Tool belt tote

Abstract

A simplified tool/accessory toting device facilitating the carrying and retention by an individual of a hand tool or other accessory having a loop for attaching the device to a belt. A rigid hook extends from the loop and has the ability to be shifted as the individual moves to maintain a good center of gravity for the accessory attached to the hook. Rigidity of the hook ensures the individual that the accessory can easily be placed on the toting device or to remove it with one hand. The hook can be placed in a comfortable manner so as to permit the individual to position the hook on a persons belt either on the right or left side,

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to the field of carrying or supporting devices on to a belt attachment that allows a user to carry or support a desired tool or implement. These items being similar to caulking guns, gardening and welding tools, cordless and plug in drills, nail guns, staplers, scissors, rolls of tape, as well as many mechanic and plumbing tools such as adjustable, combination and pipe wrenches or similar implements that must be used intermittently. This allows the user of the hook to free up his/her hands when the tool is not needed but now it can be kept close by for easy reuse. There is an upper portion of the hook that slips onto a belt, tool belt, as well as appropriately supported (suspenders) pants or slacks. When in use, an implement or tool is supported by the hook formed at bottom of the suspended stem.

[0002] This bottom hook extends away from the wearer. The weight of most implements or tools carried on the lower hook will tend to easily shift the center of gravity so that the hook will remain in a near vertical position. In most cases this shift will allow the wearer to bend over when it is required without the loss of tools on the hook.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] In the course of performing a task, repair, construction project, cleaning, gardening etc, a person may need to carry a tool or device necessary to perform their task. This work may occur both on the surface of a workplace as well as on ladders and scaffolding. Tool belts of various designs have been produced to retain desired tools or implements while allowing the person to keep his/her hands free to perform the task or allow the user freedom to climb a ladder to a work station. Many tool belts are provided with leather or cloth loops that extend from the belt and which serve as tool retainers. Although useful, tool belts can present certain inconveniences to the user which limit their usefulness. Because cloth is not necessarily a rigid structure, cloth loops may close when not in use, making it difficult for the user to replace the tool. Despite the teachings of the prior art, a need still exists for a tool toting device which may be attached to a belt, tool belt, pants or slacks to facilitate the carrying of a desired tool in a safe and convenient manner freeing up the users hands. Such a device should be rigid enough that when it is desired to insert a tool into it, a user may do so with one hand. Such a device should also permit swiveling of a carried tool or gadget so that the hook center of gravity may shift to a supporting angle. This will insure that the tool or gadget remains within a safe position to be in control of it by the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a tool belt, belt, pants or slacks toting device in which the aforementioned problems can be overcome using a loop affixed to a belt, tool-belt, pants or slacks from which suspends a hook for retaining a needed tool or gadget.

[0005] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a tool belt, belt, pants or slacks toting device for retaining a tool or gadget, which can be removed single-handedly there from.

[0006] It is another object of the present invention to provide a belt, tool belt, pants or slacks toting device which permits the user to adjust the position of a retained tool to an angle which is comfortable and easily accessible from both the left and right hand side of the user.

[0007] It is still another object of the present invention to provide a tool-toting device, which is economical to manufacture, durable in construction and effective in operation.

[0008] Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will be set forth in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following specification or may be learned by practice of the invention. To the accomplishment of the above related objects, this invention maybe embodied in the forms illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings merely are illustrative, and that change may be made in the specific construction or shape illustrated and described within the scope of the claims.

BACKGROUND DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

[0009] In many cases, Do-It Yourselfers, interior decorator, tradesman, maintenance and cleaning personnel, as well as some workers in the home and office realize that when performing common tasks, there is often a need to free up the use of their hands by setting a particular tool(s) or gadget aside but keeping it readily available, in reach so that it can be reused as needed. For many years tool-belts have been a device for supporting many hand tools from pliers to screwdrivers and tape. The need to support present day heavier power tools, caulking guns etc. makes a case for more versatile and safe toting devices.

[0010] Some inventions developed specific solutions for use in selective work areas. U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,873 to Schattel (1990) for carrying construction material, U.S. Pat. No. 4,883,290 to Landa (1989) for carrying ski poles on a belt clip, U.S. Pat. No. 2,320,067 to Caughren (1940) for carrying small game. The following 4 patents U.S. Pat. No. 1,326,887 to Wood (1919), U.S. Pat. No. 3,104,434 to Noordhec (1943), D0261197 to Rowswell (1981) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,372,468 to Harvey (1983) all relate specifically to the toting of hammers of different sizes and shapes only.

[0011] Invention U.S. Pat. No. 1,270,158 to Hill (1918) required that every tool supported on its hooks have a key ring loop at the end of each handle to facilitate attachment to the flat narrow clips on the support device.

