Soft bimini style gazebo particularly in use with separate and independently actuating hard top cover flipper

Abstract

A convertible spa top having pairs of brackets mounted at locations along sides of the spa. A bimini frame incorporates a plurality of interconnected tubular members to which is secured a fabric covering, the frame hingedly engaging the brackets and including at least a main tubular member engaging, at remote ends, an intermediate-most located pair of brackets, a pair of tubular supports extending from the other of the pair of brackets and each engaging an intermediate outer leg location of the main tubular member, and at least one secondary tubular member extending in a hinged and reverse angled fashion from additional locations associated with the main tubular member. The frame is convertible from a first configuration in which the fabric covering is substantially stretched over and above the spa, to a second configuration in which the tubular members and fabric are collapsed to one end of the spa.

1 . A convertible soft top for use with a spa, comprising:
 first and second pairs of brackets mounted at aligning locations defined along parallel extending sides associated with the spa;   a bimini frame incorporating a plurality of interconnected tubular members to which is secured a fabric covering, said frame hingedly engaging said brackets and further comprising:
 a main tubular member exhibiting a substantially “U” shape including a pair of outer legs engaging, at remote ends, an intermediate-most located pair of brackets; 
 a pair of tubular supports extending from the other of said pair of brackets, each engaging an intermediate outer leg location of said main tubular member; and 
 at least one secondary “U” shaped tubular member extending in a hinged and reverse angled fashion from additional locations associated with said outer legs associated with said main tubular member; 
   said frame being convertible from a first configuration in which said fabric covering is substantially stretched over and above the spa, to a second configuration in which said tubular members and associated fabric covering are collapsed along one end of the spa.   
   
   
       2 . The convertible spa top as described in  claim 1 , said at least one secondary tubular member further comprising a first secondary tubular member mounting at opposite ends to locations along said main member outer legs proximate to said intermediate hinged brackets, a second secondary tubular member mounting at opposite ends to extended locations along said main member outer legs proximate said engaging locations of said tubular supports. 
   
   
       3 . The convertible spa top as described in  claim 2 , further comprising a third secondary tubular member mounted in reverse angled fashion relative to intermediate locations associated with said first secondary tubular member. 
   
   
       4 . The convertible spa top as described in  claim 4 , said fabric covering exhibiting a specified shape and size releasably securing to crosswise extending portions of each of said main and secondary tubular members. 
   
   
       5 . The convertible spa top as described in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one tie down strap extending from an end of the spa opposite said collapsing end, said strap engaging a crosswise extending location of said secondary tubular member for maintaining said frame in said first configuration. 
   
   
       6 . The convertible spa top as described in  claim 1 , each of said pairs of brackets further comprising a substantially “U” shaped body, from associated ends of which extend first and second angled end flanges mounted to the spa sides, a hinged support mounting to an outermost projecting face associated with each of said brackets and for receiving a selected main tubular frame or tubular support end. 
   
   
       7 . The convertible spa top as described in  claim 6 , further comprising a substantially “U” shaped cover flipper engaging a pair of secondary and inwardly spaced hinged supports associated with said tubular support brackets, said flipper converting between an extending position in which a crosswise extending portion thereof overlays and extends across a midpoint of the spa, and a retracted position in which said cover flipper retracts a hinged spa cover off to a side of the spa without interference with said bimini frame. 
   
   
       8 . The convertible spa top as described in  claim 7 , further comprising at least one of said main tubular member, said secondary tubular member and said cover flipper exhibiting telescopically extendable sides or ends. 
   
   
       9 . The convertible spa top as described in  claim 8 , each of said “U” shaped members further comprising a pair of angled outer tubular portions, within open ends of which are telescopically and adjustably received inner tubular portions defining both cross wise extending and end extending portions. 
   
   
       10 . The convertible spa top as described in  claim 7 , further comprising a length chain mounted at a first end to a side location of the spa, a second end mounting to a selected leg of said cover flipper and, upon retracting said cover flipper, extending to a maximum permissible length at which said cover flipper and cover are maintained in suspended fashion to the side of the spa. 
   
