US3797769A

US3797769A - Roll supporting apparatus for roll towel dispenser

Info

Publication number: US3797769A
Application number: US00197721A
Authority: US
Inventors: C Tucker
Original assignee: Towlsaver Inc
Current assignee: Fort James Corp
Priority date: 1971-11-11
Filing date: 1971-11-11
Publication date: 1974-03-19
Anticipated expiration: 1991-03-19

Abstract

A combination support structure which provides for the support of a roll of paper toweling or the like in a manner that the roll is not easily displaced from its supported position and wherein one of the support members is pivotally mounted and positionable in locked or unlocked positions to provide ease of access for mounting the roll of paper toweling. The normal dispensing action of the paper toweling positions the one support member in the locked position. Additionally, because each of the supports is spring biased and the supports uniquely coact, the imposition of lateral forces on the cabinet housing which are transmitted to the supports does not displace the paper roll from its supported dispensing position because of the absorption and dissipation of those forces.

Description

Tucker 1 Mar. 19, 1974 ROLL SUPPORTING APPARATUS FOR ROLL TOWEL DISPENSER [75] Inventor: Council A. Tucker, Glendale, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Towlsaver, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif.

[22] Filed: Nov. 11, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 197,721

9/1959 Burton et al 242/55.53

Primary Examiner-Leonard D. Christian Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Mahoney, Schick & Cislo [5 7] ABSTRACT A combination support structure which provides for the support of a roll of paper toweling or the like in a manner that the roll isnot easily displaced from its supported position and wherein one of the support members is pivotally mounted and positionable in locked or unlocked positions to provide ease of access for mounting the roll of paper toweling. The normal dispensing action of the paper toweling positions the one support member in the locked position. Additionally, because each of the supports is spring biased and the supports uniquely coact, the imposition of lateral forces on the cabinet housing which are transmitted to the supports does not displace the paper roll from its supported dispensing position because of the absorption and dissipation of those forces.

26 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Pmmmmmmm 3797.769

SHEET 1 BF 2 Fig.

Fig. 2.

INVENTOR. COUNCIL A. TUCKER BYMA HONEY, HORNBA KER AND SCH/CK A T TORNE Y5 ROLL SUPPORTING APPARATUS FOR ROLL TOWEL DISPENSER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

This invention is directed to toweling dispensers and, particularly, to a means of supporting a roll of paper toweling within a dispenser cabinet in a manner that the roll is easily positioned within the cabinet and supported therein so that it is not easily displaced from its supports by unauthorized personnel or vandals and the like hammering on the side walls of the dispensing cabinet. The support arrangement also permits support of the roll of paper toweling in such a manner that undue frictional forces are not built up to interfere with the dispensing action and one of the support members is moveable to provide free access to the interior of the cabinet to facilitate placement of a full paper toweling roll therein.

For example, in conventional roll towel dispensers, it has been found that when vandals pound on the side of the cabinet, the resulting lateral forces cause the supported paper roll to be knocked off its supports. Additionally, there have'been occasions where the apparatus itself has been damages because of vandalism of this type and wherein the support structure, because of its relative rigidity, was unable to absorb the unexpected, high impact forces imparted thereto.

Moreover, the support for the paper roll on the actuation side of the dispenser is normally spring biased by a heavy duty spring which has a tendency to exert high frictional forces which interfere with the proper dispensing of the paper toweling especially when the size of the roll decreases whereupon a wedging or binding action would result.

Within the herein disclosed invention, the above alluded to shortcomings are overcome and there is provided a support structure for a roll of paper toweling or the like which is moveable into an open, roll-receiving position and reversably moveable into a locked, rollsupporting position maintaining the locked position during the normal dispensing action of the paper towel ing, but having the ability to be cammed or moved into the opened position for towel roll placement and having the capability of absorbing lateral shocks on the exterior of the cabinet and transmitted through the paper roll without knocking the paper roll off of its support. These, as well as other advantages of the invention will become apparent as the disclosure proceeds herein.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

It is an object of this invention to provide support structure for rolls of material.

It is another object of this invention to provide a towel dispenserof the roll type employing a unique support structure.

It is another object of the invention to provide a towel dispenser of the roll type wherein the towel roll is supported in a specific manner to prevent accidental or unintended displacement of the paper roll from its supported position.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a towel dispenser of the roll type wherein support structure is utilized which permits free. non-binding or wedging dispensing of the paper toweling even when the roll of papers toweling is nearly depleted.

It is still another and more specific object of the invention to provide support structure for use in towel dispensers of the roll type wherein one of the supports is moveable into an open position to provide ease of mounting the paper roll within the dispenser cabinet.

It is still another even more specific object of the invention to provide a dispenser for paper toweling wherein one of the support members supporting the roll of paper toweling is pivotally mounted and moveable into an open position and is normally moved into a roll supporting, locked position upon the normal dispensing of the paper toweling.

It is still another and more specific object of the invention to provide a towel dispenser for paper toweling in the roll form wherein one of the lateral support members is pivotally mounted on a side wall of the dispensing cabinet and biased into the roll supporting position, but which is upwardly and laterally moveable by means of a camming action thereby permitting the placement of a roll of paper toweling into the support position with ease.

It is still a further and move specific object of the invention'to provide a dispenser for roll paper toweling wherein one of the lateral support members for said roll is pivotally secured to a side wall of the cabinet by means of slots and tabs to thereby allow both pivotal and vertical movement of said support.

These other further objects of the invention will become apparent from the hereinafter following commentary taken in conjunction with the drawings.

In an exemplary embodiment, the invention is directed to a towel dispenser of the roll-type wherein the towel roll is laterally supported within the dispenser housing and comprises the combination of a first roll support mounted within the housing and a second roll support aligned with said first roll support and adapted to cooperate therewith to support a paper roll in said housing. The second roll support is supported from the interior wall of the housing and is adapted to move toward and away from said first support and toward and away from the interior wall of the housing into a locked and unlocked position. The unlocked position permits movement of the second support away from the said first support to allow freedom of access into the interior of the housing for mounting a paper roll therein. Additionally, the supports are spring biased in a manner that permits coaction therebetween to inhibit displacement of a supported roll due to the imposition of lateral forces to the cabinet housing of the dispenser.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, front view of a typical roll type towel dispenser with the front wall being partially broken away to illustrate the support structure of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing the support structure in enlarged form and with the paper roll removed for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2 showing the support structure in the locked position but with the paper roll in place.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the support structure in the pivoted unlocked position;

FIG. 5 is a view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3 illustrating the camming element of the support structure of this invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of a typical prior art support structure; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of the support structure of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE BEST EMBODIMENT CONTEMPLATED:

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals of reference designate like elements throughout, a towel dispenser 2 of the roll-type comprises

side walls

4 and 6 and a front enclosing wall 8 which is hingedly secured in conventional manner found in this art and provided with a slot 10 in the front face thereof to accommodate actuation lever 12 of the actuating mechanism 14. The bottom wall 16 together with the top and back walls, not shown, completes the cabinet structure to define a chamber 18 within which paper towel roll 20 may be supported.

Roll 20 may be of the conventional type having perforated portions or it may be a single continuous web which is dispensed from the dispenser 2 in predetermined lengths and which is separated from the remainder of the web by a cutting edge not shown.

In this particular instance however, the paper roll 20 is provided with a core 22 upon which the paper web is rolled having an annular mounting groove 24 on the one end thereof to be received by one of the supports as will be detailed hereinafter. The end of the paper roll opposite the annular mounting groove 24 is provided with a trunnion member 26 which is adapted to cooperate with spring biased first support member 28, here taking the form of a spoke member into which projections of the trunnion 26 engage and which member 28 may be mounted on the side wall 6 or, as shown herein, on the actuating mechanism 14.

It is important that support member 28 be laterally shiftable and spring biased, as by means of spring 30, toward the paper roll 20 to support it and that it be capable of cooperating with a second support member to support the roll within the chamber 18 in a laterally shiftable manner. In some instances, first support member 28 will be free wheeling and rotatable whereas, in other instances it may not necessarily be so. The first support member 28 may be laterally shiftable on its support from side wall 6 by an amount which will provide adequate force buffering or absorption of forces applied to the side wall 6 and as indicated by the arrow and as will be explained. Lateral play of about 0.1562 inch has been found to be adequate.

Supported from side wall 4 in spring biased and aligned manner with respect to first support 28 is a second support member 32 having an annular roll supporting portion 34 with semi-circular ridge 36 configured so as to form a supporting edge 38 which is received by annular mounting groove 24 of paper roll 20. The circumferential length of support ridge 36 is sufficient to properly support roll 20 and as can be seen will support the roll 20 until a predetermined amount of paper web is dispensed from roll 20. Upon exhaustion of the predetermined supply the tube or core 22 upon which the remaining paper web is rolled will drop down and come to rest on the inside of bottom wall 16, being threaded for dispensing but allowing room for the installation of a full towel roll. Alternatively other types of rolls may be used wherein all of the toweling is dispensed and wherein the roll support element 34 is adapted to be received by the core of a paper roll. In such case, upon exhaustion of the paper toweling the core continues to be supported and is easily removed, as will become apparent, by the service attendant.

Support element 34 in the instant case is secured by means of screw 40 to triangular-like configured support 42 which in this particular instance is fabricated of high-impact-strength rigid plastic. Other configured support elements are easily mounted when desired. Support element 34 may likewise be made of the same type of material and be integral as opposed to being a separate element. The cabinet walls of dispenser 2 may be of any of the well-known materials of construction but in the particular embodiment disclosed, thin wall metal is utilized.

Support 42 has integrally formed wall portions 45 with the usual reinforcement edges and the like generally encountered in molded plastic elements and is provided with a series of aligned and spaced slots 44 adapted to cooperate with tabs or tangs 46 formed on side wall 4 of dispenser 2.

It should be noted that the slots 44 are slightly larger than the thickness of tabs 46 thereby allowing the inside edges 48 to ride on the cooperating tabs 46. An angular bend to the tabs 46, as for example at 50, retains support 42 on side wall 4 in a pivotal manner such that support 42 is pivotable toward and away from the interior surface of side wall 4. Additionally, the cooperation of the slots 44 and the tabs 46 defines a path of movement for support 42 toward and away from the bottom wall 16 in a vertical manner. The limits of this vertical movement are of course, defined by the inside edge of the slots 44 coming to rest on the abutting edge of the tabs 46. The extent of vertical movement is as indicated in FIG. 2 with the support 42 being shown in phantom line in the uppermost unlocked and pivotable position. When the support 42 is in the lowermost full line position as shown in FIG. 2, it is locked in place as will be apparent and cannot pivot.

In the particular exemplary embodiment illustrated, support member 42 is provided with reinforcing transverse webs 43 conventionally found in the plastic, molded-article art. The wall 45 of support member 42 is formed at an acute angle with respect to the lowermost vertical wall 47 which lowermost wall 47 is parallel to the side wall 4 of dispenser 2, when the support member 42 Bin the locked position of FIG. 3. The juncture line of the planar surface of wall 45 and of wall 47 forms a pivot axis 49 which extends susbstantially the entire height of support member 42. Thus, support member 42 pivots above the pivot axis 49, permitted by the coaction of slots 44 in the support member and tabs 46 on the side wall 4 toward and away from the interior surface of side wall 4, the extreme positions being shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Support member 32 is pivotally biased into the position shown in FIG. 3 by a coil spring 52 one end of which abuts a wall surface of support member 42 and is retained in position thereon by means of integral spring retaining post 54, sufficient in length to provide a guiding influence for guide support member 42 as will become apparent. The support member 32 is biased away from the interior side wall 4 by spring 52 into the roll supporting position shown in FIG. 3, but is limited in this movement by means of a catch member 56 formed from a portion of the wall 4 and engaging member 42 through an aperture 58 provided for that purpose. Thus, the catch member 56 is provided with a terminal flanged end 59 for limiting outward pivotal movement of support member 42 as seen in FIG. 3.

Secured to the interior surface of side wall 4 is an abutting member 60, in this particular instance, a plastic molded member of high impact-strength. plastic generally of tear-drop configuration as shown in FIG. 5.

Member 60 has a central aperture 62 which is engaged by a cut out and coined portion 63 of the side wall 4 thereby forming a side wall aperture 65. The wall portion 63 securely retains abutment member 60 in the position illustrated. The

apertures

62 and 65 permit the passage of spring retaining post 54- therethrough as seen in FIG. 4.

An inner set collar portion 64 of annular shape is provided to receive the terminus of spring member 52 in friction fit relationship so that spring 52 is retained in operative position as illustrated in FIG. 3. The lowermost portion of member 60 is keyed or slotted as at 66 to fit over the catch member 56 the provision of which aids in placement of member 60 during assemblage of the dispenser 2.

