Patent Publication Number: US-9402457-B2

Title: Lanyard attachment assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to hand tools and accessories. More particularly, the present invention relates to a lanyard attachment assembly for hand tools and other objects. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Hand tools are widely used in construction, maintenance, and industrial facilities operations. The user of a tool often stores tools in a bag, box, pouch, or tool belt when the tool is not being used. The user then selects the appropriate tool for a given task and returns the tool to its storage location after the task is complete. For tasks performed at elevated heights, dropping a tool can cause injury to individuals or damage to objects below the worker. The dropped tool also is a significant inconvenience for workers who must spend time to retrieve the dropped tool. 
     Tool makers have partially addressed the problem of dropped tools by attaching a ring to a tool by connecting the ring through an opening in the end of the tool handle. For example, a metal ring passes through an opening in the end of a handle of a hammer or pipe wrench. Another method of addressing this problem is to attach a ring or grommet to the tool by forming a sleeve over the end of the tool&#39;s handle or grip where the sleeve has a solid end with an opening in the solid end. For example, one line of tools includes hammers, hinged pliers, and adjustable spanners that have a rubber sleeve formed over the grip of the tool with a solid end portion of the sleeve extending beyond the end of the grip. A ring passes through an opening or grommet in the solid end of the rubber sleeve. The user clips one end of a lanyard to the ring and attaches the other end of the lanyard to the user&#39;s tool belt, scaffolding, ladder, or other object. 
     Another method of addressing the problem of dropped tools is a lanyard attachment assembly that includes a connector attached to a leader. The leader is a generally-flat strip of material that is secured to a tool by heat shrink tubing slipped over both the tool and the leader. The heat shrink tubing is subsequently heated, thereby shrinking the tubing to provide a snug fit over the leader and securing the leader to the tool. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One limitation of currently-available tool lanyard attachment methods is that some methods rely on the tool having an unused or free end of the handle to which a rubber sleeve or ring may be attached. This design is not useful, however, for two-ended tools with functional features on each end of the tool. A combination wrench, for example, has one open end and one box end to provide dual functionality. Attaching a ring by using a sleeve formed over either end of the combination wrench renders that end of the wrench useless for its intended use. Similarly, connecting a ring through the box-end of a wrench renders that end useless for turning bolts because the ring is in the way of the bolt head. 
     One limitation of lanyard attachment assemblies that include a leader secured to the tool with heat shrink tubing is that this design has proven unreliable. The assembly fails because the leader may be inadvertently pulled out from the heat shrink tubing. 
     Therefore, what is needed is an improved lanyard attachment assembly for hand tools and other objects. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a lanyard attachment that reinforces safety. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide a lanyard attachment that increases productivity. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide a lanyard attachment that reduces operating costs. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to improve reliability of lanyard attachment assemblies. 
     The present invention achieves these and other objectives by providing a lanyard attachment assembly having a sleeve, a strap forming a closed loop, and an optional connector. In one embodiment of the present invention, the lanyard attachment assembly has a sleeve with an inside surface and an outside surface. The inside surface of the sleeve defines a passageway through the sleeve. The assembly also has a strap forming a closed loop that passes through the passageway of the sleeve, thereby linking the strap to the sleeve. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, the lanyard attachment assembly has a connector with an opening through the connector. In this embodiment, the strap also passes through the connector opening, linking the sleeve to the connector. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, the closed loop has a first end portion and an opposite second end portion. The closed loop also has a first strap portion and a second strap portion that is aligned with and opposed to the first strap portion. The first strap portion and the second strap portion each extend between the first end portion and the second end portion. The first end portion of the closed loop includes a first turn between the first strap portion and the second strap portion. The second end portion of the closed loop includes a second turn between the first strap portion and the second strap portion. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, one or both of the first turn and the second turn is configured so that the strap folds back on itself and the first strap portion is secured to the second strap portion at a connection point to define one or more additional strap openings. In another embodiment of the present invention, the first strap portion is connected to the second strap portion at the connection point by stitching, an adhesive, a closed loop encircling the connection point, one or more staples, one or more clips, one or more crimp bands, one or more clamps, or a combination of these devices. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, the assembly has a plurality of connectors. In one embodiment, the plurality of connectors includes a first connector and a second connector. A first strap end of the strap folds back at a first fold onto the strap and is connected to the strap at a first connection point to define a secondary opening through which passes a portion of the first connector. A second strap end of the strap folds back at a second fold onto the strap and is connected to the strap at a second connection point to define an additional secondary opening through which passes a portion of the second connector. A closed loop is formed by the first fold passing through the opening of the second connector to overlap the second fold or by the second fold passing through the opening of the first connector to overlap the first fold. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, the sleeve is heat shrink tubing having a shrink ratio preferably between about 2:1 and about 4:1. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, the assembly has an adhesive disposed on the inside surface of the sleeve. The adhesive in one embodiment is heat-activated. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, the connector is a D-ring, an O-ring, a carabiner, a shackle, split ring, a tri-loop, an open ring, a loop, a hook, or a snap hook. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, the strap is made of polymeric material, metal, or a combination of these materials. 
