Patent Application
20210219706
General contractors, plumbers, electricians, and handymen in general rely on a tool belt around their waist to carry their tools. Tool belts often come with useful pockets and arrangements to accommodate each tool and use-scenario for a worker. While the configuration of typical tool belts are useful, their configuration may not be able to accommodate each specific type of worker, use-scenario, and situation that arises.
A modular tool belt is implemented in which the locations and quantities of pouches and other accessories are customizable for the user while simultaneously providing a level of comfort and craftsmanship. The tool belt is based on a ratchet system with custom thickness and memory foam on the inside for comfort and temperature control. The pockets are reinforced with additional and/or stronger material, such as Kevlar. The top pouches and accessories are larger and easier to access using, for example, elastic. The modular tool belt utilizes a MOLLE (Modular Lightweight Load-Carrying Equipment) strap system for attaching bags and accessories. The overlapping ballistic nylon panels at the front buckle prevent pinch points and help the user dial in their waist size while the tightening system gives the user that final snug adjustment.
The back side of the modular tool belt features a wide, load distributing pad that is a composed of modern synthetic materials for cushion, moisture control, and temperature control. The outer lycra layer is a silky moisture wicking layer, with hex mesh inner padding that allows airflow while being supportive, and the backing and all around construction is built from a heavy-duty ballistic nylon for strength and durability. A raised lumber support at the rear side of the tool belt features a closeable pocket for use with hot and cold packs that can be added throughout the day to help maintain a comfortable temperature. The pocket is lined with an insulating, heat reflective material on the backside to reflect heat back to the user, and keep cold packs cold longer. The pocket can be used with chemically activated cooling and warming elements or thermal masses like frozen gel packets or hot water bottles.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in any part of this disclosure. These and various other features will be apparent from a reading of the following Detailed Description and a review of the associated drawings.
Like reference numerals indicate like elements in the drawings. Elements are not drawn to scale unless otherwise indicated.
The support frame 135 may be two distinct and separate components, or sections, that are secured together by various connecting mechanisms, such as the belt 120 and belt buckle 145 in the front and the laces 205 along the user's back. The belt enters openings 160 on each side of the support frame (shown on one side only) and extends toward the rear side of the modular tool belt 105. The belt may reach up until the ends of the respective sides of the support frame, which is where the laces take over to connect the two support frame sections together.
A tightening mechanism 140 that operates using a ratchet system positioned on a front side of the modular tool belt 105 can be used to properly fit the tool belt to the user's body. The tightening mechanism may work by utilizing, for example, a lace that engages with an internal front and rear support members and which tighten or loosen based on the user's clockwise or counter-clockwise rotational movement of the tightening mechanism's spool. The specific implementation of the tightening mechanism operates according to the description in U.S. Pat. No. 9,179,729, issued Nov. 10, 2015, assigned to Boa Technology, Inc., the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
By tightening the lace 205 using clockwise movement, the lace may tighten around the spool which thereby pulls the laces extending around the tool belt 105 in as well, causing the entire tool belt to tighten around the user's waist. The laces may extend around both sides of the support frame 135 as shown in
The support frame includes handles 110 on opposing sections that the user can pull on to adjust the positioning of the modular tool belt 105 along their hips and waist. The support frame also has loops 115 that can be used to attach to a user's suspenders to provide further support in keeping the tool belt up, when worn.
Along the sides of the modular tool belt 105 are columns and rows of pockets 125 that can be used to hold various pouches and accessories depending on the user's preference or a given task. The openings 130 for the pockets can receive straps attached to a rear of an accessory or pouch to thereby secure the accessory or pouch to the tool belt, as discussed in greater detail below. The attachment of accessories and pouches is based off of a MOLLE (Modular Lightweight Load-Carrying Equipment) technique by which a user can attach corresponding accessories. While three pockets are vertically aligned, the user may attach an accessory to only the bottom row of the pocket. Furthermore, depending on the accessory, multiple laterally adjacent pockets may be used for a single accessory, or a single pocket may be used. Likewise, multiple vertically positioned adjacent pockets may be used for a single accessory. While not shown, another row of pockets 125 are similarly positioned on the opposite side of the modular tool belt 105.
A raised lumbar support 150 is shown in
Various embodiments of the modular tool belt system are presently disclosed. In one embodiment, disclosed is a modular tool belt, comprising: a support frame comprised of multiple layers, the support frame being linearly arranged and bendable to enable wrapping around a user's waist; pockets arranged around an outside surface of the support frame, wherein individual pockets are arranged in rows and columns to enable customizable attachment of items to the pockets; and one or more accessories that respectively attach to one or more pockets on the modular tool belt.
As another example, the modular tool belt includes a front side that includes a belt and belt buckle and a rear side that includes a raised support surface that extends above the support frame. In a further example, the raised support surface includes a closable opening with a cavity, in which the cavity receives a hot or cold pack. As another example, the raised support surface is positioned on an inside portion of the support frame. In another example, the support frame is configured as two separate components that, when worn, respectively extend along left and right hips of the user, and the belt at the front side and the raised surface at the rear side attach to each of the support frame components to create a single unit. As another example, the support frame includes a first arm and a second arm on the respective separate components, and the first and second arms overlap when the buckle is connected in the front side. A further example includes a tightening mechanism that custom fits the modular tool belt to a user's dimensions, in which tightening of the tightening mechanism tightens a lace that extends along the support frame and around the user. As another example, the one or more accessories include MOLLE (Modular Lightweight Load-Carrying Equipment) straps that secure to the pockets along the outside surface of the support frame. In another example, the one or more accessories include a pouch that is attached to the MOLLE straps. As another example, layers of the support frame include Lycra on an inside portion of the support frame that is proximal to the user. In another example, the layers of the support frame include ballistic nylon on an outside portion of the support frame that is distal from the user. As another example, the layers of the support frame include spacer mesh and memory foam. As another example, the support frame includes openings inside which a belt inserts and attaches to, wherein the belt extends along a front portion of the modular tool belt.
Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.
This non-provisional utility patent application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/961,748, entitled “Modular Tool Belt System,” filed on Jan. 16, 2020, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62961748 | Jan 2020 | US |
