Patent ID: 7480946

Claim:
A hot tub and cover apparatus comprising: a hot tub including a bottom wall and a peripheral wall, said peripheral wall including a first side wall, a second side wall, a third side wall and a fourth side wall wherein said first and second side walls are positioned opposite of each other, said peripheral wall having an upper edge defining an opening into said hot tub; said cover apparatus comprising; a panel having a size and shape substantially equal to said upper edge of said peripheral wall, said panel having a first lateral edge, a second lateral edge, a third lateral edge and a fourth lateral edge wherein said first and second lateral edges are positioned opposite of each other, said first lateral edge having a first slot and a second slot therein, said first slot extending from said third lateral edge toward said fourth lateral edge, said second slot extending from said fourth lateral edge toward said third lateral edge, said second lateral edge having a third slot and a fourth slot therein, said third slot extending from third lateral edge toward said fourth lateral edge, said fourth slot extending from said fourth lateral edge toward said third lateral edge; a lifting assembly being attached to and extending between said peripheral wall and said panel, said lifting assembly being configured to selectively lift said panel into an open position lifted above and spaced from said hot tub or lower said panel into a closed position abutting said upper edge and covering said opening, said lifting assembly including: a first set of legs including a first leg and a second leg, each of said first and second legs having an upper end and a lower end, each of said lower ends being pivotally coupled to said first side wall, said lower end of said first leg being positioned adjacent to said third wall, said lower end of said second leg being positioned adjacent to said fourth wall; a second set of legs including a third leg and a fourth leg, each of said third and fourth legs having an upper end and a lower end, each of said lower ends of said third and fourth legs being pivotally coupled to said second side wall, said lower end of said third leg being positioned adjacent to said third wall, said lower end of said fourth leg being positioned adjacent to said fourth wall; a plurality of couplers, each of said couplers being mounted in and being positionable along a length of one of said first, second, third and fourth slots, said coupler in said first slot being rotatably coupled to said upper end of said first leg, said coupler in said second slot being rotatably coupled to said upper end of said second leg, said coupler in said third slot being rotatably coupled to said top end of said third leg, said coupler in said fourth slot being rotatably coupled to said top end of said fourth leg, each of said slots being arcuate; and members being attached to one of said legs, each of said bracing members comprising a pneumatic piston assembly.