Sanitary toothbrush holder

Abstract

A toothbrush holder facilitates air drying of the toothbrush bristles after use while maintaining the surrounding areas sanitary if fluid drips from the bristles. The holder includes a base and first and second aligned posts extending upwardly from the base, each post having a top surface, the top surfaces configured to support a toothbrush handle. The second post top surface is spaced further from the base than the first post top surface so that an imaginary straight line between the top surfaces has a cant angle of about 4-10 degrees so that when a toothbrush handle is placed on the post top surfaces the toothbrush bristles are lower than the end of the handle most remote from the bristles. The base is positioned over a sink so that any fluid dripping from the toothbrush bristles goes directly into the sink bowl.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A holder for a toothbrush having a handle and a head with bristles, said holder comprising:
 a base;   at least first and second substantially aligned support structures extending upwardly from said base, said first support structure having a first top surface and said second support structure having a second top surface;   said first and second top surfaces each configured to support a toothbrush handle; and   said second top surface being spaced further from said base than said first top surface so that an imaginary straight line between said top surfaces has a cant angle of at least about two degrees so that when a toothbrush handle is placed on said top surfaces the toothbrush head is lower than the end of the handle most remote from the head.   
     
     
         2 . A holder as recited in  claim 1  wherein said support structures are posts. 
     
     
         3 . A holder as recited in  claim 2  further comprising third and fourth substantially aligned posts extending upwardly from said base and having third and fourth top surfaces, respectively; and wherein said fourth top surface is spaced further from said base than said third top surface so that an imaginary straight line between said third and fourth top surfaces has a cant angle of at least about two degrees so that when a toothbrush handle is placed on said third and fourth top surfaces the toothbrush head is lower than the end of the handle most remote from the head. 
     
     
         4 . A holder as recited in  claim 1  wherein the cant angle is between about 4-10 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . A holder as recited in  claim 3  wherein the cant angles are both between about 4-10 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . A holder as recited in  claim 1  wherein said holder is composed of plastic having properties comparable to ABS and HDPE. 
     
     
         7 . A holder as recited in  claim 2  wherein said base has a leading edge closer to said first post than said second post, and wherein the distance of said leading edge from said first post is less than about 20 mm. 
     
     
         8 . A holder as recited in  claim 2  wherein said first and second top surfaces are configured as longitudinal curved depressions. 
     
     
         9 . A holder as recited in  claim 2  wherein the cant angle is between about 4-10 degrees. 
     
     
         10 . The combination of a holder as recited in  claim 1  with a toothbrush having a handle and a head with bristles, said base dimensioned so that when said toothbrush handle engages both said top surfaces said toothbrush head and bristles do not overlie said base, and wherein said head and bristles are closer to said first top surface than said second top surface. 
     
     
         11 . A combination as recited in  claim 10  wherein said toothbrush handle is mounted on said top surfaces so that said bristles of said toothbrush head point downwardly or horizontally. 
     
     
         12 . A combination as recited in  claim 10  wherein said cant angle is about 4-10 degrees. 
     
     
         13 . A holder-toothbrush combination as recited in  claim 10  in further combination with a sink having a ledge defining the top of a sink bowl; and wherein said base and toothbrush are positioned so that said toothbrush head extends past said ledge and overlies said sink bowl so that any fluid dripping from said toothbrush head falls into said bowl. 
     
     
         14 . A holder-toothbrush-sink combination as recited in  claim 13  further comprising a front lip on said base adjacent said first post, which lip facilitates positioning of said base at said sink ledge. 
     
     
         15 . A holder-toothbrush-sink combination as recited in  claim 13  wherein said base has a bottom surface and wherein at least one suction cup is mounted on said bottom surface. 
     
     
         16 . A holder-toothbrush-sink combination as recited in  claim 13  wherein said base has a bottom surface and wherein said bottom is recessed to minimize the chance of water pooling. 
     
     
         17 . A method of air drying the bristles of a toothbrush after use by a human in brushing the human's teeth, utilizing a toothbrush holder and a bathroom sink bowl, the method comprising: a) positioning the holder adjacent the bathroom sink bowl; and b) placing the toothbrush on the holder so that the bristles overlie the sink bowl so that any fluid dripping from the bristles falls directly into the sink bowl. 
     
     
         18 . A method as recited in  claim 17  wherein the toothbrush has a handle including an end thereof most remote from the bristles; and wherein b) is practiced so that toothbrush handle angles downwardly so that the bristles are lower than the handle end most remote from the bristles. 
     
     
         19 . A method as recited in  claim 18  wherein b) is further practiced so that the handle angles downwardly between about 4-10 degrees. 
     
     
         20 . A method as recited in  claim 17  wherein b) is practiced so that the bristles point downwardly or substantially horizontally.