GB2580885A

GB2580885A - Tool holder

Info

Publication number: GB2580885A
Application number: GB1820173.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Moore Colin; Michael Bruen Charles
Original assignee: Zzion Ltd
Current assignee: Zzion Ltd
Priority date: 2018-12-11
Filing date: 2018-12-11
Publication date: 2020-08-05
Also published as: GB201820173D0

Abstract

A device 1 for carrying a tool, comprising a vertical first proximal portion 2, and having at its upper end suspension means 5 by which the device is removably attachable to a user’s clothing. Device 1 further comprises a second support portion 3 extending from a lower end of first portion 2 and comprising a hook element curving downwardly, outwardly and upwardly to a distal tip to define a holding region 14 to receive a portion of the tool. The device 1 has an elongate latch member 9 pivotably mounted to the first portion 2 and biased to extend across into contact with the distal tip of the second portion 3. Latch 9 is deflectable away from the distal tip into an interior of the holding region 13 to allow insertion and removal of the tool. An inwardly facing contact surface 15 of the hook element is provided with a layer of resilient, non-abrasive plastics material (18, Figure 3). Also disclosed are devices 1 having belt loop means 5 comprising projecting bodies 6, co-operating alignment features on latch member 9 and second portion 2, and latch member 9 being mounted to pivot axle means 12 having a coil spring means.

Description

TOOL HOLDER

The present invention relates to a device for carrying tools on a worker's person. More particularly but not exclusively, it relates to a device for carrying cordless power tools and the like on a worker's belt.

Many tradesmen and site workers prefer to carry a variety of tools on their person, rather than lugging toolboxes around with them. Smaller, simpler tools such as screwdrivers are not much of a problem in this respect, but power tools can be. These will usually be "cordless" power tools, with an operative body (such as an electric drill or an impact wrench), and a manually graspable handle, at the distal end of which is mounted a large rechargeable battery pack. This produces an awkward weight distribution, so putting the drill body into a pistol-type holster, for example, will result in the weight of the battery pack pulling the tool out again.

Approaches to carrying such tools have therefore concentrated on holding it by the handle, with the weight distributed like a dumbbell. This still requires the tool to be held in such a manner that the user can conveniently grasp the handle and remove it for use, and just as conveniently return the tool and release it, resting safely in its holder. A scaffolder, for example, might use an impact wrench up to a thousand times in a working day. Single-handed operation, which would he highly convenient under any circumstances, may be critically important for someone working at height, climbing round a structure.

One form of holder for such tools, which has partially resolved this problem, uses a hook suspended on a belt loop with a springloaded latch across its open end (in an arrangement much like a carabiner),. A typical cordless power tool can be stored with its handle in the hook; the weights of the operative body and the battery pack are roughly balanced to either side of the hook; and the hook is too small for either to pass through it when the latch is closed. The latch can be deflected inwardly by contact with the user/and the handle of the tool, allowing insertion of the tool in the holder, while it can be manually deflected to allow removal of the tool as desired.

This form of holder has some drawbacks. While the tool cannot fall out of the holder when the latch is dosed, it can move about within the holder as the user moves about. This can lead to significant damage to the tool handle and to the controls usually located on the handle. The belt loop allows the holder to slide on the user's belt. The standard form of catch used on "carabiner" arrangements is prone to wear and misalignment under the frequency of use that it will be put to in this application. The spring is particularly vulnerable to being broken or displaced, as it can catch on the tool or on the user's clothing. Apparently, for groundsmen and craftsmen working at ground level, these issues are not considered too bad, but for scaffolders and other workers at heights, such holders have become no more than the least bad option, rather than a fully acceptable solution.

It is hence an object of the present invention to provide a device for carrying cordless tools and the like on a user's person, that is more effective and convenient than existing devices, and obviates some or all of the problems referred to above.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for carrying a tool on a user's person, comprising a first proximal portion extending vertically in use and having at its upper end suspension means by which the device is removably attachable to the user's clothing, and a second support portion extending from a lower end of the first portion and comprising a hook element curving downwardly, outwardly and upwardly to a distal tip, so as to define a holding region to receive a portion of the tool, the device further comprising an elongate latch member, pivotably mounted to the first proximal portion and biased to extend across into contact with the distal tip of the second support portion, thus enclosing the holding region, said latch member being selectably deflectable away from the distal tip into an interior of the holding region so as to provide access to the holding region for insertion or removal of the tool, wherein an inwardly-facing contact surface of the hook element comprises a layer of resilient non-abrasive plastics material.

Preferably, the layer of plastics material is provided with a profiled and/or textured surface.

Advantageously, the plastics material has a higher coefficient of friction than a material comprising the hook element.

The hook dement is advantageously so curved that a downwardly extending section of the hook element and a section of the hook element extending upwardly to the distal tip are slightly divergent, such that the holding region widens in an upward direction, easing location of the tool into the holding region and removal thereof therefrom.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for carrying a tool on a user's person, comprising a first proximal portion extending vertically in use and having at its upper end suspension means by which the device is removably attachable to the user's clothing, and a second support portion extending from a lower end of the first portion and comprising a hook element curving downwardly, outwardly and upwardly to a distal tip, so as to define a holding region to receive a portion of the tool, the device further comprising an elongate latch member, pivotably mounted to the first proximal portion and biased to extend across into contact with the distal tip of the second support portion, thus enclosing the holding region, said latch member being selectably deflectable away from the distal tip into an interior of the holding region so as to provide access to the holding region for insertion or removal of the tool, wherein the suspension means of the device comprises belt loop means, comprising a vertically elongate loop of rigid plastics material, disposed at an upper (in use) end of the first portion of the device, and adapted to receive a user's belt passing through said loop, wherein the belt loop means further comprises a plurality of projecting bodies, each extending into an interior of the loop from opposite sides thereof in an alternating sequence, so restricting the interior of the loop that a belt passed through it is forced to deform around the projecting bodies.

Engagement between the belt and the belt loop means is hence substantially increased, reducing sliding movement of the device along the belt and/or up and down movement of the device on the belt.

Preferably, said projecting bodies have a triangular profile.

Advantageously, the projecting bodies have a right-angled triangular profile.

The projecting bodies are preferably moulded integrally with the belt loop means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for carrying a tool on a user's person, comprising a first proximal portion extending vertically in use and having at its upper end suspension means by which the device is removably attachable to the user's clothing, and a second support portion extending from a lower end of the first portion and comprising a hook element curving downwardly, outwardly and upwardly to a distal tip, so as to define a holding region to receive a portion of the tool, the device further comprising an elongate latch member, pivotably mounted to the first proximal portion and biased to extend across into contact with the distal tip of the second support portion, thus enclosing the holding region, said latch member being selectably deflectable away from the distal tip into an interior of the holding region so as to provide access to the holding region for insertion or removal of the tool, wherein a distal end of the latch member and the distal tip of the second support portion comprise a set of co-operating alignment features, comprising both transverse cooperating features and longitudinal co-operating features, so as to maintain the latch member in alignment with the second support portion of the device when closed, both longitudinally and laterally.

Preferably, said cooperating features each comprise ridge means, located on a first of the distal end of the latch member and the distal tip of the second support portion and corresponding slot means configured to receive said ridge means, located on a second of the distal end of the latch member and the distal tip of the second support portion.

Advantageously, each of the distal end of the latch member and the distal tip of the second support portion comprise both at least one of said ridge means and at least one of said slot means.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for carrying a tool on a user's person, comprising a first proximal portion extending vertically in use and having at its upper end suspension means by which the device is removably attachable to the user's clothing, and a second support portion extending from a lower end of the first portion and comprising a hook element curving downwardly, outwardly and upwardly to a distal tip, so as to define a holding region to receive a portion of the tool, the device further comprising an elongate latch member, pivotably mounted to the first proximal portion and biased to extend across into contact with the distal tip of the second support portion, thus enclosing the holding region, said latch member being selectably deflectable away from the distal tip into an interior of the holding region so as to provide access to the holding region for insertion or removal of the tool, wherein the elongate latch member is pivotably mounted to pivot axle means having coil spring means extending around the pivot axle means and operatively connected between the latch member and the first proximal portion of the device, wherein the pivot axle means and the coil spring means are together protectively disposed within housing means from which the latch member projects.

