Splash guard for a bathtub

Abstract

A splash guard for a bathtub includes a first panel and a second panel. The first panel includes a water barrier material and at least one first magnetic element. The second panel includes a water barrier material and at least one second magnetic element. The at least one first magnetic element and the at least one second magnetic element are each positioned on or proximate to a midline defined by the splash guard.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A splash guard for a bathtub, the splash guard comprising:
 a first panel comprising a water barrier material and at least one first magnetic element positioned on or proximate to a midline defined by the splash guard; and   a second panel comprising a water barrier material and at least one second magnetic element positioned on or proximate to the midline.   
     
     
         2 . The splash guard of  claim 1 , wherein both of the at least one first magnetic element and the at least one second magnetic element is configured as a permanent magnet. 
     
     
         3 . The splash guard of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first magnetic element or the at least one second magnetic element is configured as a permanent magnet and the other of the at least one first magnetic element or the at least one second magnetic element is configured as a magnetically attractive element. 
     
     
         4 . The splash guard of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one first magnetic element extends substantially along a length of the first panel such that a ratio between a length of the at least one first magnetic element and the length of the first panel is at least 7:10, and   the at least one second magnetic element extends substantially along a length of the second panel such that a ratio between a length of the at least one second magnetic element and the length of the second panel is at least 7:10.   
     
     
         5 . The splash guard of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one first magnetic element comprises a plurality of first magnetic elements that are distributed evenly along a length of the first panel, and   the at least one second magnetic element comprises a plurality of second magnetic elements that are distributed evenly along a length of the second panel.   
     
     
         6 . The splash guard of  claim 5 , wherein:
 each first magnetic element of the first panel is spaced from an adjacent first magnetic element of the first panel by an approximate distance that is at least one inch and up to twelve inches, and   each second magnetic element of the second panel is spaced from an adjacent second magnetic element of the second panel by an approximate distance that is at least one inch and up to twelve inches.   
     
     
         7 . The splash guard of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one first magnetic element is positioned on a bottom portion of the first panel, and   the at least one second magnetic element is positioned on a bottom portion of the second panel.   
     
     
         8 . The splash guard of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one first magnetic element is positioned on a top portion of the first panel, and   the at least one second magnetic element is positioned on a top portion of the second panel.   
     
     
         9 . The splash guard of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first magnetic element is encased within the water barrier material of the first panel, and
 the at least one second magnetic element is encased within the water barrier material of the second panel.   
     
     
         10 . The splash guard of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first panel comprises a pocket defined by the water barrier material,   the at least one first magnetic element is positioned within the pocket of the first panel,   the second panel comprises a pocket defined by the water barrier material, and   the at least one second magnetic element is positioned within the pocket of the second panel.   
     
     
         11 . The splash guard of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first panel comprises a first negative pressure device positioned on a bottom portion of the first panel and proximate to a distal corner of the first panel, and   the second panel comprises a second negative pressure device positioned on a bottom portion of the second panel and proximate to a distal corner of the second panel.   
     
     
         12 . The splash guard of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first panel comprises a first plurality of holes positioned on a top portion of the first panel, and   the second panel comprises a second plurality of holes positioned on a top portion of the second panel.   
     
     
         13 . The splash guard of  claim 1 , wherein the water barrier material of the first panel is coupled to the water barrier material of the second panel at a location that is proximate to a top end of the splash guard. 
     
     
         14 . The splash guard of  claim 1 , wherein the water barrier material of the first panel and the water barrier material of the second panel comprise polyethylene vinyl acetate (PEVA) plastic. 
     
     
         15 . A splash guard for a bathtub, the splash guard comprising:
 a first panel comprising:
 a water barrier material; 
 a first plurality of holes positioned on a top portion of the first panel; 
 at least one first magnetic element positioned on or proximate to a midline defined by the splash guard and positioned on a bottom portion of the first panel, wherein the at least one first magnetic element is encased within the water barrier material of the first panel; and 
 a first negative pressure device positioned on the bottom portion of the first panel and proximate to a distal corner of the first panel; and 
   a second panel comprising:
 a water barrier material; 
 a second plurality of holes positioned on a top portion of the second panel; 
 at least one second magnetic element positioned on or proximate to the midline defined by the splash guard and positioned on a bottom portion of the second panel, wherein the at least one second magnetic element is encased within the water barrier material of the second panel; and 
 a second negative pressure device positioned on the bottom portion of the second panel and proximate to a distal corner of the second panel. 
   
     
     
         16 . The splash guard of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the at least one first magnetic element extends substantially along a length of the first panel such that a ratio between a length of the at least one first magnetic element and the length of the first panel is at least 7:10, and   the at least one second magnetic element extends substantially along a length of the second panel such that a ratio between a length of the at least one second magnetic element and the length of the second panel is at least 7:10.   
     
     
         17 . The splash guard of  claim 15 , wherein:
 each first magnetic element of the first panel is spaced from an adjacent first magnetic element of the first panel by an approximate distance that is at least one inch and up to twelve inches, and   each second magnetic element of the second panel is spaced from an adjacent second magnetic element of the second panel by an approximate distance that is at least one inch and up to twelve inches.   
     
     
         18 . The splash guard of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the first panel comprises a pocket defined by the water barrier material,   the at least one first magnetic element is positioned within the pocket of the first panel,   the second panel comprises a pocket defined by the water barrier material, and   the at least one second magnetic element is positioned within the pocket of the second panel.   
     
     
         19 . The splash guard of  claim 15 , wherein the water barrier material of the first panel is coupled to the water barrier material of the second panel at a location that is proximate to a top end of the splash guard. 
     
     
         20 . The splash guard of  claim 15 , wherein the water barrier material of the first panel and the water barrier material of the second panel comprise polyethylene vinyl acetate (PEVA) plastic.