Apparatus for tipping a spa cover

• US 20050000010A1
• Filed: 04/06/2004
• Published: 01/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fred Hagan
• Original Assignee: Fred Hagan
• Inventors: Hagan, Fred
• Granted Patent: US 7,146,656 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 4/498
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/084 with lifting mechanism

Abstract

An apparatus for raising and closing a hinged spa cover. A frame assembly extends over the rear panel of a bifold spa cover, and further is pivotally connected to a base assembly. In order to raise the spa cover from the spa tub, the front panel of the spa cover is folded over the rear panel and frame. The frame assembly pivots on the base assembly lifting the folded spa cover to an opened position. A stop connected to the frame assembly contacts the ground as the frame assembly pivots on the base, once the cover reaches a predetermined open position. The reverse steps will lower and close the spa cover onto the spa tub.

Claims

1. An apparatus for a hinged spa cover having a rear and a front panel comprising:

a base assembly of rigid legs having a pivot;

a frame assembly of pivot arms and a cross-member with a cover support bracket, said cross-member extending across said rear panel and each end connected to said pivot arms, said arms connected to said pivot on said base assembly, and a support leg hinged to said cross-member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said rear panel of said spa cover has a top side on which said cross-member rests, a left and right edge alongside which are each said pivot arm, and a rear edge, each said pivot arm formed in an L-shape and comprising a first arm member joined to second arm member, said first arm member having a rotatable connection to said leg on said base and said second arm member substantially parallel to said left and right edges of said rear panel.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said rear panel of said spa cover has a top side on which said cross-member rests, a left and right edge alongside which are each said pivot arm, and a rear edge that contacts said rear wall, said cover support bracket having a first planar portion joined to said cross-member and a second planar portion in contact with said rear edge of said rear panel.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, said frame assembly further comprising a stiffening strut connected between said second arm members of said pivot arms.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein on each said leg, said pivot comprising an aperture through which a pivot bar passes and each end of said pivot arm connects to one of said second arm members.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, said frame assembly comprising a rest attached to the rear lateral strut.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, said base assembly including feet which fix said legs to the ground.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising one or more straps on the frame assembly to maintain the spa cover in close proximity to the cross-member.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, said rotation arms comprise a pair of L-shaped members wherein a first segment of each L-shaped member extends along opposing sides of the rear panel of the spa cover and a second segment of each L-shaped member extends perpendicularly away from the spa cover in the direction of said pivot and is received by said pivot.

5. An apparatus for tipping open a spa cover having a rear panel hinged to a front panel, and said spa having side walls and a rear wall below said rear panel, said apparatus comprising:

a frame assembly comprising lateral struts braced to form a frame across said rear panel, and each said strut extending between a pair of arms substantially parallel to said sidewalls, each said arm having a first member substantially parallel with said side wall and a second member substantially parallel with said rear panel, with said lateral struts joined to said second member, and said frame assembly joined to a moveable support stop, and

a fixed base next to said rear wall of said spa, said base having a pivot point providing a rotatable connection to said second member of said arms.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, said arms further comprising a cross-brace between said first and second members of each said arm.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, said frame assembly further comprising a stiffening strut extending between said second members of said pair of arms.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said support member is hingedly connected to said stiffening strut.

9. The apparatus of claim 5, said base comprising a pair of bases spaced apart at the rear wall of said spa, and joined to said rear wall.

14. An apparatus for a spa having a hinged spa cover with a rear and a front panel comprising:

a base assembly at the base of said spa comprising stationary legs and a pivot;

a frame assembly comprising;

a cross-member resting upon said rear panel of said spa cover and connected at each end to pivot arms, said arms connected to said pivot on said base assembly;

a support stop attached movably at one end to the frame assembly.