Disinfecting Toothbrush Container

The instant invention relates to a toothbrush container and a method for disinfecting a toothbrush and/or storing it under sanitary conditions.

The toothbrush is used to remove food particles from the cracks between and in our teeth and thus is an invaluable aid in a program of oral hygiene. However a toothbrush which is left sitting on a bathroom sink or other location may collect germs and dirt. These germs and dirt can be introduced into the mouth when the toothbrush is used.

In a recent controlled scientific study of people with oral inflammatory diseases and normal healthy individuals without such oral diseases significantly more potentially harmful bacteria were found on the toothbrushes belonging to those having the oral inflammatory diseases. As a result the ADA(American Dental Association) now recommends changing toothbrushes every four weeks if you are healthy and more often if you are having related health problems.

Furthermore if a toothbrush is allowed to sit in a bathroom fixture in a bathroom which is used by more than one individual, for example in a dormitory, hospital or the like, the toothbrush might inadvertently be used by an individual other than the owner. It is also conceivable that the individual who inadertently used the toothbrush which is not his or hers has a communicable disease and that active germs reside in his or her mouth. This disease could range from the common cold to AIDS/(acquired immune deficiency syndrome).

While toothbrushes are sold in plastic cases and closed containers exist in which a careful person could store a toothbrush in the bathroom, it would still be susceptible to contamination to some degree and inadvertent use by one who is not the owner of the toothbrush.

It is an object of our invention to provide an improved container for one or more toothbrushes which prevents germs in the air and dirt from collecting on the toothbrushes.

It is another object of our invention to provide a toothbrush container for one or more toothbrushes which automatically disinfect toothbrushes which are properly inserted in it.

It is a further object of our invention to provide an attractive appealing toothbrush container for a toothbrush which prevents communication of disease-causing germs by deliberate or inadvertent use of the toothbrush by individuals who are not the owners of the toothbrush.

It is an additional object of our invention to help prevent the spread of AIDS by an oral pathway by providing a disinfecting toothbrush container which is particularly useful in hospital or dormitory-like surrounding where more than one individual might use the same toothbrush either accidently or deliberately.

According to our invention a disinfecting toothbrush container for holding a toothbrush and disinfecting the bristles of the toothbrush comprises a container body having a plurality of container chambers formed by dividing the container body by a plurality of substantially vertical container chamber walls. Advantageously two to four container chambers are provided. The container chambers and the container body are divided transversely by a substantially transverse flexible partition having a slit in each of the container chambers large enough for insertion of the toothbrush. The transverse flexible partition divides the container chambers into an upper portion containing air and a lower portion containing a disinfecting liquid. The lips of the slits are firm enough to prevent dirt and germs from the air from entering the disinfecting liquid. Then the toothbrush can be inserted in the disinfecting liquid through the slit in the flexible partition and left so that the disinfecting liquid kills the germs on the bristles. However the slits in the rubber partition are also flexible enough to squeeze the disinfecting liquid from the bristles of the toothbrush when the toothbrush is again withdrawn from the slit. A reusable lid can provide a liquid-tight closure of the container body which is useful for retaining disinfecting liquid.

The flexible partition may be made of rubber. Furthermore the upper portion of the container body is advantageously circular cylindrical while the lower portion may be flared outwardly uniformly and the container may be provided with a substantially flat base so that the container body is comparatively stable when sitting on a flat surface.

The instant invention also provides a method for disinfecting a toothbrush comprising enclosing a disinfecting liquid at least partially by a rubber or flexible partition having a slit wide enough to accept a toothbrush, inserting the end of the toothbrush having the bristles on it into the disinfecting liquid by passing it through the slit in the partition and, after sufficient time to kill the germs on the bristles, withdrawing the toothbrush from the disinfecting liquid and possibly rinsing it.

The disinfecting toothbrush container according to our invention provides a means of preventing transfer of germs and diseases between individuals who might deliberately or inadvertently use the same toothbrush. This could be used to help prevent the, transfer of communicable diseases such as AIDS in institutional circumstances, particularly a dormitory or hospital.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the disinfecting toothbrush container according to the instant invention with its lid removed.

