Bag for use with hand held tools

Abstract

A bag or holder for retaining fastening devices such as nails, staples, screws and the like is detachably positionable on a hand-held tool, such as a power drill, screw driver and the like powered by a battery, AC power, air compressor, pneumatic power, etc. The bag defines a compartment with an open top for retaining a desired quantity of the fastening devices for the user's easy access. A flap secured to an upper portion of the bag main body can be retained in a closed position, covering the top opening, and an open position, allowing ready access to the interior of the compartment. The bag can be suspended from the hand-held tool by a suspension strap secured to the bag main body. A plurality of fastening members positioned on the bag main body and the strap selectively retain the strap in an open or closed position.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This nonprovisional application is based on and claims the benefits of my provisional application No. 60/425,675 filed on Nov. 12, 2002, entitled “Bag for Use with Hand-held Power Tools,” the full disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to bags, or holders for retaining a desired quantity of small items, such as nails, tacks, staples, screws, and other such fastening devices to be used with hand held tools, such as drills, screw drivers and nail guns powered by batteries, electrical power or pneumatic.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Hand held power tools such as drills, screwdrivers, and nail guns are popular devices, which are used in building and construction trades. A user typically requires screws or nails (referred to as “fastening devices”) to hold together wood, paneling, lumber, drywall, and the like. A problem arises in that the user will typically require a steady supply of these fastening devices for use in the building process. The users of the tool are limited in the number of screws or nails that they can carry in their hands at one time. In addition, by using their hands to carry the fastening devices, the users are unable to operate the power tool correctly or efficiently. This can result in dangerous situations where safety is impaired.

[0004] The user of the power tool has in the past needed to stop work periodically in order to pick up additional fastening devices. This repeated work stoppage results in an inefficient work process. A user is required to start and stop working periodically to replenish his supply of easily accessible fastening devices.

[0005] There are several methods, which have been employed in the past to address the problem of fastening devices. In one method, a mechanical device feeds fastening devices to the power tool, and does not require the user to manually hold and position the nail or screw. Although this method frees the user's hand to operate the power tool, it requires specially designed equipment, which is both cumbersome and expensive. In addition, complicated mechanical devices can, and often do, fail, rendering the power tool inoperable.

[0006] The present invention contemplates elimination of drawbacks associated with the prior art and provision of a bag, or holder for fastening devices that make the fastening devices easily accessible to a user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a bag, which can be used in conjunction with hand-held power tools to provide a ready supply of fastening devices that are in easy reach of the user of the tool.

[0008] It is another object of the present invention to provide a bag, which frees the user's hand to operate the power tool.

[0009] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a bag, which does not require the use of complicated and expensive mechanical devices to supply a stream of fastening devices to the user.

[0010] These and other objects of the invention are achieved through a provision of a bag, or holder that comprises a main body defining a compartment with an open top. A flap secured to an upper portion of the main body is selectively moveable between a first position, substantially covering the open top, and a second position, allowing access to the interior of the compartment, where the fastening devices are retained. The flap can be retained in the first or the second position upon demand. A strap is secured to the main body for positioning the main body on the hand-held tool. The strap may be made as a leash, attached to a ring or other means of securing the bag on the hand-held power tool.

[0011] To retain the bag in the first position, a fastening means are provided on the main body and an interior surface of the flap. To retain the body in the second position, a fastening means are provided on the exterior of the flap and the strap. The fastening means may be selected from a number of matingly engageable devices, such as hook-and-loop fasteners, snaps, hooks, buttons and the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals, and wherein

[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bag in accordance with the present invention in an open position using a suspension means of a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bag of the present invention with the flap closed.

[0015] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bag of the present invention utilizing a suspension means of the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bag shown in FIG. 3 positioned on a power tool.

[0017] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the bag showing a third alternative embodiment of the suspension means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0018] Turning now to the drawings in more detail, numeral 10 designates the bag, or holder of the present invention. As can be seen in the drawings, the bag 10 comprises a main body 12 having a generally defined front panel 14 and a generally defined back panel 16. The front panel 14 and the back panel 16 are joined by a pair of generally defined side panels 18 and 20. Of course, the main body 20 can be made as a unitary body by folding a sheet of a selected material and forming an enclosure therewith. A bottom panel 22 is secured to the bottom portion of the side wall generally defined by the panels 14, 16, 18, and 20. The main body 12 has a top edge 24, which delimits a top opening of a compartment defined by the main body 12.

[0019] Secured to the back panel 16 and extending upwardly therefrom is a flap 30, which is sized to substantially cover the opening defined by the top edge 24 when the bag 10 is in a first position, as shown in FIG. 2, substantially covering the top opening. The flap 30 has an inner surface 32 and an outer surface 34. Secured to the inner surface 32 is a first fastening means 36. A mating second fastening means 38 is secured on the outside of the front panel 14 adjacent to the top edge 24. The fastening means 36 and 38 have matingly engageable fastening elements allowing the flap 30 to close the top opening of the main body 12 and remain in the closed position upon demand.

[0020] A suspension strap 40 is secured to the back panel 16. The suspension strap 40 extends upwardly from the main body 12 behind the flap 30. The length of the suspension strap 40 is at least slightly greater than the vertical dimension of the flap 30 when the flap 30 is in the second, open position. The suspension strap 40 is formed from a flexible material allowing the flap 40 to be bent and/or wrapped around a handheld tool.

[0021] The suspension strap 40 and the exterior of the flap 30 carry a means for retaining the flap in the second position. As can be seen in the drawings, a fastening member 42 is attached to the strap 40 a distance above the main body 12. The fastening member 42 is designed to mate with a fastening member 44 positioned on an outside surface 34 of the flap 30. The fastening members 42 and 44, when engaged, retain the flap 30 in the second position, allowing access to the interior of the main body 12. This position of the flap 30 facilitates access to the fastening devices, such as staples, nails, screws, etc. retained in the compartment defined by the main body 12.

[0022] The suspension strap 40 can be secured on a power hand-held tool in a number of ways. One such embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, and another exemplary way is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. Turning first to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the strap 40 is shown comprising an elongated body 46 and an auxiliary strap member 48. The auxiliary strap member 48 is fixedly secured to the main body 12 at a location 50 spaced a predetermined distance from the fastening member 42. The auxiliary strap member 48 is provided with fastening means 52 on a surface that faces the elongated strap 40.

[0023] A matching fastening means 54 is provided on a surface of the free end of the elongated body 46 that faces the fastening means 52. When the elongated body 46 and the auxiliary strap member 48 are wrapped around a body of a handheld tool, such as an electric screwdriver, the fastening means 52 and 54 are joined together forming a loop 56 (FIG. 2), which extends about the body of the power tool. The fastening elements 52 and 54 are secured together, forming a variable dimension loop that can be tightened or loosened depending on what elements of the fastening means 52 and 54 are joined together. The loop formed by the strap portions 46 and 48 is wrapped around the body of the power tool, retaining the bag 10 on the power tool during use.

[0024] When no longer needed, the bag 10 is closed by disengaging the fastening means 44 from the fastening means 42, and reengaging the second fastening means 36 with the first fastening means 38 on the main body 12. Once the bag is closed, preventing the nails, screws, tacks, etc. from falling out of the bag 10, the suspension strap 40 is removed from its position on the body of the power tool and the bag 10 is removed. In this action, the auxiliary strap member 48 is disengaged from the elongated strap 46 by disengaging the fastening means 52, 54, and allowing the user to remove the bag 10 from the power tool. When the user resumes work or needs to use different power tools, different types of fastening elements, such as staples may be deposited in the bag 10 and the bag 10 is repositioned on the next used power tool.

[0025] Turning now to the embodiment showing an alternative means of suspending the bag 10 from a hand-held tool, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the bag of the present invention is designated generally by numeral 60. The bag 60 is substantially similar to the bag 10; it comprises a main body 62 and a flap portion 64 provided with securing members on the inside of the flap, not shown, corresponding to the securing members on the front panel 66 of the main body 62. FIG. 3 shows that bag 60 in a closed position. As can be further seen in FIG. 3, the bag 60 comprises a suspension strap 70 carrying a means 72 for retaining the flap 64 in the second position, that is an open position during use. The fastening means 72 is adapted to matingly engage fastening means 74 positioned on an outside surface 76 of the flap 64.

[0026] The suspending means of the second embodiment differ from the suspending means of the first embodiment inasmuch as instead of the auxiliary strap member, they provide for the use of a ring 80, which is engaged through an opening 82 formed in the strap member 70 adjacent its free end. The ring 80 is adapted for engaging with a hand tool 84, as shown in FIG. 4, allowing the bag 60 to be suspended from the body of the power tool 84.

[0027] FIG. 5 illustrates still another alternative arrangement of a strap for engaging the power tool. As can be seen in the drawing, the bag 90 is provided with the main body 92 having an open top 94 that is selectively covered with a flap 96. The flap 96, similar to the flaps 30 and 64, is provided with a fastening means on its inside surface (not shown) that correspond to the fastening means secured on the main body 92 (not shown) to keep the flap 96 in closed position, as shown in FIG. 5. When in use, the flap 96 is raised, and the fastening means 98 is engaged with the fastening means 100 secured on a suspension strap 102. In this position, the open top 94 is open allowing easy access to the interior compartment formed by the main body 92.

[0028] The strap 102 carries a secondary or auxiliary strap member 104, which extends generally perpendicularly to a vertical axis of the strap 102. The strap member 104 has free ends 106, 108, which are adapted for wrapping about a power tool and engaging the power tool for temporary securing of the bag 90 on the power tool. To this end, the free end 106 and the free end 108 carry matching fastening means 110 and 112, respectively. When the fastening means 110 and 112 are matingly engaged, the bag 90 is suspended on the power tool, allowing the user an easy access to fastening devices housed in the main body 92.

