TOOL BELT STAND

Abstract

A tool belt stand is configured for supporting a tool belt including a main strap configured for fastening about a wearer's waist and first and second pouches. Each pouch includes a strap-attachment loop at a pouch upper end through which the main strap is situated in order to retain the pouch on the main strap. The tool belt stand includes a base for setting upon a surface; a support post extending upwardly from the base along a post axis; and first and second tool-belt support arms situated above the base and depending from the post. Each tool-belt support arm is inserted into the strap-attachment loop of one of the first and second pouches such that the first and second pouches are suspended by the first and second tool-belt arms. The tool belt stand further includes a tool-pouch stabilizer that contacts and maintains in upright orientations the first and second pouches.

Claims

1. A tool belt stand configured for temporarily supporting a tool belt including a main strap configured for fastening about a wearer's waist and first and second pouches, each of which pouches includes a pouch inner side that rests against and adjacent the leg of a user wearing the tool belt, a pouch outer side opposite the pouch inner side that faces away from a user wearing the tool belt, and a strap-attachment loop at a pouch upper end through which the main strap is situated in order to slidably retain the pouch on the main strap, the tool belt stand comprising: a base configured for setting upon a substantially horizontal surface; a rigid support post extending upwardly from the base along a post axis; first and second tool-belt support arms situated above the base and depending from the post; and a tool-pouch stabilizer depending from at least one of the base and the post, wherein (i) each of the first and second tool-belt support arms extends substantially perpendicularly to the post; (ii) the first and second tool-belt support arms are mutually spaced apart on opposite sides of a vertical plane that includes the post axis and passes between, and not through either of, the first and second tool-belt support arms; (iii) each of the first and second tool-belt support arms is configured for insertion into the strap-attachment loop, alongside the main strap, of one of the first and second pouches of the tool belt when the tool belt is removed from a user and set upon the tool belt stand for temporary support; and (iv) the tool-pouch stabilizer is configured for contactably engaging the pouch inner side of at least one of the first and second pouches of a tool belt set upon the tool belt stand for temporary support in order to maintain that pouch in a sufficiently upright orientation to prevent contents thereof from falling out.

2. The tool belt stand of claim 1 wherein the mutually spaced apart first and second tool-belt support arms are furthermore in substantially parallel spatial relation to one another.

3. The tool belt stand of claim 2 wherein at least one of (a) the first and second tool-belt support arms are furthermore mutually symmetrically disposed about the vertical plane; and (b) the tool-pouch stabilizer is symmetrically disposed about the vertical plane.

4. The tool belt stand of claim 3 wherein both (a) the first and second tool-belt support arms are furthermore mutually symmetrically disposed about the vertical plane; and (b) the tool-pouch stabilizer is symmetrically disposed about the vertical plane.

5. The tool belt stand of claim 1 wherein at least one of (a) the first and second tool-belt support arms are furthermore mutually symmetrically disposed about the vertical plane; and (b) the tool-pouch stabilizer is symmetrically disposed about the vertical plane.

6. The tool belt stand of claim 5 wherein both (a) the first and second tool-belt support arms are furthermore mutually symmetrically disposed about the vertical plane; and (b) the tool-pouch stabilizer is symmetrically disposed about the vertical plane.

7. The tool belt stand of claim 6 wherein the support post extends upwardly above the tool-belt support arms and terminates in a stand handle by which the tool belt stand can be picked up and carried by a user.

8. The tool belt stand of claim 7 further comprising at least a first tool holder forming a permanent part of the structure of the tool belt stand and (i) configured for temporarily storing tools not stored within a tool belt placed upon the tool belt stand and (ii) situated above the first and second tool-belt support arms and below the stand handle.

