EP1177744A1

EP1177744A1 - Electrician's workbelt storage pouch

Info

Publication number: EP1177744A1
Application number: EP01306489A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Matthew J. Holland; Gegory Scott Snider; James Pangerc; William E. Hawkins
Original assignee: Black and Decker Inc
Current assignee: Black and Decker Inc
Priority date: 2000-08-02
Filing date: 2001-07-30
Publication date: 2002-02-06
Also published as: MXPA01007799A; CN1336314A; US20020014507A1; CA2354304A1

Abstract

A workbelt pouch (10) for use at a worksite is disclosed. The pouch (10) includes pockets (20) designed to hold electrician's tools. Additionally, exterior pockets (26,40) are formed in a unique manner and reinforced using rivets in the bottom thereof to prevent sharp objects from wearing through the bottom of the pockets (26,40).

Description

The present invention relates generally to tool belt storage pouches and more particularly to tool belt storage pouches specifically designed to carry tools unique to the electrician's trade and to be worn by electricians around the waist upon a belt.
It is known in the art to make pouches that are designed to be worn upon the belt of a user. These pouches generally include a portion that allows for placement upon a work belt that is easily removed by the wearer. Furthermore, these pouches generally contain one or more large pockets and one or more external small pockets or clips. These pockets and clips may carry general tools that are needed by an average worker that needs to have quick access to several tools or accessories.
However, a main drawback of these previous belt pouches is that they have been designed with the average or general worker in mind. This being the case the pouches generally only have pockets for items used by all tradesmen. These pouches, while serving the general tradesman well, do not serve a particular tradesman exceptionally well. Since the pouches are large enough so as to accept many varieties of tools, the tools placed in the pouches can be jostled about and disorganized within the pouch. Furthermore, tools could not be kept at hand or protected from wear due to the unprotected nature of the pouch. Thus, special tools must be kept separate from other general tools and not at hand in a workbelt pouch.
In addition these previous pouches are generally formed with stitching at the seams. Though other material, such as rivets, may be used to enhance certain attachments, such rivets were not used to increase the durability of the pockets. In particular such rivets were not used to increase the wear-ability of such outer pockets that are generally used to carry sharp objects such as knives and pencils. Pockets with stitching alone are subject to wear and reduced life due to the absence of a means by which to reinforce the seams.
It is an object of the present invention to create a pouch that has internal compartments for receiving particular tools unique to the trade of electricians.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide external pockets that are reinforced to reduce wear and increase the life time of the pouch.
These and other objects are obtained by providing further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood however that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an electrician's tool pouch according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a front view of the electrician's tool pouch according to the present invention;
Figure 3 is a side view of the electrician's tool pouch according to the present invention illustrating the side pocket thereof;
Figure 4 is a top view of the electrician's tool pouch according to the present invention; and
Figure 5 is a rear view of the electrician's tool pouch according to the present invention.
With reference to Figures 1-5 an electrician's work-site storage pouch 10 can be seen. The electrician's pouch 10 further includes a backboard 12 which is folded over upon itself, at one end, to form a belt loop 14. The belt loop 14 is designed to receive a work belt (not shown) to be worn by an electrician at a work-site to allow ease of access to numerous tools needed by an electrician. The folded-over portion, which forms the belt loop 14, is connected to the backboard 12 by a plurality of rivets 15. A pouch 16 is attached to the backboard 12, also through stitching and reinforced with a plurality of rivets. The pouch 16 has a plurality of leather separator portions 18 disposed therein for separating the pouch 16 into four compartments 17a-17d. Furthermore, nylon banding 19 is disposed along the entire top edge of the pouch 16 to further reinforce the edges against wear and destruction due to use.
While the two outer compartments 17c and 17d are left open to receive large items, the two inner compartments 17a and 17b contain a series of pockets 20 which are formed by folded leather strips 22. A plurality of separate pockets 20 may be formed using a unitary or a plurality of formed leather strips 22. The plurality of separate pockets 20 are specifically designed for receiving various tools used in the electrical trade. The tools used by electricians generally have collars or other unique features formed onto them which require specifically designed pockets in order to be held securely. The plurality of separate pockets 20 are designed to hold such electricians' tools.
A series of outer front pockets 26 are formed on the outer front surface of pouch 16 by a second strip of formed leather 28 which is secured to the front of the pouch 16 through stitching and reinforced by rivets 29. The formed strip of leather 28 is folded to create a plurality of outer front pockets 26. These outer front pockets 26 are formed to receive several specific tools.
An additional forward leather strip 30 is provided over the leather strip 28 which forms additional outer front pockets 32. The forward leather strip 30 is attached to the pouch 16 through stitching and rivets 33. The additional outer front pockets 32 are formed by the forward leather strip 30 being affixed to the pouch 16 at the distal ends of the outer front pockets 26. In this way the additional outer front pockets 32 are formed in the space between the outer front pockets 26 and the forward leather strip 30. The forward leather strip 30 also provides a place for mounting a name tag 34 (shown in Figure 2). A tape measure holder 36 is affixed to the outer front pockets 26 by rivets 35.
With continuing reference to Figures 1-5, side pockets 38, 40 are attached to the sides of the pouch 16. The right hand pocket 40 includes a first pocket portion 40a designed to receive a pencil, and a second pocket portion 40b designed to receive a utility knife. The lower edges of the pockets 40a and 40b are provided with rivets 42 which provide additional wear resistance to the bottom of the pockets 40a and 40b and are designed to prevent a utility knife or pencil from poking or wearing through the material in the bottom of the pockets 40a, 40b.
The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

A pouch for a workbelt comprising:

a backing member including a portion for attachment to a belt;

a pouch member affixed to said backing member, said pouch having a front and a first and a second side; and

at least one exterior pocket affixed to the exterior of said pouch, a seam to affix said at least one exterior pocket to said at least one pouch including at least one rivet disposed at a bottom portion of said at least one exterior pocket.
The pouch of claim 1, further comprising at least one sectioning member affixed to an interior of said pouch to create a plurality of sections within said pouch.
The pouch of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of interior pockets affixed within said pouch.
The pouch of claim 3, wherein said plurality of interior pockets are affixed to said backing member.
The pouch of claim 1, wherein said at least one exterior pocket includes a plurality of exterior pockets affixed to said pouch and said at least one rivet includes a plurality of rivets.
The pouch of claim 5, wherein said plurality of rivets are supplementary to a sewn seam of at least one of said plurality of exterior pockets.
The pouch of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of front exterior pockets disposed on a front of said pouch and an exterior strap disposed over said front exterior pockets.
The pouch of claim 7, wherein said exterior strap comprises a first and second end and is affixed to said front of said pouch at said first and second ends.
The pouch of claim 8, wherein said exterior strap is further affixed to said front exterior pockets on said front of said pouch.
The pouch of claim 9, further comprising a name tag affixed to said exterior strap.