Spa cover removing device

Abstract

A spa cover removing device has improved rigidity and includes cross pieces that fit into elongate sleeves provided at each end of a center hinge between two half sections of a spa cover. The removing device has a substantially rigid frame with a pair of parallel side bars positioned on opposing sides of the spa housing, the side bars have upper ends rigidly attached to upper elbow pieces projecting toward each other, each elbow piece rigidly-joined to retainer bars to extend across the center hinge of the spa cover and support the spa cover. The side bars of the rigid frame also have lower ends rigidly attached to lower elbow pieces connected to a single square tubular pivot shaft extending across the spa housing, and the pivot shaft is supported in annular supports at the opposite sides of the spa housing, these annular supports each have an internal diameter sufficient for the pivot shaft of the rigid frame to pivot therein and hence remove the spa cover.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A spa cover removing device for a spa cover, said spa cover being formed of two half sections joined by a center hinge; 
 the spa cover removing device comprising:    a pair of parallel side bars for location at opposite sides of a spa housing;    said side bars having upper and lower ends;    upper elbow pieces rigidly attached to said upper ends and projecting towards each other;    at least one retainer bar extending between said upper elbow pieces along said center hinge of said spa cover;    lower elbow pieces rigidly attached to said lower ends;    a tubular pivot shaft of substantially square cross-section extending across said spa housing and having opposite ends projecting from said spa housing;    connectors between said opposite ends of said pivot shaft and said lower elbow pieces; and    annular supports provided at said opposite sides of said spa housing and supporting said pivot shaft, said annular supports each having an internal diameter sufficient for said pivot shaft to pivot therein.    
     
     
         2 . The spa cover removing device according to claim one, wherein said, a retainer bar is one of a pair of retainer bars projecting toward one another from each of said upper elbow pieces and spaced apart from one another.  
     
     
         3 . The spa cover removing device of  claim 2 , including plastic sleeves on said retainer bars, said tubes being rotatable about said retainer bars on pivotation of said pivot shaft.  
     
     
         4 . The spa cover removing device according to  claim 1  wherein the tubular pivot shaft is motorized to raise and lower the spa cover.  
     
     
         5 . In combination, a spa cover and a spa cover removing device; 
 said spa cover comprising two half sections, a center hinge between said half sections and at least one sleeve extending along said hinge; and    said spa cover removing device comprising:    a frame;    said frame comprising a pair of parallel side bars for location at opposite sides of a spa housing and having upper and lower ends, upper elbow pieces rigidly attached to said upper ends, and at least one retainer bar extending between said upper elbow pieces along the interior of said sleeve, lower elbow pieces attached to said lower ends and a pivot shaft extending between said lower end pieces; and    bearings for pivotally supporting said pivot shaft in opposite sides of said spa housing.    
     
     
         6 . The combination according to  claim 5 , wherein said retainer bar is one of a pair of retainer bars extending towards one another from respective ones of said upper elbow pieces and said elongate sleeve is one of a pair of elongate sleeves on said cover, said pair of elongate sleeves extending along said center hinge and receiving respective ones of said retainer bars.  
     
     
         7 . The combination of  claim 6 , including tubes in said sleeves, said tubes rotatably receiving said retainer bars therein.  
     
     
         8 . The combination according to  claim 6 , wherein said retainer bars each have plastic tubes thereon to reduce frictional wear when said spa cover is removed.  
     
     
         9 . The combination according to  claim 5 , wherein said single pivot shaft is a tubular shaft of square cross-section and wherein said bearings are annular supports each having an internal diameter sufficient for said pivot shaft to rotate therein.  
     
     
         10 . The combination according to  claim 9 , wherein each of said lower elbow pieces have a substantially square cross-section that fits snugly within said pivot shaft to prevent relative rotational movement between said lower elbow pieces and said pivot shaft.