Walk-In Tub Door Assembly

Abstract

A walk-in tub includes a tub frame having a door frame provided in one or more of the walls of the tub frame. The tub further includes a door hingedly connected to the door frame and adapted for movement between an open position into the interior cavity of the tub and a closed position aligned with the door frame. A sealing face is provided on the door frame facing the interior cavity of the tub. A seal is disposed around a perimeter of the door for sealing the door against the sealing face when the door is in the closed position. A latching mechanism on the door is operable between a latching position and an unlatching position and includes a slidable latching pin that is slidable to engage a pin receiver in the latching position when the door is locked and disengage from the pin receiver in the unlatching position when the door is unlocked.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A door assembly for a walk-in tub, the door assembly comprising:
 a door having a first portion and a second portion defining a cavity therebetween, the door being adapted for movement between an open position opening into an interior cavity of the walk-in tub and a closed position;   a hinge for hingedly connecting the door to the walk-in tub, the hinge being adapted for moving the door between the open position and the closed position;   a seal disposed around a perimeter of the door for sealing the door against the walk-in tub when the door is in the closed position; and   a latching mechanism comprising an upper latching assembly, a lower latching assembly, and a rod positioned between and co-acting with the upper latching assembly and the lower latching assembly, the latching mechanism disposed between the first portion and the second portion, the latching mechanism operable between a latching position and an unlatching position.   
     
     
         22 . The door assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the latching mechanism includes at least one latching pin that is slidable to engage a corresponding pin receiver in the latching position and disengage from the pin receiver in the unlatching position. 
     
     
         23 . The door assembly of  claim 22 , wherein the latching pin has a tapered end for partially engaging the pin receiver when the door is in a partially closed position to urge the door to the closed position by fully engaging the pin receiver. 
     
     
         24 . The door assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the latching mechanism further comprises a handle operative for moving the latching mechanism between the latching position and the unlatching position. 
     
     
         25 . The door assembly of  claim 24 , wherein the latching mechanism further comprises a biasing element to bias the handle to a position in which the latching mechanism is in the latching position. 
     
     
         26 . The door assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the tapered end of the latching pin comprises an inclined plane to maintain the door in a closed position. 
     
     
         27 . The door assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the inclined plane slideably engages an opening of the pin receiver to guide the latching pin into the opening of the pin receiver. 
     
     
         28 . The door assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the upper latching assembly comprises a cam plate, the cam plate comprising a latching pin. 
     
     
         29 . The door assembly of  claim 28 , wherein the latching mechanism further comprises a handle operative for moving the latching mechanism between the latching position and the unlatching position, wherein the upper latching assembly comprises a housing case comprising a upper pin guide, wherein operation of the handle is configured to rotate the cam plate such that the latching pin is inserted into the upper pin guide. 
     
     
         30 . The door assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the lower latching assembly comprises a latching pin, the latching pin connected to the rod. 
     
     
         31 . The door assembly of  claim 30 , wherein the latching mechanism further comprises a handle operative for moving the latching mechanism between the latching position and the unlatching position, wherein the lower latching assembly comprises a bottom bracket assembly secured to the door, the bottom bracket assembly comprising a lower pin guide, wherein operation of the handle is configured to move the latching pin such that the latching pin is inserted into the lower pin guide. 
     
     
         32 . A walk-in tub comprising:
 a tub frame having a plurality of walls extending from a floor to define an interior cavity of the tub;   a door frame extending through one or more of the walls, the door frame adapted for providing a doorway for ingress into the interior cavity of the tub and egress from the interior cavity of the tub;   a sealing face provided on the door frame and facing the interior cavity of the tub;   a door having a first portion and a second portion defining a cavity therebetween, the door being adapted for movement between an open position away from the door frame and into the interior cavity of the tub and a closed position toward the door frame and away from the interior cavity of the tub;   a hinge for hingedly connecting the door to the doorway, the hinge being adapted for moving the door between the open position and the closed position;   a seal disposed around a perimeter of the door for sealing the door against the sealing face when the door is in the closed position; and   a latching mechanism comprising an upper latching assembly, a lower latching assembly, and a rod positioned between and co-acting with the upper latching assembly and the lower latching assembly, the latching mechanism disposed between the first portion and the second portion, the latching mechanism operable between a latching position and an unlatching position.   
     
