US3034170A

US3034170A - Sash support for sash balance unit

Info

Publication number: US3034170A
Application number: US839355A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas P Koebel
Original assignee: ZEGERS Inc
Current assignee: ZEGERS Inc
Priority date: 1959-09-11
Filing date: 1959-09-11
Publication date: 1962-05-15
Anticipated expiration: 1979-05-15

Description

May 15, 1962 T. P. KOEBEL 3 SASH SUPPORT FOR SASH BALANCE UNIT Filed Sept. 11, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l rm; Pigw 22 d m d 7776 y 15, 1962 T. P. KOEBEL 3,034,170

sAsH SUPPORT FOR SASH BALANCE UNIT Filed Sept. 11, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 SASH SUPPORT FQR SASH BALANCE UNIT Thomas P. Koebel, Homewood, Ill., assignor to Zegers, inc a corporation of I linois Filed Sept. 11, 1959, Ser. No. 839,355 7 Claims. (Cl. 16-197) My invention relates to a sash balance unit, and more particularly, to a sash support or platform therefor which is particularly adapted to facilitate the application of such supports c-r platforms to sash balance units.

Many fornlsof modern window units of the vertically movable sash type include the well-known spring sash balance unit that is composed of a conventional coiled tension spring that is disposed within a groove formed in the side rail of the sash and has one of its ends secured to the window frame jamb to suspend the spring from the building framing structure. The sash is attached to the lower end of the spring by what is known in the art as a sash support or platform.

Sash supports'or platforms of the type referred to are conventionally secured to the lower ends of such spring balances by engagement with the lowermost end of the spring wire member that forms the balance. This lowermost end is customarily formed into an open loop that projects axially of the spring and the end of the wire forming the loop is passed through an appropriate eye or other attachment structure defined by the support or platform so that the support or platform hangs or depends from the spring. The spring loop is then closed with pliers or a press to prevent the platform from falling off during subsequent handling.

This manner of attaching the sash support or platform to the balance spring requires a special forming action on the lower end of the spring to define the looped end to which the-platform or support is attached. Furthermore, the step of actually applying the platform to the spring looped end is essentially a hand operation because the manipulation of the parts required precludes ready mechanization.

A principal object of my invention is to provide a simplified sash support or platform of the type described above which is adapted to be applied directly and auto matically between the convolutions of the spring balance, thus eliminating the need for the additional forming action now required at the lower end of the balmice spring.

Still a further principal object of the invention is to provide a simplified sash support or platform which lends itself to mass production purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simplified sash balance structure which is economical of manufacture, convenient to assemble, and readily adapted for use in existing window assemblies without any modification thereof.

Other objects, uses and advantages will be obvious or become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the appended claims.

in the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmental perspective view of a typical double hung window structure to which a preferred embodiment of my invention has been applied;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmental perspective view showing a preferred form of my improved sash support or platform applied to a spring balance member, the adjoining portion of the sash being shown in outline;

FIGURE 2a is a fragmental plan view of a lower end of a conventional spring balance member illustrating the open loop that is eliminated by my invention;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of thesash support or platform shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, looliing at the top portion thereof from the front or outer side thereof;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the support or plat- 3,034,170 Patented May 15, 1962 structure 12 of a well-known modern style. The window structure 12 includes upper and lower sash, the inner sash be ng indicated at 14, which ride on tracks 18 that are carried by combination Weatherstrip and sash guide members Zil. As is well-known in the art, the sash side rails are conventionally formed with grooves 16 that are complementary in shape to the shape of tracks 18. Springs 22, secured between the tops of the members 20 and the bottom rails 23 of the sash, bias the sash upwardly of the window structure.

The sash platforms or supports it are employed to secure the sash to the lower ends of the respective balance springs 22 so that the bias of the springsZZ is applied to the sash in the manner desired.

Sash balance springs 22 are preferably of the closed convolution type and conventionally are attached, as shown in the arrangement illustrated in FIGUREl, to the upper ends of Weatherstrip members 24 by bending the top two convolutions 25' of the spring into parallelism with the axis of the spring and then slipping the respective webs 24 of the members 2% between the upturned spring convolutions, as generally indicated in FIGURE 1. The upper ends of springs 22 may also be attached to the jamb by a nail or the like extending through loop 27 that is defined by said bent convolutions 25, as is well-known in the art.

In accordance with my invention, the usual looped end 26 indicated in the conventional spring 2211 shown in FlGURE 2a is omitted and the lower spring end 23 of spring 22 at its terminus 3% (see FIGURE 2) remains part of the convolutions defining spring 22. Platform or is a rounded or arcuate wall 4% which terminates at ends I 42 disposed at either end of a thin or tapered edge 44 of the web portion 34.

As seen in FIGURE 4, the lower surface 46 of the web portion is displaced above the lower surfaces 48 of the oppositely extending-flanges or wings 36 to define a slotlike seat or pocket 50 that is sufiiciently deep to accommodate two, or preferably three, convoiutions 72 of spring 22. Projecting downwardly from the lower surface 46 of i the web portion 34 is a wedge-shaped lug or protuberance 52 defined by side and

end surfaces

54 and 56 and in clined surface 58, which commences diverging from the lower surface 46 of the web portion starting from a point 60 adjacent edge 44 to point 62 in the plane of end surface 56.

The circular or arcuate' wall 4t! is formed with right angle locating corners 64 that are proportionedto engage the opposed sides 65 (see FIGURE 2) within the sash groove 16 to hold the platform'in proper alignment with" respect to the-sash. Corners 64 respectively merge with the forward ends of arcu'at'e wall 40 to define locatingpla nar surfaces 67 at the bases of flanges 36 that extend the Width of the 'platform' The arcuate wall 4%} together with the upper surface 38 of web portion 34,also defines apocket 66 for receiving adjacent convolutions of the spring 22.

to place the thin edge 44 of web portion 34 in contact with a recess 70 defined by an adjacent pair of convolutions 72 and then press the Web portion into the center of i V the spring sufliciently so that the end wall'56 of the wedgeshaped lug 52 is lodged within the center of the spring. The adjacent lowerconvolutions 72 will be received in pocket 56 while the upper adjacent spring convolutions 72. will be received in the pocket 66.

After the platform or support 10 is applied to the spring 22, the spring 22 may be secured to the window jamb in the manner indicated in FEGURE 2, or in any other suitable manner, after which the spring 22 is tensioned or pulled downwardly of its track 18 to apply the sash to the track 18 of the combination Weatherstrip and sash balance unit. As indicated in FIGURE 2, the lower end of the sash rests on the flanges 36, which engage the lllrsldersurface of the sash on either side of the sash groove As already mentioned, shoulders 54 engage Within the sash groove 16 so that surfaces 67 will hold the sash platform or support 10 in proper alignment with the sash, and

accordingly, the shoulders or corners 6 4 should be proportioned for proper engagement with the sash rail structure.

' The wedge-shaped lug 52 insures that the platform will: not be withdrawn from the spring without threading (or rotating) it downwardly past termination 39 thereof.

'It should now be apparent that my improved sash platform or support materially simplifies the manufacture and it between two adjacent convolutions. This arrangement.

adapts the spring balance unit illustrated for assembly by mass production methods in which the supports 10 are automatically inserted or applied to individual springs by machines or appropriate mechanisms employing the steps shown in FIGURES and 6.

Spring 22 may assume the form of any closed convolu-tion spring, while platform or support may be made from any suitable metallic or plastic a. substance;

Preferably, it is an integrally united light-weight plastic spring sash balance by being inserted between adjacent convolutions thereof, said sash support comprising a platform member including a pair of oppositely projecting coplanar flanges, a relatively flat Web portion intermediate said flanges and fixed thereto, said web portion being formed with a relatively thin edge along one side thereof adapted to be interposed between adjacent convolutions of the spring, and an arcuate wall projecting from the 1 upper surface of said web portion, said wall terminating element formed by an appropriate injection molding or 7 die casting process.

"The foregoing description and the drawings are given merely to explain and illustrate my invention and the invention is not to be limited thereto, except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, since those skilled in the art who have my disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from thescope of the invention.

I claim:

l. A sash support adapted to be attached to coil spring sash balances by being inserted between the convolutions thereof, said support comprising a substantially planar A web portion having a tapering lug projecting from one 7 surface thereof and tapering increasingly in thickness inw-ardly of one edge of the web portion, and a pair of substantially coplanar oppositely extending flanges fixed to said web portion and disposed substantially parallel to the plane of said web portion, whereby, when said edge of said web portion is pressed between two adjoining spring convolutions to dispose said lug within the spring, said support is retained in the spring against'lateral displacement.

2. A sash support adapted tobe attached to a coil at end portions adjacent said edge on either side of said web portion to define with said web portion a spring convolution receiving pocket, said web portion carrying a wedge shape lug projecting from the lower surface thereof and increasing in thickness from a point adjacent to said edge of said web. portion to a point inwardly thereof.

' 3. The support set forth in claim 2 wherein the under surfaces of said flanges are disposed below said lower surface of said web portion to define a second spring convolution receiving pocket at the underside of said member.

4. The support set forth in claim 2 wherein said arcuate wall is formed with symmetrically disposed right angle locating corners positioned respectively on the. side of said web portion opposite 'said thinedge.

5. A sash support adapted to be attached to a coil spring sash balance by being inserted between adjacent convolutions thereof, said sash support comprising a body comprising a web portion and a pair of oppositely extending flanges afiixed to said web portion, said flanges projecting from and extending in substantial parallelism with said web portion, said web portion defining an edge portion disposed between said flanges andproportioned to be interposed between adjacent convolutions 'of the spring, said body further including a wall structure projectlng substantially normally of said web portion and defining with said web portion a spring convolution receiving pocket having an opening along said edge portion, said web portion carrying a tapered lug projecting from one of the surfaces thereof, said lug being spaced from said well structure along the plane of said web portion and increasing in thickness inwardly of said edge portion of said web portion.

6. A sash balance unit comprising in combination a closed convoiution coiled spring and a sash support secured to the spring by being received between adjacent convolutions thereof, said support comprising a body including a web portion and a pair of oppositely extending flanges afiixed to said web portion and projecting outwardly of the spring on either side thereof, said web portion defining an edge portion disposed between said flanges thereof proportioned to be passed between said adjacent convolutions of the spring, said body further including a wall structure projecting substantially normally of said web portion and defining with said web portion a spring convolution receiving pocket having an opening along said edge portion, said web portion carrying a tapeerd lug projecting from one of the surfaces thereof, said lug being spaced from said wall structure along the plane of said web portion and increasing in thickness inwardly of said edge portion of said web portion, said lug being positioned within the spring convolutions with the portion of maximum thickness thereof adjacent the inner surface of oneof the adjacent spring convolutions.

7. A sash support adapted to be attached to a coil spring sash balance by being inserted between adjacent convolutions thereof, said sash support comprising a body including a web portion and a pair of substantially oppositely extending flanges projecting to either side of said web portion, said web portion defining substatnially oppositely facing surfaces and an edge portion proportioned to be interposed between adjacent convolutions of the spring, said body including a wall structure projecting substantially normally of said web portion surfaces and defining with said web portion a spring convolution receiving pocket having an opening along said edge por- 5 6 tion, and a tapered lug structure carried by said web References Cited in the file of this patent portion and projecting from one of said surfaces thereof, U ED TA S PATENTS said lug structure being spaced from said wall structure 841,810 OBrien Ian 22, 1907 along the plane of said web portion and increasing in 1 042 7 3 Ogle Oct 29 1912 thickness inwardly of said edge portion of said Web 5 1,664,647 Sundstrand Apr. 3, 1928 portion. 7 2,786,230 Hettinger Mar. 26, 1957