Spring mounting for sash window tensioning arrangements

• US 6,848,148 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2003
• Issued: 02/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Amesbury Springs Limited
• Original Assignee: Amesbury Springs Limited
• Inventors: Braid, Harold Keith, Braid, Simon Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Mah, Chuck Y.
• Application Number:
  US10/436,022
• Publication Number:
  US 20030192147A1
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 161/97, 161/93, 16D/IG.16, 494/45, 494/46, 491/76, 491/81
• US Class Current: 16/197
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 13/1276 with coiled ribbon springs, e.g. constant force springs E05D13/1253 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/148 Windows
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 16/16 Window brakes, counterbalances

Abstract

A sash window counterbalance spring mounting arrangement for fitment into a channel section within a window jamb, includes coiled ribbon springs, a spring support mounting including a single integral component for locating and supporting the springs, a support for the springs to support and locate the springs on the mounting, and formed by pairs of triangular cross section projections extend from the rear surface of the main body of the mounting such that when the springs recoil rapidly outer surfaces of adjacent springs contact each other, and including an end portion of the main body which is curved, wing projections extending from the front surface of the main body, and an inter engagement element on the longitudinal end of the mounting for cooperative enagagement with cooperative inter engagement features on a sash shoe, and a locating arrangement for locating the mounting within the channel section.

Claims

1. A sash window counterbalance spring mounting arrangement for use in a channel section within a window jamb, comprising:

a spring support mounting comprising a support for each of at least two coiled ribbon springs to support and locate the coiled ribbon springs, the spring support mounting comprising a single integral component; and

a locating arrangement disposed on the spring support mounting and adapted, in use, to locate the spring support mounting within the channel section, wherein the locating arrangement comprises at least one of wing projections and a curved head portion to engage the channel section.

2. The mounting arrangement of claim 1 further comprising at least two coiled ribbon springs.

3. The mounting arrangement of claim 2, wherein the spring supports are disposed on the spring support mounting such that in use, when the at least two springs recoil rapidly, outer surfaces of adjacent springs contact each other.

4. The mounting arrangement of claim 2, wherein outer free tails of the coiled ribbon springs are connected to form a common tail.

5. The mounting arrangement of claim 1, wherein the spring support mounting further comprises an elongate main body portion having a front surface and a rear surface.

6. The mounting arrangement of claim 5, wherein the spring supports comprise projections from the rear surface of the main body portion.

7. The mounting arrangement of claim 5, wherein the wing projections extend from the front surface of the main body portion.

8. The mounting arrangement of claim 7, wherein the wing projections are integrally formed with the spring support mounting.

9. The mounting arrangement of claim 7, wherein the wing projections are flexible.

10. The mounting arrangement of claim 7, wherein the curved head portion is disposed at an end of the spring support mounting.

11. The mounting arrangement of claim 1 further comprising at least one inter engagement element disposed on a longitudinal end of the spring support mounting for engaging with a sash shoe.

12. The mounting arrangement of claim 11, wherein the at least one inter engagement element comprises a finger extension and the sash shoe comprises a recess for receiving the finger.

13. The mounting arrangement of claim 12, wherein the finger extension and the recess are profiled such that the finger extension progressively engages the recess.

14. The mounting arrangement of claim 1, wherein the curved head portion is disposed at an end of the spring support mounting, the curved head portion comprising a tip edge disposed at a distance from a front surface of the spring support mounting that is greater than a depth of the channel section.

15. A sash window assembly, comprising:

a frame including a jamb;

at least one sash slideably mounted in the jamb;

a sash shoe disposed in the jamb; and

a window counterbalance spring mounting arrangement disposed within the jamb and coupled to the jamb and the sash shoe, the mounting arrangement comprising;

at least two coiled ribbon springs;

a spring support mounting comprising a spring support for each of the at least two coiled ribbon springs to support and locate the coiled ribbon springs, the spring support mounting comprising a single integral component; and

a locating arrangement disposed on the spring support mounting and adapted, in use, to locate the spring support mounting within the channel section, wherein the locating arrangement comprises at least one of wing projections and a curved head portion to engage the channel section.