Patent Publication Number: US-6659321-B2

Title: Pocket-mounted tool pouch

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a tool pouch which inserts into a pocket of the user and integrates an inside pocket holder with an outside pocket tool holder to provide tool receiving cavities located both internally and externally to the user pocket. Electricians and other workmen frequently find themselves carrying tools in their pockets. This is especially true if they are only carrying a few tools because it is easier to put these few tools in their pockets than rigging a tool pouch. Oftentimes, the tools can be quite sharp, as with the case of some electrical tools, and tend to pierce the fabric of workmen&#39;s pants or other pieces of clothing. Workmen are occasionally injured when the sharp tools dig into their skin through the thin fabric of their clothing during routine working activities. The pockets will develop holes or tears from frequent use. It further can be difficult to remove tools from pockets, particularly pant pockets, due to the coarseness of the fabric or the tightness of the clothing on the user. 
     Current inside-the-pocket tool holders provide protection to the user&#39;s pant pocket but only provide for the placement of tools within the pant pocket. There may not be enough room in the pant pocket to accommodate the worker&#39;s tools making it important to provide the worker with a pocket-mounted holder which can accommodate more tools outside of the pocket. 
     Other tool pouches provide tool-receiving compartments which are positioned outside of the pocket and are mounted to the pant pocket with hooks or insertion tabs. These outside-of-the-pocket tool pouches do not have tool-receiving compartments located internally of the user pant pocket. Users are left with nothing to protect their pant pocket if they need to place additional tools in their pocket. Thus, there is a desire for a tool pouch which combines the features of an inside-the-pocket tool holder with those of an outside-the-pocket tool holder. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a pocket-mounted tool pouch with tool receiving compartments which receive tools both inside the user pocket and outside the user pocket. 
     A primary purpose of the invention is to provide a tool pouch having an internal tool receiving portion and an external tool receiving portion for receiving tools both inside and outside of the pocket. 
     Another purpose of the invention is to provide a tool pouch made of a protective material to protect the user from injury due to the placement of sharp tools in the tool pouch compartments. 
     Another purpose of the invention is to provide a tool pouch having a smooth surface in order to facilitate insertion and extraction of tools from the pouch. 
     Still another purpose of the invention is to provide a tool pouch which protects the pocket from excessive wear due to frequent insertion and extraction of tools from the pockets. 
     Yet another purpose of the invention is to provide a tool pouch which protects the pocket from dirt, oil and the like which can be frequently deposited on tools. 
     A further purpose of the invention is to provide a tool pouch which doubles the tool carrying capacity of the pocket while providing a sleek, professional and organized appearance for the user. 
     An additional purpose of the invention is to provide a tool pouch which allows for removal of all tools at once merely by lifting the tool pouch out of the pocket. 
     Another purpose of the invention is to provide a tool pouch which can be either mounted to a pocket or attached to a belt depending on the day-to-day needs of the user. 
     Other purposes will appear in the ensuing specification, drawings and claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the tool pouch of the present invention shown as being mounted to a user pant pocket. 
     FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the tool pouch. 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the tool pouch. 
     FIG. 4 is a rear elevation view of the tool pouch shown with a belt loop. 
     FIG. 5 is a rear elevation view of the tool pouch shown with alternate belt slots. 
     FIG. 6 is a plan view of the tool pouch, on an enlarged scale. 
     FIG. 7 is a section taken along line  7 — 7  of FIG. 4 with an exaggerated expansion of the pouch to illustrate its various layers. 
     FIG. 8 is a section taken along line  8 — 8  of FIG.  7 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The tool pouch  10  includes an internal tool receiving portion  12  and an external tool receiving portion  14 . The internal tool receiving portion  12  is insertable into the user pocket  13  to provide a protective tool holder within the user pocket. The external tool receiving portion  14  is positioned outside of the user pocket  13  for receiving tools. Although the internal and external receiving portions will be shown and described as substantially being made from a single piece of material which is folded over onto itself, it is possible that they can be constructed from separate pieces which are sewn, glued or otherwise fastened together. Whereas the drawings show a double fabric layer being attributed to the tool pouch parts, a single fabric layer could be used. Moreover, while the invention is shown and described as being insertable into a user pant pocket, it is applicable to any clothing pocket. 
     In FIGS. 1 through 8, the internal tool receiving portion  12  is made of a first internal member  16  and a second internal member  17 . The first internal member  16  is generally planar and has side edges  18 , a top end  20 , a bottom end  22 , and a user contact surface  24  which is positioned closest to the user when the first internal member is positioned within the user pocket. The side edges  18  and ends  20 ,  22  are sized to be substantially received by the user pocket. As shown in FIG. 1, it is preferred that the first internal member  16  be sized as large as possible while still fitting within the user&#39;s pocket  13 . The first internal member top end  20  preferably extends upward from the top of the user&#39;s pocket when the tool pouch is positioned therein. Other shapes and sizes are also possible so long as the tool pouch is capable of being received by the pocket in the user&#39;s clothing. 
