Claims
- 1-22. (canceled)
- 23. A balance shoe for a window balance system, the balance shoe comprising:
a frame comprising an enlarged first end and a second end, wherein the second end is adapted to be received by a U-shaped channel of a window balance; a locking member proximal to the enlarged first end; a cam in communication with the locking member; and a connecting device for attaching the balance shoe within the U-shaped channel of the window balance.
- 24. The balance shoe of claim 23 wherein the connecting device comprises one or more resilient tabs.
- 25. The balance shoe of claim 23 wherein the connecting device comprises a screw.
- 26. The balance shoe of claim 23 wherein the connecting device comprises a fastener that mates with a pocket formed within the second end of the frame.
- 27. The balance shoe of claim 23 wherein the cam is at least partially housed within the enlarged first end of the frame; wherein rotating the cam forces the locking member to engage a jamb track when the balance shoe is installed in a window jamb.
- 28. The balance shoe of claim 23 wherein the locking member comprises two opposing ends integrally connected by a spring member.
- 29. The balance shoe of claim 28 wherein the cam is at least partially housed within the enlarged first end of the frame, wherein rotating the cam forces the opposing ends of the locking member to engage a jamb track when the balance shoe is installed in a window jamb.
- 30. The balance shoe of claim 23 wherein the locking member comprises a plate, wherein the plate is parallel to a back surface of the enlarged first end of the frame.
- 31. The balance shoe of claim 30 wherein the cam is at least partially housed within the enlarged first end of the frame wherein rotating the cam forces the plate of the locking member to engage a jamb track when the balance shoe is installed in a window jamb.
- 32. The balance shoe of claim 23 wherein the cam comprises at least one camming surface and a keyhole opening sized to receive a pivot bar.
- 33. A method for installing a window balance system within a window jamb in a window frame comprising the steps of:
providing a window balance system comprising:
a U-shaped channel; a spring connected to a system of pulleys located within the U-shaped channel; a cord with a first cord end and a second cord end, the first cord end connected and threaded through the system of pulleys, the second cord end connected to a jamb mounting attachment; and a balance shoe comprising:
a frame comprising:
an enlarged first end comprising a frame bottom surface; and a second end comprising a frame front surface and two frame edge surfaces; a locking member proximal to the enlarged first end of the frame; a cam in communication with the locking member; and a connecting device for attaching the balance shoe to the U-shaped channel; inserting the enlarged first end of the frame of the window balance system within a jamb track of the window jamb such that an axis extending along a longitudinal direction of the U-shaped channel is perpendicular to a back wall of the jamb track and an axis that is perpendicular to the two frame edge surfaces is parallel to the back wall while the frame front surface faces a side wall of the jamb track; rotating the window balance system within the jamb track 90 degrees about the axis extending along the longitudinal direction of the U-shaped channel such that the frame front surface faces down; and rotating the window balance system 90 degrees about the axis that is perpendicular to the two frame edge surfaces such that the frame bottom surface faces in a downward direction.
- 34. The method of claim 33 wherein the connecting device comprises one or more resilient tabs and the U-shaped channel comprises a plurality of openings.
- 35. The method of claim 33 wherein the connecting device comprises a screw.
- 36. The method of claim 33 wherein the connecting device comprises a fastener that mates with a pocket formed within the second end of the frame.
- 37. The method of claim 33 wherein the cam is at least partially housed within the enlarged first end of the frame; wherein rotating the cam forces the locking member to engage a jamb track when the balance shoe is installed in a window jamb.
- 38. The method of claim 33 wherein the locking member comprises two opposing ends integrally connected by a spring member.
- 39. The method of claim 38 wherein the cam is at least partially housed within the enlarged first end of the frame, wherein rotating the cam forces the opposing ends of the locking member to engage a jamb track when the balance shoe is installed in a window jamb.
- 40. The method of claim 33 wherein the locking member comprises a plate, wherein the plate is parallel to a back surface of the enlarged first end of the frame.
- 41. The method of claim 40 wherein the cam is at least partially housed within the enlarged first end of the frame wherein rotating the cam forces the plate of the locking member to engage a jamb track when the balance shoe is installed in a window jamb.
- 42. The method of claim 33 wherein the cam comprises at least one camming surface and a keyhole opening sized to receive a pivot bar.
- 43. A window balance system comprising:
a U-shaped channel comprising a plurality of openings; a spring connected to a system of pulleys located within the U-shaped channel; a cord with a first cord end and a second cord end, the first cord end connected and threaded through the system of pulleys, the second cord end connected to a jamb mounting attachment; and a balance shoe, wherein the balance shoe comprises:
a frame comprising an enlarged first end and a second end, wherein the second end is adapted to be received by a U-shaped channel of an inverted window balance; a locking member proximal to the enlarged first end; a cam in communication with the locking member; and a connecting device for attaching the balance shoe within the U-shaped channel of the window balance.
- 44. The window balance system of claim 43 wherein at least a portion of the second end of the frame is disposed within the U-shaped channel.
- 45. The window balance system of claim 43 wherein the connecting device comprises one or more resilient tabs.
- 46. The window balance system of claim 45 wherein the one or more resilient tabs extend at least partially through a corresponding number of the plurality of openings in the U-shaped channel.
- 47. The window balance system of claim 43 wherein the second end of the frame of the balance shoe further forms a pocket positioned in the second end of the frame adapted to mate with a fastener.
- 48. The window balance system of claim 47 wherein the fastener is a rivet.
- 49. The window balance system of claim 43 wherein the cam is at least partially housed within the enlarged first end of the frame; wherein rotating the cam forces the locking member to engage a jamb track when the window balance system is installed in a window jamb.
- 50. The window balance system of claim 43 wherein the locking member of the balance shoe comprises two opposing ends integrally connected by a spring member.
- 51. The window balance system of claim 50 wherein the cam is at least partially housed within the enlarged first end of the frame, wherein rotating the cam forces the opposing ends of the locking member to engage a jamb pocket when the window balance system is installed in a window jamb.
- 52. The window balance system of claim 43 wherein the locking member comprises a plate, wherein the plate is parallel to a back surface of the frame.
- 53. The window balance system of claim 52 wherein the cam is at least partially housed within the enlarged first end of the frame, wherein rotating the cam forces the plate of the locking member to engage a jamb track when the window balance system is installed in a window jamb.
- 54. The window balance system of claim 43. wherein the cam comprises at least one camming surface and a keyhole opening sized to receive a pivot bar.
- 55. A method for installing a window balance system within a window jamb in a window frame comprising the steps of:
providing a window balance system comprising:
a U-shaped channel; and a balance shoe comprising a frame including a frame bottom surface, a frame front surface and two frame edge surfaces; inserting the window balance system within a jamb track of the window jamb such that an axis extending along a longitudinal direction of the U-shaped channel is perpendicular to a back wall of the jamb track and an axis that is perpendicular to the two frame edge surfaces is parallel to the back wall while the frame front surface faces a side wall of the jamb track; rotating the window balance system within the jamb track 90 degrees about the axis extending along the longitudinal direction of the U-shaped channel such that the frame front surface faces down; and rotating the window balance system 90 degrees about the axis that is perpendicular to the two frame edge surfaces such that the frame bottom surface faces in a downward direction.
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application incorporates by reference in its entirety and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/261,501 entitled Snap Lock Balance Shoe and System for a Pivotable Window filed on Jan. 12, 2001.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60261501 |
Jan 2001 |
US |
Continuations (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
10446279 |
May 2003 |
US |
Child |
10862950 |
Jun 2004 |
US |
Parent |
10044005 |
Jan 2002 |
US |
Child |
10446279 |
May 2003 |
US |