WO2016130688A1

WO2016130688A1 - Tool harness

Info

Publication number: WO2016130688A1
Application number: PCT/US2016/017367
Authority: WO
Inventors: Daniel Benzakin
Original assignee: DB Products Group LLC
Priority date: 2015-02-10
Filing date: 2016-02-10
Publication date: 2016-08-18
Also published as: US20160227911A1

Abstract

The tool harness (100) preferably includes a closed loop, non-adjustable, buckle free main strap (102), wherein the ends of the main strap are fixed one to the other. The tool harness further includes a tool leader (106), which is attached to the main strap, and a tool strap (124) communicating with the tool leader. The tool strap secures a tool such that the main strap, in combination with the tool leader, assure a full range of motion to a user of the tool while mitigating an inadvertent impact of the tool with a surface supporting the user.

Description

TOOL HARNESS

Summary of the Invention

In a preferred embodiment, a tool harness preferably includes at least a closed loop, non-adjustable, buckle free main strap, wherein the ends of the main strap are fixed one to the other. The tool harness further includes a tool leader, which is attached to the main strap, and a tool strap communicating with the tool leader. The tool strap secures a tool such that the main strap, in combination with the tool leader, assure a full range of motion to a user of the tool while mitigating an inadvertent impact of the tool with a surface supporting the user.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of the present inventive tool harness.

FIG. 2 shows a tool cooperating with a tool strap, and connected to a tool leader of the inventive tool harness of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows perspective plan view of the tool strap of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows a use environment of the inventive tool harness of FIG. 1.

Detailed Description

The present disclosure is generally directed to a tool harness, which facilitates a hands free transport of tool on a job site, and mitigates an inadvertent dropping of an attached tool to the ground, thereby averting an inadvertent impact of the tool causing injury to co-workers, or breakage of the tool. The tool harness further provides ease of access to the tool by the user of the tool and improved effectiveness on the job site.

Turning to the drawings, FIG. 1 provides an exemplary tool harness 100 capable of being used in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. The exemplary tool harness 100 has at least a closed loop, non- adjustable, buckle free main strap 102. Preferably, ends of the main strap 102 are fixed one to the other by way of a stitching 104, but may be joined by way of snaps, rivets, lacing, hook and loop, adhesive, or other mechanical means.

Preferably, the tool harness 100 further features a tool leader 106, attached to the main strap 102. In a preferred embodiment, the tool leader 106 includes at least a flexible, expandable sheath 108, enclosing a flexible expansion resistant structure 110. In an unexpanded state, the flexible, expandable sheath 108, is shorter in length and has an internal diameter greater than the external diameter of the flexible expansion resistant structure 110. Thus, the the flexible, expandable sheath 108 serves as a impact damping structure to absorb a portion of the energy resulting from an inadvertent dropping of a tool, such as an electric drill 112, of FIG. 2, while the flexible expansion resistant structure 110 assures the tool remains removable attached to the tool harness 100.

FIG. 1 further shows that the tool leader 106 preferably includes an attachment ring 114, secured to a first end of the flexible expansion resistant structure 110, and a swiveling fastener 116 secured to a second end of the flexible expansion resistant structure 110. Preferably, the flexible expansion resistant structure 110 is rope formed from nylon, but may be formed from a metallic, polymer, natural fiber, or other material. Additionally, the flexible expansion resistant structure 110, is shown, for purposes of an exemplary form only, to have a circular cross section, but may display any cross section shape.

To accommodate securement of the flexible expansion resistant structure 110 to the main strap 102, FIG. 1 shows the use of a carabiner 118, however it will be understood that any mechanical fastening means could be used in place of the carabiner 118. To further accommodate securement of the flexible expansion resistant structure 110 to the main strap 102, FIG. 1 shows the use of a D-ring 120 provided by the main strap 102, however it will be understood that any utility securement structure could be used in place of the D-ring 120. To facilitate easy access to supplemental tools, such as pencils and rulers, the tool harness 100 further provides a utility pocket 122 adjacent the D-ring 120.

