Abstract:
A toothbrush cover comprising a sheet of material is provided for wrapping about toothbrush bristles for protecting a toothbrush between uses. The sheet protects the head and bristles of the toothbrush by providing a protective seal around same. A stack of sheets is provided, with liners disposed between the sheets to separate the sheets for use. A container for holding a stack of sheets is provided, and includes one or more pins for engagement with one or more apertures on the sheets to align the sheets in a stack. A roll of protective sheets is provided, wherein individual sheets can be withdrawn from a roll dispenser for use.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates generally to a toothbrush cover and specifically to a disposable sheet for wrapping about a toothbrush for protecting the toothbrush head and bristles from contamination between uses.  
         [0003]     2. Related Art  
         [0004]     It is desirable to cover the bristles of a toothbrush when not in use to protect the toothbrush from contamination by dirt and germs. Typically, between uses, toothbrushes are placed in wall holders or cup holders by a sink, leaving the toothbrush head and bristles exposed to the environment. When traveling, toothbrushes are typically stored in rigid plastic containers that encase the entire handle and brush head of the toothbrush. These containers take up substantial storage space, which is inconvenient, especially when traveling. Also, these containers cannot be inserted into wall-mounted toothbrush holders or stands. Further, such containers are used repeatedly and toothbrushes are left in the containers for long periods of time, providing a moist environment for the growth of germs in the container and on the brush bristles.  
         [0005]     Thus, a disposable cover for protecting a toothbrush from contamination and maintaining the bristles in a sanitary condition between uses is desired and has heretofore not been available. Also, it would be desirable to provide a cover which is less bulky than a conventional rigid container.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention provides a disposable cover for a toothbrush in the form of a sheet of plastic film material adapted to be wrapped about the head of a toothbrush.  
         [0007]     A plurality of sheets of the present invention can be provided in the form of a stack. The sheets may be secured together at one end. Liners may be disposed between each protective sheet. One at a time, sheets are pulled from the stack and wrapped about a toothbrush. The liners, if present, are pulled from the stack when exposed and are discarded. The stack of sheets can be positioned in a dispensing container to hold the stack of sheets.  
         [0008]     In another aspect of the present invention, the protective sheets are provided on a roll. A roll dispenser with a serrated edge could be used to dispense sheets. The dispenser could be wall-mounted. A user can place a toothbrush on a sheet, grab the sheet between the user&#39;s finger and the toothbrush, pull the sheet to extend it to a desired length, and then contact the sheet against the edge to tear the sheet from the roll for use.  
         [0009]     The present invention further provides a method of protecting a toothbrush from contamination by dirt and germs. The method includes providing a sheet of plastic film material, placing the head of a toothbrush in contact with the sheet, wrapping the sheet around the toothbrush head, and allowing the sheet to cling to itself to form a protective seal about the toothbrush head.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0010]     Other important objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following Detailed Description of the Invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0011]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  are perspective views of a stack of sheets according to the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a portion of the stack of sheets shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B .  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a top view of a sheet of the present invention with a toothbrush positioned thereon in a first orientation.  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a top view of a sheet of the present invention with a toothbrush positioned thereon in another orientation.  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the sheet of  FIG. 4  folded over a toothbrush head.  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a stack of sheets positioned in a dispensing container according to the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing a roll of sheets in a roll dispenser according to the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIGS. 8A-8C  are side views showing operation of the dispenser of  FIG. 7 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]     The present invention relates to disposable sheets for wrapping about a toothbrush. The sheets of the present invention comprise a plastic film material. The sheet material is self-adhering, that is, the material releasably clings or sticks to itself so that no additional adhesive or fastening means is required to secure the sheet about a toothbrush other than to wrap it around the toothbrush and about itself. The sheet may be pulled off to remove it from the toothbrush when desired and discarded. After the toothbrush has been used, a new sheet can be wrapped about the toothbrush to protect it from dirt and contamination until the next use of the toothbrush. The sheet is sized to wrap around a toothbrush head, and about the handle proximate to the toothbrush head, to provide complete coverage and protection to the bristles and head. A stack of sheets can be provided in a dispensing container. A roll of sheets can be provided in a roll dispenser.  
         [0020]     The invention provides a compact and easy means of protecting a toothbrush from contaminating dirt and germs, and maintains the brush in a sanitary condition. The wrapped toothbrush may conveniently be stored in any manner between uses in the same way that toothbrushes are normally stored, for example, in a standard, wall-mounted toothbrush or cup stand. When the toothbrush is used, the sheet is removed and discarded, and a new sheet is applied after the brush is used.  
         [0021]     The sheet of the invention may be of any shape, and is preferably square or rectangular. The sheet can be formed of any known, suitable material such as plasticized packaging films including polyethylene or polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC). One example of such a material is that sold by The Dow Chemical Company under the brand name SARAN WRAP®. Preferably, the material has a sufficient inherent “cling” property such that when folded or wrapped onto itself, the material is attracted to itself and remains in place. Such cling property is well-known in the art, and can be caused by tackifying agents introduced into the material, or otherwise caused.  
