Distribution of Circulars in Hotels and other Public Places.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Mar., 1887
Complete Left, 9th Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 13th Jan., 1888
Distribution of Circulars in Hotels and other Public Places.
We JAMES T. HOYT of 50 Temple Court and JOHN R. ANDERSON of 7 Bond
Street both in the City of New York in the County of New York, in the State of
New York, one of the United States of America, Merchants, do hereby declare the
nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to cabinets or receptacles for sanitary or toilet paper, circulars
etc., and it consists in an apparatus for holding the same as sheets and discharging it as
wanted, without, waste. The paper is employed in the condition of sheets of suitable
size for sanitary or toilet paper, arranged in a package loosely, containing several
hundred or a thousand sheets (more or less). Through one end of the package is
inserted a bar or rod, (one or more) on which the package is suspended in the cabinet
in such a manner that the sheets can be detached from the package by friction of a set
of rollers on the sheets and discharged through the lower part one at a time. The
ends of the suspension-bars project from the front and rear sides of the package far
enough to enable them to rest upon suitable supports in the cabinet, allowing the free
ends of the sheets to hang down therein unconfined. In the lower part of the
cabinet is a roller provided with a roughened or corrugated surface, against which the
lower ends of the sheets of paper are continually pressed by means of a spring or its
equivalent, acting against the back part of the package, so that when the roller is
turned in the proper direction it will, by means of frictional contact, pull the sheet of
paper which is next to it downward, tearing it off the suspension-bar, and discharging
it through the bottom of the cabinet, which has an opening below or under the roller
for that purpose. A second roller of like construction is located directly over and

page_text: about mid-way between the first roller and the suspension-bar, for the purpose of
causing the second sheet of paper to follow directly after the preceding one as soon as
it shall have passed from under the upper roller, in such a manner that when the first
sheet is discharged at the opening in the bottom of the cabinet; the second sheet will
protrude sufficiently to enable one to secure it readily with the hand and draw it forth,
thereby causing both rollers to rotate and bring into the same position each sheet
successively until the cabinet becomes empty. In this manner as many successive
sheets are detached singly from the suspended package as are desired, and no waste
occurs from an excessive supply.
The apparatus can be made simply of an open frame, which will sustain the
necessary parts, or can be made of a closed box and of an ornamental character.
One of the objects of our invention is to supply sanitary or toilet paper for
individual use readily and freely and in a convenient manner and without much
expense. Another object is to avoid the waste which commonly attends the use of
such paper.
Another object is to keep the paper out of sight, being concealed in the
cabinet until wanted.
In carrying out our invention we make use of sanitary or toilet paper or circulars,
in sheets of suitable dimensions and arrange them in packages containing several
hundred or a thousand sheets together, (more or less). The several sheets of the
package are loose and independent of each other. Through the upper end of the
package, at about the middle of its width, we make a slit or perforation in which we
place a suspension-bar or rod whose ends project from the front and back of the
package far enough to allow them to be used for suspending the paper in the
apparatus. We prefer the bar or rod to be flat.
The cabinet which holds the paper or circulars may be of any suitable form or style
and of any suitable dimensions or materials. The cabinet herein described is
composed of a frame, the top of which is provided with a hinged door, through
which we insert the paper.
In the upper part of the cabinet are two permanent bars extending across its
interior at suitable distances apart to permit the entrance between them of the package
of paper. These bars have sockets in them at about the middle of their length, which
receive the ends of the suspension-bar or rod.
In the lower front part of the cabinet is a roller, made fast on its axis, which turns
in bearings in the sides of the cabinet. One end of its axis projects through the side
and is provided with a handle, by means of which the roller. can be turned by
the hand.
