Sanitizing toothbrush holder

Abstract

A toothbrush holder comprises a container with a neck, and a lid wherein the lid seals the neck of the container and has an aperture for accepting a toothbrush handle. The lid is made from a material that is soft and pliable so that the material of the lid will conform to the handle of a toothbrush inserted through the aperture to retain the toothbrush in the aperture and substantially seal the container. Alternatively, the lid may be manufactured as an integral part of the toothbrush handle to eliminate any possibility of a leak.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A toothbrush holder, comprising: 
 a container having a hollow interior, the container having a neck extending from and defining an opening for the container, the neck being generally cylindrical and having inside and outside surfaces defining inside and outside diameters; and    a lid removably engaged to the neck of said container, the lid having an aperture defined therein, the lid being made of a soft and pliable material whereby the material of the lid will conform to the handle of a toothbrush inserted through the aperture.    
     
     
         2 . The toothbrush holder of  claim 1 , wherein said container comprises a transparent, nonporous material.  
     
     
         3 . The toothbrush holder of  claim 1 , wherein said lid further comprises a generally cylindrical stopper portion having an outside diameter slightly smaller than the inside diameter of said neck to fit snugly within said neck, the lid being formed of a material having a coefficient of friction high enough to retain the stopper portion within said neck.  
     
     
         4 . The toothbrush holder of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said neck further comprises threads formed on said interior surface; and    said lid further comprises a generally cylindrical threaded portion having an exterior surface, the exterior surface being threaded;    whereby the threads of said stopper portion engage with the threads of said neck to retain the threaded portion within said neck.    
     
     
         5 . The toothbrush holder of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said neck further comprises threads formed on said exterior surface; and    said lid further comprises a generally cylindrical threaded portion having an interior surface, the interior surface being threaded;    whereby the threads of said threaded portion engage with the threads of said neck to retain the threaded portion on said neck.    
     
     
         6 . The toothbrush holder of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said neck further comprises at least one keyway defined in said interior surface; and    said lid further comprises a generally cylindrical keyed portion having an exterior surface, there being at least one key disposed on the exterior surface;    whereby the keys of said keyed portion engage with the keyways of said neck to retain the stopper portion within said neck.    
     
     
         7 . The toothbrush holder of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said neck further comprises at least one key disposed on said exterior surface; and    said lid further comprises a generally cylindrical keyed portion having an interior surface, there being at least one keyway defined in the interior surface;    whereby the keys of said neck engage with the keyways of said keyed portion to retain the keyed portion within said neck.    
     
     
         8 . A toothbrush holder, comprising: 
 a container having a hollow interior, the container having a neck extending from the container and defining an opening for the container, the neck being generally cylindrical and having inside and outside surfaces defining inside and outside diameters;    a toothbrush having a handle; and    a lid disposed on the handle of said toothbrush, the lid being removably engaged to the neck of said container.    
     
     
         9 . The toothbrush holder of  claim 8 , wherein said container comprises a transparent, nonporous material.  
     
     
         10 . The toothbrush holder of  claim 8 , wherein said lid further comprises a generally cylindrical stopper portion having an outside diameter slightly smaller than the inside diameter of said neck to fit snugly within said neck, the lid being formed of a material having a coefficient of friction high enough to retain the stopper portion within said neck.  
     
     
         11 . The toothbrush holder of  claim 8 , wherein: 
 said neck further comprises threads formed on said interior surface; and    said lid further comprises a generally cylindrical threaded portion;    whereby the threads of said threaded portion engage with the threads of said neck to retain the threaded portion within said neck.    
     
     
         12 . The toothbrush holder of  claim 8 , wherein: 
 said neck further comprises threads formed on said exterior surface; and    said lid further comprises a generally cylindrical threaded portion having an interior surface, the interior surface being threaded;    whereby the threads of said threaded portion engage with the threads of said neck to retain the threaded portion on said neck.    
     
     
         13 . The toothbrush holder of  claim 8 , wherein: 
 said neck further comprises at least one keyway defined in said interior surface; and    said lid further comprises a generally cylindrical keyed portion having an exterior surface, there being at least one key disposed on the exterior surface;    whereby the keys of said keyed portion engage with the keyways of said neck to retain the keyed portion within said neck.    
     
     
         14 . The toothbrush holder of  claim 8 , wherein: 
 said neck further comprises at least one key disposed on said exterior surface; and    said lid further comprises a generally cylindrical keyed portion having an interior surface, there being at least one keyway defined in the interior surface;    whereby the keys of said neck engage with the keyways of said keyed portion to retain the keyed portion within said neck.