Disposable Splash Shield for Use When Plunging A Toilet
A transparent, biodegradable, disposable splash shield sized to fit on a toilet bowl rim to prevent splashing of water from the bowl when a plunger is used to free an obstruction in the toilet. The shield is dome shaped and has a gripping bead at a top central portion thereof. A gasket seal is affixed to a bottom marginal edge portion to affect a seal between the shield and the toilet bowl rim. Adhesive material on the underside of the gasket seal, or strips of adhesive tape on the marginal edge of the shield, releasably secure the shield in position. The shield is nestable and may be foldable in half. A toilet kit includes the splash shield, gloves, at least one paper towel, and a flattened box, all packaged in an envelope-like bag that can be used to contain and dispose of these items following use.
This invention relates to apparatus for use in plunging flush toilets, and particularly to a splash shield for preventing splashing of water out of a toilet when a plunger is being used to unclog the toilet.
BACKGROUND ARTResidential and commercial toilets dispose of human waste by using water to flush it through a drainpipe to another location. Most modern flush toilets incorporate an ‘S’ bend or trap that normally remains filled with water to create a water seal that prevents flow of noxious gases back through the toilet. The trap also provides a siphon action that helps accelerate the flushing process. When the toilet is flushed, water fills up the bowl and creates a high pressure area that forces the water past the trap. If the trap should become obstructed, the toilet can overflow when it is flushed. A plunger typically is used to remove the obstruction, but its use can result in splashing of water and other material from the toilet.
Several devices have been developed in the prior art to prevent splashing of water from the toilet when a plunger is being used to remove an obstruction from the toilet. Exemplary of such devices are those shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,368, 4,831,669, 4,922,555, 5,706,528, 5,860,170, 6,487,730, 6,594,831 and 7,134,450. These devices are either intended for re-use and are relatively expensive and complex in construction, and/or are difficult to use.
Applicant's copending U.S. patent application, published under Publication Number 2010/0000010, provides a see-through splash shield and kit, wherein the shield is inexpensive and easy to use and is disposable following use. However, the shield is flat and provides minimal clearance for movement of water during use. Moreover, it fits closely around the plunger handle extending through it, increasing the risk that use of the plunger will dislodge the shield from the rim of the toilet bowl.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTIONAccording to one aspect of the invention, a simple, inexpensive, easy to use, disposable splash shield is provided to prevent splashing of water from a toilet when a plunger is being used to remove an obstruction from the toilet. The splash shield of the invention comprises a transparent biodegradable domed shield body having sufficient thickness and rigidity to maintain its shape and having an annular marginal edge portion with a bottom surface adapted to fit on an upper surface of a toilet bowl rim. A gasket seal is affixed to the bottom surface of the marginal edge portion for effecting a seal between the shield and the toilet bowl rim, and means forms an opening through the shield body for receiving a plunger handle so that the plunger can be reciprocated relative to the shield without moving the shield away from the rim and destroying the seal. The opening is positioned in the shield body so that it is in substantial alignment with a drain opening from the toilet bowl when the splash shield is in use and is correctly positioned on the rim of a toilet bowl. Releasable adhesive means is carried by the shield for releasably securing the shield in place on a toilet bowl.
In a preferred embodiment the means forming an opening through the shield body is an upwardly extending conical projection that loosely receives a toilet plunger handle, with an annular bead around its upper end forming a gripping means to facilitate removal of the shield from the plunger handle following use.
In an alternate preferred embodiment, the means forming an opening comprises a flexible membrane that closely receives the plunger handle but that permits substantial relative movement between the handle and the shield.
The shield is nestable with like shields for compact packaging and storage, and in a further preferred embodiment the shield is foldable so that it can be folded into a smaller configuration for shipping, storage and disposal.
The gasket seal preferably is made of cardboard and the releasable adhesive means preferably comprises strips of tape around the periphery of the shield that are folded downwardly and pressed against an upper outer surface of the toilet bowl to hold the shield in place during use. Alternatively, the gasket seal may be made of a sponge-like foam material. Further, the releasable adhesive means may comprise an adhesive material applied to the underside of the gasket seal, whereby the marginal edge portion of the shield merely needs to be pressed downwardly against the rim of the toilet bowl. Still further, the releasable adhesive means may comprise both the strips of tape and the adhesive material applied to the underside of the gasket seal.
According to another aspect of the invention, a kit is provided that includes the splash shield, a pair of latex or nitrile rubber gloves, a box for transporting a plunger to a location to be cleaned after it has been used, and optionally one or more paper towels. The shield, gloves, box and paper towels preferably are packaged together in an envelope-like bag that can be used to dispose of these items following their use. If desired, an inexpensive disposable plunger can be a part of the package.
The foregoing, as well as other objects and advantages of the invention, will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:
A first form of splash shield according to the invention is indicated generally at 10 in
The shield body 11 is dome shaped with a flat annular marginal edge 13. The top of the domed shield body is shaped as an upstanding conically shaped projection 14 in a position to be in approximate alignment with the drain opening from the toilet bowl when the shield is in operative position. As seen best in
A gasket seal 17 extends around the marginal edge of the shield on its underside. The gasket seal mates with the rim of the toilet bowl to affect a good seal between the shield and the toilet bowl. The gasket seal may comprise any suitable material that will absorb water and prevent it from leaking past the margin of the shield. A suitable example would be a sponge-like foam material as shown at 17A in
In the embodiment shown in
As seen best in
In a preferred embodiment shown in
The domed shape of the shield provides clearance beneath the shield to accommodate displacement of water during use of the plunger, and the conically shaped projection 14 with its outwardly turned bead 15 on its upper end enables a user to grip the bead to facilitate removal of the shield from the plunger handle following use. The transparency of the shield enables a user to observe progress during use of the plunger, and the use of biodegradable material in its construction enables environmentally friendly disposal of the shield following use.
