Patent Publication Number: US-2023144569-A1

Title: Toilet shield

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS - CONTINUATION 
     This application is a continuation application of and claims priority to and benefit of co-pending U.S. Pat. Application No. 17/335,190, now issued patent TBD, filed on Jun. 1, 2021, entitled “Toilet Shield” by James Kramer, having Attorney Docket No. TRICK-003, and assigned to the assignee of the present application, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     U.S. Pat. Application No. 17/335,190 claimed priority to and benefit of the then co-pending provisional patent application, Serial Number 63/033,326, Attorney Docket Number TRICK-003-PR, entitled “Toilet Shield,” by James Kramer, with filing date Jun. 2, 2020, which was incorporated by reference therein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Hundreds of thousands of people experience diarrhea/loose stools every day in the United States alone. Some have a temporary problem that only happens occasionally. Some have life-long, continual, daily afflictions which may be caused by a condition or disease such as irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, or malabsorption, to name but a few. 
     One of the negative consequences associated with this is that it creates an undesirable toilet cleaning problem due to splatter of the loose stool in regions of a toilet that are not easily washed away when the toilet is flushed. For example, liquified feces of the loose stool may spray with force in multiple directions and may also splash/rebound upward from the water in the bowl or from the bowl itself to foul the undersurface of the porcelain toilet rim, the underside of the toilet seat, and can end up traveling even higher on the toilet and in hard-to-reach places. In such instances, much of the sprayed and splattered feces remains in these locations after flushing the toilet. 
     People thusly afflicted can be embarrassed while at work or in another person’s home by having to clean up after themselves which takes time and may be hard to accomplish. Moreover, much of this spraying/splattering of feces occurs in care situations where the person causing it is not the person who is involved with the cleaning of it afterward. 
     People who have diarrhea/loose stool issues often use a toilet more than once a day. This means that these disgusting cleaning burdens may occur many hundreds of thousands or millions of times a day in the United States alone. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the Description of Embodiments, illustrate various embodiments of the subject matter and, together with the Description of Embodiments, serve to explain principles of the subject matter discussed below. 
         FIG.  1 A  illustrates an example pattern for folding a toilet shield cut from a sheet of flushable paper or other water soluble/dissolvable and flushable material, in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG.  1 B  is a front side view of the toilet shield with the arms extended from opposite sides of the top opening of the tube, in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG.  1 C  is a top view which illustrates the open lumen (interior) of the tube which occurs in response to extension of the arms in opposite directions from one another, in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG.  1 D  is a right side view of the toilet shield with the right side arm extended, in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG.  1 E  is a right side view of the toilet shield with the right side arm extended and also bent at an angle, in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG.  1 F  is an upper rear perspective view of the toilet shield with the arms extended to open the lumen of the tube, in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG.  2 A  illustrates a second example pattern for folding a toilet shield cut from a sheet of flushable paper or other water soluble/dissolvable and flushable material, in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG.  2 B  illustrates a front view of the gutter shaped toilet shield of  FIG.  2 A  after folding on the fold lines, in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG.  2 C  is a top view of the gutter shaped toilet shield of  FIG.  2 B , in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG.  2 D  is a right side view of the gutter shaped toilet shield of  FIG.  2 B , in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG.  2 E  is an upper right perspective view of the gutter shaped toilet shield of  FIG.  2 B , in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG.  3 A  shows a front view of a bracket and hook, in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG.  3 B  shows a right side view of a bracket and hook, in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG.  3 C  top view of a bracket and hook, in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG.  3 D  shows a right side perspective view of a bracket and hook, in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG.  4    shows a front left perspective detail view of the bracket installed on the rim of a toilet bowl with the hook extending outward and down away from the toilet bowl, in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG.  5    shows a front right perspective view of an example of the toilet shield being lowered into the bowl of a toilet, in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG.  6    shows a front left upper perspective detail view of an example of the toilet shield lowered into the bowl of the toilet with the arms extended but not yet secured, in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG.  7 A  shows a top view an example of the toilet shield lowered into the bowl of the toilet with the arms extended and bent to secure to hooks of brackets installed on the rim of the toilet bowl, in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG.  7 B  shows a top view an example of the toilet shield lowered into the bowl of the toilet with the arms extended and bent to secure to hooks of brackets installed on the rim of the toilet bowl, in accordance with various embodiments. 
     
    
    
     Unless specifically noted, the drawings referred to in this Brief Description of Drawings should be understood as not being drawn to scale. Herein, like items are labeled with like item numbers. 
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the subject matter, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While various embodiments are discussed herein, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit to these embodiments. On the contrary, the presented embodiments are intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope the various embodiments as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, in this Description of Embodiments, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present subject matter. However, embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the described embodiments. 
     Overview of Discussion 
     As previously described, people who have chronic diarrhea/loose stools use a toilet more than once a day and create a cleaning problem due to un-flushable fecal splatter in the toilet bowl and other regions of the toilet. 
     Toilet Shields are not designed to eliminate all immediate cleaning but rather to decrease it substantially and to limit cleaning to areas that are easily reached with a toilet brush requiring little effort. The toilet shield described herein serves to solve or minimize this cleaning problem by reducing and/or preventing splatter of feces. Toilet shields described herein are designed to accomplish protection of a toilet from becoming fouled by liquid and/or splattering feces while using an economy of flushable paper or other flushable material to avoid becoming a burden on septic systems and waste treatment plants. For example, in a flushable paper embodiment, each single use toilet shield is made of an amount of flushable paper which may be equal to as little as several sheets of toilet paper. 
     The extensive amount of cleaning required in these situations where a toilet is fouled with fecal splatter when there is no toilet shield requires much more paper to be used (than would be contained in a toilet shield made of flushable paper). Additionally, the cleaning of a toilet fouled in the absence of a toilet shield may also result in the use of paper (e.g., paper towels) that is not designed to be flushable, thus creating a burden on septic systems and waste treatment plants if it is flushed. 
     Herein some example toilet shields, example toilet shielding systems, and example methods of use are described. Generally, the toilet shields supply one or more substantially vertical surfaces suspended within the bowl of a toilet such that the substantially vertical surfaces intercept the stream/splatter of diarrheal feces before they impact with the hard surface of the toilet bowl or the hard surface of the water in the bowl. This interception prevents or reduces the amount of splatter off of the bowl or the water. In situations where a stream of diarrheal feces is predominately directed downward and/or downward/reward toward the rear of a toilet bowl, the substantially vertical surfaces of the toilet shield intercept the stream and reduce/eliminate splatter. This reduces splatter near the rear of the toilet bowl, under the rim of the toilet bowl, and splatter that lands above where the flushing water can reach it such as on the inside rim and seat of the toilet bowl. 
     Example Toilet Shields 
       FIG.  1 A  illustrates an example pattern for folding a toilet shield  100  which has been cut from a sheet a sheet of flushable paper or other water soluble/dissolvable and flushable material, in accordance with various embodiments. By “flushable” what is meant is that the material will either dissolve, degrade in water, or else not clog or disrupt toilet lines, sewer lines, a sewer system, or a septic system when flushed. Dashed lines  113 ,  114 , and  115  in  FIG.  1 A  illustrate regions where folding occurs to join portion  119 A and  119 C together such that portions  119 A and  119 B form a front interior wall  119  of a tube  110 . For example, portion  119 C may be affixed to portion  119 A by any suitable means to include, but not limited to: gluing, knurling, crimping, and folding. The tube  110  may be expanded to open an interior lumen  111  of the tube  110 . The lumen  111  has a rear interior wall  116 , a left side interior wall  117 , a right side interior wall  118 , and a front interior wall  119  (formed by portions  119 A and  119 B when joined). In some embodiments, the tube  110  may include one or more pleats  112 . Dashed lines in regions  112 A and  112 B in  FIG.  1 A  illustrate regions where folding may occurs to create expandable pleats  112 A and  112 B in tube  110 . The tube  110  includes at least two arms  120  ( 120 A and  120 B) disposed on edges of a top opening of the tube  110 . By folding on dashed fold lines  122  and  123 , arms  120 A and  120 B respectively are caused to extend from the tube  110  at substantially right angles to the vertical length of the tube  110 . In some embodiments, an arm  120  may include one or more adjustment holes  121  (e.g., adjustment holes  121 A &amp;  121 B) for interfacing with a hook of a bracket disposed on the rim of a toilet bowl. In some embodiments, the arms  120  may include an adhesive on a side that is intended to couple with the rim of a toilet bowl. The tube  110  of toilet shield  100  is open on at least one end (e.g., the top, near the arms  120 ) for receiving human feces from defecation; and may be open on both ends. Although a cutting/folding pattern is illustrated in  FIG.  1   , other mechanisms for manufacturing and/or assembly of the toilet shield  100 , may be employed. 
       FIG.  1 B  is a front side view of the toilet shield  100  with the arms  120  ( 120 A and  120 B) extended from opposite sides of the top opening of the tube  110 , in accordance with various embodiments. Extending the arms  120  in generally opposite directions causes the lumen  111  of tube  110  to open. In  FIG.  1 B , the interior lumen  111  is visible towards the rear due to this embodiment exhibiting a raised collar on the rear side of the tube  110 . 
     Further, in some embodiments, the design of the toilet shield  100  allows for a raised collar  150  to rise above the horizontal arms  120  in the rear of the toilet shield only. In some instances, liquid feces under pressure of expulsion from the human body tends to spray toward the rear of the toilet more than toward the front. The raised collar  150  improves the interface between the defecating person and the shield  100  in order to catch/deflect more liquid feces in such situations. 
     In some embodiments, on either side of the raised rear collar  150  there is a vertical pleat  112  ( 112 A,  112 B). The purpose of this pleat  112  is to discourage tearing of the arm  120  at these attachment sites, to allow for better raising of the collar  150 , to increase the extension of the substantially vertical portion of the toilet shield  100  without adding much more paper/flushable material, and to improve the interface between the defecating person and the toilet shield  100  by decreasing the distance between the two. 
       FIG.  1 C  is a top view which illustrates the open lumen  111  of the tube  110  which occurs in response to extension of the arms  120  ( 120 A &amp;  120 B) in generally opposite directions from one another, in accordance with various embodiments. In various tubular embodiments, the tube  110  of a toilet shield  100  (and its interior lumen  111 , when open) may have a generally cylindrical, hexagonal, rectangular, conical, bell, or other tubular shape. The adjustment holes  121  are depicted as circular, but may be formed in other shapes such as oval or rectangular. 
       FIG.  1 D  is a right side view of the toilet shield  100  with the right side arm  120 B extended, in accordance with various embodiments. 
       FIG.  1 E  is a right side view of the toilet shield  100  with the right side arm  120 B extended and also bent at an angle (e.g., approximately a right angle) as it would be when coupled with a hook or other fastening means on the rim of a toilet bowl, in accordance with various embodiments. 
       FIG.  1 F  is an upper rear perspective view of the toilet shield  100  with the arms  120  ( 120 A &amp;  120 B) extended to open the lumen  111  of the tube  110 , in accordance with various embodiments. 
     Toilet shields  100  may be provided in a dispenser which holds multiple toilet shields  100 , may be provided in packages with several toilet shields  100 , or may be provided in packages with a single toilet shield  100 . 
       FIG.  2 A  illustrates a second example pattern for folding a toilet shield  200  which has been cut from a sheet a sheet of flushable paper or other water soluble/dissolvable and flushable material, in accordance with various embodiments. By “flushable” what is meant is that the material will either dissolve, degrade in water, or else not clog or disrupt toilet lines, sewer lines, a sewer system, or a septic system when flushed. By folding down and outward on first arm fold line  222  and second arm fold line  223 , arms  220 A and  220 B are formed. Dashed lines  212 A and  212 B in  FIG.  2 A  illustrate regions where the pattern may be folded. By folding inward on first vertical fold line  212 A and second vertical fold line  212 B a vertical gutter shape is formed which comprises an interior channel  211 . Absent folding on first vertical fold line  212 A and the second vertical fold line  212 B, the vertical shape is more like a curtain (which may have some curvature or appear to have three sides, depending on the positioning of arms  220 A and  220 B when in use), rather than like a gutter with an internal channel. Channel  211  may be expanded to open when the arms  220 A and  220 B are spread in generally opposing directions. The channel  211  has a rear vertical wall  216 , a left side vertical wall  217 , and a right side vertical wall  218 . It is open on a fourth vertical side and does not create a fully enclosed lumen  111  like toilet shield  100  of  FIG.  1 B . The toilet shield  200  of  FIG.  2 A  includes at least two arms  220  ( 220 A &amp;  220 B) disposed on edges of an upper opening of the channel  211 . In some embodiments, an arm  220  ( 220  and/or  220 B) may include one or more adjustment holes  221  (e.g., holes  221 A in arm  220 A and/or holes  221 B in arm  220 B) for interfacing with a hook of a bracket disposed on the rim of a toilet bowl. The adjustment holes  221  are depicted as circular, but may be formed in other shapes such as oval or rectangular. In some embodiments, adhesive or other fastening means may be utilized to couple the arms  220  to the toilet. For example an adhesive with a peel off covering may be disposed on one or more surfaces of arms  220 . The channel  211  is open on at least one end (the upper portion near the arms) for receiving human feces from defecation; and may be open on both ends. Although a cutting/folding pattern is illustrated in  FIG.  2 A , other mechanisms for manufacturing and/or assembly of the toilet shield  200 , may be employed. 
       FIG.  2 B  illustrates a front view of the gutter  210  shaped toilet shield  200  of  FIG.  2 A  after folding on the fold lines  212 A,  212 B,  222 , and  223 , in accordance with various embodiments. Both the exterior gutter  210  shape and its interior channel  211  are visible. The arms  220  ( 220 A &amp;  220 B) may be fastened to brackets or otherwise secured/coupled to a toilet seat or rim of a toilet bowl in order to suspend the toilet shield  200  in place within the bowl of a toilet in a similar manner to that which has been previously described and which is depicted in  FIG.  3 – 6 B . In some embodiments, the bottom edges of the rear vertical wall  216 , the left side vertical wall  217 , and the right side vertical wall  218  trail into the water in the toilet bowl. Lower portions of the substantially vertical walls ( 216 ,  217 , and  218 ) which trail into the water of the toilet bowl pull downward on the toilet shield  200  help to hold the toilet shield  200  in place and give the toilet shield  200  some additional structural integrity. The rear wall  216 , side walls  217  and  218 , and any lower portions of the toilet shield  200  floating or suspended in the water of the toilet bowl serve to decelerate falling/streaming fecal material from a bowel movement, which results in in less upward splashing and splattering of fecal material. This greatly reduces fecal splatter and thus the reduces embarrassment and/or reduces the cleaning burden associated with excessive fecal splatter in a toilet bowl. 
     Further, in some embodiments, the design of the toilet shield  200  allows for a raised collar (not depicted, but similar to raised collar  150  of  FIG.  1 B ) to rise above the horizontal arms  220  in the rear of the toilet shield only. In some instances, liquid feces under pressure of expulsion from the human body tends to spray toward the rear of the toilet more than toward the front. The inclusion of a raised collar may improve the interface between the defecating person and the shield  200  in order to catch/deflect more liquid feces in such situations. 
       FIG.  2 C  is a top view of the gutter shaped toilet shield  200  of  FIG.  2 B , in accordance with various embodiments. 
       FIG.  2 D  is a right side view of the gutter shaped toilet shield  200  of  FIG.  2 B , in accordance with various embodiments. 
       FIG.  2 E  is an upper right perspective view of the gutter shaped toilet shield  200  of  FIG.  2 B , in accordance with various embodiments. 
     Toilet shields  200  may be provided in a dispenser which holds multiple toilet shields  100 , may be provided in packages with several toilet shields  200 , or may be provided in packages with a single toilet shield  200 . 
     As previously discussed, toilet shields  100  and  200  are made of flushable paper or other water soluble/dissolvable and flushable material such as PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) film. By “flushable” what is meant is that material from which the toilet shield  100 / 200  is formed is safe to flush down a toilet in a similar fashion to toilet paper, without risk of clogging plumbing or causing harm to a wastewater treatment plant. Such material which is safe to flush in this manner is referred to as “flushable material.” The toilet shield  100 / 200  comprises a vertical tube  110 , gutter  210 , or curtain, which is open on one or both ends, and arms  120 / 220  on disposed on the edges of an open end. One or more of tube  110 , gutter  210 , or curtain and the arms  120 / 220  may be composed of flushable material, in some embodiments. The tube  110 , gutter  210 , or curtain may be composed of a different flushable material than the arms  120 / 220 , in some embodiments. In some embodiments, certain portions such as seams, pleats  112 , fold lines, adjustment holes  121 / 221  or potential weak spots may be coated with a biodegradable and/or flushable overspray. The overspray may add structural integrity to fail points. The overspray may provide other advantages such providing a pleasant scent and/or adding a measured amount of water resistance (i.e., slowing the dissolvability) of a portion of the toilet shield  100 / 200 . 
     In various embodiments, the substantially vertical sides of the toilet shield  100 / 200  may be smooth or faceted. The end of the toilet shield which is configured with arms  120 / 220  is the top end of the toilet shield  100 / 200  when in use. The toilet shield  100 / 200  may be stored in a flattened state prior to use, and the lumen  111 , channel  211 , or curtain opened/deployed for use by extending the arms  120 / 220  away from each other in directions which are generally orthogonal to the direction in which the toilet shield  100 / 200  extends into the bowl of the toilet. In some embodiments the toilet shield  100 / 200  may be folded and packaged so that it may be easily transported by a person, such as in a purse, wallet, or pocket. In other embodiments, a plurality of toilet shields  100 / 200  may be packaged together. 
     In some embodiments, the design of the toilet shield  100 / 200  with regard to the attachment of the horizontal arms  120 / 220  to the substantially vertical portion (e.g., the tube  110  or gutter  210 ) allows for the lumen  111 , channel  211 , or curtain of the toilet shield  100 / 200  to open/deploy when the arms  120 / 220  are pulled away from each other in generally opposite directions. 
     Example Bracket and Hook for Securing Arms of a Toilet Shield 
       FIG.  3 A  shows a front view of a bracket  300  and hook  310 , in accordance with various embodiments. The bracket  300  may be installed on the rim of a toilet bowl. The hook  310 , which is coupled with the bracket  300  is configured to engage with an arm  120 / 220  of a toilet shield, either by piercing the material of the arm or by being inserted in a preconfigured adjustment hole  121 / 221  of the arm  120 / 220 . Although hooks  310  are depicted as being bent, thy may be straight in some embodiments. Although hooks  310  are depicted as circular in shape they may be formed in other suitable shapes, such as rectangular, square, oval, etc. One or more ridges or standoffs may be configured onto a surface of the bracket  300  in order to provide an interface between a bracket  300  and a toilet shield lowered on top of a bracket  300 . 
     These brackets  300  snap into place by virtue of their elastomeric quality. In some embodiments, the brackets include a lip which secures to the underside of the rim of the toilet. On the outward side of the toilet, on the outward facing lateral sides, each bracket  300  has a hook  310  extending outward, away from the toilet with the end of the hook  310  pointing downward so that the hook  310  is open on the bottom. These brackets  300  can be left in place for months or can be placed for one time use and then removed. 
       FIG.  3 B  shows a right side view of a bracket  300  and hook  310 , in accordance with various embodiments. 
       FIG.  3 C  top view of a bracket  300  and hook  310 , in accordance with various embodiments. 
       FIG.  3 D  shows a right side perspective view of a bracket  300  and hook  310 , in accordance with various embodiments. 
       FIG.  4    shows a front left perspective detail view  400  of a bracket  300 - 1  installed on the rim  415  of a toilet bowl  410  of a toilet  405  with the hook  310 - 1  extending outward and down away from the toilet bowl  410 , in accordance with various embodiments. 
     Example Toilet Shielding System 
     In some embodiments, a toilet shielding system is comprised of a toilet shield (one embodiment illustrated in  FIGS.  1 A- 1 E  and another embodiment illustrated in  FIGS.  2 A- 2 E ) and a bracket  300  which is coupled to a hook  310 . Although toilet shield  100  is depicted in use in  FIGS.  5 - 7 B , use of either of these toilet shield  100  or  200  in such a system would be carried out in a similar fashion to the examples shown in  FIGS.  5 - 7 B . 
       FIG.  5    shows a front right perspective view of an example of the toilet shield  100  being lowered into the bowl  410  of a toilet  405 , in accordance with various embodiments. Directional arrow  501 , shows the direction in which it is being lowered. Toilet seat  520  is in an “up” position and has not yet been lowered onto rim  415 . Brackets  300 - 1  and  300 - 2  are visible installed on the rim  415  of toilet  405 , as is hook  310 - 1 . 
       FIG.  6    shows a front left upper perspective view of an example of the toilet shield  100  lowered into the bowl  410  of the toilet  405  (only a partial view of toilet  405  is shown) with the arms  120 A and  120 B extended but not yet secured, in accordance with various embodiments. In some embodiments, the toilet seat  520  may be lowered onto the extended arms  120 A and  120 B to hold them in place and extended, causing the lumen  111  to remain open for receiving human feces during defecation. In some embodiments, an adhesive may be disposed between the arms  120 A and  120 B and the rim  415  of the bowl  410  of the toilet  405  to hold the arms  120 A and  120 B in place and extended, causing the lumen  111  to remain open for receiving human feces during defecation. A bottom portion of toilet shield  100  may be suspended in or slightly above water  601 . In some embodiments, the extended arms  120 A and  120 B may be secured to the hooks  310  (not visible in  FIG.  5   ) on either side of the toilet bowl  410 ; where the hooks  310  hold the arms  120 A and  120 B in place and extended, causing the lumen  111  to remain open for receiving human feces during defecation and simultaneously shielding the bowl  410  and other portions of the toilet  405  from splatter of loose stool. 
       FIG.  7 A  shows a top view an example of the toilet shield  100  lowered into the bowl  410  of the toilet  405  with the arms  120 A and  120 B extended and bent to secure to hooks  310 - 1  and  310 - 2  of brackets  300 - 1  and  300 - 2  (not visible in  FIG.  7 A ) installed on the rim  415  of the toilet bowl  410 , in accordance with various embodiments. Securing the extended arms  120 A and  120 B to the hooks  310 - 2  and  310 - 1  on either side of the toilet bowl  410 , as shown, holds the arms  120 A and  120 B in place and causes the lumen  111  to remain open for receiving human feces during defecation. As has been discussed, other means of securing arms  120  may be used instead of hooks  310 . In  FIG.  7 A , the toilet seat  520  is still in an upright position. 
       FIG.  7 B  shows a top view an example of the toilet shield  100  lowered into the bowl  410  of the toilet  405  with the arms  120 A and  120 B extended and bent to secure to hooks  310 - 1  and  310 - 2  of brackets  300 - 1  and  300 - 2  (not visible in  FIG.  7 B ) installed on the rim  415  of the toilet bowl  410 , in accordance with various embodiments.  FIG.  7 B  is the same as  FIG.  7 A  except the toilet seat  520  has been lowered and the toilet  405  is ready for a human to sit on it and defecate into the open lumen  111  of the toilet shield  100 . 
     Example Method of Use 
     In some embodiments, first the toilet seat  520  is lifted (if not already lifted) and two plastic brackets  300 - 1  and  300 - 2  are attached onto the rim  415  of the toilet bowl  410 , one on either side, across from each other, when looking down at the toilet at 2:30 and 9:30 on the clockface. An example of this is illustrated in  FIG.  5   . The plastic brackets  300  may be left in place and used multiple times. The multiuse plastic brackets  300 , when employed, may be small and made from biodegradable plastic so as not to add to the earth’s plastic burden. 
     To prepare the toilet shield  100 / 200  for use, the opposing arms  120 / 220  are extended outward, with the distal tips of the arms extended generally away from each other. An example of this is shown in  FIG.  5   . When the arms  120 / 220  are pulled away from each other the lumen  111 , channel  211 , or curtain of the toilet shield  100 / 200  opens forming an open top end for receiving human feces. In some embodiments, the ends of the arms  120 / 220  are attached to the plastic brackets  300 , such as by piercing the arm  120 / 220  with the hook  310  or by positioning the hook  310  in a preconfigured adjustment hole  121 / 221  in an arm  120 / 220 . An example of this is shown in  FIGS.  7 A and  7 B . In other embodiments, the ends of the arms  120 / 220  are attached to generally opposing sides of the toilet bowl  410  and/or the rim  415  of the toilet bowl  410  by other means such as adhesive or hook and loop fasteners. 
