Lift assembly for a spa cover
DCFirst Claim
1. A lift assembly for assisting lifting a spa cover between a cover closed position, in which the spa cover closes an upper end of a spa, and a cover open position, the lift assembly comprising:
- a spa mounting assembly that in use is rigidly connectable to a spa, the spa mounting assembly having a lever arm mounting portion connected to a spring mounting portion;
a lever arm extending longitudinally from a lever arm proximal end portion to a lever arm distal end portion,the lever arm proximal end portion having a pivoting connection to the lever arm mounting portion, the pivoting connection having a lever arm rotation axis, the lever arm rotation axis extending in a rearward direction, andthe lever arm being rotatable relative to the spa mounting assembly about the lever arm rotation axis between (i) a cover closed position in which the lever arm distal end portion is laterally inwardly of the lever arm rotation axis, and (ii) a cover open position in which the lever arm distal end portion is laterally outwardly of the lever arm rotation axis;
a spa cover engaging member connected to the lever arm distal end portion; and
a pneumatic spring comprising a pneumatic cylinder and a piston rod,the pneumatic spring extending longitudinally from a pneumatic spring proximal end portion to a pneumatic spring distal end portion,the pneumatic spring proximal end portion having a pivoting connection to the spring mounting portion at a location that is laterally outwardly of the lever arm rotation axis and that is at an elevation below the lever arm rotation axis,the pneumatic spring distal end portion having a pivoting connection to the lever arm at a location between the lever arm rotation axis and the lever arm distal end portion, andthe pneumatic spring exerting an extensive force upon the lever arm both when the lever arm is in the cover closed position and when the lever arm is in the cover open position,the extensive force urging the lever arm towards the cover open position when the lever arm is in the cover closed position, andthe extensive force urging the lever arm towards the cover closed position when the lever arm is in the cover open position.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A lift assembly includes a lever arm mounting portion connected to a spring mounting portion, a lever arm, a spa cover engaging portion, and a pneumatic spring. A pneumatic spring proximal end portion has a pivoting connection to the spring mounting portion. A pneumatic spring distal end portion has a pivoting connection to the lever arm. The pneumatic spring exerts an extensive force upon the lever arm both when the lever arm is in the cover closed position and when the lever arm is in the cover open position. The extensive force urges the lever arm towards the cover open position when the lever arm is in the cover closed position, and the extensive force urging the lever arm towards the cover closed position when the lever arm is in the cover open position.
39 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A lift assembly for assisting lifting a spa cover between a cover closed position, in which the spa cover closes an upper end of a spa, and a cover open position, the lift assembly comprising:
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a spa mounting assembly that in use is rigidly connectable to a spa, the spa mounting assembly having a lever arm mounting portion connected to a spring mounting portion; a lever arm extending longitudinally from a lever arm proximal end portion to a lever arm distal end portion, the lever arm proximal end portion having a pivoting connection to the lever arm mounting portion, the pivoting connection having a lever arm rotation axis, the lever arm rotation axis extending in a rearward direction, and the lever arm being rotatable relative to the spa mounting assembly about the lever arm rotation axis between (i) a cover closed position in which the lever arm distal end portion is laterally inwardly of the lever arm rotation axis, and (ii) a cover open position in which the lever arm distal end portion is laterally outwardly of the lever arm rotation axis; a spa cover engaging member connected to the lever arm distal end portion; and a pneumatic spring comprising a pneumatic cylinder and a piston rod, the pneumatic spring extending longitudinally from a pneumatic spring proximal end portion to a pneumatic spring distal end portion, the pneumatic spring proximal end portion having a pivoting connection to the spring mounting portion at a location that is laterally outwardly of the lever arm rotation axis and that is at an elevation below the lever arm rotation axis, the pneumatic spring distal end portion having a pivoting connection to the lever arm at a location between the lever arm rotation axis and the lever arm distal end portion, and the pneumatic spring exerting an extensive force upon the lever arm both when the lever arm is in the cover closed position and when the lever arm is in the cover open position, the extensive force urging the lever arm towards the cover open position when the lever arm is in the cover closed position, and the extensive force urging the lever arm towards the cover closed position when the lever arm is in the cover open position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification