Improvements relating to Toilet Paper.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 13th July, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 12th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 3rd July, 1897
TRUVIDIONAL DIECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Toilet Paper.
I, EDGAR JEROME, of 137 Main Street Norwalk, Connecticut, United States of
America, Manufacturer of Toilet Paper, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to toilet paper of that kind in which the sheets are laid in
packages. The general object of my invention is to provide a package composed
of single sheets or multiples of sheets, such multiples of sheets forming what I
denominate composite sheets, which are formed and defined in the manufacture,
and which can be easily taken hold of and removed from the package or aggregation
of such sheets. Subordinately to this object I have also sought to provide a package
in which the number of sheets in the package can be more readily determined by
examination of a sample package, and further I have sought to give the package
some degree of ornamental shape.
Packages of toilet paper have heretofore been composed of separate or separable
sheets of paper, of rectangular or substantially flat form, and uniform dimensions
and shape, and generally held together by some fastening device or holder on the
upper edge.
The extreme thinness and softness of tissue paper, which is the kind of paper
most desirable and commonly used for this purpose, renders it quite difficult to grasp
the requisite number of sheets.
This difficulty is increased by the method used to form these packages, which
method is to sub-divide a bundle of large sheets by means of a paper cutter, the
sheets forming the large bundle being tightly compressed and then severed by a
knife having a shearing cut. This, especially when the knife is dulled, tends to
unite the margins of the sheets, and renders their separation more difficult. More.
over, it is impracticable for the ordinary purchaser to count even a sample package,
in order to ascertain (what is often the case) if the actual number of sheets is less
than the usual or advertised number.
I aim to overcome or obviate these difficulties by arranging the sheets in several
different ways and making them of different shapes. In one arrangement the sheets
are of different contour and are laid in the package, with sheets (or groups of sheets.
forming what I have called composite sheets) laid in alternation, so that a part of
one sheet or group projects beyond the contiguous sheet or group, and some portion
of the edge of each will lie across the body of the next succeeding.
For instance, I make a package composed of sheets all of the same form, but of
different arrangement, so that each sheet extends beyond the margin of the next
adjacent sheet. The particular form of the sheet may be that of a trapezoid, formed
from a strip of paper cut obliquely on one end, and at right angles at the other.
The package is formed by laying down the sheets or units with the rectangular ends
registering, and with the oblique ends reversed, so that, of the under sheet, a tri-
angular part underlaps, and of the upper sheet a triangular part overlaps. The entire
package of the requisite size is formed by the successive addition of the sheets alter-
nately reversed in position. This leaves always an edge, of the upper or outer sheet,
exposed or lying upon the partially exposed surface of that next below, and this edge
is always easily grasped for removal, and without liability of including in the grasp
any other sheet, the fingers being applied to the exposed edge which lies upon the

page_text: surface. In practical manufacture two sheets are laid together and similarly, and
then two others together, but reverse to the first two forming the composite sheets
mentioned above. More than two may be used, if the demands of the trade, or the
kind of paper require.
But whether the sheets be laid single with alternate sheets reversed, or whether
duplicate or multiple sheets be laid in groups, the individual sheets of each group
being laid similarly, but reversed to contiguous groups, the construction is the same
in substance and the single sheet or all of the composite or group sheets, may be
removed as a unit of use and without removal of any sheet or any group of sheets,
next adjacent. And whether the single sheet or the composite be so laid, each has
an exposed edge.
The principle of my invention requiring only the exposed and free accessible edge,
it is manifest that the particular contour is immaterial. The end margin instead of
being oblique may be waved instead of straight, or of other character, such as being
formed with reentrant and salient angle. In fact any irregular form or diverse form
may be used, and the exposure of the edge of a sheet may be effected by the alternate
arrangement of a diversity of form in the sheets, as much as by diversity or alternation
of arrangement of symmetrical or identical forms. In both the diversity of margin
is secured, with the exposed edge of each sheet whether single or composite, with
the same result of facility of removal, and certainty of the number of sheets
removed.
The composite sheet may be conveniently made of a folded blank.
Instead of effecting the exposure of the lower edge of each unit by alternations of
different forms or by alternate arrangement of the same form as has been just des-
cribed, I may make the units of use of the same shape and dimensions and expose
the side edges by alternate displacement of the unita laterally in relation to each
other.
In this form one sheet or unit is laid to partially overlap the next succeeding sheet
by lateral shifting so as to leave a margin of the said sheet exposed and the side edge
of the upper sheet is thus made to lie upon the body or face of the lower sheet so
as to be distinguishable thereon and accessible to the finger of the user. The sheets
or units of use are thus displaced laterally throughout the package.
With this form of package I use a binding clip of wire or other material which
pierces the edges of the sheets comprising the package at the upper end thereof and
this binding may have one or two points of attachment depending upon the security
desired.
