This is how the toilet paper roll should hang - the invention proves it
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One of the biggest debates in households revolves around the correct orientation of the toilet paper roll: should the sheet hang at the front or the back? A patent drawing from 1891 now provides the definitive answer to how toilet paper belongs.
The invention of the perforated toilet paper roll
In 1891, New York inventor Seth Wheeler filed a patent for a "wrap or toilet paper roll." His brilliant idea: a roll of toilet paper whose sheets could be torn off individually thanks to the perforation. Wheeler's invention is the same model that can still be found in millions of homes today.
Additionally, Wheeler founded the "Albany Perforated Wrapping Paper Company", the first company to sell perforated toilet paper on a roll. In doing so, he laid the foundation for modern toilet hygiene as we know it today.
The orientation according to the patent drawing
What matters now is how Seth Wheeler imagined the use of the toilet paper roll. The patent drawing for his invention clearly shows that the loose end of the paper hangs at the front. This means that the year-long debate can now be viewed as over - the inventor himself stipulated that the sheet should be torn off from the beginning.
Reasons for the front position
The drawing is no coincidence. Thanks to the front positioning, the required number of sheets can be easily removed with one handle. There's no need to fumble around until you find the loose end. Excessive rolling is also avoided.
Pragmatically inclined people therefore prefer the front orientation. It enables easy, quick handling and sufficient dosage - just as the inventor had intended.
