Tool holding device and method of use

Abstract

A carrier that selectively secures an object preferably a pneumatic tool to a tool belt, including a clip that is vertically attachable and detachable to the belt; the clip including a front portion and a back portion which are connected via upper edges thereto to define a slot therebetween, the slot allowing for horizontal or vertical insertion of the belt therethrough, the back portion having a lower lip that curves toward the front portion, which projects far enough to hook on a lower edge of the belt and which is short enough to allow the lip to slide behind the belt when vertically inserting the clip onto the belt; a hook attached to the front portion of the clip, defining a valley sized to hold the pneumatic tool and allow rotation of the tool in the valley, the hook projecting sufficiently high to prevent dislodgment of the tool, while the valley of the hook projects low enough to hold the center of gravity of the tool below the clip, and the hook attaching to the front portion sufficiently low to orient the center of pull adjacent a bottom of the clip; and a method of use including downwardly placing a clip on a belt, hooking a curved lower lip of the clip to the bottom of the belt and rotatably mounting a pneumatic tool on the hook.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to pneumatic tools and more specifically to devices for holding pneumatic tools, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/465,258, filed Dec. 18, 1999 and entitled Tool Holding Device and Method of Use, which is based upon and claims priority from provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/112,923, filed Dec. 18, 1998 entitled Tool Holding Device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This application is based upon and claims priority from provisional patent application 60/112,923 filed Dec. 18, 1998, entitled Tool Holding Device.

[0003] Various devices have been designed to allow construction workers to carry items around on the workplace. One such device is a work belt. A work belt has pockets for nails, screws and other such items needed for construction. Tools such as hammers and screw drivers are placed onto carrying devices that are attached to the belt.

[0004] One such carrying device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,457,462 to Taormina. The product disclosed therein is a tool holder that attaches to the work belt and includes a circular opening through which a hammer may be inserted. This product is designed in such a way that tools that are supportable by a hook cannot be attached to it. It is further designed in such a manner that it requires complex manipulation to attach it to a belt.

[0005] Another carrying device is shown in U.S. Pat. Des. 345,052 issued to Stokke et al. This tool clip again shows a circular portion through which a tool may be attached. The clip portion includes a flared lower tip of the clip that cuts into a construction workers body when heavy tools are attached to the clip. Further, heavy tools stretch the clip, making it easier to dislodge from the work belt.

[0006] Yet another device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,687,892 to Johns. This belt mounted tool hanger has a hook that will hold tools not insertable through a hole. The clip portion requires horizontal insertion of the belt making it too difficult to attach and detach as the job tasks change. This carrier provides an exposed hook should the tool not be placed on the hook due to the difficulty to remove the hook when the worker wishes to not carry the tool about the job site. This carrier is not safe or suitable for heavier tools which the worker does not wish to always carry with them due to the difficulty to remove the hook.

[0007] Pneumatic power tools are too heavy for most all tool carrying devices. Those that might be used are unsafe as they cut into the worker or provide an exposed hook when not in use. The safety concerns are compounded with the often uneven work environment. As a result construction workers have long placed pneumatic tools into pouches that are otherwise needed for nails, screws and other small items. Construction workers have long had a need for a clip that stays attached to the work belt, is structured for carrying heavy tools, primarily pneumatic tools, is easily detached when not desiring to carry the added weight of a heavy tool about the job site, and does not cut into or otherwise injure the worker when in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention is a tool carrier for heavy tools such as pneumatic tools. It is specifically designed with safety of the worker and tool in mind. The carrier stays attached to the work belt, is easily detached when not desiring to carry the added weight of a heavy tool about the job site, and does not gouge or otherwise injure the worker when in use.

[0009] Specifically, the carrier selectively secures an object to a belt. The object is preferably a pneumatic tool such as a nailer and the belt is preferably a tool belt. The carrier includes a clip that is vertically attachable and detachable to the belt. The clip includes a front portion and a back portion which are connected via upper edges thereto to define a slot therebetween. The belt can be horizontally inserted through the slot if desired, although this is not the preferred mode. The back portion has a lower lip that curves toward the front portion, which projects far enough to hook on a lower edge of the belt and which is short enough to allow the lip to slide behind the belt when vertically inserting the clip onto the belt.

[0010] A hook is attached to the front portion of the clip. The hook defines a valley sized to hold the pneumatic tool and allow rotation of the tool in the valley. This rotation is important to allow swinging of the tool and avoid scarring of the tool and awkward movement of the worker. The hook projects sufficiently high enough to prevent dislodgment of the tool, while the valley of the hook projects low enough to hold the center of gravity of the tool below the clip, minimizing pulling of the clip horizontally away from the worker's belt. The hook attaches to the front portion sufficiently low to orient the center of pull adjacent the bottom of the clip.

[0011] Advantageously, the hook extends laterally, providing easy in-out access of tools without the need to hold the tool at awkward angles when extending the hook through the handle.

[0012] Also advantageously, the hook extends laterally, providing additional room for rotation of the tool in the hook, avoiding the need for ball bearing or other swivels.

[0013] The present invention also includes a method of carrying a pneumatic tool. A worker downwardly places a clip on a belt. The clip has a front portion with a hook mounted thereon and a back portion with a lower lip curved toward the front portion. The clip upwardly hooks to the bottom of the belt via the curved lower lip. A pneumatic tool rotatably mounts on the hook.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] FIG. 1 shows a side view of the present invention;

[0015] FIG. 2 shows a front view of the present invention; and

[0016] FIG. 3 shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] The present invention 10 is a device for selectively securing an object, such as a tool 12, to a belt 14. The object is expected to be a tool and most preferably a pneumatic tool and the belt is preferably a tool belt. The invention 10 has a mechanism 16 for selectively attaching the invention 10 to a belt 14 and a mechanism 18 for securing the object, such as pneumatic nailer 12, to the belt attaching mechanism 16. These mechanisms are discussed below.

[0018] The belt attaching mechanism 16 may be any device suitable for connecting the present invention 10 to a belt 14. Such connection is preferably a selective connection. The belt attaching mechanism 16 may be formed of a variety of materials including plastics, woods, metals, ceramics, fabrics, elastomers, mixtures thereof and any other high strength material of suitable durability for the use intended. Preferably the belt attaching mechanism 16 is formed of metal.

[0019] The metal may be bent at a first point 20 to extend around a top edge 22 of the belt 14. The back portion 23 and front portion 25 may be approximately the same length, perhaps between one and five inches with a preferred length of about three and one-half inches, and a width perhaps between one and four inches and a preferred width of three inches. The length should be slightly larger than the belt 14 upon which the device 10 will be mounted and the width should be as wide as possible without discomfort to the user. A wider width provides lateral stability for the device 10, minimizing jarring movement to the object, not shown.

[0020] At least one lower edge 24, 26 of portions 23, 25 respectively may be bent inwardly to at least partially extend about a lower edge 28 of the belt 14. The bent lower edge 24 selectively secures the device 10 about a belt 14 and prevents slippage away therefrom.

[0021] The attaching mechanism 16 may further define a gap 30 between the lower edge 24,26 provides a passageway for insertion of a belt 14 therebetween. Alternatively, belt 14 may be fed horizontally through opening 32 defined at least partially via the attaching mechanism 16. Vertical insertion through gap 30 is the preferred method of insertion of the belt 14 into opening 32 for ease and a gap 30 provide for some level of adjustment to different widths of belts 14.

[0022] The mechanism 18 for securing the object, not shown, to the belt attaching mechanism 16 may be any device or method providing a suitable connection between the attaching mechanism 16 and the object, not shown, such as a hook 34, loop or such device. The securing mechanism 18 may be permanently, selectively, or integrally connected to the attaching mechanism 16. Preferably the securing mechanism 18 is a hook 34 welded to the attaching mechanism 16.

[0023] The hook 34 may define a valley 36 sized for receiving a portion of a pneumatic tool, not shown. The tool should fit loosely within the valley 36 such that the tool can rotate within the valley 36. The upward projection 42 of the hook 34 should project sufficiently to preclude easy unintentional dislodgement of the tool, not shown, from the valley 36, yet provide for easy dislodgement of the tool, not shown, for use. The length of the upward projection may be between an inch and five inches, although the preferred length is approximately three inches. The hook 34 should be formed of a sufficiently strong material to preclude bending or breaking of the hook 34 under normal use conditions. The unsecured end 44 of the hook 34 should be designed to avoid injury to the user and scratching of the tool, not shown, such as may be achieved with a rounded tip as shown. The secured end 46 should be attached to a lower portion of the attaching mechanism 16. The closer the secured end 46 is to the bottom edge 26 of the attaching mechanism 16, the lower the center of gravity of the tool, not shown, will be relative to the attaching mechanism 16. The center of gravity may be lower further by configuring the hook 34 in such a manner as to lower the bottom 50 of the valley 36 relative to the attaching mechanism 16.

