Mountain tool holster

Abstract

A system or device for securely holding mountain tools, such as ice axes/ice tools and avalanche probe pools (and other such tools), on a backpack in a manner that allows the user to easily and conveniently acquire the tool when needed without first removing the backpack. This is applicable in emergency situations such as a crevasse fall where an ice axe in needed for preparing a rescue anchor or in the event of an avalanche where a probe pole is needed for a victim search. The system also allows for easy and convenient stowing of mountain tools without removal of the backpack as the situation dictates in non-emergency situations, such as after using the probe pole to probe for crevasses when crossing a glacier or after needing an ice tool for security when a repelling (abseiling) onto an icy stance.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/206,822 that was filed on Feb. 5, 2009 and entitled “Mountain Tool Holster” the subject matter which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of Invention

The invention relates generally to devices and systems used to attach equipment, such as climbing, hiking or other tools/implements, to backpacks and the like. In particular the invention relates to a holster type device used to firmly and safely secure an ice axe, avalanche probe pole or other tool/implement to a backpack in a manner that is both novel and clearly demonstrates improvement over the prior art.

In climbing, hiking and other pursuits it is common for participants to carry tools on the outside of a backpack that has some means for the attachment of tools. An example is seen in the device patented by Anscher (U.S. Pat. No. 5,435,045). Typically most attachment mechanisms are located on the front of the backpack (opposite the side of the backpack that is against the user's back), thus placing the tools out of reach as long as the backpack is being worn. It is also common for users to be required to perform tasks in sub-freezing temperatures and participants often wear additional warm layers, gloves (or mittens) and head gear (hats, goggles) that can hamper the fine motor movements and unobstructed vision required to operate current state-of-the-art systems.

Travel in the mountains often requires the use of safety tools such as ice axes, ice tools and snow probes that typically have sharp points that can present a hazard to the user. These tools are usually transported attached to a backpack well away from the user until they are needed. In an emergency situation, such as a crevasse fall or avalanche, these tools must be deployed quickly, yet the current state-of-the-art and standard practice does not allow the tool to be quickly and easily deployed as the backpack it is being transported upon must first be removed to gain access to the tool. This slows down any emergency response and can be awkward, difficult and potentially dangerous. Conversely there are times when a user no longer needs a tool and may wish to stow it upon the backpack. Again the pack must first be removed to perform this operation. In many circumstances this is difficult and time consuming and is therefore less than optimal.

Other attachment devices exist that place the tools closer to the user on the side of the pack, but due to the nature of these attachment systems the tools are not easily removed (such as with one gloved hand) while the backpack is still being worn by the user. Likewise, re-attaching the tool to the backpack requires an amount of dexterity that necessitates that the backpack be removed.

Regardless of where the tool is attached to the backpack in current state-of-the-art systems (the front of the pack or the side of the pack) the tool is at a distance from the body and in the event of a fall the tool is not well positioned to help protect the user from ground impact forces. In fact the tool may be dislodged (or ripped) from the pack thus becoming a projectile that could result in injury to the user.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an attachment system that holds the tool safely and securing to the backpack, that allows the user access to tools while wearing the backpack in sub-freezing conditions and is positioned to help protect the user in the event of a fall. Further, it would be desirable to be able to re-attach a tool to the backpack while wearing cold weather gear (extra layers, gloves, head gear, etc) without first removing the backpack.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The general idea of the invention is to provide a mechanism to safely and securely fasten a mountain tool (ice axe, ice tool, probe pole, fishing rod, etc) to any backpack (a generic backpack or a new backpack design that integrates the invention into the backpack) in a way that allows the wearer of the backpack to quickly and easily retrieve the tool for immediate use, without first removing the backpack. Conversely, the general idea of the invention is to allow the user to easily (one handed while wearing gloves) safely and securely re-attach a tool to backpack without first removing the backpack.

It is also the general idea of the invention to not only reduce the potential danger inherent to many of the mountain tools, but to use the strong and rigid nature of the tool to help protect the user from the impact of a fall by strategically placing the tools on the body. Holding the tool close to the hip and along the back means that not only can the tool directly protect the user in the event of a fall by physically taking the brunt of an impact, but this placement on the body also means that there is little room for acceleration forces to develop between the user and the tool if the tool is ripped from the backpack.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a backpack with the device components attached and labeled.

FIG. 2 shows the sequence of use. For stowing a mountain tool (in this instance an ice axe) read from left to right. For removing a tool, read from right to left.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the device in use. In this instance the device is being used to transport an ice axe.

FIG. 4 shows an alternate perspective of the device in use on the opposite side of the backpack as depicted in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 shows the device being used to transport a probe pole that has an extension attached to it. This is described in more detail below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The device described consists of two main components that are mechanically attached to any generic backpack (FIG. 1, Part 3) or integrated into a new and novel backpack. Protection is sought to cover all future embodiments of the device; from systems designed to retrofit existing backpacks to new designs that integrate the invention directly into the backpack

The first main component of the described device is the bottom “holster”. The end of the holster that is towards the main body of the backpack (away for the user) is attached to, or integrated into, the backpack through mechanical means (such as being sewn, glued or riveted). The other end of the holster is slotted and the hip-belt of the backpack is threaded through this slot. The slot serves to hold the distal end of the mountain tool (FIG. 3, Part 4 in this case the pick of an ice axe) tight to the hip while also allowing the holster to self-adjust to an optimal position by sliding along the hip-belt as it is being tightened around the waist. The holster has three sub-parts. These are: a safety strap (FIG. 1, Part 1A); a latch to hook the safety strap onto (FIG. 1, Part 1B); and a shaft-stop (FIG. 1, Part 1C).

