The present invention relates generally to tool belts, particularly, tool belts adapted for carrying cordless drills.
A variety of belts, bags, and carriers have been used for holding and transporting tools. Tool belts have also been used so that tools can be transported while leaving the hands of the wearer free to perform other functions. As always, there remains the opportunity to develop improved tool belts.
A drill holster comprises a base, a back wall extending perpendicular from the base, and a primary wall extending from a first side of the back wall to a second side of said back wall. The primary wall extends perpendicular from the base. The primary wall, back wall, and base define a storage volume.
A drill holster comprises a base, a back wall extending perpendicular from the base, and a primary wall extending from a first side of the back wall to a second side of the back wall. The primary wall extends perpendicular from the base. The primary wall, back wall, and base define a storage volume. A drill holster is located within the storage volume. The drill holster insert is coupled to the back wall and divides the storage volume into a drill holster volume and at least one storage pocket. The drill holster insert comprises a puncture-resistant material and defines a seamless internal surface.
These and other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to one skilled in the art from the following description and claims when read in light of the accompanying drawings.
As shown in
In some embodiments, the base 16 includes a base opening 180. The base opening 180 can be adapted for receiving a drill bit, but preventing the drill chuck or body of the drill from passing through. In some embodiments, as shown in
In some embodiments, the drill holster pouch 12 also include a drill holster insert 184. In some embodiments, as shown in
In some embodiments, the drill holster insert 184 includes a reinforced holster opening 190. In some embodiments, the reinforced holster opening 190 is aligned with the base opening 180. In some embodiments, the reinforced holster opening 190 is the same size at the base opening 180. In some embodiments, the reinforced holster opening 190 can be reinforced with the grommet 182. In some embodiments, as best shown in
In some embodiments, the drill holster volume 186 is defined by the drill holster insert 184 and the back wall 18. As shown in
In some embodiments, the drill holster volume 186 is defined entirely by the drill holster insert 184. As shown in
In some embodiments, the drill holster insert 184 can be attached to the rest of the drill holster pouch 12 by (a) a grommet 182 fastening drill holster insert 184 to the base 16 by the base opening 180 and the reinforced holster opening 190, (b) riveting portions of the drill holster insert to the back wall 18, the primary wall 20, or both 18, 20, or (c) the grommet 182 and rivets 198, as shown in the figures.
In some embodiments, the drill holster volume 186, the drill holster insert 184, or both, are formed from a puncture-resistant material. In some embodiments, as best seen in
In some embodiments, a belt flap 34 can extend from the top of the back wall 18. As best seen in
In some embodiments, when the drill holster 12 is empty or contains evenly distributed weight, the drill holster 12 maintains an upright position when the base 16 is placed on a horizontal surface. In some embodiments, the drill holster 12 can be self-supporting. In some embodiments, the back wall 18 and the primary wall 20 comprise a back wall reinforcing member 36 and a primary wall reinforcing member 38, respectively.
In some embodiments, as shown in
The outward flex of the drill holster 12 provides a channel for air to pass behind the back wall 18. The air movement cools the user. In some embodiments, as shown in
In some embodiments, the primary wall 20 includes a primary wall reinforcing member 38 between two primary wall facings 40a, 40b, and the primary wall 20 is coupled to the base 16 by a base binding 42. In some embodiments, the base binding 42 extends along the entire length of the bottom edge of the primary wall 20. In some embodiments, the primary wall reinforcing member 38 comprises a single member that extends continuously from proximate the first side 24 of the back wall 18 to proximate the second side 26 of the back wall 18.
As best shown in
In some embodiments, the back wall 18 includes a back wall reinforcing member 36 between an inner back wall facing 46 and an outer back wall facing 48. As best shown in
In some embodiments, the reinforcing members (e.g., 36, 38) described herein can independently be a sheet of material formed of plastic, wood, metal, or a combination thereof. Where the reinforcing member is a plastic sheet or board, the reinforcing member can be formed of a material including, but not limited to, polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyesters, combinations thereof, and other durable polymer materials. In some embodiment, a reinforcing member (36,38) can be sheet with a thickness of at least 1/32″, or at least 1/16″, or at least 3/32″. In some embodiment, the reinforcing member (36, 38) can be sheet with a thickness of ¼″ or less, or 3/16″ or less, or 5/32″ or less, or ⅛″ or less. The thickness of the reinforcing member can be such that the reinforcement member maintains a substantially planar shape when placed under an appropriate load. In some embodiments, the reinforcing members 36 & 38 can, independently, comprise a flexible material configured to flex or bow when under load.
In some embodiments, the outer back wall facing 48 comprises a padded portion 54 adapted for resting against a user wearing the tool belt system 10. In some embodiments, a first padding material 56 is disposed between the padded portion 54 and the back wall reinforcing member 36. In some embodiments, a second padding material 58 extends from the first padding material 56 to the base 16. In some embodiments, the second padding material 58 extends over a lower edge of the back wall reinforcing member 36. In such a configuration, the drill holster rests on the second padding material 58 when the drill holster 12 is placed upright on a horizontal surface, such as the ground.
In some embodiments, the second padding material 58 is more wear resistant than the padded portion 54. In some embodiments, the padded portion 54 and first padding material 56 can be foams, such as a polyurethane foam, which can optionally be covered by a fabric facing. In some embodiments, the first padding material 56 can be thicker than the padded portion 54. In some embodiments, the second padding material 58 can be a natural rubber material or a synthetic rubber material. Examples of natural rubber materials include, but are not limited to, isoprene. Examples of synthetic rubber materials include, but are not limited to, styrene-butadiene rubber, nitrile rubber, neoprene rubber, silicone rubber, ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber, rubbers comprising one or more of isoprene (2-methyl-1,3-butadiene), chloroprene (2-chloro-1,3-butadiene), and isobutylene, and combinations thereof. The outer surface of the second padding material 58 can be the raw rubber sheet in order to provide a no-slip surface and minimize the appearance of wear over time.
