Patent ID: 8146853

Claim:
A universal laser fiber reel for use with an optical laser fiber, the reel comprising: a generally circular base having a base plate, the base plate having a base plate outer surface and a base plate inner surface, the base plate further having a base hub defining a base hub axis, the base further having a generally circular base wall generally orthogonal to the base plate and concentric to the base hub, the base wall having a base wall outer surface and a base wall inner surface, the base wall inner surface having a spacer, the base wall further having a base wall width not less than a minimum laser fiber wind length; a generally cylindrical wheel defining a wheel axis concentric to the base hub, the wheel having a wheel outer surface and an opposing wheel inner surface facing the base plate inner surface, the wheel being rotatably engageable with the base; a fiber cage being a spool proximate the base wall inner surface and concentric to the base hub operative to radially store the laser fiber in the reel, the fiber cage having a fiber cage radius as measured from the base hub greater than or equal to a minimum laser fiber bend radius, the fiber cage having a fiber cage width not less than the minimum laser fiber wind length of the laser fiber, the fiber cage having a plurality of six evenly spaced wheel posts, each wheel post having a wheel post first end mounted to the wheel inner surface and a wheel post second end extending from the wheel inner surface toward the base plate inner surface proximate to the base wall inner surface, each wheel post second end having a generally rounded spacer knob sized and configured to be rotatably engageable with the spacer; and a laser fiber input port on the base plate outer surface operative to receive the laser fiber into the reel.