US3741378A - Protector for a toothbrush or the like - Google Patents

Protector for a toothbrush or the like Download PDF

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Publication number
US3741378A
US3741378A US00113539A US3741378DA US3741378A US 3741378 A US3741378 A US 3741378A US 00113539 A US00113539 A US 00113539A US 3741378D A US3741378D A US 3741378DA US 3741378 A US3741378 A US 3741378A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
wall
toothbrush
handle
bristle
enclosure
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00113539A
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English (en)
Inventor
M Parker
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Individual
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Individual
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Publication date
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Publication of US3741378A publication Critical patent/US3741378A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
    • A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
    • A45D44/00—Other cosmetic or toiletry articles, e.g. for hairdressers' rooms
    • A45D44/16—Hair-collecting boxes or containers for the same purpose ; Hair collecting devices, e.g. with suction means
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61C—DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE
    • A61C17/00—Devices for cleaning, polishing, rinsing or drying teeth, teeth cavities or prostheses; Saliva removers; Dental appliances for receiving spittle
    • A61C17/06—Saliva removers; Accessories therefor
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61C—DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE
    • A61C17/00—Devices for cleaning, polishing, rinsing or drying teeth, teeth cavities or prostheses; Saliva removers; Dental appliances for receiving spittle
    • A61C17/06—Saliva removers; Accessories therefor
    • A61C17/08—Aspiration nozzles
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61C—DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE
    • A61C17/00—Devices for cleaning, polishing, rinsing or drying teeth, teeth cavities or prostheses; Saliva removers; Dental appliances for receiving spittle
    • A61C17/06—Saliva removers; Accessories therefor
    • A61C17/12—Control devices, e.g. for suction