     The first internal member  16  is shown as being constructed with an underlying or internal stiffening element  28  (shown in dotted lines in FIGS. 3 through 5) with an overlying resilient material. This construction provides the desired degree of rigidity and resiliency. Specifically, the tool pouch will tend to keep its shape regardless of what tools are placed within it. 
     FIGS. 3 through 8 show a first fold line  31  which separates the first internal member  16  from the second internal member  17  with the bottom end  22  common to both the internal members  16 ,  17 . The second internal member  17  has a generally planar shape and includes side edges  36 , a top end  38  and the bottom end  22 . Although the second internal member  17  may have any dimensions, it is preferred that it be sized substantially the same as the first internal member, i.e., as large as possible while still being received by the user pocket. The second internal member side edges  36  are attached to the first internal member side edges  18  opposite the user contact surface  24  with both top ends  20 ,  38  left open as shown in FIG.  6 . As such, the first internal member  16  and the second internal member  17  can be described as the elements which define an internal tool receiving cavity  48  therebetween. 
     Similarly, the external tool receiving portion  14  has a first external member  32  and a second external member  34 . The first external member  32  of the external tool receiving portion  14  is connected to the second internal member  17  of the internal tool receiving portion  12  on the side opposite the first internal member  16 . The connection between the internal and external tool receiving portions  12 ,  14  occurs at the top end  38  and forms a bail  50 . Although the external tool receiving portion  14  is shown to have substantially similar dimensions as the internal tool receiving portion  12 , it is possible for the external tool receiving portion to have different dimensions and a different shape than the internal tool receiving portion. 
     Both the first and second external members  32 ,  34  are generally planar. The first external member  32  has side edges  42 , a bottom end  46 , and shares the top end  38  at the bail  50  with the second internal member  17 . The second external member  34  has side edges  52  and a top end  54  and shares the bottom end  46  with the first external member  32  along a fold line  51 . The second external member  34  is attached to the first external member on the side thereof opposite the second internal member  17  along side edges  42 ,  52  as best seen in FIG.  8 . The top end  54  is left open. As such, the first and second external members  32 ,  34  can be described as the elements which define an external tool receiving cavity  58 . Although any size or shape is possible for the second external member  34 , it is preferred that its sides  52  be aligned with the side dimensions of the first external member  32 . The second external member top end  54  may be located slightly below the first external member top end  38  or the bail  50  to facilitate the insertion of tools into the external tool receiving cavity  58  by the user. Other orientations of the second external member top end are possible such as where the top end is located higher than the first external member top end  38  to accommodate larger tools or prevent tools from falling out. 
     Either of the tool receiving cavities  48 ,  58  may be divided into compartments to hold tools individually or prevent tools from becoming tangled. Additional cavities, receptacles, loops or the like may be attached to the second external member to hold additional tools outside of the user&#39;s pocket. 
     FIGS. 3 through 8 illustrate the tool pouch with a belt attachment. In FIGS. 3,  4 , and  6 , a belt loop  62  is attached to the user contact surface  24  of the first internal member  16 . In FIG. 5, slots  64  are shown as an alternate method for insertion of a belt within the user contact surface  24  of the first internal member  16 . Although the belt loops and slots are shown as being positioned on the first internal member, other placements are also possible. 
     The tool pouch is preferably made from a resilient protective material such as nylon or the like to protect the user from injury from the placement of sharp tools in the tool pouch pockets. The tool pouch has a multi-layered construction where at least a two-layer fabric thickness is used. The additional layers of material may be an overlapped portion of a single piece of fabric as shown, or separate pieces of fabric, either comprised of the same or similar material or different kinds of material. The additional thickness of a multi-layered construction provides added strength, rigidity and durability to the tool pouch and prevents injury to the user by sharp tools within the tool pouch. It is important that the overlying protective material has a relatively smooth surface in order to facilitate insertion and extraction of tools from the user&#39;s pocket and to prevent tools from snagging on the surface. Durability and wear characteristics of the pouch are also important. The pockets and edges must withstand abrasion and wear from frequent use and resist puncture from tools placed within the pouch. The pouch preferably is made of at least two layers of an overlapped or folded over piece of uncut fabric. Alternatively, a single layer of 600-denier fabric having double thickness may also be used to construct the pockets or other parts of the pouch. 
     In FIGS. 1 through 8 reinforcing tape  60  is added along the attached member sides edges of both the internal and external tool receiving portions  12 ,  14  in order to increase the strength and durability of the tool pouch. The tape is preferably cloth material that is sewn or stitched to the side edges of the various layers. 
