Commode Bowl Guard

Abstract

A commode bowl guard for covering a bowl portion of a commode is provided. The commode bowl guard is provided with a cover plate having an upper surface adapted to cover a section of the bowl portion of the commode when the commode bowl guard is in an installed position on the commode. The commode bowl guard is further provided with a means for retaining the cover plate disposed over the bowl portion of the commode such that the cover plate covers at least the section of the bowl portion of the commode.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A commode bowl guard for covering a bowl portion of a commode, the commode bowl guard comprising: 
 a cover plate having a sidewall extending about a portion of the cover plate, the sidewall adapted for tensioning engagement by a portion of a rim of the bowl portion of the commode such that the cover plate covers at least a section of the bowl portion of the commode.    
     
     
         2 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 1 , wherein the cover plate is a substantially oval member having an arcuate shaped end conforming to a substantially arcuate shaped front of the bowl portion of the commode.  
     
     
         3 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall adapted to be tensioningly received by an inner portion of the rim of the bowl portion of the commode such that the cover plate substantially covers the bowl portion of the commode.  
     
     
         4 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall adapted to be tensioningly received by an outer portion of the rim of the bowl portion of the commode such that the cover plate covers at least the section of the bowl portion of the commode.  
     
     
         5 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 4 , wherein the cover plate is adapted to inhibit access to at least the section of the bowl portion of the commode when the commode bowl guard is in an installed position on the commode.  
     
     
         6 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 1 , wherein the cover plate is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic material, polymeric material, resilient polystyrene plastic, aluminum, and cardboard.  
     
     
         7 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 1 , further comprising a tension release mechanism attached to the cover plate, the tension release mechanism adapted to disengage the tensioning engagement of the sidewall of the cover plate from the portion of the rim of the bowl portion of the commode.  
     
     
         8 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 7 , wherein the cover plate is provided with a scored portion further defining the tension release mechanism.  
     
     
         9 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 1 , wherein the cover plate is further defined as having an upper surface and a lower surface such that the sidewall extends between the upper and lower surfaces of the cover plate and wherein the sidewall is further defined as at least a first sidewall and at least a second sidewall extending between the upper and lower surfaces of the cover plate such that at least the first and second sidewalls tensioningly engage the portion of the rim of the bowl of the commode.  
     
     
         10 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 1 , wherein the cover plate is further defined as having an upper surface and a lower surface such that the sidewall extends from the lower surface of the cover plate and wherein the sidewall is further defined as at least a first sidewall and at least a second sidewall extending from the lower surface of the cover plate such that at least the first and second sidewalls tensioningly engage the portion of the rim of the bowl of the commode.  
     
     
         11 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 10 , wherein the sidewall is adapted to tensioningly engage the rim of the bowl portion of the commode.  
     
     
         12 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 1 , wherein the cover plate is further defined as having an upper surface and a lower surface such that the sidewall extends between the upper and lower surfaces of the cover plate and wherein the sidewall is further defined as extending substantially circumferentially about the cover plate between the upper and lower surfaces of the cover plate.  
     
     
         13 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 1 , wherein the cover plate is further defined as having an upper surface and a lower surface such that the sidewall extends from the lower surface of the cover plate and wherein the sidewall is further defined as extending substantially circumferentially about the cover plate between the upper and lower surfaces of the cover plate.  
     
     
         14 . A commode bowl guard for covering a bowl portion of a commode, the commode bowl guard comprising: 
 a cover plate sized to cover at least a section of the bowl portion of the commode, the cover plate having a notch adapted to receive at least a portion of a rim of the bowl portion of the commode such that the cover plate covers at least the section of the bowl portion of the commode.    
     
     
         15 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 14 , wherein the cover plate is further defined as having a substantially flat surface upper surface.  
     
     
         16 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 14 , wherein the cover plate is further defined as substantially oval.  
     
     
         17 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 14 , wherein the cover plate is further defined as substantially round.  
     
     
         18 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 14 , wherein the cover plate is further defined as substantially rectangular.  
     
     
         19 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 14 , wherein the cover plate further comprises a substantially arcuate first end adapted to cover a substantially arcuate portion of the bowl portion of the commode.  
     
