Method and apparatus for automatically lifting a cover
First Claim
1. An apparatus for lifting a cover from an opening of a housing having an exterior and an interior, wherein the housing further has a housing proximate end defining a proximate portion of the opening and a housing distal end defining a distal portion of the opening, wherein the cover has a proximate portion of the cover pivotally connected to a distal portion of the cover, wherein the proximate cover portion is adapted to cover the proximate portion of the opening, and wherein the distal cover portion is adapted to cover the distal portion of the opening, the apparatus comprising:
- a first frame member having a first frame member proximate end and a first frame member distal end, wherein the first frame member distal end is pivotally attached at a frame pivot location to the exterior of the housing, andwherein the first frame member proximate end is pivotally and slidably coupled to the proximate cover portion of the cover; and
a motor coupled to the first frame member and adapted to rotate the first frame member about the frame pivot location from a frame first position to a frame second position, and from the frame second position to a frame third position,wherein the proximate cover portion is disposed in a generally horizontal orientation over the proximate portion of the opening and the distal cover portion is disposed in a generally horizontal orientation over the distal portion of the opening when the first frame member is in the frame first position,wherein the proximate cover portion is lifted from the proximate portion of the opening and the distal cover portion is disposed in a generally horizontal orientation over the distal portion of the opening when the first frame member is in the frame second position, andwherein the proximate cover portion is lifted from the proximate portion of the opening and the distal cover portion is lifted from the distal portion of the opening when the first frame member is in the frame third position;
wherein the first frame member proximate end defines an elongated slot and wherein the apparatus further comprises a pin attached to the proximate cover portion of the cover and extending through the elongated slot for longitudinal movement therein.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for lifting a cover from a spa or other housing includes a frame member having one end that is pivotally attached to the exterior of the housing. Another end of the frame member is pivotally and slidably coupled to the cover. In one embodiment, the frame member is pivotally and slidably coupled to the proximate cover portion via a pin attached to the proximate cover portion and extending through a slot defined by the frame member. A motor is likewise attached to the exterior of the housing and is pivotally coupled to the frame member. The motor causes the frame member to rotate thereby lifting the cover off of the housing.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An apparatus for lifting a cover from an opening of a housing having an exterior and an interior, wherein the housing further has a housing proximate end defining a proximate portion of the opening and a housing distal end defining a distal portion of the opening, wherein the cover has a proximate portion of the cover pivotally connected to a distal portion of the cover, wherein the proximate cover portion is adapted to cover the proximate portion of the opening, and wherein the distal cover portion is adapted to cover the distal portion of the opening, the apparatus comprising:
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a first frame member having a first frame member proximate end and a first frame member distal end, wherein the first frame member distal end is pivotally attached at a frame pivot location to the exterior of the housing, and wherein the first frame member proximate end is pivotally and slidably coupled to the proximate cover portion of the cover; and a motor coupled to the first frame member and adapted to rotate the first frame member about the frame pivot location from a frame first position to a frame second position, and from the frame second position to a frame third position, wherein the proximate cover portion is disposed in a generally horizontal orientation over the proximate portion of the opening and the distal cover portion is disposed in a generally horizontal orientation over the distal portion of the opening when the first frame member is in the frame first position, wherein the proximate cover portion is lifted from the proximate portion of the opening and the distal cover portion is disposed in a generally horizontal orientation over the distal portion of the opening when the first frame member is in the frame second position, and wherein the proximate cover portion is lifted from the proximate portion of the opening and the distal cover portion is lifted from the distal portion of the opening when the first frame member is in the frame third position; wherein the first frame member proximate end defines an elongated slot and wherein the apparatus further comprises a pin attached to the proximate cover portion of the cover and extending through the elongated slot for longitudinal movement therein. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of lifting a cover from a housing having an opening, wherein the housing has a proximate housing end defining a proximate portion of the opening and having a distal housing end defining a distal portion of the opening, the method comprising:
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providing means for lifting a proximate cover portion of the cover from a generally horizontal orientation over the proximate portion of the opening using a motor coupled to a frame member, wherein the frame member is pivotally and slidably coupled to the proximate cover portion, wherein a distal portion of the cover remains in a generally horizontal orientation over a distal portion of the opening while the proximate cover portion is being lifted, and wherein the proximate cover portion is pivotally connected to the distal cover portion; and providing means for lifting the distal cover portion of the cover from the generally horizontal orientation over the distal portion of the opening using the motor and the frame member, wherein the proximate cover portion no longer covers the proximate portion of the housing opening while the distal cover portion is being lifted, wherein a distal edge of the cover is prevented from moving in a generally lateral direction away from the housing proximate end, and wherein the distal edge of the cover is adjacent to the distal portion of the cover; wherein the frame member is pivotally and slidablv coupled to the proximate cover portion via a pin attached to the proximate cover portion and extending through an elongated slot defined by the frame member for longitudinal movement therein. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification