Patent Publication Number: US-2003230615-A1

Title: Drywall tape and float knife holster

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] a. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The present invention is related generally to the field of holders or carriers for trowels and knives used to apply and finish concrete and mortar surfaces. More specifically, the present invention is related to the field of holsters for tape and float knives used to work mortar between and install tape upon sheets of drywall.  
       [0003] A tape and float knife is generally described as a broad knife having a board, flat blade from four inches to fourteen inches wide with a handle for gripping which extends perpendicularly opposite the edge of the blade. A professional drywall installer will need, over the course of several hours work, an array of different sized knives for use in corners, to work mortar into crevices, and to apply long strands of tape.  
       [0004] A need exists for the professional drywall installer to have within his reach and ready availability the entire range of tape and float knife sizes. It would be tedious and time consuming to leave all of his tape and float knives at various locations other than on his person, immediately available when needed for the work at hand. Thus, various tape and float knife carriers and carrying arrangements have come into common usage among professional drywall installers. Most often, the professional drywall installer will simply put the handle of a tape and float knife that he expects to need soon into one of his pockets, the pockets being either in his pants or in a work apron being worn by him, with the blade of the tape and float knife extending upward out of the pocket. This is dangerous to the person of the professional drywall installer and is the cause of many accidents and injuries.  
       [0005] Many holsters have been made or adapted by professional drywall installers to carry the needed assortment of sizes of tape and float knives on their person. Such holsters, generally, provide for the tape and float knife to be inserted into the holster blade down. This is a much safer mode of carriage by the professional drywall installer and is overall a great advantage in that the tape and float knife or knives in the holster are carried on the person of the professional drywall installer and are thus readily available when needed.  
       [0006] However, the many holsters available for tape and float knives share a problem, they are all made of material that, while pliable, flexible, light-weight, and otherwise comfortable for the wearer, is easily punctured by repeated insertions and abrasions by the very tape and float knives that they carry. So, there exists a need for a holster for tape and float knives which while pliable, flexible, light-weight, and otherwise comfortable for the wearer, yet is not easily punctured by repeated insertions and abrasions by the tape and float knives that are being holstered.  
       [0007] b. Description of the Prior Art  
       [0008] There are many apparatus, carriers and holsters, that have been devised to be carriers of trowels and tape and float knives. Descriptions of several of such carriers and holsters can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,826,762, 5,695,104, 5,626,272, 4,303,188, 4,300,708, 4,253,593, 3,343,735, and 2,903,171.  
       [0009] In particular, U.S. Pat. No. 4,253,993 teaches a holster designed to carry multiple trowels.  
       [0010] U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,303,188 and 5,626,272 teach containers designed to carry multiple trowels.  
       [0011] U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,300,708, 5,826,762, 3,343,735 and 2,903,171 teach drywall tool carriers that carry multiple implements.  
       [0012] Several of the above-cited prior art inventions disclose carriers or holsters which are adaptable for holstering of tape and float knives which are pliable, flexible, lightweight, and otherwise comfortable for the wearer. However, none of the above-cited prior art or other discovered prior art discloses or teaches protection of the holster or pocket provided by the holster or carrier from the effects of repeated insertions and abrasions caused by the tape and float knives that are being holstered or carried.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013] The instant invention is of a holster suitable for the carrying of multiple tape and float knives which is wearable by the user of the knives, is pliable, flexible, light-weight, and otherwise comfortable for the wearer, and has its pocket lined with soft sheet metal to protect the holster against the effects of repeated insertions and abrasions caused by the tape and float knives that are being holstered or carried.  
       [0014] Accordingly, it the principal object of this invention to provide a holster suitable for the carrying of multiple tape and float knives which is wearable by the user of the knives, is pliable, flexible, lightweight, and otherwise comfortable for the wearer, and has its pocket lined with soft sheet metal to protect the holster against the effects of repeated insertions and abrasions caused by the tape and float knives that are being holstered or carried.  