9. Apparatus for temporary storage of job-site tools comprising: a tool belt including a main strap configured for fastening about a wearer's waist and first and second pouches, each of which pouches includes a strap-attachment loop at a pouch upper end through which the main strap is situated in order to slidably retain the pouch on the main strap; and a tool belt stand comprising (a) a base configured for setting upon a substantially horizontal surface; (b) a rigid support post extending upwardly from the base along a post axis; and (c) first and second tool-belt support arms situated above the base and depending from the post, wherein (i) each of the first and second tool-belt support arms extends substantially perpendicularly to the post; (ii) the first and second tool-belt support arms are mutually spaced apart on opposite sides of a vertical plane that includes the post axis and passes between and not through either of the first and second tool-belt support arms; (iii) the first tool-belt support arm is inserted into the strap-attachment loop of the first pouch such that the first pouch is suspended by the first tool-belt arm; and (iv) the second tool-belt support arm is inserted into the strap-attachment loop of the second pouch such that the second pouch is suspended by the first tool-belt arm.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein (a) the tool belt stand further comprises a tool-pouch stabilizer; and (b) the tool-pouch stabilizer is in contacting engagement with at least one of the first and second pouches of the tool belt in order to maintain that pouch in a sufficiently upright orientation to prevent contents thereof from falling out.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the mutually spaced apart first and second tool-belt support arms are furthermore in substantially parallel spatial relation to one another.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein at least one of (a) the first and second tool-belt support arms are furthermore mutually symmetrically disposed about the vertical plane; and (b) the tool-pouch stabilizer is symmetrically disposed about the vertical plane.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein both (a) the first and second tool-belt support arms are furthermore mutually symmetrically disposed about the vertical plane; and (b) the tool-pouch stabilizer is symmetrically disposed about the vertical plane.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the support post extends upwardly above the tool-belt support arms and terminates in a stand handle by which the tool belt stand can be lifted and carried by a user.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the support post extends upwardly above the tool-belt support arms and terminates in a stand handle by which the tool belt stand can be lifted and carried by a user.

16. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the support post extends upwardly above the tool-belt support arms and terminates in a stand handle by which the tool belt stand can be lifted and carried by a user.

17. A method of temporarily supporting a tool belt including a main strap configured for fastening about a wearer's waist and at least a first pouch, each of which at least one pouches includes a pouch inner side that rests against and adjacent the leg of a user wearing the tool belt, a pouch outer side opposite the pouch inner side that faces away from a user wearing the tool belt, and a strap-attachment loop at a pouch upper end through which the main strap is situated in order to slidably retain the pouch on the main strap, the method comprising: (a) providing a tool belt stand that comprises a base configured for setting upon a substantially horizontal surface; a rigid support post extending upwardly from the base along a post axis; first and second tool-belt support arms situated above the base and depending substantially perpendicularly from the post; and a tool-pouch stabilizer depending from at least one of the base and the post; (b) inserting one of the first and second tool-belt support arms into the strap-attachment loop, alongside the main strap, of the at least first pouch of the tool belt so that the first pouch is suspended from the support arm; and (c) allowing the inner side of the first pouch to contactably engage the tool-pouch stabilizer so that the tool-pouch stabilizer maintains the first pouch in a sufficiently upright orientation to prevent contents thereof from falling out.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the tool belt includes a second pouch retained by the main strap and the method further comprises the steps of inserting the other of the first and second tool-belt support arms into the strap-attachment loop, alongside the main strap, of the second pouch of the tool belt so that the second pouch is suspended from the support arm; and allowing the inner side of the second pouch to contactably engage the tool-pouch stabilizer so that the tool-pouch stabilizer maintains the second pouch in a sufficiently upright orientation to prevent contents thereof from falling out.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] FIG. 1 is a side view of a tool belt stand configured for temporarily supporting a tool belt;

[0016] FIG. 2 is a frontal view of a tool belt stand similar to the tool belt stand depicted in FIG. 1, differing only in its further inclusion of dual structural tool holders for holding tools such as hammers, saws, and power drills; and

[0017] FIG. 3 is a frontal view of the tool belt stand shown in FIG. 2 on which there is hung for temporary support a tool belt including a main strap and first and second pouches illustratively containing a variety of tools, as well as a drill and hammer illustratively retained by the structural tool holders.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] The following description of a variously configured tool belt stand is illustrative in nature and not intended to unduly limit the invention or its application of uses. Accordingly, the various implementations, aspects, versions and embodiments described in the summary and detailed description are in the nature of non-limiting examples falling within the scope of the appended claims and do not serve to restrict the maximum scope of the claims.

[0019] Shown in the included drawings are various views of an illustratively embodied tool belt stand generally identified by the reference number 10. A basic first embodiment is described initially with general reference to FIG. 1. An alternative, second embodiment, modified slightly relative to the first, is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Moreover, for the sake of efficiency and descriptive clarity, illustrative, non-limiting additions, optional features, and alternative configurations of various elements are described with conjunctive reference to the basic illustrative configuration of FIG. 1. Additionally, throughout the specification and drawings, like elements across alternative embodiments, or various views of the same embodiment, are referenced by similar or identical numeric and/or alphanumeric reference characters.

[0020] Referring initially to the side view FIG. 1, a first embodiment of a tool belt stand 10 includes a base 20 for setting upon a substantially horizontal surface. Depending vertically upwardly from the base 20 is a rigid support post 40 that extends lengthwise along a post axis A.sub.P. Attached to the support post 40 at a predefined distance above the base 20 are first and second tool-belt support arms 60A and 60B. The support post 40 extends upwardly above the tool-belt support arms 60A and 60B and terminates at a stand handle 70 by which the tool belt stand 10 can be lifted and carried by a user.

[0021] A second embodiment is shown in the frontal views of FIGS. 2 and 3, the latter of which depicts a tool belt 100 suspended for temporary storage upon the tool belt stand 10. The first and second illustrative embodiments differ substantively only in that the second embodiment further includes structural first and second tool holders 80A and 80B (i.e. tool holders included as permanent structural portions of the tool belt stand 10). While the structural first and second tool holders 80A and 80B may be variously configured within the scope and contemplation of the invention as claimed, the examples of FIGS. 2 and 3 are in the form of cylindrical elements with, respectively, open top ends 82A and 82B and open bottom ends 84A and 84B. Each tool holder 80A and 80B is defined by, respectively, a side wall 85A and 85B that extends between, respectively, the open top ends 82A and 82B and open bottom ends 84A and 84B. The open bottom ends 84A and 84B facilitate the storage of tools not stored in the tool belt 100 and including elongated portions that can extend below the first and second tool holders 80A and 80B. The examples of a drill and hammer are shown in FIG. 3. In the case of the hammer, the handle of the hammer extends far below the second tool holder 80B. Furthermore, in the example depicted, the structural first and second tool holders 80A and 80B are secured to the rigid support post 40 at a location above the first and second tool-belt support arms 60A and 60B, in order to facilitate access thereto without interference to or by the support arms 60A and 60B, and below the stand handle 70 so that the stand handle 70 can be conveniently grasped.

[0022] Elements common to both illustrative embodiments are described with collective reference to FIGS. 1-3. The first and second tool-belt support arms 60A and 60B extend substantially perpendicular to the post 40—and parallel to the base 20—and are mutually spaced apart. Moreover, the first and second tool-belt support arms 60A and 60B are spatially situated on opposite sides of a vertical plane P.sub.V that includes the post axis A.sub.P and passes between—and not through either of—the first and second tool-belt support arms 60A and 60B. In at least one particular configuration, the first and second tool-belt support arms 60A and 60B are furthermore mutually symmetrically disposed about the vertical plane P.sub.V.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 3, an illustrative tool belt 100 is shown supported by the tool belt stand 10. The tool belt 100 includes a main strap 110 configured for fastening about a wearer's waist. Supported by the main strap 110 are first and second tool pouches 120A and 120B. Each of the first and second tool pouches 120A and 120B is defined by at least one pocket 122 configured for storing tools and other job-site items (shown but not numbered). Each pocket has a pocket interior 124 and an upper pocket end 126 defining a pocket opening 128 through which job-site items are introduced into and removed from the pocket interior 124. Each of the first and second tool pouches 120A and 120B further includes a pouch inner side 130 that bears, for example, against an adjacent leg of a user wearing the tool belt 10, a pouch outer side 132 opposite the pouch inner side 130 that faces away from the wearer of the tool belt 10, a pouch lower end 138 and a pouch upper end 140 including a strap-attachment loop 150 through which the main strap 110 is situated in order to slidably retain (e.g., suspend) the tool pouches 120A and 120B on the main strap 110.

