Multi-piece bathtub conversion kit

Abstract

A multi-piece bathtub conversion kit with a bathtub having a U-shaped cut out passthrough defining a lower area that a user can more easily step over to enter a bathing area of the bathtub and use the bathtub as a shower. The kit includes a U-shaped outer insert shaped and sizable to cover the lower area of the passthrough and create a cut-to-fit passover surface over the lower area extending from an outside edge of the outer insert to an inside edge of the outer insert. The outer insert includes an outer flange joined to the outside edge of the outer insert and extending substantially perpendicular away from the passover surface. The kit also includes a U-shaped inner insert shaped and sized to be adjoinable to a cut-to-fit passover surface and thereby seal off the lower area of the passthrough from an environment surrounding the passthrough. The U-shaped inner insert is separable and distinct from the U-shaped outer insert. The inner insert includes an inner flange joined to an outside edge of the inner insert and extending substantially perpendicular away from the cut-to-fit passover surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multi-piece bathtub conversion kit for a bathtub having an exterior side-wall of the bathtub with a U-shaped cut out passthrough from an exterior edge of the side-wall to an interior edge of the side-wall and defining a lower area that a user can more easily step over to enter a bathing area of the bathtub and use the bathtub as a shower, the kit comprising:
 a U-shaped outer insert positioned adjacent the U-shaped cut out passthrough and having an outer flange on an outside edge of the outer insert extending downward along the exterior edge of the side-wall of the bathtub;   the U-shaped outer insert having a cut-to-fit passover surface shaped and sizable to extend over the lower area of the passthrough from an outside edge of the outer insert toward the interior edge of the side-wall of the bathtub; and   a U-shaped inner insert positioned adjacent the U-shaped cut out passthrough and having an inner flange on an outside edge of the inner insert extending downward along the interior edge of the side-wall of the bathtub;   wherein the outer insert is separate and distinct from the inner insert and the cut-to-fit passover surface of the outer insert is adjoinable to the inner insert.   
     
     
         2 . The kit of  claim 1  wherein the cut-to-fit passover surface of the outer insert extends from the outer flange of the outer insert to substantially the interior edge of the side-wall of the bathtub and is shaped and sized to fit a width of the exterior side-wall of the bathtub. 
     
     
         3 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the inner insert includes a substantially horizontal passover surface extending perpendicularly inwardly from the inner flange and shaped and sized to at least partially overlap and be parallel to the cut-to-fit passover surface of the outer insert. 
     
     
         4 . The kit of  claim 3 , wherein the cut-to-fit passover surface of the outer insert and the horizontal passover surface of the inner insert have ribs to increase strength. 
     
     
         5 . The kit of  claim 4 , wherein the ribs are located on a bottom surface of the cut-to-fit passover surface of the outer insert and a bottom surface of the horizontal passover surface of the inner insert. 
     
     
         6 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the inner insert includes two substantially parallel horizontal passover surfaces extending perpendicularly inwardly from the inner flange and defining a channel shaped and sized to receive the cut-to-fit passover surface of the outer insert. 
     
     
         7 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the cut-to-fit passover surface of the outer insert and the inner insert are affixed together. 
     
     
         8 . The kit of  claim 1 , the outer insert is adjoined to the inner flange of the inner insert. 
     
     
         9 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the cut-to-fit passover surface of the outer insert is adjoined to the inner insert and substantially seals off the entire U-shaped cut out passthrough. 
     
     
         10 . A multi-piece bathtub conversion kit with a bathtub having a U-shaped cut out passthrough defining a lower area that a user can more easily step over to enter a bathing area of the bathtub and use the bathtub as a shower, the kit comprising:
 a U-shaped outer insert shaped and sizable to cover the lower area of the passthrough and create a cut-to-fit passover surface over the lower area extending from an outside edge of the outer insert to an inside edge of the outer insert;   the outer insert including an outer flange joined to the outside edge of the outer insert and extending substantially perpendicular away from the passover surface;   a U-shaped inner insert shaped and sized to be adjoinable to the cut-to-fit passover surface and thereby seal off the lower area of the passthrough from an environment surrounding the passthrough, wherein the U-shaped inner insert is separable and distinct from the U-shaped outer insert; and,   the inner insert including an inner flange joined to an outside edge of the inner insert and extending substantially perpendicular away from the cut-to-fit passover surface.   
     
     
         11 . The kit of  claim 10 , wherein the cut-to-fit passover surface of the outer insert extends from an exterior edge of a side-wall of the bathtub over an interior edge of the side-wall of the bathtub and substantially to the bathing area of the bathtub. 
     
     
         12 . The kit of  claim 10 , wherein the cut-to-fit passover surface of the outer insert is shaped and sized to fit a width of a side-wall of the bathtub. 
     
     
         13 . The kit of  claim 10 , wherein the inner insert includes a substantially parallel horizontal passover surface extending perpendicularly inwardly from the outside edge of the inner insert and is shaped and sized to at least partially overlap and be parallel to the cut-to-fit passover surface of the outer insert. 
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 10 , wherein the cut-to-fit passover surface of the outer insert has ribs to increase strength. 
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 14 , wherein the ribs are located on a bottom surface of the cut-to-fit passover surface of the outer insert. 
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 10 , wherein the inner insert includes two substantially parallel horizontal passover surfaces extending perpendicularly inwardly from the outside edge of the inner insert and defining a channel shaped and sized to receive the cut-to-fit passover surface of the outer insert. 
     
     
         17 . The kit of  claim 10 , wherein the cut-to-fit passover surface of the outer insert and the inner insert are affixed together. 
     
     
         18 . The kit of  claim 10 , wherein the cut-to-fit passover surface of the outer insert is adjoined to the inner insert and substantially seals off the entire U-shaped cut out passthrough. 
     
     
         19 . A method to convert a bathtub having a U-shaped cut out passthrough defining a lower area that a user can more easily step over to enter a bathing area of the bathtub and use the bathtub as a shower, the method comprising the steps:
 providing a U-shaped outer insert adjacent the lower area, the outer insert shaped and sized to cover the lower area of the passthrough with a cut-to-fit passover surface extending from an outside edge of the outer insert to an inside edge of the outer insert, the outer insert including an outer flange locatable adjacent to an exterior edge of a side-wall of the bathtub and extending substantially perpendicular away from the passover surface;   providing a U-shaped inner insert adjacent the lower area, the inner insert shaped and sized to be adjoined to the U-shaped outer insert, the inner insert including an inner flange locatable adjacent to an interior edge of the side-wall of the bathtub and extending substantially perpendicular away from the passover surface and the U-shaped inner insert is separable and distinct from the U-shaped outer insert; and,   affixing the outer insert to the inner insert.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising sealing off the lower area of the passthrough from an environment surrounding the passthrough by joining each of the outer insert and the inner insert to the U-shaped cut out passthrough. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein joining comprises at least one of (i) locating and joining the outer flange to the exterior edge of the side-wall of the bathtub and (ii) locating and joining the inner flange to the interior edge of the side-wall of the bathtub. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising sealing off substantially an entirety of the passthrough including areas adjacent to the lower area. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising overlapping a portion of each of the inner insert and the outer insert. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising locating the inside edge of the outer insert in a channel formed by the inner insert.