Patent ID: 7784119

Claim:
A method of accessing an electrical system component of a hydromassage bathtub including a sidewall, a deck, and an access opening in one of the sidewall and the deck, the sidewall forming an inside surface of the bathtub which is the bathside configured for holding water therein, and an outside surface of the bathtub on the opposite side of the sidewall from the inside surface, and the deck comprises an extension of the sidewall such that an upwardly facing surface of the deck forms part of the inside surface of the bathtub and a downwardly facing surface of the deck forms part of the outside surface of the bathtub, a fixture secured to the outside surface of the bathtub proximate the access opening, a removable plate configured to cover the access opening, and a system component removably mounted on the fixture, comprising: (a) removing the plate from the access opening; (b) disengaging the system component from the fixture; and then (c) drawing the system component through the access opening into the inside of the bathtub, (d) servicing the system component; (e) inserting the system component back through the access opening; (f) replacing the system component on the fixture; and then (g) replacing the plate, wherein the removable plate is fastened and unfastened to an underlying portion of the fixture in steps (g) and (a), respectively, and wherein the access opening is located in the sidewall and the removable plate further comprises a watertight seal, and the mounting fixture in combination with the sidewall forms a pair of grooves along opposite sides of the access opening, which grooves are configured for sliding insertion and removal of a pair of projections on the system component in steps (b) and (f).