Frictional sash balance and jamb liner

Abstract

A sash balance apparatus for vertically slidable window installations, in which a friction shoe is disposed in a channel formed by a jamb liner extending along each side of the slidable sash and a connecting member extends between the sash and the friction shoe in a manner such that the weight of the sash when applied to the shoe tends to pivot the latter at least slightly within the jamb liner channel and thereby bring predetermined surfaces of the shoe into frictional contact with corresponding surfaces of the jamb liner channel, preferably including elongated rib-like intermediate walls which extend into the channel from its sides. The channel thus provides a plurality of different longitudinally-extending friction surfaces which may be selectably engaged by the friction shoe as a function of its particular configuration, dimensions, and the degree of tilt introduced by the applied weight of the sash. In a preferred form, the connector extending between the sash and the shoe comprises a rigid member disposed at an acute angle with respect to the shoe and its channel to promote tilting, and in the most preferred form the connector comprises a particularly bent section of metal wire or rod which is press-fitted or otherwise frictionally attached to the shoe. Also, the jamb liner has laterally offset tab portions which provide integral stops for limiting allowable vertical travel of the shoe.