Absorbent folded hand towel

• US 5,882,743 A
• Filed: 04/21/1997
• Issued: 03/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: McConnell, Wesley James
• Primary Examiner(s): Epstein, Henry F.
• Application Number:
  US08/847,990
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 428/12, 428/124, 15/209.1
• US Class Current: 428/12
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/16 Paper towels; Toilet paper; Holders therefor dispensers A47K10/32
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24215 Acute or reverse fold of exterior component

Abstract

An absorbent folded hand towel having improved effectiveness at hand drying based on the weight of the towel. The towel is composed of an absorbent fibrous cellulosic web having in combination: 1) a total area of less than about 500 cm² ; 2) a basis weight of greater than about 45 gsm; 3) a TWA of greater than about 3 g/g; and 4) a unit tensile strength of less than about 1300 meters, so that the hand towel provides a hand towel utility of less than about 5 grams per hand dry event.

Claims

1. An absorbent folded hand towel having improved effectiveness at hand drying based on the weight of the towel, the towel comprising an absorbent fibrous cellulosic web having in combination:

a total area of less than about 500 cm² ;

a basis weight of greater than about 45 gsm;

a TWA of greater than about 3 g/g; and

a unit tensile strength of less than about 1300 meters, so that the hand towel provides a hand towel utility of less than about 5 grams per hand dry event.

2. The hand towel of claim 1, wherein the towel has a total area of less than about 400 cm².

3. The hand towel of claim 1, wherein the towel has a total area of less than about 325 cm².

4. The hand towel of claim 1, wherein the towel has a basis weight of greater than about 50 gsm.

5. The hand towel of claim 1, wherein the towel has a basis weight of greater than about 60 gsm.

6. The hand towel of claim 1, wherein the towel has a unit tensile strength of less than about 900 meters.

7. The hand towel of claim 1, wherein the towel has a unit tensile strength of less than about 725 meters.

8. The hand towel of claim 1, wherein the towel provides a hand towel utility of less than about 4.5 grams per hand dry event.

9. The hand towel of claim 1, wherein the towel provides a hand towel utility of less than about 4.0 grams per hand dry event.

10. An absorbent folded hand towel having improved effectiveness at hand drying based on the weight of the towel, the towel comprising an absorbent fibrous cellulosic web having in combination:

a total area of less than about 500 cm² ;

a basis weight of greater than about 45 gsm;

a TWA of greater than about 3 g/g;

a towel weight of from about 1.9 to about 3.4 grams; and

a unit tensile strength of less than about 1300 meters, so that the hand towel provides a hand towel utility of less than about 5 grams per hand dry event.

11. The hand towel of claim 10, wherein the towel has a total area of less than about 400 cm².

12. The hand towel of claim 10, wherein the towel has a total area of less than about 325 cm².

13. The hand towel of claim 10, wherein the towel has a basis weight of greater than about 50 gsm.

14. The hand towel of claim 10, wherein the towel has a basis weight of greater than about 60 gsm.

15. The hand towel of claim 10, wherein the towel has a unit tensile strength of less than about 900 meters.

16. The hand towel of claim 10, wherein the towel has a unit tensile strength of less than about 725 meters.

17. The hand towel of claim 10, wherein the towel provides a hand towel utility of less than about 4.5 grams per hand dry event.

18. The hand towel of claim 10, wherein the towel provides a hand towel utility of less than about 4.0 grams per hand dry event.

19. The hand towel of claim 10, wherein the towel has a weight of from about 2.0 to about 3.0 grams.

20. The hand towel of claim 10, wherein the towel has a weight of from about 2.25 to about 2.75 grams.