Safety cable for holding tools

Abstract

A safety cable for tools for preventing the tools from falling when the individual is on a ladder, scaffold or roof has a first end attachable to the individual, such as the individual's work belt, and a second distal end to which the tool is secured. The first end includes a releasably securable chain link that connects to a clothing article, such as the belt, and adjacent the distal end is a safety clip that attaches to an o-ring adjoined to the chain link when the tool is not in use thereby taking up the length of cable and preventing the cable and the tool from freely dangling from the individual. The safety clip is released from the first end of the cable when the tool is to be used so that the individual has the entire length of cable available for using, maneuvering and positioning the tool while still retaining the securement of the tool to the distal end of the cable.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to tool holders, and more particularly pertains to an adjustable length safety cable for securing a tool to a worker and which allows for the use of the tool without detaching the cable from the worker.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hand tools such as drills, saws, hammers, levels, nail guns, caulking guns and the like, and other equipment, are used in environments where, if they are accidentally dropped, either while being used or carried by the worker, are difficult to easily retrieve, or, more importantly, may actually damage the tools and strike and seriously injure anyone that is situated below the level or height of the worker. For instance, an individual or worker, such as a painter or roofer, while working on a ladder or positioned on a roof must have his hands free until he reaches the area for tool use. Then he must use the tool without dropping it all the while aware that the tool is not secured or tethered to anything. Boats present an additional problem in that one's hands may be wet while using the tool and if the tool slips out of one's hands it is permanently lost. Moreover, a worker, such as a roofer, will need to have a number of tools handy for use, and often the tools are simply perched unsecured on the roof. Thus, the need for tethers, lanyards cables.

Furthermore, much home renovation, as well as general construction work, is done with the assistance of multi-level scaffolding or accomplished while maneuvering on girders and I-beams. Dropping tools from such locations almost certainly results in the damaging of the tools and injury to any person that should be unfortunate enough to be struck by the tools. Thus, many different types of tool holding and tethering systems have been conceived to both secure the tool to the individual and also to allow the individual to use the tool with the tool still attached in some manner to the individual.

For example, the Duchi, Jr. et al. patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,602) discloses a lanyard that includes loops at opposed ends of the lanyard made by turning the lanyard braid back upon itself and fastening both braids with a metal ferrule.

The Quick patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,394,592) discloses a power tool cord strain relief arrangement that includes a tether cord that extends along the length of the tool's power cord, and is attached to the power cord, so that the tool can be lowered from heights without straining the power cord.

The Lueschen patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,680,026) discloses a tool belt with battery assembly that includes a tool belt having parallel rows of battery cells connected in series and a cable connected to the batteries and having a plug for plugging into an outlet.

The Hashimoto patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,065,658) discloses a tool holder for an electric drill that includes a pair of shoulder straps and a belt worn by the individual with the tool, such as an electric drill, carried in a holster secured to one of the shoulder straps.

The Elkins patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,216,319 B4) discloses a tool tether that includes a lanyard having one end that wraps around the wrist of the individual and a second end that includes a swivel clasping mechanism to which variously sized hardware receptacles can be attached with the hardware receptacles capable of holding variously sized tools and hardware such as nuts, bolts, pipe fittings, spark plugs, etc.

The Vidal Jr. patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,487,756 B1) discloses a tool lanyard system that includes a housing mounted to the wrist of an individual and within which a length of cable can be spooled out with the free end of the cable having an attachment mechanism to which a tool such as a knife, file, square, etc. can be secured.

The Hopkins patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,530,131 B4) discloses a tool leash device that includes a pair of coiled leashes each having an end secured to a snap ring and the distal ends of both leashes having conventional trigger snaps secured thereto.

The Parker patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,776,317 B1) discloses a tool lanyard that has a hook on one end of the lanyard for securement to a ring of a safety harness and an opposite end having a looped cord to receive and hold the tool.

Nonetheless, despite the ingenuity of the above devices, there remains a need for a safety cable that is lightweight, capable of holding various tools, and having a distal end in several configurations to which the various types of tools can be secured.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprehends a safety cable for holding and securing tools to an individual, such as construction worker, roofer, home repair contractor and building, or a homeowner so that the tools are not inadvertently or accidentally dropped on the ground or dropped on and striking an individual thus damaging the tools and, more significantly, injuring the individual.

The safety cable of the present invention includes a plastic coated cable that has first end for attachment to the individual or workman, and a second distal end. The first end includes an open and close chain link that can be secured to and released from an article of clothing, such as the individual's belt or a work belt of a construction worker. Adjoined to the chain link is an o-ring and one end of the safety cable is attached to the o-ring. Attached to the cable adjacent the distal end is some type of hook or clip, such as an open/close safety clip. The distal end of the cable terminates with a configuration that is attachable to the tool that can be a power drill, circular saw, level, square, hammer, nail gun, caulking gun or the like. The length of the cable is adjustable in that when the tool is not being used, the safety clip is hooked onto the o-ring thus taking up a substantial length of the cable thereby preventing the cable—and the tool secured to the distal end thereof—from freely swaying, dangling and getting caught in equipment or structure to the detriment and danger of the worker. When the worker desires to use the tool, he or she simply releases the safety clip from the o-ring and thus can maneuver, position and use the tool in a free and unencumbered manner.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a safety cable for holding tools that is lightweight, durable and capable of holding and securing various types of tools to the worker.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a safety cable for holding tools that prevents the tools from falling when the worker is on a ladder, roof, or standing at ground level.

