Belt hook for a power tool

Abstract

A belt hook for a power tool includes an L-shaped member having a free end and an attachment end. The attachment end is configured for removably and lockingly mating with an attachment point of a power tool. The free end is configured for coupling to a storage location, such as a belt. The attachment end includes a spring arm having a knob that is configured to engage a notch in an opening defined in a power tool. Where the power tool is a nailer, the opening extends through the back leg of the nailer. The belt hook may be positioned on either side of the back leg.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The claimed invention relates to a belt hook for a power tool.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Power tools, and particularly pneumatic power tools, typically include a metal housing that has a handle. A hose is connected to the power tool in the vicinity of the handle. Alternatively, with battery operated tools, a battery pack is installed on the power tool. Oftentimes, power packs are also installed in the vicinity of the handle. Power tools may be powered in a number of different manners, including combustion, electric, powder-activated, pneumatic, battery, and otherwise as known in the art.

When not in use, users of power tools often prefer to hang the tool from a belt or on other objects, such as ladders, scaffolding or the like at a job site. Power tools are often used in tight spaces. Therefore, shape and size is important to the overall power tool design.

Nail guns are utilized to drive nails or staples into surfaces. They typically utilize a separate magazine portion for storing a stick of nails or staples prior to nailing to a surface. The magazine is attached between respective ends of the main housing and the handle of the nail gun. Magazines on small nailers or staplers typically hold a single stick of nails. Additional sticks of nails are usually stored in a box and the user must either lug the box around during use of the nailer, or must return to the location of the box when the nailer magazine is empty.

SUMMARY

According to the invention, a belt hook for a power tool comprises an L-shaped member having a free end and an attachment end. The attachment end is configured for removably mating with an attachment point of a power tool. The free end is configured for coupling to a storage location.

In another embodiment, a belt hook for a nailer comprises means for removably attaching a nailer to a belt of a user.

In yet another embodiment, a belt hook for a power tool comprises a rigid member having a free end and an attachment end. The attachment end has a spring arm and is configured to engage and releasably lock into an opening in a power tool.

In another embodiment, a power tool comprises a housing and the belt hook, described above. The housing includes an attachment opening defined in the housing. The attachment end of the belt hook is configured for releasably coupling with the attachment opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a side view of a nailer incorporating a belt hook and a storage caddy according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is rear perspective view of the nailer incorporating the belt hook and storage caddy shown in FIG. 1, but with the belt hook positioned on the opposite side of the nailer;

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the nailer of FIG. 1 showing the storage caddy in an open position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a belt hook according to the invention;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the belt hook of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the belt hook of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the belt hook of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a rear view of the belt hook of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a partial side view of the nailer showing the back leg of the nailer incorporating an opening for receiving the belt hook;

FIG. 10 is a partial side view of the nailer similar to FIG. 9, but showing the belt hook installed in the opening in the back leg of the nailer;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the belt hook installed in the opening on the back leg of the nailer, taken at line 11-11 in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a storage caddy according to the invention;

FIG. 13 is another perspective view of the storage caddy of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a bottom view of the storage caddy of FIG. 12, shown with the door in an open position;

FIG. 15 is a partial side view of the magazine having the nail caddy installed thereon; and

FIG. 16 is a partial cross-sectional view of the magazine and an end view of the storage caddy, taken at line 16-16 in FIG. 15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A power tool in the form of a nailer 10 is shown in FIGS. 1-3 incorporating a belt hook 30 and a storage caddy 70 according to the invention. The nailer 10 is a tool that is utilized to drive nails, brads, staples, or other fasteners into building materials, such as building studs or trim work. The nailer 10 includes a housing 12 having a handle 14, a trigger 16, a magazine 18, and a nose piece 20. The magazine 18 houses the fasteners. A back leg extends down from the handle 14 to meet the magazine 18. The back leg 22 provides a support for the magazine 18 and the handle 14. The other end of the magazine 18 is connected to the nose piece 20.

