Shield and method of use thereof

Abstract

A shield apparatus for protecting a person from exposure to a waste material. The shield apparatus includes a body portion and a lip portion. The body portion has a front side and a back side, and is defined by a curved top edge opposite a straight bottom edge, and a straight left edge and a straight right edge joining the curved top edge and the straight bottom edge. The lip portion has a top side and a back side and is defined by a straight front edge opposite a straight back edge, and a straight left edge and a straight right edge joining the straight front edge and the straight back edge. The shield apparatus also includes a handle attached to the front side of the body portion.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for protecting a health care professional from exposure to a waste material, the apparatus comprising:
 a body portion defined by a curved top edge opposite a straight bottom edge, and a straight left edge and a straight right edge joining the curved top edge and the straight bottom edge, the body portion having a front side and a back side;   a lip portion defined by a straight front edge opposite a straight back edge, and a straight left edge and a straight right edge joining the straight front edge and the straight back edge, the lip portion having a top side and a bottom side, the front edge of the lip portion joined to the bottom edge of the body portion; and   a handle attached to the front side of the body portion.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the lip portion is joined to the body portion at an angle of less than 90 degrees. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the right edge of the body portion is joined to the bottom edge of the body portion at a first angle of greater than 90 degrees and the left edge of the body portion is joined to the bottom edge of the body portion at a second angle of greater than 90 degrees. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the first angle is equal to the second angle. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the right edge of the lip portion is joined to the back edge of the lip portion at a first angle of greater than 90 degrees and the left edge of the lip portion is joined to the back edge of the lip portion at a second angle of greater than 90 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the first angle is equal to the second angle. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the body portion is integral with the lip portion. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the body portion and the lip portion are transparent or translucent. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the body portion and the lip portion are made of a clear acrylic plastic. 
     
     
         10 . A splash shield for protecting a health care professional from exposure to a waste material, the splash shield comprising:
 a body portion integral with a lip portion, the lip portion forming angle with the body portion of less than 90 degrees; and   a handle joined to the body portion,   wherein the body portion has a front side and a back side, and is defined by a curved top edge opposite a straight bottom edge, and a straight left edge and a straight right edge joining the curved top edge and the straight bottom edge,   wherein the a lip portion defined by a straight front edge opposite a straight back edge, and a straight left edge and a straight right edge joining the straight front edge and the straight back edge, the lip portion having a top side and a bottom side, the front edge of the lip portion joined to the bottom edge of the body portion,   wherein the right edge of the body portion is joined to the bottom edge of the body portion at a first angle of greater than 90 degrees and the left edge of the body portion is joined to the bottom edge of the body portion at a second angle equal to the second angle, and   wherein the right edge of the lip portion is joined to the back edge of the lip portion at a third angle of greater than 90 degrees and the left edge of the lip portion is joined to the back edge of the lip portion at a fourth angle equal to the third angle.   
     
     
         11 . The splash shield of  claim 10 , wherein the body portion and the lip portion are transparent or translucent. 
     
     
         12 . The splash shield of  claim 11 , wherein the body portion and the lip portion are made of a clear acrylic plastic. 
     
     
         13 . A method of disposing of a waste material, the method comprising transferring the waste material to a bowl of a flush toilet while partially covering the bowl with a splash shield including:
 a body portion defined by a curved top edge opposite a straight bottom edge, and a straight left edge and a straight right edge joining the curved top edge and the straight bottom edge, the body portion having a front side and a back side,   a lip portion defined by a straight front edge opposite a straight back edge, and a straight left edge and a straight right edge joining the straight front edge and the straight back edge, the body portion having a top side and a bottom side, the front edge of the lip portion joined to the bottom edge of the body portion, and   a handle attached to the front side of the body portion.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising flushing the flush toilet while fully covering the bowl with the splash shield. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the lip portion of the splash shield is joined to the body portion of the splash shield at an angle of less than 90 degrees. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the right edge of the body portion of the splash shield is joined to the bottom edge of the body portion of the splash shield at a first angle of greater than 90 degrees and the left edge of the body portion of the splash shield is joined to the bottom edge of the body portion of the splash shield at a second angle of greater than 90 degrees. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first angle is equal to the second angle. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the right edge of the lip portion of the splash shield is joined to the back edge of the lip portion of the splash shield at a first angle of greater than 90 degrees and the left edge of the lip portion of the splash shield is joined to the back edge of the lip portion of the splash shield at a second angle of greater than 90 degrees 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the first angle is equal to the second angle. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the body portion of the splash shield is integral with the lip portion of the splash shield.