Protective device for a bathtub

A safety device for protecting the edge of a bathtub, comprising:

• an inflatable pad having four side edges, a length between one foot and four feet, a width between eight inches and four feet and a thickness of between one half inch and four inches, wherein said inflatable pad has a top surface and a bottom surface that are periodically joined together in direct abutment along linear seams between said side edges,
• wherein said linear seams are disposed along a plurality of parallel rows, and each of said parallel rows contains a plurality of linear seams that are symmetrically spaced apart so that said top surface and said bottom surface are joined along each linear seam line in a parallel row and are separated between each linear seam line in that same parallel row, and
• wherein said linear seams in adjacent parallel rows are not aligned laterally;
• and
• a plurality of suction cups extending from said bottom surface.

A method of padding the edge of a bathtub over which a person steps to enter the bathtub, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a padded mat having a top surface, a bottom surface joined to said top surface along common side edges, said top surface and said bottom surface being periodically joined in direct abutment to each other along linear seams between said side edges, wherein said linear seams are disposed along a plurality of parallel rows, and each of said parallel rows contains a plurality of linear seams that are symmetrically spaced apart so that said top surface and said bottom surface are joined along each linear seam in a parallel row and are separated between each linear seam in that same parallel row, and wherein said linear seams in adjacent parallel rows are not aligned laterally;
• placing said padded mat over the edge of the bathtub to be padded;
• conforming the padded mat to the edge of the bathtub to be padded by bending said padded mat along said linear seams;
• and
• adhering the padded mat to the bathtub with suction cups to retain the padded mat in position over the edge of the bathtub to be padded.