FIG. 2 shows a tool strap 124 secured about the tool 112, and providing an attachment structure 126, to which the tool leader 106 is attached by way of the carabiner 118. In a preferred embodiment, the tool strap 124 is secured to the tool 112 through the use of a fastening structure 128, which for purposes of disclosure is a hook and loop arrangement as shown by FIG. 3. However, it will be recognized that other fastening techniques may be employed, such as, but not limited to: snaps; hook and eye; buckle; button; or by simply tying the tool strap 124, about the tool 112.

FIG. 4 shows the inventive tool harness 100 in a use environment, and that the tool harness 100 preferably further provides: a floating shoulder pad 130 interacting with the main strap 102; a utility pocket 132 secured to the main strap 102 and adjacent a plurality of open core grommets 134 disbursed about the mid region 136, of the main strap 102; and a second D-ring 138 provided by the main strap 102. It will be understood that any utility securement structure could be used in place of the D-ring 138. In the use environment, the plurality of open core grommets 134 provide connection points for any item the user desires to attach to the main strap 102, and the second D-ring 138 accommodates an effective method of transporting the tool 112 to and from the job site.

It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and configurations of various embodiments of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of various embodiments of the invention, this detailed description is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of structure and arrangements of parts within the principles of the present invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. For example, the particular elements may vary depending on the particular tool harness without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

Claims:

1. A tool harness comprising:

a closed loop main strap, wherein ends of the main strap are affixed one to the other;

a tool leader attached to the main strap;

a tool strap communicating with the tool leader; and

a tool secured by the tool strap, wherein the main strap in combination with the tool leader assure full range of motion to a user of the tool while mitigating an inadvertent impact of the tool with a surface supporting the user.

2. The tool harness of claim 1, further comprising a shoulder pad interacting with the main strap, and in which the main strap is buckle free and, non-adjustable.

3. The tool harness of claim 1, further comprising a utility pocket secured to the main strap and adjacent the tool leader.

4. The tool harness of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of open core grommets disbursed about the mid region of the main strap and anchored to the main strap.

5. The tool harness of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of utility securement structures.

6. The tool harness of claim 2, further comprising a utility pocket secured to the main strap and adjacent the tool leader.

7. The tool harness of claim 6, further comprising a plurality of open core grommets disbursed about the mid region of the main strap and anchored to the main strap.

8. The tool harness of claim 7, further comprising a utility securement structure.

9. The tool harness of claim 8, further comprising an attachment structure fastened to a proximal end of the tool leader and interacting with the utility securement structure.

10. The tool harness of claim 9, further comprising a connection structure linked to a distal end of the tool leader and interacting with the tool strap.

11. The tool harness of claim 10, in which the utility securement structure is a D-ring.

12. The tool harness of claim 11, in which the attachment structure is a swiveling fastener.

13. The tool harness of claim 12, in which the connection structure is a carabiner.

14. The tool harness of claim 1, in which the tool leader includes at least a flexible, expandable sheath enclosing a flexible expansion resistant structure.

15. The tool harness of claim 14, in which the flexible, expandable sheath and enclosed flexible expansion resistant structure are disposed between the swiveling fastener and the carabiner.

16. The tool harness of claim 15, in which in an unexpanded state, the flexible, expandable sheath is shorter in length than the flexible expansion resistant structure.

17. The tool harness of claim 16, in which the flexible, expandable sheath is a non-round tubular member formed from a polymer.

18. The tool harness of claim 17, in which the flexible expansion resistant structure is a non-round tubular member having a cross-sectional area less than a cross-sectional area of the flexible, expandable sheath.

19 The tool harness of claim 16, in which the flexible, expandable sheath is a round tubular member formed from a polymer.

20. The tool harness of claim 19, in which the flexible expansion resistant structure is a round tubular member having a cross-sectional area less than a cross-sectional area of the flexible, expandable sheath.