Other

Advance Systems, Inc.

Gary L Perry

Terry A Hella

A spa cover lifter comprising opposing left and right side arm supports spaced apart to receive opposing left and right cover side surfaces between the same. Each side arm support has an upper end adapted to rotatably support a portion of the spa cover and an opposing lower end. Each side arm support is rotatably mounted to a spa side. Extending from the right side arm support, around the back spa side, to the opposing left side arm support is a lower linking member having opposing ends spaced apart to pivotally attach to the respective spaced apart left and right side arm supports. The linking member can pivot relative to the side arms, about a substantially horizontal axis to define a linking member pivot angle which is the angle between each side arm support and the linking member. The pivotal attachment point of the lower linking member to the respective side arm support is adjacent the respective lower end thereof. To maintain the relative angle between each side arm support and the linking member, an adjustable bracing extends between each side arm support and the linking member. The relative position between each side arm support and the linking member is adjustable.

Spa cover lifter apparatus and method

A gas spring lock for engaging and locking a gas spring in the extended position so that covers of spas, hot tubs and other similar apparatus that employ gas springs can be safely locked into an open position. A gas spring lock includes an elongate locking arm that extends along the piston of a gas spring, toward the cylinder thereof. Typically, the locking arm is longitudinally fixed in relation to the piston of the gas spring. The locking arm includes a notch which is defined by a portion of the locking arm. The notch is provided to engage the step that is formed between the piston and the cylinder of the gas spring. Importantly the locking arm is shiftable from a first disengaged position where the notch is spaced from the step, adjacent the cylinder, when the gas spring is in a compressed configuration, to a second locking position, when the gas spring in the extended configuration, where the notch engages the step to block the cylinder from receiving the piston and returning to the compressed configuration.

Gas spring lock apparatus and method

A spa cover removal apparatus includes a pivot frame assembly having a pair of elongate side arms spaced apart to receive opposing cover side surfaces between the same for rotatably supporting the spa cover. Fixed to the spa is a stationary base, for pivotally supporting the pivot frame assembly. For this purpose, the stationary base is disposed under the pivot frame assembly. This arrangement, enables the spa cover to shift from a first horizontal covering position over the spa, to a second stowed position adjacent the back side of the spa as a rearwardly directed force is applied to the spa cover. Accordingly, the spa cover moves rearward and pivots relative to the side arms while the pivot frame assembly simultaneously pivots relative to the stationary base, about a substantially horizontal base pivot axis. In addition, a slide lock bar extends from the pivot frame assembly for sliding attachment to the spa side to restrict the spa cover against further movement once the same reaches the second stowed position. In another aspect, a portion of the pivot frame assembly extends in a downward direction from the base pivot axis so that the pivot frame assembly can engage the stationary base for restricting further pivotal movement of the pivot frame assembly when the same moves to the second stowed position.

Spa cover removal apparatus and method

A combined vapor barrier and water assembly for securement to the underside of covers of heated water tubs and pools stands by and around an intentionally made drain opening in an otherwise water tight cover, to provide a drain passageway to be used, if necessary, whenever rain water might unwantedly enter the interior of the cover, and while standing by, to provide a vapor barrier preventing heated vapors from rising upwardly through the drain passageway. In a preferred embodiment, at least two dense weave cloth members, spaced apart, each extend completely across the cross section of the drain passageway, while positioned within a hollow contoured housing of the assembly, which is adapted to be secured to the underside of the cover round the intentionally made drain opening, to provide the drain passageway for the exiting rain water that might unwantedly collect in a cover which was originally watertight.

Combined vapor barrier and water drain assembly for covers of heated

A spa cover removal apparatus. The removal apparatus includes a pair of elongate spaced apart side arms. One end of each side arm is pivotally connected to the bottom side portion of a spa side, and the opposing end rotatingly engages a side edge of the spa cover. In this way, the spa cover can rotate in relation to the side arms such that a horizontal cover rotation axis is defined by the axis of rotation of the spa cover relative to the side arms. A back rack is pivotally coupled to the rear edge of the spa cover to enable the spa cover to pivot, relative to the back rack, about a horizontal cover pivot axis. In addition, a base bracket assembly is provided for pivotally connecting the back rack to the back surface of the spa. This enables the back rack to pivot, relative to the base bracket assembly, about a substantially horizontal back rack pivot axis. With this arrangement, a rearwardly directed force can be increasingly applied to the spa cover causing the same to lift and move rearward, above the spa, wherein the side arms pivot relative to the spa, and the back rack pivots relative to the base bracket assembly, responsive to rearward movement of the spa cover. As a result, the spa cover shifts from a first horizontal covering position over the spa, to a second stowed position adjacent the back surface of the spa.

Spa/hot tub cover removal apparatus and method

A high velocity web dryer which has a series of upper and lower air bars for floatingly suspending a running web as the web moves through the dryer. A hot air supplying system provides hot air to the bars for drying the web. The system includes a gas fired burner and a source of combustion air for the burner. A valve control is provided for controlling the admission of combustion air to the gas fired burner, and includes a movable valve for controllably admitting combustion air to the burner. The said valve control includes an initial air admitting valve for providing initial air through the valve control prior to partial opening of the valve control, to thereby provide a relatively smooth and excessive surge-free supply of air to the burner, whereby a stable air supply system in provided without oxygen starvation and without blowing out a flame of the burner. The initial air admitting valve is so sized so as to satisfy the pilot and low fire air requirements in a valve control fully closed position, and to insure proper air/gas ratio for stoichiometry combustion and minimize the pressure release and rush of air as the valve control begins to open.

High velocity running web dryer having hot air supply means

A spa/hot tub cover is structurally strong to essentially completely cover an opening of a spa/hot tub except for a limited vent, and withstand a person's weight. In so doing the spa/hot tub cover itself will not absorb vapor, moisture, or water, and thereby not become heavier because of the containment of moisture. The interior of the spa/hot tub cover has several barriers to any possible absorption of vapor, moisture, or water, whereby, if an outside or outer barrier is punctured, only a small quantity of vapor, moisture, or water, will be absorbed. At a central portion of this cover, commencing from the top and continuing on down through to the bottom, the following layers of an overall lamination are: a top weatherable plastic; a contact cement serving as a sealant and adhesive; an expanded polystyrene shaped to define the shape of the spa/hot tub cover; a contact cement serving as a sealant and adhesive; a polypropylene scrim foil; a contact cement; a closed cell foam of polyethylene; and then a bottom polyester fabric reinforced polyvinylchloride. The laminations of this central portion continue on to the periphery of each spa/hot tub cover. Where subsequent fasteners may be received, aluminum angles are selectively positioned about this periphery. The polypropylene scrim foil continues up and over the periphery of these laminations. The bottom polyester fabric reinforced polyvinylchloride also continues up alongside the periphery of these laminations. A vinyl angle is adhered about the top corner of the periphery of these laminations having a leg horizontally overlapping the periphery edge of the weatherable plastic and having a leg vertically overlapping the upturned portions of the polyester fabric reinforced polyvinylchloride. A sealing bead is located where the horizontal overlapping leg of the angle is positioned on the top weatherable plastic and where the vertical overlapping leg of the angle is positioned on the polyester fabric reinforced polyvinylchloride, thereby completing the assembly of this structurally strong, non vapor, non moisture absorbing, spa/hot tub cover. This cover in various embodiments has a sloping water draining top surface, has multiple sections, has hinges, has handles, and/or has gas spring actuators used during removal and replacement.

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Manhattan, MT, United States of America

Gary L Perry