Particulate inhibiting barriers for toilet

Abstract

System and apparatus which inhibit movement of contaminated particles out of a toilet bowl enclosure are disclosed. Such systems and apparatus include at least one barrier coupled to a seat or lid of a toilet. The barrier or barriers may be configured to inhibit particles from moving out of the toilet bowl enclosure, but may allow air to move into the toilet bowl enclosure. Such a system may also include a valve to allow air to flow into the toilet bowl enclosure. Various configurations, methods and materials of construction are described.

1 . A device comprising: 
 at least one coupling member; and    at least one barrier member;    wherein at least one barrier member is configured to inhibit movement of particulate from inside a toilet bowl enclosure to outside the toilet bowl enclosure during use.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one coupling member is configured to be coupled to a toilet seat during use.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one coupling member is configured to be coupled to a toilet lid during use.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one barrier member is further configured to allow movement of air from outside the toilet to inside the toilet.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one valve configured to allow passage of air from outside the toilet bowl enclosure to inside the toilet bowl enclosure.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one barrier member comprises an extended portion, where the extended portion of the barrier member is configured to at least partially fill a gap in a toilet seat.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one barrier member is configured to form a barrier having an adjustable size.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one barrier member is configured to form a barrier having an adjustable shape.  
   
   
       9 . A system comprising: 
 at least one toilet seat, and    at least one first barrier coupled to at least one toilet seat,    wherein at least one first barrier is configured to inhibit movement of particulate from inside a toilet bowl enclosure to outside the toilet bowl enclosure during use.    
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein at least one first barrier is further configured to allow movement of air from outside the toilet bowl enclosure to inside the toilet bowl enclosure.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one valve configured to allow passage of air from outside the toilet bowl enclosure to inside the toilet bowl enclosure.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one toilet lid.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one toilet lid and at least one second barrier, wherein at least one second barrier is configured to inhibit movement of particulate from inside the toilet bowl enclosure to outside the toilet bowl enclosure.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one toilet lid and at least one second barrier, wherein at least one second barrier is further configured to allow movement of air from outside the toilet bowl enclosure to inside the toilet bowl enclosure.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein at least one second barrier comprises a barrier member, and wherein at least a portion of at least one barrier member is extended such that the extended portion at least partially fills a gap in at least one toilet seat.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein at least one first barrier comprises at least one barrier member.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein at least one second barrier comprises at least one barrier member.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein at least one first barrier comprises at least one coupling member.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein at least one second barrier comprises at least one barrier member.  
   
   
       20 . A system comprising: 
 at least one toilet lid, and    at least one barrier coupled to at least one toilet lid,    wherein at least one barrier is configured to inhibit movement of particulate from inside a toilet bowl enclosure to outside the toilet bowl enclosure during use.