Therapeutic gas tube safety reel having easy tube replacement means and method of replacement

摘要

A safety reel for storing, paying out and rewinding tube is provided. As tubing is paid out of the reel a coil spring is wound tight to provide the energy to recoil the tubing when desired. In this way tubing may be reeled up to a desired length and is thereby not underfoot, causing potential tripping hazards and tube crushing situations. The safety reel of the present invention allows the quick and easy replacement of tubing. The reel and case are provided with easy alignment devices such that the internal reel hose guide inlet and the external case payout opening may be quickly and easily aligned together so that tubing may be quickly and easily replaced. In this manner the user is encouraged to replace the tubing at recommended intervals so that germs, bacteria and the like are minimized and the user's health is better protected. In a preferred embodiment the removal and replacement of tubing is facilitated by providing a manipulatable knob with precise indicia to assist in aligning the reel and casing for quick removal and replacement.