Abstract:
A sealing plug for a block-and-tackle balance comprises a sealing member having an outer periphery shaped so as to conform to an inner surface of a channel of a window jamb in which the block-and-tackle balance is accommodated. An opening is defined in the sealing member allowing a cord of the block-and-tackle balance to pass therethrough such that the cord is movable with a movement of a window panel. A connector configuration in the sealing member and allows the sealing member to be releasably secured to a bottom end of the block-and-tackle balance.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent application claims priority on U.S. Provisional Patent Applications No. 60/823,222, filed on Aug. 22, 2006, and No. 60/894,297, filed on Mar. 12, 2007. 
     
     FIELD OF THE APPLICATION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to guillotine or vertical sliding sash-type windows and, more particularly, to the sealing of jambs of such windows against air/water infiltration. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0003]    With a temperature differential between the inside and the outside of a building, a pressure differential is usually present between the inside and outside of the building, because of the difference in the density of the air. Accordingly, because of the temperature differential, a chimney effect produces a negative inside pressure relative to the outside, and this causes infiltration at lower levels, and a positive pressure and exfiltration at higher levels. 
         [0004]    In vertical sliding windows, various mechanisms are used to assist an operator in displacing the sash window panel to an opened/closed position. For instance, block-and-tackle balances are positioned in jamb portions and support the sash window panel by way of a spring mechanism and pulleys. However, the jamb portions enclosing such balances are subjected to air/water infiltration. 
       SUMMARY OF THE APPLICATION 
       [0005]    It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide a novel sealing plug for window sash jambs to address issues associated with the prior art. 
         [0006]    Therefore, in accordance with the present application, there is provided a sealing plug for a block-and-tackle balance comprising: a sealing member having an outer periphery shaped so as to conform to an inner surface of a channel of a window jamb in which the block-and-tackle balance is accommodated; an opening in the sealing member allowing a cord of the block-and-tackle balance to pass therethrough such that the cord is movable with a movement of a window panel; and a connector configuration in the sealing member and releasably secured to a bottom end of the block-and-tackle balance. 
         [0007]    Further in accordance with the present application, there is provided a block-and-tackle balance assembly comprising: a block-and-tackle balance having a U-shaped housing positioned vertically in a channel of a window jamb, the block-and-tackle balance having a biasing mechanism accommodated in the U-shaped housing and a cord connected to the biasing mechanism and projecting from a bottom end of the U-shaped housing to support a shoe connected with a sash window panel; and a sealing plug having a sealing member with an outer periphery shaped so as to conform to the channel of the window jamb, an opening in the sealing member allowing the cord to pass therethrough such that the cord is movable with a movement of the shoe, the sealing member being releasably secured to the bottom end of the block-and-tackle balance by a connector configuration. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view, sectioned, of a guillotine window system; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2A  is an underside perspective view, sash side, of the plug in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2B  is an underside perspective view, window side, of the plug of  FIG. 2A ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2C  is an upperside perspective view, sash side, of the plug of  FIG. 2A ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2D  is an underside perspective view, window side, of the plug of  FIG. 2A ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is an assembly view, sectioned, of a block-and-tackle balance having the plug of  FIG. 2A , with respect to a jamb portion; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is an assembly view, sectioned, of the block-and-tackle balance having the plug of  FIG. 2A  and inserted in the jamb portion; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a bottom plan view of a jamb portion having a block-and-tackle balance with the plug of  FIG. 2A  and another without plug; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of a jamb portion having a block-and-tackle balance with the plug in accordance with another embodiment and another with the plug of  FIG. 2A , with respect to a tilt latch; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 7A  is an elevation view of the block-and-tackle balance having the plug of  FIG. 6 , for a first-side jamb; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 7B  is an elevation view of the block-and-tackle balance having the plug of  FIG. 6 , for a second-side jamb. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]    Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIG. 1 , a guillotine window system is generally shown at  10 . The window system  10  has a sash window panel  12 , which is translatable along direction A between a maximum opening position of the window system  10 , a closed position, and various degrees of opening between these extreme positions. 
         [0020]    The sash window panel  12  is mounted to the window frame by way of a pivot  14  received in a shoe  16  of a balance. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the shoe  16  serves as a pivot support, and is provided with a pivoting member in which the pivot  14  is engaged in such a way that the sash window panel  12  may be pivoted along direction B. 
         [0021]    A jamb portion is generally shown at  20 . Referring concurrently to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the jamb portion  20  defines a channel  22  that will accommodate a balance  24 . The jamb portion  20  is an extruded member that forms with other similar jamb portions  20  a jamb upon which the sash window panel  12  is mounted. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the balance  24  is connected to the sash window panel  12  so as to maintain the sash window panel in position at a selected degree of opening of the window. The balance  24  has a cord  26  at a first end of which is connected the shoe  16  by way of a connector  27 . The balance  24  has a body defined by a U-shaped housing  28 , positioned within the channel  22  of the jamb portion  20 . A spring-and-pulley mechanism (i.e., biasing mechanism) is accommodated within the housing  28 . The tension of the spring in the balance is used to support the weight of the window sash panel  12 , as is the common function of the balance. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a plug  30  is provided for the channels  22 , as air/water infiltration (i.e., chimney effect) occurs therethrough. The plug  30  is fitted at a bottom end of the housing  28  so as to generally prevent air/water infiltration between the interior and the exterior of the window system  10 . 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIGS. 2A to 2D , the plug  30  is shaped so as to be connected to the bottom end of the housing  28 , as is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . More specifically, the plug  30  has a sealing member having a central body portion  32  projecting from an end portion  33 . Wings  34 , in the form of a plurality of spaced-apart sealing sub-members, are provided on opposed sides of the central body portion  32 , and are separated therefrom by spacings  35  shaped so as to be mated to an end of the housing  28 . The wings  34  have ribs  34 A well suited to sealingly contact flat surfaces, such as the interior of the channel  22 , so as to define air pockets between the plug  20 , the jamb portion  20  and the housing  28  of the balance  24 , thereby increasing the insulation value of the plug  30  as installed in the window jamb  20 . 
         [0025]    A trough  36  extends through the central body portion  32  and forms an opening  37  in the end portion  33  so as to allow the cord  26  to pass through the plug  30 . A lip  38  is formed on the end portion  33  of the plug  20 , so as to fill the space between the opening in the channel  22  of the jamb portion  20  and the sash window panel  12 . The plug  30  is squeezed into the channel  22  to seal off the end of the channel  22  while allowing the cord  26  to pass therethrough. 
         [0026]    As seen in  FIGS. 2C and 2D , the central body portion  32  forms a hook by way of the groove  39 . This hook connector configuration is provided to hook the central body portion  32  to hold a rod (not shown) transversely positioned within the housing  28 , adjacent to the end thereof. The plug  30  is releasable from secured engagement with the balance  24 . 
         [0027]    Referring concurrently to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the plug is suitably connected to a bottom end of the balance  24 . The cord  26  passes through the balance  24 , such that the cord  26  is connected to the shoe  16  by way of the connector  27 . The cord  26  is therefore allowed to move freely with respect to the plug  30 . The block-and-tackle balance  24  may thus support the sash window panel  12  and assist the user displacing the panel  12 , which assistance is through the cord  26 , even when the plug  30  is used. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the plug  30  is illustrated as blocking the channel  22 , so as to prevent infiltration though the channel  22  resulting from the chimney effect, as compared with the adjacent channel  22 ′ having a balance  24 ′ not provided with the plug  30 . 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , a latch mechanism is generally illustrated at  40 . The latch mechanism  40  is provided at the top of the sash window panel  12 . The latch mechanism  40  has a latch bolt  41  that enters the channel  22 , thereby preventing rotation along direction B of the sash window panel  12  about the shoe  16  ( FIG. 1 ). The latch bolt  41  is manually withdrawn from the channel  22  by moving the detent  42 . 
         [0030]    In some window systems such as the one illustrated at  10 ′ in  FIG. 6 , the block-and-tackle balance  24  is offset from a central position within the channel  22  so as not to have the latch bolt  41  come into contact with the housing  28 . In  FIG. 6 , the centrally positioned balance is illustrated by  24 , whereas the offset balance is indicated as  24 ′. It is seen that the latch bolt  41  does not come into contact with the housing  28  of the balance  24 ′. 
         [0031]    Therefore, referring concurrently to  FIGS. 6 ,  7 A and  7 B, a universal plug  30 ′ has been defined to be used with such offset balances  24 ′ More specifically, considering that a sash-type window system typically has a block-and-tackle balance on both its right-hand side and left-hand side, a universal plug  30 ′ is shaped so as to fit the balance  24 ′ notwithstanding the side of the window. 
         [0032]    The universal plug  30 ′ has wider spacings  35 ′ when compared to the plug  30  of  FIGS. 2A to 2D , and therefore shorter wings  34 ′ and central body portion (not shown). The universal plug  30 ′ has a single opening  37 , as the cord  26  is not restricted to being centered in the housing  28 —the cord  26  can thus line up with its attachment point in the shoe  16 . 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the universal plug  30 ′ is shown on block-and-tackle balances  24 ′ used on different side jambs of a window system. 
         [0034]    In order to seal off the channel  22 , the plugs  30  and  30 ′ are preferably made of polymeric material. One suitable material is Neoprene™ (e.g., 70 duro). Other materials of various densities and hardness are considered.