Container for sanitizing a toothbrush

Abstract

A container for sanitizing a toothbrush wherein the container includes a cavity into which a toothbrush can be inserted. The cavity is adapted to hold a fluid or sanitizing fluid and includes interior walls adapted to engage the toothbrush such that its bristles are restricted from bending outward.

1 . A toothbrush container for a toothbrush having a brush head with bristles that extend substantially perpendicular to the brush head comprising:
 a vessel forming a cavity and at least one opening;   wherein there are two substantially parallel opposing interior walls included within the cavity that are adapted to engage the head of the toothbrush and equally restrict substantially all of the bristles from bending outward.   
   
   
       2 . The toothbrush container of  claim 1  wherein the opposing interior walls are part of a bracket affixed within the cavity. 
   
   
       3 . The toothbrush container of  claim 1  wherein the opposing interior walls are part of a removable bracket disposed within the cavity. 
   
   
       4 . The toothbrush container of  claim 1  wherein the opposing interior walls are integral with the vessel. 
   
   
       5 . The toothbrush container of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a base supporting the vessel, and wherein the container is adapted to hold fluid.   
   
   
       6 . The toothbrush container of  claim 5  wherein the base is removable from the vessel. 
   
   
       7 . The toothbrush container of  claim 5  wherein the vessel and the base are unitary. 
   
   
       8 . The toothbrush container of  claim 5  wherein the base is adapted to interlock with a base of a like toothbrush container. 
   
   
       9 . A toothbrush container for a toothbrush having a brush head with bristles that extend substantially perpendicular to the brush head, comprising:
 a vessel forming a cavity and at least one opening;   a bracket disposed within the cavity having a first interior wall, an opposing second interior wall, and a connecting wall, the first interior wall being substantially parallel to the second interior wall and the two interior walls being adapted to restrict substantially all of the bristles from bending outward;   wherein the first interior wall and the second interior wall each have a height, the height of said opposing interior walls being substantially equal and so dimensioned as to surround all of the bristles of the toothbrush;   wherein the connecting wall rigidly connects to and extends between the first interior wall and the second interior wall, the connecting wall forming a non-adjustable width between the two parallel opposing interior walls, the width so dimensioned that the opposing interior walls are positioned immediately adjacent the sides of the head of the toothbrush and equally restrict substantially all of the bristles of the toothbrush from bending outward; and   wherein the container is adapted to hold fluid.   
   
   
       10 . The toothbrush container of  claim 9  wherein the bracket is removable. 
   
   
       11 . The toothbrush container of  claim 9  wherein the bracket is affixed within the cavity. 
   
   
       12 . The toothbrush container of  claim 9  wherein the bracket is integral with the vessel. 
   
   
       13 . The toothbrush container of  claim 9  wherein the vessel includes an ultrasonic cleaning device disposed within the cavity. 
   
   
       14 . The toothbrush container of  claim 9  wherein the vessel includes an ultraviolet light disposed within the cavity. 
   
   
       15 . The toothbrush container of  claim 9  further comprising:
 a base connected to the vessel.   
   
   
       16 . The toothbrush container of  claim 15  wherein the vessel is removable from the base. 
   
   
       17 . The toothbrush container of  claim 15  wherein the vessel and the base are unitary. 
   
   
       18 . The toothbrush container of  claim 15  wherein the base is adapted to interlock with a base of a like toothbrush container. 
   
   
       19 . The toothbrush container of  claim 15  wherein at least one of the vessel, the base, and the bracket is made of plastic. 
   
   
       20 . The toothbrush container of  claim 15  wherein at least one of the vessel, the base, and the bracket is made of metal. 
   
   
       21 . The toothbrush container of  claim 15  further comprising:
 an indicator adapted to signal when a toothbrush is engaging the interior walls.   
   
   
       22 . The toothbrush container of  claim 9  wherein said opposing interior walls are flexible, and wherein spring members are provided within the vessel to bias said interior walls against the toothbrush. 
   
   
       23 . A kit comprising:
 a toothbrush having a first end and a second end and a first side and a second side, said first end including a brush head, said brush head including bristles extending substantially perpendicular to the brush head and substantially parallel to said first and second sides;   a vessel forming a cavity and at least one opening;   a bracket disposed within the cavity having a first interior wall, an opposing second interior wall, and a connecting wall, the first interior wall being substantially parallel to the second interior wall and the two interior walls being adapted to restrict substantially all of the bristles from bending outward;   wherein the first interior wall and the second interior wall each have a height, the height of said opposing interior walls being substantially equal and so dimensioned as to surround all of the bristles of the toothbrush;   wherein the connecting wall rigidly connects to and extends between the first interior wall and the second interior wall, the connecting wall forming a non-adjustable width between the two parallel opposing interior walls, the width so dimensioned that the opposing interior walls are immediately adjacent the first and second sides of the brush head of the toothbrush and equally restrict substantially all of the bristles of the toothbrush from bending outward; and   wherein the vessel is adapted to hold fluid.   
   
   
       24 . The toothbrush container of  claim 10  further comprising:
 a first flared wall connecting to the first interior wall and flaring out at an angle away from the second interior wall;   a second flared wall connecting to the second interior wall and flaring out at an angle away from the first interior wall;   wherein the first flared wall and the second flared wall each have a height, the height of said flared walls being substantially equal and being substantially equal to the height of the first and second interior walls.   
   
   
       25 . The toothbrush container of  claim 11  further comprising:
 a first flared wall connecting to the first interior wall and flaring out at an angle away from the second interior wall;   a second flared wall connecting to the second interior wall and flaring out at an angle away from the first interior wall;   wherein the first flared wall and the second flared wall each have a height, the height of said flared walls being substantially equal and being substantially equal to the height of the first and second interior walls.