US2997352A - Article holders - Google Patents

Description

1961 J. COWAN ET AL 2,997,352

ARTICLE HOLDERS Filed Aug. 22, 1960 INVENTORS Jack Cowan Leon Cowan ATTORNEY 2,997,352 ARTICLE HOLDERS Jack Cowan and Leon J. Cowan, Bulfalo, N .Y., assignors to Irving Cowan, Kendall, Fla. Filed Aug. 22, 1960, Ser. No. 50,944 12 Claims. (Cl. 312207) This invention relates to article holders and, more particularly, to a sanitary toothbrush holder of novel construction and arranged to keep the brush part of a toothbrush fully enclosed and protected except for a small air opening around the handle.

Various types and forms of holders have been proposed and used in practice, most of these being of the open type in which the toothbrush or other article is fully enclosed. From time to time proposals have been advanced for toothbrushes, or the like for a closed holder in which at least the brush part of the toothbrush is substantially fully enclosed. All such holders have in common a support base or the like formed with a slot or aperture large enough to receive the toothbrush handle but small enough to prevent passage of the brush part. The holders suspend the toothbrush with its handle dependingly projecting below the support base.

In the closed type of holders heretofore proposed, a housing has been secured to the base and has either an open front or one provided with a door or doors. Difficulty has ben experienced in providing closures for the portions of the slots not occupied by the brush handles and for readily opening the slot closures for insertion and removal of brushes relative to the slots. Such provisions as have been made have been complicated and diflicult to manipulate and not capable of operation by the simple, manual act of inserting or removing a toothbrush. It has been found, in practice, that persons, and particularly children, will not readily use a closed holder which is not extremely simple to operate.

The present invention solves these difliculties by providing a closed toothbrush holder in which the slot is opened to receive a toothbrush handle by merely pressing the toothbrush toward the open end of the slot and against a pivoted door. As the door pivots under the pressure of the brush, it cams open a first relatively large plate pivoted on the base and normally spring biased to a position closing the outer portion of the slot.

A second and somewhat smaller closure plate for the rear end of the slot has a pivotal and slidable connection with the pivot of the first plate, and is spring biased to a position closing the rear end of the slot. This second plate overlies the first plate and has a pin engaging a shoulder on the first plate so that the second plate is swung open along with the first plate. The pivot end of the second plate is cam shaped and is spring biased to engage a roller on the support base to control movement of the second plate.

In using the holder, pressure of a brush handle against the door swings the latter open to cam the first plate to a fully open position and the second plate to at least a partially open position. As the handle passes the free edge of the door, it engages the second plate and moves it to open the rear end of the slot. The second plate is then spring biased against the brush holder, holding the brush suspended in air, and the released first plate earns the door closed.

To remove the brush, the handle is moved outwardly along the slot, successively camming open the second and first plates, and then engaging the free edge of the door to open the latter. Preferably, a pair of slots are arranged in mirror relation, with the closure plates mirror copies of each other. A single door is provided and is centrally pivoted between the slots. Thus, as the Patented Aug. 22, 1961 brush in one slot is being removed and swings the door open, the door is cammed closed by the spring biased first closure plate of the other slot.

For an understanding of the invention principles, reference is made to the following description of a typical embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawing. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a holder embodying the invention;

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are plan views of the base, with the door in section, showing the sequence of movement of the parts in inserting and removing a brush;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view on the line '55 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a plan View, partly in section, illustrating the detail of a component of the holder.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view on a reduced scale taken through line 77 of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the holder comprises a base 10, preferably of metal, and a preferably integral or unitary housing 15 which may be molded of a suitable plastic composition material. Alternatively, housing 15 may comprise components cemented into an integral unit. In the illustrated embodiment, the holder is arranged to support four (4) toothbrushes, and housing 15 includes end walls 16, a central partition 17, a top wall 18, and a rear wall. I

Base 10 is secured to housing 15 by countersunk fiat head studs 11 inserted through apertures in the base and threaded into openings in the relatively thick end walls 16 and partition 17. The front edge of the relatively thick top wall is formed with downwardly opening circular recesses 12, 12 midway between each end wall and the central partition. Recesses 12, 12 are substantially coaxial with circular apertures 13, 13 in base 10. Rear wall 19 may be suitably formed for mounting against a support surface, and to support a container 65 filled with a sanitizing, deodorizing, or tooth decay combating solution.

In the illustrated 4-brush holder, there are two identical base plates 10 each having the same slot closing mechanism, so that only one base 10 will be described in detail. Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, each base plate 161 is formed with a pair of laterally spaced, outwardly opening slots 20, each somewhat nearer to an end wall 16 than to partition 17. Slots 20 are arranged in mirror relation. Each slot 20 extends inwardly substantially perpendicular to the front edge of the base and terminates in a dog-leg inner end 21. Between slots 21 the upper surface of base 10 is machined away to about one-half the original overall thickness of the base plate, forming a rear ledge 22 having circular forwardly opening recesses 23. The outer edge of each slot 20 is similarly machined to form lips 24. Adjacent dog legs 21, the inner edges of lips 24 have a polygonal configuration as at 26. The machining of base 10 also forms a front ledge 27 through which the aperture 13 is formed.

