US20050161354A1

US20050161354A1 - Bathroom accessory holder and method therefor

Info

Publication number: US20050161354A1
Application number: US11/083,639
Authority: US
Inventors: Matthew Bender; Steven Keil
Original assignee: Blue Ocean Capital LLC
Current assignee: Blue Ocean Capital LLC
Priority date: 2003-02-21
Filing date: 2005-03-18
Publication date: 2005-07-28

Abstract

A bathroom accessory holder and method therefor, comprising a base member adapted to be suction-coupled to a surface, and a bathroom accessory handle receiving member defining a cavity and having a plurality of protrusions capable of clamping the bottom handle portion of a bathroom accessory, such as a toothbrush, securely in a perpendicular direction relative to a substantially planar surface.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/371,750 filed Feb. 21, 2003 in the names of the applicants, to which priority is claimed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to bathroom accessories and, more specifically, to a holder for a toothbrush and other bathroom accessories and method therefor having a plurality of protrusions dimensioned to clamp a bottom portion of a toothbrush or other bathroom accessory securely into a bathroom accessory holder.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Toothbrushes are common brushes used for cleaning teeth, and generally consist of a long handle with a small brush mounted on one end. Finding the ideal, handy, sanitary, space saving place for a toothbrush has been an ongoing challenge for people. Toothbrushes are usually stored in one of three ways: 1) Laying horizontally, for example on a sink or shelf 2) Semi-vertically in a glass or cup, or 3) Vertically in a holder. The first method is not sanitary since the toothbrush, lying on the shelf, may pick up almost any contaminant existing there. The second and third methods are also not sanitary because placing a toothbrush in a glass, cup, or other type of holder collects germs on the toothbrush and holder, and may transmit contaminants between multiple items, such as other toothbrushes, that are in the holder. These three methods also take up space on a sink counter or shelf. Some of these methods also involve items that must be affixed to the bathroom sink or counter. Other ways for storing a toothbrush are not suited to travel due to the cumbersome size or design of the holding receptacles. Therefore, current toothbrush storage methods are in general not ideal for home or travel conditions for both reasons of sanitation and convenience.
Prior art inventions have been known to address certain aspects of this problem. For example, U.S. Patent Application No. 200201100134 A1 filed by Dunn, U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,223 issued to Dair, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,349,445 issued to Mackay describe toothbrushes with suction cup pedestals integrally built into the base. In these inventions, the combined units are capable of standing by themselves on a horizontal; nonporous surface. There are various problems with this design. First, a suction-cup that is integrated into the handle portion of the toothbrush tends to interfere with the designed use of a toothbrush. Toothbrush handles are traditionally developed to be thin, easy to grip, and free to move back and forth without hindrance. The Dunn, Dair and Mackay inventions include an obstructive suction-stand into the base of the brush handle, inhibiting the free and easy use of the brushing motion.
In addition, toothbrush handles with integral suction-cup pedestals fail to take into consideration the personal preferences that users develop as to type, brand, and design of toothbrushes. As personal dental and hygienic items, users tend to develop a loyalty with a specific type of toothbrush. The Dunn, Dair and Mackay inventions require the user to discard the user's personal toothbrush preferences (e.g., brush size, bristle design, bristle texture, etc.) and purchase a toothbrush having an integrated suction-cup pedestal that may not have other desired toothbrush features.
Another drawback to the integrated suction-cup design is that according to the American Dental Association, toothbrushes are now designed to be used for only 3 months, after which time they are to be disposed. Toothbrush holders, however, are meant to be long-lasting items. By integrating the disposable, or short-lasting, toothbrush with the non-disposable, or long-lasting, toothbrush holder, the aforementioned prior art inventions limit the lifespan of the stand itself, while at the same time changing the function of the toothbrush itself. A need therefore existed for a toothbrush and bathroom accessory holder capable of maintaining the design, integrity, usage and function of a toothbrush or other bathroom accessory.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,158,413 issued to Briggs and U.S. Pat. No. 4,234,087 issued to Pandak describe combination toothbrush carriers and holders. Both have elongated sleeves and covers for housing a toothbrush. The Briggs invention includes a suction cup base on the end to place on a horizontal surface. The Pandak invention relies on “the center of gravity and base of the holder” to keep the toothbrush and holder upright on a horizontal surface. The problem with these inventions is that the elongated sleeves and covers are not sanitary and will allow germs and other contaminants to collect on the sides and the bottom of the sleeve, cover, and toothbrush itself, much like placing a toothbrush in a cup or similar holder.
