TOOL BELT APPARATUS

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a multi-segmented belt apparatus. In different embodiments, one segment is a rear transfer pad and two other segments are wings, each having one end for connecting to the other wing and another end for connecting to the transfer pad. The variability in connection between each wing and the transfer pad includes the ability to adjust the curvature and length of the belt to ensure that the belt has maximum surface contact and avoids hot spots on the hips.

Claims

1. A belt apparatus, comprising: a transfer pad; a first wing removably securable to the transfer pad, wherein the first wing comprises a male connector end; and a second wing removably securable to the transfer pad, wherein the second wing comprises a female connector end, wherein, when the male connector end of the first wing is connected to the female connector end of the second wing and the first and second wings are secured to the transfer pad, the transfer pad and the first and second wings are frustoconical.

2. The belt apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transfer pad comprises integrated top, middle and bottom members.

3. The belt apparatus of claim 2, wherein the transfer pad is formed with a crease between the top and middle members.

4. The belt apparatus of claim 2, wherein the transfer pad is formed with a crease between the middle and bottom members.

5. The belt apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first wing comprises a first wing pad end removably secured to the middle member of the transfer pad, and wherein the second wing comprises a second wing pad end removably secured to the middle member of the transfer pad.

6. The belt apparatus of claim 5, wherein each of the first and second tab members comprises an inner face and an outer face, wherein the inner face of each of the first and second tab members is removably secured to the middle member of the transfer pad, and further wherein the bottom member of the transfer pad is secured to the outer face of each of the first and second tab members.

7. The belt apparatus of claim 6, wherein the top member of the transfer pad is secured to the bottom member of the transfer pad.

8. The belt apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first wing comprises a first wing inner edge comprising a first width, a first wing outer edge comprising a second width and a first wing tab member tapering from the first wing inner edge to the first wing outer edge, wherein the first width is greater than the second width.

9. The belt apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second wing comprises a second wing inner edge comprising a third width, a second wing outer edge comprising a fourth width and a second wing tab member tapering from the second wing inner edge to the second wing outer edge, wherein the third width is greater than the fourth width.

10. The belt apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first wing comprises a pouch.

11. The belt apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first wing comprises an elasticized slot.

12. A belt apparatus, comprising: a transfer pad comprising integrated top, middle and bottom members; a first wing comprising a first wing pad end removably securable to the transfer pad and a first wing tab member; and a second wing comprising a second wing pad end removably securable to the transfer pad and a second wing tab member removably securable to the first wing tab member.

13. The belt apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first wing end pad and the second wing end pad are removably securable to the middle member of the transfer pad.

14. The belt apparatus of claim 12, wherein each of the first and second tab members comprises an inner face and an outer face, wherein the inner face of each of the first and second tab members is removably secured to the middle member of the transfer pad, and further wherein the bottom member of the transfer pad is secured to the outer face of each of the first and second tab members.

15. The belt apparatus of claim 12, wherein each of the first and second tab members comprises an inner face and an outer face, wherein the inner face of each of the first and second tab members is removably secured to the middle member of the transfer pad, and further wherein the top member of the transfer pad is secured to the outer face of each of the first and second tab members.

16. The belt apparatus of claim 15, wherein the top member of the transfer pad is secured to the bottom member of the transfer pad.

17. The belt apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first wing comprises a first wing inner edge comprising a first width, a first wing outer edge comprising a second width and wherein the first wing tab member tapers from the first wing inner edge to the first wing outer edge, wherein the first width is greater than the second width.

18. The belt apparatus of claim 17, wherein the second wing comprises a second wing inner edge comprising a third width, a second wing outer edge comprising a fourth width and a second wing tab member tapering from the second wing inner edge to the second wing outer edge, wherein the third width is greater than the fourth width.

19. The belt apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first wing comprises a pouch.

20. The belt apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first wing comprises an elasticized slot.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] FIG. 1 is a front view of a tool belt apparatus according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0007] FIG. 2 is a front view of a transfer pad in the open or unsealed position according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0008] FIG. 3 is a front view of a wing with a male mating end according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0009] FIG. 4 is a front view of a wing with a female mating end according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0010] FIG. 5 is a rear view of the wing of FIG. 4.

[0011] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a transfer pad, two wings and a stiffener prior to connection and/or installation according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0012] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an interior of a transfer pad in the open or unsealed position according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an interior of a transfer pad in the open or unsealed position with a stiffener partially inserted therein according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 9 is an illustration of a fully connected tool belt apparatus according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0015] The presently disclosed subject matter now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter are shown. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. The presently disclosed subject matter may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Indeed, many modifications and other embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which the presently disclosed subject matter pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the presently disclosed subject matter is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

[0016] It will be appreciated that reference to a, an or other indefinite article in the present disclosure encompasses one or a plurality of the described element. Thus, for example, reference to a pouch may encompass one or more pouches, reference to a connector may encompass one or more connectors and so forth.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 1 through 9, embodiments of a tool belt 10 according to the present disclosure include a transfer pad 15, a wing 30 with a male connector end 32 and a wing 50 with a female connector end 52. As shown in FIG. 2, the transfer pad 15 can be provided with integrated top 16, middle 17 and bottom 18 members. The transfer pad 15 can be formed with a thinner area or crease 19 between the top 16 and middle 17 members, and a separate thinner area or crease 20 between the middle 17 and bottom 18 members. The creases 19, 20 facilitate folding of the members with respect to one another as described elsewhere herein. It will be appreciated that the transfer pad 15 and wings 30, 50 can be constructed of suitable resilient yet deformable material(s) so as to permit flexion for purposes of operation as a tool belt such as described herein. The wings 30, 50 are removably securable to the transfer pad 15 which facilitates user customization and fit as described herein.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 3, wing 30 can be provided with a connector tab member 33 on a pad end 73 opposite from the male connector 32. The connector tab member 33 is provided with attachment elements such as hook and/or loop members on the inner and outer faces of the tab member 33, wherein the attachment elements can mate with corresponding attachment elements (e.g., 28 in FIG. 7) on the transfer pad 15 when assembled. According to various embodiments, the front side, or outer face, of the wing 30 can include one or more pouches or elasticized slots 35 for carrying items such as tools and the wing 30 can further be provided with a reinforced outer edge 36. In various embodiments, the tab member 33 is formed so as to taper from a width X at the inner edge of the wing 30 to a width Y at the outer edge of the wing 30, wherein width X is greater than width Y. This facilitates a high level of customization from user to user as, among other things, an un-tapered tab member 33 may more readily extend over one or both creases 19, 20 of the transfer pad 15 and thereby inhibit a desired range of customization.

