U.S. patent application number 10/329931 was filed with the patent office on 2004-07-01 for dispenser for wet and/or dry products.
Invention is credited to Grebonval, Loic, Mitchell, Joseph, Welchel, Debra N..
Application Number | 20040124202 10/329931 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32594740 |
Filed Date | 2004-07-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040124202 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mitchell, Joseph ; et
al. |
July 1, 2004 |
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sheets are withdrawn therefrom.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.
Inventors: |
Mitchell, Joseph;
(Alpharetta, GA) ; Welchel, Debra N.; (Woodstock,
GA) ; Grebonval, Loic; (Flocques, FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
401 NORTH LAKE STREET
NEENAH
WI
54956
|
Family ID: |
32594740 |
Appl. No.: |
10/329931 |
Filed: |
December 26, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
221/34 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 1/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
221/034 |
International
Class: |
B65H 001/00 |
Claims
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 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.
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.RTM. 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.sup.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.
[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.times.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.RTM. N619; NBA--aqueous N-butylacrylate
emulsion, commercially available from Rohm & Haas as
RHOPLEX.RTM. N580; LC67--aqueous 98:2
n-butylacrylate:hydroxymethacrylate emulsion commercially available
from Rohm & Haas as RHOPLEX.RTM. LC 67; U173--aqueous
n-butylacrylate emulsion commercially available from Union Carbide
as UCAR.RTM. 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.RTM. A) and 75 grams of polyterpene resin
(commercially available from Crosby Cehmicals as CROTUREZ.RTM. 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.RTM. 103), 25 parts carboxylated SBR emulsion (e.g., 50.5%
solids SBR emulsion commercially available from Polysar Ltd. As
POLYSAR.RTM. XE 222), 146 parts aliphatic hydrocarbon emulsion
(e.g., the 55.0% solids emulsion commercially available from
Hercules Inc., as PICCOPALE.RTM. 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.RTM.
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.TM. and HEALTHTOUCH.TM., 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.
* * * * *