Bathing tub construction with removable side wall

An improved bathing tub assembly having a removable side wall comprising in combination:

• a tub having a bottom wall and an integral peripheral side wall defining a partial tub enclosure, a defined opening in the side wall having a lateral slot along the edge of the opening;
• a removable tub enclosure panel compatibly sized to fit in and close the opening by fitting into the slot to hereby define the removable side wall, said slot having spaced, converging side surfaces, defining a generally U-shaped cross-section;
• said opening also generally U-shaped with the sides of the U converging toward the base of the U;
• said panel having an edge with a cross-sectional shape of the slot where by the edge is slidable into the slot;
• said edge being surrounded by a sealing member which also has a U-shaped cross-section and fits over the edge side surfaces to seal against the slot side surfaces when the panel is in the slot;
• said seal being retained on the edge by a band member extending against the seal along the outside of the base;
• said band member being fastened at its opposite ends to the edge of the panel;
• and
• releasable means for retaining the panel in the slot.