Dispenser for wet and/or dry products

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the dispenser on a dispensing surface and to substantially eliminate unwanted movement of the dispenser when sheets are withdrawn therefrom.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

[0001] 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)).

BACKGROUND

[0002] 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.

[0003] 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.

[0004] 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.

[0005] 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.

DEFINITIONS

[0006] 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.

[0007] 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.

[0008] 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 10 when disposed again on another dispensing surface.

[0009] As used herein, the term “couple” includes, but is not limited to, joining, connecting, fastening, linking, or associating two things integrally or interstitially together.

[0010] These terms may be defined with additional language in the remaining portions of the specification.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] 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.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention, showing a two compartment dispenser;

[0013] 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;

[0014] FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the dispenser of the first embodiment, but showing the handle members providing a handle;

[0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention, showing another two compartment dispenser;

[0016] 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;

[0017] FIG. 6 is a side view of a third embodiment of the present invention, showing multiple containers (in phantom lines) therein;

[0018] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the dispenser of the third embodiment, showing a third container (in phantom lines) therein; and

[0019] 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.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] 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.

[0021] 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.

[0022] A dispenser 10 according to the invention is provided for dispensing promoistened sheets 12 and dry sheets 14 from a single housing unit 16, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3. The housing 16 includes a base 17 (designated in FIG. 1 by phantom lines) which provides spaced-apart and opposing side walls 18 coupled to spaced-apart and opposing front and back walls 20. The base 17 includes a lower end 26, which supports both sidewalls 18 and front and back walls 20. The base 17 provides broad support as a portion of the housing 16 to stabilize and support the housing 16 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.

[0023] The housing 16 also includes an upper end 24, which is carried on the upper ends of the sidewalls 18 and front and back walls 20 of the base 17. The afore-mentioned walls 18 and 20, respectively, and upper and lower ends 24 and 26 cooperate to provide at least one internal compartment in the housing 16. The housing 16 desirably has a first compartment 28 in which, desirably, a container 30 of premoistened sheets 12 is stored and dispensed. Similarly, the housing 16 also has at least a second compartment 32 in which dry sheets 14 are stored and dispensed.

[0024] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the housing 16 is desirably an integral unit such that the first and second compartments 28 and 32 are joined and non-separable. When the housing 16 is provided as an integral unit, it may include an internal wall 34. This internal wall 34 assists in defining both the first compartment 28 as well as the second compartment 32. Alternatively, the first and second compartments 28 and 32 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.

[0025] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, a first dispensing opening 36 is defined in the housing 16 to permit access to the first compartment 28 or the container 30 of premoistened sheets 12 therein. The first dispensing opening 36 is provided, by way of non-limiting example, on the upper end 24 of the housing 16. The container 30 of premoistened sheets 12 are exposed through the first dispensing opening 36, which provides access thereto.

[0026] Similarly, a second dispensing opening 38 is provided in the housing 16 to permit access to the dry sheets 14 contained in the second compartment 22. The second dispensing opening 38 is also provided, for example, but not by way of limitation, in the upper end 24 of the housing 16. The dispensing openings 36 and 38, however, may be provided in any wall(s), surface(s), or any combination(s) thereof in the housing 16. It will be appreciated that the dispensing openings 36 and 38 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.

[0027] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, it may be desired that the compartment, in this instance, the first compartment 28 containing the premoistened sheets 12 includes a resealable cover 40 disposed over the first dispensing opening 36. The cover 40 serves in maintaining the moisture conditions within the compartment 28 and prevents undesired drying out of the premoistened sheets 12. As illustrated in the referenced figures, a lid 42 is simply frictionally engaged with a rim 44 disposed about the first dispensing opening. The lid 42 is coupled to the rim 44 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.

[0028] As illustrated in FIG. 2, an outer surface 45 of the lower end 26 of the housing 16 is desirably provided with a releasable movement limiting material 46. The movement limiting material 46 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. The movement limiting material 46 provides stability to the base 17 and the dispenser 10 when products are dispensed therefrom by reducing or eliminating movement of the dispenser 10 when a product is withdrawn by a user. The movement limiting material 46 also provides a substantially easily releasable connection of the housing 16 to a dispensing surface upon which the lower end 26 is disposed. The releasable quality of the movement limiting material 46 permits a user to easily pick up the dispenser 10, thereby detaching it from the dispensing surface to move it to another dispensing surface without difficulty, and permits the movement limiting material 46 to again releasably attach or couple to the new dispensing surface to hold the dispenser 10 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 dispenser 10 on a dispensing surface.

