Mudpan belt clip assembly

Abstract

A simple, belt clipmudpan combination to attach a joint compound, spackle, or mastic holding pan to a user's belt for free hand use of such pan, keeping the mudpan secure, stable, and at the ready for the user.

Claims

1. A belt clipmudpan combination device comprising: a mudpan further comprising an attached belt clip acceptance mechanism that further comprises a belt clip acceptance loop, a stabilizing plate, and a quick release mechanism; and a belt clip further comprising a stabilizing surface, a clip bonding plate, a rigid, substantially immoveable chamfered clip insertion tip, angled inward towards a user, a mudpan bottom support, an angled support, and a mechanism for attaching the belt clip to a belt or other clothes of an intended wearer.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the belt clip is a solid one piece construction made of a plastic.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the belt clip is made of metal.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 depicts one embodiment of a typical mudpan (1), from an underneath view showing the outside walls, and a belt clip acceptance mechanism (2) which further comprises a smaller belt clip insertion loop (7).

(2) FIG. 2 depicts one embodiment of a typical mudpan (1), from an overhead view showing the inside walls, and a belt clip acceptance mechanism (2).

(3) FIG. 3 depicts one embodiment of a typical mudpan (1), from an overhead view showing the inside walls, and a belt clip acceptance mechanism (2) with a belt clip insertion loop (7) having a chamfered tip (8) of a belt clip (3) inserted.

(4) FIG. 4 depicts one embodiment of a typical mudpan (1), from a perspective view showing the inside walls, and a belt clip acceptance mechanism (2).

(5) FIG. 5 depicts one embodiment of a typical mudpan (1), from a side view from one end showing the outside end wall, and a belt clip acceptance mechanism (2).

(6) FIG. 6 depicts one embodiment of a typical mudpan in a cutaway view of a side wall comprising a belt clip acceptance mechanism and showing a pre-defined height of a mudpan that needs support.

(7) FIG. 7 depicts one embodiment of a belt clip acceptance mechanism (2) as would be attached to a mudpan (1) wall comprising a stabilizer surface (6) and a clip insertion loop (7) and one embodiment of a belt clip showing a stabilizing surface (5), a clip bonding plate (4) and clip insertion end with chamfered tip (8). Not easily seen in this view, but will become apparent in FIG. 8, this chamfered tip is also angled inward, towards the wearer or away from the corresponding stabilizing surface of the belt clip acceptance means.

(8) FIG. 8 depicts one embodiment of a belt clip showing a stabilizing surface (5), a chamfered clip insertion end (8), a mudpan bottom support (10) and an angled support (9).

(9) FIG. 9 depicts one embodiment of a belt clip in perspective view showing a stabilizing surface (5), a clip bonding plate (4), a chamfered clip insertion tip (8), a mudpan bottom support (10) and an angled support (9).

(10) FIG. 10 depicts one embodiment of a typical mudpan (1) with a belt clip acceptance mechanism (2), oriented as it would nestle onto one embodiment of a belt clip (3) as described herein. The arrows indicate how the chamfered belt clip tip would move in relation to the mudpan to then get inserted into a clip insertion loop.

(11) FIG. 11 depicts one embodiment of a typical mudpan (1) with belt clip (3) attached from a side view, ready to be attached to a user via a belt clip fastener, which can be large (11) or small (12).

(12) FIG. 12 depicts a side cutaway view of one embodiment of a belt clip as described herein comprising a stabilizing surface (5), a clip insertion end (8), a mudpan bottom support (10), an angled support (9), a clip bonding plate (4) with a large clip (11) and a small clip (12), attached to a mudpan (1) by insertion of the clip insertion end (8) through a belt clip attachment mechanism (2) attached to a mudpan having a quick release mechanism, such a spring (2a).

(13) FIG. 13 depicts a perspective view of one embodiment of a belt clip (3) as described herein attached to a mudpan (1) by insertion of the clip insertion end (8) through a belt clip attachment mechanism (2) attached to a mudpan.

