Patent Publication Number: US-2012024927-A1

Title: Utility Belt for Carrying Tools

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to utility belts designed for painters, decorators, caulkers, and similar workers for carrying or holding tools, painting apparatuses, supplies, and the like. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Painters and decorators, by profession, typically provide services such as painting sections of walls, ceilings, and trim pieces, by applying heavy duty finishes to these structures. In addition to these services, painters and decorators are also responsible for scraping such surfaces, wallpaper removal, wall or wood repairs, sanding, removal of stains, filling of holes or other uneven surfaces, caulking and the like. Painters and decorators have to be accustomed to number of tools and apparatuses in order to accomplish these job duties. Painters and decorators typically use sanders, scrapers, sprayers, utility knives, screw drivers, putty knives, brushes, rollers, ladders, scaffolding, caulking guns, etc., in the course of their duties. 
     Painters working on elevated areas have to spend considerable amount of time on ladders and scaffolding to reach upper levels of the structure to be painted. While moving up and down on the ladders and scaffolds, the painter has to carry along with himself the various tools and apparatuses to be used for painting. This process becomes tiresome and cumbersome, as the painter or decorator has to bend each time to pick up the tools and apparatus. Further, carrying of tools and apparatuses by the painter increases the risk of danger to the life and limb, as such carrying can prevent the painter from otherwise using his or her hands to hold onto the ladder or scaffolding while climbing thereon. Even in the ladders and scaffolds provided with shelves the risk of danger to the life and limb of the painter is potent. 
     Painters and decorators also have to accomplish the job of caulking. Caulking is process of sealing walls or other structures, and particularly, cracks and joints thereon, against intrusions of air and moisture. Caulking is accomplished by the use of a caulking gun. A caulk or sealant is available in tubes and cartridges and is loaded into the caulking gun. Painters and decorators while using the caulking guns are frequently posed with the problem of storing the caulking guns, so that the caulking gun can be easily removed from the stored place when applying the caulk to a surface. Also, after the caulk cartridge gets finished the painter or decorator has to get down from the ladder or scaffold to get a refill of the caulk cartridge. 
     In order to overcome the difficulties faced by the painters and decorators and to reduce the risk to their life and limb while on their job, several attempts have been made to provide a hands-free option to the painters and decorators. A notable example of such an attempt is a utility belt worn by the painter or decorator around his waist to store effectively the various tools and apparatuses. 
     Although various utility belts exist in the prior art, the existing utility belts still pose the problem of risk to life and limb as the tools and apparatus loosely suspended from the belt might cause the painter to trip or lose balance against the shelf of the ladder or scaffold causing risk of danger to the life and limb of the painter. Further, utility belts existing in the prior art have a limited storage capacity to hold only few of the painting tools and apparatus. Also, utility belts existing in the prior art are structurally and configurationally complex and are otherwise unduly expensive. 
     Therefore, as a consequence of the foregoing situation, there exists a continuing need in the art for a utility belt for painters for holding usual tools and apparatus used to accomplish regular painting jobs. Further, there is a need felt in the art for a utility belt that is not structurally and configurationally complex and that is painter friendly and inexpensive. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art, the general purpose of the present invention is to provide a utility belt for the painters, to include all the advantages of the prior art, and to overcome the drawbacks inherent therein 
     In one aspect, the present invention provides a utility belt for carrying tools. The utility belt comprises an elongated band for wrapping around a waist of a user and a tool holder capable of holding a tool in an upright vertical position. The tool holder comprises a plate, a first ring and a second ring. The plate has a proximal end portion, an intermediate portion, and a distal end portion. The proximal end portion of the plate is coupled to the elongated band. The first ring is coupled to the intermediate portion of the plate and extending transversely therefrom. The second ring is coupled to the distal end portion of the plate and extending transversely therefrom. The second ring has a size smaller than a size of the first ring. The tool comprises a cartridge receiving body and a handle portion. The cartridge receiving body has a first end and a second end. The cartridge receiving body is capable of receiving a cartridge with a nozzle, such that the nozzle extends out of the second end of the cartridge receiving body. In the upright vertical position, the cartridge receiving body with the cartridge passes through the first ring with the handle portion resting on the first ring, and only the nozzle passes through second ring with the second end of the cartridge receiving body resting on the second ring. 
