The Bathtub Safety Rail We Needed

The Product

The tub safety bar is essentially a tubular bar that attaches to the edge of the tub by clamps. It has two different levels (7" and 15" above the edge of the tub) for the bather to hold onto while entering or exiting the tub, or even for support while showering. The bar attaches to the tub edge with two clamp like devices with textured rubber grips to provide a firm grip while not damaging the tub surface.

Assembly

Since the bar comes as essentially a single piece, I suppose this section should more accurately be called "attaching", but I'm not sure that would convey the relevance quite as well. The concept seems simple enough - use a flathead screwdriver to open the clamps to the proper width, set on tub edge, tighten screws. Unfortunately, this turned out to be much more complicated.

The slots in the screw heads are very wide. So wide that I had to try three different screwdrivers in order to find one that wouldn't strip the screw head. Admittedly I only own about a half-dozen tools total and am not much of a handyman, but this was still annoying.

Additionally, the location of two of the screws make this bar useless if your tub is more than about 4.5" wide. This is because the clamps must slide apart to set the width and if you go beyond that point you'll only have a 1/2" of clearance between the screw and the surface of the clamp above it.

Usefulness

This bar is perfect for our needs. It allows my client to support himself while stepping into or out of the tub, giving him the dignity and privacy all people deserve. My only concern is that the clamps may not be tight enough or may loosen over time. This is more a result of my lack of confidence in my skill with tools then the design of the product, though. I've checked it every day for the last month and it does not seem to have loosened at all. Still, regular checks of its stability will be a must.