Cover for a hot tub or the like
First Claim
1. A cover assembly for a base structure such as a hot tub, the cover assembly having a forward end and rear end, the cover assembly comprising:
- a. a base support structure;
b. a cover member mounted to the base structure for movement between a first covering position and a second open position;
c. mounting arm means by which said cover member is mounted for rotational movement between said open and covering positions;
d. said mounting arm means being arranged relative to the cover member so that the cover member travels along a path from the covering position to the open position, said path having a first path portion extending between said covering position and an intermediate location area of said cover member, and a second path portion extending between the open position and the intermediate location area;
e. the cover member being arranged relative to the mounting arm means in a manner that with the cover member on a first side of the intermediate location area in the first path portion, gravitational force on the cover assembly tends to move the cover member to the covering position and with the cover member on a second side of the intermediate location area in the second path portion, gravitational force on the cover assembly tends to move the cover member to the open position;
f. spring means operatively connected in the cover assembly in a manner that with the cover member in either the first path portion or the second path portion, said spring means urges the cover member toward the intermediate location area so as to oppose the gravitational force on the cover member and thus permit the cover member to be more easily moved between the covering and open positions; and
g. Said mounting arm means comprising at least one movable mounting arm connected to the cover member at a first connecting location and mounted to the base structure at a first pivot location, said spring means acting on said movable mounting arm at a spring connecting location spaced from said pivot location to exert a first moment on said movable mounting arm in a first rotational direction when said cover member is in said first path portion, and to exert a second moment on said movable mounting arm in a second opposite rotational direction when said cover member is in said second path portion.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A cover assembly for use with a base structure such as a hot tub comprising a cover member mounted for rotational movement to the base structure by mounting arms.
The mounting arms are arranged relative to the cover member so that the cover member travels along a path from a covering positioning to an open position, this path having a first path portion extending between the covering position and an intermediate location area of the cover member, and a second path portion extending between the open position and the intermediate location area.
The cover member is arranged relative to the mounting arms in a manner that with the cover member on a first side of the intermediate location area in the first path portion, gravitational force on the cover assembly tends to move the cover member to the covering position, and with the cover member on the second side of the intermediate location area in the second path portion, gravitational force on the cover assembly tends to move the cover member to the open position.
There are springs operatively connected to the cover assembly in a manner that with the cover member in either the first path portion or the second path portion, the springs urge the cover member toward the intermediate location area so as to oppose the gravitational force on the cover member and thus permit the cover member to be more easily moved between covering and open positions.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A cover assembly for a base structure such as a hot tub, the cover assembly having a forward end and rear end, the cover assembly comprising:
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a. a base support structure; b. a cover member mounted to the base structure for movement between a first covering position and a second open position; c. mounting arm means by which said cover member is mounted for rotational movement between said open and covering positions; d. said mounting arm means being arranged relative to the cover member so that the cover member travels along a path from the covering position to the open position, said path having a first path portion extending between said covering position and an intermediate location area of said cover member, and a second path portion extending between the open position and the intermediate location area; e. the cover member being arranged relative to the mounting arm means in a manner that with the cover member on a first side of the intermediate location area in the first path portion, gravitational force on the cover assembly tends to move the cover member to the covering position and with the cover member on a second side of the intermediate location area in the second path portion, gravitational force on the cover assembly tends to move the cover member to the open position; f. spring means operatively connected in the cover assembly in a manner that with the cover member in either the first path portion or the second path portion, said spring means urges the cover member toward the intermediate location area so as to oppose the gravitational force on the cover member and thus permit the cover member to be more easily moved between the covering and open positions; and g. Said mounting arm means comprising at least one movable mounting arm connected to the cover member at a first connecting location and mounted to the base structure at a first pivot location, said spring means acting on said movable mounting arm at a spring connecting location spaced from said pivot location to exert a first moment on said movable mounting arm in a first rotational direction when said cover member is in said first path portion, and to exert a second moment on said movable mounting arm in a second opposite rotational direction when said cover member is in said second path portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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10. A cover assembly for a base structure such as a hot tub, the cover assembly having a forward end and rear end, the cover assembly comprising:
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a. a base support structure; b. a cover member mounted to the base structure for movement between a first covering position and a second open position; c. mounting arm means by which said cover member is mounted for rotational movement between said open and covering positions; d. said mounting arm means being arranged relative to the cover member so that the cover member travels along a path from the covering position to the open position, said path having a first path portion extending between said covering position and an intermediate location are of said cover member, and a second path portion extending between the open position and the intermediate location area; e. the cover member being arranged relative to the mounting arm means in a manner that with the cover member on a first side of the intermediate location area in the first path portion, gravitational force on the cover assembly tends to move the cover member to the covering position, and with the cover member on a second side of the intermediate location area in the second path portion, gravitational force on the cover assembly tends to move the cover member to the open position; f. spring means operatively connected in the cover assembly in a manner that with the cover member in either the first path portion or the second path portion, said spring means urges the cover member toward the intermediate location area so as to oppose the gravitational force on the cover member and thus permit the cover member to be more easily moved between the covering and open positions; g. said base structure being a container having a forward wall, a rear wall and two side walls, said container having an upper edge portion generally aligned in a contact plane having a substantial horizontal alignment component, said cover member overlying said edge portion and being positioned generally in said contact plane when said cover member is in the covering position; h. said arm means comprising; i. a forward mounting arm having a first end pivotally connected to said container at a first pivot mounting location and a second end pivotally connected to a forward portion of said cover member at a second pivot connecting location, ii. a rear mounting arm having a third end pivotally connected to said container at a third pivot mounting location and a fourth end pivotally connected to a rear portion of said cover at a fourth pivot connecting location; and iii. a first distance between said first and second pivot locations being greater than a second distance between said third and fourth pivot locations, said arm means being further characterized in that with the cover member in the covering position, said forward arm is aligned at a more moderate forward and upward slope from said first pivot location, and said rear arm is aligned from said third pivot location at a relatively steeper forward and upward slope, said arm means being further characterized in that with the cover member at the open position, the forward arm extends upwardly with the second pivot location being located above the contact plane, with the cover member extending vertically and with at least the forward portion of the cover member being positioned above said contact plane. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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Specification