Apparatus for dispensing a controlled length of sheet material from a

Abstract

A roll of sheet material is wound on a cylindrical hollow core, and the core and roll are together placed within a dispenser body made up of pivotally connected upper and lower covers, preferably made of a resilient plastic material and sized and shaped to provide a containment space for a full roll of sheet material. The core and roll wound thereon can be placed into the lower cover in only one direction, so that rotation of the rolled-up sheet material must occur only in a corresponding one rotational direction for unwinding of the sheet material from the roll. The upper and lower covers are formed so that there is a built-in resilient force exercised by one or the other so as to keep them pivotally separated apart. A detent mechanism is provided to limit the amount by which the two covers can thus pivotally separate during use. By their pivotal separation, the covers define a small forward gap through which the sheet material may be withdrawn. When a user has extracted a sufficient length of sheet material, he or she may press the covers to each other to thereby stop further rotation of the roll. A conventional, preferably serrated, cutting edge is provided at a forward edge portion of the lower cover, and withdrawn sheet material may be torn off by being forced thereon.