Abstract: A toilet paper dispenser is provided that is operable in an automatic dispensing mode and a manual dispensing mode. The dispenser comprises a housing for containing a toilet paper roll; a drive roller engagable with the roll; a motor; and a one-way coupling that couples the motor to the drive roller in a first direction to automatically dispense paper from the dispenser and decouples same in an opposite second direction, thereby enabling toilet paper to be manually dispensed in the first direction.

Abstract: A hybrid towel dispenser is provided that is operable in an automatic dispensing mode and a manual dispensing mode. The dispenser comprises a rotatable drum having a retractable knife that extends out of the drum when the drum rotates past a selected position and severs a towel segment from a towel sheet that engages the cutting drum; a motor; a one-way bearing coupling the motor to the drum such that the motor rotates the drum in the automatic dispensing mode and a user can rotate the drum in the manual dispensing mode separately from the motor. The dispenser can additionally have a manual advance assembly with a lever rotationally coupled to the cutting drum and operable by the user to rotate the drum in the manual dispensing mode.

Abstract: The invention consists of a bung (10) for a paper roll. The bung is comprised of a body (12) and a roll contacting element (14) frangibly coupled to the body. When the bung (10) is inserted into the cylindrical opening of the paper roll, the roll contacting element (14) breaks off from the body (12).