US2484157A - Toothbrush holder - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 11, 1,949. N P I 2,484,157

TOOTHBRUSH HOLDER Filed Feb. 17, 1948 ,4 5 r Fig 2 9 /0 I 8 9 ,0 l 1 1 I Ila 14% Inventor Herman Dunlap mu away 3m Patented Oct. 11, :1949

TOOTHBRUSH HOLDER Herman Dunlap, St. Louis, Mo.

Application February 17, 1948, Serial No. 8,819

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in tooth brush holders and has more specific reference to a novel rack wherein transparent cover-shields are employed to enclose the brush heads in a manner to render same substantially dust-proof and otherwise in good shape for sanitary use.

As the opening statement of the invention implies, I am suificiently coversant with the general state of the prior art to which the invention relates to appreciate that it is not new to provide a rack and to equip same with glass or equivalent dome-like shields to encase the suspended brush heads. What is more, I am aware that it is old and well known to provide specially shaped apertures or openings in the rack in such a way as to permit the brushes to be inserted upwardly through said aperturesand thereafter removably suspended within the confines of the protective shields. It follows that in carrying out the principles of the present invention I employ a construction which is possessed of refinements and distinctions which contribute their proportionate shares in providing what is believed to be a better and more satisfactory tooth brush rack.

In carrying out the principles of the instant invention I provide a construction which is characterized essentially by two sections or units; a base unit including a, hanger ledge for supporting the cover shields, and a complemental unit which is removably mounted on the base unit and which is so constructed as to provide a shelf or tray which is disposable to overlie the crown or dome portions of said shields.

More particularly, novelty is predicated upon two units, the base unit having an upstanding back wall, and the other unit having a depending drop flange which is detachably mounted on said back wall thus providing a construction in which the parts are separable for ready cleaning, repairing, and for other purposes.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the followin description and the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a multiple-type tooth brush rack constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the lower or base unit of said rack; and,

Figures 3 and 4 are transverse vertical sections on the lines 3-3 and 4-4 respectively of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawing the holder is constructed of plastic or other equivalent mate rial and is characterized, as before mentioned, by a base unit 5 and a complemental secondary or top unlt 6. The base unit comprises a longitudinally elongated horizontally disposable ledge 1 having along its normally inner longitudinal edge a vertical back wall which, as shown, include a central segmental portion 8 and reduced terminal or end portions 9, these being provided at suitable points with upstanding dowel pins I0. Reference being had now to Figure 4 it will be observed that the ledge is provided, as previously stated, with especially shaped apertures. Each aperture comprises a major circular portion ll having, to one side thereof, a keyhole-shaped slot l2. This type of aperture, which is not unusual in this art, allows the brush head 13, on the usual handle l4, to be inserted upwardly through the main opening and then shifted laterally and suspended in the keyhole slot. The brush is dislodged and removed by reversing the procedure, in an obvious manner. It will be seen too, that the ledge is provided, in alignment with each aperture, with an upstanding marginal lip Hi. In top plan view this is substantially ovate in form. The purpose of the lip is to serve as a seating retainer for the lower open end of the coacting transparent cover shield l6. Each shield is in the form of an inverted cup having a flattened crown or dome portion. As previously explained, I am aware that dust-proof shields serving the same purpose are commonly disclosed in similar prior patents.

Referring now to the section 6, this is an improved part and comprises a horizontally elongated member [1 which may be conveniently referred to as a top shield. This may be recessed (not shown) to function, as a tray, if so desired. In any event, the shelf is provided along one longitudinal edge with a drop flange I8 whose lower edge is shaped to conform to the portions 8 and 9 of the back wall of the base section l5. In addition, said lower edge has sockets for removable reception of dowel-type keeper pins Ill. It follows that the section or unit 6 is readily attachable and detachable and when in place supplements the lower section and provides a shelf [1, which rests upon the crown portions of the cover and which is in parallelism above the ledge I. This shelf serves not only to ornament the appearance of the over-all structure but possesses 3 7 utility as well inasmuch as miscellaneous articles may well be supported thereon.

It is obvious that the unit 6 will have to be detached from the unit to permit convenient access to be had to the cover shield. Then, the cover shield may be removed for Washing and cleaning or replacement as the situation may be.

A careful consideration of the foregoing descriptionin conjunction with the invention as illustrated in the drawings will enable the reader to obtain a clear understanding and impression of the alleged features of merit and novelty sufficient to clarify the construction of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Minor changes in shape, size, materials and rearrangement of parts may be resorted to in actual practice so long as no departure -is made from the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. .A protector-type rack for toothbrushes comprising a base unit adapted to be fixedly mounted on 9, wall or equivalent support, said unit comprising a horizontally disposable longitudinally elongated ledge, said ledge being provided along its normally inner longitudinal edge with a, riser constituting a back wall, said back wall having .an elevated segmental central portion and reduced end portions, said portions being provided along their edges with upstanding dowels constituting keeper pins, said ledge being provided with a pin: rality of apertures, each aperture including a circular portion and a coacting keyhole-shaped portion, and said ledge being further provided on its upper side with upstanding lips bordering said apertures and constituting seating members for open bottomed cover shields, and a second, com-- 4 shape to and resting removably on the elevated central and reduced end portions of said back wall and having sockets into which said pins are removably fitted.

2. A protector-type rack for tooth brushes comprising a base unit adapted to be fixedly mounted on a wall or equivalent support, said unit comprising a horizontally disposable longitudinally elongated ledge, said ledge being provided along its normally inner longitudinal edge with a riser constituting a back wall," said back wa'll having upstanding longitudinally spaced keeper pins, said ledge being provided with a plurality of apertures and being further provided on its upper side with upstanding lips bordering the apertures, open bottomed cover shields resting on said ledge and in alignment with said apertures and held in place by said upstanding lips, and a second, complemental unit embodying a horizontally disposed shelf resting on the upper ends of said shields and being provided along one longitudinal edge with a drop flange, the lower edge of said flange conforming in shape to the upper edge of said back wall and resting on said upper edge and being provided with keeper sockets, said keeper pins fitting removably in said sockets.

HERMAN DUNLAP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'IENTS Number Name Date 1,353,898 Decker Sept. 28, 1920 1,397,350 Baker Nov. 315, 1921 1,713,379 Fromwiller May 14, 1929

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