The said roller is prevented from being turned in the wrong direction by means of
a ratchet-wheel secured upon it, which is engaged by a detent. The roller may, if
desired, be made loose on its axis, and the axis be provided with a pawl engaging
ratchet-teeth on the roller, so arranged that when the axis is turned in the proper
direction it will communicate motion to the roller, and when turned in the opposite
direction its pawl will slip over the ratchet and the roller will not be turned. The said
roller is provided with a roughened or corrugated surface. Its surface may consist of
corrugated rubber or sand-paper or other suitable material secured to the circumference
of the roller; but we do not confine ourselves to any particular material or method for
providing a suitable roughened or corrugated surface for the said roller. Situated
directly over the said roller and about midway between said roller and the suspension-
bar, is a second roller made fast on its axis which turns in bearings in the sides of the
cabinet. This second roller is made of the same size and material as the first-
mentioned roller and is connected therewith and causing its number of revolutions
when in operation to be the same, by means of a small belt running from the one to
the other or by means of a set of cog or gear-wheels which may be attached to
either end of the said rollers. As a matter of cheapness we prefer the former
method.
The lower free ends of the body of paper extend down behind the first-mentioned
roller against which they are constantly pressed, and thus its surface is enabled by
means of frictional contact with the front sheet, when the roller is turned in the proper

page_text: direction, to strip off from the package and pull down the front sheet of the package
severing the upper part of the sheet above the slit upon the suspension-bar, and so on
for successive sheets, and delivering the sheets successively upon an inclined smooth
surface, over which it passes to an opening in the lower front part of the cabinet
below the level of the said roller. The said incline extends from beneath the body of
paper under the roller to the place of discharge.
The pressure upon the paper which presses against the face of both the rollers is
produced in the cabinet herein described by the action of a spring as follows:
A swinging plate about the same dimensions in length and width as the sheets of
paper, is suspended by ears from the rear one of the permanent bars, so that it can
swing thereon. The said plate is of curved or irregular form so that by the action of
the said spring it presses the paper against the faces of both rollers hereinbofore
mentioned.
From the centre of said permanent bar is suspended a spiral spring whose lower
end is secured to the lower part of a plate which is rigidly secured to a shaft whose
ends rest in the sides of the cabinet and one of whose ends extends through the same
and is provided with a crank and a ratchet and detent so that the said shaft can be
turned and the plate moved back when fresh paper is to be placed in the cabinet.
The said plate is drawn by the spring against the above-mentioned swinging plate
which is thus pressed continually against the back of the package of papers and the
said papers are in turn pressed against both rollers so that the paper is continually fed
to the said rollers, and the roughened surfaces thereof are ready as soon as one sheet
is delivered to act on the next sheet.
When a fresh package of paper is to be placed in the cabinet, the swinging plate
is relieved from the pressure by means of the above-mentioned crank, which is
operated so as to turn the shaft against the tension of the spring and bring the plate
on the said shaft away from the swinging plate. The swinging plate then swings
freely on the bar and allows a fresh package of paper to be inserted between it and the
rollers, the ratchet and detent holding the above-mentioned shaft stationary meanwhile.
When the detent is withdrawn, the crank and shaft are released and the plate on the
said shaft is again drawn by the spring against the swinging plate.
The packages of paper are prepared beforehand for use in the cabinet, the sheets
being cut into the required size or sizes, and supplied with suspension-bars, of zinc or
other soft metal, so that their ends can be bent down against the sides of the package
to enable the packages to be transported without displacing the bars.
When one
desires to place such a package in the cabinet it is only necessary to straighten out the
bent ends of the bar, when the package is ready for use. We also provide caps for
the packages for the better securing of the suspension-bars while the packages are
being transported and also for the more convenient handling of the said packages.
The caps can be made of paper or thin metal, or any suitable material, and perforated
to receive the suspension-bars whose ends can be bent down, as above explained
against the sides of the caps. If the caps are kept on the packages when the latter
are placed in the cabinet, care must be taken that they do not press the paper, as in
that case the sheets might resist the pull of the friction-rollers.
The friction-rollers may be of any suitable size, and if it is desired to give their
surface a high speed, so as to cause the sheets of paper to be delivered very fast, gear-
wheels may be employed in connection therewith."
We do not restrict ourselves to the herein described arrangement of the paper
and rollers with reference to each other, as they may be arranged so that the sheets of
paper shall be in a horizontal or other position and be pressed against the rollers
either in an upward or downward direction with substantially similar results.
