Patent Publication Number: US-10323439-B2

Title: Method of securing a sash window and door for transport

Description:
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/938,338, filed on Jul. 10, 2013, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/657,667, filed on Jan. 25, 2010, which claims priority on U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/284,244 filed on Dec. 15, 2009, with the disclosures of each being incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to improvements in the means for shipping sliding and tiltable sash windows, and more particularly to apparatus which relieve the stresses imposed on the window&#39;s sash locks during transportation. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There are many different window types available on the market, such as picture windows, bay windows, skylight windows, louvered windows, transom windows, casement windows, and the many versions of the sash window, with those being single-hung, double-hung, vertical sliding, and horizontal sliding sash windows. While the casement window is predominantly used in the United Kingdom and much of Europe, the sliding sash window remains an American favorite for both new construction and for replacement windows. 
     Many developments made in sliding sash windows are design changes that relate to improved functionality in the manufacture and/or operation of the windows, particularly with respect to its latches and hinges. However, there has been a long-felt, but unmet, need to improve the traditional methods of safely shipping sliding sash windows. 
     To prevent damage to either or both sashes due to uncontrolled sliding, the windows are normally transported with both sashes being latched. However, because of the bouncing and jarring motion including vibrations that are experienced during its transportation, a great deal of stress is placed on the lock and keepers of the window as well as the screws holding the locks and keepers in place. This stress can cause the locks and keepers to become broken or fractured and may also cause the screws to become dislodged from the sash. Such damage can result whether transportation is accomplished using freight cars on a railroad, or by a tractor-trailer on the nation&#39;s highways. 
     Window manufacturers attempt to address this problem in one of a number of different ways. One way is to insert blocking, made from cardboard, Styrofoam or any number of various different packaging materials, to support the sash windows, while other manufacturers will ship the windows in the closed position but with the sashes unlocked, and with some outer packaging solely relied upon to hold the sashes in place. But this is cumbersome and costly, not only in terms of the purchasing and needed supply of bulky packing materials, but also for its disposal. 
     Another method is to open the sash window, and to turn and pack the window upside-down. However, this method creates the potential risk of damage to the window sashes and frame from sliding motion, and furthermore makes the window awkward to maneuver and handle. Another solution is to ship the windows closed and locked, and to use air ride type cargo vans and trailers to reduce the stress to the hardware, with a corresponding increase in shipping costs. 
     This invention provides an economical and simple solution for the transportation of sash windows and doors through the use of a serrated strap. There has been some limited use of serrated straps in the art. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,852,852 to Rigal, it was used in combination with a ratchet locking member as a tightening device, with particular applicability for snowboard bindings, roller skates and the like. The Rigal patent improved upon the prior art use of serrated straps, such as those found, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,480,176 to Sims for an externally mounted binding, as well as the Ratchet-type Buckle shown by U.S. Pat. No. 5,416,952 to Dodge. However, all of these types of devices require the use of a separate pivoting ratchet element in combination with the serrated strap. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,462,542 to Alesi discloses a more simple arrangement in the form of a “Sternum Buckle With Serrated Strap.” The Alesi sternum buckle assembly is adapted to be looped about the split portions of tissue. The serrated strap extends outward from the pawl in a single piece that is formed of a bio-absorbable material. Similarly, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,570,497 to Lemole, the strap has a needle end to penetrate tissue, where retention of the serrations are more simply accomplished by a latch collar, and was intended to be used as a fast means of applying a suture. However, none of these approaches are capable of providing support needed for the safe transportation of a sliding sash window or door. 
     Using this invention allows a sash window or door to be shipped with the sashes in the closed position, while remaining unlocked, thus eliminating stress that causes damage to the lock, keeper, and screws. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a means of safely transporting a sliding sash window or door. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a means of safely transporting a sliding sash window or door without the use of bulky packing materials. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a single means of securing a sliding sash window or door that may universally be utilized by different sized windows and doors. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a means of securing a sliding sash window or door in the closed position without use of the window&#39;s lock and keeper. 
     It is also an object of the invention to provide a means of securing a sliding sash window or door in the closed position by utilizing the sash window frame. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a means of securing a sliding sash window or door in the closed position without use of the window&#39;s lock and keeper, where a quick release of the securing means may be facilitated without the use of a tool. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The clip assembly of the present invention may be used to secure one or more objects, particularly the sliding sashes of a window or door during transportation, to prevent damage to the sashes or to prevent damage to the locks and corresponding keepers when shipped in the locked condition, as well as to obviate the need of using cumbersome cardboard blocking as a restraint. 
     The clip assembly may be comprised of two separate molded parts—a strap member and a pawl member. The strap member may be formed to have a bumper portion, and a strap portion extending from the bumper. The bumper may preferably have an engagement wall, and a bottom wall that is supported to be approximately orthogonal to the engagement wall by first and second side walls. The strap portion may have a plurality of teeth formed within the thickness of the strap. The strap teeth may be formed to have an engagement face and a back face, which converge to create a peak, and whereby successive teeth are separated by a trough. Also, the strap portion may terminate in a thinner strap section, with a ramp between the two strap sections, and where the thinner strap section may have a rounded end which may also be ramped to facilitate its insertion into the pawl. 
     The pawl member may have a pair of sidewalls supported by a top wall and an intermediate wall. The top wall may have a protrusion which includes a plurality of teeth formed to complement the teeth of the strap, and be located proximate to the intermediate wall. The teeth may be located at a distance from the intermediate wall to permit the strap to be trapped there between, once it is inserted. Insertion of the strap may be accomplished whereby the strap causes deflection of the pawl teeth and the protrusion. This required deflection of the pawl teeth and protrusion may be aided by a recess in the intermediate wall to take advantage of the flexible nature of the strap. 
     To restrain a window for transit by truck or rail, a strap of the current invention may be inserted through the gap between the top rail of an upper sash and the bottom rail of the second sash, and then be inserted into the pawl, such that engagement edges of the first and second side walls of the pawl abuts the top rail of the bottom sash. Insertion of the strap into the pawl may occur by inserting the free end of the strap portion into the gap between the strap teeth and the intermediate wall, to engage the pawl teeth until the engagement edge of the first and second side walls of said pawl member firmly contacts the bottom rail of said second sash. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the strap and the pawl of the current invention aligned and ready for engagement. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the serrated strap engaged with the pawl of the current invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view showing the serrated strap engaged with the pawl of the current invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a wireframe perspective view of the pawl of the current invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of the pawl of the current invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of the pawl of the current invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the pawl of the current invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a section cut through the mid-plane of the pawl of the current invention. 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged view of the pawl teeth of the current invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a top view of the strap of the current invention. 
         FIG. 11  is an end view of the strap of the current invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a side view of the strap of the current invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a bottom view of the strap of the current invention. 
         FIG. 14A  is a side view showing a first installation embodiment of serrated strap engaged with the pawl of the current invention, as installed between the sashes of a sliding sash window, with the engagement wall of the bumper engaging the lower sash. 
         FIG. 14B  is a side view showing a variation of the first installation embodiment of serrated strap engaged with the pawl of the current invention, as installed between the sashes of a sliding sash window, with the engagement wall of the bumper engaging the upper sash. 
         FIG. 15A  is a side view of a sliding sash window in a master frame, with one sash opened. 
         FIG. 15B  is a side view showing the first step in a second installation embodiment of the serrated strap being engaged between the sashes of a sliding sash window. 
         FIG. 15C  is a side view showing a second installation embodiment of the serrated strap engaged with the pawl of the current invention, as installed between the sashes of a sliding sash window. 
         FIG. 16A  is a side view showing the first step in an installation embodiment with the serrated strap being fed between the sashes of a tiltable sash window. 
         FIG. 16B  is a side view showing an installation embodiment of the serrated strap engaged with the pawl of the current invention, as installed between the sashes of a tiltable sash window. 
         FIG. 17  is a side view showing the second installation embodiment with the serrated strap engaging the upper sash and engaged with the pawl of the current invention, as the pawl first contacts the lower sash of a sash window. 
         FIG. 18  is a side view showing the second installation embodiment with the serrated strap engaging the upper sash and engaged with the pawl of the current invention, as the pawl is snapped into place to secure the lower sash relative to the upper sash a window. 
         FIG. 19  is an enlarged side view showing the second installation embodiment with the serrated strap engaging the upper sash and engaged with the pawl of the current invention, as the pawl is snapped into place to secure the lower sash relative to the upper sash a the window. 
         FIG. 20  is an enlarged side view showing disengagement of the serrated strap from the pawl of the current invention, through failure of the pawl teeth and the pawl top wall. 
         FIG. 21  is a top view of an alternate strap configuration with cylindrical protrusions. 
         FIG. 22  is a side view of the alternate strap configuration of  FIG. 21 . 
         FIG. 23  is a side view of an alternate pawl configuration with a protrusion orifice. 
         FIG. 24  is a side view showing installation of the alternate strap securing the upper sash and engaged with the alternate pawl configuration, which secures the lower sash. 
         FIG. 25  is a side view showing installation of the threaded strap configuration securing the upper sash and engaged with the threaded pawl configuration, which secures the lower sash. 
         FIG. 26  is a side view showing an alternate embodiment for the pawl, as engaged with the serrated strap of the current invention. 
         FIG. 27  is a section view through the alternate embodiment of the pawl of  FIG. 26 , as engaged with the serrated strap of the current invention. 
         FIG. 27A  is an enlarged view showing engagement of the pawl teeth with the strap of the alternate embodiment of  FIG. 27 . 
         FIG. 28  is a perspective view showing alternate installations with a sash window for the alternate embodiment of the pawl of  FIG. 26 , as engaged with the serrated strap of the current invention. 
         FIG. 29A  is a top perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the strap and pawl of the current invention. 
         FIG. 29B  is a side view of the strap and pawl of  FIG. 29A . 
         FIG. 30  is a top view of the strap of  FIG. 29A . 
         FIG. 31  is a side view of the strap and pawl of  FIG. 29A , prior to engagement therebetween. 
         FIG. 32  is a cross-sectional view through the bumper portion of the strap of  FIG. 29A . 
         FIG. 33  is a first perspective view of the strap of  FIG. 29A . 
         FIG. 34  is a second perspective view of the strap of  FIG. 29A . 
         FIG. 35  is a side view of the pawl of  FIG. 29A . 
         FIG. 35A  is a cross-sectional view through the pawl of  FIG. 29A . 
         FIG. 36  is a first perspective view of the pawl of  FIG. 29A . 
         FIG. 37  is a second perspective view of the pawl of  FIG. 29A . 
         FIG. 38  shows the strap and pawl of  FIG. 29A , after the pawl teeth have been engaged with the teeth of the strap, and shown with the bumper portion of the strap having been inserted between the lower tillable sash of a sash window assembly and the upper sash member. 
         FIG. 39  shows the strap/pawl assembly and the sash window assembly of  FIG. 38 , after the lower sash has been tilted back upwards towards its engagement with, and retention by the master frame. 
         FIG. 40  shows the strap/pawl assembly and the sash window assembly of  FIG. 39 , after the strap has been pulled through the pawl, to cause the bumper of the strap to contact the meeting rail of the upper sash member, and to cause deformation of the legs of the pawl for engagement of the pawl with the meeting rail of the lower sash member, to secure the sashes relative to each other in the closed position. 
         FIG. 40A  is an enlarged detail view of the strap/pawl assembly and the sash window assembly of  FIG. 40 . 
         FIG. 41  shows the strap/pawl assembly and the sash window assembly of  FIG. 40 , but after at least one of the pawl handles has been actuated to release the toothed engagement between the strap and the pawl. 
         FIG. 42  shows the strap and pawl of  FIG. 34 , after the pawl teeth have been engaged with the teeth of the strap. 
         FIG. 43  shows an enlarged detail view of the engagement between the pawl teeth and the strap teeth, as seen in  FIG. 42 . 
         FIG. 44  shows a variation of the strap and pawl of  FIG. 34 , after the pawl teeth have been engaged with the teeth of the strap. 
         FIG. 45  shows an enlarged detail view of the engagement between the pawl teeth and the strap teeth, as seen in  FIG. 44 , revealing teeth on only one side of the strap, and also corresponding teeth on only one of the protrusions of the pawl. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 2  shows a first embodiment of the present invention, a transportation clip assembly  10 , which includes a pawl member  20  and a strap member  60 .  FIG. 1  illustrates the strap member  60  as it is being inserted into the pawl member  20  to have engagement with, and mono-directional travel relative to, the pawl member.  FIG. 3  shows a side view of the clip assembly  10 . 
     The pawl member  20  and strap member  60  may be made from any suitable materials, including, but not limited to, plastic. In one embodiment the material may be an injection molded resin, such as nylon or polycarbonate. The pawl member  20  may be formed of various different shapes, and in one embodiment, shown in  FIGS. 4-7 , the pawl member  20  may have a first side wall  21  and a second side wall  22 , which may be maintained at a set distance by top wall  24  and intermediate wall  25 . First side wall  21  and second side wall  22  may be generally parallel to each other, but need not be so oriented. 
     The thickness of each of the walls may be adjusted to increase the overall strength of the clip assembly  10 . The strength should accommodate most, if not all, sash windows, but could be increased with the aforementioned thickness changes to accommodate larger sliding doors. To encourage commonality, a single sized clip may be utilized for securing various fenestration products, and when it is necessary to secure larger, heavier sliding doors, multiple transportation clip assemblies  10  may be utilized rather than a single stronger clip. 
     The outer edges of the first side wall  21  and a second side wall  22  may have an outside corner radius  53  around the periphery of the walls to eliminate any sharp edges which might tend to scrape or otherwise damage the finish of the windows. 
     The periphery of the first and second side walls  21  and  22  may be formed with various different contours. As shown in one embodiment, side walls  21  and  22  may be formed with an engagement edge  38  that may transition into a rounded engagement corner  39  on one end, and into a lateral support edge  40  on the other end. These engagement features of the side walls  21  and  22  of pawl member  20  may bear up against the sashes of the window when engaged by the strap member  60 , as seen in  FIG. 14A  and  FIG. 14B . 
     The remaining outer edges of first and second side walls  21  and  22  may comprise various different configurations, and in one embodiment may have edges  41  and  42 , whereby edges  40  and  41  may have a straight edge transition  43  between them, or a rounded corner (not shown), and edges  41  and  42  may have a straight edge transition  44  between them. Edge  42  may connect tangentially to the rounded engagement corner  39  (not shown), or alternatively, there may be edges  45  and  46 , between which may be a radius  47 , and there may also be an edge  48  that may be approximately parallel to edge  45 . Edge  46  may transition into edge  48  using an outside corner  49 . Edge  48  may transition into rounded engagement corner  39  by way of edges  50  and  51 . The edges  42 ,  45 , and  46  may serve as support for a tool that may be used to apply tension to the strap member  50  relative to the pawl member  20 , and tightly secure both sashes  11  and  13  of the window relative to each other, and relative to the master frame  15  ( FIG. 15A ), as will be discussed hereinafter. In an alternate embodiment, discussed hereinafter, rounded engagement corner  39 , and edges  50  and  51  may be seated between window sashes to secure the sashes. 
     The section view of  FIG. 8 , through pawl member  20 , reveals the top wall  24  and intermediate wall  25 . Intermediate wall  25  may be formed to have an axial portion, which as pictured in  FIG. 8  appears as a horizontal wall portion  26  having a top surface  27  and a bottom surface  28 . The horizontal wall portion  26  may transition, by way of a curved region  31 , into a vertical wall portion  32 . As may be seen hereinafter, the curved portion  31  may assist in guiding the strap member  60  to engage with the pawl member  20 . The vertical portion  32  may serve to support the side walls  21  and  22 , to deflect the strap member  60  when trying to engage it with the pawl member  20 , or as structural support in an alternate embodiment ( FIGS. 17-19 ). 
     The top wall  24  may span the entirety of edges  40 ,  41 , and  43  of the first and second side walls  21  and  22 , or may, as shown in  FIG. 8 , only span a portion thereof. Protruding inwardly from the top wall  24  and towards the top surface  27  of the horizontal portion  26  of intermediate wall  25 , may be a triangular-shaped protrusion  23 , which forms a gap  50  ( FIG. 9 ) with top wall  24 , making the protrusion  23  generally flexible with respect to top wall  24 . The triangular-shaped protrusion  23  may have a plurality of teeth  33 . Although only three teeth are shown in  FIG. 8  for pawl member  20 , the number of teeth may be increased to provide greater strength in the connection between the strap member  60  and pawl member  20 , which may be required for corresponding increases in wall thicknesses, as previously described. 