Apertures 12 and 13 receive the ends of pivot pins 28 of doors 30. Each door is preferably molded of a suitable plastic composition material and has a width equal to the distance between end walls 16 and partition 17. Door 30 has a vertically extending apertured ridge 31 on its inner surface receiving the pivot pin 28. Thin wings 32 extend inwardly from the lower edge of door 30 on either side of ridge 31. Each wing has a curved outer edge 33 and a cam shaped inner edge 34.

Adjacent the inner side of each dog leg 21, the thinned intermediate portion of the base is formed with a small aperture receiving the lower end of a pin 35 having an enlarged circular shoulder 36 intermediate its ends and seating against the upper surface of the base. Each,

shoulder 36 has a conforming fit in a circular aperture in a front or outer closure plate 40 for slot 20.

Each closure plate 40 is generally rectangular and has a rectilinear outer edge 41 engaging the outer edge defining a lip 24 of a slot 20, the closure plate overlying lip 24 in its slot closing position. The surface of the outer end 42 of plate 40 is substantially flush with the upper surface of base 10. Along the inner side of this thicker outer end, there is a Wedge shape projection 43 from which extends a short pin 44 engaged with cam surface 34 of a Wing 32 of door 30. The outer end of plate 4b is curved as at 46. Inwardly of the inner end of projection 44, plate 40 has substantially one-half the thickness of its outer end 42, as illustrated at 45. For a purpose to be described, the nose or projection 43 is slotted as at 48. An ear 47 extends from the inner end of the inner edge of plate 40 and is apertured to receive the pin 35. Ear 47 has a shoulder 49 projecting there from.

An inner closure plate 50 partly overlies inner end 45 of plate 40, and is dogleg in plan. The outer edge of plate 50 overlies lip 26 of slot and has a shape generally conforming to the outer edge of this lip, although generally curvilinear. The inner end of plate 50 hasa slot 51 receiving pivot pin 35.

The upper ends of pivot pins 35 engage in circular recesses in the ends of a cross bar 55 preferably of plastic composition material. The ends of bar 55 are slotted to seat a wire spring having coils embracing pins and free ends engaged with pins 52 on the upper surfaces of plates 50. Pins 53 on the lower surfaces of plates 50 engage shoulders 49 so that plates 50 are carried toward the open position when plates are opened. However, slots 51 permit movement of plates along the slot and relative to plates 40.

Bar 55 is positioned on pins 35 so that its central portion is spaced from base 10. Beneath the bar, there is a pair of pins 56 around which extends a somewhat U-shape wire spring 60 having its ends engaged in slots 48 of projections 43 of plates 40. Bar 55 is secured to plate 10 by a countersunk flathead stud 57. The cam edges of plates 50 bear against rollers 58 seated in recesses 23 and rotatable on studs 5? threaded into base 10.

To insert a toothbrush, the latter is pressed against an edge of door 30, pivoting this edge inwardly. Cam edge 34-, through pin 44, moves plate 40 away from slot 20 against the bias of spring 60, so that the toothbrush handle may enter slot 20. Through shoulder 49 and pin 53, plate 50 is also moved away from the slot 20. As the handle fully enters slot 20, it rides along edge 41 of plate 40 and then along the outer edge of plate 50 to enter dogleg 21. Movement of plate 55) is controlled by its curvilinear edge engaging roller 5%. The plate 40, and then the plate 50, are spring biased back toward the slot closing position as the brush handle clears these plates. Plate 40, through pin 44 acting on cam edge 34, closes door 30. The toothbrush is suspended With its handle supported on plate 50 and base 10, and with slot 20 substantially fully closed.

To remove the brush, the handle is grasped and moved outwardly along slot 20. This cams plate 56 to the open position, due to the play of pin-slot. connection 35-51. Further movement of the handle cams open plate 40. The door 3% is then swung open by the toothbrush and, when the latter clears this door, the spring-biased plate 4% of the mating or mirroring adjacent slot 20. The pin-slot connection 35-51 permits plate 50 to adjust to different handle thicknesses Without being affected by movement of plate 40 while spring biased against a brush handle.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the invention principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles. It is also to be understood that the embodiment of the invention may be employed for articles other than toothbrushes, such as smoking pipes, paint brushes and articles of a nature which could be dispensed and protected 'by being substantially enclosed.

