Low reserve indicator for a paper towel dispenser

A paper towel dispenser configured for dispensing paper towels from a vertical stack of paper towels, the dispenser comprising:

• a dispenser housing having a housing wall structure forming an inner chamber configured to support the stack of paper towels in the stack such that vertically superimposed edge portions of the paper towels form an outwardly facing vertical side of the stack, the housing wall structure including an upright wall and a dispensing aperture at a lower end of the chamber for dispensing towels from the stack, the upright wall facing the vertical side of the vertical stack;
• and
• a low-reserve indicator mechanism affixed to the upright wall within the chamber for indicating when a reserve quantity of the stack is low, the indicator mechanism comprising:
• an indicator mounted for movement between a retracted position, and an indicating position establishing a low-reserve indication detectible from outside of the housing, and
• a release mechanism arranged to be spring-biased in a direction of bias away from the upright wall of the housing and into contact with the vertical side of the stack, the release mechanism being releasable for movement in the direction of bias in response to becoming unsupported by a diminished height of the stack sufficient to cause the vertical side of the stack to descend out of contact with the release mechanism, the release mechanism being operably connected to the indicator to cause the indicator to move to its indicating position in response to the release mechanism moving in the direction of bias upon becoming released.

A paper towel dispenser configured for dispensing towels from a horizontal roll of paper, the dispenser comprising:

• a dispenser housing having a housing wall structure forming an inner chamber configured to support the roll for rotation about a horizontal center axis of the roll such that vertically superimposed edge portions of the roll form an outwardly facing vertical side of the roll, the housing wall structure including an upright wall and a dispensing aperture at a lower end of the chamber for dispensing towels from the roll, the upright wall facing the vertical side of the roll;
• and
• a low-reserve indicator mechanism affixed to the upright wall within the chamber for indicating when a reserve quantity of the roll is low, the indicator mechanism comprising:
• an indicator mounted for movement between a retracted position, and an indicating position establishing a low-reserve indication detectible from outside of the housing, and
• a release mechanism arranged to be spring-biased in a direction of bias away from the upright wall of the housing and into contact with the vertical side of the roll, the release mechanism being releasable for movement in the direction of bias in response to becoming unsupported by a diminished height of the roll sufficient to cause the vertical side of the roll to descend out of contact with the release mechanism, the release mechanism being operably connected to the indicator to cause the indicator to move to its indicating position in response to the release mechanism moving in the direction of bias upon becoming released.