US3688441A

US3688441A - Takeout mechanism for sash type single hung windows

Info

Publication number: US3688441A
Application number: US156389A
Authority: US
Inventors: Troy D Rackard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-06-24
Filing date: 1971-06-24
Publication date: 1972-09-05
Anticipated expiration: 1989-09-05

Abstract

A takeout mechanism for sash type single hung windows associated with spiral balances composed of a self-lubricating, plastic foot balance and a metallic foot balance bracket independently pivoted to the lower end of the spiral balance ribbon, and a foot balance bracket retainer lug including a cylindrical attachment rib slidably associated with the sash bottom rail and spring biased to a normal cooperating retaining position beneath the foot balance bracket. The independent pivoting of the foot balance and foot balance bracket and the spring biasing to a normal cooperating retaining position together protect the takeout mechanism from accidental breakage, establish a normal full open position for the sash, and assure a readily operable takeout mechanism for removing and replacing the sash for servicing of the window. The retainer lug may also be employed to serve as a sash latch by forming the body carrying the cylindrical attachment rib to project outwardly from the channel passage of the lower sash bottom rail and downwardly past the dependent trim flange of the sill and providing it with a rearwardly directed lip to latchingly cooperate with the trim flange.

Description

TAKEOUT MECHANISM FOR SASH TYPE SINGLE HUNG WINDOWS 72 Inventor: Troy 1). Rackard, Rte. 1, Millen,

[22] Filed: June 24, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 156,389

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 89,637, Nov.

16, 1970, abandoned, which is a continuationin-part of Ser. No. 1,205, Jan. 7, 1970, abancloned.

[52] U.S.Cl ..49/446 [51] Int. Cl. ..E05d 13/10 [58] Field of Search ..49/181, 446; 16/202 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,498,000 3/1970 Nobes ..49/446 3,375,61 1 4/ 1968 Osten, Sr. ..49/446 3,206,795 9/1965 Weidner ..16/202 X 3,172,169 3/1965 Anderson ..49/446 2,952,048 9/1960 Graham ..49/446 [451 Sept. 5, 1972 Primary Examiner-Kenneth Downey Attorney-William A. Strauch et al.

[ ABSTRACT A takeout mechanism for sash type single hung windows associated with spiral balances composed of a self-lubricating, plastic foot balance and a metallic foot balance bracket independently pivoted to the lower end of the spiral balance ribbon, and a foot balance bracket retainer lug including a cylindrical attachment rib slidably associated with the sash bottom rail and spring biased to a normal cooperating retaining position beneath the foot balance bracket. The independent pivoting of the foot balance and foot balance bracket and the spring biasing to a normal cooperating retaining position together protect the takeout mechanism from accidental breakage, establish a normal full open position for the sash, and assure a readily operable takeout mechanism for removing and replacing the sash for servicing of the window. The retainer lug may also be employed to serve as a sash latch by forming the body carrying the cylindrical attachment rib to project outwardly from the channel passage of the lower sash bottom rail and downwardly past the dependent trim flange of the sill and providing it with a rearwardly directed lip to T. latchingly cooperate with the trim flange.

Lil

PATTENTED 5 i 3 .6 88 .441

sum 3 or 4 INVENTOR TROY D. RACKARD ATTORNEYS PA TENIEDSEP 51912 SHEET Q (If 4 INVENTOR TAKEOUT MECHANISM FOR SASH TYPE SINGLE HUNG WINDOWS CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 89,637 filed Nov. 16, 1970, which is in turn a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 1,205 filed Jan. 7, 1970 both now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to window constructions and more particularly to window construction generally referred to as single hung windows marketed as a prefabricated unit composed of a frame fitted with a stationary upper sash and a slidable lower sash equipped with a mechanical balance system generally employing what is known as spiral balances which automatically maintain the sliding sash in any raised position to which it may be raised in use. In order that such windows may readily be serviced in use, cleaned inside and out and reglazed when necessary, the sliding sash is generally designed for ready removal from the frame and is provided with separable attachment means for connecting the sash to the spiral balance mechanism. Such removable attachment means, generally designated a takeout mechanism of the prior art have not been entirely satisfactory primarily because of the too frequent breakage of certain elements of the takeout mechanism and the lack of a maintainable free sliding cooperation between the takeout mechanism slide structure and the guide channels provided by the jambs of the frame.

Typical examples of prior art structures of the type here involved are shown by U.S. Letters Patent Nos. 2,901,768 issued Sept. 1, 1959 to F. J. Decker et 211., 2,952,048 issued Sept. 13, 1960 to D. C. Graham and 3,l72, l 69 issued Mar. 9, 1965 to R. N. Anderson.

Summary of the Invention To overcome these deficiencies in the prior art, the present invention as a primary object provides a takeout mechanism at each lower sash corner comprising a balance foot or slide shoe and a balance foot bracket independently pivotally connected to the spiral balance and a readily separable connection between the balance foot bracket and the lower sliding sash corners so constructed that the rotational forces of the spiral balance are transmitted from the balance rod to the sash side rail through the balance foot bracket thereby relieving the balance foot of all stresses imposed by the rotational forces.

A further important object of the present invention resides in providing the balance foot of the preceding object in the form of a plate member having an integral attachment ear projecting from one face and through apertured for pivotal connection to the balance rod and a pair of laterally spaced sled-like runners projecting from the other face for slidingly engaging the web of the opposing jamb channels adjacent the longitudinally extending channel flanges.

A still further object of the present invention resides in providing a novel readily separable connection between the balance foot bracket and the lower sliding sash comers comprising a U-shaped sheet metal balance foot bracket, the upstanding walls of which are through apertured adjacent one end for pivotal connection to the balance rod and formed adjacent their opposite ends with upwardly opening edge notches dimensioned to closely receive in subjacent relation lower notch defining portions of the respective side rails at laterally spaced points to resist pivotal shifting movement of the balance foot bracket relative to the sash side rail, and respective releasable balance foot bracket support members laterally slidingly mounted adjacent the opposite ends of the sash bottom rails provided with projecting end formations or lugs normally subjacently spaced beneath the free ends of the balance foot brackets in position to the sash side rails latchingly engaged in the balance foot bracket receiving notches during normal raising movement of the sliding sash.

A further object of the invention is to provide the releasable balance foot bracket support members with dependent front wall flanges having rearwardly directed latching rib means for normally latchingly engaging an opposed mating rib formation provided on the frame sill member in the closed position of the sash thereby adapting the support members to serve also to latch the sash in its lower closed position.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide the combination releasable balance foot bracket support members and sash latches of the preceding object with open lateral ends in its finger recess to prevent accidental actuation of the takeout mechanism hereinbefore described.

Another object of the invention resides in equipping the combination releasable balance foot bracket support members and sash latches of this invention with stop means preventing actuation of the takeout,

mechanism when the latches are pivoted upwardly, as to open the window.

A further object of the invention resides in threaded lock means located and concealed adjacent the releasable balance foot bracket support member to prevent actuation of the takeout mechanism altogether.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further objects will appear from the following description and appended claims when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmental inside face view of a prefabricated single hung window unit provided with the takeout mechanism of the present invention with portions of the left window jamb, left side sash rail, left frame sill end, and left sash bottom rail end cut away to expose the takeout mechanism and the combined balance foot bracket support member and sash latch mountings;

FIG. 2 is a fragmental sectional view through the frame sill, bottom sash rail, and sash latch structure taken substantially along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a fragmental sectional view through the left frame jamb and the left sash side rail taken substantially along line 33 FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the balance foot, balance foot bracket and the combined balance foot bracket support member and sash latch of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged front elevational view of the combined balance foot bracket support member and sash latch of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the combined balance foot bracket support member and sash latch of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the combined balance foot bracket support member and sash latch taken substantially along line 7-7 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is an end elevational view of the combined balance foot bracket support member and sash latch of FIG. 5 as seen from the left end of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is an end elevational view on an enlarged scale of the balance foot of FIG. 1 as viewed from the right end in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is an end elevational view on an enlarged scale of the balance foot bracket of FIG. 1 as viewed from the right end in FIG. 1',

FIG. 11 is a fragmental inside face view of the invention as shown in FIG. 1, taken from the lower left side thereof, drawn to an enlarged scale, and showing an alternative combined balance foot bracket support member and sash latch;

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view similar to FIG. 4, illustrating the alternative combined balance foot bracket support member and sash latch structure;

FIG. 13 is a fragmental inside face view similar to FIG. 11, showing a further and presently preferred form of balance foot bracket support member provided for use with sliding sashes provided with separate sash latch mechanisms;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the balance foot bracket support member of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a fragmental perspective view illustrating a conventional form of sash latching mechanism that may be employed with the balance foot bracket support member of FIGS. 13 and 14; and

FIG. 16 is an end view of the extrusion from which balance foot bracket support member is formed.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION With continued reference to the drawings wherein the same reference numerals are employed throughout the several views to designate the same parts, numeral 20 generally designates a prefabricated window unit of the single hung window type. Window unit 20 comprises an aluminum frame or buck 21 composed of a sill 22, opposed jambs 23 and header 24 all of which are of substantially conventional channel configuration in cross section. In this connection, jambs 23 as best seen in FIG. 3 are shaped to provide respective side-by-side, opposing, vertically

elongated channel passages

25 and 26. The opposing paired channel passages 25 running the full length of the jambs are fitted with a fixed upper glazed window sash 27 (FIG. 1) covering the upper half of the frame and the opposing paired channel passage 26 running the full length of the jambs are fitted to slidingly mount a lower glazed window sash 28. As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, frame sill 22 includes an inside dependent trim flange 29 delimited along its upper inside face by a continuous forwardly protruding rib or lip 31 the purpose of which will presently be pointed out.

In order to slidingly support sash 28 so that it may be easily raised and lowered to varying positions to control the admission of outside air and to pemiit removal of sash 28 to gain easy access to the outside glass surface of both sashes for cleaning and reglazing, some means, usually in the form of a balance system employing a spring loaded spiral balance 32 in each jamb channel 26, must be provided to control the raising and lowering movement of sash 28 and permit its ready removal when required. Such spiral balances are of more or less conventional construction and include an aluminum steel or vinyl tube 33 fixed in the respective jamb channels 26 adjacent header 24, an elongated torsion spring 34 anchored at its upper end in any suitable manner to the upper end of tube 33 and conventionally drivingly connected at its opposite end to the upper end of a spiral ribbon 35 of tempered steel the lower end 36 of which is adapted to be connected through a so-called takeout mechanism" 37 (FIGS. 1 and 4) to the sliding sash 28. The present invention is directed to an improvement in the takeout mechanism which not only assures a longer breakage-free life and smooth gliding movement of sash 28 in its normal raising and lowering movements but (1) provides automatic operation of the takeout mechanism upon slamming sash 28 to its upper limit obviating breakage from abuse in use and the need for the conventionally provided swing stops heretofore required to prevent such breakage; and (2) a slide guide which will not be interfered with by the mull bolts employed when two windows are mulled together.

