Abstract: A mechanism is provided for balancing and positioning a sash of a self-balancing double-hung window assembly. The mechanism may include a fixed length cable, a pulley, first and second brackets and an adjustment member. The fixed length cable may include first and second ends. The pulley may support the cable. The first bracket may include one or more attachment points relative to the first end of the cable and may include an upper end and a lower end. The second bracket may be movable relative to the first bracket and may be configured to support the sash. The adjustment member may engage and extend through the lower end of the first bracket and may be movable relative to the first bracket to cause corresponding movement of the second bracket relative to the first end of the cable.

Abstract: A window balance assembly may include a spring member, a mounting bracket, and a carrier. The spring member may include a first portion and a second portion. The mounting bracket may engage the first portion of the spring member. The carrier may include an upper body portion supporting the second portion of the spring member and removably engaging the mounting bracket, a lower body portion rotatably supporting a cam, and an elongated central portion extending between the upper body portion and the lower body portion. The elongated central portion may be resiliently flexible to allow movement of the lower body portion relative to the upper body portion.

Abstract: An air and/or debris dam for moving coil balance assembly for a hung window is disclosed. The air and/or debris dam is located between the carrier and a mounting location of a moving coil window balance assembly. The air and/or debris dam can travel within the jamb channel of a window frame assembly to inhibit airflow and/or the deposition of dust and/or debris in the jamb channel.

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. The mounting bracket may include a first mounting surface disposed at a non-perpendicular angle relative to an exterior surface of carrier when the window balance assembly is in an uninstalled configuration. The first mounting surface may be substantially parallel to the exterior surface of the carrier when the window balance assembly is in an installed configuration and the mounting bracket is disengaged from the carrier.

Abstract: A window balance assembly may be in a window jamb channel to provide a biasing force urging a window sash toward an open position. The 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 include a latch, a first head portion, and a first projection. The latch may engage the second portion of the spring element. The first head portion may be configured to abut a first wall of the window jamb channel when the window balance assembly is installed in the window jamb channel. The projection configured to extend through and engage an aperture in a second wall of the window jamb channel when the window balance assembly is installed in the window jamb channel.

Abstract: The static air dam includes at least one mounting feature, which is preferably at least one hole or slot to allow a fastener, such as a screw, bolt, rivet, weld, or other similar attachment devices, to secure the air dam to a wall of a jamb channel. Air passage through the jamb channel is prohibited or at least substantially inhibited by the static air dam that is designed to approximate the size and dimensions of the cross section of the jamb channel. At least one side of the air dam includes a tab or similar structure for securing the free end of the curl spring of a curl spring balance. The air dam includes integrally formed reinforcing elements that either abut or are adjacent to the side walls of the jamb channel. The air dam preferably includes a pair of flexible projections for engaging ears on the curl spring carrier.

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. The mounting bracket may include a first mounting surface disposed at a non-perpendicular angle relative to an exterior surface of carrier when the window balance assembly is in an uninstalled configuration. The first mounting surface may be substantially parallel to the exterior surface of the carrier when the window balance assembly is in an installed configuration and the mounting bracket is disengaged from the carrier.

Abstract: The static air dam includes at least one mounting feature, which is preferably at least one hole or slot to allow a fastener, such as a screw, bolt, rivet, weld, or other similar attachment devices, to secure the air dam to a wall of a jamb channel. Air passage through the jamb channel is prohibited or at least substantially inhibited by the static air dam that is designed to approximate the size and dimensions of the cross section of the jamb channel. At least one side of the air dam includes a tab or similar structure for securing the free end of the curl spring of a curl spring balance. The air dam includes integrally formed reinforcing elements that either abut or are adjacent to the side walls of the jamb channel. The air dam preferably includes a pair of flexible projections for engaging ears on the curl spring carrier.

Abstract: A carrier assembly can be used to couple a balance assembly with a window sash. The carrier assembly can engage the window sash to transfer a force from the balance assembly to balance a weight of the window sash. The carrier assembly, due to interactions of the window sash with the carrier assembly and the balance assembly with the carrier assembly, can tightly engage the window sash, either directly or through a bracket, to substantially eliminate unselected movement or forces applied from the balance assembly.

Abstract: A carrier for a window sash having an actuatable friction adjuster. The friction adjuster has a carrier interface that interacts with a mating friction adjuster interface of the carrier such that the actuation of the friction adjuster by rotating it within an oblong slot in the carrier causes the carrier interface to interact with the friction adjuster interface and forces a rear portion of the friction adjuster into progressively increasing frictional contact with an adjacent portion of a window frame sash channel.

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. The mounting bracket may include a first mounting surface disposed at a non-perpendicular angle relative to an exterior surface of carrier when the window balance assembly is in an uninstalled configuration. The first mounting surface may be substantially parallel to the exterior surface of the carrier when the window balance assembly is in an installed configuration and the mounting bracket is disengaged from the carrier.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the torque of a compound balance in order to substantially cancel out the torsional force of the torsion spring acting on the spiral rod by creating an equal and opposing torsional force on the extension spring. The apparatus is an assembly connector that is non-permanently engaged with the extension spring, with the spiral rod being tensioned by the torsional force of the torsion spring. Alternatively, the extension spring may be turned in a direction to apply more torque than is required for operation of the compound balance. It is then engaged with a non pre-tensioned spiral rod sub-assembly to transfer the excess torque to the torsion spring of the spiral rod sub-assembly. In this manner, the opposing torsional forces of the torsion spring and the extension spring acting on the spiral rod substantially cancel out each other.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the torque of a compound balance in order to substantially cancel out the torsional force of the torsion spring acting on the spiral rod by creating an equal and opposing torsional force on the extension spring. The apparatus is an assembly connector that is non-permanently engaged with the extension spring, with the spiral rod being tensioned by the torsional force of the torsion spring. Alternatively, the extension spring may be turned in a direction to apply more torque than is required for operation of the compound balance. It is then engaged with a non pre-tensioned spiral rod sub-assembly to transfer the excess torque to the torsion spring of the spiral rod sub-assembly. In this manner, the opposing torsional forces of the torsion spring and the extension spring acting on the spiral rod substantially cancel out each other.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the torque of a compound balance in order to substantially cancel out the torsional force of the torsion spring acting on the spiral rod by creating an equal and opposing torsional force on the extension spring. The apparatus is an assembly connector that is non-permanently engaged with the extension spring, with the spiral rod being tensioned by the torsional force of the torsion spring. Alternatively, the extension spring may be turned in a direction to apply more torque than is required for operation of the compound balance. It is then engaged with a non pre-tensioned spiral rod sub-assembly to transfer the excess torque to the torsion spring of the spiral rod sub-assembly. In this manner, the opposing torsional forces of the torsion spring and the extension spring acting on the spiral rod substantially cancel out each other.

Abstract: A carrier assembly can be used to couple a balance assembly with a window sash. The carrier assembly can engage the window sash to transfer a force from the balance assembly to balance a weight of the window sash. The carrier assembly, due to interactions of the window sash with the carrier assembly and the balance assembly with the carrier assembly, can tightly engage the window sash, either directly or through a bracket, to substantially eliminate unselected movement or forces applied from the balance assembly.

Abstract: Window sash counterbalances using curl springs and holders can increase resistance to sash drop without causing sash hop by using a high coefficient of friction bearing surfaces against which curled up coils of curl springs slide when uncurling or re-curling. The higher friction bearing material produces more frictional resistance to spring uncurling than to spring re-curling and thus resists drop without causing hop. This allows a wider range of sash weights to be counterbalanced by a fewer number of counterbalance forces, saves manufacturing cost.

Abstract: The present device is an extender for pretension spiral rod window balances. The spiral rod extender is attached to the end of the spiral rod by the window or balance manufacturer. At the window manufacturer, the sash is installed into the window frame and the balance is inserted into one of the jamb channels. A hook tool, having a hooking element at one end, is used to grab onto a hole in the end of the spiral rod to pull it a sufficient amount out of the containment tube. The hook tool manipulates the spiral rod so that a sash hook mounted on the balance engages a ledge at the end of the sash, thereby securing the balance to the sash. The spiral rod extender is then removed from the spiral rod and may be reused by the balance manufacturer or discarded as desired.

Abstract: In a block and tackle window balance, the balance shoe holds and upwardly biases the terminal connector in a mounted position. A biasing element of the shoe maintains the terminal connector in a pocket of the shoe during operation of the balance. The terminal connector is prevented from laterally exiting the pocket in the mounted position by a widened portion on the terminal connector and a locating surface extending from the shoe toward the pocket. Manually pressing down on the biasing element or the terminal connector itself to lower the terminal connector in the pocket until the widened portion clears the locating surface allows lateral removal of the terminal connector from the pocket. During operation of the balance, however, the terminal connector does not experience a sufficient downward force to overcome the upward bias such that the widened portion never clears the locating surface.

Abstract: A carrier and balance assembly for installation into the jamb channel of a window frame. The carrier and balance assembly are capable of being installed into the jamb channel optionally either as a single assembly or as two separate components. The two separate components are the carrier and a hanger-balance subassembly. The advantage of installing the carrier and balance assembly as two separate components is that such installation can occur after the assembly of the window frame and even after installation of the window into the wall of a building. Once the carrier and hanger-balance subassembly are separately installed in the jamb channel, they are then non-permanently locked together. Should any part of the carrier and balance assembly become damaged, replacement is performed by simply reversing the process described above without having to damage the jamb channel.

Abstract: The device of the present invention is identified as a chimney block for use in the jamb channels of window frames. The chimney block impedes or substantially reduces the vertical movement of air through the jamb channel. The reduction in air movement improves the insulating properties of the window and minimizes the amount of dust and fine dirt that might otherwise enter the jamb channel resulting in a progressively increasing force required to move the sash through the jamb channel. It consists of a vertical structural element which is secured to a planar sealing element that conforms to the cross section of the jamb channel. Legs or struts are attached in proximity to the other end of the vertical structural element to insure that the chimney block essentially remains in the same position to provide an air block.