Abstract: A towel dispenser includes a housing including a main body; a loading door that is configured to rotate relative to the main body between a closed position, in which the housing is configured to dispense towels there from, and an open position, in which the housing is configured to receive toweling therein; and a guide system that is configured to guide the toweling within the housing while towels are dispensed from the housing. The loading door serves as a towel carrier and has a curved surface defining a cavity configured to receive the roll of paper towels in floating engagement therewith such that the roll of paper towels rolls and slides on the curved surface during unwinding.

Abstract: A stroller for carrying a child in a plurality of configurations includes a frame having a frame base defining a forward-facing direction and a rearward-facing direction and at least two side members attached at opposite sides of the frame base. The stroller further includes a plurality of wheels connected to the frame and a seat arranged generally above a platform attached to the frame and configured for selective rotation, relative to the frame base, about an axis generally perpendicular to the platform. The seat may be selectively rotated between a forward-facing position and a rearward-facing position. The seat may further be adapted to be selectively reconfigurable between a seated configuration and a standing configuration.

Abstract: Dispensing towels includes: the step of extending the toweling exterior of the housing for grasping by a user; and subsequent thereto, the step of retracting the toweling into the housing. The housing includes a main body, and a loading door that is configured to rotate relative to the main body between a closed position, in which the housing is configured to extend toweling there from, and an open position, in which the housing is configured to receive toweling therein. The loading door serves as a towel carrier and has a curved surface defining a cavity within which a roll of paper towels is received and retained in floating engagement therewith. The roll of paper towels rolls and slides on the curved surface when unwinding during said step of extending the toweling exterior of the housing for grasping by a user.

Abstract: A towel dispenser includes a housing including a main body; a loading door that is configured to rotate relative to the main body between a closed position, in which the housing is configured to dispense towels there from, and an open position, in which the housing is configured to receive toweling therein; and a guide system that is configured to guide the toweling within the housing while towels are dispensed from the housing. The loading door serves as a towel carrier and has a curved surface defining a cavity configured to receive the roll of paper towels in floating engagement therewith such that the roll of paper towels rolls and slides on the curved surface during unwinding.

Abstract: A towel dispenser includes a housing for receiving toweling. The housing includes: a main body, a loading door, a guide system, and a motor assembly configured to cause a leading edge of the toweling to be extended from the housing and to cause the toweling to be retracted into the housing after the leading edge has been extended. The loading door is configured to rotate relative to the main body between a closed position, in which the housing is configured to dispense towels there from, and an open position, in which the housing is configured to receive toweling therein. A back side of the housing includes an opening configured to permit excess toweling to fall there through during retraction of the toweling back into the housing by the motor assembly, whereby the towel dispenser accommodates retraction of excess toweling that is extended, but not taken.

Abstract: A method of dispensing toweling includes: extending the toweling exterior of the housing for grasping by a user; and subsequently retracting the toweling into the housing. The housing includes a main body, a loading door configured to rotate relative to the main body between open and closed positions; and a guide system including a first roller attached to the main body and having a first toothed surface, and a second roller attached to the loading door and having a second toothed surface that is configured to mesh with the first toothed surface. At least one end of the first roller moves such that an axis of rotation of the first roller moves relative to the main body of the housing.

Abstract: A towel dispenser includes: a housing for receiving toweling; a motor assembly that causes a leading edge of the toweling to be extended from the housing such that a line of perforations in the toweling along which a user tears the toweling is located downstream of the sensor, and the toweling to be retracted into the housing after the leading edge has been extended; and a sensor that senses a leading edge of the toweling during retraction of the toweling. The sensor causes the motor assembly to cease retracting the toweling into the housing as a function of the sensing of the leading edge of the toweling. The toweling may be a roll of perforated paper towels.

Abstract: A towel dispenser includes a housing, a sensor, and a motor assembly that causes in response to a hand: a leading edge of the toweling to be extended from the housing a multiple of a predetermined unit length (PUL), optionally plus a further extent that is less than PUL; and then to be retracted. The motor assembly ceases retracting based on sensing the leading edge of the toweling. PUL is set in a length learn sequence by: retracting the toweling until a leading edge of the toweling is sensed; advancing the toweling a preset extended length greater than at least a distance between immediately adjacent lines of perforations in the toweling; retracting the toweling until a leading edge of the toweling is sensed while measuring a length by which the toweling is retracted; and determining the difference between the preset extended length and the measured retracted length.