Referring for the moment to FIGS. 4 through 10, the takeout mechanism 37 of this invention is composed of three principal parts: a balance foot or slide member 38 and a balance foot bracket 39, both of which are connected to spiral balance ribbon 35 for independent pivotal movement, and a combined sash latch and lift plate 41 (FIGS. 1l2) or 41a (FIGS. 13 and 14) which is slidingly and pivotally mounted (FIGS. l-12) or merely slidingly mounted (FIGS. 13 and 14) at the adjacently related bottom corners of sash 28. To better understand the construction and operation of this three part mechanism, it will be noted from a consideration of FIGS. 1, 4 and 9, that balance foot 38 of this invention comprises a pair of spaced sled-like runners 42 joined by a plate-like cross-piece 43 fixed to the upper edges of the runners at one end and straddling the space between said ends. The upper runner edges at their opposite ends are inclined toward the opposite edges imparting a wedge-like configuration to the free ends for a purpose that will presently appear. As best seen in FIG. 4, this inclined edge intersects cross-piece 43 at the underface of its upper edge which is inclined at a steeper angle over the areas outwardly adjacent ears 44 to provide spaced abutment surfaces 50 (FIGS. 4 and 9) the purpose of which will presently appear.

The opposite or back face of cross-piece 43 (FIG. 9) is provided with a spaced pair of attachment ears or flanges 44 provided with oppositely aligned through passages 45 adapting balance foot 38 for independent pivotal attachment to the lower end 46 of spiral ribbon 35 (FIG. 1). To assure free pivotal movement of balance foot 38 relative to spiral ribbon 35, lower end 46 is straight or untwisted for a substantial length presenting an attachment end 46 which is diametrically related to torsion spring 34, right angularly related to and laterally centered with respect to the opposing web portion 47 of jarnb channel 26, and provided with an axially spaced pair of through passages 48 (FIG. 1) adapted to be selectively aligned between passages 45 of balance foot attachment cars 44 and of lesser diameter than passages 45 for a purpose to be presently pointed out. While balance foot 38 may be formed of any suitable material and could, if desired, take the form of a fabricated part, the present invention contemplates a one-piece molded element made from a self-lubricating rigid plastic material having good stress and impact resistant properties, such as Nylon Such a plastic foot having substantial length runners in edge engaging contact with the aluminum metal channel web 47 of the opposing jambs 23 and attachment cars 44 in face contact with the opposing metal faces of lower end 46 of the steel ribbon 35 will assure maintenance of a free guided sliding movement of balance feet 38 along jambs 23 and free relative pivoting movement of each balance foot 38 relative to its horizontal pivot connection formed by pin means 49 drive fitted in passage 48 of spiral ribbon 35 to accommodate any limited misalignment of sash 28 in its raising and lowering movement.

To effectively minimize such misalignment of sash 28 and to resist the rotational stresses which spiral balances 32 impose on the pivotal connection 49, the takeout mechanism balance foot bracket 39 of the present invention is in the form of an elongated U- shaped member of aluminum, the upstanding legs or walls 51 of which are each provided with axially projecting, full height end extensions 52 through drilled at 53, to provide passages of equal diameter to passages 45 of foot balance ears 44, and respective upwardly opening, laterally aligned, slots 54 (FIGS. 4 and 10), each intersected by pairs of upwardly divergent leading edges 55 defining a wide V mouth, the purpose of which will be presently described. The spacing of legs 51 and their respective end extentions 52 is such that the attachment ears 44 of balance foot 38 will be closely received between extensions 52 when the balance foot 38 and balance foot bracket 39 are assembled for attachment to the lower end 46 of spiral ribbon 35. The upstanding tapered wall segments 56 at the opposite end of foot balance bracket walls 51 are bent inwardly into abutting contact as seen in FIG. 10.

The pivotal connection 49 is effected by fitting lower end of spiral ribbon between cars 44 of balance foot 38, fitting ears 44 between end extensions 52 of balance foot bracket 39, lining up the ear passages 45 with the selected one of spiral ribbon passages 48, lining up extension passages 53 with ear passages 45 and inserting a suitable pin means 49 through the aligned

passages

53, 45 and 48 from one side of the assembled and aligned foot balance bracket, foot balance and spiral ribbon end 46. The pin means 49 has a diameter such that the pin means will have a forced fit with passage 48 of spiral ribbon end 46 and a free pivotal fit with the

