# US 10,370,864 B2 · Spa cover lifter system and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,370,864 B2 - Document ID: US10370864B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/475,231 - Filed: 2017-03-31 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-31 - Assignees: Carl Gavin - Applicants: Carl Gavin - Inventors: Carl Gavin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10370864B2 ## CPC - E04H 4/084: {with lifting mechanism} - E04H: BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL (foundations E02D) ## Abstract A spa cover lifting system is provided for selectively removing and replacing the cover of a spa. The spa cover lifter system has a frame configured to hold a cover of the spa and an actuator coupled to the frame. Selective actuation of the actuator by a user causes at least a portion of the frame and the cover to rotate about and between a first, closed position, in which access to the water of the spa is restricted, and a second, open position, in which access to the water of the spa is not restricted. The actuator and at least a portion of the frame are positioned below a deck that is around the outside of the spa so that the actuator and at least a portion of the frame are inaccessible to a user of the spa during normal usage. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A spa cover lifting system for selectively removing and replacing the cover of a spa positioned on a support surface, the system comprising: a frame configured to hold the cover of the spa; wherein the frame, in a closed position, defines a first plane parallel to and above a second plane defined by a deck around a base of the spa; a support member fixedly, non-rotatably extends from a back carriage portion of the frame and, in the closed position, extends toward the support surface and has a preselected length that positions a distal end of the support member below the second plane; an elongate attachment arm fixedly, non-rotatably extends from the support member at a right angle or at an obtuse angle relative to the support member; wherein, in the closed position, the attachment arm extends in a direction away from the cover of the spa at a position below the second plane, wherein the attachment arm has a free end opposite the support member; and an actuator coupled to the free end of the attachment arm and configured to selectively rotate the frame and the cover between the closed position, in which access to the water of the spa is restricted by the cover, and an open position, in which access to the water of the spa is not restricted by the cover. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The spa cover lifting system of claim 1, wherein the attachment arm is oriented at a right angle relative to the support member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The spa cover lifting system of claim 1, wherein the attachment arm is oriented at an obtuse angle relative to the support member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The spa cover lifting system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a deck positioned around at least a portion of a perimeter wall of the spa, wherein the deck is spaced from the support surface a predetermined distance and wherein the actuator is positioned below the deck. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The spa cover lifting system of claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the frame is positioned below the deck. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The spa cover lifting system of claim 4, wherein, in the open position, a portion of the frame is positioned substantially on the deck. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The spa cover lifting system of claim 1, wherein in the closed position, the cover is horizontal relative to the support surface and wherein in the open position, the cover is vertical relative to the support surface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The spa cover lifting system of claim 7, wherein the deck is positioned around at least a portion of a perimeter wall of the spa, and wherein the deck is spaced from the support surface a predetermined distance. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The spa cover lifting system of claim 8, wherein the free end of the attachment arm is positioned below the deck. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The spa cover lifting system of claim 8, wherein the frame further comprises at least one mount configured to support at least a portion of the frame and the cover, wherein the mount has a proximal end, and an opposed distal end configured to be positioned on the support surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The spa cover lifting system of claim 10, wherein the attachment arm and the support member are rotatably coupled to the mount for rotation relative to the mount. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The spa cover lifting system of claim 10, wherein the proximal end of the mount is positioned below the level of the deck. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The spa cover lifting system of claim 10, wherein the proximal end of the mount is positioned adjacent to the level of the deck. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The spa cover lifting system of claim 8, wherein the actuator is positioned between the deck and the support surface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The spa cover lifting system of claim 14, wherein the frame comprises a carriage sized and shaped to correspond to the size and shape of the cover, and wherein the carriage comprises a plurality of carriage portions coupled together that cooperate to define a carriage opening sized and shaped to hold the cover. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The spa cover lifting system of claim 15, wherein in the open position, the back carriage portion is positioned substantially on the deck. ### Claim 17 A method of automatically, selectively covering a spa positioned on a support surface, the method comprising: providing a spa cover lifting system comprising: a frame configured to hold the cover of the spa; wherein the frame, in a closed position, defines a first plane parallel to and above a second plane defined by a deck around a base of the spa; a support member fixedly, non-rotatably extends from a back carriage portion of the frame and, in the closed position, extends towards the support surface and has a preselected length that positions a distal end of the support member below the second plane; an elongate attachment arm fixedly, non-rotatably extends from the support member at a right angle or at an obtuse angle relative to the support member; wherein, in the closed position, the attachment arm extends in a direction away from the cover of the spa at a position below the second plane, wherein the attachment arm has a free end opposite the support member; and an actuator coupled to the free end of the attachment arm and configured to selectively rotate the frame and the cover between the closed position, in which access to the water of the spa is restricted by the cover, and an open position, in which access to the water of the spa is not restricted by the cover and actuating the actuator to rotate the cover to the first, closed position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein in the closed position, the cover is substantially horizontal relative to the support surface and wherein in the open position, the cover is substantially vertical relative to the support surface. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the deck is positioned around at least a portion of a perimeter wall of the spa, wherein the deck is spaced from the support surface a predetermined distance and wherein the actuator is positioned below the deck. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein at least a portion of the frame is positioned below the deck.