Definitions

  • Toothbrush holders per se are old. Yet none of these toothbrush holders has found commercial acceptance. The reasons for the lack of commercial acceptance are many. They can be understood by examining the various holders shown in prior art patents and grouped according to the shortcoming of each one.
  • toothbrush holder patents such as Mac- Shane U.S. Pat. No. 1,708,423, shows a device which does not provide a sterilizing agent at all, but merely purifies the air around the toothbrush.
  • An inventive toothbrush holder should do more than purify the air around the toothbrush.
  • None of these prior art toothbrush holders combines any of the above features, let alone combining all of these features with additional features, into a compact product which is easy and inexpensive to manufacture to permit sale to the consumer-user at an attractive price.
  • toothbrush protector which effectively sanitizes a toothbrush located therein, which permits the bristle end of a toothbrush to be inserted into the protector in one motion, which holds the vapors from the sanitizing agent in the protector, which permits easy refilling of the sanitizing agent, and which is integrally formed to be inexpensive to manufacture, easy to insertion of the toothbrush handle and for defining a bristle'receiving space, and end flap means over the open end having an opening for receiving the toothbrush handle therebetween.
  • the protector may have a sanitizing agent compartment containing a sanitizing agent, with one wall thereof being ported to permit the fumes of the sanitizing agent to flow into the enclosure, and with another wall thereof having a hole selectively closed by a cap to permit the refilling of the sanitizing agent.
  • the enclosure may be made in two parts with all of the walls integrally formed, except the front wall, which is adhesively secured thereto.
  • the flap means may include upper and lower end flaps of a resilient material having opposed edges defining the opening.
  • FIG. 1 is a partially broken away top view of the protector according to this invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a partially broken away view taken along the stepped plane II-II of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the plane III-III of FIG. 2.
  • FIG. 4 is a fragmentary end elevational view taken along the plane IV-IV of FIG. 2.
  • the protector is for receiving a toothbrush 6, or the like, having a handle 7 with one end thereof having transverse rows of bristles 8.
  • the bristle rows 8 are illustratively shown as 9 in number and occupy a-space on the handle 7 adjacent one end thereof.
  • a toothbrush is used to brush particles and other debris from the teeth and gums of a persons mouth.
  • the toothbrush 6 is left exposed to dry in the air.
  • the bristle end of the handle 7, containing the bristles 8 are vulnerable to injury.
  • the bristle end of the handle 7 and the bristles 8 collect bacteria, germs, etc. from the air.
  • the protector protects and sanitizes the bristle end of the handle 7 and the bristles 8 of the toothbrush 6 to destroy these bacteria and germs and protect the user from infection thereby.
  • the protector includes an enclosure 10 with a plurality of walls and an open end, guide means of upper and lower guides 20 and 24 for guidingthe insertion of the bristle end of the handle 7 into the enclosure 10 and into a bristle receiving space, a sanitizing agent container 30 for holding a sanitizing agent 32 which passes into the bristle receiving space to collect therein for sanitizingthe bristles 8 and bristle end of the handle 7, and end flap means including upper and lower end flaps 40 and 41 for defining an opening42 through which the bristle end of the as a self-contained portable unit, but could be designed to mount on a wall, such as a bathroom wall, or could be combined with another item of related function into a combination toiletry article.
  • the enclosure 10 could also be grouped with other enclosures 10 for receiving a plurality of toothbrushes 6 or the like.
  • the enclosure 10 of the preferred embodiment is constructed in two parts.
  • the primary part is a rear wall 11 integrally including a right end wall 12, a bottom wall 13 and a top wall 14.
  • the other part of the enclosure 10 is a front wall 15 which is adhesively or otherwise suitably secured to the'transverse walls 12, 13 and 14 to complete the enclosure 10.
  • the left end of theen: closure 10, opposite the right end wall 12, is open for receiving the toothbrush 6. y
  • the guide means for guiding the insertion of the bristle end of the handle 7 into the'enclosure 10 includes, in the preferred embodiment, an upper guide and spaced therebelow, a lower guide 24.
  • the upper guide 20 has a lower wall 21 integrally formed with the rear wall 11 and extending from the open end of the enclo sure 10 toward the right end wall 12, a distance less than half way.
  • the upper guide 20 also includes an end wall 22 integrally formed with the rear wall 11 and extending from the inner end of the lower wall 21 to the top wall 14.
  • the lower guide 24 includes an upper wall 25.and an end wall 26 integrally formed with the rear wall 11.
  • the upper wall 25 is spaced below the lower wall 21, a distance greater than the thickness of the handle 7 and extends from the open end of the enclosure 10 towards the right end wall 12, a distance less than half way.
  • the end wall 26 then depends from the inner end of the upper wall 25 to meet with the bottom wall 13.
  • the end wall 26 is spaced from the right end wall 12 a distance greater than the length of the space occupied by the rows of bristles 8 on the end of the handle 7 to provide a bristle receiving space.
  • a cap 35 with an easily grasp tab 36 is provided over a hole 38 opening into the container 30 through the top wall 14. By grasping the tab 36 and raising the cap 35, the hole 38 is opened to permit the liquid sanitizing agent 32 to be poured into the container 30, filling the sponge 33. When the sponge 33 is saturated with liquid sanitizing agent, the cap 35 closes the hole 38, to prevent the spilling of the sanitizing agent. 7
  • the end flap means for closing around the handle 7 to retain the loss of sanitizing agent vapors 32 in the enclosure 10 includes, in the preferred embodiment,
  • the end flaps 40 and 41 are generally rectangular in shape and are made of a resilient material such as rubber. Each end flap 40 or 41 has a length slightly less than half of the height of the enclosure 10.
  • the upper end flap 40 has a lower edge 43 and the lower end flap 41 has an upper edge 44 which when the end flaps 40 and 41 are mounted over the open end of the enclosure 10, define the opening 42 between the end flaps 40 and 41. This opening 42 is midway between the upper and lower walls 21 and 25 of the guides 20 and 24, to receive the handle 7 of the toothbrush 6 therethrough.
  • the flaps 40 and 41 close around the handle 10 to effectively close the open end of the enclosure 10 and retain the sanitizing agent vapor in the enclosure 10.
  • the lower wall 29 is spaced from the top wall 14 and extends forwardly from the right end wall 14 to terminate in the end wall 28, spaced from the right end wall 12 of the enclosure 10, spaced from the end wall 22 of the upper guide 20, and extending to the top wall 14.
  • the lower wall 29 is provided with rows of ports 31 to permit the fumes of the sanitizing agent 32 to pass from the container 30 into the enclosure 10.
  • a sponge 33 or other absorbent material is located in the container 30 to hold the liquid sanitizing agent in the container.
  • the sanitizing agent will be a volatile liquid which will be held by the sponge 33, and
  • the protector according to this invention provides a novel toothbrush holder which easily yet effectively protects and sanitizes the bristles 8 and bristle end of a toothbrush 6 inserted therein.
  • a protector for a toothbrush or the like having a handle, with bristles depending from one end thereof,
  • an enclosure having a rear wall, 'a front wall, a top wall, a bottom wall, and one end wall, the other end being open, upper and lower guides in the enclosure at the open end, said guides being spaced apart a distance greater than the handle thickness and the lower guide being spaced from the one end wall a distance greater than the length of space the bristles occupy on the handle, to form a bristle receiving space therebetween,
  • top wall, the bottom wall, the one end wall and the upper and lower walls of the guides are integrally formed on the rear wall and receive the front wall thereagainst, and
  • end flap means on the enclosure at the open end for closing the open end, said end flap means having an opening for receiving the handle of the toothbrush therebetween and being flexible to permit the passage of the bristles end of the toothbrush therebetween into and from the bristle receiving space.
  • a protector for a toothbrush or the like having a handle, with bristles depending from one end thereof, said protector comprising:
  • an enclosure having a rear wall, a front wall, a top wall, a bottom wall, and one end wall, the other end being open,
  • end flap means on the enclosure at the open end for closing the open end said end flap means having an opening for receiving the handle of the toothbrush therebetween and being flexible to permit the passage of the bristles end of the toothbrush therebetween into and from the bristle receiving space
  • said enclosure also including a sanitizing agent comwherein a wall of the enclosure, contains a hole opening into the interior of the sanitizing agent compartment, to pemit the refilling of the compartment with sanitizing agent, and wherein a cap is provided for selectively closing the hole to prevent the loss of the sanitizing agent therethrough.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Dentistry (AREA)
  • Epidemiology (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Brushes (AREA)
US00113539A 1971-02-08 1971-02-08 Protector for a toothbrush or the like Expired - Lifetime US3741378A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US11353971A 1971-02-08 1971-02-08

