Spa Tub Cover Lifter

Abstract

A spa tub cover lifter includes a first mount which is attached to a spa tub, and a second mount rotatable about a pivot axis on the first mount. A first support is connected to the second mount and is coupled to a first location on a first portion of the spa cover. A connector has a first assembly state in which the connector is movably displaceable relative to a portion of the first support and a second assembly state in which the connector is fixed relative to the portion of the first support. A second support is provided between the connector and a second location of the first spa cover portion. When the first support is rotated about the pivot axis, a lifting force is applied to the first cover portion to lift the first cover portion relative to an upper rim of the spa tub.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A spa tub cover lifter system for use in association with a spa tub and spa cover,
 the spa tub having a tub shell defining an interior for holding water and an exterior, the tub shell having a plurality of seating locations and an upper rim having a perimeter, the perimeter having a first dimension and a transverse second dimension, and   the spa tub cover having a first spa cover portion having a first upper surface and a first lower surface, first and second opposite lateral sides, a first inner side, and a first outer side opposite the first inner side, a second spa cover portion having a second upper surface and a second lower surface, a second inner side facing the first inner side, and a second outer side opposite the first outer side, and a hinge extending between the first and second spa cover portions, the first and second spa cover portions rotatable relative to each other on the hinge about a hinge axis between a flat configuration and a folded configuration, the lifter system comprising:   a) a first mount stably locatable relative to the spa tub;   b) a second mount rotatably mounted to the first mount and defining a pivot axis;   c) a first support connected to the second mount and adapted to be coupled to a first location on the first spa cover portion;   d) a connector having a first assembly state in which the connector is movably displaceable relative to a portion of the first support and a second assembly state in which the connector is fixed relative to the portion of the first support; and   e) a second support connected between the connector and a second location of the first spa cover portion,   wherein when the first support is rotated about the pivot axis, a lifting force is applied to the first spa cover portion to lift the first and second spa cover portions relative to the upper rim of the spa tub.   
     
     
         2 . A spa tub cover lifter according to  1 , wherein:
 the connector is slidably displaceable relative to the portion of the first support in the first assembly state.   
     
     
         3 . A spa tub cover lifter according to  2 , wherein:
 the connector includes a tubular portion which is slidably disposable over the portion of the first support in the first assembly state.   
     
     
         4 . A spa tub cover lifter according to  3 , wherein:
 the connector includes a bracket at which the second support is connected to the connector.   
     
     
         5 . A spa tub cover lifter according to  1 , wherein:
 in the second assembly state, fasteners fixedly couple the first and second supports to the connector.   
     
     
         6 . A spa tub cover lifter according to  1 , wherein:
 the first support includes an adjustable clamp by which the first support is adapted to be coupled to the first location on the first spa cover portion.   
     
     
         7 . A spa tub cover lifter according to  1 , wherein:
 the first support and the second support are adapted to be coupled to orthogonal surfaces on the first spa cover portion.   
     
     
         8 . A spa tub cover lifter system according to  7 , wherein:
 the first support is adapted to couple to the upper surface of the first spa cover portion, and the second support is adapted to couple to the outer surface of the first spa cover portion.   
     
     
         9 . A spa tub cover lifter system according to  1 , wherein:
 the second support is not connected to the rotatable mount.   
     
     
         10 . A spa tub cove lifter system according to  1 , in combination with a spa tub, the spa tub having,
 i) a tub shell defining an interior for holding water and an exterior, the tub shell having a plurality of seating locations and an upper rim having a perimeter, the perimeter having a first dimension and a transverse second dimension,   ii) a cabinet about the shell,   ii) hydrotherapy jets installed at one or more seating locations,   iii) a plumbing system to circulate water from the interior of the tub shell through the jets, and   iv) a heating system for heating the circulated water.   
     
     
         11 . A spa tub cover and lifter system for use in association with a spa tub, the spa tub having a tub shell defining an interior for holding water and an exterior, the tub shell having a plurality of seating locations and an upper rim having a perimeter, the perimeter having a first dimension and a transverse second dimension, the cover and lifter system comprising:
 a) a cover, including,
 i) a first spa cover portion having a first upper surface and a first lower surface, first and second opposite lateral sides, a first inner side, and a first outer side opposite the first inner side, 
 ii) a second spa cover portion having a second upper surface and a second lower surface, a second inner side facing the first inner side, and a second outer side opposite the first outer side, and 
 iii) a hinge extending between the first and second spa cover portions, the first and second spa cover portions rotatable relative to each other on the hinge about a hinge axis between a flat configuration and a folded configuration, wherein in the flat configuration the cover seats on the rim of the spa tub; and 
   b) a lifter system for lifting the cover from the rim of the spa tub, including,
 i) a first mount stably locatable relative to the spa tub, 
 ii) a second mount rotatably mounted to the first mount and defining a pivot axis; 
 iii) a first support connected to the second mount and adapted to be coupled to a first location on the first spa cover portion, 
 iv) a connector having a first assembly state in which the connector is movably displaceable relative to a portion of the first support and a second assembly state in which the connector is fixed relative to the portion of the first support, and 
 v) a second support connected between the connector and a second location of the first spa cover portion, 
 wherein when the first support is rotated about the pivot axis, a lifting force is applied to the first spa cover portion to lift the first and second spa cover portions relative to the upper rim of the spa tub. 
   
