Removable Bathtub Closure for Walk-Through Conversion Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Standard bathtubs pose difficulties for infirm individuals during ingress and egress, and converting them into walk-through bathtubs can compromise functionality for able-bodied users or frequent occupants in shared living spaces.
Innovation Solution
A closure system comprising an exterior and interior insert, forming a U-shaped structure with a central sill and jamb portions, allows for the conversion of a walk-through bathtub to a full-depth bathtub and vice versa, using injection-molded ABS plastic components with dual gaskets and mechanical fastening for watertight sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a standard bathtub is converted into a walk-through bathtub by providing a cut-out and bonding an insert, then ingress and egress becomes easier for infirm persons at relatively low cost, but the bathtub is no longer fully-functioning for able-bodied users
Solution Approach 1:
The closure system is divided into separate exterior and interior insert components that can be independently installed and removed. The exterior insert bonds to the tub exterior while the interior insert bonds to the tub interior, creating modular segments that can be configured differently based on user needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure system transitions from a static permanent modification to a dynamic reversible configuration. The inserts can be bonded or unbonded based on changing needs, allowing the bathtub to adapt between walk-through and full-depth configurations over time.
2Ease of operation
If a walk-through bathtub conversion is performed to accommodate an occupant, then accessibility is improved, but the conversion becomes problematic when occupants change frequently or able-bodied family members need to use the tub
Solution Approach 1:
The closure system enables dynamic reconfiguration by allowing the inserts to be bonded during installation and unbonded when reconfiguration is needed. This temporary bonding mechanism provides reversibility that accommodates changing occupancy needs without permanent structural modification.
Solution Approach 2:
The insert components can be discarded (removed and unbonded) when no longer needed for accessibility, allowing the bathtub to recover its original full-depth functionality. The modular components can be stored and reused if accessibility needs reappear.
3Ease of manufacture
If a cut-out is provided in the bathtub and an insert is bonded to create a walk-through, then renovation cost and inconvenience are reduced, but the bathtub structure is permanently modified
Solution Approach 1:
The modification is segmented into removable insert components rather than a permanent structural change. The exterior and interior inserts are separate bonded elements that can be independently removed, preserving the original tub structure underneath.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure components can be extracted (removed and unbonded) from the tub structure when reconfiguration is desired. This extraction capability allows the original tub composition to be recovered without permanent damage or complex restoration requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A closure for a bathtub is disclosed. The bathtub has a walk-through bound by a generally U-shaped structure having a central sill portion and jamb portions projecting upwardly and from opposite ends of said sill portion. The closure comprises an exterior insert and an interior insert. The exterior insert, in use, is disposed exteriorly of the U-shaped structure. The interior insert, in use, is disposed interiorly of the U-shaped structure and releasably secured to the exterior insert to seal against the U-shaped structure to permit the bathtub to be filled to a height above the sill portion.