A protuberance or projection 68 is provided on one half of the presented surface of member 60 as seen in FIG. 5 with the end 70 forming a cam surface in a plane angularly displaced with respect to the plane formed by interior wall 4. The cam surface or bevel 70 therefore, because of the position of abutment member 60, acts as an abutment top to prevent lateral movement when support 32 is in the position illustrated in FIG. 3 and also serves, upon continual urging of support member 32 towards interior wall 4, to cam the support into the upward, unlocked position and into an inward movement as illustrated in FIG. 4 and as will now be described.

As seen in FIG. 3, the outer extremity or end of retaining post 54 is in contact with surface 70 of member 60 by virtue of the fact that the retaining arm or catch 56 prohibits further inward movement of support member 32. In actuality, the paper roll 20, once properly positioned between the first and second supports, would also prevent this movement. The application of a force as represented by the arrow in FIG. 1, whether it be intentionally or maliciously applied has heretofore resulted in the roll being jostled and displaced from a supported position and knocked to the bottom of the interior of the dispenser 2.

However, with the herein disclosed invention, such forces are laterally absorbed. Specifically when support member 32 is subjected to severe lateral forces, lateral movement is prevented by retaining post 54 abutting against abutment member 60.

Reference now being made to FIGS. 6 and 7 and the attributes of this invention willbe clear, but in order to appreciate the need for the new design, refer to the prior art design, FIG. 6. Note that the roll 20 is held between

supports

72 and 74 by the compressive force of spring 76. Support 74 is pivotally attached (not shown) to housing wall 78. By moving the roll 20 to the left, support 741 will fully compress spring 76 against wall 78, allowing about five/thirty-seconds inch engagement of the roll plug 80 to be disengaged from the roll support 72, thereby permitting roll removal, or in reverse, permitting roll insertion between the supports.

When the roll is supported as shown in FIG. 6, spring 76 compresses all elements on the supporting axis to the right, with the force of the spring ultimately resisted by opposite housing wall 82.

Weaknesses of this prior art design will now be pointed out. Since no clearances can exist between the compressed parts, an impact against wall 82 will translate all its energy directly into the roll through mechanism frame 84 and support 72, hence to support 74 and into compression of spring 76. Full compression of spring 76 will of course, simulate a roll-removal or insertion condition, releasing the five/thirty-seconds inch engagement of roll support 72 and allowing the roll to drop from the support prematurely. Spring 76 is designed as a strong spring in order to inhibit, but not overcome, this possibility.

Because spring 76 must be strong, additional drag forces are present on the roll 20, reducing its ability to rotate freely as toweling is dispensed. Support 72 is fastened closely, but rotatably, to mechanism frame 84 by bolt 86. Therefore, displacement of the roll 20 and roll plug to the left by impact, (as represented by the arrow) on wall 82, will immediately tend to disengage support 72.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that a dispenser must absorb impact energy applied to wall 82 before this energy is expended by fully compressing spring 76 or causing support 72 to disengage from the roll 20.

The invention as shown in FIG. 7 overcomes this by providing a spacer spring 88 to absorb initial full impact shock and a stop 90 abutting retainer pin 92 on support 94 to resist any residual force that may be delivered to the roll 20.

If housing wall 82 is struck, this wall and the mechanism frame 841 will be deflected inward to the left, partially compressing (transferring energy into) spacer spring 88. Spring 88 then releases this energy, a portion to the right in returning the frame 84 and wall 82 to the original position, and a portion to the left more gradu ally applied to the roll 26 than the original shock.

The energy applied to the roll 20 may, however, displace the roll to the left until this energy is absorbed by the pin 92 on support 94 striking the stop 90. At the same time, spring 86 is able to maintain support 96 in engagement with plug 98 by urging support 96 to the left as the roll 26 moves to the left. This is possible because bolt 100 is now provided with a segment of free axle 102 over which spring 88 may extend.

Referring to stop 90, it will be noted that the stop is angled or beveled upward to the left. When loading a roll, support 94 is automatically cammed upward over the top of stop 90 by the presence of this angle, permitting full compression of spring 104. The operator is not required consciously to lift support 94.

Other than shock-absorption as explained above, the invention has additional features. Spring 104 may be relatively light, reducing drag on the roll 20, since stop 90 primarily resists a side force to the left on the roll. If roll widths vary, spring 88 will automatically locate support 96 into full engagement with plug 98. A space 106 is provided between the pin 92 on support 94 and stop 90 to prevent an impact shock on housing wall 78 from disengaging the roll 20 in a similar manner to that explained above.

While this embodiment of the invention has been described using an angled face on stop 90 to assist loading, another embodiment may have a vertical face on stop 90, eliminating the need for

spaces

102 and 106, spring 104, and spring 88. In this case, the operator would be required to vertically displace and pivot support 94 for loading, and the full energy of striking either

wall

78 or 82 would be translated across all components on the support center line.

To replace a paper roll, the maintenance man would engage the roll of paper towelling on the first support 28 and then with his other hand, laterally pivot support 32 into the position shown in FIG. 4; would engage the roll retaining portion 34 in the paper roll and then would allow the support member 32 to assume the biased position illustrated in FIG. 3.

As stated before, in the examples depicted herein, a paper roll has been illustrated that is of the type having an annular mounting groove 24 which also acts as a bearing in conjunction with the edge 38 of retaining portion 34 of support member 32. This type of paper roll will become displaced from the supported position at a predetermined time when a selected amount of paper has been consumed from the roll as determined by placement of the mounting groove 24. In rolls of this type, as is known in the art, the unused portion of the roll falls to the bottom and interior of the dispenser 2 and permits the placement in support and dispensing position of a new full roll and for a time a double web of paper is dispensed until the roll disposed in the bottom of the dispenser 2 in unsupported relationship, as previously described, is totally consumed.

Where it is desired to use paper rolls other than those having annular mounting grooves, it is a simple matter to remove the retaining portion 34 which is secured to support member 42 by means of screw 40, and replace it with a different supporting element, for example one that would fit the interior core of a paper roll thereby permitting complete consumption of the paper roll in the supported position between the first and second supports of the dispenser. These are matters which are within the skill of one in the art, and need not be delved into in detail herein.

While several of the foregoing structural members and elements of this invention have been described as being fabricated of either plastic or metal, it is obvious that other materials of construction may be utilized and in some instances may be found to be more desirable than those disclosed. However, the disclosure is not to be taken as delimiting the invention to the use of specific materials, not are the specific illustrations delimiting of the specific configuration or shape of the members and elements of the invention as those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate.

Thus, there has been disclosed a manner of supporting a roll-type article in a manner which permits ease of positioning of the roll and also which acts to buffer and absorb forces which otherwise would displace the roll from its supported position. Likewise, where the roll article is a consumable paper web having an end bearing by which it is supported in use. the particular arrangement disclosed. permits dispensing of the paper web without undue binding or friction engagement with the paper bearing and support member engaging that bearing. These as well as other attributes of the invention. should be manifest from the exemplary embodiments disclosed and the foregoing description. both of which are for illustrative purposes only, and which are not intended to limit the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a towel dispenser of the roll type wherein the towel roll is laterally supported within the dispenser housing, the combination of: a dispenser housing comprising a plurality of interior walls; a first roll support mounted within said housing; a second roll support adapted to be axially aligned with said first roll support and to cooperate therewith to support a paper roll in said housing, means mounting said second roll support from the side wall of said housing to permit said second roll support to move towards and away from said first support and along a vertical path towards and away from the bottom wall of said housing into a locked and unlocked position respectively, the unlocked position permitting movement of said second support away from said first support to allow freedom of access within the interior of said housing for mounting a paper roll therein.

2. The dispenser in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second support includes means to normally bias said second support towards said first support into the roll supporting position,

3. The dispenser in accordance with claim 2 wherein said second support is pivotally mounted on the interior side wall of said housing.

4. The dispenser in accordance with claim 2 including a spring member retained between said side wall of said housing and said second support.

5. The dispenser in accordance with claim 4 wherein a stop is mounted on said side wall and said second support has a retaining post and said spring member is removably retained thereon and acts against said stop on said side wall of said housing.

6. The dispenser in accordance with claim 5 wherein said first support is movably supported toward and away from said second support and is normally biased into a position towards said second support.

7. The dispenser in accordance with claim 6 wherein said stop is an abutment member having an outer spring retaining surface against which one end of said spring member acts in retained position.

8. The dispenser in accordance with claim 7 wherein said abutment member has a cam surface inwardly spaced from said outer spring retaining surface and is adapted to cooperate with said retaining post to cam said second support into the upward, unlocked position to thereby permit pivotal movement thereof.

9. The dispenser in accordance with claim 7 wherein said abutment member has an open annular central portion configured to be engaged by coined edges of said side wall and wall portion edges of said side wall are coined in secured retained relationship therewith.

10. The dispenser in accordance with claim 9 wherein said wall portion edges of said side wall define an open passageway for passage of said retaining post when said second support moves towards said side wall.

