Abstract: A sliding closure assembly includes a frame assembly, at least one sliding closure panel, a second panel, and a powered actuator. The frame assembly has a first track portion, a second track portion, and a catch portion. The sliding closure panel slides within the first track portion of the frame assembly. The second closure panel is adjacent to the at least one sliding closure panel and is positioned within the second track portion of the frame assembly. The sliding closure panel slides within the first track portion of the frame such that an opening is formed through the sliding closure assembly when the sliding closure panel is in the opened position and the opening is closed when the sliding closure panel is in the closed position.

Abstract: A moving coil, constant force, curl spring window balance assembly for installation in a hung window assembly comprising a sash is disclosed. The window balance assembly can include a carrier, a mounting bracket, a curl spring and a sash support bracket. The sash support bracket can be positioned intermediate the carrier and the mounting bracket. The sash support bracket can selectively engage at least one of the carrier or the mounting bracket. The sash support bracket is operable to supplement the counter-balance or holding force provided by the curl spring of the window balance assembly against the weight of the sash when the sash is in a raised position.

Abstract: A window assembly is disclosed that includes a double-hung window aesthetic with an alternative opening procedure and mechanism. The window assembly may include various hardware systems. The hardware systems may include locking portions to assist in locking sash members to a frame and balance assembly for moving the sash members. The window assembly may be formed of selected materials.

Abstract: A sliding closure assembly includes a frame assembly, at least one sliding closure panel, a second panel, and a powered actuator. The frame assembly has a first track portion, a second track portion, and a catch portion. The sliding closure panel slides within the first track portion of the frame assembly. The second closure panel is adjacent to the at least one sliding closure panel and is positioned within the second track portion of the frame assembly. The sliding closure panel slides within the first track portion of the frame such that an opening is formed through the sliding closure assembly when the sliding closure panel is in the opened position and the opening is closed when the sliding closure panel is in the closed position.

Abstract: An adjustable carriage assembly includes a body; a hinge pin disposed in a threaded first bore of the body, the hinge pin having a threaded end and a first longitudinal axis; a lock post disposed in a second bore of the body, the lock post having a second longitudinal axis; a torsion spring disposed around the lock post; and a retention pin disposed in a third bore of the body to retain the lock post in the second bore. A first extension portion of the lock post engages a flat portion of the hinge pin in a locked state. The lock post is operable to rotate about the second longitudinal axis to disengage the first extension portion from the flat portion and place the carrier assembly in an unlocked state so that the hinge pin is free to rotate and move longitudinally within the first bore.

Abstract: A sliding closure assembly includes a frame assembly, at least one sliding closure panel, a second panel, and a powered actuator. The frame assembly has a first track portion, a second track portion, and a catch portion. The sliding closure panel slides within the first track portion of the frame assembly. The second closure panel is adjacent to the at least one sliding closure panel and is positioned within the second track portion of the frame assembly. The powered actuator assembly is positioned adjacent to the second panel and entirely within the second track portion. The sliding closure panel slides within the first track portion of the frame such that an opening is formed through the sliding closure assembly when the sliding closure panel is in the opened position and the opening is closed when the sliding closure panel is in the closed position.

Abstract: A moving coil, constant force, curl spring window balance assembly for installation in a hung window assembly comprising a sash. The window balance assembly can include a carrier, a mounting bracket, a curl spring and a sash support bracket. The sash support bracket can be positioned intermediate the carrier and the mounting bracket. The sash support bracket can selectively engage at least one of the carrier or the mounting bracket. The sash support bracket is operable to supplement the holding force provided by the curl spring of the window balance assembly against the weight of the sash when the sash is in a raised position.

Abstract: A sliding closure assembly includes a frame assembly, at least one sliding closure panel, a second panel, and a powered actuator. The frame assembly has a first track portion, a second track portion, and a catch portion. The sliding closure panel slides within the first track portion of the frame assembly. The second closure panel is adjacent to the at least one sliding closure panel and is positioned within the second track portion of the frame assembly. The powered actuator assembly is positioned adjacent to the second panel and entirely within the second track portion. The sliding closure panel slides within the first track portion of the frame such that an opening is formed through the sliding closure assembly when the sliding closure panel is in the opened position and the opening is closed when the sliding closure panel is in the closed position.

Abstract: A window assembly is disclosed that includes a double-hung window aesthetic with an alternative opening procedure and mechanism. The window assembly may include various hardware systems. The hardware systems may include locking portions to assist in locking sash members to a frame and balance assembly for moving the sash members. The window assembly may be formed of selected materials.

Abstract: A window balance assembly for a tilt-in window comprising a bracket, a spring and a carrier. The first spring has a first portion engaging the bracket. The carrier has a vertical portion including a first slot, a first projection extending outwardly from a first side of the vertical portion, and a second attachment projection extending outwardly from a second side of the vertical portion. The first slot receives a pivot bar of the tilt-in window via a vertical drop-in installation. One of the first and second attachment protrusions engages the first portion of the spring. The horizontal portion includes an aperture rotatably engaging a cam between a first position and a second position. The cam has a second slot aligned with the first slot when the cam is in the first position allowing for the pivot bar to move between the first slot and the second slot.

Abstract: A window balance assembly for a tilt-in window comprising a bracket, a spring and a carrier. The first spring has a first portion engaging the bracket. The carrier has a vertical portion including a first slot, a first projection extending outwardly from a first side of the vertical portion, and a second attachment projection extending outwardly from a second side of the vertical portion. The first slot receives a pivot bar of the tilt-in window via a vertical drop-in installation. One of the first and second attachment protrusions engages the first portion of the spring. The horizontal portion includes an aperture rotatably engaging a cam between a first position and a second position. The cam has a second slot aligned with the first slot when the cam is in the first position allowing for the pivot bar to move between the first slot and the second slot.

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 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 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 tilt sash counterbalance system has a carrier shoe with a locking cam that moves a locking component to a corner-to-corner locking position within a shoe channel. This is done by moving the locking component to a locked position where the locking component simultaneously increases both the width and the thickness of the carrier shoe. This presses the locking component into one inside corner of the shoe channel while pressing an opposite edge of the carrier shoe in a diagonally opposite direction against a diagonally opposite inside corner of the shoe channel.