A still further modification of the package, while attaining the same result, may be
made by forming each unit of use of a folded sheet-one part of which is of smaller
area than the other, the other part of smaller area being laid upon the surface of the
part of larger area so that the larger part extends beyond one or more of the edges
of the smaller part. So made, the units or groups are placed together and secured
in the package and the shaller part of each unit lying upon or against its larger part
always has an exposed edge on the larger, defining the unit and affording means for
grasping each unit and of detaching it without pulling away any other unit. I prefer
to make each unit of one sheet.
My invention also includes the use of a fastening, binder or support, passing
through the sheets composing the package in such a manner as to hold alternate
sheets or units of use eccentrically so that when the package is suspended the sheets
shall fall out of line with each other simultaneously or in succession, and thus each
sheet or unit exposes an edge on the face of one underlying it and is thereby
defined and also rendered accessible to the user.
My invention further includes a simple arrangement of the toilet paper in packages.
As has been described the essential feature of the various forms of paper is that a
margin of one unit is exposed upon the face of an adjacent unit, or a portion of the
margin or border of a unit exposed upon the body of itself, whereby a unit is defined
and made readily accessible and I aim to dispense with the usual wire loop or other
binding device and the consequent mutilation of the units which usually occurs in

page_text: packages of toilet paper as heretofore put up for sale and use, and instead to partially
enclose the collection of units by a wrapper or envelope having an opening opposite
the margin or portion of a margin of a unit so as to expose the same and thus permit
the said margin to be grasped by the user, the units being withdrawn through the
Quening
Improvements relating to Toilet Paper.
I, EDGAR JEROME, of 137 Main Street, Norwalk, Connecticut, United States of
America Manufacturer of Toilet Paper do hereby declare the nature of this invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following stateinent:
My invention relates to toilet paper of that kind in which the sheets are laid in
packages. The general object of my invention is to provide a package composed of
single sheets or multiples of sheets, such multiples of sheets forming what I
denominate composite sheets, which are formed and defined in the manufacture, and
which can be easily taken hold of and removed from the package or aggregation of
such sheets. Subordinately to this object I have also sought to provide a package in
which the number of sheets in the package can be more readily determined by
examination of a sample package, and further I have sought to give the package some
degree of ornamental shape.
Packages of toilet paper have heretofore been composed of separate or separable
sheets of paper, of rectangular or substantially flat, form, and uniform dimensions and
shape, and generally held together by some fastening device or holder on the upper
edge.
The extreme thinness and softness of tissue paper, which is the kind of paper most
desirable and commonly used for this purpose, renders it quite difficult to grasp the
requisite number of sheets.
This difficulty is increased by the method used to form these packages, which
method is to sub-divide a bundle of large sheets by means of a paper cutter, the
sheets forming the large bundle being tightly compressed and then severed by a knife
baving a shearing cut. This, especially when the knife is dulled, tends to unite the
margins of the sheets, and renders their separation more difficult. Moreover, it is
impracticable for the ordinary purchaser to count even a sample package, in order to
ascertain (what is often the case) if the actual number of sheets is less than the usual
or advertised number.
I aim to overcome or obviate these difficulties by arranging the sheets in several
different ways and making them of different shapes. In one arrangement the sheets
are of different contour and are laid in the package, with sheets (or groups of sheets
forming what I have called composite sheets) laid in alternation, so that a part of one
sheet or group projects beyond the contiguous sheet or group, and some portion of the
edge of each will lie across the body of the next succeeding.
For instance, I make a package composed of sheets all of the same form, as in figure
2 but of different arrangement, as shown by the complete package of figure 1 so that
each sheet extends beyond the margin of the next adjacent sheet. The particular
form of the sheet may be that of a trapezoid, figure 1, formed from a strip of paper
cut obliquely on one end, and at right angles at the other. The package is formed
by laying down the sheets or units with the rectangular ends registering, and with
the oblique ends reversed, so that, of the under sheet, a triangular part 1, 2, 3,
underlaps, and of the upper sheet a triangular part 1, 4, 5, overlaps. The
entire package of the requisite size is formed by the successive addition
of the sheets alternately reversed in position. This leaves always an edge,

page_text: as 1 2, of the upper or outer sheet, exposed or lying upon the partially exposed
surface of that next below, and this edge is always easily grasped for removal, and
without liability of including in the grasp any other sheet, the fingers being applied
to the exposed edge which lies upon the surface, namely the edge 1, 2. In practical
manufacture two sheets are laid together and similarly, and then two others together,
but reversed to the first two forming the composite sheets mentioned above. More
than two may be used, if the demands of the trade, or the kind of paper required.
