GB2232581A

GB2232581A - Improvements relating to toothbrush holders

Info

Publication number: GB2232581A
Application number: GB9012944A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Patrick Aplin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-06-14
Filing date: 1990-06-11
Publication date: 1990-12-19
Anticipated expiration: 2010-06-11
Also published as: GB9012944D0; GB8913712D0; GB2232581B

Abstract

A toothbrush cabinet has two side-by-side compartments (10, 11) accessible from the front. Each can hold a toothbrush (19, 20) upright and at the base of one compartment (10) there is a removable bath (14) containing sterilising liquid in which the head of one toothbrush (19) rests. The other compartment (11) holds a toothbrush (20) to dry after sterilisation, and the brushes are used in alternation. <IMAGE>

Description

"Improvements relating to Toothbrush Holders" This invention relates to toothbrush holders.

Toothbrushes are often stored in a common glass or left lying about on a bathroom shelf. That is obviously unhygienic. Slightly more meticulous households have a holder, often comprising a series of slots around a ring which holds a glass or tumbler, and the brushes are held in these slots, resting on their bristles. They are not always put back in the same slot and so there is the risk of cross-contamination. Also, the bristles remain exposed to airborne dust, powders, hairsprays, deodorants and other toiletries.

It is the aim of this invention to provide a better and more protective storage for toothbrushes.

According to the present invention there is provided a toothbrush cabinet comprising a pair of side-by-side compartments for holding toothbrushes upright and accessible from the front, one compartment having a bath for sterilising liquid at its base for receiving the head of a toothbrush.

Conveniently, the bath is removable so that it can easily be taken out, cleaned, replenished and replaced.

Preferably, the other compartment will have means for holding a toothbrush with its head free from the internal walls so that it can dry out.

For family use, the cabinet may have a plurality of compartment pairs.

For a better understanding of the invention one embodiment will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a toothbrush cabinet, Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing closure members and a sterilising bath shifted out of their normal positions, and Figure 3 is a view similar to Figures 1 and 2 without the closure members but showing toothbrushes in stowed positions.

The cabinet of Figures 1 to 3 is of rectangular box-like form, its longitudinal axis being upright. It has a base 1, side walls 2, a top 3 and a rear wall 4, and the side walls have inturned flanges 5. The top 3 does not extend out as far as these flanges, so two doors 6 and 7 can be slid down in tandem to close the cabinet, these being supported by the forward edge of the base 1 and retained by the flanges 5. The lower door 6 is smaller than the upper door 7, and both have finger recesses 8 to enable them to be lifted out.

Internally, the cabinet is divided by a vertical partition 9, giving two compartments 10 and 11 open to the front. One compartment 10 has a web 12 across it near the top, and a notch 13 is formed in the forward edge of this.

At the bottom, the compartment 10 receives a box-like opentopped container 14. The other compartment 11 has two webs 15 and 16 across it, one near the top but slightly lower than the web 12, and the other near the bottom. These webs also have notches 17 and 18 respectively in their forward edges.

For use, the container 14 is filled with sterilising liquid and placed in the bottom of the compartment 10, where it is confined by the smaller lower door 6. A toothbrush 19 is placed in this compartment head downwards in the container 14 and with its handle located by the notch 13. Another toothbrush 20 is placed in the other compartment 11 head upwards and above the web 15, with its handle located by the notches 17 and 18. This arrangment ensures that the brush head is free from the internal walls.

Good practice is for the user to take the brush 20 and to switch the brush 19 to the compartment 11 to allow it to dry out. After use, the brush 20 is placed in the compartment for sterilising. Thus the brushes are used alternately.

It will be understood that, for families, a larger cabinet with many more compartments can be provided; it should be easy to identify which member of the family "owns" which pair of compartments. Alternatively, a number of cabinets such as that of Figures 1 to 3 may be mounted side by side.

Claims

1. A toothbrush cabinet comprising a pair of side-by-side compartments for holding toothbrushes upright and accessible from the front, one compartment having a bath for sterilising liquid at its base for receiving the head of a toothbrush.

2. A cabinet as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the bath is removable.

3. A cabinet as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the other compartment has means for holding a toothbrush with its head free from the internal walls.

4. A cabinet as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein there is a plurality of compartment pairs.

5. A toothbrush cabinet substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.