(14) FIG. 14 depicts a side view from the outside of one embodiment of a belt clip (3) as described herein attached to a mudpan (1) by insertion of the clip insertion end (8) through a belt clip attachment mechanism (not visible) and depicting the various stabilizing elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(15) For clarity of disclosure, and not by way of limitation, the detailed description of the invention is divided into the following subsections that describe or illustrate certain features, embodiments or applications of the present invention.

Definitions

(16) mudpan as used herein means any substantially elongate, substantially rectangular container designed for temporarily containing tiler's grout or mastic or other soft, spreadable substance typically used by tillers during tile installation.

(17) belt clip as used herein means a device for securing a mudpan to a wearer in a stable, secure manner, by having the device secure to both the mudpan and the belt or pants or other clothing worn by the intended wearer.

(18) chamfered as used herein means a beveled or angled surface on an otherwise straight, solid edge.

The System and Method of the Present Invention

(19) One embodiment of the proprietary belt clipmudpan combination as described herein comprises a mudpan with an attached belt clip acceptance mechanism (3) that comprises a belt clip acceptance loop (7), a stabilizing plate (6), and a quick release mechanism; and a belt clip (3) that comprises a stabilizing surface (5), a clip bonding plate (4), a chamfered clip insertion tip (8), a mudpan bottom support (10), an angled support (9), and a mechanism for attaching the belt clip to a belt or other clothes of an intended wearer (11 [larger] or 12 [smaller]).

(20) In one embodiment, the belt clip is molded from a solid one-piece plastic construction.

(21) In one embodiment, the belt clip is made from metal and the various components welded together.

(22) In one embodiment, the belt clip insertion tip (8) is both chamfered and angled in a manner configured to make the mudpan (1) easily attachable and detachable from the belt clip (3) as well as self-stabilizing by a juxtaposition of the corresponding stabilizing plates (5, 6). Typically, when items are attached to a belt clip and worn attached to the belt or pants of a wearer, the weight of the item pulls it away from the wearer. For example, when a cell phone is worn on a belt clip, the phone tends to pull away from the wearer, the top of the item pulling away and moving the bottom of the device inward. The heavier the item, the more this tends to happen. Thus, here, with a mudpan, which when full will be relatively heavier than things typically worn on a belt clip, this phenomenon would be accentuated. To counteract this effect, in addition to the stabilizing plates (5, 6) working to stabilize the mudpan from moving side-to-side, the angled support (9) pushes the bottom of the mudpan outward and prevents the top of the mudpan from tensioning outward. The degree of the angle is configured allow the mudpan, when worn on the belt clip as described, to be substantially horizontal. The bottom support (10) further supports the overall weight.

(23) In one embodiment, a quick release mechanism (2a) is part of the belt clip loop (2) such that when the insertion tip (8) of a belt clip is inserted into the belt clip, it can be easily removed when desired. This may take the form of a simple friction device or a spring mechanism that holds the device in place as desired, but also allows for easy removal when desired.

EXAMPLES

(24) The present invention is further illustrated, but not limited by, the following examples.

(25) A typical use of the device combination as described herein is when a tile installer or a drywall installer has a need to spread drywall joint compound, tile mastic or grout. Normally, the worker will fill a mudpan with the substance and either carry it around or place it next to him and keep moving it. It is an object of this disclosure to provide a more convenient manner in which to have the mudpan in a convenient location, that is, by attaching it to the person of the installer. Previous attempts to attach a device such as this to a person has failed because of the weight of the mudpan when filled, as well as its elongate shape making a central connection point rendering the device unstable.

(26) In embodiments as described, the weight and instability have been overcome by implementing a combination of corresponding stabilizing plates, an angled support and a bottom support. Additionally, by having a chamfered and angled insertion tip in the belt clip connection means, the mudpan settles into place and is self-stabilizing in the proper orientation. Also, the quick release mechanism provides the proper friction to keep the attachment clip from moving while also allowing it to be detached easily when desired.

(27) Publications cited throughout this document are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. Although the various aspects of the invention have been illustrated above by reference to examples and preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention is defined not by the foregoing description but by the following claims properly construed under principles of patent law.

(28) Each and every feature described herein, and each and every combination of two or more of such features, is included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in such a combination are not mutually exclusive.