visible

Called without any parameters, the visible() method returns true if the CheckBox is currently visible and false otherwise.
Calling it with a boolean true or false parameter will show and hide the CheckBox widget.

<input id="checkbox" type="checkbox" ></div>

<script type="text/javascript">
    $(function () {
        $("#checkbox").shieldCheckBox({
            label: "checkbox 1"
        });
    });

    $("#checkbox").swidget().visible(); // return true

    $("#checkbox").swidget().visible(false) // hide the widget

    $("#checkbox").swidget().visible(); // return false
</script>