Adjustable lifting apparatus for a spa

• US 5,634,218 A
• Filed: 05/19/1995
• Issued: 06/03/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ND1, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Roger J. Ouelette
• Inventors: Ouelette, Roger J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fetsuga, Robert M.
• Application Number:
  US08/445,411
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• Field of Search: 4/498, 4/580, 49/263, 49/324, 49/380, 49/381, 49/463
• US Class Current: 4/498
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/084 with lifting mechanism

Abstract

A lifting frame for a hinged spa cover having a pair of adjustable lifting arms pivotally mounted on or adjacent to a side wall of a spa. The upper part of the arms are equipped with one or more supports that are adjacent to and parallel with the cover hinge whereby the cover is foldable over the support or supports when the lifting arms are in a first horizontal position. Rotating the frame causes the folded cover to be rotated to a second, vertical position adjacent one end wall of the spa. The lifting frame includes a plurality of L-shaped arm segments which are connected in telescoping relationship with one another to form a plurality of overlapped junctions. A plurality of fasteners located in the regions of the junctions, allow the dimensions of the frame to be adjusted to accommodate spas of different sizes.

Claims

1. A spa cover lifting apparatus for a hinged spa cover that has two half sections conjoined by a hinge whereby the half sections are foldable one over the other, and the spa cover is supported by the lifting apparatus so that it may be lifted by rotating the lifting apparatus, said apparatus including:

first and second pivot units;

a first monolithic L-shaped lower arm rotatably mounted in the first pivot unit;

a second monolithic L-shaped lower arm rotatably mounted in the second pivot unit, an inner end of the second lower arm being slidably connected in telescoping relationship with an inner end of the first lower arm to form a first overlapped joint;

a first monolithic L-shaped upper arm, an outer end of the first upper arm being slidably connected in telescoping relationship with an outer end of the first lower arm to form a second overlapped joint;

a second monolithic L-shaped upper arm, an outer end of the second upper arm being slidably connected in telescoping relationship with an outer end of the second lower arm to form a third overlapped joint;

first locking means at the first overlapped joint for adjustably locking the inner ends of the first and second lower arms together at a desired one of a first plurality of discrete positions such that the degree of overlap at the first overlapping joint is adjustable;

second locking means at the second overlapped joint for adjustably locking the outer ends of the first upper and first lower arms together at a desired one of a second plurality of discrete positions such that the degree of overlap at the second overlapping joint is adjustable; and

third locking means at the third overlapped joint for adjustably locking the outer ends of the second upper and second lower arms together at a desired one of a third plurality of discrete positions such that the degree of overlap at the third overlapping joint is adjustable,

whereby the spa cover lifting apparatus may be adjusted to accommodate spas of differing heights and differing widths.

2. A spa cover lifting apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which the inner arms of said first and second upper arms are spaced apart from one another.

3. For use with a spa and a hinged spa cover that has two half sections conjoined by a hinge, whereby the half sections are foldable one over the other, a method for supporting the spa cover with a lifting apparatus, so that the spa cover may be easily lifted by rotating the lifting apparatus, and whereby the spa cover lifting apparatus may be adjusted to accommodate spas of differing heights and differing widths, said method including:

mounting first and second pivot units to the spa;

rotatably mounting a first monolithic L-shaped lower arm in the first pivot unit;

rotatably mounting a second monolithic L-shaped lower arm in the second pivot unit;

slidably connecting an inner end of the second lower arm is telescoping relationship with an inner end of the first lower arm to form a first overlapped joint;

slidably connecting a first monolithic L-shaped upper arm to the first lower arm, so that an outer end of the first upper arm is in telescoping relationship with an outer end of the first lower arm to form a second overlapped joint;

slidably connecting a second monolithic L-shaped upper arm to the second lower arm, so that an outer end of the second upper arm is slidably connected in telescoping relationship with an outer end of the second lower arm to form a third overlapped joint;

arranging first locking means at the first overlapped joint so that the inner ends of the first and second lower arms can be adjustably locked together at a desired one of a first plurality of discrete positions, such that the degree of overlap at the first overlapping joint is adjustable;

arranging second locking means at the second overlapped joint so that the outer ends of the first upper and first lower arms can be adjustably locked together at a desired one of a second plurality of discrete positions, such that the degree of overlap at the second overlapping joint is adjustable; and

arranging third locking means at the third overlapped joint so that the outer ends of the second upper and second lower arms can be adjustably locked together at a desired one of a third plurality of discrete positions, such that the degree of overlap at the third overlapping joint is adjustable.

4. The method for affording easy lifting a hinged spa cover as recited in claim 3, wherein the step of mounting said first and second pivot units to said spa includes the step of mounting said pivot units to a rear wall of said spa.

5. The method for affording easy lifting a hinged spa cover as recited in claim 3, further including the step of arranging said inner arms of said first and second upper arms so that they are spaced apart from one another.

6. The method for affording easy lifting a hinged spa cover as recited in claim 5, wherein the step of mounting said first and second pivot units to said spa includes the step of mounting said pivot units to a rear wall of said spa.