Other prior art inventions include U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,708 issued to Aoki which describes a toothbrush holder for infants in the shape of an animated character. The Aoki device also contains a suction cup for attaching the device to a flat surface. However, this device requires the brush head area of the toothbrush to be placed in a holder, which impacts negatively on sanitation as discussed above.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,899,242 issued to McNab and U.S. Pat. No. 5,742,971 issued to Salinger describe toothbrush holders containing a suction cup that is attached to the end of the handle opposite to the bristled head, with the face of the suction cup parallel to the toothbrush handle. The positioning of the suction cup face parallel to the toothbrush handle, requires that the suction cup always be attached to a vertical surface in order for the brush to be held in a vertical position for draining. If the suction-cup of the McNab and Salinger inventions were to be placed on a horizontal surface, the brush head of the toothbrush would be proximate a counter surface, creating an unsanitary condition. The McNab and Salinger inventions cannot sanitarily or effectively be used on a horizontal surface. For optimal sanitary conditions, the toothbrush head should be as far from the countertop or other surface as possible, so as to prevent the spread of germs from a counter surface to the brush head. Both the McNab and Salinger inventions place the head of the brush proximate a planar surface capable of transmitting germs.
Suction cups for bathroom accessories are also described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,279,742 issued to Immerman and U.S. Pat. No. 6,402,104 issued to Smith. These inventions describe the use of multiple vertical suction mounts which have attachments that include chambers for multiple bathroom accessories like soap, razors, and toothbrushes. These inventions are not using the suction cup as a holder, stand, or receptacle to specifically hold toothbrushes or other bathroom accessories, but rather are using suction cups in place of screws or adhesive to mount a separate holding device to a vertical surface, such as a bathroom wall or shower tile. The attachments must be attached to a vertical surface in order for the brush to be held in a vertical position for draining. Therefore, these holders are not suitable for use on a countertop or other horizontal surface. Also, these holders are certainly not appropriate for travel or other types of portable use.
Suction cups have been used to support other articles on a surface. U.S. Pat. No. 1,587,874 issued to Strickland, and U.S. Pat. No. 2,588,990 issued to Sanchez describe the use of suction cups on the bottom of dishes and other receptacles to prevent against accidental tipping. These do not specifically address the needs of bathroom accessories, such as the toothbrush, nor are they capable of holding a toothbrush.
In some cases, suction cups have been used to support bathroom accessories, such as toothbrushes. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,177,504 issued to Thompson, U.S. Pat. No. 6,622,978 B1 issued to Ghiz, U.S. Pat. No. 2,965,109 issued to Borah and WO 94,27479 filed by Smith describe the use of suction cups to attach various types of bathroom accessories to substantially flat surfaces. Thompson describes a suction cup defining a substantially hour-glass shaped cavity for inserting a toothbrush. Ghiz discloses a wire bent around a suction cup and Nguyen shows various types of suction cups, some with a substantially cylindrical cavity and others with a protrusion dimensioned to mate with a corresponding aperture defined by a writing implement or some other device. WO 94/27479 shows a wide use of suction cups, including one (shown in FIG. 7) that shows a suction cup defining a substantially rectangular slot for inserting a corresponding substantially rectangular toothbrush handle. While all of these references show a suction cup defining some type of cavity, none of these references disclose a suction cup having a plurality of protrusions located inside a cavity and capable of clamping a bottom handle portion of various bathroom accessories of various shapes and sizes.
A need therefore existed for an independent bathroom accessory and toothbrush holder capable of: holding any standard toothbrush or other bathroom accessory so that the toothbrush or other bathroom accessory can be used in its intended way, storing a toothbrush or other bathroom accessory in a sanitary condition, saving sink or shelf space, being readily accessible, and being easily portable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an independent bathroom accessory holder and method capable of clamping a bathroom accessory in a cavity between a plurality of protrusions in a position substantially perpendicular to a surface in order to expedite the drying of the bathroom accessory.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an independent bathroom accessory holder and method therefor that is easily suction-coupled to and removed from a substantially flat surface such as a countertop.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a bathroom accessory holder is disclosed, comprising, in combination a base member having a concave inner surface and a convex outer surface, the concave inner surface adapted to be suction-coupled to a substantially planar surface, a bathroom accessory handle receiving member coupled perpendicularly to the convex outer surface of the base member, the bathroom accessory handle receiving member defines a cavity dimensioned to retain a bottom handle portion of a bathroom accessory, a plurality of protrusions coupled to an interior surface of the cavity of the bathroom accessory handle receiving member, the plurality of protrusions dimensioned to clamp a bottom handle portion of a bathroom accessory by frictional engagement between at least two protrusions so that a bathroom accessory extends substantially perpendicular to a substantially planar surface.