     In one method of making a lanyard attachment assembly, a length of strap having a first strap end and second strap end is selected. The first strap end or the second strap end is passed through the passageway of the sleeve. The first strap end or the second strap end also passes through the connector opening of one or more connectors. The first strap end is then positioned to overlap the second strap end and the overlapping portion of the strap is fixedly secured with one or more fastening means to form a closed loop with a primary opening therethrough. The resulting assembly includes a sleeve linked to a connector by a strap forming a closed loop. 
     Optionally, the first strap portion and the second strap portion are fixedly secured together at connection points with fastening means to define one or more fastener receiving openings or secondary openings. In another embodiment of making the lanyard attachment assembly, the connector is not included, in which case the assembly includes a sleeve linked to a strap forming a closed loop. In a preferred embodiment of a method of making a lanyard attachment assembly, the sleeve is heat shrink tubing, the strap is woven nylon webbing, and the connector(s) is (are) a metal D-ring. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of a lanyard attachment assembly of the present invention showing a sleeve, a strap, and an optional connector. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates one embodiment of a sleeve of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates one embodiment of a connector of the present invention showing a D-ring. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates one embodiment of a strap of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates another embodiment of a strap of the present invention showing overlapped end portions of the strap fixedly bound to each other. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates another embodiment of a strap of the present invention showing overlapped end portions where one end portion also overlaps on itself to form a connector receiving opening. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates another embodiment of a strap of the present invention with a connector and sleeve showing a connection receiving opening and a strap connection point. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates another embodiment of a strap of the present invention showing a secondary opening and an additional strap connection point. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates the strap of  FIG. 9  used as part of a lanyard attachment assembly installed on a hand tool. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a further embodiment of a strap as part of a lanyard attachment assembly of the present invention showing multiple connectors. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  installed on a hand tool. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in  FIGS. 1-11 .  FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of a lanyard attachment assembly  100  having a sleeve  130 , a strap  150 , and an optional connector  180 . Strap  150  passes through passageway  136  of sleeve  150  and through opening  186  of connector  180 . Strap  150  is fixedly secured to itself, forming a closed loop  152  and linking sleeve  130  to connector  180 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an embodiment of sleeve  130  as shown in lanyard attachment assembly  100  of  FIG. 1 . Sleeve  130  is preferably a length of plastic or rubber tubing that has an outside surface  132  and an inside surface  134 . Inside surface  134  defines a passageway  136  extending longitudinally through sleeve  130 ; inside surface  134  corresponds to inside diameter  136 ′ of sleeve  130 . Sleeve  130  preferably has a length  138  between 1.5 inches and 4 inches, but is not limited to these lengths. Sleeve  130  optionally has adhesive  140  disposed on inside surface  134  of sleeve  130 . In one embodiment, adhesive  140  is heat activated, but other adhesives  140  are acceptable and include, for example, air-cured adhesives, chemically-activated adhesives, anaerobic adhesives, cyanoacrylate adhesives, pressure-sensitive adhesives, epoxies, and various other adhesives. 