It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a safety cable for holding tools that provides safety for the people and objects below the work area of the worker to which the safety cable and the tool is secured.

It is still yet another objective of the present invention to provide a safety cable for holding tools that increases and enhances the useful lifespan of the worker's tools.

These and other objects, features and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a perusal the following detailed description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the safety cable for holding tools of the present invention illustrating the tool secured to the distal end of the cable and the length of the cable taken up by securing the safety clip to the cable proximate to the worker's belt;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the safety cable for holding tools of the present invention illustrating the tool secured to the distal end of the cable with the cable extended its full length while preventing the tool from striking or falling to the ground;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevational view of the safety cable for holding tools of the present invention illustrating the securement of the open/close chain link to the belt of the worker and the extension therefrom of the cable;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevational view of the safety cable for holding tools of the present invention illustrating the securement of the open/close chain link to the belt of the worker and the extension of the cable with the distal end of the cable configured differently from the distal end of the cable shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the safety cable for holding tools of the present invention illustrating the deformation of the ring at the distal end of the cable for passing through a trigger aperture of the tool; and

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the safety cable for holding tools of the present invention illustrating the expansion of the ring after passing through the trigger aperture of the tool for thereby securing the tool to the distal end of the cable.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Illustrated in FIGS. 1-6 is a safety line or cable 10 for holding and securing hand tools such as power drills, saws, grinders, caulking guns, nail guns, levels, squares, and the like to the individual whether the individual is a homeowner making home renovations and repairs or a construction worker on a job site. More specifically, the safety cable 10 tethers the tool 12, such as the power drill shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, to an article or portion of the worker's clothing thereby preventing the tool 12 from falling or dropping to the ground damaging or breaking the tool. In addition, it is often the case that the homeowner or worker is situated on a ladder, on the roof, on scaffolding, or located on and traversing girders and I-beams, and thus the safety cable 10 of the present invention prevents the tool 12 from dropping, hitting and causing injury to anyone located on lower levels or on the ground. The safety cable 10 prevents injury to anyone situated beneath the worker and also helps to reduce liability for the individuals and/or companies. FIGS. 1 and 2 show the safety cable 10 attached to the belt 14 of an individual 16 such as a construction worker positioned on a beam 18 with the tool 12, for example a power drill, secured to an opposite end of the safety cable 10.

As shown in FIGS. 1-6, the safety line or cable 10 includes a length of cable 20 that is plastic covered and has a first end 22 attachable to the individual 16, specifically to the belt 14 of the individual 16 (the workman's belt of the construction worker). The cable 20 also includes an opposite second distal end 24 that is securable to the tool 12. The first end 22 of the cable 20 further includes an attachable and releasable means for securing the first end 22 of the cable 20 to the worker's belt 14. The attachable and releasable means includes an open and close chain link 26 generally oblong in configuration and which further includes a lock and release latch or lever 28 thereby allowing the chain link 26 to be placed upon and removed from the clothing article such as the belt 14. The chain link 26 should be removably attachable to the clothing article, such as the belt 14, so that if the safety cable 10 becomes tangled or encumbers the ability of the individual 16 to safely move and work, the safety cable 10 can be quickly and easily removed with minimal effort by the individual 14.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the first end 22 of the safety cable 10 also includes an o-ring 30 joined to the chain link 26. The cable 20 itself includes a first cable loop end 32 formed into a loop that is passed through and is adjoined to the o-ring 30, and an opposite second distal tool securement end 34. The second distal tool end 34 can include several different configurations all of which facilitate the securement of the tool 12 to the second distal end 34. Integrally formed to and projecting from the cable 20 adjacent the second distal end 34 is a closed loop-shaped intermediate member 36. Secured to the loop-shaped intermediate member 36, and capable of swinging or pivoting thereon, is an open and close safety hook or clip 38. The safety clip 38 includes a u-shaped shackle 40 that passes through the loop-shaped intermediate member 36 thereby attaching the safety clip 38 to the intermediate member 36 and, by extension, to the cable 20. In addition, the safety clip 38 includes a body 42 and a slidable member 44 that opens and closes upon a j-shaped prong 46. The slidable member 44 and j-shaped prong 46 extend on the body 42 opposite of the shackle 40 and are oriented at an angle that is rotated 90 degrees from the plane formed by the u-shaped shackle 40.

