US20040124202A1 - Dispenser for wet and/or dry products - Google Patents

Abstract

A dispenser desirably contains at least two compartments of sheet products and includes a housing having a base providing a lower end and at least a portion of each sidewall. The housing includes at least a first compartment configured to hold and dispense therefrom a plurality of first sheet products, and at least a second compartment configured to hold and dispense therefrom a plurality of second sheet products. The base is configured to have a length dimension greater than a depth dimension of a sidewall. The base is also configured to stabilize and support the housing in a dispensing position. A dispensing opening is defined in each of the first and second internal compartments. Movement limiting material disposed on at least a portion of an outer surface of the lower end. The movement limiting material is configured to releasably couple to a surface. The movement limiting material and the base are configured to cooperate to securely supporting the dispenser on a dispensing surface and to substantially eliminate unwanted movement of the dispenser when sheets are withdrawn therefrom. The movement limiting material has a peel adhesion in a range of about 15 g/cm to about 50 g/cm.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 10/______, filed Nov. 26, 2002, entitled “AN INTERFOLDED TISSUE SHEET DISPENSER WITH ADJUSTABLE ATTACHING MECHANISM” by J. Mitchell (Attorney Docket No. KCX-640 (16074)); this application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 10/______, filed Nov. 26, 2002, entitled “A DISPENSER FOR WET AND DRY INTERFOLDED TISSUE” by D. Welchel and J. Mitchell (Attorney Docket No. KCX625 (18164)).[0001]
BACKGROUND
• The use of premoistened or “wet” sheets has gained wide acceptance for a variety of uses, particularly facial and bath applications. The premoistened sheets are generally formed from an absorbent material such as a paper or a polymeric web, or combinations thereof. Both premoistened and dry sheets may contain a disinfectant, medicant, deodorant, anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, cleansing agent, a lotion, and so forth, in one or more combinations. The premoistened sheets, however, are generally stored and dispensed from a sealable container to prevent the sheets from drying out.[0002]
• In a home, a medical setting, and so forth, it is often advantageous to have different type of sheet products, such as both wet and dry sheets available in a single dispenser. When a person is confined to bed, for instance, it can be awkward and cumbersome to have numerous sheet products and/or dispensers which hold a quantity of a product setting in various locations. Such products may include a roll of dry sheets, a container of interfolded dry sheets, a container of premoistened sheets, a box of disposable gloves, and so forth. The use of containers/dispensers are also often problematic for space and/or mounting considerations since they readily consume space provided by a bedside table, and so forth. Further, while small containers of such products reduce space considerations, such small containers do not provide sufficient product(s) for several days use. Multiple products and/or containers are also easily displaced by being accidentally knocked off of the surface upon which they are disposed.[0003]
• This problem is often compounded when a person has difficulty picking up, grasping, or pulling sheets from a dispenser. For example, some people have a disease or disorder which affects coordination and/or movement, such as, by way of non-limiting example, Parkinson's disease, cerebral palsy, and so forth. Others, for example, experience muscular weakness, such as muscular dystrophy or myasthenia gravis. Other persons may have weakness or unsteadiness due to a recent illness, injury, or surgery. It would be beneficial to provide a dispenser to such individuals which would contain several days or more worth of a product, and which had features and characteristics which would accommodate persons having the afore-mentioned symptoms to easily use the dispenser and access the products therein.[0004]
• Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a dispenser capable of dispensing multiple products, such as wet and dry sheets, two or more types of wet sheets, two or more types of dry sheets and so forth, simultaneously. Such a dispenser is desirably configured to provide a stable, self-supporting base which has one or more features which reduce the risk of it being accidentally displaced off a surface upon which it is disposed. Such a dispenser also has features which allow a person to easily grasp a portion of the dispenser. Desirably, such as features also allow the dispenser to be easily carried by health care personnel as well.[0005]
DEFINITIONS
