Spa cover support assembly

• US 5,644,803 A
• Filed: 02/26/1996
• Issued: 07/08/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wilson, Richard M.
• Original Assignee: Wilson, Richard M.
• Inventors: Wilson, Richard M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Charles E.
• Application Number:
  US08/605,490
• Time in Patent Office: 498 Days
• Field of Search: 4/494, 4/498, 4/500, 220/263, 220/329, 220/331
• US Class Current: 4/500
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/088 Covers made in concertina folds

Abstract

A spa cover support assembly is provided with a plurality of support arms having upper and lower ends with the lower ends pivotally attached to an external surface of the spa side wall for pivotal rotation of the upper ends of the support arms through an arc from a point above and adjacent to the side wall to a point away from the side wall at a point where the upper ends of the support arms are within the generally horizontal plane defined by the top surfaces of the side walls and at a distance away from the side wall wherein the center of gravity of the spa cover supported between the side wall and the upper ends of the support arms will fall between the side wall and the upper ends of the support arm assembly. A generally horizontal support bar is provided attached to the upper ends of the support arms for supporting the spa cover.

Claims

1. A spa cover support assembly for use with a spa having side walls with top surfaces defining a generally horizontal plane for slidably supporting a removable spa cover, said spa cover support assembly comprising:

a support arm having an upper end and a bottom end, pivotally attached at its bottom end to a spa side wall for pivotal rotation of the said upper end through an arc from a point above and adjacent to said side wall to a point away from said side wall at a point where said upper end of said support arm is within the generally horizontal plane defined by the top surfaces of the side walls, and at a distance away from the side wall wherein the center of gravity of a spa cover supported between the side wall to which the lower end is pivotally attached and the upper end of the support arm will fall between the side wall and the upper end of said support arm;

means for supporting a spa cover attached to the upper end of said support arm; and

pivot bias means for holding the support arm in a generally vertically position when not supporting said spa cover, and for permitting arcuate rotation of the upper end of said support arm when said spa cover is slid from the top surfaces of the side walls said means for supporting.

2. The spa cover support assembly of claim 1 wherein the means for supporting a spa cover attached to the upper end of said support arm further comprises:

a generally horizontal roller bar rotatably attached to said upper end of the support arm for supporting an end of said spa cover.

3. A spa cover support assembly for use with a spa having side walls with top surfaces defining a generally horizontal plane for slidably supporting a removable spa cover, said spa cover support assembly comprising:

a plurality of support arms, each having an upper end and a bottom end, in parallel juxtaposed relationship, each pivotally attached at its bottom end to the same spa side wall for pivotal rotation of the said upper ends of said support arms through parallel arcs from a point above and adjacent to said side wall to a point away from said side wall at a point where said upper ends are within the generally horizontal plane defined by the top surfaces of the side walls, and at a distance away from the side wall wherein the center of gravity of a spa cover supported between the side wall to which the lower ends of said support arms are pivotally attached and the upper ends of the support arms will fall between the side wall and the upper ends of said support arms;

means for supporting a spa cover attached to the upper ends of said support arms; and

pivot bias means for holding the support arms in a generally vertically position when not supporting said hot tub cover, and for permitting arcuate rotation of the upper ends of said support arms when said spa cover is slid from the top surfaces of the side walls unto the horizontal support bar.

4. The spa cover support assembly of claim 3 wherein the means for supporting a spa cover attached to the upper end of said support arms further comprises:

a generally horizontal support bar attached to said upper ends of, and spanning between the support arms for supporting an end of said spa cover.

5. The spa cover support assembly of claim 4 wherein horizontal support bar further includes a rotatable bearing surface rotatably attached to said horizontal support bar for supporting a spa cover.

6. The spa cover support assembly of claim 4 wherein said pivot bias means further comprises:

a plurality of vertically oriented weight receiving tubes, each attached to the side wall of the spa adjacent to each of the plurality of support arms for vertically and slidably receiving and holding a weight;

a plurality of weights each disposed within a weight tube for slidable vertical motion; and

a plurality of flexible connectors, each connecting a weight to a support arm above its pivotal attachment point, for biasing said support arm to a vertical position adjacent to said side wall.

7. The spa cover support assembly of claim 3 wherein said pivot bias means further comprises:

a plurality of vertically oriented weight receiving tubes, each attached to the side wall of the spa adjacent to each of the plurality of support arms for vertically and slidably receiving and holding a weight;

a plurality of weights each disposed within a weight tube for slidable vertical motion; and

a plurality of flexible connectors, each connecting a weight to a support arm above its pivotal attachment point, for biasing said support arm to a vertical position adjacent to said side wall.