     In one embodiment, sleeve  130  is made of extruded thermoplastic heat shrink tubing. Sleeve  130  is mechanically expanded after extrusion where inside diameter  136 ′ represents the sleeve&#39;s expanded state. When heated, sleeve  130  is capable of returning to its relaxed state with a smaller inside diameter  136 ′. Heat shrink tubing is commonly made of polyolefin, fluoropolymers, nylon, PVC, silicon elastomer, neoprene, or a fluoropolymer elastomer, such as the fluoropolymer elastomer made by DuPont under the name Viton™. The ratio of the heat shrink tubing&#39;s inside diameter  136 ′ in its expanded state to its inside diameter  136 ′ in its relaxed state is known as the shrink ratio. The shrink ratio can be 6:1 or greater in some shrink tubing. Preferably, the shrink ratio for sleeve  130  is 4:1, 3:1, or 2:1, but this ratio is selected based on the difference in size between the tool&#39;s ends  112 ,  114  and the portion of tool  110  where lanyard attachment assembly  100  is to be installed, such as the handle or middle portion  116  of tool  110 . For example, a smaller shrink ratio can be used with a hex wrench, which has ends  112 ,  114  that are substantially identical in size to the handle or middle portion  116  between ends  112 ,  114 . In contrast, for a combination wrench, a larger shrink ratio would be appropriate due to the difference in overall size between middle portion  116  and first or second ends  112 ,  114 . 
     In another embodiment, sleeve  130  is made of rubber. Sleeve  130  preferably has inside diameter  136 ′ corresponding to a sleeve circumference that is smaller than the circumference of the portion of tool  110  where sleeve  130  is to be installed. The elastic properties of sleeve  130  are sufficient for inner diameter  136 ′ of sleeve to be expanded (e.g., stretched) so sleeve  130  passes over at least one of ends  112 ,  114  of tool  110  and positioned over the tool&#39;s handle, middle portion  116 , or other part. Sleeve  130  then is allowed to resume its relaxed state to the extent possible to create a snug fit to tool  110 . 
       FIG. 3  shows one embodiment of connector  180  with opening  186  through connector  180 . Connector is preferably a metal D-ring having a straight section  182  connected across a U-shaped section  184 . Connector may be any other closed or partially-closed connector including an O-ring, a carabiner, a shackle, split ring, a tri-loop, an open ring, a loop, a snap hook, a spring clip, or a spring buckle. Connector  180  in some embodiments has multiple openings  186 , such as some buckle clips, for example. Connector  180  may be made of any material suitable for the user&#39;s desired strength, durability, and weight requirements. Materials for connector  180  include, for example, steel, aluminum, metal alloys, rubber, cloth, rope, plastic, reinforced composites, wire, and the like. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates one embodiment of strap  150  as shown in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Strap  150  is preferably nylon webbing, but strap  150  may be made of other woven, non-woven, knitted, braided, or solid materials including, but not limited to rubber, cloth, metal, and plastic. In some embodiments, strap  150  is made of knitted, woven, or braided elastic webbing that is capable or stretching 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%, or more of its original, unstretched length. 
     Strap  150  forms a closed loop  152  having a first end portion  158  and a second end portion  160 . Closed loop  152  also has a first strap portion  154  and a second strap portion  156  generally aligned with and opposing first strap portion  154 . First strap portion  154  and second strap portion  156  each extend between first end portion  158  and second end portion  160 . First end portion  158  of closed loop  152  includes a first fold or first turn  162  between first strap portion  154  and second strap portion  156 ; second end portion  160  includes a second fold or second turn  164  between first strap portion  154  and second strap portion  156 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates another embodiment of closed loop  152  of strap  150 . In this embodiment, strap  150  has a first strap end  151   a  and a second strap end  151   b . First strap end  151   a  overlaps in an opposed direction and is fixedly secured to second strap end  151   b , forming closed loop  152 . Closed loop  152  defines primary opening  172  therethrough. Overlapping portions of first strap end  151   a  and second strap end  151   b  are fixedly secured together with one or more fastening means  155 . Fastening means  155  is preferably stitching. Other acceptable fastening means  155  include, for example, a rivet, a staple, a clip, adhesive, fusion, and the like. 
     Optionally, closed loop  152  is seamless and continuous where an open connector  180  (not shown) and open sleeve  130  (not shown) is passed through primary opening  172  and subsequently closed to link sleeve  130 , strap  150 , and connector  180 . For example, connector  180  is convertible between an open position and a closed position (e.g., a split ring or carabiner). Connector  180  is passed through primary opening  172  in its open position and is then converted to its closed position to link connector  180  to closed loop  152 . Similarly, a strip of rubber or neoprene, for example, may be closed or seamed together after passing it through primary opening  172  of closed loop  152 , forming sleeve  130  and linking it to closed loop  152 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates another embodiment of strap  150 . In this embodiment, strap  150  forms a multi-layered closed loop  152 ′ where first strap end  151   a  and second strap end  151   b  each fold towards a middle location  159  of strap  150 . Strap  150  is then folded again at or near middle location  159  with first strap end  151   a  and second strap end  151   b  positioned on the inside of the fold and extending in the same direction. The resulting structure is a closed loop  152 ′ with overlapping layers  153   a - 153   d  and defining primary opening  172  and one or more connector receiving openings or secondary openings  174  between layers of closed loop  152 ′. 
     First strap end  151   a  and second strap end  151   b  preferably occupy middle layer  153   b  and second middle layer  153   c , respectively. Portions of strap  150  between first strap end  151   a  and second strap end  151   b  occupy first layer  153   a  and end layer  153   d . Fastening means  166 ,  167  secure together first layer  153   a , middle layer  153   b  (first strap end  151   a ), and second middle layer  153   c  (second strap end  151   b ) at spaced-apart locations. Fastening means  166 ,  167  are preferably stitching, but other fastening means may be used as described above. Closed loop  152 ′ has primary opening  172  between second middle layer  153   c  and end layer  153   d . Closed loop  152 ′ has a connector receiving opening or secondary opening  174  between first layer  153   a  and middle layer  153   b . A portion of sleeve  130  passes through primary opening  172  between second middle layer  153   c  and end layer  153   d  to link together strap  150  and sleeve  130 . A portion of connector  180  (e.g., straight section  182  of a D-ring) passes through secondary opening  174  between first layer  153   a  and middle layer  153   b  to link together strap  150  and connector  180 . 
     Optionally, only second strap end  151   b  folds towards middle location  159  of strap  150  and strap  150  is then folded at or near middle location  159  towards first end  151   a . The resulting closed loop  152 ′ includes first layer  153   a  (first strap end  151   a ), but omits middle layer  153   b . Closed loop  152 ′ also includes second middle layer  153   c  (second strap end  151   b ) and end layer  153   d  (the portion of strap  150  between first strap end  151   a  and second strap end  151   b ). First strap end  151   a  preferably terminates towards one end of closed loop  152 ′ (e.g., second end portion  160 ) adjacent fastening means  166 , while second strap end  151   b  terminates towards the opposite end of closed loop  152 ′ (e.g., first end portion  158 ) adjacent fastening means  167 . First strap end  151   a  optionally extends beyond second end  160  of closed loop  152 ′ and may wrap around the outside of closed loop  152 ′ along end layer  153   d  towards first end portion  158 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates another embodiment of strap  150  as part of lanyard attachment assembly  100  with sleeve  130  and optional connector  180 . In this embodiment, strap  150  forms a closed loop  152  that defines a primary opening  172  and a secondary opening  174  through closed loop  152 . Forming primary opening  172  and secondary opening  174 , fastening means  169  secures first strap portion  154  to second strap portion  156  at a first strap connection point  168  that is positioned between first turn  162  and second turn  164 . Fastening means  169  is preferably stitching and may be replaced or supplemented by one or more other fastening means as described above. A portion of sleeve  130  passes through primary opening  172  to link sleeve  130  to strap  150 . A portion of connector  180  passes through secondary opening  174  of closed loop  152 , linking connector  180  to strap  150 . Thus, sleeve  130 , strap  150 , and connector  180  are linked together. 
     First end portion  158  of closed loop  152  includes first turn  162 , fastening means  169 , secondary opening  174 , and portions of first strap portion  154  and second strap portion  156  that are positioned between fastening means  169  and first turn  162 . First end portion  158  in one embodiment is positioned to extend from a first sleeve end  130   a  away from sleeve  130  so as to lay flat along an adjacent handle or middle portion of a tool. Alternately, first end portion  158  may be positioned over a middle sleeve portion  130   b  so as to extend transversely away from middle sleeve portion  130   b  and, when installed on a tool  110 , in a transverse direction away from the handle or middle portion of tool. For example, first end portion  158  is positioned over sleeve  130  by rotating closed loop  152  about sleeve  130  by approximately 90 degrees (as compared with the position shown in  FIG. 7 , which is considered to be in a 0-degree position). Rotating closed loop  152  about sleeve  130  in order to position first end portion  158  as desired is facilitated by making strap  150  of a flexible strap material that conforms to the shape of sleeve  130  as needed. Flexible strap materials include, for example, woven nylon, cotton, woven or non-woven fabrics, and polypropylene strapping. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a further embodiment of strap  150 . First end portion  158  of closed loop  152  includes a first strap connection point  168  where first strap portion  154  and second strap portion  156  are fixedly secured together by fastening means  169  as described above. Similarly, second end portion  160  includes a second strap connection point  170  where first strap portion  154  and second strap portion  156  are also fixedly secured together by fastening means  171  as described above. Fastening means  169 ,  170  are preferably stitching. 
     By including strap connection points  168 ,  170 , strap  150  forms closed loop  152  that defines primary opening  172 , secondary opening  174 , and an additional secondary opening  174 ′, each of which pass between first and second strap portions  154 ,  156  of closed loop  152 . Primary opening  172  is defined between first strap portion  154 , second strap portion  156 , first strap connection point  168 , and second strap connection point  170 . Secondary opening  174  is defined between first strap connection point  168 , first turn  162 , and portions of first and second strap portions  154 ,  156  that are between first strap connection point  168  and first turn  162 . Similarly, additional secondary opening  174 ′ is defined between second strap connection point  170 , second turn  164 , and portions of first and second strap portions  154 ,  156  that are between second strap connection point  170  and second turn  164 . More additional secondary openings  174 ′ may be similarly created by adding more strap connection points to closed loop  152 . 
       FIG. 9  shows the embodiment of strap  150  shown in  FIG. 8  installed on a hand tool  110  as part of lanyard attachment assembly  100  with sleeve  130  and connector  180 . Sleeve  130  passes through primary opening  172  to link sleeve  130  to strap  150 ; connector  180  passes through secondary opening  174  to link connector  180  to strap  150 . Lanyard attachment assembly  100  may have one or more connectors  180  passing through any or all of primary opening  172 , secondary opening  174 , and additional secondary opening(s)  174 ′. First and second strap connection points  168 ,  170  may be spaced from sleeve  130  for ease of assembly. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a further embodiment of strap  150  as part of lanyard attachment assembly  100  with sleeve  130  and connectors  180 ,  180 ′. In this embodiment, strap  150  extends through sleeve  130  and has first strap end  151   a  and second strap end  151   b . Secondary opening  174  is formed by folding strap  150  to create a first fold  176 , where first strap end  151   a  extends a predefined distance sufficient to form first connection point  168  defined by first strap end  151   a  and a portion of strap  150 . First strap end  151   a  is fixedly attached at a first connection point  168  to a portion of strap  150  by fastening means  169 , preferably by stitching. 
     Similarly, additional secondary opening  174 ′ is formed by folding strap  150  to create a second fold  177  where second strap end  151   b  extends a predefined distance sufficient to form second connection point  170  defined by second strap end  151   b  and a portion of strap  150 . Second strap end  151   b  is fixedly attached at a second connection point to a portion of strap  150  by fastening means  171 , also preferably stitching. Additional secondary opening  174 ′ is defined between second fold  177 , strap  150 , second strap end  151   b , and second connection point  170 . Strap  150  makes first turn  162  and second turn  164  so that first fold  176  overlaps second fold  177  and forms closed loop  152 . 
     A portion of connector  180  (e.g., the straight section  182  of a D-ring) passes through secondary opening  174 . A portion of an additional connector  180 ′ (e.g., the straight section  182  of a D-ring) passes through additional secondary opening  174 ′. As assembled, first fold  176  pass through opening  186 ′ of additional connector  180 ′ to secure connector  180  and overlap second fold  177 , interlocking strap  150  with connector  180  and additional connector  180 ′. Connector  180  is preferably the same size or larger than additional connector  180 ′ (in overall size or width) to prevent connector  180  from pulling though opening  186 ′ of additional connector  180 ′ and to prevent closed loop  152  from coming apart. Alternately, and second fold  177  could similarly pass through opening  186  of connector  180  to secure additional connector  180 ′ and overlap first fold  176 . Here, additional connector  180 ′ is preferably the same size or larger than connector  180  to prevent additional connector  180 ′ from pulling through connector  180 . Preferably, connector  180  and additional connector  180 ′ are D-rings, but other connectors may be used as described above. 
     In this embodiment, first strap portion  154  includes portions of strap  150  that pass along outside surface  132  of sleeve  130 , first strap end  151   a , and second strap end  151   b , all of which are preferably positioned outside of sleeve  180  between first turn  162  and second turn  164  as shown in  FIG. 10 . Second strap portion  156  is the opposing portion of strap  150  that passes through passageway  136  of sleeve  130  between first turn  162  and second turn  164  as also shown in  FIG. 10 . 