     
         20 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 14 , wherein the cover plate is further defined as having an upper surface, a lower surface and a sidewall extending between the upper and lower surfaces and wherein the notch is formed in the sidewall of the cover plate.  
     
     
         21 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 14 , wherein the cover plate is further defined as having an upper surface and a lower surface and wherein the notch is further defined as at least a first groove formed in the lower surface of the cover plate adapted to receive at least the section of the bowl portion of the commode.  
     
     
         22 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 21 , wherein the groove is adapted to receive a portion of a rim of the bowl portion of the commode.  
     
     
         23 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 14 , wherein the cover plate is further defined as having an upper surface, a lower surface and a sidewall extending from the lower surface and wherein the notch is defined by the sidewall extending from the lower surface of the cover plate.  
     
     
         24 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 14 , wherein the cover plate is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic material, polymeric material, resilient polystyrene plastic, aluminum, and cardboard.  
     
     
         25 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 14 , wherein the cover plate is further defined as a plurality of substantially flat panel members stackingly attached to one another.  
     
     
         26 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 25 , wherein an upper panel member of the plurality of substantially flat panel members has a perimeter greater than a perimeter of at least a lower panel member of the plurality of substantially flat panel members.  
     
     
         27 . A commode bowl guard for covering a bowl portion of a commode, the commode bowl guard comprising: 
 a cover plate having an upper surface adapted to cover a section of the bowl portion of the commode when the commode bowl guard is in an installed position on the commode; and    at least a first mechanism connected to the cover plate, a portion of the first mechanism positionable below at least a portion of a rim of the bowl portion and operable to inhibit removal of the commode bowl guard when the commode bowl guard is in an installed position on the commode.    
     
     
         28 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 27 , further comprising a release mechanism operably connected to at least the first mechanism, the release mechanism adapted to disengage at least the first mechanism to promote removal of the commode bowl guard.  
     
     
         29 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 27 , further comprising a release mechanism operably connected to cover plate, the release mechanism adapted to disengage at least the first mechanism to promote removal of the commode bowl guard.  
     
     
         30 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 27 , wherein the at least first mechanism is further defined as a tension spring having a first end and a second end such that the first end is connected to the cover plate and the second end is positionable below at least the portion of the rim of the bowl portion of the commode.  
     
     
         31 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 30 , wherein the second end of the tension spring is adapted to engage at least the portion of the rim of the bowl portion of the commode to inhibit removal of the commode bowl guard from the commode.  
     
     
         32 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 27 , wherein the at least first mechanism is further defined as a plurality of brackets connected to the cover plate, the plurality of brackets adapted to engage the rim of the bowl of the commode to inhibit removal of the commode bowl guard from the commode.  
     
     
         33 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 32 , wherein the plurality of brackets are further defined as at least a first bracket and at least a second bracket adapted to receive an inner portion of the rim of the bowl portion to inhibit removal of the commode bowl guard from the commode.  
     
     
         34 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 33 , further comprising a release mechanism operably connected to at least one of the plurality of brackets, the release mechanism adapted to disengage at least one of the plurality of brackets to promote removal of the commode bowl guard from the commode.  
     
     
         35 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 34 , wherein cover plate is further defined as having a first section and a second section hingingly connected to one another and wherein the release mechanism is further defined as a latch connected to the cover plate to inhibit hinging movement of the first and second sections of the cover plate when the latch is in a locked position.  
     
     
         36 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 32 , wherein the plurality of brackets are further defined as at least a first bracket and at least a second bracket adapted to receive an outer portion of the rim of the bowl portion to inhibit removal of the commode bowl guard.  
     
     
         37 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 36 , further comprising a release mechanism operably connected to at least one of the plurality of brackets, the release mechanism adapted to disengage at least one of the plurality of brackets to promote removal of the commode bowl guard.  
     
     
         38 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 37 , wherein cover plate is further defined as having a first section and a second section hingingly connected to one another and wherein the release mechanism is further defined as a latch connected to the cover plate to inhibit hinging movement of the first and second sections of the cover plate when the latch is in a locked position.  
     