But whether the sheets be laid single with alternate sheets reversed, or whether
duplicate or multiple sheets be laid in groups, the individual sheets of each group
being laid similarly, but reversed to contiguous groups, the construction is the same
in substance and the single sheet or all of the composite or group sheets, may be
removed as a unit of use and without removal of any sheet or any group of sheets
next adjacent. And whether the single sheet or the composite be so laid, each has
an exposed edge 1, 2, or an equivalent edge.
The principle of my invention requiring only the exposed and free accessible edge,
it is manifest that the particular contour is immaterial. The end margin instead of
being oblique may, be waved (Figs. 3-4) instead of straight, or of other character as
in figure 7 in which alternate sheets are formed with reentrant and salient angles.
In fact any irregular form or diverse form may be used, and the exposure of the edge
of a sheet may be effected by the alternate arrangement of a diversity of form in the
sheets, as much as by diversity or alternation of arrangement of symmetrical or identical
forms. In both the diversity of margin is secured, with the exposed edge of each
sheet whether single or composite, with the same result of facility of removal, and
certainty of the number of sheets removed.
The composite sheet may be conveniently made of a folded blank as in figures 4-6
and 8.
Instead of effecting the exposure of the lower edge of each unit by alternations of
different forms or by alternate arrangement of the same form as has been just
described, I may make the units of use of the same shape and dimensions and
expose the side edges by alternate displacement of the units laterally in relation to
each other as illustrated in figures 9-10 and 11.
In this form one sheet or unit a is laid to partially overlap the next succeeding
sheet b by lateral shifting so as to leave a margin of the said sheet b exposed and the
side edge of the upper sheet a is thus made to lie upon the body or face of the lower
sheet b so as to be distinguishable thereon and accessible to the finger of the user.
The sheets or units of use are thus displaced laterally throughout the package.
With this form of package I use a binding clip h of wire or other material which
pierces the edges of the sheets comprising the package at the upper end thereof and
this binding clip may have one or two points of attachment depending upon the
security desired.
A still further modification of the package, while attaining the same result, may be
made, as shown in figs. 12 to 18 by forming each unit of use of a folded sheet one part
of which is of smaller area than the other, the part of smaller area being laid upon
the surface of the part of larger area so that the larger part extends beyond one or
more of the edges of the smaller part. So made, the units or groups are placed
together and secured in the package and the smaller part of each unit lying upon or
against its larger part always has an exposed edge on the larger, defining the unit
and affording means for grasping each unit and of detaching it without
pulling away any other unit. I prefer to make each unit of one sheet. In the figures
illustrating this modification the larger part is marked n and the smaller part m
In figure 16 a form of blank is shown in which the larger part is cut with
reentrant angles and the smaller part with salient angles the angles being the same
for economy of paper. The folding line is in line with the edge of the larger part
and the smaller part is shown in its folded position by dotted lines.
In figures 17 and 18 I have shown a blank which is adapted to be folded on the
lines shown in figure 18, the fastening device penetrating the paper along the line of one
fold and the end of the blank being folded under to expose the lower part of the sheet
and this leaves an edge on the exposed part capable of being grasped to remove the sheet.

page_text: My invention also includes the use of a fastening binder or support passing
through the sheets composing the package in such a manner as to hold alternate
sheets or units of use eccentrically so that when the package is suspended the sheets
shall fall out of line with each other simultaneously or in succession and thus each
sheet or unit exposes an edge on the face of one underlying it and is thereby defined
and also rendered accessible to the user. This part of the invention is shown in
figures 19 to 22.
In figure 19 the sheet is cut obliquely at one end. The sheets or groups of sheets
are arranged so that if single sheets form the unit which is to be pulled away from
the package at one time then in the said package one sheet is laid with the point 1
on one side and the next with the point 1 on the other side and so on by alternate
reversal throughout the package. In this package the definition and exposure of
edge are obtained by displacement of the sheets either simultaneously or in
succession after the package has been suspended and made ready for use. The
package is made by laying one sheet group or unit upon another alternately reversed
as shown and forming a set on each side. After being so laid the other side
excepting the inclined all coincide when the package is formed or packed. The
package is then pierced at the points of the angles as indicated at a', a', and a wire
or any suitable loop is inserted for a holding and suspending device. As these wires
penetrate the parts of one set overlapping those of the other set only the sheets or
groups of sheets on one side are connected and suspended together, and those of each
side are pierced and connected at points such that when the package is suspended
from those points the groups or sheets as they lie in the package are out of poise.