11. The dispenser in accordance with claim 10 wherein the normal towel dispensing action of said dispenser positions said second support into the downward, locked position.

12. The dispenser in accordance with claim 11 wherein said spring member is a coil spring and said first support is adapted to allow limited lateral movement of a supported paper roll while retaining said roll in the supported position.

13. The dispenser in accordance with claim 12 including a retaining member wherein said retaining member limits the inward movement of said second support member.

14. The dispenser in accordance with claim 13 wherein said retaining member is a catch formed by a cut-out tab portion of a wall of said dispenser.

15. The dispenser in accordance with claim 14 wherein said second support member has an aligned cut-out portion adapted to cooperate with said catch and to engage a portion thereof when said second support has moved a predetermined inward distance.

16. The dispenser in accordance with claim 15 wherein said second and first supports cooperate to rotatably support a paper roll therebetween and to allow limited lateral movement thereof while supporting said paper roll.

17 The dispenser in accordance with claim 16 wherein said second support has a removable end portion which is adapted to support one end of a paper roll.

18. The dispenser in accordance with claim 3 wherein said second support member and said interior side wall of said housing are provided with cooperating tabs and slots and pivotal movement therebetween is obtained by said cooperating tabs and slots.

19. The dispenser in accordance with claim 18 wherein said support member has spaced slots along one edge thereof and retaining tabs formed from said side wall project into said slots to retain said second support member thereon.

20. The dispenser in accordance with claim 19 wherein said slots and tabs are adapted to permit relative movement therebetween so that said second support member is movable along a path defined by said tabs and slots.

21. In a towel dispenser of the roll type wherein the towel roll is laterally supported within the dispenser housing, the combination of: a dispenser housing comprising a plurality of interior walls; a first roll support yieldably mounted for relative movement towards and away from a side interior wall of said housing; a second roll support adapted to be axially aligned with said first roll support and to cooperate therewith to rotatably support a paper roll in said housing, said second support and an adjacent interior wall of said housing being provided with cooperating slots and tabs for pivotal v supported towel roll and to allow said second support to be pivotally moved out of the locked position to permit ease of mounting a towel roll between said first and second supports.

22. The dispenser in accordance with claim 21 wherein said slots are provided in said second support member along an edge thereof and said tabs are formed by integral sections of said side wall being inwardly bent to provide a guiding and retaining surface upon which said second support member rides.

23. The dispenser in accordance with claim 22 including a spring wherein said second support member retains said spring between it and said interior wall and is normally biased towards said first support niiember and said first support member is spring biased towards said second support member.

24. The dispenser in accordance with claim 23 wherein an abutment is provided on an interior wall of said housing and said second support member has a retaining post and said spring member is removably retained thereon and acts against said abutment member on an interior wall of said housing.

25. The dispenser in accordance with claim 23 wherein said first and second supports cooperate to support a towel roll therebetween in a manner that permits limited lateral movement thereof.

26. The dispenser in accordance with claim 25 wherein said abutment member has a cam surface and is adapted to cooperate with said retaining post to cam said second support out of the pivotally locked position into the upward pivotally movable position to allow ease of placement of a towel roll in the supported position between said supports.

Claims

2. The dispenser in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second support includes means to normally bias said second support towards said first support into the roll supporting position.

17. The dispenser in accordance with claim 16 wherein said second support has a removable end portion which is adapted to support one end of a paper roll.

21. In a towel dispenser of the roll type wherein the towel roll is laterally supported within the dispenser housing, the combination of: a dispenser housing comprising a plurality of interior walls; a first roll support yieldably mounted for relative movement towards and away from a side interior wall of said housing; a second roll support adapted to be axially aligned with said first roll support and to cooperate therewith to rotatably support a paper roll in said housing, said second support and an adjacent interior wall of said housing being provided with cooperating slots and tabs for pivotal movement of said second support towards and away from said first support and along a limited path defined by said cooperating slots and tab towards and away from the interior bottom wall of said housing into a locked and unlocked position respectively, said unlocked position permitting pivotal movement of said second support; and cooperating means on said second support of said housing to limit lateral movement of a supported towel roll and to allow said second support to be pivotally moved out of the locked position to permit ease of mounting a towel roll between said first and second supports.

23. The dispenser in accordance with claim 22 including a spring wherein said second support member retains said spring between it and said interior wall and is normally biased towards said first support member and said first support member is spring biased towards said second support member.