     As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the underlying stiffening element  28  is inserted between the double layers of the first internal member  16  and is preferably narrower than the width thereof so as to not interfere with the stitching of the tape  60  along the side edges of the internal tool receiving portion  12 . If desired however, the width of the stiffening element  28  can be expanded to the seams. Although the underlying stiffening element is shown as incorporated within the first internal member  16 , it is contemplated that an underlying stiffening element could be used to strengthen any or all parts of the tool pouch including but not limited to additional tool receiving cavities attached to the tool pouch. A curved or segmented stiffening element may also be used for the bail. 
     To assemble the tool pouch as shown in the drawings, a piece of material starts at the first internal member top end  20  and continues to the bottom end  22 . The surface of the first internal member  16  adjacent the user forms the user contact surface  24 . At the bottom end  22 , the material is folded along fold line  31  in the direction opposite user contact surface  24  and continues upwards to form the second internal member  17  turning at the second internal member top end  38  to form the U-shaped bail  50 . Attachment between the first and second internal members  16 ,  17  occurs along the side edges  18 ,  36  and forms the internal tool receiving cavity  48 . From the bail  50 , the material folds over to form the first external member  32  continuing to the first external member bottom end  46  where the material folds again at fold line  51 . From the fold line  51 , the material forms the second external member  34  with attachment occurring along the side edges  42 ,  52  of the first and second external member  32 ,  34  forming the external tool receiving cavity  58 . If a layer of material is used of the same fabric, an additional fold line can be added at the second external member top end  54  and the material simply retraces its shape back to the first internal member top end  20  thus forming a piece of material which has a seamless length with attachment being required between the member side edges and the first internal member top end  20  only. If additional layers of the same fabric is required, then a fold line can be created at first internal member top end  20  and retrace the tool pouch shape to second member top end  54  and so on and so forth until the desired number of layers is attained. It is also possible for each multi-layer of fabric to be an individually cut piece rather than a folded over piece. 
     The methods of attachment forming the internal and external tool receiving cavities  48 ,  58  include but are not limited to stitching, glueing, riveting or other like methods. By way of example, but not limitation, stitch lines are shown at  66  along tape  60  in FIGS. 2,  4 , and  5 . Where the multi-layered thickness is comprised of individual pieces of material, then additional attachment points will be required to connect the layers to each other. 
     Other constructions are also possible. For instance, it is possible for the tool pouch to be comprised of individual elements which together form the internal tool receiving portion  12  or the external tool receiving portion  14 . By way of example, the first and second internal members of the internal tool receiving portion could be comprised of separate pieces of material which are attached to each other along their side edges and separate bottom ends forming the internal tool receiving cavity. The first and second external members may be similarly comprised of separate elements which are attached along their sides edges and bottom ends. The bail may also be a point of attachment between the top ends of the second internal member and the first external member. Among all the members, any combination of single or multi-layer construction, underlying stiffening elements and reinforcing seams is also possible. 
     To insert the tool pouch  10 , the user slides the internal tool receiving portion  12  having first and second internal members  16 ,  17  into the user pocket until the user meets resistance. As shown in FIG. 1, the internal tool receiving cavity  48  receives tools therein while in the user&#39;s pocket. The internal tool receiving portion  12  may be insertable into the user&#39;s pocket up to the bail  50  with the bottom end  22  being securely positioned adjacent the pocket bottom. The first internal member top end  20  extends upward from the top of the user&#39;s pocket when the tool pouch is positioned therein to provide additional protection to the user&#39;s clothing during insertion and extraction of the tools. From the bail  50 , the tool pouch extends outside of the user&#39;s pocket to define the external tool receiving cavity  58 . 
     The tool pouch provides a protected compartment located inside the user&#39;s pocket and an another tool compartment located outside the user&#39;s pocket. The pouch protects the user&#39;s pocket from excessive wear due to repeated insertion and extraction of tools therefrom. It further protects the user&#39;s pocket from dirt, oil or the like which can be frequently deposited on tools. The overall appearance of the tool pouch provides a sleek, professional and organized appearance for the wearer and doubles the tool carrying capacity of the user&#39;s pocket. The tool pouch allows for complete removal of all the tools from the user&#39;s pocket at once simply by lifting the tool pouch out of the user&#39;s pocket. 
     Whereas the preferred form of the invention has been shown and described herein, it should be realized that there may be many modifications, substitutions and alterations thereto. For instance, it is possible for the internal and external tool receiving cavities to have other adaptations such as loops, holes, hooks, other shaped compartments for receiving different types of tools, measuring devices, spare parts, clipboards, keys, cards and other like objects. Although the tool pouch is shown to be sized to fit into a back pocket of the user&#39;s pants, it is realized that the tool pouch may be sized to fit other pockets such as the front right or left pant pockets, side clothing pockets, cargo pant pockets, coat pockets, jacket pockets, shirt pockets or other pockets as needed by the user.