Patent ID: 8082609

Claim:
A walk-in bathtub having a flip-up seat portion over a rearward foot well recess said walk-in bathtub comprising an upwardly open interior bathing cavity defined by four side walls and a bottom wall, one of said side walls being a molded seat rear end wall opposite one of said side walls being a front end wall, said seat rear end wall having an upper back portion that transitions into a generally horizontal middle fixed seat portion that transitions into a lower wall, said lower wall transitions into said bottom wall, two flip-up seat portion support ledges spaced apart with said support ledges respectively located on two opposing side walls said opposing side walls adjacent said fixed seat portion and each said support ledge near the upper portion of said lower wall and said support ledges bracketing a rearward foot well recess, said rearward foot well recess located adjacent said lower wall, and a flip-up seat portion more dense than water pivotally connected by a hinging means to said fixed seat portion along a transition line between said fixed seat portion and said lower wall, said flip-seat portion selectively movable between a generally horizontal closed seat position resting on and bridging horizontally between said support ledges and covering said rearward foot well recess with said flip-up seat portion extending generally forward horizontally from said fixed seat portion towards said front end wall and an open seat position with said flip-up seat portion overlaying and generally horizontally facing said fixed seat portion and uncovering said rearward foot well recess and said support ledges.