   
       11 . A combination convertible soft top and cover flipper for use with a spa, comprising:
 first and second pairs of brackets mounted at aligning locations defined along parallel extending sides associated with the spa;   a bimini frame incorporating a plurality of interconnected tubular members to which is secured a fabric covering, said frame hingedly engaging said brackets and further comprising at least:
 a main “U” shaped tubular member engaging an intermediate-most located pair of brackets; 
 a pair of lengthwise extending tubular supports extending from the other of said pair of brackets, each engaging an intermediate outer leg location of said main tubular member; and 
 at least one secondary “U” shaped tubular member extending in a hinged and reverse angled fashion from additional locations associated with said outer legs associated with said main tubular member; 
   each of said pairs of brackets further comprising a substantially “U” shaped body, from associated ends of which extend first and second angled end flanges mounted to the spa sides, a hinged support mounting to an outermost projecting face associated with each of said brackets and for receiving a selected main tubular frame or tubular support end; and   said cover flipper engaging a pair of secondary and inwardly spaced hinged supports associated with said tubular support brackets, said flipper converting between an extending position in which a crosswise extending portion thereof overlays and extends across a midpoint of said spa, and a retracted position in which said cover flipper retracts a hinged spa cover off to a side of the spa without interference with said bimini frame;   said frame being convertible from a first configuration in which said fabric covering is substantially stretched over and above the spa, to a second configuration in which said tubular members and associated fabric covering are collapsed along one end of the spa.   
   
   
       12 . The combination convertible soft top and cover flipper as described in  claim 11 , said at least one secondary tubular member further comprising a first secondary tubular member mounting at opposite ends to locations along said main member outer legs proximate to said intermediate hinged brackets, a second secondary tubular member mounting at opposite ends to extended locations along said main member outer legs proximate said engaging locations of said tubular supports. 
   
   
       13 . The combination soft top and cover flipper as described in  claim 12 , further comprising a third secondary tubular member mounted in reverse angled fashion relative to intermediate locations associated with said first secondary tubular member. 
   
   
       14 . The combination soft top and cover flipper as described in  claim 14 , said fabric covering exhibiting a specified shape and size releasably securing to crosswise extending portions of each of said main and secondary tubular members. 
   
   
       15 . The combination soft top and cover flipper as described in  claim 11 , further comprising a pair of tie down straps extending from an end of the spa opposite said collapsing end, said straps engaging crosswise extending locations associated with said secondary tubular member for maintaining said frame in said first configuration. 
   
   
       16 . The combination soft top and cover flipper as described in  claim 11 , further comprising at least one of said main tubular member, said secondary tubular member and said cover flipper exhibiting telescopically extendable sides or ends. 
   
   
       17 . The combination soft top and cover flipper as described in  claim 16 , each of said “U” shaped members further comprising a pair of angled outer tubular portions, within open ends of which are telescopically and adjustably received inner tubular portions defining both cross wise extending and end extending portions. 
   
   
       18 . The combination soft top and cover flipper as described in  claim 17 , further comprising a length chain mounted at a first end to a side location of said spa, a second end mounting to a selected leg of said cover flipper and, upon retracting said cover flipper, extending to a maximum permissible length at which said cover flipper and cover are maintained in suspended fashion to the side of the spa. 
   
   
       19 . A convertible soft top assembly and combined cover flipper for use with a spa, comprising:
 at least one pair of brackets mounted at locations along opposite extending sides of the spa;   a bimini frame incorporating a plurality of interconnected tubular members hingedly mounted to said brackets and to which is secured a fabric covering;   said cover flipper hingedly mounted to said brackets at inwardly spaced locations relative to said bimini frame, said flipper converting between an extending position in which a crosswise extending portion thereof overlays and extends across a midpoint of said spa, and a retracted position in which said cover flipper is upwardly pivoted and retracts a hinged spa cover off to a side of the spa, and without interference with said bimini frame;   said frame being convertible from a first configuration in which said fabric covering is substantially stretched over and above the spa, to a second configuration in which said tubular members and associated fabric covering are collapsed along one end of the spa.   
   
   
       20 . The convertible soft top assembly and combined cover flipper as described in  claim 19 , said at least one pair of brackets further comprising a first pair of end located brackets and second pair of intermediate located brackets, said bimini frame further comprising:
 a main “U” shaped tubular member engaging said intermediate-most located pair of brackets;   a pair of lengthwise extending tubular supports extending from said end located brackets, each engaging an intermediate outer leg location of said main tubular member; and   at least one secondary “U” shaped tubular member extending in a hinged and reverse angled fashion from additional locations associated with said outer legs associated with said main tubular member;