Stack of interfolded absorbent sheet products

Abstract

A stack of interfolded absorbent sheet products comprises a plurality of absorbent sheets each of which is itself folded at least twice about axes that are perpendicular to one another. The absorbent sheets have an embossed surface relief of a predetermined pattern or design. Each of the absorbent sheets within the stack comprises at least one pair of panels sandwiched between a pair of adjacent panels of another of the absorbent sheets in the stack.

1 . A stack of interfolded absorbent sheet products, comprising a plurality of absorbent sheets each of which is itself folded at least twice about axes that are perpendicular to one another, the absorbent sheets moreover comprising an embossed surface relief of a predetermined pattern or design, wherein each of said absorbent sheets within said stack comprises at least one pair of panels sandwiched between a pair of adjacent panels of another of said absorbent sheets within said stack.  
   
   
       2 . The stack of interfolded absorbent sheet products according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said absorbent sheets is a single ply paper napkin having a basis weight of from about 10 to 20 lb.  
   
   
       3 . The stack of interfolded absorbent sheet products according to  claim 2 , wherein said basis weight is from about 11 to about 17 lb.  
   
   
       4 . The stack of interfolded absorbent sheet products according to  claim 3 , wherein said basis weight is from about 12 to about 15 lb.  
   
   
       5 . The stack of interfolded absorbent sheet products according to  claim 4 , wherein said basis weight is about 13 lb.  
   
   
       6 . The stack of interfolded absorbent sheet products according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said absorbent sheets is a paper napkin having two folds, the two folds each bisecting the napkin and being perpendicular to one another, thereby to form a napkin having four panels.  
   
   
       7 . The stack of interfolded absorbent sheet products according to  claim 6 , wherein each napkin within said stack receives between two inwardly facing adjacent panels a pair of adjacent panels from each of two napkins disposed respectively above and below said napkin in said stack.  
   
   
       8 . The stack of interfolded absorbent sheet products according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said absorbent sheets is a paper napkin comprising one fold in a longitudinal direction of the sheet and two folds in a transverse direction, such that said paper napkin comprises six equally sized panels.  
   
   
       9 . The stack of interfolded absorbent sheet products according to  claim 8 , wherein an uppermost napkin in said stack has four lower panels sandwiched between two adjacent panels of a next lower napkin in said stack, whose lower four panels are in turn sandwiched between lowermost two panels of said uppermost napkin, and uppermost two panels of a third napkin in said stack.  
   
   
       10 . The stack of interfolded absorbent sheet products according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said absorbent sheets is a paper napkin comprising one fold in a longitudinal direction of the sheet and three folds in a transverse direction, such that said paper napkin comprises eight equally sized panels.  
   
   
       11 . The stack of interfolded absorbent sheet products according to  claim 10 , wherein an uppermost napkin in said stack has four middle panels sandwiched between two of a group of four upper panels of a second napkin in said stack, wherein said second napkin comprises four middle panels sandwiched between two of a group of four lowermost panels of said first napkin, and wherein two lowermost panels of said second napkin and two uppermost panels of a fourth napkin in said stack are sandwiched between two of the four uppermost panels of a third napkin in said stack.  
   
   
       12 . The stack of interfolded absorbent sheet products according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said absorbent sheets is entirely detached from all other absorbent sheets within said stack.  
   
   
       13 . The stack of interfolded absorbent sheet products according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said absorbent sheets is attached by tabs to one or two other absorbent sheets within said stack.  
   
   
       14 . The stack of interfolded absorbent sheet products according to  claim 1 , wherein said embossed surface relief is applied by embossing rollers during a converting phase of manufacturing said absorbent sheet products.  
   
   
       15 . The stack of interfolded absorbent sheet products according to  claim 1 , wherein said embossed surface relief is applied by TAD formation of said absorbent sheets.  
   
   
       16 . The stack of interfolded absorbent sheet products according to  claim 1 , wherein said embossed surface relief is of a continuous pattern over an entire surface of said absorbent sheets.  
   
   
       17 . The stack of interfolded absorbent sheet products according to  claim 1 , wherein said embossed surface relief is applied along a peripheral region of said absorbent sheets.  
   
   
       18 . In combination, a stack of interfolded absorbent sheet products according to  claim 1  and a dispenser containing said stack, said dispenser comprising a downwardly-directed opening through which said absorbent sheets may be withdrawn one at a time.  
   
   
       19 . The combination according to  claim 18 , wherein solely the weight of said stack urges said sheets toward said downwardly-directed dispensing opening.  
   
   
       20 . The combination according to  claim 18 , wherein said dispenser comprises a main body portion housing said stack, said main body portion comprising at least one section oriented at an oblique angle in relation to a horizontal support surface for said dispenser.