Window Balance Assembly With Improved Brake Arrangement

A window balance assembly comprising:

• a housing, said housing defining a first interior space and a second interior space;
• a receiver, said receiver being rotatably supported in said first interior space, said receiver comprising:
• a hub;
• a keyhole formed in said hub;
• a first cam positioned on a first side of said hub;
• a second cam, said second cam positioned on a second side of said hub;
• a curl spring, said curl spring comprising:
• a first portion disposed within said second interior space and comprising:
• a plurality of convolutions;
• and a second portion, said second portion configured to extend outside of said second interior space;
• a mounting bracket, said mounting bracket having a first portion configured for attachment to a master window frame, and a second portion configured for attachment to said second portion of said curl spring;
• wherein said housing comprises:
• a first housing portion having a front wall, a first end, and a second end, said first housing portion comprising:
• a first cantilevered protrusion configured to protrude from said first end of said first housing portion;
• and
• a second cantilevered protrusion configured to protrude from said second end of said first housing portion;
• a second housing portion having a front wall, a first end, and a second end, said second housing portion comprising:
• a first cantilevered protrusion configured to protrude from a first interior portion of said front wall of said second housing portion;
• and
• a second cantilevered protrusion configured to protrude from a second interior portion of said front wall of said second housing portion;
• and
• wherein when said receiver is rotated from a first position to a second position:
• said first cam causes said first cantilevered protrusion of said second housing portion to deform outwardly in a first direction and thereby cause said first cantilevered protrusion of said first housing portion to also deform outwardly in the first direction, and
• said second cam causes said second cantilevered protrusion of said second housing portion to deform outwardly in a second direction and thereby cause said second cantilevered protrusion of said first housing portion to also deform outwardly in the second direction.