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A movement assistance device for a spa cover is described and which includes a moveable spa cover portion, and a pair of pneumatic cylinders which cooperate with a housing mounted on one of the spa cover portions, and which further assists in the movement of one of the spa cover portions relative to

A movement assistance device for a spa cover is described and which includes a moveable spa cover portion, and a pair of pneumatic cylinders which cooperate with a housing mounted on one of the spa cover portions, and which further assists in the movement of one of the spa cover portions relative to the other spa cover portion, and a third pneumatic cylinder is provided and which allows movement of each of the respective spa cover portions to a non-occluding position relative to the spa so as to allow use of the spa.

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1. A movement assistance device for a spa cover, comprising: a spa having a main body and which defines an upwardly facing spa opening;a spa cover having first and second portions which are hingedly mounted together and which occlude the spa opening when positioned in a coplanar orientation relative

1. A movement assistance device for a spa cover, comprising: a spa having a main body and which defines an upwardly facing spa opening;a spa cover having first and second portions which are hingedly mounted together and which occlude the spa opening when positioned in a coplanar orientation relative to each other;individual lift support arms cooperating with the second portion of the spa cover, and which further have an end which is pivotally attached to the main body of the spa;a first and second pneumatic cylinder which are mounted on the first portion of the spa cover, and which individually, and mechanically cooperate with the second portion of the spa cover to assist in the movement of the first portion of the spa cover from a coplanar orientation relative to the second portion of the spa cover, and which occludes the spa opening, to an orientation where the first and second spa cover portions are located in a partially occluding position relative to the spa opening, and wherein the first and second pneumatic cylinders further assist in the return of the first portion of the spa cover back to the coplanar orientation relative to the second portion of the spa cover and which occludes the spa opening; anda third pneumatic cylinder mounted on the lift support member and which has a reciprocally moveable ram which is mounted on the main body of the spa, and wherein the third pneumatic cylinder exerts a force which assists in the movement of the first and second portions of the spa cover from a partially occluding position relative to the spa opening, to a non-occluding position relative the spa opening, and further resists the movement of the first and second portions of the spa cover from the non-occluding position relative to the spa opening to a partially occluding position relative to the spa opening. 2. A movement assistance device as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising: a lift cross-member having opposite ends, and wherein at least a portion of the lift cross-member cooperates with the second portion of the spa cover, and the opposite ends of the lift cross-member extend laterally outwardly relative to the second portion of the spa cover. 3. A movement assistance device as claimed in claim 2, and wherein the lift support arm has a proximal end which is coupled to one end of the lift cross-member, and a distal end which is pivotally mounted to the main body of the spa. 4. A movement assistance device as claimed in claim 3, and wherein a support frame for receiving the distal end of the lift support arm is mounted on the main body of the spa, and further has a first pivot point upon which the distal end of the lift support arm is pivotally coupled, and wherein the support frame further defines a second pivot point upon which the reciprocally moveable ram is rotatably coupled. 5. A movement assistance device as claimed in claim 4, and further comprising: a housing having first and second members which are located in spaced relation one relative to the other, and wherein the housing is mounted on a peripheral edge of the second portion of the spa cover, and wherein a camming engagement member is positioned between the first and second members, and within the housing, and wherein each of the first and second pneumatic cylinders have a reciprocally moveable ram with a distal end, and wherein a camming member is mounted on each distal end of the respective moveable rams. 6. A movement assistance device as claimed in claim 5, and wherein the camming engagement member s generally truncated in shape and is defined, in part, by first and second camming surfaces, and wherein the first camming surface has an angular inclination of about 142 degrees when measure from a horizontal plane, and the second camming surface has an angular inclination of about 125 degrees when measured from a horizontal plane, and wherein the first camming surface has a length dimension which is greater than a length dimension of the second camming surface, and wherein a semi-circular shaped cavity is formed in one end of each of the first and second camming surface, and which is further operable to matingly cooperate with the camming member which is mounted on the distal end of each of the reciprocally moveable rams of the first and second pneumatic cylinders. 7. A movement assistance device as claimed in claim 6, and wherein the distal end of the moveable ram of the first pneumatic cylinder moveably and forcibly cooperates with the first camming surface of the camming engagement member, and the distal end of the second moveable ram moveably and forcibly cooperates with the second camming surface of the camming member. 8. A movement assistance device as claimed in claim 7, and wherein the housing is defined, in part, by a first member which is mounted on the peripheral edge of the second portion of the spa cover, and wherein the first member further defines an aperture which is sized so that the end of the lift cross-member extends through, and laterally outwardly therefrom, and wherein the housing further has a second portion which is located in spaced relation relative to the first portion, and the camming engagement member is located between the first and second members, and within the housing, and wherein a gap is defined between the first and second portions of the housing, and the distal end of the respective rams extend through the gap. 9. A movement assistance device as claimed in claim 8, and wherein the camming engagement member is made integral with the first member, and the aperture is located between the first and second camming surfaces which are defined by the camming engagement member. 10. A movement assistance device as claim in claim 8, and wherein the camming engagement member is made integral with the second member. 11. A movement assistance device as claimed in claim 8, and further comprising a guard overlying, and enclosing, at least in part, the first and second pneumatic cylinders. 12. A movement assistance device as claimed in claim 8, and further comprising a locking member which releasably couples the first and second portions of the spa top together when the first and second portions of the spa top are located in a vertical orientation and in a non-occluding position relative to the spa opening, and wherein the locking member automatically releases the first and second portions of the spa top, one from the other when the first and second portions of the spa top are located in an horizontal position, one relative to the other. 13. A movement assistance device for a spa cover, comprising: a spa having a main body, and defining an upwardly facing spa opening;a spa cover having first and second portions, and which are operable, when located in a coplanar orientation relative to each other to substantially occlude the spa opening, and wherein the first and second spa cover portions are hingedly mounted together;a lift cross-member having opposite ends, and wherein at least a portion of the lift cross member cooperates with the second portion of the spa cover;individual lift support arms which are mounted to the opposite ends of the lift cross-member, and wherein an end of each of the lift support members is pivotally mounted to the main body of the spa;a housing having first and second members which are located in spaced relation one relative to the other, and wherein the housing is mounted on the second portion of the spa cover, and wherein a camming engagement member is positioned between the first and second members and within the housing;a first and second pneumatic cylinder mounted on the first portion of the spa cover, and wherein the pneumatic cylinder has a reciprocally moveable ram portion which has a distal camming member which cooperates with the camming engagement member, and wherein the first pneumatic cylinder exerts a force which assists in the movement of the first portion of the spa cover from a co-planar orientation relative to the second portion of the spa cover to a vertical orientation relative to the second portion of the spa cover, and further the first pneumatic cylinder resists the movement of the first portion of the spa cover from the vertical orientation relative to the second portion of the spa cover back to the co-planar orientation relative to the second portion of the spa cover, and wherein the second pneumatic cylinder resist the movement of the first portion of the spa cover from the vertical orientation relative to the second portion of the spa cover, to a juxtaposed, substantially parallel orientation relative to the second portion of the spa cover, and where the spa opening is partially non-occluded; anda third pneumatic cylinder mounted on the lift support arm and which has a reciprocally moveable ram member which is attached to the main body of the spa, and wherein the third pneumatic member exerts a force to assist in the movement of the first and second spa cover portions from a partially occluding orientation relative to the spa opening, to a non-occluding orientation relative thereto, and further resists the movement of the first and second spa cover portions from the non-occluding orientation relative to the spa opening back to a partially occluding orientation relative to the spa opening. 14. A movement assistance device as claimed in claim 13, and wherein a support frame for pivotally cooperating with the lift support arm is mounted on the main body of the spa, and further has a first pivot point upon which the lift support arm is pivotally coupled, and wherein the support frame further defines a second pivot point upon which the reciprocally moveable ram portion of the third pneumatic cylinder is rotatably coupled. 15. A movement assistance device as claimed in claim 14, and wherein the housing is mounted on a peripheral edge of the second portion of the spa cover, and wherein the camming engagement member is generally truncated in shape, and is defined, in part, by first and second caroming surfaces, and wherein the first camming surface has an angular inclination of about 142 degrees when measured from a horizontal plane, and the second camming surface has an angular inclination of about 125 degrees when measured from a horizontal plane, and wherein the first camming surface has a length dimension which is greater than a length dimension of the second camming surface, and wherein a semi-circular shaped cavity is formed in one end of each of the first and second camming surfaces, and which is further operable to matingly cooperate with the camming member which is mounted on the distal end of each of the reciprocally moveable rams of the first and second pneumatic cylinders. 16. A movement assistance device as claimed in claim 15, and wherein the distal end of the moveable ram of the first pneumatic cylinder cooperates with the first camming surface of the camming engagement member, and the distal end of the second moveable ram cooperates with the second camming surface of the camming member, and wherein, during the movement of the first and second portions of the spa cover, the camming member mounted on the distal end of the respective ram portions matingly seats, and then unseats from the semi-circular shaped cavity which is formed in the first and second camming surfaces of the camming engagement member. 