     As seen in the enlarged view of the plurality of teeth  33  in  FIG. 9 , each tooth may be formed to have a back face  35 , which meets a front face or engagement surface  36  at the apex  37 . Where the back face of one tooth meets the front face of an adjacent tooth may be a trough  34 . The back face  35  and front face  36  are shown in to be flat in  FIG. 9 , with the front face being approximately perpendicular to the intermediate wall  25 ; however, other possible shapes and orientations may be utilized. The configuration shown may be preferable to assist in the mating of the strap member  20  with the pawl member  60 . The distance between the apex  37  of the plurality of teeth  33  and the top surface  27  of the horizontal portion  26  of intermediate wall  25  may be crucial to the interconnection between the strap member  60  and pawl member  20 , which is discussed further hereinafter. 
     The strap member  60  may be formed to have a bumper portion  80  connected to a strap portion  61 . Bumper portion  80  may be formed a number of different ways. In one embodiment, bumper portion  80  may be comprised of only an engagement wall  81 . However, to help counter unintended rotation of the engagement wall  81  upon installation of the strap member  60  between first and second sashes  11  and  13  of a window, engagement wall  81  may preferably be connected to a bottom wall  84 . Bottom wall  84  may preferably be approximately orthogonal to engagement wall  81 . This orthogonal relationship between bottom wall  84  and engagement wall  81  may be supported by first and second side walls  82  and  83 , which may be parallel to each other. 
     All of the exterior edges of the bottom wall  84 , engagement wall  81 , and first and second side walls  82  and  83  may be rounded through use of outside corner radius  85 . Having the corners thus relieved may serve to prevent scrapes and other facial damages to the windows upon which the transportation clip assembly  10  may be installed. In addition, the engagement wall  81  may have a cushioning material (not shown) attached thereto to further protect the window. The cushioning material may include, but is not limited to, rubber that is attached to the engagement wall  81  through any acceptable means for the particular cushioning material chosen, including, but not limited to, glue or epoxy. The same cushioning material may also be utilized upon the engagement edges  38  of the first and second side walls  21  and  22  of the pawl member  20 . 
     The strap portion  61  of strap member  60  may be comprised of a plain strap  62 , which may be connected to the engagement wall  81  of the bumper portion  80  using fillet radii  63 , which may thereby improve the durability of the connection. Plain strap  62 , may, but need not, have a rectangular cross-section, having a thickness  71 . The plain strap  62  may transition into a serrated strap  64 , which may have the same cross-section as plain strap  62 , but which further comprises a plurality of strap teeth  66 , which may be similarly constructed as the plurality of pawl teeth  33 , but formed so as to be complementary in nature to the pawl teeth  33  so as to mesh with and thereby be retained by the pawl teeth  33  of pawl member  20  when the strap member  60  is therein inserted. 
     The plurality of strap teeth  66  may be formed within the thickness  71  of the cross-section of the serrated strap  64 , leaving a narrow portion of plain strap  64  on each side of the strap teeth  66 , which may not extend to the full width of the serrated strap  64 . 
     Proper functional engagement of the plurality of strap teeth  66  with the plurality of pawl teeth  33  is obtained through careful control of several features and dimensions. As previously stated, the distance between the apexes  37  of the plurality of teeth  33  of pawl  20  from the top surface  27  of the horizontal portion  26  of intermediate wall  25  may be crucial to this functional engagement. Proper engagement may generally depend upon trapping the serrated strap  64  against the top surface  27  of the horizontal portion  26  of intermediate wall  25 . Snugly trapping the serrated strap  64  may preferably require a combination of deflection of the protrusion  23  and deflection of the serrated strap  64  when feeding the strap member  60  into pawl member  20 . 
     Deflection of the protrusion  23  may occur when the strap teeth  66  contact the pawl teeth  33  resulting in an applied load to the protrusion and causing angular deflection at the gap  50  ( FIG. 9 ) towards the top wall  24 . This invention furthermore takes advantage of the flexural nature of the strap portion  61  when being inserted into the pawl member  20 , through its tendency to bend or even buckle under compression loading, by incorporating a recess  29  in the top surface  27  of the horizontal portion  26  of the intermediate wall  25 . The recess  29  may necessitate the use of a step  52  in the lower surface  28  of the horizontal portion  26  of intermediate wall  25  to increase thickness, in order to accommodate the thickness reduction due to the recess  29 . 
     The recess  29  allows the serrated strap  64  region of strap  60  to deflect downward, under the compression loading, away from the plurality of teeth  33  of the triangular protrusion  23 , as the triangular protrusion  23  and teeth  33  simultaneously deflect upward. The recess  29  may have curved transitions  51  with the top surface  27  of the intermediate wall  25  to facilitate bending of the strap  60  in proximity to the plurality of teeth  33  of the pawl  20 . The recess  29  may preferably have a maximum depth such the distance between the apex of the teeth  33  of the pawl  20  and the recess  29  is approximately equal to the thickness  71  of the strap. 
     It may be seen that loading of the strap  60  in tension relative to the pawl  20 , by sash windows  11  and  13  ( FIG. 14A ), may cause the protrusion  23  with the plurality of teeth  33  to deflect downward and trap the strap  60  against the top surface  27  of the horizontal portion  26  of intermediate wall  25 . The downward deflection of protrusion  23  with the plurality of teeth  33  would not permit the recess  29  to facilitate disengagement of the serrated strap  64  from the pawl  20 , the way the recess  29  facilitates engagement. 