• As used herein, the term “fasteners” means devices that fasten, join, connect, secure, hold, or clamp components together. Fasteners include, but are not limited to, screws, nuts and bolts, rivets, snap-fits, tacks, nails, loop fasteners, and interlocking male/female connectors, such as fishhook connectors, a fish hook connector includes a male portion with a protrusion on its circumference. Inserting the male portion into the female portion substantially permanently locks the two portions together.[0006]
• As used herein, the term “hinge” refers to a jointed or flexible device that connects and permits pivoting or turning of a part to a stationary component. Hinges include, but are not limited to, metal pivotable connectors, such as those used to fasten a door to frame, and living hinges. Living hinges may be constructed from plastic and formed integrally between two members. A living hinge permits pivotable movement of one member in relation to another connected member.[0007]
• As used herein the term “movement limiting material” refers to a material disposed on at least a portion of one surface of the dispenser, such as, by way of non-limiting example, an outer surface of a lower end, which limits the movement of the dispenser when sheets are withdrawn therefrom. Such “movement limiting material” releasably couples the dispenser to a dispensing surface, such as, but not by way of limitation, a top surface of a bed side table. The movement limiting material is desirably, but not by way of limitation, an adhesive, such as a pressure sensitive adhesive, a cohesive adhesive, such as a latex, or other synthetic and/or natural forms of rubber, and so forth. The movement limiting material acts to reduce or prevent unwanted movement of the dispenser when one or more sheets are withdrawn from the dispenser. However, the movement limiting material is readily released from the dispensing surface when the dispenser is picked up by a user, and again acts to reduce or eliminate unwanted movement of the dispenser[0008]10 when disposed again on another dispensing surface.
• As used herein, the term “couple” includes, but is not limited to, joining, connecting, fastening, linking, or associating two things integrally or interstitially together.[0009]
• These terms may be defined with additional language in the remaining portions of the specification.[0010]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• A dispenser desirably containing at least two compartments of sheet products is provided. The dispenser includes a housing having a base providing a lower end and at least a portion of each sidewall. The housing includes at least a first compartment configured to hold and dispense therefrom a plurality of first sheet products, and at least a second compartment configured to hold and dispense therefrom a plurality of second sheet products. The base is configured to have a length dimension greater than a depth dimension of a sidewall. The base is also configured to stabilize and support the housing in a dispensing position. A dispensing opening is defined in each of the first and second internal compartments. Movement limiting material disposed on at least a portion of an outer surface of the lower end. The movement limiting material is configured to releasably couple to a surface. The movement limiting material and the base are configured to cooperate to securely supporting the dispenser on a dispensing surface and to substantially eliminate unwanted movement of the dispenser when sheets are withdrawn therefrom. The movement limiting material has a peel adhesion in a range of about 15 g/cm to about 50 g/cm.[0011]
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention, showing a two compartment dispenser;[0012]
• FIG. 2 is a plan view of a lower end of the dispenser of the first embodiment, showing the movement limiting material thereon, and two handle members;[0013]
• FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the dispenser of the first embodiment, but showing the handle members providing a handle;[0014]
• FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention, showing another two compartment dispenser;[0015]
• FIG. 5 is another perspective view of the dispenser of the second embodiment, but showing the back wall in an opened position and refill containers in each compartment;[0016]
• FIG. 6 is a side view of a third embodiment of the present invention, showing multiple containers (in phantom lines) therein;[0017]
• FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the dispenser of the third embodiment, showing a third container (in phantom lines) therein; and[0018]
• FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention, showing a film container and an internal chamber providing a second compartment therein.[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
