Abstract:
A universal tool holder for carrying a tool or other article, for example, a cordless drill, nail gun, hammer or shovel is provided comprising a stretchable cord that is formed into a looped end and adapted to be wrapped about the handle of a tool in such a manner that it tightly engages the tool, and a second end having a retainable object, such as a ball, that is configured to be safely and securely held within a retaining receiver. The retaining receiver is in the form of a socket-type receiver configured to correspond to the geometrical shape of the retainable object such it can removably secure the retainable object. The socket-shaped retaining receiver can be incorporated into a variety of articles usefull in carrying and storing tools, including a belt clip, a wall mounting implement or a ladder mounting implement. By integrating the retaining receiver into such a variety of articles, any tool carried by the universal tool holder can be removably secured to the retaining receiver, thereby enabling a user to suspend the tool from a belt clip, ladder or wall.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to the field of devices for carrying a tool, such as a cordless drill, nail gun, hammer or any other tool having a handle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a universal tool holder adapted to be secured to most any tool and which also can be removably secured to a belt clip or a ladder. More specifically, the present invention relates to a universal tool holder comprising a stretchable cord that is formed into a looped end and adapted to be wrapped about the handle of a tool in such a manner that it tightly engages the tool, and a ball end that is adapted to be safely and securely held within a retaining receiver. The retaining receiver can be integrated into a belt clip or a mounting implement to engage a wall, ladder or other article, thereby enabling the tool holder to be suspended from a belt clip or ladder. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Devices for carrying tools are well known in the prior art. Many such devices are in the form of tool belts of various configurations which are designed to carry and retain one or more desired tools while allowing the user to keep his hands free. Conventional tool belts are provided with leather or cloth loops which depend from the belt and which serve as tool retainers. Although useful to some extent, such tool belts present inherent deficiencies which limit their usefulness. For example because cloth is not necessarily a rigid structure, cloth loops may close when not in use, making it difficult for the user to replace the tool into the loop with one hand. More over, a loop may tightly constrict about the tool handle as the tool settles into position, thereby making it difficult to remove the tool when needed. Similar problems arise with the use of the more rigid leather loops. 
   Another type of device for carrying tools is a belt clip which is modified with a tool carrying end. Examples of such belt clips include U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,451 to Kahn, issued Apr. 28, 1998, U.S. Pat. No. 6,062,449 to Kahn, issued May 16, 2000 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,443,342 to Kahn, issued Sep. 3, 2002. These belt clips, all invented by the inventor of the instant application, are provided with a U-shaped hook which swivels about a tool&#39;s center of gravity. While these tool-toting devices have achieved commercial success, a disadvantage to these devices is that they cannot be removably secured to all types of tools. In addition, these tool-toting devices are not adapted easily for suspension from a wall, ladder or other object. 
   Article holders, particularly paint can holders, have been developed for attachment to the leg of a ladder. U.S. Pat. No. 3,131,900 to Anderson et al., issued May 5, 1964, U.S. Pat. No. 3,239,181 Ellerbrock, issued Mar. 8, 1966, U.S. Pat. No. 3,246,867 to Ewing, issued Apr. 19, 1966, U.S. Pat. No. 4,025,016 to Brothers, issued May 24, 1977, U.S. Pat. No. 4,036,463 to Hopkins et al., issued Jul. 19, 1977 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,338,459 to Biggs, issued Jan. 15, 2002, each discloses a clamping member adapted to secure an article, usually a paint can, to the stile of a ladder. However, none of the clamping members described in these patents are capable of securely engaging a tool and suspending the thus-engaged tool from a ladder. 
   Devices also have been developed to secure an article, particularly a paint can, to the hollow rung of a ladder, as exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 3,223,369 to Benninger, Jr., issued Dec. 14, 1965, U.S. Pat. No. 4,186,903 to Fazakerley, issued Feb. 5, 1980, U.S. Pat. No. 4,662,594 to Dubis, issued May 5, 1987 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,254,045 to Oatsvall, issued Jul. 3, 2001. 
   Despite the advances of the prior art, a need still exists for a universal tool holder which can be removably attached about the handle of most any tool and which, through the utilization of a unique retaining receiver, can be removably secured to a belt clip, wall, ladder or other article. Such a universal too holder should be capable of being easily and firmly attached about the handle of most any tool. Moreover, such a universal tool holder should be capable of being easily and removably secured within a retaining receiver. In addition, the retaining receiver should be capable of being incorporated into a wide variety of mounting implements. Also, mounting implements having such a retaining receiver should be quickly and easily secured to both conventional hollow rung ladders and standard A-frame ladders. Further, such a universal tool holder and retaining receiver should be inexpensive to manufacture and easy to use. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a universal tool holder which can be removably attached to most any tool. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a universal tool holder which is adapted to be held within a retaining receiver. 
