Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6268040
-
Patent Number
6,268,040
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, April 7, 199925 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, July 31, 200123 years ago
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Inventors
-
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 428 131
- 428 132
- 428 192
- 428 119
- 428 156
- 428 174
- 206 362
- 211 65
- 248 110
- D06 528
- D06 534
- 220 782
- 220 709
- 220 736
- 220 713
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A sanitary insert comprising a base panel, multiple apertures formed in the base panel, a sanitary band extending around the periphery of each aperture and downwardly therefrom, and a locking band integrally joined to the base panel.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In hotels, hospitals and other similar types of facilities intended for overnight or extended stays, local laws and ordinances typically prohibit permanent fixtures intended for storage of personal care items. For example, common bathroom wall mounted combination toothbrush and tumbler or glass holders are not allowed in public accommodation facilities because of the unsanitary nature of these holders due to bacterial buildup. As a result, a patron of a hotel, motel or other like establishment must place his or her personal care items on the sink top, in a drawer and the like wherein such items are disorganized and are more likely to become contaminated or discarded.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A sanitary insert for use in combination with a conventional wall mounted or free standing toothbrush holder comprising a base panel, multiple apertures formed in the base panel, a sanitary band integrally joined to the base panel around the periphery of each aperture and extending downwardly therefrom, and locking means joined to the base panel and extending downwardly or upwardly therefrom.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings,
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of a wall mounted toothbrush and tumbler holder in combination with a sanitary insert according to this invention;
FIG. 2
is an exploded view of the holder and insert shown in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 3
is a pedestal-type holder in combination with a sanitary insert according to this invention;
FIG. 4
is an exploded view of the holder shown in
FIG. 3
;
FIG. 5
is a perspective view of the upper side of one form of the insert shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4
;
FIG. 6
is a side elevational view of a tumbler with an insert attached thereto;
FIG. 7
is a top plan view of the insert shown in
FIG. 6
;
FIG. 8
is a cross-sectional view taken along the line
8
—
8
in
FIG. 7
;
FIG. 9
is a cross-sectional view taken along the line
9
—
9
in
FIG. 71
FIG. 10
is a cross-sectional view taken along the line
10
—
10
in
FIG. 11
; and
FIG. 11
is a partial view of a modified form of the insert shown in FIG.
7
;
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In the drawings, and with particular reference to
FIGS. 1 and 2
, the numeral
1
designates a conventional wall mounted toothbrush and tumbler holder. More specifically, holder
1
includes aperture
2
for receiving a tumbler or glass and also includes multiple generally rectangular apertures
3
-
8
.
According to one form of this invention, a sanitary insert is provided and is generally indicated by the letter A.
More specifically, insert A includes base panel
9
with side panels
10
integrally joined to each outer edge of base panel
9
and extending downwardly therefrom. In addition, center aperture
11
and multiple generally rectangular apertures
12
-
17
are formed in base panel
9
. Aperture
11
includes wall
18
which is integrally joined to base panel
9
around the periphery of aperture
11
and extends downwardly therefrom, of course, aperture
11
can be omitted, if desired.
Each of t he apertures
12
-
17
is of identical construction and includes side walls
19
integrally joined respectfully to base panel
9
at the peripheral edges of apertures
12
-
17
and extending downwardly therefrom. Each end of side walls
19
is integrally joined to the adjacent end of each associated side wall
19
to form a continuous sanitary band which overlaps the associated edges of holder
1
and extends into the respective apertures
3
-
8
, as shown in FIG.
1
.
In
FIGS. 3 and 4
, a modified form of the invention is shown for use in connection with a free standing pedestal-type holder
20
. Pedestal
20
includes top
21
having toothbrush receiving apertures
22
,
23
,
24
and
25
formed therein together with circular glass-receiving indention
26
.
The sanitary insert shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4
includes circular base panel
27
with rectangular apertures
28
,
29
,
30
and
31
formed therein. Each of the apertures
28
-
31
includes sanitary band
32
extending downwardly from the panel
27
around the peripheral edges thereof as previously described in connection with side walls
19
of the insert shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
.
In addition, the insert shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4
is provided with a generally concave locking band
33
and which is integrally joined to the outer peripheral edge of circular base panel
27
and extends downwardly therefrom such that when the insert is placed on top
21
of pedestal
20
, it is in effect locked in position whereby locking band
33
is snapped into an overlapping and interlocking relationship with outer lip
34
formed around the periphery of top
21
.
In
FIG. 5
, the upper side of the insert, shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4
, includes the additional feature of strengthening ribs
35
,
36
,
37
and
38
which interconnect adjacent ones of apertures
28
,
29
,
30
and
31
.
FIGS. 6-9
show a further alternative form of the invention wherein a conventional glass or tumbler
39
or pedestal
20
is utilized as the holder or stand for sanitary insert
40
. The construction of insert
40
is similar to that shown and described in connection with the insert shown in
FIGS. 3
,
4
and
5
with the additional feature of tabs
41
,
42
,
43
and
44
formed in each aperture and being integrally joined to insert
40
at the associated edge of each aperture. Therefore, when a toothbrush is inserted into an aperture, as shown in
FIG. 8
, it is held in place by the biasing action of the inner ends of tabs
41
-
44
against the toothbrush.
Further, insert
40
, in one form, is held in position by means of locking band
45
which is joined to the outer periphery of insert
40
and extends downwardly therefrom in an overlapping relationship with the top edge of glass
39
as best shown in FIG.
8
. Locking band
45
is provided with a contiguous flared edge
46
as a convenient means to grasp and remove the insert from glass
39
and additional locking capability is provided in the form of multiple dimples
47
formed around band
45
.
In
FIG. 10
, a locking mechanism for use in combination with a holder having an indentation, such as indentation
26
shown in
FIG. 4
is provided in the form of locking band
48
which is integrally joined to the inner edge of ring
49
and extends downwardly therefrom. Band
48
is adapted to overlap the outer edge of indentation
26
.
A further modified form of the invention is shown in
FIG. 11
wherein a plurality of offsets
50
are formed around band
48
. By this means, the sanitary insert is held in place by the interlocking relationship, for instance, in connection with indentation
26
, the edge of which is slightly bowed and the upper edge of offset
50
.
Also, shown in
FIGS. 7 and 10
, is inner panel
51
which is integrally joined to insert
40
and provides a means for printing advertising and other like material thereon.
In
FIG. 9
, the insert is held in position by means of upwardly extending locking means which comprises continuous band
52
and multiple scalloped tabs
53
disposed therebelow. As shown in
FIG. 9
, the upper surfaces of tabs
53
engage the lower edge of lip
34
in a locking relationship.
Therefore, by this invention, a sanitary insert is provided wherein conventional wall mounted toothbrush and tumbler holders, pedestal-type holders and the like are protected from bacterial accumulation. The sanitary inserts are inexpensive and generally manufactured of paper or plastic and are quickly and easily placed on conventional holders for single customer usage and then simply discarded and replaced.
Claims
- 1. A flexible and disposable sanitary cover comprising a base panel, at least a pair of apertures formed in said base panel, a sanitary band integrally joined to said base panel around the periphery of each of said apertures and extending downwardly therefrom, and a strengthening rib formed in said base panel and extending between said pair of apertures.
- 2. A sanitary cover according to claim 1 wherein a locking band is integrally joined to the outer peripheral edge of said base panel and extends downwardly therefrom.
- 3. A sanitary cover according to claim 2 wherein said locking band is of a concave configuration.
- 4. A sanitary cover according to claim 2 wherein multiple dimples are formed on said locking band.
- 5. A sanitary cover according to claim 1 wherein an inner edge is formed in said base panel.
- 6. A sanitary cover according to claim 5 wherein a sanitary band is integrally joined to said base panel around said inner edge and extends downwardly therefrom.
- 7. A sanitary cover according to claim 5 wherein multiple offsets are formed around said inner edge.
- 8. A sanitary cover according to claim 5 wherein a locking band is integrally joined to said base panel around said inner edge and extends upwardly therefrom.
- 9. A sanitary cover according to claim 5 wherein said inner edge is circular.
- 10. A sanitary cover according to claim 5 wherein a locking band is integrally joined to said base panel around said inner edge and extends downwardly therefrom.
US Referenced Citations (11)