Abstract:
A low slung tool belt carrier includes pouches designed to be suspended from a belt strap construction with a shoulder strap crossing over the torso or shoulders to support the larger of two pouches, the pouches arranged to fit on the hips or be rested upon the hips of an individual. Alternate constructions incorporate handles for carrying the pouches and fasteners for combining pouches. Various alternative combinations of tool belts, waist straps, handles, carry straps, pouches and pockets enable customization of a tool belt for individual workmen.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This is a continuation in part of Ser. No. 10/339,902 filed Jan. 10, 2003 for “Low Slung Tool Carrier”, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,712,251 issued Mar. 30, 2004, which is a division of Ser. No. 09/921,125 filed Aug. 2, 2001 for “Low Slung Tool Carrier” (now abandoned) which is a continuation in part of Ser. No. 09/359,339 filed Jul. 21, 1999 for “Tool Belt” (now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,390,348), and provisional application Ser. No. 60/222,713 filed Aug. 3, 2000 for “Low Slung Tool Carrier” (abandoned) all of which are incorporated herewith by reference and for which priority is claimed. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   In a principal aspect the present invention relates to a tool belt and, more particularly, to a tool belt of the type which includes a number of storage pockets and adjustable belt support members. 
   Construction workers, tradesman and the like typically use a tool belt attached about their waist to transport and maintain tools at a work site. Such belts are often fabricated from canvas and/or leather and may include a number of pockets or pouches which are designed to hold tools such as pliers, screwdrivers and the like. Desirable characteristics for such belts are durability and the capability to hold and store many tools and other items. The belts must also be comfortable and yet durable in order to withstand rugged circumstances. Additionally, such a belt must be designed to accommodate various types of tools and if possible permit alteration and adjustment in order to accommodate various types of tools, various sizes of tools and various sizes of workmen. Thus, there has remained a need for an improved tool belt which is comfortable to wear, rugged, economical and easily adapted for multiple uses. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Briefly, in one embodiment, the invention comprises a tool carrier which includes an adjustable strap or belt having first and second tool pockets or pouches affixed thereto and spaced one from the other by a distance which enables the pouches to rest comfortably on the opposite hips of a user of the tool belt. A shoulder strap, which is designed to cross over the torso of an individual, has opposite ends connected adjacent the opposite sides of one of the pockets, preferably the larger of the storage pockets. The belt may thus rest upon the hips of an individual with a larger pocket resting on one hip and with a shoulder strap supporting the larger pocket by crossing the torso and extending over one shoulder on one side of the individual to the pocket on the opposite side of the individual. Alternative constructions include first and second shoulder straps connected to opposite sides of the front of the belt attached to a single strap that extends down the back of an individual and is then connected to the belt or tool carrier waist strap. 
   Additional embodiments of the invention combine a belt with pouches attached to loops along the top margin of the pouches for attachment of the pouches to the belt. The pouches may also include buckles along the top margin which are adapted to receive shoulder straps. Handles may also be attached to the belt so that when the belt is folded, the belt and attached pouches may be carried by the handles which overlap with one another. 
   Alternatively, the belt may be used in combination with a waist strap wherein the handles are attached to the waist strap. The belt thus is attached to or extended through belt loops on the waist strap. In another embodiment the belt is attached to the pouches by stitching and handles are also attached to the belt strap or the pouches by stitching. The pouches may be formed with a reinforcing wire around the top edge or top margin of the pouches with the wire projecting, at its midpoint, above the ends so that when tools or items are placed in the pouches and the pouches are weighted down and deformed or sagging, the contents of the pouch will not spill. The pouches, which are removable from the belt, may include hook and loop materials on their back side so that the pouches may be aligned and connected together back to back with the loops or buckles aligned along the top margin of the pouches for attachment to a carry strap. Various designs are depicted for attachment of the pouches to a belt. Various types of carry straps are depicted for carrying pouches which are joined back to back. The pouches also may include special pockets wherein the sides of the pouches are formed in a manner that will not interfere with the extended shaft of a tool such as a pick or screwdriver. 
