Bathtub door hinge assembly and method

A bathtub hinge assembly comprising:

• at least one bathtub mount;
• at least one door mount;
• at least one first arm pivotally coupled to said at least one bathtub mount for both vertical movement and pivotal movement of said at least one first arm relative to said at least one bathtub mount, and
• at least one second arm pivotally coupled at one end to said first arm and pivotally coupled at an opposite end to said at least one door mount.

A bathtub hinge assembly comprising:

• at least one bathtub mount;
• at least one door mount;
• a pair of first links wherein each first link has a first end pivotally coupled to said at least one bathtub mount and a second end oppositely disposed from said first end, and
• a pair of second links wherein each second link has a first end pivotally coupled to one said second end of one said first link and a second end pivotally coupled to said at least one door mount.

A method of door closure and opening for a walk-in bathtub, comprising the steps of:

• providing a door for moving inwardly of a sidewall and threshold of a walk-in bathtub and outwardly for fitting against an interior surface of a jamb that defines a passage through the side wall;
• hingedly mounting the door to a pair of bathtub mounts that mount to an exterior face of the side wall and a pair of door mounts that mount to an exterior face of the door, with a pair of articulating linkages that each pivotally connect to and between a respective bathtub mount and door mount;
• and
• interconnecting the hinged mounting with a first pivot rod between the pair of bathtub mounts, a second pivot rod between the articulating linkages, and a third pivot rod between the pair of door mounts, the first pivot rod movable relative to the bathtub mounts for vertical movement of the door,
• whereby the door being movable on the hinged mounting inwardly and upwardly for passing through the passage upon pivoting of the door on the articulating linkages outwardly of the side wall for ingress and egress through the passage.