Disposable Splash Shield for Use When Plunging A Toilet

Abstract

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.

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.