Sash Balances.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Aug., 1890-Accepted, 27th Sept., 1850
Sash Balances.
I, GEORGE CADOGAN GARDNER, of Hinsdale in the County of Du Page, State of
Illinois and United States of America, a Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for SASH BALANCES, and in what manner the same is to be performed
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to a device for balancing window-sashes; sliding doors, etc.)
by means of thin metallic bands, upon which they are suspended and which pass over
pulleys and are attached to weights upon the opposite side, more particularly it
relates to certain improvements in the means by which these bands are secured to the
sashes and weights. These improvements are capable of either conjoint or separate
use and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a longi-
tudinal section in line a-x of Figure 2; Figure 2, a plan view of the clip or plate
at the end of the band; Figure 3. a similar view of a modified form of said clip or
plate. Figures 4 and 5 show a modified form of clip, Figure 6, a modified form of
fastening, and Figure 7, the fastening of Figure 6 applied to a clip with parallel-
sided slot.
In these drawings, B represents the thin, flat metallic band which plays over a
guiding pulley in the window frame and bas the sash attached at one end and the
balance weight at the other, and A represents a metal clip attached to the band and
supporting the sash or weight. With the construction here shown, it is not necessary
to swage the clip to the band, although this may be done if preferred; but for the
general purposes of the structure any other suitable fastening may be adopted which
will hold securely, and draw squarely and evenly across the fire of the band. The
simplest and best method which I have devised consists in constructing the clip with
a slit or slot through it in line with the band, as shown at a, making the slot
preferably wedge shaped, with the wide end next to the weight or sash, then passing
the end of the band through from the narrow to the wide end of the slot, so as to
project therefrom, then doubling the projecting end back upon the body of the band
and pushing it through the slot in the reverse direction so as to form a loop or
bight at the wide end of the slot, and interposing in the loop or bight a body,
either integral with the band or separate from it, which, when the band is drawn
taut, will cramp both sides of the loop against the corners or sides of the slot and
thereby bind the band and clip firmly together, the greater the weight, the more
firmly. There are several ways in which this may be done, some of which are illus-
trated in the drawings. For example, in Figures 1 and 4, a portion of the loop bis
folded in so as to form an internal loop, which by any sufficient draft upon the
band is forced between the two sides of the outer loop into the open end of the
slot, thereby wedging the band firmly between the sides of the slot in the clip.
This construction is recommended for its cheapness, convenience, simplicity, and
effectiveness.
In Figure 6, a piece of wire e is inserted in the loop and drawn into the open
end of the slot with similar effect. In Figure 7, the slot is made with parallel sides
and a piece of wire c preferably about the diameter of the slot, is inserted in the
loop, with the result that the draft upon the band will clamp the wire and
surrounding band between the corners of the slot, thereby effectually locking the
parts together. All these devices are more or less equivalents of each other for the
general purposes of my invention, although the one shown in Figures 1 and 4 is
the simplest and best." All involve the principle of forming a loop in the band,
placing the two sides of the loop in the slot of the clip and inserting within the loop
between said two sides a body of metal or other material, which will be drawn
against said two sides by any longitudinal draft upon the band and will thus clamp or

page_text: wedge both sides of the loop firmly against the walls or corners of the slot, so as to
form a secure fastening, binding squarely across the fibres of the band throughout the
entire with thereof.
The clip itself may be made in any suitable forın adapted for attachment to the
sash or weight, so that the strain will be in line with the band. In the form shown
in Figure 6 the weight is suspended from the clip by means of a slotted bail or
stirrup, the slot in the stirrup being sufficient to admit the passage of the band, but
not the clip. The band is passed through the stirrup slot and the clip then applied
and fastened to the band, so that the stirrup and the weight which it supports are
suspended from the clip.
In Figures 1, 2 and 3, one side of the clip is prolonged into a lug a¹, which may
be provided with an eye, Figs. 1 and 2, or a hook, Fig. 3, for the direct attachment
of the weight. In Figs. 4 and 5 the clip is formed in one end of a flat plate, to the
other end of which the weight is attached, an opening being made through the middle
of the plate to accommodate the loop of the band. These forms are substantial
equivalents so far as concerns the main function; but that shown in Figures 1, 2
and 3 is deemed preferable in the matter of cheapness.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In a gravity sash-balance, the combination of the flat, thin metallic suspending
band, B, with a clip, A., provided with a slot through it for attachment of the band
and adapted for connection to the weight or sash, whereby the clip is attached to the
band and the sash or weight is suspended from the clip, substantially as described.
2. In a gravity sash-balance the combination of the flat, thin, metallic suspending
band B with a slotted clip A from which the weight or sash is suspended, and with a
fastening for attaching the band to the clip constructed by passing the end of the
band through the slot and doubling it back and passing it in the reverse direction
through the slot so as to form a loop or bight, and interposing between the sides of
the loop a body adapted to be wedged against the sides or corners of the slot when
the loop is contracted so as to clamp and bind the band to the clip under the strain
produced by the suspended weight or sash, substantially as described.
3. In a gravity sash balance, the combination of the flat, thin, metallic suspending
band B with a clip A, from which the sash or weight is suspended, having a V-shaped
slot through it, and with a fastening constructed by passing the end of the band
through the slot and doubling it back and passing it in the reverse direction through
the slot so as to form a loop or bight in the band at the wider end of the slot, and
folding in a portion of said loop, so as to form a loop within the loop b, whereby
any sufficient longitudinal strain upon the band will wedge the metal of the loop b
between the sides of the main loop b in the wider end of the slot, and thus bind the
band and clip firmly together, substantially as described.
Dated this 15th day of July A.D. 1890.
GEORGE CADOGAN GARDNER.
H. B. Barlow,
17, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agent for Applicant.