US2871506A

US2871506A - Removable sash balance

Info

Publication number: US2871506A
Application number: US490552A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frederick J Decker; Mahlon H Gregg
Original assignee: Caldwell Manufacturing Co Inc
Current assignee: Caldwell Manufacturing Co Inc
Priority date: 1955-02-25
Filing date: 1955-02-25
Publication date: 1959-02-03
Anticipated expiration: 1976-02-03

Description

.1959 F. J. DECKEYR ETAL 2,871,506

REMOVABLE SASl-I BALANCE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 25, 1955 IN V EN TORS E'cJer/ck j Deck am/ BY I H. Gr

. lap/21% #TTORNEY- Feb. 3, 1959 F. J. DECKER ETAL REMOVABLE SASH BALANCE 2. Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 25, 1955 INVENTORS y m M a 0m TY B m w United. States Patent 2,871,506 REMGVABLE SASH BALANCE 7 Frederick H. Decker, Pittsford, and Mahlon H. Gregg,

Rochester, N. Y., assignors to The Caldwell Manufacturing Company, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 25, 1955, Serial No. 490,552 6 Claims. (Cl. 16-202) This invention relates to window sash balances and it more particularly pertains to sash balances of the spiral type wherein the longitudinal movement of a spiral rod through a nut in accordance with the raising and lowering of a window sash respectively decreases and increases torsional force in a spiral spring tending to hold the window sash in its last operated position and to assist in lifting the sash. More particularly, the invention relates to this type of sash balance for a takeout window where the sash and the balance operate as a unit, and where both the sash and the balance can be disengaged from the frame and removed for the purpose of cleaning the window, adjusting the balance,

etc.

The main objects of the invention are:

First, to provide an improved sash balance for a takeout sash window, includinga rotatable element having a spiral track and a torsion member adapted to be mounted for relative movement in which the parts are very economical to produce and may be easily assembled into the balance, and the balance and the sash are easily and quickly assembled in an operative relation in the window frame, and are easily and quickly removed for cleaning or other purposes.

Second, to provide an improved and relatively inexpensive means for maintaining the balance in a fixed position on the frame when the window is in operating position, while, at the same time, providing means for quickly disengaging the balance from the window frame, so that the sash and the balance may be removed as a unit.

Third, to provide a sash balance for a take-out window having the above advantages in which the mounting brackets are of the drive type, one of the brackets functioning to hold the assembly under torque stress, while the balance is assembled on the take-out sash.

Fourth, and principle object of the invention, to provide a spiral type rod sash balance for a take-out window,

.whereby the balance may be installed on the sash and torsional force applied to the balance, which is held in position solely on the sash until the sash and the balance are moved into position in the frame, at which point the end of the spiral rod to whichthe spring is fixed is locked into position with respect tothe frame, which locked position may be disengaged.

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 accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure l is a front elevation with parts broken away showing the position of the balance in the sash and held in fixed position to the frame.

Figure 2 is a top sectional view looking down in the direction of the arrows at line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 isa-side elevation in section of the upper portion of the sash and frame showing the sash fixed into positionon the window.

'With reference to Figure 1-, a sash balance according to one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated as being secured in its operating position along a vertical side 8 of a window sash. The window frame is of a conventional frame construction, having a verticalparting strip for separating the upper and lower sashes of a double hung Window, a lintel 11 extending across the top of the frame, a sill 12 extending across the bottom of the frame, and vertical stop and facing

strips

10 and 13 respectively secured to the jamb 16 for cooperating with the parting strip 9 to form channels in which movable slides are disposed and in which respective upper and lower sashes of the window may be I operated.

An upper sash 14 is illustrated as having a vertical channel 15 formed in its edge adjoining the jamb 16 for receiving the sash balance. Although Figure 1 shows only the balance associated with the left-hand side of a window sash, it is to be understood that this balance can be similarly applied to the frame and sash at the right-hand side of the window, and that similar balances are employed in practice for the respective sides of the lower sash (shownwith parts broken away). It is to be understood, however, that a single balance according to the present inventionf is suitable under certain. conditions to operate a window sash, provided, of

course, that a spring of suitable tension is employed.

.The balance, according to Figure 1, has a tubular housing and supporting member 17 that is preferably.

of a length for use with an upper sash. The balance for the lower sash (not shown), however, should have a tubular support slightly greater in length than the height of the upper sash. Secured within the lower edge of the supporting member 17 is a tubular bearing 19, which is preferably fixed in position by spinning the end of the tube 17 inwardly around the lower edge of the bearing 19, thus also securing the seam of the tube 17 from spreading.

A helical spring (not shown) extends within the tube 17 substantially throughout its entire length and is secured at its respective upper, and lower ends by a spring anchor and a tubular adapter, as shown in Patent 2,580,705. The spring 'is' of 'fla't' spring stock having a width substantially greater thanitsthickness and formed with spaced helical convolutions, so that the greater crosssectional dimension of the spring material is parallel to the axis of the spring. A spring of this nature, as is more fully described in Patent No. 2,415,614, dated February 11, 1947, is preferred because it retains straight axial alignment when torsional force is applied, with no friction between the respective turns of the spring, and thus requires no additional support such-as bearing against the tube 17, so as to cause noise'and uneven operation of the balance'because of friction with a supporting member. It is to be understood, however, that many of the objects of the present invention can be used in sash balances employing the conventional wire wound springs if the conditions of practice of the invention warrent the use of such springs.

The spring is suitably secured to the outside of the spring anchor by its own tension grasping the tubular portion of the anchor in a manner fully'fdescribed in the above mentioned Patent 2,415,614. The tube 17 and the anchor, and thus the upper end of the spring, are secure against rotation bythe flange 24 extending into slot 25 of window sash 8.

Flanged tubular anchor'23 is swag'ed over the spring anchor and has an extension 51 which extends into slot 52 of flange 11 and serves to hold flanged tubular anchor 23 in position in the frame. Also extending from flanged tubular anchor 23 are flanges 54 and 55 which extend through slots of spring lock 61 whichis fixedly mounted to movable slide rail 64. Movable slide rail 64 is made of aluminum or other suitable material and is mounted in jamb 16 in a manner so as to yield to pressure exerted upon sash 14 when sash 14 is removed.

The lower end of the rod 31 is anchored by a bracket '48 which'is suitably secured to the lower edge of the window sash 14 as by the nails 52.

The left-hand portion of the bracket 48 is formed as a U-shaped bayonet receiving receptacle extending into the channel 15, so as not to protrude below the lower edge'ofthe window sash. Such receptacle is for receiving a bayonet crosspin'49 which extends transversely through rod 31, thuscausing the pin 49 to bulge on the opposite sides of the rod and thus securely lock the cross-pin 49 "on center at the lower end of the rod 31.

Having considered the structural details of the balance, according to the embodiment shown in Figure 1, consideration will now be given to the manner in which the balance is installed and'adjusted and its mode of opera tion in balancing the weight of the window.

It is preferable that the rod 31 be inserted'through the nut before the balancev is shipped, and also that the cross-pin 49 be inserted within its bayonet notch in the receptacle 48, so that there is no assembly to be done 'atthe time of the installation. This being accomplished, the mode of operation of the installation of the balance'is simple and obvious from the drawing. The sash is first removed from the window frame by pressing to the left against the movable slide 64 and the lower end of'the balance is inserted through the channel 15 as illustrated, and then the flanged tubular anchor 23 is inserted into slot 25 onthe sash, after the tubular element 17 has been turned,.so as to exert the proper amount of'torsion on the'spring.

Window sash 14 with the balance in position is then pushed into place in movable slide 64 as is customary with the conventional take-out window. As the window is raised into position, flanged tubular anchor 23is moved into locked engagement with spring 61 by ears 54 and 55 and extension 51 protrudes up into slot 52 of the lintel 11, thus locking the upper end of the balance into .position. As the window is lowered, the locked upper end of the balance is held into position byspring 61, and the lowering-of the window operates the balance in the conventional manner as described in Patent 2,580,705.

Having thus described specific embodiments of the present invention as illustrative of forms which the inoperatively associated with said supporting member; a

--tubular-anchor fastened toone end of said sash balance,

a flange on said tubular anchor adapted to be engaged in a slot in a window sash for holding said tubularanchor against rotation with respect to the sash when the sash is removed from the window frame, a spring lock having slots formed therein fastened to the window frame, flanges on said tubular anchor engaged with the slots in said spring lock when the sash is in the window frame; said second flanges being adapted to be disengaged from the slots in said spring lock when the sash and balance are removed from the window frame.

3. A sash balance fastened to a window sash; a tubular anchor fastened at one end of said sash balance, a flange on said tubular anchor adapted to be engaged in a slot in said sash for holding said tubular anchor against rotationwith respect to said sash, a spring lock fastened to the'window frame, said spring lock being adapted to be engaged by said tubular anchor for removably connecting said end'of'said sash balance to the window frame; said spring lock being adapted to be disengaged from said tubular anchor when the sash is removed from the window 7 frame.

4. A sash balance for a window sash adapted to be removed from a window frame; one end of said sash balance being'connected to the window sash, means for connecting said sash balance to the window frame comprising a spring lock having slots formed therein fastened 'to the window frame, a tubular anchor on said sash balance, a'flange on said tubular anchor adapted to engage in a slot in the sash for holding said sash balance against rotation with respect to the sash, second flanges on said tubular anchor adapted to be engaged in the slots in said spring lock when the sash is placed in the Window frame.

5. A sash balance for a window sash adapted to be removed from a window frame; one end of said sash balance being connected to the window sash, means for connecting said sash balance to the Window frame comprising a spring lock having slots formed therein fastened to the window frame, a tubular anchor on said sash balance, a flange on said tubular anchor adapted to engage in a slot in the sash for holding said sash balance against rotationwith respect to the sash, an extension on said vention may assume, it is desired to be understood that these forms are selected to facilitate the disclosure of the v invention rather than to limit the number of forms the invention may assume, and it is to be further understood that various adaptations, alterations, and modifications may be applied to the specific forms shown to meet the requirements of practice without in any manner departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention except as limited by the appending claims.

We claim:

1. A sash balance including an elongated supporting member and a spiral rod connected to a window sash and operatively associated with said supporting member and a spring member in said supporting member; a tubular anchor fastened to one end of said sash balance, a first flange on said tubular anchor adapted to be engaged in a slot in a window sash for holding said tubularanchor against rotation with respect to the sash, a spring lock having slots formed therein fastened to a window jamb, flanges on said tubular anchor adapted to be removably frame for holding said sash balance in'position with respect to the window frame, second flanges on said tubular anchor adapted to engage'in the-slots in said spring lock when the sash is'placed-in the window frame.

6. A sash balance fastened to a window sash adapted to be removably placed in a window frame; means for connecting said sash balance to said window frame when said sash is placed in said frame comprising a tubular anchor on 'said sash balance, a spring lock fastened to said window frame, said spring lock having slots formed therein, flanges on said tubular anchor adapted to be engaged in the slots in said spring lock when said sash is placed in said frame, an extension on said tubular anchor extending into a slot in said frame when said sash is placed in said frame for maintaining said sash 'balance in position with respect to said frame, a flange on said tubular anchor adapted to engage in a slot in said sash for holding said sash balance against rotation with respect to said sash.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,415,614 Tappen Feb. 11, 1947 2,580,705 Tappan Jan. 1, 1952 2,602,958 Brown July 15, 1952 2,662,255 Serley Dec. 15, 1953 2,677,156 Holmes May 4, 1954 2,678,477 -Russell May 18, 1954 2,732,594 .Adams et al Jan. 31, 1956 2,735,145 Kraesky Feb. 21, 1956