       [0015] It is a further object of this invention to provide a holster suitable for the carrying of multiple tape and float knives which is inexpensive to manufacture.  
       [0016] It is a yet further object of this invention to provide a holster suitable for the carrying of multiple tape and float knives which provides protection for the wearer from the sharpness of the edges of the tape and float knives which are being holstered or carried.  
       [0017] It is a yet further and final object of this invention to provide a holster suitable for the carrying of multiple tape and float knives which is quickly and easily put on or taken off by the wearer.  
       DESCRIPTION OF NUMERIC REFERENCES  
       [0018] 10 . Tape and Float Knife Holster of the instant invention  
       [0019] 20 . Pliable, flexible, lightweight, Holster Backing Material  
       [0020] 30 . First Holster Front Piece  
       [0021] 40 . Second Holster Front Piece  
       [0022] 50 . Third Holster Front Piece  
       [0023] 60 . Folded Piece of Holster Backing Material forming Belt Loop  
       [0024] 70 . Short Tape and Float Knife  
       [0025] 71 . Short Tape and Float Knife Handle  
       [0026] 72 . Short Tape and Float Knife Pocket Liner  
       [0027] 80 . Intermediate Size Tape and Float Knife  
       [0028] 81 . Intermediate Size Tape and Float Knife Handle  
       [0029] 82 . Intermediate Size Tape and Float Knife Pocket Liner  
       [0030] 90 . Long Tape and Float Knife  
       [0031] 91 . Long Tape and Float Knife Handle  
       [0032] 92 . Long Tape and Float Knife Pocket Liner  
       [0033] 101 . Rivet  
       [0034] 102 . Rivet  
       [0035] 103 . Rivet  
       [0036] 104 . Rivet  
       [0037] 105 . Rivet  
       [0038] 106 . Rivet  
       [0039] 107 . Rivet  
       [0040] 108 . Rivet  
       [0041] 109 . Rivet  
       [0042] 110 . Rivet  
       [0043] 111 . Rivet  
       [0044] 112 . Rivet  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0045] While the novel features of the instant invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims, a full and complete understanding of the invention can be had by referring to the detailed description of the preferred embodiment(s) which are set forth subsequently, and which are as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:  
     [0046]FIG. 1 is a vertical plane frontal view of the instant invention.  
     [0047]FIG. 2 is a vertical plane lateral view of the Short Tape and Float Knife Pocket.  
     [0048]FIG. 3 is a horizontal plane top view of the Short Tape and Float Knife Pocket.  
     [0049]FIG. 4 is a horizontal plane top view of the Intermediate Length Tape and Float Knife Pocket.  
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)  
     [0050] As seen in FIG. 1, the instant invention is of a holster  10  suitable for the carrying of multiple tape and float knives  70 ,  80 , and  90 , which is wearable by the user of the knives  70 ,  80 , and  90 , is pliable, flexible, light-weight, and otherwise comfortable for the wearer, and has each of its pockets lined with soft sheet metal  72 ,  82 , and  92 , to protect the holster  10  against the effects of repeated insertions and abrasions caused by the tape and float knives  70 ,  80 , and  90 , that are being holstered or carried. The component parts of the holster  10  of the instant invention are the pliable, flexible back plate  20 , the first holster front piece  30 , the second holster front piece  40 , the third holster front piece  50 , the folded piece of holster backing material forming a belt loop  60 , the pocket liner material  72 ,  82 , and  92 , and the rivets  101  through  112 .  
     [0051] In the preferred embodiment of the instant invention, the first holster front piece  30 , the second holster front piece  40 , and the third holster front piece  50 , are connected to the flexible back plate  20  by rivets  101  through  112 . It is easily foreseeable that numerous other methods of connection are possible, as for example the parts might be adhered together, sewn together, or even made of a single piece of a plastic material. The preferred embodiment of the instant invention rivets the parts, the first holster front piece  30 , the second holster front piece  40 , the third holster front piece  50 , and the flexible back plate  20 , together at their lateral edges for durability and ease of construction. The parts themselves are, in the preferred embodiment, cut from supple, tanned leather. The selection and use of leather as the base material for the construction of the parts was made because of leather&#39;s pliable, flexible nature, and thus comfort to the wearer, and of leather&#39;s inexpensive, almost universal, availability. Numerous other construction materials could be substituted, as for example various soft plastics and various types of cloth and particularly heavy canvas.  
     [0052] However, the use of leather as the base material for the construction of the parts, the first holster front piece  30 , the second holster front piece  40 , the third holster front piece  50 , and the flexible back plate  20 , raises the issue of the durability of the material. As the ultimate use of the holster  10  being constructed from the parts  20 ,  30 ,  40 , and  50 , is to receive and hold the knives  70 ,  80 , and  90 , the material will necessarily be exposed to continuous incidents of abrasion and subjected to cutting by the knife  70 ,  80 , or  90 , edges. Within a short period of time these incidents of abrasion and the subjection to cutting will cause destruction of the leather material selected for the preferred embodiment. This is a problem encountered by many of the holsters and carriers or the prior art. While leather is flexible and pliable, and thus comfortable to the wearer of the holster  10  as the wearer bends his body in the course of performing his task of taping and floating drywall materials during installation of interior walls in a building or other structure, leather is nonetheless easily cut and abraded by the knives  70 ,  80 , and  90 , that are inserted into and carried by the holster  10 . Accordingly, the preferred embodiment utilizes soft metal sheet material as a liner for the interior of each of the pockets formed in the holster  10 .  
     [0053] A pocket is formed between the first holster front piece  30  and the flexible back plate  20  by connecting the lateral edges of the first holster front piece  20  to the lateral edges of the flexible back plate  20  and the, optionally, connecting the bottom edge of the first holster front piece  30  to the flexible back plate  20 . The connection of the bottom edge of the first holster front piece  30  to the flexible back plate  20  is optional because, in alternate embodiments, all or one or more portions of the bottom edge of the first holster front piece  30  are left unconnected to the flexible back plate  20  in order to permit the dried mortar debris which collects in the pocket formed between the first holster front piece  30  and the flexible back plate  20  to fall through the bottom of the pocket and thus be discharged from the holster  10 . Such discharge might, as would be the case with the pocket arrangement depicted in FIG. 1, be by from a pocket located closer to the top of the holster  10  into a pocket located lower on the flexible back plate  20 , and then subsequently into a pocket located yet lower on the flexible back plate  20  or out of the lower-most pocket onto the ground beneath the wearer of the holster  10 . Likewise, a pocket is formed by connection of the second holster front piece  40  to the flexible back plate  20 , and yet another pocket is formed by connection of the third holster front piece  50  to the flexible back plate  20 . The dried mortar debris is formed from the wet or moist mortar clinging to the knives  70 ,  80 , and/or  90 , as they are slid into the holster  10  pockets after use. The means of connection of the holster front pieces  30 ,  40 , and  50 , to the flexible back plate  20  is, in the preferred embodiment by rivets  101  through  112  at the lateral edges of the holster front pieces  30 ,  40 , and  50 , and by sewing for connection between the holster front pieces  30 ,  40 , or  50 , to the flexible back plate  20  at points intermediate to the lateral edges of the holster front pieces  30 ,  40 , and  50 . Such intermediate connections (not depicted in the drawings) could, alternatively, be accomplished by adhering, riveting, or numerous other methods.  