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a bathroom accessory holder is disclosed, comprising, in combination a base member having a concave inner surface and a convex outer surface, the concave inner surface adapted to be suction-coupled to a substantially planar surface, a bathroom accessory handle receiving member coupled perpendicularly to the convex outer surface of the base member, the bathroom accessory handle receiving member defines a substantially cylindrical cavity dimensioned to retain a bottom handle portion of a bathroom accessory, four opposing protrusions coupled integrally to an interior surface of the cavity of the bathroom accessory handle receiving member, the four opposing protrusions being substantially semi-circular in shape with a convex surface facing an interior portion of the cavity, the four opposing protrusions dimensioned to clamp a bottom handle portion of a bathroom accessory by frictional engagement between at least two protrusions so that a bathroom accessory extends substantially perpendicular to a substantially planar surface, the base member and the bathroom accessory handle receiving member and the four opposing protrusions forming a one-piece assembly, the cavity being dimensioned to stretch in order to accommodate a bathroom accessory handle, the four opposing protrusions being dimensioned to stretch correspondingly from substantially semi-circular to substantially oblong in shape.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method for holding a bathroom accessory is disclosed, comprising, in combination, the steps of providing a base member having a concave inner surface and a convex outer surface, providing a bathroom accessory handle receiving member coupled perpendicularly to the convex outer surface of the base member, the bathroom accessory handle receiving member defines a cavity dimensioned to retain a bottom handle portion of a bathroom accessory, providing a plurality of protrusions coupled to an interior surface of the cavity of the bathroom accessory handle receiving member, the plurality of protrusions dimensioned to clamp a bottom handle portion of a bathroom accessory by frictional engagement between at least two protrusions so that a bathroom accessory extends substantially perpendicular to a substantially planar surface, suction-coupling the concave inner surface of the base member to a substantially planar surface, and inserting a bottom portion of a bathroom accessory handle into the cavity of the bathroom accessory handle receiving member between the protrusions.
The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of the preferred embodiment of the bathroom accessory holder of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the bathroom accessory holder of FIG. 1, showing the concave inner surface of the base member.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a prior art bathroom accessory holder.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the prior art bathroom accessory holder of FIG. 3, showing a bottom handle portion of a bathroom accessory inserted loosely.
FIG. 5 is a side, cross-sectional view of the prior art bathroom accessory holder of FIG. 3 coupled to a countertop.
FIG. 6 is a side, cross-sectional view of the bathroom accessory holder of FIG. 1 coupled to a countertop and showing the protrusions coupled to an interior surface of the cavity of the bathroom accessory handle receiving member.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the bathroom accessory holder of FIG. 1.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the bathroom accessory holder of FIG. 1, showing a bottom handle portion of a bathroom accessory tightly clamped into place by the plurality of protrusions in the cavity of the bathroom accessory holder.
FIG. 9 is a top view of the bathroom accessory holder of FIG. 8, showing the protrusions stretched in a substantially oblong shape to clamp a substantially rectangular handle (shown in a top, cross-sectional view) of a bathroom accessory into place.
FIG. 10 is a top view of another embodiment of the bathroom accessory holder of the present invention, showing more than eight protrusions coupled to an interior surface of the cavity of the bathroom accessory holder and clamping a substantially circular handle portion (shown in a top, cross-sectional view) of a bathroom accessory into place.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the bathroom accessory holder of FIG. 8, showing the bathroom accessory holder in a substantially horizontal position, as it would be when the concave inner surface is suction-coupled to a substantially vertical surface (not shown), clamping a bathroom accessory handle having a substantially rectangular shape.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the bathroom accessory holder of FIG. 8, showing the bathroom accessory holder in a substantially horizontal position, as it would be when the concave inner surface is suction-coupled to a substantially vertical surface (not shown), clamping a bathroom accessory handle having a substantially cylindrical shape.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 6-9, 11 and 12, reference number 10 refers generally to the bathroom accessory holder of the present invention. The bathroom accessory holder 10 comprises a base member 12 having a convex outer surface 14 (shown in FIGS. 1, 6-9, 11 and 12) and a concave inner surface 15 (shown in FIG. 2) adapted to be suction-coupled to a substantially planar surface 23 (shown in FIG. 6). The substantially planar surface 23 could be any non-porous surface, such as tile, a bathroom countertop, mirror or glass, so long as the substantially planar surface 23 is capable of being gripped by a suction-cup-type member.
Preferably, the concave inner surface 15 is comprised of dishwasher safe rubber, but it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative configuration of the bathroom accessory holder 10 in which the concave inner surface 15 is made from a pliable plastic or some other material capable of being suction-coupled to a substantially planar surface 23. In the preferred embodiment, the base member 12 is substantially circular and has a preferred diameter of approximately 3 centimeters, although it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from ,an alternative configuration of the bathroom accessory holder 10 in which the shape and/or diameter of the base member 12 deviates, even substantially, from the preferred shape and/or preferred diameter.
