Schlegel Corporation

Tracy G Rogers

Michael R Nier

John Moran

An apparatus for offsetting a constant force over a range of movement, includes a power spring or clock spring, defined by a length of resilient material wound in a spiral, the opposite ends of which are attached relative to one of the force and a fixed point, and to a pulley. The pulley is substantially coaxial with the spring and has a rounded outer contour defining a progressively varying slope proceeding axially along the pulley. A flexible cord wraps around the pulley and leads to the other of the force and the fixed point. The opposite (inner and outer) ends of the spring can be mounted such that the inner end of the spring is fixed relative to the fixed point and the outer end of the spring is attached to the pulley. The constant force can be the weight of a window sash, movable vertically in a frame. The rounded outer contour of the pulley defines a curve corresponding to an increase in torque of the spring with displacement, due to decrease in radius of the spring and decrease in active length of the spring with binding of inner wraps of the spiral.

Constant force compensation for power spring weight balance

A retaining catch for a tip-out sash provides an automatically deployed retainer mechanism for a sash slidably captive in a window frame or jamb. The sash can be raised and lowered by sliding it along the jamb. A releasable tenon, for example at the top edge of the sash, allows the user to rotate the sash out of the plane of the jamb, facilitating cleaning of the outside. Releasing the sash from the jamb by releasing the tenon activates a mechanism with a distal hook by which the edge of the sash remains captive and displacement of the edge of the sash from the jamb is limited to the unfolded length of the mechanism. The mechanism can be released fully from the jamb by manual action of the user, whereupon the hook returns under spring bias to reside along the edge of the sash.

Retaining catch for tip-out sash

A compound counterbalance system for window sashes and the like, comprising: a biasing spring for easing operation of a window sash and the like, the biasing spring being movable at an inherently variable rate of force; a first biasing force transmission having a fixed rate of movement transmission part connected to the biasing spring and a variable rate of movement transmission part connected to the window sash and the like, the variable rate of movement transmission part having a variable rate of operation predetermined to automatically compensate for the variability of the biasing spring to provide substantial constancy of the biasing force throughout an operating range; and, a cable for interconnecting the biasing spring, the first biasing force transmission, and the window sash and the like, whereby loading forces on the first biasing force transmission are substantially constant throughout the operating range. The system may further comprise one or both of a second biasing force transmission connected intermediately of the variable rate of movement transmission part and the window sash and the like, for increasing the effective range of movement of the biasing spring; and, an adjuster for changing the effective magnitude of the biasing force throughout the operating range.

Compound counterbalance and winding systems with zero torque spirals

A tip-lock shoe for a window sash and the like, comprising: a hollow body adapted to slidably travel in a track; a locking member disposed in the body and movable between a retracted position enabling the body to slide freely in the track and an extended position for engaging the track and preventing movement of the body; a first lock activating member disposed in the body for engaging the window sash and for urging the locking member from the retracted position to the extended position responsive to tilting of the window sash and the like; and, a second lock activating member disposed in the body for engaging a counterbalance system for supporting the body in the track and for urging the locking member from the retracted position to the extended position independently of the first lock activating member and automatically responsive to a loss of counterbalance force, whereby the window sash and the like can be slidably and tiltably operated in normal fashion when the counterbalance system is operating properly but the window sash and the like is prevented from accidental movement when the counterbalance system fails. The second lock activating member preferably resiliently interconnects the counterbalance system and the hollow body, the second lock activating member being automatically urged into at least indirect engagement with the locking member upon failure of the counterbalance system.

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Rochester, NY, United States of America

Tracy G Rogers