US20080006550A1

US20080006550A1 - Docketing system for tooth-care producets

Info

Publication number: US20080006550A1
Application number: US11/481,812
Authority: US
Inventors: Anna M. Dietrich; Joe Flores
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-07-06
Filing date: 2006-07-06
Publication date: 2008-01-10

Abstract

A tooth-care equipment holder unit accommodates a plurality of electric toothbrushes as well as a dental floss holder, a toothpaste tube and dental floss sticks.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the general art of toiletries, and to the particular field of toothpaste and toothbrush holders.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Dental hygiene products are well known in the prior art. Many products exist for use in dental hygiene and include, for example, toothbrushes, toothpicks, toothpaste, mouthwash, rinsing cups and dental floss. These products are typically stored in a convenient location proximal to a bathroom sink so that an individual can easily clean their teeth and otherwise maintain healthy dental hygiene.
For example, at present, the majority of individuals use toothpaste and floss for dental prophylaxis. Most toothpastes come in a squeezable tube wherein the user squeezes out the product onto a toothbrush. Over the years, these tubes have maintained the same basic format. As is well known, it is difficult to squeeze the proper amount out once the tube is well used. Further, pockets of toothpaste often remain in the tube which is lost when the tube is discarded. Further, such tubes often develop cracks due to fatigue caused by numerous squeezes which leads to leakage of the toothpaste through said cracks. Further, toothpaste tubes, particularly used tubes, are not aesthetically pleasing and result in an unsightly appearance when left on the bathroom counter.
Still further, good dental hygiene requires the use of floss to clean between the teeth. At present, dental floss is provided on a spool in a container having a cutting blade mounted thereon. The dental floss container is usually rather small and easily misplaced. Daily and consistent use of dental floss is known to remove bacterial plaque in proximity to the gums and between the teeth. Dental health care workers, including dentists and oral hygienists, recommend a daily regime of flossing. To induce the habit, it is known to place the floss in a convenient location for easy access and to remind a person in the location to use the dental floss. Generally, by tradition and convenience, such location is a bathroom. But most dental floss containers sold in pharmacies and the like are packaged so as not to encourage a person to place the floss container in the location at a place where the person will be reminded to use the floss. In fact, most floss containers are hidden away in a medicine cabinet or the like. Still further, some dental floss is marketed in sticks so an individual an reach difficult places in his or her mouth. However, these sticks can become easily lost and can be unsightly if merely left lying on a sink.
Those individuals concerned with the aesthetic setting of their bathroom may wish to conceal or organize their dental hygiene products instead of placing them upon the counter-top of their bathroom sink area. Of course, some people simply store their dental hygiene products within a cabinet mounted above the bathroom sink. However, in doing so, many people forget to clean their teeth in that the dental hygiene products are not prominently displayed. The positioning and dispensing of various components relative to a dental hygiene program is frequently rendered difficult by the various components required to maintain such a program.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above-discussed disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by a tooth-care equipment holder unit that accommodates a plurality of electric toothbrushes as well as a dental floss holder, a toothpaste tube and dental floss sticks. Using the tooth-care equipment holder embodying the present invention will permit a user to keep all such equipment in one convenient and easily accessed location.
Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the invention will be, or will become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the following claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like referenced numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tooth-care equipment holder unit embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view thereof.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a tooth-care equipment holder unit embodying the present invention showing tooth-care equipment stored therein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the figures, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in a tooth-care equipment holder unit 10. Unit 10 comprises a housing 12 which has a first end 14 which is a top end when the housing is in use such as shown in FIG. 4, a second end 16 which is a bottom end when the housing is in use and a height dimension 18 that extends between the top end and the bottom end of the housing.
Housing 12 further includes a first side 20, a second side 22 and a width dimension 24 that extends between first side 20 and second side 22. A first surface 30 is a front surface of the housing when the housing is in use and a second surface 32 is a rear surface of the housing when the housing is in use. A thickness dimension 34 extends between front surface 30 and rear surface 32.
Housing 12 further includes a slanting surface 40 that connects the top wall to first surface 30 and extends at an oblique angle θ to height dimension 18. An internal volume 44 is defined in the housing, and a shelf 48 is located in the internal volume and is mounted on the slanting surface in a cantilever fashion to extend toward the rear surface 32. Two toothbrush-accommodating openings 50 and 52 are defined through the first surface. A wall, such as wall 54, surrounds each opening and extends from first end 14 toward the shelf. The openings are spaced apart from each other in the direction of width dimension 24. Shelf 48 is located between the toothbrush-accommodating openings and bottom end 16 so that toothbrushes T accommodated in the toothbrush-accommodating openings will rest on the shelf.
Two slots 60 and 62 are defined through slanting surface 40 adjacent to shelf 48 so the shelf extends between bottom end 16 and the slots so that items, such as floss sticks F, accommodated in the slots will rest on the shelf. A dental floss container holder 70 is defined through slanting surface 40 adjacent to the shelf so the shelf extends between the bottom end and the dental floss container holder so that a dental floss container D accommodated in the dental floss container holder will rest on the shelf.
A concave toothpaste tube accommodating surface 80 is defined in slanting surface 40 adjacent to front surface 30 to accommodate a toothpaste tube TT. If desired, electrical power can be delivered to the toothbrushes accommodated in the unit 10 by connecting suitable circuitry and elements to the unit adjacent to the openings 50 and 52.
While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of this invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A tooth-care equipment holder unit comprising:

A) a housing having

(1) a first end which is a top end when the housing is in use,

(2) a second end which is a bottom end when the housing is in use,

(3) a height dimension that extends between the top end and the bottom end of the housing,

(4) a first side,

(5) a second side,

(6) a width dimension that extends between the first side and the second side,

(7) a first surface that is a front surface when the housing is in use,

(8) a second surface that is a rear surface when the housing is in use,

(9) a thickness dimension that extends between the front surface and the rear surface,

(10) a slanting surface that connects the top wall to the first surface and which extends at an oblique angle to the height dimension,

(11) an internal volume defined in the housing, and

(12) a shelf located in the internal volume and mounted on the slanting surface in a cantilever fashion;

B) two toothbrush-accommodating openings defined through the first surface, the housing including a wall surrounding each opening and extending from the top end of the housing toward the shelf, the openings being spaced apart from each other in the direction of the width dimension, the shelf being located between the toothbrush-accommodating openings and the bottom end so that toothbrushes accommodated in the toothbrush-accommodating openings will rest on the shelf;

C) two slots defined through the slanting surface adjacent to the shelf so the shelf extends between the bottom end and the slots so that items accommodated in the slots will rest on the shelf;

D) a dental floss container holder defined through the slanting surface adjacent to the shelf so the shelf extends between the bottom end and the dental floss container holder so that a dental floss container accommodated in the dental floss container holder will rest on the shelf; and

E) a concave toothpaste tube accommodating surface defined in the slanting surface adjacent to the front surface.

2. A tooth-care equipment holder unit comprising:

A) a housing having

(1) an internal volume defined in the housing, and

(2) a shelf located in the internal;

B) two toothbrush-accommodating openings defined through the housing adjacent to the shelf,

C) two slots defined through the housing adjacent to the shelf;

D) a dental floss container holder defined through the housing adjacent to the shelf, and

E) a concave toothpaste tube accommodating surface defined in the housing.