US20030070998A1

US20030070998A1 - Bathroom utensil holder with magnetic cap

Info

Publication number: US20030070998A1
Application number: US09/976,659
Authority: US
Inventors: David Bulka
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-10-12
Filing date: 2001-10-12
Publication date: 2003-04-17

Abstract

A bathroom utensil holder with magnetic fastener cap system is disclosed: The system includes a mounting member and at least one magnetic fastener cap. The magnetic fastener cap has a high strength permanent magnet inserted inside. The mounting member is a galvanized steel plate or shaped rod. The mounting member has double stick foam tape and or suction cups for mounting.

The magnetic fastener cap slips on the end of utensil handles ( toothbrushes, nail clippers, shaving razor, scissors, tweezers, pencils and cap of tooth paste tube. When the magnetic fastener cap is attached to handle of utensil it holds the utensil to the steel mounting member with magnetic attraction. Utensils hang vertically downward from the mounting member providing hygienic cleanliness for the toothbrushes and utensils helping organize utensils.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

Bathroom utensil holder with magnetic fastener cap This invention relates to bathroom utensil holders and more particularly to utensil holders using magnetic attraction to hold bath utensil to the mounting member.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

In the past bath utensils with handles have been stored in drawers, cups, medicine cabinets shelves, and varied holders. The problem with this is most utensils with handles are not stored in one easily assessable place—(toothbrushes, scissors, razors, tweezers, nail clippers etc) are not stored in a hygienic manner. For example, many wall mounted toothbrush holders, counter top toothbrush cups and holders are limited to hold only toothbrushes.

The other utensils are stored in other places limiting the users quick access to all utensils. Therefore the utensils are scattered in various places and are not easily accessible for use Another common problem with toothbrush storage systems is they are not hygienic. When toothbrushes are stored in cups bacteria and contaminants tend to develop in the moist bottom of the cup. Thereby the end of the toothbrush handle carries the bacteria to the users hand when toothbrush is used. When the toothbrushes are stored in wall mounted toothbrush holders the handle slips through the hole of the holder, and the moist bristles contact bacteria on the holder One other problem is the bristles are bent when in contact with the wall mounted holder. Other types of toothbrush storage devices encapsulate the bristles of the toothbrush preventing ventilation through the bristles. Therefore these bristles do not completely dry between uses and are subject to growth of bacteria Another common problem is many new toothbrushes have larger handles. Many cups and wall mounted toothbrush holders have small holes and are unable to store toothbrushes with larger handles. There is a need for a new type of toothbrush and utensil holder which will hold utensils with different size handles all in on place.

Utensils with small handles include—toothbrushes, razors, scissors, tweezers, nail clippers, nail files, pencils.

Also a need exists for a light weight hygienic toothbrush/utensil holder that holds these utensils with magnetic power

OTHER DESIGNS

There are designed storage systems which use magnetic attraction to store toothbrushes in a manner where bristles do not contact any other surface when the toothbrush is not in use. These examples only mount customized toothbrushes, while this new invention can be used with many utensils.

EXAMPLE: U.S. Pat. No. 5,163,566 issued to Jeffery D. Hempel on Nov. 25, 1991 discloses a magnetic toothbrush holder that included a magnet permanently affixed to the handle of a customized toothbrush, and then the brush attaches to the mounting member.

ANOTHER EXAMPLE: of an magnetic toothbrush holder is U.S. Pat. No. 3,782,799 issued to H H Hansen on Jan. 1, 1974. This holder includes a permanent magnetic wheel and each customized toothbrush has a steel block imbedded in the handle that attracts to the magnetic wheel. Similar magnetic toothbrush holders are seen in A E Lockholder on Jan. 21, 1947 U.S. Pat. No. 2,414,653

Another type of magnetic toothbrush holder is disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 2,642.999 issued to J C McPherson on Jun. 23, 1953

THE PROBLEM WITH OTHER DESIGNS

The problems these known magnetic toothbrush holders display is that they hold the toothbrush vertically with bristles held upward. After used toothbrushes are hung on these magnetic holders, moisture tends to drip down from the bristles to the handle creating a pasty residue that dries on the handle, where addition air carried bacteria can accumulate. These magnetic holders are limited to toothbrushes only They can not be easily stored in one place or hold other bathroom utensils with handles—(toothbrushes, razors, scissors, tweezers, nail clippers, nail files and pencils.) Most importantly these magnetic toothbrush holders limit the user to use only their custom made steel or magnet impregnated toothbrush. Many different sized and shaped toothbrush handles exist today. Holders described above can not contain these brushes. Magnetic fastener caps retain varied sized handles in a proper hygienic manner.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The objective of this present invention is to provide organized and hygienic storage of large and small handled utensils via magnetic power.

Another objective of this invention will provide hygienic storage for conventional toothbrushes with bristles to hang vertically downward, therefore toothbrushes make no contact with any bacteria on wall mounted holders or inside bottom of cups.