More than one suspension-bar can be employed, if desired. When more than one is
used, they are inserted in slits arranged at about equal distances from each other and
from the sides of the package.
The shape and number of the suspension-bars and the location of the slits in the
paper can be varied as occasion requires, so as to cause the several sheets to be retained
on the bars until pulled off by the rollers. We do not, however, confine ourselves to

page_text: a bar or rod as the means for suspending or retaining the sheets of the packages
as the sheets may be suspended and retained in place by a cord or thread, one or
more, inserted through their upper edges or any other device which will hold and
suspend the package of sheets by one end, loaving their lower ends free, and so that the
several sheets can be separately stripped from the package by the feed-rollers and
delivered one by one, as described.
The suspension-bar may be of increasing thickness towards its rear end, so that the
sheets at that end will be less readily stripped from the bar, and the increased action
of the spring and rollers when the sheets are few in number be thereby compensated
by increased resistance on the part of the paper.
Dated this 8th day of March 1887.

page_text: COMPLEIN SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in
Cabinets for Sanitary or Toilet Paper and
Distribution of Circulars in Hotels and other Public Places.
We, JAMES T. HOYT of 50 Temple Court, and JOHN R. ANDERSON of 7 Bond
Street, both in the City of New York, in the County of New York, in the State of
New York, one of the United States of America, Merchants, 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 statement :-
In
This invention relates to cabinets or receptacles for sanitary or toilet paper,
circulars etc., and it consists in improvements in an apparatus for holding the same
in sheets and discharging it as wanted, without waste. The paper is employed in the
condition of sheets of suitable size for sanitary or toilet paper, arranged in a package
loosely, containing several hundred or a thousand sheets, (more or less). Through
one end of the package is inserted a bar or rod (one or more) on which the package is
suspended in the cabinet in such a manner that the sheets can be detached from the
package by friction of a set of rollers on the sheets, and discharged through the lower
part one at a time. The ends of the suspension-bars project from the front and rear
sides of the package far enough to enable them to rest upon suitable supports in the
cabinet, allowing the free ends of the sheets to hang down therein unconfined.
the lower part of the cabinet is a roller provided with a roughened or corrugated
surface, against which the lower ends of the sheets of paper are continually pressed
by means of a spring or its equivalent acting against the back part of the package, so
that when the roller is turned in the proper direction it will, by means of frictional
contact, pull the sheet of paper which is next to it downward, tearing it off the
suspension-bar, and discharging it through the bottom of the cabinet, which has an
opening below or under the roller for that purpose. Our improvements consist first
in the addition of a second roller of like construction located directly over and about
mid-way between the first roller and the suspension-bar, and secondly, in an
improved form of plate for pressing the paper against the rollers, for the purpose of
causing the second sheet of paper to follow directly after the preceding one as soon
as it shall have passed from under the upper roller in such a manner that when the
first sheet is discharged at the opening in the bottom of the cabinet the second sheet
will protrude sufficiently to enable one to secure it readily with the hand and draw it
forth, thereby causing both rollers to rotate and bring into the same position each
sheet successively until the cabinet becomes empty. In this manner as many
successive sheets are detached singly from the suspended package as are desired, and
no waste occurs from an excessive supply.
The apparatus can be made simply of an open frame, which will sustain the
necessary parts or can be made of a closed box and of an ornamental character.
One of the objects of our improved cabinet is to supply sanitary or toilet paper for
individual use readily and freely and in a convenient manner and without much

page_text: expense.
Another object is to avoid the waste which commonly attends the use of
such paper.
Another object is to keep the paper out of sight, being concealed in the
cabinet until wanted.
In the drawings, figure 1 is a front view of our improved cabinet the front being
removed. Figure 2 is a vertical section in the line of figure 1. Figure 3 is a
rear view, the back of the cabinet being removed. Figure 4 is a separate view of the
ratchet-wheel and detent of the corrugated roller I. Figure 5 is a face view, and
figure 6 is a side view of a package of paper, or circulars.
Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.
In our improved cabinet we make use of sanitary or toilet paper or circulars, in
sheets of suitable dimensions and arrange them in packages containing several
hundred or a thousand sheets together, (more or less).
