TOOTHBRUSH HOLDER AND ORGANIZER

Abstract

The present invention for a toothbrush organizer consists of one or more toothbrush holders arranged on a back-plate for wall mounting or on a support surface for a standalone embodiment. The holders are designed to support the toothbrush in a horizontal manner with sufficient spacing to prevent liquid transfer due to drippage and enhances drying by improved air circulation. Each holder comprises of a tubular shape section mounted in a horizontal manner which allows ease of ingress and egress of the toothbrush that may have a solid body or contains a cutout to enhance hygienic drying.

Description

This Application Claims Priority To Provisional U.S. Application Ser. No. 61/093,030 Filed Aug. 29, 2008.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a toothbrush holder, which includes a tubular support mounted to a plurality of base designs that provides horizontal support to the toothbrush in a hygienic manner. The holder comprises of a tubular section mounted in a horizontal manner allowing for easy removal and reinsertion of the toothbrush that contains a cutout to enhance hygienic drying.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A number of arrangements have been suggested in the prior art with the objective for providing sanitized or hygienic toothbrush holders, to overcome the objectionable feature of conventional toothbrush holders such as slotted plates in which the bristles contact the support surfaces and for providing adequate drainage and drying of the toothbrush.

The combination toothbrush, water glass and soap holder disclosed by Bidmon in U.S. Pat. No. 2,576,560 discloses a device in which several toothbrushes are accommodated in individual compartments for protection against dust and other contaminants. Although Bidmon may protect the toothbrush from contaminants, the holder would hinder drying out of the bristles because this invention restricts the air circulation through each compartment and could allow bacteria and other microorganisms to grow over time.

The ornamental design for a toothbrush holder disclosed by Merkel in U.S. Pat. No. Des. 327,194 discloses a device which allows the water to run down to the base of the toothbrush. This design significantly increases the formation of bacterial contamination on the holder if the toothbrush is placed in an inverted position. Conversely, if the toothbrush is placed in an attitude of the head in an upright manner, drips from the brushes will contaminate the rear portion of the holder and any object placed within.

The hygienic toothbrush holder disclosed by Perler in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,854,457 discloses a structure for holding multiple toothbrushes in such a way as to clip the toothbrush to the holder and thus allow for the toothbrush to hygienically air dry. Because Perler's design arranges the toothbrushes spaced one on top of another staggering the bristles, only the toothbrush that is placed in the uppermost clip will be free from drips from other toothbrush handles.

The toothbrush holder and method of using disclosed by Ghiz in the U.S. Pat. No. 6,622,978 B1 discloses a unitary length of wire bent in a particular way to provide support to the toothbrush, thus allowing the toothbrush to hygienically air dry. The wall mount application for this invention is limited to surfaces where only a suction cup can be attached. As described for the two embodiments, the handles of the toothbrushes are required to be placed in a particular way in order to work properly. Repeating this required orientation may be difficult to attain for all users, especially children and physically challenged.

While the above toothbrush holders provide the capability to hold the toothbrushes in an attitude to advance drainage of liquids, none are entirely satisfactory, in particular, they either fail to provide adequate drying and drainage without bristle contamination of the brush while providing absolutely no impact to adjacent mounted holders and inserted toothbrushes and which is cost-effective to manufacture and easy to use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention seeks to improve the drainage and drying of the toothbrush without contaminating the adjacently mounted holders that may contain other toothbrushes.

The toothbrush holder described can support a toothbrush in a horizontal position to provide a new and improved toothbrush organizer which has all the advantages of the prior art mentioned heretofore and simple that result in an improved toothbrush organizer which is not anticipated rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by the prior art, either alone or in any combination thereof.

To attain this, the present invention may be in the shape of a cylinder or any three dimensional geometrical shape such as a square, or triangle that is capable of holding a toothbrush. The holder may contain a cutout to enhance drying and is integrally attached to a plate for the purpose of wall mounting or to a base for a freestanding toothbrush holder. Its construction may be rubber, wood, metal, ceramic or plastic which is the preferred embodiment.

