An 1891 patent for the toilet paper roll indicates the paper should be hung which way? A - Overhand
B - Underhand
Answer: A - Overhand Few of life’s questions have been as polarizing as “over or under?” The correct orientation of the end of a toilet paper roll in a bathroom dispenser has sparked decades of debates. The answer of how the toilet paper is supposed to hang lies with New York businessman Seth Wheeler, who filed an 1891 patent for the toilet paper roll. The image included in Wheeler’s U.S. Patent and Trademark Office filing, indicates the answer is “over.” While the image included in Wheeler’s filing shows the edge of the toilet paper is hanging over the roll, the description in his patent doesn’t specify exactly why.