Tool Belt

Abstract

A tool belt includes a belt portion formed by two coplanar sheets of material, the ends of which have a detachable, mating attachment mechanism. At attachment points along the belt potion, the coplanar sheets are joined by, for example, stitching. The space between the attachment points forms an attachment area at which the layers separate from each other for inserting objects such as a paper towel holder a scrapping tool, a squeegee holder, a knife pouch a box of new blades, and a spent blade holder.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a non-provisional application related taking priority from U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/830,232, filed Jun. 3, 2013, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD

This invention is directed generally to tool belts and more particularly to tool belts configured to support devices used in the window tinting industry.

BACKGROUND

This invention is generally directed to a tool belt configured to support one or more tools in a position that improves safety while facilitating easy removal of the tools. Often, window tinting is performed within a structure such as a home or office. There are several tools particularly used in the window tinting industry such as razor knifes, blades, squeegees, scrapers, etc. Many of these tools are sharp and capable of inflicting injury on the window tinting installer as well as damaging of an area surrounding the target window, perhaps if one of the tools were dropped, etc.

There are many tool belts currently manufactured for general use having features for containing hammers, screwdrivers, wrenches, etc. These tool belts sometimes contain one or more pouches, with or without covers, of various sizes. Often such belts are used by window tinting installers due to lack of a better solution. Unfortunately, the size and shape of items used in window tinting installation do not readily adapt to the features of existing belts, and, therefore lead to inefficiencies, injuries, and/or damage to the home and offices in which the window tinting is being installed. For example, it is known to use the pouches of existing tool belts to store razor knifes used in scoring, along with other items. When the installer reaches into this pocket to obtain the razor knife, it is possible to lance their fingers on the sharp blade of the razor knife.

Additionally, in wide use is a snap-off blade that has an extended blade portion with a plurality of segments, each segment having a razor edge such that, as the razor edge of one segment dulls, that segment is snapped off and the next, sharp segment, is ready for use. Often window tint installers snap the used segment off using their fingers, which leads to potential for injury. Additionally, it is very difficult to snap off only one segment and often, two segments are snapped off, creating added waste and costs.

What is needed is a tool belt with features designed for the window tint installation industry.

SUMMARY

A tool belt includes a belt portion formed by two coplanar sheets of material, the ends of which have a detachable, mating attachment mechanism. There is at least one paper towel holder removably affixed to the belt portion by a carabineer, at least one loop formed between each of the two coplanar sheets of material for holding a scrapping tool, and at least one squeegee holder affixed to the belt portion, the squeegee holder having a length of material looped around the belt portion and closed at an end distal from the belt portion, and the squeegee holder having a bracket affixed to the end distal from the belt portion. A knife pouch is affixed to the belt portion, the knife pouch sized to snuggly hold a razor knife. A loop is formed in the belt portion for holding a box of new blades, the blade for the knife and a second loop is formed in the belt portion for holding a spent blade holder.

In another embodiment, a tool belt is disclosed having a belt portion formed by two coplanar sheets of material, and having a detachable and mating attachment mechanism at each end. A paper towel holder is removably affixed to the belt portion by a carabineer. A first loop is formed between the two coplanar sheets of material for holding a scrapping tool. A squeegee holder is also affixed to the belt portion. The squeegee holder has a length of material looped around the belt portion and closed at an end distal from the belt portion, and the squeegee holder has a bracket affixed to an end distal from the belt portion. A knife pouch is affixed to the belt portion. A second loop is formed between the two coplanar sheets of material of the belt portion for holding a box of new blades and a third loop is formed between the two coplanar sheets of material of the belt portion for holding a spent blade holder.

In another embodiment, a tool belt is disclosed having a belt portion with an inner layer made of a stiff, bendable material and an outer layer made of a resilient material. The inner layer is periodically affixed to the outer layer at attachment points along the length of the belt portion, forming insertion areas along the belt portion between adjacent attachment points. Each end of the belt portion has a detachable and mating attachment mechanism. A knife pouch for snuggly holding a razor knife is affixed to a first insertion area of the insertion areas. A second insertion area of the insertion areas sized for holding a box of new blades and a third insertion area of the insertion areas is sized for holding a spent blade holder.

In another embodiment, a tool belt is disclosed having a belt portion with an inner layer made of a stiff, bendable material and an outer layer made of a resilient material. The inner layer is periodically affixed to the outer layer at a plurality of attachment points along the length of the belt portion, thereby forming a plurality of insertion areas along the belt portion between adjacent attachment points. Each end of the belt portion has a detachable and mating attachment mechanism.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view of a tool belt.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a blade holder of the tool belt.

FIG. 3A illustrates a perspective view of a spent blade receptacle in the tool belt.

FIG. 3B illustrates a perspective view of a spent blade receptacle accepting a spent blade section.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a squeegee holder of the tool belt.

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a paper towel roll holder of the tool belt.

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of the tool belt in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 4-6, views of a tool belt 10 is shown. In the window tinting profession, the window tinting is typically a sheet of material that is larger than the window is installed on the inside surface of the windows by a window tinting expert, making sure that the sheet is properly squared on the window and that there are no bumps, bubbles, or blisters as might happen if an air pocket or foreign matter (e.g. dust) is trapped between the window surface and the sheet of window tinting material. After the sheet of window tinting is in place and air pockets eliminated, the edges are trimmed to the size of the window.

This installation requires several tools that are, perhaps, different than those used by other craftsman who work in homes and offices. For example, other craftsman use tools such as hammers, drills, screwdrivers, wrenches, etc., while window tint installers typically use tools to remove dust, tools to spread the sheets of window tinting, tools to remove air bubbles from beneath the sheets of window tinting, compressed air, and cutting tools. Such tools do not readily fit within the typical carpenter's tool belt. When a carpenter's tool belt is used, some of the window tinting professional's tools are often difficult to locate or fit loosely, thereby easily falling and potentially marring a home or office floor.

The tool belt 10 includes features for properly holding one or more of the typical tools and items used by a window tinting professional 8 (see FIG. 6). In the examples shown, features are included in the tool belt 10 for holding various items such as paper towel rolls 34 (see FIG. 5), blade cutters 44, squeegees 58/94, razor knifes 82, new razor blades 60, spent razor blades 70, scrapers 54 (or other thin, planar objects such as paper), air lines 102, etc. Although in the examples shown, features are included for all of the aforementioned tools or objects, in some embodiments, a subset of such features are present. Likewise, it is also anticipated that features known in other tool belts are also included such as features for holding a tape measure or a screwdriver, etc.

The foundation of the tool belt 10 is a belt portion 12 having a length adjustment mechanism 20 and devices 14/16/18 at each end for connecting the ends together. There are many known length adjustment mechanisms 20 and devices 14/16/18 for connecting the ends together, those shown being excellent examples of such, while any known length adjustment mechanisms 20 and devices 14/16/18 for connecting are anticipated. For example, magnets, hooks, belt mechanisms (as in fashion belts) and the like are equally substitutable for the devices 14/16/18 shown in the examples.

Although any suitable material is anticipated for the belt portion 12 and other features, a nylon material is a good example as it is strong, yet flexible.

Although not required, in a preferred embodiment, the belt portion 12, as shown, is made of a double layer of material 13/15 such as nylon or other cloth-like suitable material. By using a double layer of material, several of the disclosed features take advantage of gaps between the layers. In embodiments with two (or more) layers 13/15 of material, it is anticipated that the individual layers are joined at attachment points (where needed) by any mechanism known in the industry such as rivets (shown), stitching, adhesives, and the like. The area between two adjacent attachment points provides an insertion area through which or in which various features are stored/held. In such, in the insertion area between two attachment points, the layers 13/15 are separable to form a gap or opening 40 as shown in FIG. 2 though which a tool or attachment system is held (in this example, a scraping tool 44/44/46)

In some embodiments, an inner layer 13 of the belt portion (layer intended to be worn closest to the torso of the user) is made of a suitable stiff, yet bendable material such as nylon webbing and an outer layer 15 is made of a resilient material such that the gaps between the layers expand by virtue of the resilient outer layer. In such, it is anticipated that another section of stiff, yet bendable material such as nylon webbing be inserted between the inner layer 13 and the outer layer 15 between two locations where the layers 13/15 of material are joined (e.g. by stitching). By using a section of stiff, yet bendable material such as nylon webbing that is slightly wider than a distance between the locations where the layers 13/15 of material are joined, the section of stiff material forces the outer layer 15 of resilient material to bow outwardly, maintaining a space between the layers 13/15 for insertion of objects to be carried.

