Abstract:
A device for maintaining an openable window in a desired position within a window frame is provided. The device comprises a rod having a top end and a bottom end and a housing having a top end, a bottom end, a front surface, and a rear surface. A first aperture is formed in the to the housing. A second aperture is formed in the bottom end of the housing with the rod slidably receivable into the first aperture, through the housing, and out of the second aperture. A grasping mechanism is secured on the housing for releasably grasping the openable window. An adjusting mechanism selectively adjusts the position of the housing on the rod.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention concerns that of a household apparatus for holding windows open, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a household apparatus for holding windows open which is secured to the window with an adhesive material. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   U.S. Pat. No. 2,766,492, issued to Day, discloses a window sash device having a rack and pinion assembly. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 2,551,567, issued to Chambers, discloses a window sash device having a rack and pinion assembly. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 556,696, issued to Sands, discloses a sash balance device comprised of rectangular tube weights having a plurality of teeth. 
   SUMMARY 
   The present invention concerns that of a household apparatus for holding windows open. The household apparatus has a steel rod that has caps located at each end of the steel rod. The household apparatus also has a mounting block that can be moved up or down on the steel rod. The bottom edge of the window is mounted on the mounting block, allowing the window to be mounted at various heights as desired by an individual. 
   There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of a household apparatus for holding windows open that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the household apparatus for holding windows open that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
   In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the household apparatus for holding windows open in detail, it is to be understood that the household apparatus for holding windows open is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The household apparatus for holding windows open is capable of other embodiments and being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting. 
   As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present household apparatus for holding windows open. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
   It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a household apparatus for holding windows open which has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a household apparatus for holding windows open which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a household apparatus for holding windows open which is of durable and reliable construction. 
   It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a household apparatus for holding windows open which is economically affordable and available for relevant market segment of the purchasing public. 
   Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment when considered with the attached drawings and appended claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a household apparatus for holding windows open, constructed in accordance with the present invention, without the mounting block; 
       FIG. 2  is a sectional side view illustrating the household apparatus for holding windows open, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the mounting block; 
       FIG. 3  is a front view illustrating the household apparatus for holding windows open, constructed in accordance with the present invention, as it would appear in use with a window closed; and 
       FIG. 4  is a front view illustrating the household apparatus for holding windows open, constructed in accordance with the present invention, as it would appear in use with a window open halfway. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1  illustrates a side view of the household apparatus  2 , while 
     FIG. 2  illustrates a sectional side view of the household apparatus  2 . Furthermore, 
     FIG. 3  illustrates a front view of the household apparatus  2  as it would appear in use with a window closed, while 
     FIG. 4  illustrates a front view of the household apparatus  2  as it would appear in use with a window open halfway. 
   The household apparatus  2  comprises a central rod  4  that has two ends, a top end  6  and a bottom end  8 . Preferably, the rod  4  is constructed from a steel material having a diameter of one-quarter (¼″) inch, however, constructing the rod  4  from other materials is within the scope of the present invention. Attached to each end of the rod  4  is a cap  10  to help provide additional friction for the ends of the rod  4  when it is in use. 
   The central rod  4  of the household apparatus  2  is inserted through a lock housing  14  with the lock housing  14  slidable along the central rod  4 . The lock housing  14  has two ends, a top end  16  and a bottom end  18 , and also has two surfaces, a front surface and a rear surface, with the top end  16  of the lock housing  14  having a hole  20  and a the bottom end  18  of the lock housing  14  having a hole  22 . The rod  4  is inserted through both of these holes, causing the lock housing  14  to, in effect, be mounted on the rod  4 . 
   The lock housing  14  itself has a rear-mounted mounting block  30  attached to the rear surface of the lock housing  14 . In a preferred embodiment, the mounting block  30  has an adhesive material applied thereto for allowing the mounting block  30  to adhere to the window. A liner (not shown) can be applied to the adhesive material that can be removed to expose the adhesive upon installation. 
   The mounting block is designed to adhere directly onto the lower corner of the window glass using the two face adhesive material. The adhesive surface preferably has dimensions of approximately two (2″) inches by three (3″) inches which is sufficient for support at least approximately fifteen (15 lbs.) pounds. 
