Patent ID: 7434760

Claim:
A paper dispenser comprising: a housing having an inner chamber configured to support a paper supply and a dispensing aperture for dispensing paper from the paper supply, the paper supply having a side portion formed by superimposed edge portions of the paper supply; and an indicator mechanism affixed to the housing within the inner chamber adjacent the paper supply, the indicator mechanism comprising: an indicator movable between a retracted position and an indicating position, and a release mechanism operably connected to the indicator and pivotally biased relative to the housing, the release mechanism positionally movable relative to the indicator so as to engage an outer periphery of the paper supply and enable the outer periphery of the paper supply to vary in position relative to the housing with the indicator in the retracted position, the release mechanism engaging the side portion formed by superimposed edge portions of the paper supply to maintain the release mechanism in the retracted position, the release mechanism being releasable in response to a quantity of the paper supply at an inner periphery of the paper supply being reduced to a predetermined non-zero reserve quantity, wherein the side portion formed by superimposed edge portions of the paper supply no longer engages the release mechanism, and wherein upon being released the release mechanism causes the indicator to move to the indicating position.