The first feature starting at the left of FIG. 1 is a paper towel holder 32. In the example shown, the paper towel holder 32 is shaped to be of length similar to a standard roll of paper towels 34 (see FIG. 5) such that the ends stretch slightly to accept and hold the roll of paper towels 34, thereby optionally enabling rotation of the roll of paper towels 34 to dispense one or more paper towel as needed. The paper towel holder 32 is removably connected to the tool belt 10 by a carabineer 30. In a preferred embodiment, the carabineer 30 passes through a gap between two layers of the belt portion 12 (visible in FIG. 5) to maintain a particular position for the carabineer 30 along the belt portion. The carabineer 30 is opened by spring action as known in the industry, for removal and replacement of the paper towel holder 32 from the tool belt 10.

Another feature is a loop 40 for holding a scrapping tool 42/44/46. Scrapping tools 42/44/46 used in the industry often have a handle and a blade (not visible) held to a base 44. The blade is typically very sharp and, therefore, is contained within a cover 42 while not being used for safety reasons. The loop 40 is sized to snuggly hold the cover 42/base 44. In this way, the scrapping tool 42/44/46 is safely held in the loop 40, making it very difficult to dislodge the cover 42 from the base 44, which would expose the blade and create the potential for injury as well as damage to the surrounding surfaces, furniture, etc.

Another feature is a Squeegee holder 50/56/90/92. Various sizes of squeegees 58/59/94 are often used in the process or tinting windows. As shown in the examples of FIGS. 1, 4, and 6, the squeegee holders 50/56/90/92 are made from two components, the first being a loop of material 50/90 (similar or the same as the material used for the belt portion 12) that loops around the belt portion 12 and closed at an end distal from the belt portion 12 by, for example, rivets (shown), stitching, adhesives, etc. The second component is a bracket 56/92 that is attached to the distal end of the loop of material 50/90. The bracket 56/92 is sized to accept the handle 59 or blade 58/92 of the desired squeegee. In a preferred embodiment, the bracket 56/92 is made from metal and has a bend of approximately 90 degrees as visible in FIG. 4. In some embodiments, the same fasteners (e.g. rivets as shown) closed the distal end of the loop of material 50/90 as well as affix the bracket 56/92 to the respective loop of material 50/90.

In some embodiments, a spring clip 52 is fastened to an outside surface of the loop of material 50/90 for holding any planar device such as a plastic bubble scraper 54, papers, etc.

Another feature is a hook 100. Although of general purpose, one use for such a hook 100 is to hold a water hose 102 or air hose 102, or the like. In some embodiments, it is anticipated that the hook 100 be made of a malleable material such as soft metals like aluminum. These embodiments enable the hook 100 to be closed around the hose 102 the capture the hose 102.

Many window tint professionals 8 use a knife 82 that have snap-off razor blades 74 (see FIGS. 3A and 3B). These blades 74 are well known and, when the end blade becomes dull, the end blade segment is “snapped” off at a break line 76 to expose an adjacent blade segment that is sharp. In the past, window tint professionals broke of the dull blade segments by hand, but this causes safety issues as the small segment that is broken off is very small and easily lost in carpeting, etc. Furthermore, it is very difficult to break off just one blade by hand (often a good blade segment is lost with the dull blade segment), leading to waste and extra cost.

Furthermore, each blade used in the knife 70 has a fixed number of blade segments and the window tint professionals 8 will likely need replacement blades.

To alleviate the above problems, the tool belt 10 has two smaller loops 62/72. One of the loops 62 holds a case 60 for containing new blades and the other loop 72 holds a spent blade holder 70. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the spent blade holder 70 has a slit 78 that is just wide enough and thick enough to accept the end segment of the blade 74. The window tint professionals 8 positions the end segment of the blade 74 into the slit 78 and skews the blade 74 (bends pivotal to the lengthwise surface) until the dull blade segment breaks of along the break line 76. The dull blade segment then falls into the spent blade holder 70. In some embodiments, a magnet 77 is positioned at the bottom of the spent blade holder 70. In such, the broken segments of the blades 74 are attracted to the magnet 77, making it difficult for the broken segments of the blades 74 to work their way out of the spent blade holder 70. Additionally, by holding the broken segments of the blades 74 against the magnet 77, noise from rattling will be reduced. It is anticipated that the magnet 77 be mounted within or outside of the spent blade holder 70 and be stationary or removable. For example, in embodiments in which the magnet 77 is external and removable, when the spent blade holder 70 needs to be emptied, it is opened (e.g. through access screws) and, while holding over a proper receptacle, the magnet 77 is removed to allow all spent blade segments to fall into the receptacle. In some embodiments, one or more of the access screws has a slot size that is similar to an end of the knife 82, allowing access without the need to carry a screwdriver.