[0029] 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.

[0030] 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/m2. 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.

[0031] 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.

[0032] 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.

[0033] 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).

[0034] The movement limiting material is desirably disposed on an outer surface 45 of the lower end 26 of the housing 16, although it will be appreciated that it may be positioned on any surface, wall, portion, and any combination(s) thereof of the housing 16. 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.

[0035] As illustrated in FIGS. 2-3, the housing 12 may include a handle 48. The handle 48 in the present embodiment comprises a pair of handle members 50. Handle members 50 are coupled at one end 52 to opposing side walls 16 and at an opposite free end 54 include a bonding material 56. The bonding material 56 may be an adhesive, a cohesive adhesive, but may also comprise hook and loop material, mechanical fasteners, tape, and so forth. To position the handle 48 for use, the handle members 50 are detached from each other and/or the lower end 26 of the housing 16, and are moved into a position above the upper end 24 of the housing 16 and coupled together via the bonding material 56. The handle 48 may also be provided as a single piece; the handle 48 may also be constructed in a position for immediate use as a handle (FIGS. 6-8). Desirably, the handle 48 is configured to allow the dispenser 10 to be lifted from a dispensing surface by a user using only one hand.

[0036] The housing 16 of the dispenser 10 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 a housing 16 which is nonrefillable and disposable. That is, when sheet products or other products are completely withdrawn from the dispenser 10, no new or additional sheet products or other products can be disposed therein, therefore the dispenser 10 is thrown away. Alternatively, the housing 12 of the dispenser 10 may be refillable, that is, it is configured to receive refill packages or cartridges of premoistened sheets 12 and/or dry sheets 14 (FIGS. 4 and 5), and/or other products, such as, by way of non-limiting example, disposable gloves.

[0037] It may be desired to form at least a portion of the housing 16 from a liquid impermeable material so as to properly contain the premoistened sheets 12. However, the housing 16, 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, the premoistened sheets 12 may be encased in a liquid impermeable film 58, and this film 58 may form a portion, or all, of the container 30 and/or the first compartment 28 (FIG. 8). In a further example, the film 58 may form all or a portion of the internal wall 34 (not shown). Alternatively, one or more compartments 28, 32 of the housing 16 may be lined with the film 58 (not shown).

[0038] The premoistened sheets 12 may be provided in a container 30 which is formed of paperboard, cardboard, plastic, and so forth, and which is lined with film 58, as shown in FIG. 1. Alternatively, the container 30 may be constructed substantially of film 58, as illustrated in FIG. 8. The container 30 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).

[0039] As noted previously herein, the lower end 26 of the housing 16 along with the surrounding side walls 18 and front and back walls 20 provide a base 17 upon which the housing 16 is supported. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the base 17 has a length dimension 64, a width dimension 66, and a depth dimension 68 which substantially supports the housing 16 in its upright dispensing position. The length dimension 64 and/or width dimension 66 of the base 17 is desirably greater than the depth dimension 68. The base 17 provides a foundation and infrastructure of self-support of the dispenser 10, and cooperates with the movement limiting material 46 to retain the dispenser 10 in its disposed location on a dispensing surface, thereby reducing or eliminating unwanted movement of the dispenser 10 when sheet products and/or other products are withdrawn from the dispenser 10. The dimensions of the base 17 serves to substantially reduce or eliminate unwanted movement of the dispenser 10 which would displace the dispenser 10 away from the user.

[0040] It will be appreciated, however, that the housing 16 of the dispenser 10 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 the housing 16 have a base 17 upon which it is supported, so that the dispenser 10 is not easily accidentally bumped off of a bed, a bedside table, or any other location or dispensing surface upon which it is disposed.

[0041] It will also be understood that the first and second compartments 28 and 32, 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 the housing 16 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.

[0042] In another embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the dispenser 110 and housing 116 are similar to the dispenser 10 and the housing 16 shown in FIGS. 1-3 and previously described in detail herein. The housing 116, however, has a first compartment 128 positioned above a second compartment 132. The first compartment 128 has a container 130 of premoistened sheets 112 which are provided in a rolled configuration, each sheet 112 in the roll 174 being separated by perforations 176 from its adjacent sheet 112. The premoistened sheets 112 are dispensed through the an opening in the container 130 (not shown) and through the resealable cover 40 which is positioned over the first dispensing opening 36 in the upper end 124 of the housing 116.

