Patent Publication Number: US-9848688-B2

Title: Tool belt with non-scratch buckle cover

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/161,989, filed May 5, 2015, and also U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/072,753, filed Oct. 30, 2014, hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to utility belts for cleaning and maintenance tasks. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A user may perform many tasks while detailing large vehicles such as automobiles, boats, or aircraft, or while cleaning or polishing fine furniture, pianos, or the like. For example, a user may be required to dust, rinse, wash, polish, buff, and wipe a vehicle repeatedly and in various order of operations. In addition, the user is generally under a time restriction to perform all of the tasks to finish other vehicles in queue. Each task generally requires specific tools and instruments. Thus, the user is generally constantly picking up and putting down tools and instruments between tasks, which increases the total detailing time, the risk of losing tools and instruments, and the likelihood that the user may scratch the surface of the vehicle, fine furniture, or the like. Generally, heavy belts like construction belts cause users to fatigue quickly, which may discourage use of the belt, increase time to finish tasks, and increase the risk of damage. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a tool belt that is configured to conveniently contain instruments adjacent to the user that are useful for a task, such as cleaning and polishing vehicles or other objects. According to an aspect of the present invention, the tool belt includes an elongated fabric belt, a buckle, a non-scratch buckle cover, and a plurality of tool bags. The tool belt reduces the likelihood that the user will lose an instrument, while also reducing the likelihood that the user will scratch a vehicle&#39;s surface with the instrument or with the belt itself, or trip over the instrument. 
     The elongated fabric belt is configured to wrap around a waist of the user and be secured by the buckle. The non-scratch buckle cover encloses the buckle when secured around the waist of the user. The buckle cover is slidably disposable on the belt so the user may clip and unclip the buckle when the buckle cover is slid away from the buckle. The tool belt also features a variety of tool bag sizes so that the user may accommodate substantially any required instrument such as a detailing tool or bottle. Each of the tool bags is configured to hold one or more instruments. In addition, each of the tool bags is slidably disposed on the belt and removable from the belt, so the user may customize the tool belt according to the needs of the task and the user&#39;s preferences. 
     The tool belt is lightweight, preferably less than one pound when empty to prevent fatigue and promote use of the tool belt. The tool belt generally features only exposed materials that are soft (such as cotton) rather than hard materials (such as hard plastics or metal) that could scratch or scuff painted surfaces, wood, or other delicate surfaces. In some embodiments that do have hard materials that could scratch or scuff other surfaces, the tool belt includes a soft cover, such as the buckle cover, to prevent the hard material portions from scratching finished or delicate surfaces. 
     Thus, the lightweight tool belt conveniently contains instruments adjacent to the user to decrease the time to perform tasks and reduce the likelihood that user will lose the instruments. Furthermore, the tool belt reduces the likelihood that the user will scratch finished or delicate surfaces, such as on vehicles, fine furniture, or the like. 
     These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of this invention will become apparent upon review of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a tool belt with tool bags and a utility loop assembled on a fabric belt, in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the tool bags and belt of  FIG. 1 , shown disassembled with a buckle cover not covering the clipped buckle; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the buckle of  FIG. 2  shown in an unclipped position; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the buckle cover of  FIG. 2 , shown covering the buckle in a clipped position; and 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of the buckle cover and buckle of  FIG. 2  shown in a clipped position. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings and illustrated embodiments therein, a tool belt  10  includes a belt closure in the form of a buckle  12  selectively covered by a movable non-scratch buckle cover  13 , and further includes a first or male buckle connector  14 , a second or female buckle connector  16 , and an elongated fabric belt  20  that supports a plurality of tool attachments, such as tool bags  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , for containing instruments that are useful for tasks such as cleaning and polishing vehicles and fine furniture. Specifically, the tool belt  10  is a waist belt secured around the waist of a user to contain instruments within hand&#39;s reach during a task. The user can remove and replace instruments in the tool belt  10  as needed to perform each task, with reduced risk of scratching finished and delicate surfaces, such as a vehicle exterior or fine furniture. 
     The belt  20  is formed of a lightweight and durable material that generally has a lower hardness than common finished or delicate surfaces, for example a vehicle&#39;s exterior painted or gel-coated finish, such that the belt  20  is unlikely to scratch finished and delicate surfaces when rubbed against them. The belt  20  is lightweight to substantially avoid fatiguing the user during tasks. However, the belt  20  is sufficiently durable to not fray or break while containing the weight of the instruments and rubbing against finished or delicate surfaces. For example, belt  20  may be made of woven nylon, although other materials like cotton, polyester, leather, or the like may be used. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the belt  20  has a first end portion  17  attached to male connector  14  of the buckle  12  and a second end portion  18  attached to female connector  16  of the buckle  12 . The male connector  14  is configured to engage the female connector  16  to releasably secure the tool belt  10  around the waist of the user. When the tool belt  10  is secured to the user, an inner side of the buckle  12  is adjacent to the waist of the user and an outer side of the buckle  12  is facing away from the user. Preferably, the buckle  12  is made of a durable non-scratch material such as plastic or nylon. The buckle  12  is generally any type of lightweight and durable buckle, such as a side release clip buckle shown in  FIGS. 2, 3, and 5 . However, one would appreciate that many types of buckles may be used, such as center bar buckles, horse blanket buckles, or the like. It will further be appreciated that hook-and-loop fasteners may be used in place of traditional buckles by, for example, overlapping a hook portion that is attached to the first end portion  17  on a loop portion that is attached to the second end portion  18 , or vice versa, and tightly pressing the hook portion against the loop portion to secure the fastener. 
     The non-scratch buckle cover  13  is configured to partially enclose the buckle  12  (e.g. the outer side) and may optionally leave the inner side of the buckle  12  partially uncovered.  FIG. 4  illustrates the buckle cover  13  covering the outer side of the buckle  12  when the male connector  14  and the female connector  16  are engaged, such as when the tool belt  10  is on the user&#39;s waist. However, the buckle cover  13  can be moved away from buckle  12  and generally disposed anywhere on the belt  20 , or between buckle  12  and the nearest tool bag  22 ,  24 ,  26 , or  28  (see  FIGS. 2 and 5 ), when the tool belt  10  is unsecured or secured to the user. The belt  20  also retains the buckle cover  13  when the belt  20  is not secured to the user to reduce the risk of losing the buckle cover  13 . When the belt  20  is secured on the user, the user repositions the buckle cover  13  on the belt  20  by pulling the buckle cover  13  along the belt  20  until it is positioned over the buckle  12 . When the belt  20  is secured to the user, the user may reposition the buckle cover  13  to expose and unclip the buckle  12 . The user may also vary the length of the belt  20  by tightening or loosening a slide adjuster  19  near each of the male connector  14  and female connector  16  (see  FIG. 3 ). Thus, the buckle cover  13  is slidably disposable on the belt  20  to cover and uncover the buckle  12 , and may be sufficiently long to also cover the slide adjusters  19  as desired. 
     The buckle cover  13  is configured to not scratch a finished or delicate surface, such as a vehicle or fine furniture surface, when the belt  20  is secured on the user. Thus, the buckle cover  13  is generally made of a soft non-scratch material and has a generally tubular shape. In the illustrated embodiment, the buckle cover  13  is formed by connecting opposing ends of a generally rectangular piece of fabric into a generally tubular shape. For example, the buckle cover  13  may be formed by sewing opposing ends of the fabric to each other. However, the buckle cover  13  may be formed by other methods, such as gluing fabric, sewing multiple ends, or forming the buckle cover  13  from a tubular knit fabric. 
     The buckle cover  13  in the illustrated embodiment partially form-fits to the buckle  12  by incorporating elastic fibers or an elastic element into the fabric material of the buckle cover  13 . Form-fitting the buckle cover  13  to the buckle  12  reduces the likelihood that buckle cover  13  will unintentionally or undesirably move from its desired position, such as covering the buckle  12  and slide adjuster  19  when the belt  20  is secured to the user.  FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate the buckle cover  13  with elastic bands  21  at each end to form-fit or constrict the buckle cover  13  around the buckle  12  and/or belt  20 . Each elastic band  21  is sewn into the buckle cover  13 , for example, by positioning the band  21  into a fold at an end of the buckle cover  13  and sewing the fold to form a tubular or annular pocket such that the elastic band  21  remains in the pocket. However, the buckle cover  13  may include more than two elastic bands  21 , or the buckle cover  13  may also be formed of an elastic material such as elastane or the like. 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , each of the plurality of tool bags  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28  are configured to contain instruments that are useful during the user&#39;s tasks. Each tool bag  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28  is slidably movable along (and supported on) the belt  20  by a respective attachment portion  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44  that is coupled to a respective container portion  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36  that is arranged to hang below each respective attachment portion  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). Each container portion  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36  holds an instrument or tool for the user&#39;s tasks. In the illustrated embodiment, tool bag  28  is configured to contain the instrument, tool, or bottle that has a volume of approximately 32-48 ounces, tool bag  26  is configured to contain the instrument, tool, or bottle that has a volume of approximately 16-32 ounces, tool bag  24  is configured to contain the instrument, tool, or bottle that has a volume of approximately 36-52 ounces, and tool bag  22  is configured to contain miscellaneous small tools, cards, mobile phones, or the like. For example, each of the instruments, tools, or bottles may be useful for detailing automobiles, such as polishing and cleaning compounds, wash pads, and towels. Thus, each tool bag  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28  has a volume and shape to contain a desired instrument. Each container portion  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36  of the illustrated embodiment is generally rectangular, although each container portion  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36  may be generally rounded. 
