HANGABLE SHEATH ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A hangable sheath assembly includes a sheath and a hanger. The sheath includes a space, an opening in communication with the space, an edge extending around the opening, a wing extending from the edge, and a slot in the wing. The hanger includes an anchor inserted in the slot. The anchor includes a barb for abutment against the wing to keep the anchor in the slot, thereby keeping the hanger on the sheath.

Claims

1. A hangable sheath assembly comprising: a sheath comprising a space, an opening in communication with the space, an edge extending around the opening, a wing extending from the edge, and a slot in the wing; and a hanger comprising an anchor inserted in the slot, wherein the anchor comprises a barb for abutment against the wing to keep the anchor in the slot, thereby keeping the hanger on the sheath.

2. The hangable sheath assembly according to claim 1, wherein the hanger further comprises aperture for receiving an external object.

3. The hangable sheath assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sheath further comprises reinforcement elements extending an internal face of the sheath.

4. The hangable sheath assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sheath further comprises a groove extending in an internal face of the sheath.

5. The hangable sheath assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sheath further comprises a reinforcement fin extending along U-shaped edge of the sheath.

6. The hangable sheath assembly according to claim 5, wherein the sheath further comprises a groove extending in an internal face of a substantially vertical section of the reinforcement fin.

7. The hangable sheath assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sheath further comprises a clip extending from the wing.

8. The hangable sheath assembly according to claim 7, wherein the sheath further comprises a barb extending from the clip.

9. The hangable sheath assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sheath further comprises a slit located opposite to the wing.

10. The hangable sheath assembly according to claim 9, wherein the sheath further comprises two stepped edges on two opposite sides of the slit, thereby rendering the slit countersink.

11. The hangable sheath assembly according to claim 9, wherein the slit comprises: an open end in the edge of the opening; a closed end located opposite to the open end; two protuberances extending toward each other from two opposite edges between which the slit extends, wherein the protuberances are located closer to the closed end than the open end; and a funnel-like section expanding toward the open end.

12. The hangable sheath assembly according to claim 9, further comprising a blade container comprising a neck movable along the slit, thereby guiding the blade container into the sheath smoothly; and a head formed on the neck, wherein the head extends beyond the neck in a transverse direction of the neck, wherein the head is located out of the sheath while the blade container is located in the sheath.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0008] The present invention will be described via detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment referring to the drawings wherein:

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hangable sheath assembly according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0010] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the hangable sheath assembly shown in FIG. 1;

[0011] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the hangable sheath assembly shown in FIG. 1;

[0012] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the hangable sheath assembly shown in FIG. 1;

[0013] FIG. 5 is a side view of the hangable sheath assembly shown in FIG. 1;

[0014] FIG. 6 is another cross-sectional view of the hangable sheath assembly shown in FIG. 1;

[0015] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a blade container and the hangable sheath assembly shown in FIG. 1;

[0016] FIG. 8 is a front view of the blade container and the hangable sheath assembly shown in FIG. 7; and

[0017] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the blade container and the hangable sheath assembly shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0018] Referring to FIG. 1, a hangable sheath assembly 42 includes a sheath 51 and a hanger 60 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The sheath 51 includes a front portion (not numbered), a rear portion (not numbered) and two lateral portions (not numbered). The sheath 51 includes an opening 52 in communication with a space 53. The sheath 51 includes an edge 55 extending around the opening 52 and a wing 57 extending from the edge 55. The hanger 60 is connected to the wing 57. The hanger 60 includes an aperture 61 for receiving a hook, a nail or any other proper element so that the hangable sheath assembly 42 is hung on the hook or nail.

[0019] Referring to FIG. 6, a cutter 66 is insertable into the space 53 through the opening 52 for storage and carriage. The cutter 66 is movable from the space 53 through the opening 52 for use.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 2, the hanger 60 is detached from the wing 57. The wing 57 includes two slots 58. The hanger 60 includes two anchors 62. Each of the anchors 62 is formed with a barb 63.

