Fixture guard panels and systems

Abstract

Fixture guard panels and systems provide protection for fixtures such as tubs, showers, and toilets. The fixture guard panels may have a variety of configurations such as including an enclosure formed of a flexible material that contains a padding layer. The panel may be placed adjacent the fixture such that the panel protects the fixture from impacts and abrasions. The fixture guard panels may also comprise a restraining means which prevents the panel from being removed and/or prevents someone from using the fixture. The panel may include individual sheets of material to enclose padding, may include padding without an enclosure, or may include an individual sheet without padding. The individual sheets may be materials such as polyethylene and/or non-skid rubber.

1 . A fixture guard panel for protecting a fixture, comprising: 
 an enclosure comprising a first side made of a first flexible material and a second side made of the first flexible material with the first side facing away from the fixture when the fixture guard panel is positioned on the fixture; and    a restraining means for preventing removal of the fixture guard panel,    wherein the restraining means is not in direct contact with the fixture.    
   
   
       2 . The fixture guard panel of  claim 1 , further comprising 
 an inner layer comprising padding that is disposed within the enclosure; and wherein the first side and the second side are hemmed together at one or more edges to form the enclosure.    
   
   
       3 . The fixture guard panel of  claim 1 , wherein the first side and the second side are a plastic.  
   
   
       4 . The fixture guard panel of  claim 3 , wherein the plastic is woven polyethylene.  
   
   
       5 . The fixture guard panel of  claim 1 , wherein the restraining means comprises hook and loop fasteners.  
   
   
       6 . The fixture guard panel of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a loop about the periphery of the fixture guard panel; and    a strap,    wherein the restraining means comprises threading the strap through the at least one loop and around at least a portion of said fixture and cinching the fixture guard panel.    
   
   
       7 . The fixture guard panel of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a plurality of loops about the periphery of the fixture guard panel; and    a strap,    wherein the restraining means comprises threading the strap through the plurality of loops and cinching the plurality of loops together.    
   
   
       8 . The fixture guard panel of  claim 1 , wherein the fixture guard is sized and shaped to fit over a toilet and a tank.  
   
   
       9 . A fixture guard panel, comprising: 
 an enclosure comprising a first side made of a first flexible material and a second side made of the first flexible material with the first side facing away from the fixture when the fixture guard panel is positioned on the fixture;    wherein the fixture guard panel has at least two positions, an unsecured configuration in which the fixture guard can be manually removed and a secured configuration in which the fixture guard panel cannot be manually removed.    
   
   
       10 . The fixture guard panel of  claim 9 , further comprising a restraint, 
 wherein the restraint comprises a plurality of loops attached to said enclosure and a strap.    
   
   
       11 . The fixture guard panel of  claim 9 , wherein the first side and the second side are hemmed together.  
   
   
       12 . The fixture guard panel of  claim 9 , wherein the first side is a plastic.  
   
   
       13 . The fixture guard panel of  claim 12 , wherein the plastic is woven polyethylene.  
   
   
       14 . The fixture guard panel of  claim 9 , further comprising a padding layer that is disposed between the first side and the second side.  
   
   
       15 . The fixture guard panel of  claim 14 , wherein the padding layer is foam.  
   
   
       16 . A method of preventing removal of a fixture guard panel once the fixture guard panel is placed over a fixture, the method comprising: 
 placing a fixture guard panel over the fixture; and    securing the fixture guard panel with a restraining means,    wherein the fixture guard panel is not manually removable once secured with the restraining means.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising a plurality of loops attached to said fixture guard panel and wherein the restraining means comprises a strap which is cinched through said plurality of loops.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the fixture guard is plastic.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the fixture guard panel includes padding.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the fixture guard panel is sized and shaped to fit over a toilet and a tank.