Dental instrument hose retraction device

A hose retraction device for use in a cabinet structure, said device comprising:

• a pair of side walls spaced apart and interconnected by a rear and a front wall to form a compartment, said compartment having an upper and a lower end, said front wall having a hose receiving opening adjacent said upper end of said compartment;
• a hose having a proximal end mounted in a fixed position adjacent said upper end of said compartment and a distal end received in said hose receiving opening, said hose being movable between an extended position wherein said hose is pulled away at said distal end and a retracted position wherein said hose is stored within said compartment;
• a weighted spool positioned within said compartment for free vertical movement therein, said spool being positioned above and resting on said hose resulting in a tension force applied to said hose and causing said hose to be held in said retracted position;
• at least one spool support adjacent said upper end of said compartment for releasably supporting said weighted spool and thereby releasing tension on said hose, said spool being positionable on said spool support when said hose is in said extended position.

A hose retraction device for use in a dental cabinet, said device comprising:

• a pair of parallel vertical side walls spaced apart a first distance and interconnected by a rear wall and a front wall to form a compartment, said compartment and each of said walls having an upper end and a lower end, said front wall having a hose receiving opening adjacent said upper end thereof;
• a hose having a proximal end mounted in a fixed position adjacent said upper end of said rear wall at substantially the midpoint between said side walls and a distal end slidably received in said hose receiving opening for movement of said hose from between a retracted position wherein said hose forms a loop which extends from said fixed position down to said lower end of said compartment and up through said hose receiving opening and an extended position wherein said hose extends in a substantially straight path from said rear wall to said hose receiving opening in said front wall;
• a spool positioned between said side walls for free rotational and vertical movement within said compartment and having a length slightly shorter than said first distance, said spool having a center axis generally perpendicular to said side walls, a center portion having a first diameter and opposite ends which have a second diameter which is greater than said first diameter, said spool being positioned above and resting on said hose resulting in a tension force applied to said hose and having sufficient weight to normally hold said hose in said retracted position;
• a pair of supports adjacent said upper end of said compartment for releasably supporting the weight of said spool when said hose is in said extended position to release tension from said hose, said supports being spaced apart a sufficient distance to support said spool by said spool ends and being configured to release said spool when said distal end of said hose is jerked when said hose is in said extended position so that said center portion of said spool rests on said hose and the weight of said spool pulls said hose from said extended position to said retracted position.

A hose retraction device comprising:

• parallel walls having upper and lower ends and rear and forward edges, respectively;
• a hose having a first end fixedly mounted between said parallel walls adjacent said upper ends and said rear edges thereof and a distal end movably mounted between said parallel walls adjacent said upper ends and said forward edges thereof, said hose having an extended position in which said distal end is moved away from said forward edges of said parallel walls and said hose having a retracted position forming a curved bight adjacent said lower ends of said walls with said distal end positioned adjacent said forward edges of said parallel walls;
• a spool resting on said bight and positioned between said parallel walls for free vertical movement therebetween, said spool being positioned above and resting on said hose for exerting a downward force on said hose to hold said hose under tension;
• and
• spool support means positioned adjacent said upper ends of said parallel walls for supporting said spool, said spool being positionable on said spool support means to relieve the tension on said hose when said hose is in said extended position.