Scissors retaining apparatus

A scissor retaining apparatus for retaining a pair of scissors in the event the scissors are dropped by the user to prevent damage to the scissors and to prevent injury to persons standing or sitting nearby. Additional features include a detachable scissor sheath that provides increased safety for those in proximity to the scissors and additional protection for the scissors.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates generally to the design of a scissors retaining 
apparatus which incorporates a scissors retainer that allows efficient use 
of the scissors while protecting the scissors from damage and protecting 
the safety of others. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
While there are other scissor holders in the prior art, the present 
invention incorporates improvements that result in increased 
functionality, ease of use and freedom of movement for the user all in a 
simplistic design different from that of the prior art. 
One example of a prior scissor holding device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 
5,421,498 naming Nancy J. Menoni as the inventor. In the aforementioned 
U.S. Patent, a holster for a hairdresser's scissors is disclosed which 
incorporates a pocket for retaining a pair of scissors, a strap for 
retaining the scissors to one of the fingerholds of the scissors and two 
straps that secure the apparatus to the hairdresser's forearm. There are 
several disadvantages to this type of scissor holster. There are two 
straps to secure the device to the forearm which takes more time and 
effort to attach. Also, the scissor holster is rather large in size and 
may become a nuisance to the hairdresser. Furthermore, the scissor 
retaining strap is only attached to one fingerhold of the scissors. The 
scissors are more difficult to remove from the holster since they are 
mostly covered by the holster outer flap. Finally, the use of a hook to 
attach the scissor retaining strap to the fingerhold of the scissors would 
tend to cause abrasions and discomfort to the finger when inserted. 
Another example of a prior device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,482,647 
naming Allison D. Gise as the inventor. In this U.S. Patent, a pencil 
holder is disclosed which incorporates a strap which is secured to the 
wrist and incorporates two openings to accommodate pencils. While this 
invention relates to a device strapped to a person's wrist for holding an 
object, the function and design are different from the present invention. 
The device is designed primarily for pens and pencils and does not include 
a retaining device for the pens and pencils. 
Another example of a prior device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,740 
naming Gordon D. Garland as the inventor. This U.S. Patent discloses a 
tool holder for fishermen and tradesmen. The tool holder attaches to a 
person's belt and is used primarily for holding a tool. The device does 
not include a retaining device for the tool. 
Another example of a prior device is disclosed in French Patent No. 590,104 
naming M. Jean Henri-Labourdette as the inventor. In this French Patent, 
an invention is disclosed for use as a pen holder and retaining device. 
The device is attached by two straps to the forearm and has a chain 
attached to one of the straps. The other end of the chain is attached to 
the end of a pen or pencil. However, the design of this invention is 
significantly different than the present invention. The present invention 
is much simpler in design and serves a different purpose. 
The present invention represents an improvement over the prior art due to 
the more simplistic design of the apparatus, the ease and comfort of use 
and the lower anticipated costs of manufacturing the apparatus. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The primary object of the present invention is to provide a scissor 
retaining device that is much easier to use, safer and more versatile than 
previous designs. 
Another object of the present invention is to make the aforementioned 
scissor retaining apparatus in a cost efficient manner. 
These objects are accomplished by the present invention, a scissor 
retaining device, comprising a band of material, a wrist portion at one 
end of the band for disposing about the wrist of a person, a wrist 
securing means for securing the wrist portion of the band to the wrist of 
a person, a retaining strap portion at the opposite end of the band for 
disposing about the finger holes of a pair of scissors, a retaining strap 
securing means for securing the retaining strap portion to the finger 
holes of a pair of scissors, a first piece of triangular material and a 
second piece of triangular material of a similar shape, joined together to 
form a sheath for placement over the point of the scissors and secured to 
the wrist portion and a sheath securing means for securing the sheath to 
the wrist portion.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the 
invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in 
the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It 
will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the 
invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications 
in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles 
of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would 
normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. 
Referring now to FIG. 1, a perspective view of the invention mounted on the 
wrist of a person is shown. This illustration depicts the scissor 
retaining apparatus or device 10 as used. The wrist portion 14 of the 
device 10 is secured around the wrist of a wearer and the scissor 
retaining straps 16 and 18 are secured around each of the two finger holes 
of the scissors 12 such that the scissors are usable as designed without 
any interference from the scissor retaining apparatus 10. 