An open and close button 48 extends from a slot 50 in the body 42 of the safety clip 38, and the button 48 is integrally formed and joined to the slidable member 44. The button 48 and the slidable member 44 are spring loaded within the slot 50 so that manually retracting the button 48 withdraws the slidable member 44 from the j-shaped prong 46 for opening the safety clip 38, and releasing the button 48 causes the slidable member 44 to extend toward and engage the j-shaped prong 46 thereby closing the safety clip 38.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-6, the second distal end 34 of the cable 20 terminates with several different configurations for a tool securement means all of which, however, facilitate and permit the attachment and detachment of the distal end 34 of the cable 20 to the tool 12. In FIG. 3 the second distal end 34 terminates with a protective cap 52, and the worker 16 is able to secure the distal end 34 of FIG. 3 to the tool 12 by tying or wrapping the distal end 34 about the tool 12. In FIG. 4 the distal end 34 terminates with a loop 54 that can also be tied or wrapped about the tool 12.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a slight modification to the loop 54 shown in FIG. 4 wherein the loop 54 is formed of a pliable, deformable, compressible and extensible durable, weather-proof rubber so that the loop 54 can be slipped through an aperture on the tool 12, such as the trigger aperture 56 for the power drill 58. In order to slip the loop 54 through the trigger aperture 56, for example, the worker 16 simultaneously squeezes and pushes the loop 54 through the trigger aperture 56. After the loop 54 has been completely pushed through the trigger aperture 56, the worker 16 releases his grip on the loop 54 so that the loop 54 expands and returns to its original state wherein the width of the loop 54 exceeds the width of the trigger aperture 56. This prevents the loop 54 from being inadvertently pulled back through the trigger aperture 56 that would result in the release and dropping of the power drill 58. The extensible and deformable loop 54 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 obviates the need for a link that includes a lock and release lever or latch. Securing the tool 58 to the loop 54 is accomplished by simply squeezing, pushing and then releasing the loop 54 after it has passed completely through the trigger aperture 56.

With reference to FIGS. 1-6, in using the safety cable 10 the chain link 26 would be slipped over or snapped on an article of clothing such as the worker's belt 14. The tool 12, such as the power drill, would then be secured to the second distal end 34 of the cable 20, and the safety clip 38 would be snapped and hooked onto the o-ring 30 by withdrawing and then releasing the open and close button 48 thereby allowing the slidable member 44 and the j-shaped prong 46 to be slipped over and on the o-ring 30 thereby attaching the safety clip 38 to the o-ring 30. This takes up slack in the cable 20 when the tool 12 is not in use as shown in FIG. 1 and prevents the cable 20 from swinging, dangling and possibly getting caught on any structure or equipment lying about and around the worker 16. In addition, because the safety clip 38 is located near the distal end 34 of the cable 20 the tool 12 is disposed in close proximity to the worker 16 and is also prevented from freely swinging and dangling. When the tool 12 is to be used, the worker 16 unhooks the safety clip 38 from the o-ring 30, as shown in FIG. 2, so that the tool 12 is freely maneuverable and usable and yet the tool 12 is still retained in its attachment to the second end 34 of the cable 20.

While several preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and illustrated in detail, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications, alterations, and variations are possible and practicable, and it is thus understood that such modifications, alterations, and variations are within the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the following appended claims.

Claims

1. A safety cable for holding and securing a tool to a worker, comprising:

an elongated flexible cable including:

a first end attachable to the worker;

an opposite distal second end;

an open and close chain link adjacent the first end and capable of releasable attachment to the worker;

an o-ring interconnected to the chain link and the first end of the cable;

a safety clip mounted to the cable adjacent the second distal end for attachment to the first end of the cable; and

whereupon the second distal end is securable to the tool and the safety clip is attachable to the first end of the cable so that the tool is maintained in proximity to the worker when the tool is not being used and the safety clip is releasable from the first end of the cable thereby allowing the worker to use the tool.

2. The safety cable for holding and securing a tool to a worker of claim 1 wherein the second distal end includes a loop that is securable to the tool.

3. The safety cable for holding and securing a tool to a worker of claim 2 wherein the loop is composed of a deformable and compressible rubber material.

4. A safety cable for holding and securing a tool to a worker, comprising:

a flexible, elongated cable including:

a first end for attachment to the worker;

an opposite second distal end for securement to the tool;

an open and close chain link mounted to the first end of the cable and releasably attachable to the worker;

a safety clip secured to the cable adjacent the second distal end for releasable attachment at the first end of the cable; and

whereupon the second distal end is securable to the tool and the safety clip is attachable to the first end of the cable so that the tool is maintained in proximity to the worker when the tool is not being used and the safety clip is releasable from the first end of the cable thereby allowing the worker to use the tool.

5. The safety cable for holding and securing a tool to a worker of claim 4 further comprising an o-ring interconnected to the first end of the cable and the open and close chain link and to which the safety clip can be attached when the tool is not in use.

6. The safety cable for holding and securing a tool to a worker of claim 5 wherein the second distal end includes a loop for securement to the tool.

7. The safety cable for holding and securing a tool to a worker of claim 6 wherein the loop is composed of a deformable and compressible rubber material.