Toothbrush Sterilization Assembly

Abstract

A toothbrush sterilization assembly includes a housing that may contain a plurality of toothbrushes. A handle is coupled to the door and the handle may be manipulated. The handle is positioned on the outer surface. A sterilization unit is coupled to the housing and the sterilization unit may sterilize the toothbrushes when the toothbrushes are positioned within the housing.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Field of the Disclosure

The disclosure relates to sterilization devices and more particularly pertains to a new sterilization device for sterilizing toothbrushes.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a housing that may contain a plurality of toothbrushes. A handle is coupled to the door and the handle may be manipulated. The handle is positioned on the outer surface. A sterilization unit is coupled to the housing and the sterilization unit may sterilize the toothbrushes when the toothbrushes are positioned within the housing.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a toothbrush sterilization assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3 of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, a new sterilization device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the toothbrush sterilization assembly 10 generally comprises a housing 12 that may contain a plurality of toothbrushes 14. The housing 12 has a top wall 16, a bottom wall 18 and a peripheral wall 20 extending between the top wall 16 and the bottom wall 18. The top wall 16 has a top surface 22 and a bottom surface 24. The bottom wall 18 has an upper surface 26 and a lower surface 28. The lower surface 28 may abut a support surface 30.

The peripheral wall 20 is curved such that the housing 12 has a cylindrical shape. The peripheral wall 20 has an opening 32 extending therethrough to access an interior of the housing 12. The opening 32 extends substantially between the top wall 16 and the bottom wall 18. The opening 32 extends substantially along the peripheral wall 20 and the opening 32 has a first bounding edge 34.

A door 36 is hingedly coupled to the housing 12 such that the door 36 selectively closes the housing 12. The door 36 has a first lateral edge 38 and an outer surface 40. The first lateral edge 38 is hingedly coupled to the first bounding edge 34 of the opening 32. The door 36 is positionable in an open position to access the interior of the housing 12. The door 36 is positionable in a closed position such that the door 36 completely covers the opening 32. The door 36 is co-arcuate with the peripheral wall 20 of the housing 12. A handle 42 is coupled to the door 36 and the handle 38 may be manipulated. The handle 42 is positioned on the outer surface 40 of the door 36.

A sterilization unit 44 is coupled to the housing 12 and the sterilization unit 44 sterilizes the toothbrushes 14 when the toothbrushes 14 are positioned within the housing 12. The sterilization unit 44 comprises a first bearing 46 that is coupled to the bottom surface 24 of the top wall 16. The first bearing 46 is centrally positioned on the bottom surface 24. A second bearing 48 is coupled to the upper surface 26 of the bottom wall 18 and the second bearing 48 is centrally positioned on the upper surface 26.

A shaft 50 extends between the first bearing 46 and the second bearing 48 such that the shaft 50 is rotatable about a line extending through the first bearing 46 and the second bearing 48. A plurality of clips 52 is provided and each of the clips 52 has a rear surface 54 and a pair of ends 56. The rear surface 54 of each of the clips 52 is curved such that the ends 56 corresponding to each of the clips 52 is directed toward each other. Thus, each of the clips 52 may frictionally engage an associated one of the toothbrushes 14.

The rear surface 54 of each of the clips 52 is coupled to the shaft 50. The clips 52 are spaced apart from each other and are distributed around the shaft 50. Each of the clips 52 is positioned closer to the first bearing 46 than the second bearing 48. Thus, a head 58 of each of the toothbrushes 14 is positioned proximate the top wall 16.

A plurality of light emitters 60 is provided and each of the light emitters 60 is coupled to the bottom surface 24 of the top wall 16. Each of the light emitters 60 emits ultraviolet light onto the head 58 of each of the toothbrushes 14. Thus, each of the light emitters 60 may sterilize the toothbrushes 14. Each of the light emitters 60 emits UV-C light at a wavelength ranging between approximately two hundred fifty nm and two hundred sixty nm.

The light emitters 60 are spaced apart from each other and are distributed around the first bearing 46. Each of the light emitters 60 includes a pair of mounts 62 and each of the mounts 62 is attached to and extends downwardly from the bottom surface 24 of the top wall 16. Each of the light emitters 60 extends between an associated pair of the mounts 62. Thus, each of the light emitters 60 is spaced from the bottom surface 24.

A control 64 is coupled to the top surface 22 of the top wall 16. The control 64 has a plurality of buttons 66 thereon such that each of the plurality of buttons 66 may be manipulated. The plurality of buttons 66 may include a plurality of light emitter buttons 68 that are each assigned to an associated one of the light emitters 60. The plurality of buttons 66 may additionally include a power button 70. The control 64 is electrically coupled to each of the light emitters 60 such that the control 64 turns the light emitters 60 on and off.

A power supply 72 is coupled to the housing 12 and the power supply 70 is electrically coupled to the control 64. The power supply 70 comprises a cord 73 extending outwardly from the peripheral wall 20. The cord 73 has a distal end 74 with respect to the peripheral wall 20 and the distal end 74 has a plug 76 that is electrically coupled thereto. The plug 76 may be electrically coupled to a power source 78 and the power source 78 may comprise an electrical outlet or the like.

In use, the door 36 is positioned in the open position. The shaft 50 is manually rotated and the toothbrushes 14 are positioned in selected ones of the clips 52. The door 36 is positioned in the closed position and the power button 70 is manipulated. Selected ones of the light emitter buttons 68 may be manipulated to turn off the associated light emitter 60 if one of more of the clips 52 does not have a toothbrush 14 positioned therein. The power button 70 is manipulated after a selected duration of time to turn the light emitters 60 off. The selected duration of time is at least fifteen minutes.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

Claims

1. A toothbrush sterilization assembly comprising:

a housing being configured to contain a plurality of toothbrushes, said housing has a top wall and a bottom wall, said top wall having a bottom surface, said bottom wall having an upper surface;

a door being hingedly coupled to said housing such that said door selectively closes said housing;

a handle being coupled to said door wherein said handle is configured to be manipulated, said handle being positioned on an outer surface of said door; and

a sterilization unit being coupled to said housing wherein said sterilization unit is configured to sterilize the toothbrushes when the toothbrushes are positioned within said housing, said sterilization unit comprising a first bearing being coupled to said bottom surface of said top wall, said first bearing being centrally positioned on said bottom surface, a second bearing being coupled to said upper surface of said bottom wall, said second bearing being centrally positioned on said upper surface, and a shaft extending between said first bearing and said second bearing, said shaft having opposite ends respectively inserted into and surrounded by said first bearing and said second bearing such that said shaft is freely rotatable about a line extending through said first bearing and said second bearing.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said housing has a top wall, a bottom wall and a peripheral wall extending between said top wall and said bottom wall, said top wall having a top surface and a bottom surface, said bottom wall having an upper surface and a lower surface, said lower surface being configured to abut a support surface, said peripheral wall being curved such that said housing has a cylindrical shape.

3. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein said peripheral wall having an opening extending therethrough to access an interior of said housing, said opening extending substantially between said top wall and said bottom wall, said opening extending substantially along said peripheral wall, said opening having a first bounding edge.

4. The assembly according to claim 3, further comprising said door having a first lateral edge, said first lateral edge being hingedly coupled to said first bounding edge of said opening, said door being positionable in an open position to access said interior of said housing, said door being positionable in a closed position such that said door completely covers said opening, said door being co-arcuate with said peripheral wall of said housing.

5. (canceled)

6. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said sterilization unit further comprises a plurality of clips, each of said clips having a rear surface and a pair of ends, said rear surface of each of said clips being curved such that said ends corresponding to each of said clips is directed toward each other wherein each of said clips is configured to frictionally engage an associated one of the toothbrushes.

7. The assembly according to claim 6, wherein said rear surface of each of said clips being coupled to said shaft, said clips being spaced apart from each other and being distributed around said shaft, each of said clips being positioned closer to said first bearing than said second bearing thereby facilitating a head of each of the toothbrushes to be positioned proximate said top wall.

8. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said sterilization unit further comprises a plurality of light emitters, each of said light emitters being coupled to said bottom surface of said top wall wherein each of said light emitters is configured to emit ultraviolet light onto the head of each of the toothbrushes thereby facilitating each of said light emitters to sterilize the toothbrushes, said light emitters being spaced apart from each other and distributed around said first bearing.