FIG. 2 is an axial cross sectional view through the toothbrush container shown in FIG. 1 taken along the section line 2--2.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the toothbrush container of FIG. 1 with the lid removed.

FIG. 4 is a cutaway perspective view of the disinfecting toothbrush container according to FIG. 1 with a toothbrush inserted.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the top portion of another embodiment of the toothbrush container according to the instant invention with an alternative type of lid.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of an additional embodiment of the toothbrush container according to the instant invention.

FIGS. 1 to 4 show one embodiment of the disinfecting toothbrush container 10 which has four container chambers 36 for holding toothbrushes 38.

This disinfecting toothbrush container 10 comprises a container body 14 with an outer wall 22 divided by four substantially vertical partitioning walls 26 into four substantially equal toothbrush container chambers 36 and a lid 16. The partitioning walls 26 meet at a common center post 28 to which they are attached.

The lid 16 is provided with a plurality of interior threads 18 by which it can be screwed on the upper end of the container body 14 on exterior threads 20 provided on the outer upper edge of the container body 14. When this lid 16 is secured on the container body 14 it provides a liquid-tight closure of the container 10.

While the container body 14 is round and nearly circular cylindrical in its top portion, its bottom portion is flared out uniformly circumferentially and the container body 14 is provided with a flat base 24 so that inadvertent tipping over of the toothbrush container 10 is minimized.

The container chambers 36 and the toothbrush container 10 as a whole are divided into top and bottom portions by the transverse partition 30. The transverse partition 30 is made of a flexible material. In this embodiment the material from which the transverse partition 30 is made is rubber. A substantially radially-extending slit 32 is provided in each of the four portions of the transverse partition 30 corresponding to and in each of the container chambers 36. It is large enough so that a toothbrush 38 can pass through it. A disinfecting liquid 34 is provided below the transverse partition 30 completely filling the lower portions of the container chambers 36.

This disinfecting liquid 34 can be any of a number of germ-killing liquids including Listerine, Cephacol or the like which may contain substances such as alcohol, cetylpyridinium chloride and so forth.

The lips of the slits 32 seal tight enough so that the disinfecting liquid 34 does not substantially evaporate or is not spilled if the container 10 is tipped over and dirt and air are kept out of the lower portions of the container chambers 36. When the toothbrush container 22 sits upright the lid 16 can be removed and a toothbrush 38 can be thrust with the end having the bristles 40 directed downward into the disinfecting liquid 34. The lid 16 can be screwed on the container body 14 again and the toothbrush 38 stored in the toothbrush container 10. While the toothbrush 38 is stored with the bristles 40 in the disinfecting liquid 34 the disinfecting liquid 34 acts to kill the germs present on the toothbrush 38. Naturally when the toothbrush 38 is removed from the container 10 the bristles 40 can be rinsed to remove inert matter. Furthermore the lips of the slit 32 squeeze off disinfecting liquid 34 remaining on the bristles 40 as the toothbrush 38 is drawn through the slit 32.

Alternatively in another embodiment of the toothbrush container 11 shown in FIG. 5 for easy rapid use the lid 162 can be a substantially flat aluminum piece which is shaped to fit the top of the container body 22. This piece can be applied with a soft seal to the upper edge of the container body 22 and also can be easily and quickly removed.

In an additional embodiment of the toothbrush container 12 shown in cross section in FIG. 6 only two container chambers 36 are included. It would clearly be adantageous not to put too many toothbrushes in these toothbrush containers 10-12 since disinfecting liquid 34 is gradually reduced in potency with use. Advantageously one toothbrush should be stored in each container chamber 36.

10 first embodiment of the toothbrush container

11 second embodiment of the toothbrush container

12 additional embodiment of the toothbrush container

14 container body

16 container lid

18 interior threads on lid

20 exterior threads on container body

22 outer wall

24 container base

26 vertical container chamber walls

28 center post

30 transverse partition (rubber)

32 radially-extending slits

34 disinfecting liquid

36 container chamber

38 toothbrush

40 bristles

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other devices differing from the type of device described above.

The invention is not intended to be limited to the details provided above and it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.