# US 11,352,821 B2 · Inverted constant force window balance having slidable coil housing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,352,821 B2 - Document ID: US11352821B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/731,286 - Filed: 2019-12-31 - Published: 2020-07-09 - Granted: 2022-06-07 - Earliest claimed: 2019-01-09 - Assignees: Amesbury Group, Inc. - Applicants: Amesbury Group, Inc. - Inventors: Wilbur J. Kellum - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11352821B2 ## CPC - E05D 13/12: {with springs} - E05D 13/1253: {with canted-coil torsion springs} - E05D 15/22: allowing an additional movement {(E05D15/20 takes precedence)} - E05D 15/582: {with horizontal swinging axis (E05D15/581 takes precedence)} - E05Y 2201/416: for counterbalancing - E05Y 2600/45: in or on the fixed frame - E05Y 2600/51: Screwing or bolting - E05Y 2600/632: Screws - E05Y 2900/148: Windows - E05D: HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS (pivotal connections in general F16C11/00) - E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF ## Abstract An inverted constant force window balance system has a carrier assembly including a housing with a first and a second housing wall, a coil spring with a free end, and a shoe assembly slidably coupled to the housing. The shoe assembly includes a first and a second shoe face. The housing slides between a first and a second position relative to the shoe assembly. When in the first position, the first and second housing walls are substantially non-coplanar with the first shoe face, and when in the second position, the first housing wall is substantially coplanar with the first shoe face and substantially non-coplanar with the second shoe face. The shoe assembly receives a pivot bar from a window sash and extends a brake upon rotation thereof. The balance system also includes a mounting bracket releasably coupled to the housing and coupled to the free end of the coil spring. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An inverted constant force window balance system comprising: a carrier assembly comprising: a housing comprising a first housing wall and a second housing wall substantially parallel to the first housing wall; a coil spring disposed within the housing, the coil spring comprising a free end; and a shoe assembly slidably coupled to the housing, wherein the shoe assembly comprises a first shoe face and a second shoe face substantially parallel to the first shoe face, wherein the housing is configured to slide between a first position and a second position relative to the shoe assembly, wherein when in the first position, the first housing wall and the second housing wall are substantially non-coplanar with the first shoe face, wherein when in the second position, the first housing wall is substantially coplanar with the first shoe face and substantially non-coplanar with the second shoe face, and 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 releasably coupled to the housing opposite the shoe assembly and coupled to the free end of the coil spring. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The inverted constant force window balance system of claim 1, wherein 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 mounting bracket positions, and wherein when at least a portion of the mounting bracket moves between the at least two mounting bracket positions, the mounting bracket disengages from the housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The inverted constant force window balance system of claim 2, wherein the mounting bracket comprises a jamb mount and a coil spring mount, wherein the jamb mount is configured to slide in relation to the coil spring mount between a first jamb mount position and a second jamb mount position, wherein when in the first jamb mount position, the jamb mount is releasably engaged with the housing, and wherein when in the second jamb mount position, the jamb mount is disengaged from the housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The inverted constant force window balance system of claim 1, wherein the shoe assembly comprises a shoe housing comprising a first leg and a second leg, wherein the first leg and the second leg are separated by and at least partially define a throat. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The inverted constant force window balance system of claim 4, wherein when the housings is in the second position, a portion of the throat proximate the second shoe face is configured to receive a pivot bar in a pivot bar insertion direction substantially parallel to the second housing wall. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The inverted constant force window balance system of claim 4, wherein the shoe assembly further comprises a rotatable cam disposed at a lower portion of the throat. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The inverted constant force window balance system of claim 6, wherein the rotatable cam defines a keyhole, and wherein in a first rotated position, the keyhole is in communication with the throat, and in a second rotated position, the keyhole is not in communication with the throat. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The inverted constant force window balance system of claim 1, wherein the shoe assembly comprises a friction screw extending from the first shoe face to the second shoe face. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The inverted constant force window balance system of claim 8, wherein the friction screw defines, at each end, an engagement slot. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The inverted constant force window balance system of claim 1, wherein the housing is configured to slide between the first position and a third position relative to the shoe assembly, and wherein when in the third position, the second housing wall is substantially coplanar with the second shoe face and substantially non-coplanar with the first shoe face. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The inverted constant force window balance system of claim 1, further comprising a friction screw extending from the first shoe face to the second shoe face, wherein the friction screw defines, at each end, an engagement slot. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The inverted constant force window balance system of claim 1, wherein the housing is detachably connected to the shoe assembly.