HAMMER SLEEVE, HAMMER SLEEVE ATTACHMENT SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED TOOL BELT SYSTEM

Abstract

A tool holding sleeve for use on a tool belt includes a sleeve shaped body formed by a flexible material, the sleeve shaped body having a main body section and a neck section, the main body section having an upper edge, a lower edge and a height that is greater than a height of the neck section. The neck section extends along only a portion of the upper edge of the main body section such that the upper edge includes a neck free segment and/or the upper edge of the main body section has a perimeter dimension that is larger than a perimeter dimension of the lower edge of the main body section such that an upper opening of the sleeve shaped body is larger than a lower opening of the sleeve shaped body.

Claims

1. A tool holding sleeve for use on a tool belt, the tool holding sleeve comprising: a sleeve shaped body comprised of a flexible material, the sleeve shaped body having a main body section and a neck section, the main body section having an upper edge, a lower edge and a height that is greater than a height of the neck section, wherein: the neck section extends along only a portion of the upper edge of the main body section such that the upper edge includes a neck free segment; and/or the upper edge of the main body section has a perimeter dimension that is larger than a perimeter dimension of the lower edge of the main body section such that an upper opening of the sleeve shaped body is larger than a lower opening of the sleeve shaped body.

2. The tool holding sleeve of claim 1, wherein the upper edge of the main body section has a perimeter dimension that is larger than a perimeter dimension of the lower edge of the main body section such that an upper opening of the sleeve shaped body is larger than a lower opening of the sleeve shaped body, and a portion of the main body section comprises a rigidity that is sufficient to cause the upper opening to take on an at least partly expanded condition.

3. The tool handling sleeve of claim 2, wherein the neck section extends along only a portion of the upper edge of the main body section such that the upper edge includes the neck free segment, and the portion of the main body section comprising the rigidity is aligned below the neck free segment.

4. The tool holding sleeve of claim 1, further comprising a first external attachment structure for mounting the tool holding sleeve on a right side of a tool belt, and a second external attachment structure for mounting the tool holding sleeve on a left side of a tool belt.

5. The tool holding sleeve of claim 4, wherein the main body section includes a first side segment, a second side segment opposite the first side segment, and at least one end segment joining the first side segment and the second side segment, wherein a lateral dimension of the first side segment and the second side segment is larger than a lateral dimension of the end segment, wherein the first external attachment structure is located on the first side segment and the second external attachment structure is located on the second side segment.

6. A tool belt system, comprising: a tool belt strap having ends that are selectively connectable and disconnectable for being worn by a user; a first belt component located on a right side of the belt, from the perspective of a user wearing the belt, and a second belt component worn on a left side of the belt, from the perspective of a user wearing the belt, the first belt component including at least one first web loop for engaging with the first external attachment structure, the second belt component including at least one second web loop for engaging with the second external attachment structure; the tool holding sleeve of claim 4, wherein the first external attachment structure comprises a first strap member oriented on the tool holding sleeve and the second external attachment structure comprises a second strap member oriented on the tool holding sleeve, wherein the tool holding sleeve is selectively engageable on: (i) the first belt component with the first strap member engaged on the at least one first web loop to support the tool holding sleeve such that that the neck free segment, which forms a neck gap, faces in a first rearward and upward direction from a perspective of a user wearing the tool belt strap or (ii) the second belt component with the second strap member engaged with the at least one second web loop to support the tool holding sleeve such that that the neck free segment, which forms a neck gap, faces in a second rearward and upward direction from a perspective of a user wearing the tool belt strap.

7. The tool holding sleeve of claim 1, wherein the flexible material comprises a fabric material with one or more internal polymer cushions within at least the main body section.

8. A tool holding sleeve for use on a tool belt, the tool holding sleeve comprising: a flexible material having a preassembly configuration and an assembly configuration, wherein, the flexible material includes a body section and a neck section; wherein, in the preassembly configuration: the body section has a laid flat footprint that is a trapezoid shape, the trapezoid shape including an upper perimeter edge with a first length and a lower perimeter edge with a second length, the lower perimeter edge running substantially parallel to the upper perimeter edge, the first length being greater than the second length, wherein the trapezoidal shape further includes a first perimeter edge running from the upper perimeter edge to the lower perimeter edge, and a second perimeter edge running from the upper perimeter edge to the lower perimeter edge, second perimeter edge running in a direction that is non-parallel to the first perimeter edge; wherein, in an assembly configuration: the flexible material is formed into a sleeve shape, with the second perimeter edge connected to or on the first perimeter edge, wherein an upper body opening of the body section of the sleeve shape is defined by the upper perimeter edge and a lower body opening of the sleeve shape is defined by the lower perimeter edge, such that the upper body opening is larger than the lower body opening.

9. The tool holding sleeve of claim 8, wherein the neck section extends from the upper perimeter edge; wherein, in the preassembly configuration, the neck section has a length that is less than the first length of the upper perimeter edge, such that a portion of the upper perimeter edge defines a neck free segment; wherein, in the assembly configuration, end edges of the neck section are not connected together, such that the neck section of the sleeve shape includes a gap therein that is aligned with the neck free segment of the body section.

10. The tool holding sleeve of claim 9, wherein a height of the neck section is less than twenty percent of a height of the main body section.

11. A tool holding sleeve for use on a tool belt, the tool holding sleeve comprising: a sleeve shaped body comprised of a flexible material having a first side segment and a second side segment, a first external attachment structure located on the first side segment for mounting the tool holding sleeve on a right side of a tool belt, and a second external attachment structure located on the second side segment for mounting the tool holding sleeve on a left side of a tool belt.

12. A tool belt system, including the tool holding sleeve of claim 11, comprising: a tool belt strap having ends that are selectively connectable and disconnectable for being worn by a user; a belt component located the belt, the belt component including at least one web loop; the tool holding sleeve of claim 11 selectively engageable on the belt component to be supported thereon, wherein the first external attachment structure comprises an external attachment strap sized for engagement through the at least one web loop for purpose of attachment to the belt component.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIGS. 1-2 show perspective views of a tool holding sleeve;

[0010] FIGS. 3-4 show side elevations of the tool holding sleeve;

[0011] FIGS. 5-6 show perspective views of the tool holding sleeve;

[0012] FIG. 7 shows the outwardly facing side or surface of the material used to form the tool holding sleeve in a laid flat configuration, before being formed into the sleeve-shape;

[0013] FIGS. 8-11 show a tool belt system;

[0014] FIGS. 12-13 show the tool belt system, including tool holding sleeve attached thereto, as worn by a user;

[0015] FIG. 14 shows the back or user facing side of a tool belt component adapted to receive the tool holding sleeve in either of two orientations; and

[0016] FIG. 15 shows the inwardly facing side or surface of the material used to form a tool holding sleeve in a laid flat configuration, before being formed into the sleeve-shape.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] Referring to FIGS. 1-13, a tool holding sleeve 10 for use on a tool belt system 100 includes a sleeve shaped body 12 comprised of a flexible material and having a main body section 12a and a neck section 12b. The main body section 12a has a height H1 that is substantially greater than a height H2 of the neck section (e.g., H1 at least five times greater than H2). The neck section 12b extends along only a portion of an upper edge 14 of the main body section 12 such that the upper edge 14 includes a neck free segment 14a. Here, the neck free segment 14a is relatively small (e.g., less than 20% of the dimension of the upper edge). The upper edge 14 of the main body section also has a perimeter dimension that is larger than a perimeter dimension of a lower edge 16 of the main body section, such that an upper opening 18 of the sleeve shaped body is larger than a lower opening 20 of the sleeve shaped body. In embodiments, the flexible material of the sleeve shaped body 12 may comprise one or more natural or synthetic fabric(s) (e.g., any of nylon, polyester, cotton, leather or combinations thereof), and may also include multiple polymer cushion panels (e.g., EVA foam panels) 22a-22d integrated therein, such as by stitching the panels between layers of the fabric material, and with spacing between the panels to enhance overall flexibility.

[0018] An end segment or portion 12a1 of the main body section 12a comprises a rigidity that is sufficient to cause the upper opening to take on an at least partly expanded condition that will allow for case of tool insertion (e.g., case of insertion of the handle 90a of a hammer 90, with the head 90b of the hammer supported by the upper edge 12b1 of the neck section 12b). The rigidity of portion 12a1 may be achieved by use of internal structure 22c (such as webbing, EVA foam or PE board being stitched between fabric layers of the portion 12a1), or by an additional layer or layers of the flexible material in certain regions. The portion 12a1 of the main body section 12a is aligned below the neck free segment 14a, and the neck free segment 14a further aids in the upper opening 18 maintaining the expanded condition. Portion 12a1 is of a triangular configuration in the illustrated embodiment. The neck section 12b may have added stiffness as by use of a material such as webbing that is thicker than the fabric used in the main body section or by use of an internal structure within the neck section, such as webbing, EVA foam, PE board or an additional layer of fabric.

