Apparatus for tipping a spa cover

• US 7,146,656 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2004
• Issued: 12/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fred Hagan
• Original Assignee: Fred Hagan
• Inventors: Hagan, Fred
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TUAN N
• Application Number:
  US10/818,587
• Publication Number:
  US 20050000010A1
• Time in Patent Office: 980 Days
• Field of Search: 449/8, 450/0, 450/3, 458/0, 162/39, 493/94, 493/81
• US Class Current: 4/498
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/084 with lifting mechanism

Abstract

An apparatus for raising and closing a hinged spa cover. A frame assembly extends over the rear panel of a bifold spa cover, and further is pivotally connected to a base assembly. In order to raise the spa cover from the spa tub, the front panel of the spa cover is folded over the rear panel and frame. The frame assembly pivots on the base assembly lifting the folded spa cover to an opened position. A stop connected to the frame assembly contacts the ground as the frame assembly pivots on the base, once the cover reaches a predetermined open position. The reverse steps will lower and close the spa cover onto the spa tub.

Claims

1. An apparatus for tilting open a hinged spa cover, having a rear and a front panel, for a spa comprising:

a base assembly of rigid legs having a pivot;

a frame assembly of trigonal arms and a cross-member with a cover support bracket, said cross-member extending across said rear panel and each end connected to said trigonal arms, said arms connected to said pivot on said base assembly, and a support leg hinged to said cross-member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said rear panel of said spa cover has a top side on which said cross-member rests but does not attach to said cover, and said spa cover having a left and right edge alongside which are each said trigonal arm, and a rear edge, each said trigonal arm formed in an L-shape and comprising a first arm member joined to second arm member and a transverse member, said first arm member having a rotatable connection to said leg on said base and said second arm member substantially parallel to said left and right edges of said rear panel.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said rear panel of said spa cover has a top side on which said cross-member rests, a left and right edge alongside which are each said trigonal arm, and a rear edge that contacts said spa, said cover support bracket having a first planar portion joined to said cross-member and a second planar portion in contact with said rear edge of said rear panel.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, said frame assembly further comprising a stiffening strut connected between said second arm members of said trigonal arms.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein on each said leg, said pivot comprising an aperture through which a pivot bar passes and each end of said pivot arm connects to one of said second members of said arms.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, said base assembly including feet which fix said legs to the ground.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising one or more straps on the frame assembly to maintain the spa cover in close proximity to the cross-member.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, said trigonal arms comprising a pair of L-shaped members wherein a first segment of each L-shaped member extends along opposing sides of the rear panel of the spa cover and a second segment of each L-shaped member extends perpendicularly away from the spa cover in the direction of said pivot and is received by said pivot, and a transverse member bridged between said first and second segments.

5. An apparatus for tipping open a spa cover having a rear panel hinged to a front panel, said spa having side walls and a rear wall below said rear panel of said cover, said apparatus comprising:

a frame assembly comprising lateral struts braced to form a frame that rests across said rear panel, and each said strut extending between a pair of trigonal arms substantially parallel to said sidewalls, each said trigonal arm having a first member substantially parallel with said side wall and a second member substantially parallel with said rear panel and a transverse member therebetween, with said lateral struts joined to said second member, and said frame assembly joined to a moveable support stop, and a fixed base next to said rear wall of said spa, said base having a pivot point providing a rotatable connection to said second member of said arms.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, said transverse member comprising a cross-brace between said first and second members of each said arm.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, said frame assembly further comprising a stiffening strut extending between said second members of said pair of arms.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said support stop is hingedly connected to said stiffening strut.

9. The apparatus of claim 5, said base comprising a pair of bases spaced apart at the rear wall of said spa, and affixed near said rear wall.

11. The apparatus of claim 5, said frame assembly comprising a rest attached to the rear lateral strut.

17. The apparatus of claim 5, said base including feet which fix said legs to the ground.

18. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising one or more straps on the frame assembly to maintain the spa cover in close proximity to said lateral struts.

14. An apparatus for raising a hinged spa cover with a rear and a front panel for a spa comprising:

a base assembly fixed near the base of said spa comprising stationary legs and a pivot;

a frame assembly comprising;

a cross-member resting upon said rear panel of said spa cover and connected at each end to trigonal arms, said arms connected to said pivot on said base assembly;

a support stop attached movably at one end to the frame assembly.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, said frame assembly further comprising a rest attached to said lateral strut.