To hold the knife 82 when not in use, a pouch 80 is affixed to the belt portion 12. The pouch 80 snuggly holds the knife 82 so the knife 82 does not inadvertently fall out when tilted. In some embodiments, the pouch 80 is made of the same or a similar material as the belt portion 12. In some embodiments, the pouch 80 is riveted to the belt portion 12 (not shown) while in other embodiments, the pouch portion 80 is made of a strip of material (e.g. nylon cloth) that loops around the belt portion 12, enabling repositioning along a portion of the length of the belt portion 12.

Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set forth above such that they perform in substantially the same manner in substantially the same way for achieving substantially the same result.

It is believed that the system and method as described and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely exemplary and explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.

Claims

1. A tool belt comprising:

a belt portion formed by two coplanar sheets of material, having periodic attachment points along a length of the belt portion and having a detachable and mating attachment mechanism at each end;

a paper towel holder removably affixed to the belt portion by a carabineer;

a first loop formed between two of the attachment points for holding a scrapping tool;

at least one squeegee holder affixed to the belt portion, the squeegee holder having a length of material looped around the belt portion and closed at an end distal from the belt portion, and the squeegee holder having a bracket affixed to the end distal from the belt portion;

a knife pouch affixed to the belt portion, the knife pouch sized to snuggly hold a razor knife;

a second loop formed between two of the attachment points for holding a box of new blades; and

a third loop formed between two of the attachment points for holding a spent blade holder.

2. The tool belt of claim 1, further comprising a hose clip for removably capturing a hose.

3. The tool belt of claim 2, wherein the clip is made of a malleable material.

4. The tool belt of claim 1, wherein the spent blade holder has a slit for breaking off of spent blade segments and accepting the spent blade segments into the spent blade holder.

5. The tool belt of claim 4, wherein the spent blade holder further comprises a magnet, thereby magnetically holding spent blade segments by the magnet until disposal.

6. The tool belt of claim 5, wherein the magnet is removable for release of the spent blade segments during disposal.

7. The tool belt of claim 1, wherein the two coplanar sheets of material comprise an inner layer made of a stiff, bendable material and an outer layer made of a resilient material.

8. The tool belt of claim 7, wherein the inner layer is made of a nylon webbing material.

9. A tool belt comprising:

a belt portion comprising an inner layer made of a stiff, bendable material and an outer layer made of a resilient material, the inner layer affixed to the outer layer at attachment points along the length of the belt portion, each end of the belt portion having a detachable and mating attachment mechanism, whereas insertion areas are formed along the belt portion between the attachment points;

a knife pouch affixed to a first insertion area of the insertion areas, the knife pouch for snuggly holding a razor knife;

a second insertion area of the insertion areas sized for holding a box of new blades; and

a third insertion area of the insertion areas sized for holding a spent blade holder.

10. The tool belt of claim 9, further comprising a paper towel holder, the paper towel holder removably attached to a fourth insertion area.

11. The tool belt of claim 9, wherein the spent blade holder has a slit for breaking off of spent blade segments and accepting the spent blade segments into the spent blade holder.

12. The tool belt of claim 11, wherein the spent blade holder further comprises a magnet, thereby magnetically holding spent blade segments by the magnet until disposal.

13. The tool belt of claim 12, wherein the magnet is removable for release of the spent blade segments during disposal.

14. A tool belt comprising:

a belt portion comprising an inner layer made of a stiff, bendable material and an outer layer made of a resilient material, the inner layer affixed to the outer layer at a plurality of attachment points along the length of the belt portion, each end of the belt portion having a detachable and mating attachment mechanism, whereas a plurality of insertion areas are formed along the belt portion between adjacent attachment points.

15. The tool belt of claim 14, wherein the inner layer is affixed to the outer layer at the plurality of attachment points by stitching.

16. The tool belt of claim 14, wherein the inner layer is affixed to the outer layer at the plurality of attachment points by rivets.

17. The tool belt of claim 16, further comprising a paper towel holder, the paper towel holder removably attached to one insertion area of the plurality of insertion areas.

18. The tool belt of claim 16, further comprising a spent blade holder held within one insertion area of the plurality of insertion areas, the spend blade holder having a slit for breaking off of spent blade segments and accepting the spent blade segments into the spent blade holder.

19. The tool belt of claim 18, wherein the spent blade holder further comprises a magnet, thereby magnetically holding spent blade segments by the magnet until disposal.

20. The tool belt of claim 19, wherein the magnet is removable for release of the spent blade segments during disposal.