Toilet splash guard

Abstract

A toilet splash guard and systems provide protection for a toilet and the surrounding environment from contact with errant liquids, such as misdirected urine or liquid that may splash out of the toilet bowl. The splash guard directs liquids into the toilet bowl, preventing messy and unsanitary lavatory conditions. The splash guard includes two side members connected in sliding engagement with two edge members. The system is positionable in a first position which protects against splashes when the toilet seat is raised, and a second position which allows normal use of the toilet when the toilet seat is lowered. A gutter on the side member protects the surrounding area from dripping liquids.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A toilet splash guard for cooperation with a toilet having a toilet seat and a toilet bowl, the toilet splash guard comprising:
 two edge members, each of the edge members structurally configured for attachment to the toilet seat;   two side members having an internal face and an opposing external face, each side member engageable with one of the two edge members; and   wherein the side members are positionable in two positions of use, including:
 a first position with the two side members extending forwardly from the toilet seat along a rim of the toilet bowl when the toilet seat is raised; and 
 a second position with the two side members extending downwardly with the internal face adjacent a side of the toilet bowl when the toilet seat is lowered. 
   
     
     
         2 . The toilet splash guard of  claim 1 , wherein each side member is slidingly engageable with one of the two edge members. 
     
     
         3 . The toilet splash guard of  claim 2 , wherein one of either the two side members or the two edge members includes a groove and the other of either the two side members or the two edge members includes a protrusion shaped and dimensioned for sliding engagement with the groove. 
     
     
         4 . The toilet splash guard of  claim 1 , wherein each of the two side members includes a gutter extending from the internal face toward the toilet bowl. 
     
     
         5 . The toilet splash guard of  claim 4 , wherein the gutter defines a lower edge of the internal face. 
     
     
         6 . The toilet splash guard of  claim 1 , wherein each of the two edge members includes an attachment surface shaped substantially complementary to an edge of the toilet seat. 
     
     
         7 . The toilet splash guard of  claim 6 , wherein the attachment surface includes an adhesive. 
     
     
         8 . The toilet splash guard of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the two side members includes a handle extending from the external face away from the toilet seat. 
     
     
         9 . The toilet splash guard of  claim 1 , wherein each of the two side members includes a retaining tab having an upper portion configured to at least partially contact the rim of the toilet bowl and a lower portion extending downwardly from the upper portion adjacent the side of the toilet bowl with the two side members in the first position. 
     
     
         10 . The toilet splash guard of  claim 1 , wherein the internal face of each of the two side members has a concave shape from a top to a bottom. 
     
     
         11 . The toilet splash guard of  claim 1 , wherein the internal face of each of the two side members has a concave shape from a first side to a second side. 
     
     
         12 . The toilet splash guard of  claim 1 , wherein the two edge members include a plurality of tabs positionable adjacent an underside of the toilet seat. 
     
     
         13 . The toilet splash guard of  claim 1 , wherein the two side members include a hinged portion configured to contact the rim of the toilet bowl in the first position. 
     
     
         14 . A toilet splash guard for cooperation with a toilet having a toilet seat and a toilet bowl, the toilet splash guard comprising:
 two side members having an internal face and an opposing external face, each side member structurally configured for attachment to one of a first seat side and a second seat side of the toilet seat and extension therefrom with the internal face oriented toward the toilet seat;   a gutter defining an edge of the internal face; and   wherein the two side members are each positionable in two positions of use, including:
 a first position with the two side members extending forwardly from the toilet seat along a rim of the toilet bowl when the toilet seat is raised; and 
 a second position with the two side members extending downwardly with the internal face adjacent a side of the toilet bowl and the gutter positioned on a lowermost edge of the two side members when the toilet seat is lowered. 
   
     
     
         15 . The toilet splash guard of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the two side members includes a handle extending from the external face away from the toilet seat. 
     
     
         16 . The toilet splash guard of  claim 14 , wherein the internal face of each of the two side members has a first concave shape from a top to a bottom and a second concave shape from a first side to a second side. 
     
     
         17 . A method of using a toilet splash guard, the method including:
 attaching an edge member to each of two seat sides of a toilet seat;   engaging a side member with each edge member, the side member having an internal face and an opposing external face;   positioning the two side members extending forwardly from the toilet seat along a rim of a toilet bowl with the toilet seat raised; and   further positioning the two side members extending downwardly with the internal face adjacent a side of the toilet bowl with the toilet seat lowered.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein engaging the side member with each edge member includes slidingly engaging a protrusion of one of the side member or the edge member with a groove of the other of the side member or the edge member. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein attaching the edge member to each of the two seat sides of the toilet seat includes adhering the edge member. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , positioning the side members includes grasping a handle extending from the external face away from the toilet seat.