Patent Abstract:
A toothbrush dryer includes a housing formed as a heating chamber for storing toothbrush in the housing, and a heating device provided in the housing preferably at a bottom portion of the housing for warming the toothbrush for keeping a dried toothbrush for preventing bacteria, fungi or algae infection or contamination.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,852,879 to Daniel R. Schumaier disclosed a moisture sensitive item drying appliance for demoisturizing electronic hearing aid, tooth brush, etc., by providing a gas moving means ( 30 ) for forcing a gas flow circulation and a heater means ( 36 ) for heating the gas. However, it may increase the production or installation cost, operation and maintenance problems by providing the gas moving means ( 30 ) just for such a small appliance, thereby affecting its commercial value. 
   The present inventor has found the drawbacks of the prior art and invented the present toothbrush dryer with simplified mechanism and lower production cost. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush dryer including a housing formed as a heating chamber for storing toothbrush in the housing, and a heating device provided in the housing preferably at a bottom portion of the housing for warming the toothbrush for keeping a dried toothbrush for preventing bacteria, fungi or algae infection or contamination. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is an illustration showing the present invention when opening the cover. 
       FIG. 4  is a sectional drawing of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  shows a front view of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   As shown in the drawing figures, the toothbrush dryer of the present invention comprises: a housing  1  and a heating device  2  formed or mounted in the housing  1 , preferably at a bottom or lower portion of the housing  1 . 
   The housing  1  includes: a side wall  11  generally formed as vertical wall, a top wall portion  12  secured to an upper portion of the side wall  11 , a cover or front cover  13  pivotally secured to the top wall portion  12  (or pivotally secured to a housing portion of the housing  1 ), and a bottom wall plate  14  secured to a bottom portion of the side wall  11 . 
   The housing  1  may be formed as a cylindrical shape or a vertical hollow column, but not limited in this invention. The housing  1  may be made of plastic or any other materials. 
   For hanging the present invention on a wall, a fixing plate  16  may be provided in this invention. The fixing plate  16  includes a pair of vertical extensions  161  slidably engageable with a pair of grooves  15  vertically recessed in a back portion of the side wall  11 , a plurality of fixing holes  162  formed through the fixing plate  16  for fastening screws, bolts or nails through the fixing holes  162  for fixing the fixing plate  16  on a building wall (for example, a wall in a toilet room), and a retainer  163  formed on a bottom of the fixing plate  16  for downwardly limiting the side wall of the housing  1  when engaged on the fixing wall  16 . 
   A toothpaste holder  3  may be additionally provided in the present invention, including a pin  31  formed on the toothpaste holder  3  to be inserted into a pin socket  17  recessed in the housing for detachably securing the toothpaste holder  3  on the housing  1 . However, such a toothpaste holder  3  is just served as an accessory for this invention, not so critical in this invention. 
   The cover  13  includes: a pair of pivots  131  formed on a pivot arm  132  formed on a central upper portion of the cover to be pivotally engaged with a pair of pivot holes  121  recessed in an arm socket  122  recessed in a central front portion of the top wall portion  12  of the housing  1 , whereby upon a downward pivotal movement of the cover  13 , the cover  13  may close a front opening  10  formed in a front portion of the housing  1  for withdrawing toothbrush B from the housing for brushing tooth or for receiving the toothbrush B into the housing  1  for drying the toothbrush. 
   However, the cover of the housing  1  may be modified and designed as other choices, not limited in this invention. 
   The heating device  2  includes: a heating element  21  electrically connected to a power source by an electric cord  211  and secured on a board  20  which is fastened to a drying pan  23  through a heat dissipating plate  22  having a retainer plate  201  retained on a bottom of the board by screws S, and a plurality of toothbrush sockets  24  recessed in a periphery of the drying pan  23  and in the bottom wall plate  14  of the housing for holding a toothbrush B in each toothbrush socket  24 . 
   The heating element  21  may be a heating thermistor of positive temperature coefficient semiconductor (PTCS) or any other electric heating device. The temperature as produced by the heating element  21  may be controlled to be 40-80° C., but not limited. 
   Each toothbrush socket  24  further includes a packing member  25  having a slit  251  cut therethrough and packed or sandwiched in between the drying pan  23  and the bottom wall plate  14  for resiliently clamping the toothbrush B as held in each toothbrush socket  24  and also for shielding the toothbrush socket  24  for precluding intrusion of external objects and water droplets thereinto. 
   The packing member  25  may be made of silicon rubber (but not limited) having proper heat conductivity for transferring the heat from the drying pan  23  to the toothbrush B. 
   The drying pan  23  is connected to the heating element  21  through the heat dissipating plate  22  which may be made of ceramic or aluminum alloy (but not limited) having good heat conductance for transferring heat from the heating element  21  to the drying pan  23  which in turn will transfer the heat towards the toothbrush for drying the toothbrush B for preventing from infection or contamination by bacteria, fungi or algae. 
   The drying pan  23  is preferably made of material having good heat conductance and may be made of polycarbonate (PC), but not limited in this invention. 
   Electric insulation should be carefully considered in selecting or making the related elements of the present invention for preventing electrical shock or injury caused to the toothbrush users whenever contacting the present invention. 
   The drying pan  23  has a plurality of protrusions  231  formed thereon for placing other small items including artificial teeth, razor, etc., on the pan and also for reinforcing the strength of the pan  23  and for retarding any free flow of water droplets on the pan  23  when drained onto the pan  23  such as drained from a wet toothbrush B just being inserted into the socket  24 . 
   Accordingly, the drying pan  23  may provide a heat source for vaporizing any water droplets drained or falling onto the pan  23  and also for heating the air entering an interior  100  in the housing  1  through the slits  251  formed in the packing members  25  in the toothbrush sockets  24  for effecting thermosiphon in the interior  100 . That is to say that the air as heated will decrease its density and will be floated upwardly (A) to carry moisture or vapor from the toothbrush B as heated to be vented or discharged through a top venting hole  120  formed in the top wall portion  12  of the housing  1 , to thereby release the moisture outwardly to keep a dry interior  100  in the housing  1  for preventing from bacteria, fungi or alga infection or contamination ( FIGS. 4 ,  5 ). 
   A wire bracket  26  may be fixed under the housing  1  for winding the electrical cord  211  of the power source on the bracket  26 . 
   A power indicator  212  may also be provided to indicate a normal power supply when operating the beating device  2  of the present invention. 
   The present invention is superior to the prior art because:
         1. A heating element  21  is provided under the drying pan  23  to indirectly heat the toothbrush B to prevent from overheating of the toothbrush B which is generally made of plastic material.   2. A thermosiphon is effected in the interior of the housing  1  which acts like a stack for drafting an air streamflow upwardly to carry and discharge the moisture as released from the toothbrush to efficiently discharge the moisture and efficiently dry the toothbrush. An air fan for forced draft of the air is thus eliminated for saving production cost of the dryer.   3. The elements are simple so that the production cost will be decreased and the operation and maintenance problems will be minimized.       

   The present invention may be modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5