Referring now to FIGS. 1, 6-9, 11 and 12, the bathroom accessory holder 10 further comprises a bathroom accessory handle receiving member 16. The bathroom accessory handle receiving member 16 is coupled perpendicularly to the convex outer surface 14 of the base member 12, preferably forming a one-piece assembly. The bathroom accessory handle receiving member 16 defines a cavity 17 dimensioned to retain a bottom handle portion 18 (shown in FIGS. 8-12) of a bathroom accessory 19 (partially shown in FIGS. 8, 11 and 12) by frictional engagement so that the bathroom accessory 19 extends substantially perpendicular to the substantially planar surface 23.
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 6-12, the bathroom accessory holder 10 further comprises a plurality of protrusions 20 coupled to an interior surface of the cavity 17 of the bathroom accessory handle receiving member 16. The plurality of protrusions 20 are dimensioned to clamp a bottom handle portion 18 of a bathroom accessory 19 by frictional engagement between at least two protrusions 20 so that a bathroom accessory 19 extends substantially perpendicular to a substantially planar surface 23. In the preferred embodiment, shown in FIGS. 1, 6, 7-9, and 11-12, the bathroom accessory holder 10 comprises four protrusions 20, although it should be clear that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative configuration of the bathroom accessory holder 10 in which as few as two protrusions 20 or more than four protrusions 20 (as shown in FIG. 10) are used to clamp a handle portion 18 of a bathroom accessory 19 securely into the cavity 17 of the bathroom accessory handle receiving member 16. Preferably, the protrusions 20 oppose one another inside the cavity 17 of the bathroom accessory handle receiving member 16, however, it should be clear that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative embodiment of the present invention in which the protrusions 20 do not face each other but are disposed inside the cavity 17 of the bathroom accessory handle receiving member 16 in some other arrangement, such as staggered. Preferably, the plurality of protrusions 20 are substantially semi-circular in shape with a convex surface facing an interior portion of the cavity 17 although it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative embodiment of the bathroom accessory holder 10 in which the protrusions 20 are of a different shape so long as they are capable of clamping or gripping a handle 18 of a bathroom accessory 19 securely in the cavity 17 of the bathroom accessory handle receiving member 16.
Referring now to FIGS. 8-9, preferably the protrusions 20 of the bathroom accessory holder 10 are dimensioned to stretch in order to accommodate a bathroom accessory handle 18. In this way, the preferably semi-circular shape of the protrusions 20 would become oblong in shape as the bathroom accessory handle 18 is inserted between the protrusions 20 in the cavity 17 of the bathroom accessory handle receiving member 16. The plurality of protrusions 20 enable the bathroom accessory holder 10 to securely retain bathroom accessories 19 having handle portions 18 of various shapes and sizes. Additionally, the plurality of protrusions 20—by frictional clamping—allow bathroom accessory handles 18 of various shapes and sizes to be securely positioned when the base member 12 is suctioned to a planar surface perpendicular to the ground, thereby causing the bathroom accessory handles 18 to be held out parallel to the ground. Without the clamping benefit of the plurality of protrusions 20, most bathroom accessory handles 18, and even circular bathroom accessory handles 18 will loosen and fall. While, in the preferred embodiment, the protrusions 20 of the bathroom accessory holder 10 are dimensioned to stretch in order to accommodate a bathroom accessory handle 18, it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative configuration of the present invention in which the protrusions 20 do not stretch, so long as the bathroom accessory handle 18 is capable of being secured in the bathroom accessory handle receiving member 16.
Referring now to FIGS. 3-5, a prior art bathroom accessory holder, hereinafter prior art bathroom accessory holder 100, is shown. The prior art bathroom accessory holder 100 does not comprise a plurality of protrusions 20 inside the cavity 17 to clamp or grip a handle portion 18 of a bathroom accessory 19. As a result, bathroom accessories 19 often rely on gravity to simply rest unsecured in a bathroom accessory handle receiving member 16, as shown in FIG. 4. As a result, it is not possible to mount the prior art bathroom accessory holder 100 onto a substantially vertical planar surface without the bathroom accessory 19 falling out of the prior art bathroom accessory holder 100. Without the protrusions 20 of the present invention to clamp a bathroom accessory 19 securely into the cavity of the bathroom accessory receiving member 16 of the bathroom accessory holder 10, the prior art bathroom accessory holder 100 is incapable of supporting a bathroom accessory 19 in a stable fashion.
In the preferred embodiment, the cavity 17 is substantially cylindrical and approximately 1.5 centimeters in depth, although it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative embodiment of the bathroom accessory holder 10 in which the shape and/or preferred depth of the cavity 17 deviates, even substantially from the preferred shape and depth, so long as the cavity 17 is capable of retaining a bottom handle portion 18 of a bathroom accessory 19 by frictional engagement so that the bathroom accessory 19 extends substantially perpendicular to the substantially planar surface 23.
Referring now to FIGS. 1, 4, and 6-12 the cavity 17 preferably has a depth of approximately 1.5 centimeters, an inner diameter of approximately 1 centimeter and comprises a rim 30 having a thickness of approximately 2 millimeters, although it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative configuration of the bathroom accessory handle receiving member 16 in which the thickness of the rim 30 and the inner diameter of the cavity 17 deviates, even substantially, from the preferred thickness and inner diameter in either direction so long as the cavity 17 is capable of securely retaining a bottom handle portion 18 of a bathroom accessory 19 by frictional engagement so that the bathroom accessory 19 extends substantially perpendicular to the substantially planar surface 23.

