Prior art — US Patent 10036154

To identify the most relevant prior art for US patent 10036154, I will review the citations listed on the patent itself. Prior art is information that has been made available to the public before the effective filing date of an invention, and it can include patents, published patent applications, journal articles, websites, and other forms of public disclosure.

US patent 10036154 was filed on November 3, 2016, and issued on July 31, 2018. Any prior art must predate the filing date of November 3, 2016.

Here's an analysis of the patent citations listed in US10036154:

Prior Art References for US10036154

1. US4671976A

Full Citation: US4671976A, Vidal Stella M., "Web-type stock material with upwardly projecting filamentary elements and defined periphery", Issued June 9, 1987.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed October 31, 1985; Issued June 9, 1987.
Brief Description: This patent describes a web-type material with upwardly projecting filamentary elements. While not specifically a urinal anti-splash device, it relates to the concept of a surface with protrusions.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference might be considered for claims related to the general concept of protrusions extending from a surface (e.g., portions of claims 1 and 11 that describe a "plurality of protrusions extending outwardly").

2. US4866793A

Full Citation: US4866793A, Luedtke Richard C., "Toilet anti-splash device", Issued September 19, 1989.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed February 2, 1988; Issued September 19, 1989.
Brief Description: This patent describes a toilet anti-splash device. It is directly related to the problem US10036154 aims to solve.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Given its explicit purpose as a "toilet anti-splash device," this could potentially anticipate elements of claims 1, 11, and 18, particularly regarding the function of preventing splash.

3. USD329893S

Full Citation: USD329893S, Luedtke Richard C., "Anti-splash mat for urinal or the like", Issued September 29, 1992.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed March 11, 1991; Issued September 29, 1992.
Brief Description: This is a design patent for an anti-splash mat for a urinal. It shows the ornamental design, which implicitly suggests structural features.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While a design patent, its existence as an "anti-splash mat for urinal" suggests that the broad concept of a device for a urinal to prevent splash, as well as general shapes, might be known, potentially impacting claims 1, 11, and 18.

4. US5313672A

Full Citation: US5313672A, Luedtke Richard C., "Urinal mat", Issued May 24, 1994.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed May 13, 1991; Issued May 24, 1994.
Brief Description: This patent describes a urinal mat. Similar to the design patent, it is directly relevant to the field of the invention.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference could potentially anticipate aspects of claims 1, 11, and 18 related to a "urinal anti-splash device" or "urinal mat" placed within a urinal.

5. US5398347A

Full Citation: US5398347A, Luedtke Richard C., "Urinal mat", Issued March 21, 1995.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed May 13, 1991; Issued March 21, 1995.
Brief Description: Another patent for a "urinal mat" by the same inventor as US5313672A, indicating further development in the field.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to US5313672A, this could potentially anticipate aspects of claims 1, 11, and 18 concerning a "urinal anti-splash device" or "urinal mat" in a urinal.

6. US5809590A

Full Citation: US5809590A, Williams Theodore A., "Thermochromic urinal mat", Issued September 22, 1998.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed November 29, 1996; Issued September 22, 1998.
Brief Description: This patent introduces the concept of a thermochromic urinal mat.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is highly relevant to claim 17, which states "the anti-splash body includes a thermochromic material."

7. USD393896S

Full Citation: USD393896S, Wagner Leonard E., "Urinal anti-splash device", Issued April 28, 1998.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed December 5, 1996; Issued April 28, 1998.
Brief Description: A design patent for a urinal anti-splash device.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to USD329893S, this indicates prior knowledge of urinal anti-splash devices and their general form, potentially impacting claims 1, 11, and 18.

8. US5774905A

Full Citation: US5774905A, Wager Leonard E., "Deodorant holding device for a plumbing fixture", Issued July 7, 1998.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed August 19, 1997; Issued July 7, 1998.
Brief Description: This patent describes a device for holding a deodorant in a plumbing fixture, which may be relevant to the general environment of a urinal.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While not directly related to splash prevention or protrusions, it contributes to the understanding of urinal accessories, especially if a fragrance is embedded as mentioned in the specification of US10036154.

9. USD427295S

Full Citation: USD427295S, 199476 Ontario Inc., "Anti-splash device for a plumbing fixture", Issued June 27, 2000.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed October 13, 1998; Issued June 27, 2000.
Brief Description: A design patent for an anti-splash device for a plumbing fixture.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Further evidence of prior designs for anti-splash devices, impacting the novelty of the overall appearance or general configuration aspects of claims 1, 11, and 18.

10. US6550075B1

Full Citation: US6550075B1, Brannon Homer III, "Toilet bowl splash guard", Issued April 22, 2003.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed March 25, 2002; Issued April 22, 2003.
Brief Description: This patent describes a toilet bowl splash guard.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to US4866793A, this patent is relevant to the general concept of splash prevention in sanitary fixtures, potentially impacting claims 1, 11, and 18.

