Toothbrush rack device

A two-piece device for holding a plurality of toothbrushes which comprises a wall mountable unit having the overall shape and configuration of a hemisphere, an arcuate recessed groove extending midway through the hemisphere and a general arcuate and planar rack member having openings for holding a plurality of toothbrushes, the rack member engages the arcuate recessed groove of the wall mountable unit.

The present invention pertains to a two-piece device for holding a 
plurality of toothbrushes and is characterized by a rack member that may 
be readily removed and replaced as the users of the device change. 
When people travel and stop at hotels or motels there is a frequently 
considerable reluctance for the room occupant to place his toothbrush in 
the permanent toothbrush racks that are provided because of the doubt as 
to whether or not the rack is really clean and germ-free. As a result such 
racks are often not used. 
The object of this invention is to provide a toothbrush rack device that 
permits the rack to be easily and quickly removed each time the occupancy 
of a room changes. Considered from one aspect my invention involves a 
device for holding a plurality of toothbrushes or the like which comprises 
in combination: 
(a) a wall mountable unit that on its backside contains means for attaching 
the unit to a wall and its front side contains an arcuate recessed groove. 
(b) A generally arcuate and planar rack member that is configured and 
dimensioned so that an inner portion of said arcuate rack member will fit 
into the arcuate recessed groove of said wall mountable unit and the 
remainder of said rack member extends outwardly from said recessed groove 
and provides means for holding a plurality of toothbrushes, and, 
(c) engagement means associated with said wall mountable unit and 
engagement means associated with said arcuate rack member, which when 
brought into a cooperative-engaging relationship releasably hold said rack 
member in place in said wall mountable unit so that the device can receive 
and maintain the position of a plurality of toothbrushes.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-5 and 9 show various views of my 
device in its assembled condition and which comprises only two main parts, 
the wall mountable unit 20 and the rack member 30. The rack member 30 has 
a plurality of holes or openings (32) to accomodate tooth brushes. The 
wall mountable unit 20 is shown in a preferred form as having the overall 
general configuration of a hemisphere, and the rack member 30 fits into a 
groove or slot 24 in this hemisphere at approximately the midline of said 
hemisphere. The backside of the wall mountable unit 20 preferably consists 
of a flat planar surface 22 that has a coating of adhesive on it so that 
it may readily be affixed to a wall surface by simply pressing the 
adhesively coated planar surface 22 against a wall. The adhesive should be 
strong enough to hold the unit 20 in place under the ordinary conditions 
of usage, which primarily involves supporting the weight of several 
toothbrushes. However, any other suitable means could be employed for 
affixing the wall mountable wall unit 20 to a wall, such as by screws, 
bolts, brackets, prongs, etc. 
The rack member 30 is shown by itself in FIG. 6. In addition to the holes 
or openings 32, the rack member has ears 34 at its inner ends that are 
adapted to engage corresponding projections 27 in the groove or slot 24 of 
the wall mountable unit 20. The dashed line 31 in FIG. 6 is provided to 
indicate the portion of the rack member 30 that fits into the slot 24 of 
the wall unit 20. 
FIGS. 7 and 8 show rear and front views of the wall mountable unit 20 
without the rack member 30, and FIG. 10 shows a cross sectional view 
through 10--10 of FIG. 9 which reveals that the slot 24 is formed by both 
an upper lip surface 26 of the lower half of unit 20 and by an inwardly 
extending shelf surface portion 28. When the rack member 30 is inserted 
into the slot 24 it lodges therein and is supported therein as is 
indicated by FIGS. 9 and 11. FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmented view 
(without cross hatching) to illustrate that the rack member 30 is 
supported by both the upper lip surface 26 cf the lower half of unit 20 as 
well as by the shelf surface portion 28. 
FIG. 7-12 show that the slot or groove 24 and the shelf surface portion 28 
can be suitably formed by an interior member 40 that is best shown in 
FIGS. 9 and 10 and is seen to comprise an arcuate and generally U-shaped 
section that is preferbly integrally formed on the interior portion of the 
hemisphere 20. The central portion of the interior member 40 comprises a 
shelf surface portion 28 (as shown in FIGS. 10 and 12) and the side 
portions 41 extending laterally outwardly from each side of the shelf 
surface portion 28, terminating in the projections 27 that engage the ears 
34 of the rack member. The size and shape of the ears 34 in relation to 
the projections is such that by relatively little finger pressure or 
manual manipulation the rack member 30 can be readily engaged or 
disengaged from the wall mountable unit 20. 
A very convenient advantage of my device is that once the wall mountable 
unit has been mounted on a wall by adhering the adhesively coated back 22 
to a wall, and a rack member 30 inserted in the slot 24, the rack member 
can thereafter be easily removed and replaced by a fresh clean rack member 
30 after one day or after the persons using the rack change (as in a hotel 
or motel). The ability of a maid to easily and quickly change the rack 
member each time the occupancy of a hotel or motel room changes eliminates 
the reluctance that many people would have placing their toothbrush in a 
toothbrush rack located in a hotel or motel room. Also, the rack member is 
so easily changed that each new occupant can make his or her own change. 
My device is preferably made of plastic material so that it is light in 
weight, will not rust or corrode and is easy to clean. If the wall unit 
becomes too dirty, damaged or stained it too can be removed and replaced 
without a great deal of difficulty. 
In conclusion, while the foregoing specification and drawing describe the 
construction, operation and use of a preferred embodiment of my invention, 
it is to be understood that I do not intend to limit myself to the precise 
constructions and configurations and arrangements herein disclosed and 
shown, since the various details of construction, shape, form and 
arrangement may obviously be varied to a considerable extent by anyone 
skilled in the art without really departing from the basic principles and 
novel teachings of my invention and without sacrificing any of the 
advantages of my invention, and accordingly, it is intended to encompass 
all changes, variations, modifications and equivalents of the appended 
claims.