A pneumatic nailer 10 is typically connected to an air compressor by a hose, which is coupled to the handle 14 utilizing a fitting 24 in a conventional manner. An air passageway extends from the fitting 24 through the housing 12 of the tool to the nose piece 20. The nose piece 20 is utilized for driving fasteners into a surface. The magazine 18 urges nails into the nose piece 20 and the nose piece cooperates with the trigger 16 in order to allow the release of nails from the magazine 18 utilizing compressed air.

The belt hook 30 is shown positioned on the left side 26 of the nailer 10 in FIGS. 1 and 3 and on the right side 28 of the nailer 10 in FIG. 2. The belt hook 30 is preferably removable from the nailer 10 and interchangeable with opposite sides 26, 28 of the nailer 10.

The back leg 22 of the nailer 10 includes an opening 32 that extends through the back leg 22, as shown in FIG. 9. The opening 32 is oval or oblong in shape and is sized and shaped to accept the belt hook 30. In a preferred embodiment, the opening 32 in the back leg 22 extends entirely through the back leg 22 so that the belt hook 30 can be positioned on the left or right side 26, 28 of the nailer 10. The belt hook 30 is positionable on either side of the back leg 22 in order to allow a left or right handed user to position the hook 30 on a convenient side. In addition, the belt hook 30 is configured to be easily removable from the opening 32 in the back leg 22 in order to allow for use of the nailer 10 in tight spaces. The belt hook 30 is easily positionable within the opening 32 and removable without the use of tools.

FIGS. 4-8 depict the belt hook 30. The belt hook 30 is an L-shaped, rigid member that has an attachment end 34 and a free end 36. The attachment end 34 is for attaching to the opening 32 in the back leg 22 while the free end 36 is configured for attaching to a storage location (not shown). The L-shaped member 30 includes a first leg of the L 38 and a second leg of the L 40. The first and second legs 38, 40 are preferably perpendicular to one another. In an alternative embodiment, which is not shown, the first and second legs are angled at an angle other than 90 degrees, but are configured relative to one another so that they allow attachment to a storage location, such as a belt, scaffolding, or otherwise.

The first leg of the L 38 is cylindrical along parts of its length. The attachment end 34 includes an inner ledge 42 that is configured to rest against the side 26, 28 of the back leg 22. The inner ledge 42 has a dimension that is greater than the dimension of the opening 32 in the back leg 22 so that it serves as a stop against the side 26, 28 of the tool 10.

The attachment end 34 includes a middle portion 44 that is configured to seat inside the opening 32 of the back leg 22. The middle portion 44 is cylindrical and includes a cut out 46 that forms a spring arm 48. The spring arm 48 is resilient and can bend inwardly and spring outwardly with the application of force. The spring arm 48 has a spring arm free end 50 that includes an outwardly extending knob 52. The knob 52 is sized to mate with a notch 54 defined inside the opening 32 in the back leg 22 of the nailer 10. The notch 54 is positioned inside the opening 32 so that the belt hook 30 can only be positioned in a single desired position, which is obtained upon rotation of the hook 30 into the proper position. The spring arm 48 together with the notch 54 provide a spring loaded detent for positioning the belt hook 30 in a specific position relative to the tool 10.

The attachment end 34 also includes an outer stop member 56 that has a shape and size configured to fit through the opening 32 in the back leg 22. The stop member 56 has outwardly extending legs 58 so that after the attachment end 34 is inserted through the opening 32 and the inner ledge 42 abuts the side 26, 28 of the back leg 22, the belt hook 30 can be turned so that the outwardly extending legs 58 abut the opposite side of the back leg 22 to hold the belt hook 30 in position. In a preferred embodiment, where an oval opening is provided in the back leg 22, the inner ledge 42 is circular, the middle portion 44 is cylindrical, and the outer stop member 56 is oval or oblong in cross-section. Other shapes and sizes for the opening 32 and the attachment end 34 may also be utilized. For example, a rectangular opening and a rectangular attachment end may be used, where the stop member 56 is rectangular. In this instance, the inner ledge and middle portion may remain cylindrical, or can take on another desired shape.

The second leg of the L 40 is preferably flat and smooth and may include a bend 60. The bend 60 is utilized to restrain the belt hook 30 on a belt or other surface and to make it easier to place or remove the belt hook 30 from a belt or other surface.

Referring to FIG. 11, in operation, the user selects a side 26, 28 of the back leg 22 and inserts the attachment end 34 of the belt hook 30 into the opening 32 in the back leg 22. The opening 32 in the back leg 22 preferably includes the inner notch 54 configured for mating with the knob 52 on the spring arm 48. The user inserts the attachment end 34 into the opening 32 until the inner ledge 42 abuts the side 26, 28 of the back leg 22 and the stop member 56 is positioned outside of the opening 32 on the opposite side of the back leg 22. At this position, the spring arm 48 is bent inwardly. The user then rotates the belt hook 30 until the knob 52 mates with the inner notch 54, at which point the spring arm 48 snaps outwardly to lock the belt hook 30 in position. Thus, the user receives a tactile response and may hear a clicking noise when the belt hook 30 is rotated into the locked position. In order to remove the belt hook 30 from the opening 32, the user applies rotational force sufficient to dislodge the knob 52 from the inner notch 54 and bend the spring arm 48 inwardly. Once the knob 52 has been dislodged from the notch 54 and the stop member 56 is aligned with the opening 32 in the back leg 22, the user can withdraw the belt hook 30 out of the opening 32.

The belt hook 30 is preferably made of a plastic material, such as nylon. Other types of materials may also be used, as long as they have sufficient strength to hold a power tool.

In a preferred embodiment, the first leg 38 has a length of about 1½ inches for the portion of the leg that extends outwardly from the tool and the second leg 40 has a length of about 2½ inches. Other dimensions for the belt hook 30 may also be utilized, as desired. It is preferred that the first leg 38 have a length sufficient so that the belt hook 30 extends past the outermost side of the tool 10. Thus, leg length will be dependent on the size of the power tool. In addition, there may be instances where it is desirable to have a leg length so that the belt hook 30 does not extend past the outermost side of the tool. The present invention incorporates this length as well.

A storage caddy 70 is shown in FIGS. 12-16. The storage caddy 70 is a container 72 or storage compartment that is configured to attach to the side of a tool 10. In the case of a nailer 10, the storage caddy 70 is configured to mechanically lockingly attach to a magazine 18 of the nailer 10, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, 15, and 16.

In one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 12-16, the storage caddy 70 is a rectangular container 72 that has a lid or door 74, an internal cavity 76, and a bottom surface 78. The lid 74 is openable and closeable and the internal cavity 76 is sized and shaped to store matter. In a preferred embodiment, the lid is hinged to the container. In the case of a nailer 10, it is advantageous to store extra sticks of nails 80 in the storage caddy 70, as shown in FIG. 3. Since nail sticks 80 are typically rectangular in shape, a rectangular container is advantageous. Other shaped containers may also be selected depending on the size and shape of the matter to be stored. The storage caddy 70 also includes an attachment mechanism 82 for attaching the caddy 70 to a power tool 10, as is discussed in greater detail below. The lid 74 includes a latch 84 for mating with one of the side walls 26, 28 of the storage container 72. The lid 74 may have support ridges 86 for added stability.

The mechanical attachment mechanism 82 of the storage caddy 70 is shown best in FIGS. 13 and 16. The container 72 has four side walls 88. The mechanical attachment mechanism 82 includes leg-like members that are contiguous with and extend from the side walls 88 of the container 72. The leg-like members 82 are shaped to seat between the ribs 92 defined on the side of a nail magazine 18. The attachment members 82 may be positioned at either end of the container 72. Alternatively, the members 82 may be positioned at spaced positions along the length of the container 72, or may extend along the entire length of the container 72. In order to accommodate the attachment members 82, the bottom surface 78 is raised above the legs 82. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, one attachment member 82 is positioned on an extension 90 of the container, which may be provided for aesthetic or other purposes.

The attachment mechanism 82 is mechanical in that it utilizes the shape and size of the container for attaching to the shape and size of a tool. It does not utilize adhesive or hook and loop fasteners. The attachment mechanism 82 is a mechanical fastener for conjoining mating parts that are sized and shaped to fit together, like pieces of a puzzle.

The storage container 72 also includes an aperture 94 defined on one of the side walls 88 of the container 72 adjacent the lid 74 for use in opening the container. Since the storage container 72 is configured to hold nails, when the container 72 is entirely filled with nails, it is difficult to open the lid 74. By using an aperture 94 on the side wall 88 of the container 72, the user can insert a finger into the aperture 94 in order to engage the lid 74 from the inside and pry the lid 74 open. The aperture 94 may also be used as a viewing window to determine whether any nail sticks 80 are stored inside the storage caddy 70.

In a preferred embodiment of a storage caddy 70, the caddy 70 includes indicia 96 for determining the size of nails stored in the caddy 70. This indicia 96 may be defined on the bottom surface 78 of the container 72, on the lid 74 of the container 72, or on another surface, if desired. Warning and instructional messages may also be provided in the form of indicia on the caddy 70.

FIG. 16 shows the attachment mechanism 82 of the storage caddy 70 installed between the ribs 92 of a nail magazine 18. The legs 82 of the attachment mechanism are captured between the two ribs 92 of the nail magazine 18 to firmly hold the storage caddy 70 in position. The attachment mechanism 82 is preferably configured to allow attachment to and disassembly of the storage caddy 70 from the nailer 10 without the use of any tools. Legs that are shaped differently from the legs 82 shown in the drawings may also be used, the invention not being limited to the shape shown. Other types of attachment mechanisms can also be utilized. For instance, the caddy 70 may be screwed or bolted onto the magazine 18.

The storage caddy 70 is preferably positioned on the side of the magazine 18 where loading of nails occurs in order to provide easy access to any nails stored in the caddy 70, although the caddy 70 can be installed on either side of the magazine 18.

In order to install the nail caddy 70 on a magazine 18, the user first opens the nailer magazine 18 and pulls the nail magazine cover backward. The user then moves the nail caddy 70 into alignment with the ribs 92 on the magazine cover and slides the caddy 70 between the ribs 92. The user then closes the magazine cover and the caddy is installed. In order to remove the nail caddy 70 from the magazine 18, the user opens the nailer magazine 18, slides the caddy 70 off the magazine cover, and closes the magazine 18.

The storage caddy 70 is preferably made of a lightweight, durable material, such as plastic. Other types of materials may alternatively be utilized, if desired. The storage caddy can be molded as a single piece, with the lid hinged to the container with a living hinge. Alternatively, the lid can be a separate member that is hinged with a mechanical hinge to the container.

In a preferred embodiment, the storage caddy 70 is configured to hold five standard sticks of nails 80. The caddy 70 is also designed to hold the full range of sizes of nails that can be utilized with the nailer 10. In addition, although not shown, the caddy 70 may include a built in tool for measuring the gauge of a nail to determine whether or not the nail is suited for use with the tool.

The term “nail” is used herein generically to refer to nails or staples. Likewise, the term “nailer” as used herein is used generically to refer to a nailer or a stapler. In addition, while the above-description was presented in the context of a nailer 10, other power tools may also benefit from the invention disclosed herein. In the case of the storage caddy 70, while nails are discussed as being stored in the caddy 70, any type of matter may alternatively be stored in the caddy 70, and the caddy 70 may be specially designed such that the interior cavity 76 is shaped to accept other types of matter. For instance, with a drill, it may be desirable to install drill bits or drills inside the caddy 70. For a power saw, it may be desirable to install extra saw blades in the caddy 70.

