US2440385A - Toothbrush holder - Google Patents

Description

April 27, 1948. c. F. scHuLTE TOOTHBRUSH HOLDER Filed March 2, 1946 ff j Patented Apr. 27, 1948 UNITED srArEs NT OFFICE My invention relates to holders for the detachable reception of articles, and more specifically to holders of the type which supporta plurality of articles to be used in a set rotational order.

The present form of my invention constitutes a holder for tooth brushes, but it will be manifest that the same is adaptable for use with various other articles, such as cutting tools, drill bits, etc., where rotational usage of the articles is desired or required.

It is therefore the general object of my invention to provide a holder for the Vdetachable reception of a plurality of articles which permits of the removal of the articles only in a set rotational order.

It is another object of my invention to provide a holder of this character which is structurally simple and free of a multiplicity of moving parts and is thereby inexpensive to manufacture.

It is still a further object of my invention to provide a holder of this character which provides means whereby the rotational order of the articles, supported by the holder, may not be unintentionally changed or interrupted before removal therefrom.

For a further understanding of my invention, reference is mad'e to the following description and accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved tooth brush holder;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational View thereof;

Fig. 3 is a bottom elevational view;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modied form of my invention, wherein the holder is adapted for two sets of tooth brushes to Ibe removed in rotational order;

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of this modied form;

Fig. 6 is a bottom view thereof.`

With reference to the drawings, it will be seen that my improved holder comprises a U-shaped body I Il formed of a suitable material such as one of the many commercial plastics, or of a semiresilient metal. The body Ill is formed with a pair of inturned flanges II having adjoining resiliently separable edges or jaws I2, the latter being recessed so as to Iprovide a rectangular opening I3 adapted to receivethe handles of tooth brushes supported by the flanges of the holder.

At the entrance or receiving end I4 of the holder, the outer edges of the jaws I 2 are rounded to constitute a relieved or indented portion I5 which permits of relative separation between the 3 Claims. (Cl. 211--65) jawswhen the handle of a, tooth brush is forced therebetween and toward the opening I3. VAt the opposite or removal end I5, the Vouter edges of the jaws form a relatively straight smooth surface to prevent such relative separation between thejaws.

At the removal end of the opening I3, the jaws are also rounded to provide another indented portion I'I which allows, upon the removal of the tooth brush handle, the separation of the jaws. The opposite end of the opening, at the juncture ci the jaws is relatively straight and smooth so as to prevent the separation of the jaws.

Thus it will be seen that a tooth brush handle may be inserted between the jaws only fromthe entrance side I4, and that the brush may be removed from the opening only by moving it toward the removal or discharge side I 6.

In use, the holder supports two or more tooth brushes which are inserted through the receiving end I 4 and are held by the flanges within the opening I3. As one of the brushes is taken from the removal side for use, it will be manifest that it can only be replaced within the hol-der by inserting it in the receiving side, thus presenting the unused brush to the removal side for the next usage. This is a particularly desirable feature, in that the brushes are, in this manner, used in rotation, and under normal usage are allowed sufficient time for drying. Also, it has been found that by using two brushes in rotation, the useful life of each individual brush is greatly increased.

Figs. 4 through 6 disclose a modified form of my improved holder incorporating the same rotational removal feature. In this form, the holder is adapted for two sets of brushes. The holder bodies I0 are spaced one from the other and are connected by an integral rear wall I8 extending between the two units.

It will be seen that my improved holder may be easily constructed for family use by the simple addition of several more of the above supporting bodies.

'Ihe single set holder, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, is adapted for attachment to a wall or other fiat surface by driving a screw through the screw holes IS located in the rear wall of the body. To allow easy access to these screws, I have provided a pair of relatively enlarged access apertures '2U through which the head of a screw driver may be inserted for driving contact with the screws. In the double or plural form, as in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, screw holes i 9 are provided in the connecting rear wall I8, and are easily accessible by nature of the spaced relationbf the holder bodies.

In View of the foregoing, it will be seen that my improved tooth brush holder provides a structurally simple and positive means for supporting several tooth brushes, and at the same time serves as a device whereby the brushes may only be inserted and removed from the holder in a given rotational order. Further, my invention provides a sanitary protective covering for the brushing head and allows ample ventilation necessary for drying by the nature of its open ends. My invention is characterized by its economy of manufacture, and its positive operation.

While I have disclosed what I now deem to be preferred forms of my invention, it will be manifest that minor variations, as to details of construction and design, may be later accomplished without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. An article holder comprising a body formed to include a pair of horizontally aligned resiliently separable jaws, the latter having adjoining edges, at least one of said edges being recessed to provide an opening for the reception of handles of articles to be supported by said jaws, said edges at the article entrance end of the `laws being relieved to permit of relative separation between sai-d jaws when a handle of an article is forced therebetween and toward said opening, the opposite or article-removal end of the jaws being unrelieved to prevent the insertion of an article handle therebetween, and one end onli7` of said opening at the article-removal side thereof being relieved to permit -of the passage of an article during removal thereof from the holder through the separation of the jaws.

2. An article holder comprising a U-shaped body formed to include a pair of inturned horizontally aligned resiliently separable jaws having adjoining edges, said edges being recessed to provide an opening for the reception of handles of articles to be supported by said jaws, said edges being relieved at the article entrance end of the jaws to permit of relative separation between said jaws when a handle of an article is forced therebetween and toward said opening, the opposite or article removal end of the jaws being unrelieved to prevent the insertion of an artlcle handle therebetween, and one end only of said opening at the article-removal side thereof being relieved to permit of the passage of an article during removal thereof from the holder through the separation of the jaws.

Y 3. An article holder comprising a tunnelshape'd body formed with a pair of inturned horizontally aligned ilanges, the internal edges of said flanges forming a plurality of resiliently separable adjoining jaws, said jaws being recessed-to provide an opening for the reception of handles of articles to be supported by said flanges, said edges at the article entrance end of the body being relieved to permit of relative separation between said jaws when a handle of an article is forced therebetween and toward said opening, the edges at the article-removal end of said body being unrelieved to prevent the insertion of an article handle therebetween, and one end only of said opening at the article-removal side thereof being relieved to permit of the passage of an article during removal thereof from the holder through the separation of the jaws.

CHARLES F. SCHULTE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the

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