Tool holder with roller edge receiver

Abstract

A tool holder is outfitted with one or more rotatable elements that allow a tool to be smoothly removed from the tool holder. The rotatable elements may rotate on an axis defined by the inner edge of the tool holding area and may be cylindrical, spherical, or any other shape. Rather than dragging on a fixed element of the tool holder, a tool may ride against a wheel, ball, or other rotatable element.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Tool holders, such as hammer loops and other devices, are used by tradesmen every day in countless construction and maintenance activities. A common type of tool holder is one that mounts on a tradesman's belt and has a loop to receive a handle of a tool. For various reasons, a tool may be difficult for the tradesman to quickly remove the tool from the holder. For example, the tool may have a feature on the tool that catches the tool holder during removal, or the surface of the tool may not slide smoothly against the tool holder. This can be especially true for rubber handled devices that may be quite sticky.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A tool holder is outfitted with one or more rotatable elements that allow a tool to be smoothly removed from the tool holder. The rotatable elements may rotate on an axis defined by the inner edge of the tool holding area and may be cylindrical, spherical, or any other shape. Rather than dragging on a fixed element of the tool holder, a tool may ride against a wheel, ball, or other rotatable element and thereby be easily removed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment showing a tool holder with a rectangular tool receiver.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment showing a tool holder with a tool receiver that is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to a user's body.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment showing a tool holder with a dual-armed tool receiver.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment showing a tool holder with a circular tool receiver that is rotatable about an axis tangential to a user's body.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment showing a tool holder having an entrance gate.

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment showing a tool holder with a molded arm assembly.

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment showing a tool holder having a hook-style arm.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Specific embodiments of the subject matter are used to illustrate specific inventive aspects. The embodiments are by way of example only, and are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms. The appended claims are intended to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the subject matter as defined by the claims.

Throughout this specification, like reference numbers signify the same elements throughout the description of the figures.

When elements are referred to as being “connected” or “coupled,” the elements can be directly connected or coupled together or one or more intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when elements are referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled,” there are no intervening elements present.

Throughout this specification, the term “comprising” shall be synonymous with “including,” “containing,” or “characterized by,” is inclusive or open-ended and does not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps. “Comprising” is a term of art which means that the named elements are essential, but other elements may be added and still form a construct within the scope of the statement. “Comprising” leaves open for the inclusion of unspecified ingredients even in major amounts.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment 100 showing a tool holder. A hammer 101 is shown being carried by the tool holder 102 that defines a tool receiver 104. The arm 105 is mounted to a mounting element 106. The mounting element 106 may be worn by a user by threading a belt through the belt loop openings 108 and 110. The arm 105 may have several rotatable elements 112 that allow the hammer 101 to be quickly removed from the tool receiver 104 with a minimum of friction.

The embodiment 100 illustrates one embodiment of a tool holder with rotatable elements disposed about three sides of the periphery of the tool receiver 104. The rotatable elements 112 may allow the hammer 101 to be removed without rubbing, dragging, or catching a portion of the hammer 101 on the tool holder 102. For example, if the hammer 101 has a sticky or tacky grip, the grip may drag on the edge of a conventional tool holder and make removal more difficult for the user. The rotatable elements 112 may rotate about the axis approximately parallel with the inner periphery of the tool receiver 104 and thus facilitate removal of the hammer 101.

The rotatable elements 112 may be located on one or more edges of the periphery of the tool receiver 104. In some embodiments, one edge or a portion of only one edge may be outfitted with the rotatable elements 112. In other embodiments, rotatable elements 112 may be disposed around the entire periphery of the tool receiver 104.

The rotatable elements 112 may be cylindrical, spherical, toroidal, or any other rotatable shape. The axis of rotation for the rotatable elements 112 may be substantially parallel to the inner periphery of the tool receiver 104. In some embodiments, the axis of rotation for the rotatable elements 112 may be offset from the inner periphery of the tool receiver 104 by substantial amounts, providing that the rotatable elements facilitate the insertion and removal of a tool into and out from the tool receiver 104.

The tool receiver 104 may be any shape, size, and design that may support a tool. The present embodiment illustrates a hammer 101, but other hand tools including wrenches, screwdrivers, chisels, flashlights, nightsticks, pliers, pruning shears, or any other type of hand tool may be held with an appropriately shaped tool receiver 104. In other embodiments, the tool receiver 104 may be designed to accept various power tools, including power screwdrivers, drills, saws, welding equipment, or any other power tool. In some cases, the tool receiver 104 may accept a tool or other device that has an attached cord, hose, or cable.

The shape of the tool receiver 104 may be rectangular, circular, triangular, or any other shape adapted to hold a particular tool. In some cases, the tool receiver 104 may completely or partially encircle a tool. In other cases, the tool receiver 104 may engage one or more features of a tool, such as a loop or other feature of the tool.