In each aspect described above, the suspension means of the device preferably comprises belt loop means adapted to receive a belt worn by a user of the device.

In each aspect described above, the device comprises a rigid, tough plastics material.

Advantageously, said rigid, tough plastics material comprises a glass-filled nylon material.

In each aspect described above, the second support portion of the device may comprise a third elongate portion extending to said distal tip.

In each aspect described above, the device may be provided with anchoring means, to which may be mounted lanyard means extending to a tool to be held in the device.

Said anchoring means may comprise aperture means, through which the lanyard means may be passed.

It should be noted that devices embodying the present invention can embody any, some or all of the various aspects described above, cumulatively or synergistically adding to the advantages of such devices over the existing closest technology.

An embodiment of the present invention will now he more particularly described, by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings. in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tool-holding device embodying the present invention; Figure 2 is a frontal elevation of the tool-holding device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side elevation of the tool-holding device of Figure 1, in an open condition; and Figures 4A and 4B are schematic scrap views of respective interlocking components of a catch mechanism of the tool-holding device of Figure 1.

Referring now to the Figures of the accompanying drawings, and to Figure 1 in particular, a tool-holding device 1 of the present invention is illustrated. The device 1 comprises a straight first section 2, hanging generally vertically in use; a curved second section 3 extending outwardly from a lower end of the first section 2 through slightly less than a semicircle; and in this embodiment, a straight third section 4 extending from a distal end of the second section 3, upwardly but at an angle to the vertical, such that it diverges in an upwards direction from the first section 2. The first 2, second 3 and third 4 sections thus together form a generally J-shaped hook body.

A belt loop element 5 is mounted adjacent an upper, in use, end of the first section 2. A conventional work belt (not shown) can he passed through the belt loop clement 5, allowing the device 1 to be suspended from the belt. In order to prevent the device 1 sliding freely along the belt in use, three triangular-section ridges 6 extend into an interior 7 of the belt loop clement 5 from alternate sides. The ridges 6 are sized and located such that a work belt, typically comprising a fairly thick, but flexible, strip of leather or webbing, has to bend in a vertical plane into a shallow S-shape to pass through the interior 7 of the belt loop element 5. The resulting engagement between the belt and the belt loop element 5 opposes any tendency for the device 1 to slide along the belt as a wearer moves. It also opposes vertical motion of the belt within the belt loop element 5, should the width of the belt be less than the height of the interior 7 of the belt loop clement 5. Again, this stabilises the device 1 in use.

The device 1 is further provided with a latch arrangement, generally indicated as feature 8. The latch arrangement 8 comprises an elongate latch member 9, which is pivotably mounted at a first end to a latch mounting 10 located on the first section 2 of the device 1, and at a second end remote from the first engages with a cooperating structure located at a distal tip of the third section 4 of the device 1, to form a catch mechanism 11 (details of the catch mechanism 11 are shown and described in Figures 3, 4A and 4B and the corresponding text, below). The latch member 9 is mounted to a transverse pivot pin 12 of the latch mounting 10, and a spring coiled around the pivot pin 12 (not visible within the latch mounting) is connected between the latch mounting 10 and the first end of the latch member 9 to bias the second end of the latch member 9 into engagement with the catch mechanism 11. The latch member 9 can thus he displaced by pushing it towards the first section 2 of the device 1, against the biasing effect of the spring, and out of engagement with the catch mechanism 11, but will automatically return to the closed disposition shown in Figure 1 once released.

The first 2, second 3 and third 4 section of the device 1 and the latch element 9 (when closed) thus define an enclosed region 13, a lower portion of which comprises a holding region 14 for part of a tool (more details below in respect of Figure 3).

The first 2, second 3 and third 4 sections of the device 1 each comprise a elongate flat strip 15 facing towards the enclosed region 13, with an outstanding rib 16 extending along a centreline of a face of the flat strip 15 facing away from the enclosed region 13. The flat strip 15 and the outstanding rib 16 are formed as a single continuous body having a generally "T"-shaped cross-section.