     Each of the attachment portions  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44  slidably couples to the belt  20 , is repositionable along the belt  20 , and is removable from the belt  20 .  FIG. 1  illustrates tool bag  22  adjacent to tool bag  24  and opposite tool bag  28 . However, each of the tool bags  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28  may be arranged on belt  20  according to each task and the user&#39;s preferences, and the user may select which tool bags to position along the belt  20  for a given task. For example, tool bag  28  may be adjacent to tool bag  24  and opposite tool bag  22  along the belt. Furthermore, the tool belt  10  may use bags with alternative sizes, shapes, and relative positions on the belt  20 . Thus, the tool belt  10  is customizable according to the task&#39;s needs and the user&#39;s preferences. 
     Each bag  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28  is formed of a lightweight, non-scratch material. For example, the bags  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28  of the illustrated embodiment may be formed of cotton, although other materials such as nylon, polyester, leather, and blends thereof may be equally suitable. Each container portion  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36  has respective open ends  54 ,  56 ,  58 ,  60  that are adjacent to respective attachment portions  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44 , and a respective closed end  46 ,  48 ,  50 ,  52  that is opposite and below the respective attachment portions  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44 . The attachment portions  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44  are generally made of single sheets of fabric having upper portions folded down and sewn across their widths (i.e. horizontally) into a loop-like shape to form the attachment portions  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44 , and having lower portions folded up and sewn along their respective side edges (i.e. vertically) while leaving open ends  54 ,  56 ,  58 ,  60  unsewn. In an alternative embodiment, the loop-like shape of the attachment portions  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44  is held closed by a hook-and-loop fastener, such as Velcro®. 
     The attachment portions  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44  and open ends  54 ,  56 ,  58 ,  60  of each bag  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28  are sewn by hand or using a mechanical sewer to be durable and lightweight. Optionally, each bag  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28  may have cotton seam tape to cover rough seams that could scratch finished or delicate surfaces, and may have a flexible nylon tube or rod sewn into the fabric of the container portions  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36  proximate to the open ends  54 ,  56 ,  58 ,  60  to hold the container portions  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36  open to assist the user&#39;s access to instruments in the bags  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28 . The attachment portions  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44  and the container portion  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36  may be formed from a single piece of fabric that is folded and sewn closed. Alternatively, each attachment portion  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44  and container portion  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36  may be formed from one piece of fabric that is folded and sewn closed to form the loop-like shape of the attachment portions,  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44  and at least a part of a back panel of the container portions  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36 . Each back panel is then sewn to another panel that forms at least a front (and optionally also at least part of the back) of each container portion  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36 . Thus, each bag  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28  is constructed to be lightweight, durable, and non-scratching. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the tool belt  10  also has an optional utility loop  66  disposed on belt  20  between tool bag  22  and tool bag  24 . The utility loop  66  is a tool attachment configured to hold various objects, particularly with elongated dimensions like extension and power cords for electrical buffers, or for rags, towels, or other hangable tools, to increase the user&#39;s ease of access to the objects, prevent loss of the objects, and reduce the likelihood that the objects interfere with the user during the tasks. The utility loop  66  of the illustrated embodiment has a circumference of six to nine inches, although the loop may have other sizes according to the user&#39;s needs. The utility loop  66  is generally formed of cotton or a cotton-nylon material, for example, to be lightweight, durable, and non-scratching. The utility loop  66  may include a hook-and-loop fastener, such as Velcro®, that fastens when the loop  66  is in position around the belt  20  with the desired objects, such as extension cords, in the loop  66 . Like the tool bags  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28 , the utility loop  66  is slidably displaceable along belt  20  according to the needs of the tasks and the user&#39;s preferences. 
     Thus, the lightweight tool belt  10  conveniently holds instruments adjacent to the user. The tool belt  10  reduces the likelihood that the user will lose an instrument, while also reducing the likelihood that the user will scratch a finished or delicate surface or trip over the instrument. The tool bags  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28  are customizable and hold the instrument such as substantially any common detailing tool or bottle. The non-scratch buckle cover  13  encloses the buckle  12  and any other non-fabric portions of the tool belt  10 , such as slide adjuster  19 , when the tool belt  10  is secured around the waist of the user. Therefore, the tool belt  10  aids the user in performing required tasks faster and without scratching or marring surfaces. 
     Changes and modifications in the specifically described embodiments can be carried out without departing from the principles of the present invention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims, as interpreted according to the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents.