Patent ID: 6913221

Claim:
A safety enclosure for a powered reel apparatus for use with an associated elongated flexible member comprising: a reel having a hub defining an axis of rotation and a pair of flanges at opposing ends of said hub and perpendicular to said axis of rotation; an enclosure having left and right side wall panels, front and rear wall panels extending between said left and right side wall panels, and a cover panel, said enclosure being constructed and arranged to receive said reel, said reel being rotatably mounted within said enclosure; at least one electric motor constructed and arranged to cooperate with said reel to provide selective power assisted rotational movement of said reel in relation to said enclosure; a control assembly constructed and arranged to electrically connect and disconnect said at least one electric motor to and from an electrical power source, wherein operation of said control assembly in a first mode connects said electrical power source to said electric motor to cause rotation of said reel in relation to said enclosure for powered take-up or pay out of said flexible elongate member, wherein operation of said control assembly in a second mode disconnects said electrical power source from said at least one electric motor; at least one safety interlock means constructed and arranged to cooperate with said control assembly and said enclosure to prevent electrical connection between said electrical power source and said at least one electric motor when at least one of said enclosure panels are in an open position, thereby preventing power assisted operation of said reel.