   It is also an object of the present invention to provide a universal tool holder which can be easily and quickly introduced into a retaining receiver. 
   It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a retaining receiver for a universal tool holder which can be incorporated into a belt clip. 
   It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a retaining receiver for a universal tool holder which can be incorporated into a wall mount. 
   It is a further object of the present invention to provide a retaining receiver for a universal tool holder which can be incorporated into an expandable mounting implement that can be removably secured to the hollow rung of a ladder. 
   It is still another object of the present invention to provide a retaining receiver for a universal tool holder which can be incorporated into a spring mounting implement that can be removably secured to the leg of a ladder. 
   It is also another object of the present invention to provide a universal tool holder and receiving retainer which is inexpensive to manufacture and easy to use. 
   Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part of the description and claims which follow, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following specification and claims or may be learned by practice of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will be better understood with reference to the appended drawing sheets, wherein: 
       FIG. 1A  is a side perspective view of the universal tool holder of the present invention. 
       FIG. 1B  is a side explosive view of the universal tool holder of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of the universal tool holder of the present invention secured to the handle of a nail gun. 
       FIG. 3A  is a side perspective view of a belt clip of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3B  is a side perspective view of the universal tool holder of the present invention removably secured to the belt clip of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3C  is a top perspective view of the retaining receiver of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  shows the retaining receiver of the present invention adapted as a wall mount. 
       FIG. 5A  is a side explosive view of the retaining receiver of the present invention incorporated into an expandable mounting implement. 
       FIG. 5B  shows the expandable mounting implement of the present invention removably secured to a conventional hollow rung ladder. 
       FIG. 6A  is a side explosive view of the retaining receiver of the present invention incorporated into a spring mounting implement. 
       FIG. 6B  shows the spring mounting implement of the present invention removably secured to a conventional A-frame ladder. 
       FIG. 7  is a side explosive view of the retaining receiver of the present invention incorporated into a C-clamp mounting implement and removably secured to a conventional ladder. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The present invention relates to a universal tool holder which can be attached to most any type of tool and which can be removably secured, through the utilization of a unique retaining receiver, to a belt clip or a mounting implement for attachment to a wall, ladder or other article. Referring now to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the universal tool holder  10  comprises a looped end  11  formed from a stretchable cord  12 , such as a bungee cord, having a first end  12   a  and a second end  12   b , and a ball end  14 . The universal tool holder further comprises a frusto-conical locking spacer  15  having a proximal end  15   a , a distal end  15   b  and a central opening  15   c , a spherical element  16 , hereinafter referred to as a ball, having an aperture  16   a  extending therethrough, said aperture having a diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of said distal end  15   b  of said locking spacer  15 , a crimped locking element  17  and a cap  18 . 
   The looped end  11  is constructed by introducing both first end  12   a  and second end  12   b  of the stretchable cord  12  into the proximal end  15   a  of the locking spacer, through the central opening  15   c  and passing both said first and second ends through the distal end  15   b  of the locking spacer, such that said first and second ends are positioned outside said distal end  15   b . The ball end  14  is constructed by introducing the ball  16  over the first and second ends of said stretchable cord  12  and onto said distal end  15   b  of the locking spacer  15  in such a manner that said ball  16  tightly engages said distal end  15   b . Crimping element  17  then is passed over first and second ends  12   a  and  12   b  of the stretchable cord  12  in order to prevent said first and second ends from being pulled back through the locking spacer  15 . The crimping element  17  is sized to be retained within aperture  16   a  of the ball  16 . A cap member  18  is inserted into the aperture  16   a  and is retained therein by a snap-fit arrangement. 
   The universal tool holder  10  is designed to be secured to most any tool, including for example, a power drill or a nail gun. Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the universal tool holder  10  is secured to a nail gun by first wrapping the looped end  11  about the handle of the nail gun and then passing the looped end over the ball end  14  such that the looped end is disposed under the proximal end of the locking spacer, thereby locking the looped end. The utilization of the stretchable cord (e.g. bungee cord), ensures that the looped end is tightly secured about the handle of the nail gun. In this manner, the nail gun now can be carried by grasping the ball end  14 . The use of the stretchable cord also allows the nail gun to be suspended from and swivel from the ball end  14 , thereby enabling the nail gun to maintain it&#39;s a proper center of gravity during movement by the user. 
