Toothbrush holder with integrated automatic sound device

The present invention relates to a toothbrush holder having a micro-cassette player mounted within its interior. The holder has a plurality of plates extending from a base unit and each plate has apertures for receiving and holding toothbrushes. The cassette player is electrically connected to micro-switches contained within each aperture on the plates. Whenever a toothbrush is removed from an aperture, the cassette player automatically begins playing any one of a number of pre-selected recordings or messages. The exterior of the device may be interchangeably decorated depending upon the age group or sex of the user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a decorative toothbrush holder and 
accompanying disposable cup dispenser having an integrated micro-cassette 
recorder/player. Whenever a toothbrush is lifted from one of the holders, 
the micro-cassette player is activated automatically playing any one of 
several pre-recorded songs or messages. The device may be configured for 
any age group by changing the colors or graphic features thereon. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
Toothbrush holders currently in use generally address the need to keep 
stored toothbrushes sterile or sanitary; however none of these devices are 
equipped with means for automatically playing a pre-recorded message or 
song. Accordingly there is a need for a toothbrush holder capable of 
playing music, inspirational or amusing messages or similar recordings 
thereby encouraging the user, especially a child, to brush his or her 
teeth. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,867,096 issued to Doucette discloses a toothbrush holder 
and accompanying drinking glass. The glass as well as any toothbrushes 
stored therein can be covered with a disinfectant cartridge to sanitize 
them after each use. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,884,635 issued to Sloane discloses a toothbrush holder that 
can hold several toothbrushes within a container. The container also 
contains sanitizing and dehydrating pellets to keep the toothbrushes 
stored therein clean and dry. 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,086,916 issued to Gray discloses a toothbrush sterilization 
container and accompanying mounting bracket. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,978,003 issued to Foster discloses a toothbrush holder 
adapted to receive and store disposable cups As indicated above, none of 
the above described inventions provide a means for automatically playing 
pre-recorded messages or songs whenever the toothbrush holder is in use. 
Furthermore, none of the prior art devices disclose means for 
interchangeably decorating the exterior of a toothbrush holder. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides a new and improved toothbrush holder which 
automatically play songs or other messages when in use. It is therefore an 
object of the invention to provide a toothbrush holder with a built in 
sound device that automatically plays any one of a variety of songs or 
pre-recorded messages whenever a user removes a toothbrush therefrom. 
It is therefore another object of the present invention to provide a 
toothbrush holder that encourages children to brush their teeth longer and 
more often. 
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a toothbrush 
holder that is capable of entertaining the user while brushing his or her 
teeth. 
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a toothbrush 
holder that can be interchangeably decorated as the user wishes or to 
target a particular age group or gender. Other objects, features and 
advantages of the present invention, its details of construction and 
arrangement of parts will be seen from the following description of the 
preferred embodiments when considered with the attached drawings and from 
the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the invention comprises a substantially 
rectangular hollow, box type, base unit 2 having at least two exterior 
sides and a horizontal bottom surface. Mounted on each of two opposite 
exterior sides of the base unit 2 and extending substantially horizontally 
therefrom are one or more plates 1 each having a plurality of apertures 20 
for receiving and retaining a toothbrush 12. Received within each aperture 
20 is a micro-switch 3. 
The hollow portion of the box type base unit 2 defines an interior chamber 
2A. A hinged door 11 is attached to the base unit 2 providing access to 
the interior chamber 2A. Received within the interior chamber 2A of the 
base unit 2 is micro-cassette recorder/player 5 and its basic control 
function buttons 7- play, record, rewind, fast-forward, etc. 
A 120 Volt AC power plug 9 is mounted on the exterior of the base unit 2 
and is electrically connected to the micro-cassette recorder/player 5. A 
DC transformer is electrically connected to the 120 Volt AC plug 9 to 
provide 3 to 9 volts DC power to the micro-cassette player 5. The 
placement of the plug 9 and the transformer is not critical to the 
operation of the device but the plug and transformer would probably be 
best placed on a side of the base unit 2 opposite the hinged door 11 
allowing the device to be easily attached to an electrical wall socket. 
Alternatively, the device could be designed to operate on batteries for 
counter top applications. 
The micro-cassette player 5 comprises the internal electrical components 5A 
found in standard off-the-shelf devices generally known in the prior art 
less the exterior casing. The player/recorder 5 is mounted within the 
interior chamber of the base unit 2 using numerous integrally molded tabs 
within the interior chamber 2A of the base unit 2 or any other similar 
mounting or attachment means. 
The cassette player has a remote on/offjack 14. The remote jack 14 is 
electrically connected to each of the switches 3 contained within the 
apertures 20 on the plates 1. The switches 3 are spring contacted and 
normally closed (N/C) which make a closed switch contact whenever a brush 
12 is removed. The switches 3 are electrically connected in parallel to 
the remote on/offjack 14 so that removal of any one toothbrush 12 will 
activate the cassette player 5. In order for the cassette remote on/off 
switch 14 mechanism to operate properly, the play button 7 must be 
maintained in the depressed position. 
The horizontal bottom surface of the base unit 2 has a large circular 
aperture 10 therethrough which may be used as a disposable cup 15 
dispenser. The exterior of the door 11 can be decorated with a variety of 
attractive graphics such as the clown doll 8 pictured in FIG. 1. The 
interchangeable decorations 8 may be attached to the exterior of the door 
by means of three female aperture connectors 13 on the exterior of the 
door 11. Each decoration or figurine 8 would have accompanying mating male 
protrusions thereon for inserting into the apertures on the door. 
The device is activated by first depressing the play button 7. Whenever a 
toothbrush 12 is removed from one of the apertures 20 on a plate 1, a 
closed circuit results and a signal is sent to the remote on/offjack 14, 
activating the micro cassette recorder/player. Any number of preselected, 
pre-recorded songs or messages could then be played depending upon the 
cassette inserted by the user. When a toothbrush 12 is returned to a plate 
1, the cassette player stops, and automatically rewinds the tape if the 
tape has reached its end. From the above description, it is now apparent 
that the new invention provides a new and improved toothbrush holder that 
is capable of automatically playing music or inspirational messages and 
the exterior of which may be selectively, interchangeably decorated. It is 
understood that although there has been shown and described the preferred 
embodiment of the above described invention that this invention is not to 
be limited to the exact arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying 
drawings or described in the specification and that modifications may be 
made to the invention which do not exceed the scope of the appended 
claims. Accordingly, the scope of our invention is to be limited only by 
the following claims: