US20030024546A1 - Toothpaste, toothbrush and dental floss container - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention is a much-needed accessory for dental hygiene care. The unique single unit apparatus holds dental floss, toothbrushes and a toothpaste tube that is held so that the cap is pointing down. The unit can be easily applied to walls or mirrors. This is a practical and hygienic bathroom accessory for dental health products.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION
• This product is designed to promote oral hygiene on a more reliable and regular basis by having toothpaste, toothbrushes and dental floss more visual and accessible, thus making the process of dental hygiene more efficient. A structural unit that incorporates brushing and flossing with cleanliness and accessibility. This is done by visual appearance, location and easy of approach. [0001]
• The structural units frontal design can be changed to a multitude of different designs with the use of various insignias. Invention is intended to be placed and adhered to surfaces in direct view, away from other objects (having it's own place and space). Invention contains toothbrushes, toothpaste and dental floss in same location. [0002]
Benefits
• 1. Toothpaste Tube: [0003]
• A. Unit allows tube to hang upside down with cap pointing down, thus, paste flows to opening naturally. This leaves little to no toothpaste waste. [0004]
• B. Tube may be squeezed or pushed to allow paste out of opening and does not need to be rolled. [0005]
• C. Toothpaste tube hangs securely in place allowing a person to use one hand to release cap, put paste on brush and recap easily. [0006]
• D. Toothpaste tube being hung in the open becomes a constant visual reminder. [0007]
• 2. Toothbrushes: [0008]
• A. Toothbrushes hang on side of the unit for convenience. [0009]
• B. Being in the open becomes a visual reminder. [0010]
• C. Toothbrushes being hung individually, with little surface touch, is more hygienic. [0011]
• D. Easy accessibility. [0012]
• 3. Dental floss [0013]
• A. Dental floss held/contained in top of unit for easy accessibility and convenience. [0014]
• B. Visual Reminder. [0015]
• C. Easy to use; one hand operational. [0016]
• 4. Structural unit brings together toothpaste, toothbrushes and dental floss into a single unit. Allows for, more organization, cleanliness, accessibility and effecient. Being in a open location adds to less clutter and is hygienic. [0017]
• 5. Front is ideal for designs, advertisements, and other styles, which adds to a personal interest.[0018]
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 Front Elevational View: [0019]
• Hooks on sides, for holding toothbrushes [0020]
• FIG. 2 Back Elevational View: [0021]
• Suction cup placed in middle. [0022]
• FIG. 3 Side Elevational View: (same on both sides) [0023]
• Hooks for toothbrushes in middle. Below hooks is opening button to release latch. [0024]
• FIG. 4 Top Plan View: [0025]
• Opening in top allows for dental floss to be held. [0026]
• FIG. 5. Bottom Plan View: [0027]
• Opening in bottom allows toothpaste tube to be set and clamped in place. [0028]
• FIG. 6 Side View: (open position) [0029]
• Button and latch system, with pointed shaft for holding tube securely. [0030]
• FIG. 7 Front Elevational View: [0031]
• With toothpaste, toothbrushes and dental floss in place.[0032]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
• Reference to the drawing FIGS. [0033] 1-6, depicts the preferred embodiment of the instant invention; referring to FIG. 1 which is cylindrical in shape where as the dental floss 9 is held in the top compartment, toothbrushes 10 are held in place by hooks 2, toothpaste tube 11 is held in the bottom opening 7 by a pick 12 or other type of holding device 3. that clamp tube in place. Referring to FIG. 1, by having a flat, smooth circular front comprises an insignia of a sport team logo, graphic or related theme like a baseball, hockey puck, basketball, golf ball, tennis ball or different design themes and logos of companies. Hooks 2 on either side of cylinder are intended for toothbrushes 10 to be held and stored. Referring to FIG. 2, a suction cup or adhesive strip is attached to back of cylinder for effective attachment to mirror or tiled surface. Suction cup may have hole that is in top of outer rim of cup so that the invention may be fastened to wall with nails or screws. Referring to FIG. 3, cylinder unit can be opened by pressing the two buttons 3 on both sides of cylinder unit or may not have opening device if different holding technique of toothpaste tube is used. Toothpaste tube can be in inserted into bottom opening 7 of cylindrical unit. A pick or clamp may hold tube securely in place. Bottom opening 7 may use any other known technique to clamp toothpaste tube to the said invention. Reference to FIG. 4 the top of the cylindrical unit has an open compartment 6 that allows dental floss 9 to be set and held in place.
• Referring to FIGS. [0034] 1-6 depicts the theory that by having a single unit that combines toothbrushes, toothpaste and dental floss in one central location and is placed in a more accessible and visible area it will promote a strong reminder of dental hygiene and encouragement of brushing and flossing.
BACK GROUND OF INVENTION
• The instant invention relates to a device that toothbrushes, toothpaste and dental floss are held, contained or stored. The unit is placed on a mirror, wall or other surface. With it's own space it becomes an effective and efficient visual reminder and encouragement for dental hygiene. With different types of insignia's and graphics, the front of the unit being round is ideal for different sport designs, such as; baseball, hockey, golf, basketball and tennis. For children the design can be changed to super-figures, dolls, or cartoons, etc. Other styles may incorporate clocks or picture frames. A dental hygiene holder that is more personal, visually pleasing, accessible and efficient to promote better dental hygiene. [0035]
DESCRIPTION OF BACKGROUND ART
• Proper dental hygiene is an important daily ritual. Some of the problems that exist with dental hygiene are; Dental floss is not used regularly for it is often hidden in a draw and forgotten. “Should toothpaste tubes be squeezed or rolled” seem to be a problem when two or more people share a tube. Toothbrushes set in soiled area's or touching one another. Dental hygiene products being separate items have there separate problems. They are usually kept in different locations, leading to clutter, unclean environments, brakes in routines and visually displeasing. There are many dental hygiene products that address these problems. Though, there are currently no known devices which addresses the problems as a whole and brings the separate dental hygiene products together as easily and efficiently as the instant invention. [0036]
• For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 6,102,203 issued to Marro discloses a toothbrush cover and holding assembly, with sports themes. U.S. Pat. No. 5,638,840 issued to Lee et al. discloses a combination toothpaste dispenser, toothbrush holder forming a unitary structure simulative of a cat. U.S. Pat. No. 4,951,828 issued to Martin discloses a toothbrush holder that attaches to a wall. While researching various toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss holders, they fail to suggest a single unit design that bring similar dental hygiene holders into one that is simple and addresses so many problems as easily as my invention. [0037]

Claims (1)

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss holder that can contain all three dental products together in a single unit. That attaches to a wall, mirror or other surface. Said device comprising of:

1. Side hooks or clamps where toothbrushes are to be held and stored.

2. Top of unit where dental floss can be held and stored.

3. Bottom of unit, where toothpaste can be set upside down, held and stored.

4. A suction cup or adhesive strip that attaches unit to surfaces.

5. Front of unit to include, insignias with predetermined logos, graphics, clocks, picture frames, three dimensional images, etc.

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