A support member for a bathtub comprises a base and a plurality of flexible elements. The base includes an upper surface configured to be coupled to a bathtub. The plurality of flexible elements extend laterally outward from a side of the base and are configured to engage a lower portion of the bathtub.

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.

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.

A reconfigurable water distribution system for a walk-in tub bathing installation including two or more types of discharge ports for discharging water. The system includes a single motorized pump having an input connected to a suction port of the bathing installation, and an output port delivering pressurized water. A pipe system selectively connects the pump to the two or more types of discharge ports to selectively direct the pressurized water to the different ones of the types of discharge ports. The system selectively enables the bathing installation to perform a plurality of different functions using a single pump.

A reconfigurable water distribution system for a walk-in tub bathing installation including two or more types of discharge ports for discharging water. The system includes a single motorized pump having an input connected to a suction port of the bathing installation, and an output port delivering pressurized water. A pipe system selectively connects the pump to the two or more types of discharge ports to selectively direct the pressurized water to the different ones of the types of discharge ports. The system selectively enables the bathing installation to perform a plurality of different functions using a single pump.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A method of making an article includes mixing a filler material and a polymer matrix material to produce a composite material, introducing the composite material produced by the mixing into a mold of a desired shape, and removing an article having the desired shape from the mold. The resulting article has a water absorption of less than about one percent and the filler material comprises vitreous china.