What is claimed is:

l. A closed sanitary holder for an article comprising in combination, a substantially flat base plate formed with a slot extending inwardly from its front edge and having a closed rear end; a housing having top, end and rear Walls secured to said plate; a door pivoted in said top wall and said base and normally closing the front of said housing; a first slot closure plate pivoted to said base adjacent the rear end of said slot and normally closing the outer portion of said slot; a second slot closure plate pivoted to said base adjacent the rear end of said slot and normally closing the inner portion of said slot; means biasing said plates to the slot closing position; cam means on said door engaging a projection on said first plate and effective to cam the latter to a slot opening position as said door is swung open by pressing said article thereagainst to enter said slot; and interengaging means on said first and second plates effective to move said second plate toward the slot opening position responsive to slot uncovering movement of said first plate; said plates having camming edges engageable by said article to earn the plates to the slot opening posi tion.

2. A closed sanitary holder for toothbrushes and the like comprising, in combination, a substantially flat base plate formed with a slot extending inwardly from its front edge and having a closed rear end; a housing having top, end and rear Walls secured to said plate; a door pivoted in said top wall and said base and normally closing the front of said housing; a first slot closure plate pivoted to said base adjacent the rear end of said slot and normally closing the outer portion of said slot; a second slot closure plate pivoted to said base adjacent the rear end of said slot and normally closing the inner portion of said said slot; means biasing said plates to the slot closing position; cam means on said door engaging a projection on said first plate and effective to earn the latter to a slot opening position as said door is swung open by pressing a toothbrush thereagainst to enter said slot; and interengaging means on said first and second plates effective to move said second plate toward the slot opening position responsive to slot uncovering movement of said first plate; said plates having carnrning edges engageable by the brush handle to cam the plates to the slot opening position; and said second plate having a pin and slot connection to said base to accommodate dilferent thicknesses of brush handles.

3. A closed sanitary holder for toothbrushes and the like comprising, in combination, a substantially flat base plate formed with a slot extending inwardly from its front edge and having a closed rear end; a housing having top, end and rear walls secured to said plate; a door pivoted in said top wall and said base and normally closing the front of said housing; a first slot closure plate pivoted to said base adjacent the rear end of said slot and normally closing the outer portion of said slot; a second slot closure plate pivoted to said base adjacent the rear end of said slot and normally closing the inner portion of said slot; means biasing said plates to the slot closing position; cam means on said door engaging a projection on said first plate and effective to cam the latter to a slot opening position as said door is swung open by pressing a toothbrush thereagainst to enter said slot; and interengaging means on said first and second plates effective to move said second plate toward the slot opening position responsive to slot uncovering movement of said first plate; said plates having camming edges engageable by the brush handle to cam the plates to the slot opening position; said first plate having a convex end edge facing the outer end of said slot.

4. A holder as claimed in claim 1 in which said slot has a dogleg inner end and said second plate is substantially conformingly dogleg in plan.

5. A holder as claimed in claim 4 in which said first plate includes a pivot ear laterally offset from said slot, and extends along the major length of said slot; said second plate being substantially shorter than said first plate.

6. A closed sanitary holder for toothrbrushes and the like comprising, in combination, a substantially flat base plate formed with a slot extending inwardly from its front edge and having a closed rear end; a housing having top, end and rear walls secured to said plate; a door pivoted in said top wall and said base and normally closing the front of said housing; a first slot closure plate pivoted to said base adjacent the rear end of said slot and normally closing the outer portion of said slot; a second slot closure plate pivoted to said base coaxially with and superposed with said first plate; means biasing said plates to the slot closing position; cam means on said door engaging a projection on said first plate and eifective to cam the latter to a slot opening position as said door is swung open by pressing a toothbrush thereagainst to enter said slot; and interengaging means on said first and second plates eifective to move said second plate toward the slot opening position responsive to slot uncovering movement of said first plate; said plates having camming edges engageable by the brush handle to cam the plates to the slot opening position.

7. A holder as claimed in claim 6 in which the portion of said base laterally inwardly of said slot is substantially one-half the thickness of the edge portion of said base; said plates being movable over such thinner base pontion; the outer end of said first plate having its upper surface flush with that of said base; the inner end of said first gaging a projecting shoulder on said first plate.

10. A holder as claimed in claim 6 in which the means biasing said first plate comprises a spring wire anchored to said base and having a free end engaged in a horizontal slot in an edge of said first plate.

11. A holder as claimed in claim 6 in which said plate is formed with a pair of laterally spaced slots extending inwardly from its front edge and having closed rear ends, and which are, in plan, mirror copies of each other; said slots being laterally spaced and provided with mirror first and second closing plates; said door being pivotally mounted midway of said slots on a pivotal axis extending vertically of said door midway of its free ends.

12. A holder as claimed in claim 6 including a roller rotatable on said base and engaging a curvilinear edge of said second plate to control opening movement of the latter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,544,694 Speidel July 7, 1925 2,309,116 [Hylen Ian. 26, 1943 2,600,345 Venditti June 10, 1952

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