An inverted constant force window balance system includes a carrier assembly and a mounting bracket. The carrier assembly includes a housing, a coil spring disposed within the housing, and a shoe assembly coupled to the housing. The shoe assembly is configured to receive a pivot bar from a window sash and extend at least one brake upon rotation of the pivot bar. The mounting bracket is releasably coupled to the housing opposite the shoe assembly and is coupled to the free end of the coil spring. At least a portion of the mounting bracket is configured to slideably move in relation to the free end of the coil spring between at least two positions. When at least a portion of the mounting bracket moves between the at least two positions, the mounting bracket disengages from the housing and releases the mounting bracket from the carrier assembly.

An anchoring system used to anchor a ribbon spring to a guide track. A mounting slot is formed in the guide track that provides access to the internal gap space. A counterbalance spring is provided having an offset tab section proximate a free end. A barb flap is formed by bending a segment of the counterbalance spring from the offset tab section. The offset tab section with barb flap are extended into the gap space through the mounting slot. As the counterbalance spring is unwound, a bias is created that engages both the offset tab section and the barb flap within the gap space. This locks the free end of the counterbalance spring in place without the need of any mechanical fastener.

A window balance assembly may include a carrier, a spring element, and a mounting bracket. The spring element may include first and second portions. The first portion may be coupled to the carrier. The mounting bracket may engage the second portion of the spring element and may selectively engage the carrier.

A window balance system includes a mounting bracket configured to be secured to a window jamb, a shoe body and a coil spring movably coupling the mounting bracket to the shoe body. The window balance system also includes an engagement member extending from at least one of the mounting bracket and the shoe body, wherein the engagement member includes at least one resilient arm having a pawl extending therefrom. The window balance system further includes a receiving member defined in at least the other one of the mounting bracket and the shoe body, wherein the receiving member includes at least one rack having at least one tooth extending therefrom such that the pawl is engageable with the rack.

An inverted constant force window balance system includes a carrier assembly and a mounting bracket. The carrier assembly includes a housing, a coil spring disposed within the housing, and a shoe assembly coupled to the housing. The shoe assembly is configured to receive a pivot bar from a window sash and extend at least one brake upon rotation of the pivot bar. The mounting bracket is releasably coupled to the housing opposite the shoe assembly and is coupled to the free end of the coil spring. At least a portion of the mounting bracket is configured to slideably move in relation to the free end of the coil spring between at least two positions. When at least a portion of the mounting bracket moves between the at least two positions, the mounting bracket disengages from the housing and releases the mounting bracket from the carrier assembly.

A constant force window balance system includes a mounting bracket defining a longitudinal axis, a coil spring, and a shoe. The shoe includes a first arm having a first inner surface and a second arm having a second inner surface. The shoe also includes a member extending between the first arm and the second arm. An opening is defined between the first inner surface, the second inner surface, and the member. The opening is configured to removably receive a portion of a pivot bar. The shoe is moveable between a locked position that prevents movement of the shoe along the longitudinal axis, when the pivot bar is not received within the opening, and an unlocked position that allows movement of the shoe along the longitudinal axis, when the pivot bar is received within the opening.

A window system includes a window frame; a transparent window pane; an energy harvesting device coupled to the window frame or the transparent window frame; an output device that uses or transmits electricity; and a battery housed in the window frame, the battery being in electrical communication with the energy harvesting device and the output device.

This application provides a vertical sliding window, including horizontal frame side edges, vertical frame side edges, and an opening sash, wherein the opening sash slides up and down along a guide rail on the vertical frame side edge. In addition, the vertical sliding window further includes a balance weight device and a balance weight traction cable. The balance weight device includes an enclosure, a rotating shaft partially disposed within the enclosure, a spiral spring whose two ends are respectively fixedly connected to an inner wall of the enclosure and the rotating shaft, and a cone pulley fixedly connected to the rotating shaft, wherein a tapered surface of the cone pulley is provided with a spiral groove. A lower end of the balance weight traction cable is fixedly connected to the opening sash, and an upper end thereof is fixedly connected to the cone pulley. When the opening sash moves from bottom to top, an elastic deformational force generated by the spiral spring enables the balance weight traction cable to be gradually wound into the spiral groove, and the elastic deformational force of the spiral spring is gradually reduced. Due to a mutual conversion between elastic potential energy of the spiral spring and gravitational potential energy of the opening sash, in the vertical sliding window provided in this application, an external acting force for dragging the opening sash to move up and down as well as energy consumption may be reduced.

A counterbalance system for a window sash that engages a guide track in a vinyl tilt-in window. At least one ribbon spring coil is used to create the counterbalance force. The ribbon spring coils are held in a brake shoe chassis that travels within the guide track of the window. A first protective barrier is attached to the brake shoe chassis. The first protective barrier travels externally of the guide track and shields the slot opening adjacent the spring placement area. A second protective barrier is attached to the brake shoe chassis inside the guide track. The second protective barrier shields the spring placements areas from contamination within the guide track. A brake mechanism is also attached to the brake shoe chassis. The brake mechanism uses a cam to spread arms against the side walls of the guide track when the window sash is tilted. This provides contact against three inside walls of the guide track, therein creating a lock.

A window includes a sash which is pivotally connected at a top end by a top pivot to a perimeter frame so that a bottom end of the sash is pivotal upwardly through an arc of approximately 90 degrees from a closed position to an open position of the window. A linkage arm is pivotally coupled at a first end of the arm by a first pivot at an intermediate location along a side member of the sash and at a second end of the arm by a second pivot at an intermediate location along a side member of the perimeter frame. One of the top pivot of the sash or the second pivot of the linkage arm is a sliding pivot that is longitudinally slidable along the side member of the frame. A biasing member exert a biasing force on the sliding pivot which retains the sash open.