Abstract: The device for dispensing paper towels has a housing for holding a generally vertical stack of the paper towels and including a lower portion through which individual towels can be dispensed. The lower portion includes an elongated opening through which a fold of the bottommost towel can extend and be accessible for a user to grab and pull the bottommost towel from the stack. Improved towel dispensing is enabled by laterally spaced and upwardly-directed ramps located in the vicinity of the front edge of the opening and upon which an edge of the stack rests, opposed end pads angled downwardly to the opening and upon which the stack ends rest, and/or a bottom cabinet portion angled with respect to the rest of the cabinet to transfer stack weight. The opening preferably is shaped to cause the fold of the bottommost towel to assume a C-shape.

Abstract: The device for dispensing multi-fold paper towels has a housing for holding a generally vertical stack of the paper towels and including a lower portion through which individual towels can be dispensed from the stack. The lower portion includes an elongated opening through which a fold of the bottommost towel can extend and be accessible for a user to grab and pull the bottommost towel from the stack. One side portion of the towels rest on a plurality of laterally spaced ribs or ramps located in the vicinity of the front edge of the opening and inclined at an angle upwardly and forwardly relative to the front edge. These ribs or ramps effectively transfer a portion of the pressure applied by the stack on the bottommost towel toward the rear, thereby reducing the force required to pull the bottommost towel from the stack. The opening preferably is shaped to cause the fold of the bottommost towel to assume a C-like shape and thereby reduce the amount of the fold readily accessible to a user.