The tool holder 102 may be any type of construction. The present embodiment may be manufactured from a formed metal arm 105 that is attached to a leather or other sturdy mounting element 106, such as a still woven fabric. In some embodiments, the mounting element 106 may be a belt or other article of clothing worn by a user. In other embodiments, the mounting element 106 may be a device that attaches to a belt or article of clothing in any manner whatsoever.

The rotatable elements 112 may be manufactured from metal, plastic, or any other suitable material. Some rotatable elements 112 may comprise two or more different materials. In some cases, the surface that comes in contact with the arm 105 may be specially selected bearing material chosen for low friction or low wear resistance. In other cases, the surface that comes in contact with the tool inside the tool receiver 104 may be smooth, embossed, high friction, or low friction material. In some embodiments, the rotating elements may formed metal elements that may or may not be continuous about the axis of rotation. For example, the rotating elements 112 may be a strip of metal that is formed over the arm 105 and encircles the arm 105, but may be discontinuous. In other embodiments, the rotating elements 112 may be inserted over the arm 105 before the arm 105 is attached to the mounting element 106. Some embodiments of the rotating elements 112 may include ball bearings or other bearing surface to control the frictional resistance in between the rotatable element 112 and the arm 105.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment 200 of a tool holder with a swivel mounted tool receiver. The tool holder 202 comprises a tool receiver 204 that is attached to a belt hook 206 via a swivel mechanism 208 having an axis of rotation 210. Several spherical rotatable elements 212 are disposed about the periphery of the tool receiver 204.

The embodiment 200 may be manufactured from a formed metal belt hook 206 that may engage a wearer's belt by sliding vertically down and capturing the belt in the belt hook 206.

The swivel mechanism 208 may allow the tool receiver 204 to rotate such that a tool held in the tool receiver 204 will remain upright while a user may bend over or otherwise gesticulate during movement.

The rotatable elements 212 may have a hole about which it may rotate. The rotatable elements 212 may be inserted over the arm that forms the tool receiver 204.

Various components such as the belt hook 206 and tool receiver 208 may be manufactured from formed metal wire or rod. In some cases, the metal components may be welded together.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment 300 of a tool holder having two parallel arms that form a tool receiver. A hammer 301 is held in a tool holder 302 that comprises a mounting element 304 to which is attached arms 306 and 308. Mounted on each arm 306 and 308 are several rotatable elements 310.

The mounting element 304 may be constructed from a woven material, leather, or other suitable material that may be folded over to form a belt loop 305 for receiving a belt. The belt may be attached to a tool belt or any other means by which the tool holder 302 may be secured to the person of the wearer.

The arms 306 and 308 may form a tool receiver 312 that holds the hammer 301. The tool receiver 312 is an area defined on three sides by the horizontal portions of the arms 306 and 308 and the mounting element 304. The vertical portions at the ends of the arms 306 and 308 that are distal from the mounting element 304 may prevent the hammer 301 or other tool held in the tool receiver 312 from falling out of the tool receiver 312.

The rotatable elements 310 may be fastened or attached to the arms 306 and 308 in any manner that allows the rotatable elements 310 to rotate about an axis formed by the arms 306 and 308. In some cases, the rotatable elements 310 may be free spinning while in other cases, the rotatable elements 310 may have a moderate or large amount of friction between the rotatable element and the arm to which the rotatable element is mounted.

The vertical portions of the arms 306 and 308 may or may not be equipped with one or more rotatable elements 310. In embodiments where a user may move about, bend over, and otherwise contort in different positions, the vertical portions of the arms 306 and 308 may not be fitted with rotatable elements 310. In such embodiments, the lack of rotatable elements may prevent a tool in the tool receiver 312 from falling out. In embodiments where a user is largely upright, rotatable elements 310 on the vertical portions of the arms 306 and 308 may provide a smoother removal of the tool from the tool receiver 312.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment 400 of a tool holder with a rotating tool receiver. The tool holder 402 comprises a belt attachment 404 to which is attached a tool loop 406. The tool holder 402 comprises a spring lever 408 that may slide vertically down over a user's belt. The tool loop 406 is attached to the belt attachment 404 by a hinge 410 having an axis of rotation that is substantially horizontal and relatively tangential to a user's body. The tool loop 406 comprises a tool receiver 414 about which are mounted several rotatable elements 416.

The tool holder 402 may be useful for tools such as a night stick, flashlight, or other tool that may have a long round handle. Tool holder 402 may also be adapted for tools that are not as frequently removed and reinserted as would be embodiments 100, 200, and 300, for example. When reinserting a tool into the tool holder 402, the user may have to rotate the tool loop 406 upwards so that the tool may be inserted into the tool receiver 414. When the tool is removed from the tool holder 402, the tool loop 406 may fold downward and be out of the way while the tool is not being held.

