Sanitary toothbrush holder

Abstract

A toothbrush holding device that holds a toothbrush so that its bristles are covered by a toothbrush cleaning fluid. The toothbrush cleaning fluid is contained in a cup. A lid having a toothbrush grasping device covers the opening of the cup. The toothbrush grasping device holds the toothbrush in a position such that the bristles of the toothbrush are below the surface of the toothbrush cleaning fluid. Also the toothbrush is held so that the bottom of the toothbrush is suspended above the bottom of the cup. In a preferred embodiment the cup includes a weighted bottom plate for improved stability and a contoured wall section for improved gripping. In a preferred embodiment the toothbrush grasping device is preferably a flexible membrane with triangular sections that also function to agitate and scrub the toothbrush bristles for improved cleaning.

1 . A device for holding a toothbrush so that the toothbrush bristles are covered by a toothbrush cleaning fluid, comprising:
 A. a cup defining an opening and a bottom and adapted to contain a cleaning fluid,   B. a lid covering the opening of said cup, and   C. a toothbrush grasping element attached to said lid, and adapted to hold said toothbrush in a position such that said bristles of said toothbrush are suspended in said cleaning fluid and above the bottom of said cup.   
   
   
       2 . The device for holding a toothbrush as in  claim 1 , wherein said cup comprises:
 A. a bottom plate, and   B. a wall section attached to said bottom plate.   
   
   
       3 . The device for holding a toothbrush as in  claim 1 , wherein said cup is of sufficient weight to counteract tipping forces created by the insertion of said toothbrush. 
   
   
       4 . The device for holding a toothbrush as in  claim 1 , wherein said cup is contoured to allow for easier grip by a user. 
   
   
       5 . The device for holding a toothbrush as in  claim 1 , wherein said cup is fabricated from a clear material to enable a user to view the condition of said toothbrush bristles and said toothbrush cleaning fluid. 
   
   
       6 . The device for holding a toothbrush as in  claim 5 , wherein said clear material is clear PVC. 
   
   
       7 . The device for holding a toothbrush as in  claim 1 , wherein said lid is removably attached to said cup via a pressure fit. 
   
   
       8 . The device for holding a toothbrush as in  claim 1 , wherein said lid comprises a lid opening and wherein said toothbrush grasping device is a flexible membrane attached to said lid and covering said lid opening wherein said flexible membrane holds said toothbrush in a position such that said bristles of said toothbrush are below the surface of said toothbrush cleaning fluid and so that said toothbrush is suspended above the bottom of said up. 
   
   
       9 . The device for holding a toothbrush as in  claim 1 , wherein said toothbrush grasping device comprises a means for agitating and scrubbing said bristles when said toothbrush is inserted into said cup and when said toothbrush is removed from said cup. 
   
   
       10 . The device for holding a toothbrush as in  claim 8 , wherein said flexible membrane comprises a plurality of triangular sections for grasping said toothbrush and for agitating and scrubbing said bristles when said toothbrush is inserted into said cup and when said toothbrush is removed from said cup. 
   
   
       11 . The device for holding a toothbrush as in  claim 1 , wherein said lid is adapted to provide an almost air tight seal of said cup to assist in reducing the evaporation of said toothbrush cleaning fluid from said cup. 
   
   
       12 . The device for holding a toothbrush as in  claim 1 , wherein said toothbrush cleaning fluid comprises an antiseptic. 
   
   
       13 . A device for holding a toothbrush so that the toothbrush bristles are covered by a toothbrush cleaning fluid, comprising:
 A. a bottom plate,   B. a wall section attached to said bottom plate, wherein said wall section and said attached bottom plate form a cup,   C. toothbrush cleaning fluid contained in said cup,   D. a pressure fit lid covering the opening of said cup, said pressure fit lid comprising a toothbrush port, and   E. a flexible membrane comprising a plurality of triangular sections adapted to agitate and scrub said bristles when said toothbrush is inserted into said cup and when said toothbrush is removed from said cup, said flexible membrane attached to said lid and covering said toothbrush port, said flexible membrane being further adapted to suspend said toothbrush so that said bristles of said toothbrush are below the surface of said toothbrush cleaning fluid and above the bottom of said cup.