   Thus it is an object of the invention to provide an improved tool carrier. 
   It is a further object of the invention to provide a tool carrier which incorporates a tool belt in combination with the various types of shoulder straps and tool pockets or pouches. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a tool carrier which may be “low slung” or in other words, supported on the hips of an individual. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a tool carrier made from a flexible yet rugged material such as leather, canvas or other flexible fabric materials. 
   A further object of the invention is to provide a tool carrier which is capable of having tool pockets positioned on the left and right hand side of an individual, preferably over the hips, with a supplemental shoulder strap(s) either crossing the torso or fitting over the shoulders of an individual and a single strap extending down the back of an individual connected to the tool belt. 
   Yet another object of the invention is to provide a tool carrier which permits adjustment of the position of tool pockets suspended from a tool belt 
   Another object of the invention is to provide alternative designs for tool belts including designs wherein the tool belt and tool belt pockets may be converted into or utilized as discrete pouches for tools or combinations of pouches with handles and/or straps to facilitate transport of the pouches. 
   A further object of the invention is to provide tool pouch constructions which prevent or seek to prevent collapse of tool storage pouch pockets due to the weight and/or configuration of tools placed in such pockets. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide for tool pouches which may be attached together or which may be attached to a tool belt. 
   These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention are set forth in the detailed description which follows. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     In the detailed description which follows reference will be made to the drawing comprised of the following Figures: 
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the tool carrier of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the tool carrier of the invention as it is worn by a person; 
       FIG. 3  is a plan view of the tool carrier of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a plan view of an alternative construction of the belt and pockets similar to the embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
       FIG. 5  is an alternative embodiment of a tool carrier incorporating dual shoulder straps; 
       FIG. 6  is an alternative embodiment of a tool carrier incorporating dual shoulder straps and a single back strap; 
       FIG. 7  is a plan view of the strap and belt construction of the carrier of  FIGS. 5 and 6 ; 
       FIG. 8  is an isometric view of the tool carrier of  FIG. 5  as worn by an individual; 
       FIG. 9  is another isometric view of the tool carrier of  FIG. 5  illustrating the manner of wearing the tool carrier. 
       FIG. 10  is an isometric view of an alternative embodiment of a tool carrier including a belt with various pouches attached thereto and shoulder straps; 
       FIG. 11  is an isometric view of an alternative belt and pouch combination along with a waist strap; 
       FIG. 11A  is an enlarged isometric view of the detail of a pouch, belt and waist strap combination depicted in  FIG. 11 ; 
       FIG. 12  illustrates a further alternative embodiment of a combination belt with pouches and further including handles attached to the belt which may be folded over one another for carrying of the pouches; 
       FIG. 12A  is an enlarged isometric view of the attachment of the handle to a belt and/or pouch; 
       FIG. 13  is an isometric view of a combination belt and pouch construction generally of the type depicted in  FIG. 11  wherein there is illustrated the construction of a pouch pocket designed to prevent articles within the pocket from falling out of the pocket and further depicting the manner in which the handles attached to the belt and/or a waist strap can be folded over one another in order to transport the belt and tools as a tool carrier; 
       FIG. 14  is an isometric view depicting a pair of pouches of the type which may be attached to a tool carrier belt wherein the pouches are configured with a back side that includes a hook and loop construction for joining of two pouches together as a tool carrier; 
       FIG. 15  is an isometric view of a singe pouch of the type depicted in  FIG. 14  wherein the hook and loop elements are covered by a cover flap; 
       FIG. 16  is an isometric view of the loop construction associated with a pouch which utilizes a hook and loop construction; 
       FIG. 17  is an isometric view of the construction of  FIG. 16  wherein the flap of the loop is folded; 
       FIG. 18  is an isometric view depicting the final step in the formation of a pouch of the type depicted in  FIGS. 16 and 17 ; 
       FIG. 19  is an isometric view illustrating the combination of a pair of pouches of the type shown in  FIG. 14  with a strap and handle which is attached to the joined pouches for carrying those pouches in the form of a tool carrier; 
       FIG. 20  is an isometric view of a single pouch of the type depicted in  FIG. 14  in combination with a carrier strap and handle of the type also used and depicted in  FIG. 19 ; 
       FIG. 21  is an isometric view of the combination of pockets particularly designed for carrying the tools such as a hammer and elongated shaft tools, such as screwdrivers; 
       FIG. 22  is an enlarged isometric view of the elongated shaft tool pockets associated with a pouch of the type depicted in  FIG. 21 ; 
       FIG. 23  is an exploded isometric view of an alternative embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 24  is an isometric view of the reverse side of the lumbar pad associated with the belt construction of  FIG. 23 ; 
       FIG. 25  is an isometric view illustrating the indicia utilized to measure or guide the size of the belt construction of the embodiment of  FIG. 23 ; and 
       FIG. 26  illustrates various embodiments of the belt construction of the general type illustrated in  FIG. 23 . 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 through 4  the tool carrier comprises a belt or waist strap  10  having a first end  12  and a second end  14 . The ends  12  and  14  include fasteners, such as buckles  13 ,  15  which permit the ends  12 ,  14  to be attached one to the other. The fasteners  13 ,  15  are such that the length or the waist dimension of strap  10  may be altered depending upon the particular person or worker who is wearing the tool carrier and the position of the belt about the torso. The strap  10  further includes an upper margin  16  and a lower margin  18 . A first set of pockets or pouch  20  comprises an extension of the lower margin  18  and includes multiple pockets such as pockets  22  and  24  for receiving and storing tools on other items. A support strap  26  is attached to strap  10  adjacent one side of pouch  20  to hold pouch  20  in a condition which provides support and enables retention of tools therein. The first pouch  20  is adjacent to the second end  14  of the strap  10 . A second pouch  30  also extends downwardly from the lower margin  18  and includes pockets, for example, pocket  32  for additional tools. First pouch  20  and second pouch  30  are separated by length  19  of strap  10  so that pouches  20 ,  30  fit respectively over a hip of a worker. 
   A shoulder strap  36  includes a first end  38  which is attached by means of a buckle  40  to a ring  42  attached to strap  10  adjacent the inner end  25  of the pouch  20  thereby permitting rotational adjustment of the strap  36 . The shoulder strap  36  further includes an adjustable, medial shoulder pad  44 . A second end  46  of the strap  36  is attached adjacent the second end  14  of the waist strap  10  and adjacent pouch  20  opposite inner end  25 . The strap  36  is adjustable in length in the preferred embodiment and includes an overlapping section  48  of the strap  36  that may be adjusted with respect to the buckle  40 . 
   All the straps and pouches are made from a flexible fabric material. When being utilized, the tool carrier strap  10  is positioned around the waist of the individual in a manner which enables strap  10  to rest upon the hips of such the individual, as shown in  FIG. 2 , with pouches  20 ,  30  aligned with each hip. The strap  36  is then adjusted and placed across the shoulder of the individual. Note that the first end  38  of the strap  36  is between the first pouch  20  and the second pouch  30 , though in closer proximity to the first pouch  20 . The ends of the strap  36  are positioned approximately an equal distance from the opposite sides of the first pouch  20  to facilitate support of the larger first pouch  20  by arranging the strap  36  to extend diagonally across the torso of the individual carrying the tool carrier. 
     FIG. 3  depicts the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2  with the buckle  13 ,  15  for connecting the strap  10  detached and further depicting the shoulder strap  36  arranged with its connections to the strap  10  on opposite sides of the oversized or larger pouch  20 . The pouch  20  is a larger pouch relative to the pouch  30  in as much as the pouch  20  rests upon the hip of an individual and is supported by the shoulder strap  36  which fits over on the shoulder of an individual and crosses the torso as depicted in  FIG. 2 . 
     FIG. 4  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the construction of  FIG. 3 . The strap  10  does not include an integral pouch  30  but includes a replaceable pouch  30 A in  FIG. 4  which may slide or fit over the strap  10 . Specifically a sleeve  31  is provided for the pouch  30 A so that the sleeve  31  may fit over the end section  11  of the strap  10 . Further, the strap  10  includes a straight width lower margin  19  and a straight upper margin  21  for section  11  with a first wide section  23  and a lesser width section  25  connected with a second wide section  27  for placement over the backside of an individual. The construction for the tool belt of  FIG. 4  may thus be arranged so that the larger pouch  20  will fit on the right hand hip of an individual and the smaller pouch  30 A will fit on the left hand hip with the strap  10  arranged around the back side of the individual so that the wider sections  23  and  27  will fit on opposite sides of the spine of an individual with the narrower strap section  25  aligned over the spine of an individual. This arrangement promotes the comfort of the belt when worn by an individual. 
     FIGS. 5 through 8  illustrate two further embodiments of the invention wherein additional shoulder straps are provided for additional support of heavier tools on both hips and for a circumstance wherein large tool pouches are provided that fit over both hips or opposite sides of an individual wherein the pockets are generally equal size and will bear or hold equal weights of tools or other items. Referring therefore to  FIG. 5 , a first removable pouch  60  is attached by buckles  62  and  64  to a strap  66 . The strap  66  will encircle the waist of an individual and includes a connecting belt  68 . In the embodiment shown the strap  66  thus includes a series of loops, for example, loops  70  and  72  which receive a belt  68  that encircles the outside face  74  of the strap  66  and connects together by virtue of the belt buckle  69  around the waist or midsection of an individual. 
   The pouch  60  is attached to metal loops, such as loop  76  and  78 , attached to the main strap  66 . A second pouch  80  is similarly attached by means of buckles  82  and  84  to metal loops  86  and  88  attached to the strap  66 . Note that with this construction the size and configuration of pouches  60  and  80  may be altered or changed as desired. Additionally, in as much as the belt  68  is provided additional items such as tool holder  90  supported by a loop  92  may be held on the strap  66  by the belt  68 . 
   The embodiment of  FIG. 5  includes a double shoulder strap comprising a left hand shoulder strap  94  and a right hand shoulder strap  96  which extend respectively from a yoke  98 . Strap  94  is adjustably connected to a buckle  100  that is affixed to a metal loop  102  attached to the strap  66 . In a similar fashion the right hand strap  96  is attached to an extension  104  that is attached by a buckle  106  to a metal loop  108  attached to the strap  66 . 
   The yoke  98  connects with a single downwardly extending strap  110  that connects with divergent support straps  112  and  114 . The straps  112  and  114  are affixed by a buckle  116  and  118  respectively to loops  120  and  122  attached to the strap  66 . The right hand shoulder strap  94  thus fits over the right shoulder of an individual. The left hand strap  96  fits over the left shoulder of an individual and the back strap  110  fits down the back along the spine of an individual. All the straps and buckles are adjustable to provide the most appropriate balance and distribution of weight. 
     FIG. 6  illustrates an alternative to the embodiment of  FIG. 5 . In  FIG. 6 , the construction is substantially identical to that of  FIG. 5  except that the right shoulder strap  94  and the left shoulder strap  96  are connected to a yoke  98  that extends and connects with a single back strap  110  that is adjustable and connected by means of a single buckle  140  to a single metal loop  142  attached to the midpoint of strap  66 . The strap  110  thus extends downwardly along the spine of an individual and is adjustable. 
   As shown in  FIG. 7 , the back strap  66  is configured with a first left hand wide section  150  and a second right hand wide section  152  separated by an narrow spine section  154  to provide support for the region of the kidneys of an individual wearing the carrier with the narrow portion aligned with the spine of an individual. This provides additional comfort and support for the individual wearing or using the belt as depicted in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
     FIG. 10  illustrates a combination of pouches with a belt and a pair of shoulder straps. Thus, a belt  100  includes a first free end  102  and a second free end  104  which may be connected to one another by a belt buckle  106  when the belt  100  is fitted about the waist of a workman. A first pouch  108  includes a top edge or margin  110  having a formed fabric loop  112  so that the pouch  108  may receive the belt  100  through the loop  112 . The top margin  110  further includes a first ring or connection element or metal buckle element  114  and a second, spaced connection element or metal buckle element  116  attached to the top margin  110 . In a similar fashion, a second pouch  118  includes a fabric loop  120  formed along the top margin  122  thereof and further includes a ring or buckle element  124  and a second, spaced ring or buckle element  126 . The belt  100  further includes a section  103  which, in the embodiment depicted, has attached thereto a tool carrier  130  which includes a metal loop  132  attached to a generally planar board member  134  having an upper fabric loop  136 . 
   The pouch  108  is positioned or positionable to fit on the left hand side of a worker. The pouch  118  is positioned to sit on the right hand of a worker. The pouches  108  and  118  may slide along the belt  100  in order to be properly positioned on the opposite hips of a worker, for example, depending, of course, upon the size or girth of the worker and the position the worker desires to have the pouches  108  and  118  placed. In any event, the belt  100  may then be fastened about the waist of a worker and the buckle  106  will help retain the pouches  108 ,  118  on the worker. 
   Shoulder straps  140  and  142  further facilitate retention of the tool carrier by a workman. The straps  140  and  142  connect the metal loops or rings  114 ,  116 ,  124  and  126 . Specifically, the left hand shoulder strap  140  connects a ring  114  with a ring  124 . The right hand shoulder strap  142  connects ring  126  associated with pouch  118  to the ring  116  associated with the pouch  108 . The straps  140  and  142  cross on the back side of a workman or worker. The straps  140  and  142  may also be attached or fixed or placed through a slot in a sheet  146  on the back side of a worker. The sheet  146  may include, for example, a cushion material in order to facilitate the comfort and the use of the tool carrier. Of course, the straps  140  and  142  may be omitted entirely from the described tool carrier. However, the straps  140  and  142  facilitate balancing and positioning of the pouches  108  and  118  by a worker and help distribute the weight on an individual utilizing the described tool carrier. 
     FIGS. 11 and 11A  illustrate some alternative features associated with a tool carrier generally of the type depicted in  FIG. 10 . The tool carrier of  FIG. 11  includes a waist strap  150  having a plurality of attachment loops such as loops  152 ,  154 ,  156  and  158 . The waist strap  150  includes an upper margin  160  which is configured so that the upper margin provides enhanced comfort, particularly in the lumbar area on the back side of an individual, substantially in the manner described with respect to other embodiments of the invention. 
   The waist strap  150  further includes a first handle  166  attached in the vicinity or in the region of the typical placement of the pouch  118 , and a second handle  168  attached on the left side of the waist strap  150  as it would be used by a worker. The handles  166  and  168  are stitched or otherwise fixed to the waist strap  150 . The waist strap  150  may then be folded, as may the belt  100 , so that the handles  166  and  168  will overlie one another to enable the tools retained in the pouches  108  and  118  to be easily carried by a workman in a manner distinct from positioning the belt about the waist.  FIG. 11A  depicts the loop  122  formed along the upper margin of the pouch  118 . It further depicts the manner in which the handle  166  may be stitched to the waist strap  150 . 
     FIGS. 12 and 12A  illustrate another embodiment of the invention wherein a belt  100  includes a first pouch  109  attached or stitched to the left hand side of the belt  100  and a second pouch  111  attached or stitched to the right hand side of the belt  100 . A center pouch  113  is stitched generally to the midpoint section  103  of the belt  100 . A first handle  167  is stitched to the belt  100  and a second handle  169  is stitched or otherwise attached to the left hand side of the belt  100 . The handles  167  and  169  may be joined or folded one over the other as previously described so that the tool belt and pouches depicted in  FIG. 12  may be easily carried. This is depicted in greater detail in  FIG. 13  wherein the handles  167  and  169  are positioned adjacent or over one another so that they may be gripped together and carry the pouches  111 ,  114  and  109 . 
     FIG. 13  also illustrates another feature of the invention. That is, for example, the pouch  113  may include an internal wire or stiffening member  180  sewn into the upper margin  182  of the pouch  113 . The internal wire or stiffening member  180  includes a middle section  184  and opposite ends  186 ,  188 . The opposite ends  186  and  188  extend to the edges of the pocket or pouch  113 . The middle section  184  is in an elevated or upper position relative to the ends when the pocket or pouch  113  does not contain any items or materials. Placement of tools or items in the pouch  113  will tend to cause the pouch  113  to distort or sag and move downwardly. The internal stiffening member or wire  180  will, however, tend to counteract this downward movement and retain the shape of the pocket or pouch  113 . This construction or structure may be incorporated into any of the pouches depicted in the various drawings. 
     FIG. 14  illustrates another feature associated with the pouches that may be incorporated, for example, in the embodiment of  FIG. 10  of the invention. The pouches, for example, pouch  108  and pouch  118  each include general planar backside panel, for example, panel  190  having a series of hook and loop strips  192  and  194  incorporated thereon on the inside of the back panel  190 . A folding flap  196 , and a second folding flap  198  may be folded over the hook or loop sections  192  and  194 , respectively, in the manner depicted, for example, in  FIG. 15 . This will preclude the hook and loop mechanism  192 ,  194  from being irritating or interfere with the use and attachment when on a belt. However, the pouches  108  and  118  may be joined back to back by engagement of the hook and loop elements  192  and  194 , for example, in the manner depicted in  FIG. 19 . If so joined in the manner depicted in  FIG. 19 , the rings  114 ,  116 ,  124  and  126  will be aligned with one another so that a handle and carry strap  200  may be attached thereto. In particular the end buckle elements  202  and  204  may be attached to rings  114  and  124 . The buckle element  204  can then join the rings  116  and  126 . The strap  200  includes a handle  210 . Alternatively, as depicted, for example, in  FIG. 20 , the strap  200  may include a shoulder pad  212 . The strap  200  may be adjusted in length by adjustment of a slide adjustment mechanism  214 . The strap  200  may be used in combination with a pair of pouches as depicted, for example, in  FIG. 19  or with a single pouch, for example, as depicted in  FIG. 20 . 
   Referring back to  FIGS. 16–18  there is depicted by way of example the construction of the loop, for example, loop  112  depicted in  FIG. 14  for the pouch  108 . This construction of  FIGS. 16–18  is an alternative to a riveted or stitched construction for the loop  112  in  FIG. 14 . Thus, the loop in  FIG. 16  comprises a flap  133  having an inside surface with a hook or loop material  135  that cooperates with and will engage with a loop or hook material  137  on the backside or inside of a panel  190 . A separate flap  139  includes a hook or loop material  141  and will engage with a loop or hook material  143  on the outside of the flap  133  to secure the loop as depicted in  FIG. 18 . 
   Referring next to  FIGS. 21 and 22  there is depicted a special pouch or pocket construction associated with a pouch. As depicted in those figures, a lateral or side panel  230  of a pouch, for example, pouch  118  connects with a front side panel  232 . The side panel  230  further is attached to an inclined panel section  234  of the lateral or side panel  230 . The inclined section  234  inclines inwardly relative to the plane of the lateral or side panel  230 . Thus, a series of tool pockets or sleeves  236 ,  238  and  240  affixed to the lateral or side panel  230  are adapted to receive the shaft of tools, for example, screwdrivers. The shafts will extend through the hollow or tubular pockets  236 ,  238 ,  240  downwardly and will not be caused to engage or interfere with a lateral side panel  230  and more particularly the inclined section  234  of the lateral side panel  230 . This will provide ease of placement of the tools having those shafts into and out of the pocket  236 ,  238  and  240 . As depicted in  FIG. 21 , the lateral side panel  230  may also include a metal loop  242  attached thereto and more particularly to the side edges  244  and  246  of the lateral or side panel  230  for holding a handle or other similar headed tool, for example. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 23–26 , there is illustrated yet a further embodiment of the invention. In particular, a tool belt is comprised of a first strap section  300  and a second strap section  302 . The first strap section  300  includes a buckle element  304  at one end and a hook and loop mechanism  306  on a facing or side thereof at the opposite end. The second belt element or strap section  302  includes belt buckle openings  308  at one end and a hook and loop mechanism  310  on a facing or surface at its opposite end for cooperation with the hook and loop mechanism of the first strap  300 . The hook and loop mechanisms  310  and  306  enable adjustment of the combined length of the straps  300  and  302  as they are joined together to thereby accommodate the waist or girth of a workman. The tool belt is thus adjustable due to the interaction of the hook and loop mechanism associated with the separate straps  300  and  302 . 
   The belt comprised of the straps  300  and  302  cooperatively engages with tool pads and hip pads such as pad  312  and pad  314 . Each of the pads  312  and  314  include a series of belt loops, for example, belt loops  316  associated with pad  312  and belt loops  318  associated with pad  314 . The straps  300  and  302 , when joined together, may be fitted through the belt loops  316  to hold the pads  312  and  314  in a desired position, for example, on the hips of a workman. The pads  312  and  314  include an outer face  320  and  322 , respectively. An inner face on the opposite side from the outer faces  320  and  322  may include a hook and loop section, such as the section  326  for the pad  314  and the section  324  for the pad  312 . The combination may further include a lumbar pad, such as lumbar pad  330  which includes a facing or surface  332  comprised of a hook and/or loop mechanism cooperative with the hook and/or loop mechanism  324  and/or  326  of the pads  312  and  314 . Finally, the lumbar pad  330  may include a loop  335  which will act as a belt loop to further facilitate maintaining the lumbar pad in a desired position for use by a worker. Thus, the lumbar pad  320  may be appropriately positioned against the lumbar region or spine of a worker and the side pads or hip pads  312  and  314  appropriately adjusted on straps  300 ,  302  to accommodate positioning about the girth or waist of a worker utilizing the tool belt construction of the invention. 
   As depicted in  FIG. 24  the lumbar pad  330  may also be padded on its opposite side  334  or the side fitted against the back of a user. This functions to ease pressure on the lumbar area. 
   The lumbar pad  330 , as well as the side support pads  312  and  314  may include a series of rings, for example, rings  340  associated with pad  312  and  342  associated with pad  314  along one edge or side of the elongate pad  312  and/or  314 . A second set of rings, for example, ring  344  may be arrayed along the bottom edge of the pad  312 . Similar second rings may be provided for the pad  314 . Likewise, a support ring  346  may be provided for the lumbar pad. The rings are provided for attachment of pouches as depicted in various prior figures. The pouches are designed to contain or store tools and the like. Further, the rings may be utilized for attachment of shoulder straps or suspenders which facilitate holding a tool belt on its user. 
     FIGS. 25 and 26  illustrate some additional features that may be associated with the adjustable length belt comprised of straps, for example, straps  300  and  302 . The strap  302  depicted in  FIG. 25  may include indicia, for example, indicia  303  which are associated with a girth size and in combination with the second strap  302  will enable a worker or user of the system to easily adjust the size of the belt to accommodate that worker&#39;s needs. 
   As another alternative, the belt may be comprised of more than a pair of straps. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 26 , three straps  350 ,  352  and  354  are provided. The straps utilize hook and loop facings and may be interconnected to provide for an elongate belt. The interconnection mechanism is preferably a hook and loop mechanism. It should be noted, however, that various other connection mechanisms such as snaps, clips or the like may be utilized to connect the belt strap members  350 ,  352  and  354  together as well as straps  300 ,  302 . 
   It is possible to vary the constructions without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus the straps may all be adjustable. The buckles and connectors may be of any various types. The pouches may be attachable or detachable or integrally incorporated in the strap. The subject matter of the invention is therefore to be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.