Automatic opening and closing means for a ski lift chair

Claim 2

Means for automatically opening and closing a protective cover for a ski lift chair comprising: A. a ski lift chair; B. a protective cover pivotally mounted to said chair capable of being moved to a first closed position to protect said chair and to a second open position to enable said chair to be easily occupied; C. a first end of a lever fixed to said protective cover to control the position of said protective cover with said lever including a second end thereof; D. a fixed cam extending in a first direction; E. means to cause said lever to move unitarily in a second direction which is oblique to said first direction and to contact said cam abruptly at said second end of said lever causing said second end to move in said first direction as it moves along said cam and causing said first end to move in said second direction whereby angular momentum is imparted to said first end of said lever as said second end of said lever moves along said cam in said first direction causing the position of said protective cover to change, and removing said second end of said lever from said cam when the angular momentum of the first end is great enough to change the position of said protective cover.

Claim 3

The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said cam comprises a top and a bottom side wiTh the second end of said lever being caused to contact abruptly and move along said bottom side to change the position of said protective cover from closed to open.

Claim 4

The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said cam comprises a top and bottom side with said second end of said lever being caused to contact abruptly and move along said top side to change the position of said protective cover from open to closed.

Claim 5

The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said fixed cam surface is a plane.

Claim 6

The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said fixed cam surface is a plane.

Claim 7

The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said fixed cam surface is curved.

Claim 8

Means for automatically opening and closing a protective cover for a ski lift chair comprising: A. a ski lift chair; B. a protective cover pivotally mounted to said chair capable of being moved to a first closed position and to a second open position; C. a first end of a cam-actuated lever fixed to said protective cover to control the position of said protective cover with said lever including a second end thereof; D. said lever comprising an energy storing medium; E. a fixed cam extending in a first direction; F. means to cause said lever to move unitarily in a second direction which is oblique to said first direction and to contact said cam abruptly at said second end of said lever causing energy to be stored in said lever, causing said second end to move in said first direction as it moves along said cam and causing said first end to move in said second direction whereby angular momentum is imparted to said first end of said lever by said energy storing medium and the movement of said second end of said lever along said cam in said first direction; and G. removing said second end of said lever from said cam when the angular momentum of the first end is sufficient to change the position of said protective cover.

Claim 9

Means for automatically opening and closing a protective cover for a ski lift chair comprising: A. a ski lift chair; B. a protective cover pivotally mounted to said chair capable of being moved to a first closed position and to a second open position; C. a first end of a cam-actuated lever fixed to said protective cover to control the position of said protective cover with said lever including a second end thereof; D. said lever comprising an energy storing medium; E. a fixed cam extending in a first direction; F. means to cause said lever to move unitarily in a second direction which is oblique to said first direction and to contact said cam abruptly at said second end of said lever causing energy to be stored in said lever, causing said second end to move in said first direction as it moves along said cam and causing said first end to move in said second direction whereby angular momentum is imparted to said first end of said lever by said energy storing medium and the movement of said second end of said lever along said cam in said first direction; and G. removing said second end of said lever from said cam when the angular momentum of the first end is sufficient to change the position of said protective cover.

Claim 10

The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said cam comprises top and bottom sides with said second end of said lever being caused to contact abruptly and move along said bottom side to cause said protective cover to change its position from closed to open.

Claim 11

The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said cam comprises top and bottom sides with said second end of said lever being caused to contact abruptly and move along said top side to change the position of said protective cover from open to closed.

Claim 12

The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein said fixed cam surface is a plane.

Claim 13

The invention as defined in claim 9 wherein said fixed cam surface is a plane.

Claim 14

The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said energy storing medium comprises a system of coiled springs.

Claim 15

The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said energy storing medium comprises a leaf spring system.