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[0001] The present invention relates to a toothbrush holder. More particularly, the present invention relates to a toothbrush holder having at least one removal holding member capable of frictionally engaging toothbrushes of varying shapes and sizes in a hygienic manner.
[0002] Toothbrush holders function to store toothbrushes when not in use in an orderly manner. A recurring concern with toothbrush holders is their ability to maintain the toothbrush in a hygienic manner. Storing toothbrushes vertically has been thought to enable positioning of a bristle-end of the toothbrush away from contact with potentially unclean surfaces.
[0003] Toothbrush holders in the past have conventionally been designed to accommodate a single shape of a toothbrush wherein the toothbrush has a slender handle. See for examples U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,978,003, 5,769,245 and 5,687,855. Other toothbrush holders have been specifically designed for vertically storing a toothbrush having an enlarged handle in a hygienic manner. See U.S. patent application Ser. No. US2001/0003332 A1.
[0004] Consequently, there exists a need for a toothbrush holder for holding toothbrushes of different sizes and shapes in a single unit in a secure and substantially upright and hygienic manner. There also exists a need for a toothbrush holder which is easily sanitized and maintained in a cost-effective manner.
[0005] A toothbrush holder is disclosed embodying principles to solve the aforementioned problem. Accordingly, the toothbrush holder is provided for holding the toothbrush handle in a relatively secure, hygienic and precise manner wherein the toothbrush cannot be easily dislodged from the holder by accidental contact with the toothbrush handle. The present toothbrush holder is adapted to conveniently, securely and precisely hold various brands, sizes and types of conventional toothbrushes simultaneously in a single holder. The present invention further embodies principles of a relatively inexpensive, replaceable or removal, frictional holding means for engaging various sizes, shapes and types of toothbrushes. The toothbrush holder of the invention is adaptable to provide a substantially aesthetically pleasing appearance and also provides substantial ease, reliability and convenience of maintaining the holder in a hygienic manner during extended use.
[0006] Accordingly, it is an advantage of the present invention to provide a toothbrush holder adaptable for frictionally engaging toothbrushes of different brands, sizes and shapes in a single holder unit.
[0007] It is another advantage of the present invention to provide a toothbrush holder which promotes good hygiene in a substantially easy, reliable, convenient and cost-effective manner.
[0008] It is another advantage of the present invention to provide a toothbrush holder which promotes good hygiene by providing a removal and/or replaceable means of holding or engaging a toothbrush to be stored in the holder.
[0009] It is yet another advantage of the present invention to provide a toothbrush holder having a removal holding component for frictionally engaging a desired toothbrush.
[0010] Still another advantage of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush holder which is suitable to frictionally engages a desired toothbrush in a holding component which has been treated with an antibacterial agent.
[0011] These and other advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description, drawings and appended claims.
[0012]
[0013]
[0014]
[0015]
[0016]
[0017] As illustrated in
[0018] A toothbrush may be secured in the toothbrush holder by substantially engaging a toothbrush within the toothbrush holder
[0019] The toothbrush maybe any brand, size, shape or type which includes bristles and a handle. The handle normally has a relatively uniform thickness and includes a front surface, a rear surface, and side surfaces. The handle also generally includes a head portion, a body portion, a neck portion disposed between the head portion and the body portion, and a shoulder region or shank having sloped shoulder surfaces on the sides of the handle where the neck portion adjoins the body portion. The bristles are mounted on the head portion of the handle and the toothbrush is gripped in the user's hand by the body portion of the handle.
[0020] The body member
[0021] As shown in
[0022] In
[0023] The toothbrush holder may be used by affixing the body member
[0024] Although the foregoing detailed description discloses preferred aspects embodying principles of the present invention, one of ordinary skill in the art would understand that such detail aspects of the present invention are subject to numerous modifications and alterations. For example, holder
[0025] Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to specific embodiments as described in detail hereinabove.