Abstract: A curl spring shoe cassette includes a mounting bracket mounted to interlock with connectors on top of a shoe body so that an uncurled length of the curl spring can be attached to the mount to hold the spring, the mount, and the shoe body together during shipment. Once the cassette is properly positioned within a shoe channel, it can be fastened to a back channel wall with screws so as to automatically disengage the mount from the shoe body, which can then support a counter balance sash.

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: A system for supporting a window sash that allows for the removal of the sash from between opposed window jambs. The system supports the window sash through counterbalance shoes supporting sash support arms pivotally attached to the sash. The shoes include hooks which, in first positions, engage lances in the window jambs to hold the shoes in place as the sash is removed from or installed between the window lambs. The hooks, in second positions, engage pins extending from the support arms to retain the support arms on the shoes.

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: 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 spring wiper for curl springs contained within curl spring mounts, holders or shoes operatively engaged with window sashes that are located in window shoe channels. The spring wiper is deployed on the curl spring holder or mount and contains a wiper blade that is transverse to the curl spring, spanning its width, in order to wipe or scrape debris clinging to and/or accumulated on the surface of the curl spring exposed to airborne particulate matter when the curl spring is extended prior to its being retracted into the curl spring mount or holder, thereby keeping such debris from entering the inside of the curl spring mount or holder and interfering with the continued fluid operation of the sash.

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 window balance system includes a tilt lock carrier connected to a balance for a tilt sash so that the carrier and other components of the balance can be inserted laterally through a slot in a front wall of a balance channel, rather than requiring assembly length wise from an open end of the channel. The preferred way of accomplishing this is by configuring the carrier in a channel shape with spaced apart side walls bearing locking elements and a pivot allowing the carrier to be folded up to straddle a connector or balance in a compact configuration that is laterally insertable.

Abstract: This fenestration locking system for 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: This block and tackle window balance is based on molding a middle carriage pulley body and a cord terminal (or anchor) in a tip-to-tip position on a cord with each molded pair spaced appropriately from the next molded pair. When the cord is severed between tips, segments of cord are created with a middle carriage body already molded/connected at one end and a terminal already molded/connected at the other end and facing in the opposite direction. The molded middle carriage block component provides for attachment of the middle carriage block to the balance spring, receives a sheave and supports the sheave for rotation, retains the sash cord within sheaves, and guides the middle carriage assembly in its travel along the balance channel. The shape of its terminal provides and facilitates the ease with which the balance cord can be connected to other operative portions of the window frame or assembly. A novel snap-together sheave pair is utilized to simplify balance assembly.

Abstract: This improved carrier allows for drop in type sash installation without having extended features which would preclude the use of wider sash and without having to position the two counterbalances at different vertical positions in order to insert a window sash's pivot bars into the carriers' cam slots. It is also adapted to receive multiple lock elements, wherein the lock elements can be sized to configure the carrier for use in different sized jamb pockets, eliminating the need for manufacturing tooling to produce the carrier component in a variety of sizes. In addition, it has features to retain the cam in its assembled position, independent of the lock, allowing the carrier and cam to be applied to a counterbalance prior to assigning the counterbalance to a particular jamb pocket size. When the particular application for the counterbalance is determined, the appropriate lock element can be readily applied, to properly size the counterbalance system to the application.

Abstract: A support system for a heavy sash that is laterally removable from between opposed window jambs includes a pair of sash support arms pivotally mounted on each sash stile and counterbalance shoes that engage the support arms to uphold the sash. The support arms, in inwardly dependent positions, can engage the shoes as the sash is lowered onto the shoes; and the support arms, in outwardly extending positions, support the weight of the sash on the shoes. Hooks dependent from the shoes can lock the shoes to the jambs during sash removal or replacement; and the sash support arms, the shoes, and the hooks are all preferably cut from metal extrusions.