     Initial engagement of the strap  60  with the pawl  20  may be furthered by having a plain strap section  67  which may be thinner than plain strap  62 , and may transition to the serrated strap  64  using a ramp  68 . The thin plain strap  67  may terminate in a tapered and ramped end  69 . The tapered/ramped end  69  may have an orifice  70  which may be used in conjunction with a tool to apply tension to the strap  60  relative to the pawl  20 , to pre-load the window sashes  11  and  13  relative to each other, and in a direction opposite to each other, when in the closed position. In general, the upper sash  11  will be loaded towards the upper portion of the master frame  15 , with a corresponding loading of the lower sash  13  towards the lower portion of the master frame. The tool may have a prong that retains the orifice  70  and allows the strap portion  61  to be rolled up on the tool, and whereby the roll may act against the edges  45  and  46  of first and second side walls  21  and  22  of pawl  20 . The ability to apply such tension between the pawl member  20  and the strap member  60  permits further engagement of one or more of the pawl teeth  33  with said strap teeth  66  to generate the pre-loaded sash arrangement. The pre-loaded window sashes  11  and  13  will be biased away from each other, and be biased to engage the master window frame (not shown), without having to use the locking hardware of the window. 
       FIG. 14A  illustrates the strap member  60  after having been engaged with the pawl member  20  to restrict relative movement of the upper sash  11  and lower sash  12  of a sliding sash window. As seen in  FIG. 14A , the strap portion  61  of the strap  60  may be inserted through a space between a meeting rail  14  of a first sash  13  and a meeting rail  12  of a second sash  11 . The engagement wall  81  of the pawl  20  may abut the meeting rail  14  of said bottom sash  13 . The free end  69  of the strap portion  61  may be inserted into the gap in the pawl member  20  between the strap teeth  33  and intermediate wall  25 , such that the strap teeth  33  of the serrated strap  64  engage the pawl teeth  66 . 
     The strap portion  61  may thus be continuously inserted until the engagement edge  38  of the first and second side walls  21  and  22  of the pawl member  20  contacts the bottom rail  12  of the sash  11 . The rounded engagement corner  39  may also contact the bottom rail  12 , as the installation of transportation clip assembly  10  may tend to cause slight rotation of the pawl member  20 . In addition, the lateral support edge  40  and transition edge  43  may contact the lower sash  13 , with such rotation. The existence of, or the amount of, rotation may depend upon the extent of pre-loading that is established. 
     An alternate installation embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 15A through 15C  for a sliding sash window, and in  FIGS. 16A and 16B  for a tiltable/slidable sash window. For both window types, the bumper portion  80  of the strap member  60  may be fed between the two sashes, while the sash is slid open or tilted open. The engagement wall  87  of the bumper portion  80  of the strap member  60  may then rest up against the bottom rail  12  of the upper sash  11 . The pawl member  20  may be inserted upon the strap member  60 , as seen in  FIG. 17 , until the rounded engagement corner  39  contacts the top rail  14  of lower sash  13 . The pawl member  20  may then be rotated so that engagement wall  87  of pawl member  20  butts against the side of the bottom rail  12  of upper sash  11 , while edge  48  of pawl member  20  butts against the top of bottom rail  14  of lower sash  13 . Thereafter, rounded engagement corner  39  and edge  51  may be snapped into the gap between the sashes  11  and  13  ( FIGS. 18-19 ). 
     Removal of transportation clip assembly  10  is illustrated in  FIG. 20 . Removal is accomplished by applying a force to the thin plain strap  67  of strap member  60 , such that it is at an angle  90  relative to portion  26  of intermediate wall  25  of pawl  20 . Application of such a force causes failure of the pawl teeth  33  and of top wall  24 , with release of the strap member  60  from pawl member  20 . 
     An alternate embodiment of the current invention is shown in  FIGS. 22 through 24 .  FIGS. 21 and 22  illustrate an alternate embodiment in which strap member  100  has, instead of strap teeth, a plurality of cylindrical protrusions  101 , each of which has a slanted face  112  oriented so as to face away from the bumper portion. The slanted face  112  may engage the protrusion  101  of pawl member  100  to permit deflection of the protrusion  101 , as well as flexing of the strap  110 , with incremental engagement of cylindrical protrusions  111  of strap  100  with orifice  102  of the protrusion  101 . 
     In another alternate embodiment, shown in  FIG. 25 , the strap  107  transitions from a thin flat strap portion into an externally threaded cylindrical portion  108  that is received by internal threading on the pawl  105 . The pawl  105  may have a swivel end  106  to permit rotational engagement of the threaded portion  108  of the strap  107  without rotation of the pawl  105  at the rail  14  of window  13 . 
     In  FIGS. 26 and 27 , an alternate embodiment is shown with a pawl  120 , which may be utilized for two different installation configurations. The pawl  120  may resemble pawl  20  with its engagement edge  38 , rounded engagement corner  39 , edge  48 , and lateral support edge  40 , but pawl  120  may instead have an engagement edge  122  connected to edges  121  and  123 . A rounded engagement protrusion  127  may be located where engagement edge  122  connects to edge  123 , and a second protrusion  126  may be located where edge  122  connects to edge  121 . 
     The protrusions  126  and  127  being thus arranged may accommodate two different installation configurations. As seen on the right side of  FIG. 28 , the pawl  120  may engage the alternative embodiment strap  160  and be tensed therebetween such that the edge  122  of pawl  120  engages the top rail  14  of window sash  13 , without contacting latch  16 . The protrusion  126  may thereby be engaged in the gap between the top rail  14  of the lower sash  13 , and the bottom rail of the upper sash  11 , to assist in securing the clip assembly to the window sashes. Alternatively, as seen on the left side of  FIG. 28 , the pawl  120  may engage the strap  160  with edge  122  coming in close proximity to top rail  14  of lower sash  13 , but not necessarily making contact therebetween, as the pawl  120  may then be rotated, as was illustrated in  FIGS. 17 and 18 . The rotation may serve to provide additional loading of the sashes relative to the master frame, with the loading of one sash being in a direction opposite to the loading of the second sash. 
