Abstract: A bathing vessel includes a base and at least one wall extending vertically from the base. The wall includes a multi-layer structure that includes a layer of acrylic material on a first layer of polyurethane material, a layer of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) material between the layer of acrylic material and the first layer of polyurethane material, and a second layer of polyurethane material between the layer of ABS material and the first layer of polyurethane material. A wood-containing composite panel is chemically bonded to at least one of the first or second layers of polyurethane material.

Abstract: A bathing vessel is made of a segmented sheet wall of layered materials that includes a first layer of polyurethane material, a second layer of polyurethane material attached to the first layer, a third layer of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) material attached to the second layer, and a fourth layer of acrylic material attached to the third layer. The segmented sheet wall has a width a length and a first thickness. The segmented sheet wall has an integral first portion having a second thickness that is that is thinner than the first thickness. The first portion defines a first wall and a second wall in the segmented sheet wall and the first portion is corrugated.

Abstract: A bathing vessel that includes a multi-layer structure of a first polymer layer and a second, adjacent polymer layer. Prior to formation of the second polymer layer on the first polymer layer, a surface of the first polymer layer is abraded and a surface wetting property of the surface is modified to promote bonding between the layers.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a bathing vessel includes forming a base by contacting an incompletely cured polyurethane material with a wood-containing composite panel. The polyurethane material is then cured while in contact with the wood-containing composite panel to chemically bond the polyurethane material with the panel. At least one wall is then attached to extend vertically from the base. The wall is a multi-layer structure of layers of acrylic material, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene material and the polyurethane material.

Abstract: A wall structure for a composite tub includes a surface side for facing an interior of the tub, a polyurethane layer backing and attaching to the surface side, plumbing backing the polyurethane layer, and an encapsulation layer encapsulating the plumbing and backing and attaching to the polyurethane layer so that damage to the plumbing is minimized.

Abstract: A bathing vessel is made of a sheet of layered materials, which include a first layer of polyurethane material, a second layer of polyurethane material attached to the first layer, a third layer of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) material attached to the second layer, and a fourth layer of acrylic material attached to the third layer. A first narrowed portion about which the sheet bends is provided. The bend defines a first wall and a second wall in the sheet.

Abstract: A bathing vessel includes a base support having a base board that extends between a top, a bottom, first and second side edges, and first and second ends. Two legs are attached on the bottom of the base board, inboard from the respective first and second side edges. The base board is at least partially encapsulated in a polyurethane material.

Abstract: A bathing vessel has a bottom, and a drain disposed in the bottom adjacent a blended area that is disposed between the side wall and the bottom. The side wall, the bottom wall, and the blended area are made of a first layer of rigid polyurethane material and a second layer of capping material attached to said first layer. A ratio of a density of the polyurethane backing adjacent the drain to a thickness of polyurethane backing is between 1-80:1. The side wall, the blended area and the bottom wall flex to absorb loads adjacent the drain.

Abstract: A bathing vessel has a first and a second sandwiched wall, each wall having a first layer of polyurethane material, a second layer of polyurethane material attached to the first layer, a third layer of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) material attached to the second layer, and a fourth layer of acrylic material attached to the third layer. A load element is disposed across and is integral with the first and second sandwiched walls. The load element distributes a load on one wall to an other wall and is visible to users of the bathing vessel. The load element is also a design element.

Abstract: A surround includes a first piece including a basin, a second piece having a second piece back wall and a second piece side wall attaching to the second piece back wall for being disposed horizontally atop the first piece, and a third piece having a third piece back wall and a third piece side wall attaching to the third piece back wall for being disposed horizontally atop the second piece back wall and the second piece side wall, wherein the first piece, the second piece and the third piece form a package wherein one of the second piece or the third piece is disposed about the basin and an other of the second piece or the third piece nests behind the one of the second piece or the third piece.

Abstract: A wall system includes at least one starter piece having at least one mount interface configured to be attached to a wall structure. A plurality of panels includes at least a first panel and a second panel, and wherein the first panel is fit to the starter piece to cover a portion of the wall structure. An intermediate cleat is associated with the first panel, and a second panel is interlocked to the first panel by the intermediate cleat to cover another portion of the wall structure.

Abstract: A wall system includes at least one starter piece having at least one mount interface configured to be attached to a wall structure. A plurality of panels includes at least a first panel and a second panel, and wherein the first panel is fit to the starter piece to cover a portion of the wall structure. An intermediate cleat is associated with the first panel, and a second panel is interlocked to the first panel by the intermediate cleat to cover another portion of the wall structure.

Abstract: A bathing vessel has a bottom, and a drain disposed in the bottom adjacent a blended area that is disposed between the side wall and the bottom. The side wall, the bottom wall, and the blended area are made of a first layer of rigid polyurethane material and a second layer of capping material attached to said first layer. A ratio of a density of the polyurethane backing adjacent the drain to a thickness of polyurethane backing is between 1-80:1. The side wall, the blended area and the bottom wall flex to absorb loads adjacent the drain.

Abstract: A bathing vessel has a first and a second sandwiched wall, each wall having a first layer of polyurethane material, a second layer of polyurethane material attached to the first layer, a third layer of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) material attached to the second layer, and a fourth layer of acrylic material attached to the third layer. A load element is disposed across and is integral with the first and second sandwiched walls. The load element distributes a load on one wall to an other wall and is visible to users of the bathing vessel. The load element is also a design element.

Abstract: A bathing vessel is made of a sheet of layered materials, which include a first layer of polyurethane material, a second layer of polyurethane material attached to the first layer, a third layer of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) material attached to the second layer, and a fourth layer of acrylic material attached to the third layer. A first narrowed portion about which the sheet bends is provided. The bend defines a first wall and a second wall in the sheet.

Abstract: A bar that is to be attached to a wall includes two stanchions, each stanchion supporting a portion of an elongated piece that extends from one stanchion to the other. A supporting connector having a lower portion attaches to and extends upwardly from each of the stanchions and a portion above the lower portion. A horizontal support extends horizontally from the portion above the lower portion of the connector between the stanchions and is disposed a distance D1 above each the stanchion. And, an adhesive is disposed beneath and attaches to the horizontal support and extends along a length thereof.

Abstract: A surround includes a first piece including a basin, a second piece having a second piece back wall and a second piece side wall attaching to the second piece back wall for being disposed horizontally atop the first piece, and a third piece having a third piece back wall and a third piece side wall attaching to the third piece back wall for being disposed horizontally atop the second piece back wall and the second piece side wall, wherein the first piece, the second piece and the third piece form a package wherein one of the second piece or the third piece is disposed about the basin and an other of the second piece or the third piece nests behind the one of the second piece or the third piece.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a bathing vessel includes forming a base by contacting an incompletely cured polyurethane material with a wood-containing composite panel. The polyurethane material is then cured while in contact with the wood-containing composite panel to chemically bond the polyurethane material with the panel. At least one wall is then attached to extend vertically from the base. The wall is a multi-layer structure of layers of acrylic material, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene material and the polyurethane material.

Abstract: A wall structure for a composite tub includes a surface side for facing an interior of the tub, a polyurethane layer backing and attaching to the surface side, plumbing backing the polyurethane layer, and an encapsulation layer encapsulating the plumbing and backing and attaching to the polyurethane layer so that damage to the plumbing is minimized.

Abstract: A bathing vessel includes a base support having a base board that extends between a top, a bottom, first and second side edges, and first and second ends. Two legs are attached on the bottom of the base board, inboard from the respective first and second side edges. The base board is at least partially encapsulated in a polyurethane material.