US2877514A

US2877514A - Window construction

Info

Publication number: US2877514A
Application number: US628715A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr John H Mears
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1956-12-17
Filing date: 1956-12-17
Publication date: 1959-03-17
Anticipated expiration: 1976-03-17

Description

March 17, 1959 J. H. MEARS, JR

WINDOW CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 1'7, 1956 ll $3431 IIIIII/ I IN VENTOR JbfilI/IZ ATTORNEYS J. H. MEARS, JR WINDOW CONSTRUCTION March 17, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 17, 1956 INVENTOR 6W1): 1:

Jaw/Z ATTORNEYS struction embodying the present invention,

United States Patent Ofitic 2,877,514 WINDOW CONSTRUCTION John H. Mears, Jr., 'Catonsville, Md. Application December 17, 1956, Serial No. 628,715 4 Claims. (Cl. 52.2)

The present invention relates in general to window constructions and more particularly to combined sash balance and Weatherstrip units and jamb liners for use therewith.

An object of the present invention is the provision of novel means for obtaining a substantially weather tight connection between a window casing and sash slidably mounted therein and for counterbalancing the sash in a manner obviating the necessity of using sash weights and the like.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel combined sash balance and Weatherstrip unit for windows wherein the coil spring and other parts are effectively housed so as to protect the components from the weather and produce a structure having a neat appearance free from suggestions of complicated mechanical construction which readily accommodates itself to changes in the sash due to climatic variations.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel combined sash balance and Weatherstrip unit for windows wherein the sash can be readily inserted into position in and removed from window openings without necessitating the removal of any components of the window frame structure.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel combined sash balance and Weatherstrip unit for windows wherein the units may be installed in the window openings to substantially complete the windows at an early stage during construction of buildings and the sash readily installed at a later stage when the buildings are ready for finish.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel combined sash balance and Weatherstrip unit of the type relying upon an adjustable coil spring for sash balancing functions, wherein means are provided for selectively decoupling the coil springs from the sash and supporting the same on the Weatherstrip jamb members to facilitate removal of the sash from the window opening.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel window opening liner structure which is readily convertible to make standard window opening jambs or jambs adaptable for combined sash balance and weatherstrip units.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the present invention will become apparent from the following detail description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing one preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a window conwith parts broken away to reveal details of the sash balance and Weatherstrip structure;

Figure 2 is a vertical section view taken along the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken along the line 3'3 of Figure 1;

inner liner 16 of unique construction 2,877,514 Patented Mar. 17, 19519 Figure 4 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of one jamb of the combined sash balance and weatherstrip unit of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a horizontal section view of the window frame components arranged to produce a standard jamb, and

Figure 6 is a section view similar to Figure 3, showing the sash in process of being inserted into the window opening.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures, the present invention is shown in its relation to a window construction comprising a window frame or casing 10 of the type having upper and

lower sashes

11 and 12. In accordance with conventional practice, the

sashes

11 and 12 are supported in the frame 10 for sliding movement in parallel planes spaced laterally from each other a sufficient distance to permit the two sashes to slide past each other.

In the preferred embodiment, the sides of the window frame 10 are formed in a novel manner so that the same may be readily modified to form either a standard window jamb or a window jamb particularly suited for use with my novel combined sash balance and Weatherstrip unit. To this end, the side members of the window frame 10 are formed of side panels or pulley stiles 13 to the outer edges of which are secured outer vertical stops 14 by tongue and groove joints or the like. In accordance with conventional practice, molding or trim strips 15 are secured to the outer surfaces of the outer vertical stops 14 in partially overlapping relation. The inner edges of the pulley stile 13 are specially adapted to receive an which may serve either as inner vertical stops or as extensions of the pulley stile 13. The inner edge of each pulley stile 13 is specially shaped to cooperate with its associated inner liner 16 by providing a rabbet 17 extending forwardly from the rearmost corner of the edge of the pulley stile 13 for half the width of the pulley stile 13 leaving a projection 18 which is complementary to the rabbet 17 in overall cross section. The laterally facing edge of the projection 18 is provided with a medial vertical groove 19. The facing surface of the associated inner liner 16 is formed complementary to the adjacent surface of the pulley stile 13, and is provided with a rabbet 20 having a tongue 21 to be received in the groove 19 of the side plate member 13, and a projection 22 which is complementary to the rabbet 17. As will be seen from an inspection of Figure 3, the inner liner 16 may be interfitted with the pulley stile 13 of the window frame so that the inner liner 16 serves as an inner stop by interfitting the tongue 21 projecting from the rabbet 20 into the groove 19 in the projection 18 with the projection 22 extending inwardly from the inner surface of the pulley stile 13, whereby the surface of the projection 22 cooperates with the outer stop 14 to form a channel-shaped recess 23 there'between.

If it is desired to assemble the window frame components to produce a standard jamb, the inner liner 16 should be inverted relative to its Figure 3 position so that the projection 22 of the liner 16 interfits with the rabbet 17 of the pulley stile 13 when the tongue 21 is inserted in the groove 19 to dispose the inner liner 16 in coplanar relation with the pulley stile 13 to form an extension thereof, as illustrated in Figure 5.

The combined sash balance and Weatherstrip unit of the present invention is indicated generally by the reference character 24 and comprises a sheet metal jamb member 25 for each side of the window frame 10 which is designed to be mounted by nails, screws or other conventional securing means on the pulley stiles 13 of the window frame. Each of the sheet metal jambs 25 of the combined sash balance and weathership unit 24 are shaped to provide marginal flanges 26 positioned to project perpendicularly from the inner surface of the pulley stiles l3 and an intermediate parting stop 27 arranged to form parallel

vertical channels

28 and 29 therebetween for the

sashes

11 and 12. The base walls or webs 30 of the channels 23 and 29 converge from the marginal flanges 26 toward the parting stop 27 inwardly of the window frame and away from the pulley stiles 13. The portions of the channel webs 30 adjacent the parting stop 27 are shaped to provide rectangular formations 31 having fiat, vertically extending surfaces 32 projecting oppositely from the intermediate parting stops 27 and lying in slightly inclined planes converging inwardly of the frame toward the medial axis of the parting stop 27 to serve as guide surfaces for the edges of the

sashes

11, 12. The intermediate parting stop 27 is of modified rectangular form having side walls 33 which diverge in a direction extending inwardly of the window frame It and the surface 34 of the parting stop 27 connecting the diverging side walls 33 are provided with a plurality of vertically extending reinforcing beads 34'. Vertical beads 35 project inwardly from the channel webs 3b to form guides for the counterbalance springs 36.

The counterbalance springs 36 are of the coil spring type, preferably having a double loop 36 at the upper end thereof and a single loop 56 at the lower end thereof. A plurality of spring tension adjusting formations 37 are provided in the upper portions of the channel webs 30 in each

channel

28, 29 and correspond generally to the counterbalance spring tension adjusting means disclosed in my earlier Patent No. 2,722,723, issued November 8, 1955. These counterbalance spring tension adjusting means 37 comprise a plurality of inverted U-shaped cuts 38 stamped in the channel webs 30 and spaced vertically a selected distance of approximately one inch apart so that the metal within the area of the cut may be bent rearwardly about an axis extending between the lower ends of the legs of the inverted U-shaped cuts 33. The bent metal portions forming tabs 39 which are to be bent into underlying relation with the channel webs 3t) and form a reinforced edge 46 over which the double loop 36' at the upper end of the counterbalance spring 36 may be hooked to serve as an anchor for the upper end of the counterbalance spring. The cuts 38 are of greater vertical dimension than the diameter of the loop 36 and are of smaller width than this diameter to serve to retain the loops 36' seated in the openings formed by the cuts until they are manually withdrawn therefrom. By this arrangement, the tension of a length of counterbalance spring, which is properly designed for the height of the sashes l1, 12, may be adjusted by selection of the proper adjusting formation to properly counterbalance various weights of sash for a wide range of standard sash widths, thereby obviating the necessity of stocking a large number of counterbalance springs of different tension characteristics for each sash weight.

Sheet metal jamb cover members 41 are provided for each of the sheet metal jambs 25 to be removably secured to the sheet metal jambs 25 and overlie the full length of each jamb 25. These jamb covers 41 are provided with rectangular raised portions 42 which are substantially complementary to the intermediate parting stops 27 of the jambs 25 and comprise a pair of side walls 43 which diverge in a direction extending inwardly of the window frame and a connecting wall 44 having vertical reinforcing beads d therein, the raise portions 42 being adapted to be resiliently snapped into overlying clamping relation with the intermediate parting stops 27. Oppositely projecting flanges 46 project from the edges of the side walls 43 in a plane parallel to the plane of the connecting wall 44 and parallel to the planes of the pulley stiles 13 and terminate in large semi-cylindrical spring housing formations 47 adapted to overlie the springs 36 and present an attractive appearance in the upper regions of the jamb units .24 as well as to pro- '4 tect the portionsrof the springs underlying the jamb covers 41 from the elements. In the preferred embodiment, felt washers 43 serving as silencers and spring spacers are mounted on the springs 36 near the top thereof to bear against the concave inner surfaces of the semi-cylindrical spring housing formations 47.

