Ventilated toothbrush holder

Abstract

A ventilated toothbrush holder having filtered ventilation is provided. The toothbrush holder has a container, or first web, and a re-closable cover, or second web flexibly coupled to the first web. In a first embodiment, the second web has an opening that is covered by a fine-mesh polymeric filter that resists the entry of water and other liquids but allows the flow of air. In a second embodiment, the first web also has an opening covered by the same type of filter to enhance air flow into the first web and out of the second web. An exemplary shape is claimed, but other embodiments are not limited as to shape. An insert for supporting toothbrushes, adapted in shape to the first web, is disclosed.

1 . A toothbrush holder comprising the combination of:
 a. a first web sized, shaped, and arranged to be supportable on an environmental surface in a toothbrush-receiving orientation; and   b. a second web, flexibly coupled to said first web and operable to releasably close said toothbrush holder, said second web comprising:
 i. a first opening; and 
 ii. a first filter covering said first opening, said first filter operable to allow the passage of air and to resist the passage of liquids. 
   
   
   
       2 . The toothbrush holder of  claim 1 , wherein said first web comprises a cylindrical shell of varying oval cross-section, having a top, a middle, and a bottom, said oval cross section being smaller in said middle and wider at said top and at said bottom, said bottom being at least partially closed by a portion of said first web. 
   
   
       3 . The toothbrush holder of  claim 2 , wherein said cylindrical shell has an arcuate side profile. 
   
   
       4 . The toothbrush holder of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a. said second web has a top portion; and   b. said first opening in said second web comprises a first opening in said top portion of said second web.   
   
   
       5 . The toothbrush holder of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a. said second web comprises a second web surface area;   b. said first opening comprises a first opening area; and   c. said first opening area comprises less than five percent of said second web surface area.   
   
   
       6 . The toothbrush holder of  claim 1 , wherein said first web comprises:
 a. a bottom;   b. a second opening proximate said bottom;   c. a second filter covering said second opening proximate said bottom, said second filter operable to allow the passage of air and to resist the passage of liquids; and   d. wherein said second opening proximate said bottom and said first opening in said second web enables air flow into said second opening proximate said bottom, through said first web, and out of said first opening in said second web.   
   
   
       7 . The toothbrush holder of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a. said first web comprises at least one extension sized, shaped, and arranged to support at least a portion of a flexible coupling for said flexibly coupled second web; and   b. said second web comprises at least one adaptation sized, shaped, and arranged to support at least a portion of a flexible coupling for said flexibly coupled first web.   
   
   
       8 . The toothbrush holder of  claim 1 , wherein said first web comprises:
 a. a top; and   b. at least one flange, interior to said first web proximate said top, said at least one flange operable to support a removable insert, said removable insert sized, shaped, and arranged to support toothbrushes when such toothbrushes are within said toothbrush holder.   
   
   
       9 . The toothbrush holder of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a. said first web comprises a top;   b. said second web comprises an edge;   c. said first web further comprises at least one outer flange proximate said top, said at least one flange operable to abut said edge of said second web when said second web is in a closed position.   
   
   
       10 . The toothbrush holder of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first web and said second web is at least partially transparent. 
   
   
       11 . The toothbrush holder of  claim 1 , wherein said first filter is washable. 
   
   
       12 . A toothbrush holder comprising the combination of:
 a. a re-closable container comprising:
 i. a first web sized, shaped, and arranged to be supportable on an environmental surface in a toothbrush-receiving orientation; 
 ii. a second web, flexibly coupled to said first web and operable to releasably close said re-closable container, said second web comprising:
 1. a first opening; and 
 2. a first filter covering said first opening, said filter operable to allow the passage of air and to resist the passage of liquids; and 
 
   b. a removable insert, operable to be removably inserted into said re-closable container, said insert sized and shaped to support at least one toothbrush in said container when said insert is in said re-closable container.   
   
   
       13 . The toothbrush holder of  claim 12 , wherein said first web comprises:
 a. a top; and   b. at least one flange, interior to said first web proximate said top, said at least one flange operable to support said removable insert.   
   
   
       14 . The toothbrush holder of  claim 12 , wherein said first web comprises extensions to support at least a portion of a flexible coupling for said flexibly coupled second web. 
   
   
       15 . The toothbrush holder of  claim 12 , wherein said first web comprises:
 a. a bottom;   b. a second opening proximate said bottom;   c. a second filter covering said second opening proximate said bottom, said second filter operable to allow the passage of air and to resist the passage of liquids; and   d. wherein said second opening proximate said bottom and said first opening in said second web enables air flow into said second opening proximate said bottom, through said first web, and out of said first opening in said second web.   
   
   
       16 . The toothbrush holder of  claim 12 , wherein said first web comprises a cylindrical shell of varying oval cross-section, having a top, a middle, and a bottom, said oval cross section being smaller in said middle and wider at said top and at said bottom, said bottom being at least partially closed by a portion of said first web, said cylindrical shell having an arcuate side profile. 
   
   
       17 . The toothbrush holder of  claim 12 , wherein said second web has a top portion and said first opening in said second web comprises a first opening in said top portion of said second web. 
   
   
       18 . The toothbrush holder of  claim 12 , wherein:
 a. said second web comprises a surface area;   b. said first opening comprises a first opening area; and   c. said first opening area comprises less than five percent of said surface area.   
   
   
       19 . A toothbrush holder comprising the combination of:
 a. a re-closable container comprising:
 i. a first web, sized, shaped, and arranged to be supportable on an environmental surface in a receiving orientation, said first web comprising:
 1. a top; 
 2. a middle; 
 3. a bottom at least partially closed by a portion of said first web; 
 4. a cylindrical shell of varying cross-section, said cross section being smaller in said middle and wider at said top and at said bottom; 
 
 ii. a second web, flexibly coupled to said first web and operable to releasably close said re-closable container, said second web comprising:
 1. a top portion; 
 2. a second web surface having a second web surface area; 
 3. an edge; 
 4. a first opening in said top portion of said second web having a first opening area less than five percent of said second web surface area; 
 5. a first filter covering said first opening, said filter operable to allow the passage of air and to resist the passage of liquids; 
 
 iii. wherein said first web further comprises:
 1. at least one extension sized, shaped, and arranged to support at least a portion of a flexible coupling for said flexibly coupled second web; 
 2. at least one outer flange proximate said top, said at least one outer flange operable to abut said edge of said second web when said second web is in a closed position; and 
 
   b. a removable insert, operable to be removably inserted into said re-closable container, said insert sized and shaped to support at least one toothbrush in said re-closable container when said insert is in said re-closable container; and   c. wherein said first web further comprises at least one interior flange, interior to said first web proximate said top, said at least one interior flange operable to support said removable insert.   
   
   
       20 . The toothbrush holder of  claim 19 , wherein said first web comprises:
 a. a second opening proximate said bottom;   b. a second filter covering said second opening proximate said bottom, said second filter operable to allow the passage of air and to resist the passage of liquids; and   c. wherein said second opening proximate said bottom and said first opening in said second web enable air flow into said second opening proximate said bottom, through said first web, and out of said first opening in said second web.