Patent Publication Number: US-6216319-B1

Title: Tool tether

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to a tool tether for securing a tool or piece of hardware to a user and, more particularly, to an adjustable lanyard to be secured to a user&#39;s arm or otherwise that includes a swivel clasp for connecting one of a plurality of different sized receptacles to the lanyard to hold various tools and hardware to the user. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     As most professional and garage mechanics are aware, various tools, such as wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, etc., or hardware, such as bolts, nuts, screws, spark plugs, pipe fittings, electrical connectors, etc., that are dropped while performing a job can be a great annoyance, inconvenience and possibly pose significant problems when working on various machines or devices. The problem of dropped tools occurs in many work environments, including auto mechanics, marine mechanics, aircraft mechanics, machine building, machine repairing, plumbing, heating and cooling installation and repair, carpentry, construction equipment repair, farm equipment repair, and electrical. 
     If the mechanic is working in a confined or tight area, the chance of dropping the tool or hardware increases. The dropped tool or hardware can fall within or behind structures or roll underneath things. The mechanic must then stop what he is doing, and retrieve the tool or hardware, causing delay and inconvenience. Sometimes, the tool or hardware may be irretrievable. Sometimes the problem of dropping the tool or hardware is repeated for the same particular operation. If a mechanic is working at a high location, such as on a ladder or the like, and he drops a tool, he must climb down from the location to search and locate the dropped tool. Furthermore, a dropped tool from a high height can damage the tool, damage equipment and machinery it hits, and could cause bodily injury to other individuals below. 
     Persons who may be physically impaired where one hand is non-functional as a result of injury, disease, birth defect, etc., may have problems holding and operating a certain tool or piece of hardware. Those persons may benefit from some type of device for securing the tool or piece of hardware to the person&#39;s body. 
     Different types of devices for securing tools to a user are known in the art. However, these types of devices can be improved upon by being more flexible to more easily and reliably hold a wider variety of tools and hardware. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved tool tether. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a tool tether is disclosed that includes an adjustable lanyard having a loop that fits over a user&#39;s hand, and can be tightened to the user&#39;s arm. An opposite end of the lanyard from the loop includes a swivel clasping mechanism that can be connected to one of a plurality of hardware receptacles. Each of the hardware receptacles includes an eyelet or the like to allow it to be easily secured to the clasping mechanism. The hardware receptacles come in a wide variety of sizes and/or shapes to accommodate tools and hardware of different sizes and weights. In one embodiment, the hardware receptacles are cylindrical shaped rubber cups that are rigid enough to support tools of different sizes and shapes. In an alternate embodiment, the hardware receptacles are flexible ring members that can be elastically wrapped around a particular tool or piece of hardware. 
     Additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the appended claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an adjustable lanyard that is part of a tool tether assembly, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG.  2 (A)- 2 (C) show a plurality of different sized cylindrical-shaped hardware receptacles that are separately connectable to the lanyard shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a bottom view of one of the receptacles shown in FIG. 2; 
     FIG.  4 (A)- 4 (C) show a plurality of different sized tool rings that are also separately connectable to the lanyard shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a tool tether assembly, according to another embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the tool tether assembly of the invention being used by a user. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following description of the preferred embodiments directed to a tool tether is merely exemplary in nature, and is in no way intended to limit the invention or its applications or uses. 
     The present invention is a tool tether assembly  10  that secures a tool or piece of hardware to a user or a structure to prevent the tool or hardware from being dropped and falling away from the user when it is being used, or the hardware is being installed or removed. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tool tether lanyard  12  of the tool tether assembly  10  comprising a length of cord. The lanyard  12  can be made of any suitable material, such as rope, fiber, rubber, etc., as long as it is suitably durable and long lasting for the purposes described herein. The ends of the lanyard  12  are secured together to form a loop  14 . In this embodiment, the ends of the lanyard  12  are inserted into a metal connecting cup  18 , which is then crimped to the ends of the lanyard  12  to secure them together to define the loop  14 . Other techniques for forming the loop  14  can also be used, including wrapping wire around the ends of the lanyard  12 . 
     The size of the loop  14  is adjustable by a loop adjusting device  16 . In this embodiment, the lanyard  12  is put through an opening in the device  16 , and a spring-loaded member  20  associated with the device  16  is depressed to move the device along the lanyard  12 . Various clasping devices can be used to readily and easily adjust the size of the loop  14 , as would be appreciated by those skilled in the art. The device  16  allows the loop  14  to fit over a user&#39;s hand, and then be readily adjusted to a user&#39;s wrist to be secured thereto. It is not necessary to secure the lanyard  12  to the user&#39;s wrist in that it can be secured to any desirable location. For example, the loop  14  can be secured to other parts of the person&#39;s body, or other structures, such as faucets, radiator caps, car hood latches, door knobs, handles, machine protrusions, pipes, etc. 