Abstract: A system for support of a sash that is laterally removable from between opposed window jambs that uses sash support arms that are movably arranged for transferring the weight of the sash to the shoes and for bridging distances between the sash stiles and the shoes. When not supporting the weight of the sash, the support arms move to positions that allow the sash to be lifted off of counterbalance support shoes and laterally removed from between the window jambs and conversely reinserted between window jambs and lowered onto the shoes. This is done while the shoes are locked in positions within the window jambs. When the support arms support the weight of the sash, they are in positions that rest the sash weight on the counterbalance shoes to support the weight of the sash. The shoes have hooks that can be deployed to lock the shoes reliably in the jambs by engaging projections formed in the jambs for this purpose.

Abstract: A pair of sweep locks and a corresponding pair of tilt latches are combined and mounted together on an upper rail of a lower sash. The tilt latches and sweep locks are then interactively engaged so that locking the sweep locks latches the tilt latches, and unlocking the sweep locks leaves the tilt latches latched. Unlocked sweep locks allow manual unlatching of tilt latches, and relocking of sweep locks automatically relatches tilt latches.

Abstract: A sweep lock locking the check rails of an upper and lower sash improves window resistance to negative wind force. The lock accomplishes this by a cam with a pair of locking rims that engage cam receiver projections extending upward and downward to lock along two vertically separated locking lines, which tends to resist sash tilting from vertical as sash are deformed in response to negative wind force. Preferred embodiments of a cam lock and mounting hub include a two-piece hub that snaps together within a rotational opening of the cam lock to form a subassembly ready for mounting.

Abstract: An adjustment assembly enables lateral adjustment of the position of a pivot connection of a first member relative to a second member in a window assembly having a first member, a second member, and a rotatable pivot-mounting element. The pivot-mounting element includes a first pivot-mounting section with a first pivot axis operatively connected to the first member and a second pivot-mounting section operatively connected to the second member. The second pivot-mounting section has a second pivot axis that is generally parallel to and offset from the first pivot axis. An engager section is located intermediate the pivot-mounting sections. Finally, a locking member is provided to cooperate with the engager section and is movable relative to the engager section between a retention position and a release position.

Abstract: A sweep lock locking the check rails of an upper and lower sash improves window resistance to negative wind force. The lock accomplishes this by a cam with a locking rim that extends both upward and downward to engage cam receiver projections above and below the locking rim to lock along two vertically separated locking lines, which tends to resist sash tilting from vertical as sash are deformed in response to negative wind force. Preferred embodiments of a cam lock and mounting hub include a two-piece hub that snaps together within a rotational opening of the cam lock to form a subassembly ready for mounting.

Abstract: A cable actuator for a casement sash includes a cable engager that moves against an opening pull cable and diverts the cable to an elongated path when the sash is closed. When the opening pull cable is tensioned to open the sash, this moves the cable back to a shorter tensioned path that moves the cable engager in a way that initiates opening the sash. Thereafter, the sash opens further in response to winding in of the opening pull cable.

Abstract: A mount for one or more constant force curl springs uses a mounting block secured within a sash shoe channel to support the underside of a lowermost curl spring with a superposed curl spring mounted to counterrotate against an outer convolution of the lowermost spring. Uncoiled free ends of the curl springs pass downward on opposite sides of the mounting block and connect to opposite sides of a sash shoe arranged below the mounting block. This connection is made by laterally sliding the spring ends into slots molded in the sash shoe so that barbs struck and bent from the planes of the free ends of the springs are lodged in widened recesses of the slots to retain the spring ends against upward withdrawal from the spring slots.

Abstract: Pulleys of a block and tackle window balance include hub steps that interact with other components to reduce the introduction of dirt and dust particles into areas vulnerable to wear. The hub steps of some of the pulleys are recesses formed about the axial bores of the pulleys that mate with protrusions on an axle and a washer. The hub steps of other pulleys are protrusions that abut a support plate and heads of rivets that act as axles. The hub steps allow inverse mounting of the window balance so that the balance can be mounted in a shoe channel for movement with a sash of the window, attached to the sash shoe, and the cord can be attached to the jamb or frame, thus increasing sash travel.