[0043] The second compartment 132 includes a container 131 which contains dry sheets 14. The dry sheets 14 are dispensed from an opening (not shown) in the container 131 which is generally aligned with the second dispensing opening 138 of the second compartment 132. The second dispensing opening 138 is positioned in the front wall 120 of the housing 116.

[0044] The housing 116 desirably has the same features and characteristics as those previously described. The housing 116 also desirably has a movement limiting material 46 disposed on at least a portion of the outer surface 45 of the lower end 126 of the housing 116 (not shown). The housing 116 may also have a handle (not shown).

[0045] As illustrated in FIG. 5, the dispenser 110 of the present embodiment is refillable, permitting new refill cartridges or containers 130, 131 of premoistened sheets 112 and dry sheets 14 to be disposed in the each compartment 128, 132 of the housing 116 when the existing containers are empty. To permit refilling of the compartments 128, 132, the back wall 120 is constructed separately and desirably coupled by hinges 177 or other mechanical component to a sidewall 118 of the housing 116. The back wall 120 is secured to the housing 116 by a latching mechanism, such as, by way of non-limiting example, a latch 178 which releasably coupled to a button 180. Many latching and/or locking mechanisms are known in the art, and may be used with the present invention.

[0046] In yet another embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the dispenser 210 and housing 216 are similar to those of the dispensers 10, 110 shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 4-5, respectively, and previously described in detail herein. The dispenser 210, however, includes a housing 216 which is substantially pyramidally-shaped, and includes a handle 248 formed as a portion of the upper end 224 of the housing 216.

[0047] The handle 248 is formed to include an opening 282 which is positioned between the upper end 224 of the housing 216 and the handle 248. The opening 282 is configured to receive a user's hand at least partially therethrough, to permit easy carrying of the dispenser 210.

[0048] The housing 216, however, has a single internal chamber 284 which is configured to hold two or more containers. A first container 230 having premoistened sheets 12 therein is positioned adjacent one side wall 218 and provides a first compartment 228. The first container 230 has an opening (not shown) generally aligned with the resealable cover 40 which is positioned over the first dispensing opening (not shown) through which the premoistened sheets 12 are dispensed. Another (second) container 231 having dry sheets 14 therein is positioned adjacent to an opposite side wall 218 and provides a second compartment 232. The second container 231 also has an opening (not shown) which is generally aligned with a second dispensing opening 238 through which the dry sheets 14 are dispensed. As shown in FIG. 7, yet another (third) container 286 having a plurality of disposable gloves 287 therein is positioned adjacent the front wall 220 and provides a third compartment 288. The third container 286 has an opening therein (not shown) which is generally aligned with a third dispensing opening 290 through which the gloves 287 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.

[0049] The housing 216 desirably has the same features and characteristics as those previously shown and/or described herein. The housing 216 also desirably has a movement limiting material (not shown) disposed on at least a portion of the outer surface 45 of the lower end 26 of the housing 216.

[0050] In still yet another embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the dispenser 310 and housing 316 are similar to those of the dispensers 10,110, and 210 shown in FIGS. 1-3, 4-5, and 6-7, respectively, and previously described in detail herein. The dispenser 310, however, includes a housing 316 which has trapezoidally-shaped front, back, and side walls 320, 318, respectively. In addition, the housing 316 has a single internal chamber 384 in which a roll 392 of premoistened sheets 12 is surrounded by a film 58, which provides a container 330 as well as the first compartment 328. Desirably, but not by way of limitation, a portion of the film 58 is coupled to an inside surface (not shown) of the housing 316 adjacent the first dispensing opening 36 and includes an opening (not shown) in alignment with the first dispensing opening and the resealable cover 40 positioned thereover, through which the premoistened sheets 12 are dispensed. The second compartment 332 holding dry sheets 14 is provided by the remaining portion of the internal chamber 384 of the housing 316. The dry sheets 14 are dispensed directly through the second dispensing opening 38.

[0051] The housing 316 desirably has the same features and characteristics as those previously described herein. The housing 316 also desirably has a movement limiting material disposed on at least a portion of the lower end of the housing 316 (not shown).

[0052] 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 dispenser 10, 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

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 of claim 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 of claim 2 wherein the handle is provided by more than one handle member.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

18. The dispenser of claim 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 of claim 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 of claim 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 of claim 21, wherein the handle is provided by more than one handle member.

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

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

25. The dispenser of claim 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 of claim 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 of claim 26, wherein the container is constructed substantially of film.

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

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

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