Statement of Operation

In order to use the bathroom accessory holder 10 one must suction-couple the concave inner surface 15 of the base member 12 to a surface 23. This can be accomplished by a user gripping the bathroom accessory handle receiving member 16 and pressing the concave inner surface 15 of the bathroom accessory holder 10 towards a substantially planar surface 23. This movement will create a partial vacuum within the concave inner surface 15 that will create a force capable of securing the bathroom accessory holder 10 to the substantially planar surface 23.
To insert a bathroom accessory 19, such as a toothbrush, into the bathroom accessory handle receiving member 16, one must use manual force to push the bottom handle portion 18 of the bathroom accessory 19 into the cavity 17 of the bathroom accessory handle receiving member 16. This will cause the inner area of the cavity 17 to slightly expand, which will then cause the plurality of protrusions 20 to clamp down upon and securely grip the bottom handle portion 18, holding the bathroom accessory 19 in place perpendicular to the substantially planar surface 23. It should be clearly understood that the bathroom accessory holder 10 of the present invention can be used not only with a toothbrush, but any bathroom accessory, such as a razor, lipstick, mascara or some other item commonly used in the bathroom area and having a bottom handle portion 18.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A bathroom accessory holder comprising in combination:

a base member having a concave inner surface and a convex outer surface, said concave inner surface adapted to be suction-coupled to a substantially planar surface;

a bathroom accessory handle receiving member coupled perpendicularly to said convex outer surface of said base member, said bathroom accessory handle receiving member defines a cavity dimensioned to retain a bottom handle portion of a bathroom accessory;

a plurality of protrusions coupled to an interior surface of said cavity of said bathroom accessory handle receiving member, said plurality of protrusions dimensioned to clamp a bottom handle portion of a bathroom accessory by frictional engagement between at least two protrusions so that a bathroom accessory extends substantially perpendicular to a substantially planar surface.

