials, as known or understood in the arts. In certain embodiments, for example, the ring 22 may be constructed of a plastic material. The plastic material may include, but is not limited to polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride (vinyl), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), low or high density polyethylene (LDPE or HDPE), or any combination or alternative of the same, as known or understood in the arts. In other embodiments, the ring 22 may be constructed of a ceramic material. The ceramic material may include, but is not limited to crystalline ceramics and non-crystalline ceramics, as known and understood in the arts. In still other embodiments, the ring 22 is constructed of a metal material. The metal material may include, but is not limited to aluminum, copper, nickel, steel, brass, silver, tin, or any combination of the same or other like materials, as known and understood in the arts.
In various embodiments, the ring 22 may be configured to be selectively attachable to and selectively removable from the napkin 10. In certain embodiments, the ring 22 may include a recessed groove (not shown) adapted to receive a portion of the periphery 21 of the opening 20. In those embodiments, the ring 22 is sized to have an interference fit with the periphery 21 of the opening 20, such that the ring 22 cannot inadvertently be removed from the napkin without application of some degree of force by a consumer. In other embodiments, the ring 22 is configured to be operatively (e.g., permanently) attached to the napkin 10. In those embodiments, the ring 22 may be constructed of a machine- or hand-washable material to ensure longevity of the ring 22 during the lifecycle of a repeatedly laundered napkin. In still other embodiments, even where the ring 22 may be selectively removable from the napkin 10, the ring 22 may be constructed of a machine- or hand-washable material, such as in the vent that the ring 22 is not removed for washing, the ring is not damaged.
Grommet
In various embodiments, as shown in
As described above with respect to a ring 22, a grommet 26 may be constructed of one or more of a variety of materials. For example, in various embodiments, the grommet 26 may be constructed of a plastic material. In other embodiments, the grommet 26 may be constructed of a ceramic material. In still other embodiments, the grommet 26 may be constructed of a metal material.
According to various embodiments, with reference to
As with the ring 22, in various embodiments, the grommet 26 may be configured to be selectively attachable to and selectively removable from the napkin 10. In other embodiments, the grommet 26 may be configured to be operatively (e.g., permanently) attached to the napkin 10. In any of the disclosed embodiments having a grommet 26, the grommet is configured, as commonly known and understood in the art, to be attached to the napkin 10. In various embodiments, the grommet 26 may be constructed of a machine- or hand-washable material to ensure longevity of the grommet 26 during the lifecycle of a repeatedly laundered napkin.
Methods
In various embodiments, to make the napkin and ring assembly 5, a manufacturer or similarly situated individual forms an opening 20 in a napkin 10. A center 25 of the opening 20 is generally offset a particular distance from a center 15 of the napkin 10. In certain embodiments, the opening 20 is formed by positioning center 25 of the opening a distance from a periphery 11 of the napkin that is less than ⅜ of a length of the periphery. In one embodiment, forming the opening 20 and ring includes sewing the napkin 10 around an exterior circumference of the opening.
In various embodiments, to make the napkin and ring assembly 5, the manufacturer or similarly situated individual attaches a ring 22 or a grommet 26 to the napkin and around the opening 20. In certain embodiments, an interior edge 24 of the ring or grommet defines the opening 20 and may even form the opening, such as to cut a hole in a napkin or fabric material upon attachment. The ring 22 or grommet 26 may be of a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, as previously disclosed herein, thereby providing the manufacturer a sufficient degree of flexibility to offer a diverse product line to potential consumers. In certain embodiments, the manufacturer may operatively attach the ring 22 or grommet 26 to the napkin 10, while in other embodiments, the ring 22 or grommet 26 may be attached such that it remains subsequently removable and attachable at the discretion of a potential consumer.
In various embodiments, to use the napkin and ring assembly 5, a user takes hold of a portion of the napkin 10 located on a first surface 12 of the napkin, as illustrated in
In various embodiments having a ring 22 or a grommet 26, a user inserts and continues to pull a portion of the napkin 10 through the ring or grommet in a similar fashion as disclosed above with respect to the opening 20. In certain of these embodiments, the user may select which surface (e.g., first or second surfaces 12 or 13) to insert through the ring 22 or grommet 26 based upon which side of the ring or grommet the user wishes to be visible when the assembly 5 is in its final orientation, as shown, for example, in
Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.