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, wing 50 can be provided with a connector tab member 53 on a pad end 63 opposite from the female connector 52. The connector tab member 53 is provided with attachment elements such as hook and/or loop members on the outer face 55 and inner face 54 of the tab member 53, wherein the attachment elements can mate with corresponding attachment elements (e.g., 28 in FIG. 7) on the transfer pad 15 when assembled. The outer face 55 of the wing 50 can include one or more pouches or elasticized slots 56 for carrying items such as tools and the wing 50 can further be provided with a reinforced outer edge 57. In various embodiments, the tab member 53 is formed so as to taper from a width A at the inner edge of the wing 50 to a width B at the outer edge of the wing 50, wherein width A is greater than width B. This facilitates customization from user to user as, among other things, an un-tapered tab member 53 may more readily extend over one or both creases 19, 20 of the transfer pad 15 and thereby inhibit a desired range of customization.

[0020] FIGS. 6 through 8 are diagrams of the transfer pad 15, wing 30, wing 50 and a stiffener 60. The stiffener 60 can be inserted into a slot 62 (as illustrated by arrow C in FIG. 7) within the middle member 17 of the transfer pad 15. It will be appreciated that multiple stiffeners 60 of different thickness and/or weight can be employed depending upon the user's desired support. As shown in FIG. 7, according to various embodiments, the interior surface 78 of the bottom member 18 of the transfer pad 15 can be provided with hook and/or loop fastening elements 28 to assist in securing the bottom member 18 to tab members 33, 53 of wings 30, 50, respectively when the bottom member 18 is folded over the middle member 17 and tab elements 33, 53 as indicated by arrow E in FIG. 8 and as described herein. In various embodiments, the exterior surface of the bottom member 18 can also be provided with attachment elements such as hook and/or loop fastening elements to permit removably securing the bottom member 18 to the top member 16 when the top member 16 is folded atop the bottom member 18 as illustrated by arrow F in FIG. 8. The interior surface 46 of the top member 16 can further be provided with complementary attaching elements 29 as shown in FIG. 7. Further according to various embodiments, the interior surface 27 of the middle member 17 of the transfer pad 15 is also provided with hook or loop fastening elements to assist in operations as described herein. It will be appreciated that the exterior surfaces of the top 16 and middle 17 members may not be provided with hook or loop attachment members but may be provided with additional slots or pockets to facilitate utility of the tool belt apparatus in various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0021] Assembly of the tool belt 10 can occur according to FIG. 8. As shown in FIG. 8, the connector tab member 53 of wing 50 is secured to the middle member 17 of transfer pad 15 at the desired angle and to the desired degree and/or length. As shown in FIG. 11, the connector tab member 33 of wing 30 is also secured to the middle member 17 of transfer pad 15 at the desired angle and to the desired degree and/or length. Given the hook and loop connections according to embodiments of this disclosure, the connector tab members 33 and 53 can be lifted and moved as many times as desired in order to achieve the best location for optimal fit on a given user.

[0022] Once the wings 30, 50 are secured to the middle member 17 of the transfer pad 15, the bottom member 18 of the transfer pad 15 can be folded along crease 20 as indicated at arrow E and secured to the outward facing sides of the connector tab members 33, 53. After the bottom member 18 is secured to the outward facing sides of the connector tab members 33, 53, the top member 16 of the transfer pad 15 can be folded along crease 19 and secured to the outside surface of the bottom member 18 as indicated at arrow F.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 9, when the male end 32 of wing 30 is connected to female end 52 of wing 50, the belt 10 forms a substantially frustoconical shape, where the inner radial distance R1 from an axis D running generally centrally through the opening created by the connected belt 10 at the top surface 80 of the belt 10 is somewhat smaller than the inner radial distance or inner radius R2 at the bottom surface 82 of the belt. By adding curvature to the belt 10 based on the adjustable wings 30, 50 as described herein, the belt 10 forms a frustoconical shape that better follows the curves of the human hip region. It will be appreciated that the dimensions of the transfer pad 15 are wide enough to create substantial support as well as room to adjust the curvature of the belt 10 via the wings 30, 50. As described elsewhere herein and as shown in the drawings, the connector tabs 33, 53 of the wings 30, 50, respectively, taper from the inner edge to the outer edge and mate with the hook and loop attachment elements on the transfer pad 15 in a way that allows adjustment in both directions.

[0024] It will be appreciated that one or both wings 30, 50 may be adjusted outwardly to lengthen the belt 10. One or both wings 30, 50 may also be angled upward (or downward) to better fit the particular wearer.

[0025] It will be appreciated that the components of the presently disclosed device can be fabricated from various types of materials, including nylon and/or other suitable materials consistent with the environments in which the device can operate.

[0026] Embodiments of the present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the claims of the application rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.