US2602958A

US2602958A - Sash balance

Info

Publication number: US2602958A
Application number: US783123A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward H Brown
Original assignee: Grand Rapids Hardware Co
Current assignee: Grand Rapids Hardware Co
Priority date: 1947-10-30
Filing date: 1947-10-30
Publication date: 1952-07-15
Anticipated expiration: 1969-07-15

Description

E. H. BROWN July 15, 1952 SASH BALANCE Filed Oct. 50, 1947 INVENTbR. Edward M .B/pwn ATTORNEY.

Patented July 15, 1952 v SASH BALANCE Edward H. Brown, Grand Rapids, Mich., assigncr *to Grand Rapids Hardware Rapids, Mich.

Company, Grand Application October 30, 1947, Serial No. 783,123

This invention relates to improvements in' a sash balance. 7 3

The main objects of this invention arei First, to provide an improved sash balance including a rotatable element having a spiral track and a torsion member adapted tobe mounted for relative movement in which the Claims. (01. 16-197) parts are very economical to produce-and'r'n'ay be easily assembled. into the balance and the balance easily and quickly assembled'in an operative relation to a sash.

Second, to providea sash'balance in which the track element is put under spring torquestress after assembling on the sash or mountingon'the sash and is easily so held. while the sash is being installed in a window casing. I Third, to provide a sash balance having the above advantages in which the mounting brackets are of the drive type as shown in "applicants application filed concurrently herewith, one of the brackets functioning to hold the assembly under torque stress while the sash is being assembled in the casing, this holding means being automatically freed when the sash is moved after installation. 3 I

Further objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in'

which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view partially broken away and partially in vertical section, illustrating the balance of the invention operatively associated with a window sash and its frame, the parts being sectioned ona line corresponding to line l-l of Fig. 2. v

Fig. 2' is an enlarged fragmentary Vl8 W in section on a line corresponding to line 2-2of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary viewin section on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4. is an enlarged fragmentary view in section on a line corresponding to line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of one of the brackets of the coacting parts.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of bracket which may be used in lieu of the bracket shown in Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawing, the reference numeral I indicates a window frame or casing, and 2 the lower window sash. This lower sash has a vertical groove or rabbet 3 in its side edge preferably extending from the top to bottom thereof. It should be understood that the sash may be equipped with two of the balances and Kill adjusting tool.

that commonly both theupper' and lower sash are equipped with the balances.

, The tubular element or member 4 in the embodiment illustrated is formed of a strip of metal spirally wound to provide a spiral groove 5' constituting a spiral track. At its lower end the tubular element 4 is provided with a bushing 6 having ratchet teeth 1 at its inner end, its lower end projecting to provide a journal member 8. The tensioning rod. 9 is rotatably mounted in the lower bushing and is provided with a ratchet head l0 coacting with the teeth of the bushing. The

'tensioning rod is slotted at H to receive an At its upper end the tubular member 4 is provided with a bushing l2 constituting a bearing for the anchoring rod 13. The tensioning rod 9 and the anchoring rod 13 are provided with terminal portions to which the coil spring [A is secured. I

The bushings are provided with external segof sheet metal rolled upon itself with the edges in abutting engagement at ll, the indenting or upset of the tubular member in the groove as described serving to anchor or secure the bushings and also keeping their edges in abutting relation. The anchoring rod [3 is provided with a.

transverse slot H5 at its projecting end, thereby providing'segmental tangs 19 which engage the segmental slots 29 inthe bracket 2|, thereby supporting the anchoring rod against rotating'movement.

' The other mounting bracket 22 is provided with a bearing opening 23 receiving the journal portion of the lower bushing. These brackets are formed of sheet metal stampings and are provided with drive tangs 2t; and 25, respectively, these drive tangs being provided with serrated edges 26 being in general the same as those described in my co-pending application.

The head portions thereof are provided with side flanges 21 engaging the sides of the groove 3 illustrated in Fig. 4, the torsion member 29 being described in my co-pending application and. being provided with a follower lug 3B coacting with the groove-like track as is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

A rod 3|, preferably non-metallic, is arranged between the tensioning and anchoring rods. This prevents the coils of the spring from interlocking or overlapping and restricts the spring fromslipping from side to side under torsional stress.

In the modifications shown in Fig. 6 the bracket 3 32 for the anchoring rod is provided with an arm 33 adapted to be attached to the bottom of the groove by means of screws or brads through the holes 34.

To facilitate the mounting of the sash in a casing, the bracket 22 is provided with a breakable lug 35 which engages the notch 39 in the lower bushing,- thereby preventing rotating of the tubular member under the torque stress of the spring which has been properly tensioned after the brackets 2| and 22 have been driven into the sash, but before the sash is installed in the easing. With the sash installed in the, casing, the parts as shown in Fig. l, the lifting of the sash results in shearing off the lug, thereby permitting the rotation of the tubular member. This is of substantial advantage as sometimes in stalling, a jar such as might result from dropping or setting down carelessly might result in the unwinding of the spring. However, that cannot happen when the tubular member is prevented from rotating as by means of the lugs. The lug is relatively j small and 'is easily sheared off when the sash is .raised as I have'explained.

- "Itshould be noted thatthe bushing 8 should 'beso positioned in relation to the groove in the tubular element 4 that torsion member arm 29 can be placed adjacent the bracket 21 in parallel relation to the side of the sash and to the easing I.

; 'I haveillustrated and described my invention in a highly practical embodiment thereof. I have -not attempted to illustrate or describe other .adaptations which I contemplate, as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention.

- Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters .Patent, is:

1. In a sash'balance, the combination of a rotatable tubular element having a spiral track, an

ing brackets, one bracket being provided with segmental slots aligned with said anchoring rod tonon-rotatably receive the said tangs of said anchoring rod, the other bracket being provided .with a bearing opening for rotatably supporting the end of the tubular element opposite from said anchoring rod, and a torsion member coacting with said track of said tubular element.

2. A sash balance comprising a rotatable tubular element, an anchoring rod constituting a journal for one end of said tubular element, the

outer end of said anchoring rod being provided with a bracket engaging tang, a coiled spring arranged in said tubular member and having its ends connected to said anchoring rod and tubular element, attaching brackets comprising heads and integral attaching prongs, one of said brackets being provided with an opening aligned with said anchoring rod and non-rotatably receiving the tang of said anchoring rod, the other bracket being provided with a bearing opening for rotatably supporting the end of the tubular element opposite from said anchoring rod.

3. In a sash balance, the combination of a rotatable tubular element, an anchoring rod constituting a journal member disposed within one end of said tubular element and having a slotted outer end providing segmental tangs, a coiled spring arranged in said tubular member and having its ends connected to said anchoring rod and tubular element, an attaching bracket provided with segmental slots aligned with said anchoring rod to non-rotatably receive the said tangs of said anchoring rod, and an attaching bracket rotatably supporting the other end of said tubular member and constituting a thrust member therefor.

- 4. In a sash balance, the combination of a rotatable tubular element having a spiral track, a tensioning spring disposed within said tubular elementand connected thereto at one end, an anchoring element to which the other end of said spring is connected and by which said tubular element is rotatably mounted, means for nonrotatably securing said anchoring rod to a sash, and an attaching bracket rotatably supporting the other'end of said tubular element and provided with a breakable lug initially engaging the tubular element for facilitating the mounting of the balance, said lug being breakable upon initial normal rotation of thetubular element relative to the attaching bracket after installation of the sash balance.

5. In a sash balance construction, a supporting bracket of sheet metal conformed to provide a head portion and a portion integral with the head portion and projecting from an edge thereof for supportingly connecting said head portion to a sash, said head portion having opposed spaced parallel slots therethrough, the outer edges of the slots being circularly shaped, said slots constituting means for non-rotatably receiving correspondingly shaped projecting portions of a spring anchoring and journal member of a sash balance.

EDWARD H. BROWN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,370,867 Luce Mar, 6, 1945 2,384,980 Viehweger Sept. 18, 1945