Mechanism for grasping implements, method of manufacturing same, and fastening devices employed therein

Abstract

Plural resilient gripping members grasp the handle or shaft of a toothbrush. Two opposed sets of resilient gripping members are mounted in a recess in the body of the toothbrush holder to form a grasping mechanism. Because the gripping members are resiliently deformable, they will grip between one another brush handles that have a wide range of dimensions and profiles.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for grasping and holding implements, the apparatus comprising: 
 a body;    support structure connected to the body; and    one or more grasping mechanisms disposed in the body, each of the one or more grasping mechanisms having plural, opposed resiliently deformable grasping members.    
     
     
         2 . A toothbrush holder comprising: 
 a body;    support structure connected to the body; and    one or more toothbrush graspers disposed in the body, each of the one or more graspers having plural, opposed resiliently deformable grasping members.    
     
     
         3 . A fastener device for affixing a resilient body to a rigid body, the fastener device comprising: 
 a pair of opposed, arcuate upright portions;    one or more alignment members each of the alignment members being formed integrally with and extending outwardly from one of the upright portions; and    one or more retaining lips, each of the retaining lips being formed at the periphery of an extreme end of one of the upright portions.    
     
     
         4 . A method for manufacturing a gripping mechanism, the method comprising: 
 forming a main body having recesses;    forming plural grasping bodies, such that each of the plural grasping bodies has plural grasping members; and    fastening the plural grasping bodies in opposed pairs in the recesses on the main body.    
     
     
         5 . A grasping mechanism comprising: 
 a first set of plural resilient grasping members, each of the grasping members in the first set being substantially elongated along a respective longitudinal axis, their respective longitudinal axes being substantially parallel to one another; and    a second set of plural resilient grasping members, each of the grasping members in the second set being substantially elongated along a respective longitudinal axis, their respective longitudinal axes being substantially parallel to one another:    wherein the first set and the second set are arranged in proximate opposition to one another.    
     
     
         6 . The grasping mechanism of  claim 5 , wherein the grasping members in the first set are arranged in two linear rows, and the grasping members in the second set are arranged in two linear rows.  
     
     
         7 . The grasping mechanism of  claim 6 , wherein the linear rows are arranged adjacent one another.  
     
     
         8 . The grasping mechanism of  claim 7 , wherein the grasping members in one of the two linear rows are arranged so as to be staggered with respect to the grasping members in the other of the two linear rows.  
     
     
         9 . The grasping mechanism of  claim 7 , wherein the grasping members in one of the two linear rows are arranged so as to be not staggered with respect to the grasping members in the other of the two linear rows.  
     
     
         10 . A bracket for mounting an object to a wall, the bracket comprising: 
 a reversible body shaped to fit via sliding engagement into a recess on the object to be mounted, the body having a pair of opposed faces; and    double sided tape affixed to one of the opposed faces;    wherein plural countersunk holes are formed in the body, the holes being adapted to accommodate screw fasteners.