Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to a tether attachment assembly for use with a tool. Utilization of the tether attachment assembly in combination with the tool and a tether provides a beneficial safety feature in case the tool is inadvertently dropped. In some embodiments, the tether attachment assembly is provided between a fitting and a body of the tool. The tether attachment assembly can include a tether coupling and, in other embodiments, further includes a link and collar also provided between the fitting and body. In addition, aspects of the disclosure relate to kits including a tether attachment assembly and methods of assembling tools including a tether attachment assembly.

Abstract: A combination power hand tool and tethering assembly comprises a power hand tool selected from the group consisting of a grinder, a polisher, a cut-off tool, and a drill. The hand tool has a gear housing with a fastener bore configured and arranged to receive a fastener. The tethering assembly comprises a connector having a fastener opening and a tether configured and arranged to be connected to the connector. The fastener extends through the fastener opening and into the fastener bore thereby connecting the connector and the power hand tool. The tether is configured and arranged to be selectively coupled to one of a worker and an anchor object thereby selectively interconnecting the connector and the one of the worker and the anchor object.

Abstract: A tool part retaining device includes a handle, a nut, and a fastener. The handle has a first end, a second end, and a handle body connecting the ends. The nut is in a first receptacle in the first end of the handle. The nut has a first channel, a second channel which connects to the first channel at a junction, at least one nut side, and at least one recess in the at least one nut side. The fastener is disposed in a second receptacle in the handle body near the first end of the handle and is also disposed in the second channel in the nut.

Abstract: A kit for tethering a hand tool having a longitudinal portion comprises a base layer, a connector strap assembly, and an overwrap member. The base layer is configured and arranged to wrap around the longitudinal portion of the hand tool thereby forming a wrapped tool region with at least a portion of the base layer overlapping and being substantially aligned to form at least one built-up region relative to a remaining portion of the base layer. The overwrap member is configured and arranged to wrap about at least a portion of the longitudinal portion, the at least one built-up region, and the connector strap assembly to secure the connector strap assembly to the hand tool.

Abstract: A tethering assembly has a first ring connector, a second ring connector, and a wire rope sling with a first eye on the first end portion and a second eye on the second end portion. The wire rope sling extends between and links the first ring connector to the second ring connector. The tethering assembly is installed on a power hand tool having an elongated tool body extending to a gear housing that defines fastener bores in opposite sides of the gear housing. A side handle is installed in one fastener bore with the handle fastener extending through the first ring connector. An auxiliary bolt is installed in another fastener bore on the opposite side of the gear housing with the auxiliary bolt extending through the second ring connector. The sling extends over the top of the power hand tool and defines a tether-connector loop for attachment to a tether.

Abstract: A pack system adapted for carrying hand tools includes a tool-carrying container constructed to be worn on a user's person and having a container base portion, a first shell portion, a second shell portion, and a releasable closure with a first closure part connected to the first shell portion and a second closure part connected the second shell portion. The tool-carrying container is operable between an open-container position and a closed-container position in which it defines and encloses a main storage compartment. At least one tool panel is removably disposed within the main storage compartment and has one or more tool receivers each constructed to retain a hand tool. A panel-retaining structure has a first retaining portion secured to the tool panel(s) and a second retaining portion secured inside of the tool-carrying container. The panel-retaining structure releasably retains the tool panel(s) in the main storage compartment.

Abstract: A shrink-tubing measurement guide has a flexible strip with a measuring surface and a measurement indicator. Bands on the measuring surface form a tubing size indicator gauge, with each band having a band-specific indicium different from any adjacent band and associating a specific size of shrink tubing. The tubing size indicator gauge has a measuring surface layout based on a circumferential difference between a hand tool body and a hand tool end being compared to a predefined value, where the bands are either aligned end to end along the measuring surface or progressively-staggered with at least one end of each band extending beyond an adjacent band. The flexible strip is configured to be wrapped around a hand tool body of the hand tool with the measurement indicator aligning with at least one of the plurality of bands, where each band-specific indicium identifies a specific shrink tubing size.

Abstract: A method of storing a hard hat tether attached to a hard hat includes the steps of providing a hard hat; providing a clip holder having a latch plate with a latch opening that defines at least one attachment handle; providing a clip member defining a tether opening and having a locking mechanism constructed to removably secure the clip member to the clip holder by capturing the attachment handle; providing a hard hat tether having a first tether end portion secured to the clip member by extending through the tether opening of the clip member, a second tether end portion, and a tether body portion secured to the clip holder; securing the second tether end portion to the hard hat; and attaching the clip member to the attachment handle of the clip holder, thereby storing the clip member.

Abstract: A drop-prevention tool harness for pistol-grip hand tools includes a sleeve member sized to be installed around a gear housing of a pistol-grip hand tool and one or more tool body straps each defining a flattened closed loop that extends around a wall of the sleeve member and extends to a rearward end portion spaced apart from the sleeve member. A tether strap is connected to the rearward end portion of each tool body strap and has first and second tether strap portions that extend to respective first and second tether strap end portions each defining a closed loop. The first closed loop is sized to permit passage therethrough by the second tether strap end portion and cinched against the pistol-grip hand tool.

Abstract: A tool tethering method includes the steps of providing a tool with a longitudinal portion, installing a base layer on the longitudinal portion, and providing a connector strap assembly. The connector strap assembly includes a closed-loop connector, a length of tubing, and a length of stretchable webbing secured to a connector and extending through the shrink tubing. A base layer is installed on the longitudinal portion of the tool. The length of stretchable webbing is aligned to extend along the base layer and the longitudinal portion is inserted into the tubing and substantially centered on the base layer. The tubing is caused to assume the reduced state to provide a snug fit on the hand tool, stretchable webbing, and base layer.

Abstract: A clamp assembly includes a clamp having a lever attached to a clamp body and operable between an open position and a closed position, where the clamp body defines an elongated opening with a narrowed waist portion between a first opening portion and a second opening portion. A fastener has a base, a cap, and a stem extending between and connecting the base and the cap. The base and the cap extend radially outward from the stem. The stem is sized to fit through the narrowed waist portion and the cap is sized to fit through the first opening portion of the through opening. When the lever is in the closed position, a blocking member on the lever occupies the first opening portion of the through opening. When the lever is in the open position, the blocking member is withdrawn from the first opening portion of the through opening.

Abstract: A drop-prevention pouch for a cordless power tool has a battery pack that defines a battery pack perimeter. The drop-prevention pouch includes a pouch floor and a sidewall extending transversely from the pouch floor and having a sidewall rim portion defining a pouch opening. The pouch floor and the pouch sidewall define a chamber sized to receive the battery pack when the battery pack is attached to the cordless power tool. The pouch sidewall defines a window opening aligned to permit the user to view a feature on the battery pack. A flexible conduit extends along the sidewall rim portion. A drawstring extends through the flexible conduit and is capable of restricting the pouch opening to be smaller than the battery pack perimeter, thereby preventing the drop-prevention pouch from being removed from the battery pack when the battery pack is attached to the cordless power tool.

Abstract: A pack system adapted for carrying hand tools includes a tool-carrying container constructed to be worn on a user's person and having a bottom portion, a first shell portion, a second shell portion defining and enclosing a main storage compartment. A releasable closure is connected between the first and second shell portions. At least one tool panel is removably disposed within the main storage compartment and has one or more tool receivers each constructed to retain a hand tool. A panel-retaining structure between the tool panel(s) and the bottom portion of the pack releasably retains the tool panel(s) in the main storage compartment.