   Once the universal tool holder of the present invention has been secured to a tool, it can be used as a simple tool toting device simply by grasping the ball end  14  of the universal tool holder  10 . The unique design of the ball end of the universal tool holder also enables it to be secured to a belt clip, wall mount or other mounting implement. Referring now to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the universal tool holder  10  is adapted to be removably secured to a belt clip  20 . Belt clip  20  is in the form of a C-shaped clip having a front face  21 , a rear face  22  and a rounded top end  23 . The front face  21  terminates into a retaining receiver end  24 , hereinafter referred to as a ball cup end. The ball cup end  24  can be constructed integrally with the clip  20  or can be secured to the clip by means well known in the art including for example, by rivet means or by a nut and bolt arrangement. The belt clip  20  can be composed of a variety of materials, including for example, hard and soft metals, such as aluminum and stainless steel, hard plastics, flexible plastics combinations thereof, such as a metal clip having a plastic sheath. 
   The receiver or ball cup end  24  comprises a socket-shaped receiver, hereinafter referred to as a ball cup. As shown in  FIG. 3C , the ball cup  25  includes a main section  26  with two arcuate arms  27  extending therefrom, the ends  27   a  of which curve inwardly and toward one another to create a passage  27   b , and a concaved bottom section  28  having an opening  28   a . The inner wall  29  of the main section  26  and arcuate arms  27  are concaved downwardly and inwardly to form the concaved bottom section  28  and opening  28   a.    
   In operation, the locking spacer  15  of the universal tool holder  10  is introduced through the passage  27   b  between the ends  27   a  of the arcuate arms  27 , the ball end  14  being disposed above the ball cup  25 . The ball end  14  then is pivotally lowered into the concaved bottom section such that the ball  16  is snugly received and retained in the concaved bottom section  28 , the locking spacer  15  and looped end  11  extending downwardly through the opening  28   a . Because the diameter of the ball  16  is greater than that of the opening  28   a , the ball end cannot exit through the opening  28   a . In addition, as the width of passage  27   b  is less than the diameter of the ball  16 , the ball cannot be displaced through the passage. Thus, the ball  16  remains safely and securely retained within the ball cup  25  until it is lifted upwardly out of the ball cup. 
   It is to be understood that although the ball  16  is described as being generally spherical in shape and that the ball cup  25  has a concaved bottom surface corresponding to the size and shape of the ball it is contemplated to be within the scope of the present invention that the ball  16  can be dimensioned in other geometrical forms including for example, pyrimadal or disk forms, provided that the bottom surface of the retaining receiver  25  corresponds to the geometrical form of the ball. 
   The universal tool holder of the present invention, in combination with the ball cup, can be adapted as a wall mount for storing a tool. Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a ball cup  35  is shown having a main section  36  which is provided with an aperture  36   a  extending therethrough. The ball cup  35  can be mounted to a wall simply by introducing a conventional screw through aperture  36   a  and into a wall. As discussed above with reference to the belt clip, once the ball  16  of the universal tool holder  10  is safely and securely retained within the ball cup  35 , any tool removably secured to the universal tool holder can be stored in the wall mount. Although the ball cup  35  is shown being mounted to a wall by means of a conventional screw, it is contemplated that the ball cup can be mounted to a wall or other similar structure by a variety of means as will be obvious to those skilled in the art. 
   The universal tool holder of the present invention also can be secured to a conventional hollow rung ladder, such as an extension ladder, by incorporating the inventive ball cup into an expandable mounting implement configured to engage one of the hollow rungs disposed on the ladder. Referring now to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , an expandable mount  40  is shown comprising a threaded rod  41 , a washer or spacer  42 , an expandable rubber element  43  having a flanged end  43   a , both the expandable rubber element and flanged end having a central bore  44  extending therethrough, a ball cup  45  provided with an aperture  45   a , and a nut  46  adapted to receive and retain threaded rod  41 . The diameter of the central bore  44  and the aperture  45   a  are configured to be of sufficient size to receive threaded rod  41 . The outer diameter of the expandable rubber element is configured to be of sufficient size to snugly engage the interior of the hollow rung. To form the expandable mounting implement  40 , the threaded rod  41  is introduced through aperture  45   a  of the ball cup, through the opening of the washer  42 , through the central bore  44  of the expandable rubber element  43  and into the nut  46  such that the washer rests against the flanged end  43   a . The nut  46  is tightened to ensure that the threaded rod  41  cannot be pulled back through the central bore. 