Referring now to FIG. 2, a top, plan view of the scissor retaining device 
10 with scissors 12 secured to the retaining straps 16 and 18 is shown. 
The scissor retaining device 10 consists of a single band of material 28 
that is slit at one end to form a pair of retaining straps 16 and 18 which 
are secured separately to each of the finger holes of the scissors 12 by 
means of a hook and loop assembly 30. In the same fashion, the wrist 
portion 14 of the scissor retaining device 10 is positioned at the 
opposite end of the band of material 28 and loops around the wrist and is 
secured by means of a hook and loop assembly 20. The hook and loop 
assembly 20 is shown in its secured position and is preferred since it 
provides the greatest ease of use and flexibility in adjustment. Using 
this fastening mechanism, the wrist loop portion 22 of the hook and loop 
assembly 20 is positioned on the wrist portion 14 nearest the loop 26. The 
loop 26 is attached to the wrist portion 16 by passing the end of the 
material 28 at the wrist portion 16 through the loop 26 and sewing the end 
of the material 28 to the wrist portion 14. The loop 26 is most commonly 
shaped in the form of a D shaped ring and may be made of a variety of 
metals or metal alloys or plastic material. The loop 26 may vary in size 
but its width will most normally be slightly wider than the width of the 
material 28. The wrist hook portion 24 is adjacent to the wrist loop 
portion 22 on the wrist portion 14 such that the scissor retaining device 
10 is positioned on top of the wrist of the wearer and the retaining 
straps 16 and 18 are then routed through the loop 26 and adjusted to the 
point where the wrist portion 14 is looped comfortably about the wrist. 
The wrist loop portion 22 and the wrist hook portion 24 must be attached 
to wrist portion 14. This may be accomplished by using adhesives or by 
sewing the wrist loop portion 22 and wrist hook portion 24 to the wrist 
portion 14. The wrist hook portion 24 is then positioned on top of the 
wrist loop portion 22 to provide a secure closure and the retaining straps 
16 and 18 and the attached scissors 12 are allowed to hang freely. A hook 
and loop system commonly sold under the Trade VELCRO may be used. 
Other means of securing the scissor retaining straps and the wrist portion 
include a snap closure, a buckle closure or a hook and loop assembly that 
does not incorporate a loop 26. These alternate securing means are all 
well known within the art. 
Referring now to FIG. 3, a top, plan view of the scissor retaining device 
10 with hook and loop assembly 20 is shown. The scissor retaining device 
10 is made of a band of material 28 which comprises a wrist portion 14 at 
one end of the scissor retaining device 10 and scissor retaining straps 16 
and 18 at the other end of the scissor retaining device 10 opposite the 
wrist portion 14. The band of material 28 may be made of a piece of 
resilient or elastic material such as closed cell neoprene foam, in the 
preferred form, or some other material such as leather or nylon in 
alternative forms. In the preferred form, the material is covered by a 
fabric layer such as Nylon Tricot on one or both sides to provide comfort 
and aesthetic value. The scissor retaining device 10 is secured to a 
person's wrist by looping the wrist portion 14 around the person's wrist. 
The wrist portion 14 is routed through a loop 26 and doubled back such 
that a more controlled securing to the wrist can be accomplished as 
described in the discussion of FIG. 2. By using the loop 26, the strap can 
be pulled such that the desired tightness around the wrist is accomplished 
before the hook and loop assembly 20 is secured. A hook and loop system 
commonly sold under the Trade VELCRO may be used. 
