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: The carrier is securable to the end of a window balance, including, but not limited to, spiral rod, extension spring, and block and tackle balances. The weight of the sash is borne by a sash assembly coupling portion of the carrier. The upward force exerted by the balance on the carrier during opening or closing of the sash is translated into a force urging the carrier toward the sash, until contact is made between the carrier assembly and the side of the sash. The translation of the upward force into a side-directed force eliminates or substantially reduces the friction that might otherwise have been created between the carrier and a carrier channel in the jamb. The side-directed force preferably removes the carrier from any contact with a carrier channel, thereby eliminating friction from the carrier rubbing against the carrier channel and even eliminating the need for a carrier channel.

Abstract: A tool to facilitate the installation of spiral rod balances after the sash has been installed into the window frame. The tool becomes an extension onto the end of the spiral rod of a conventional spiral rod balance and forms a spiral balance sub-assembly. It enables the installer to pull the end of the spiral rod from its pre-tensioned positioned in the balance containment tube without the necessity of having to use another tool, turn the tool so that a sash clip securely fixed onto the spiral rod is seated the sash rail. The tool can be recycled by the window manufacturer for re-use.

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: A curl spring sash shoe cassette improves upon the suggestions of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,353,548 and 5,463,793 by providing a mounting bracket that holds an uncurled length of the curl spring and is securely mounted on top of the shoe cassette to maintain an assembly of the shoe body, the curl spring, and the mount during shipment to a window manufacturer. The mount can receive two mounting screws to resist torque caused by curl springs and sash weight. The shoe is also improved to facilitate removal and reinsertion of sash pins into the tilt lock cams of the shoes and ensure that shoe body halves do not rotate relative to each other when sash tilting splays the body halves apart to lock them in a shoe channel.

Abstract: An extended travel balance including a channel having a first end and a second end, a bottom pulley connected at the second end of the channel, and a bottom guide connectable at a location between the first end and the bottom pulley, and preferably between the bottom pulley and fixed pulleys of the end carriage. The bottom guide and top guide are not part of the tensioned parts in the channel and can, therefore, be stored separately from the channel with its tensioned parts—e.g., springs, pulleys, and pulley cord. Multiple bottom guide and top guide configurations can be mated to the channel with its tensioned parts without interfering with the operation of either. Fixed pulleys and bottom pulley of the end carriage are advantageously connected by an intermediate tensioned connector with all said parts held in tension between and by the connection of the bottom pulley to the tensioned pulley cord and the connection of the bottom pulley to the second end of the channel.

Abstract: An actuator for use in fenestration systems having a swinging sash or door is characterized by the use of a linear member running continuously from an actuating assembly to a locking pin assembly. The linear member can be a flexible linear member, allowing it to convey motion to the locking pin assembly around corners. The locking pin assembly has a moveable locking pin with an actuator and an extension that can engage a keeper. The linear member has multiple actuator engagement sites along its length where the actuator of the locking pin can engage the linear member. The linear member can then be used to move the locking pin with respect to the locking pin assembly so that the extension can engage or disengage a keeper. The locking pin assembly can be mounted on a fenestration frame and the keeper opposingly mounted on a window or door mounted in the fenestration frame.

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 curl spring mount has a separate cover that can snap fit into the mount to cover and protect the curl springs. A portion of the cover disposed over the vertical space occupied by the curl springs is arranged outside a jamb channel so that the curl springs can occupy the full width of the channel. A shield portion of the cover extends transversely of the jamb channel above the curl springs to protect them from dirt.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to substantially cancel out the opposing torsional forces of the torsion spring of a spiral rod subassembly and the extension spring of a compound spiral rod balance on the carrier element. The extension spring and the rod spiral balance subassembly are parallel, connected at their lower ends to a carrier element and at their top ends either to an upper mounting cap or separately to the wall of the jamb channel. The spiral rod is turned a pre-determined number of times in a direction opposite from that in which the extension spring is turned so that the torsional forces acting on the carrier element from the torsion spring and the extension spring substantially cancel out each other. The balancing out of the counteracting torsional forces eliminates or substantially reduces the friction between the carrier element and the jamb channel.

Abstract: A carrier assembly consisting of a carrier, a carrier encasement and a sash latch. The carrier is secured to the end of one or more balances, including spiral rod and block and tackle balances. The weight of the sash is borne by a platform on the carrier. The undesired vertical forces exerted by the balance on the carrier is thereby translated into a force urging the carrier toward the sash until firm contact is made between the carrier encasement and the side of the sash. The translation of the torsional force into a side directed force eliminates or substantially reduces the friction that might otherwise have existed between the carrier and the jamb channel caused by the undesired vertical forces exerted by the balance on the carrier.

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.

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: 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 block shaped to fit onto an end of a block and tackle window balance containment tube which controls excessive airflow into and out of the jamb channel of the window frame to assist with the insulating function of the window frame and to substantially prohibit the accumulation of dirt and dust within the balance containment tube. The block is secured to the end of the balance containment tube by a rigid or semi-rigid retainer. The block itself may consist of either a pliable or rigid material.

Abstract: A snap-on terminal clip for installation onto the end of the spiral rod of a spiral rod window balance. The upper region of the terminal clip lockingly engages a locking pin secured to the external end of the spiral rod. The lower region of the clip terminates in a substantially hook shaped segment that engages the ledge of a window sash, thereby supporting the sash as it moves vertically through the jamb channel of the window assembly.

Abstract: An assembly of a cam and a tilt lock in a shoe for a tilt sash includes retainer tabs disposed near the cam to trap movable brake pads between the tabs and a shoe wall so that the brake pads can move apart in response to pivoting of the cam to a locked position and can move back toward each other to an unlocked position while remaining effectively retained by the tabs.

Abstract: A method and device for applying a pre-tensioned force to a spiral window balance. The spiral balance includes a containment tube, a spiral rod and a torsion spring that traverses the length of the containment tube. The device includes a pre-tensioning insert that is contained within an anchorage fixed within the upper end of the containment tube. At least one boss formed at the base of a bore within the pre-tensioning insert defines a channel that receives the upper end of the spiral rod. To apply a pre-tensioned force to the spiral balance, the lower end of the spiral rod is pulled from the lower end of the containment tube, turned a number of revolutions and reinserted into the containment tube without being allowed to rotate. The upper end of the spiral rod is non-rotatably retained within the channel by the boss to prevent it from losing its pre-tensioned force.

Abstract: A tamper proof interlock insert for window balance carriers that is non-permanently installed into a drop-in carrier to prevent the unauthorized removal of the sash from the window frame. The interlock insert is inserted into the channel by the window manufacturer after the pivot bar, which connects to the sash, has been inserted into the carrier. Once the interlock insert is installed in the carrier, the pivot bar cannot be removed. Since the interlock insert is non-permanently installed in the carrier it can be disengaged from the carrier relatively easily by a trained technician in the event that the sash must be removed from the window for repair or replacement.

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.