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.

A spa cover is assembled from two or more molded foam sections. The sections may be molded from polystyrene, polyethylene, or a mixture of polystyrene and polyethylene. Panels are molded into the sections along mating edges, which panels cooperate to align the sections. The sections further include latches for holding the sections in alignment. The sections taper from a peak at the center of the cover to facilitate the run-off of rain, water sprays, or spills. Tie downs or inserts may be molded into the foam to facilitate the use of child safety straps to secure the cover to a spa. The cover may be sized to match known spa sizes, and may include a molded in decorative pattern and/or color.

A lid mechanism includes a divided lid for closing an opening extending in a longitudinal direction in a closed position, and a lid operating mechanism disposed below the opening closed by the divided lid. The divided lid has at least a front lid for closing a front part of the opening in the closed position and a rear lid for closing a rear part of the opening in the closed position. With the lid operating mechanism, the front lid in the closed position slides from a front part side to a rear part side and enters below the rear lid in the closed position in an overlapped state. Then, the front lid moves downwardly together with the rear lid in the overlapped state while a front end of the front lid faces upwardly.

A spa cover lifter for moving a spa cover from a closed position to a storage position includes a drive mechanism, a fixed base and a lifting arm assembly. The lifting arm assembly is mounted to first or second leaves of the spa cover. The lifting arm assembly is driven by the drive mechanism and is moveably mounted to the fixed base. The lifting arm assembly includes a cover pivoting assembly and a cover transporting assembly. The cover pivoting assembly is driven by the drive mechanism to move the cover from the closed position to an intermediate position and the cover transporting assembly is driven by the drive mechanism to the move the cover from the intermediate position to the storage position. The spa cover lifter has an automatic shutoff for cutting power when an obstacle is encountered. A method of moving the spa cover is also disclosed.

A system for lifting a spa cover lifter. The system includes a pole and a post. The system also includes a first support member and a second support member. The first support member is pivotably connected to the pole. The second support member is pivotably connected to the pole and pivotably connected to the post. The system also includes a first cable connected to the spa cover, a second cable connected to the pole, and a drive mechanism connected to the first and second cables.