Splash Shield Assembly

Abstract

A splash shield assembly for blocking splashes from a toilet bowl includes a pair of first panels and a pair of couplers. Each coupler is coupled to a respective first panel proximate to a first end of the respective first panel. The first coupler is configured to couple to a toilet seat proximate to a respective opposing edge of the toilet seat so that the respective first panel extends substantially perpendicularly from a lower face of the toilet seat. The first panel is configured, with the toilet seat in a raised position, to shield an area proximate to an associated opposing side of a toilet, to which the toilet seat is hingedly coupled, from splashes that originate from a bowl of the toilet.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The disclosure and prior art relates to shield assemblies and more particularly pertains to a new shield assembly for blocking splashes from a toilet bowl.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a pair of first panels and a pair of couplers. Each coupler is coupled to a respective first panel proximate to a first end of the respective first panel. The first coupler is configured to couple to a toilet seat proximate to a respective opposing edge of the toilet seat so that the respective first panel extends substantially perpendicularly from a lower face of the toilet seat. The first panel is configured, with the toilet seat in a raised position, to shield an area proximate to an associated opposing side of a toilet, to which the toilet seat is hingedly coupled, from splashes that originate from a bowl of the toilet.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front isometric perspective view of a splash shield assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a rear isometric perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a side in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is an isometric perspective in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is an isometric perspective in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, a new shield assembly embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the splash shield assembly 10 generally comprises a pair of first panels 12 and a pair of couplers 14. Each first panel 12 is substantially quadrant shaped so that the first panel 12 comprises a first edge 16, a second edge 18, and a third edge 20, as shown in FIG. 2. The first edge 16 is perpendicular to the second edge 18. The third edge 20 extends arcuately between the first edge 16 and the second edge 18. The first panel 12 is substantially planar. The first panel 12 comprises paperboard so that the first panel 12 is rigid.

Each of a pair of second panels 22 is coupled to and extends perpendicularly from a first end 24 of a respective first panel 12, as shown in FIG. 2. The second panel 22 is substantially rectangularly shaped. The second panel 22 comprises paperboard so that the second panel 22 is rigid.

Each coupler 14 is coupled to a respective first panel 12 proximate to the first end 24 of the respective first panel 12. The first coupler 14 is configured to couple to a toilet seat 26 proximate to a respective opposing edge 28 of the toilet seat 26 so that the respective first panel 12 extends substantially perpendicularly from a lower face 30 of the toilet seat 26, as shown in FIG. 3. The first panel 12 is configured, with the toilet seat 26 in a raised position as shown in FIG. 4, to shield an area proximate to an associated opposing side of a toilet, to which the toilet seat 26 is hingedly coupled, from splashes that originate from a bowl of the toilet. When the toilet seat 26 is in a lowered position, as shown in FIG. 5, each first panel 12 is inconspicuously positioned adjacent to an associated opposing side of the toilet.

Each first coupler 14 comprises a first strip 32 that is coupled to an outer face 38 of a respective second panel 22, as shown in FIG. 2. The first strip 32 comprises adhesive so that the first strip 32 is configured to adhesively couple to the lower face 30 of the toilet seat 26, to couple the respective second panel 22 to the toilet seat 26, so that an associated first panel 12 is positioned substantially perpendicularly to the lower face 30 of the toilet seat 26. After a number of uses, the first panels 12 can be removed from the toilet seat 26 and a fresh pair of first panels 12 can be coupled to the toilet seat 26 using the first strips 32.

Each of a pair of second strips 34 is removably couplable to a respective first strip 32, as shown in FIG. 2. The second strip 34 is configured to prevent inadvertent adhesion of the respective first strip 32. The second strip 34 is positioned to be decoupled from the respective first strip 32 so that the first strip 32 is configured to adhesively couple to the lower face 30 of the toilet seat 26.

Each of a pair of cutouts 36 is positioned in a respective second panel 22 proximate to an associated first panel 12, as shown in FIG. 2. The cutout 36 is configured to insert a rim of the toilet as the toilet seat 26 is raised, positioning a section 38 of the associated first panel 12 below the rim of the toilet. The cutout 36 is rectangularly shaped.