     [0054] The actual dimensions of each of the pockets formed as above-described may be adjusted by stitching or otherwise connecting the holster front piece  30 ,  40 , or  50 , to the flexible back plate  20  at points intermediate to the lateral edges of the respective holster front pieces  30 ,  40 , and  50 . Additional pocket size adjustment may be accomplished by shortening the width of the strip of material forming the holster front piece  30 ,  40 , or  50 . For example, a narrow or shortened width of the first holster front piece  30  will produce a pocket of lessened depth, and conversely. For additional example, connection of the first holster front piece  30  to the flexible back plate  20  in two vertical lines from the top edge to the bottom edge of the first holster front piece will form a pocket between the two vertical lines. Similarly, the pocket size created by connection of the second holster front piece  40  to the flexible back plate  20  may be adjusted and the pocket size created by connection of the third holster front piece  50  to the flexible back plate  20  may be adjusted.  
     [0055] The pocket liner  72 ,  82 , and  92 , material utilized in the preferred embodiment is a soft metal sheet material, tin. However, numerous other pocket liner  72 ,  82 , and  92 , materials could be used. The characteristics needed by the liner material are that it not be easily cut by the insertion or carrying of the knives  70 ,  80 , and  90 , that it not be easily abraded by the insertion or carrying of the knives  70 ,  80 , and  90 , and that it not react chemically with the moist mortar material which clings to the knives  70 ,  80 , and  90 , when they are inserted into the pockets of the holster  10  immediately after use in applying or working wet mortar during the process of applying drywall. Additionally, in the FIGS.  1 - 4 , the pocket liners  72 ,  82 , and  92 , are depicted as two sheets of material, one sheet, for example  72  in the case of the pocket formed by connection of the first holster front piece  30  to the flexible back plate  20 , lining the front interior wall of the pocket and the second sheet, for example  74  in the case of the pocket formed by connection of the first holster front piece  30  to the flexible back plate  20 , lining the rear interior wall of the pocket. The use of two distinct sheets of liner material, for example  72  and  74  in FIG. 3, in the preferred embodiment is selected so that an unobstructed path for the discharge of dried mortar debris will be available. Other lining arrangements are anticipated in additional embodiments whereby the liner may be simply an impregnation of the materials forming the pocket with materials resistant to being cut or abraded or may be a single piece construction which is inserted into the pocket and then either connected to the materials forming the pocket or not, or may be of various other configurations which impart to the interior of the pockets the qualities of not being easily cut or abraded by the insertion or carrying of the knives  70 ,  80 , and  90 . The pocket liners  72 ,  82 , and  92 , are depicted in the Figures as being rolled over the top edge of the holster front pieces  30 ,  40 , and  50 . This rolling over of the material of the pocket liners  72 ,  82 , and  92 , acts to protect the top edge of the holster front pieces  30 ,  40 , and  50 , from accidental cutting of the holster  10  by the act of inserting a knife  70 ,  80 , or  90 .  
     [0056] Each of the knives  70 ,  80 , and  90 , are depicted in the Figures as having a handle, handle  71  for knife  70 , handle  81  for knife  80 , and handle  91  for knife  90 . Such handles  71 ,  81 , and  91 , are common on knives  70 ,  80 , and  90 , utilized for taping and floating mortar in the drywall installation business, but form no part of the instant invention. The width of the knives  70 ,  80 , and  90 , are depicted in the Figures as being of increasing width, top to bottom, but the width of the knives  70 ,  80 , and  90 , and consequent size arrangement of the pockets forms no portion of the instant invention.  
     [0057] A belt loop connection means is depicted in FIG. 1 as a folded piece of holster backing material  60  which forms a belt loop in the preferred embodiment. Numerous alternative methods of connection to the wearer&#39;s belt are possible, numerous alternative means may be utilized for connection to the wearer&#39;s belt are envisioned, and numerous alternative possible attachment methods of the holster  10  to the person or clothing of the wearer and each of such possibilities is to be understood as an alternative embodiment of the instant invention.  
     [0058] While the preferred embodiments of the instant invention have been described in substantial detail and fully and completely hereinabove, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that numerous variations of the instant invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the instant invention, and accordingly the instant invention is to be limited only by the following claims.