Abstract: A method of dispensing towels from toweling with a dispenser includes: extending the toweling exterior of a housing of the dispenser for grasping by a user; and subsequent thereto, retracting the toweling into the housing. The toweling includes a roll of paper towels and the dispenser is configured to unwind roll of paper towels during extension of toweling from the housing but not rewind the roll of paper towels during subsequent retraction of toweling into the housing. A back side of the housing includes an opening that is configured such that excess toweling gathering within the housing may fall there through as a result of retraction back into the housing of excess toweling dispensed but not taken.

Abstract: A method of dispensing towels from toweling with a dispenser includes extending the toweling exterior of a housing of the dispenser for grasping by a user; and subsequent thereto, retracting the toweling into the housing. The housing includes extension walls located proximate opposite exterior sides of the housing that extend above a top side of the housing. The method further includes, as a preliminary step, mounting the dispenser to the underside of a fixture, including removing a portion of each extension wall along a score line so as to adjust the distance from the underside of the fixture below which the top side of the housing is mounted. The fixture may be a shelf or a cabinet.

Abstract: A towel dispenser includes a main body; a loading door that rotates relative to the main body between open and closed positions; and a guide system that is configured to guide the toweling within the housing while towels are dispensed from the housing. The guide system includes a first roller attached to the main body and having a first toothed surface, and a second roller attached to the loading door and having a second toothed surface that is configured to mesh with the first toothed surface. The toothed surfaces of the first roller and the second roller mesh together when the loading door moves into the closed position from the open position and do not preclude the loading door from moving into the closed position from the open position.

Abstract: A towel dispenser includes a main body; a loading door that rotates relative to the main body between open and closed positions; and a guide system that is configured to guide the toweling within the housing while towels are dispensed from the housing. The guide system includes a first roller attached to the main body and having a toothed surface proximate a first end thereof, and a second roller attached to the loading door and having a toothed surface proximate a first end thereof that is configured to mesh with the toothed surface of the first roller. A transmission connects a motor to a second end of the first roller, the second end of the first roller being opposite the first end of the first roller.

Abstract: A towel dispenser includes a housing for receiving toweling comprising a roll of paper towels. The housing includes extension walls located proximate opposite exterior sides of the housing that extends above a top side of the housing. Each extension wall includes a weakened line extending parallel to a weakened line of the other extension walls, whereby the extent above the top side at which each extension walls extends may be changed. The extent represents a distance from the underside of a fixture below which the top side of the housing is mounted when the towel dispenser is installed under the fixture. The fixture may be a shelf or cabinet.

Abstract: Dispensing towels includes, using a motor assembly configured to cause a leading edge of the toweling to be extended from a housing of the dispenser and to cause the toweling to be subsequently retracted back into the housing, (a) the step of extending the toweling exterior of the housing for grasping by a user; and (b) subsequent thereto, the steps of (1) retracting the toweling into the housing the motor assembly; (2) sensing a leading edge of the toweling, using a sensor, while retracting the toweling; and (3) ceasing retracting of the toweling into the housing the motor assembly as a function of sensing the leading edge of the toweling using the sensor. The toweling is advanced by the motor assembly such that a line of perforations in the toweling, along which the user tears the toweling, is located downstream of the sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus for securely holding and protecting a layout of elements includes a portfolio having a first cover and a first overlay. The first overlay and the first cover are releasably cohered together, preferably utilizing magnetic forces. A loose arrangement of elements can be secured to a work surface of the first cover using the first overlay for safe storage and transport. The apparatus is used in rubber stamping design, stained-glass design, and quilting design.

Abstract: An apparatus facilitating a cutting operation includes a knife; and a hand-mountable cutting board utensil. The utensil includes: a cutting board for disposition between the thumb and an index finger of the hand, the cutting board having an exposed cutting surface for orienting toward the index finger and a second surface for orienting toward the thumb; and a retainer having two lateral sides and being configured to receive and releasably retain the thumb along a longitudinal length of the retainer. The cutting board includes portions that extend transversely to a direction defined by the longitudinal length respectively beyond the two lateral sides of the retainer, each portion having exposed, oppositely facing front and back surfaces.

Abstract: An apparatus for securely holding and protecting a layout of elements includes a portfolio having a first cover and a first overlay. The first overlay and the first cover are releasably cohered together, preferably utilizing magnetic forces. A loose arrangement of elements can be secured to a work surface of the first cover using the first overlay for safe storage and transport. The apparatus is used in rubber stamping design, stained-glass design, and quilting design.

Abstract: A portable workstation includes wheels, a tabletop, a generally planar member and a chassis joining the wheels, the tabletop and the planar member. While joined to the wheels and the tabletop by the chassis, the planar member is movable between a protracted position and a retracted position. A majority of the planar member extends above the tabletop in the protracted position, and a majority of the planar member does not extend above the tabletop in the retracted position.