Another objective of this invention will provide a magnetic fastener cap which attaches to different size toothbrush handles, and bath utensils with small handles The magnetic fastener cap is reusable. After toothbrush bristles are worn, the fastener cap can be placed on a new toothbrush.

Another objective will provide a toothbrush / utensil holder that easily mounts to surfaces such as tile, mirror, wood, walls, inside cabinets by either suction cups, mounting tape or screws.

These and other objectives of the present invention are achieved through a toothbrush/utensil holder comprised of a main mounting member formed of non corrosive steel. The magnetic fastener cap contains a high strength permanent magnet that slips easily onto varied sized handles of toothbrushes, and other utensils. A utensil with magnetic fastener cap on end of handle easily adheres to the non corrosive main mounting member.

Advantages of this present invention include the easy access of different utensils in one mounting member. Utensils located vertically on mounting member hang downward with magnetic fastener cap attached to the end of utensil handle. The magnetic fastener cap can be easily removed and reused on other small handled utensils.

These and other objects of the present invention will now become apparent from a review of the drawings and the following description and preferred embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIRST EMBODIMENT OF INVENTION

Referring Now to FIG. 1

A first embodiment of Bathroom Utensil Holder with Magnetic cap comprises a [0018] toothbrush utensil holder 1 with magnetic fastener caps 2 plurality of magnetic fastener caps 2 slipped onto the end of handle of toothbrush 3, razor 4, nail clipper 5, scissors 6, tweezers 7 and toothpaste tube 8.
The [0019] toothbrush utensil holder 1 comprises a main mounting member 9 with end caps 10 with mounting suction cups 11. A plurality of magnetic fastener caps 2 slipped onto the end of handle of toothbrush 3, razor 4, nail clipper 5, scissors 6, tweezers 7 arid toothpaste tube 8. Items 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, have typical dimensions. A first embodiment of toothbrush/utensil holder 1 of the present invention is shown.

Referring to FIG. 2

The [0020] magnetic fastener cap 2 has a permanent magnet 13 enclosed within cavity 14 of cap 16. The utensil handle 17 can be slipped inside cavity 14. The cap 16 is preferably made of an expandable plastic material.
FIG. 2A, 2B and [0021] 2C show cross section views of preferred embodiment of the magnetic fastener cap 2 showing magnet 13 and cap 16.

FIG. 3. Mounting Techniques for Mounting Member

Referring now to FIG. 3A a second embodiment rear view of the mounting [0022] member 9. The mounting member 9 has suction cup or cups 11, that slip into channel 18 of rear side of mounting member 9, plastic end caps 10 are attached to the end of the mounting member 9. These plastic end caps 10 keep the suction cup 11 from sliding out of channel 18. This allows the mounting member 9 to adhere to clean smooth surfaces with suction cups.
FIG. 3B shows a side view of mounting [0023] member 9 with suction cup 11 in channel 18 of mounting member 9.
FIG. 3C shows another method of mounting the mounting [0024] member 9. Adhesive foam mounting tape 15 is attached to the mounting member 9 which can be mounted to dry smooth surfaces such as tile, mirrors, wood, metal, wall board and glass.
FIG. 3D shows another method of mounting the mounting [0025] member 9. After screw 19 is mounted to mounting surface, mounting member 9 can be attached by sliding mounting bar onto screw heads 20.

FIG. 4

Referring now to FIG. 4A is a front view of different mounting [0026] member 21 which is made of non corrosive steel. This mounting member 21 can be formed with different decorative designs. This mounting member 21 can be mounted to smooth surfaces with adhesive foam mounting tape 22.
FIG. 4B is side view of mounting [0027] member 21 with adhesive foam mounting tape 22. Other conventional mounting methods can be used.

Claims

We claim:

1. Bathroom utensil holder with magnetic fastener cap Comprising:

A main mounting member made of corrosion resistant steel.

A main mounting member consisting of magnetic conducive material

mounting member has three mounting features (suction cups, pressure sensitive adhesive foam tape or screws):

A magnetic fastener cap containing a permanent magnet-

A magnetic fastener cap is held by magnetic attraction to the mounting member

A magnetic fastener cap receiving a utensil handle securely inserted in the fastener cap cavity.

A mounting member which allows magnetic fastener cap to be positioned anywhere along its surface

2. Method for storing toothbrushes with various size handles, storing toothbrushes and utensils hanging with handle upward and in a vertical position.

A hygienic utensil holder which prevents utensils such as toothbrushes from coming in contact with bacteria commonly found in cups and on the surface of ordinary holders.

A method for mounting utensils such as toothbrushes, razors, tweezers, scissors, nail clippers, pencils and markers

A mounting member which can be attached to vertical flat surfaces such as glass, mirrors, walls, wood, cabinets, tile, metal, steel.