US2786230A

US2786230A - Spring balances for double hung window sashes

Info

Publication number: US2786230A
Application number: US444137A
Authority: US
Inventors: Daniel M Hettinger
Original assignee: WEATHERPROOF PRODUCTS CORP
Current assignee: WEATHERPROOF PRODUCTS CORP
Priority date: 1954-07-19
Filing date: 1954-07-19
Publication date: 1957-03-26
Anticipated expiration: 1974-03-26

Description

March 26, 1957 D. M. HETTINGER 2,786,230

SPRING BALANCES FOR DOUBLE HUNG WINDOW SASHES 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 19, 1954 .95 3/ INVENTOR. Daniel M. Hef/ingen ZQZZWW/VMWH/ ATTORNEYS.

March 26, 1957 D. M. HETTlNGER 2,786,230

SPRING BALANCES FOR DOUBLE HUNG WINDOW SASHES Filed July 19, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A A V IN V EN 7:012. Don/e1 M. Hefi/ngen gikawrm A TTORNE V5.

United States Patent '0 SPRING ,sALA cEs or DOUBLE WINDOW SASHES Daniel "M. Hettinger, Kansas City, Mo., assignor to The Weatherproof Products Corporation, Holmes Park, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application July 19, 1954, Serial No. 444,137 4 (Elaims. (c1. its-197 This invention relates to spring balances for double hung window sashes.

Spring balances are particularly desirable because they are inexpensive, easily operated and are better adapted to weather stripped windows. However, if spring balances are not properly installed, they will not operate satisfactorily. Further, the springs are usually noisy when the sash is operated and also they are subject to noise resulting from sympathetic vibrations. Therefore, the principal object of the present invention is to provide a spring balance which may be furnished as an assembled unit and which may be easily and accurately installed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a spring balance unit that is quiet in operation and free of metallic noises that ordinarily result from poor installation and sympathetic vibrations.

Further objects of the invention are to provide spring anchors that hold the parts of the unit in assembly prior to application and which facilitate accurate installation; to provide a sash balancing unit with spring anchors that are self-adjustable with respect to the angularity of the edge of the sash to which they are applied; to provide a spring ha'lance unit including a spring housing equipped with a sound deadening lining of flock or similar material; and to provide the upper anchor for the spring housing and spring, which is applied without denting or twisting of the spring housing.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invena tion, I have provided improved structure the preferred forms of which. are illustrated in the accompanying drawinggs wherein: i

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of. a double hung window equipped with spring sash balances ponstructed in accordance with the present invention, part of the window sash d f m be broken away to shorten thefigure and better illustrate the construction and arrangement of the spring balances.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of one of the spring balance units particularly illustrating its o tin in a s h an the anc r f r att h ng h lower end of the spring.

3 i a f a mentary lon tudinal section o e up er a d o e e d o h unit, pa t cula y r ti e Spring a ch rs- Fis- 4 s e P W iV iew o one o he p ing anch for tta h t r gs t t e sash 5 is a P pec ive i w imile to F g. 4. but showing the anchor as viewed from the underside thepeof.

s- 6 is a f a men ry cross-section th ou h upsid of he ow a h l us ra ng he re a o at the. sprin Ba an es o e ea hc strip wh ch a so rms th g ide- W y f e respective up er nd lase sa h of a indow- Fig! is a f m t r r a sess? ie at ap-Qr a o t e. S r p ma e s from? which the s rin h usin ar fo ms? E 3.. 9 nd .0 are diagramm tic v ews. llus ratin e d n ea e ap icati n f n assembled s r ng balance unit.

