Gas tubing reel

A gas tubing reel device for use in conveying a supply of gas through gas tubing connected to a gas source and through an air catheter to a person, said gas tubing reel device comprising:

• a housing having first and second oppositely disposed side walls, said second side wall defining a large generally circular opening;
• a support shaft attached to said first side wall and extending substantially between said first and second side walls;
• a tubing-reel having first and second generally circular plates with a hollow reel shaft extending therebetween, said reel shaft adapted to slidably engage said support shaft such that said tubing-reel is rotatably mounted within said housing for selectively unwinding said gas tubing and retracting said gas tubing thereabout, said tubing-reel being selectively slidably removable from said support shaft through said circular opening of said second side wall;
• means for biasing-said tubing-reel in a retracting direction;
• ratchet means for holding said tubing-reel at a user-selected configuration such that a selected length of said gas tubing is payed out;
• release means for selectively releasing said ratchet means to permit said biasing means to rotate said tubing-reel in a retracting direction such that said gas tubing is automatically retracted onto said tubing-reel;
• a worm gear extending longitudinally between said first and second side walls and being rotatably mounted thereto, said worm gear being coupled to said first plate of said tubing-reel for corresponding rotation therewith;
• a line guide coupled to said worm gear for reciprocative movement between said first and second side walls so as to distribute said gas tubing evenly about said reel shaft of said tubing-reel as said tubing-reel is rotated;
• and
• a door pivotally coupled to said second side wall and selectively movable between open and closed configurations, said tubing-reel being slidably removable from said support shaft when said door is at said open configuration.