Toothbrush holder

Abstract

A toothbrush holder includes a mounting frame or bracket provided on a wall-facing side with at least one coupling element for connecting the frame to a wall surface. The toothbrush holder further includes a plurality of fingers extending away from the frame on a side thereof opposite the coupling element. The fingers are spaced from each other to define a plurality of toothbrush-receiving slots. The toothbrush holder additionally comprises a cover member swingably mounted to the frame for pivoting between a closed position and an open position. Partitions are connected to the fingers and to the frame so as to define a plurality of toothbrush-head-receiving compartments. Each of the compartments is provided with at least one of the apertures so as to enable drainage from the respective compartment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A toothbrush holder comprising: a mounting frame provided on one side with at least one coupling element for connecting said frame to a wall surface; a plurality of fingers extending away from said frame on a side thereof opposite said at least one coupling element, said fingers being spaced from each other to define a plurality of toothbrush-receiving slots; and a cover member swingably mounted to said frame for pivoting between a closed position and an open position, said cover member in said closed position cooperating with said frame and said fingers to define a space enclosing bristled heads of toothbrushes inserted into said toothbrush-receiving slots, said cover member in said open position allowing alternate insertion and removal of toothbrushes from respective ones of said toothbrush-receiving slots. 
     
     
         2 . The toothbrush holder defined in  claim 1  wherein said fingers have upper surfaces that slope downwardly from free ends of said fingers towards said frame. 
     
     
         3 . The toothbrush holder defined in  claim 2  wherein said fingers are provided at a lower end, proximate said frame, with apertures for drainage of water from said upper surfaces. 
     
     
         4 . The toothbrush holder defined in  claim 3 , further comprising a plurality of partitions each connected to a respective one of said fingers and to said frame so as to define a plurality of toothbrush-head-receiving compartments, each of said compartments being provided with a respective one of said apertures. 
     
     
         5 . The toothbrush holder defined in  claim 4  wherein said fingers are thin arcuate panels concave on an upper side and convex on a lower side, said partitions being planar panels extending perpendicularly to said fingers. 
     
     
         6 . The toothbrush holder defined in  claim 5  wherein said compartments are each defined on a lower side by upper surfaces of adjacent ones of said fingers and by the respective one of said toothbrush-receiving slots. 
     
     
         7 . The toothbrush holder defined in  claim 1  wherein said cover member comprises a section of a hemisphere with a section of a cylindrical collar along one edge, said frame having a section of a cylindrical flange juxtaposed or adjacent to said section of a semi-cylindrical collar when said cover member is in said closed position. 
     
     
         8 . The toothbrush holder defined in  claim 7  wherein a hinge is connected on one side to said section of a semi-cylindrical collar and on another side to said section of a semi-cylindrical flange. 
     
     
         9 . The toothbrush holder defined in  claim 8  wherein said section of a semi-cylindrical collar and said section of a semi-cylindrical flange are provided with cooperating snap-lock elements on ends opposite said hinge. 
     
     
         10 . The toothbrush holder defined in  claim 1  wherein said toothbrush-receiving slots have outer end portions away from said frame and inner end portions proximate said frame, said outer end portions being wider than said inner end portions. 
     
     
         11 . The toothbrush holder defined in  claim 1  wherein said frame includes a substantially planar plate, said fingers being attached to said plate along one side thereof, said plate being formed with a pair of rails on a side opposite said fingers, said frame including a connector member receiving said rails on one side and provided with said at least one coupling element on an opposite side. 
     
     
         12 . The toothbrush holder defined in  claim 1  wherein said coupling element is a slot for receiving a fastener on said wall surface. 
     
     
         13 . A toothbrush holder comprising: a mounting frame provided on one side with at least one coupling element for connecting said frame to a wall surface; and a plurality of fingers extending away from said frame on a side thereof opposite said at least one coupling element, said fingers being spaced from each other to define a plurality of toothbrush-receiving slots, said fingers having upper surfaces that slope downwardly from free ends of said fingers towards said frame, said fingers being provided at a lower end, proximate said frame, with apertures for drainage of water from said upper surfaces. 
     
     
         14 . The toothbrush holder defined in  claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of partitions each connected to a respective one of said fingers and to said frame so as to define a plurality of compartments, each of said compartments being provided with one of said toothbrush-receiving slots and a respective one of said apertures. 
     
     
         15 . The toothbrush holder defined in  claim 13  wherein said fingers are thin arcuate panels concave on an upper side and convex on a lower side, said partitions being planar panels extending perpendicularly to said fingers. 
     
     
         16 . The toothbrush holder defined in  claim 13 , further comprising a cover member hingedly secured to said frame for pivoting between a closed position and an open position, said cover member in said closed position cooperating with said frame and said fingers to define a space enclosing bristled heads of toothbrushes inserted into said toothbrush-receiving slots, said cover member in said open position allowing alternate insertion and removal of toothbrushes from respective ones of said toothbrush-receiving slots. 
     
     
         17 . The toothbrush holder defined in  claim 16  wherein said cover member comprises a section of a hemisphere with a section of a cylindrical collar along one edge, said frame having a section of a cylindrical flange juxtaposed or adjacent to said section of a cylindrical collar when said cover member is in said closed position. 
     
     
         18 . The toothbrush holder defined in  claim 17  wherein a hinge is connected to said section of a cylindrical collar on one side and said section of a cylindrical flange on another side. 
     
     
         19 . The toothbrush holder defined in  claim 18  wherein said section of a cylindrical collar and said section of a cylindrical flange are provided with cooperating snap-lock elements on ends opposite said hinge. 
     
     
         20 . The toothbrush holder defined in  claim 13  wherein said toothbrush-receiving slots have outer end portions away from said frame and inner end portions proximate said frame, said outer end portions being wider than said inner end portions. 
     
     
         21 . The toothbrush holder defined in  claim 13  wherein said frame includes a substantially planar plate, said fingers being attached to said plate along one side thereof, said plate being formed with a pair of rails on a side opposite said fingers, said frame including a connector member receiving said rails on one side and provided with said at least one slot on an opposite side.