Spa cover lift assembly

• US 5,131,102 A
• Filed: 06/17/1991
• Issued: 07/21/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ND1, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SPA Centers Incorporated
• Inventors: Sorensen, Edwin C. II, Quellette, Roger J., Salley, Philip J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kupferschmid, Keith
• Application Number:
  US07/716,585
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• Field of Search: 4/498, 4/503, 4/494, 180/69.21, 180/69.2, 296/100, 220/263, 220/329, 220/330, 220/331, 49/127, 49/196, 160/229.1, 160/181, 160/210
• US Class Current: 4/498
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1623 with means for assisting the opening or closing thereof, e.g. springs spring-actuated swinging wings E05F1/10
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/084 with lifting mechanism

Abstract

A device for use in conjunction with a spa cover or spa cover mounted for pivotal movement to facilitate the removal of the cover away from the vicinity of the spa or spa when same is in use. In one embodiment, a bridge arm supported by two side arms is pivotally attached to a base. The bridge arm can be pivoted into position adjacent the spa cover. The spa cover folded over the bridge arm, and the bridge arm, along with the supported cover, is pivoted clearly away from the spa or spa area. In an alternate embodiment, a step elbow is provided near the point of pivotal attachment to the spa or spa to facilitate a step assisted pivoting and to provide a pivotal stop.

Claims

1. A spa cover lift removal and support assembly for a hinged spa cover which covers the top of a spa and includes at least two cover sections connected by a hinge whereby said sections are foldable in overlapping relation comprising a pair of pivoting supports:

pivot means, adapted to be secured adjacent one side of a spa, and having a common pivot axis for facilitating pivoting said pair of about said common pivoting supports axis;

each pivoting support having a first end pivotally attached to said pivot means to pivot about said common axis, and each having a second end;

an upper bridge arm connected to said second ends of said pair of pivoting supports, said upper bridge arm pivotable to a first position adjacent and parallel to said hinge of said spa cover when covering said spa and to a second position clear of said spa whereby said cover sections are folded over said upper bridge arm and said upper bridge arm is pivoted to said second position to remove said cover from said spa and support said cover to one side of said spa.

2. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a retaining chain having a first end attached to one of said pivoting supports nearer its second end, and a second end attachable to a spa.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said pivot means further comprises a pair of pivot blocks;

and, a pair of lower corner bars, each said corner bar connected to one of said pair of pivot blocks.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein said pair of pivot blocks are of two piece, halved construction.

5. The assembly of claim 3 wherein said pair of pivot blocks are attached to the vertical wall of said spa.

6. The assembly of claim 3 further comprising a spa and wherein said spa further comprises a pedestal skirt and wherein said pair of pivot blocks are attached to the underside of an overhang of said pedestal skirt.

7. The assembly of claim 3 further comprising a lower bridge arm between said lower corner bars for added stability.

8. The assembly of claim 3 wherein said spa is a ground level spa and said pivot blocks are attached to the ground.

9. The assembly of claim 3 further comprising at least one kick stand attached to one of said pivoting supports near said first end of one of said pivoting supports to facilitate the pivoting of said pivoting support.

10. The assembly of claim 3 further comprising a spa;

and, a spa cover tiltable over said spa and having a hinge axis parallel to the axis of said upper bridge arm.

11. The assembly of claim 10 further comprising a retaining chain having a first end attached to one of said pivoting supports nearer its second end, and a second end attachable to a spa.

12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein said retaining chain is of sufficient length to limit the pivoting movement of said pivoting supports away from said spa just beyond a vertical position.

13. The assembly of claim 11 further comprising at least one kick stand attached to one of said pivoting supports near said first end of one of said pivoting supports to facilitate the pivoting of said pivoting support.

14. The assembly of claim 13 wherein said kick stand is positioned sufficient to limit the pivoting movement of said pivoting supports away from said spa just beyond a vertical position.

15. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a pair of upper corner bars, each said corner bar connected between a second end of one of said pivoting supports and said upper bridge arm.