Spa cover lift system
AssigneeStrong Industries, Inc.
InventorsWade Spicer, Charles Woods
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lift system for a spa cover includes a first lifter arm connected to a spa cover adjacent to a first end, and rotatably connected to a housing of a spa at a second end, a plate connected to the first lifter arm and rotatable with the first lifter arm, a linkage having a first end connected to the plate adjacent to a periphery of the plate, and a second end, and a linear actuator moveable between a retracted position and an extended position, a distal end of the linear actuator being connected to the second end of the linkage. Movement of the linear actuator from the retracted position to the extended position effects rotation of the plate and first lifter arm.
Claims18
A lift system for a spa cover, comprising:
- a first lifter arm connected to a spa cover adjacent to a first end of the first lifter arm, and rotatably connected to a housing of a spa at a second end of the first lifter arm;
- a plate connected to the first lifter arm and rotatable with the first lifter arm;
- a linkage having a first end connected to the plate adjacent to a periphery of the plate, and a second end;
- and
- a linear actuator having a distal end connected to the second end of the linkage, the linear actuator being moveable between a retracted position and an extended position;
- wherein movement of the linear actuator from the retracted position to the extended position effects rotation of the plate and the first lifter arm;
- wherein the lift system is operable in an automatic mode of operation and a manual mode of operation;
- and
- wherein in the manual mode of operation, manually rotating the first lifter arm effects decoupling of the linear actuator from an uncovering and covering cycle of the spa cover.
A lift system for a spa cover, comprising:
- a first lifter arm connected to a spa cover adjacent to a first end of the first lifter arm, and rotatably connected to a housing of a spa at a first pivot point;
- and
- a motorized lift device operatively connected to the first lifter arm and configured to move the spa cover between a covered position and an uncovered position;
- wherein the motorized lift device is a linear actuator;
- and
- a roller bearing operably connected to the linear actuator, the roller bearing being received in a guide channel in a vertical frame member of the housing;
- wherein the spa cover is moveable between the covered position and the uncovered position automatically under bias from the motorized lift device, and manually via manual rotation of the first lifter arm about the first pivot point.
A lift system for a spa cover, comprising:
- a first lifter arm connected to a spa cover adjacent to a first end of the first lifter arm, and rotatably connected to a housing of a spa at a first pivot point;
- a motorized lift device operatively connected to the first lifter arm and configured to move the spa cover between a covered position and an uncovered position;
- a second lifter arm connected to the spa cover adjacent to a first end of the second lifter arm, and rotatably connected to the housing of a spa at a second pivot point;
- and
- a non-motorized lift system operatively connected to the first lifter arm and configured to assist movement of the spa cover between the covered position and the uncovered position;
- wherein the spa cover is moveable between the covered position and the uncovered position automatically under bias from the motorized lift device, and manually via manual rotation of the first lifter arm about the first pivot point;
- wherein the non-motorized lift system includes a plate operatively connected to the second lifter arm and rotatable about the second pivot point, a first gas spring pivotally connected to the plate at a point offset from the second pivot point, and a second gas spring pivotally connected to the plate at a point offset from the second pivot point;
- and
- wherein the non-motorized lift system further includes a third gas spring and a linkage, a first end of the linkage being pivotally connected to the plate at a point offset from the second pivot point, and a second end of the linkage being pivotally connected to the third gas spring.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.