While various features of the claimed invention are presented above, it should be understood that the features may be used singly or in any combination thereof. Therefore, the claimed invention is not to be limited to only the specific embodiments depicted herein.

Further, it should be understood that variations and modifications may occur to those skilled in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. The embodiments described herein are exemplary of the claimed invention. The disclosure may enable those skilled in the art to make and use embodiments having alternative elements that likewise correspond to the elements of the invention recited in the claims. The intended scope of the invention may thus include other embodiments that do not differ or that insubstantially differ from the literal language of the claims. The scope of the present invention is accordingly defined as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A belt hook for a power tool comprising:

an L-shaped member having a free end and an attachment end, with the attachment end configured for removably mating with an attachment point of a power tool and the free end configured for coupling to a storage location.

2. The belt hook of claim 1, wherein the free end of the L-shaped member is configured for coupling to a belt of a user.

3. The belt hook of claim 1, wherein the attachment end of the L-shaped member includes a spring arm.

4. The belt hook of claim 3, wherein the attachment end includes an inner ledge, a middle portion having the spring arm, and an outer stop member, with the attachment end being configured to extend into and through an opening in a power tool and be turnable within the opening to lock the attachment end to a power tool.

5. The belt hook of claim 3, wherein the spring arm includes an outwardly extending knob, configured to removably lockingly mate with an attachment point of a power tool.

6. The belt hook of claim 1, wherein the L-shaped member has a first leg and a second leg, with the first leg being oriented perpendicular to the second leg.

7. The belt hook of claim 1, wherein the L-shaped member is plastic.

8. A belt hook for a nailer comprising:

means for removably attaching a nailer to a belt of a user.

9. A belt hook for a power tool comprising:

a rigid member having a free end and an attachment end, with the attachment end having a spring arm, the attachment end configured to engage and releasably lock into an opening in a power tool.

10. The belt hook of claim 9, wherein the spring arm includes a knob configured for mating with a notch defined in an opening of a power tool.

11. The belt hook of claim 9, wherein the attachment end includes an inner ledge, a middle portion that includes the spring arm, and an outer stop member, with the outer stop member having an oval cross-section, the middle portion having a cylindrical shape, and the inner ledge having a circular cross-section.

12. A power tool comprising:

a housing having an attachment opening defined in the housing; and

the belt hook of claim 1, wherein the attachment end is configured for releasably coupling with the attachment opening.

13. The power tool of claim 12, wherein the attachment opening extends through a portion of the housing.

14. The power tool of claim 13, wherein the housing includes a leg and the attachment opening extends through the leg.

15. The power tool of claim 12, wherein the attachment end of the belt hook includes a spring arm for locking into the attachment opening.

16. The power tool of claim 15, wherein the spring arm includes an outwardly extending knob and the attachment opening includes a notch configured to accept the knob of the spring arm.

17. The power tool of claim 14, wherein the attachment end includes an inner ledge configured to abut a side of the leg of the power tool in the vicinity of the attachment opening, a middle portion configured to extend into the attachment opening and including the spring arm, and an outer stop member configured to extend out of the opening on the opposite side of the leg from the inner ledge, said stop member configured to hold the belt hook securely in position on the leg upon rotation of the belt hook.

18. The power tool of claim 12, wherein the belt hook has a first leg of the L extending perpendicularly from a surface of the housing and a second leg of the L extending perpendicularly from the first leg of the L, and the second leg of the L is configured to engage a belt of a user.

19. A power tool comprising;

a housing having an attachment opening defined therethough; and

the belt hook of claim 9, wherein the attachment end is configured for releasably coupling with the attachment opening.