   In operation, as shown in  FIG. 5B , the expandable mounting implement  40  is removably secured to the hollow rung  141  of a ladder  140  by inserting rubber element  43  into the hollow rung of the ladder such that the rubber element snugly engages the interior surface  142  of the hollow rung  141 , and then turning the ball cup  45  clockwise. The arrangement of the expandable rubber element  43  disposed between the washer  42  and nut  46  causes the rubber element to expand when the ball cup  45  is turned clockwise, thereby tightly securing the rubber element within the interior of the hollow rung  141 . In this manner, a tool carried by the universal tool holder of the present invention can be suspended from the hollow rung ladder  140  by inserting the ball  16  of the universal tool holder  10  into the ball cup  45 . In order to remove the expandable mount  40  from the hollow rung, the ball cup is turned counter-clockwise, thereby returning the rubber element  43  to its original size and shape, and retracting the rubber element  43  from the hollow rung  141 . 
   The universal tool holder of the present invention also can be secured to a conventional A-frame ladder by incorporating the inventive ball cup into a spring mounting implement configured to engage the stile or leg of a ladder. Referring now to  FIGS. 6A and 6B , a spring mounting implement  50  is shown comprising a suspension frame member  51  having first and second frame arms  52   a  and  52   b  extending perpendicularly therefrom, a locking member  56  having first and second ends  56   a  and  56   b , and a ball cup  55  which is permanently affixed to frame member  51 . The first frame arm  52   a  terminates into the outer section  53   a  of a hinge element  53 , and the second frame arm  52   b  terminates into a slotted locking mechanism  54 . The first end  56   a  of the locking member  56  terminates into the inner section  53   b  of a hinge element  53 , and the second end  56   b  of the locking member terminates into an arcuate tongue  57  configured to engage the slotted locking mechanism  54 . 
   The ball cup  55  can be permanently affixed to the suspension frame member  51  by a rivet arrangement or can be affixed permanently to the suspension frame member by other means well know in the art, suitable examples of which include welding the ball cup to the frame member and a nut and bolt arrangement. The inner section  53   b  of the hinge element matingly corresponds to the outer section  53   a  and are joined together by a locking pin  58  to form the hinge element  53 . In this manner, first end  56   a  of the locking member  56  is hingedly secured to the suspension frame member  51 . 
   The length of the frame member  51  is configured to be slightly larger than the horizontal length of a conventional ladder leg and the length of the first and second frame arms  52  are configured to be slightly larger than the horizontal width of a conventional ladder leg, such the suspension frame member and arms snugly engage three sides of a ladder leg. Preferably, the suspension frame member and locking element are composed of a flexible steel material. 
   In operation, as shown in  FIG. 6B , the spring mounting implement  50  is removably secured to a leg  151  of a standard A-frame ladder  150  by locating the suspension frame member  51  against the outer surface of a leg  151  such that the first and second frame arms extend over the leg and the ball cup  55  is disposed against the outer surface  152  of the ladder leg. The spring mount  50  then is removably secured to the ladder leg by introducing the arcuate tongue  57  into the slotted locking mechanism  54 . Preferably, both the slotted locking mechanism  54  and arcuate tongue  57  are provided with corresponding notches in order to ensure that the tongue does not slip out of the locking mechanism. 
   A flexible insert  59  can be provided with the spring mount  50 , the flexible insert be configured to be inserted within the area defined by the frame member and frame arms. The flexible insert can be used on ladders which have are designed with a width less than that of a standard frame ladder leg width. 
   The universal tool holder of the present invention also can be secured to a conventional by incorporating the inventive ball cup into a C-clamp mounting implement configured to engage the stile or leg of a ladder. Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a C-clamp mounting implement  60  is shown having a first end  61   a  provided with a threaded opening  62  extending therethrough and a second end  61   b , the second end having an interior grooved face  63 , a threaded rod or bolt  64  and a ball cup  65  provided with a threaded opening  65   a  extending therethrough. Threaded opening  62  and threaded aperture  65   a  are configured to receive the threaded rod or bolt  64 . To assemble the C-clamp mounting implement, the threaded rod  64  is introduced through the face  66  of the ball cup into the aperture  65   a  and through the threaded opening  62  of the first end  61   a  of the C-clamp such that the threaded rod extends toward second end  61   b . In operation the C-clamp mounting implement  60  is removably secured to the leg  161  of a ladder  160  by positioning the ladder leg  161  between first and second ends  61   a  and  61   b  and then tightening the threaded rod against the ladder leg. 
   While particular embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited thereto, and that many obvious modifications and variations can be made, and that such modifications and variations are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims.