Inverted constant force window balance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10563440-B2
Application number	US-201815945269-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 4, 2018
Priority date	Apr 7, 2017
Publication date	Feb 18, 2020
Grant date	Feb 18, 2020

Abstract

An inverted constant force window balance system includes a carrier assembly and a mounting bracket. The carrier assembly includes a housing, a coil spring disposed within the housing, and a shoe assembly coupled to the housing. The shoe assembly is configured to receive a pivot bar from a window sash and extend at least one brake upon rotation of the pivot bar. The mounting bracket is releasably coupled to the housing opposite the shoe assembly and is coupled to the free end of the coil spring. At least a portion of the mounting bracket is configured to slideably move in relation to the free end of the coil spring between at least two positions. When at least a portion of the mounting bracket moves between the at least two positions, the mounting bracket disengages from the housing and releases the mounting bracket from the carrier assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An inverted constant force window balance system comprising:
a carrier assembly comprising:
a housing;
a coil spring disposed within the housing, the coil spring comprising a free end; and
a shoe assembly coupled to the housing, wherein the shoe assembly is configured to receive a pivot bar from a window sash and extend at least one brake upon rotation of the pivot bar; and

a mounting bracket comprising:
a jamb mount releasably coupled to the housing opposite the shoe assembly; and
a coil spring mount coupled to the free end of the coil spring, wherein the jamb mount is configured to slide in relation to the coil spring mount between a first position and a second position, in the first position the jamb mount is releasably engaged with the housing and in the second position the jamb mount is disengaged from the housing.

2. The window balance system of claim 1 , wherein the jamb mount comprises a detent and the coil spring mount comprises a corresponding notch defined therein, and wherein the detent is received within the notch in the first position and is released from the notch in the second position.

3. The window balance system of claim 1 , wherein the jamb mount is offset with respect to a center of the coil spring mount in the first position.

4. The window balance system of claim 1 , wherein the jamb mount comprises at least one extension arm having a toe extending therefrom, wherein the toe is received by a corresponding projection extending from a top end of the housing when the jamb mount is in the first position.

5. The window balance system of claim 4 , wherein the toe is configured to release from the projection in the second position so as to disengage the jamb mount from the housing.

6. The window balance system of claim 1 , wherein the jamb mount comprises a boss.

7. The window balance system of claim 1 , wherein the shoe assembly comprises a housing body having a rotatable cam disposed therein, the cam comprising a body having an outer cam surface configured to extend the at least one brake upon rotation of the cam.

8. The window balance system of claim 7 , wherein the cam further comprises a first end and an opposite second end, and wherein a flange extends from the outer cam surface adjacent to each cam end.

9. The window balance system of claim 8 , wherein the flange extends along the entire perimeter of the outer cam surface.

10. The window balance system of claim 7 , wherein the outer cam surface is defined on a flange extending from the cam body.

11. The window balance system of claim 7 , wherein the at least one brake comprises a substantially U-shaped body that has a side portion and two legs extending therefrom, the brake body defines a housing opening between the two legs configured to receive the housing body of the shoe assembly such that the at least one brake is slideably coupled to the housing body.

12. The window balance system of claim 11 , wherein each leg comprises a cam surface configured to be actuated by the outer cam surface of the cam body.

13. The window balance system of claim 7 , wherein the housing body is substantially U-shaped and has two legs, each leg comprising a free end with an extension arm extending therefrom, wherein the extension arm comprises a detent.

14. The window balance system of claim 1 , wherein the housing of the carrier assembly is a first housing and the carrier assembly further comprises a second housing including a second coil spring disposed therein, the second housing configured to be removably coupled between and to the shoe assembly and the first housing.

15. The window balance system of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises an outer wall having at least one longitudinal rib extending therefrom.

16. The window balance of claim 1 , further comprising a dam configured to be secured at a top end of the housing after the mounting bracket disengages from the housing.

17. A mounting bracket for use with an inverted constant force window balance system, the mounting bracket comprising:
a coil spring mount comprising a cage and a back wall, wherein the coil spring mount is configured to secure a free end of a coil spring; and
a jamb mount slidingly coupled to the coil spring mount, the jamb mount comprising:
two side extension arms configured to slidingly receive at least a portion of the back wall; and
a bottom extension arm comprising a toe configured to engage with a housing assembly.

18. The mounting bracket of claim 17 , further comprising a boss positioned opposite the two side extension arms.

19. The mounting bracket of claim 17 , further comprising at least one aperture defined in the jamb mount, wherein a mechanical fuse extends from the at least one aperture.

20. The mounting bracket of claim 17 , wherein the jamb mount slides between two positions relative to the coil spring mount, and wherein the jamb mount in a first position is secured proximate a first side of the coil spring mount and the jamb mount in a second position is positioned proximate an opposite second side of the coil spring mount.

21. The mounting bracket of claim 20 , wherein the back wall comprises a notch and at least one of the two side extension arms comprises a detent, and wherein the detent is received within the notch to secure the jamb mount in the first position.

22. A method for installing an inverted constant force window balance system, including a mounting bracket having a jamb mount and a coil spring mount, wherein the mounting bracket is releasably coupled to a carrier assembly having a coil spring disposed therein, in a window jamb, the method comprising:
positioning the window balance system in the window jamb, wherein the mounting bracket is releasably coupled to the carrier assembly;
securing the mounting bracket to the window jamb, wherein during the securing operation, the jamb mount slides from a first position to a second position in relation to the coil spring mount and towards the window jamb;
substantially simultaneously with the securing operation, releasing the mounting bracket from the carrier assembly such that the carrier assembly is configured to travel within the window jamb; and
receiving at least a portion of a pivot bar coupled to a window sash in the carrier assembly.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the mounting bracket includes a toe and the carrier assembly includes a projection, wherein releasing the mounting bracket from the carrier assembly comprises disengaging the toe from the projection.

24. An inverted constant force window balance system comprising:
a carrier assembly comprising:
a housing;
a coil spring disposed within the housing, the coil spring comprising a free end; and
a shoe assembly coupled to the housing, wherein the shoe assembly comprises:
a housing body;
at least one brake; and
a cam rotatably disposed within the housing body, wherein the cam comprises a body having an outer cam surface, wherein the cam is configured to receive a pivot bar from a window sash and extend the at least one brake via the outer cam surface upon rotation of the pivot bar, and
wherein the at least one brake comprises a substantially U-shaped body that has a side portion and two legs extending therefrom, wherein the brake body defines a housing opening between the two legs configured to receive the housing body of the shoe assembly such that the at least one brake is slideably coupled to the housing body; and

Assignees

• Amesbury Group Inc

Inventors

• Kellum Wilbur J
• Swier Chad
• Steen Travis
• Welbig Tyler

Classifications

• E05D13/08

  acting by friction for vertically sliding wings · CPC title

• E05D13/1276 Primary

  with coiled ribbon springs, e.g. constant force springs (E05D13/1253 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E05Y2201/21

  Brakes · CPC title

• E05D15/22

  allowing an additional movement {(E05D15/20 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• F16M13/02

  for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle · CPC title