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US 12,173,536 B2Granted
Window balance assembly
AssigneeAssa Abloy Fenestration, LLC
InventorsMark R. Baker, Wilbur James Kellum, III
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A window balance assembly may include a carrier, a spring element, and a mounting bracket. The spring element may include first and second portions. The first portion may be coupled to the carrier. The mounting bracket may engage the second portion of the spring element and may selectively engage the carrier.
Claims11
A window balance assembly comprising:
- a mounting bracket comprising a body portion, a first connection member and a second connection member;
- a carrier comprising a housing extending along a longitudinal axis from a first end to a second end, the housing comprising a first housing portion and a second housing portion which together define an interior space of the housing, and a first surface located in the interior space that extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis;
- and
- a receiver supported by the carrier near the second end of the carrier and comprising a cam rotatable about a first axis between a first position and a second position, wherein rotation of the cam from the first position to the second position operates to change a dimension of the carrier;
- a constant force curl spring comprising a curled portion disposed substantially within the interior space of the housing of the carrier and an uncurled portion extending outside of the interior space of the housing of the carrier and terminating at a distal end, wherein the uncurled portion comprises a first engagement feature and a second engagement feature;
- wherein the first engagement feature and the second engagement feature of the uncurled portion of the curl spring are spaced from one another along a length of the uncurled portion and the first engagement feature is located nearer the distal end of the uncurled portion of the curl spring than the second engagement feature;
- wherein the first engagement feature of the uncurled portion of the curl spring engages the first connection member of the mounting bracket to attach the curl spring to the mounting bracket at a first location and the second engagement feature of the uncurled portion of the curl spring engages the second connection member of the mounting bracket to attach the curl spring to the mounting bracket at a second location;
- wherein the second engagement feature comprises an aperture extending through the uncurled portion of the curl spring and defining an annular opening;
- wherein the second connection member of the mounting bracket comprises a post having a peripheral outer wall disposed in the annular opening;
- wherein, in an uninstalled, assembled configuration of the window balance assembly,
- the mounting bracket is retained with the carrier;
- the curled portion of the curl spring bears against the first surface of the carrier and the curl spring exerts a force against at least one of the first and second connection members of the mounting bracket to retain the mounting bracket against the first end of the carrier;
- and
- a second surface at a lower end of the mounting bracket contacts a third surface of the first end of the carrier.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.