The lower ends of the counterbalance springs 36 are each provided with a specially designed ring member, generally indicated by the reference character 50, for applying the lifting force of the counterbalance springs 36 to the sashes Ill, 12 while rendering the sashes readily releasable from effective coupling of the springs with the sashes to facilitate ready removal of the sashes from the 'indow opening. The ring members 59 are each substantially in the shape of an interrupted semicircle having a first or inner leg portion 51 adapted to be inserted between the cover member 41 and the jambs 25 and a substantially semi-circular arcuate second or outer leg portion 52 adapted to extend entirely around the exposed surfaces of the semi-cylindrical spring housing formations 47 with the curvature of the arcuate leg 52 conforming very nearly to the curvature of the exposed surfaces of formations 47. The medial region of the straight leg 51 is provided with a notch 53 in the edge thereof remote from the arcuate leg 52 and a semi-circular projection 54 extending toward the leg 52 shaped to complement substantially the inner surface of the semi-cylindrical spring housing formation 47. The midpoint of the curved surface of the projection 54 is also notched, as indicated at 55, to an appropriate depth such that the opposite sides of the lower loop 55 of one of the counterbalance springs 36 will frictionally seat in the

notches

55 and 53 when the projection 54 on leg 51 is inserted into substantially centered relation with the loop 56 to frictionally anchor the ring 50 to the loop 56. The free end 57 of the leg 51 is substantially wedge-shaped to conform to the shape of the space between the surfaces 32 of the jamb flanking the parting stop 27 and the flanges 46 of the jamb covers 41 into which the end 5'7 projects.

The arcuate legs 52 of the rings 5%) are deformed along the medial regions thereof to provide elongated wedgeshaped formations 58 having straight edges forming chords of the arcs defined by the legs 52 and extending transversely of the axes of the housing formation 47. These wedge-shaped formations 58 are adapted to be projected into transverse slots 59 in the semi-cylindrical housing formations 47 of the jamb covers 41 located near the bottom of the covers for frictionally holding the counterbalance springs 36 in extended position when it is desired to remove the

sashes

11, 12 from the window opening. The slots 59 on the left jamb cover, as viewed in Figure l, are preferably spaced about three inches from the bottom of the cover and the slots 59 on the right jamb cover are spaced about five inches from the bottom. The ring member 50 rotates in a clockwise direction to a sufficient degree about the axis of the leg 51 and the spring loop 56 when the edge of the wedge-shaped forma tion 58 is projected into the slot 59 to bring the curved surface of the semi-circular projection 54 into abutment with the hidden surface of the cover formation 47 and is resiliently restrained in such abutting relation by the spring 36 to maintain the edge of the formation 58 seated in the slot 59 until manually released therefrom.

The combined sash balance and Weatherstrip unit 24 of the present invention is preferably assembled in the factory. A felt washer 48 is inserted over the bottom end of one of the counterbalance springs 36 and slipped approximately three-quarters of the way to the top of the spring, and the leg 51 of one of the ring members 50 is then projected through the lower single loop 56 of the spring 36 until the loop is seated in the

notches

53, 55. Two counterbalance springs 36 must be prepared in this manner for assembly to each jamb unit 24. The bendable tab 39 in each of the

channels

28, 29 which are at an appropriate height for the particular width and weight of

sashes

11, 12 to be associated with the unit, is pressed rearwardly from the web 30 of the sheet metal jamb 35 until they overlie the rear surface of the channel webs 30, thereby providing rectangular openings for anchoring of the upper ends of the counterbalance springs 36. A jamb cover member 41 is then frictionally assembled with a sheet metal jamb 25 by snapping the rectangular raised portion 42 of the jamb cover 41 over the complementary parting stop 27. The semi-circular projections 54 on the legs 51 of the ring members 50 assembled to the lower ends of the counterbalance springs 36 are then lowered into the semi-cylindrical space provided between the spring housing formations 47 of the jamb cover 41-. The assembled ring members 50 and counterbalance springs 36 are then lowered along the spring housing formations 47 until the upper double loops 36 of the counterbalance springs are aligned with the rectangular openings afforded by the rearwardly bent tabs 39 and the loops 36 are inserted through such openings and frictionally hung over the reinforced edges 40. When the top of the jamb cover 41 is positioned flush with the top of its associated sheet metal jamb 25, the top end portions of the raised wall 44 and its underlying portion of the jamb parting stop 27 should either be clamped rearwardly and downwardly with pliers or like tools to restrain these members against relative movement prior to shipment from the factory, or these members should be secured against relative movement during installation on the job by driving a nail through them into the window frame.

