Spindles and dispensers for sheet product

A spindle assembly for supporting a roll of sheet product with respect to a sheet product dispenser, the spindle assembly comprising:

• a base portion configured to be positioned over a mandrel of the sheet product dispenser, wherein the base portion defines
• a flange extending radially outward from the mandrel and configured to be positioned outside of the central opening of the roll of sheet product;
• and
• a nose portion configured to be positioned over the mandrel and to support a portion of the roll of sheet product, the nose portion comprising:
• a nose body extending along the longitudinal axis and configured to be positioned at least partially within the central opening;
• wherein the base portion is configured to translate toward the nose portion along the longitudinal axis of the mandrel from a first configuration to a second configuration to cause a remainder of the roll of sheet product to deform.

A sheet product dispenser comprising:

• a housing defining an interior space configured to receive a roll of sheet product therein;
• a mandrel positioned within the interior space;
• a spindle positioned over at least a portion of the mandrel and configured to support the roll of sheet product for rotation about the mandrel;
• and
• a base member positioned over at least a portion of the mandrel and defining a flange extending radially outwardly from the mandrel, wherein the flange is configured to rest adjacent a side surface of the roll of sheet product, wherein the base member is configured to translate on the mandrel from a first configuration to a second configuration to cause a remainder of the roll of sheet product to deform, wherein the base member is positioned in a spaced apart manner from the spindle when in the first configuration such as to define a first distance, wherein the base member is positioned a second distance from the spindle when in the second configuration, and wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.

A method for supporting sheet product with respect to a sheet product dispenser, the method comprising:

• supporting a roll of sheet product with a spindle for rotation about a mandrel positioned within an interior space of a housing of the sheet product dispenser, wherein the spindle comprises a base portion and a nose portion, wherein the base portion is configured to translate along a longitudinal axis of the mandrel toward the nose portion relative to the mandrel between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein the nose portion is rotatably attached to the mandrel in a first longitudinal position, wherein the base portion defines a flange extending radially outwardly from the mandrel;
• inhibiting the base portion from moving from the first configuration to the second configuration when the roll of sheet product is full or partially depleted;
• allowing sheet product to be dispensed from the roll of sheet product;
• and
• allowing, while the nose portion is in the first longitudinal position, the base portion to translate from the first configuration to the second configuration when the roll of sheet product is completely or nearly completely depleted.