UPRIGHT HINGE FOR SPA COVER

• US 20070256229A1
• Filed: 06/11/2007
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Carlos Duarte, Fred Romero
• Original Assignee: Carlos Duarte, Fred Romero
• Inventors: Duarte, Carlos, Romero, Fred
• Application Number:
  US11/761,334
• Publication Number:
  US 20070256229A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 4/498
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/084 with lifting mechanism

Abstract

A hinge assembly for coupling a spa cover to a spa, said spa cover being movable between a fully closed position and a fully open position. The hinge assembly includes a mounting bracket adapted to be installed near a top of the spa, and adapted to be coupled to a first end of a spring member; and a support arm pivotably coupled to the mounting bracket about an axis of rotation, adapted to be attached on an outside surface of the spa cover, and adapted to be coupled to a second end of the spring member. At least one of the mounting bracket or the support arm has a plurality of openings for selectively coupling the first end or the second end of the spring member, so as to adjust a coupling location between the spring member and the at least one of the mounting bracket or the support arm.

Claims

1. A hinge assembly for coupling a spa cover to a spa, said spa cover being movable between a fully closed position and a fully open position, said hinge assembly comprising:

a mounting bracket adapted to be installed near a top of the spa, and adapted to be coupled to a first end of a spring member; and

a support arm pivotably coupled to the mounting bracket about an axis of rotation, adapted to be attached on an outside surface of the spa cover, and adapted to be coupled to a second end of the spring member,

wherein at least one of the mounting bracket or the support arm has a plurality of openings for selectively coupling the first end or the second end of the spring member, so as to adjust a coupling location between the spring member and the at least one of the mounting bracket or the support arm.

2. The hinge assembly of claim 1, further comprising a gas spring coupled between the mounting bracket and the support arm as the spring member, wherein the gas spring is adapted to form an angle of less than approximately 45 degrees with respect to the top of the spa when the spa cover is in the fully open position.

3. The hinge assembly of claim 2, wherein the gas spring is adapted to form an angle of between approximately 10 degrees and approximately 20 degrees with respect to the top of the spa when the spa cover is in the fully open position.

4. The hinge assembly of claim 2, wherein the gas spring is adapted to be extended and inclined upward in a direction toward a rear end of the spa from the first end to the second end as the spa cover is moved toward the fully open position.

5. The hinge assembly of claim 4, wherein the gas spring is adapted to be compressed as the spa cover is moved toward the fully closed position such that the gas spring is adapted to resist movement of the spa cover from the fully open position toward the fully closed position.

6. The hinge assembly of claim 1, wherein the support arm comprises:

an elongated member adapted to be attached along a side of the spa cover;

a short member pivotably coupled to the mounting bracket; and

a connecting member between the elongated member and the short member,

wherein the elongated member, the short member and the connecting member are formed as a single integrated piece.

7. The hinge assembly of claim 6, wherein the support arm further comprises a plate coupled to the connecting member, wherein the plate has the plurality of openings.

8. The hinge assembly of claim 1, wherein the mounting bracket is mounted on a support bracket adapted to be attached to a side of the spa.

9. The hinge assembly of claim 1, wherein the mounting bracket is mounted on a deck adjacent to the spa.

10. A spa system comprising:

a spa;

a foldable spa cover having at least two sections, said spa cover being movable between a fully closed position and a fully open position;

a hinge assembly for coupling the spa cover to the spa, said hinge assembly comprising;

a mounting bracket installed near a top of the spa;

a support arm pivotably coupled to the mounting bracket about an axis of rotation, and attached on an outside surface of the spa cover; and

a gas spring having a first end coupled to the mounting bracket and a second end coupled to the support arm,

wherein at least one of the mounting bracket or the support arm has a plurality of openings for selectively coupling the first end or the second end of the gas spring, so as to adjust a coupling location between the spring member and the at least one of the mounting bracket or the support arm.

11. The spa system of claim 10, wherein the gas spring is adapted to form an angle of less than approximately 45 degrees with respect to the top of the spa when the spa cover is in the fully open position.

12. The spa system of claim 10, wherein the spa cover in the fully open position is in an upright position, in which the spa cover has not been moved downward behind the spa.

13. The spa system of claim 10, wherein the spa cover in the fully open position is completely behind the spa.

14. The spa system of claim 10, wherein the gas spring is extended and inclined upward in a direction toward a rear end of the spa from the first end to the second end as the spa cover is moved toward the fully open position.

15. The spa system of claim 14, wherein the gas spring is compressed as the spa cover is moved toward the fully closed position such that the gas spring resists movement of the spa cover from the fully open position toward the fully closed position.