       FIG. 11  illustrates the embodiment of lanyard attachment assembly  100  shown in  FIG. 1  installed on a hand tool  110 . Lanyard attachment assembly  100  is secured to tool  110  by forming a snug fit to a handle or middle portion  116 . Tool  110  is a combination wrench, but lanyard attachment assembly may be used with other tools and objects including, for example, screwdrivers, utility knives, adjustable wrenches, hex wrenches, channel locks, pliers, punches, ratchet wrenches, flashlights, chisels, and the like. 
     Tool  110  has a first end  112  (e.g., an open end of a combination wrench), a second end  114  (e.g., a box end of a combination wrench), and a handle or middle portion  116  extending between first end  112  and second end  114 . Lanyard attachment assembly  100  is particularly useful for tools having two functioning ends but either or both of first end  112  and second end  114  may be a featureless end of handle or middle portion  116 . Thus, lanyard attachment assembly  100  is not limited for use with tools and could be used, for example, on a rod, block, or an irregular object. In one embodiment of lanyard attachment assembly  100 , strap  100  is configured with sufficient slack around sleeve  130  to enable connector  180  to move along closed loop  152  between first end portion  158  and second end portion  160 . 
     In one method of making lanyard attachment assembly  100 , one selects a length of strap  150  having a first strap end  151   a  and second strap end  151   b . One of the first strap end  151   a  or second strap end  151   b  is passed through passageway  136  of sleeve  130 . One of the first strap end  151   a  and the second strap end  151   b  is optionally also passed through opening  186  of one or more connectors  180 . First strap end  151   a  is then positioned to overlap second strap end  151   b  and the overlapping portion of strap  150  is fixedly secured with one or more fastening means to form a closed loop  152  with a primary opening  172  therethrough. The resulting assembly includes a strap  150  forming a closed loop  152   a  that links sleeve  130  to connector  180 . 
     Strap  150  is optionally secured to itself at connection points with fastening means to define one or more fastener receiving openings or secondary openings  174 . In another embodiment of making lanyard attachment assembly  100 , the connector is not included, in which case lanyard attachment assembly  100  includes a sleeve  130  linked to a strap  150  forming a closed loop. In preferred embodiments of a method of making lanyard attachment assembly  100 , sleeve  130  is heat shrink tubing, strap  150  is woven nylon webbing, and connector  180  is a metal D-ring. 
     To use lanyard attachment assembly  100 , a user slips sleeve  130  over an end of hand tool  110  or other object. When sleeve  130  is made of rubber and sized to snugly fit to tool  110 , the user first stretches or otherwise expands sleeve  130  so that it will pass over an end of tool  110  and then allows sleeve  130  to resume its relaxed shape as much as possible to provide a snug fit to tool  110 . When sleeve  130  is made of heat shrink tubing, inside diameter  136 ′ of sleeve  130  is sized to slip over an end of tool  110  or other object. The heat shrink tubing is selected with a shrink ratio that provides a snug fit to hand tool  110  when the heat shrink tubing is subsequently heated after placement onto hand tool  110 . For example, the user slips sleeve  130  over the box end of a combination wrench and positions lanyard attachment assembly  100  along the middle portion  116  of the combination wrench. The user then heats the heat shrink tubing until it shrinks to provide a snug grip around the middle portion  116  of the wrench. When heat-activated adhesive  140  is present, heating activates adhesive  140  to bond sleeve  130  to tool  110  that, in addition to the snug grip on hand tool  110 , provides additional gripping strength to hold lanyard attachment assembly  100  in place. Similarly, other varieties of adhesive  140  would also provide additional gripping strength to hold lanyard attachment assembly  100  in place. 
     Because sleeve  130  is linked with strap  150  and strap  150  is linked to connector  180 , connector  180  is now secured to tool  100 . The user may then clip or attach a lanyard through opening  184  of connector  180  to prevent tool  110  from falling if it is dropped, therefore reinforcing safety on a job site. If connector  180  is not included, the user may separately add a connector to the assembly or the user alternately may clip a lanyard directly to closed loop  152  formed by strap  150 . Lanyard attachment assembly  100  further eliminates the need for workers to spend time retrieving dropped tools, which leads to increased worker productivity and reduced operating costs. Also, the closed loop  152  formed by strap  150  is stronger and more reliable than designs utilizing a leader strap held in place with heat shrink tubing. 
     Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein, the above description is merely illustrative. Further modification of the invention herein disclosed will occur to those skilled in the respective arts and all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.