In a lower, in use, region of the first section 2 of the device 1, the rib 16 has two elongate apertures 17 extending through it. These can he used to secure an end of a lanyard, the other end of which would be attached to the tool to be held to the device 1. Thus, even if the tool is dropped, it cannot fall far and can easily be retrieved.

The first 2, second 3 and third 4 sections of the device 1 and the latch arrangement 8 are all (in this embodiment) moulded in a glass-filled nylon material that is strong, tough, yet light, so that the device 1 is both robust and lightweight.

Unfortunately, such materials are liable to cause damage to a tool held by the device 1 following repeated impacts over extended periods. The flat strip 15 is therefore lined throughout the curved second section 3 and along lower portions of the first 2 and third 4 sections of the device 1 with a thick layer 18 of an elastomeric material, for example, a carbon black filled rubber. This layer 18 is significantly softer and more resilient than the flat strip 15, providing a cushioning effect.

In this embodiment, the layer 18 of clastomcric material is also provided with a series of transverse grooves 19, forming a "tread" pattern to increase a grip of the layer 18 on a tool in contact therewith. In other embodiments (not shown), other "tread" patters may be used, and/or a surface of the layer 18 may be textured for the same effect.

Figure 2 shows the device I viewed perpendicularly to the view of Figure 1. This shows more clearly how the belt loop element 5 and the flat strip 15 of the first 2, second 3 and third 4 sections of the device 1 extend continuously, in turn, all the way to the distal tip of the third section 4, with a constant width. The latch member 9 is as wide as can be accommodated by the widest latch mounting 10 that can fit on to the first section 2. Even though this leaves the latch member 9 slightly narrower than the flat strip 15, it is still greater than half of the width of the flat strip 15 (and hence the greater than half the width of the device 1 as a whole). The position of the reinforcing rib 16 along an outer surface of the flat strip 15 is particularly clearly shown.

Figure 3 illustrates the operation of the catch mechanism 11 referred to above, as well as the operation of the device 1, as a whole. The latch member 9 has been deflected manually into an interior of the enclosed region 13, against the urging of the spring within the latch mounting 10.

In this view, the components of the catch mechanism 11 can more clearly be distinguished. Towards a distal end of the latch member 9, a transverse slot 20 divides a pair of terminal ridges 21 from a remainder of the latch member 9. As shown in Figure 4A, there are two terminal ridges 21, separated by a central longitudinal slot 24. The transverse slot 20 has walls substantially perpendicular to its floor, but the longitudinal slot 24 has sloping walls 25; the longitudinal slot 24 thus widens away from its floor. These two slots 20, 24 have a continuous T-shaped floor.

Figure 3 further shows, located at a distal tip of the third section 4 of the device 1, an inturned terminal lip 22 with a squared-off cross-section. A longitudinally-extending rib 23 extends across from the inturned lip 22 to an opposed surface of the flat strip 15 of the third section 4 of the device 1. As shown in Figure 4B, this longitudinal rib 23 extends along a centreline of the flat strip 15. The flat strip 15 and the inturncd lip 22 between them define a recess 26, which the longitudinal rib 23 splits in two.

Thus, when the latch member 9 is released, and the spring in the latch mounting 10 urges its distal tip back into contact with the distal lip of the third section 4, the ridges 21 fit into the recess 26 and the intumed lip 22 fits into the transverse slot 20, retaining the latch member 9 in place, much as for conventional carabiner mechanisms. However, the longitudinal rib 23 also engages with the longitudinal slot 24, to ensure that the latch member 9 and the third section 4 of the device 1 remain aligned. The sloping walls 25 of the longitudinal slot 24 assist by contacting the longitudinal rib 23, if the latch member 9 is slightly off-centre, and guiding it so that when the latch member 9 is fully closed (as in Figure 1), the latch member 9 is aligned centrally with the device 1 (as shown in Figure 2).

The significance of this centering arrangement is that otherwise, the latch member 9 tends to become misaligned either with wear, or with the pivot pin 12 coming loose, as can also occur. This would be likely to lead to the device 1 as a whole twisting, which would lead to more misalignment and stress on the latch member 9, pivot pin 12 and associated spring, and so on, in a feedback loop ending in failure of the latch arrangement 8, especially when the device 1 is holding a heavy power tool or the like.

The use of this device 1 is relatively straightforward. Normally, the device 1 is in a closed condition, as in Figures 1 and 2. The latch member 9 can be pushed back by contact with a handle of a tool or a user's hand holding said handle, as in Figure 3, such that in this open condition, there is now a gap 27 between the latch member 9 and the distal tip of the third section 4, through which the handle of the tool can be inserted into the enclosed region 13 and specifically into the holding region 14 at a lower end of the device 1. The tool handle and the latch member 9 are now released and the device returns to its closed condition as in Figure 1.

The handles of power tools are, as a general rule, generally cylindrical in form, so will rest naturally within the holding region 14, supported by the concave layer 18 of elastomeric material. The operative body of a cordless power tool and its battery pack are generally similar in mass, so that the tool is well-balanced in the user's hand, which also means that when the tool handle is located in the holding region 14 of the device 1, extending generally horizontally, the tool is similarly well-balanced within the device 1. The user can thus safely and conveniently carry it around without excessive movement of the tool, and the elastomeric layer 18 obviates damage resulting from such movement in any case.

Note: the embodiment shown in these Figures actually embodies all of the aspects of the invention set out above.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A device for carrying a tool on a user's person, comprising a first proximal portion extending vertically in use and having at its upper end suspension means by which the device is removably attachable to the user's clothing, and a second support portion extending from a lower end of the first portion and comprising a hook element curving downwardly, outwardly and upwardly to a distal tip, so as to define a holding region to receive a portion of the tool, the device further comprising an elongate latch member, pivotably mounted to the first proximal portion and biased to extend across into contact with the distal tip of the second support portion, thus enclosing the holding region, said latch member being selectably deflectable away from the distal tip into an interior of the holding region so as to provide access to the holding region for insertion or removal of the tool, wherein an inwardly-facing contact surface of the hook element comprises a layer of resilient non-abrasive plastics material.
2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the layer of plastics material is provided with a profiled and/or textured surface.
3. A device as claimed in either Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the plastics material has a higher coefficient of friction than a material comprising the hook element.
4. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hook element is so curved that a downwardly extending section of the hook element and a section of the hook element extending upwardly to the distal tip are slightly divergent, such that a) the holding region widens in an upward direction, easing location of the tool into the holding region and removal thereof therefrom.
5. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the suspension means of the device comprises belt loop means, comprising a vertically elongate loop of rigid plastics material, disposed at an upper (in use) end of the device and adapted to receive a user's belt passing through said loop.
6. A device as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said belt loop means further comprises a plurality of projecting bodies, each said body extending into an interior of the loop, from opposite sides in an alternating sequence, so restricting the interior of the loop that a belt passed through the loop is forced to deform around the projecting bodies.
7. A device as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the projecting bodies have a triangular profile.
8. A device as claimed in either Claim 6 or Claim 7, wherein the projecting bodies are moulded integrally with the belt loop means.
9. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a distal end of the latch member and the distal tip of the second support member comprise a set of cooperating alignment features, comprising both transverse co-operating features and longitudinal co-operating features, so as to maintain the latch member in alignment with the second support portion of the device when closed, both longitudinally and laterally.
10. A device as claimed in Claim 9, wherein said co-operating alignment features each comprise ridge means, located on a first one of the distal end of the latch member and the distal tip of the second support portion, and corresponding slot means, configures to receive said ridge means, located on a second of the distal end of the latch member and the distal tip of the second support portion.
11. A device as claimed in Claim 10, wherein each of the distal end of the latch member and the distal tip of the second support portion comprises both at least one of said ridge means and at least one of said slot means.
12. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elongate latch member is pivotably mounted to pivot axle means having coil spring means extending around the pivot axle means and operatively connected between the latch member and the first proximal portion of the device, wherein the pivot axle means and the coil spring means are together protectively disposed within housing means, from which the latch member projects.
13. A device for carrying a tool on a user's person, comprising a first proximal portion extending vertically in use and having at its upper end suspension means by which the device is removably attachable to the user's clothing, and a second support portion extending from a lower end of the first portion and comprising a hook element curving downwardly, outwardly and upwardly to a distal tip, so as to define a holding region to receive a portion of the tool, the device further comprising an elongate latch member, pivotably mounted to the first proximal portion and biased to extend across into contact with the distal tip of the second support portion, thus enclosing the holding region, said latch member being selectably deflectable away from the distal tip into an interior of the holding region so as to provide access to the holding region for insertion or removal of the tool, wherein the suspension means of the device comprises belt loop means, comprising a vertically elongate loop of rigid plastics material, disposed at an upper (in use) end of the first portion of the device, and adapted to receive a user's belt passing through said loop, wherein the belt loop means further comprises a plurality of projecting bodies, each extending into an interior of the loop from opposite sides thereof in an alternating sequence, so restricting the interior of the loop that a belt passed through the loop is forced to deform around the projecting bodies.
14. A device as claimed in Claim 13, wherein said projecting bodies have a triangular profile.
15. A device as claimed in Claim 14, wherein the projecting bodies have a right-angled triangular profile.
16. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 13 to 15, wherein the projecting bodies are moulded integrally with the belt loop means.
17. A device for carrying a tool on a user's person, comprising a first proximal portion extending vertically in use and having at its upper end suspension means by which the device is removably attachable to the user's clothing, and a second support portion extending from a lower end of the first portion and comprising a hook element curving downwardly, outwardly and upwardly to a distal tip, so as to define a holding region to receive a portion of the tool, the device further comprising an elongate latch member, pivotably mounted to the first proximal portion and biased to extend across into contact with the distal tip of the second support portion, thus enclosing the holding region, said latch member being selectably deflectable away from the distal tip into an interior of the holding region so as to provide access to the holding region for insertion or removal of the tool, wherein a distal end of the latch member and the distal tip of the second support portion comprise a set of co-operating alignment features, comprising both transverse co-operating features and longitudinal cooperating features, so as to maintain the latch member in alignment with the second support portion of the device when closed, both longitudinally and laterally.
18. A device as claimed in Claim 17, wherein said cooperating features each comprise ridge means, located on a first of the distal end of the latch member and the distal tip of the second support portion and corresponding slot means configured to receive said ridge means, located on a second of the distal end of the latch member and the distal tip of the second support portion.
19. A device as claimed in Claim 18, wherein each of the distal end of the latch member C\I and the distal tip of the second support portion comprises both at least one of said ridge means and at least one of said slot means.
20. A device for carrying a tool on a user's person, comprising a first proximal portion extending vertically in use and having at its upper end suspension means by which the device is removably attachable to the user's clothing, and a second support portion extending from a lower end of the first portion and comprising a hook element curving downwardly, outwardly and upwardly to a distal tip, so as to define a holding region to receive a portion of the tool, the device further comprising an elongate latch member, pivotably mounted to the first proximal portion and biased to extend across into contact with the distal tip of the second support portion, thus enclosing the holding region, said latch member being selectably deflectable away from the distal tip into an interior of the holding region so as to provide access to the holding region for insertion or removal of the tool, wherein the elongate latch member is pivotably mounted to pivot axle means having coil spring means extending around the pivot axle means and operatively connected between the latch member and the first proximal portion of the device, wherein the pivot axle means and the coil spring means are together protectively disposed within housing means from which the latch member projects.
21. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the suspension means of the device comprises belt loop means adapted to receive a belt worn by a 00) user of the device.
22. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device comprises C\I a rigid, tough plastics material, such as a glass-filled nylon material.
23. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second support portion of the device comprises a third elongate portion extending to said distal tip.
24. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device is provided with anchoring means, optionally comprising aperture means to which is mounted or mountable lanyard means extending to a tool to be held in the device.
25. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tool to be carried is a cordless power tool, and a handle portion of the tool is receivable in the holding region of the device.