Utility outlet fixture with slack take-up

Claim 2

A utility outlet fixture comprising an elongated track adapted to be fixedly supported, a utility inlet adapted to be supported in spaced relation to said track and adapted to be connected to at least one utility source, a carriage supported by said track for movement in opposite directions, conduit means connected at opposite ends respectively to said utility inlet and to said carriage, and means for removing slack in said conduit means at any position of said carriage relative to said track, said means for removing slack comprising means movable along said track for engaging slack in said conduit means and biasing means connected to said means for engaging slack biasing said means for engaging slack and said carriage apart along said track.

Claim 3

The fixture of claim 1 wherein said means for engaging slack comprises a pulley engaging slack in said conduit means and means supported by said track for guiding said pulley for movement along said track.

Claim 4

The fixture of claim 1 wherein said conduit means comprises plural elongated flexible conduits connected at opposite ends respectively to said inlet and to said carriage.

Claim 5

The fixture of claim 3 wherein said means for engaging slack comprises a gang of pulleys, each pulley engaging slack in one of said conduits, and means supported by said track for guiding said gang of pulleys for movement along said track between said carriage and an end of said track.

Claim 6

The fixture of claim 4 wherein said biasing means biases said gang of pulleys and said carriage toward opposite ends of said track.

Claim 7

A utility outlet fixture comprising: an elongated track adapted to be fixedly supported; a utility inlet adapted to be supported in spaced relation to said track and adapted to be connected to at least one utility source; a carriage supported by said track for movement in opposite directions; conduit means comprising plural elongated flexible cOnduits connected at opposite ends respectively to said utility inlet and to said carriage; and means for removing slack in said conduit means at any position of said carriage relative to said track; said means for removing slack comprising a first pulley engaging slack in a first of said conduits, means supported by said track for guiding said first pulley for movement along said track between said carriage and one end of said track, a second pulley engaging slack in a second of said conduits, means supported by said track for guiding said second pulley for movement along said track between said carriage and another end of said track, and biasing means connecting said pulleys for biasing said pulleys apart along said track.

Claim 8

A utility outlet fixture comprising: an elongated track adapted to be fixedly supported; a utility inlet adapted to be supported in spaced relation to said track and adapted to be connected to at least one utility source; a carriage supported by said track for movement in opposite directions; conduit means comprising plural elongated flexible cOnduits connected at opposite ends respectively to said utility inlet and to said carriage; and means for removing slack in said conduit means at any position of said carriage relative to said track; said means for removing slack comprising a first pulley engaging slack in a first of said conduits, means supported by said track for guiding said first pulley for movement along said track between said carriage and one end of said track, a second pulley engaging slack in a second of said conduits, means supported by said track for guiding said second pulley for movement along said track between said carriage and another end of said track, and biasing means connecting said pulleys for biasing said pulleys apart along said track.

Claim 9

The fixture of claim 6 wherein said biasing means biases said first pulley toward the first end of said track and said second pulley toward the second end of said track.

Claim 10

The fixture of claim 7 wherein said biasing means comprises a wire connected at a first end to said first pulley and at a second end to said second pulley, means supported adjacent the opposite ends of said track for guiding said wire intermediate its ends, and means connected between one end of said wire and one of said first and second pulleys for tensioning said wire.

Claim 11

The fixture of claim 7 wherein said biasing means comprises an elongated rod, means for connecting one end of said rod to one of said first and second pulleys, and means for resiliently connecting the other end of said rod to the other of said first and second pulleys.

Claim 12

A utility outlet fixture comprising: an elongated track adapted to be fixedly supported; a utility inlet adapted to be supported in spaced relation to said track and adapted to be connected to at least one utility source; a carriage supported by said track for movement in opposite directions; conduit means comprising plural elongated flexible conduits connected at opposite ends respectively to said utility inlet and to said carriage; and means for removing slack in said conduit means at any position of said carriage relative to said track; said means for removing slack comprising a first gang of pulleys, each pulley engaging slack in one of said conduits, means supported by said track for guiding said first gang of pulleys for movement along said track between said carriage and one end of said track, a second gang of pulleys, each pulley engaging slack in one of said conduits, means supported by said track for guiding said second gang of pulleys for movement along said track between said carriage and another end of said track, and biasing means connecting said gangs of pulleys for biasing said gangs of pulleys apart along said track.

Claim 13

A utility outlet fixture comprising: an elongated track adapted to be fixedly supported; a utility inlet adapted to be supported in spaced relation to said track and adapted to be connected to at least one utility source; a carriage supported by said track for movement in opposite directions; conduit means comprising plural elongated flexible conduits connected at opposite ends respectively to said utility inlet and to said carriage; and means for removing slack in said conduit means at any position of said carriage relative to said track; said means for removing slack comprising a first gang of pulleys, each pulley engaging slack in one of said conduits, means supported by said track for guiding said first gang of pulleys for movement along said track between said carriage and one end of said track, a second gang of pulleys, each pulley engaging slack in one of said conduits, means supported by said track for guiding said second gang of pulleys for movement along said track between said carriage and another end of said track, and biasing means connecting said gangs of pulleys for biasing said gangs of pulleys apart along said track.

Claim 14

The fixture of claim 10 wherein said biasing means biases said first gang of pulleys toward the first end of the track and said second gang of pulleys toward the second end of said track.

Claim 15

The fixture of claim 10 wherein said biasing means comprises a wire connected at a first end to said first gang of pulleys and at a second end to said second gang of pulleys, means supported adjacent the opposite ends of said track for guiding said wire intermediate its ends, and means connected between one end of said wire and one of said first and second gangs of pulleys for tensioning said wire.

Claim 16

The fixture of claim 10 wherein said biasing means comprises an elongated rod, means for connecting one end of said rod to one of said first and second gangs of pulleys, and means for resiliently connecting the other end of said rod to the other of said first and second gangs of pulleys.

Claim 17

A utility outlet fixture comprising: an elongated track adapted to be fixedly supported; a utility inlet located in spaced relation to said track and adapted to be connected to at least one utility source; a carriage supported by said track for movement in opposite directions, conduit means connected at opposite ends respectively to said utility inlet and to said carriage; and means for removing slack in said conduit meAns at any position of said carriage relative to said track, said means for removing slack comprising means movable along said track for engaging slack in said conduit means and biasing means connected to said means for engaging slack biasing said means for engaging slack and said carriage apart along said track; said biasing means comprising a first wire connected at a first end to said carriage and at a second end to structure adjacent a first end of said track, means connected between one end of said first wire and that to which said end of said wire is connected for tensioning said first wire, a second wire connected at a first end to said gang of pulleys and at a second end to structure adjacent a second end of said track, and means connected between one end of said second wire and that to which said end of said second wire is connected for tensioning said second wire.

Claim 18

A utility outlet fixture comprising: an elongated track adapted to be fixedly supported; a utility inlet located in spaced relation to said track and adapted to be connected to at least one utility source; a carriage supported by said track for movement in opposite directions, conduit means connected at opposite ends respectively to said utility inlet and to said carriage; and means for removing slack in said conduit meAns at any position of said carriage relative to said track, said means for removing slack comprising means movable along said track for engaging slack in said conduit means and biasing means connected to said means for engaging slack biasing said means for engaging slack and said carriage apart along said track; said biasing means comprising a first wire connected at a first end to said carriage and at a second end to structure adjacent a first end of said track, means connected between one end of said first wire and that to which said end of said wire is connected for tensioning said first wire, a second wire connected at a first end to said gang of pulleys and at a second end to structure adjacent a second end of said track, and means connected between one end of said second wire and that to which said end of said second wire is connected for tensioning said second wire.

Claim 19

The fixture of claim 14 wherein the tensioning force on said gang of pulleys is approximately twice the tensioning force on said carriage.