convertInputType.jquery.js

/**
 * Converts an input type to another specified because you aren't allowed for security
 * reasons to change the type via JS attribute APIs.
 * @param  {string} type The type you want to convert it to
 * @returns {object} A jQuery object of the new selected inputs it was replaced with
 */
$.fn.convertInputType = function(type){    
  return this.map(function(i, elem){
    var clone = $( this ).clone().attr('type',type);        
    $(this).replaceWith(clone);        
    return clone[0];
  });    
};