passages

53 and 45 of the foot balance bracket 39 and foot balance 38, thereby assuring a free pivotal connection between pin means 49 and foot balance bracket 39 and foot balance 38. Such a connection will assure independent relative free pivotal movement of foot balance 38 and foot balance bracket 39 around pin means 49 due to the self-lubricating characterics of the Nylon" employed in attachment cars 44 of foot balance 38.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that foot balance 38 and foot balance bracket 39 will freely pivotally depend from lower end 46 of spiral ribbon 35 in position to assure a sliding bearing contact of the sled-like runners 42 of foot balance 38 with the web 47 of jambs 23 along lateral spaced lines of contact and a positioning of notches 54 in a generally upwardly facing direction positioned in a notch 60 in the lower end of the sash side rails 61 to receive the inner notch edge when sash 28 is assembled therewith. Since the torsion spring 34 is wound to normally force spiral ribbon 35 upwardly into tube 33, lower end 46 of spiral ribbon 35 and foot balance 38 and foot balance bracket 39 carried thereby will, so long as sash 28 remains unconnected to balance foot bracket 39, be biased to their uppermost home with notches 54 positioned operatively to receive the closed ends of notches 60 of sash side rails 61.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings, sash 28 includes respective channel shaped side rails 61 having oppositely laterally outwardly directed channel defining side walls 62 and a connecting web 63, a channel shaped bottom rail 64 having respective channel defining side walls 65 and 66 (FIG. 2) defining a channel opening along the lower inside face of sash 28, a connecting web 67 and an integral dependent flange 68 disposed near its inner end to extend downwardly behind an upstanding wall 69 of frame sill 22 in the fully closed position of sash 28 as shown in FIG. 2. A flexible elastomeric seal strip fitted in an undercut groove 71 in sill wall 69 and having a seal tab 72 protruding into contact with the opposing face of flange 68 is provided to seal sash 28 against the passage of air between bottom rail 64 and sill 22 (FIG. 2). Similar flexible elastomeric seal strips fitted in undercut grooves 71 in the outwardly facing wall of sash side rails 61 (FIG. 3) are provided for sliding engagement with the opposing face of the channel defining center wall 73 of frame jambs 23 for sealing the side rails of sash 28 against passage of air therebetween.

As best seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, sash bottom rail 64 in the included angle formed by web 67 and side wall is formed with a continuous, generally cylindrical, hollow rib 74 (FIG. 2) forming a continuous, downwardly and inwardly opening axial slot or opening 75 adapted to slidingly and/or pivotally receive a mating solid cylindrical rib or beading 76 having a necked in connecting rib 77 (FIGS. 4, 7 and 8) integrally formed along the upper back corner of sash latch 41 or sash latch 41a. Referring for the moment particularly to FIGS. 7 and 14, it will be seen that rib 77 and beading 76 are formed at the juncture of planar top wall 78 and the arcuate back wall 79 of sash latch 41 which merges downwardly and forwardly into inclined wall 81 or the planar top wall 78a and planar back wall 79a of sash latch 41a.

Referring for the moment to sash latch 41 of FIGS. 1 through 12, wall 81 terminates in vertically spaced relation to the free front edge of top wall 78 in a dependent flange 82 and cooperates therewith to define a finger receiving recess 83. Recess 83 of the FIG. l-l0 embodiment is closed at its opposite ends by planar end walls 84 delimited at the top, back and bottom by the outer surfaces of the top, back and

bottom walls

78, 79 and 81. The lower back edge of dependent flange 82 between the opposite rounded lower comers 85 is formed with a rearwardly protruding lip 86 disposed to underly lip 31 formed along the upper edge of sill flange 29in the normally latched position of sash latch 4 1 as shown in FIG. 2. This normal latching positioning of sash latch 41 is assured by an upwardly bowed latching leaf spring 87, the opposite upwardly bent ends of which lie in notches 88 (FIGS. 4, 6, 7 and 12) formed in the top wall 78 at its opposite ends and seat upon the exposed portions 89 of end walls 84 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4, 6, 7 and 8 and on the inner ends of notches 88 in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 1 and 12. The upwardly bowed portion of leaf spring 87 is received in a downwardly opening slot 91 (FIG. 2) formed in the under face of sash bottom rail top wall 65 with its midportion bearing on the bottom wall of slot 91 to tension leaf spring 87.

The lower back corners of sash latches 41 at the ends facing the webs 63 of sash side rails 61 are provided with rearwardly and downwardly extending thickened structures 92 (FIGS. 4, 6, 8 and 12) carrying laterally outwardly extending support lugs 93, the free end of each being undercut to form an inclined camming surface 94 (FIGS. 4, 6, 8 and 12). Sash latches 41 are intended to serve also as sash lifting handholds and to maintain balance foot brackets 39 in operative assembled association with the sash side rails 61. To this end, sash latches 41 are normally biased laterally of bottom rail 64 to a home position adjacent the opposite ends of rail 64 by respective coil compression springs 95 interposed between the end of beading 76 and inturned abutment stops 96 (FIG. I). Stops 96 are provided by deforming portions of the slot defining walls of hollow rib 74 inwardly by a punch or like tool. Springs 95 yieldingly bias sash latches 41 to a normal home position such that lugs 93 will be disposed in spaced subjacent relation to the notched ends 54 of balance foot brackets 39 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 11. The vertical spacing of lugs 93 below the free ends of balance foot brackets 39 is such that lugs 93 will abuttingly engage the underface of balance foot wall 97 (FIG. and maintain notches 54 engaged with the respective sash side rails 61 should sash 28 be raised so rapidly as to overrun the normal upward movement of spiral ribbon under influence of balance spring 34.

