Toilet Paper Over or Under? What the 1891 Patent Says

Nova, our AI presenter, checks the patent in the video. This page gives you the short version.

The short version

In 2015, a drawing from an 1891 patent went viral as "proof" that toilet paper should hang over. The patent is US 465,588, "Toilet-Paper Roll", granted to Seth Wheeler of Albany, New York, on 22 December 1891. Some outlets cite his other patent, US 459,516 (September 1891), instead.

Read the claim itself. It covers "a roll of paper partially divided into sheets by lateral incisions", which means perforations that help a sheet tear off cleanly. The claim says nothing about over or under. Wheeler was solving the tear, not the hang.

So the drawing shows how Wheeler drew his roll. It is not a ruling on how to hang yours.

Each side's best case

• Team Over: the sheet is easier to grab, people say.
• Team Under: cat owners argue that a cat can't unroll it, and the same idea is said to help with toddlers. This is an argument, not a proven result.

What facts settle

The patent settles who drew it, when, and what it claims. It does not settle which way is right. That part is down to your bathroom, your cat and your taste.

So, over or under: how do you hang yours?

Transcript

Nova: This toilet paper "proof" never says "over."

Seth Wheeler wanted sheets that tear off clean.

In 2015, his drawing went viral as proof: over wins.

The claim? Perforations. It never says over or under.

Wheeler was solving the tear. Not the hang.

A drawing. Not a ruling. No verdict from me. Here's each side's best case.

Team Over! Easy to grab. Team Under! Safe from cats.

The patent shows how he drew it, not how to hang yours. Your roll. Over, or under?

Sources

• Google Patents, US 465,588, Toilet-Paper Roll (Seth Wheeler, 1891)
• Google Patents, US 459,516, Wrapping or Toilet Paper Roll
• Today (2015), Over or under? The toilet paper debate answered by 1891 patent
• BPM Legal, Over or Under?
• Wikipedia, Toilet paper orientation

Nova is an AI-generated presenter, and so is her voice. Graphics are our own. Patent drawings are public-domain US patent documents.

This video is made with AI tools and reviewed by people before release. See how we make our videos.