2. The bathroom accessory holder of claim 1 wherein said cavity being substantially cylindrical.

3. The bathroom accessory holder of claim 2 wherein said substantially cylindrical cavity having a depth of approximately 1.5 centimeters, an inner diameter of approximately 1 centimeter and a rim having a thickness of approximately 2 millimeters.

4. The bathroom accessory holder of claim 1 wherein said base member being approximately 3 centimeters in diameter.

5. The bathroom accessory holder of claim 1 further comprising four opposing protrusions coupled to an interior surface of said cavity.

6. The bathroom accessory holder of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of protrusions being substantially semi-circular in shape with a convex surface facing an interior portion of said cavity.

7. The bathroom accessory holder of claim 6 wherein said cavity being dimensioned to stretch in order to accommodate a bathroom accessory handle, said plurality of protrusions being dimensioned to stretch correspondingly from substantially semi-circular to substantially oblong in shape.

8. The bathroom accessory holder of claim 1 wherein said base member and said bathroom accessory handle receiving member and said plurality of protrusions forming a one-piece assembly.

9. The bathroom accessory holder of claim 1 wherein said bathroom accessory being constructed of at least one of rubber and pliable plastic.

10. A bathroom accessory holder comprising in combination:

a bathroom accessory handle receiving member coupled perpendicularly to said convex outer surface of said base member, said bathroom accessory handle receiving member defines a substantially cylindrical cavity dimensioned to retain a bottom handle portion of a bathroom accessory;

four opposing protrusions coupled integrally to an interior surface of said cavity of said bathroom accessory handle receiving member, said four opposing protrusions being substantially semi-circular in shape with a convex surface facing an interior portion of said cavity, said four opposing protrusions dimensioned to clamp a bottom handle portion of a bathroom accessory by frictional engagement between at least two protrusions so that a bathroom accessory extends substantially perpendicular to a substantially planar surface, said base member and said bathroom accessory handle receiving member and said four opposing protrusions forming a one-piece assembly, said cavity being dimensioned to stretch in order to accommodate a bathroom accessory handle, said four opposing protrusions being dimensioned to stretch correspondingly from substantially semi-circular to substantially oblong in shape.

11. A method for holding a bathroom accessory comprising, in combination, the steps of:

providing a base member having a concave inner surface and a convex outer surface;

providing a bathroom accessory handle receiving member coupled perpendicularly to said convex outer surface of said base member, said bathroom accessory handle receiving member defines a cavity dimensioned to retain a bottom handle portion of a bathroom accessory;

providing a plurality of protrusions coupled to an interior surface of said cavity of said bathroom accessory handle receiving member, said plurality of protrusions dimensioned to clamp a bottom handle portion of a bathroom accessory by frictional engagement between at least two protrusions so that a bathroom accessory extends substantially perpendicular to a substantially planar surface;

suction-coupling said concave inner surface of said base member to a substantially planar surface; and

inserting a bottom portion of a bathroom accessory handle into said cavity of said bathroom accessory handle receiving member between said protrusions.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said cavity being substantially cylindrical.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said substantially cylindrical cavity having a depth of approximately 1.5 centimeters, an inner diameter of approximately 1 centimeter and a rim having a thickness of approximately 2 millimeters.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein said base member being approximately 3 centimeters in diameter.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein said plurality of protrusions comprises four opposing protrusions coupled to an interior surface of said cavity.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein each of said plurality of protrusions being substantially semi-circular in shape with a convex surface facing an interior portion of said cavity.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said cavity being dimensioned to stretch as a bottom handle portion of said bathroom accessory handle is inserted into said cavity, said plurality of protrusions being dimensioned to stretch correspondingly from substantially semi-circular to substantially oblong in shape to accommodate a bottom portion of a bathroom accessory handle.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein said base member and said bathroom accessory handle receiving member and said plurality of protrusions forming a one-piece assembly.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein said bathroom accessory holder being constructed of at least one of rubber and pliable plastic.

20. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of providing a bathroom accessory.