The rotatable elements 416 may be disposed about the periphery of the tool receiver 414 and may be any useful shape. In some cases, the rotatable elements 416 may be cylinders, disks, toroidal elements, or other shapes as desired. In some embodiments, a portion of the tool loop 406 may be fitted with rotatable elements 416. For example, in the present embodiment, the rotatable elements 416 may cover about three quarters of the periphery of the tool loop 406. In other embodiments, rotatable elements may be outfitted on a lower portion, such as the quadrant opposite the hinge area while the remaining portion of the tool loop 406 may not have any rotatable elements 416. In another embodiment, rotatable elements may be outfitted on other portions of the periphery of the tool receiver 414 and not on others. In some cases, the particular geometry of the tool that is carried by the tool holder 402 may dictate a particular arrangement of rotatable elements about the periphery of the tool receiver 414.

The tool receiver 414 may be adapted to any shape that may engage a particular tool. For example, the tool receiver 414 may be a rectangular shape, triangular shape, D-shaped, elliptical, or otherwise incorporate a special feature or geometry to engage a particular tool.

The belt attachment 404 may be any type of mechanism that may be attached to a user's belt, garment, or otherwise be mounted in a manner that a user can easily access the tool holder 402 from the user's person. In the present embodiment, the belt attachment 404 may be manufactured from a spring steel, molded plastic, or other material that may provide some amount of spring resistance in the spring lever 408. The spring lever 408 may open to engage a user's belt or other article of clothing and provide some frictional or otherwise mechanical engagement to the belt or article of clothing. In some embodiments, the spring lever 408 may be manufactured of two or more parts with a spring loaded hinge mechanism that may provide a similar engagement mechanism. Such a hinge mechanism may also have a lock or clamp mechanism to secure the belt attachment 404 to the user's belt or article of clothing.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment 500 showing a tool holder with rotatable gates to receive a tool. The belt hook 502 forms a tool receiver 504. The distal portion of the tool receiver 504 may be outfitted with rotatable gates 506 and 508 that may allow entry of a tool into the tool receiver 504 without having to direct a long handle of a tool through the tool receiver 504. Portions of the belt hook 502 may be outfitted with toroidal rotatable elements 510.

The embodiment 500 is a tool holder with two entry gates 506 and 508 that enable a user to engage a tool in the tool receiver 504 by bringing the handle of the tool through the gates 506 and 508 as opposed to dropping the handle of the tool through a fixed tool receiver such as in embodiments 100, 200, 300, and 400. The gates 506 and 508 may rotate inward to allow a tool to enter from the distal side of the gates 506 and 508 into the tool receiver 504. When the tool has passed the gates 506 and 508, the gates 506 and 508 may be spring loaded to return to the closed position as illustrated. When the tool is in the tool receiver 504 and the gates 506 and 508 are closed, the tool may be captured in the tool receiver 504.

The rotatable elements 510 are illustrated along two sides of the tool receiver 504. In some embodiments, rotatable elements 510 may be installed along the gates 506 and 508. The rotatable elements 510 may be toroidal in shape, which may be preferred in some embodiments for ease of assembly of the rotatable elements 510 onto the belt hook 502.

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment 600 showing a tool holder manufactured from molded arms and directly attached to a belt. The tool holder 602 comprises a belt 604 to which is attached a molded arm assembly 606 that form a tool receiver 608 and to which are affixed several rotatable elements 610. The molded arms 606 are attached to the belt 604 by several rivets 612.

The embodiment 600 illustrates an embodiment where the tool receiver 608 is a molded construction. In a typical embodiment, the molded arms 606 may be manufactured from plastic, reinforced plastic, cast metal, or any other suitable molded material. In some instances, the molded arms 606 may be manufactured from extruded material that is subsequently machined.

The rotatable elements 610 may be attached to the molded arms 606 by any mechanism possible. In some embodiments, the rotatable elements 610 may be snapped into place by engaging resilient or compliant features formed into the molded arms 606. In other embodiments, the rotatable elements 610 may be held and rotate about an axle or shaft that is inserted into the molded arm assembly 606.

The molded arms 606 may be shaped to suit a particular tool. For example, the molded arms 606 may be designed to engage a particular handheld radio that is rectangular in shape. In some instances, the molded arms 606 may be designed with cutouts or other relief so that a particular feature of a tool is protected or engaged. For example, when the molded arms 606 are designed to hold a handheld radio, a relief or other feature may be designed to protect a button or knob on the handheld radio.

FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment 700 showing a hook-type tool holder. The tool holder 702 comprises a belt 704 and a hook-shaped arm 706 with several rotatable elements 708. The arm 706 may be attached to the belt 704 with rivets 710. The curved portion of the arm 706 may form a tool receiver 712.

