Patent Application
20100193557
The present invention generally relates to tool belts, sashes or garments for holding and carrying tools. More particularly, this invention relates to a tool sash which can be worn over a shoulder and is capable of accommodating a variety of tools.
Tool belts and garments are generally known and used throughout a variety of manufacturing and construction industries. These belts and garments are characterized by a variety of packets which are sized to be capable of holding various different tools and equipment. The wearer then has easier accessibility to the tools and equipment. However, tool belts often become uncomfortable to the wearer as the weight of the belt tends to cause the belt to slip down of the hips of the wearer. Tool garments, such as a vest, are burdensome to the wearer as they are often awkward to take on and off.
Shoulder-mounted belts for holding equipment are also known, as evidenced by U.S. Pat. No. 6,886,726 to O'Hare, which discloses a gear carrier with multiple pockets and receptacles for holding various fishing, shooting and hunting gear. While the numerous pockets provided by O'Hare enhance the versatility of the gear carrier, access to individual pockets can be difficult under certain circumstances, particularly if the wearer is not standing erect.
Accordingly, there is a need for a tool garment which can be easily donned and removed, comfortable to wear, and capable of holding a variety of numerous tools and equipment that remain readily accessible when the garment is worn.
The present invention provides a sash adapted to be worn over a shoulder of a wearer and configured for holding tools and equipment.
According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the sash includes a strap delimited by a first end, an oppositely-disposed second end, and first and second edges that are between the first and second ends and spaced apart from each other. The first edge defines an inner arcuate edge portion, the second edge defines an outer arcuate edge portion, and an arcuate chest strap portion is defined between the inner and outer arcuate edges. The arcuate chest strap portion is configured to lie against the chest of a wearer with the inner arcuate strap above the outer arcuate edges when the sash is slung over a shoulder of the wearer. The first and second ends of the strap are adapted to be fastened together, such that at least the first end of the strap defines a back strap portion of the sash that lies against the back of the wearer when the sash is slung over the shoulder of the wearer. The sash further includes pockets that are located on the arcuate chest strap portion and extend between the inner and outer arcuate edges of the arcuate chest strap portion in a radial direction relative to a curvature of the arcuate chest strap portion. The pockets have openings closer to the inner arcuate edge than the outer arcuate edge through which tools can be inserted into the pockets by movement of the tools in a downward and crosswise diagonal direction across the chest of the wearer when the sash is slung over the shoulder of the wearer.
Because the sash is adapted to be worn over a shoulder, the sash can be easily donned, for example, by simply lifting the upper extent of the sash over the head and onto the wearer's shoulder. The curvature of the sash and the radial orientation of the radial pockets located on the arcuate chest strap portion lying against the chest of the wearer promotes the accessibility and removability of tools within the radial pockets, even when the wearer is not standing erect.
Other aspects and advantages of this invention will be better appreciated from the following detailed description.
A tool sash 10 according to an embodiment of the invention is represented in
The tool sash 10 can be made from a variety of materials, including leather, canvas or other woven material, etc. The sash 10 has a strap 12 with first and second ends 14 and 16 that can be joined together, for example, with hook-and-loop fasteners 17 or other suitable temporary fasteners to form the continuous loop configuration of the sash 10. The strap 12 is delimited between its ends 14 and 16 by first and second edges 18 and 20 that are spaced apart from each other. At least portions of the first and second edges 18 define, respectively, an inner arcuate edge portion 22 and an outer arcuate edge portion 24 that are located at the front of the wearer when the sash 10 is worn as shown in
Multiple pockets 32 are located on the arcuate chest strap portion 26 and arranged so as to extend between the inner and outer arcuate edges 22 and 24 in a substantially radial direction relative to the curvature of the arcuate chest strap portion 26. In
The sash 10 is further shown as being equipped with additional features for holding tools, including pockets 38 at the upped end of the chest strap portion 26 near the shoulder strap portion 30, and pockets 40 and 41 hanging from or disposed on a triangular panel 42 located beneath the chest strap portion 26. As evident from the Figures, the pockets 41 extend away from the outer arcuate edge 24 of the chest strap portion 26 in a radial direction relative to the curvature of the chest strap portion 26, and have openings adjacent the outer arcuate edge 24 through which tools can be inserted by movement of the tools in a downward and crosswise diagonal direction across the chest of the wearer.
Still other possible devices for securing tools can be provided on the sash 10, including a clip 70 for securing a tape measure, a magnetic patch 72 for magnetically holding screws, etc., a hammer loop 74, a chain 78 to hold rolls of tape, a holster/pouch 80 for securing a drill or other power tool, clips or rings 82 for securing keys, etc., and various other hooks, loops and clips capable of securing various tools. Additionally, the sash 10 is shown as being equipped with a light source 60 (
The tool sash 10 is represented in
The second securement feature is shown as a waist belt 50 having a first portion 52 attached to the triangular panel 42 near the second portion 48 of the waist band 44, and a second portion 54 attached at the second end 16 of the strap 12. Buckles 58 are represented as being located at the ends of the belt portions 52 and 54 for fastening the belt portions 52 and 54 together, though other temporary fastening devices could be used. Since the belt portion 52 is attached to the triangular panel 42, the waist belt 50 also effectively extends from the outer arcuate edge 24 near the second end 16 of the strap 12. However, because the belt portion 54 of the waist belt 50 is attached to the second end 16 of the strap 12, instead of the first end 14 of the strap 12 as in the case of the band portion 46 of the waist band 44, the waist band 44 and waist belt 50 differ in the manner in which they secure the sash 10 to the wearer's waist.
According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the tool sash 10 is configured so that tools 36 stowed in its radial pockets 32 can be easily accessed, stowed and retrieved by the wearer, and in particular the wearer's right hand in the embodiment shown in the Figures. This accessibility is attributable to the radial or diagonal orientation of the pockets 32 located across the wearer's chest, which provides for a more natural motion of the wearer's arm when stowing and retrieving tools in the pockets 32, regardless of whether the wearer is standing erect, leaning, lying down, etc. Because of this versatility, the sash 10 is shown as being further equipped with a flap 66 that extends from the inner arcuate edge 22 of the chest strap portion 26, as seen in
While the invention has been described in terms of a specific embodiment, it is apparent that other forms could be adopted by one skilled in the art. For example, the tool belt could differ in appearance and construction from the embodiment shown in the Figures, and appropriate materials could be substituted for those noted. In addition, the location and sizing of the various packets could differ to accommodate the needs of a particular wearer. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/150,112, filed Feb. 5, 2009, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61150112 | Feb 2009 | US |
