Patent Publication Number: US-6701534-B2

Title: Work tool belt device

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to work tool belt devices for mounting on a user&#39;s waist for carrying a plurality of tools thereon, and more particularly to a work tool belt device resiliently and uniformly distributing the weight carried by the device along the hips of the user. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     People using known work tool belt devices from the prior art mounted on their waists for carrying a plurality of tools may experience difficulties with the capacity of the devices to efficiently assume their hips. As a result users very often have lumbar and hip pains. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,201,448 issued to Schue on Apr. 13, 1993 discloses a utility belt in which the mid portion, used as a back support, has a large width compared to the side portions. This device cannot resiliently distribute the carried weight along the hips of the user. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,349,706 issued to Keer on Sep. 27, 1994 discloses a working belt with lumbar support that can include a fluid inflated element. This device is very complicated, unproductive and cannot assume user&#39;s hips. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide a work tool belt device that obviates the above mentioned disadvantages. 
     An advantage of the present invention is that the work tool belt device assumes the hips of the user. 
     A further advantage of the present invention is that the work tool belt device is easy to fit around a user&#39;s waist. 
     Still another advantage of the present invention is that the work tool belt device allows for tools to be mounted thereon using a standard holder. 
     Still a further and even more important advantage of the present invention is that the work tool belt device resiliently and uniformly distributes the weight carried by the device along the hips of the user. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is that the work tool belt device includes tool holders that are preferably releasably mounted on suspenders an that can pivot about their mounting fastener. 
     The present invention is directed to a work tool belt device that comprises: 
     an elongated strap for carrying a plurality of tools thereon, the strap defining a strap internal surface and an opposed strap external surface, the strap having opposed free ends carrying complementary parts of a locking member for securing the device around a user&#39;s waist; 
     at least one elongated hip rest secured to the strap internal surface for resiliently and uniformly distributing a carried weight of the tools along the hips of the user, the hip rest defining a plurality of transversal through channels spaced equidistant apart therealong on a hip rest user side surface facing away from the strap to form a plurality of support sections, whereby the channels allowing for adjacent support sections to fold inwardly toward each other for the device to assume the waist of the user; and 
     tool holders mounted along the strap external surface, the holders for releasably receiving complementary hook members of the tools therein. 
     Preferably, the strap includes first and second elongated strap sections connecting to each other to longitudinally extend from each other, each of the strap sections carrying a respective hip rest section of the hip rest secured to the strap internal surface, a first end of each of the strap sections carrying the complementary parts of the locking member and a second end of each of the strap sections carrying complementary parts of an adjusting member to longitudinally size the strap for fitting the user&#39;s waist. 
     Preferably, each of the support sections of the hip rest has transversal corrugations on the hip rest user side surface to increase resiliency of the hip rest, the corrugations being generally parallel to the channels. 
     Preferably, the strap internal surface and a hip rest external surface carrying complementary parts of a fastening member to releasably and adjustably secure the hip rest to the strap. 
     Preferably, the device includes at least one tool adapter for releasably receiving the tools thereon and having a complementary hook member releasably engaging one of the tool holders of the device. 
     Preferably, the tool adapter including a pocket for receiving implements therein, the pocket having a back side carrying the complementary hook member and a front side connecting to the back side along respective lateral and bottom edges to form the pocket. 
     Preferably, the front side of the pocket includes a top edge having a rigid stem to keep the top edge away from the back side, thereby keeping the pocket in open configuration. 
     Preferably, the device includes suspenders adjustably securing to the strap for partial distribution of the carried weight on shoulders of the user. 
     Preferably, the tool holders are formed by an elongated semi-rigid member having a plurality of attachment regions securing along the strap and spaced equidistant apart from each other, and a plurality of free regions, each of the free regions being between two adjacent of the attachment regions for releasably receiving complementary hook members of the tools thereon. 
     Preferably, the tool holders are pivotally mounted on the strap. 
     Preferably, each of the tool holders has a central section frictionally rubbing on the strap and a pair of wings extending outwardly from the central section in opposite directions along the strap; whereby the wings defining narrow gaps with the strap external surface to be releasably engaged by the complementary hook members of one of the tools. 
     Preferably, the device includes a holder support releasably secured to the suspenders, the holder support carrying one of the tool holders thereon. 
     Preferably, the tool holder is pivotally mounted on the holder support. 
     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided herein, within appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the annexed drawings, like reference characters indicate like elements throughout. 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a work tool belt device according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial top view taken along line  2  of FIG. 1, showing the hip rest partially unattached to the structure of the embodiment; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line  3 — 3  of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line  5 — 5  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing suspenders secured to another embodiment of the structure; and 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line  6 — 6  of FIG.  5 ; 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to the annexed drawings the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be herein described for indicative purpose and by no means as of limitation. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1, there is shown an embodiment  10  of a work tool belt device according to the present invention for mounting on a user&#39;s waist and for carrying a plurality of tools  20  thereon. The device  10  includes an elongated strap  30  or the like, an elongated hip rest  50  and a plurality of tool holders  60  secured to the internal  33  and external  34  surfaces of the strap  30 , respectively. 
     The strap  30  has opposed free ends  31  and  32  carrying complementary parts of a locking member  35  to secure the device  10  around the user&#39;s waist. 
     The hip rest  50  is secured (see FIGS. 1 and 2) to the internal surface  33  of the strap  30  for resilient and uniform distribution of the weight carried by the device  10  along the hips of the user. The hip rest  50  defines a plurality of transversal through channels  51  spaced equidistant apart along the hip rest  50  on a user side surface  52  facing away from the strap  30  to form a plurality of small support sections  55  and allow for these support sections  55  to fold inwardly toward each other to enable the device  10  to properly assume the waist of the user (see FIG.  2 ). 