An alternate preferred embodiment 10B is shown in
As depicted in
A further preferred embodiment 10C is shown in
A still further preferred embodiment is indicated generally at 10D in
A kit incorporating one or more disposable splash shields according to any of the forms of the invention disclosed herein is shown at 50 in
After the shield has been used, the shield, gloves, and used paper towels may be returned to the container 51 for disposal, as depicted in
The invention is usable with any type of plunger, and may be adapted to any shape and size of toilet. Although transparent plastic has been disclosed as the preferred material, it should be understood that other materials could be used as long as they are suitable for the intended purpose. The kit may include a disposable plunger or sold without a plunger included, as desired.
Although particular embodiments of the invention are illustrated and described in detail herein, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and intent of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A disposable splash shield for preventing splashing of water out of a toilet when a plunger is being used to unclog the toilet, said shield comprising:
- a dome shaped shield body having a flat annular marginal edge portion with a bottom surface adapted to fit on an upper surface of a toilet bowl rim, said shield body being transparent to enable a user to view through the shield and into the toilet bowl when the shield is operatively positioned on a toilet bowl;
- an opening formed through a central portion of said shield body for receiving a plunger handle, said opening being positioned in said shield body so that it is in substantial alignment with a drain opening from the toilet bowl when the splash shield is in use and is correctly positioned on the rim of a toilet bowl;
- gripping means at a top central portion of said shield body around said opening to facilitate removal of said shield from a plunger handle following use;
- a gasket seal affixed to the bottom surface of said marginal edge portion for effecting a seal between said shield and said toilet bowl rim; and
- adhesive means carried by said shield for releasably securing said shield in place on a toilet bowl.
2. A disposable splash shield as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
- said shield body is foldable in half about a transverse fold line for compact storage and shipment.
3. A disposable splash shield as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
- said gripping means comprises an upstanding conical projection having an upper end with an annular bead thereon.
4. A disposable splash shield as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
- said gripping means comprises a flexible membrane having an outer edge secured to said shield body around said opening, and an inner edge adapted to be disposed in close fitting relationship to the handle of a plunger when in use.
5. A disposable splash shield as claimed in claim 4, wherein:
- said flexible membrane is accordion-pleated.
6. A disposable splash shield as claimed in claim 4, wherein:
- said flexible membrane comprises a flat sheet having a width between said inner and outer edges that is greater than the distance from an edge of said opening to a plunger handle extended therethrough.
7. A disposable splash shield as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
- said shield body is made of a biodegradable plastic material.
8. A disposable splash shield as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
- said adhesive means comprises an adhesive band on an underside of said gasket seal.
9. A disposable splash shield as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
- said adhesive means comprises a plurality of strips of adhesive tape affixed to said marginal edge portion of said shield body for attachment to an adjacent upper outer surface portion of a toilet bowl.
10. A disposable splash shield as claimed in claim 3, wherein:
- said adhesive means comprises a plurality of strips of adhesive tape affixed to said outer marginal edge portion of said shield body for attachment to an adjacent upper outer surface portion of a toilet bowl.
11. A disposable splash shield as claimed in claim 4, wherein:
- said adhesive means comprises a plurality of strips of adhesive tape affixed to said outer marginal edge portion of said shield body for attachment to an adjacent upper outer surface portion of a toilet bowl.
12. A disposable splash shield as claimed in claim 8, wherein:
- a strip of peel-away material is applied to said adhesive band to prevent it from adhering to something until it is desired to use the shield.
13. A disposable splash shield as claimed in claim 9, wherein:
- a strip of peel-away material is applied to said strips of adhesive tape to prevent them from adhering to something until it is desired to use the shield.
14. A disposable splash shield as claimed in claim 11, wherein:
- said shield body is foldable about a transverse fold line to make it more compact for storage and shipping.
15. A disposable splash shield as claimed in claim 14, wherein:
- said shield is part of a kit that includes said shield body, a pair of latex or nitrile rubber gloves, at least one paper towel, and an envelope-like bag, said shield body, said gloves, and said at least one paper towel being packaged in said envelope-like bag for display and sale, and said bag comprising a container for receiving and disposing of said shield body, said gloves, and said at least one paper towel following use thereof.
16. A disposable splash shield as claimed in claim 14, wherein:
- a plurality of shields are packaged together in a container for display and sale.
17. A disposable splash shield as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
- said shield is nestable with like shields whereby a plurality of said shields may be stacked together for compact packaging and storage.
18. A disposable splash shield kit, comprising:
- an envelope-like bag;
- a disposable splash shield packaged in said bag, said shield intended for preventing splashing of water out of a toilet when a plunger is being used to unclog the toilet, and comprising a substantially flat planar shield body having an annular marginal edge portion with a bottom surface adapted to fit on an upper surface of a toilet bowl rim, said shield body being folded in half;
- a pair of latex or nitrile rubber gloves packaged in said bag with said splash shield; and
- at least one paper towel packaged in said bag with said gloves and said splash shield, said bag comprising a container for receiving and disposing of said splash shield, said gloves, and said at least one paper towel following use thereof.
19. A kit as claimed in claim 18, wherein:
- a box in a flattened condition is in said bag, said box being openable to an expanded condition to hold a plunger following use for carrying the plunger to a location to be cleaned.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 20, 2011
Publication Date: Dec 20, 2012
Inventor: Robert S. Martinisko (Clifton, VA)
Application Number: 13/163,812
International Classification: E03D 9/00 (20060101); B65D 71/00 (20060101);