Tool holding device

Abstract

A tool holding device comprises a skeleton, having a first side and a second side; at least one holding mechanism for securing tools and/or accessories to the first side; and an attachment mechanism for securing the tool holding device to the body of the user, with the second side abutting the body of a user, such that tools and accessories may be accessed from the first side. The holding mechanism may include a plurality of pockets adapted for holding certain tools and/or accessories. The attachment mechanism may include one or more adjustable straps designed to secure the device to a variety of users.

Description

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/567,955 filed May 4, 2004, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by this reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a tool holding device, and, more specifically, to a tool holding device adapted to be secured to a portion of a user's body, such as, an arm, leg, or torso.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

A desirable tool holding device provides a location for tools to be stored and easily located when they are needed. Tools are often needed when a user is in the midst of performing a task requiring the use of his or her hands. However, there are problems associated with many existing tool holding devices when used in such a situation. To access tools from many existing tool holding devices, a user must cease performing the task, make free the use of his or her hands, journey to the tool case, acquire the desired tool, return to the site where the task is being performed, and resume the performance of the task. Thus, such existing tool holding devices are both inefficient and inconvenient to use. As such, there is a need in the art for a device that satisfactorily addresses the above mentioned problems associated with prior art devices designed to hold tools and/or accessories.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the above-identified problems, and others, by providing a tool holding device, which is adapted to be secured to a user's body, allowing tools and/or accessories to be easily accessed while the user is in the midst of performing a task which requires use of one or both hands. An exemplary embodiment of the tool holding device of the present invention includes a fabric-covered skeleton having a first side for holding tools and a second side for facing the body of the user. The first side includes a plurality of pockets designed to hold various type of tools and/or accessories, while the device additionally includes a pair of adjustable straps for securing the holding device to the body of the user along the second side.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a first view of an exemplary embodiment of a tool holding device made in accordance with the present invention, showing a first side of the tool holding device;

FIG. 2 is an alternate view of the tool holding device of FIG. 1, showing a second side of the tool holding device; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tool holding device of FIG. 1, shown secured to the arm of a user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a tool holding device designed to hold, store, and organize a variety of tools and accessories and adapted to be secured to a user's body, thereby allowing the tools and accessories to be easily accessed while the user is in the midst of performing a task. It is contemplated that the tool holding device be constructed from a substantially rigid skeleton made, for example, from a molded polymer or a metal. The skeleton is then covered with a fabric material, such as a heavy nylon; however, it may be constructed from a variety of materials including PP webbing, various natural or synthetic cloths, or leather, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

An exemplary embodiment of the tool holding device 10 of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-3. The tool holding device 10 generally includes a fabric-covered skeleton 12 having a first side 14 for holding tools and a second side 16 for facing the body of the user. The first side 14 includes a plurality of pockets 18 designed to hold various types of tools and accessories. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the device 10 is provided with a series of drill bit pockets 18, each adapted to receive a drill bit 118 and a pocket 20 adapted to receive a writing utensil 120. The device 10 may also be provided with a magnet 26 to attract and hold staples, nails and other tools and accessories made from a magnetic material.

Other embodiments of the device may be provided with additional pockets or other mechanisms for holding tools and accessories. For example, the device could include pockets designed to hold a tape measure, a screw driver, nails, screws, or other tools and accessories. The device could also be provided with other holding mechanisms, for example, clips, snaps, or straps to secure tools or accessories to the device, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

The tool holding device 10 of the illustrated embodiment additionally includes a pair of straps 22, 24 for securing the holding device 10 to the body of the user. Of course, in other embodiments, a single strap or another attachment mechanism may be used to secure the device 10 to the body of the user without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Whatever the attachment mechanism, it is preferably designed to be worn by a variety of users. For example, the straps 22, 24 of the illustrated embodiment are adjustable to fit arms and/or legs of various sizes. Each strap 22, 24 extends from a bottom edge 30 of the skeleton 12, while an associated pair of rings 31, 32 are provided and extend from a top edge 34 of the skeleton 12. A surface of each strap 22, 24 is provided with a hook-and-loop fastening material 36, 38 adjacent the bottom edge 30 of the skeleton 12 and a mating hook-and-loop fastening material 40, 42 adjacent the distal end of each strap 22, 24. Thus, the straps 22, 24 may be fed through the rings 31, 32, adjusted to a desired size, and then, the fastening materials 36, 38, 40, 42 may be joined to one another, thereby securing the straps 22, 24 in a desired manner.

The illustrated embodiment of the device 10 may be constructed in the following manner. The skeleton 12 is provided and generally defines the shape of the device 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the skeleton 12 is substantially flat and elongated to fit against the arm or leg of the user. Of course, in other embodiments, the skeleton may be provided in various shapes and sizes; for example, the skeleton may be contoured to fit around the body part to which it is designed to be attached, e.g., curved to fit snuggly around an arm or leg of the user. For another example, the skeleton could be shaped to provide a raised or increased surface area for holding tools and accessories on the first side of the device.

