Off-folded absorbent sheet products interfoldable in a stack for dispensement from a dispenser

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are disclosed of off-folded absorbent sheet products (e.g., paper napkins, etc.) that are interfoldable or interfolded in a stack for dispensement from a dispenser.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An absorbent sheet product comprising:
 a first pair of opposite edges;   a second pair of opposite edges;   a first fold extending in a first linear direction between the first pair of opposite edges, the first fold about one-half inch closer to one edge of the first pair of opposite edges than to the other edge; and   a second fold extending in a second linear direction between the second pair of opposite edges where the second linear direction is generally perpendicular to the first linear direction;   whereby the absorbent sheet product is foldable about the first and second folds such that there is an off-fold of about one-half inch between the first pair of opposite edges.   
     
     
         2 . The absorbent sheet product of  claim 1 , wherein the first fold is one-half inch closer to one edge of the first pair of opposite edges than to the other edge such that the off-fold between the first pair of opposite edges is one-half inch. 
     
     
         3 . The absorbent sheet product of  claim 1 , wherein the off-fold between the first pair of opposite edges is one inch, one centimeter, or within a range from four-tenths of an inch to six-tenths of an inch. 
     
     
         4 . The absorbent sheet product of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent sheet product is foldable about the first and second folds into a quarter-folded or cross-folded configuration having the off-fold of about one-half inch between the first pair of opposite edges. 
     
     
         5 . The absorbent sheet product of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first fold is an interfold that extends longitudinally in a machine direction; and   the second fold is a cross fold that is perpendicular to the interfold.   
     
     
         6 . The absorbent sheet product of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the absorbent sheet product is a single ply paper napkin; and   the single ply paper napkin is foldable about the first fold into a single-folded configuration with the off-fold between the first pair of opposite edges and thereafter foldable about the second fold, which is equidistant from the second pair of opposite edges, into a quarter-folded or cross-folded configuration in which the second pair of opposite edges are substantially aligned and where the off-fold between the first pair of opposite edges allows a user to more easily grasp and separate the first pair of opposite edges, thereby allowing the user to more easily open the paper napkin.   
     
     
         7 . The absorbent sheet product of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the absorbent sheet product includes four panels cooperatively defined by the first and second folds; and   the first and second folds do not bisect the absorbent sheet product into four equally sized panels;   the second fold is equidistant from the second pair of opposite edges; and   the absorbent sheet product when unfolded and opened has a rectangular configuration having a long side that is 12.5 inches, a short side that is 8.25 inches, and the off-fold is one-half inch.   
     
     
         8 . A stack comprising a plurality of absorbent sheet products interfolded with each other in the stack, wherein each of the plurality of absorbent sheet products comprises an absorbent sheet product of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         9 . A dispenser loaded with the stack of absorbent sheet products of  claim 8 , wherein the absorbent sheet products are dispensable one-at-a-time from the dispenser. 
     
     
         10 . A method comprising:
 folding an absorbent sheet product about a first fold into a single-folded configuration, the first fold extending in a first linear direction between a first pair of opposite edges of the absorbent sheet product, the first fold is about one-half inch closer to one edge of the first pair of opposite edges than to the other edge; and   folding the absorbent sheet product having the single-folded configuration about a second fold such that the absorbent sheet product has a quarter-folded or cross-folded configuration, the second fold extending in a second linear direction between a second pair of opposite edges of the absorbent sheet product where the second linear direction is generally perpendicular to the first linear direction;   whereby the second pair of opposite edges is substantially aligned and there is an off-fold of about one-half inch between the first pair of opposite edges of about one-half inch.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein folding an absorbent sheet product about a first fold includes using a plow to fold a paper web as the paper web travels over the plow, whereby the first fold is formed by the plow in the paper web longitudinally along a line that is parallel to the direction of travel of the paper web, and wherein:
 the paper web travels un-centered over the plow due to intentional misalignment of the plow and a centerline of the paper web to thereby create the off-fold; and/or   the paper web is controllably steered to arrive at the plow un-centered such that the paper web travels un-centered over the plow to thereby create the off-fold; and/or   the plow is geometrically configured to create the off-fold without having to reposition or realign the paper roll relative to the plow.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein after folding the absorbent sheet product about the first fold, the method includes:
 cutting the off-folded paper web into sheets;   transferring the sheets to a folding section including first and second mechanical folding cylinders; and   folding the sheets transversely in a cross direction as the sheets are transferred from the first mechanical folding cylinder to the second mechanical folding cylinder to thereby fold the absorbent sheet product having the single-folded configuration about the second fold.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein
 folding the absorbent sheet product about the first and second folds comprises folding a plurality of absorbent sheet products about the first fold and about the second fold, which is equidistant from the second pair of opposite edges, such that the plurality of absorbent sheet products each has a quarter-folded or cross-folded configuration; and   the method further includes forming a stack of the plurality of absorbent sheet products in which the absorbent sheet products are interfolded to form the stack.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the absorbent sheet products comprise off-folded paper napkins each having an off-fold of about one-half inch; and   the method further includes loading the stack of absorbent sheet products into a dispenser in which the absorbent sheet products are dispensable one-at-a-time from the dispenser.   
     
     
         15 . A system comprising:
 means for folding an absorbent sheet product about a first fold into a single-folded configuration, the first fold extending in a first linear direction between a first pair of opposite edges of the absorbent sheet product, the first fold about one-half inch closer to one edge of the first pair of opposite edges than to the other edge; and   means for folding the absorbent sheet product having the single-folded configuration about a second fold such that the absorbent sheet product has a quarter-folded or cross-folded configuration, the second fold extending in a second linear direction between a second pair of opposite edges of the absorbent sheet product where the second linear direction is generally perpendicular to the first linear direction;   whereby the second pair of opposite edges is substantially aligned and there is an off-fold of about one-half inch between the first pair of opposite edges.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the system comprises a paper web, and the means for folding an absorbent sheet product about a first fold comprises a plow configured to fold the paper web as the paper web travels over the plow whereby the first fold is formed by the plow in the paper web longitudinally along a line that is parallel to the direction of travel of the paper web. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the plow is intentionally misaligned with a centerline of the paper web such that the paper web travels un-centered over the plow to thereby create the off-fold; and/or   the paper web is controllably steered to arrive at the plow un-centered such that the paper web travels un-centered over the plow to thereby create the off-fold; and/or   the plow is geometrically configured to create the off-fold without having to reposition or realign the paper roll relative to the plow.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the system includes means for cutting the off-folded paper web into sheets, and means for transferring the sheets to a folding section including first and second mechanical folding cylinders; and   the means for folding the absorbent sheet product having the single-folded configuration about a second fold comprises a first mechanical folding cylinder and a second mechanical folding cylinder that are operable for folding the sheets transversely in a cross direction as the sheets are transferred from the first mechanical folding cylinder to the second mechanical folding cylinder.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the system is operable for:
 folding a plurality of absorbent sheet products about the first fold and about the second fold, which is equidistant from the second pair of opposite edges; and   forming a stack of the plurality of absorbent sheet products in which the absorbent sheet products are interfolded to form the stack.   
     
     
         20 . The system of any one of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the plurality of absorbent sheet products comprise off-folded paper napkins each having an off-fold of about one-half inch; and   the stack of absorbent sheet products are loaded into a dispenser from which the absorbent sheet products are dispensable one-at-a-time.