Toothbrush Storage Assembly

A toothbrush storage assembly for storing a toothbrush includes a pad that is comprised of a hydrophobic material to inhibit fluids from adhering to the pad. A lip is coupled to the pad to inhibit fluid from spilling off of the pad. A plurality of bristles is each coupled to and extends upwardly from the pad and a toothbrush can be scrubbed on the bristles for cleaning the toothbrush. The plurality of bristles is arranged to define on open area on the pad which accommodates a base of the toothbrush when the toothbrush is stood on the pad for storage.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention.

The disclosure relates to storage devices and more particularly pertains to a new storage device for storing a toothbrush. The device includes a pad comprised of a hydrophobic material and a plurality of bristles that each extends upwardly from the pad.

The bristles are arranged to define an open area that is centrally positioned on the pad. A toothbrush is positionable on the pad for storage such that a base of the toothbrush is positioned in the open area. In this way residual fluid on the toothbrush collects on the pad, rather than on a support surface such as a vanity or the like.

The prior art relates to storage devices including a tubular toothbrush holder with a suspension element. The prior art discloses a toothbrush holder which includes a canister having a foraminous lid for receiving bases of toothbrushes and a drain integrated into the canister for draining fluid from the toothbrushes. The prior art discloses an absorbent pad with an aperture for insertably receiving a base of a toothbrush. The prior art discloses an absorbent pad that can be positioned on a charging base of an electric toothbrush for absorbing fluid that runs off of the electric toothbrush.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a pad that is comprised of a hydrophobic material to inhibit fluids from adhering to the pad. A lip is coupled to the pad to inhibit fluid from spilling off of the pad. A plurality of bristles is each coupled to and extends upwardly from the pad and a toothbrush can be scrubbed on the bristles for cleaning the toothbrush. The plurality of bristles is arranged to define on open area on the pad which accommodates a base of the toothbrush when the toothbrush is stood on the pad for storage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As best illustrated inFIGS.1through5, the toothbrush storage assembly10generally comprises a pad12that is comprised of a hydrophobic material, including but not being limited to, silicone or rubber, to inhibit fluids from adhering to the pad12. The pad12has a top surface14, a bottom surface16and a perimeter edge18extending between the top surface14and the bottom surface16, and the perimeter edge18has a plurality of intersecting sides20such that the pad12has a rectangular shape. The pad12may have a length and a width ranging between approximately 4.0 inches and 6.0 inches.

A lip22is coupled to the pad12to inhibit fluid from spilling off of the pad12. The lip22extends upwardly from the top surface14of the pad12and the lip22is aligned with the perimeter edge18of the pad12. The lip22extends along a full length of each of the intersecting sides20of the perimeter edge18. A plurality of bristles24is each coupled to and extends upwardly from the pad12. Furthermore, a toothbrush26can be scrubbed on the bristles24for cleaning the toothbrush26. The toothbrush26may be an electric toothbrush, a manual toothbrush or any other type of toothbrush that would commonly be employed for dental hygiene.

The plurality of bristles24is arranged to define on open area28on the pad12to accommodate a base29of the toothbrush26when the toothbrush26is stood on the pad12for storage. Each of the bristles24extends upwardly from the top surface14of the pad12. The plurality of bristles24has a boundary30which is inset from the lip22such that the boundary30defines the open area28of the pad12. The boundary30has a plurality of intersecting sides32and each of the intersecting sides32of the boundary30is oriented parallel with a respective one of the intersecting sides20of the perimeter edge18of the pad12such that the boundary30defines a rectangular shape. Moreover, the rectangular shape defined by the boundary30is centrally positioned on the pad12. In this way bristles24surround the base29of the toothbrush26when the base29of the toothbrush26is positioned in the rectangular shape defined by the boundary30.

Each of the bristles24on the pad has a distal end36with respect to the top surface14of the pad12and the distal end36of each of the bristles24on the pad12is tapered to a point. Each of the bristles24on the pad12is comprised of a deformable material, including but not being limited to, silicone or rubber. In this way the plurality of bristles24on the pad12resist deforming bristles38on a head40of the toothbrush26when the bristles38on the head40of the toothbrush26are scrubbed on the bristles24on the pad12. Each of the bristles24on the pad12may have a length ranging between approximately 0.05 inches and 1.0 inches.

In use, the pad12is positioned on a vanity or other surface in a bathroom, for example, or other location where the toothbrush26would commonly be employed. The toothbrush26is scrubbed on the bristles24to clean the toothbrush26after the toothbrush26has been employed for brushing teeth and the toothbrush26is subsequently stood on the bristles24having the base29of the toothbrush26resting in the open area28defined by the bristles24. In this way any residual fluid42from the toothbrush26drains unto the open area28on the pad12, rather than collecting on the vanity. Furthermore, the residual fluid42can be quickly rinsed from the pad12each time the toothbrush26is employed for brushing teeth. In this way the toothbrush26can be stored in a hygienic manner.