     In another aspect, the present invention provides a utility belt for carrying tools. The utility belt comprises an elongated band for wrapping around a waist of a user and a caulking gun holder capable of holding a caulking gun in an upright vertical position. The caulking gun holder comprises a plate, a first ring and a second ring. The plate has a proximal end portion, an intermediate portion, and a distal end portion. The proximal end portion of the plate is coupled to the elongated band. The first ring is coupled to the intermediate portion of the plate and extending transversely therefrom. The second ring is coupled to the distal end portion of the plate and extending transversely therefrom. The second ring has a size smaller than a size of the first ring. The caulking gun comprises a cartridge receiving body and a handle portion. The cartridge receiving body has a first end and a second end. The cartridge receiving body is capable of receiving a cartridge with a nozzle, such that the nozzle extends out of the second end of the cartridge receiving body. In the upright vertical position, the cartridge receiving body with the cartridge passes through the first ring with the handle portion resting on the first ring, and only the nozzle passes through second ring with the second end of the cartridge receiving body resting on the second ring. 
     The utility belt further comprises additional tools for additional caulk tubes or cartridges, sanders, scrapers, sprayers, utility knives, screw drivers, putty knives, brushes, rollers, wiping cloths, and the like, thereby keeping the user&#39;s (painter/caulker/decorator) hands free while accomplishing the job of painting or moving up or down a ladder or scaffolding 
     Another feature and advantage of the present invention is to provide a new and improved utility belt for carrying tools which may be quickly and easily attached and detached from the painter&#39;s body. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a utility belt  200  for carrying tools, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the utility belt  200  with the various tools held by the utility belt  200 , according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of the utility belt  200  shown in  FIG. 2  when in use in a wrapped around configuration, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4A  illustrates a side perspective view of a caulking gun holder  40  of the utility belt  200 , according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 4B  illustrates a top perspective view of the caulking gun holder  40  of the utility belt  200 , according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the description of several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     For a thorough understanding of the present invention, refer to the following detailed description, including the appended claims, in connection with the above-described drawings. Although the present invention is described in connection with exemplary embodiments, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but these are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     The terms “first,” “second,” and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another, and the terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. 
     The present invention provides a novel and economically advantageous solution to longstanding problems faced by those in the painting industry by providing means to accomplish the more difficult painting tasks with greater ease and efficiency. More specifically, the present invention provides a utility belt with means (tool holders) for carrying or holding caulking guns, additional caulk tubes or cartridges, sanders, scrapers, sprayers, utility knives, screw drivers, putty knives, brushes, rollers, wiping cloth, and the like, thereby keeping the user&#39;s (painter/caulker/decorator) hands free while accomplishing the job of painting or moving up or down a ladder or scaffolding. The simple design of the present invention permits a painter to hold a caulking gun in an upright vertical position, without regard to the position of the body of the painter. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1-3 , a utility belt  200  for carrying tools, is shown. The utility belt  200  comprises an elongated band  10  for wrapping around a user&#39;s waist. The elongated band  10  is in the form of a broad, flexible sash defining a front surface  12  and a back surface  14 . The elongated band  10  may be made of any material providing sufficient structural integrity for holding the various tools, painting apparatuses, supplies, and the like. Suitable materials include, but are not limited to, nylon, leather, imitation leather, stout canvas, plastic, steel, and any other metal as long as the same is durable and capable of being fabricated in the form described. 
     The elongated band  10  has a first end portion  22 , a second end portion  24 . For using the utility belt, the first end portion  22  and the second end portion  24  are capable of being removably engaged to each other for securing the utility belt  200  around a user&#39;s waist. Such an engagement may be carried out using any of several types of engagement arrangements that permit the first end portion  22  and the second end portion  24  of the elongated band  10  to be fastened together firmly but pivotally. Suitable engagement arrangements, as used herein, include any readily connectable yet readily, and involuntarily, releasable element, such as, but not limited to, side release buckle arrangements, hook and loop material arrangements (also referred to as Velcro® fasteners), and snaps. In one embodiment, the utility belt  200  has a side release buckle arrangement. More specifically, the first end portion  22  has a buckle feature  26   a  that removably engages with a complementary buckle feature  26   b  of the second end portion  24 . The advantage of the side release buckle is that the side release buckle is inexpensive, durable, and resistant to damage from paint and to jamming from dried paint hardening therein. 
     The elongated band  10  is provided with an adjustment means  28  for adjusting the length of the utility belt  200  according to the girth of the particular user&#39;s waist. The utility belt  200  is generally symmetrical about a midpoint thereof for even load distribution. 
     The utility belt  200  further comprises a plurality of tool holders for holding a variety of tools, painting apparatuses, and supplies. In one embodiment, the utility belt  200  further comprises a tool holder capable of holding a tool in an upright vertical position. More specifically, the tool holder is a caulking gun holder  40 , as best illustrated in  FIGS. 4A and 4B . The caulking gun holder  40  comprises a plate  42  (substantially rectangular in shape). The plate  42  has a proximal end portion  48 , an intermediate portion  50  and a distal end portion  52 . The plate  42  is secured to the elongated band  10  at the proximal end portion  48  by means of a fastener element  54 , such that the proximal end portion  48  is disposed on the front surface  12  of the elongated band  10 . The fastener element  54  used herein is rivet, however it may be noted that rivet has been mentioned as an example and not by way of limitation. 
     The caulking gun holder  40  further comprises a first ring  44  and a second ring  46  coupled to the plate  42 . The first ring  44  coupled to the intermediate portion  50  of the plate  42  and extending transversely therefrom, and the second ring  46  coupled to the distal end portion  52  of the plate  42  and extending transversely therefrom. More specifically, the first ring  44  is coupled to the intermediate portion  50  of the plate  42  in a manner such that an outer peripheral portion of the first ring  44  is coupling the plate  42  and a plane of the first ring  44  is perpendicular to the plate  42  thereby the first ring  44  is extending laterally from the plate  42 . Further, the second ring  46  is coupled to the distal end portion  52  of the plate  42  in a manner such that an outer peripheral portion of the second ring  46  is coupling the plate  42  and a plane of the second ring  46  is perpendicular to the plate  42  thereby the second ring  46  is extending laterally from the plate  42 . The caulking gun holder  40  may be made from any material which has a sufficient strength to retain a caulking gun  120  within the caulking gun holder  40 . Suitable materials include, but are not limited to, plastic, vinyl, steel, iron, metal, rubber, and combinations thereof. 
     In an embodiment, the tool holder is capable of holding a caulking gun  120 . Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the caulking gun  120  is shown disposed and securely held in the caulking gun holder  40 . The first ring  44  and the second ring  46  have a size to securely hold the caulking gun  120 . The caulking gun  120  is a conventional caulking gun comprising a cartridge receiving body  124  and a handle portion  122 . The cartridge receiving body has a first end  136  and a second end  138 . The handle portion  122  is at the first end of the cartridge receiving body  124 . A longitudinally extending push rod or stem  134  is disposed on the handle portion  122 . The cartridge receiving body  124  supports a cartridge  126  having a cylindrical body  128  containing viscous caulking mastic such as a thixotropic caulking material or compound. One end of the cylindrical body  128  of the cartridge  126  is provided with a nozzle  130  (generally referred to as an extrusion nozzle). 
     The size of the first ring  44  is such that the cartridge receiving body  124  of the caulking gun  120  easily passes through the first ring  44 , while restricting a passage of handle portion  122 . The second ring  46  is smaller in size than the first ring  44 , to allow only the passage of the nozzle  130  through the second ring  46 , while restricting the passage of the cartridge receiving body  124  (with the cartridge  126 ). The caulking gun  120  is disposed in the caulking gun holder  40  in an upright position with the face of the nozzle  130  downwards. In such an orientation, the caulking gun  120  is securely held in the caulking gun holder  40  such that the handle portion  122  rests on the first ring  44  and the lower portion of the cartridge receiving body  124  (with the cartridge  126 ) rests on the second ring  46 . 
     For removal of the caulking gun  120  from the caulking gun holder  40 , the painter has to grab the handle  132  and withdraw the caulking gun  120  from a stored position. The placement of the caulking gun holder  40  is such that the mobility and the movement of the painter is not obstructed in any manner. 
     The painter utility belt  200  further comprises a plurality of differently sized tool pockets for holding differently sized tools. In one embodiment the utility belt  200  has a tool pocket  60  and a tool pocket  70  smaller in size than the tool pocket  60 . The tool pockets  60 ,  70  are attached to the elongated band  10  by stitching or other suitable means known in the art. More specifically, top portions of the tool pockets  60 ,  70  are stitched to the back surface  14  of the elongated band  10 . The tool pockets  60 ,  70  may be made from any material providing sufficient strength to retain painting tools such as sanders, scrapers, utility knives, screw drivers, putty knives, brushes, rollers and the like. Suitable materials include, but are not limited to, nylon, plastic, cotton, fiber, cloth (synthetic or natural, woven or non-woven), vinyl, leather, metal, rubber, and combination thereof. 
     The painter utility belt  200  further comprises a cartridge holster  80  for holding an additional cartridge  126   a.  The cartridge holster  80  comprises an upper loop portion  84  and a planar flap  82 . The upper loop portion  84  and the planar flap  82  are coupled to the elongated band  10 . The upper loop portion  84  is a flat rectangular strap like structure having a first end portion  96  and a second end portion  98 . The first end portion  96  and the second end portion  98  is coupled to the front surface  12  of the elongated band  10  in such a manner that the upper loop portion  84  configures a loop/cavity over the front surface  12 . In one embodiment of the present invention the first end portion  96  and the second end portion  98  of the upper loop portion  84  are coupled to the front surface  12  of the elongated band  10  by stitching or other suitable means known in the art. 