[0021] Referring to FIG. 3, the two anchors 62 are inserted in slots 58. The barbs 63 abut against a lower face of the wing 57 to keep the anchors 62 in the slots 58, i.e., to keep the hanger 60 on the wing 57 of the sheath 51.

[0022] Referring to FIG. 4, two front reinforcement elements 56 extend on an internal face of the front portion of the sheath 51. Two rear reinforcement elements 56 extend on an internal face of the rear portion of the sheath 51. Each of the front reinforcement elements 56 is aligned to a corresponding one of the rear reinforcement elements 56. A groove 54 is made in an internal face of each of the lateral portions of the sheath 51. The space 53 is located between and in communication with the grooves 54.

[0023] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the front reinforcement elements 56 are in contact with a front face of the cutter 66 inserted in the sheath 51 while the rear reinforcement elements 56 are in contact with a rear face of the same. Thus, the cutter 66 is firmly inserted in the sheath 51 by the reinforcement elements 56.

[0024] The sheath 51 includes a reinforcement portion 59 that is a U-shaped portion extending on external faces of the lateral portions of the sheath 51 and a closed end of the sheath 51, which is located opposite to the opening 52. Each of the grooves 54 extends in an internal face of a vertical section of the reinforcement portion 59 of the sheath 51. The grooves 54 receive cutting edges of the cutter 66. The reinforcement fin 59 prevents the cutting edges of the cutter 66 from cutting through the sheath 51.

[0025] The sheath 51 further includes a clip 64. The clip 64 extends from a lower face of the wing 57. There is a gap between the rear portion of the sheath 51 and the clip 64. The gap is used to receive a belt 67. The clip 64 preferably includes a barb 65 extending toward the rear portion of the sheath 51. The barb 65 can abut against a lower edge of the belt 67 to keep the belt 67 in the gap, i.e., to keep the hangable sheath assembly 42 on the belt 67.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 7, the hangable sheath assembly 42 includes a blade container 10. The blade container 10 includes a box 11 connected to a lid 26. The box 11 is used to receive blades (not shown). The lid 26 is used to close an open end of the box 11. The lid 26 is movable from the box 11 to allow the blade to be moved from the box 11. The blade container 10 is deemed an accessory of the hangable sheath assembly 42 to enable the hangable sheath assembly 42 to contain blades of utility cutters (or box cutters).

[0027] The box 11 includes a neck 44 on a rear portion 50 of the box 11 and a head 45 on the neck 44. Preferably, the neck 44 is a circular stem. Preferably, the head 45 is a substantially rectangular flat portion with two ends extending beyond the neck 44. In another embodiment, the head 45 can however be a disc with a diameter larger than that of the neck 44.

[0028] The blade container 10 is engageable with the sheath 51. The sheath 51 includes a slit 43 for receiving the neck 44 so that the box 11 is smoothly movable into the sheath 51. The head 45 is located out of the sheath 51 while the box 11 is located in the sheath 51. The blade container 10 can easily be moved from the sheath 51 for use.

[0029] Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the slit 43 is made in the front portion of the sheath 51. The wing 57 is formed on the rear portion of the sheath 51. The slit 43 extends between two stepped edges 72 extending to the edge 55 and includes an open end 68 and a closed end 69. Each of the stepped edges 72 includes a protuberance 70, thereby providing a reduced section of the slit 43 near the closed end 69. The slit 43 includes a funnel-like section 71 expending toward the open end 68. The stepped edges 72 render the slit 43 a countersink hole.

[0030] The neck 44 is moved into the slit 43 via the open end 68. The funnel-like section 71 of the slit 43 renders movement of the neck 44 into the slit 43 easy. The neck 44 is moved to the closed end 69 of the slit 43 past the two protuberances 70. In an elastic manner, the two protuberances 70 keep the neck 44 in the slit 43, i.e., keep the box 11 in the sheath 51. The head 45 is flush with the stepped edges 72, i.e., the internal face of the front portion of the sheath 51.

[0031] As discussed above, the hangable sheath assembly 42, which includes the hanger 60, the sheath 51 and the blade container 10 facilitates carriage, storage and displaying of cutters.

[0032] The present invention has been described via the illustration of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the preferred embodiment shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.