The scissor retaining straps 16 and 18 are secured individually to each of 
the finger holes in the scissors 12 by means of a hook and loop assembly 
30. The scissor retaining strap 16 is routed through one of the finger 
holes in the scissors 12. The scissor retaining strap 16 comprises a strap 
loop portion 32 at the end of the scissor retaining strap 16 and a strap 
hook portion 34 directly adjacent to the strap loop portion 32. The strap 
loop portion 32 and the strap hook portion 34 must be attached to scissor 
retaining strap 16. This may be accomplished by using adhesives or by 
sewing the strap loop portion 32 and strap hook portion 34 to the scissor 
retaining strap 16. The scissor retaining strap 16 passes through the 
finger hole such that the strap loop portion 32 is pulled through the 
finger hole and folded back onto the strap hook portion 34 and a secure 
closure is attained. The material thickness in the finger holes created 
from passing the scissor retaining strap 16 through the finger hole 
provides the added benefit of snugging the person's fingers within the 
finger holes without causing an undue amount of abrasion or discomfort on 
the fingers. In a similar manner, scissor retaining strap 18 is also 
secured about the other fingerhole in the pair of scissors 12. The scissor 
retaining strap 18 passes through the remaining finger hole such that the 
strap loop portion 36 is pulled through the finger hole and folded back 
onto the strap hook portion 38 and a secure closure is attained. The 
length of the retaining straps may be adjusted by pulling each of the 
straps through the finger holes until the desired length is reached. The 
strap loop portions 32 and 36 and the strap hook portions 34 and 38 may be 
attached along the entire length of the scissor retaining straps 16 and 18 
to provide maximum adjustability. 
The wrist portion 14 of the scissor retaining device 10 must be of 
sufficient length to allow for securing to the wrist as well as 
unrestricted use of the scissors. The wrist portion 14 must also be short 
enough that if the scissors are dropped there is as little freedom of 
movement as necessary in order to prevent the scissors from striking the 
floor or to decrease the risk of striking another person standing or 
sitting nearby. Consequently, the scissor retaining device 10 may be 13 to 
18 inches in length with the most common length being 15 to 16 inches in 
order to provide the proper length for the wrist portion 14. The length 
depends on the size of the person's wrist. The design of this device 
provides additional safety due to the design of the scissor retaining 
straps 16 and 18. The width of the device 10 may be 1 to 4 inches with the 
most common width being 1 to 2 inches. As the scissors 12 fall, the 
scissor retaining straps 16 and 18 pull the finger holes of the scissors 
12 together such that the points of the scissors 12 close when the scissor 
retaining straps 16 and 18 reach the end of their travel. This helps 
prevent the sharp edges of the blades or the sharp individual points of 
the scissors 12 from striking those persons in proximity to the falling 
scissors. This also helps prevent the person wearing the apparatus from 
cutting their fingers. Finally, since the scissors are easily damaged when 
they strike the ground, the retaining straps 16 and 18 provide for a 
secure retention of the scissors to prevent them from striking the ground. 
The wrist portion 14 of the scissor retaining device 10 includes a 
detachable scissor sheath 38 that provides a pocket for inserting the 
points of the scissors. 
Referring now to FIG. 4, a perspective view of the scissor sheath 38 is 
shown. A first piece of material 40 and a second piece of material 42 are 
joined together either by adhesive or by sewing the edges together such 
that a triangular shaped pocket 44 is formed for inserting the sharp 
points of a closed pair of scissors 12. The first piece of material 40 and 
the second piece of material 42 may be made of a piece of resilient or 
elastic material such as closed cell neoprene foam, in the preferred form, 
or some other material such as leather or nylon in alternative forms. In 
the preferred form, the material is covered by a fabric layer such as 
Nylon Tricot on one or both sides to provide comfort and aesthetic value. 
The scissor sheath 38 provides a protective cover for the points of the 
scissors 12 that serves to protect the scissors 12 and to provide 
additional safety by providing cushion in the event the scissors 12 come 
into contact with a nearby person. 
Referring now to FIG. 5, a rear view of the scissor sheath 38 is shown. The 
underside of material 42 is shown with a sheath hook portion 46. The 
sheath hook portion 46 can be attached to wrist loop portion 22 shown in 
FIG. 3 to act as a holding device for the wearer to conduct other 
activities such as answering the telephone or taking a short break. In 
this manner, the scissors 12 remain secured and are not allowed to hang 
freely from the wrist. Furthermore, the scissor sheath 38 is easily 
detachable from the wrist portion 14 for continued use. When in use, the 
scissor sheath 38 is removed and placed on the wrist loop portion 22 to 
prevent loss and the scissor sheath 38 is conveniently available for the 
next use. 