     The planar flap  82  is a flat rectangular strap like structure having a proximal end portion  88 , an intermediate portion  90  and a distal end portion  92 . The planar flap  82  passes through the loop/cavity configured by the upper loop portion  84  and couples to the elongated band  10  thereon. The planar flap  82  is coupled to the elongated band  10  in such a manner that the proximal end portion  88  of the planner flap  82  passes through the loop, configured by the upper loop portion  84 , and wraps around the elongated band  10  and the proximal end portion  88  contacting a back of the intermediate portion  90  and secured therein using a fastener element  94 . The fastener element  94  used herein is rivet, however it may be noted that rivet has been mentioned as an example and not by way of limitation. The planar flap  82  further comprises a lower loop  86  configured at the distal end portion  92  of the planar flap  82 . The lower loop  86  is a flat strap like structure having a first end portion  102  longer than a second end portion  104 . The first end portion  102  and the second end portion  104  are coupled to the proximal end portion  88  using stitching and a fastener element  106 , respectively, in a manner such that the distal loop portion  86  configures a loop/cavity over the distal end portion  92  of the planar flap  82 . 
     The cartridge holster  80  serves the purpose of storing additional cartridge  126   a  of caulk, making it convenient for the painter to have an easy access to the additional cartridge  126   a  of caulk when the original cartridge  126  fitted in the caulking gun  120  is depleted. The cartridge holster  80  may be made from any material which is durable and provides sufficient strength to retain additional cartridge  126   a  of caulk. Suitable materials include, but are not limited to, nylon, plastic, cotton, fiber, cloth (synthetic or natural, woven or non-woven), vinyl, leather, metal, rubber, and combination thereof. 
     The additional cartridge  126   a  of caulk includes cylindrical body  128   a  containing viscous caulking mastic such as a thixotropic caulking material or compound. One end of the cylindrical body  128   a  is provided with a nozzle  130   a.  The additional cartridge  126   a  of caulk is disposed in the cartridge holster  80  in an upright position with the face of the nozzle  130   a  downwards. The cylindrical body  128   a  of the additional cartridge  126   a  easily slides through the upper loop  84  and is securely held by the upper loop  84 . The lower loop  86  because of its smaller size allows only the nozzle  130   a  to pass and the cylindrical body  128   a  is restrained by the lower loop  86  to pass. By such an arrangement the additional cartridge is securely held in an upright position and at the same time the mobility and the movement of the painter is not obstructed in any manner. 
     Further, the painter utility belt comprises a wiping cloth engager  110 . The wiping cloth engager  110  is securely attached to the elongated band  10  by means of a fastener element  112 . The fastener element  112  used herein is rivet, however it may be noted that rivet has been mentioned as an example and not by way of limitation. The wiping cloth engager  110  has a flap  114  attached to the elongated band  10  and a clip  116  coupled to the end of the flap  114 . The hook is capable of removably engaging a wiping cloth  118 . The clip  116  used herein is a suspender clip, however it may be noted that suspender clip has been mentioned as an example and not by way of limitation. When the painter is performing the task of painting, caulking, or performing similar tasks, the painter very often needs a damp wiping cloth to remove grease, paint, or caulk from his hands. Conventionally, the painter must store a rag within a trouser pocket resulting in needlessly soiled and soaked clothing. The wiping cloth engager  110  provides a means for removably attaching the wiping cloth  118  for cleaning tools or wiping the painter&#39;s hands eliminating the undesirable practice of carrying a rag in one&#39;s pocket. 
     In use, the painter utility belt  200  is mounted around a waist of a painter and is openable and closeable respectively by means of buckle feature  26   a  of the first end portion  22  that removably engages with a complementary buckle feature  26   b  of the second end portion  24 . The caulking gun  120  is disposed in the caulking gun holder  40 . Painting tools, for example, but not limited to, sanders, scrapers, utility knives, screw drivers, putty knives, brushes and rollers are safely placed in the plurality of tool pockets  60 ,  70 . An additional cartridge  126   a  of caulk is stored in the cartridge holster  80 . A wiping cloth  118  is suspended from the wiping cloth engager  110  for easy access. The painter removes the caulking gun  120  from the caulking gun holder  40  as needed, and places the caulking gun  120  back into the caulking gun holder  40 , when the painter is not using the caulking gun  120 . Various storage means, such as the caulking gun holder  40 , plurality of tool pockets  60  &amp;  70 , cartridge holster  80 , and wiping cloth engager  110  disposed on the elongated band  10  of the painter utility belt  200  are configured in such a manner that the same do not get detached from the elongated band  10  when subjected to pulling or tugging by the user. Further, the various storage means, such as the caulking gun holder  40 , plurality of tool pockets  60  &amp;  70 , cartridge holster  80 , and wiping cloth engager  110  have a low enough profile to avoid obstructing the free arm movements of the painter, and to keep tool handles below a beltline to avoiding poking the painter. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omission and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but such are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.