Knockdown bathing enclosure

DETAILED DESCRIPTION This invention provides a method of forming a bathing enclosure.
A wall structure is formed with the rear wall and two side walls.
A joining strip is then attached on an external side of the wall structure.
The joining strip has an inner attachment surface for abutment against the external side of the wall structure, an outer tubular hollow bulge, and outer clamp abutment surfaces on the tubular bulge.
The wall structure and the joining strip are then cut along a plane so as to create a first enclosure portion and a second enclosure portion.
In this way, both of the enclosure portions have affixed to them a part of the tubular bulge that has a clamp abutment surface and an internal slot.
Both of the slots are formed from a portion of the tubular hollow bulge, run along the strip (as opposed to just transversely through as in the case of conventional bolt holes), and are open in the direction of the plane of the cut.
A locator member is inserted inside both the first enclosure portion slot and the second enclosure portion slot so as to align the upper and lower enclosure portions with respect to each other.
Using a clamp member that abuts against the clamp abutment surfaces, the first and second enclosure portions are fastened together.
This aspect of the invention provides a simplified method of cutting a bathing enclosure to enable the unit to be transported through a small area, and then rebuilding the portions for installation.
The cut portions are easily aligned due to the presence of the locator members (the locator members can be positioned almost anywhere along the slots on each side) and the absence of bolts requiring alignment in bolt holes.
In another aspect of the invention, sealant is applied to the cut edges of the plumbing fixture wall structure prior to fastening the first and second enclosure portions together.
This aspect aids in providing a water-tight seal between the first and second portions.
This invention also provides a bathing enclosure or the like having a multi-piece plumbing fixture wall structure with a first portion and a second portion