Toilet Splash Guard

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/633,093, filed Apr. 12, 2024, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The present disclosure relates in general to accessories for lavatories, and more specifically to splash guards and related systems for toilets.

It is common for urine or other liquids to be misdirected in the area of a toilet and/or to splash out of the toilet bowl causing unsanitary conditions. Devices exist that shield part of the toilet or surrounding area from such liquid splashing; however, these devices are often difficult to clean, difficult to use in a sanitary manner (e.g., when placing or removing the device), and may redirect the liquid to other undesirable areas (such as the floor).

There is therefore a need in the art for a toilet splash guard which overcomes these shortcomings.

Since the beginning of mankind, men have been peeing on the floor. For centuries the main thing they had to avoid was their feet. Anyone that has ever visited a men's restroom is aware of this problem. On the floor, under, and behind the toilet is a nasty place to clean. Most men will not hesitate to clean a small mess off of the seat, but if the splash reaches the floor it is usually ignored. It has been estimated that forty percent of the time men use their hips to aim instead of their hands. A large number of people acknowledge that this is an issue without a solution. This invention aspires to be the solution.

The present disclosure describes a toilet splash guard and toilet splash guard systems which provides 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. Embodiments are configured to direct such liquids into the toilet bowl, thereby preventing messy and unsanitary lavatory conditions.

According to one or more examples, a toilet splash guard cooperates with a toilet having a toilet seat and a toilet bowl, the toilet splash guard including: 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.

According to one or more examples, each side member is slidingly engageable with one of the two edge members.

According to one or more examples, 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.

According to one or more examples, each of the two side members includes a gutter extending from the internal face toward the toilet bowl.

According to one or more examples, the gutter defines a lower edge of the internal face.

According to one or more examples, each of the two edge members includes an attachment surface shaped substantially complementary to an edge of the toilet seat. According to one or more examples, the attachment surface includes an adhesive.

According to one or more examples, at least one of the two side members includes a handle extending from the external face away from the toilet seat.

According to one or more examples, 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.

According to one or more examples, the internal face of each of the two side members has a concave shape from a top to a bottom. According to one or more examples, the internal face of each of the two side members has a concave shape from a first side to a second side.

According to one or more examples, the two edge members include a plurality of tabs positionable adjacent an underside of the toilet seat.

According to one or more examples, the two side members include a hinged portion configured to contact the rim of the toilet bowl in the first position.

According to one or more examples, a toilet splash guard cooperates with a toilet having a toilet seat and a toilet bowl, the toilet splash guard including: 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.

According to one or more examples, 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.

These and other aspects of the embodiments will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. The following description, while indicating various embodiments and details thereof, is given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many substitutions, modifications, additions, or rearrangements may be made within the scope of the embodiments, and the embodiments may include all such substitutions, modifications, additions, or rearrangements.

Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of various embodiments. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments.

The detailed description describes non-limiting exemplary embodiments. Any individual features may be combined with other features as required by different applications for at least the benefits described herein. As used herein, the term “about” means plus or minus 10% of a given value unless specifically indicated otherwise. As used herein, the terms “substantially” or “substantially the same” mean that two items are at least 90% the same; for example, a feature described as “substantially parallel” may be parallel to within 90%, an element described as “substantially circular” may be circular to within 90%, and so on.

As used herein, the conjunction “or” is to be construed inclusively (e.g., “A or B” would be interpreted as “A, or B, or both A and B”; e.g., “A, B, or C” would be interpreted as “A; or B; or C; or any two of A, B, and C; or all three of A, B, and C”).

As used herein, disclosure of a singular element is also a disclosure of a plural element and vice versa unless otherwise noted.

