A sash window fastener includes: a latch assembly; a sash lock assembly mounted upon the meeting rail; and a stop member mounted to the master window frame. The lock assembly includes a pivotable cam to engage a keeper on the master frame to lock the window, and a pivotable follower arm. The arm interconnects with the latch assembly within the meeting rail, so cam rotation that drives arm rotation also causes translation of the latch. The cam may occupy: an extended position to secure the cam to the keeper, with the latch engaging the master frame to prevent tilting, and being positioned below a protrusion on the stop member to redundantly lock the window; a first retracted cam position permitting sliding of the window; and a second retracted position permitting tilting of the sash window. Additional protrusions may be used on the stop member to serve as vent stop positions.

A sash (62) of a window opening up to 180 and capable of tilting is mounted onto a fixedly installed frame profile (63) and houses a pair of superimposing sashes that fit tightly therein when in closure position, i.e. an upper stationary sash (65) and a lower movable-divertible sash (64), each of the sashes (64,65) provided with laterally extending shafts (49) for connection with sash (62), roller wheels (50) provided onto the shafts (49) of sash (64) that roll within a predefined path created by insert guide profile members (19) and diverter guide members (66,68) to alternately bring sash (64) in a position of superimposing sash (65) and a position of alignment with the same. Lifting mechanisms (46) provided with a regulatory screw (84) for adjusting the pretension of a spring component thereof and thereby the force required by the user for moving the sash (64) are installed within the vertically extending sides of the sash (62).

A sash window fastener includes a lock assembly, latch assembly, and stop member. The lock assembly mounts upon the meeting rail, and includes a pivotable cam to engage a keeper on the master frame, and a pivotable arm that acts as a follower. The arm interconnects with the latch within the meeting rail, so cam rotation controls arm positioningcausing translational movement of the latch. The cam can occupy four positions causing four corresponding latch positions: an extended position securing the cam to the keeper, with the latch engaging the master frame to prevent tilting, and contacts a first stop to redundantly lock the window; a first retracted position permitting sliding of the window, but limited by the slightly retracted latch clearing the first stop but contacting a second stop; a second retracted position permitting sliding beyond the second stop, but preventing tilting; and a third retracted position permitting tilting.

Disclosed are apparatus for a snap lock balance shoe and system to be incorporated in pivotable double hung windows. In one embodiment, the snap lock balance shoe includes a pair of retractable tabs that partially extend through openings within an inverted window balance.

A method of making a composite pipe has the steps of (a) providing one or more sources of composite tape, the composite tape being formed of reinforcing fibres embedded in a thermoplastic matrix; (b) helically winding the composite tape(s) around a cylinder under the application of heat to form a pipe comprising fused, concentric layers of adjacently positioned, helically-wound composite tape; (c) scanning a region where edges of wound composite tape are expected to be, to generate scanning information; (d) controlling the gap between further adjacent windings by (1) using the scanning information to determine wound composite tape edge position(s), and (2) using the determined wound composite tape edge position(s) to adjust the winding process during winding; (e) repeating steps (c) and (d). The invention also relates to a corresponding apparatus for making a composite pipe.

A sash (62) of a window opening up to 180 and capable of tilting is mounted onto a fixedly installed frame profile (63) and houses a pair of superimposing sashes that fit tightly therein when in closure position, i.e. an upper stationary sash (65) and a lower movable-divertible sash (64), each of the sashes (64,65) provided with laterally extending shafts (49) for connection with sash (62), roller wheels (50) provided onto the shafts (49) of sash (64) that roll within a predefined path created by insert guide profile members (19) and diverter guide members (66,68) to alternately bring sash (64) in a position of superimposing sash (65) and a position of alignment with the same. Lifting mechanisms (46) provided with a regulatory screw (84) for adjusting the pretension of a spring component thereof and thereby the force required by the user for moving the sash (64) are installed within the vertically extending sides of the sash (62).

Windows and secure corner assemblies are generally described. The windows may include a sash having stiles arranged on vertical sides thereof and rails arranged on horizontal sides thereof. Primary reinforcement members may be arranged within the stiles. Secure corner assemblies may be configured to be arranged within corners of the sash formed by intersections of the stiles and the rails. The secure corner assemblies may include at least one secondary reinforcement member arranged on an external surface of one of the rails, such as a top rail. A tilt mechanism may be configured to be coupled to a primary reinforcement member and the at least one secondary reinforcement member, thereby providing a continuous reinforcement connection around the window sash. Vinyl windows using corner assemblies according to some embodiments may have increased pressure ratings compared to vinyl windows that do not include such corner assemblies.

A window sash interlock includes a housing configured to mount to a side rail of a window sash. The housing includes a front face that substantially aligns with a surface of the side rail. A locking member is pivotably coupled to the housing about a pivot axis. The locking member is disposed at least partially within the housing and is movable between at least a locked position and an unlocked position. The locking member is biased so as to automatically return to the unlocked position, and in the unlocked position, the locking member at least partially extends from the front face of the housing.

A snap lock balance shoe of a balance system may be incorporated in pivotable double hung windows. In one embodiment, the snap lock balance shoe includes a pair of retractable tabs that partially extend through openings within an inverted window balance channel. The shoe includes a locking member that extends toward a window jamb when a cam of the shoe is rotated. This extension locks the balance system in place in the window jamb. During a method of assembly of the balance system, the snap lock balance shoe may be engaged with the channel and then pivoted to secure the snap lock balance shoe to the channel.

A leafless joint apparatus that couples a housing structure to a hatch structure such as a cover or door. Similar to previous hinge apparatuses, the leafless joint apparatus can include a knuckle and a pintel or pin to facilitate pivot operations (e.g., the cover pivoting open). However, the leafless joint apparatus does not rely on leafs that attach by means of fasteners (e.g., screws or the like) and therefore can facilitate sliding operations (e.g., the cover can slide open). Thus, the leafless joint apparatus can facilitate access to an interior of the housing structure by way repositioning the hatch structure via a pivot or hinging operation or via a sliding operation that can partially or fully expose the interior of the housing structure and even, if desired, slide entirely off, decoupling from the housing structure.