   In another embodiment, the hanger  30  has a bottom-mounted C-channel  32  which is used to grasp onto the bottom lip  34  of a window  36 . 
   The lock housing  14  is mostly hollow and has a central spring  40  wound around the rod within the inside of the lock housing  14 , with the central spring  40  having two ends, a top end  16  and a bottom end  18 . A holding bar  42  mounted to the lock housing  14  inside the lock housing  14  is located approximately halfway in between the top end  16  and the bottom end  18  of the lock housing  14 , with a release lever (pivoting tab)  50  extending outward from the front surface of the lock housing  14  through groove  60 . 
   The release lever  50  has two ends, a first end and a second end, with the first end of the release lever  50  being wedged in between the central spring  40  and the holding bar  42 . The second end of the release lever  50  is the portion of the release lever  50  that extends outward from the front surface of the lock housing  14  through groove  60 . When the lock housing  14  is not being moved up or down, the release lever  50  is jammed against both the top of the spring  40  and against the holding bar  42 . 
   When the lock housing  14  is not being moved up or down, the release lever  50  is held at such an angle that is prohibits down movement of the entire lock housing  14 . However, when the portion of the release lever  50  that sticks out of the front surface of the lock housing  14  is moved in a general downward direction, the release lever  50  becomes perpendicular to the rod  4 , allowing the entire lock housing  14  and hanger  30  to be moved down by essentially pushing down with the release lever  50 . 
   Once a desired position is reached, then the individual merely needs to let go of the release lever  50 , causing the release lever  50  to snap back into its angled position. After this occurs, then the lock housing  14  and the window will stay in the same position. The lock housing  14  is designed to lock only when weight or force is applied in the down position. Because the weight of the steel rod  4  is greater than the force of the central spring  40 , the locking housing  14  will always move freely in the up position without the rod  4  lifting off the window sill or having to release the locking tab. 
   As can be seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , once the apparatus  2  is secured to the window, the top end of the rod  4  does not even need to be placed against anything, as the weight between the bottom end of the rod  4  combined with the weight being held by the lock housing  14  and the hanger  30  cause the rod  4  to stay in place. 
   The household apparatus  2  of the present invention is a pivoting tab locking device. The release lever  50  preferably has a length of approximately one (1″) inch and a width of approximately three-quarters (¾″) inch, with a one-quarter (¼″) hole, that rests on the spring  40  encased in the hollow lock housing  14 . The lock housing  14  is preferably constructed from a plastic material having a length of approximately two and one-half (2½″) inches, a width of approximately one (1″) inch, and a depth of approximately one (1″) inch with a hole in the top and bottom having a diameter of approximately one-quarter (¼″) inch. The lock housing  14  is attached vertically to the mounting block  30 . The rod  4  extends vertically through holes in the lock housing  14 , the hole in the release lever  50 , and the spring  40 . The combined depth of the lock housing  14  and the mounting block  30  is approximately two (2″) inches which allows the rod  4  to overcome the original window lip (or handle) and sit with the rubber bumper  10  on the window sill. A rubber bumper at the top of the rod  4  inhibits the combined lock housing  14  and the mounting block  30  from sliding off the top of the steel rod  4 . 
   When the window is opened, the release lever  50  pushes down on the spring  40  allowing the rod  4  to stay stationary on the window sill while the window is moving up. With the weight of the window, the release lever  50  pivots up and inhibits the mounting block  30  secured to the window from sliding down the rod  4 . The release lever  50  is mechanically linked through the housing as a release tab to be pressed down with the thumb, while the fingers secure the weight of the window. 
   The foregoing exemplary descriptions and the illustrative preferred embodiments of the present invention have been explained in the drawings and described in detail, with varying modifications and alternative embodiments being taught. While the invention has been so shown, described and illustrated, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that equivalent changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention, and that the scope of the present invention is to be limited only to the claims except as precluded by the prior art. Moreover, the invention as disclosed herein, may be suitably practiced in the absence of the specific elements which are disclosed herein.