The jamb assemblies are installed in the window frame on the job by positioning an assembled unit 24 over the pulley stiles 13, assembled in the manner illustrated in Figure 3, at each side of the window opening and nailing or screwing the assembled units 24 to the pulley stiles 13. The nails or screws are positioned as close to the side flanges 26 as possible so that the surfaces 32 adjacent the parting stops 27 are projected outwardly from the surface of the pulley stiles to substantially the plane of the inwardly projected surfaces of the

stops

14, 16. The ring members 56 should then be drawn downwardly along the spring housing formations 47 until the wedge-shaped formations 58 are aligned with the slots 59 and the ring members 50 are then shifted about the axes of their legs 51 to project the formations 58 into the slots 59 and restrain the springs 36 in extended position. The

sashes

11, 12 can then be inserted into

channels

28, 29 by shifting the sash edgewise into contact with the medial portions of the jamb units 24 and pressing such portions of the jamb units toward their associated pulley stiles 13 until the other lateral edge of the sash can be shifted past the inner stop 16 at the opposite side of the window opening in the manner illustrated in Figure 6. At the same time, parting stop portion of the opposite jamb unit 24 should be pressed toward its associated pulley stile with the fingers so as to permit the free lateral edge of the sash to be forced past the spring housing formation or formations 47 until the appropriate spring housing formation 47 is seated in the plow 60 of the sash. The sashes are then run down the channels until the lower corners of the sashes engage and release the ring members 50 from their frictional restraint in the slots 59, whereupon the springs 36 then apply their counterbalancing force to the

sashes

11, 12 and the sashes may be manipulated in the conventional manner.

If, after the sashes are in place they work too freely, additional tension to effect counterbalancing and resilient retention of the sashes at their adjusted positions intermediate the sill and lintel may be applied by pressing the side flanges toward the sashes in the uppermost and lowermost regions of the jambs 25.

With this construction, the sashes may be readily removed at any time from the window frame by raising the sashes to an intermediate level, manually forcing the ring members downwardly along the spring housing formation 47 until they are frictionally coupled with the slots 59, and shifting the sash toward one side of the window opening to deform the jamb units 24 so as to permit removal of the sashes by a reversal of the procedure adopted in fitting the sashes into the window opening.

While only one preferred embodiment of the inven tion has been particularly shown and described, it is ap parent that other modifications may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and it is desired, therefore, that only such limtations shall be placed thereon as are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A Weatherstrip and sash balance unit for the sliding sash of a window casing including opposed jamb assemblies comprising an elongated sheet metal jamb member having side flanges adapted to project inwardly of the casing from the opposite lateral edges of said jamb, a pair of laterally spaced sash-receiving channels in said jamb extending toward the medial axis of said jamb from said side flanges and terminating inwardly in an intermediate parting stop connecting said channels, the webs of each of said channels being inclined from said side flanges in a direction to extend inwardly of the casing to dispose the portions of said channel webs adjacent said parting stop substantially in alignment with the free edges of said side flanges, an elongated counterbalance spring extending vertically along each of said channels adjacent the channel web, a plurality of vertically spaced means struck in said channel webs adjacent the upper ends thereof for supporting the upper ends of said counterbalance springs, said vertically spaced means in each of saidchannels being spaced to adjust the tension of said counterbalance springs to counterbalance different preselected weights of sash, distorted ring members carried by the lower ends of said counterbalance springs each having a shoulder portion projecting from said channels for lifting engagement with the lower edge of the sash adjacent the lower corners thereof to removably couple the lower ends of said counterbalance springs to the sash, and said jamb members having means adjacent the lower ends thereof cooperating with said ring members for removably holding said ring members adjacent the lower ends of their respective channels in uncoupled relation with the sash.

2. A Weatherstrip and sash balance unit for the sliding sash of a window casing including opposed jamb assemblies comprising an elongated sheet metal jamb memher having side flanges adapted to project inwardly of the casing from the opposite lateral edges of said jamb, a pair of laterally spaced sash-receiving channels in said jamb extending toward the medial axis of said jamb from said side flanges and terminating inwardly in an intermediateparting stop connecting said channels, the webs of each of said channels being inclined from said side flanges in a direction to extend inwardly of the casing to dispose the portions of said channel webs adjacent said parting stop substantially in alignment with the free edges of said side flanges, an elongated counterbalance spring extending vertically along'each of said channels adjacent the channel webs, a plurality of vertically spaced means struck in said channel webs adjacent the upper ends thereof for supporting the upper ends of said counterbalance springs, said vertically spaced means in each of said channels being spaced to adjust the tension of said counterbalance springs to counterbalance different preselected weights of sash, sheet metal spring cover members for each jamb member, said cover member including an intermediate vertical formation complementary in cross section to said parting stop adapted to be snapped into overlying frictional clamping relation with said parting stop and flange portions projecting laterally in opposite directions from said formation and terminating in parallel vertical convex formations curving away from the jamb members to be disposed in covering relation with the counterbalance springs, and sash carrier members for releasably supporting the sash from said counter- 'balance springs, said sash carrier members being connected to the lower ends of said counterbalance springs and each having a shoulder portion projecting inwardly of the frame from the convex formations and adapted to bear against the lower edge of the sash corners in lifting relation therewith, and means for releasably restraining Said sash carrier members at the lower end of the jamb member in uncoupled relation with said sash.

