Door with membrane attached to tambour slats guided by a track

摘要

The tambour door assembly (16), for a bathtub (10) having side access or other structures, has a plurality of tambour slats (76 or 401). Shafts (78 or 404) are mounted in the ends of the tambour slats. Rollers 82 are mounted on the shafts (78 or 404) and guided by door guide assemblies 64. A flexible water impervious membrane (86) is clamped to the tambour slats (76 or 401) by clamp plates (414) having a surface (416), that is an arc about an axis parallel to the long axis of the tambour slats, in contact with the membrane. The membrane (86) maintains a predetermined space or pitch between the shafts (78 or 404). Sprockets (92) mesh with the shafts (78 or 404) and transmit force from one tambour slat to another through the membrane (86). If desired a motor can be provided to rotate the sprockets (92) and open and close the tambour door (16).