The toothbrushes are stored in a horizontal position spaced in an adjacent manner. This new design prevents water running down to the base of the toothbrush from the bristles and the dripping of water or contamination from one toothbrush to another.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a wall-mount toothbrush organizer.

FIG. 2 is a top view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the preferred embodiment for a wall-mount toothbrush holder.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a freestanding toothbrush organizer.

FIG. 7 is a front view of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a side view of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings FIG. 1, a hygienic toothbrush organizer comprises of a base 10 or back plate and one or more toothbrush holder 12. The base in FIG. 1 attaches to the wall surface by pre-drilled mounting holes 22 or by other conventional supporting means. The base 10 and the toothbrush holders 12 can be fabricated as one solid unit or in separated pieces that can be assembled together.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show a preferred arrangement of the toothbrush holders 12 providing space between toothbrush holders 12 that allows them to drain and air dry minimizing contamination from one toothbrush 20 to an adjacent toothbrush 20 and maintaining the bristles free of distorting forces.

FIG. 3 illustrates a preferred arrangement of the toothbrush holder 12 providing space between holders 12 to allow the inserted toothbrushes to drain and air dry minimizing the contamination from one toothbrush 20 to an adjacent toothbrush 20 while maintaining the bristles free of distorting forces. The diameter of the holder 12 is such as to slidably receive the handle part of a toothbrush 20. The base 10 is provided with pre-drilled mounting holes 22 to facilitate attaching the assembly to a wall surface by conventional supporting means.

In the preferred embodiment, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 illustrate a side view of the toothbrush holder 12 that provides a front support 18, with a cutout 14 on the bottom surface to allow air to circulate on the handle part of the toothbrush 20. The holders 12 with a back support 16 are affixed to a solid back end 24. Each of the toothbrush holders 12 includes an elongated horizontal tubular body portion.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, a freestanding hygienic toothbrush organizer embodiment comprises of a base 10, support bracket 26, and the toothbrush holders 12. This toothbrush holder may be fabricated as one unit or in separated pieces that can be assembled together.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the arrangement of the toothbrush holder 12 providing space between holders 12 to allow them to drain and air dry minimizing the contamination from one toothbrush 20 to an adjacent toothbrush 20 while maintaining the bristles free of distorting forces.

The side view, FIG. 8, of the arrangement illustrates the toothbrush holder 12 supporting the toothbrush 20 in the mid-section of the handle in a horizontal manner, while keeping the toothbrush 20 at a safe distance from contaminating other toothbrushes 20. Similar to the preferred wall-mounted embodiment as described above, the diameter of the holder 12 is such as to slidably receive the handle part of a toothbrush 20.

While illustrative embodiments of this invention have been described, it is understood that various modifications will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore it is manifest that many changes may be made in the details of construction and the arrangements of components without departing from the spirit and the scope of this disclosure. It is conceived that this invention is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein for purposes of exemplifications, but it is to be limited only by the scope of the attached claim or claims, including the full range of equivalency to which each element thereof is entitled.

It can be seen that the holder described has its own advantages over the toothbrush holders presently known.

Claims

1. A toothbrush holder having a tubular shape with the sides being either cylindrical, triangular, square or any geometrical shape suitable to provide horizontal support to the handle of the toothbrush.

a. The tubular body of the holder serves as a guide to the handle and keeps the toothbrush aligned with the holder.

b. The handle of the toothbrush not necessarily needs to be positioned at a predetermined depth inside the holder, in order for the holder to provide sufficient support.

2. A toothbrush organizer that comprises of one or more toothbrush holders as defined in claim 1, arranged in a horizontal position or in such a way to eliminate the dripping from one toothbrush to another.

3. A toothbrush organizer as defined in claim 2, that can be mounted on a wall surface or can be freestanding.