11. US20040093662A1

Full Citation: US20040093662A1, Zhu Tom Yuxin, "Splash-prevention paper", Published May 20, 2004.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed November 18, 2002; Published May 20, 2004.
Brief Description: This publication describes a splash-prevention paper, which is a different material but serves a similar function.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Relevant to the broad concept of splash prevention, impacting claims 1, 11, and 18, particularly the "anti-splash device" aspect.

12. US8856977B2

Full Citation: US8856977B2, Ramirez Ed, "Urinal splash guard employing flexible bristles", Issued October 14, 2014.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed May 22, 2006; Issued October 14, 2014.
Brief Description: This patent describes a urinal splash guard that uses flexible bristles (a type of protrusion).
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Highly relevant to claims 1 and 11, specifically regarding the "plurality of protrusions" and their function in splash prevention. The flexible bristles could be considered a form of tapering protrusion.

13. US20150047114A1

Full Citation: US20150047114A1, Ramirez Ed, "Urinal splash guard employing flexible bristles", Published February 19, 2015.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed May 22, 2006; Published February 19, 2015.
Brief Description: This is a publication of the same invention as US8856977B2.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Same as US8856977B2, highly relevant to claims 1 and 11.

14. US8056153B2

Full Citation: US8056153B2, Ruedas Javier Fernando, "Multipurpose urinal attachment", Issued November 15, 2011.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed September 19, 2007; Issued November 15, 2011.
Brief Description: This patent describes a multipurpose urinal attachment.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This could potentially anticipate aspects of claims 1, 11, and 18 related to a device that attaches to a urinal.

15. US8043498B2

Full Citation: US8043498B2, Rueda John, "Storm drain protector", Issued October 25, 2011.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed August 26, 2009; Issued October 25, 2011.
Brief Description: This patent describes a storm drain protector, which may include features for filtering or preventing debris, but is in a different application context.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Less directly relevant, but could be considered for general concepts of a device placed over a drain or with filtering elements.

16. USD639410S1

Full Citation: USD639410S1, Ramirez Ed, "Urinal splash guard", Issued June 7, 2011.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed April 20, 2010; Issued June 7, 2011.
Brief Description: A design patent for a urinal splash guard, likely related to US8856977B2.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to previous design patents, it indicates prior knowledge of urinal splash guards and their forms, impacting claims 1, 11, and 18.

17. US20130000027A1

Full Citation: US20130000027A1, San Luis Deborah Marie, "Removable, Reusable, and Flexible Urine Deflector", Published January 3, 2013.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed June 30, 2011; Published January 3, 2013.
Brief Description: This publication describes a removable, reusable, and flexible urine deflector.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Highly relevant to claims concerning flexibility (claim 3) and the general concept of a removable and reusable device for deflecting urine (claims 1, 11, 18).

18. USD678482S1

Full Citation: USD678482S1, Exodor Technologies LLC, "Urinal screen", Issued March 19, 2013.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed November 21, 2011; Issued March 19, 2013.
Brief Description: A design patent for a urinal screen.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Another design patent indicating prior art for urinal screens and their appearance.

19. US8856976B1

Full Citation: US8856976B1, Niedzielski III Joseph Edward, "Portable urine shield", Issued October 14, 2014.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed March 15, 2013; Issued October 14, 2014.
Brief Description: This patent describes a portable urine shield.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Relevant to claims 1, 11, and 18 concerning a device for preventing urine splash.

20. US20150143624A1

Full Citation: US20150143624A1, Irving Wayne, "Toilet anti-splash device", Published May 28, 2015.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed November 27, 2013; Published May 28, 2015.
Brief Description: This publication describes a toilet anti-splash device.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to other toilet/urinal splash prevention devices, impacting claims 1, 11, and 18.

21. USD787031S1

Full Citation: USD787031S1, Morgan-Williams Ethel, "Commode splash guard", Issued May 16, 2017.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed July 14, 2016; Issued May 16, 2017.
Brief Description: A design patent for a commode splash guard.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): The filing date is prior to US10036154, thus it serves as prior art for the general concept of splash guards for sanitary fixtures, potentially impacting claims 1, 11, and 18.

The most relevant prior art references appear to be those that are directly related to urinal splash prevention, especially those featuring protrusions or flexible materials. These include US8856977B2 and its publication US20150047114A1 (Ramirez, "Urinal splash guard employing flexible bristles"), US20130000027A1 (San Luis, "Removable, Reusable, and Flexible Urine Deflector"), and US5809590A (Williams, "Thermochromic urinal mat") for its thermochromic aspect.