The embodiment 700 illustrates a hook-type tool holder having several rotatable elements 708 disposed along the hook-shaped portion. The rotatable elements 708 may allow a tool to be easily removed from the tool holder 702 without a minimum of catching or dragging on the tool holder.

The hook-type tool holder of embodiment 700 may be suitable for holding tools such as corded or cordless drills, power tools, or other tools that have a feature that may engage the hook-shaped arm 706. For example, the body of a drill may be partially encircled by and engage the arm 706. Other types of tools that may be useful to be held by the embodiment 700 include those tools having two handle elements, such as pruning shears, pliers, and the like. In some embodiments, the arm 706 may engage a loop or other feature of a tool. For example, the arm 706 may engage a trigger guard or a mounting loop of a power tool.

The arm 706 may be manufactured from steel, aluminum, titanium, or other metal. In other embodiments, the arm 706 may be manufactured from formed or molded plastic.

The rotatable elements 708 may be different shapes and sizes as they are disposed along the arm 706. In the present embodiment, smaller rotatable elements 708 are installed along the distal end of the arm 706 while larger ones are installed at the proximal end. The smaller rotatable elements 708 may be selected such that they may be installed along the curved portion of the arm 706.

The figures illustrate several different embodiments of the various components that may be set forth in the appended claims. Those skilled in the art may appreciate that different versions of each element may be mixed and matched to develop many combinations of embodiments.

The foregoing description of the subject matter has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and other modifications and variations may be possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the underlying principles and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the appended claims be construed to include other alternative embodiments of the invention except insofar as limited by the prior art.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a mounting mechanism to attach said device to the torso of a user;

a receiver adapted to accept an elongated portion of a tool and capture said tool on at least two sides, said receiver having an inner periphery;

a plurality of rotatable elements attached to said receiver and adapted to rotate about an axis substantially parallel to said inner periphery.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said mounting mechanism comprises an attachment mechanism adapted to attach to a belt.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said mounting mechanism comprises a belt.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said tool being additionally captured on one side by said torso of said user.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said receiver comprises a shaped metal wire having a substantially circular cross section.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said receiver comprises a molded body.

7. The device of claim 1 further comprising a hinged mounting mechanism attaching said receiver to said mounting mechanism with a rotatable hinge.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said rotatable hinge comprises an axis of rotation oriented substantially tangential to said torso of said user.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein said rotatable hinge comprises an axis of rotation oriented substantially perpendicular to said torso of said user.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein said rotatable elements are substantially cylindrical in shape.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein said rotatable elements are substantially spherical in shape.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein said rotatable elements are substantially toroidal in shape.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein said rotatable elements comprise a ball bearing.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein said rotatable elements comprise a bearing surface.

15. A belt mounted tool holder comprising:

an attachment mechanism for attaching said tool holder to the belt of a user;

two rigid members extending outwardly from said belt, said rigid members being substantially parallel;

at least one cross member attached to at least one of said two rigid members, said at least one cross member and said two rigid parallel members forming an opening to receive a tool; and

at least one rotatable element disposed on at least one of said two rigid parallel members and adapted to rotate along an axis formed by said at least one of said two rigid parallel members.

16. The belt mounted tool holder of claim 15 further comprising:

at least one rotatable element disposed on said at least one cross member and adapted to rotate along an axis formed by said at least one cross member.

17. The belt mounted tool holder of claim 15 wherein said rotatable element is substantially cylindrical in shape.

18. The belt mounted tool holder of claim 15 wherein said rotatable element is substantially spherical in shape.

19. The belt mounted tool holder of claim 15 wherein said rotatable element is substantially toroidal in shape.

20. The belt mounted tool holder of claim 15 wherein said rotatable element comprises a ball bearing.

21. The belt mounted tool holder of claim 15 wherein said rotatable element comprises a bearing surface.

22. A holder for a tool having at least one elongate element comprising:

a base being substantially planar and substantially parallel to a wearer, said base having an exterior side facing away from said wearer;

a cradle having at least one arm defining an opening to receive said elongate element, said cradle being mounted to said exterior side of said base and said cradle having an edge defined by said opening;

a plurality of rotatable elements disposed along said cradle and adapted to rotate about an axis substantially parallel to said edge.

23. The holder of claim 22 wherein said base is removably attached to a belt worn by said wearer.

24. The holder of claim 22 wherein said base is fixedly attached to a belt worn by said wearer.

25. The holder of claim 22 wherein said cradle is formed from one or more metal parts being substantially circular in cross-section.

26. The holder of claim 22 wherein said rotatable elements are substantially cylindrical in shape.

27. The holder of claim 22 wherein said rotatable elements are substantially spherical in shape.

28. The holder of claim 22 wherein said rotatable elements are substantially toroidal in shape.