US2714444A - Toothbrush holder - Google Patents

Description

United States Patent O TOOTHBRUSH HOLDER Mary H. Shippen, Lost Springs, Wyo. Application February 13, 1953, Serial No. 336,683 2 claims. (Cl. 20s-15.1)

This invention relates to a toothbrush holder and more particularly to a device in which a number of toothbrushes may be stored in a manner so as to be readily accessible when it is desired to use the toothbrushes.

The construction of this invention features arcuate toothbrush receiving elements having a plurality of toothbrush receiving recesses therein, each toothbrush receiving element being pivotally mounted in a casing. The toothbrush receiving element is provided with a counterweight for continuously urging the element to a closed position. Means including a guard are provided for insuring that each of the toothbrushes inserted in the toothbrush receiving recesses are fully seated in the recesses.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a sanitary toothbrush holder which includes means for sealing the toothbrush from accidental contamination to which conventional toothbrush supports or holders subject the toothbrushes carried thereby.

Still further objects of this invention reside in the provision of a toothbrush holder that is strong and durable, capable of being molded or otherwise formed from many readily available materials, simple in construction and manufacture, and capable of being produced at a relatively low cost while being highly attractive in appearance.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this toothbrush holder, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of the toothbrush holder comprising the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional detail view as taken along the plane of line 2-2 in Figure l showing the toothbrush holder in a closed position and showing in dotted lines the toothbrush holder in an open position; and,

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view as taken along the plane of line 3-3 in Figure 2.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral generally designates a casing of any suitable configuration which includes side walls 12 and 14, a front wall 16, a bottom 18 and a rear wall 20. It is to be noted that the rear wall 20 is provided with an extension 22 which may be used in securing the toothbrush holder to any vertical wall surface in the bathroom or other location where it is desired to install this device. The casing 10 is further provided with a top partition wall 24 and as can be best seen in Figures 2 and 3 each of the upper edges of the casing 10 are beveled downwardly and inwardly as at 26.

Preferably integrally formed with the casing 10 are arcuate guards 28 and 30. It is to be noted that the guards 28 and 30 and the casing 10 may be molded using a suitable plastic material such as polystyrene or other synthetic resins and may be colored to suit the taste of a prospective customer. `By means of pins 32 and 34 a pair 2,714,444 Patented Aug. 2, 1955 ICC of toothbrush receiving elements 36 and 38 are pivotally mounted within the casing 10. Each of the toothbrush receiving elements 36 and 38 is provided with an arcuate portion 40 the center of curvature thereof being located at the pivot pins 32 and 34. The elements 36 and 38 are constructed from a solid block of suitable material. The center of curvature of the guards 28 and 30 is likewise located at the pivot pins 32 and 34 respectively. A plurality of parallel recesses 42 are formed in the elements 36 and 38 and extend at an acute angle relative to the lid 44 which is integrally formed with the toothbrush receiving element and which has portions 46 thereof extending beyond and overlapping the periphery of the toothbrush receiving elements 36 and 38. The lid is provided with a lower beveled edge complementary to the beveled surfaces 26 and adapted to cooperate with the bevel surface 26 to seal the casing. Handles 48 are secured to the lids 44 and are used for raising the toothbrush receiving elements to the position as is shown in dotted lines in Figure 2 where ready access to the toothbrushes may be obtained. A lowering weight 50 is attached to each of the toothbrush receiving elements 36 and 38 in order to continuously urge the toothbrush receiving elements to their closed position.

During use of the toothbrush holder, a toothbrush may be readily removed from the recess in which it has previously been inserted. Then, the toothbrush receiving elements can be released and the elements will close due to the action of the weight 50. When it is desired to replace the toothbrush in its recess it is merely necessary to drop the toothbrush therein. If a portion of the toothbrush extends out of the recess the action of the beveled surface 26 will force the toothbrush until it is fully received in its recess due to the angular direction in which the recesses 42 are formed in the toothbrush receiving elements 36 and 38. The guards 28 and 30 will prevent the accidental dislocation of any of the toothbrushes and insure proper operation of the device.

Since from the foregoing, the construction and advantages of this toothbrush holder are readily apparent, further description is believed to be unnecessary.

However, since numerous modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the foregoing specification and accompanying drawings, it is not intended to limit the invention to the precise embodiment shown and described, but all suitable modilcations and equivalents may be readily resorted to as desired.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A toothbrush holder comprising a casing, an arcuate multiple toothbrush receiving element of ninety degree sector shape having a normally vertical side and a normally horizontal side, means pivotally securing said element within said holder at the center of curvature of said arcuate element, a lid having beveled edges extending beyond the periphery of said element, complementary beveled surfaces on the upper edges of said casing, the beveled edges of said lid engaging said beveled surfaces to seal said casing, said casing having an arcuate guard secured therein in alignment with one of said beveled surfaces, said elernent having a plurality of substantially parallel recesses therein for receiving toothbrushes, each of said recesses sloping downwardly and toward said vertical side, the innermost portions of said recesses extending below the outer portions of said recesses when said element is in both opened and closed positions.

2. A toothbrush holder comprising a casing, an arcuate multiple toothbrush receiving element of ninety degree sector shape having a normally vertical side and a normally horizontal side, means pivotally securing said clement within said holder at the center of curvature of said arcuate element, a lid having beveled edges extending beyond the periphery of said element, complementary beveled surfaces on the upper edges of said casing, the beveled edges of said lid engaging said beveled surfaces to seal said casing, said casing having an arcuate guard secured therein in alignment with one of said beveled surfaces, said element comprising a solid block having 5 a plurality of substantially parallel recesses therein for receiving toothbrushes, each of said recesses sloping down- Wardly and toward said vertical side, and a lowering weight secured to said element remote from said center of curvature. Y 10 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 544,817 Luigart Aug. 20, 1895 15 4 Mercein et al Jan. 31, Hamilton Nov. 1, Koranek Dec. 14, Ahlstedt Mar. 16, Thornberry Aug. 10, Matter Oct. 21, Paxton et a1 May 6,

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Aug. 6,

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