     
     
         12 . A spa tub cover lifter system according to  11 , wherein:
 the connector is slidably displaceable relative to the portion of the first support in the first assembly state.   
     
     
         13 . A spa tub cover lifter system according to  12 , wherein:
 the connector includes a tubular portion which is slidably disposable over the portion of the first support in the first assembly state.   
     
     
         14 . A spa tub cover lifter system according to  13 , wherein:
 the connector includes a bracket at which the second support is connected to the connector.   
     
     
         15 . A spa tub cover lifter system according to  11 , wherein:
 in the second assembly state, fasteners fixedly couple the first and second supports to the connector.   
     
     
         16 . A spa tub cover lifter system according to  11 , wherein:
 the first support includes an adjustable clamp by which the first support is adapted to be coupled to the first location on the first spa cover portion.   
     
     
         17 . A spa tub cover lifter system according to  11 , wherein:
 the first support and the second support are adapted to be coupled to orthogonal surfaces on the first spa cover portion.   
     
     
         18 . A spa tub cover lifter system according to  17 , wherein:
 the first support is adapted to couple to the upper surface of the first spa cover portion, and the second support is adapted to couple to the outer surface of the first spa cover portion.   
     
     
         19 . A spa tub cover lifter system according to  11 , wherein:
 the second support is not connected to the rotatable mount.   
     
     
         20 . A spa tub cover lifter system for use in association with a spa tub, the spa tub having a tub shell defining an interior for holding water and an exterior, the tub shell having a plurality of seating locations and an upper rim having a perimeter, the perimeter having a first dimension and a transverse second dimension, the cover and lifter system comprising:
 a) a cover, including,
 i) a first spa cover portion having a first upper surface and a first lower surface, first and second opposite lateral sides, a first inner side, and a first outer side opposite the first inner side, 
 ii) a second spa cover portion having a second upper surface and a second lower surface, a second inner side facing the first inner side, and a second outer side opposite the first outer side, and 
 iii) a hinge extending between the first and second spa cover portions, the first and second spa cover portions rotatable relative to each other on the hinge about a hinge axis between a flat, closed configuration and a folded, open configuration, wherein in the closed configuration the cover is configured to seat on the rim of the spa tub; and 
   b) a lifter system for lifting the cover from the rim of the spa tub, including,
 i) a first mount stably locatable relative to the spa tub, a stop defined on the first mount, 
 ii) a second mount rotatably mounted to the first mount and defining a pivot axis; 
 iii) a first support connected to the second mount and adapted to be coupled to the upper surface on the first spa cover portion, and 
 v) a second support connected between the connector and the first outer side of the first spa cover portion, 
 wherein when the lifter system is rotated on the pivot axis, a lifting force is applied to the first spa cover portion to lift the first and second spa cover portions relative to the upper rim of the spa tub, and 
 said stop is positioned relative to the first support so that during the rotation toward the open configuration the stop limits movement of the first support to a maximum permissible angle. 
   
     
     
         21 . A spa tub cover lifter system for use in association with a spa tub, the spa tub having a tub shell defining an interior for holding water and an exterior, the tub shell having a plurality of seating locations and an upper rim having a perimeter, the perimeter having a first dimension and a transverse second dimension, the cover and lifter system comprising:
 a) a cover, including,
 i) a first spa cover portion having a first upper surface and a first lower surface, first and second opposite lateral sides, a first inner side, and a first outer side opposite the first inner side, 
 ii) a second spa cover portion having a second upper surface and a second lower surface, a second inner side facing the first inner side, and a second outer side opposite the first outer side, and 
 iii) a hinge extending between the first and second spa cover portions, the first and second spa cover portions rotatable relative to each other on the hinge about a hinge axis between a flat, closed configuration and a folded, open configuration, wherein in the closed configuration the cover is configured to seat on the rim of the spa tub; 
   b) a lifter system for lifting the cover from the rim of the spa tub, including,
 i) a first mount stably locatable relative to the spa tub, a stop defined on the first mount, 
 ii) a second mount rotatably mounted to the first mount and defining a pivot axis; 
 iii) a first support connected to the second mount and adapted to be coupled to the upper surface on the first spa cover portion, and 
 v) a second support connected between the connector and the first outer side of the first spa cover portion, 
 wherein when the lifter system is rotated on the pivot axis, a lifting force is applied to the first spa cover portion to lift the first and second spa cover portions relative to the upper rim of the spa tub; and 
   c) a locking system for locking the cover in the closed configuration relative to the spa tub, the locking system consisting essentially of,
 i) a first locking mechanism for securing spa tub cover in the closed configuration, the first locking mechanism extending over the lateral side of the second portion of the spa tub cover, and 
 ii) a second locking mechanism for securing spa tub cover in the closed configuration, the second locking mechanism extending over the outer side of the second portion of the spa tub cover.