• Reference will now be made in detail to one or more embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example and embodiment is provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not meant as a limitation of the invention. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be used with another embodiment to yield still a further embodiment. It is intended that the invention include these and other modifications and variations as coming within the scope and spirit of the invention.[0020]
• Referring to the figures in general, a dispenser is provided for storing and dispensing multiple sheet and other products, such as both premoistened sheets and dry sheets, from a single dispenser housing. It should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to any particular type of dry or premoistened sheets. The dispenser is well suited for dispensing individual stacked interfolded sheets, but may also be used to dispense rolled sheets. Stack configurations and rolled configurations for dry and/or premoistened sheets are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art and need not be described in great detail herein. Non-limiting examples of suitable premoistened sheets are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,741,944 and 4,865,221, both to Jackson et. al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,629,081 to Richards et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,656,361 to Vogt et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,964,351 to Zander. Non-limiting examples of dry sheets are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,301,746 to Sanford et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,322,617 to Osborne, U.S. Pat. No. 5,048,589 to Cook et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,399,412 to Sudall et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,607,551 to Farrington et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,672,248 to Wendt et al. It will be understood that the dispenser, however, is also well suited as well for dispensing sheets from a centerflow roll product as well.[0021]
• A dispenser[0022]10 according to the invention is provided for dispensingpromoistened sheets12 anddry sheets14 from asingle housing unit16, as illustrated in FIGS.1-3. Thehousing16 includes a base17 (designated in FIG. 1 by phantom lines) which provides spaced-apart and opposingside walls18 coupled to spaced-apart and opposing front andback walls20. Thebase17 includes alower end26, which supports bothsidewalls18 and front andback walls20. Thebase17 provides broad support as a portion of thehousing16 to stabilize and support thehousing16 when positioned on a dispensing surface, i.e., a generally horizontal surface such as the upper surface of a bedside table, for dispensing products therefrom.
• The[0023]housing16 also includes anupper end24, which is carried on the upper ends of thesidewalls18 and front andback walls20 of thebase17. The afore-mentionedwalls18 and20, respectively, and upper and lower ends24 and26 cooperate to provide at least one internal compartment in thehousing16. Thehousing16 desirably has afirst compartment28 in which, desirably, acontainer30 ofpremoistened sheets12 is stored and dispensed. Similarly, thehousing16 also has at least asecond compartment32 in whichdry sheets14 are stored and dispensed.
• As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the[0024]housing16 is desirably an integral unit such that the first andsecond compartments28 and32 are joined and non-separable. When thehousing16 is provided as an integral unit, it may include aninternal wall34. Thisinternal wall34 assists in defining both thefirst compartment28 as well as thesecond compartment32. Alternatively, the first andsecond compartments28 and32 may be formed separately, but may be bonded or coupled together, by way of heat sealing, adhesively sealing, ultrasonically sealing, stapling, taping, shrink wrapping, and so forth (not shown). Additional compartment configurations and their construction will be discussed in detail below.
• As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, a[0025]first dispensing opening36 is defined in thehousing16 to permit access to thefirst compartment28 or thecontainer30 ofpremoistened sheets12 therein. Thefirst dispensing opening36 is provided, by way of non-limiting example, on theupper end24 of thehousing16. Thecontainer30 ofpremoistened sheets12 are exposed through thefirst dispensing opening36, which provides access thereto.
• Similarly, a second dispensing opening[0026]38 is provided in thehousing16 to permit access to thedry sheets14 contained in the second compartment22. The second dispensing opening38 is also provided, for example, but not by way of limitation, in theupper end24 of thehousing16. The dispensingopenings36 and38, however, may be provided in any wall(s), surface(s), or any combination(s) thereof in thehousing16. It will be appreciated that the dispensingopenings36 and38 may take on any suitable shape or configuration. The dispensing openings or any other aperture or opening shown and/or described herein may be covered, for example, but not by way of limitation, by a plastic film (not shown), and so forth. Further, by way of non-limiting example, the dispensing openings may be formed from perforated portions (not shown) that, when removed, provide the openings, and so forth.