     
         33 . The walk-in tub of  claim 32 , wherein the latching mechanism includes at least one latching pin that is slidable to engage a corresponding pin receiver in the latching position and disengage from the pin receiver in the unlatching position. 
     
     
         34 . The walk-in tub of  claim 33 , wherein the latching pin has a tapered end for partially engaging the pin receiver when the door in a partially closed position to urge the door to the closed position by fully engaging the pin receiver. 
     
     
         35 . The walk-in tub of  claim 32 , wherein the latching mechanism further comprises a handle operative for moving the latching mechanism between the latching position and the unlatching position. 
     
     
         36 . The walk-in tub of  claim 35 , wherein the latching mechanism further comprises a biasing element to bias the handle to a position in which the latching mechanism is in the latching position. 
     
     
         37 . The walk-in tub of  claim 36 , wherein the tapered end of the latching pins comprises an inclined plane to maintain the door in a closed position. 
     
     
         38 . The walk-in tub of  claim 37 , wherein the inclined plane slideably engages an opening of the pin receiver to guide the latching pin into the opening of the pin receiver. 
     
     
         39 . The walk-in tub of  claim 32 , wherein the upper latching assembly comprises a cam plate, the cam plate comprising a latching pin. 
     
     
         40 . The walk-in tub of  claim 39 , wherein the latching mechanism further comprises a handle operative for moving the latching mechanism between the latching position and the unlatching position, wherein the upper latching assembly comprises a housing case comprising a upper pin guide, wherein operation of the handle is configured to rotate the cam plate such that the latching pin is inserted into the upper pin guide. 
     
     
         41 . The walk-in tub of  claim 32 , wherein the lower latching assembly comprises a latching pin, the latching pin connected to the rod. 
     
     
         42 . The walk-in tub of  claim 41 , wherein the latching mechanism further comprises a handle operative for moving the latching mechanism between the latching position and the unlatching position, wherein the lower latching assembly comprises a bottom bracket assembly secured to the door, the bottom bracket assembly comprising a lower pin guide, wherein operation of the handle is configured to move the latching pin such that the latching pin is inserted into the lower pin guide. 
     
     
         43 . A door assembly for a walk-in tub, the door assembly comprising:
 a door having a first portion and a second portion defining a cavity therebetween, the door being adapted for movement between an open position opening into an interior cavity of the walk-in tub and a closed position;   a hinge for hingedly connecting the door to the walk-in tub, the hinge being adapted for moving the door between the open position and the closed position;   a seal disposed around a perimeter of the door for sealing the door against the walk-in tub when the door is in the closed position; and   a latching mechanism comprising an upper latching assembly, a lower latching assembly, and a rod positioned between and co-acting with the upper latching assembly and the lower latching assembly, the latching mechanism disposed between the first portion and the second portion, the latching mechanism operable between a latching position and an unlatching position,   wherein the upper latching assembly comprises a cam plate, the cam plate comprising an upper latching pin wherein the latching mechanism further comprises a handle operative for moving the latching mechanism between the latching position and the unlatching position, wherein the upper latching assembly comprises a housing case comprising an upper pin guide, wherein operation of the handle is configured to rotate the cam plate such that the upper latching pin is inserted into the upper pin guide,   wherein the lower latching assembly comprises a lower latching pin connected to the rod, wherein the lower latching assembly comprises a bottom bracket assembly secured to the door, the bottom bracket assembly comprising a lower pin guide, wherein operation of the handle is configured to move the lower latching pin such that the lower latching pin is inserted into the lower pin guide.