Patent Publication Number: US-2016227911-A1

Title: Tool harness

Description:
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In a preferred embodiment, a tool harness preferably includes at least a closed loop, non-adjustable, buckle free main strap, wherein the ends of the main strap are fixed one to the other. The tool harness further includes a tool leader, which is attached to the main strap, and a tool strap communicating with the tool leader. The tool strap secures a tool such that the main strap, in combination with the tool leader, assure a full range of motion to a user of the tool while mitigating an inadvertent impact of the tool with a surface supporting the user. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a view in perspective of the present inventive tool harness. 
         FIG. 2  shows a tool cooperating with a tool strap, and connected to a tool leader of the inventive tool harness of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  shows perspective plan view of the tool strap of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  shows a use environment of the inventive tool harness of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure is generally directed to a tool harness, which facilitates a hands free transport of tool on a job site, and mitigates an inadvertent dropping of an attached tool to the ground, thereby averting an inadvertent impact of the tool causing injury to co-workers, or breakage of the tool. The tool harness further provides ease of access to the tool by the user of the tool and improved effectiveness on the job site. 
     Turning to the drawings,  FIG. 1  provides an exemplary tool harness  100  capable of being used in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. The exemplary tool harness  100  has at least a closed loop, non-adjustable, buckle free main strap  102 . Preferably, ends of the main strap  102  are fixed one to the other by way of a stitching  104 , but may be joined by way of snaps, rivets, lacing, hook and loop, adhesive, or other mechanical means. Preferably, the tool harness  100  further features a tool leader  106 , attached to the main strap  102 . In a preferred embodiment, the tool leader  106  includes at least a flexible, expandable sheath  108 , enclosing a flexible expansion resistant structure  110 . In an unexpanded state, the flexible, expandable sheath  108 , is shorter in length and has an internal diameter greater than the external diameter of the flexible expansion resistant structure  110 . Thus, the the flexible, expandable sheath  108  serves as a impact damping structure to absorb a portion of the energy resulting from an inadvertent dropping of a tool, such as an electric, drill  112 , of  FIG. 2 , while the flexible expansion resistant structure  110  assures the tool remains removable attached to the tool harness  100 . 
       FIG. 1  further shows that the tool leader  106  preferably includes an attachment ring  114 , secured to a first end of the flexible expansion resistant structure  110 , and a swiveling fastener  116  secured to a second end of the flexible expansion resistant structure  110 . Prefrably, the flexible expansion resistant structure  110  is rope formed from nylon, but may be formed from a metallic, polymer, natural fiber, or other material. Additionally, the flexible expansion resistant structure  110 , is shown, for purposes of an exemplary form only, to have a circular cross section, but may display any cross section shape. 
     To accommodate, securement of the flexible expansion resistant structure  110  to the main strap  102 ,  FIG. 1  shows the use of a carabiner  116 , however it will be understood that any mechanical fastening means could be used in place of the carabiner  118 . To further accommodate securement of the flexible expansion resistant structure  110  to the main strap  102 ,  FIG. 1  shows the use of a D-ring  120  provided by the main strap  102 , however it will be understood that any utility securement structure could be used in place of the D-ring  120 . To facilitate easy access to supplemental tools, such as pencils and rulers, the tool harness  100  further provides a utility pocket  122  adjacent the D-ring  120 . 
       FIG. 2  shows a tool strap  124  secured about the tool  112 , and providing an attachment structure  126 , to which the tool leader  106  is attached by way of the carabiner  118 . In a preferred embodiment, the tool strap  124  is secured to the tool  112  through the use of a fastening structure  128 , which for purposes of disclosure is a hook and loop arrangement as shown by  FIG. 3 . However, it will be recognized that other fastening techniques may be employed, such as, but not limited to snaps; hook and eye; buckle; button; or by simply tying the tool strap  124 , about the tool  112 . 
       FIG. 4  shows the inventive tool harness  100  in a use environment, and that the tool harness  100  preferably further provides: a floating shoulder pad  130  interacting with the main strap  102 ; a utility pocket  132  secured to the main strap  102  and adjacent a plurality of open core grommets  134  disbursed about the mid region  136 , of the main strap  102 ; and a second D-ring  138  provided by the main strap  102 . It will be understood that any utility securement structure could be used in place of the D-ring  138 . In the use environment, the plurality of open core grommets  134  provide connection points for any item the user desires to attach to the main strap  102 , and the second D-ring  138  accommodates an effective method of transporting the tool  112  to and from the job site. 
     It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and configurations of various embodiments of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of various embodiments of the invention, this detailed description is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of structure and arrangements of parts within the principles of the present invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. For example, the particular elements may vary depending on the particular tool hams without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.