Pleated paper towel stack and method

Abstract

A continuous length of pleated paper towel having a leading end and a trailing end. The continuous length of pleated paper towel including a connection at one of the leading end and trailing end that attaches to another continuous length of pleated paper towel to permit uninterrupted dispensing operation of paper towel.

1 . A stacked pleated paper towel arrangement, comprising:
 a) a first continuous length of pleated paper towel having a first end and a second end;   b) a second continuous length of pleated paper towel having a first end and a second end, the second continuous length of pleated paper towel being stacked upon the first continuous length of pleated paper towel; and   c) a bonding material that attaches the first end of the first continuous length of pleated paper towel to the second end of the second continuous length of pleated paper towel.   
     
     
         2 . The stacked arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the bonding material is an adhesive material. 
     
     
         3 . The stacked arrangement of  claim 2 , wherein the adhesive material is an adhesive strip. 
     
     
         4 . The stacked arrangement of  claim 3 , wherein the adhesive strip is covered by a non-adhesive removable layer, the non-adhesive removable layer being removed prior to stacking the second continuous length of pleated paper towel upon the first continuous length of pleated paper towel. 
     
     
         5 . The stacked arrangement of  claim 3 , wherein the adhesive strip extends generally parallel to an edge of one of the first end of the first continuous length of pleated paper towel and the second end of the second continuous length of pleated paper towel. 
     
     
         6 . The stacked arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the bonding material is provided on the second end of the second continuous length of pleated paper towel. 
     
     
         7 . The stacked arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the bonding material is provided on the first end of the first continuous length of pleated paper towel. 
     
     
         8 . The stacked arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second continuous lengths of pleated paper towel has alternating fold lines that define a zig-zag folding pattern. 
     
     
         9 . The stacked arrangement of  claim 8 , wherein at least the second continuous length of pleated paper towel has a length of between about 50 feet and 250 feet. 
     
     
         10 . The stacked arrangement of  claim 8 , wherein at least the second continuous length of pleated paper towel has a stack height of about 5.0 inches to 6.0 inches, and a stack width of about 7.5 inches to 8.5 inches. 
     
     
         11 . The stacked arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the bonding material attaches the first end of the first continuous length of pleated paper towel to the second end of the second continuous length of pleated paper towel such that the first and second continuous lengths of pleated paper towel are inseparably joined. 
     
     
         12 . A method of replenishing a paper towel dispenser, the paper towel dispenser including an existing length of pleated paper towel, the method comprising the steps of:
 a) placing a continuous length of pleated paper towel upon the existing length of pleated paper towel; and   b) bonding a trailing end of the existing length of pleated paper towel with a leading end of the continuous length of pleated paper towel;   c) wherein a dispense cycle of the trailing end of the existing length of pleated paper towel and the leading end of the continuous length of pleated paper towel occurs without interruption.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further including exposing a bonding material provided on one of the trailing end of the existing length of pleated paper towel and the leading end of the continuous length of pleated paper towel. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the bonding material is an adhesive material. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the adhesive material is an adhesive strip. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of exposing the bonding material includes removing a non-adhesive layer from the adhesive strip. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the adhesive strip extends generally parallel to an edge of one of the trailing end of the existing length of pleated paper towel and the leading end of the continuous length of pleated paper towel. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of bonding includes utilizing a bonding material provided on the leading end of the continuous length of pleated paper towel. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of bonding includes utilizing a bonding material provided on the trailing end of the existing length of pleated paper towel. 
     
     
         20 . A pleated paper towel stack, comprising:
 a) a continuous length of pleated paper towel having a leading end and a trailing end, the continuous length of pleated paper towel having alternating fold lines that define a zig-zag folding pattern; and   b) a bonding material provided at one of the leading end and the trailing end.   
     
     
         21 . The stack of  claim 20 , wherein the bonding material is an adhesive material. 
     
     
         22 . The stack of  claim 21 , wherein the adhesive material is an adhesive strip. 
     
     
         23 . The stack of  claim 22 , wherein the adhesive strip is covered by a non-adhesive removable layer. 
     
     
         24 . The stack of  claim 22 , wherein the adhesive strip extends generally parallel to an edge of the one of the leading end and the trailing end. 
     
     
         25 . The stack of  claim 20 , wherein the bonding material is provided on the leading end of the continuous length of pleated paper towel. 
     
     
         26 . The stack of  claim 20 , wherein the bonding material is provided on the trailing end of the continuous length of pleated paper towel. 
     
     
         27 . The stack of  claim 20 , wherein the continuous length of pleated paper towel has a length of between about 50 feet and 250 feet. 
     
     
         28 . The stack of  claim 20 , wherein the continuous length of pleated paper towel has a stack height of about 5.0 inches to 6.0 inches, and a stack width of about 7.5 inches to 8.5 inches. 
     
     
         29 . A pleated paper towel stack, comprising:
 a) a continuous length of pleated paper towel having a leading end and a trailing end, the continuous length of pleated paper towel having alternating fold lines that define a zig-zag folding pattern; and   b) a bonding material provided at both of the leading end and the trailing end.