Various dispensing systems with drop-down features are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the dispensing system includes a roll support with a sensor and a piston. The sensor can move as the roll decreases in size (e.g., the outside diameter decreases) and can apply a force to the roll. The piston can move to become less engaged with the roll, such as becoming less received in a roll plug or the hollow core of the roll. When the roll has decreased to a threshold size, the piston substantially or fully disengages from the roll and/or the sensor applies a force to dislodge the roll from the roll support. This results in the roll automatically dropping off the roll support. The roll support is thus available to receive a fresh roll.

A ligature-resistant paper towel dispenser includes a rear portion with a towel recess for receiving a roll of paper towels and a planar mounting area for securing the paper towel dispenser to a wall. A front portion of the dispenser locks to the rear portion, covers the roll and completes the shape of the paper towel dispenser exterior. The mounting area of the housing may extend backwards from the planar mounting area into an aperture formed through a surface of the wall so that the towel recess projects into the wall. The housing has an upward projecting exterior that is curved or inclined downward from an apex to prevent attachment of a ligature and extends above the towel recess by a distance greater than or equal to half of a maximum forward projection of the housing to provide sufficient curvature or inclination of the exterior of the top projection.

A toilet paper dispenser has a toilet roll container defining a chamber sufficient to enclose a first toilet paper roll and a second toilet paper roll positioning the first and second paper rolls in an end to end orientation. The container has a longitudinal opening to allow dispensing of toilet paper sheets from the toilet paper rolls. A central divider within the container divides the container into two spaces for accommodating two toilet paper rolls. Each space containing toilet paper rolls includes a positioning insert centered on and located on opposite sides of the central divider that extend within the length of the container. The positioning inserts stabilize the toilet paper rolls within the container. A retaining member at each end of the container secures the toilet paper rolls within the container. A support fixes the container to a wall structure may allow rotation of the container around the center point of the container's longitudinal axis.

A system for monitoring a usage of rolled or stacked disposable sanitary product in a predetermined location or facility and providing information associated with said usage to one or more users, comprising: (a) one or more optical sensors mounted at respective locations associated with where the product is dispensed and configured to monitor a diameter of the roll or height of the stack and transmit data associated therewith; and (b) one or more receivers configured to receive and transmit said data to one or more databases for storage, processing, analysis and/or user notification regarding product usage.

A method and apparatus for dispensing toilet paper is disclosed. A sliding toilet paper holder includes a toilet paper holder configured to carry and dispense a roll of toilet paper. A slide assembly is coupled to the toilet paper holder and is attachable to a support structure adjacent to a toilet. The slide assembly operable between a stowed position and an extended position to selectively extend and retract the toilet paper holder. The apparatus and method permits a user to more readily access and dispense a desired quantity of toilet paper while seated on a toilet and to stow the toilet paper carried on the toilet paper holder when not needed. A spare tissue spindle may also be carried by the slide assembly.

A method of dispensing a user-determined length of sheet product from a roll of sheet product via a sheet product dispenser is provided. The method includes the steps of providing the roll of sheet product rotatably supported by the sheet product dispenser for dispensing sheet product therefrom, wherein the roll of sheet product rotates in response to a pull force applied to a tail portion of the roll of sheet product; and providing, via the sheet product dispenser, a pull force resistance opposing the rotation of the roll of sheet product, wherein the pull force resistance is between 36 grams-force and 96 grams-force throughout a majority of a life of the roll of sheet product.

An upright paper towel holder includes a base, a main body, an elastic body and a lift head. The main body has a lower end portion, an upper end portion and a mounting portion. The lower end portion is connected to the base such that the main body is erected on the base. The mounting portion is connected to the upper end portion. The elastic body is disposed on the mounting portion. The lift head is disposed on the mounting portion of the main body and is capable of reciprocating movement relative to the main body. The lift head is located above the elastic body. When the lift head is pressed down, the lift head abuts against the elastic body, such that the height of the elastic body is decreased, the outer diameter of the elastic body is increased, and the roll of paper towels is securely fixed.

A dispenser assembly that includes a carousel tray and is operable to allow the user to selectively orient one of a plurality of respective discrete rolls of web material supported by the carousel tray proximate a dispense opening. An elongate user actuated lever arm is accessible from outside the dispenser housing and operable to allow the user to manually rotate the carousel tray relative to the housing to present each discrete roll of web material proximate the dispense opening for use. In preferred embodiments, the dispensing assembly includes one or more indexing and/or brake assemblies that are configured to inhibit inertial rotation of the carousel and/or to resist rotation of the carousel beyond a desired radial location absent user interaction with the lever arm.

Systems and apparatus for dispensing of paper products. The dispenser includes two vertically offset rollers configured to be inserted in a rolled paper product to support it in an elliptical shape.

Various tamper resistant latches for product dispensers are provided herein. An example product dispenser includes a housing capable of being opened. When closed, the housing defines an at least partially enclosed internal space for receiving a supply of product and limiting access to the supply of product. A latch comprises a base portion mounted to the housing, a first arm, and a second arm. The first arm and second arm each extend from the base portion and are each capable of being independently moved from a biased locked position to an unlocked position such that either of the first arm or the second arm may move to the unlocked position without causing the other to also move to the unlocked positionthereby providing a tamper resistant latch where both the first arm and the second arm need to move to the unlocked position to enable opening of the housing.