• In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, it may be desired that the compartment, in this instance, the[0027]first compartment28 containing thepremoistened sheets12 includes aresealable cover40 disposed over thefirst dispensing opening36. Thecover40 serves in maintaining the moisture conditions within thecompartment28 and prevents undesired drying out of thepremoistened sheets12. As illustrated in the referenced figures, alid42 is simply frictionally engaged with arim44 disposed about the first dispensing opening. Thelid42 is coupled to therim44 via a hinge; other coupling mechanisms such as a snap lid, and so forth, are known in the art. Further, many such resealable mechanisms are well known from their use with other commercially available containers. It will be understood, therefore, that any commercially available resealable mechanism may be used with any compartment(s), container(s) or refill package(s) or cartridge(s) shown and/or described herein.
• As illustrated in FIG. 2, an[0028]outer surface45 of thelower end26 of thehousing16 is desirably provided with a releasablemovement limiting material46. Themovement limiting material46 is provided by, for example only, an adhesive, such as a pressure sensitive adhesive, a cohesive adhesive, such as a latex, or other synthetic and/or natural forms of rubber, and so forth. Themovement limiting material46 provides stability to thebase17 and the dispenser10 when products are dispensed therefrom by reducing or eliminating movement of the dispenser10 when a product is withdrawn by a user. Themovement limiting material46 also provides a substantially easily releasable connection of thehousing16 to a dispensing surface upon which thelower end26 is disposed. The releasable quality of themovement limiting material46 permits a user to easily pick up the dispenser10, thereby detaching it from the dispensing surface to move it to another dispensing surface without difficulty, and permits themovement limiting material46 to again releasably attach or couple to the new dispensing surface to hold the dispenser10 in a stable dispensing position. The movement limiting material may be covered initially by a release sheet (not shown), which is removed prior to disposing the dispenser10 on a dispensing surface.
• Such movement limiting material may include tacky elastomeric microspheres, such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,857,731, or pressure sensitive adhesives that are applied in a discontinuous random or non-random manner, such as those described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,194,299 to Fry, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. It will be understood, however, that any adhesive or cohesive adhesive known in the art may be used.[0029]
• In a non-limiting, illustrative example, an adhesive having 57% (by weight) solids high-tack aqueous isoamylacrylate emulsion, commercially available from Rohm & Haas as RHOPLEX® N619 was applied under a pressure of about 50 kPa by an air atomizing gun (Model CFA 700, available from A. C. Wallberg Company) to a web of wood-free forms bond paper weighing 4.68 g/m[0030]². The air was supplied so as to dispense adhesive droplets in a conical spray pattern, the diameter of the cone being approximately 15 cm at a distance of 20 cm from the nozzle. The web of wood-free forms bond paper was passed beneath the spray gun at a distance of about 20 centimeters at a rate of approximately 90 meters per minute, after which the sprayed web was dried in a circulating air oven at about 50 degrees C. for about 5 seconds. A 10-cm wide strip, occupying the central part of the spray pattern, was used for further testing. The paper was found to be substantially uniformly covered with adhesive islands occupying 27.5% of the coated area. The diameter of the islands was about 0.05 to 0.07 mm, the thickness ranging from 0.01 to 0.05 mm. The adhesion to aluminum oxide-surfaced 100-micrometer polyester film was 29.5 g/cm, and the adhesive-coated paper could be applied to newsprint, rolled down firmly, allowed to remain in place for two weeks, and removed without tearing or delaminating the newsprint.
• Peel adhesion was determined by first applying the adhesive to be tested to a surface to which it will adhere tenaciously, e.g., anodized aluminum or alumina-surfaced biaxially oriented polyester film such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,190,321. A 2. 54-cm×25.4-cm strip of 25 micrometer biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate film is then applied to the adhesive surface and rolled down with two passes of a 2-kg roller. Using a tensile testing machine, the force required to pull the polyester strip from the adhesive surface at a 90 degree angle at a rate of 30.5 cm per minute is then determined.[0031]
