Spindles and dispensers for sheet product

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

• a mandrel;
• a base flange configured to be positioned over the mandrel of the sheet product dispenser, wherein the base flange extends radially outward from the mandrel and is configured to be positioned outside of the central opening of the roll of sheet product such that the base flange rests adjacent to a side surface of the roll of sheet product;
• and
• a spindle configured to be positioned over the mandrel and to support the roll of sheet product;
• wherein, when the roll of sheet product on the spindle is depleted below a depletion threshold, the base flange is configured to translate along a longitudinal axis of the mandrel toward the spindle from a first configuration to a second configuration to cause a remainder of the roll of sheet product to deform, wherein the spindle and the base flange are spaced apart from one another by a first distance when the base flange is in the first configuration, wherein the spindle and the base flange are spaced apart from one another by a second distance when the base flange is in the second configuration, and wherein the second distance is less than the first 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 flange and a nose portion, wherein the base flange is configured to translate along a longitudinal axis of the mandrel toward the nose portion from a first configuration to a second configuration, wherein the base flange extends radially outwardly from the mandrel and is configured to be positioned outside of the central opening of the roll of sheet product such that the base flange rests adjacent to a side surface of the roll of sheet product;
• inhibiting the base flange from moving from the first configuration to the second configuration and a door of the dispenser from moving from a first position to a second position 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 the base flange to translate from the first configuration to the second configuration and the door to move from the first position to the second position when the roll of sheet product is completely or nearly completely depleted.