Improvements in and relating to Toilet Paper Holders.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Aug., 1899--Accepted, 14th Oct.,
1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Toilet Paper Holders.
1, SETH WHEELER, of Albany, in the State of New York, United States of
America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to toilet paper holders which are so constructed that the
operation of withdrawing one sheet of paper therefrom causes the next sheet to
be partially withdrawn, so that it is exposed in a position to be easily grasped
by the fingers of the user, thus obviating the necessity which has hitherto
existed of manually turning the feed roller each time a sheet of paper is required.
For the purpose of my present invention I provide a case of appropriate shape,
constructed in two parts hinged together so as to permit of the case being readily
opened to afford access to the interior thereof for recharging it with paper or
otherwise. A portion of the front of this case is adapted to receive a feed roller
which is mounted in suitable bearings and the said front portion contiguous to
the roller is slotted to expose the feed roller. and permit of its being rotated by
the fingers, if necessary. This feed roller is provided with india-rubber, fluted
or other suitable gripping surfaces which lie in contact with the sheets of paper
contained in the said case.
A spring or springs are provided within the case for the purpose of pressing
the sheets of paper against the said gripping surfaces of the feed roller and a slot
or opening is formed at a suitable part of the case through which the sheets of
paper are withdrawn by the user.
The sheets of paper are arranged one above the other within the holder and
are preferably held together at one end by a pin, or other device. Each sheet
is so formed that its superficial area is reduced at portions thereof so that as
the uppermost sheet is withdrawn from the holder, it will expose a portion of
the next succeeding sheet and permit the latter to be acted upon by the gripping
surfaces of the aforesaid feed roller, whereby this sheet will be left projecting
a short distance through the said slot or opening (when the uppermost sheet has
been removed) and lie in a position to be readily grasped by the fingers of the
user when required.
In order that my said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried
into effect I will proceed to describe the same more fully with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which:-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the holder constructed for use with my
peculiarly formed sheets of paper.
Figure 2 is a vertical section of the same,
Figure 3 is an end view.
and
Figure 3 is a detail view shewing an indicating device which will be herein-
after more fully described.
Figures 4 to 8 shew various forms in which the sheets of paper may be made
for use with my holder.

page_text: ་
Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view showing the manner in which the withdrawal
of the uppermost sheet of paper causes the next succeeding one to be partially
projected from the holder when said uppermost sheet is being withdrawn.
A is. the case of the holder which is composed of metal or other suitable
material and which is formed in two parts hinged together at a, the lower front
portion B being curved or enlarged for the reception of the feed roller C which
is corrugated or roughened in order that it may be easily rotated, by the fingers,
if necessary. D, D, D, are the gripping surfaces with which this feed roller is
provided, said surfaces being preferably of india-rubber and fluted.
A pawl E adapted to engage with a toothed wheel F on the feed roller, pre-
vents the latter from being rotated in the wrong direction. O is the slot or
opening in the case A for the sheets of paper to pass through. G, G are blade
springs attached to the back of the case A in such a manner that they press the
sheets of paper H against the gripping surfaces of the feed roller.
A locking device is provided, as at I, for retaining the case closed so that it
can only be opened by a person provided with the proper key when the latter is
inserted into the hole i.
**
.
K is an external nut or button having on its outer face an arrow or pointer
and on the inner end of.its:stem a. lug L which is adapted..to lie at the back of
the packet of paper sheets in the holder. So long as the holder is amply fur-
nished with sheets of paper, the said lug. cannot be turned, by the aforesaid
external button, a sufficient distance to bring the arrow or pointer into a vertical
position (see Figure 3). Ithus avoid the necessity of having to open the holder
to ascertain when it requires re-charging with paper.
M is a pin which is employed for holding together the various sheets com-
prising the packet of paper within the case; the outer end of this pin rests in
a 'slot in the back portion of the case.
4
When the feed roller C is rotated by the fingers, the uppermost sheet is caused
· to be partially projected through the slot 0 so as to lie in a position to be con-
veniently grasped by the fingers of the user. Then when said uppermost sheet
is-being withdrawn by the user pulling on the outer end thereof, it causes said
feed roller to revolve and as the inner or reduced portion h of said sheet comes
beneath the gripping surfaces D of the feed roller, said portion h (by reason of
its diminished arca) exposes the next succeeding sheet, so that the said gripping
surfaces can engage with the latter at the parts h¹ h on the same transverse line
(see in Figure 9). The continued revolution of the feed roller than causes this
next succeeding sheet to be partially withdrawn with the uppermost sheet,
so that when the latter has been completely withdrawn, the outer end of the afore-
said next succeeding sheet will remain projecting from the slot O ready to be
grasped by the fingers of the user when required.
I do not confine myself to any particular shape of the paper sheets to be used
with my improved holder but may use any form or contour of paper sheets that
have their superficial area reduced at certain parts for the purpose stated above.
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 toilet paper holder intended to receive superimposed sheets of paper of
peculiar form and having a feed roller or similar device adapted to bear upon
the surface of two of the sheets at a time, on the same transverse line substan-
tially as and for the purpose-specified.
2. For use with a toilet paper holder of the kind set forth in the preceding
claim, sheets of paper having their superficial area reduced at portions thereof
for the purpose specified.
3. The combination with the aforesaid toilet paper holder of a device for in-
dicating when said holder requires re-charging with paper substantially as
described.

page_text: 4. A toilet paper holder having its parts constructed arranged and operating
substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings for the
purpose specified.
00 1
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.