Patent ID: 7389790

Claim:
A reel assembly for use with a hose, the assembly comprising: a hub, having opposite end portions and an exterior surface adapted for supporting a length of the hose; said hub being selectively divisible into at least first and second hub members that are each provided with mating surfaces, which engage one another when said hub is disposed in an assembled position; a pair of opposing flanges projecting radially outwardly from opposite end portions of said hub to form an annular channel for receiving a length of the hose; an axle, having first and second end portions, coaxial with said hub and operatively coupled with said hub in a manner that permits selective rotation of said hub about said axle; and a mounting plate having an opening, which is shaped and sized to securely receive the first end portion of said axle in a generally perpendicular position with respect to said mounting plate, and a plurality of mounting tabs that are shaped to engage a mounting surface; said mounting plate being disposed substantially along a first plane and said plurality of mounting tabs being substantially disposed along a second plane: said first plane and said second plane being positioned in a spaced-apart relationship with one another such that an access opening is defined by said mounting plate, said mounting tabs; and the mounting surface when said plurality of mounting tabs are engaged with the mounting surface: said access opening being shaped and sized to permit the hose to be passed through said access opening to the first end portion of said axle.