[0024] Known to those familiar with tool belts 100 such as that of FIG. 3 is that there is typically space (slack) between the strap-attachment loop 150 and the main strap 110 that enables the tool pouch 120A and/or 120B to slide readily along the main strap 110. Each of the first and second tool-belt support arms 60A and 60B is configured for insertion into the strap-attachment loop 150—alongside the main strap 110—of one of the first and second pouches 120A and 120B when the tool belt 100 is set upon the tool belt stand 10 for temporary storage. More specifically, in order to hang the tool belt 100 on the tool belt stand 10, one of the first and second tool-belt support arms 60A and 60B is fed through the strap-attachment loop 150 of each of the first and second tool pouches 120A and 120B alongside the main strap 110.

[0025] As mentioned in the summary, loads within the first and second tool pouches 120A and 120B are frequently off balance and top heavy. This can be seen in FIG. 3 in which the first and second tool pouches 120A and 120B are tilted on the tool belt stand 10 with the pouch lower ends 138 thereof pivoted inwardly toward one another relative to the pouch upper ends 140. As shown in each of FIGS. 1-3, in order to maintain each of the first and second tool pouches 120A and 120B in a sufficiently upright orientation to obviate content spillage while the tool belt 100 is supported on the tool belt stand 10, the tool belt stand 10 includes a tool-pouch stabilizer 90.

[0026] In the versions depicted, the tool-pouch stabilizer 90 depends directly and upwardly from the base 20. Moreover, while the tool-pouch stabilizer 90 could be of various alternative configurations and depend directly from the post 40 or one or both of the first and second tool-belt support arms 60A and 60B, in the versions of FIGS. 1-2 the tool-pouch stabilizer 90 is formed as a rigid (i.e., sufficiently rigid to self-supporting) and substantially parabolic band of metal secured to the base 20. Regardless of its specific shape, the tool-pouch stabilizer 90 is configured for contactably engaging the pouch inner side 130 of at least one of the first and second tool pouches 120A and 120B hung upon at least one of the first and second tool-belt support arms 60A and 60B. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the tool-pouch stabilizer 90 is situated between the first and second tool pouches 120A and 120B of the illustrative tool belt 100 and is also symmetrically disposed about the vertical plane P.sub.V.

[0027] It will be appreciated that the main components of the tool belt stand 10, such as the base 20, post 40, tool-belt support arms 60A and 60B, and tool-pouch stabilizer 90, may be variously configured while remaining within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. However, each of the specific, non-limiting examples depicted in FIGS. 1-3 is fabricated from rigid metal bars; more specifically, so-called “rebar,” a ubiquitous term for steel reinforcing rod used in concrete.

[0028] The base 20 includes first and second base-frame members 22 and 24 forming a V-shape and joined at a vertex V that resides along the post axis A.sub.P and within the vertical plane P.sub.V. The vertical plane P.sub.V may be defined such that it defines a bisector evenly splitting the vertex angle Θ.sub.V defined by first and second base-frame members 22 and 24. A third base-frame member 26 is joined to the first and second base-frame members 22 and 24 at the vertex V and extends perpendicularly to the vertical plane P.sub.V when the vertical plane P.sub.V is defined as an angular bisector as described above.

[0029] At ends of the first and second base-frame members 22 and 24 opposite the vertex V, each of the first and second base-frame members 22 and 24 terminates at a foot 30 configured to engage a generally horizontal surface (ground or floor). At each of two opposed first and second ends 27 and 28 thereof, the third base-frame member 26 terminates at a foot 30 configured to engage the horizontal surface in generally the same plane as the feet 30 of the first and second base-frame members 22 and 24. It warrants reemphasis that the particular configuration of the base 20 is not of central importance to the overall inventive concept, certainly not in its broadest sense; what is of consequence is that a stabilizing base 20 is provided, and that could be comprised of a plurality of frame members, legs, or a single plate of material, by way of non-limiting example.

[0030] The foregoing is considered to be illustrative of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since modifications and changes to various aspects and implementations will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, it is to be understood that the foregoing does not limit the invention as expressed in the appended claims to the exact constructions, implementations and versions shown and described.