The letter A designates such a package.
The several sheets of the package are loose and independent of each other.
Through the upper end of the package, at about the middle of its width, we make a
slit or perforation, B, in which we place a suspension bar or rod C, whose ends D D
project from the front and back of the package far enough to allow them to be used
for suspending the paper in the apparatus. We prefer the bar C to be flat.
The letter E designates the cabinet which holds the paper or circulars. The
said cabinet may be of any suitable form or style of construction, and of any
suitable dimensions or materials. In this example we have shown it as composed
of a frame, E, the top of which is provided with a hinged door, F, through which
we insert the paper.
In the upper part of the cabinet are two permanent bars G G, extending across
its interior at suitable distances apart to permit the entrance between them of the
package of paper. These bars have sockets H H in them at about the middle of their
length, which receive the ends of the suspension-bar C.
In the lower front part of the cabinet is a roller I, made fast on its axis, which
turns in bearings in the sides of the cabinet. One end of its axis projects through
the side and is provided with a handle J, by means of which the roller can be turned
by the hand.
The arrow in figure 2 indicates the direction of rotation of the roller. It is
prevented from being turned in the contrary direction by means of a ratchet-wheel K
secured upon it, which is engaged by a detent L. (See figures 1 and 3.) The ratchet
and detent are shown separately in figure 4. The roller may, if desired be made loose
on its axis, and the axis be provided with a pawl engaging ratchet-teeth on the roller,
so arranged that when the axis is turned in the proper direction it will communicate
motion to the roller, and when turned in the opposite direction its pawl will slip over
the ratchet and the roller will not be turned. The roller I is provided with a
roughened or corrugated surface. Its surface may consist of corrugated rubber or
sand-paper or other suitable material secured to the circumference of the roller; but
we do not confine ourselves to any particular material or method for providing a
suitable roughened or corrugated surface for the rollers. Part of our improvements
consists in the addition of a second roller I situated directly over the roller I and
about mid-way between said roller and the suspension-bar C, the said second roller I'
being made fast on its axis which turns in bearings in the sides of the cabinet. This
second roller is made of the same size and material as the roller I and is connected
therewith and causing its number of revolutions when in operation to be the same by
means of a small belt running from the one to the other or by means of a set of cog
or gear-wheels which may be attached to either end of the said rollers. As a matter
of cheapness we prefer the former method.
The lower free ends of the body of paper extend down behind the roller I, against
which they are constantly pressed, and thus its surface is enabled by means of
frictional contact with the front sheet, when the roller is turned in the direction
of the arrow, to strip off from the package and pull down the front sheet of the
package A, severing the upper part of the sheet above the slit B upon the bar C, and
so on for successive sheets, and delivering the sheets successively upon the inclined

page_text: smooth surface L, over which it passes to the opening M in the lower front part of
the cabinet helow the level of the said roller. The incline L' extends from beneath
the body of paper under the roller to the place of discharge M.
Figure 2 represents a sheet which has been drawn down by the rollers and is being
fed over the incline L' and through the mouth M.
The pressure upon the paper which presses against the face of the rollers is
produced in this example by the action of a spring N, as follows: A plate O, about
the same dimensions in length and width as the sheets of paper, is suspended by
ears P P from the rear one of the bars G, so that it can swing thereon. According
to our improvements we make the said plate of curved or irregular form so that by
the action of the said spring it presses the paper against the faces of both rollers
herein before mentioned.
From the centre of said bar G is suspended a spiral spring N, whose lower end is
secured to the lower part of a plate Q, which is rigidly secured to a shaft R, whose
ends rest in the sides of the cabinet and one of whose ends extends through the same
and is provided with a crank R¹, and a ratchet S, and detent T so that the shaft R
can be turned and the plate Qmoved back when fresh paper is to be placed in the
cabinet. The plate Q is drawn by the spring N against the swinging plate O, which
is thus pressed continually against the back of the package of papers A, and the said
papers are in turn pressed against the rollers so that the paper is continually fed to
said rollers, and the roughened surfaces thereof are ready, as soon as one sheet is
delivered, to act on the next sheet.
