US2391431A - Friction device for vertically sliding window sashes - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 25, 1945. L. A. MACKLANBURG 2,391,431

FRICTION DEVICE FOR VERTICALLY SLIDING WINDOW SASHES Filed April 5, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I NI 'EN TOR.

Dec. 25, 1945. l 1 A. MACKLANBURG 2,391,431

FRICTION DEVICE FOR VERTICALLY SLIDING WINDOW SASHES Filed April 5, 1944 5 SheetS-Shet 5 u IN V EN TOR.

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Dec- 25 1945. LA. MAczKLANBuRG y 2,391,431 *Y FRICTION DEVICE FOR VERTICALLY SLIDING WINDOW SASHES Filed April 5, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIGA?) INI/,ENNA

Flc-M2 WWW 'mx/M7 Patented Dec. 25, 1945 i' Vi' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE) FEIGTIODEVICE FOR VERTICALIVJY- SLIDING WINDOW SASHES.

Louis A. Macklanb'urg, Oklahoma City, Okla. n Application April, 1944, Serial No. 529,888 2 Claims.. (01.7292-76) My invention relates to devices for providing friction between a windowframe and a vertically slidable sash mounted therein. l

During recent years, considerable effort has been exerted, by window frame andsash manufacturers, in an attempt to eliminate theuse of sash pulleys, sash cords and sash weights, which are normally used to counter-balance the weight of the sash. Sash weights as commonly used at the present time, not only act te overcome the friction between the sash and frame, and thereby reduce the effort requiredvtoraise a window sash, but by counter-balancing the weight of the sash, they also act to hold it in any desired position of vertical adjustment. Itl has beenfound that ccunter-balance'sash weights couldwellbe eliminated, in connection with window frames wherein comparatively light weight sliding sash are used,

were it not for the fact that the sash, duev to its weight, will not remain in the various desired positions of vertical adjustment.

In order to hold the vsash in such desired vertical positions, blade spring members of various configurations have heretofore been employed between the edge of the sash and the face of the window'frame. Ithas been found, however, that springs having different resiliency must be provided for sashes of each different weight, even when the clearance between the window frame and the edge of the sash is made uniform. H'owever, since such clearance is not always made uniform, various friction springs, having different amounts of resiliency, must be tried before the correct amount of friction can be obtained. This means that the person making the sash installation must first equip himself with an assortment of springsof different sizes or thickness', and he must then experiment until ,he` finds the proper springs for each particular sash installation.

k'I'heprirne object of the present invention is to provide a friction exerting spring, for the purpose set forth, and to provide, in connection therewith,

an adjustable means whereby the spring may be adjusted toV compensate for sashes of different weights, and also to compensate for the different clearance spaces between the sash and frame.

Another objectl is to provide a device of this class which is simple in construction, and; therefore comparatively cheap to manufacture. y

A further object is to provide a device of this class wherein the adjustment may be` easily and quickly accomplished'. Y Y

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a facing strip for windowy frame sash races, or for the outer edges of vertically sliding window sash, whichstrip will co-act with friction springs of the type describedforfimpeding gravitational'movement ofthe sashi Other objects will'be apparent from the following description when taken inlconnection withthe accompanying five sheets of drawings, wherein:

' Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View of a window frame, the fullllinesshowing one embodiment of the friction spring member operatively installed thereon, andthe dottedlines illustrating its adjustability; x,

VFigures 2 and 3 are similarviews of twovislightly different embodiments of the spring member; l

igureA 4 is a fragmentary vertical` sectional view through a vertically sliding window sash, and showing in a similar manner,v another nem 'bodiment of the vfriction spring operatively in,- stalled thereon; y n

Figure 5 is a view similar to that of Figure 4, and showing yet another embodiment of the spring member of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective View of a typical window frame with two vertically sliding sashes operatively mounted therein, a portion of the side rail of each sash being broken away 'to disclose the friction spring of-Figure l operatively disposed on the window frame; y

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective viewof a typical window frame, with two vertically sliding sashes mounted therein, and showing the friction spring of Figure 4 operatively installed onf the outside face of a side rail of each sash;

Figure 8 is a view similar-to Figure 3, showing e, 'slightly different arrangement of the friction spring attached to a window frame member;

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 showing the spring of Figure operatively installed upon the outside edge of a window sash; I

Figure l0 is a view similar to Figure 7 illustrating a friction plate or strip operativelyl installed in a window frame sash race; v

Figure 11 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a typical window frame, a portion ofthe trim being broken away to illustrate the evo-acting function of the spring and strip;

Figure 12 is a view similar the friction strip thereof operatively installed upon the vertical outside edge of tM e window sash;

Figure 13 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 1 but showing the co-action of the friction strip of Figure 12 with a friction spring mounted in a sash race; and, l 'l Figure 14 is a fragmntary perspective'view of a slightly different embodiment of the friction strip.

to Figure 10 showing usually slides.

In the drawings:

The reference numeral I indicates a portion of a vertically extending side member of a usual window frame, the inside surface of which is indicated by the numeral 2. The surface 2 is that face of the frame member I along which the outer edge of a vertically sliding window sash 'Ihe friction spring elements of Figures 1, 2, and 3 are designed to be operatively installed upon the face 2, in the sash race which is formed between the usual parting stop 3 and a blind stop 4, (Figures 6 and '1), or is installed in the sash race lying between the parting stop 3 and a molding stop 5. Ordinarily the springs will be mounted in both races so as to contact each outermost edge of the two side rails 6 of the upper sash 1 and the similar edges of the side rails 8 of the lower sash 9.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 1, the reference numeral I indicates, as a whole, a comparatively thin resilient metal spring of the strap or blade type. The spring I0 is formed from a single piece, and is properly tempered after being formed. The spring I0 is transversely corrugated to provide three waves or crests II. I2, and I3, and to form two Valleys I4 and I5. 'Ihe middle crest I2 is of less extent from the surface 2 of the window frame than the crests II and I3 `which respectively lie above and below the crest I2, and the valley portions I4 and I5 connect the wave I2 to the waves II and I3 respectively. The valleys I4 and I5 rest against the surface 2 and are held in contact therewith by a wood screw I6, or other suitable detent. The upper and lower portions of the waves II and I3 respectively terminate in lips I1 and I3 which project slightly away from the surface 2.

As clearly illustrated by the dotted lines, tightening of the screw IG toward the surface 2 acts to reduce the extent of the Wave I2, and.

the extent of the crests II and I3 are thereby increased. It is obvious that greater friction will therefore be exerted on the edge of the sash.

' It is pointed out that the amount of the curvatures of the spring I0 have been exaggerated in Figure 1, as well as in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5, in order to better illustrate the principle of the friction adjustment feature. It will also be understood that the presence ofthe window sash, when the spring is in actual use, will materially decrease the amountV of extension of the curvatures from the surface 2 of the window frame.

In Figure 2 there is illustrated a friction spring which is formed somewhat similar to the spring I0, but is different in that its upper and lower end portions 2| and 22 do not normally contact the face 2 of the frame when the sash is absent. The spring 28 is identical with the spring I0 of Figure 1 except that the lips I1 and I8, and the end portions of the waves II and I3 have been severed and the remaining ends are turned in toward the surface 2 as shown at 23. The adjustment of this embodiment of the invention is accomplished in a manner similar to that of the spring I0 of Figure 1.

In Figure 3 is shown an adjustable friction spring 30 formed out of a strip of fiat spring metal. similar to the lips I'I and I8 of Figure l. It has two valleys 33 and 34 and two sloping sides 35 and 36 which extend outwardly from the surface 2 and converge to form a pocket or countersink portion 31 for nesting the head of the wood screw I6. In this embodiment, movement of the screw head toward the face 2 of the WndQW imm@ This spring has ltwo endlips 3| and 32,v

decreases the amount of friction which the spring may exert against the edge of the sash.

In Figure 4 is illustrated an embodiment of the invention which is designed to be mounted upon the outer edge of the vertical side member of a sliding window sash. This side member is indicated by the reference numeral 40, and has an outer surface 4I which normally contacts the face 2 of the window frame.

In this embodiment, the side member 4I) is laterally bored to receive a tubular ferrel 42 having interior threads 43 throughout its length. An exteriorly threaded cylindrical adjusting element 44 is threadedly engaged with the threads 43 within the ferrel 42, and has a slot across one end to receive a screw-driver for an obvious reason. The opposite end of the element 44, carries an axial pin 45 which extends outwardly from the ferrel 42 beyond the surface 4I of the member 40, and its outer end is provided with a head 46.

