US 5,632,117 AGranted

Sash balance brake assembly

OwnerJames G. Prete, Steven E. Schultz +1inventors

InventorsJames G. Prete, Steven E. Schultz, Allen D. Polowinczak

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Abstract

A sash balance brake assembly for a sash window system is disclosed. The sash window system includes a window frame having a pair of generally parallel tracks. Each of the tracks has an outer wall, front and back intermediate walls and front and back inner walls collectively defining a channel. A sash window is transversely disposed between the tracks and is adapted for slidable movement along the tracks. A pair of sash balance assemblies provide a generally upward bias on transverse sides of the sash window. The sash balance brake assembly comprises a rotor rotatable about a rotor axis, a bolt having a generally planar engaging surface, a slider body for placement in a respective one of the channels and for coupling to a respective one of the sash balance assemblies. The slider body includes an aperture for rotatably supporting the rotor adjacent the bolt. The rotor and the bolt include cooperative camming surfaces for converting rotary motion of the rotor into movement of the bolt along the rotor axis, such that the bolt engaging surface selectively engages and disengages the track outer wall.

Claims22

Dependent claims

For a sash window system including a window frame having a pair of generally parallel tracks, each of said tracks having an outer wall, front and back intermediate walls and front and back inner walls collectively defining a channel, a sash window transversely disposed between said tracks and adapted for slidable movement along said tracks, and a pair of sash balance assemblies for providing a generally upward bias on transverse sides of said sash window, an improved sash balance brake assembly for each of said sash balance assemblies and for placement in a respective one of each of said channels, said improved sash balance brake assembly comprising:

a rotor rotatable about a rotor axis;
a bolt having a generally planar engaging surface and two generally parallel bolt legs;
and
a slider body for placement in a respective one of said channels and for coupling to a respective one of said sash balance assemblies, said slider body having a generally circular aperture for receiving and rotatably supporting said rotor along said rotor axis, the slider body further having a pair of slots spaced from said aperture, one of said slots receiving and housing a respective one of said bolt legs within said slider body, said rotor being adjacent said bolt, said rotor and said bolt including cooperative means for converting rotary motion of said rotor into movement of said bolt along said rotor axis, such that said bolt engaging surface selectively engages and disengages said track outer wall.

1 more element

A sash balance brake assembly for a sash window system, said sash window system including a window frame having a pair of generally parallel tracks, each of said tracks having an outer wall, front and back intermediate walls and front and back inner walls, said walls collectively defining a channel, a sash window transversely disposed between said tracks for slidable movement along said tracks, and a pair of sash balance assemblies for providing a generally upward bias on transverse sides of said sash window, said sash balance brake assembly for placement in a respective one of each of said channels, said improved sash balance brake assembly comprising:

a generally cylindrical rotor having a rotor axis and a rotor camming surface generally perpendicular to said rotor axis;
a bolt having a body having a first side defining a bolt camming surface and a second, opposite side defining an engaging surface, and two generally parallel bolt legs extending perpendicular away from said first side;
and
a slider body for placement in a respective one of said channels and for coupling to a respective one of said sash balance assemblies, said slider body having a generally circular aperture for receiving and rotatably supporting said rotor along said rotor axis such that said rotor camming surface is directed outwardly towards said respective outer wall, said slider body further having a pair of slots spaced from said aperture, one for receiving a respective one of said bolt legs, wherein each of said bolt legs includes a tab, and each of said slots includes a recessed step for retaining a respective one of said tabs, wherein said bolt camming surface is disposed in operative engagement with said rotor camming surface, such that rotation of said rotor along said rotor axis moves said bolt along said rotor axis.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.