[0012] U.S. patent invention D0275527 to Gee (1984) had a “U” shaped hook apparently welded to a wide flat belt clip. The device was slipped onto a belt and various tools could be attached to the large “U’ end for support. This belt clip had no rotating or vertical stabilizing allowances. When the user leaned over the items carried on the large “U” shaped hook could easily fall off because the hook could not shift the supported tools to a more vertical, stable position. U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,451 to Kahn (1998) is a toting device with a belt clip and hook with a plastic ball mounted on the end of the large “U” hook. He sites the uses for his invention as primarily power tools. When in use, the ball restricts the attachment of many tools and gadgets with small openings from slipping over the large “U” hook. There are many tools that cannot be placed on the Kahn hook, namely any tool with a small hole in the handle such as spatulas, rulers, garden tools, wire brushes, chipping hammers, trowels, hand held taping machines as well as some staplers.

[0013] U.S. patents 06325577 to Anderson (2001) and D4443135 to Marks (2001) have varying similarities to Kahn. Anderson has a tool bit compartment mounted above the hook. These last three inventions have a significant amount of fabrication and assembly requirements. This should be clear to the observer. The fabrication simplicity of my invention should make it clear to the observer that the cost of it will be significantly less with little or no reduction in its usefulness and versatility.

OBJECT AND ADVANTAGES

[0014] This is a one piece steel toting device with easy mounting to belts, tool-belts, pants or slacks et al comprising:

[0015] a. Two rounded ends for ease of accessibility.

[0016] b. A hard powder or similar finish for smoothness.

[0017] c. A loop at one end for supporting the hook and another bend for toting tools, power tools, gadgets and materials etc.

[0018] d. A groove allowing for a firmer grip on the inside of the supporting belt material without affecting the hooks ability to change position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0019] The present invention will be better understood with reference to the appended drawing sheet wherein:

[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective of the single body tool tote.

[0021] FIG. 2 is the f full size side view of the single body tool tote.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0022] The present invention relates to a device for supporting and carrying a variety of tools, gadgets and materials on a belt, tool-belt, pants or slacks. The single solid bodied hook is comprised of three main connected elements made from one uninterrupted rod. Portion.

[0023] (A) This element is supported by a belt, tool-belt, pants or slacks commence at the 1st. rounded end (26). The full diameter rod extends upward a short distance to the formation of a concave 6 groove (27). This groove reduces the diameter of the rod gradually to approx. 66% of its original diameter. The groove then expands until it returns to the original diameter of the rod and proceeds forward (28) until it begins a 180-degree turn (20). This “U” bend will produce a slot from right surface of (29) to the left surface of (30). This space is wide enough to slip over and down the upper edge of a belt. tool-belt, pants or slacks. This section (28) is the portion of the hook closest to the users body.

[0024] (B) The rod continues straight (21) forming the outside portion of the belt, tool-belt, pants or slacks slot. The rod continues straight until it begins the formation of another hook; larger and now forming a much wider angled hook. A rounded “V” (24) turning 150 degrees.

[0025] (C) Following the last rounded “V” the rod continues straight until it terminates at the second rounded end. (22)

[0026] The perceived length of the hook is reflected by the distance from the top of the “U” bend (28) to the bottom of the rounded “V” bend. (25)

[0027] The groove(s) (27) is a unique feature of the hook. Since the materials most likely to support the hook; cloth, canvas and leather etc., will tend to expand into and catch into the notch (27). This added grabbing would reduce the possibility of the hook being pulled of the supporting belt while the hook is being used or not. Extra force will be needed to remove the hook from the support because of the groove(s).

[0028] The present invention is coated with a smooth conventional hard powder coating. This coating allows the (U) bend (20) to move laterally along the top edge of the material supporting it when the tool has the weight to shift it. This slight shift repositions the hook to a vertical position so that tools etc. supported by the hook (23) will not tend to slip off. When the weight of the supported tools is not enough to shift the hook, the user can easily adjust it with a slight push on the hook. (23) This shifting feature is not readily accomplished with a flat belt clip. The flat clip cannot shift since it grips the belts along the inside flat surface of the clip.

Claims

1. A belt, tool-belt, pants or slacks tool toting device comprising a single body hook having a rounded first end and a rounded second end.

2. A belt, tool-belt, pants or slacks tool toting device comprising a single body made of round metal or steel metal alloy covered with a smooth powder coating, or hard plastic connecting the rounded first and second end.

3. A belt, tool-belt, pants or slacks tool toting device comprising a hook with a rounded first end having a “U” shaped cross section for the purpose of suspending from a belt, tool-belt, pants or slacks.

4. A belt, tool-belt, pants or slacks tool tote device with a second end having a rounded “V” cross section for the purpose supporting many varieties of tools, implements, gadgets and materials.

5. A belt, tool belt, pants or slacks tool tote device according to claim 3 wherein said first rounded end of the hook contains a groove(s) near the end of the hook. The groove(s) provide for a firmer grip on the belt, tool-belt, pants or slacks.