Spa Cover

Abstract

A spa cover is described, and which includes first and second fluid impermeable portions which are individually mounted on a spa, and are further independently moveable, one relative to the other, and wherein the respective first and second fluid impermeable portions each have moveable first and second sections, and wherein the spa cover is fabricated in the nature of a bi-fold.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A spa cover comprising:
 a first and second fluid impermeable portion which are individually mounted on a spa, and which are further independently moveable, one relative to the other, and wherein the respective first and second fluid impermeable portions each have moveable first and second sections, and the spa cover is arranged in the nature of a bi-fold.   
     
     
         2 . A spa cover as claimed in  claim 1 , and wherein the spa has a main body which has a circumscribing sidewall having opposite sides, and wherein the sidewall has an upwardly facing peripheral edge which defines, at least in part, an opening, and which communicates with an internal cavity that is defined by the sidewall, and wherein the respective first and second fluid impermeable portions when positioned in a coplanar orientation, one relative to the other occludes the opening defined by the upwardly facing peripheral edge. 
     
     
         3 . A spa cover as claimed in  claim 2 , and wherein the first and second fluid impermeable portions are mounted on, and moveable relative to, the opposite sides of the circumscribing sidewall. 
     
     
         4 . A spa cover as claimed in  claim 3 , and wherein the first and second sections of each of the fluid impermeable portions are hingedly mounted together so as to facilitate the movement of the first section, relative to the second section, along an arcuately shaped path of travel, and wherein the first section, is moveable from a first position where the first section is positioned in a coplanar orientation relative to the second section, to a second position, and wherein in the second position, the first section is located in parallel, juxtaposed relation relative to the second section, and wherein, when the first and second sections are oriented in juxtaposed, substantially parallel relation, the spa opening is partially non-occluded, and wherein the first and second sections are further moveable, in unison, from the second position, to a third position, and wherein in the third position the first and second sections are removed from  t he peripheral edge, and the spa opening in completely non-occluded. 
     
     
         5 . A spa cover as claimed in  claim 4 , and wherein the respective first and second sections of each of the fluid impermeable portions are fabricated from a plurality of rigid, tongue and groove shaped, hollow, synthetic and fluid impermeable boards which are affixed together so as to provide an upwardly facing supporting surface which can support a weight greater than about 100 pounds per square foot without permanently deflecting and distorting the first and second sections. 
     
     
         6 . A spa cover as claimed in  claim 5 , and wherein an insulative material is inserted within, and completely fills the respective hollow, fluid impermeable synthetic tongue and groove boards, and wherein the insulative material resists the absorption of water. 
     
     
         7 . A spa cover as claimed in  claim 6 , and wherein each of the plurality of rigid, tongue and groove shaped, hollow, synthetic boards have opposite ends, and wherein at least one of the ends of each of the hollow, synthetic boards defines an opening which permits access to an internal cavity which is defined by the respective hollow synthetic boards, and wherein a peripheral edge cover engages at least one of the opposite ends of the respective hollow synthetic boards, and occludes the opening defined by the hollow synthetic board, and maintains the insulative material within the hollow synthetic board. 
     
     
         8 . A spa cover as claimed in  claim 7 , and wherein a continuous hinge moveably couples the first and second sections of each of the first and second fluid impermeable portions together, and which further facilitates the movement of the first section relative to the second section. 
     
     
         9 . A spa cover as claimed in  claim 8 , and wherein the first and second sections are moveable from the second position to the third position by way of a spa lift, and wherein the spa lift includes a first portion which is received within, and extends through, one of the internal cavities of one of the hollow synthetic boards, and which is located adjacent to the continuous hinge which moveably couples the first and second sections together, and wherein the spa lift includes a second portion, which includes a pair of elongated supports, and wherein the respective elongated supports are each coupled to the first portion, and wherein each of the elongated supports further has a distal end which is mounted on the sidewall defining the spa, and wherein the second portion of the spa lift facilitates the movement of the first and second sections, in unison, along a path of travel from the second position, and to the third position, and which exposes the spa for use. 
     
     
         10 . A spa cover as claimed in  claim 9 , and wherein the spa cover has an insulative spa rating of 8 or greater. 
     
     
         11 . A spa cover as claimed in  claim 10 , and wherein the respective first and second fluid impermeable portions each have a downwardly facing spa engaging surface, and wherein a sealing member is mounted on the downwardly facing spa engaging surface, and which sealably engages the peripheral edge that is defined by the sidewall. 
     
     
         12 . A spa cover comprising:
 a first and a second rigid, fluid impermeable portion, and which are further independently moveably mounted on a spa, and wherein the spa has opposite sides, and a top peripheral edge, and wherein the respective fluid impermeable portions each have a first and second section which are hingedly mounted together, and are further moveable one relative to the other, and wherein the respective first and second sections of each of the fluid impermeable portions, when oriented in a coplanar orientation, rest on the top peripheral edge of the spa, and are effective, in combination, to cover the spa, and wherein the respective first sections of each of the fluid impermeable portions are operable to move along an arcuately shaped path of travel from a first, co-planar orientation relative to the adjacent hingedly attached second section, to a second position, and wherein, in the second position, the first section is oriented in substantially parallel relation relative to the second section, and a portion of the spa is uncovered, and wherein the respective first and second sections are moveable, in unison, from the second position to a third position, and wherein in the third position, the respective first and second fluid impermeable portions are located in an orientation where the spa is completely uncovered.   
     
     
         13 . A spa cover as claimed in  claim 12 , and wherein the spa is defined by a circumscribing sidewall which has opposite sides, and wherein a spa lift is mounted on each of the opposite sides of the spa, and which moveably engage the respective first and second fluid impermeable portions so as to facilitate the selective uncovering of the spa. 
     
     
         14 . A spa cover as claimed in  claim 13 , and wherein the first and second sections of each of the respective fluid impermeable portions have a predetermined width dimension, and wherein the width dimension of the respective first and second sections are substantially equal 
     
     
         15 . A spa cover as claimed in  claim 13 , and wherein the first and second sections of each of the respective fluid impermeable portions have a predetermined width dimension, and wherein the width dimensions of the respective first and second sections are unequal. 
     
     
         16 . A spa cover as claimed in  claim 13 , and wherein the first and second sections of each of the respective fluid impermeable portions have a similar weight. 
     
     
         17 . A spa cover as claimed in  claim 13 , and wherein the first and second sections of each of the respective fluid impermeable portions have a dissimilar weight.