In some embodiments, the second padding material 58 can extend at least 0.5 inches onto each of the back wall 18 and the base 16. In some embodiments, the second padding material 58 can extend at least 1 inch onto each of the back wall 18 and the base 16, or at least 1.5 inches onto each of the back wall 18 and the base 16. In some embodiments, the second padding material 58 does not extend onto the base 16 or extends less than 1 inch onto the base 16, while the second padding material 58 extends at least 1 inch, or at least 1.5 inches, or at least 2 inches onto the back wall 18.
In some embodiments, each side of the primary wall 20 can be coupled to the respective side 24, 26 of the back wall 18. The first and second sides 24, 26 of the back wall 18 can be coupled to the primary wall via first and second bindings 49, 51, respectively. In some embodiments, the first binding 49, second binding 51, and base binding 42 are all part of a single, continuous binding. In some embodiments, the first and/or second bindings 49, 51 can bind the inner back wall facing 46, the outer back wall facing 48, and the primary wall facings 40a, 40b together. In some embodiments, the primary wall 20 contacts or intersects the back wall 18 only at the first and second bindings 49, 51.
In some embodiments, the tool belt system 10 also includes a clip sleeve 108 adapted for receiving and securing a belt clip, such as those commonly attached to retractable tape measures. The clip sleeve 108 can be coupled to a material sheet forming a component of the drill holster 12. The clip sleeve 108 can include two opposing clip walls 112a, 112b that are spaced apart from one another and adapted to sandwich around an upper edge of the material sheet.
As shown in
In some embodiments, as shown in
In some embodiments, the clip sleeve 108 can be tapered so that an upper portion of the clip sleeve 108 is thicker than a lower portion of the clip sleeve 108. In some embodiments, the clip sleeve can be 25% thicker at the top than at the bottom. Such configurations allow for enhanced retention of belt clips attached to the clip sleeve 108.
In some embodiments, the tool belt system 10 includes at least one pouch fastening ring 122 coupled to an upper portion of the back wall 18. In some embodiments, the pouch fastening ring(s) 122 can be D-rings. In some embodiments, the pouch fastening ring(s) 122 can be secured to the back wall 18 by fastening loops 124 secured to the back wall 18. The fastening loops 124 can be fastened to the back wall 18 by appropriate fasteners, including, but not limited to, rivets. In some embodiments, the pouch fastening ring(s) 122 can extend above a top edge of the back wall 16.
As shown in
In some embodiments, the tool belt system 10 also include a carrying strap 146. As shown in
In some embodiments, the tool belt system 10 can include a tool belt 14 passing through the belt sleeve 32; and at least one belt loop 128 comprising at least one belt fastening ring 130 coupled to the belt loop 128. As shown in
The tool belt system 10 can include one or more support strap 132. Each end of the support strap 132 can include a latch 126 for releasably coupling to a pouch fastening ring 122 or a belt fastening ring 130. When each end of the support strap 132 is attached to a pouch fastening ring 122 or a belt fastening ring 130, and the support strap 132 is worn over the shoulder of a wearer. In such embodiments, the drill holster is placed on one side of the user (e.g., proximate the right hip), while the shoulder strap rests on the opposite shoulder (e.g., the left shoulder) of the user.
In some embodiments, a harness can be used. In such embodiments, the harness can be attached to fastening rings that are adjustably or fixedly attached to the tool belt 14. Examples of such embodiments are well-known in the art.
In some embodiments, an exterior of the primary wall 18, the fastener pocket 164, or both, can include one or more pencil holders 158. As shown in
In some embodiments, as shown in
As shown in
As best seen in
The fastener pocket 164 can be covered with another material (e.g., within a pocket) to conceal the outwardly facing seams 172, the outwardly facing seams 172 can simply be covered with a binding, or both. Where the fastener pocket 164 is within a pocket formed of another material, the upper edges of the fastener pocket 164 can be used to form a binding 116. As shown in
In some embodiments, a back-up pencil holder 176 can be attached to an outer surface of the primary wall 20. The fastener pocket 164 can be attached to an upper edge of the primary wall 16 such that the fastener pocket 164 conceals the back-up pencil holder 176 when the pouch is being worn, but the user can reach under the fastener pouch 164 or flip-up the fastener pouch 164 in order to easily access pencils stored in the back-up pencil holder 176. The back-up pencil holder 176 can be formed from an elastic strip 178 of material with a plurality of spaced-apart attachment points 179, were the distance between the spaced-apart attachment points 179 are separated by a sufficient distance for a pencil to fit under the elastic strip 178 between adjacent attachment points 179. In some embodiments, the attachment points 179 are lines sewing the elastic strip to the primary wall 20 or the fastener pouch 164.
In some embodiments, the storage pocket 188 can be adapted for storing a utility knife (e.g., a retractable utility knife). The storage pocket 188 can be formed in a space between the drill holster insert 184, the primary wall 20, and the back wall 18. As best shown in
Although the figures show a number of different embodiments, it will be understood that the features and elements described with respect to one embodiment can be incorporated into the other embodiment.
The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, and describing embodiments of this invention. Modifications and adaptations to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of this invention.
This application claims priority to U.S. Application Ser. No. 62/001,906, “Drill Holster Pouch,” filed May 22, 2014, and U.S. Application Ser. No. 61/942,854, “Hand Tool Toolbelt,” filed Feb. 21, 2014, the entireties of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62001906 | May 2014 | US | |
61942854 | Feb 2014 | US |