Extendable and retractable utility line system
OwnerCharles R. Johnstoneinventor
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OwnerCharles R. Johnstoneinventor
Estimating the term…
The present invention provides a utility line extension and retraction system for enabling users thereof to selectively extend a utility line for utility line use and retract the utility line for utility line storage. The utility line extension and retraction system essentially comprises a plurality of utility line cassettes. Each utility line cassette essentially comprises two laterally-spaced, pulley-receiving walls, an anterior line outlet end, a posterior line inlet end, a stationary pulley assembly adjacent the anterior line outlet end; a traveling pulley assembly intermediate the anterior line outlet end and the posterior line inlet end, and a utility line extending from the posterior line inlet end to the anterior line outlet end, which line imparts motion to the traveling pulley assembly. The traveling pulley assembly travels along a closed path comprising an ascension path, a descension path, and an extended-state rest stop intermediate the ascension and descension paths.
A utility line extension and retraction system, the utility line extension and retraction system for enabling a user to selectively extend a utility line for utility line use and retract the utility line for utility line storage, the utility line extension and retraction system comprising:
A utility line extension and retraction cassette assembly, the cassette assembly for enabling a user to selectively extend a utility line for utility line use and selectively retract the utility line for utility line storage, the cassette assembly comprising two laterally spaced pulley-receiving walls, spacer means intermediate the pulley-receiving walls, an anterior line outlet end, a posterior line inlet end, a stationary pulley assembly adjacent the anterior line outlet end, a traveling pulley assembly intermediate the anterior line outlet end and the posterior line inlet end, and a utility line extending from the posterior line inlet end to the anterior line outlet end, each pulley-receiving wall comprising an inner wall surface, an outer wall surface, and a pulley-receiving groove intermediate the inner wall surface and the outer wall surface, the pulley-receiving grooves cooperatively forming a pulley-receiving track, the pulley-receiving track comprising an inferior track path, a superior track region, and a pulley guide junction intermediate the inferior track path and the superior track region, the superior track region comprising an anterior track path, a posterior track path, and a superior track path intermediate the anterior track path and the posterior track path, the anterior track path, the posterior track path, and the inferior track path intersecting at the pulley guide junction, the superior track path comprising an extended-state rest stop, the extended-state rest stop for braking the utility line when in extended utility line use, the spacer means for maintaining the pulley-receiving walls in laterally spaced relation, the traveling pulley assembly comprising a first pulley and track-traveling means, the first pulley comprising an inferior pulley region, a central traveling hub aperture, and a first utility line-accepting groove, the central traveling hub aperture having a traveling hub axis, the track traveling means located in the central traveling hub aperture for enabling the traveling pulley assembly to travel along the pulley-receiving track, the stationary pulley assembly comprising a second pulley and cassette attachment means, the cassette attachment means for rotatably attaching the stationary pulley assembly to the utility line cassette, the second pulley comprising a superior pulley region, a central stationary hub, and a second utility line-accepting groove, the central stationary hub having a stationary hub axis, the utility line comprising an instrument end, an instrument-actuating end, and a utility line length intermediate the instrument end and the instrument-actuating end, the utility line length being cooperatively associated with the first and second utility line-accepting grooves adjacent the inferior and superior pulley regions for imparting motion to the first and second pulleys, the first pulley rotatable about the traveling hub axis, the second pulley rotatable about the stationary hub axis, the instrument-actuating end located adjacent the posterior line inlet end, the instrument end located adjacent the anterior line outlet end, the instrument end being selectively extendable from the anterior line outlet end for utility line use and selectively retractable into the anterior outlet for utility line storage, the traveling pulley assembly located in the inferior track path at a retracted-state rest stop when the instrument end is in a retracted state, the traveling pulley assembly traveling an orderly extension-retraction path when the instrument end is systematically extended and retracted, the orderly extension-retraction path comprising a series of path steps, the path steps comprising:
A utility line extension and retraction cassette assembly, the cassette assembly for enabling a user to selectively extend a utility line for utility line use and selectively retract the utility line for utility line storage, the cassette assembly comprising two laterally spaced pulley-receiving walls, an anterior line outlet end, a posterior line inlet end, a traveling pulley assembly, and a utility line extending from the posterior line inlet end to the anterior line outlet end, each pulley-receiving wall comprising an inner wall surface and pulley-receiving structure, the pulley-receiving structure being formed in the inner wall surfaces, the pulley-receiving structure cooperatively forming a pulley-receiving track, the pulley-receiving track comprising a superior track region and a pulley guide junction, the superior track region comprising an ascension track path, a descension track path, and an extended-state rest stop intermediate the ascension track path and the descension track path, the ascension track path and the descension track path intersecting at the pulley guide junction, the utility line comprising a first line end, a second line end, and a line length intermediate the first and second line ends, the line length being cooperatively associated with the traveling pulley assembly for imparting motion thereto, the first line end being selectively extendable from the anterior line outlet end for utility line use and selectively retractable into the anterior outlet for utility line storage.
The cassette assembly of claim 33 wherein the traveling pulley shock absorbing means is defined by a select shock absorbing structure, the select shock-absorbing structure being selected from the group consisting of the shock-absorbing core and impact-resistant foam padding, the shock-absorbing core for absorbing impact of the inner wall surfaces as the traveling pulley assembly travels along the orderly extension-retraction path, the foam padding for absorbing impact of the traveling pulley assembly as the traveling pulley assembly travels from the descension track path through the pulley guide junction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.