Adjustable Support Member for a Spa Cover Lifting Device

Abstract

An adjustable support member for supporting a frame of a spa cover lifting device is disclosed, the frame being movable between a first frame position wherein the spa cover generally covers a spa and a second frame position wherein the spa cover is lifted from the spa. The adjustable support member includes a base and a stop member. The base includes a bracket adapted to be fixed adjacent the spa. The stop member has a connection portion adapted to be displaceably coupled to the base, and an abutment portion adapted to support the frame of a spa cover lifting device when the frame is in the second frame position. The abutment portion extends from the connection portion and is displaceable with the connection portion for adjusting a distance between the abutment portion and the bracket.

1 . An adjustable support member for supporting a frame of a spa cover lifting device, the frame being movable between a first frame position wherein the spa cover generally covers a spa and a second frame position wherein the spa cover is lifted from the spa, the adjustable support member comprising:
 a) a base, the base comprising a bracket adapted to be fixed adjacent the spa;   b) a stop member having a connection portion adapted to be displaceably coupled to the base, and an abutment portion adapted to support the frame of a spa cover lifting device when the frame is in the second frame position, the abutment portion extending from the connection portion and displaceable with the connection portion for adjusting a distance between the abutment portion and the bracket.   
     
     
         2 . The adjustable support member of  claim 1 , wherein one of the base and the stop member comprises an elongate shaft extending along a shaft axis, and the other of the stop member and the base comprises a collar configured to slidably receive the shaft. 
     
     
         3 . The adjustable support member of  claim 2 , wherein the abutment member has a first end adjacent the connection portion and a second end spaced apart from the first end in a first direction that is non-parallel to the shaft axis. 
     
     
         4 . The adjustable support member of  claim 3 , wherein the first direction is generally orthogonal to the shaft axis. 
     
     
         5 . The adjustable support member of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the base and the stop member comprises a securement member moveable between an engaged configuration, in which relative displacement between the abutment portion and the bracket is inhibited, and a disengaged configuration, in which the abutment portion is displaceable relative to the bracket. 
     
     
         6 . The adjustable support member of  claim 5 , wherein the securement member comprises a set screw. 
     
     
         7 . The adjustable support member of  claim 1 , wherein the bracket comprises at least one flange for securing the bracket adjacent the spa. 
     
     
         8 . The adjustable support member of  claim 1 , wherein the abutment the abutment portion comprises a body extending from the connection portion and made from a body material, and further comprising at least one cushioning member made from a different, cushioning material and disposed on the body to contact the frame of a spa cover lifting device when the frame is in the second frame position. 
     
     
         9 . The adjustable support member of  claim 1 , wherein the abutment portion comprises a primary abutment surface configured to abut one portion of the frame, and a secondary abutment surface spaced apart from the primary abutment surface and configured to abut another portion of the frame. 
     
     
         10 . The adjustable support member of  claim 9 , wherein the secondary abutment surface is generally orthogonal to the primary abutment surface. 
     
     
         11 . An adjustable lifting device for lifting a spa cover of a spa having a spa housing, the adjustable lifting device comprising:
 a) a frame positionable adjacent the spa housing and connectable to a spa cover, the frame movable between a first frame position, wherein the spa cover generally covers the spa housing, and a second frame position wherein the spa cover is lifted from the spa housing;   b) a support member positionable adjacent the spa housing to support the frame when the frame is in the second frame position, the support member comprising:
 i. a base, the base comprising a bracket adapted to be fixed adjacent the spa; and 
 ii. a stop member having a connection portion adapted to be displaceably coupled to the base, and an abutment portion adapted to support the frame when the frame is in the second frame position, the abutment portion extending from the connection portion and displaceable with the connection portion for adjusting a distance between the abutment portion and the bracket. 
   
     
     
         12 . The adjustable lifting device of  claim 9 , wherein the frame is adapted to be connected to the spa housing at a frame elevation, and the support member is adapted to be connected to the spa housing at a support elevation that is higher than the frame elevation. 
     
     
         13 . A spa apparatus comprising:
 a) a spa housing;   b) a spa cover for covering the spa housing;   c) a cover lifting frame supporting the spa cover, the cover lifting frame movable between a first frame position, wherein the spa cover generally covers the spa housing, and a second frame position wherein the spa cover is lifted from the spa housing;   d) a support member comprising a base and a stop member, the base comprising a bracket adapted to be fixed adjacent the spa, and the stop member having a connection portion displaceably coupled to the base and an abutment portion adapted to support the cover lifting frame when the frame is in the second frame position, the abutment portion extending from the connection portion and displaceable with the connection portion for adjusting a distance between the abutment portion and the bracket.   
     
     
         14 . The spa apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the frame is connected to the spa by a frame mount comprising a pivot axis about which the frame can pivot to move between the first and second frame positions, and wherein the pivot axis is at a first elevation and the stop member is disposed at a second, higher elevation. 
     
     
         15 . The spa apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the spa housing comprises an open upper end spaced vertically above a lower end, and wherein the frame mount is connected to the spa housing adjacent the lower end and the support member is connected to the spa housing adjacent upper end. 
     
     
         16 . The spa apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the spa housing comprises an open upper end spaced vertically above a lower end by a spa height and wherein the support member is spaced above the frame mount by an offset distance that is between about 40% and about 80% of the spa height.