Removal of sash 28 is effected in normal manner after sash 28 is raised beyond its normal uppermost open position. While this position is determined conventionally by swing stops positively arresting movement of the sash beyond its predetermined uppermost open position, the present invention provides combined foot balance retainers and stops 98 comprising downwardly and inwardly inclined tabs lanced out of the web 47 of jambs 23 along the path of movement of foot balance runners 42. In normal raising movement of sash 28, the tapered upper ends of runners 42 will enter behind tab stops 98 and arrest further upward movement of foot balance 38, bracket 39 and spiral ribbon 35, allowing sash 28 to overrun beyond this predetermined fully open position if firmly pushed or slammed beyond fully open position. However, if this happens, runners 42 will engage and wedge behind retainer and stop tabs 98 and the further upward momentum of sash 28 will result in sash 28 overrunning spiral ribbon 35 and forcefully engaging lugs 93 with wall 97 of foot balance brackets 39. However, since foot balance brackets 39 are independently pivotally connected to pin means 49, this overrunning movement of sash 28 results first in lugs 93 engaging walls 97 and swinging foot balance brackets 39 around their respective pin means 49 to position walls 97 in opposing upward and inward inclined relation, contacting the upper corners of the respective ends of lugs 93. The free pivotal movement of foot balances 39 is arrested by engagement of the back edges of their end extensions 52 with the abutment surfaces 50 of foot balances 38 which, it will be appreciated from an inspection of FIG. 1, are disposed in angularly spaced opposing relation to end extensions 52 under such pivotal movement conditions. As soon as the pivotal movement of foot balance brackets 39 is arrested, walls 97 become fixed camming surfaces over which the respective sash latch lugs 93 travel during further upward movement of sash 28. Such further upward movement results in lateral shifting of sash latches 41 bodily inwardly toward each other along sash bottom rail 64 against the opposing spring biasing force exerted by springs 95. It follows, therefore, that the maximum stress which can can be applied to either foot balance 38 or foot balance bracket 39 is the spring force designed into biasing springs 95. This maximum stress is reached in either normal raising movement of sash 28 to effect its removal or in abusive slamming movement of sash 28 in opening direction at the point that lugs 93 slide past the upper most edge of wall 97 of balance foot bracket 39. It is clear, therefore, that the takeout mechanism of this invention may be predesigned through proper selection of the biasing force of springs to eliminate the high operational stresses which have in the prior art resulted in frequent failure of the prior art takeout mechanisms. Furthermore, the selection of springs 95 of predetermined desired force within the predetermined breaking point force can be made to establish a definite resistance to overrunning movement of sash 28 once pivotal movement of foot balance brackets 39 is arrested to establish a recognizable limit of opening movement of sash 28. Recoupling of foot balance brackets 39 with sash side rail 61 is equally automatic upon lowering movement of sash 28 since foot balance runners 42 engaged behind retainer stops 98 position foot balance brackets 39 with their notched ends 54 in position to enter notches 60 in webs 63 of sash side rails 61 upon lowering sash 28 past the foot balance and foot balance bracket retained by retainer stops 98. During such lowering movement, the undercut camming surfaces 94 of the respective lugs 93 will first engage the upstanding tapered wall segments 56 of foot balance brackets 39 and act to shift sash latches 41 bodily inwardly toward each other until the free ends of lugs 93 slip past and engage the vertical ends of wall segments 56 forming extensions of the ends of walls 51, again imposing the maximum designed stress to the ends of foot balance brackets 39' This stress force, as will be clear from an inspection of FIG. 1, will be applied in close radial alignment to the pivot axis of pin means 49. As a' consequence, little or no tilting of foot balance brackets 39 will occur and the stress force will be exerted in a substantially straight line through the pivot axis in a direction to press runners 42 into full area contact with webs 47 of jambs 23 and avoid any breaking stress forces on the takeout mechanism. Once clear of the bottom walls 97 of foot balance brackets 39, lugs 93 will be projected outwardly beneath walls 97 and sash latches 41 will be biased to their home positions assuring proper recoupling of the respective takeout mechanisms with their respective side rails 61.

While the present invention assures automatic coupling and uncoupling of the takeout mechanisms with the respective sash side rails 61 as just described, a normal operation to remove sash 28 is as follows: The fingers of the operator are entered in the finger recesses 83 of the sash latches 41 and engaged with the underface of top wall 78. An upward pressure is exerted on wall 78 causing the respective sash latches 41 to pivot around the axes of the respective beading 76, swinging latching lip 86 outwardly from beneath lip 31 of sill 22 and imparting raising movement to sash 28 (FIG. 2). As sash 28 reaches its normal fully open position determined by engagement of runners 42 with retainer stops 98, a sidewise inward shifting force is ap plied to the respective sash latches 41. This slidingly shifts the respective sash latches 41 bodily along hollow rib 74 toward the center of bottom rail 64, withdrawing lugs 93 from their normal subjacent relation to their respective foot balance brackets 39 against the biasing force of springs 95. Further raising movement of sash 28 will carry the bottom rail 64 and sash latches 41 freely past the takeout mechanisms into the upper region of frame 21. In this position, sash 28 is bodily shifted to one side, farther into the jamb channel at that side so the opposite sash side rail may be withdrawn from behind front wall 43 of the opposite frame jarnb 23. The freed sash rail is then pivoted forwardly toward the operator until it fully clears the front wall 43 and the sash is bodily shifted in the opposite lateral direction at the established forward angle to completely remove sash 28 from frame 21. After cleaning or reglazing has been completed, reassembly is accomplished by reversal of the removal steps.

While the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-10 is perfectly satisfactory for many commercial usages, particularly where windows are installed in rental properties such as housing developments and apartment houses, the ready sash removal structure has resulted in unintended removal by causal renters, either through carelessness in manipulation or an intent to steal. To minimize such unintended removal, the alternate embodiment of FIGS. 11 and 12 is provided to (I) prevent accidental removal and (2) to prevent stealing.