As mentioned above, the skeleton 12 of the illustrated embodiment is ultimately covered with a fabric. In this regard, a first piece of fabric may be used to cover the first side 14 of the device 10 and a second piece of fabric may be used to cover the second side 16 of the device 10. The same or different fabrics may be chosen as desired. For example, a soft and breathable fabric may be chosen for the second side 16 of the device 10, which side abuts the body of the user, and a durable material may be chosen for the first side 14 of the device 10, which side interacts with tools and accessories. Additionally, a padding may be interposed between the skeleton 14 and the fabric along the second side 16 of the device 10, to provide comfort to the user. As mentioned above, in the illustrated embodiment, a magnet 26 is provided for attracting and holding tools and/or accessories and is placed underneath the fabric covering the first side 14 of the device 10. In other embodiments, a magnet may be attached to the outer surface of the fabric. Likewise, in the illustrated embodiment, portions of the straps 22, 24 and tabs 44, 46 attached to the rings 31, 32 may be interposed between the fabric and the second side 16 of the skeleton 12. In other embodiments, these elements may be attached to the outer surface of the fabric. In the illustrated embodiment, a binding 28 may be used to secure the pieces of fabric, the straps 22, 24, and the rings 31, 32 to one another, enclosing the skeleton. In still other embodiments, the skeleton need not be fabric-covered, in which embodiments the holding mechanisms for securing tools and accessories may be attached directly to the first side of the skeleton and the attachment mechanism for securing the device to the body of the user may be attached directly to the skeleton.

In the illustrated embodiment, the pockets 18 are constructed from a single strip of material, with adjacent pockets being separated from one another by stitching, while the pocket 20 is constructed from a separate piece of material. It is contemplated that the pockets be constructed from a material which has an elastic quality, such that it retains tools and accessories, but allows for them to be readily inserted into and removed from the pockets 18, 20. In other embodiments, depending on the type of pocket or other mechanism provided for holding tools and accessories, the pockets or other mechanisms may be attached to the device by any method known in the art. In any event, the ultimate construction should allow the tools and accessories to be held on the first side 14 of the device 10, allowing access thereto while the device 10 is being worn by the user.

The illustrated embodiment of the device 10 may be used in the following exemplary manner. The holding device 10 is loaded with desired drill bits 118 and a writing utensil 120. The device 10 is secured to an arm 110 of the user with the second side 16 abutting the arm of the user, such that tools and accessories may be accessed from the first side 14 of the device 10. The user obtains a drill having a trigger drill-bit release mechanism. The user aligns the drill with a desired first drill bit 118 held within a first drill-bit pocket 18 and operates the trigger mechanism to grasp the first drill bit 118, pulling the first drill bit 118 from the first drill-bit pocket 18. When the user is finished operating the drill using the first drill bit 118, the user again aligns the drill with the first drill-bit pocket 18 and operates the trigger mechanism, releasing the first drill bit 118 into the first drill-bit pocket 18. The user may then align the drill to grasp a second drill bit. In this manner, the user may quickly change drill bits 18 with ease. Additionally, a writing utensil 120 may be easily accessed from the pocket 20 to mark locations for drilling. Of course, this is but one exemplary method for using the device of the present invention, and additional methods are contemplated and will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art upon reviewing the present document.

Furthermore, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that additional embodiments of the device are possible without departing from the teachings of the present invention or the scope of the claims which follow. This detailed description, and particularly the specific details of the exemplary embodiment disclosed therein, is given primarily for clarity of understanding, and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom, for modifications will become obvious to those skilled in the art upon reviewing this document and may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the claimed invention.

Claims

1. A tool holding device, comprising:

a skeleton, having a first side and a second side;

at least one holding mechanism for securing tools and/or accessories to said first side; and

an attachment mechanism for securing said tool holding device to the body of a user, with said second side abutting the body of the user, such that tools and accessories may be accessed from said first side.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said skeleton is fabric-covered.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one holding mechanism comprises a plurality of pockets.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said pockets are constructed from a material having an elastic quality, such that said pockets retain tools and/or accessories, but allow the tools and/or accessories to be readily inserted into and removed from said pockets.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein said pockets are adapted to hold drill bits.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one holding mechanism includes a magnet for attracting and holding certain tools and/or accessories.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said attachment mechanism comprises one or more straps.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein said one or more straps are adjustable.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein said skeleton is covered with a fabric and a portion of the one or more straps is interposed between the fabric and said skeleton.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein said skeleton is covered with a fabric and the fabric covering said first side is different than the fabric covering said second side.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the fabric covering said first side is breathable and the fabric covering said second side is durable.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein said skeleton is covered with a fabric and padding is interposed between the fabric and said skeleton.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein said skeleton is covered with a fabric and a binding secures said fabric-covered skeleton to said attachment mechanism.

14. A tool holding device, comprising:

a fabric-covered skeleton, having a first side and a second side;

a plurality of pockets for securing tools and/or accessories to the first side of said fabric-covered skeleton; and

one or more straps for securing said tool holding device to the body of a user, with said second side abutting the body of the user, such that tools and accessories may be accessed from said first side.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein said fabric-covered skeleton and said attachment mechanism are adapted to be secured to an arm, leg or torso of the user.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein said pockets are constructed from a material having an elastic quality, such that said pockets retain tools and/or accessories, but allow the tools and/or accessories to be readily inserted into and removed from said pockets.

17. The device of claim 14, and further comprising a magnet for attracting and holding tools and/or accessories to said first side of said fabric-covered skeleton.

18. The device of claim 14, wherein said one or more straps are adjustable.

19. The device of claim 14, wherein a binding secures said fabric-covered skeleton to said attachment mechanism.

20. The device of claim 14, wherein a portion of the one or more straps is interposed between the fabric and said skeleton.