Toothbrush holder and a method for assuring the hygiene of a toothbrush holder and for adapting a toothbrush holder to provide assurance of its hygiene

Abstract

A method is provided for assuring the hygiene of a toothbrush holder to its first user. The method comprises the steps of providing a toothbrush holder having a receptacle, said receptacle having an opening, and providing a hygiene assurance element. The hygiene assurance element is integrally-connected to the receptacle and covers, at least partially, the opening such that the hygiene assurance element interferes with the insertion of or placing a toothbrush into the opening until the hygiene assurance element is irreversibly ruptured or removed in order to allow the toothbrush to be received and held in the receptacle, thereby providing assurance of the hygiene of the toothbrush holder to its first user.

1 . A method for assuring the hygiene of a toothbrush holder to its first user, comprising the steps of: 
 i) providing a toothbrush holder having a receptacle, said receptacle having an opening, and    ii) providing a hygiene assurance element, said hygiene assurance element being integrally-connected to said receptacle and covering, at least partially, said opening such that said hygiene assurance element interferes with the insertion of or placing a toothbrush into said opening until said hygiene assurance element is irreversibly ruptured or removed in order to allow said toothbrush to be received and held in said opening, thereby providing assurance of the hygiene of said toothbrush holder to its first user.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said toothbrush holder being a suspension-type toothbrush holder.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said toothbrush holder being a counter-top type toothbrush holder.