US3293686A

US3293686A - Hanger for window sash balance

Info

Publication number: US3293686A
Application number: US501075A
Authority: US
Inventors: Herbert K Lundgren
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1965-10-22
Filing date: 1965-10-22
Publication date: 1966-12-27
Anticipated expiration: 1983-12-27

Description

1966 H. K. LUNDGREN HANGER FOR WINDOW SASH BALANCE Filed Oct. 22, 1965 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,293,686 HANGER FOR WINDOW SASl-I BALANCE Herbert K. Lundgren, 815 N. Washburn St., Oshkosh, Wis. 53212 Filed Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 501,075 2 Claims. (Cl. 16197) The present invention relates generally to window constructions and is more particularly directed to window sash mountings wherein coil springs are used as the sash balancing means. This application is a continuation in part of my co-pending application Serial No. 353,801, filed March 23, 1964, and now US. Patent No. 3,233,278.

There are presently available a wide variety of window sash assemblies which utilize a preformed sash guide and weather-stripping assembly and wherein the counter-balance provided for the window sashes is in the form of an elongated coil spring which is fixed at the upper each of the sash guide and extends downwardly through a channel or housing formed in such guide for attachment through a suitable hanger with the lower portion of the window sash. In order to facilitate assembly of the window sash unit and also, to make it easy to tilt the individual window sash inwardly for cleaning or repair, the preformed sash guides are spring biased to permit some lateral movement of the guide and thereby provide for inward tilting of the window sash. In such an arrangement, it is desirable to have the hanger at the lower end of the balance spring remain fixed in position within the spring housing when the window sash is tilted inwardly, and the present invention is particularly directed to an improved form of hanger element which cooperates with the guide and sash so as to lock itself into position and remain in place within the guide when the sash is tilted.

It is, therefore, a primary object of this invention to provide a new and improved form of window sash hanger which is retained in fixed position within the sash guide when the window sash is tilted or removed. A further object of the invention is to provide a novel form of a guide block and hanger locking means which are economical to construct and easily assembled. Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description of the selected embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a cross-sectional view of a window sash assembly, illustrating one side thereof;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 22 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG- URE 1, with parts omitted or broken away in order to more clearly illustrate the sash guide and hanger construction;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 44 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the guide block portion of the hanger lock assembly;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the guide block in FIG- URE 5, prior to assembly;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the locking element seen particularly in FIGURES 24; and

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of a modified form of the hanger lock assembly.

As illustrated particularly in FIGURES 1 and 2, the selected embodiment of the invention comprises a double hung window sash unit 10 having upper and

lower sashes

12 and 14, respectively, fitted within the usual frame structure including a pair of vertical wooden frame members and an upper and lower sill member defining the opening for the window unit. Since the frame construction comprises no part of the present invention, it is believed that a complete showing of the frame and the double hung window unit is unnecessary and, therefore, FIGURE 1 lncludes only one of the side frame members 16 and the usual trim or stop

members

18 and 20 at the inside and outside of the window, respectively, defining the channel for receiving the window sash assembly. Within the window frame channel thus defined at each of the opposite sides of the window opening, there is provided a pair of window

sash guide strips

22 and 24 which are preformed, preferably of metal, but which may also be plastic or the like. Each of these guide strips include an outer edge portion (22a and 24a) for engagement with the respective stop members on the wooden frame and an inner edge portion (22b and 24b) in abutment with each other, with both the inner and outer edges of the sash guides providing for relative sliding movement of each guide laterally of the window frame.

The intermediate portion of each window sash guide strip is formed to provide a channel or housing 26 extending the entire length of the strip. The sash edge-engaging portion of each strip is preferably generally flat but includes a pair of inwardly projecting, spaced-apart marginal edge portions 28- generally centrally of the guide strip. Such edge portions define an elongated slot 30 in the sash guide so as to permit vertical sliding movement of a hanger-engaging strip or bar 32 which is fixed to each sash adjacent its lower end portion and which projects inwardly into the counter balance spring housing portion through the slot 30. The spring housing portion of the guide strip is preferably rectangular in order to facilitate manufacture and also so as to fixedly receive two or more leaf springs 34 which provide for biasing the sash guide into pressing engagement with the edge of the window sash. In the illustrated embodiment, each of these springs comprises a generally channel-shaped portion 36 engaging the back of the balance spring housing, and a bowed or curved, resilient part 38 adapted to be disposed between the side frame member 16 and the window sash guide. The springs 34 are fixed in position along the length of the window sash guide by suitable fastening means, such as a screw 40 which also extends through the sash guide and maintains the latter in position. It is to be noted that the screw 40 is disposed so as to place the sash guide 22, 24 a suitable distance outwardly from the frame 16 to properly tension the leaf spring and to permit inward movement of the sash guide toward the vertical frame member. The sash includes the usual longitudinally grooved portion 42 extending along its opposite edges for cooperation with the projecting marginal portions on the sash guide to maintain the window sash in position while permitting relative sliding movement between the window sash and the guide.

The counter balance mechanism for each window sash comprises an elongated coil spring 44 which is suitable fastened adjacent its upper end to the upper end of the respective window sash guide. This connection may be made by a suitable fastening means or it may simply consist in placement of the upper coil of the spring over the upper edge of the housing portion of the sash guide strip. It is to be noted that the balance spring 44 is positioned off-center with respect to the hanger opening 30 and, consequently, the spring is concealed from view.

The lower end coil 46 of the counter balance spring 44 is twisted into a generally vertical plane so as to receive and support the novel hanger assembly 48 seen particularly in FIGURES 24.

The hanger assembly comprises a guide block 50' (FIG- URE 5) which is formed of a suitable plastic, such as nylon, and may be molded or extruded. A-s originally formed, the hanger block 50 is essentially fiat (FIGURE 6) with narrow transverse portions 52, 54 at the center thereof being beveled or tapered to provide a relatively thin, transverse hinge line 56 permitting folding of the two sections or halves to form the block as seen in FIG- URE 5. The two halves of the guide block forming member are substantially of equal thickness except for the tapered portions 52, 54 mentioned previously and except for a rectangular portion 58 on one half which is substantially thicker so as to provide a portion of the block which when asembled will correspond generally with the width of the channel 26 of the sash guide and have a sliding fit therewith. This thicker portion 58 of the guide block has a transverse bore or recess 60 partially therethrough which is alignable with a complementary stud or pin 62 formed or molded in the other half of the block. The stud 62 and and recess 60 are so formed that when the two halves of block 50 are folded together along line 56 there is a snap fit between the two so as to maintain the block in its folded condition (FIGURE Further, stud 62 is slightly longer than recess 69 so as to provide suitable clearance between the block halves for free movement of the locking element 66. The half of the block 50 which includes the thicker section 58 also has formed therein an arcuate guideway or slot 72 to control the path of movement of the metal locking element 66.

The metal locking element 66, as seen particularly in FIGURE 7, is a relatively thin metal piece suitably formed to provide an arcuate shaped flange portion 74, a generally fiat portion 76 having a sharp edge at one end and an opening 80 spaced from the edge 78 to receive the lower coil 46 of the sash balance spring 44. The portion of the locking element 66 opposite the arcuate flange 74 and sharpened edge portion 78 is formed to provide a projection or lever 82 which is at least partially disposed through a pair of aligned transverse notches 84 in the block 50 when the hanger lock is assembled. The metal locking element 66 also includes an elongated slot 86 through which the transverse stud 62 extends. Thus, when the hanger lock assembly is complete the metal locking element 66 is movable relative to the guide block 50 through a general path defined by the arcuate slide 72 in the block which receives the arcuate flange portion 74.

The hanger lock assembly 48 is positioned within the guideway 26 in the metal sash guide, and the lower coil 46 of the balance spring 44 is secured to the metal lock element 66 through the opening 80 therein. Each window sash 12, 14 is provided with the narrow metal strip 32 which projects from the edge of the wooden sash into the guideway and transversely of the notches 84 in the guide block 50 in position for support by the lever portion 82 of the metal locking element 66 (FIG- URE 4). When the weight of the window is thus placed on the lever 82 the metal locking element 66 is moved to a position retracting the sharpened edge portion 78 inwardly and away from the side of the channel 26. When the window sash is tilted to a generally horizontal position moving strips 32 out of supported engagement with levers '82 (FIGURE 3), the tension of the balance spring 44 moves the metal lock element upwardly in an arc, sliding flange 74 in arcuate groove 72, and into engagement with the side of the channel 26. The sharpened edge portion 78 bites into the channel and thereby holds the hanger lock assembly in position, so that the window can be free of the tension of the balance springs and easily handled for cleaning etc. and then be replaced in the sash guides at the same position it formerly occupied.

A modified form of hanger lock assembly 96 is seen in FIGURE 8. In this embodiment, the edge of the metal locking element 92 is toothed to provide a more positive engagement with the wall of the sash guide. Furthermore, the guide block 94 is formed as a mirror image of the previously described guide block 50. In all other respects, including the transverse stud 96 and the arcuate slot 98, the hanger assembly 90 is similar to that previously described with respect to hanger 48.

Although shown and described with respect to particular structure, it will be apparent that various modifications might be made without departing from the principles of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A hanger for use in a window sash assembly for interconnecting a supported sash and a supporting sash balancing means which is disposed within a housing formed by a sash guide unit, said sash including hanger engaging means projecting from opposite side edges thereof, said hanger comprising a part adapted to be slidably received within the housing in the sash guide for vertical movement relative thereto, said part being formed from an elongated plastic element which is folded across its midsection to provide a pair of generally similar, spacedapart facing wall portions having a narrow opening therebetween along two side edges and the top, said wall portions being formed to provide a notch therein transversely of the walls and extending from an intermediate portion of the walls to the upper edges thereof, one of said wall portions including an arcuate groove formed in its inner surface, a locking element supported intermediate its ends on said hanger part of guided sliding movement between said walls by means including an arcuate flange on said element which is seated in said arcuate groove, said arcuate flange and said arcuate groove extending in a vertical direction toward the back of sash balance housing, said locking element also including an elongated slot which extends in a vertical direction toward the back of said sash balance housing, said locking element including adjacent one end means for connection with the sash balancing means and pointed section for penetrating engagement with the wall of the housing for the sash balancing means, and said locking element also including adjacent its other end means accessible through said transverse notch and providing supporting engagement by said hanger engaging means on the window sash, said sash balance connection means, pointed section and sash support means of said locking element being arranged so that when a sash is supported by said hanger said pointed section is drawn out of engagement with the balance housing wall, and when the weight of the sash is removed from the hanger said pointed section is caused to move into engagement with the housing by the tension of the sash balancing means, the relative movement of said locking element being guided by said arcuate groove.

2. A hanger for use in a window sash assembly for interconnecting a supported sash and a supporting sash balancing means which is disposed within a housing formed by a sash guide unit, said sash including hanger engaging means projecting from opposite side edges thereof, said hanger comprising a part adapted to be slidably received within the housing in the sash guide for vertical movement relative thereto, said part being formed from an elongated plastic element which is folded across its midsection along a line of reduced thickness to provide a pair of generally similar, spaced-apart facing wall portions having a narrow opening along two side edges and the top, cooperating means on said facing wall portions providing means for releasably securing said portions in their folded positions with a space between said wall portions, said wall portions being formed to provide a notch therein transversely of the walls and extending from an intermediate portion of the walls to the unpper edge thereof, a locking element supported intermediate its ends on said hanger part by means including an arcuate flange on said element disposed in sliding engagement with an arcuate groove in one wall portion so as to provide guided movement of said element between said Walls, said arcuate flange and said arcuate groove extending in a vertical direction toward the back of said sash balance housing, said locking element also including an elongated slot which extends in a vertical direction toward the back of said sash balance housing, said locking element including adjacent one end means for connection with the sash balancing means and a pointed section for penetrating engagement with the wall of the housing for the sash balancing means, and said locking element also including adjacent its other end means accessible through said transverse notch and providing supporting engagement with said hanger engaging means on the window sash, said sash balance connection means, pointed section and sash support means of said locking element being arranged so that when a sash is supported by said hanger said pointed section is drawn out of engagement with the balance housing Wall, and when the Weight of References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1964 Osten. 2/1966 Lundgren 16-197 10 EDWARD C. ALLEN, Primary Examiner.

I. H. MCGLYNN, Assistant Examiner.

wwhaw.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,293,686 December 27, 1966 Herbert K, Lundgren It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent 'should read as corrected below Column 4, line 23, for "of" read for line 27, before "sash" insert said line 32, for "and pointed" read and a pointed line 65, for "unpper" read upper Signed and sealed this 12th day of September 1967.

( L) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims

1. A HANGER FOR USE IN A WINDOW SASH ASSEMBLY FOR INTERCONNECTING A SUPPORTED SASH AND A SUPPORTING SASH BALANCING MEANS WHICH IS DISPOSED WITHIN A HOUSING FORMED BY A SASH GUIDE UNIT, SAID SASH INCLUDING HANGER ENGAGING MEANS PROJECTING FROM OPPOSITE SIDE EDGES THEREOF, SAID HANGER COMPRISING A PART BEING FORMED FROM RECEIVED WITHIN THE HOUSING IN THE SASH GUIDE FOR VERTICAL MOVEMENT RELATIVE THERETO, SAID PART BEING FORMED FROM AN ELONGATED PLASTIC ELECTRIC WHICH IS FOLDED ACROSS ITS MIDSECTION TO PROVIDE A PAIR OF GENERALLY SIMILAR, SPACEDAPART FACING WALL PORTIONS HAVING A NARROW OPENING THEREBETWEEN ALONG TWO SIDE EDGES AND THE TOP, SAID WALL PORTIONS BEING FORMED TO PROVIDE A NOTCH THEREIN TRANSVERSELY OF THE WALLS AND EXTENDING FROM AN INTERMEDIATE PORTION OF THE WALLS TO THE UPPER EDGES THEREOF, ONE OF SAID WALL PORTIONS INCLUDING AN ARCUATE GROOVE FORMED IN ITS INNER SURFACE, A LOCKING ELEMENT SUPPORTED INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS ON SAID HANGER PART OF GUIDED SLIDING MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID WALLS BY MEANS INCLUDING AN ARCUATE FLANGE ON SAID ELEMENT WHICH IS SEATED IN SAID ARCUATE GROOVE, SAID ARCUATE FLANGE AND SAID ARCUATE GROOVE EXTENDING IN A VERTICAL DIRECTION TOWARD THE BACK OF SASH BALANCE HOUSING, SAID LOCKING ELEMENT ALSO INCLUDING AN ELONGATED SLOT WHICH EXTENDS IN A VERTICAL DIRECTION TOWARD THE BACK OF SAID SASH BALANCE HOUSING, SAID LOCKING ELEMENT INCLUDING ADJACENT ONE END MEANS FOR CONNECTING WITH THE SASH BALANCING MEANS AND POINTED SECTION FOR PENETRATING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE WALL OF THE HOUSING FOR THE SASH BALANCING MEANS, AND SAID LOCKING ELEMENT ALSO INCLUDING ADJACENT ITS OTHER END MEANS ACCESSIBLE THROUGH SAID TRANSVERSE NOTCH AND PROVIDING SUPPORTING ENGAGEMENT BY SAID HANGER ENGAGING MEANS ON THE WINDOW SASH, SAID SASH SUPPORT MEANS OF SAID LOCKING ELEMENT BEING TION AND SASH SUPPORTING MEANS OF SAID LOCKING ELEMENT WITH ARRANGED SO THAT WHEN A SASH IS SUPPORTED BY SAID HANGER SAID POINTED SECTION IS DRAWN OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH THE BALANCE HOUSING WALL, AND WHEN THE WEIGHT OF THE SASH IS REMOVED FROM THE HANGER SAID POINTED SECTION IS CAUSED TO MOVE INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE HOUSING BY THE TENSION OF THE SASH BALANCING MEANS, THE RELATIVE MOVEMENT OF SAID LOKCING ELEMENT BEING GUIDED BY SAID ARCUATE GROOVE.