• Peel adhesion of the movement limiting material is desirably in a range of about 5 g/cm to about 100 g/cm. More desirably, the peel adhesion of the movement limiting material is in a range of about 10 g/cm to about 60 g/cm. Even more desirably, the peel adhesion of the movement limiting material is in a range of about 15 g/cm to about 50 g/cm. Yet even more desirably, the peel adhesion of the movement limiting material is in a range of about 18 g/cm to about 40 g/cm. Still yet even more desirably, the peel adhesion of the movement limiting material is in a range of about 20 g/cm to about 35 g/cm.[0032]
• Examples of pressure sensitive adhesives which may be used include, but are not limited to, the following: IAA—high-tack aqueous isoamylacrulate emulsion, commercially available from Rohm & Haas as RHOPLEX® N619; NBA—aqueous N-butylacrylate emulsion, commercially available from Rohm & Haas as RHOPLEX® N580; LC67—aqueous 98:2 n-butylacrylate:hydroxymethacrylate emulsion commercially available from Rohm & Haas as RHOPLEX® LC 67; U173—aqueous n-butylacrylate emulsion commercially available from Union Carbide as UCAR® 173; IAMS—aqueous 92:4:3:1 isooctylacrylate:acrylic acid:methyl methacrylate:styrene emulsion, of the type described in Ulrich U.S. Pat. No. RE 24,906; IOA:AA—10% heptane solution of 95.54.5 isooctyl acrylate:acrylic acid copolymer of the type described in Ulrich U.S. Pat. No. RE 24,906; RRS—19.8% heptane solution of 100 parts pale crete natural rubber, 1 gram alkylated polyhydroxyphenyl (commercially available from Monsanto Chemical Company as SANTOVAR® A) and 75 grams of polyterpene resin (commercially available from Crosby Cehmicals as CROTUREZ® B115 or KK-187); and RRE—homogeneous blend of, on a dry weight bases, 100 parts natural rubber latex (e.g., the 62.4% solids rubber latex commercially available from Firestone Tire and Rubber Company as HARTEX® 103), 25 parts carboxylated SBR emulsion (e.g., 50.5% solids SBR emulsion commercially available from Polysar Ltd. As POLYSAR® XE 222), 146 parts aliphatic hydrocarbon emulsion (e.g., the 55.0% solids emulsion commercially available from Hercules Inc., as PICCOPALE® 85), and 46.9 parts acid-stable emulsion of pentaerythritol ester of hydrogenated rosin (e.g., the ester commercially available from Hercules, Inc., as PENTALYN® H).[0033]
• The movement limiting material is desirably disposed on an[0034]outer surface45 of thelower end26 of thehousing16, although it will be appreciated that it may be positioned on any surface, wall, portion, and any combination(s) thereof of thehousing16. The movement limiting material may be provide in any pattern or random non-pattern, and may be provided relatively continuously or non-continuously, so long as the movement limiting material operates as shown and described in detail herein. Desirably, the movement limiting material is disposed as a non-continuous substrate across a surface, as described above, so that it covers about 10% to about 60% of a surface. More desirably, the movement limiting material covers about 15% to about 50% of a surface. Even more desirably, the movement limiting material covers about 20% to about 40% of a surface. Yet even more desirably, the movement limiting material covers about 20% to about 35% of a surface. It will be appreciated that if the movement limiting material is disposed as a continuous substrate across a surface, such movement limiting material will have a peel adhesion within the desirable range(s) described herein.
• As illustrated in FIGS.[0035]2-3, thehousing12 may include ahandle48. Thehandle48 in the present embodiment comprises a pair ofhandle members50.Handle members50 are coupled at oneend52 to opposingside walls16 and at an oppositefree end54 include abonding material56. Thebonding material56 may be an adhesive, a cohesive adhesive, but may also comprise hook and loop material, mechanical fasteners, tape, and so forth. To position thehandle48 for use, thehandle members50 are detached from each other and/or thelower end26 of thehousing16, and are moved into a position above theupper end24 of thehousing16 and coupled together via thebonding material56. Thehandle48 may also be provided as a single piece; thehandle48 may also be constructed in a position for immediate use as a handle (FIGS.6-8). Desirably, thehandle48 is configured to allow the dispenser10 to be lifted from a dispensing surface by a user using only one hand.
• The[0036]housing16 of the dispenser10 may be constructed from any conventional material, and may be a relatively inexpensive cardboard, paperboard, plastic, and any combination thereof, and so forth. The material may provide ahousing16 which is nonrefillable and disposable. That is, when sheet products or other products are completely withdrawn from the dispenser10, no new or additional sheet products or other products can be disposed therein, therefore the dispenser10 is thrown away. Alternatively, thehousing12 of the dispenser10 may be refillable, that is, it is configured to receive refill packages or cartridges ofpremoistened sheets12 and/or dry sheets14 (FIGS. 4 and 5), and/or other products, such as, by way of non-limiting example, disposable gloves.
• It may be desired to form at least a portion of the[0037]housing16 from a liquid impermeable material so as to properly contain thepremoistened sheets12. However, thehousing16, or any portion(s) thereof may be formed partially or entirely of any type of material, including a liquid absorbent or liquid impermeable material. For example, thepremoistened sheets12 may be encased in a liquidimpermeable film58, and thisfilm58 may form a portion, or all, of thecontainer30 and/or the first compartment28 (FIG. 8). In a further example, thefilm58 may form all or a portion of the internal wall34 (not shown). Alternatively, one ormore compartments28,32 of thehousing16 may be lined with the film58 (not shown).
• The[0038]premoistened sheets12 may be provided in acontainer30 which is formed of paperboard, cardboard, plastic, and so forth, and which is lined withfilm58, as shown in FIG. 1. Alternatively, thecontainer30 may be constructed substantially offilm58, as illustrated in FIG. 8. Thecontainer30 may itself provide a compartment without need for an internal wall, as shown in FIG. 8. Further, one or more containers may provide one or more compartments (FIGS. 6 and 7); one or more containers may also be contained within a single compartment (not shown).
• As noted previously herein, the[0039]lower end26 of thehousing16 along with the surroundingside walls18 and front andback walls20 provide a base17 upon which thehousing16 is supported. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, thebase17 has alength dimension64, awidth dimension66, and adepth dimension68 which substantially supports thehousing16 in its upright dispensing position. Thelength dimension64 and/orwidth dimension66 of thebase17 is desirably greater than thedepth dimension68. Thebase17 provides a foundation and infrastructure of self-support of the dispenser10, and cooperates with themovement limiting material46 to retain the dispenser10 in its disposed location on a dispensing surface, thereby reducing or eliminating unwanted movement of the dispenser10 when sheet products and/or other products are withdrawn from the dispenser10. The dimensions of thebase17 serves to substantially reduce or eliminate unwanted movement of the dispenser10 which would displace the dispenser10 away from the user.
• It will be appreciated, however, that the[0040]housing16 of the dispenser10 may take on any configuration which permits the dispenser to operate in the manner shown and/or described herein, and the configurations of the present embodiments are shown for nonlimiting illustrative purposes only. However, it is desirable that thehousing16 have a base17 upon which it is supported, so that the dispenser10 is not easily accidentally bumped off of a bed, a bedside table, or any other location or dispensing surface upon which it is disposed.
• It will also be understood that the first and[0041]second compartments28 and32, and/or any additional compartments, may be reversed in position, need not be in a side-by-side configuration, and may take on any suitable arrangement, including a stacked arrangement, a coaxial arrangement, and so forth. Further, any number of compartments and/or containers may be provided in any configuration in thehousing16 for simultaneously dispensing sheets and other products, such as, by way of non-limiting example, gloves, a single dispenser. All such configurations are within the scope and spirit of the present invention.
• In another embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the[0042]dispenser110 andhousing116 are similar to the dispenser10 and thehousing16 shown in FIGS.1-3 and previously described in detail herein. Thehousing116, however, has afirst compartment128 positioned above asecond compartment132. Thefirst compartment128 has acontainer130 ofpremoistened sheets112 which are provided in a rolled configuration, eachsheet112 in theroll174 being separated byperforations176 from itsadjacent sheet112. Thepremoistened sheets112 are dispensed through the an opening in the container130 (not shown) and through theresealable cover40 which is positioned over the first dispensing opening36 in the upper end124 of thehousing116.
• The[0043]second compartment132 includes acontainer131 which containsdry sheets14. Thedry sheets14 are dispensed from an opening (not shown) in thecontainer131 which is generally aligned with the second dispensing opening138 of thesecond compartment132. The second dispensing opening138 is positioned in thefront wall120 of thehousing116.
• The[0044]housing116 desirably has the same features and characteristics as those previously described. Thehousing116 also desirably has amovement limiting material46 disposed on at least a portion of theouter surface45 of the lower end126 of the housing116 (not shown). Thehousing116 may also have a handle (not shown).