Publications (1)

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US3741378A true US3741378A (en) 1973-06-26

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00113539A Expired - Lifetime US3741378A (en) 1971-02-08 1971-02-08 Protector for a toothbrush or the like

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US3741378A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2124575B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3884635A (en) * 1973-08-24 1975-05-20 Elizabeth Sloan Sanitary toothbrush holder
US4124117A (en) * 1977-10-14 1978-11-07 Rudy Marion F Apparatus for repressuring tennis and similar play balls
US4746496A (en) * 1983-12-21 1988-05-24 Kharkovsky Nauchno-Issledovatelsky Institut Obschei I Neotlozhnoi Khirugii Case for sterilization and sterile storage of objects
US4852742A (en) * 1987-10-26 1989-08-01 Kathleen Scuorzo Kit assembly for oral hygiene care
US4915219A (en) * 1988-10-24 1990-04-10 Anthony Ottimo Disinfecting toothbrush container
US4930638A (en) * 1989-09-11 1990-06-05 Vasconcellos Rita L Denture brush travel case
US4940139A (en) * 1989-10-17 1990-07-10 Jean Sandt Mop head container
USD320518S (en) 1989-08-21 1991-10-08 Jean Sandt Mop head storage container
US5295575A (en) * 1993-05-20 1994-03-22 Gonzalez Santos O Toothbrush holder and room odorizer
US5487877A (en) * 1992-02-01 1996-01-30 Choi; Min K. Restroom organizer and sterilizing apparatus
US5692603A (en) * 1995-03-24 1997-12-02 Stotesbury; Dean L. Toothbrush case
US6099813A (en) * 1998-06-30 2000-08-08 Gipson, Ii; Lovelace Preston Toothbrush holder and sanitizer case
US20100243493A1 (en) * 2008-04-15 2010-09-30 Angela Harris Apparatus for an electric toothbrush cover
US20130284626A1 (en) * 2012-04-26 2013-10-31 Legeci Inc. Case for tooth-cleaning stick

