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  Upright hinge for spa coverUSPTO Application #: 20070256229Title: Upright hinge for spa cover Abstract: A hinge assembly for coupling a spa cover to a spa, said spa cover being movable between a fully closed position and a fully open position. The hinge assembly includes a mounting bracket adapted to be installed near a top of the spa, and adapted to be coupled to a first end of a spring member; and a support arm pivotably coupled to the mounting bracket about an axis of rotation, adapted to be attached on an outside surface of the spa cover, and adapted to be coupled to a second end of the spring member. At least one of the mounting bracket or the support arm has a plurality of openings for selectively coupling the first end or the second end of the spring member, so as to adjust a coupling location between the spring member and the at least one of the mounting bracket or the support arm. (end of abstract)
Agent: Christie, Parker & Hale, LLP - Pasadena, CA, US Inventors: Carlos Duarte, Fred S. Romero USPTO Applicaton #: 20070256229 - Class: 004498000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Baths, Closets, Sinks, And Spittoons, Pool Type, Accessory, Covering The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070256229. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/436,410, filed May 17, 2006, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/622,213, filed Jul. 18, 2003, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,073,213 on Jul. 11, 2006. This application also claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/812,295 filed on Jun. 9, 2006. The entire content of each of the above-referenced U.S. application Ser. Nos. 11/436,410, 10/622,213 and 60/812,295 is incorporated by reference herein. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This application is related to a hinge between a spa and a spa cover, and more particularly, to a hinge that allows a spa cover to be stowed in an upright position when the spa is open. BACKGROUND [0003] Commercially available spas typically have a spa cover to prevent dirt or dust from entering therein. To open the spa, a spa cover is typically folded in half, hingedly lifted off the top of the spa, and lowered vertically behind the spa so as to reduce its obstruction of view to a person using the spa. However, such lowering and stowage of the spa cover typically requires an area behind the spa that may be larger than available in a small backyard. [0004] To accommodate those without sufficient room to stow the spa cover behind the spa, some spa covers are kept in an upright position when the spa is fully open. This way, less room is typically required behind the spa. However, spa covers in an upright position are more susceptible to a gust of wind that blows against it from the rear or other forces that tend to close the spa cover when an occupant is in the spa. [0005] U.S. Patent Publication No. 2002/0050003 filed by Perry ("Perry I") discloses a gas spring lock for engaging and locking a gas spring in the extended position so that covers of spas, hot tubs and other similar apparatus that employ gas springs can be safely locked into an open position. [0006] U.S. Pat. No. 6,000,071 issued to Fettes ("Fettes I") discloses an apparatus for aiding removal and replacement of a spa cover. Fettes I discloses a lifting system for exerting a lifting force on an arm attached to the spa cover, tending to lift the arm as the arm moves from the covering position toward the uncovering position, and for exerting a resistance force on the arm tending to resist movement of the arm from the uncovering position toward the covering position. [0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,252 issued to Fettes ("Fettes II") discloses a device for aiding in the removal and replacement of a spa cover atop a spa tub. FIGS. 11-13 disclose a spa cover that is stowed at an upright position. [0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,841 issued to Black et al. ("Black et al.") discloses a spa cover lifting apparatus which can be adjusted to accommodate spa covers of different sizes. The lifting action of the apparatus is assisted by a telescoping gas strut. [0009] In each of the above publication and patents, a gas spring forms an angle that is more than 45 degrees with respect to the top of the spa when the spa cover is in a fully open position. [0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,819,332 issued to Perry ("Perry II") discloses a spa cover removal apparatus. As seen in FIG. 8, the gas spring 63 can assume an infinite number of positions thereby providing a wide range of adjustment for the amount of load it assumes to resist. [0011] U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,420 issued to Bye et al. ("Bye et al.") discloses a hinge system for a large or heavy cover member hinged to a container member. A container hinge plate is secured to a side wall of the container member. A cover hinge plate is secured to a side wall of the cover member and rotatably connected to the first hinge means at a hinge pivot means. Bye et al. also discloses a gas strut that appears to form an angle that is less than 45 degrees with respect to a horizontal plane. The cover member pivots with respect to the container member about the same axis as the axis of rotation between the container hinge plate and the cover hinge plate. [0012] U.S. Pat. No. 6,195,811 issued to Dragovic ("Dragovic") discloses a spa cover mounting method and apparatus. Dragovic discloses that a foam spa cover member is attached to a cover lifter apparatus using a plurality of brackets. [0013] U.S. Pat. No. 7,010,833 entitled "Slide Hinge for Spa Cover" issued on Mar. 14, 2006 to Duarte et al. ("Duarte"), the entire content of which is incorporated by reference herein, discloses a slide type hinge for a spa cover. SUMMARY [0014] In an exemplary embodiment according to the present invention, a hinge assembly for coupling a spa cover to a spa, is provided. The spa cover is movable between a fully closed position and a fully open position. The hinge assembly includes a mounting bracket adapted to be installed near a top of the spa, and adapted to be coupled to a first end of a spring member; and a support arm pivotably coupled to the mounting bracket about an axis of rotation, adapted to be attached on an outside surface of the spa cover, and adapted to be coupled to a second end of the spring member. At least one of the mounting bracket or the support arm has a plurality of openings for selectively coupling the first end or the second end of the spring member, so as to adjust a coupling location between the spring member and the at least one of the mounting bracket or the support arm. [0015] In another exemplary embodiment according to the present invention, a spa system including a spa and a foldable spa cover having at least two sections, is provided. The spa cover is movable between a fully closed position and a fully open position. A hinge assembly couples the spa cover to the spa, and includes: a mounting bracket installed near a top of the spa; a support arm pivotably coupled to the mounting bracket about an axis of rotation, and attached on an outside surface of the spa cover; and a gas spring having a first end coupled to the mounting bracket and a second end coupled to the support arm. At least one of the mounting bracket or the support arm has a plurality of openings for selectively coupling the first end or the second end of the gas spring, so as to adjust a coupling location between the spring member and the at least one of the mounting bracket or the support arm. [0016] These and other aspects of the invention will be more readily comprehended in view of the discussion herein and accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like elements. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0017] FIG. 1 is a side view of a hinge assembly (in a closed position) that couples a spa cover to a spa in an exemplary embodiment according to aspects of the present invention; [0018] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the hinge assembly coupled to a side mount support bracket and a brace of FIG. 1; [0019] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a support arm in an alternate embodiment; Continue reading... Full patent description for Upright hinge for spa cover Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Upright hinge for spa cover patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Upright hinge for spa cover or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Profile designed for the construction of a floor for a pool and capable of floating and being immersed Next Patent Application: Apparatus for minimising entanglement and bunching of an elongate means Industry Class: Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Upright hinge for spa cover patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 2.61037 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Electronics: Semiconductor , Audio , Illumination , Connectors , Crypto , |
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