US3441978A - Anchor for tiltable sash balancer - Google Patents

Description

May 6, 1969 J, PERRY 3,441,978

ANCHOR FOR TILTABLE SASH BALANCER Filed Nov. 6, 1967 JAM'f 6. PL-R/PY INVENTOR.

BY W

,4 rro/e/vsy United States Patent US. Cl. 16-197 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This application discloses an anchor for the balance spring of a tilt type window sash. The invention resides in the construction, arrangement and functioning of the anchor element. The anchor consists of a substantially U-shaped member, the free end of each leg having an outwardly directed portion. The end portion of one leg has a hook formed thereon for receiving the end of the balancer spring. The end portion of the other leg has a radius, terminating in a lip formed thereon, for receiving a cylindrical wedge element, the latter element has a downwardly directed locking arm. The same leg has an inclined section for receiving the cylindrical wedge. The central opening of said U-shaped member is arranged to receive the arm of a bracket carried on the window sash. There being an angular face on the inside wall of the last named leg for tilting said U-shaped member into nonlocki-ng position when the arm of the sash bracket contacts it. The central opening of the U-shaped member is of sufficient width to permit a 90 degree rotation of the sash bracket arm therein, so that the window sash may be tilted and removed from the window frame.

This invention relates to anchors for window balancer springs and has particular reference to an anchor for the balancer spring of a tilt type window sash.

An object of this invention is to improve devices such as disclosed in previous patents issued to me, being US. Patents Nos. 2,989,773 and 3,296,652, which patents had reference to window sashes which were removable, but not inwardly tiltable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sash balancer spring anchor for a tilt type window, which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture and efiicient in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide an anchor of the character indicated, which is particularly efiicient when used with window frames using plastic weather strips, which often vary in tolerance.

Another object of the invention is to provide an anchoring device of the character indicated which is constructed and arranged with means to prevent locking of the anchor, when the sash is in contact with the sill.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character indicated, which is constructed and arranged, so that the sash of a double hung window may be tilted inwardly and lifted out of the window frame.

Another object of the invention is to provide an anchor for a sash balancer spring, which may be actuated from the side of the sash instead of the front.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character indicated, which has a comparatively large area of contact, whereby the locking pressures are distributed over a greater area. This is particularly advantageous when used with comparatively soft plastic weather strips.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character indicated which is constructed and arranged with an element having a depending arm which can effectively and positively lock the anchor member, although there is considerable variation in the channel 3,441,978 Patented May 6, 1969 width, inasmuch as it has a comparatively lengthy travel along the locking surface of the anchor member.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds, reference being made from time to time to the accompanying drawing, forming part of the within disclosure, in which drawing:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, front elevational view with parts in section, of a window frame and sash equipped with the device embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section, with parts broken away, and parts in section, showing a double hung window frame equipped with weather strips and the device embodying the invention. This view shows the lower sash tilted preparatory to removal from the frame, and with the anchor in locking position, and also shows the upper sash lowered to the sill and with its anchor in unlocked position.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail, in perspective, showing the side jamb of a window frame, with a weather strip attached thereto, and schematically illustrating the device embodying the invention with relation to the other elements of the disclosure.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, it will be understood that in the embodiment herein disclosed the reference character 7 indicates, in general, the frame, and reference character 8 indicates, in general, the sash of a window equipped with the device embodying the invention.

The window frame assembly is provided with a weather strip 9, which has the general characteristics, shape, and contour as shown in FIG. 3. The weather strip 9 may be either a metal, or a plastic extrustion, and is attached to the frame 7 by means of nails 10, or other suitable means.

As clearly shown in FIG. 3, the back of the weather strip 9 is provided with a pair of flexible wings 11, which normally space the weather strip from the frame 7. The weather strip 9, shown in FIG. 3, is designed to accommodate double hung windows, as illustrated in FIG. 2, and is provided with longitudinal channels 12 and 13, which are substantially rectangular in cross section, in each of which channels the anchor member 14 (FIG. 3) embodying the invention, is arranged to travel as hereinafter described.

It will be noted that the anchor member 14 (FIG. 3) is rotated degrees from the position of the anchor members 14, shown in FIG. 2. The anchor member 14 will function in the same manner in the channels 12 and 13, whether it be positioned as shown in FIG. 3, or positioned as shown in FIG. 2, inasmuch as the side walls of the channels 12 and 13 are the same on either side.

Each anchor member 14 is suspended at the end of the balancer spring 15, as in conventional practice.

The anchor member 14 is actuated by means of an L shaped bracket 16 (FIGS. 1 and 3), which is secured to the side edge of the sash 17 (FIG. 1) by screws 18, or other suitable means.

The anchor member 14 is a substantially U-shaped, metal casting, which is of sufficient width and thickness to substantially, laterally fill one of the longitudinal channels 12 and 13. One leg of the anchor member 14 is provided with a book 19, which is arranged to receive the end 20 of the spring 15. The other leg of the U-shaped anchor member has an outwardly directed portion 21 and an undercut radius 22, which radius terminates in a lip 23, which radial portion 22 and lip 23 are adapted to receive and hold a cylinder wedge element 24 (FIG. 3), which cylinder element 24 has a depending arm 25, which arm 25 serves as a bearing member and helps lock the anchor when the latter is being wedged. It also serves as a runner or skid for the anchor, when not being wedged.

:It also holds the cylindrical wedge member 24 out of wedging position when the anchor member 14 reaches the bottom of the channel 13, as shown in FIG. 2. The arm 25 prevents the anchor 14 from getting stuck in the bottom of a channel when a sash is lowered to the sill 26, as shown at the right in FIG. 2.

The anchor member 14 has an angular face 27 (FIG. 3) on the inside of the leg carrying the elements 21, 22, and 23, which face 27 is arranged to receive the short leg 28 (FIG. 3) of the bracket 16. The short leg 28 normally moves up and down in the slot 13A of the channel 13. The channel 12 has a similar slot 12A for receiving the short leg 28 of the bracket 16. This arrangement holds the anchor 14 in unlocked position and free to travel in the channel so long as the weight of the sash rests on the anchor member 14. This is clearly shown in the right portion of FIG. 2. In this view (FIG. 2) it will be seen that the anchor member 14 (upper sash) is in contact with the sill 26, yet is free to travel in the channel 13 with the sash and under the influence of the balancer 15. In this view it will also be seen that the wedge member 24 is held in the radial portion 22, and on the lip 23, and out of wedging position, because the bottom of the arm 25 is resting on the sill 26.

In FIG. 2 is illustrated the sill 26 and the lower portion of the double hung frame, in which the reference character 17A indicates the lower sash, and the reference character 17B indicates the upper sash, which in this position is lowered to the sill 26.

In the left portion of FIG. 2, the lower sash 17A is tilted inwardly and may be removed from the anchor 14, by cocking the sash, so that the element 28 of the bracket 16 may be lifted from the anchor 14. When the sash is so tilted, as shown in the left portion of FIG. 2, the weight of the sash is removed from the anchor 14, so that the anchor 14 is urged upwardly by the spring 15. This upward movement by the spring permits the anchor 14 to rock from the position shown at the right in FIG. 2 to the position shown at the left in FIG. 2. When so rocked the cylindrical element 24 is free of the lip 23 and falls on the angular face 29 of the anchor member, causing a wedging action between the face 29, and the side of the channel 12, and between the bottom of the anchor 14 and the arm 25, thereby locking the anchor member 14 against further movement.

When the sash 17A is again replaced in the window frame and the leg 28 of the bracket 16 is inserted in the central opening 14A of the anchor 14, and returned to its normal vertical position in the frame, the weight of the sash will again rest on the anchor 14, causing it to assume the position shown at the right in FIG. 2, free of the wedging action and free to travel in its channel under the influence of the balancer spring 15.

It is believed that the operation of the device is obvious from the foregoing description.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have disclosed a novel anchor for a balancer spring, which will permit either the lower or the upper sash to be tilted and removed from the window frame with ease, at the same time anchoring the lower end of the balancer spring in position for the replacement of the sash in the frame.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An anchor for a tilt type window sash balancer spring, positioned in the channel of a window weather strip, comprising a substantially U-shaped body, having a hook on one leg thereof for receiving the end of said spring, a radial section, terminating in a lip, formed on the outside of the other leg, an angular face on said last leg below said lip, and a cylindrical member receivable in said radial section and on said lip, for holding said cylindrical member off said angular face when said body is in one position and permitting said cylindrical member to contact said angular face to cause a wedging action between said angular face and a wall of said channel when sid body is in another position.

2. The structure of claim 1, in which said cylindrical member has a depending arm which extends beyond the lower edge of said body, and holds said cylindrical body 01f said angular face when said body is at the bottom of said weather strip channel.

3. The structure of claim 1, in which said U-shaped body member has a second angular face on the inside of the leg carrying said first named angular face, said second angular face being arranged to receive the short leg of an L-shaped bracket carried on the outside edge of the said window sash, and extended through a longitudinal slot in said weather strip.

4. The structure of claim 1, in which the width and thickness of said U-shaped body is slightly less than the inside dimensions of the channel in said weather strip.

5. The structure of claim 1, in which said cylindrical member has an arm depending from one side, which arm limits the rotation of said cylindrical member.

6. The structure of claim 1, in which the central opening of said U-shaped member is of suflicient width to permit the degree rotation therein of one leg of an L-shaped bracket carried on the marginal edge of a tilt type window sash.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,124,849 3/1964 Osten 16-197 3,233,278 2/ 1966 Lundgren 16-197 3,296,652 1/1967 Perry 16197 BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner.

5 U. L. KOHNEN, Assistant Examiner.

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