Bath accessory assembly

Abstract

A bath accessory assembly includes a bar and a seal. The bar includes at least one mounting surface having a groove and a plurality of tabs disposed about a sidewall of the groove. The seal is received within the groove of the mounting surface.

1 . A bath accessory assembly, comprising:
 a bar having at least one mounting surface that includes a groove and a plurality of tabs disposed about a side wall of said groove; and   a seal received within said groove.   
   
   
       2 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said bar is a grab bar. 
   
   
       3 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said bar includes at least two mounting surfaces positioned on opposite ends of said bar. 
   
   
       4 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one mounting surface includes an inner flange and an outer flange, and said groove is disposed between said inner flange and said outer flange. 
   
   
       5 . The assembly as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said side wall is an inner side wall of said groove. 
   
   
       6 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said groove is generally round shaped. 
   
   
       7 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of tabs are disposed about said side wall of said groove over a range of 360 degrees. 
   
   
       8 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a mid-point of said seal sits below said mounting surface where said seal is received within said groove. 
   
   
       9 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said seal is an o-ring. 
   
   
       10 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said seal is received over said plurality of tabs and within said groove to create a friction fit. 
   
   
       11 . A bathtub assembly, comprising:
 a tub wall;   a bar mounted to said tub wall and having at least one mounting surface that includes a groove and a plurality of tabs disposed about a side wall of said groove; and   a seal received within said groove.   
   
   
       12 . The assembly as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said tub wall is a portion of a tub surround. 
   
   
       13 . The assembly as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said plurality of tabs are disposed about said side wall of said groove over a range of 360 degrees. 
   
   
       14 . The assembly as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said seal is an o-ring. 
   
   
       15 . A method for retaining a seal on a bath accessory, comprising the steps of:
 a) forming a groove within at least one mounting surface of the bath accessory;   b) disposing a plurality of tabs on a side wall of the groove; and   c) receiving a seal within the groove.   
   
   
       16 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , comprising the step of:
 d) mounting the bath accessory to a tub wall of a bathtub.   
   
   
       17 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said bath accessory is a grab bar. 
   
   
       18 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the groove is generally round shaped. 
   
   
       19 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said step b) includes the step of:
 forming the plurality of tabs integrally with the side wall; and   equidistantly spacing the plurality of tabs over a range of 360 degrees.   
   
   
       20 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said step c) includes the step of:
 receiving the seal over the plurality of tabs and within the groove in an interference fit.