     A hardware swivel clasping mechanism  22  is secured to an eyelet  24  proximate the bound ends of the lanyard  12 , where the eyelet  24  is part of the cup  18 . In this design, the clasping mechanism  22  is permanently secured to the lanyard  12 , and forms part of it. The clasping mechanism  22  includes a clasp  26  having a spring-loaded pin  28  that can be readily opened and closed for securing a receptacle thereto, as will be discussed below. The clasping mechanism  22  includes a swivel mechanism  29  that allows the clasp  26  to swivel or rotate on the lanyard  12  to prevent twisting or binding of the lanyard  12 . Any suitable clasping mechanism can be used for this purpose consistent with the discussion herein. 
     FIGS.  2 (A)- 2 (C) show a plurality of hardware receptacles  30  of different sizes and diameters. FIG. 3 shows a bottom view of one of the receptacles  30 . Each receptacle  30  includes an eyelet  32  defining an opening therethrough. The receptacles  30  are tubular members having a cylindrical chamber  34  of varying diameters and being capable of fitting over the end of tools and pieces of hardware of different sizes and shapes through an open end  36  of the receptacle  30 . The hardware receptacles  30  generally have a thin wall  48  so as to be pliable and moldable to the various tools and components. In one embodiment, the receptacles  30  are made of a molded rubber, and are durable, rigid and easy to clean. The pliableness of the receptacles  30  enable the circular dimensions of the chamber  34  to conform to any shaped tool or piece of hardware. For example, the receptacle  30  can be readily molded to any shape including square, triangular, hexagonal, rectangular, elliptical, oval, half-circle, trapezoidal, parallelogram, pentagonal, octagonal, etc. Additionally, the receptacles  30  can be molded to irregular shapes. 
     The hardware receptacles  30  are selectively connected to the lanyard  12  by connecting the clasp  26  to the eyelet  32 . The hardware receptacles  30  are configured to hold and secure various sized tools and components, such as pliers, wrenches, screwdrivers, nuts, bolts, spark plugs, pipe fittings, electrical connectors, etc. Of course, the receptacles  30  can include any type of structure and any suitable shape that allows it to be secured to the lanyard  12 , within the scope of the present invention. Holes  39  extend through a top end  38  of the receptacles to provide vents that help alleviate suction that may occur when removing a tool or piece of hardware from the receptacles  30 , thus making it easier to remove the hardware. 
     FIGS.  4 (A)- 4 (C) show a plurality of hardware rings  40  that are also selectively securable to the lanyard  12 . Each ring  40  includes an inner diameter  42  of varying sizes that allows it to be connectable to different types of tools and the like. The ring  40  is wrapped around the particular tool, such as the head of a wrench. The rings  40  are thin enough so that they are pliable to be readily attachable to the various tools and components, but are durable enough to stand up to the work environment. The tool ring  40  include an eyelet  44  that forms part of the ring at an outer diameter  46  of the ring  40 , and define an opening to allow the clasping mechanism  18  to be secured thereto. In one embodiment, the rings  40  are made of molded rubber to be rigid and durable for the purposes described herein. 
     FIG. 5 shows an alternate embodiment of a tool tether assembly  50 , according to another embodiment of the present invention. The assembly  50  also includes a lanyard  52 . The lanyard  52  includes a length of rubber cord  54  attached to the swivel mechanism  29  at one end, and having a rubber flap  56  at an opposite end. The flap  56  includes an opening  58  through which the cord  54  extends, as shown, to define a loop  60 . The rubber-to-rubber friction engagement between the flap  56  and the cord  54  holds the loop  60  in its desired position. The flap  56  can be pulled along the cord  54  to change the size of the loop  60 . 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing how the tool tether assembly  10  is used, according to the invention. In this example, a hardware receptacle  30  is being used, and is selected to have a size that fits over and be molded to an end of a spark plug  62  in a friction type fit. Other tools or hardware may require other sized receptacles  30  or use of the tool ring  40 . The tool tether assembly  10  could be a kit that included the lanyard  12  and a number of different sized receptacles  30  and rings  40  for all types of tools and hardware. 
     In operation, the user selects a receptacle  30  which fits snugly over the head of a chosen piece of hardware. The receptacle  30 , including the piece of hardware, is then connected to the lanyard  12 . The user then puts his or her arm through the loop  14 , and snugs it onto his wrist. The user then loosely installs the piece of hardware, removes the receptacle  30 , and then finishes the installation with the appropriate tool. When removing a piece of hardware, the hardware is first loosened with a tool, and then a receptacle  30  is selected which fits snugly over the head of the particular hardware. The lanyard  12  is then connected to the receptacle  30 , and then the user finishes removing the piece of hardware with his hand. 
     The foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplary embodiments of the present invention. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from such discussion, and from the accompanying drawings and claims, that various changes, modifications or variations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.