Abstract:
A tool caddy for providing a tool carrier that is rugged and holds a large number of tools. The tool caddy includes a main tool storage unit having an upper opening into an interior and comprising a core section having a pair of side walls and a bottom wall extending between the side walls. A filler wall is mounted over the side wall opening of the core section with each of the filler walls being substantially coplanar with one of the side walls. A strap is mounted on the storage unit for suspending the storage unit from a user&#39;s body.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/236,166, filed Sep. 6, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,935,499, issued Aug. 30, 2005. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to tool containers and more particularly pertains to a new tool caddy for providing a tool carrier that is rugged and holds a large number of tools. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   The use of tool containers is known in the prior art. More specifically, tool containers heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
   In particular, the known tool containers are formed of rigid materials such as metal or stiff plastic, and are specially formed for the purpose of holding tools. 
   In these respects, the tool caddy according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing a tool carrier that is rugged and holds a large number of tools. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of tool containers now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new tool caddy construction wherein the same can be utilized for providing a tool carrier that is rugged and holds a large number of tools. 
   To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a main tool storage unit having an upper opening into an interior and comprising a core section having a pair of side walls and a bottom wall extending between the side walls. A filler wall is mounted over the side wall opening of the core section with each of the filler walls being substantially coplanar with one of the side walls. A strap is mounted on the storage unit for suspending the storage unit from a user&#39;s body. 
   There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
   In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
   As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
   One significant advantage of the present invention is the ability to form the tool caddy from inexpensive materials such as used vehicle tires. The tool caddy of the invention thus formed is relatively soft and flexible but retains sufficient structural rigidity to hold tools, and is thus easier to carry close to the body of the user without injuring the user&#39;s body. 
   Further advantages of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects of the invention will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic front view of a new tool caddy according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic rear view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic top view of a tire cut in a manner suitable for forming the tool caddy of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic perspective view of the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 4  thereof, a new tool caddy embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
   As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 4 , the tool caddy  10  generally comprises a main tool storage unit  12  for carrying tools. The main tool storage unit  12  has an upper opening  14  that opens into an interior  16  of the main tool storage unit, and tools and other items may be passed through the upper opening for placing them in, and retrieving them from, the interior of the main tool storage unit. 
   The main tool storage unit  12  may include a core section  18  having a pair of side walls  20 ,  21  and a bottom wall  22  that extends between the side walls  20 ,  21 . A portion of the upper opening  14  may be defined by the side  20 ,  21  and the bottom  22  walls. The side walls  20 ,  21  may each have an inner perimeter edge  24 ,  25  that defines a side wall opening  26 ,  27  in each of the side walls. The side walls  20 ,  21  may each have an outer perimeter edge  28 ,  29  mounted on the bottom wall  22 . The bottom wall  22  may have a pair of opposite end edges  30 ,  31 , and the bottom wall  22  may have an arcuate shape between the opposite end edges  30 ,  31  such that an upper surface  32  of the bottom wall  22  is substantially concave upwards toward the interior  16  of the main tool storage unit  12 . 
   The main tool storage unit may also include a filler wall  34 ,  35  mounted over each of the side wall openings  26 ,  27  of the core section  18 . Each of the filler walls  34 ,  35  may have an upper edge  36 ,  37  that may be substantially coplanar with the end edges  30 ,  31  of the core section  18 . Each of the filler walls  34 ,  35  may be substantially semicircular in perimeter shape. A portion of the perimeter edge  36  of each of the filler walls  34 ,  35  may be mounted to a portion of the inner perimeter edge  24 ,  25  of the side wall  20 ,  21 . 
   A strap  38  may be mounted on the main tool storage unit  12  for supporting and suspending the main tool storage unit from a body of a user, and the most preferred straps are elongate and flexible. In one embodiment of the invention, the strap  38  is formed from a length of rope. 
   A first pouch  40  may be mounted on the main tool storage unit  12  for holding an object such as a tape measure. The first pouch  40  may be located on the bottom wall  22  of the core section, and may be positioned adjacent to a first one  30  of the end edges of the core section  18 . A second pouch  42  may be mounted on the main tool storage unit  12  for holding miscellaneous items such as tools. The second pouch  42  may be located on the bottom wall  22  of the core section  18 , and may be positioned adjacent to a second one  31  of the end edges of the core section. A first holder  44  may be mounted on the main tool storage unit  12  for holding a relatively elongate tool such as a hacksaw. The holder  44  may be located on one of the filler walls  34 ,  35  of the main tool storage unit  12 . The holder  44  may be positioned adjacent to a lower edge of the filler wall  34 ,  35 . A second holder  45  may be mounted on the opposite filler wall from the first holder  44 , and may be suitable for receiving and holding a hammer. 
   Optionally, a pair of feet  46 ,  47  may be mounted on the main tool storage unit  12 , and may be located on an outer surface  48  of the bottom wall. One foot  46  of the pair of feet may be positioned between a central location on the bottom wall and a first one  30  of the end edges, and a second foot  47  of the pair of feet may be positioned between the central location on the bottom wall and a second one  31  of the end edges. 
   A closure  48  may be provided for selectively closing a gap between the upper edges  36 ,  37  of the filler walls  34 ,  35  of the main tool storage unit  12 , and thereby close the upper opening into the interior. The closure  48  selectively joins the upper edges  36 ,  37  of the filler walls together, and in one embodiment of the invention comprises a zipper. 
   One aspect of the invention contemplates a method of forming the tool caddy system  10  which is especially useful for forming the main tool storage unit tool in an easy and inexpensive manner, and permits the beneficial use of used vehicle tires that can prolong the usefulness of the tires after their use on a vehicle is no longer feasible. In the method, a tire  50  is provided that has a pair of side walls  52 ,  53  and a perimeter tread wall  54  that extends between the side walls. Each of the side walls  52 ,  53  defines a side wall opening  56 , and the tire has an axis of rotation  58  that is surrounded by the side wall opening  56 . The side wall opening  56  is defined by an inner perimeter edge  60  on the side wall  52 ,  53 . 
   The main tool storage unit  12  may be formed from the tire by cutting the side  52 ,  53  and perimeter tread  54  walls of the tire  50  at two locations on the tire to form the core section  18  with portions of the side walls  52 ,  53  of the tire forming the side walls  20 ,  21  of the core section and a portion of the perimeter tread wall  54  of the tire forming the bottom wall  22  of the core section. In one embodiment of the invention, the tire may be severed in a plane that extend through the axis of rotation of the tire such that the core section includes a semicircular section of the tire, with the opposite end edges of the side and perimeter tread walls lying in the plane and a portion of the side wall opening being positioned on each side of the plane. Optionally, the tire may be cut at locations that are less than 180 degrees away from each other, although the capacity of the interior will be compromised. 
   A filler wall  34  may be mounted over the portion of the side wall opening on the core section, and the upper edge of the filler wall may extend substantially coplanar with the end edges of the core section. A perimeter edge of each of the filler walls may be mounted to a portion of the inner perimeter edge of the side wall in a suitable manner, such as by chemical bonding with an adhesive, or by mechanical connection such as, for example, sewing or tacking or stapling. 
   Additionally, the main tool storage unit  12  may comprise a plurality of reinforcement members  62  coupled to the side walls  20 , 21  of the core section  18 . The reinforcement members  62  reinforce the side walls  20 , 21  to inhibit inadvertent bending of the side walls  20 , 21  when tools are positioned in the interior  16  of the main tool storage unit  12 . The reinforcement members  62  are positioned adjacent an upper edge of the side walls  20 , 21  of the core section  18 . Each of the reinforcement members  62  may comprise a plate formed of a relatively rigid material such as, for example, metal. 
   Additionally, the main tool storage unit  12  may comprise a plurality of reinforcement bars  64  coupled to the side walls  20 , 21  of the core section  18  and the filler wall  34 , 35 . The reinforcement bars  64  may extend over each of the side wall openings of the core section  18 . The reinforcement bars  64  help maintain the shape of the side walls  20 , 21  and the filler wall  34 , 35  when tools are positioned in the interior  16  of the main tool storage area. Each of the reinforcement bars  64  may comprise a bar formed of a relatively rigid material, such as, for example, metal. 
   As desired, a strap, a first pouch, a second pouch, a first holder, a second holder, a pair of feet, and a closure means may be mounted on the main tool storage unit. 
   In use, the user may easily place relatively larger tools in the interior of the main tool storage unit, and relatively smaller tools, or tools for which quick access is desired, may be located in the various pouches and holders on the exterior of the main tool storage unit. 
   With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art in light of the foregoing disclosure, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
   Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.