Patent ID: 6758446
Filing Date: 2004-07-06
Classification: A46B

Abstract:
A portable toothbrush holding device formed of a rigid polymer, for sanitarily holding a toothbrush upon a generally horizontal support surface comprising:a generally planar, square shaped monolithic body having a first side and a second side, said body being of uniform thickness with a predetermined height to width ratio; at least one linear edge adapted to bear along its entire length upon said generally horizontal support surface, said linear edge having a bearing surface adapted to rest upon said generally horizontal support surface; a plurality of different size apertures each extending through said body from said first side to said second side, to accommodate toothbrush handles of different cross-sectional diameters, at least one aperture having a diameter substantially greater than the cross-section of a toothbrush handle, said apertures arranged along a centerline of said toothbrush holding device, said centerline being arranged perpendicular to said bearing surface of said toothbrush holding device; said toothbrush holding device being easily slidable on and off said toothbrush handle, and is intended to be disassembled from toothbrush handle for storage and transportation; wherein when said toothbrush handle is inserted through one of said apertures, a rigid triangle is formed with one corner comprising the meeting point between the end of the toothbrush handle and the support surface, the second corner comprising the meeting point between the linear edge of said toothbrush holding device and the support surface, the third corner being achieved by one side of the toothbrush handle tightly wedgingly engaging the corner edge defined by one face of the toothbrush holding device and one peripheral portion of the aperture through which said toothbrush handle is inserted, and the opposite side of the toothbrush handle tightly wedgingly engaging the corner edge defined by the opposite face of the toothbrush holding device and the diametrically opposite peripheral portion of said one aperture, wedging the toothbrush handle within said one aperture and rigidly elevating and supporting the bristle end of said toothbrush above said support surface, and wherein said toothbrush handle and said body are moved perpendicular to one another, the wedging engagement between said corner edges of said body and the appropriate side of the toothbrush handle become disengaged and said handle can be easily removed from said one aperture without any interference or engagement between the internal periphery of said one aperture and the external surface of the toothbrush handle.