     The rotation of pawl  120  permits the edge  123  of pawl  120  to engage the top rail  14  of window sash  13 , without necessarily contacting latch  16 , and with second protrusion  127  to be engaged in the gap between the top rail  14  of the lower sash  13  and the bottom rail of the upper sash  11  in a horizontal position. This engagement of the second protrusion  127  may serve to prevent counter-rotation of the pawl  120 , which would reduce the preloading of the sashes relative to the master frame. The rotation required for the horizontal installation may serve to provide a greater tension force between the window sashes  11  and  13 , which may be needed for transportation of larger and heavier doors and windows. 
     Pawl  120  may also comprise, as seen in  FIG. 27A , a wall  128  with protruding portion  129  having a plurality of teeth  130 , as well as a wall  131 , which are comparable to the top wall  24 , protruding portion  23  and intermediate wall  25  of pawl  20 . However, in pawl  120 , wall  131  also may have a plurality of teeth  132 . Also, the strap member  160  may have a serrated strap portion with a plurality of teeth  161  on one side of the strap  160  to engage the teeth  130  on protruding portion  129 , as well as a plurality of teeth  162  on the opposite side to engage the teeth  132  of wall  131 . Therefore, the engagement of strap  160  with pawl  120  may occur with engagement of teeth on both sides of the strap  160  to provide a sturdier connection therebetween, which may be beneficial for the horizontal installation where greater loads may be involved. The teeth  161  need not be aligned with teeth  162 , and may instead be staggered as seen in  FIG. 27A . 
     The pawl  120  may also have walls  128  and  131  oriented at an angle from wall  121 , with a narrow, necked down region  133  located at the intersection of those walls. The neck down region  133  may be utilized to cause failure of the engagement between strap  160  and pawl  120  by applying a force directly to the pawl  120 , once the sash window or door is ready for installation in a building, and the installer seeks to remove the clip. Alternatively, failure may also be caused by applying a load only to the strap  160 , as was previously discussed. 
     Another alternate embodiment of the present invention is seen in the perspective view of the engaged pawl/strap combination  210  in  FIGS. 29A and 29B , which may include strap member  260  and pawl  220 . The strap member  260 , which may include the bumper portion  260 B and the strap portion  260 S, is shown separately in the views of  FIGS. 30-34 , and the pawl  220  is shown separately in the views of  FIG. 35-37 . 
     The strap member  260  is specially configured to provide additional benefits in seeking to pre-load the two sash members with respect to each other, and with respect to the master frame in which they travel. The engagement wall  281  of the bumper portion  260 B of strap member  260 , rather than being directly and rigidly supported by the stiffeners that are used for wall  81  of strap  60  ( FIG. 10 ), may instead be supported by an arrangement that is configured to be more conducive to accommodating a certain amount of elastic deformation, to enable a more adjustable and calibrated amount of preloading of the sashes. 
     A portion of the engagement wall  281  of the bumper portion  260 B of strap member  260  ( FIG. 30 ) may transition into an enclosed geometric shape  281 G. Many different cross-sections may be utilized to create the enclosed geometric shape, including ones with curvature, such as a circular (“O”) cross-sectional shape; an oval cross-sectional shape; an elliptical shape; a race track shape, an hourglass shape, an irregularly curved shape, etc. Alternatively, a polygonal cross-sectional shape may be used (e.g., octagonal). In addition, the cross-sectional shape need not be extruded orthogonally to form the enclosed geometric shape, and also could be decreasing in scale as it is extruded, as with, for example, a circular cross-sectional shape being used to produce a hollow conical member (or hollow conical frustum) for the enclosed shape, rather than a hollow cylinder. 
     The enclosed geometric shape  281 G may be supported at a portion of it that is distal from the “engagement wall”  281 , by one or more stiffeners. It should be noted that the cross-section used for the enclosed geometric shape  281 G of the strap member  260  in  FIG. 30  is a race track shape, and it may be seen therein to produce a discrete “engagement wall” portion  281  that may generally be flat. This generally flat engagement wall portion  281  may initially be that part of the bumper that contacts and “engages” the sash, when the clip assembly  210  is installed upon a sash window or door. If the cross-sectional shape utilized for the bumper were instead a circular shape that produced a hollow cylinder, the contact with the sash by that enclosed geometric shape would initially be at only a very narrow portion of the cylinder that may not necessarily be visualized as a “wall” in the typical sense (i.e., not being rectangular), however, that initial point of contact by the enclosed geometric shape (cylindrical or otherwise) with the sash is nonetheless herein referred to as the “engagement wall” or “engagement wall portion,” and is intended to convey to the reader, that portion of the enclosed geometric shape that initially makes contact with the sash. 
     The enclosed geometric shape  281 G of the bumper portion  260 B of the strap  260  that is formed using a racetrack cross-section, as illustrated throughout the figures herein merely to be exemplary, may be supported by only a single stiffener that may be centrally positioned thereon. However, with the use of a race track shape, a single central stiffener may tend to produce less resistance to the deformation that is caused by the preloading of the sash window/door (i.e., produces a “soft” support that may be better used for smaller light-weight sash members). The single stiffener may also be more suitable for where a circular cross-section was used to produce the enclosed geometric shape. 
     As seen in  FIG. 30 , a first stiffener  282  and a second stiffener  283  may be used to support the racetrack-shaped bumper, and each may extend orthogonally from the flat wall portion  2811 ) that is opposite or distal from the engagement wall portion  281 , and the stiffeners may also be positioned so as to extend from that part of the wall portion  281 D being proximate to the tangency with the curved end portions of the racetrack shape. The stiffeners  282  and  283  may also be interconnected by a lateral stiffener  284 , which may be offset from the strap portion  262  ( FIG. 32 ). In addition, each of the stiffeners  282  and  283  may extend to have a respective portion be fixedly secured to the strap portion  262  (see  FIG. 31 ). The walls  282  and  283 , which may be perpendicular to the strap portion  262 , may also extend beyond the strap and terminate in respective engagement surfaces  282 E/ 283 E (see  FIG. 34 ). The engagement surfaces  282 E/ 283 E of stiffeners  282  and  283  may generally be angled with respect to the strap portion  262 , and may thus be at angle  287  to the engagement wall  281 , as seen in the profile view of the strap member  260  in  FIG. 32 . The angle  287  of these angled engagement surfaces  282 E/ 283 E may be at 90 degrees, or may preferably be greater than 90 degrees, to fully facilitate operation of the bumper portion of the pawl/strap combination  210  upon the sash window/door, as seen in  FIGS. 38-41 , and discussed hereinafter. The strap portion  262  may of course include a series of ratchet teeth, as described previously. 
     The strap member  260  may be used with the pawl  20  that is shown in  FIGS. 4-8 , or the strap member  260  may instead be used in combination with pawl  220 , as seen in  FIG. 29A . Pawl  220  is configured to be enabled to provide additional capabilities, at least one of which may work in combination with the configuration of the strap member  260 . 
     Perspective views of the pawl  220  are shown in  FIGS. 36 and 37 , a side view of the pawl  220  is shown in  FIG. 35 , and a cross-sectional view of the pawl is shown in  FIG. 35A . The pawl  220  may be configured similar to pawl member  20 , and may thus be formed with a first side wall  221  and a second side wall  222 , both of which may be maintained at a set distance by its connection with “top” wall  224  and intermediate wall  225 , which may be integrally formed therewith. First side wall  221  and second side wall  222  may be generally parallel to each other, but need not be so oriented. Also, the first side wall  221  and second side wall  222  may both terminate at a pair of orthogonal engagement surfaces—a vertical engagement surface  221 EV and a horizontal engagement surface  221 EH for the first side wall  221 , and a vertical engagement surface  222 EV and a horizontal engagement surface  222 EH for the second side wall  222 . These corresponding pairs of engagement surfaces may preferably be orthogonal to each other as they may ultimately, when the clip assembly  210  is installed upon a sash window or door to be transported, engage the meeting rail of the lower sash member therein and the stile of the upper sash member, which also will generally have respective perpendicular surfaces. 
     A protrusion  223  may protrude from the top wall  224 , and may have a narrow, necked-down connection  223 N therewith, which may permit the protrusion to exhibit some flexible with respect to the top wall  224  and side walls  221 / 222 . An arc-shaped connector tab  223 C may be integrally formed with the distal end of the protrusion  223  and may also be formed to interconnect with a portion of the top wall  224 , and may thereby serve to temporally provide added stiffness for the protrusion. The protrusion  223  may have a plurality of ratchet teeth  223 R formed on an inward facing surface, as seen in  FIG. 35A . 
     An inward facing surface of the intermediate wall  225  may also have a plurality of ratchet teeth  225 R be formed thereon. The intermediate wall  225  may diverge outwardly and to an extent whereby it reaches the periphery of the first side wall  221  and second side wall  222 , and may thus have an exterior bottom-wall portion  225 X, which may provide additional structural integrity for the side walls of the pawl  220 . (Note that in one embodiment of the pawl, the exterior bottom-wall portion  225 X may be utilized without the intermediate wall  225 ). A protrusion  229  may protrude from a portion of the wall  225 X, and may have a narrow, necked-down connection  229 N therewith, which may permit the protrusion to exhibit some flexible with respect to the wall  225  and side walls  221 / 222 . The degree of flexibility may be set by the amount that the protrusion necks down at connection  229 N (i.e., the cross-sectional area at the neck), and by the material properties. The protrusion  229  may have a plurality of ratchet teeth  229 R be formed on an inward facing surface. As seen in  FIG. 35A , the ratchet teeth  229 R formed on the inward facing surface of protrusion  229  may be staggered with respect to the plurality of ratchet teeth  223 R formed on the inward facing surface of the protrusion  223 . 
     Thus, the strap portion  260 S of the strap member  260  may have correspondingly staggered ratchet teeth on its first and second sides (see  FIGS. 33 and 34 ), which are configured to engage the ratchet teeth on protrusions  223  and  229 . Also, the plurality of ratchet teeth  225 R formed on the intermediate wall  225  and the plurality of ratchet teeth  229 R formed on the protrusion  229  may form a gap therebetween that is suitably sized to receive the thickness of the toothed strap portion  260 S of the strap member  260 . The narrow, necked-down connection  229 N of the protrusion  229  with the wall  225  may provide sufficient flexibility to permit the strap to be manually fed between the two protrusions, and to thereafter bias the protrusion  229  into contact with the strap portion  260 S to pinch the strap between protrusion  229  and protrusion  223 , once the user has ceased applying a force to feed the strap therebetween (see  FIGS. 42-43 ). In order to provide for an even greater engagement force being applied by the protrusions  223  and  229  upon the strap inserted therebetween, the protrusion  229  may be formed to have a nominal, undeformed position be such that it is pivoted to be in closer proximity to protrusion  223  than is shown in  FIG. 35A , which may in this embodiment represent positioning of protrusion  229  after the strap has already been inserted and caused some outward deformation. The undeformed position of protrusion  229  may be coordinated with the degree of flexibility created by the neck-down portion, which may be formed to meet minimal stiffness requirements for its biasing to securely engage the strap. A mid-plane between the plurality of ratchet teeth of the two protrusions, represented by the centerline in  FIG. 35 , may preferably be at an angle θ to the horizontal engagement surfaces  221 EH and  222 EH of the first and second side walls  221  and  222 . 
     Extending from the distal end of the protrusion  223  and being integrally formed therewith may be a lever arm  229 H. The lever arm  22911  may have an integral connection with the protrusion  229  that exhibits greater structural integrity than the protrusion&#39;s narrow, necked-down connection  229 N with the wall  225 . A second lever arm  22511  may similarly extend from the exterior portion  225 X of wall  225 , and may also be constructed to exhibit greater structural integrity than the narrow, necked-down connection  229 N of protrusion  229  with the wall  225 . 
     The pawl  220  may also have a pair of legs  225 Li and  225 Lii extending from the exterior portion  225 X of wall  225 , and may extend beyond the horizontal engagement surfaces  221 EH and  222 EH of the first and second side walls  221  and  222 . The legs  225 Li and  225 Lii may preferably be canted with respect to those engagement surfaces, as seen in  FIG. 36 , and they may be formed with a very slight cross-section, to not only be flexible, but to also be susceptible to being flattened during installation of the strap member  260 , as discussed hereinafter. 
     A first step in the installation of the strap member  260  and pawl  220 , to form the engaged pawl/strap combination  210  for securing sash members for transport, is shown in  FIG. 38 . For convenience, as seen therein, the pawl  220  may be pre-set upon the end of the strap portion  262 , prior to placing the combination upon the tilted sash window member, as seen in  FIG. 38 . However, the pawl may alternatively receive the strap through the toothed protrusions at a subsequent step. 
     With the bumper portion  260 B of the strap member  260  positioned below the meeting rail  12  of the upper sash  11 , and the pawl  220  positioned above the meeting rail  14  of the lower sash  13 , the tilted sash may then be rotated back towards the master frame and secured thereto, as seen in  FIG. 39 . The strap portion  262  may be pulled through the protrusions  223  and  229  of the pawl  220 , so that the angled pair of legs  225 Li and  225 Lii (when utilized) that extend from the exterior portion  225 X of wall  225 , contact the meeting rail of the sash  13 . Continued pulling of the strap portion  262  through the protrusions  223  and  229  of the pawl  220  may result in the bumper portion  260 B of the strap member  260  moving upwardly, with the engagement surfaces  282 E and  283 E of stiffeners  282  and  283  contacting the side of the meeting rail of sash  13 , and the free end of the enclosed geometric shape  281 G contacting the bottom of the meeting rail  12  of the sash  11 . Further pulling of the strap portion  262  through the protrusions  223  and  229  of the pawl  220  may result in the legs being deformed outwardly, until the pawl/strap combination  210  is completely installed, as seen in  FIG. 40 , and in the enlarged view of  FIG. 40A . 
     Contact at the bottom of the meeting rail of sash  11  being from the free end of the enclosed geometric shape  281 G, rather than from the end where the engagement wall  281  joins the strap portion  262 , permits a discrete amount of deformation of the geometric shape. This permits the strap to be incrementally fed (pulled) through the protrusions of the pawl to cause further preloading of the sashes relative to each other and relative to the master frame, as the geometric shape experience increasing deformation. This preloading may also result in residual tension in the strap portion  262 , once the pulling has ceased, so that its ratchet teeth are caused to engage with the corresponding teeth of the protrusions  223  and  229 , and cause loading of each of the protrusions against the strap, trapping it therebetween. 
     The disclosed geometry of the strap member  260  and pawl  220  creates an angled orientation for the strap portion  262 , upon installation of the pawl/strap combination  210  between the sashes. This serves to not only preload the sashes in opposite directions relative to the master frame in which it slides, to prevent damaging the frame and/or damage to the sash locks which may now be left unlocked during transit, but also serves to cause separation between the sashes and prevent damage from chatter therebetween. 
     Removal of the pawl/strap combination  210  from between the sashes may be accommodated by the user simply gripping the lever arms  225 H and  229 H to cause the protrusion  229  to deform and pivot relative to the narrow, necked-down connection  229 N, and disengage from the strap portion  262  (see  FIGS. 35 and 41 ). The pawl may then be jockeyed to permit the strap portion  262  to be released and separated therefrom. The protrusion  229  may just deform, or it may be caused to fail at the neck, depending upon several factors, such as, but not limited to, the cross-section utilized, the material&#39;s properties, the length of the lever arms and the moment that may be generated, etc. In addition, the arc-shaped connector tab  223 C may be severed using a wire cutter or other tool, and the protrusion  223  may be caused to fail by the user first using the lever arm  229 H to drive the protrusion  223  counter-clockwise. Also, a handle may additionally be formed on protrusion  223  to assist in its deformation. 
     If a significant amount of tension was utilized to preload the sashes, the teeth of the strap portion  262  may not easily be released from its engagement with the corresponding teeth of the intermediate wall  225 , and for that reason, those teeth may be eliminated therefrom, and the ratchet teeth may, in such an alternate embodiment, only be utilized on the protrusions  223  and  229 . Furthermore, in another alternate embodiment, the ratchet teeth may only be utilized on one side of the strap and on the corresponding side of the pawl, as shown in  FIGS. 44 and 45 . 
     The examples and descriptions provided merely illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Those skilled in the art and having the benefit of the present disclosure will appreciate that further embodiments may be implemented with various changes within the scope of the present invention. Other modifications, substitutions, omissions and changes may be made in the design, size, materials used or proportions, operating conditions, assembly sequence, or arrangement or positioning of elements and members of the preferred embodiment without departing from the spirit of this invention.