Gloves with Utility Pouch

Abstract

The present invention relates to gloves, primarily work gloves, with a pouch or pocket on the back of the hand. The pouch or pocket holds a tool such as a tape measure or chalk line which traditionally requires two hands to operate. The tool is positioned in the pouch or pocket such that the tool maybe used without being removed.

Description

PROVISIONAL APPLICATION

This application claims priority based on U.S. Provisional Patent App. No. 61/211,635 (filed Apr. 2, 2009).

BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART

People involved in construction, wood working, or any endeavor requiring manual manipulation of heavy, cumbersome, dirty, or unfinished materials routinely wear work gloves to protect their hands. Sometimes those gloves protect the entire hand; other times they protect only the palms.

Those same people also routinely need to use tape measures, chalk lines, or other devices that require two hands just to position properly, and then a third hand to put those tools to functional use. For example, a tape measure requires one hand to hold one end of the tape measure against the work piece at the proper location and the other hand to hold the body of the tape measure; the user can then see the measurement he wants, but he would require a third hand to make a mark on the work piece with a pencil.

The same is true of chalk lines. The user can hold the end of a chalk line against the work piece with one hand and the body, containing the chalk and winding mechanism, with the other hand; but a third hand would be required to actually snap the chalk line.

Some such tools have mechanisms which are designed to hold one end of the tool against one edge of the work piece without the use of a hand. These mechanisms generally require the edge of the work piece to have a ninety degree angle or the mechanism is liable to fall off; and the mechanism will not operate at all if the use wants to use the tool from someplace other than the edge of the work piece.

Some tape measures have a locking mechanism so that a length of tape made be withdrawn and then locked off; then the tape measure can be moved and held in place with one hand. Such a mechanism is effective if the work piece is flat and horizontal. If the work piece is anything other than flat and horizontal, the tape is likely to sag or fold over on itself, and the user may have difficulty holding it in position.

What is needed is a device to hold a tool so that the tool may be used normally, but still leave at least one hand free and available.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to work gloves and to accessories for hand tools.

SUMMARY

The present invention is directed toward a device to hold a tool so that the tool may be used normally, but still leave at least one hand free and available.

One embodiment of the invention is a glove with a container attached to the back side of the hand to securely hold a tool such as a tape measure of chalk line. The container allows the tool to be used with one hand while the other hand is available to make pencil marks or snap a chalk line.

Another embodiment of the invention is a glove with a container releasably attached to the back side of the hand to securely hold a tool such as a tape measure or chalk line, but which can be detached when no longer needed without having to remove the tool from the container.

LIST OF FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a rear view of one embodiment of the invention intended for the user's left hand.

FIG. 2 shows a rear view of one embodiment of the invention intended for the user's right hand.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device worn on the user's hand. The inventor envisions the device attached to a work glove; therefore, any reference to a “glove” should be understood to refer to a hand covering of such size and composition as to provide an adequate base for the device. The term “glove” may refer to a hand covering that covers the entire hand, including the fingers, or to a hand covering that covers the palm and the back of the hand, and has openings for the fingers, but does not actually cover the fingers, or to a simple elastic strap that covers the palm and back of the hand to provide a surface to which the device may be attached.

One embodiment of the invention comprises a glove comprising a palm side, and a back side (1) joined to the palm side such that the user's hand can fit between the palm side and the back side; and a container comprising a top surface (2) with four sides, three side surfaces (3), each connected at one end to a different side of the top surface and at the other end to the back side of the glove, and a flap (4) comprising a surface, a releasable attaching means, and an access means; such flap connected to the remaining unattached side of the top surface. The inventor envisions the container of this embodiment to be oriented such that that the flap faces the medial edge of the hand (5). The device may further comprise a means for holding a marking utensil such as an elastic band, small pocket or any other means known in the art, provided the means for holding is not placed between the flap and the medial edge of the hand. The device may further comprise an access means in the top surface.

The palm side and back side (1) of the glove provide a base to attach and support the container. The container is attached to the back side (1) of the glove such that the top surface (2) is essentially parallel to the back side (1) of the glove, and connected to the back side (1) of the glove on three sides (3). The fourth side is covered by a flap (4) with a releasable attaching means such as a hook and loop mechanism, snaps, zipper or any other releasable attaching means. The top surface (2), side surfaces (3) and flap (4) should form a container of such dimensions to securely hold a tape measure or chalk line mechanism. Tape measures and chalk line mechanisms are available in many sizes; the inventor envisions this embodiment of the invention used with tools of a sufficiently small size as to not overly interfere with the user's manual dexterity, but in no case does the inventor envision the need for tools currently unknown in the art. This should not be understood to preclude the use of this embodiment with tools as yet unknown.

The flap (4) has an access means to allow the tool kept in the container to be effectively used. The access means may be a hole in the flap, or it may be nothing more than a gap which the flap does not cover.

Chalk line mechanisms often require the user to turn a crank to retract the chalk line. The device may have an access means in the top surface to allow the user to operate such a crank to retract a chalk line without removing the tool from the container.

Another embodiment of the invention is a glove comprising a palm side, and a back side (1) joined to the palm side such that the user's hand can fit between the palm side and the back side (1); and a container comprising a top surface (2) with four sides, a bottom surface with four sides, three side surfaces (3), each connected at one end to a different side of the top surface (2) and at the other end to a different side of the bottom surface, a flap (4) comprising a surface, a releasable attaching means, and an access means; such flap (4) connected to the remaining unattached side of either the top (2) or bottom surface; and a releasable attaching means on the bottom surface such that the bottom surface may be releasably attached to the back side of the glove.

This embodiment is identical to the first in use and implementation. The difference is that in this embodiment, the container is completely detachable. This embodiment provides for a releasable attaching means to attach the container to the back side of the glove. The inventor envisions such means to be a hook and loop mechanism.

When in use, the device is worn on one of the user's hands. The other, free hand, may then access the operative portion of the tool stored in the device through the access means in the flap (4). The operative portion of the tool would wrap around the medial edge (5) of the hand to the palm side. The user then has one end of the tool in the free hand and the larger, mechanisms portion of the tool securely attached to the backside of the other hand. The fingers of the other hand are free to make pencil marks, snap a chalk line, or otherwise operate any tool in the same category.

The inventor has hereby disclosed a device to hold a tool so that the tool may be used normally, but still leave at least one hand free and available.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a) a glove comprising: i) a palm side, and ii) a back side joined to the palm side such that the user's hand can fit between the palm side and the back side; and

b) a container comprising: i) a top surface with four sides, and ii) three side surfaces, each connected at one end to a different side of the top surface and at the other end to the back side of the glove, and iii) a flap comprising: (1) a surface, (2) a releasable attaching means, and (3) an access means; such flap connected to the remaining unattached side of the top surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a means for holding a marking utensil.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 where the container is oriented on the back side of the glove such that the flap is facing the medial edge of the hand when the glove is worn.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an access means in the top surface.

5. An apparatus comprising:

a) a glove comprising: i) a palm side, and ii) a back side joined to the palm side such that the user's hand can fit between the palm side and the back side; and

b) a container comprising: i) a top surface with four sides, ii) a bottom surface with four sides, iii) three side surfaces, each connected at one end to a different side of the top surface and at the other end to a different side of the bottom surface, iv) a flap comprising: (1) a surface, (2) a releasable attaching means, and (3) an access means; such flap connected to the remaining unattached side of either the top or bottom surface; and v) a releasable attaching means on the bottom surface such that the bottom surface may be releasably attached to the back side of the glove.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a means for holding a marking utensil.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising an access means in the top surface.