TOOL BELT WITH INTEGRATED TOOL RETRACTION MECHANISM

Abstract

A tool belt comprising a band for attachment of the tool belt to a worker and at least one pouch attached to the band and defining an interior compartment for accommodating at least one tool therein. At least one guide is formed within the pouch and the guide communicates with the interior compartment. A tool cord retractor is supported by the tool belt, a second end of a tool cord is secured to the tool cord retractor while a first end of the tool cord extends through the guide and is secured to a tool engagement element which is releasably securable to a desired tool. When the desired tool is attached to the tool engagement element and the desired tool is removed from the pouch, the tool cord retractor permits removal of stored tool cord and thereby stores a potential energy for returning the tool cord back to the tool cord retractor.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for securing tools in a working environment while maintaining tool mobility as well as tool utility.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the prior art, a variety of different methods and techniques are known and utilized for carrying tools to and around a job site. One problem encountered with workers which are working in an elevated position above the ground, e.g., on a ladder, on the roof, on staging, etc., is that of dropped tools, such as hammers, wrenches, screwdrivers, etc. It is to be appreciated that the dropping such tools creates hazardous situation for any individual located below the worker(s), increases the risk of breaking the tool(s) or an item(s) upon which the tool(s) may be dropped, and overall decreases the productivity of the worker(s) who generally must dismount for his/her elevated position in order to retrieve the drop tool(s).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Wherefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a tool belt which overcomes the above mentioned shortcomings and drawbacks associated with the prior art tool belts.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tool belt that allows workers to carry all of his or her tools in a readily accessible position so that each one of the tools can be easily and comfortably accessed and utilized and thereafter reliably and safely returned back to the tool belt for storage.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a tool securing apparatus that allows each tool to be reliably tethered to the tool belt so that if the tool is inadvertently dropped, such tool may be quickly and easily retrieved by the worker without the worker having to dismount in order to retrieve the dropped tool. In addition, such tethering of the tool to the tool belt must not significantly obstruct or hinder normal operation of the tool by the worker.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a tool securing apparatus that reliably secures the tool to the tool belt by a retractable cord that may be extended to a finite length, thereby storing a return energy in the apparatus as the cord is extended, and such stored energy facilitates substantially automatic retraction and return of the tool to a designated storage location within the tool belt.

The present invention also relates to a tool belt comprising a band for attachment of the tool belt to a worker; at least one pouch being attached to the band, and the pouch defining an interior compartment for accommodating at least one tool; a guide being formed within the pouch and communicating with the interior compartment; a tool retractor being supported by tool belt, a second end of a tool cord being secured to the tool retractor while a first end of the tool cord extending through the guide and being secured to a tool engagement element, and the tool engagement element being releasably securable to a desired tool; wherein when the desired tool is attached to the tool engagement element and the desired tool is removed from the pouch, the tool cord retractor stores potential energy for returning the desired tool back to the pouch.

The present invention also relates to a tool belt of comprising a ring secured to a band, the ring having sufficient size and strength to reliably support the weight of a hammer hanging through the center of the ring, a hammer cord, a first end of each hammer cord releaseably attachable to the hammer, a hole or guide defined in a hammer seat through which the hammer cord passes, and a second end of the hammer cord attached to a hammer retracting device, wherein when the hammer, attached to the first end of the hammer cord, is removed from the ring, the first end of the hammer cord passes through the hammer ring causing the hammer cord to pass through the hole, and the hammer cord retractor storing potential energy, such that when the hammer is released, the hammer cord retractor retracts the hammer cord back through the hole and thereby retracts the hammer back to the ring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic isomeric front elevational view of the tool belt according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic rear view of one of the pouches of the tool belt of FIG. 1 showing a portion of the waste band cut away;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic side angled view of the hammer ring of the tool belt of FIG. 1, with the lower portion of the hammer seat in a flexed position; and

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic side profile view of the hammer ring of the tool belt of FIG. 3, with the lower portion of the hammer seat in an extended biased position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning first to FIGS. 1 and 2, a brief description concerning the various components of the tool belt 2, according to the present invention, will now be briefly discussed. As can be seen in those Figures, the tool belt 2 is generally designed to be worn around a waist of a worker includes am adjustable waist band 4, quite similar to a wide belt, which typically supports one or more pouches 6 around the waist band 4. Each one of the pouches 6 may be directly attached, secured or sewn to the waist band 4 or alternatively may be attached thereto by one or more conventional belt loops so as to allow sliding movement of the pouch 6 along to the waist band 4. Each one of the pouches 6 generally includes an interior surface 10 and an exterior surface 12 was well as a peripheral rim 14 providing access to the interior compartment 16 of the pouch 6. The rim 14 generally defines a pouch access plane A, which separates the interior compartment 16 of the pouch 6 from the exterior environment 18.

Each pouch 6 generally includes a front portion 20 and a rear portion 22. The front portion 20 of the pouch 6 faces outwardly away from the worker, when wearing the tool belt 2. The rear portion 22 of each pouch 6 is normally attached to the waist band 4 and faces toward the wearer of the tool belt.

Preferably one or more guides or apertures 24 will be formed in and extending through one of the front and the rear surfaces 10, 12, or possibly the bottom, of the pouch 6. It is to be appreciated that one of these guides or apertures 24 may be located within one of the surfaces at a variety of different locations within the pouch 6. That is, a guide or an aperture 24 may be located in an upper region adjacent to the rim 14, a lower region located adjacent the bottom of the pouch 6 and remote from the rim 14, and anywhere therebetween depending upon the anticipated use or the type of tool to be supported by or within pouch 6. In alternative embodiments, the guides or apertures 24 may be located along but slightly vertically below the rim 14, along the front portion or one of the two opposed side portions of the pouch 6. The important aspect is that the guide or aperture 24 be located within the pouch 6 so as to facilitate returning the attached tool 32 back into the associated pouch 6 in a controlled manner.

In order to facilitate the desired return of the tool 32 back into the associated pouch 6, a respective tool cord 26 is provided. A first end 28 of each tool cord 26 is permanently secured or otherwise attached to a tool engagement element 30 and the tool engagement element 30 is designed for providing a secure, but releasable attachment or connection between the first end 28 of the tool cord 26 and the desired tool 32 to be supported. The attachment of the tool engagement element 30 must be in such a manner as to still permit the tool 32 to substantially maintain its utility within the hand or hands of the worker wearing the tool belt 2. The tool engagement element 30 may be, for example, a clip, a nylon member having releasable touch fasteners, a ring, a hook, a clamp, etc., which is suitable for releasably securing a desired tool 32 to the tool cord 26.

The opposite second end 38 of the tool cord 26 is permanently and securely attached to a rotatable spool (not shown) of a tool cord retractor 36, and a further the detailed discussion concerning the purpose and function of the same will follow. Prior to being attached to the tool cord retractor 36, each one of the tool cords 26 extends through a respective one of the guides or apertures 24 to facilitate returning the attached 32 back into the associated pouch 6, as will be discussed below in further detail.

If desired, one or more of the guides or apertures 24 may be provided with a cord guide 34 for directing the angle, position and/or location at which the tool cord 26 engages with the tool 32—allowing such engagement to be at a specified location remote from the guides or apertures 24. The cord guide 34 may also function to prevent or minimize the possibility of any dust, dirt and/or debris from entering into the respective guide or aperture 24 and possibly hindering or interfering with normal operation of the tool cord retractor 36.

The tool cord retractor 36 is preferably accommodated or sandwiched between an exterior surface 12 of the pouch 6 and an outwardly facing surface of the waist band 4, but alternatively each tool cord retractor 36 may be located at a variety of other locations, including inside the pouch 6, outside the pouch 6, and sandwiched between the interior and the exterior surfaces 10, 12 of the pouch 6, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The important aspect of the present invention is that the tool cord retractor 36 be located so as to facilitate returning the tool 32 back into the associated pouch 6 by rewinding the tool cord 26 via the associated guide or aperture 24 so that the tool 32 returns to the associated pouch 6. According to one embodiment (not shown), the tool cord retractor 36 is located at a remote location on the waste band 4, remote from the pouch 6, and the tool cord 26 extends from the tool cord retractor 36, along the waste band 4, then through a respective guide or aperture 24 and into the pouch 6 before being connected, via the respective tool engagement element 30, to the desired tool 32. The tool cord retractor 36 ideally comprises a spring or elastic rotational potential energy storage element or rotatable spool (not shown), but may possibly also be of an electric design.

