Device for lifting a spa cover

• US 20070079434A1
• Filed: 10/07/2005
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SP International Inc
• Original Assignee: SP International Inc
• Inventors: Pellerin, Sylvain
• Application Number:
  US11/245,043
• Publication Number:
  US 20070079434A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 4/498
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/084 with lifting mechanism

Abstract

A spa cover lifting device for removing and replacing a spa cover formed by two parts joined along a folding joint from a top of a spa having a plurality of opposite sides. The lifting device comprising a pair of brackets selectively engageable on opposite sides of the spa in one of a first and a second position, the pair of brackets in the first position adapted to be engaged under the spa maintained in position by the weight of the spa, the pair of brackets in the second position adapted to be mounted on opposite sides of the spa, and a pivoting assembly having opposed side members each having an end pivotally mounted to one of the brackets, the pivoting assembly being pivotal from a relaxed position to a deployed position, when in the relaxed position the side members are adapted to engage the spa cover substantially in alignment with the folding joint, when in the deployed position the pivoting assembly raised away from the top of the spa structure in a substantially vertical orientation, and wherein the pivoting assembly is adapted to suspend the folded spa cover adjacent the spa structure.

Claims

1. A spa cover lifting device for removing and replacing a spa cover formed by two parts joined along a folding joint from a top of a spa having a plurality of opposite sides, the lifting device comprising:

a pair of brackets selectively engageable on opposite sides of the spa in one of a first and a second position, the pair of brackets in the first position adapted to be engaged under the spa maintained in position by the weight of the spa, the pair of brackets in the second position adapted to be mounted on opposite sides of the spa; and

a pivoting assembly having opposed side members each having an end pivotally mounted to one of the brackets, the pivoting assembly being pivotal from a relaxed position to a deployed position, when in the relaxed position the side members are adapted to engage the spa cover substantially in alignment with the folding joint, when in the deployed position the pivoting assembly raised away from the top of the spa structure in a substantially vertical orientation, and wherein the pivoting assembly is adapted to suspend the folded spa cover adjacent the spa structure.

2. The spa cover lifting device as defined in claim 1, wherein the brackets are each comprised of a substantially flat, elongated member with respective ends defining a top and a bottom surface, and a supporting member projecting from the top surface at one end of the elongated member, the supporting member having first and second attachment sites adapted to be selectively engaged with the pivoting assembly.

3. The spa cover lifting device as defined in claim 2, wherein the first attachment site defines a first pivot axis substantially parallel to the elongated member and proximal to the top surface thereof, and the second attachment site defines a second pivot axis substantially perpendicular to the elongated member.

4. The spa cover lifting device as defined in claim 1, wherein the brackets selectively engaged in the first position are horizontally oriented and in the second position are vertically oriented.

5. The spa cover lifting device as defined in claim 1, wherein the pivoting assembly has a U-shaped formation with L-shaped corners at respective ends thereof, the L-shaped corners extending in a plane parallel to the opposite sides of the spa engaged by the brackets.

6. The spa cover lifting device as defined in claim 1, wherein the brackets are adapted to be mounted to the opposite sides of the spa by way of threaded fasteners.

7. A bracket for use in a spa cover lifting device on a spa, comprising:

a substantially flat, elongated member with respective ends and defining a top and a bottom surface;

a supporting member projecting from the top surface at one end of the elongated member, the supporting member having first and second attachment sites adapted to be pivotally engaged with a pivoting member of the spa cover lifting device, the first attachment site defining a first pivot axis substantially parallel to the elongated member and proximal to the top surface thereof, the second attachment site defining a second pivot axis substantially perpendicular to the elongated member, and

wherein the bracket is selectively engageable to the spa in one of a first and second position, the bracket in the first position adapted to be inserted under the spa with the spa seated on the top surface of the elongated member and the supporting member adjacent a side of the spa, the bracket in the second position adapted to be mounted to a side wall of the spa with the supporting member projecting away from the side wall.

8. The bracket as defined in claim 7, wherein the first and second attachment sites include an aperture for selectively receiving a pin aligned with the selected one of the first and second pivoting axis to pivotally mount the pivoting member.

9. The bracket as defined in, claim 7, wherein the supporting member is an integral extension from the elongated member.

10. A spa assembly comprising:

a spa structure having a plurality of opposite sides extending upwardly from an under surface to define an opening at a top for holding water;

a spa cover complementing the top of the spa structure formed by two parts joined along a folding joint, the spa cover sitting on the top of the spa;

a spa cover lifting device comprising a pair of brackets selectively engaged on opposite sides of the spa structure, a pivoting assembly having opposed side members each having an end pivotally mounted to one of the brackets, the spa cover lifting device selectively engaged with the spa structure in one of a first and a second position, when in the first position the brackets inserted under the spa engaged with the under surface thereof, when in the second position the brackets mounted on opposite sides of the spa structure, the pivoting assembly pivotal from a relaxed position to a deployed position, when in the relaxed position the side members engaged with the spa cover substantially in alignment with the folding joint, when in the deployed position the pivoting assembly raised away from the top of the spa structure in a substantially vertical orientation, and wherein one of the two parts of the spa cover is adapted to fold back over onto the other of the two parts at the folding joint remaining engaged with the side members to be removed from the top of the spa structure by the pivoting assembly pivoting from the relaxed position to the deployed position, the spa cover adapted to be suspended adjacent the spa structure when the pivoting assembly is in the deployed position.

11. The spa assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein the brackets are each comprised of a substantially flat, elongated member with respective ends defining a top and a bottom surface, and a supporting member projecting from the top surface at one end of the elongated member, the supporting member having first and second attachment sites adapted to be selectively engaged with the pivoting assembly.

12. The spa assembly as defined in claim 11, wherein the first attachment site defines a first pivot axis substantially parallel to the elongated member and proximal to the top surface thereof, and the second attachment site defines a second pivot axis substantially perpendicular to the elongated member.