     
         39 . A commode bowl guard for covering a bowl portion of a commode, the commode bowl guard comprising: 
 an cover plate having an upper surface and a lower surface, the cover plate adapted to cover a section of the bowl portion of the commode when the commode bowl guard is in an installed position;    a lower plate having an upper surface and an outer peripheral edge, the lower plate connected to the cover plate; and    at least a first mechanism connected such that a portion of the first mechanism positionable below at least a portion of a rim of the bowl portion and operable to inhibit removal of the commode bowl guard when the commode bowl guard is in an installed position on the commode.    
     
     
         40 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 39 , wherein the cover plate is adapted to rest such that a portion of the lower surface of the cover plate contacts a top surface of the rim portion of bowl portion of the commode.  
     
     
         41 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 39 , wherein the upper surface of the lower plate is connected to a portion of the lower surface of the cover plate.  
     
     
         42 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 41 , wherein the upper and lower plates are substantially unitarily configured.  
     
     
         43 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 39 , wherein the at least first mechanism is connected to the cover plate.  
     
     
         44 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 39 , wherein the at least first mechanism is connected to the lower plate.  
     
     
         45 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 44 , wherein the at least first mechanism is further connected to the cover plate.  
     
     
         46 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 39 , wherein at least the first mechanism is connected to the outer peripheral edge of the lower plate.  
     
     
         47 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 43 , wherein the at least first mechanism is further defined as a tension spring having a first end and a second end such that the first end is connected to the cover plate and the second end is positionable below at least the portion of the rim of the bowl portion of the commode.  
     
     
         48 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 47 , wherein the second end of the tension spring is adapted to engage at least the portion of the rim of the bowl portion of the commode to inhibit removal of the commode bowl guard from the commode.  
     
     
         49 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 44 , wherein the at least first mechanism is further defined as a tension spring having a first end and a second end such that the first end is connected to the lower plate and the second end is positionable below at least the portion of the rim of the bowl portion of the commode.  
     
     
         50 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 49 , wherein the second end of the tension spring is adapted to engage at least the portion of the rim of the bowl portion of the commode to inhibit removal of the commode bowl guard from the commode.  
     
     
         51 . A commode bowl guard for covering a bowl portion of a commode, the commode bowl guard comprising: 
 a cover plate having an upper surface adapted to cover a section of the bowl portion of the commode when the commode bowl guard is in an installed position on the commode; and    a means for retaining the cover plate disposed over the bowl portion of the commode such that the cover plate covers at least the section of the bowl portion of the commode.    
     
     
         52 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 51 , wherein the cover plate is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic material, polymeric material, resilient polystyrene plastic, aluminum, and cardboard.  
     
     
         53 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 51 , wherein the means for retaining the cover plate is further defined as a tensioning means connected to the cover plate for tensioningly retaining the cover plate over at least a portion of the bowl portion of the commode.  
     
     
         54 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 51 , wherein the means for retaining the cover plate is further defined as a coupling means connected to the cover plate for coupling the cover plate to at least a portion of a rim of the bowl portion of the commode.  
     
     
         55 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 54 , wherein the means for retaining the cover plate is further defined as a coupling means connected to the cover plate for coupling the cover plate to at least an inner portion of the rim of the bowl portion of the commode.  
     
     
         56 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 54 , wherein the means for retaining the cover plate is further defined as a coupling means connected to the cover plate for coupling the cover plate to at least an outer portion of the rim of the bowl portion of the commode.  
     
     
         57 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 51 , wherein the means for retaining the cover plate is further defined as a means for retaining the cover plate substantially positioned to cover at least the portion of the rim of the bowl portion of the commode.  
     
     
         58 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 51 , wherein the cover plate is further provided with indicia thereon the cover plate, the indicia indicative of the commode being in a non-operational state.  
     
     
         59 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 51 , wherein the cover plate is retained such that the upper surface of the cover plate is disposed substantially so as to avoid interference with a lid portion of the commode when the lid portion of the commode rests on the rim of the bowl portion of the commode.  
     
     
         60 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 51 , wherein the cover plate is retained such that the upper surface of the cover plate is disposed within the bowl portion of the commode substantially below a top surface of the rim of the bowl of the commode.  
     
     
         61 . The commode bowl guard of  claim 51 , wherein the cover plate is retained such that the upper surface of the cover plate is disposed at a height adjacent a top surface of the rim of the bowl of the commode.