     In some embodiments, attaching the ends of the arms  120 / 220  to the hooks  310  on the plastic brackets  300  causes the toilet shield  100 / 200  to become suspended from the brackets  300  like a hammock between two trees (see for example  FIGS.  6 ,  7 A, and  7 B ). In some embodiments, a portion of the arms  120 / 220 , such as the tips of the arms  120 / 220 , may feature several preconfigured holes  121 / 221  to allow for adjustment of the height of the substantially vertical portion of the toilet shield  100 / 200 . These adjustment holes  121 / 221  also facilitate positioning the toilet shield  100 / 200  within toilet bowls  410  of a variety of widths while ensuring the lumen  111 , channel  211 , or curtain is adequately opened to receive expelled human feces. 
     The toilet seat  520  is closed/lowered and the toilet shield  100 / 200  is ready for use. An example of this is illustrated in  FIG.  7 B . This can be done ahead of time (e.g., an hour in advance) as may occur in care giving situation or immediately prior to use. 
     In other embodiments, other fastening/suspension means may be employed. For example, in addition to or in alternative to the use of the bracket  300  and hook  310  on opposite sides of the toilet bowl  410 , an adhesive may be employed between the rim  415  of the toilet bowl  410  and the arms  120 / 220  of the toilet shield  100 / 200 . In some embodiments, for example, an adhesive strip is incorporated on the arms  120 / 220  of the toilet shield  100 / 200  during manufacturing. 
     In use, the toilet shield  100 / 200  collects liquid/splattered feces that does not drop vertically preventing it from fouling the toilet. The toilet shield  100 / 200  also slows the descent of feces that may be falling or spewing under pressure. When falling feces hits the water  601  some splashes upward and is big source of cleaning problems. The toilet shield  100 / 200  discourages this splashing upward by lessening the amount of feces that hits the water  601  directly and by slowing the descent of feces that does hit the water  601 . The toilet shield also catches feces that are splashing upward from the water  601  impeding and/or preventing the splashed feces from reaching and fouling the toilet. 
     Once the toilet shield  100 / 200  is used the person using it (or a care giver) can simply release the arms  120 / 220  from the toilet bowl  410 . For example, in some embodiments, this involves releasing the toilet shield  100 / 200  from hooks  310  on the outside of the toilet bowl  410 , one on either side, by lifting the arms  100 / 200  off the hooks  310 . This may accomplished without changing position, with the toilet seat  520  down and without coming in contact with anything untoward. 
     Once released, the weight of the feces and/or water  601  in the toilet bowl  410  pulls the toilet shield  100 / 200  into the water or the swirling motion of the flushed water  601  pulls it in the toilet bowl  410 , and it is flushed away. 
     The toilet shield  100 / 200  can also be used without mounting brackets  300  or other attachment means by placing the arms  120 / 220  on top of the toilet seat  520  and holding it in place by the weight of the user. For example, a toilet seat  520  may be lowered onto the rim  415  of a toilet bowl  410 . A toilet shield  100 / 200  is expanded by pulling its arms  120 / 220  in generally opposite directions. The arms  120 / 220  may be draped over the lowered toilet seat  520  at locations which are in the vicinity of 2:30 and 9:30 on the face of a clock (if the rear of the toilet seat is considered 12:00), and after positioning the toilet shield  100 / 200  at the desired elevation within the bowl  410  the excess length of the arms  120 / 220  is then tucked under the toilet seat  520  (e.g., between the toilet seat  520  and the rim  415 ). The user then sits on the toilet seat and the arms  120 / 220  which are exposed on the top surface of the seat  520  while defecating. After defecating, the user would exit the toilet  405  at least slightly to release the toilet shield  100 / 200 , and then flush the toilet  405  to flush the toilet shield  100 / 200  in to the sewer/septic system to which the toilet  405  is coupled. 
     Conclusion 
     The examples set forth herein were presented in order to best explain, to describe particular applications, and to thereby enable those skilled in the art to make and use embodiments of the described examples. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the foregoing description and examples have been presented for the purposes of illustration and example only. The description as set forth is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise form disclosed. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims. 
     In accordance with the embodiments shown, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that there could be variations to the embodiments and those variations would be within the spirit and scope of what has been disclosed. Accordingly, many modifications may be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. 
     Reference throughout this document to “one embodiment,” “certain embodiments,” “an embodiment,” “various embodiments,” “some embodiments,” or similar term means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearances of such phrases in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics of any embodiment may be combined in any suitable manner with one or more other features, structures, or characteristics of one or more other embodiments without limitation.