Patent ID: 9689172
Date: 2017-06-27
CPC Classifications: E04H

Claim:
1. A movement assistance device for a spa cover, comprising: a spa having a main body and which defines an upwardly facing spa opening; a spa cover having first and second portions which are hingedly mounted together and which occlude the spa opening when positioned in a coplanar orientation relative to each other; individual lift support arms cooperating with the second portion of the spa cover, and which further have an end which is pivotally attached to the main body of the spa; a first and second pneumatic cylinder which are mounted on the first portion of the spa cover, and which individually, and mechanically cooperate with the second portion of the spa cover to assist in the movement of the first portion of the spa cover from a coplanar orientation relative to the second portion of the spa cover, and which occludes the spa opening, to an orientation where the first and second spa cover portions are located in a partially occluding position relative to the spa opening, and wherein the first and second pneumatic cylinders further assist in the return of the first portion of the spa cover back to the coplanar orientation relative to the second portion of the spa cover and which occludes the spa opening; and a third pneumatic cylinder mounted on the lift support member and which has a reciprocally moveable ram which is mounted on the main body of the spa, and wherein the third pneumatic cylinder exerts a force which assists in the movement of the first and second portions of the spa cover from a partially occluding position relative to the spa opening, to a non-occluding position relative the spa opening, and further resists the movement of the first and second portions of the spa cover from the non-occluding position relative to the spa opening to a partially occluding position relative to the spa opening.