Spa enclosure apparatus

• US 7,721,361 B1
• Filed: 01/10/2006
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gary L. Shubert
• Original Assignee: Gary L. Shubert
• Inventors: Shubert, Gary L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh; Khoa D
• Application Number:
  US11/328,796
• Time in Patent Office: 1,596 Days
• Field of Search: 449/8, 449/4, 135/123, 135/117, 135/125, 135/906, 135/908
• US Class Current: 4/498
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/084 with lifting mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/108 supported by frames

Abstract

A spa enclosure apparatus has a convertible awning spanning over and spaced generally vertically from a hot tub when in use, and preferably an insulated cover assembly for covering the hot tub when not in use. Preferably, the cover assembly is engaged to and operates in conjunction with the convertible awning. The convertible awning has a canopy supported by and extending between two substantially parallel arcuate rods of the convertible awning. Each arcuate rod preferably connects to a substantially vertical shaft preferably of the cover assembly located substantially near respective rear corners of the spa. The arcuate rods extend upward from the vertical shafts, bend, and project over the hot tub to respective forward corners of the hot tub. Preferably, two substantially vertical columns of the convertible awning project upward from the vicinity of the respective forward corners to engage the distal ends of the arcuate rods.

Claims

1. A spa enclosure apparatus for use over a hot tub or a spa having a first side and an opposite second side, the spa enclosure apparatus comprising:

a spa cover removal mechanism having a first shaft located pivotally at the first side of the spa, a second shaft located pivotally at the opposite second side of the spa, a covered position wherein a cover of the spa is placed directly over the spa, and a removed position wherein the cover is off of the spa and the first and second shafts project substantially vertically;

a convertible awning including;

a first removable flex rod projecting upward from the first shaft and resiliently bent over the spa when the spa cover removal mechanism is in the removed position;

a second removable flex rod projecting upward from the second shaft and resiliently bent over the spa when the spa cover removable mechanism is in the removed position;

a canopy spaced above the spa and engaged between the first and second flex rods;

a distal end of the first flex rod;

a distal end of the second flex rod;

a cross member spaced above the spa and engaged between the distal ends of the first and second flex rods; and

a vertical spacer column engaged between the spa and the cross member.

2. The spa enclosure apparatus set forth in claim 1 comprising a tie wrap for fastening the spacer column to the cross member.

3. The spa enclosure apparatus set forth in claim 1 comprising panels draped downward from the canopy.

4. A convertible spa enclosure apparatus for use over a hot tub having a first side, and opposite second side, and rear and front sides extending between the first and second sides, the convertible spa enclosure apparatus comprising:

a spa cover assembly having a cover having a substantially horizontal covered position wherein the cover is directly over the hot tub when the hot tub is not in use and a substantially vertical removed position wherein the cover extends between the first and second sides and along the rear side when the hot tub is in use, and a first mounting shaft and a second mounting shaft constructed and arranged to at least in-part project substantially upward near the rear side when the cover is in the removed position;

a convertible awning at least in-part spaced above the hot tub for sheltering occupants when the hot tub is in use, the convertible awning having an elongated, arcuate, support structure projecting upward from the first and second mounting shafts and spaced over the hot tub, the support structure extending between the rear and front sides when the cover is in the removed position, and a canopy supported by the support structure and at least in-part spaced above and spanning over the hot tub;

a pocket in the cover opened upwardly when the spa cover assembly is in the removed position;

the first and second mounting shafts being located in the pocket; and

the support structure having a first telescoping rod and a second telescoping rod engaging the first and second mounting shafts respectively such that when the first and second telescoping rods are extended, the rods project upward from the first and second mounting shafts respectively and are flexed over the hot tub and project to a distal end spaced above the front side, and when the first and second telescoping rods are retracted, the rods are stored in the pocket.

5. The spa enclosure apparatus set forth in claim 4 further comprising:

the support structure having a column extending vertically between the hot tub near the front side and the distal end of at least one of the first and second telescoping rods.

6. The spa enclosure apparatus set forth in claim 5 wherein the first and second telescoping rods are resiliently flexed in order to project over the spa toward the front side.

7. The spa enclosure apparatus set forth in claim 5 further comprising the spa cover assembly having a cover removal mechanism constructed and arranged to hold the cover substantially vertical when in the removed position.

8. The spa enclosure apparatus set forth in claim 7 wherein the cover removal mechanism has the first and second mounting shafts engaging pivotally at a lower end to the hot tub, and wherein a base end of the first and second telescoping rods laterally attach removably to and co-extends axially with the first and second mounting shafts respectively.

9. The spa enclosure apparatus set forth in claim 4 wherein the cover assembly has a cover removal mechanism constructed and arranged to secure the cover vertically when in the removed position.

10. The spa enclosure apparatus set forth in claim 8 further comprising a fastener engaged to the support structure near the front side and engaged removably to the hot tub to maintain the flexed condition of the first and second telescoping rods.

11. The spa enclosure apparatus set forth in claim 10 further comprising a first spacer column and a second spacer column projecting downward from the distal end of the first and second telescoping rods respectively and to a bottom end of the first and second spacer columns contacting the hot tub near the front side and wherein the fastener is engaged to the bottom end.

12. The spa enclosure apparatus set forth in claim 11 wherein the first and second spacer columns are constructed and arranged to rotate with respect to the distal end of the first and second telescoping rods respectively and are disposed parallel to the first and second telescoping rods and stored in the pocket when the first and second telescoping rods are retracted.

13. The spa enclosure apparatus as set forth in claim 4 further including a cross member spaced above the hot tub and engaged between the distal end of each of the first and second telescoping rods.