     The holders  60  preferably secured to the strap  30  via fasteners such as bolts  61 , rivets  61   a  or the like, are adapted to releasably receive complementary hook members  25  of the tools  20  therein, thus carrying a plurality of tools  20  on the device  10 . 
     The tool holders  60  are preferably individual holders  62  with a central section  63  secured to the strap  30  and a pair of wings  64  extending outwardly from the central section  63  in opposite directions along the strap  30 . The wings  64  define, with the strap external surface  34 , narrow gaps  65  that are releasably engaged by a pair of complementary hooks  25  of one of the tools  20 . 
     The holders  62  are preferably pivotally mounted on the strap  30  with their central section  63  frictionally rubbing against the same  30 . 
     Also, some holders  60  are formed by an elongated semi-rigid member  66  with a plurality of attachment regions  67  secured along the strap  30  and generally spaced equidistant apart from each other, to form a plurality of free regions  68 . Each free region  68  is slightly separated from the strap  30  between two adjacent attachment regions  67  to for a gap  69  that is releasably engaged by a complementary hook  25  of one of the tools  20 , as shown in FIG.  2 . 
     Each support section  55  of the hip rest  50  (see FIG. 3) preferably has transversal corrugations  56 , generally parallel to the channels  51 , on the user side surface  52  for additional resiliency of the hip rest  50 . 
     The internal surface  33  of the strap  30  and the external surface  53  of the hip rest  50  both carry complementary parts of a fastening member  58 , preferably of Velcro™ type, secured thereto to releasably and adjustably secure the hip rest  50  to the strap  30 . 
     As illustrated on FIG. 3, the user side  52  of the hip rest  50  extends generally upwardly away from the strap  30  to improve the weight distribution on the hips of the user and efficiently assume his waist. Although not shown, the user side surface  52  of the hip rest  50  can be covered with a felt type material for better comfort. 
     The device  10  preferably includes at least one tool adapter  70  having a complementary hook  75  to releasably engage one of the tool holders  60  of the device  10 , and adapted to releasably receive tools  20  thereon, preferably via a fastening device such as an individual holder  62  or the like, depending on the tool  20  to be secured thereto. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 4, the tool adapter  70  preferably includes a pocket  71  to receive implements (not shown) therein, such as nails, screws, rivets, etc. The pocket is formed by a back side  72  and a front side  73  connected to each other along their respective lateral and bottom edges. The back  72  and front  73  sides carry the hook  75  and the fastening device, respectively. 
     The top edge  76  of the front side  73  preferably has a rigid (or semi-rigid and malleable (flexible) stem  77  therein to keep the pocket  71  in an open configuration with the top edge  76  away from the back side  72 . 
     The front side  73  of the pocket  71  could include at least one stopper  78  connected to its top edge  76  to allow for a complementary hook  25  of a tool  20  to overhang the same and prevent its sliding there along (see FIG.  4 ). 
     As illustrated in the FIG. 5, a second embodiment  10   a  of the device has a strap  30   a  that includes first  40  and second  40 ′ elongated strap sections connected to each other to longitudinally extend from each other. Each section  40 ,  40 ′ carries a respective section  59 ,  59 ′ of the hip rest  50  secured to its internal surface  43 . First free ends  41 ,  41 ′ of the sections  40 ,  40 ′ carry complementary parts of the locking member  35  and while the second ends  42 ,  42 ′ of the sections  40 ,  40 ′ carry complementary parts of an adjusting member  48  used to longitudinally size the strap  30  for fitting the user&#39;s waist. 
     The device  10  preferably includes suspenders  80  adjustably secured to the strap  30  to distribute a portion of the carried weight on the shoulders of the user and partially relieve the waist. 
     The suspenders  80  have an external surface  81  facing away from the user that preferably carries one, or more, holder(s)  62  pivotally connected thereto and that protrude outwardly therefrom to releasably receive complementary hooks  25  of tools  20  therein. 
     Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, each one of the tool holders  60   a  mounted on the suspenders  80 , as illustrated on the right hand side of FIG. 5, preferably includes a holder support  90  releasably and adjustably securing thereto. Each holder  62  pivotally connects to its support  90  via the rivet type fastener  61   a.    
     The support  90  can be any type of widely known quick attaching clamp device. Preferably, the holder support  90  includes a first part  91  bearing the holder  62  and embracing the external surface  81  of the suspenders  80  and a second part  92  defining a first end  93  pivotally mounted on the first part  91  to embrace the internal surface  83  of the suspenders  80  and a second end  94  adapted to latch to the first part  91  so as to clamp or squeeze the suspenders  80  between the two parts  91 ,  92 , as illustrated in FIG.  6 . Accordingly, the second part  92  has a generally concave shape from one end  93  to the other  94 . 
     With the present device  10  it is easy to adjust on the waist of a user depending on his work habits. Because of the resiliency of the hip rest  50  and the uniform distribution of the tool weight carried by the work belt device  10  along the hips of the user, the worker&#39;s body is less susceptible to back pain and the like, which is very important for professional workers. 
     The elongated belt strap  30  may be manufactured from a resistant fabric material such as canvas and formed in multiple layers using stitched seams. The materials can be leather, plastic, or the like providing a durable, flexible, and washable belt. 
     The hip rest  50  can be made out different resilient and spongy type materials, such as rubber, silicone and the like. 
     Although the present work belt device has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the disclosure has been made by way of example only and that the present invention is not limited to the features of the embodiments described and illustrated herein, but includes all variations and modifications within the scope and spirit of the invention as hereinafter claimed.