Automatic toothbrush sterilizer

Claim 1

An apparatus for sterilizing and storing toothbrushes and the like, comprising, in combination: holding means for a plurality of toothbrushes each of which toothbrush has a longitudinal axis; said holding means having a longitudinal axis disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes of said toothbrushes held in said holding means; a germicidal lamp for irradiating the air about said toothbrushes; housing means which cooperate with said holding means to supply electrical power to said lamp whenever the holding means is in a first position with respect to said housing means, and to prevent the supply of electrical power to said lamp whenever said holding means is no longer in said first position; said lamp and said holding means being disposed within said housing means; said housing means having an aperture therein to permit the removal and replacement of a toothbrush from said holding means when said holding means is no longer in said first position; said holding means blocking the aperture in the housing means whenever the holding means is in said first position; and said holding means includes: a rigid member, maintaining the longitudinal axes of said plurality of toothbrushes in a substantially parallel relationship to the longitudinal axis of said holding means, a base to receive said rigid member, with rotational movement of the base being directly translatable to rotate said rigid member an intermediate base rotatably positioned between said base and said rigid member, said intermediate base threadedly accepting said housing means, a bearing means positioned between said base and said intermediate base, and spring means positioned between said base and said intermediate base so as to produce a torque between said base and said intermediate base when said base is rotated with respect to said intermediate base in a manner to result in movement of the holding means from the first position.

Claim 2

An apparatus for sterilizing and storing toothbrushes and the like, comprising, in combination: holding means for a plurality of toothbrushes each of which toothbrush has a longitudinal axis; said holding means having a longitudinal axis disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes of said toothbrushes held in said holding means; a germicidal lamp for irradiating the air about said toothbrushes; housing means which cooperate with said holding means to supply electrical power to said lamp whenever the holding means is in a first position with respect to said housing means, and to prevent the supply of electrical power to said lamp whenever said holding means is no longer in said first position; said lamp and said holding means being disposed within said housing means; said housing means having an aperture therein to permit the removal and replacement of a toothbrush from said holding means when said holding means is no longer in said first position; said holding means blocking the aperture in the housing means whenever the holding means is in said first position; and said holding means includes: a rigid member, maintaining the longitudinal axes of said plurality of toothbrushes in a substantially parallel relationship to the longitudinal axis of said holding means, a base to receive said rigid member, with rotational movement of the base being directly translatable to rotate said rigid member an intermediate base rotatably positioned between said base and said rigid member, said intermediate base threadedly accepting said housing means, a bearing means positioned between said base and said intermediate base, and spring means positioned between said base and said intermediate base so as to produce a torque between said base and said intermediate base when said base is rotated with respect to said intermediate base in a manner to result in movement of the holding means from the first position.

Claim 3

An apparatus for sterilizing and storing toothbrushes and the like, comprising, in combination: a cylindrical hollow housing; brush holding means disposed for rotation within said housing; a germicidal lamp mechanically and operably mounted within said housing for irradiating said brushes and the air about said brushes; said housing having an aperture therein permitting the introduction and withdrawal of the brush into and from said brush holding means; said brush holding means including a rigid arm having a convex outer surface which is larger than said aperture in said housing and which may be rotated with said brush holding means to block said aperture; electrical means for supplying electricity to said germicidal lamp; said electrical means including a first portion thereof mounted on said housing and a second portion thereof mounted on said brush holding means; and means for rotating said brush holding means to selectively align a brush held on said holding means with said housing aperture in which aligned position said first and second portions of said electrical means are out of electrical contact with each other so that electricity is prevented from being supplied to said germicidal lamp, and for rotating said brush holding means to block said housing aperture with said convex outer surface of said rigid arm in which blocked position said first and second portions of said electrical means are in electrical contact with each other so that electricity may be supplied to said germicidal lamp.

Claim 4

An apparatus for sterilizing and storing toothbrushes and the like, comprising, in combination: a cylindrical hollow housing; brush holding means disposed for rotation within said housing; a germicidal lamp mechanically and operably mounted within said housing for irradiating said brushes and the air about said brushes; said housing having an aperture therein permitting the introduction and withdrawal of the brush into and from said brush holding means; said brush holding means including a rigid arm having a convex outer surface which is larger than said aperture in said housing and which may be rotated with said brush holding means to block said aperture; electrical means for supplying electricity to said germicidal lamp; said electrical means including a first portion thereof mounted on said housing and a second portion thereof mounted on said brush holding means; and means for rotating said brush holding means to selectively align a brush held on said holding means with said housing aperture in which aligned position said first and second portions of said electrical means are out of electrical contact with each other so that electricity is prevented from being supplied to said germicidal lamp, and for rotating said brush holding means to block said housing aperture with said convex outer surface of said rigid arm in which blocked position said first and second portions of said electrical means are in electrical contact with each other so that electricity may be supplied to said germicidal lamp.