• As illustrated in FIG. 5, the[0045]dispenser110 of the present embodiment is refillable, permitting new refill cartridges orcontainers130,131 ofpremoistened sheets112 anddry sheets14 to be disposed in the eachcompartment128,132 of thehousing116 when the existing containers are empty. To permit refilling of thecompartments128,132, theback wall120 is constructed separately and desirably coupled byhinges177 or other mechanical component to asidewall118 of thehousing116. Theback wall120 is secured to thehousing116 by a latching mechanism, such as, by way of non-limiting example, a latch178 which releasably coupled to a button180. Many latching and/or locking mechanisms are known in the art, and may be used with the present invention.
• In yet another embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the dispenser[0046]210 andhousing216 are similar to those of thedispensers10,110 shown in FIGS.1-3 and4-5, respectively, and previously described in detail herein. The dispenser210, however, includes ahousing216 which is substantially pyramidally-shaped, and includes ahandle248 formed as a portion of theupper end224 of thehousing216.
• The[0047]handle248 is formed to include anopening282 which is positioned between theupper end224 of thehousing216 and thehandle248. Theopening282 is configured to receive a user's hand at least partially therethrough, to permit easy carrying of the dispenser210.
• The[0048]housing216, however, has a singleinternal chamber284 which is configured to hold two or more containers. A first container230 havingpremoistened sheets12 therein is positioned adjacent oneside wall218 and provides a first compartment228. The first container230 has an opening (not shown) generally aligned with theresealable cover40 which is positioned over the first dispensing opening (not shown) through which thepremoistened sheets12 are dispensed. Another (second)container231 havingdry sheets14 therein is positioned adjacent to anopposite side wall218 and provides asecond compartment232. Thesecond container231 also has an opening (not shown) which is generally aligned with a second dispensing opening238 through which thedry sheets14 are dispensed. As shown in FIG. 7, yet another (third)container286 having a plurality ofdisposable gloves287 therein is positioned adjacent thefront wall220 and provides a third compartment288. Thethird container286 has an opening therein (not shown) which is generally aligned with a third dispensing opening290 through which thegloves287 are dispensed. The disposable gloves may be any commercially available gloves, such as, by way of non-limiting example, PFS PLUS™ and HEALTHTOUCH™, each of which is available from Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Roswell, Ga.
• The[0049]housing216 desirably has the same features and characteristics as those previously shown and/or described herein. Thehousing216 also desirably has a movement limiting material (not shown) disposed on at least a portion of theouter surface45 of thelower end26 of thehousing216.
• In still yet another embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the[0050]dispenser310 andhousing316 are similar to those of thedispensers10,110, and210 shown in FIGS.1-3,4-5, and6-7, respectively, and previously described in detail herein. Thedispenser310, however, includes ahousing316 which has trapezoidally-shaped front, back, andside walls320,318, respectively. In addition, thehousing316 has a singleinternal chamber384 in which aroll392 ofpremoistened sheets12 is surrounded by afilm58, which provides a container330 as well as thefirst compartment328. Desirably, but not by way of limitation, a portion of thefilm58 is coupled to an inside surface (not shown) of thehousing316 adjacent thefirst dispensing opening36 and includes an opening (not shown) in alignment with the first dispensing opening and theresealable cover40 positioned thereover, through which thepremoistened sheets12 are dispensed. The second compartment332 holdingdry sheets14 is provided by the remaining portion of theinternal chamber384 of thehousing316. Thedry sheets14 are dispensed directly through thesecond dispensing opening38.
• The[0051]housing316 desirably has the same features and characteristics as those previously described herein. Thehousing316 also desirably has a movement limiting material disposed on at least a portion of the lower end of the housing316 (not shown).
• It will be understood that different types and combinations of such products as premoistened sheets, dry sheets, disposable gloves, and so forth may be contained within and dispensed from[0052]dispenser10,110,210,310. Accordingly, it should be readily apparent that modifications and variations can be made to the embodiment of the dispenser described herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims (31)

What is claimed is:

1. A dispenser including at least two compartments of sheet products, the dispenser comprising:

a housing having a base providing a lower end and at least a portion of each sidewall, the housing including at least a first compartment configured to hold and dispense therefrom a plurality of first sheet products, and at least a second compartment configured to hold and dispense therefrom a plurality of second sheet products, the base configured to have a length dimension greater than a depth dimension of a sidewall, the base configured to stabilize and support the housing in a dispensing position;

a dispensing opening defined in each of the first and second internal compartments; and

movement limiting material disposed on at least a portion of an outer surface of the lower end, the movement limiting material configured to releasably couple to a surface, the movement limiting material and the base configured to cooperate to securely supporting the dispenser on a dispensing surface and to substantially eliminate unwanted movement of the dispenser when sheets are withdrawn therefrom, the movement limiting material having a peel adhesion in a range of about 15 g/cm to about 50 g/cm.

2. The dispenser ofclaim 1, wherein the housing includes a handle configured to be easily grasped by one hand thereby allowing the dispenser to be lifted from a dispensing surface by a user using only one hand.

3. The dispenser ofclaim 2 wherein the handle is provided by more than one handle member.

4. The dispenser ofclaim 1, wherein the movement limiting material is an adhesive.

5. The dispenser ofclaim 4, wherein the adhesive is a pressure sensitive adhesive.

6. The dispenser ofclaim 1, wherein the movement limiting material is a cohesive adhesive.

7. The dispenser ofclaim 6, wherein the cohesive adhesive is latex.

8. The dispenser ofclaim 1, wherein the housing is further defined as having a generally polygonal shape.

9. The dispenser ofclaim 1, wherein the housing is an integral unit.

10. The dispenser ofclaim 1, wherein at least one compartment has a resealable dispensing opening.

11. The dispenser ofclaim 1, wherein the housing includes an inner wall which cooperates with the housing to provide a first compartment and a second compartment.

12. The dispenser ofclaim 1, wherein a container provided in the housing for holding sheets is configured to provide at least one compartment.

13. The dispenser ofclaim 12, wherein the container is constructed substantially of film.

14. The dispenser ofclaim 1, wherein the housing includes a third internal compartment.

15. The dispenser ofclaim 14, wherein gloves are provided in the third internal compartment and are withdrawn through a dispensing opening therein.

16. The dispenser ofclaim 1, wherein the first sheets are one of premoistened sheets and dry sheets.

17. The dispenser ofclaim 1, wherein the second sheets are one of premoistened sheets and dry sheets.

18. The dispenser ofclaim 1, wherein the peel adhesion of the movement limiting material is in a range of about 18 g/cm to about 40 g/cm.

19. The dispenser ofclaim 18, wherein the peel adhesion of the movement limiting material is in a range of about 20 g/cm to about 35 g/cm.

20. A dispenser including at least premoistened sheets and dry sheets, the dispenser comprising:

a housing having a base providing a lower end and at least a portion of each sidewall, the housing including at least two compartments therein, at least a first compartment configured to hold and dispense therefrom a plurality of premoistened sheets, and at least a second compartment configured to hold and dispense therefrom a plurality of dry sheets, the base configured to have a length dimension greater than a depth dimension of a sidewall, the base configured to stabilize and support the housing in a dispensing position;

a dispensing opening defined in each of the first and second internal compartments; and

movement limiting material including an adhesive disposed on at least a portion of an outer surface on the lower end, the movement limiting material configured to releasably couple to a dispensing surface, the movement limiting material and the base configured to cooperate to securely supporting the dispenser on a dispensing surface and to substantially eliminate unwanted movement of the dispenser when sheets are withdrawn therefrom, the movement limiting material having a peel adhesion in a range of about 15 g/cm to about 50 g/cm.

21. The dispenser ofclaim 20, wherein the housing includes a handle configured to be easily grasped by one hand thereby allowing the dispenser to be lifted from a dispensing surface by a user using only one hand.

22. The dispenser ofclaim 21, wherein the handle is provided by more than one handle member.

23. The dispenser ofclaim 20, wherein the adhesive is a pressure sensitive adhesive.

24. The dispenser ofclaim 20, wherein the adhesive is a cohesive adhesive.

25. The dispenser ofclaim 20, wherein the housing includes an inner wall which cooperates with the housing to provide a first compartment and a second compartment.

26. The dispenser ofclaim 20, wherein a container is provided in the housing for holding one of premoistened sheets and dry sheets, the container providing one compartment.

27. The dispenser ofclaim 26, wherein the container is constructed substantially of film.

28. The dispenser ofclaim 20, wherein the housing includes a third internal compartment.

29. The dispenser ofclaim 28, wherein gloves are provided in the third internal compartment and are disposed through a dispensing opening therein.

30. The dispenser ofclaim 20, wherein the peel adhesion of the movement limiting material is in a range of about 18 g/cm to about 40 g/cm.

31. The dispenser ofclaim 30, wherein the peel adhesion of the movement limiting material is in a range of about 20 g/cm to about 35 g/cm.

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