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1079618A (en) * 1912-08-07 1913-11-25 Elma Mfg Co Tooth-brush holder.
US1283403A (en) * 1917-06-29 1918-10-29 J P Eustis Mfg Company Holder for tooth-brushes.
US1486957A (en) * 1922-06-15 1924-03-18 Arthur E England Toothbrush container
US1708423A (en) * 1927-09-12 1929-04-09 Macshane James Lee Sterilizing toothbrush holder
FR36786E (fr) * 1929-01-18 1930-08-16 Brosse à dents à tête démontable et à dispositifs de stérilisation externe et interne
US2043629A (en) * 1935-11-02 1936-06-09 Lyon Bethuel Boyd Vincent Antiseptic container for tooth brushes
US3315402A (en) * 1964-10-01 1967-04-25 Leo J Kottas Live bait container with improved cover

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3100002A (en) * 1960-09-19 1963-08-06 Jesse C Moore Valve structure
SE318365C (sv) * 1966-12-13 1973-08-20 Svenska Utvecklingsaktiebolaget Suab Dental suganläggning
GB1166670A (en) * 1966-12-15 1969-10-08 Richard Robert Jackson Medical Air Flow Instrument
FR2035488A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1969-02-14 1970-12-18 Durr Dental Ohg

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1079618A (en) * 1912-08-07 1913-11-25 Elma Mfg Co Tooth-brush holder.
US1283403A (en) * 1917-06-29 1918-10-29 J P Eustis Mfg Company Holder for tooth-brushes.
US1486957A (en) * 1922-06-15 1924-03-18 Arthur E England Toothbrush container
US1708423A (en) * 1927-09-12 1929-04-09 Macshane James Lee Sterilizing toothbrush holder
FR36786E (fr) * 1929-01-18 1930-08-16 Brosse à dents à tête démontable et à dispositifs de stérilisation externe et interne
US2043629A (en) * 1935-11-02 1936-06-09 Lyon Bethuel Boyd Vincent Antiseptic container for tooth brushes
US3315402A (en) * 1964-10-01 1967-04-25 Leo J Kottas Live bait container with improved cover

Cited By (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3884635A (en) * 1973-08-24 1975-05-20 Elizabeth Sloan Sanitary toothbrush holder
US4124117A (en) * 1977-10-14 1978-11-07 Rudy Marion F Apparatus for repressuring tennis and similar play balls
US4746496A (en) * 1983-12-21 1988-05-24 Kharkovsky Nauchno-Issledovatelsky Institut Obschei I Neotlozhnoi Khirugii Case for sterilization and sterile storage of objects
US4852742A (en) * 1987-10-26 1989-08-01 Kathleen Scuorzo Kit assembly for oral hygiene care
US4915219A (en) * 1988-10-24 1990-04-10 Anthony Ottimo Disinfecting toothbrush container
USD320518S (en) 1989-08-21 1991-10-08 Jean Sandt Mop head storage container
US4930638A (en) * 1989-09-11 1990-06-05 Vasconcellos Rita L Denture brush travel case
US4940139A (en) * 1989-10-17 1990-07-10 Jean Sandt Mop head container
US5487877A (en) * 1992-02-01 1996-01-30 Choi; Min K. Restroom organizer and sterilizing apparatus
US5295575A (en) * 1993-05-20 1994-03-22 Gonzalez Santos O Toothbrush holder and room odorizer
US5692603A (en) * 1995-03-24 1997-12-02 Stotesbury; Dean L. Toothbrush case
US6099813A (en) * 1998-06-30 2000-08-08 Gipson, Ii; Lovelace Preston Toothbrush holder and sanitizer case
US20100243493A1 (en) * 2008-04-15 2010-09-30 Angela Harris Apparatus for an electric toothbrush cover
US20130284626A1 (en) * 2012-04-26 2013-10-31 Legeci Inc. Case for tooth-cleaning stick
US8973754B2 (en) * 2012-04-26 2015-03-10 Legeci Inc. Case for tooth-cleaning stick

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2124575A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1972-09-22
FR2124575B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1977-08-26

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