In this embodiment, there is.provided a friction spring 41 which is similar in figuration to the spring 20 of Figure 2. Adjustment of the element 44 within the ferrel 42 has the same effect in this embodiment, as does adjustment of the wood screw I6 of Figure 2 upon the spring 20.

In Figure 5. the adjusting mechanism is the same as in Figure 4, but a friction spring 5I? is used in lieu of the spring 41 of Figure 4. The spring `is shaped similarly to the spring 3U of Figure 3, except that instead of the counter sunk portion of 30, there is provided a valley 5I to receive and nest the head 4S of the pin 45. Movement of the adjusting element 44 in Figure 4 has the same effect upon the spring 50 as does adjustment of the wood screw I6 of Figure 3.

In Figure 6, is shown the positions in the window frame at which the friction springs should 40 be installed, and'in Figure 7 two of the springs 41 of Figure 4 are shown operatively installed upon a vertically slidable window sash. In Figures 6 and 7 the installation of only the springs I0 and 41 have been shown, but the other types of springs could well be used in lieu of them.

In Figure 8 there is shown a friction spring 39, of the type illustrated in Figure 3, installed upon the surface 2 of the window frame I by a slightly different adjusting means. In this embodiment the frame member I of the window frame is provided with a horizontal through bore 69. A threaded plate 6I is provided along the outside surface 62 of the member I, and has a threaded perforation for receiving a stove bolt 63. The bolt 63 is used similarly to the Woodscrew I6 of Figure 3 with its head 64 nested in the counter-sink 31 of the spring 30.

The advantage of this type of installation lies in the fact that the head 64 of the bolt 63 always ylies within the transverse bore E0 in the frame member I. This precludes any possibility of the head 64 ever contacting the edge surface of a window sash, no matter how closely the sash may fit in the window frame. In this embodiment the friction of the spring 30 is adjusted by use of a screw-driver, before the sashis placed in its sash race.

In Figure 9, the spring 30 is shown installed upon the outer vertical edge surface of the side member 40 of a window sash. In this embodiment, a pocket 'I0 is provided in the outer edge face of a window sash, in order to allow th'eY central portion 31 of the spring to operate therein.

A stove-bolt 1I extends outwardly through the sash member 40, and a wing-nut 12 is provided upon its outer end for adjusting the spring 30 in an obvious manner.

In some cases, such as in factory windows, it has been found that `vibration of machinery, trains, etc., will tend to let a raised Window sash gradually Work downwardly, even though thetension of the various friction springs is sufficient to normally h'old the sash stationary. To prevent such a contingency, transversely ribbed friction strips may be used in conjunction with the various friction springs above described herein. These strips and their positions of installation are illustrated in Figures 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14.

The friction strip is indicated by the reference numeral 80, and consists of a strap-like element, preferably of sheet metal, having a plurality of spaced self formed transversely extending ribs 8|. The strip 80 may be installed in the Window frame sash races as illustrated in Figures 10 and 11 in cases Where the friction springs are carried by the Window sash. When the` friction springs are mounted in the sash races, the strips 80 will then be installed along theouter vertical edge surfaces of the sash, as illustrated in Figures 12 and 13. In FigureslO, 11, 12 and 13, the ribs 8| are shown to be spaced to coincide properly with the portions Il and I3 of the spring 41, but this spacing could be varied as desired. With the ribs 8| spaced substantially like those of lFigure 14, practically any one of the friction springs would be accommodated.

It is thought to be evident that the ribs 8l of the strips 80 do not offer sumcient resistance against movement of the sash to vitally impair manual raising or lowering lof the same. The springs will ride over the ribs when sufficient pressure is applied.

I claim:

l. In a device of the class described, the combination with a vertically disposed window frame member having a race for receiving the edge of a vertically slidable Window sash', said member having an indentation in its race, of: a bladetype spring having a central portion adapted to nest Within said indentation, said portion being of a depth less than the depth of said indentation; other portions of said spring, one at each side of said central portion, and normally spaced from the surface of said race; and means for adjustably moving said central portion of the spring toward thebottom of said indentation.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a vertically disposed member of a vertically sliding Window sash, said member having an indentation in its outer side edge surface, of: a blade-type spring having a central portion adapted to nest Within said indentation, said portion being of a depth less than the depth of said indentation; other portions of said spring, one at each side of said central portion, and normally spaced from the edge surface of said sash; and means for adjustably moving the central portion of said spring toward the bottom of said indentation.

LOUIS A. MACKLANBURG.

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