# US 2016/0256013 A1 · Toothbrush holder apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0256013 A1 - Document ID: US20160256013A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/156,852 - Filed: 2016-05-17 - Published: 2016-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-21 - Assignees: Maxor Inc. - Applicants: Maxor Inc. - Inventors: CLAUDE MAUFETTE; JEAN-FRANÇOIS JACQUES; DENIS LAMOTHE; JEAN LAMOTHE; PIERRE HALMAI - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160256013A1 ## CPC - A47K 1/09: Holders for drinking glasses, tooth brushes, hair brushes, or the like - A46B 17/02: Devices for holding brushes in use - A46B 17/04: Protective covers for the bristles - A47G 29/08: Holders for articles of personal use in general, e.g. brushes - F16B 2/22: of resilient material, e.g. rubbery material {(F16B2/205 takes precedence)} - F16M 13/02: for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle - A46B 2200/1066: Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures (A61C17/16 takes precedence; bristles arrangements for toothbrushes A46B9/04) - A47B 81/02: specially adapted for storing cleaning utensils - A47L 13/512: Clamping devices for hanging the tools - A47K: SANITARY EQUIPMENT; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR, e.g. TOILET ACCESSORIES - A46B: BRUSHES (handles not integral with brushware B25G) - A47G: HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT (book-ends A47B5/00; knives B26B) - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) - F16M: FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS - A47B: TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE (furniture jointing F16B) - A47L: DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING (brushes A46B; cleaning quantities of bottles or of other hollow articles of one kind B08B9/00; laundry D06F); SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL (cleaning in general B08) ## Abstract A toothbrush holder enclosure is provided which includes a three parts: a back plate, a resilient clamp and a front cover. The back plate and front cover form a housing. The clamp part has an inverted “U” shape and is made of a resilient material giving it a springy property. The clamp is shaped to urge two clamp arms towards one another in order for the clamp to grip a toothbrush. Two rollers at the tips of the clamp arms engage a toothbrush head inserted in the clamp as the clamp is spread apart from the clamped position to a deviated state. With the toothbrush inserted, the rollers exert pressure on a neck of the toothbrush to hold the toothbrush fast in place. The rolling engagement action of the rollers permits gripping toothbrushes having heads fitted with rubber sides. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A toothbrush holder for a toothbrush having a head portion, bristles extending from the head portion, a handle portion and a neck portion between the head portion and the handle portion, the head portion and handle portion defining a longitudinal axis of the toothbrush, the holder comprising: a clip having two opposing gripping members biased towards each other and having ends with opposed rollers to be separated by insertion of the head portion, wherein the head portion can slide over the rollers until said rollers can hold the neck portion; a cover body adapted to protect the bristles when the toothbrush is held by the clip, said cover body forming a splash proof enclosure at least for the toothbrush head, said enclosure having a bottom opening through which the toothbrush head is inserted and pulled out against a gripping force of said clip along the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush; and at least one tab extending from a portion of said ends of the gripping members for blocking insertion of the head portion into the clip by engaging said tab, wherein the head portion is insertable into the clip to a side of said tab along the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A toothbrush holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein each roller is configured to present a depression to said toothbrush head portion for guiding said toothbrush head portion between said grip members. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A toothbrush holder as claimed in claim 1, each of said rollers having a circumferential notch, the pair of circumferential notches presenting a depression to said toothbrush head portion leading into a channel guide formed by said notches. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A toothbrush holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said rollers is configured to journal about a corresponding pivot providing rolling engagement between said roller and said toothbrush. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A toothbrush holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said gripping members includes a resilient material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A toothbrush holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said rollers includes a resilient material. ### Claim 7 (canceled) ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A toothbrush holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein a pair of tabs forms a slit therebetween, said tabs having corresponding tab faces configured to prevent insertion of said toothbrush head in the clip between said tab faces while allowing the bristles to pass therebetween limiting the toothbrush to a preselected orientation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A toothbrush holder as claimed in claim 8, wherein said tab faces are substantially planar and at least one of: in the same plane with respect to one another; presenting a convex surface to the toothbrush head while being inserted in said holder; and presenting to said toothbrush head a surface slanted away or askew from said rollers while inserting said toothbrush head in the clip. ### Claim 10 (canceled) ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A toothbrush holder as claimed in claim 1, said clip having at least one edge extending in a direction of said toothbrush bristles. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A toothbrush holder as claimed in claim 11, said at least one edge extending in the direction of said bristles being an edge of at least one of said gripping members. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A toothbrush holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover body comprises a back plate and a front cover, said back plate being configured to be fixedly affixed to a substantially vertical surface and said clip being configured to be removably hung on said back plate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A toothbrush holder as claimed in claim 13, wherein said back plate is affixed to said vertical surface with adhesive. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) A toothbrush holder as claimed in claim 13, wherein said front cover is configured to mate with said back plate to form a said splash proof enclosure at least for the toothbrush head. ### Claim at position 16 16-56. (canceled) ### Claim 57 (depends on 1) A toothbrush holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein both rollers rollingly engage said toothbrush head by a side thereof, both rollers forming a channel guide for said toothbrush neck to be releaseably gripped in said clip. ### Claim 58 (depends on 1) A toothbrush holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein both rollers form a channel guide for said toothbrush neck to be releaseably gripped in said clip, said tab extending substantially perpendicular to said channel guide. ### Claim 59 (depends on 8) A toothbrush holder as claimed in claim 8, wherein both rollers form a channel guide for said toothbrush neck to be releaseably gripped in said clip, said pair of tabs extending substantially perpendicular to said channel guide. ### Claim 60 (depends on 2) A toothbrush holder as claimed in claim 2, wherein said depression forms a concave depression.