In alternative embodiments, the scissor sheath 38 may be more permanently 
attached to the wrist portion 14 by means of adhesive or by sewing the 
scissor sheath 38 to the wrist portion 14 along the edges. 
Referring now to FIG. 6, a top, plan view of a second embodiment of the 
scissor retaining device 50 with a belt loop portion 52 is shown. The 
scissor retaining device 50 is comprised of a band of material 56 with a 
belt loop portion 52 at one end and scissor retaining straps 58 and 60 at 
the opposite end. The band of material 56 may be made of a piece of 
resilient or elastic material such as closed cell neoprene foam, in the 
preferred form, or some other material such as leather or nylon in 
alternative forms. In the preferred form, the material is covered by a 
fabric layer such as Nylon Tricot on one or both sides to provide comfort 
and aesthetic value. In this embodiment, the scissor retaining straps 58 
and 60 remain similar to the previous embodiment and are attached to the 
finger holes of scissors 12 in a similar manner. The scissor retaining 
straps 58 and 60 are secured individually to each of the finger holes in 
the scissors 12 by means of a hook and loop assembly. The scissor 
retaining strap 58 is routed through one of the finger holes in the 
scissors 12. The scissor retaining strap 58 comprises a strap loop portion 
55 at the end of the scissor retaining strap 58 and a strap hook portion 
57 directly adjacent to the strap loop portion 55. The strap loop portion 
55 and the strap hook portion 57 must be attached to scissor retaining 
strap 58. This may be accomplished by using adhesives or by sewing the 
strap loop portion 55 and strap hook portion 57 to the scissor retaining 
strap 58. The scissor retaining strap 58 passes through the finger hole 
such that the strap hook portion 57 is pulled through the finger hole and 
folded back onto the strap loop portion 55 and a secure closure is 
attained. The material thickness in the finger holes created from passing 
the scissor retaining strap 58 through the finger hole provides the added 
benefit of snugging the person's fingers within the finger holes without 
causing an undue amount of abrasion or discomfort on the fingers. In a 
similar manner, scissor retaining strap 60 is also secured about the other 
fingerhole in the pair of scissors 12. The scissor retaining strap 60 
passes through the remaining finger hole such that the strap loop portion 
61 is pulled through the finger hole and folded back onto the strap hook 
portion 59 and a secure closure is attained. The length of the retaining 
straps may be adjusted by pulling each of the straps through the finger 
holes until the desired length is reached. The strap loop portions 55 and 
61 and the strap hook portions 57 and 59 may be attached along the entire 
length of the scissor retaining straps 58 and 60 to provide maximum 
adjustability. Attached to the belt loop portion 52 is a belt receiving 
loop 54 through which a belt can be routed to secure the scissor retaining 
device 50. This embodiment can be used by those who find the strap around 
the wrist to be annoying or uncomfortable. 
Referring now to FIG. 7, a side view of a second embodiment of the scissor 
retaining device 50 with a belt loop portion 52 and a belt receiving loop 
54 is shown. 
Referring now to FIG. 8, a side view of the belt receiving loop 54 is 
shown. The belt receiving loop 54 consists of a single piece of material 
66, the ends 62 and 64 of which are looped to meet each other and form the 
elliptical belt receiving loop 54. The ends 62 and 64 are attached to the 
belt loop portion 52 by adhesives or by sewing the ends to the belt loop 
portion 52 or by a hook and loop assembly similar to that previously 
described. After attachment, a closed elliptical belt receiving loop 54 is 
formed for receiving a belt (not shown). The single piece of material 66 
may be made of a piece of resilient or elastic material such as closed 
cell neoprene foam, in the preferred form, or some other material such as 
leather or nylon in alternative forms. In the preferred form, the material 
is covered by a fabric layer such as Nylon Tricot on one or both sides to 
provide comfort and aesthetic value. 
Other embodiments of the scissor retaining device 10 may include replacing 
the belt loop portion 52 with a hook such that the device 10 could be 
hooked over a belt or attached to a bracelet by placing the hook over the 
bracelet. 
Other modifications may be made without departing from the ambit of the 
invention, the nature of which, is to be determined from the foregoing 
description and the appended claim.