17. A movement assistance device as claimed in claim 16, and wherein the first and second members of the housing further define a pair of coaxially aligned apertures which are sized so that the end of the lift cross-member extends therethrough, and laterally, outwardly therefrom, and the first and second portions of the housing define a gap, and through which the respective ram portions extend, and is then located between the first and second portions of the housing, and wherein the camming member mounted on the respective ram portions is sized so that it cannot be removed from between the first and second portions of the housing, and through the gap, when the housing is assembled. 18. A movement assistance device as claimed in claim 17, and wherein the camming engagement member is made integral with the first member of the housing, and the aperture is located between the first and second camming surfaces which are defined by the camming engagement member. 19. A movement assistance device as claim in claim 18, and wherein the camming engagement member is made integral with the second member. 20. A movement assistance device for a spa cover, comprising: a spa having a main body which defines an internal cavity, and which encloses a source of water, and wherein the spa has top peripheral edge which defines a spa opening, and further which allows access to the spa by a user;a spa cover having first and second spa cover portions which are hingedly mounted together at a continuous joint, and wherein the first and second spa cover portions when oriented in a coplanar orientation relative to each other, and are further in rested relation relative to the top peripheral edge of the spa, are sized so as to occlude the spa opening defined by the top peripheral edge of the spa, and wherein each of the first and second spa cover portions have opposite peripheral edges;a lift cross-member having a main body and opposite ends, and wherein the main body of the lift cross-member is received, at least in part, within the second portion of the spa cover, and is further located adjacent, and in parallel relation relative to the continuous joint, and wherein the opposite ends of the lift cross-member extend laterally, outwardly, relative to the opposite peripheral edges of the second spa cover portion;a pair of elongated, lift support arms which are individually attached to the opposite ends of the lift cross-member, and wherein the respective lift support arms each have a proximal end which is attached to one end of the lift cross member, and a distal end which is pivotally mounted on the main body of the spa;a first and second pneumatic cylinder mounted on the opposite peripheral edges of the first spa cover portion, and wherein the respective pneumatic cylinders have a cylinder portion which is pivotally attached to the opposite peripheral edges of the first spa cover portion, and a reciprocally moveable ram portion which cooperates with the cylinder portion, and which further has a distal end which mounts a camming member thereon, and wherein the reciprocal movement of the ram portion, in a first direction and towards the cylinder portion, is forcibly resisted by the action of the cylinder portion, and the reciprocal movement of the ram portion, in an opposite, second direction and away from the cylinder portion exerts a longitudinally, outwardly directed force;a housing mounted on each of the opposite, peripheral edges of the second spa cover portion, and wherein the housing has a first member mounted on the opposite, peripheral edges of each of the second spa cover portion, and which further has a passageway formed therein, and which is sized so as to permit the opposite ends of the lift cross-member to extend laterally, outwardly therethrough, and a second member is mounted to the first member, and which is further oriented in spaced relation relative thereto, and wherein a camming engagement member is positioned therebetween the first and second members of the housing, and the camming members of the first and second pneumatic cylinders are received within each of the housings, and moveably engage the camming engagement member when the first spa cover portion hingedly moves relative to the second spa cover portion, and wherein first pneumatic cylinder exerts force to assist in the movement of the first spa cover portion from a coplanar orientation relative to the second spa cover portion to an orientation where the first spa cover portion is oriented substantially perpendicular relative to the second spa cover portion, and wherein the second pneumatic cylinder forcibly resists the movement of the first cover portion from a substantially vertical orientation relative to the second spa cover portion, to a horizontal, juxtaposed, and parallel orientation relative to the second spa cover portion, and wherein the second pneumatic cylinder exerts force on the first spa cover portion to assist in the movement of the first spa cover portion from the horizontal, juxtaposed, and parallel orientation relative to the second spa portion, to a vertical orientation relative to the second spa portion, and the first pneumatic cylinder resists the movement of the first spa cover portion from the vertical orientation relative to the second spa cover portion, to an orientation where the first spa cover portion is located in a coplanar orientation relative to the second spa cover portion; anda third pneumatic cylinder having a cylinder portion which is mounted on each of the lift support members, and which further has a reciprocally moveable ram portion which cooperates with the cylinder portion thereof, and which further has a distal end which is pivotally attached to the main body of the spa, and wherein the third pneumatic cylinder exerts a force to assist in the movement of the first and second spa cover portions from a horizontal, partially occluding orientation relative to the main body of the spa to a vertical, non-occluding orientation which exposes the spa opening, and wherein the third pneumatic cylinder further resists the movement of the first and second portions of the spa cover from the vertical, non-occluding orientation relative to the spa opening, to the horizontal, partially occluding orientation relative to the spa opening.