Patent ID: 8516626

Claim:
A spa tub cover system, comprising: a) a spa tub having, i) a tub shell having an interior for holding water and an exterior, said tub shell having a plurality of seating locations and an upper rim having a perimeter, the perimeter having a first dimension and a transverse second dimension, ii) hydrotherapy jets installed in the tub shell at least one seating location, iii) a frame supporting said tub shell, iv) a cabinet surrounding the frame, v) plumbing between said cabinet and said exterior of said tub shell, vi) at least one water pump that circulates the water from said tub shell through said hydrotherapy jets, and vii) a heater that heats the water circulated by said at least one water pump; b) a cover seating on said upper rim of said spa tub, said cover including, i) a first portion including a heat insulative material surrounded by an at least water resistant covering, said first portion having a first upper surface and an opposed first lower surface that faces the water, a first width, and a first length transverse to said first width, and ii) a second portion including a heat insulative material surrounded by an at least water resistant covering, said second portion having a second upper surface and an opposed second lower surface that faces the water, a second width, and a second length transverse to said second width, wherein said second portion is rotatable relative to said first portion about an axis, said first and second widths extend parallel to said axis, and said first and second lengths extend perpendicular to said axis, said second length smaller than said first length, and a hinge connecting said first and second lower surfaces and defining a hinge axis about which first and second portions rotate relative to each other; c) a cover lifter stably located relative to said cabinet of said spa tub, said lifter having a framework which is rotatable about a pivot axis, said lifter coupled to said first portion, wherein when said lower surfaces and said hinge of said first and second portions of said cover are seated on said upper rim in a closed configuration and said lifter is rotated about said pivot axis, said first portion is automatically rotated upwards to cause said first and second portions to rotate about said hinge into a folded configuration in which said first and second lower surfaces face one another; and d) at least one of audio and video equipment disposed at least partially within said upper surface of said second portion such that said equipment changes orientation as the spa cover is moved between said closed configuration and said folded configuration.