According to a preferred embodiment, the tool cord 26 extends from the rotatable spool of the tool cord retractor 36, out through an outlet (not shown) of the tool cord retractor 36, through the associated guide or aperture 24 and into an interior compartment 16 of the associated pouch 6, where the first end 28 of the tool cord 26 is releasably attached, via the tool engagement element 30, to the desired tool 32 be supported by the tool cord 26. As a result of such arrangement, when the tool 32, attached to the associated tool engagement element 30, is removed from the pouch 6 by worker wearing the tool belt 2, the tool cord 26 is gradually unwound from the associated spool of the tool cord retractor 36 as the tool 32 is removed from and passes completely through the access plane A of the pouch 6. The further the worker removes the tool 32 from the associated pouch 6, typically the greater the tension or return force that is applied to tool cord 26 for returning the tool 32 back toward the associated pouch 6.

As the amount of the tool cord 26 unwound from the spool of the tool cord retractor 36 increases, as the tool 32 is removed further and further away from the pouch, such rotation of the spool of the tool cord retractor 36 gradually increases the stored potential energy contained within the tool cord retractor 36, typically by way of a conventional winding spring or some other conventional retracting element. Accordingly, when the worker subsequently releases the tool 32, either unintentionally or accidentally, the return tension exerted on the tool cord 26 by the tool cord retractor 36 converts the stored potential energy into kinetic energy and this kinetic energy facilitates automatic retraction of the tool cord 26 back to its originally wound stored position around the spool of the tool cord retractor 36. Such retraction motion, in turn, also facilitates retraction of the attached tool 32 back into its initially occupied storage position within the associated pouch 6. Following the retraction of the tool 32 to the associated pouch 6 by the tool cord retractor 36, the worker wearing the tool belt 2 can then, if so desired, provide any desired final adjustment of the retracted and returned tool 32 within the pouch 6 so that it is properly located for storage and/or subsequent use.

It is to be appreciated that a similar, but controlled, rewinding action of the tool cord 26 also occurs in the event that the worker wearing the tool belt 2, instead of completely releasing the tool 32, merely manually returns the tool 32 back into its previously stored location within the pouch 6 under the assistance of the return force being provided to the tool cord 26 via the tool cord retractor 36.

It is to be appreciated that the tension or return force on the tool cord 26, during retraction, must exert a sufficient retraction or return force to the attached tool 32 so as to generally return the attached tool 32 back toward the associated pouch 6. It is also to be appreciated that the retraction force, return force or tension on the tool cord 26, once the tool cord 26 is sufficiently unwound from the spool, must still permit sufficient freedom of movement and manipulation of the tool 32 by the worker, in a substantially unencumbered and/or unrestricted manner, so that the worker may utilize the tool 32 in a conventional manner without undue hindrance. In order to achieve this objective, the tool cord retractor 36 may include a ratchet type locking mechanism with a ratchet lock 40 and a ratchet lock actuator 42, e.g., a push button. Such embodiment will allow the tool cord 26 to be readily unwound from the spool into an extended, working position with a sufficient return energy being stored by the tool cord retractor 36. The ratchet lock 40, however, will prevent the tool cord 26 from being retracted until the ratchet lock actuator 42 is sufficiently depressed or otherwise actuated by the worker, thereby disengaging the ratchet lock 40 and allowing the tool cord retractor 36 to automatically retract the tool cord 26, as well as the attached tool 32, back to the associated pocket 6. According to this embodiment, the worker typically grasps and removes the desired tool 32 from one of the pouches 6 of the tool belt 2 and thereby extends the associated tool cord 26 to a desired extended, working position, e.g., a working length. Thereafter, the worker may extend the tool cord 26 an additional length of a few inches or so and provide an additional uninhibited range of movement of the tool 32 so as to thereby allow the worker to utilize the tool 32 in a manner which is virtually unencumbered and/or unrestricted by the tool cord 26. However, when the worker is finished using the tool 32, the worker merely activates or pushes the ratchet lock actuator 42 so that the tool cord retractor 36 can thereafter retract the tool cord 26, as well as the attached tool 32, back into the associated pouch 6 of the tool belt 2.

As a variation of this embodiment, the tool cord retractor 36 could be designed to ratchet lock the tool cord 26 and/or the tool cord retractor 36 only up to a designated working length, e.g., representing the length of tool cord 26 extension desired when a worker is utilizing the attached tool 32. If the tool cord 26 is extended beyond the designated working length for some reason, e.g., generally indicating that the tool 32 has been dropped, the ratchet lock 40 could automatically disengage and commence the retraction function thereby retracting the tool cord 26, as well as the attached tool 32, back to the associated pouch 6 of the tool belt 2. In this manner, if a worker extends the tool 32 along with the associated tool cord 26 into a working position, but then inadvertently drops the tool 32, the tool cord retractor 36 will automatically commence retraction of the tool cord 26 as soon as the tool cord 26 extends beyond the designated working length. It is to be appreciated that the designated working length, i.e., the ratchet lock length limit, may be set at the manufacturing facility or, more preferably, be manually set or adjusted by the worker in order to customize the designated working length to suit the particular arm span or length of the worker wearing the tool belt 2.

The ratchet lock actuator 42 may be a push button, a slide, a switch, a lever or any other conventional device. The ratchet lock actuator 42 may be used to engage the ratchet lock and/or to disengage and release the ratchet lock 40. The ratchet lock 40 may be designed to automatically engage each time the tool cord 26 is unwound, and the ratchet lock actuator 42 would then function as a ratchet lock release. The ratchet lock actuator 42 may be adjacent to or integral with the tool cord retractor(s) 36, or may be located remote from the tool cord retractor(s) 36. Each tool cord retractor(s) 36 may have its own ratchet lock 40 and ratchet lock actuator 42, or one ratchet lock 40 and ratchet lock actuator 42 may be designed to ratchet lock more than one tool cord 26, or all of the tool cords 26 in a single pouch 6, or all of the retracting cords on the tool belt 2.

According to a further embodiment of the tool cord retractor 36, an extension lock 44 may be provided. This embodiment will allow the worker to access the tool 32, remove the tool 32 from the tool belt 2 thereby extending the tool cord 26 to a desired working length, including any desired extra or additional length in the tool cord 26, and then lock the currently extended length of the tool cord 26 by actuating the extension lock 44 with an extension lock actuator 46. The extension lock 44 will thereafter prevent the tool cord 26 from either being retracted before the worker has completed use of the tool 32, or extending further in the event that the tool 32 is inadvertently dropped by the worker. When the worker is finished using the tool 32, such worker simply disengages the extension lock 44 and allows the tool cord retractor 36 to retract the tool cord 26 as well as the attached tool 32 back to the tool belt 2. The extension lock 44 could be used with or without the ratchet lock 40. The extension lock actuator 46 may comprise a push button, a slide, a switch, a lever or any other conventional device. The extension lock 44 and extension lock actuator 46 may be adjacent to the tool cord retractor(s) 36, integral with the tool cord retractor(s) 36, or remote from the tool retractor(s).

Each tool cord retractor 36 may have its own extension lock 44 and extension lock actuator 46, or one extension lock 44 and one extension lock actuator 46 may function to lock more than one tool cord 26, or all of the tool cords 26 in a single pouch 6, or all of the retracting cords on the tool belt 2. The extension locks 44 can function by locking the tool cord retractors 36, and thus locking the tool cords 26. Alternatively, the extension locks 44 can function by locking the positions of the cords at a location outside of the tool retractor, for example, by applying compressive friction directly to the tool cord 26. The extension lock actuators 46 may be directly adjacent to the extension locks 44, or may be removed from the extension locks 44. The extension lock actuator 46 and the ratchet lock actuator 42 may be integrated as one lock actuator unit, which may itself be integrated with the tool cord retractor 36, adjacent to the tool cord retractor 36, or remote from the tool cord retractor 36.

Turning to FIGS. 3 and 4, a hammer ring 48 for attaching a conventional hammer to the tool belt 2 along with the associated elements will now be discussed in detail. As is conventional in the art, a hammer ring 48 is attached to the waste band 4 for supporting a hammer. The hammer ring 48 is made of a material with sufficient strength and ruggedness so as to adequately support the weight of a hammer as the worker moves around a job site. The hammer ring 48 may be made out of leather, nylon, plastic, metal, or any other material and generally defines, along with the tool belt 2 a hammer ring plane B. A hammer seat 50 is provided vertically below the hammer ring 48. The hammer seat 50 comprises both an upper portion 52 and a lower portion 54 which are connected to one another by a generally centrally located hinge 56. The lower portion 54 generally has a width similar to the upper portion 52 but the vertical length of the lower portion 54 longer than that of the upper portion 52. The hinge 56 typically includes a hinge spring 58 that biases the hammer seat 50 into a normally planar configuration in which both the upper portion 52 and the lower portion 54 both substantially lie flat and in a plane, as generally shown in FIG. 4. A hammer cord retractor 60 is generally supported by a rear surface 62 of the hammer seat 50, preferably a rear surface 62 of either the upper portion 52 or the lower portion 54 of the hammer seat 50. A second end of a hammer cord 64 is permanently attached to a spool (not shown) of the hammer cord retractor 60 extending therefrom through an aperture or cord guide 24 provided adjacent a lower most portion of the lower portion 54 of the hammer seat 50. A first end 66 of the hammer cord 64 is attached to a hammer engagement element 68, similar to the tool engagement element 30 discussed above, but the hammer engagement element 68 sized and shaped to engage with and retain a conventional hammer. The conventional hammer may have the remote end of the handle of the hammer with a hole drilled therethrough or may be provided with a clip, a ring or some other fastener which facilitates connection of the hammer engagement element 68 to the hammer in a secure but releasable manner.

The hammer cord retractor 60 will ideally comprise a spring or an elastic rotational potential energy storage device, similar to the tool retractor device discussed above, but be designed to generate a greater return force in order to facilitate return the hammer which has an increased weight over other conventional tools 32, such as screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches, etc.

When the hammer, attached to a hammer engagement element 68, is removed from the hammer ring 48, the hammer engagement element 68 and the hammer cord 64 are both simultaneously withdrawn as well. That is, as the hammer cord 64 unwinds from the hammer cord retractor 60, the hammer cord retractor 60 stores potential energy for returning the hammer cord 64 as well as the attached hammer to the hammer ring 48. As a result of such arrangement, when the hammer is released, the hammer cord retractor 60 converts the stored potential energy to kinetic energy for retracting the hammer cord 64 back through the hammer plane B. This retraction motion thereby retracts the hammer back to the hammer ring 48. It is to be appreciated that the worker may generally be required to manually reseat the hammer back on to the hammer ring 48 the desired position following return thereof. A similar retracting action occurs if the worker, instead of releasing the hammer, manually moves the hammer back from a working position into its previous stored location on the hammer ring 48.

Due to the fact that a conventional hammer has a mass that is generally greater than most other conventional tools 32 to be carried by the tool belt 2, the hammer seat 50 additionally comprises a hinge spring 58 which is designed to aid in decelerating the force exerted by the hammer on the hammer return mechanism in the event that the hammer is inadvertently dropped by the worker. Such deceleration partially absorbs the force that is experienced by both the hammer cord 64 and the hammer cord retractor 60, during an inadvertent drop of the hammer, and thereby minimize the possibility that the hammer cord 64 may snap, break or becoming disconnected from the hammer cord retractor 60.

As noted above, the hinge spring 58 generally provides sufficient tension so as to maintain the upper and the lower hammer seat portions 52, 54 in a generally flat or planar configuration, while the hammer cord 64 is being unwound from the hammer cord retractor 60. In the event that the hammer cord 64 experiences a sufficiently high tension—e.g., the hammer is inadvertently dropped for example—the lower hammer seat portion 54 bends or is folded toward the upper hammer seat portion 52, about the hinge 56 from its first normal position (shown in FIG. 4), thereby compressing the hinge spring 58. As the lower hammer seat portion 54 bends or is folded, about the hinge 56, toward the upper hammer seat portion 52, such bending of the hinge spring 58 absorbs some of the force that the hammer is transmitting to the hammer cord retractor 60 and the hammer cord 64.

In a preferred embodiment, the hammer ring 48 is designed to function as a safety stop for the lower portion 54 of the hammer seat 50 as the lower hammer seat portion 54 bends, about the hinge 56, toward the upper hammer seat portion 52 of the hammer seat 50. In this embodiment, if the hammer is exerting a relatively large force on the hammer court retractor 60 and/or the hammer cord 64, for example, if the hammer is a high mass hammer that has been dropped, and the lower portion 54 of the hammer seat 50 has traveled through its entire range of motion but is still experiencing a sufficiently high torque, the lower portion 54 of the hammer seat 50 will engage with the hammer ring 48, and the hammer ring 48 will prevent the lower portion 54 of the hammer seat 50 from flexing any further.

It is to be appreciated that the hammer cord retractor 60 may additionally be provided with a ratchet lock 40 and/or an extension lock 44, and associated actuators 42, 46, as described above. Further, a single ratchet lock 40 and/or ratchet lock actuator 42 may function for both the tool cords 26 and the hammer cord 64. Similarly, a single extension lock 44 and/or extension lock actuator 46 may be functional with both the tool cords 26 and the hammer cord 64. Finally, for specialty, tool belts 2 may be provided with two or more hammer rings 48 and associated elements discussed above.

Although not specifically shown in the drawings, it is to be appreciated that each pouch 6 may be subdivided into one or more other smaller pouches with each smaller pouch being of a sufficient size so as to accommodate a desired tool 32 to be supported by the tool belt 2. In order to facilitate retraction of the desired tool 32 back into the smaller pouch, each smaller pouch 6 will at least be equipped with a guide or an aperture therein along with a tool cord 26 coupled to both a tool cord retractor 36 and a tool engagement element 30, as discussed above.

In the above description and appended drawings, it is to be appreciated that only the terms “consisting of” and “consisting only of” are to be construed in the limitative sense while of all other terms are to be construed as being open-ended and given the broadest possible meaning.

Since certain changes may be made in the above described tool belt, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all of the subject matter of the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted merely as examples illustrating the inventive concept herein and shall not be construed as limiting the invention.

Claims

1. A tool belt comprising:

a band for attachment of the tool belt to a worker;

at least one pouch being attached to the band, and the pouch defining an interior compartment for accommodating at least one tool;

a guide being formed within the pouch and communicating with the interior compartment; and

a tool cord retractor being supported by the tool belt, a second end of a tool cord being secured to the tool cord retractor while a first end of the tool cord extending through the guide and being secured to a tool engagement element, and the tool engagement element being releasably securable to a desired tool;

wherein when the desired tool is attached to the tool engagement element and the desired tool is removed from the pouch, the tool cord retractor permits removal of tool cord from the tool cord retractor but stores a corresponding potential energy as the tool cord is removed for returning the tool cord back to the tool cord retractor.

2. The tool belt according to claim 1, wherein the band supports a plurality of pouches and each of the plurality of pouches generally includes a peripheral rim which provides access to the interior compartment of each one of the plurality of pouches, and the rim generally defines a pouch access plane.

3. The tool belt according to claim 1, wherein the pouch is sufficiently large to accommodate a plurality of tools and the pouch includes a plurality of guides formed within the pouch, and a respective tool retractor, a respective tool cord and a respective tool engagement element is associated with each one of the plurality of guides.

4. The tool belt according to claim 3, wherein each one of the guides is located within the pouch between a peripheral rim and a bottom surface of the pouch.

5. The tool belt according to claim 1, wherein the tool engagement element comprises a unit selected from the group consisting of a clip, a nylon member with releasable touch fasteners, a ring, a hook and a clamp for securing the desired tool to the tool cord.

6. The tool belt according to claim 4, wherein each tool cord retractor is sandwiched between an exterior surface of the pouch and an adjacent surface of the band.

7. The tool belt according to claim 6, wherein each tool cord retractor comprises one of a spring and an elastic rotational potential energy storage element for storing a retraction force for rewinding the respective cord on the respective tool cord retractor.

8. The tool belt according to claim 1, wherein the tool cord is wrapped around rule of the tool cord retractor which facilitates both winding and automatic rewinding of for returning back to tool belt.

9. The tool belt according to claim 1, wherein a return force that is applied to the tool cord, for returning the tool back toward the pouch, increase as the tool moves further away from the pouch.

10. The tool belt according to claim 1, wherein a return force that is applied to the tool cord, for returning the tool back toward the pouch, remains substantially constant as the tool moves further away from the pouch.

11. The tool belt according to claim 1, wherein the tool cord retractor includes a locking mechanism with a lock actuator, the locking mechanism permitting the tool cord to be unwound and lock in an extended, working position with a sufficient return energy being stored by the tool cord retractor, and the ratchet lock preventing the tool cord from being retracted until the ratchet lock actuator to retract the tool cord back to the pocket.

12. The tool belt according to claim 11, wherein the tool cord retractor has a ratchet lock only to a designated working length, and if the tool cord extends beyond the designated working length, the ratchet lock automatically disengages and commences retraction of the tool cord back toward the pouch of the tool belt.

13. The tool belt according to claim 1, wherein the tool cord retractor includes an extension lock, and when the tool cord is extended to a desired working length, the extension lock prevents the tool cord from either being retracted or extended further.

14. The tool belt according to claim 1, wherein the pouch is sufficiently large to accommodate a plurality of tools and the pouch is divided into sub-compartments, and each sub-compartment includes at least one guide formed therein, and a respective tool retractor, a respective tool cord and a respective tool engagement element is associated with each one of the guides.

15. The tool belt according to claim 1, wherein the tool belt further comprises:

a hammer ring secured to the band;

a hammer seat located vertically below the hammer ring;

a hammer cord;

a hammer cord retractor supported by the tool belt;

a first end of the hammer cord attached to a hammer engagement element while a second end of the hammer cord attached to the hammer cord retractor and the hammer engagement element is releasably attachable to the hammer.

16. The tool belt according to claim 15, wherein the hammer seat comprises both an upper portion and a lower portion which are connected to one another by a hinge, the hinge includes a hinge spring which biases the hammer seat into a normally planar configuration in which both the upper portion and the lower portion lie substantially in a plane.

17. The tool belt according to claim 15, wherein the hammer cord retractor comprises one of a spring and an elastic rotational potential energy storage element for storing a retraction force for rewinding the hammer cord on the hammer cord retractor.

18. A tool belt comprising:

a band for attachment of the tool belt to a worker;

a plurality of pouches being supported by the band, and each of the plurality of pouches defining an interior compartment for accommodating at least one tool and including a peripheral rim which provides access to the interior compartment of each one of the plurality of pouches, and the rim generally defining a pouch access plane;

a plurality of guides being formed within each one of the plurality of pouches;

a plurality of tool cord retractors being supported by the tool belt, a second end of a tool cord being secured to a respective tool cord retractor while a first end of the tool cord extending through a respective guide and being secured to a respective tool engagement element, and each tool engagement element being releasably securable to a desired tool;

a hammer ring being secured to the band, with a hammer seat being located vertically below the hammer ring, a hammer cord, and a hammer cord retractor being supported by the tool belt, a first end of the hammer cord being attached to a hammer engagement element while a second end of the hammer cord being attached to the hammer cord retractor, and the hammer engagement element being releasably attachable to the hammer; and

the hammer seat comprising both an upper portion and a lower portion which are connected to one another by a hinge, the hinge including a hinge spring which biases the hammer seat into a normally planar configuration in which both the upper portion and the lower portion lie substantially in a plane.

19. A method of automatically returning a desired tool back to a tool belt, the method comprising steps of:

using a band to attach the tool belt to a worker;

supporting at least one pouch on the band, and an interior compartment of the pouch being sized for accommodating at least one tool;

forming a guide within the pouch which communicates with the interior compartment;

affixing a tool cord retractor to the tool belt;

securing a second end of a tool cord to the tool cord retractor while passing a first end of the tool cord through the guide and securing the first end to a tool engagement element;

releaseably securing the tool engagement element to the desired tool;

removing the desired tool from the pouch and thereby storing a potential energy for returning the tool cord back to the tool cord retractor; and

using the potential energy for at least partially returning the desired tool back to the pouch.