The U-shape outward-swing door, often called the outswing door or the U-shape door, is the door on Ella's Capri, Monaco, Front Entry, Mobile, Lounger, Shak, Big4One, Tub4Two and Big4Two. It is built from white plastic composite with a tempered glass panel, swings outward through a 165 degree arc, and is secured by a 3-latch gear and shaft mechanism. Because the door opens away from the tub, you walk straight in with no knee clearance to negotiate, which makes for an especially easy entry, including from a wheelchair.

How It Works

Open the door outward, step or transfer onto the seat, then pull the door closed and turn the handle. Turning the handle drives gears on a shaft that push three tapered pins into the frame, compressing the seal evenly all the way around. The handle must face away from the hinges when the door is unlocked and toward the hinges when it is locked, which is a quick visual check that the pins are fully seated. Never open the door until the tub has completely drained. The full routine is in how the outward-swing U-shape door works.

Which Ella Models Have It

The U-shape door is fitted to the Capri, Monaco, Front Entry, Mobile, Lounger, Shak and Big4One, plus the two-seat Tub4Two and Big4Two. The Companion and Escape are the inward stainless steel two-seat models, so they are not part of this family. The outward-swing owner manual includes a diagram of a stainless steel inward door, which is a printing carryover from another manual; the U-shape family does not have that door. The Monaco and Mobile drawings print a 19 1/4 inch door opening, and door opening widths and swing arcs by model lists the published figures for the rest.

What to Know as an Owner

Plan the bathroom around the swing. The door needs clear floor space in front of the tub for its 165 degree arc, so a toilet, vanity or doorway in that envelope needs to be checked before installation; planning floor space for the outward-swing door covers that space. Never lean on the open door or use it to steady yourself, because the door and seal warranty is valid only when the alignment is correct and has not been changed by a bather's weight. Keep the seal clean and check that the handle lands fully toward the hinges each time you lock it. For a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or (800) 480-6850, have your model name, your order details from where you purchased, and photos of the handle position, the pins and the seal. If you are unsure of your door style, which door does my tub have sorts every model by door.

Common Questions