In use, the pair of first panels 12 is coupled to the toilet seat 26 using the first strips 32. When the toilet seat 26 is raised, the first panels 12 are positioned singly adjacent to the opposing sides of the toilet. The first panels 12 are configured to shield the areas proximate to the opposing sides of the toilet from splashes that originate from the bowl of the toilet.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

Claims

1. A splash shield assembly comprising:

a pair of first panels; and

a pair of couplers, each coupler being coupled to a respective first panel proximate to a first end of the respective first panel, the first coupler being configured for coupling to a toilet seat proximate to a respective opposing edge of the toilet seat such that the respective first panel extends substantially perpendicularly from a lower face of the toilet seat wherein the first panel is configured, with the toilet seat in a raised position, for shielding an area proximate to an associated opposing side of a toilet, to which the toilet seat is hingedly coupled, from splashes originating from a bowl of the toilet.

2. The assembly of claim 1, further including each first panel being substantially quadrant shaped such that the first panel comprises a first edge, a second edge, and a third edge, the first edge being perpendicular to the second edge, the third edge extending arcuately between the first edge and the second edge.

3. The assembly of claim 1, further including the first panel being substantially planar.

4. The assembly of claim 1, further including the first panel comprising paperboard such that the first panel is rigid.

5. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a pair of second panels, each second panel being coupled to and extending perpendicularly from the first end of a respective first panel; and

each first coupler comprising a first strip coupled to an outer face of a respective second panel, the first strip comprising adhesive wherein the first strip is configured for adhesively coupling to the lower face of the toilet seat for coupling the respective second panel to the toilet seat positioning an associated first panel substantially perpendicularly to the lower face of the toilet seat.

6. The assembly of claim 5, further including the second panel being substantially rectangularly shaped.

7. The assembly of claim 5, further including the second panel comprising paperboard such that the second panel is rigid.

8. The assembly of claim 5, further including a pair of second strips, each second strip being removably couplable to a respective first strip wherein the second strip is configured for preventing inadvertent adhesion of the respective first strip and such that the second strip is positioned for decoupling from the respective first strip wherein the first strip is configured for adhesively coupling to the lower face of the toilet seat.

9. The assembly of claim 5, further including a pair of cutouts, each cutout being positioned in a respective second panel proximate to an associated first panel wherein the cutout is configured for inserting a rim of the toilet as the toilet seat is raised positioning a section of the associated first panel below the rim of the toilet.

10. The assembly of claim 9, further including the cutout being rectangularly shaped.

11. A splash shield assembly and toilet seat combination comprising:

a toilet seat hingedly coupled to a toilet; and

a pair of first panels, each first panel being coupled to the toilet seat proximate to a respective opposing edge of the toilet seat such that the first panel extends substantially perpendicularly from a lower face of the toilet seat wherein the first panel is configured, with the toilet seat in a raised position, for shielding an area proximate to an associated opposing side of the toilet from splashes originating from a bowl of the toilet.

12. A splash shield assembly comprising:

a pair of first panels, each first panel being substantially quadrant shaped such that the first panel comprises a first edge, a second edge, and a third edge, the first edge being perpendicular to the second edge, the third edge extending arcuately between the first edge and the second edge, the first panel being substantially planar, the first panel comprising paperboard such that the first panel is rigid;

a pair of second panels, each second panel being coupled to and extending perpendicularly from a first end of a respective first panel, the second panel being substantially rectangularly shaped, the second panel comprising paperboard such that the second panel is rigid;

a pair of couplers, each coupler being coupled to a respective first panel proximate to the first end of the respective first panel, the first coupler being configured for coupling to a toilet seat proximate to a respective opposing edge of the toilet seat such that the respective first panel extends substantially perpendicularly from a lower face of the toilet seat wherein the first panel is configured, with the toilet seat in a raised position, for shielding an area proximate to an associated opposing side of a toilet, to which the toilet seat is hingedly coupled, from splashes originating from a bowl of the toilet, each first coupler comprising a first strip coupled to an outer face of a respective second panel, the first strip comprising adhesive wherein the first strip is configured for adhesively coupling to the lower face of the toilet seat for coupling the respective second panel to the toilet seat positioning an associated first panel substantially perpendicularly to the lower face of the toilet seat;

a pair of second strips, each second strip being removably couplable to a respective first strip wherein the second strip is configured for preventing inadvertent adhesion of the respective first strip and such that the second strip is positioned for decoupling from the respective first strip wherein the first strip is configured for adhesively coupling to the lower face of the toilet seat; and

a pair of cutouts, each cutout being positioned in a respective second panel proximate to an associated first panel wherein the cutout is configured for inserting a rim of the toilet as the toilet seat is raised positioning a section of the associated first panel below the rim of the toilet, the cutout being rectangularly shaped.