Patent ID: 7461415
Filing Date: 2008-12-09
Classification: E04H

Abstract:
1. An apparatus in combination with a conventional cover and a housing for lifting the cover off of the housing; the housing having a housing rim defining a housing opening and further defining an imaginary plane extending beyond the housing, wherein the cover has a proximate portion of the cover pivotally connected to a distal portion of the cover, the apparatus comprising: a motor coupled to a side of the housing; a frame member movably coupled to the motor; a biasing device pivotally coupled with the proximate portion of the cover and with the frame member; wherein the frame member is movable by the motor from a first position to a second position and from a second position to a third position, wherein movement of the frame member by the motor lifts the proximate portion of the cover with the biasing device from the housing rim by the movement of the frame member from the first position to the second position while the distal portion of the cover is not lifted from the housing rim, wherein the frame member when moved by the motor lifts both simultaneously the distal portion and proximate portion of the cover from the housing rim from the second position to the third position, and wherein the entire proximate portion of the cover and the entire distal portion of the cover are disposed on or above the imaginary plane defined by the housing rim when the frame member is in the third position.