Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
249 words
In a fabric tenter device having a roof mounted to a tenter frame for pivotal movement about a horizontal pivot axis between a closed tenter covering position and an open tenter exposing position, a counterbalance assembly for facilitating upward pivotal movement of said roof from said tenter covering to said open position comprising a lever member, a fulcrum means on said frame for supporting said lever member for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, said lever member including a weight arm disposed to one side and a power arm disposed to the other side of said fulcrum means, articulation means on an end portion of said weight arm at a position remote from said pivot axis for slidable engagement with an undersurface of said roof, an elongate tubular housing connected to said weight arm, a pull rod slideably guided in said housing for axial movement therein, spring means in said housing positioned to be tensioned responsive to movements of said rod toward a first end of said housing, a guide roller mounted on said tenter frame, a flexible pull member having first and second ends fixed respectively to said rod and to said power arm at a position displaced from said fulcrum, said pull member being arrayed over said guide roller such that said rod is progressively shifted toward said first end of said housing to thereby tension said spring means responsive to movements of said roof about said pivot axis from said open to said tenter covering position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
249 words
In a fabric tenter device having a roof mounted to a tenter frame for pivotal movement about a horizontal pivot axis between a closed tenter covering position and an open tenter exposing position, a counterbalance assembly for facilitating upward pivotal movement of said roof from said tenter covering to said open position comprising a lever member, a fulcrum means on said frame for supporting said lever member for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, said lever member including a weight arm disposed to one side and a power arm disposed to the other side of said fulcrum means, articulation means on an end portion of said weight arm at a position remote from said pivot axis for slidable engagement with an undersurface of said roof, an elongate tubular housing connected to said weight arm, a pull rod slideably guided in said housing for axial movement therein, spring means in said housing positioned to be tensioned responsive to movements of said rod toward a first end of said housing, a guide roller mounted on said tenter frame, a flexible pull member having first and second ends fixed respectively to said rod and to said power arm at a position displaced from said fulcrum, said pull member being arrayed over said guide roller such that said rod is progressively shifted toward said first end of said housing to thereby tension said spring means responsive to movements of said roof about said pivot axis from said open to said tenter covering position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
A device in accordance with claim 1 and including a second guide roller means on said power arm of said lever, said second guide roller means being disposed between said fulcrum and said second end of said pull member, said pull member being arrayed against said second guide roller means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said spring means comprises a plurality of cup springs slideably mounted in said housing, said springs slidably encircling said rod.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device in accordance with claim 3 wherein said articulation means comprises a roller.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said pull member comprises a cable or a chain.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said weight arm is formed integrally with said housing.