3. A Weatherstrip and sash balance unit for the sliding sash of a window casing including opposed jamb assemblies comprising an elongated sheet metal jamb men ber having an integral vertical parting stop located medially in each of said jamb members and web portions extending oppositely from said parting stop forming a pair of laterally spaced sash-run tracks, said web portions being inclined along vertical planes diverging rearwardly from said parting stops to space the adjacent margins of said web portions contiguous to said parting stops from opposite margins of said web portions a distance corre sponding substantially to inward projection of the upper and outer stops of a window casing and permit insertion and withdrawal of the sash into and from said sash-run tracks, an elongated counterbalance spring extending vertically along each of said channels adjacent the channel web, a plurality of vertically spaced means struck in said channel webs adjacent the upper ends thereof for supporting the upper ends of said counterbalance springs, sheet metal spring cover members for each jarnb member, said cover members each including an intermediate vertical raised formation complementary in cross-section to said parting stops adapted to be snapped into overlying frictional clamping relation with said parting stops and flange portions projecting laterally in opposite directions from said raised formation and terminating in parallel vertical convex formation arranged to curve a ray from the jamb members to be disposed in covering relation with the counterbalance springs, and sash carrier members for releasably supporting the sash from said counterbalance springs, said sash carrier members each having a first leg portion substantially complementary to the cross section of the space between a flange portion and convex formation of said spring cover members and the jamb member web portions adjacent thereto and secured to the lower end of one of said counterbalance springs to run in said space and a second leg portion curving in conforming overlying relation to one of said convex formations forming a shoulder for lifting engagement with the lower edges of the sash corners, and coactive means on said sash carrier members and said convex formations for releasably restraining said sash carrier members adjacent the lower ends of said jamb members with said sash carrier members in uncoupled relation with the sash.

4. A Weatherstrip and sash balance unit for the sliding sash of a window casing including opposed jamb assemblies comprising an elongated sheet metal janrb member having side flanges adapted to project inwardly of the casing from the opposite lateral edges of said jarnb,

a pair of laterally spaced sash-receiving channels in said jamb extending toward the medial axis of said jamb from said side flanges and terminating inwardly in an intermediate parting stop connecting said channels, the webs of each of said channels being inclined from said side flanges in a direction to extend inwardly of the casing to dispose the portions of said channel webs adjacent said parting stop substantially in alignment with the free edges of said side flanges, an elongated counterbalance spring extending vertically along each of said channels adjacent the channel web, a plurality of vertically spaced means struck in said channel webs adjacent the upper ends thereof for supporting the upper ends of said counterbalance springs, said vertically spaced means in each of said channels being spaced to adjust the tension of said counterbalance springs to counterbalance different areselected weights of sash, sheet metal spring cover members for each jamb member coextensive in length with the jamb members, said cover members each including an intermediate vertical raised formation complementary in cross section to said. parting stops adapted to be snapped into overlying frictional clamping relation with said parting stops and flange portions projecting laterally in opposite directions from said raised formation and terminating in parallel vertical convex formations arranged to curve away from the jamb members to be disposed in covering relation with the counterbalance springs, and sash carrier members for releasably supporting the sash from said counterbalance springs, said sash carrier members each having a first leg portion substantially complerncntary to the cross section of the space between a flange portion and convex formation of said spring cover members and the jamb member web portions adjacent thereto and secured to the lower end of one of said counterbalance springs to run in said space and a second leg portion curving in conforming overlying relation to one of said convex formations forming a shoulder for lifting engagement with the lower edges of the sash corners, said convex formations of said cover members having transverse slots in the inwardly projecting reaches thereof and said curved second leg portions of said sash carrier members having wedge-shaped portions projecting toward said cover members from the midregions thereof adapted to be seated in said slots and restrained by coaction of said sash carrier members with said cover members in seated relation with said slots and in uncoupled relation with the sash.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS