Toothbrush cover

Abstract

An accessory for a flexible toothbrush that is “prison-safe” and also lightweight and compact and therefore ideal for travel is disclosed. More particularly, the invention comprises a toothbrush cover that is made from flexible material having elastic properties so that the cover can deform and fit around the toothbrush, then subsequently return to its original shape.

1 . A cover for a toothbrush for preventing bacteria and contaminants from depositing on the toothbrush while not in use, the cover comprising:
 a base portion for securely fitting over and around a toothbrush head;   an upper portion for fitting over and protecting toothbrush bristles; and   a pair of retaining ribs to secure the head of the toothbrush to the cover.   
   
   
       2 . The cover for a toothbrush of  claim 1 , the base portion having an inside width, the corresponding toothbrush head having a width, the toothbrush head width greater than the base portion inside width, wherein the base portion can elastically deform and subsequently retain its original shape so that the base portion is able to fit around the toothbrush head and secure the toothbrush head. 
   
   
       3 . The cover for a toothbrush of  claim 1 , the base portion comprising an inner wall, the inner wall having a shape to matingly receive a shape of the toothbrush head. 
   
   
       4 . The cover for a toothbrush of  claim 1 , further comprising vent holes. 
   
   
       5 . The cover for a toothbrush of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a vent holes located on an end of the cover;   a vent hole on a bottom of the base portion; and   a vent hole on a top of the upper portion.   
   
   
       6 . The cover for a toothbrush of  claim 1 , further comprising an air gap between the upper portion and the toothbrush bristles. 
   
   
       7 . The cover for a toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises flexible material, the flexible material not easily forged into a device that could be used as a weapon. 
   
   
       8 . The cover for a toothbrush of  claim 1 , further comprising a length, the length approximately in the range of 1⅜ inches to 1½ inches. 
   
   
       9 . The cover for a toothbrush of  claim 1 , further comprising semi-transparent material. 
   
   
       10 . The cover for a toothbrush of  claim 1 , further comprising material chosen from the group consisting essentially of polyurethane, silicone, neoprene, EDPM, nitrile, fluoroelastomers, natural rubber, styrenebutadiene rubber, thermoplastic elastomers, polyvinyl alcohol, PMMA, polyamide, polyester terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyetherimide, polyethylene (LDPE, HDPE, LLDPE, and blends), polypropylene and copolymers, polysulfone, polyvinyl chloride, viton, PUNA nitrile, carboxylated nitrile, polysulfides, alpha olfen elastomers, conjugated diene elastomers, hydrogenated diene elastomers, ethylene carboxylate, ethylene-propylene-diene elastomers, functionalized ethylene-vinyl acetate, SB-diblock copolymers, SBS, SEBS and SIBS-triblock copolymers, and acrylic rubber. 
   
   
       11 . A method of covering a toothbrush to prevent bacteria and contaminants from depositing on the toothbrush while not in use, the method comprising:
 providing a flexible cover open at an end, the flexible cover having a base portion and an upper portion;   deforming elastically the flexible cover open at an end so that the cover can fit over a head of the toothbrush; and   maintaining an original shape of the toothbrush subsequent to the deforming elastically and fitting the cover over the head of the toothbrush.   
   
   
       12 . The method of covering a toothbrush of  claim 11 , further comprising venting the cover with vent holes. 
   
   
       13 . The method of covering a toothbrush of  claim 11 , further comprising shaping an inner wall of the base portion to the same shape as a head of the toothbrush, the inner wall matingly receiving the head of the toothbrush. 
   
   
       14 . The method of covering a toothbrush of  claim 11 , further comprising molding the flexible cover from semi-transparent material. 
   
   
       15 . A cover for a toothbrush head for preventing bacteria and contaminants from depositing on the toothbrush head while not in use, the cover comprising:
 a base portion having an inner wall, the inner wall having a shape corresponding to a shape of the toothbrush head; and   flexible material wherein the base portion can elastically deform to fit around the toothbrush head and subsequently retain an original shape to secure the toothbrush head.   
   
   
       16 . The cover for a toothbrush head of  claim 15  further comprising:
 an upper portion for fitting over and protecting toothbrush bristles; and   a pair of retaining ribs to secure the head of the toothbrush to the cover.   
   
   
       17 . The cover for a toothbrush head of  claim 15  Her comprising vent holes, the vent holes preventing the cover from retaining liquid. 
   
   
       18 . The cover for a toothbrush head of  claim 15 , the base portion having an inside width, the corresponding toothbrush head having a width, the toothbrush head width greater than the base portion inside width, wherein the base portion can elastically deform and subsequently retain its original shape so that the base portion is able to fit around the toothbrush head and secure the toothbrush head. 
   
   
       19 . The cover for a toothbrush of  claim 15 , further comprising material chosen from the group consisting essentially of polyurethane, silicone, neoprene, EDPM, nitrile, fluoroelastomers, natural rubber, styrenebutadiene rubber, thermoplastic elastomers, polyvinyl alcohols PMMA, polyamide, polyester terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyetherimide, polyethylene (LDPE, HDPE, LLDPE, and blends), polypropylene and copolymers, polysulfone, polyvinyl chloride, viton, PUNA nitrile, carboxylated nitrile, polysulfides, alpha olfen elastomers, conjugated diene elastomers, hydrogenated diene elastomers, ethylene carboxylate, ethylene-propylene-diene elastomers, functionalized ethylene-vinyl acetate, SB-diblock copolymers, SBS, SEBS and SIBS-triblock copolymers, and acrylic rubber. 
   
   
       20 . The cover for a toothbrush head of  claim 15 , further comprising a length, the length approximately in the range of 1⅜ inches to 1½ inches.