[0019] The flexible material utilized to produce the sleeve-shaped body has a preassembly configuration, in which it is laid flat (FIG. 7), and an assembly configuration in which it is formed into the sleeve-shaped body. In the preassembly configuration, the main body section 12a has a laid flat footprint that is a trapezoid shape, with upper perimeter edge 14 having a length L1 and a lower perimeter edge 24 having a length L2, the lower edge running 24 substantially parallel to the upper edge 14, and length L1 being greater than length L2. The trapezoidal shape further includes a perimeter edge 26 running from the upper perimeter edge 14 to the lower perimeter edge 24, and a perimeter edge 28 running from the upper perimeter edge 14 to the lower perimeter edge 24, where perimeter edge 28 runs in a direction that is non-parallel to the perimeter edge 26. In the assembly, configuration, the flexible material is formed into the sleeve shape, with the perimeter edge 28 connected to or on the perimeter edge 26 (e.g., by stitching). An upper body opening of the main body section 12a of the sleeve shape is defined by the upper perimeter edge 14 and a lower body opening of the main body section 12a of the sleeve shape is defined by the lower perimeter edge 24, such that the upper body opening is larger than the lower body opening.

[0020] The main body section includes a first side segment 12a2, a second side segment 12a3 opposite the side segment 12a2, and the end segment 12a1 joining the first side segment and the second side segment. The lateral dimension of the first and second side segments 12a2 and 12a3 is substantially the same, and is larger than a lateral dimension of the end segment 12a1.

[0021] The sleeve-shaped body 12 includes external attachment structure 30a located on the first side segment 12a2 and external attachment structure 30b located on the second side segment 12a3. Here, attachment structure 30a is formed by a strap 30a1 and one or more web loops 30a2 through which the strap 30a1 can be fitted, and attachment structure 30b is formed by a strap 30b1 and one or more web loops 30b2 through which the strap 30b1 can be fitted. Upper end portions 30a3 and 30b3 of the straps are fixed to the body 12, and the remainder of the straps are capable of free movement (except when held down by the corresponding web loops or when end segments of the straps are held against the main body section by, for example hook and latch type attachment features between the end segment and the main body section). Notably, the two attachment structures 30a and 30b substantially align with each other, albeit on opposite sides of the sleeve-shaped body, when the sleeve-shaped body is formed.

[0022] Attachment structure 30a is used to attach the sleeve-shaped body on the right side of a tool belt, and attachment structure 30b is used to attach the sleeve shaped body on the left side of a tool belt. In this regard, FIGS. 8 and 9 show a tool belt system 100 with a tool belt strap 102 having engageable end clip structure such that the belt strap ends are selectively connectable and disconnectable for being worn by a user. A belt component 104a is located on a right side of the belt strap, from the perspective of a user wearing the belt, and a belt component is located on a left side of the belt, from the perspective of a user wearing the belt. Here, the belt components are belt pouches that attach to the belt strap. Belt component 104a includes aligned and spaced apart web loops 106a on a side designed for facing inward toward the user, for engaging with the external attachment structure 30a of the sleeve, and the belt component 104b includes aligned and spaced apart web loops 106b, on a side designed for facing the user, for engaging with the attachment structure 30b of the sleeve. Here, three web loops 106a and three web loops 106b are shown, but the number may vary (e.g., less than three, such as only one, only two or more than three, in each case).

[0023] For attachment to belt component 104a, strap 30a1 is selectively woven back and forth through the web loop(s) 30a2 and the web loop(s) 106a for such attachment, and may include mating hook and latch type features on both the side of the strap facing the main body section of the sleeve and on the outwardly facing surface of the main body section, such as in region 150a, to engage the distal or free end of the strap 30a1 against the sleeve after such weaving. Similar attachment to belt component 104b is achieved using strap 30b1, web loop(s) 30b2 and web loop(s) 106b, and mating hook and latch type features in region 150b. This attachment system enables the same tool holding sleeve to be used on either side of the tool belt system while, in both cases, taking on a similar relative position and orientation. In particularly, in both cases, the tool holding sleeve is oriented such that that the neck gap 12b2 faces in a rearward and upward direction (e.g., per arrow 95) from a perspective of a user wearing the tool belt strap, as suggested by FIGS. 12 and 13.

[0024] It is to be clearly understood that the above description is intended by way of illustration and example only, is not intended to be taken by way of limitation, and that other changes and modifications are possible.

[0025] For example, while the above embodiments show tool belt components 104a, 104b that are configured specifically for the right or left side of the tool belt, a tool belt component 105 is shown in FIG. 14 that can be worn on either side of the tool belt, and therefore has a back side with one set of aligned web loops 107a for use with the hammer sleeve when the belt component 105 is attached at one side of the tool belt, and other set of aligned web loops 107b for use with the hammer sleeve when the belt component 105 is attached to the other side of the tool belt.

[0026] In addition, as suggested in FIG. 15, the interior of the hammer sleeve can include features adapted to facilitate sliding of the hammer or other tool into the sleeve, such as one or more strips of seatbelt material 110 that are attached at the inward surface of the sleeve, particularly along the region 112 of the sleeve internal surface that will form the lower zone of the sleeve internal surface when the sleeve is attached to the belt component on the tool belt.

[0027] Other variations are possible.