Bathtub with access door in the side thereof

A bathtub comprising:

• a body portion, said body portion including:
• a horizontal base
• opposing, parallel vertical first and second walls on opposite sides of said base;
• a vertical third wall interconnecting said first and second walls and said base;
• and
• an entrance to said bathtub opposite said third wall, said entrance including opposing, vertical side edges and a horizontal base edge extending between said side edges;
• a door for closing said entrance, one of said door and said entrance having an attachment surface and the other of said door and said entrance having an engagement surface wherein said door includes a central recessed portion, said attachment surface is disposed on said side edges and said base edge of said entrance, and said engagement surface is on said door projecting outwardly from said central recessed portion, said engagement surface being chamfered toward said central recessed portion;
• hinge means for mounting said door on said body portion for pivotal movement between open and closed positions about an axis along one of the edges of said entrance;
• and
• a single sealing means for sealing the interface of said door and said edges against the flow of water when the door is in the closed position, said sealing means including an elastic, elongated generally flat sealing member having an attachment edge portion and free edge portion, said attachment edge portion being attached to said attachment surface;
• said free edge portion engaging said engagement surface to form the sole seal at the interface of said door and said edges against the flow of water when said door is in the closed position and the bathtub is filled with sufficient water to exert water pressure on said sealing member.