Referring initially to, there are illustrated front and side views, respectively, of a toilet splash guardshown used in cooperation with a toilet.illustrates a side view of the toilet splash guardin an alternate position. The toilet splash guardis configured to shield the toiletand the surrounding environment from errant liquids, such as misdirected urine or liquid that may splash out of the toilet bowl. The toilet splash guard is further configured to direct such liquids into the toilet bowl. The toilet splash guardmay include two edge membersand two side members. The toiletmay include a toilet seat, a toilet bowlhaving a rim, and a lid.

The toilet splash guardmay be positionable in two positions of use: a first position as shown, e.g., in, and a second position as shown in. In the first position, the toilet splash guardextends forwardly from the toilet seat, which is in a raised position. For example, in this first position, the two side membersmay extend forwardly from the toilet seatalong the rimof the toilet bowl. This configuration may help to contain and redirect any liquid splashes back into the toilet bowl. In the second position, when toilet seatis in a lowered position, the two side membersmay extend downwardly with an internal face adjacent a side of the toilet bowl. This configuration may allow for normal use of the toiletwhile keeping the toilet splash guard systemin a convenient storage position. In the second position, portions of the toilet splash guardmay be partially positioned between the toilet seatand the toilet bowl, e.g., a portion of the toilet splash guardmay be positioned underneath the toilet seat.

Toilet splash guardis generally configured for connection to the toilet seat(e.g., along a side or underside of the toilet seat). When toilet seatis raised, toilet splash guardmay be positionable in the first position. When toilet seatis lowered, toilet splash guardmay be positionable in the second position. In some embodiments, when toilet splash guardis connected to toilet seatand toilet seatis raised or lowered, toilet splash guardmay assume the first position or second position, respectively, without manual positioning (e.g., without a user needing to handle or arrange parts of the toilet splash guard). In some embodiments, the toilet seatmay be raised or lowered by repositioning the toilet splash guard, for example by using a handle(see) to lift the toilet splash guardand the connected toilet seat. In other embodiments, some manual positioning of one or more parts of the toilet splash guardmay be preferred when alternating between the first position and second position, or vice versa. For example, each of the two side membersmay include a retaining tabconfigured to contact the inside of toilet bowlwhen toilet splash guardis in the first position. In some embodiments, manual positioning of retaining tabsmay be required to attain a preferred position of toilet splash guard.

In some embodiments, when toilet splash guardis in the first position the toilet seatmay be positioned with an offset from the lid(e.g., angled in a direction toward toilet bowl); this arrangement may allow the side membersto contact the rimof toilet bowlor to be positioned over the opening of toilet bowl. In this arrangement the two side memberssupport the toilet seatin a position offset from the lid, and prevent the toilet seatfrom inadvertently lowering. In yet another arrangement, the toilet seatmay be raised as far as possible (e.g., to contact the lid). In this position the two side membersextend forwardly from toilet seatand the retaining tabsmay or may not be positioned inside of the toilet bowl.

The two edge membersmay be structurally configured for attachment to the toilet seat, such as along a side or underside of the toilet seat. In some cases, the two side membersmay be engageable with the two edge members. This engagement may allow for easy installation and removal of the two side members, such as for cleaning.

Each of the two side membersmay have an internal face oriented toward the toilet bowl(see, e.g., internal faceof) and an opposing external face. In some cases, one or more of the two side membersmay include a handle. The handle may extend from the external face(e.g., extending away from the toilet seat), and may be used to position the side member(e.g., when grasped by a user the handle may be used to raise or lower the toilet splash guardand the toilet seat).

is an exploded view of a toilet splash guard system, in accordance with a representative example. The toilet splash guard systemmay include two side membersand two edge members. Side membersmay be substantially mirror images of one another, and may be shaped and configured for positioning on the left side or the right side of a toilet. Side membersmay be structurally configured for connection to the seat of a toilet (e.g., by connection to the two edge membersconnected to a toilet seat). In some cases, the toilet splash guard systemmay include the toilet seat. That is, a toilet splash guard may be sold or manufactured as a kit with a toilet seat, thereby forming a toilet splash guard system.

In some cases, the two edge membersmay be structurally configured for attachment to the toilet seat. Each of the two edge membersmay include an attachment surface shaped substantially complementary to an edge of the toilet seat. For example, the two edge membersmay have a concave surface shaped substantially complementary to the convex side edge of a common toilet seat. The width of the edge membersmay be substantially constant over the entire length (e.g., along the curved surface), or the width may be tapered as shown in(e.g., may have a greater width at either the top or bottom end than at the other end). The attachment surface may include an adhesive to secure the two edge membersto the toilet seat, such as a double-sided tape, an epoxy, or the like.

The two edge membersmay include multiple tabspositionable adjacent an underside of the toilet seat. These tabs may help to secure the two edge membersin place and provide additional stability to the toilet splash guard system. Tabsmay also, or instead, include an adhesive.

Each of the two side membersmay be engageable with one of the two edge members. In some cases, each side membermay be slidingly engageable with one of the two edge members. For example, either a side membersor an edge membermay include a groove (e.g., the grooveshown on the edge memberof) and the other member may include a protrusion (e.g., the protrusionshown on the side memberof) shaped and dimensioned for sliding engagement with the groove (e.g., along the directional arrow on the right in). Such a sliding engagement may allow for easy installation and removal of the two side members, as well as adjustment of the location of the side members relative to the toilet seat or toilet bowl. For example, when the side memberis in the second position and is grasped by the handleto raise the seat, the side membermay slide within the edge membertoward the front of the toilet seat (e.g., until hitting a stop at the end of edge member). Then, when the splash guard has been moved to the first position and the user releases the handle, the side membermay slide within the edge member(e.g., by gravity, over a distance of about one to two inches) until coming to rest on the rim of the toilet, thus covering any gap that may otherwise be present between the side memberand the rim. When moving the splash guard from the first position to the second position, the user may pull upwardly on the handle to offset the side memberfrom the toilet rim, and then lower the seat and side memberto the second position. This sliding of the side member may allow sufficient clearance for the side member to avoid contact with the toilet bowl when transitioning to the second position. Elements of each of the edge membersand side membersthat are configured for sliding engagement may be sized to permit easy repositioning of the members as described (e.g., with sufficient clearance for the side member to adjust downwardly by gravity when in the first position).

The two side memberseach have an internal face. The two side membersmay have a gutterthat may extend along an edge of the internal face. The guttermay be configured to direct liquid into the toilet bowl when the side memberis in the first position (upright) and may prevent liquid from dripping down the internal faceonto the floor when the side memberis in the second position (stored alongside the toilet bowl).

In some cases, at least one of the two side membersmay include a handle. The handlemay extend from an external face of the side memberand may be used to adjust the position of the toilet splash guard system, e.g., as described with reference to.

The toilet splash guard systemmay be constructed from various materials such as plastic, wood, metal, or composite materials. In some cases, the toilet splash guard systemmay be formed of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene, or other suitable plastic by an injection molding process. This material and manufacturing method may provide durability and ease of cleaning for the toilet splash guard system.

are rear perspective, lower perspective, top plan, bottom plan, first side and second side views, respectively, of a side memberof a toilet splash guard, in accordance with a representative example. The side membermay have an internal faceand an opposing external face. In some cases, the side membermay be structurally configured for attachment to one of a first seat side and a second seat side of a toilet seat. In other cases, the side membermay be structurally configured for the toilet seat via attachment to an edge member, such as described in.

The internal faceof the side membermay have a concave shape from a first sideto a second side. Said another way, the internal facemay be curved (e.g., curved around the toilet bowl in the second position) between the first sideand the second side, and may have a radius of curvature Ras shown in. In additionally, or instead, the internal facemay have a concave shape from a topto a bottom. For example, the internal facemay be curved between the topand the bottom, and may have a radius of curvature Ras shown in. These concave shapes may help to direct liquid towards the toilet bowl and may provide flexibility to the splash guard which may aide in properly installing or positioning the splash guard relative to the toilet.

The side membermay include a protrusionalong the top(e.g., the protrusionmay form at least a portion of a top edgeof the side member). The protrusionmay be shaped and dimensioned for sliding engagement with a groove on an edge member. For example, a cross-section of the protrusionmay be shaped for a sliding fit with a groove (e.g., the grooveof the edge memberof). This sliding engagement may allow for easy installation, positioning, and removal of the side member.

In some cases, the side membermay have a lower edgethat may be positioned near or partially inside the rim of the toilet bowl. A guttermay be included on each side member. The guttermay extend from the internal facetoward the toilet bowl. In some cases, the guttermay define a lowermost edgeof the internal face. This configuration may help to prevent liquid from dripping onto the floor.

The side membermay include a retaining tab, as may be seen most clearly in. Retaining tabmay be similar to the retaining tabsshown in. The retaining tabmay have an upper portionconfigured to at least partially contact the rim of the toilet bowl and a lower portionextending downwardly from the upper portionadjacent the side of the toilet bowl when the side memberare in a first position. In an aspect, the upper portionand the lower portionmay form a substantially L-shaped retaining tab.

In some cases, the side membermay include a handleextending from the external facein a direction away from the toilet bowl or toilet seat. In a toilet splash guard having two of the side member, one or both of the side membersmay include the handle. The handle may be used to adjust the position of the toilet splash guard system. In some cases, positioning the two side members may include grasping a handle extending from the external face of one of the two side members. The handle may be located away from the toilet bowl or toilet seat, allowing for easy manipulation of the two side members without contact with potentially unsanitary surfaces.

The side membermay be formed of a flexible or resilient material. This material choice may allow the side memberto conform to various toilet shapes and sizes, enhancing their effectiveness in preventing splashes.

Referring to, the external faceof each of the side membermay be visible when the toilet splash guard system is installed. The internal faceand guttermay be more clearly visible in these figures. The guttermay run along, or may define, the lowermost edge of the internal face. Either or both of the internal faceor the external facemay have a smooth surface for easy cleaning.

andare perspective and end views, respectively, of an edge memberof a toilet splash guard, in accordance with a representative example. As described with respect to other examples herein, the edge membermay be configured for attachment to a toilet seat (e.g., the toilet seatof). The edge membermay include a groove, an attachment surface, and a stop.

The attachment surfaceof the edge membermay be shaped substantially complementary to an edge of the toilet seat. This complementary shape may allow for secure attachment of the edge memberto the toilet seat. The attachment surfacemay include an adhesive, to facilitate adhering the edge memberto the toilet seat. This method of attachment may provide a secure connection while allowing for potential removal or replacement of the edge memberif needed. The attachment surfacemay also or instead include mechanical fastening elements, such as clips, screws, or the like.

The grooveof the edge membermay be configured to engage with a protrusion on one of the two side members (e.g., the protrusionof). This configuration may allow for sliding engagement between the edge memberand one of the two side members. In some cases, the groovemay extend along a length of the edge member, providing a continuous surface for engagement with the protrusion of one of the two side members. The sliding engagement between the grooveof the edge memberand the protrusion of one of the two side members may facilitate easy installation and removal of the two side members. This feature may allow for convenient cleaning or replacement of components of the toilet splash guard system.

The stopmay be present on one or both ends of the edge memberand may be useful to limit travel of the side member within the grooveof the edge member. For example, the stopmay be a screw, a cap, or similar (see also) installed on one end to limit the sliding engagement with the side member (e.g., to prevent the side member from sliding forwardly along the toilet seat edge. The stopmay also or instead be a clamp, strap, mechanical tensioner, or the like, and may be readily applied (e.g., opened or closed), adjusted, or similar.

In some cases, the edge membermay be formed of a durable material resistant to moisture and cleaning agents. This material choice may enhance the longevity and effectiveness of the edge memberin the lavatory environment.