The second component of the described device is the upper shaft restraining strap (FIG. 1, Part 2) that is attached (or integrated into a new backpack design) along the side of the backpack by mechanical means such as a rivet, glue, bolt, etc (FIG. 1, Part 2A).

The holster (Part 1) has the function to both support the weight of the tool, as well as act as a guard to protect the user from a sharp end of the tool while holding it securely against the user's hip. A safety strap (Part 1A) fashioned out of stretch material is hooked over a latch (Part 1B) to further secure the tool to the backpack while a shaft-stop (Part 1C) holds the sharp tool end away from the inside end of the holster and prevents the end of the tool from wearing through or piercing the holster.

The second portion of the invention is the shaft-restraining strap (Part 2). This is a moderately elastic material that holds the shaft of the tool (the long axis) tightly against the side of the backpack and away from the user's head. The elastic nature of this straps provides a slight forward pressure on the tool shaft, pushing the distal end of the tool into the holster portion of the device. This passive force must be overcome to first get the end of the tool into the holster and conversely this force must also be overcome to get the end of the tool out of the holster. Thus this mechanism is critical to the nature of the invention as it provides a passive resistance to keep the tool in the holster.

The holster part (Part 1) of the device is specifically shaped and constructed to either accommodate an ice axe or shaped and constructed to accommodate a snow probe or other tool. Other shapes may be devised to manage other tools in activities that also use a backpack to transport tools such, but not limited to, fishing rods, rifles, axes, saws, etc. This constitutes an obvious extension of the invention and protection is sought to cover these embodiments.

Alternatively it is also possible to create an extension designed to attach to the mountain tools that are essentially straight, such as a probe pole (FIG. 4, Part 5), in order to make them easier to secure in the holster. The extension would act like the pick of an ice axe and be held in the holster by the passive resistance of the shaft restraining strap keeping the straight tool from slipping out of the holster. In this way one generic holster that is designed to optimally hold the picks of ice axes and ice tools could be used on both sides of the backpack and if it is desirable to carry another type to tool (such as a probe pole) the rigid extension would be attached for use with this version of the device. It is an intention of this patent application to also protect this embodiment of the invention.

USE (FIG. 2, read right to left): To deploy a tool while wearing the backpack the user first disengages the safety strap that secures the tool to the holster. The tool is then pushed rearward against the resistance of the shaft-restraining strap until the end is clear of the holster. The tool is swung forward releasing all resistance of the shaft-retaining strap and the tool is easily removed.

USE (FIG. 2, read left to right): To stow the tool while wearing the backpack the user reverses the process by sliding the shaft of the tool under the shaft-restraining strap, rotating the tool into position and exerting gentle pressure against the shaft restraining strap so as to be able to insert the distal portion of the tool (the pick of an ice axe in this case) into the accepting holster. The tool will already be quite secure as the passive resistance of the shaft-restraining strap causes the distal end of the tool to remain in the holster, however an additional level of security is created by hooking the safety strap over the safely latch.

Claims

1) A tool attachment device for generic backpacks (or new backpack designs that features the device) that is comprised of:

a holster component that is located near the hip of the user and is designed to hold the distal end of a mountain tool securely to the backpack;

a shaft restraining strap that retains the shaft (or long axis) of a tool vertically along the side of a backpack and is deformable (has stretch and memory) so as to provides a resistance force that must be overcome thus keeping the distal end of the tool in the holster portion until the user requires the tool;

a safety strap and strap latch that further secures the distal end of the tool at the holster for more assurance against accidental lose of the tool;

and a shaft stop that stops the sharp end of the tool from contacting the inside end of the holster portion so as to reduce wear on the holster and to prevent the tool for puncturing the holster and exposing the sharp point of the tool (the pick of an ice axe/ice tool).

1A) The holster portion of the design according to claim 1 that may be manufactured out of a variety of potential materials (injected or molded plastic or resin, formed leather of other robust flexible materials) as long as said material is rugged enough to withstand the abuse of sharp tools being repeatedly inserted and removed and stiff enough to hold its shape and not collapse when the strap latch is under tension from the safety strap.

1B) The shaft retaining strap according to claim 1 that may be manufactured out of a variety of potential materials (such as plastic tubing, stretch or shock cord, tension or compression springs, etc) as long as said material can be deformed under tension and has elastic memory that creates a force that must be overcome so as to keep the distal end of the tool in the holster portion of the device.

1C) The safety strap and strap latch according to claim 1 that may be made out of a variety of materials as long as said materials for the safety strap have elastic memory (elastic/shock cord, stretch tubing, etc) and can be stretched over the tool end and looped over the strap latch that can be made out of a variety of materials (such as molded plastic or resin, turned wood, plastic or light alloy, etc) as long as said materials are rigid and will not deform under tension.

1D) The shaft stop according to claim one that may be made out of a variety of materials (turned or molded plastic, resin, wood, alloy, etc) as long as said materials are robust enough to stop the shaft while the shaft is under tension from the safety strap.

2) A tool attachment device that holds the tool in a manner (vertically along the side of the pack and against the hip-belt) that allows quick and easy one-handed deployment of the tool without removing the backpack and conversely allows the user to stow or attach the tool to the backpack in a safe and secure manner without first removing the backpack.

3) A tool attachment device that holds a mountain tool on a backpack in such a manner as to:

protect the user from the sharp and dangerous parts of tools (such as ice axes and ice tools) by holding the shaft along the side of the pack while trapping the sharp pick end of the tool against the wearer's hip in a protective sheath and;

protect the user in the event of a fall by holding the tool tightly to the body so that the tool will take the brunt of the impact forces, while also reducing the potential for the tool to be ripped from the backpack to become a projectile that may cause injury.