COVER ASSEMBLY FOR A SPA

• US 20140201898A1
• Filed: 01/21/2014
• Published: 07/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Strong Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Strong Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Spicer, Wade, Lipniarski, David
• Granted Patent: US 9,493,960 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 4/498
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/084 with lifting mechanism

Abstract

A cover assembly for a spa having a base and a shell supported by the base is provided. The cover assembly includes a cover member selectively movable between a covered position and an uncovered position, and a lifting assembly having a first lifting mechanism rotatably coupled to the cover member and to the base. The first lifting mechanism provides two axes of rotation for the cover member relative to the base.

Claims

1. A cover assembly for a spa having a base and a shell supported by the base, said cover assembly comprising:

a cover member selectively movable between a covered position and an uncovered position; and

a lifting assembly having a first lifting mechanism rotatably coupled to said cover member and to said base, said first lifting mechanism providing two axes of rotation for said cover member relative to said base.

2. The cover assembly of claim 1, wherein:

said two axes are vertically and horizontally offset from one another.

3. The cover assembly of claim 2, wherein:

said first lifting mechanism includes a first lifting arm having a first depending guide plate and a second lifting arm having a second depending guide plate;

wherein a first end of said first lifting arm is pivotally coupled to said base at a first pivot point and a second end of said lifting arm is pivotally coupled to said second lifting arm and to said cover member at a second pivot point; and

wherein said cover member is rotatable about said first pivot point and said second pivot point between said covered position, in which said cover member rests atop said shell, and an uncovered position, in which said cover member is oriented generally vertically adjacent a sidewall of said base.

4. The cover assembly of claim 3, wherein:

said lifting assembly further includes a handle extending from a distal end of said second lifting arm.

5. The cover assembly of claim 3, wherein:

said second guide plate includes a plurality of ridges that are received in a plurality of corresponding recessed tracks in said first guide plate.

6. The cover assembly of claim 4, wherein:

said ridges are arcuate in shape; and

said corresponding recessed tracks are arcuate in shape.

7. The cover assembly of claim 4, wherein:

said second lifting arm is generally L-shaped and is pivotally connected to said cover member such that said distal end thereof and said handle are positioned adjacent to said sidewall of said base.

8. The cover assembly of claim 3, wherein:

said lifting assembly includes a second lifting mechanism positioned on an opposing side of said base from said first lifting mechanism, said handle being operatively connected to both said first lifting mechanism and said second lifting mechanism

9. The cover assembly of claim 1, wherein:

said cover member has a substantially convex outer surface and includes a plurality of channels formed in said outer surface.

17. The spa of claim 1, wherein:

said cover member has a substantially convex outer surface and includes a plurality of channels formed in said outer surface.

10. A spa, comprising:

a base;

a shell supported by said base and configured to hold a volume of liquid;

a cover member selectively movable between a covered position atop said shell and an uncovered position adjacent to a sidewall of said base; and

a lifting mechanism pivotally coupled to said cover member and to said base, said lifting mechanism providing two axes of rotation for said cover member relative to said base for selectively moving said cover member between said covered position and said uncovered position.

11. The spa of claim 10, wherein:

said two axes are vertically and horizontally offset from one another.

12. The spa of claim 11, wherein:

said lifting mechanism includes a first lifting arm having a first depending guide plate and a second lifting arm having a second depending guide plate;

wherein a first end of said first lifting arm is pivotally coupled to said base at a first pivot point and a second end of said lifting arm is pivotally coupled to said second lifting arm and to said cover member at a second pivot point; and

wherein said cover member is rotatable about said first pivot point and said second pivot point between said covered position, in which said cover member rests atop said shell, and an uncovered position, in which said cover member is oriented generally vertically adjacent said sidewall of said base.

13. The spa of claim 13, wherein:

said lifting mechanism further includes a handle extending from a distal end of said second lifting arm.

14. The spa of claim 13, wherein:

said second guide plate includes a plurality of ridges that are received in a plurality of corresponding recessed tracks in said first guide plate.

15. The spa of claim 14, wherein:

said ridges are arcuate in shape; and

said corresponding recessed tracks are arcuate in shape.

16. The spa of claim 13, wherein:

said second lifting arm is generally L-shaped and is pivotally connected to said cover member such that said distal end thereof and said handle are positioned adjacent to said sidewall of said base.

18. A method of covering and uncovering a spa having a base and a shell supported by said base, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a cover member atop said shell; and

equipping said cover member with a lifting mechanism, said lifting mechanism being pivotally coupled to said cover member and to said base, said lifting mechanism providing two axes of rotation for said cover member relative to said base for selectively moving said cover member between a covered position atop said shell and an uncovered position adjacent to a sidewall of said base.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein:

said lifting mechanism includes a first lifting arm having a first depending guide plate and a second lifting arm having a second depending guide plate;

wherein a first end of said first lifting arm is pivotally coupled to said base at a first pivot point and a second end of said lifting arm is pivotally coupled to said second lifting arm and to said cover member at a second pivot point; and

wherein said cover member is rotatable about said first pivot point and said second pivot point between said covered position and said uncovered position.

20. The spa of claim 19, wherein:

equipping said cover member with a lifting mechanism includes coupling a handle to a distal end of said second lifting arm.

21. The spa of claim 20, wherein:

said second guide plate includes a plurality of ridges that are received in a plurality of corresponding recessed tracks in said first guide plate.