[0024] FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention. The device 110, includes an attaching mechanism 116 joined to a mechanism for securing an object 118. The metal may be bent at a first point 120 to extend around to a top edge 122 of the belt. The back portion 123 and front portion 125 may be approximately the same length. At least one lower edge 124, 126 of portions 123, 125 respectively may be bent inwardly to at least partially extend about a lower edge of the belt. The attaching mechanism 116 may further define a gap 130 between lower edges 124,126 for insertion of a belt. Alternatively, the belt may be fed horizontally through opening 132 defined at least partially via the attaching mechanism 116. The hook 134 may define a valley 136 sized for receiving a portion of a tool. The upward projection of the hook 142 of the hook 134 may angle both upwardly and laterally from the bottom 150 of the valley 136 as shown. The unsecured end 144 of the hook 134 should be designed to avoid injury to the user and scratching of the tool. Preferably the hook 134 is coated with a high strength resilient plastic, perhaps bright orange for easy visibility. The secured end 146 should be attached to the bottom edge 126 of the attaching mechanism 116.

[0025] Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A hand tool securing system, comprising:

a pneumatic tool and a tool belt;

a clip selectively securable to the belt, the clip comprising a front portion and a back portion which are connected via upper edges thereof to define a slot therebetween, the back portion having a lower lip curving toward the front portion, the lip projecting far enough to hook on a lower edge of the belt and being short enough to allow the lip to slide behind the belt when vertically inserting the clip onto the belt when tightened about a person's waist; and

a hook attached to the front portion, the hook defining a valley with a bottom sized to hold the pneumatic tool and allow rotation of the tool in the valley, the hook projecting sufficiently high enough to prevent dislodgment of the tool, the valley of the hook projecting low enough to hold the center of gravity of the tool below the clip, the hook having an upward projection extending both upwardly and laterally from the bottom of the valley, and the hook attaching to the front portion sufficiently low to orient the center of pull adjacent a bottom of the clip.

2. A hand tool securing system, comprising:

a clip, the clip having a front portion with a hook mounted thereon and a back portion with a lower lip terminating in an angle toward the front portion, the hook defining a valley with a bottom and the hook having an upward projection extending upwardly and laterally from the bottom of the valley.

3. The device of

claim 2 wherein the front portion and a back portion are connected via upper edges thereof to define a slot therebetween.

4. The device of

claim 2 wherein the hook projects sufficiently high enough to prevent dislodgment of the tool.

5. The device of

claim 2 further comprising a tool with a center of gravity, wherein the center of gravity of the tool is below the clip.

6. The device of

claim 2 wherein the clip is formed of metal.

7. The device of

claim 2 wherein the clip is formed of plastic.

8. The device of

claim 2 further comprising a pneumatic tool with a handle, wherein the hook projects through the handle of the pneumatic tool.

9. The device of

claim 8 wherein the pneumatic tool is a pneumatic nailer.

10. The device of

claim 2 wherein the front portion and back portion define a slot that allows horizontal insertion of the belt into the clip.

11. A hand tool securing system, comprising:

a clip, the clip having a front portion with a hook mounted thereon, the hook defining a valley with a bottom, the hook having an upward projection angling upwardly and laterally from the bottom of the valley and a back portion with a lower lip terminating in an angle toward the front portion, and the lip being sized to fit between the belt and a wearer of the belt.

12. The device of

claim 11 wherein the front portion and a back portion are connected via upper edges to define a slot therebetween.

13. The device of

claim 11 wherein the hook projects sufficiently high enough to prevent dislodgment of the tool.

14. The device of

claim 11 further comprising a tool with a center of gravity, wherein the center of gravity of the tool is below the clip.

15. The device of

claim 11 wherein the clip is formed of metal.

16. The device of

claim 11 wherein the clip is formed of plastic.

17. The device of

claim 11 further comprising a pneumatic tool with a handle, wherein the hook projects through the handle of the pneumatic tool.

18. The device of

claim 17 wherein the pneumatic tool is a pneumatic nailer.

19. The device of

claim 11 wherein the front portion and back portion define a slot that allows horizontal insertion of the belt into the clip.