The point of suspension of each sheet is not directly above, but aside from a
perpendicular line through the centre of gravity; but as the larger parts of the sheets
overlap each other they interlock and are held together (unless shaken loose) by
frictional contact of sheet with sheet, and the package when in place for use is
suspended from hoth points. The outside sheet or group, however, will drop and
thus be displaced relatively to the package or to the next sheet, and this will bring
the sheet out of line with the remaining sheets or the margin of the package. One
edge of the dropped sheet will project beyond the margin of the package and the
other will lie across the face of the sheet next underneath, and thus will be defined
and distinguishable, and the edge thus exposed will be easily grasped. When this
outermost sheet or group has been removed, the next (if not before displaced) will
fall by gravity and be similarly defined and accessible.
In figure 21 the same príncipal is shown as embodied in a package made of
rectangular sheets. Alternate sheets or groups of sheets forming units of use are
displaced laterally, those on one side terminating on the line za and those on the
line y y, the sheets between said lines all interlapping, while the parts outside are the
distinct alternates of those on the other and forming two sets of sheets or groups.
The package is suspended by connection at two points outside of the perpendicular
line of the centre of gravity and separately through the sets alternates on each side,
that is to say, one connection is through those on one side only and the other
through those on the other side only. Thus when suspended the sheets fall by
gravity and are defined and exposed as to their edges, as heretofore explained.
I have shown two forms of sheets, but it will be apparent that these are not all that
might be suggested as capable of use in connection with this principle of loose
eccentric suspension.
My invention further includes a simple arrangement of the toilet paper in
packages. As has been described the essential feature of the various forms of paper
is that a margin of one unit is exposed upon the face of an adjacent unit, or a
portion of the margin or borders of a unit exposed upon the body of itself, whereby a
unit is defined and made readily accessible and I aim to dispense with the usual wire
loop of other binding device and the consequent mutilation of the units which usually
occurs in packages of toilet paper as heretofore put up for sale and use, and instead to
partially enclose the collection of units by a wrapper or envelope having an opening
opposite the margin or portion of a margin of a unit so as to expose the same and

page_text: thus permit the said margin to be grasped by the user, the units being withdrawn
through the opening. I have indicated the best form of making this wrapper or
envelope in figures 23, 24 and 25.
In figure 24 the wrapper or envelope is of paper or other suitable material open at
the top only and with the front cut away as at a² to expose the upper edges of the
sheets or units, made up of units having a part of their ends overlapping the next
succeeding unit so as to define the first unit on the body of the second and thus
render the unit readily accessible. No wire loop or fastener is thus necessary to hold
the units in place and they are easily withdrawn.
In figure 23 the holder is a paste-board or paper box B2 having an opening
centrally of its front face and the sheets are laterally displaced alternately with
reference to each other, thus defining a margin of one sheet or unit against the body
of the next succeeding, and by grasping this exposed margin, the unit is readily
withdrawn as the ends of the units are only loosely held by the end portions of the
wrapper as at 62, 62..
In figure 25 the holder encloses the sheets or units and is provided with a slit c
enlarged at the centre d², to permit the exposed end margin e2 to be grasped and the
unit withdrawn, the units in this case having a front portion of less length than the
rear portion f2 against which the margin is clearly defined.
I do not however, restrict myself to these specific forms of paper as the principle
is susceptible of many modifications. Units, Folio Units, Multiple Units, or any
irregular shape may be made into a neat and convenient commercial article. I do
not claim the particular form or construction of envelope or wrapper as it is
sufficient if the units are kept under such restraint as will retain them in their proper
relations and permit of access to the margin.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim 'is―
1. A substantially flat package of sheets of toilet paper assembled in the package
with a portion of the free edge of one sheet lying across the body of the next
succeeding sheet, substantially as described.
2. A package of toilet paper consisting of units of use all formed of the same shape,
but with edges deviating from a right angle and arranged alternately to expose
the edge of one unit upon the underlying unit extending beyond said edge,
substantially as described.
3. A package of toilet paper composed of two sets of sheets or groups of sheets so
placed that a part of each sheet or group of sheets of one set, is overlapped by a sheet
or group of sheets of the other set, in combination with the binding device
connecting all the units on one margin as shown in figures 9, 10 and 11.
4. A package of toilet paper, consisting of composite sheets or units which are
formed of one of smaller area, imposed upon one of larger area, substantially as
described and as illustrated in figures 12 to 18.
5. A flat package of toilet paper composed of two sets of sheets or groups of sheets,
the sets being so placed that a part of each sheet or group of sheets of one set is
overlapped by a sheet or group of sheets of the other set, each set having a single
point of suspension which is independent of the point of suspension of the other set,
which point is located aside from the centre of gravity of each sheet or group as
shown in figures 19 to 22.
6. As a new article of manufacture, a collection of units of toilet paper in which a
margin of one unit is exposed upon the face of an underlying unit, and an envelope
for keeping said units under restraint and permitting of access to said margin,
substantially as described and as illustrated in figures 23, 24 and 25.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
and 18. Temple Street, Birmingham. Agents.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
and 18. Temple Street, Birmingham. Agents.