ice

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a window frame having side jarnbs 2 carrying an outer blind stop 3 and an inner stop 4 that are spaced apart to accommodate a weather strip 5. The weather strips at each side of the window are preferably formed as a unit to provide sash guideways Sand 7 on the respective sides of a central parting stop portion 8. The preferred weather strip 5 is illustrated and specifically described in my eo-pending application Serial No. 320,957 on Combination Weather Strip and Sash Guide for Double Hung Windows. Briefly,'-the weather strip is shaped to provide rather flexible web portions 9 and 10 of substantially arched cross-section as shown in Fig. 6, and which have outer flanges 11 and 12 that are pressed against the inner and outer side faces of the upper and

lower sashes

13 and 14 respectively. While the parting stop portion 8 is pressing against the outer and inner faces of the respective sashes responsive to resiliency of the web portions 9 and 19. It is obvious that the sides of the sash are guided within the window frame by the

guideways

6 and 7 of the weather strips 5 and that the resilient strips provide sea-ls along the sides of the sash to cooperate with the transverse seals (not shown) and provide a substantially weather tight construction. The

sashes

13 and 14 are thus loosely mounted yet weather sealed incidental to the resiliency of the sash guides. The window sashes are substantially balanced for easy movement in the ways by means of spring balancing units as now to be described.

Each balancing unit includes a coil spring 15 and a tubular housing 16. Each spring 15 has sufficient action for lifting substantially one-half the weight of each sash when the spring is extended. The upper ends of the spring of each unit are secured near the upper ends of the ways and therefore the springs must be of suflicient length to accommodate full movement of the sash that is, from a position when the springs are, stretched and the sashes are in their lower-mostposition to the uppermost position within the window frame. It is obvious that a susbtantial portion of the springs would be normally exposed above the window sash. Each spring 15 is there fore contained within a tubular housing 16. The tubular housings 16 are preferably produced from sheet material normally in strip form, as shown in Fig. 7. Suitably. attached to the innerside of the strip 1? as by'an adhesive is a lining strip 18 of paper or fabric material having the outer surface thereof covered with flock or similar sound deadening material 19. The strip is rolled to tubular form with the side edges 20 thereof meeting in abutting relation to provide an open longitudinal seam 21. Each tubular housing 16 is of proper length so that when one end is attached within the upper end of a sash-way the lower end slightly laps the tops of the sash. Each tubular o therefqre of a en h subs ant al y c e po d n it th h i ht of t e as n so th the t o h spr ng hen th sp ing is. in sl ht y stret hed condi ion- The u ul housing when t us shaped of l shape an ustom: n rad us to th t om r a ur 22 of t e g ooves 23 that are provided n s d edges o the sashhe. inner diam t r o he ubul r h s ngs a e o a siz to permit the prin s to r r t ree y her n.

The upper end of each tubular housing is provided with a transverse sleeve or elongated grommet 24 extending through registering

openings

25 and 26 in the sides of the housing and having flanged ends 27' and 28 engaging the outer face sides of the housing as best shown in Fis- 3- E spr g 5' has. hooks Z9 and t formed on respective ends thereof to engage the transverseg mmet 24 and an anchor 31 that is secured to the lower edge of the sash.

Each anchor 31 includes a plate portion 32 having a circular boss 33 pressed therefrom with a slightly tapered periphery 34 conforming in radius to the radius of the bottoms of the sash grooves. The boss has a top offset from the plate portion 32 and the top is transversely slitted and pressed therefrom is a loop or bail portion 35 having converging sides to form an under transverse groove for seating the book of the springs. The slits and out struck bail form openings 36 to pass the hook of a spring therethrough. The plate portion has

parallel sides

37 and 38 .of slightly larger width than the width of the sash grooves to overlap the end of the sash on the respective sides of the grooves. The transverse side edge 39 of the plate portion nearest the bail extends parallel with the side edge of the sash and joins with the side edges in rounded curves 40. 'The opposite side edge 41 is substantially semi-circular and forms a flange of slightly larger radius than the rounded bottom portion of the groove thereof and to cooperate with the

side portions

37 and 38 in engaging the bottom edge of the sash. The rounded edge 41 of the plate portion is preferably provided with prongs 42 and 43 that are struck upwardly therefrom and which are adapted to be pressed into the wood of the sash to hold the anchor in fixed position relatively thereto and there- -by retain the spring substantially coaxial within the bot- --tom curvature of the sash groove and give ample clear- ,ance for the tubular housing when the spring works there- .in during operation of the sash.

The spring anchor 31 and tubular housing 16 are assembled at the factory. One end of the spring is passed into the tubular housing 16 so that the hook 29 thereof registers with the openings and 26.

The elongated grommet 24 is passed through the opening 25, eye of the hook and opening 26. The end of the grommet is then flanged over the face of the tubular housing to retain assembly and to maintain the diameter of the tubular housing at the points of the grommet. A tool -(not shown) is projected into the opposite end of the tubular housing to engage the hook of the spring and stretch the spring as the tool is withdrawn from the end of the tube. The bail of the anchor 31 is engaged with the hook 30 and the tool is removed. The spring .then pulls. the boss of the anchor into the end of the .tubular housing until .stopped by the flange portions of the anchor. The spring thus retains the parts in'assembly .so that each spring balance may be furnished as a single unit.

When the spring balances are to be mounted in the sash a spring balance is placed in the grooves at the side of the sash. The ends having the anchors 31 are placed in the grooves so that the flange portions of the anchor seat against the bottom edge of the sash. A fastening device, preferably a drive screw 44, is passed through each of the grommets and the tubes are pulled outwardly from that end of the grooves to stretch the springs sufficiently for the projecting end of the screws to engage the upper edge of the sash so that the ends of the tubes are held in projecting relation with the upper edge of the sash. The spring balances are assembled in both sashes in a similar manner and the metal weather strip and guides 5 are placed over the side edges of the sash, the entire unit is then moved into the window frame after which the inner stops 4 are applied. The projecting ends of the tubular housings 16 are then raised against action of the springs 15 so that zthe upper ends substantially abut the head jamb of the window frame with the screws 44 registering with openings -44' (Fig. 3) that have been provided in the web portions .9 and 10. The screws 44 are then driven through the openings 44' and into the wood of the side jambs 2 to anchor the upper ends of the springs 15 and to suspend ,the tubular housings 16 thereover as shown in Fig. 1 with Ithe lower ends thereof engaging within the side grooves ofthe'sashi by the flock lining of the tubular housings.

The upper sash may then be moved to its upper position. The springs of the balances therefore contact and assist in lifting the sash. The inner sash is moved downwardly to close the window opening against action of the springs 15 of the balances therefor. The weight of the window, together with the downwardly moving force load the springs and the springs are stretched to assist in lifting the sash when the lower sash is to be opened.

The anchors 31 play an important part in the ease of assembly because they are self-adjusting to the angularity of the lower edge of the lower edge of the lower sash and also the right angular edge of the upper sash.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provided a spring balancing unit that is of simple and inexpensive construction and which may be furnished as an assembled unit for easy installation and to assure that the parts are properly installed to provide for smooth, easy acting sashes. The grommets 24 prevent distortion of the tubular housings when the drive screws are driven home.

It is also obvious that vibration of the springs, incidental to raising and lowering the sash, is deadened It is also obvious that sympathetic vibrations set up by external noises are absorbed by the deadening action of the flock material.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A spring balance for a window sash having grooves extending longitudinally within side edges of the sash that slide vertically of the ways of the jambs of a window frame, said spring balance comprising a pre-assembled unit including a tubular housing having an exterior size for sliding fit within said groove of the sash, a grommet extending transversely within the upper end of the tubular housing and having flanges on the ends thereof engaging outer opposite sides of the housing to form a rigid support, an attaching device adapted to be projected through the grommet into a jamb of the window frame and having a head to engage one end of the grommet and to seat the other end of the grommet against the bottom of the sash way of the window jamb, a coil spring within the tubular housing and having books on the ends thereof, one of said hooks being hooked over the grommet, and an anchor having a plate portion adapted to engage the bottom edge of said sash and having a boss initially engagable within the lower end of the tubular housing to retain the plate portion in fixed relation with the lower -end of the tube, said boss having a bail fixed thereto and engaging with the hook on the lower end of the spring to hold the assembly under action of the spring, and said plate portion having prongs adapted to be located at the bottom edge of the sash when the tubular housing is placed within said groove of the sash and adapted to be driven into the sash while the plate is retained in said position to secure the lower end of the spring to the sash.

2. A spring balance for a window sash having grooves with semi-circular bottoms extending longitudinally with in side edges of the sash that slide vertically of the ways of the jambs of a window frame, said spring balance comprising a pro-assembled unit including a tubular housing having an exterior diameter for a sliding fit within said groove of the sash, a grommet extending diametrically within the upper end of the tubular housing and having flanges on the ends thereof engaging outer diametrical sides of the tubular housing to form a rigid support, an attaching device adapted to be extended through the grommet and having a head to engage one end of the grommet and to seat the other end of the grommet against the bottom of the sash way of the window jamb, a coil spring within the tubular housing and having hooks on ends thereof, one of said hooks being hooked over the grommet, and an anchor having a plate portion adapted to engage the bottom of said stile and having a substantially circular boss engagable within the lower end of the tubular housing'to" retain the plate portion in fixed relation with the lower end of the tubular housing, said boss having a bail fixed thereto and engaging with the hook on the lower end of the spring to hold the assembly under action of the spring, and said plate portion having prongs adapted to be located at the bottom edge of the sash when the tubular housing is placed within the groove of the sash and adapted to be driven into the sash while the plate is in said location for securing the spring to the sash.

3. A spring balance for a window sash having grooves with semi-circular bottoms extending longitudinally within side edges of the sash that slide vertically of the ways of the jambs of a Window frame, said spring balance comprising a pre-assembled unit including a tubular housing having an exterior diameter for sliding fit within said groove of the sash and of shorter length than the height of the sash, a grommet extending diametrically within the upper end of the tubular housing and having flanges on the ends thereof engaging outer diametrical sides of the tubular housing to form a rigid support, an attaching device adapted to be extended through the grommet to engage temporarily the upper edge of the sash when the spring balance is being installed and said fasten ing device having a head to engage one end of the grommet and to seat the other end of the grommet against the bottom of the sash Way of the window jamb, a coil spring Within the tubular housing and having hooks on ends thereof, one of said hooks being hooked over the grommet, and an anchor having a plate portion adapted to engage the bottom of said stile and having a substantially circular boss engagable within the lower end of the tubular housing to retain the plate portion in fixed relation with the lower end of the tubular housing, said boss having a bail fixed thereto and engaging with the hook on the lower end of the spring to hold the assembly under action of the spring prior to installation and to retain the spring balance in said groove of the sash when the upper end of the tubular housing is drawn upwardly over the spring to where the fastening device is engaged over the upper edge of the sash, and said plate portion having prongs adapted to be located at the bottom edge of the sash when the tubular housing is contained within the groove of the sash and adapted to be driven into the sash while the plate is in said location for securing the spring to the sash.

4. A spring balance for facilitating the raising and lowering movement of a Window sash having a groove extending longitudinally within one of the side edges of sash that slide vertically of the sashways at the sides of a window frame in which the sash is mounted, said spring balance comprising a preassembled unit including a tubular housing having an exterior size for sliding fit within said groove of the sash, fastening means extending from one side portion of the tube to the window frame, a coil spring within the tubular housing and having hooks on opposite ends thereof, one of the hooks extending over a portion of the fastening means to anchor that end of the spring, and an anchor having a transverse bail portion engaged by the hook on the lower end of the spring and having lateral portions adapted to engage under the bottom edge of the tubular housing at opposite sides thereof to retain the spring in expansion, said lateral portions being of a length to project beyond opposite sides of the tubular housing to engage the bottom edge of the sash on opposite sides of said sash groove and said bail portion being of a size and oflfset upwardly from said lateral portions to extend upwardly Within the lower end of the tubular housing to retain said projecting portions in position for engagement with the sash in forming a connection of the sash With the spring whereby the spring is stretched when the sash is lowered and the contracting action of the spring eifects a lifting force on the sash when the sash is raised.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 491,114 Johnson Feb. 7, 1893 2,077,262 Prudden Apr. 13, 1937 2,086,433 Prudden July 6, 1937 2,122,576 Larson July 5, 1938 2,257,051 Gossen Sept. 23, 1941 2,260,056 Rosentreter Oct. 21, 1941 2,604,655 Peremi July 29, 1952 2,686,333 Starck Aug. 17, 1954