Sanitary toothbrush

Abstract

An improved sanitary toothbrush with a curved proximal end in the general shape of a hook for storing the toothbrush in a suspended, upside down fashion, thereby allowing for air drying of the distal brush portion of the toothbrush and creating a cleaner and more sanitary method of storing the toothbrush after use. In an additional embodiment of the present invention, the elongated intermediate handle portion of the toothbrush is designed in the shape of an animal with the curved distal end of the handle forming the animal's tail, thereby making brushing more aesthetically pleasing and appealing to children suffering from sensory integrative dysfunction and accompanying oral defensive disorder. Lastly, the unique curved shape of the proximal end of the toothbrush handle further assists brushing by children, as the handle cradles the child's hand for ease of use and better gripping of the toothbrush by children whose arm and hand strength is significantly less than that of an adult and who may have difficulty holding a standard toothbrush while brushing.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 ) A new and improved sanitary toothbrush comprising: 
 (a) A handle portion, formed of a rigid material, having an upper surface, a lower surface, a distal end, a proximal end, and an elongated intermediate portion in between;    (b) The distal end of the handle having a brush unit generally comprised of a rectangular head portion adjacent and integral thereto, the head portion having an upper surface with a plurality of bristle tufts extending outward therefrom; and    (c) The proximal end of the handle generally comprised of a curved shape in the form of a hook for hanging the toothbrush, said curved proximal end being of sufficient size, dimension and radius to allow for the hanging or suspension of the toothbrush in an upside down position.    
     
     
         2 ) The toothbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein the curved proximal end of the handle extends outward in a direction that is opposite the bristle tufts.  
     
     
         3 ) The toothbrush according to  claim 2 , wherein the elongated intermediate portion is designed and shaped to represent a tailed animal, with the curved proximal end of the handle of the toothbrush forming the tail of the animal.  
     
     
         4 ) The toothbrush according to  claim 3 , wherein the designed and shaped animal represented in the intermediate portion of the handle is a monkey, and where the curved proximal end of the handle is designed and shaped as the monkey's tail.  
     
     
         5 ) The toothbrush according to  claim 3 , wherein the designed and shaped animal represented in the intermediate portion of the handle is a snake, and where the curved proximal end of the handle is designed and shaped as the snake's tail.  
     
     
         6 ) The toothbrush according to  claim 3 , wherein the designed and shaped animal represented in the intermediate portion of the handle is an alligator, and where the curved proximal end of the handle is designed and shaped as the alligator's tail.  
     
     
         7 ) The toothbrush according to  claim 3 , wherein the designed and shaped animal represented in the intermediate portion of the handle is a dinosaur, and where the curved proximal end of the handle is designed and shaped as the dinosaur's tail.  
     
     
         8 ) The toothbrush according to  claim 3 , wherein the designed and shaped animal represented in the intermediate portion of the handle is a dolphin, and where the curved proximal end of the handle is designed and shaped as the dolphin's tail.  
     
     
         9 ) The toothbrush according to  claim 3 , wherein the designed and shaped animal represented in the intermediate portion of the handle is a giraffe, and where the curved proximal end of the handle is designed and shaped as the giraffe's tail.  
     
     
         10 ) The toothbrush according to  claim 3 , wherein the designed and shaped animal represented in the intermediate portion of the handle is a duck, and where the curved proximal end of the handle is designed and shaped as the duck's tail.  
     
     
         11 ) The toothbrush according to  claim 3 , wherein the designed and shaped animal represented in the intermediate portion of the handle is a tiger, and where the curved proximal end of the handle is designed and shaped as the tiger's tail.  
     
     
         12 ) The toothbrush according to  claim 3 , wherein the designed and shaped animal represented in the intermediate portion of the handle is a parrot and where the curved proximal end of the handle is designed and shaped as the parrot's tail.  
     
     
         13 ) The toothbrush according to  claim 3 , wherein the designed and shaped animal represented in the intermediate portion of the handle is a stork, and where the curved proximal end of the handle is designed and shaped as the stork's tail.  
     
     
         14 ) The toothbrush according to  claim 3 , wherein the designed and shaped animal represented in the intermediate portion of the handle is a seal, and where the curved proximal end of the handle is designed and shaped as the seal's tail.  
     
     
         15 ) The toothbrush according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the curved proximal end of the toothbrush is further of sufficient size, dimension and radius to create a gripping mechanism by allowing the toothbrush to be held by the hand while brushing the teeth.