When a fresh package of paper is to be placed in the cabinet, the plate O is
relieved from the pressure by means of the crank R¹ which is operated so as to turn
the shaft R against the tension of spring N and bring the plate Q to the position
shown in dotted outline in figure 2, when the plate O swings freely on the bar and
allows a fresh package of paper to be inserted between it and the rollers I, I¹, the
ratchet S and detent T holding the shaft R stationary meanwhile. When the
detent T is withdrawn, the crank R¹ and shaft R are released, and the plate Q is
again drawn by the spring against the plate O.
The packages A of paper are prepared beforehand for use in the cabinet, the sheets
being cut into the required size or sizes, and supplied with bars C, of zinc or other
soft metal, so that their ends can be bent down against the sides of the package to
enable the packages to be transported without displacing the bars. When one
desires to place such a package in the cabinet, it is only necessary to straighten out
the bent ends of the bar, when the package is ready for use.
Caps U may be provided for the packages, for the better securing of the
suspension-bars C while the packages are being transported, and also for the more
convenient handling of the said packages. The caps can be made of paper or thin
metal, or any suitable material, and perforated to receive the bars C, whose ends
can be bent down as above explained, against the sides of the caps. If the caps are
kept on the packages when the latter are placed in the cabinet, care must be taken
that they do not press the paper, as in that case the sheets might resist the pull of
the friction-rollers.
The friction-rollers I, I may be of any suitable size, and if it is desired to give
their surface a high speed, so as to cause the sheets of paper to be delivered very fast,
gear-wheels may be employed in connection therewith.
We do not restrict ourselves to the arrangement of the paper and rollers I, I' with
reference to each other, which is shown in the drawings, as they may be arranged so
that the sheets of paper shall be in a horizontal or other position, and be pressed
against the rollers either in an upward or downward direction with substantially
similar results.
We have here shown only one suspension-bar C but more than one can be
employed, if desired. When more than one is used, they are inserted in slits
arranged at about equal distances from each other and from the sides of the
package.
The shape and number of the suspension-bars and the location of the slits B in the

page_text: paper can be varied as occasion requires, so as to cause the several sheets to be
retained on the bars until pulled off by the feed-rollers I, I'. Instead however, of a
bar or rod, C, as the means for suspending or retaining the sheets of the packages,
the sheets may be suspended and retained in place by a cord or thread, one or more,
inserted through their upper edges, or any other device which will hold and suspond
the package of sheets by one end, leaving their lower ends free, and so that the
several sheets can be separately stripped from the package by the feed-rollers and
delivered one by one, as described.
The bar C may be of increasing thickness toward its rear end, so that the sheets at
that end will be less readily stripped from the bar, and the increased action of the
spring and rollers when the sheets are few in number be thereby compensated by
increased resistance on the part of the paper.
We do not claim the cabinet E, roller I plate Q or spring N or the bars G, rod C
cap U or means for suspending the papers, but
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
First The combination, substantially as shown and described, of a cabinet or
case, the friction-rollers I I¹, and the pressure-plates O and Q, and spring N or their
equivalents for pressing the sheets of paper or circulars against the rollers.
Second A cabinet E, for toilet-paper or circulars, provided with a door F, for
inserting the paper, a mouth M, and incline L, for discharging the sheets, in
combination with rollers II' for separating the sheets one by one from the package
of sheets of paper or circulars, and a pressing device for forcing the shoets against the
rollers, substantially as shown and described.
Third The combination, of the cabinet or case E, having door F, mouth M, and
incline L, the rollers I I¹ the bar or rod C, for suspending a package of circulars or
sheets of paper, the cap U, the two bars G G and the sockets H H thereof receiving
the ends of the suspension-bar C, substantially as and for the purpose described.
Fourth The combination of a cabinet or case for containing a suspended package
of circulars or sheets of paper, friction-rollers for detaching the sheets from the
package, and a pressure-plate for pressing the package toward the rollers, substantially
as described.
Dated this 25th day of June A.D. 1887.