Paper towel regulator and dispenser

A paper towel regulator adapted for mounting in close proximity to a paper towel roll and in the dispensing path thereof, said regulator comprising:

• (A) mounting bracket means;
• (B) a friction beam fixed to said mounting bracket means and disposed in said path transverse to said paper towels;
• (C) a lever bar assembly mounted in said mounting bracket means and having an elongated bar portion disposed transverse to said path, an arm at each end of said bar portion extending parallel to said path, and a second bar means at the end of the arms;
• (D) friction pad means fixed to said second bar means;
• (E) said lever bar assembly being pivotally mounted in said mounting bracket means with the fulcrum being so disposed along said arms that said assembly is normally counterbalanced with said bar portion hanging downwardly and, when said bar portion is pivoted upwardly, said friction pad means contacts said friction beam;
• (F) whereby when said paper towels coming off said roll, which have been threaded over said friction beam and under said bar portion, are pulled downwardly, they freely unroll, but when they are pulled upwardly they contact said bar portion pivoting the same upwardly and pivoting said friction pad means downwardly to form a nip with said friction beam, thereby clamping said paper towels to prevent unrolling and allow tearing the same off the roll.