Belt supported glove and tool holder

Abstract

A holder removably attachable to belts for removably retaining gloves and other items is composed of a substantially flexible strap with hook and loop material fixedly attached along at least a portion of each side for a predetermined distance. A belt attachment loop or clip is fixed substantially perpendicular to the flexible strap for removably attaching the holder to a user's belt. At least one flexible member is fixedly attached to the areas where the flexible strap and belt loop overlap. Connections such as rings and swivel clasps are secured at the ends of the flexible members for removable attachment of various items.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application is related to and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/850,948 filed Oct. 10, 2006.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to articles worn by workers to keep items close by for when a job demands them and, more particularly, this invention relates to a belt attachment for holding gloves and tools close to a person that may need them during the course of a job.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Prior to the conception and development of the present invention, workers doing construction and maintenance often waste time and energy looking for or going to get items needed to perform a certain task at hand. Belt mounted holders of various sort appear in prior art such as U.S. Pat. No. 781,629, which discloses a holder for gloves, and an umbrella hanging from a belt clip and a chain, but not something suitable for working environments. U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,371 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,688,505 each disclose a method to hold gloves to a belt clip using Velcro on both the glove and the belt clip. U.S. Pat. No. 5,392,974 discloses a belt-mounted pouch for holding multiple pairs of disposable medical gloves. U.S. Pat. No. 5,946,733 discloses a holder for construction worker's gloves consisting of a pair of U-shaped saddles that hook onto a belt. The holder of U.S. Pat. No. 5,946,733 necessitates two attachments to the belt, and there is nothing to prevent them from becoming separated too much.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,358,036, 4,587,818, 5,248,072, and 5,687,892 disclose various ways to removably support tools and various other items from a belt, but they all are for one item at a time and are not readily adaptable to holding a pair of gloves.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a holder removably attachable to belts for removably retaining gloves and other items and is composed of a substantially flexible strap with hook and loop material fixedly attached along at least a portion of each side for a predetermined distance. A belt attachment loop is attached substantially perpendicular to the flexible strap for removably attaching the holder to a user's belt. At least one flexible member is fixedly attached to the areas where the flexible strap and belt loop overlap. Connections such as rings and swivel clasps are secured at the ends of the flexible for removable attachment of various items. An alternative means for attaching to the belt or a pants waistband, such as a semi-rigid clip, is also disclosed.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a glove holder that attaches easily to common pants belts and also can accommodate tools and other items, all readily accessible when desired.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a belt mounted holder for a flashlight and other small items that may be desirable in course of performing a construction or maintenance task.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive attachment for belts to comfortably keep multiple items close to the user.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a way to carry tools and gloves that is safer for the user and surfaces it comes into contact with.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a convenient multiple item holder than can be readily clipped over the top edge of belts or waistbands.

In addition to the various objects and advantages of the present invention described with some degree of specificity above, it should be obvious that additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description of the invention, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing figures and with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is rear view of the belt attachment holder with two supplemental attachment means.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the belt-loop holder device on a belt prior to attaching anything.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a pair of gloves and a tool attached to the holder.

FIG. 4 depicts a variation on the design wherein the holder clips over the top of a belt or pants waistband.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity and understanding, identical components which have identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawing figures.

Referring initially to FIG. 1, a rear view of the holder 10 is provided. An elongated strap 14 has Velcro® (hook and loop) segments 16 on opposing sides at opposite ends. Permanently attached perpendicularly near the center of this strap, such as by sewing, is a loop of material 12 forming an opening wide enough to slide in most common pant belts. This flexible loop could be replaced with a semi-rigid belt clip riveted to the elongated strap. Also attached at or near the belt loop or clip attachment point are optional appendages 20 that connect with a rigid loop for other types of removable connections. For example, one would probably be a metal swivel snap hook 24. Another could be a simple ring 22.

In FIG. 2, the holder is shown with a belt 30 through the loop section 12 prior to attaching anything. The elongated strap 14 has Velcro® 16 on both ends but on opposite sides. Optional appendages 20 are shown for attaching other connectors such as a ring 22 or a swivel spring clasp 24.

FIG. 3 depicts a person using the present invention. The loop has been slid over a belt 30. Gloves 40 are tightly but comfortably held close to the user by the strap 14 with Velcro® surface 16 This also helps minimize loss of valuable gloves. A tool 42 has been hung from the swivel clasp 24.

FIG. 4 illustrates a variation in the way the device is attached to a belt or waistband 30. The strap 14 is riveted to a semi-rigid clip 15 that hooks over the belt 30. As before, attachments 22 and 24 are available for connecting tools or other items.

While a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in sufficient detail above to enable a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the same, it should be obvious that various other adaptations and modifications can be envisioned by those persons skilled in such art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A holder removably attachable to pants belts for removably securing items comprising:

a) a substantially flexible strap of a predetermined length with hook and loop fastener material fixedly attached along at least a portion of each side at opposite ends for first and second predetermined distances; and

b) a belt attachment means fixedly attached substantially perpendicular to said flexible strap for removably attaching said holder to a users belt.

2. The holder, according to claim 1, wherein said first predetermined distance is at least one centimeter.

3. The holder, according to claim 1, wherein said second predetermined distance is at least two centimeters.

4. The holder, according to claim 1, wherein said belt attachment means is a loop of synthetic fiber webbing material through which a belt can fit.

5. The holder, according to claim 1, wherein said belt attachment means is an inverted U-shaped clip engageable with one of a belt and a top edge of pants waistband.

6. The holder, according to claim 1, wherein said flexible strap and attachment means are nylon webbing material.

7. The holder, according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined length is between about four and twelve inches.

8. The holder, according to claim 1, wherein said flexible strap is entirely covered on each side with mating hook and loop fasteners.

9. A holder removably attachable to pants belts for removably securing items comprising:

a) a substantially flexible strap with hook and loop material fixedly attached along at least a portion of each side at opposite ends for first and second predetermined distances;

b) a belt attachment means fixedly attached substantially perpendicular to said flexible strap for removably attaching said holder to a users belt

c) at least one member fixedly attached to connected areas of said flexible strap and said belt attachment means; and

d) connecting means secured at ends of said at least one member for removable attachment of various items.

10. The holder, according to claim 9, wherein said connecting means secured at ends of said at least one member is one of a snap swivel clasp and a ring.

11. The holder, according to claim 9, wherein said belt attachment means is a loop of synthetic fiber webbing through which a belt can fit.

12. The holder, according to claim 9, wherein said belt attachment means is an inverted U-shaped clip engageable with one of a belt and a top edge of pants waistband.

13. The holder, according to claim 9, wherein said flexible strap is entirely covered on each side with mating hook and loop fasteners.

14. The holder, according to claim 9, wherein said predetermined length is between about four and twelve inches.

15. The holder, according to claim 9, wherein said first predetermined distance is at least one centimeter.

16. The holder, according to claim 9, wherein said second predetermined distance is at least two centimeters.