Referring first to accidental removal, it has been found that some users intending to unlatch the sash to raise it from a closed position not only pivot the latches 41 but additionally slide the sash latches inwardly,

thereby disengaging lugs 93 from beneath walls 97 of balance foot bracket 93. Upon raising the sash, its removal results even though not intended. Such inadvertent removal is conveniently prevented by providing tab 99 (FIG. 1 l) lanced out of wall 65 of rail 64 of sash 28 preventing pivoting of sash latch 41 to unlock and open the window should latch 41 be slid inwardly when this operation is attempted. Thus, pivoting of sash latches 41 to disengage lips 86 and 31 (FIG. 2) and open the window is possible only when latches 41 are in their home" positions, depicted in FIGS. 1 and 11, and accidental actuation of the takeout mechanism is effectively prevented.

In cases where it has been found desirable to semipermanently prevent actuation of the takeout mechanism, a screw is threaded through wall 66 and/ or into wall 65 of rail 64 of sash 28 immediately inside and adjacent sash latch 41. This screw concealed normally behind sash trim flange 29 will engage the inner edge of the wall 81 of recess 83 and effectively prevent sliding action thereof. Of course, this limiting screw 100 may be removed to operate the takeout mechanism by authorized personnel provided with a proper tool to effect its removal.

In FIG. 12, planar end walls 84 have been removed from sash latch finger recess 83. This makes lateral movement of latches 41 to effect takeout of the window quite difficult without a purposeful intent to do so, since an easily engaged finger abutment wall 84 is not provided. In the event that removal of walls 84 makes the takeout operation too difficult, an inside tab 101 may be provided to serve as a finger abutment.

Referring to FIGS. 13 through 15 of the drawings, a further embodiment of the takeout mechanism of this invention is shown utilizing a sash latch 41a designed to function only to latch the sliding sash 28 to the takeout mechanism balance foot bracket 39. The general window and sash structure is identical to that of the previous embodiments and the same parts are indicated by the same reference numerals heretofore used to avoid the necessity of repeating the description at this point. In this construction, the mating solid cylindrical rib or beading 76 having a necked in connecting rib 77 (FIG. 14) is integrally formed along the upper back comer of top wall 78a provided by a thin upstanding wall 103 of an inverted generally T-shaped continuous aluminum extrusion the crosspiece 104 of which is spaced below rib 76 a distance to provide free sliding clearance between it and side wall flange 66 of bottom rail 64 when beading 76 is inserted endwise into hollow rib 74 of bottom rail side wall 65 to stabilize latches 41a against pivotal movement relative to sash bottom rail 64. The actual cross sectional configuration of this extrusion is shown in FIG. 16.

Referring for the moment to FIG. 16, it will be noted that beading 76 is inclined slightly to the longitudinal median plane of wall 103 and that wall 103 is offset toward one edge of cross-piece 104. This particular configuration is employed to assure that the rear face of wall 104 will clear the dependent lip of hollow rib 74 to which the lead line of reference numeral 74 extends in FIG. 2. Sash latch 41a is formed from a continuous extrusion of this cross sectional configuration fed endwise to a punch press designed to receive a length of the extrusion required to simultaneously cut and form paired right hand and left hand sash latches 41a. The punch press is designed to first through cut the extrusion length midway of its length and at its opposite ends at right angles and simultaneously cut ofi the distal ends along the line of cut indicated by numeral 105 (FIG. 14) to notch wall 103 and remove the adjacent terminal end of beading 76 and slit the adjacent ends of the extrusion length inwardly in opposite directions from the abutting ends to sever the portion 1010 of wall 103 from the necked in connecting rib 77 and crosspiece 104. The punch die portions abutting the back face of wall portion 1010 then move crosswise of crosspieoe 104 to bend wall portion 101a forwardly to the right angular position shown in FIG. 14 to form a finger abutment tab completing the pair of sash latches 41a. This cutting and forming operation provides the respective sash latch plates at one end with a laterally outwardly extending support projection or lug 93a and a mounting beading 76 corresponding structurally and functionally to the lug 93 and heading 76 of the previously described embodiments of the invention and at the opposite end with a right angularly disposed, walllike tab 101a corresponding structurally and functionally to the end wall 84 and tab 101 of the previously described embodiments of the invention.

The respective sash latches 41a are slidingly mounted in the continuous, downwardly and inwardly opening axial slot or opening 75 of sash bottom rail 64 by means of beading 76 in exactly the same manner that sash or 41 of the previous embodiments are mounted. Respective coil compression springs 95 (FIG. 13) interposed between the headings 76 and abutment stops 96 as shown in FIG. 1 bias sash latches 41a to their home positions adjacent the opposite ends of sash bottom rail 64 as heretofore described in connection with sash latches 41 to normally position lugs 93a in spaced subjacent relation to notched ends 54 of balance foot brackets 39. In this connection, it will be apparent from an inspection of FIG. 13 that the sash 28 is there shown in its normal uppermost raised position with balance foot runners 42 abuttingly engaged behind tab stops 98 and sash latch 41a moved from its normal home position to its extreme opposite position permitted by compression of spring 95. This is the position into which either sash latches 41 of 41a are manually moved to permit sash 28 to be further raised to disengage the sash side rails 61 from foot balance brackets 39 when it is desired to remove sash 28 as previously described. This position is also momentarily reached when sash 28 is forcefully raised without manual retraction of sash latches 41a by the camming action of lugs 93a engaging wall 97 as heretofore described in the operation of the embodiment of FIGS. l-l0.

In this form of the invention, any conventional latch structure may be employed to latch sash 28 against raising movement. For example, the conventional hook and lever type latch l 1 1 of FIG. 15 may be employed.

It will be clear from the preceding description that the present invention provides a takeout mechanism l assuring a smooth sliding movement of the movable sash in its normal raising and lowering movement; (2) that prevents accidental uncoupling of the sash and takeout mechanism in normal raising movement of the sash at a rate exceeding the rising movement of the balance spiral ribbon under influence of the balance spring; (3) that prevents breakage of the takeout mechanism upon abusive slamming raising or lowering movement of the sash; (4) that permits elimination of the conventional swing stops for establishing normal full open position of the sash and reliance upon the takeout mechanism itself for establishing the normal full open position; and (5) which is of simple construction providing a long useful life and ease of operation in removing and replacing the sliding sash for servicing.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A takeout mechanism for sash type single hung windows including a frame having a sill, jambs defining vertically extending opposing sash guide channels, respective spiral balances housed in the sash guide channels and having depending spiral ribbons and a sliding window sash having a bottom rail in the form of an open ended channel the open face of which delimits the inside lowermost marginal face of the sash and respective channel shaped side rails, the channels of which are disposed in opposing relation to the spiral balances, overlapping the opposite ends of the bottom rail and provided with an end opening notch in the lower end of the channel web, said takeout mechanism comprising respective balance foot brackets adapted for pivotal association with the lower end of the spiral ribbons and provided adjacent one of their ends extending through the side rail notch with laterally aligned, upwardly opening slots dimensioned to closely receive the inner end of the respective sash side rail notches; a respective balance foot adapted for pivotal association with the lower end of the spiral ribbons, each balance foot having sliding runners disposed to slidingly engage in said sash guide channels; respective pin means independently pivotally connecting said respective balance foot brackets and the associated balance feet to the lower ends of the balance ribbons of the respective spiral balances; respective sash latches laterally slidably mounted in the opposite ends of the sash bottom rails, each sash latch including a retainer lug projecting therefrom into spaced subjacent relation to a respective foot bracket to retain said slots engaged with said inner sash rail notch ends; biasing means operatively engaging said sash latches to normally yieldingly urge said sash latches into subjacent relation to its related balance foot bracket when said sash is operably associated with said frame; and respective downwardly and inwardly inclined balance foot retainer stop members carried by the web portions of the respective frame jambs in the path of upward movement of the runners of said balance feet as the sash is raised toward its uppermost limit to arrest upward movement of said takeout mechanism at said uppermost limit whereby further raising movement of the sash tilts each said balance foot bracket around its said pin means to position the respective balance foot brackets at an upward and inward inclination effective to cammingly engage said respective retainer lugs and shift said sash latches laterally inwardly of said bottom rail thereby effecting an uncoupling of said sash and said balance foot brackets freeing said sash for removal from said frame.

2. The takeout mechanism of claim 1 wherein said laterally slidably mounted sash latch mountings comprise a hollow, laterally directed, open ended, cylindrical rib integrally formed along the juncture of the web and the upper flange of said sash bottom rail and provided with a continuous forwardly opening slot and a mating cylindrical rib formed along the upper back edge of the respective sash latches dimensioned to freely slide along said hollow rib, and said biasing means comprise respective coil springs disposed within said hollow rib between the respective inner ends of said mating cylindrical rib of said latches and respective indentations formed by indentation of the slot defining edges of said hollow rib.

3. The takeout mechanism of claim 1 wherein said sash bottom rails further comprise removable lock means located adjacent said sash latches preventing lateral sliding motion thereof.

4. The takeout mechanism of claim 3 wherein each of said removable lock means comprises a screw, threaded through said sash bottom rail, adjacent an end of a sash latch opposite said projecting retainer lug.

5. The takeout mechanism of claim 2 wherein said cylindrical mating ribs also pivotally connect said sash latches to said sash bottom rail, said sash latches are provided with rearwardly protruding lips disposed to normally underly a portion of said frame sill adapting said sash latches to normally secure said sliding window sash against raising movement, and said sash bottom rail is provided with stop means for preventing pivoting of said sash latches when said sash latches are disposed laterally inw ardly of said sash bottom rail.

6. The takeout mechanism of claim 1 wherein each said balance foot is formed of a suitable self-lubricating rigid plastic and comprises a plate-like main body por tion having integral, spaced attachment ears projecting from one face and formed at its opposite ends along the opposite face with right an gularly related, vertically extending runner formations the upper ends of which are in the form of upwardly directed, elongated wedges adapted to enter and wedge behind said balance foot stop and retainer members as the sash bottom rails reaches a point between said stop and retainer members in the upward movement of said sash.

7. The takeout mechanism of claim 1 wherein said respective balance foot stop and retainer members comprise respective struck-out segments of the web portions of the opposing frame jambs.

8. The takeoutmechanism of claim 2 wherein each of said sash latches comprises a one piece, plastic molding comprising an elongated main body of generally U- shaped configuration in cross section, formed along the free end of one leg defining the bottom wall of the latch with a right angular, dependent flange provided along its free rear face edge with a continuous rib-like latching projection adapted to latchingly cooperate with a mating lip delimiting the upper front edge of the frame sill, formed at a preselected rear corner to provide said projecting supporting lug, and formed along the merging wall segment carrying the other leg with a generally cylindrical, elongated formation forming said mating cylindrical rib, said main body at the opposite ends of the other leg forwardly of said mating cylindrical web being provided with respective end opening, narrow through slots adapted to receive the opposite ends of a leaf spring, and an arched leaf spring disposed with its opposite ends in bearing engagement with the slot bottom walls formed by said end walls and its arched main body bridging the upper face of said main bodyand received in opposing elongated slots formed in said sash bottom rail, said arched main body being irgl n grli fififi rlfi if rl \l aiPi fi i filli slots thereby tensioning said leaf spring to normally pivotally bias said sash latches into latching engagement with said latching lip.

9. The takeout of claim 8 wherein said elongated main body of generally U-shaped configuration further comprises planar end walls, closing its opposite ends.

10. The takeout mechanism of claim 8 wherein said elongated main body of generally U-shaped configuration further comprises tab means at an end thereof opposite said projecting supporting lug.

11. The takeout mechanism of claim 2 wherein each said balance foot bracket is formed of suitable sheet metal and comprises an elongated U-shaped body the upstanding walls of which are notched inwardly adjacent one end in opposing lateral alignment to provide upwardly opening V-mouthed slots the apices of which are intersected by said upwardly opening sash side rail receiving slots, said V-mouthed slots being adapted to guide said sash side rails into upwardly opening sash side rail receiving slots upon lowering movement of said sash during reinsertion of the sash thus automatically determining the final assembled lateral positioning of said sash within the frame and the lateral positioning of the balance foot, balance foot bracket, and balance rod within the channels of the frame jambs.

12. The takeout mechanism of claim 11 wherein the mouth defining portions of said balance foot bracket upstanding walls at said one end are inclined toward each other to dispose their upper ends in abutting engagement to thereby increase the resistance of the free ends of said walls to lateral deforming forces encountered in raising and lowering movement of said sash.

13. The takeout mechanism of claim 2 wherein each of said sash latches comprises an elongated one piece aluminum extrusion of generally T-shaped configuration in cross section having a stem portion offset from the longitudinal centerline of the cross-piece toward one side edge and formed at one end with a right angularly directed finger abutment tab, said stem being of lesser length than said cross-piece to provide a longitudinally projecting tab at the opposite end forming said retainer lug and provided along its free edge with a cylindrical mounting beading extending longitudinally of said stem portion and offset toward the opposite side edge of said cross-piece to provide said mating cylindrical web.

14. The takeout mechanism of claim 13 wherein said stem portion extends between said cross-piece and said cylindrical mounting beading a distance sufficient to assure that the cross-piece, upon assembly of said sash latches with said sash bottom rail, will be disposed in superjacent sliding relation to the lower flange of the sash bottom rail thereby stabilizing said sash latches against pivotal movement relative to said sash bottom rail.

Patent No. 3, 688, 441 Dated September 5 1972 Iriventor(s) Troy D. Rackard It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column '1, line 13, change "construction" to constructions Column 5, line 65 I (numbered 67) after "Nylon" insert material 7 Column 6, line 16, after "home" insert position Column ll line 31, I (numbered 32) after "-41" change "of" to or I I i I Column 12, claim 1, line 55 (numbered 57) after said" insert sash Q I r I Column 14, claim' 9,, line 9, after "takeout" insert mechanism Signed and sealed this 1st day of May 1973 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M. FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK I Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM uscoMM-oc 60376-P69 n US. GOVERNMENT PFHNYINCI OFFICE I959 0-366-334

Claims

5. The takeout mechanism of claim 2 wherein said cylindrical mating ribs also pivotally connect said sash latches to said sash bottom rail, said sash latches are provided with rearwardly protruding lips disposed to normally underly a portion of said frame sill adapting said sash latches to normally secure said sliding window sash against raising movement, and said sash bottom rail is provided with stop means for preventing pivoting of said sash latches when said sash latches are disposed laterally inwardly of said sash bottom rail.

6. The takeout mechanism of claim 1 wherein each said balance foot is formed of a suitable self-lubricating rigid plastic and comprises a plate-like main body portion having integral, spaced attachment ears projecting from one face and formed at its opposite ends along the opposite face with right angularly related, vertically extending runner formations the upper enDs of which are in the form of upwardly directed, elongated wedges adapted to enter and wedge behind said balance foot stop and retainer members as the sash bottom rails reaches a point between said stop and retainer members in the upward movement of said sash.

8. The takeout mechanism of claim 2 wherein each of said sash latches comprises a one piece, plastic molding comprising an elongated main body of generally U-shaped configuration in cross section, formed along the free end of one leg defining the bottom wall of the latch with a right angular, dependent flange provided along its free rear face edge with a continuous rib-like latching projection adapted to latchingly cooperate with a mating lip delimiting the upper front edge of the frame sill, formed at a preselected rear corner to provide said projecting supporting lug, and formed along the merging wall segment carrying the other leg with a generally cylindrical, elongated formation forming said mating cylindrical rib, said main body at the opposite ends of the other leg forwardly of said mating cylindrical web being provided with respective end opening, narrow through slots adapted to receive the opposite ends of a leaf spring, and an arched leaf spring disposed with its opposite ends in bearing engagement with the slot bottom walls formed by said end walls and its arched main body bridging the upper face of said main body and received in opposing elongated slots formed in said sash bottom rail, said arched main body being arched so its center portion is in compressed bearing engagement with the bottom wall of said elongated slots thereby tensioning said leaf spring to normally pivotally bias said sash latches into latching engagement with said latching lip.