[0029] The body of the bags 10, 60 and 90 is formed from a sturdy material capable of withstanding the weight of fastening devices such as nails, staples, screws, etc. Similarly, the suspension straps 46, 70 and 102 are formed from a strong flexible material allowing the suspension straps 46, 70 and 102 to bend and fold to accommodate temporary attachment to the power tools. The fastening means 36, 38, 42, 44, 52, 54, 72, 74, 98, 100, as well as those located under the flaps and not shown in the drawings, can be selected from any number of desired fastening devices. For instance, the fastening means may be strips of hook-and-loop fasteners, snaps, buttons, hooks and the like.

[0030] The suspension straps 40, 70, and 102 may be attached by stitching, adhesive, staples, grommets, and any other means for securing the straps to the main body. Alternatively, the suspension straps may be formed unitary with the main body, depending on the manufacturing design.

[0031] It is envisioned that the suspension means may be a leash, a loop, a ring, a hook or other suitable means for suspending the main body from the exterior object, such as a hand-held power tool.

[0032] Many other changes and modifications can be made in the design of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof. I therefore pray that my rights to the present invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A bag comprising:

a main body defining a compartment with an open top;

a flap securely attached to said main body adjacent a top portion of the main body, said flap moveable between a first position in substantially covering relationship to said open top and a second position allowing access to an interior of said compartment; and

a means for selectively retaining said flap in the second position upon demand.

2. The bag of claim 1, further comprising a means securely attached to said main body for detachably suspending said main body from an exterior object.

3. The bag of claim 2, wherein said flap is provided with an inner surface and an outer surface and wherein said means for retaining said flap in the second position comprises a first fastening means positioned on the outer surface of the flap and a second fastening means secured on said suspension means, said first fastening means and said second fastening means being adapted for mating engagement for retaining said flap in the second position.

4. The bag of claim 3, further comprising a means for retaining said flap in the first position.

5. The bag of 4, wherein said main body has a front outer surface, and wherein said means for retaining the flap in the first position comprises a third fastening means secured on the inner surface of the flap and a fourth fastening means secured on the front outer surface of the main body, said third fastening means being adapted for mating engagement with the fourth fastening means for retaining the flap in the first position.

6. The bag of claim 2, wherein said suspension means comprises an elongated flexible strap provided with an auxiliary suspension member carried by the elongated strap, said flexible strap and said auxiliary suspension member forming a loop for detachably suspending the main body from the exterior object.

7. The bag of claim 6, wherein said elongated strap and said auxiliary suspension member are provided with mating fastening members for forming the loop.

8. The bag of claim 2, wherein said suspension means comprises an elongated flexible strap and a ring secured to a free end of said elongated strap.

9. A bag comprising:

a main body having a front outer surface and an open top, said main body defining a compartment;

a flap secured to a top portion of the main body, said flap moveable between a first position, substantially covering the open top and a second position allowing access to interior of the compartment;

a strap secured to the main body for detachably positioning the main body on an exterior object;

a means for retaining the flap in the first position upon demand; and

a means for retaining the flap in the second position upon demand.

10. The bag of claim 9, wherein said strap forms a variable dimension loop for detachably positioning the main body on the exterior object.

11. The bag of claim 10, wherein said strap comprises an elongated flexible strap member and an auxiliary strap member securely attached to the elongated strap member said elongated strap member and said auxiliary strap member carrying matingly engageable fastening members positioned on free ends of the elongated strap member and the auxiliary strap member.

12. The bag of claim 9, wherein said means for retaining the flap in the first position comprises mating fastening means secured on the main body and an interior surface of the flap.

13. The bag of claim 9, wherein said means for retaining the flap in the second position comprises mating fastening means secured on an exterior surface of the flap and on the strap.

14. The bag of claim 9, wherein said strap carries a ring on a free end thereof, said ring being adapted for suspending the main body from an exterior object.

15. A bag for retaining a desired quantity of fastening devices, comprising:

a main body forming a compartment for receiving the fastening devices and delimiting a bag top opening;

a flap selectively moveable between a first position in substantially covering relationship to the top opening and a second position allowing access to the compartment;

a means for selectively retaining said flap in the first position;

a means for selectively retaining the flap in the second position;

a means for detachably securing the main body on a hand-held tool for use with the fastening devices.

16. The bag of claim 15, wherein said means for retaining the flap in the first position comprises mating fastening means secured on the main body and an interior surface of the flap.

17. The bag of claim 15, wherein said means for retaining the flap in the second position comprises mating fastening means secured on an exterior surface of the flap and on the securing means.

18. The bag of claim 15, wherein said securing means comprises a pair of strap members provided with mating fastening means on free ends thereof for forming a variable dimension loop and engaging the hand-held tool.

19. The bag of claim 15, wherein said securing means comprises an elongated strap member secured to the main body and a ring secured to a free end of the elongated strap.