Disclosed is a method and cover for maintaining hygiene of a roll of paper towels which are in a community or open area. A cover for protection of a paper towel roll secured about a vertical axis is provided. The cover is preferably circular to match the diameter of the roll. The cover has a cleanable top layer, a hole at the center of the cover and an optional bottom layer having a backing material. The cover is placed on the top of the roll which keeps the roll dirt or germ-free when held by the user. The backing material present on the lower side of the cover adheres sufficiently to the paper towel roll to not slide off the roll when not in use. During use, the cover is held down by the user with one hand, while grabbing and removing a sheet from the roll with the user's other hand.

Embodiments provide for a consolidated towel holder or rack. An example consolidated towel holder includes a base, a first support member extending upward from the base, a second support member extending upward from the base and configured for supporting a paper towel roll, a cap in slidable contact with the first support member via an extension member such that the cap gravitationally rests atop the paper towel roll, and a third support member extending perpendicularly from the first support member and configured for supporting a fabric towel or cleaning apparatus.

A rolled product dispenser for dispensing a web of rolled product, comprising: a housing; and a dispensing assembly at least partially housed in the housing and interacting with the web of rolled product and including a dispensing roller having a rotation center and a peripheral wall with an upper section. The dispensing assembly can comprise an upper tensioning assembly and/or a lower tensioning assembly and/or a variable tension return assembly.

A sheet product dispenser for dispensing a roll of sheet product mounted thereto includes a housing portion and a load inducement portion. The housing portion defines a space operative to receive the roll of sheet product for rotation about an axis to dispense the sheet product. The load inducement portion is operative to induce a frictional force between the roll of sheet product and the load inducement portion during rotation of the roll of sheet product. The load inducement portion includes a guide member, and a load member slidably engaged with the guide member and operative to contact and apply a load to an outer surface of the roll of sheet product.

A dispenser includes: a housing having a support axis for accommodating and rotatably supporting the paper roll, a brake shoe having a contact surface configured to abut at a face side of the paper roll and movably attached relative to the housing for adjustment of a braking force, and an elastic member urging the brake shoe in a direction toward the face side of the paper roll and having an adjustable elastic force that adjusts the braking force. The contact surface may have at least a first contact area closer to a tip of the support axis in an axial direction of the support axis and further away from the support axis in a radial direction and a second contact area further away from the tip of the support axis in the axial direction and closer to the support axis in the radial direction to provide a braking force decreasing with a decreasing diameter of the roll.

Dispenser apparatus for holding a roll of paper toweling or tissue sheet material and dispensing the sheet material, the apparatus including structure exerting drag forces on the roll to reduce overspin when pulling forces on the sheet material causing dispensing have been terminated.

The present invention provides a holder and dispenser of rolled products such as paper, plastic, foil, tape and other goods with magnetic resistance. The dispenser generally includes a base and a cage that supports the roll of material and rotates relative to the base. A magnetic resistance mechanism is generally located between the base and the cage. The magnetic resistance mechanism creates forces that act to resist rotation of the cage relative to the base.

A dispenser having a feed roller that at least partially engages sheet material to facilitate dispensing thereof, and a cutting mechanism disposed within a chamber defined by a body of the feed roller. The cutting mechanism comprising a cutting blade and at least one movable support connected thereto. The at least one support further is operatively connected to the body of the feed roller and is actuated with rotation thereof to move the cutting blade into and out from one or more openings defined along the body of the feed roller to at least partially cut or perforate a selected portion of the sheet material as the sheet material is dispensed.

A rolled product dispenser for dispensing a rolled product from a roll is provided. The rolled product dispenser includes a roll engagement member for supporting the roll and allowing the roll to rotate around an axis of rotation, and a roll braking assembly operatively connected to the frame for reducing over-rotation of the roll around the axis of rotation. The roll braking assembly includes at least one roll abutment member configured to abut against an outward-facing surface of the roll and create friction therewith, and a biasing member biasing the at least one roll abutment member towards the outward-facing surface of the roll. The roll braking assembly is configured such that friction between the roll abutment member and the outward-facing surface of the roll reduces as the rolled product is depleted from the roll. In an embodiment, the rolled product dispenser is a paper towel dispenser.

A dispenser having a feed roller that at least partially engages sheet material to facilitate dispensing thereof, and a cutting mechanism disposed within a chamber defined by a body of the feed roller. The cutting mechanism including a cutting blade and at least one movable support connected thereto. The at least one support further is operatively connected to the body of the feed roller and is actuated with rotation thereof to move the cutting blade into and out from one or more openings defined along the body of the feed roller to at least partially cut or perforate a selected portion of the sheet material as the sheet material is dispensed.