9. The assembly according to claim 8, wherein each of said light emitters includes a pair of mounts, each of said mounts being attached to said bottom surface, each of said light emitters extending between an associated pair of said mounts such that each of said light emitters is spaced from said bottom surface.

10. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein:

said top wall has a top surface;

a plurality of light emitters; and

said sterilization unit further comprises a control being coupled to said top surface of said top wall, said control having a plurality of buttons thereon wherein each of said plurality of buttons is configured to be manipulated, said control being electrically coupled to each of said light emitters such that said control turns said light emitters on and off.

11. The assembly according to claim 10, wherein:

said housing has a peripheral wall; and

said sterilization unit further comprises a power supply being coupled to said housing, said power supply being electrically coupled to said control, said power supply comprising a cord extending outwardly from said peripheral wall, said cord having a distal end with respect to said peripheral wall, said distal end having a plug being electrically coupled thereto, said plug being configured to be electrically coupled to a power source.

12. A toothbrush sterilization assembly comprising:

a housing being configured to contain a plurality of toothbrushes, said housing having a top wall, a bottom wall and a peripheral wall extending between said top wall and said bottom wall, said top wall having a top surface and a bottom surface, said bottom wall having an upper surface and a lower surface, said lower surface being configured to abut a support surface, said peripheral wall being curved such that said housing has a cylindrical shape, said peripheral wall having an opening extending therethrough to access an interior of said housing, said opening extending substantially between said top wall and said bottom wall, said opening extending substantially along said peripheral wall, said opening having a first bounding edge;

a door being hingedly coupled to said housing such that said door selectively closes said housing, said door having a first lateral edge and an outer surface, said first lateral edge being hingedly coupled to said first bounding edge of said opening, said door being positionable in an open position to access said interior of said housing, said door being positionable in a closed position such that said door completely covers said opening, said door being co-arcuate with said peripheral wall of said housing;

a handle being coupled to said door wherein said handle is configured to be manipulated, said handle being positioned on said outer surface; and

a sterilization unit being coupled to said housing wherein said sterilization unit is configured to sterilize the toothbrushes when the toothbrushes are positioned within said housing, said sterilization unit comprising: a first bearing being coupled to said bottom surface of said top wall, said first bearing being centrally positioned on said bottom surface, a second bearing being coupled to said upper surface of said bottom wall, said second bearing being centrally positioned on said upper surface, a shaft extending between said first bearing and said second bearing, said shaft having opposite ends respectively inserted into and surrounded by said first bearing and said second bearing such that said shaft is freely rotatable about a line extending through said first bearing and said second bearing, a plurality of clips, each of said clips having a rear surface and a pair of ends, said rear surface of each of said clips being curved such that said ends corresponding to each of said clips is directed toward each other wherein each of said clips is configured to frictionally engage an associated one of the toothbrushes, said rear surface of each of said clips being coupled to said shaft, said clips being spaced apart from each other and being distributed around said shaft, each of said clips being positioned closer to said first bearing than said second bearing thereby facilitating a head of each of the toothbrushes to be positioned proximate said top wall, a plurality of light emitters, each of said light emitters being coupled to said bottom surface of said top wall wherein each of said light emitters is configured to emit ultraviolet light onto the head of each of the toothbrushes thereby facilitating each of said light emitters to sterilize the toothbrushes, said light emitters being spaced apart from each other and distributed around said first bearing, each of said light emitters including a pair of mounts, each of said mounts being attached to said bottom surface, each of said light emitters extending between an associated pair of said mounts such that each of said light emitters is spaced from said bottom surface, a control being coupled to said top surface of said top wall, said control having a plurality of buttons thereon wherein each of said plurality of buttons is configured to be manipulated, said control being electrically coupled to each of said light emitters such that said control turns said light emitters on and off, and a power supply being coupled to said housing, said power supply being electrically coupled to said control, said power supply comprising a cord extending outwardly from said peripheral wall, said cord having a distal end with respect to said peripheral wall, said distal end having a plug being electrically coupled thereto, said plug being configured to be electrically coupled to a power source.