         [0022]     The sheets may also be coated with a non-toxic bactericide to further ensure that the toothbrush bristles wrapped in a sheet remain contaminant and/or germ-free.  
         [0023]     As shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , a plurality of sheets  10  may be assembled into a stack  20 . The sheets in the stack can be held together by a securing means  25  on one end of the stack. As shown in  FIG. 1A , the securing means can be rivets, staples, tacks, adhesives and the like. Adhesive, such as glue, double-sided tape, or releasable adhesive material can be used. The adhesive is applied to an edge of each sheet in the stack. In the case of releasable adhesive, sheets are removed by lifting one sheet off the sheet below it. In the case of a stronger adhesive or other securing means, each sheet can be removed by tearing or pulling the sheet away from the adhered portion. The sheets can be provided with perforations adjacent the securing means so that the sheet may easily be torn from the stack. As shown in  FIG. 1B , the stack may have holes  26  punched through all the sheets and the stack may be placed on a stand having projections or clips which may be inserted through the holes. In such an embodiment, each sheet is removed from the stack by lifting the sheet off the stack or tearing or pulling the sheet away from the clip or projection.  
         [0024]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , a liner  30  can be inserted between each sheet  10  to facilitate separation of the sheets from the stack  20  by minimizing clinging of adjacent sheets to each other. The liners also keep the sheets in a substantially flat and smooth condition. The liners can be manufactured from any material suitable to prevent attraction or clinging between the sheets, such as tissue paper and the like.  
         [0025]     A top or cover  31  and bottom  32  may be provided on the top and bottom of the stack to protect the sheets from contamination and to maintain a neat and orderly stack. The top and bottom may be a liner or other heavier weight, paper-like sheet.  
         [0026]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , a sheet of the invention may be placed around a toothbrush head and secured by wrapping the ends of the sheet about and around the toothbrush head, covering the bristles. However, any method for wrapping the toothbrush head and bristles in the sheet is suitable, such that the sheet fully covers and seals the bristles and head of the toothbrush to prevent contamination.  
         [0027]      FIGS. 4 and 5  show another way to wrap the sheet of the invention about a toothbrush  35  having head portion  36  and handle  37 . Toothbrush head portion  36  is placed on the sheet  10 . The upper portion of the sheet is folded down over the toothbrush head and over the lower half of the sheet and pressure is applied to the overlapping parts of the sheet to affix them to each other, or the folded sheet can be wrapped around the toothbrush.  
         [0028]     As shown in  FIG. 6 , a stack of sheets  20  may be placed in a dispensing container  40 . For use in a dispensing container, the stack may be formed with or without liners and with or without securing or attaching means on one edge of the stack. The dispensing container may have an opening on one or more sides. Any suitable dispensing container may be used for the sheets. For example, the sheets may be accordion folded with liners in between the sheets, and the sheets may be dispensed through the top slot of a box or like container.  
         [0029]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing the sheets in the form of a roll  55  and positioned in a roll dispenser, indicated generally at  50 , for dispensing protective sheets. The dispenser  50  could be in the form of a container having a top plate  65  with apertures  70  for mounting the dispenser  50  on a surface. A pair of retention tabs  67  is attached to opposite edges of the dispenser  50  for hanging the roll  55 . Arms  60  are connected to ends of the retention tabs  67 , and are interconnected by a contact surface  62  having a sharp (e.g., serrated) edge  64  for cutting individual protective sheets from roll  55 . The roll  55  is rotatably attached to and retained by the dispenser  50 , to allow an individual sheet  80  to be removed therefrom for use. When the roll  55  is expended, a new roll can be substituted. Optionally, the dispenser  50  could be fabricated in the form of a stand-alone dispenser having a base portion. Such a dispenser could be placed on a countertop or other horizontal surface for use after brushing one&#39;s teeth.  
         [0030]      FIGS. 8A-8C  are side views showing one method of operation of the dispenser  50  shown in  FIG. 7 . As shown in  FIG. 8A , the head area  92  of a user&#39;s toothbrush  90  is placed near a portion of a sheet  80  extending from roll  55 . A finger  102  of the user&#39;s hand  100  (typically, the user&#39;s index finger) presses the sheet  80  against the toothbrush  90 , so that the sheet  80  is secured between the user&#39;s finger  102  and the toothbrush  90 . The user then pulls the sheet  80  and the toothbrush  90  away from the contact edge  62  and cutting edge  64 .  
         [0031]     As shown in  FIG. 8B , the user pulls the sheet  80  from the roll  55  to extend the sheet  80  to a desired length from the roll  55  and below the cutting edge  64 . Then, as shown in  FIG. 8C , the sheet  80  is brought against the cutting edge  64  to cut an individual sheet. The sheet can then be used to wrap the toothbrush head and protect same in the manner described herein.  
         [0032]     Having thus described the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the foregoing description is not intended to limit the spirit and scope thereof. What is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.