US2474621A - Toothbrush sterilizer - Google Patents

Description

June 28, 1949. .J. FEDERICO 1 TOOTHBRUSH STERILIZER Filed May 5, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' IN VEN TOR.

@ 6 ffcig zkg ATTCI RN EYE Patented June 32$, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOOTHBRUSH STERILIZER Joseph Federico, Newark, N. J. Application May 5. 1947, Serial No. 746,014

1 4 Claims. This invention relates to a tooth brush sterilizer.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a sterilizer of such construction that each time that a brush is inserted in the same, sterilizing fluid will be delivered to the brush and wherein the brush can be retained within the sterilizer in an airtight condition with sterilizing fluid disposed beneath it and wherein there is a plurality of chambers for the different brushes of the different members of the family and wherein the support for individual tooth brush container is mountable on a Wall and can be rotated for adjustment to provide access to the different brushes removable from the top of the same.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a tooth brush sterilizer which is of simple construction, automatic in operation, inexpensive to manufacture and of compact design.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of my tooth brush sterilizer showing the mounting bracket by which the same is connected to a wall.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view, in elevation, taken through the sterilizer.

Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the sterilizer with parts broken away.

Figs. 4 and. 5 are respectively transverse crosssectional views takenrespectively on lines 4-4 and 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail view of a cover opening device with the cover in the closed position.

Fig. 7 is a similar fragmentary and cross-sectional view where the cover opening lever has been depressed to raise the cover.

the upper ends of the containers I8 is a top plate 2| having openings 22 for providing access to the upper ends of the containers I8.

Extending upwardly through the central structure I9 is a filling tube 23 through which upon removing a cap 24, sterilizing fluid is poured into a bottom chamber receptacle 24' threadedly con nected with a flange on the bottom end of the tube 23 as indicated at 25. The tube 23 and the receptacle 24' is removable from the central structure when the part I! has been disengaged from the receptacle l6.

Leading from the receptacle 24 are conduit structures 2'! having at their ends cylinders 28 in which plungers 29 work and extend upwardly into the bottom of the containers |8 and having top plate portions 3| with which the ends of the tooth brushes engage to cause the plunger 29 to be depressed against the action of a spring 32 within the cylinder 28. Antiseptic or sterilizing liquid is conducted to the cylinders 28 and will be forced upwardly through a central hole 33 in the plunger 29 when the plunger is depressed.

On the top plate 2| there are mounted a plurality of covers 34 for closing respectively the openings 22 through which the tooth brushes are extended. These covers are hinged to the plate 2| through spring hinge devices 35 which tend to maintain the covers in their closed positions. These springs of the hinges are stronger than the springs 32 within the cylinders 28 and will when the covers 34 engage the upper ends of the tooth brushes cause the tooth brushes to depress the plunger 29 against the action of the springs 32.

In order to facilitate the opening of the covers 34 against the action of the spring hinges 35, there are provided respectively pivoted levers 31 engaging with the other faces of the covers and Referring now to the figures, I0 represents a 4o which when depressed will cause the covers to bracket of U shape adapted to be attached to a wall surface and having top and bottom laterally extending portions II and I2. Mounted upon the bottom section I2 is a spindle |3 extending through an opening in the section I2 and secured thereto by a nut I4. This spindle is connected to a cup shaped bottom l5 having a top externally threaded portion I6 adapted to receive an upper part IT on which is mounted aplurality of circumferentially spaced tubes |8 adapted to receive and contain tooth brushes. The containers 3 are mounted in recesses of an upwardly extending central structure I9 integral with the part l1 and having lightening slots t9. On the be raised upwardly as illustrated in Fig. 7. On the outer end of each lever 31 is a finger plate 38. On the covers 34 are cam projections 39 which are engaged by the upper edge of the levers 31.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A tooth brush sterilizer and retainer comprising a receptacle for containing a sterilizing medium, an upper part disposed above the receptop of the central structure and extending over 56 tacle, a cup shaped member enclosing the receptacle and connected to the upper part, tooth brush containers extending upwardly from the upper part, cylinders connected to the upper part and depending therefrom into the cup shaped base, conduit means connecting the cylinders with the receptacle so that sterilizing liquid may be communicated to the cylinders, plunger elements operable in the cylinders and adapted to be depressed by the tooth brushes when disposed in their cdritainerswlierby to clause the sterilizing liquid tobe -force'd upwardly onto the brush and into the containers.

2. A tooth brush sterilizer and retainer as de''- fined in claim 1 in which a central structure extends upwardly from the upper part and enc'em:

4-;' A to( ith brush sterilizer ahd retainer as defined in claim 1 in which a central structure exitends upwardly from the upper part and encompassing the containers, a top plate on the upper endofthecentral structure and having openings register-ingwith the upper end of the containers,

registering with the upper endo'ftliecohtainers;

covers on the top plate for closing the top open the upper end of the tube and the base and.

adapted t6'be attached to a WaIYS'u'rface.

JOSEBH'FEIQERICO,

No. references cited;

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