Belt adapter and holding system comprising a belt adapter and a carrier element

Abstract

A belt adapter for attaching objects to a belt includes a holding system for attaching the belt adapter to the belt, an opening extending along a vertical axis of the belt adapter, through which opening a carrier element can be inserted into the belt adapter, and a securing element which can be moved between an unlocked position, in which the carrier element can be inserted into and removed from the belt adapter, and a locked position for securely holding a carrier element inserted into the belt adapter in a locked position. A holding system comprises a belt adapter and a carrier element. The belt adapter ensures that the carrier element is reliably and securely held in place in that the securing element is designed to receive at least part of the carrier element and is movably guided along the vertical axis between the unlocked and locked positions.

Claims

1. A belt adapter for attaching an object to a belt, the belt adapter comprising a holding system for attaching the belt adapter to the belt, an opening elongated in a direction of a vertical axis of the belt adapter, through which opening a carrier element of the object is insertable horizontally into the belt adapter, and a securing element which is movable between an unlocked position, in which the carrier element is insertable into and removed from the belt adapter, and a locked position for securely holding the carrier element inserted into the belt adapter in a locked position, wherein the securing element is configured to receive at least part of the carrier element and is movably guided in the direction of the vertical axis of the belt adapter between the unlocked position and the locked position in which the carrier element inserted into the belt adapter is securely held in the locked position; and wherein the securing element includes a receiving element formed as a slot and delimited at horizontal ends, the receiving element elongated in the direction of the vertical axis of the belt adapter and configured for receiving the at least part of the carrier element inserted into the belt adapter.

2. The belt adapter according to claim 1, wherein movement of the securing element is guided between two guide bars preventing lateral movement of the securing element, the two guide bars extending in the direction of the vertical axis of the belt adapter and/or the securing element rests at least in part against the two guide bars.

3. The belt adapter according to claim 2, wherein the securing element further includes at least one catch lug at least on one side facing the two guide bars and wherein at least one of the two guide bars has a stop element configured for releasably engaging the securing element in the locked position.

4. The belt adapter according to claim 1, wherein a first actuating element is actuatable in the direction of the vertical axis of the belt adapter, the first actuating element configured to disengage the securing element when the securing element is engaged in the locked position.

5. The belt adapter according to claim 4, wherein the first actuating element comprises two guide elements extending in the direction of the vertical axis of the belt adapter, the securing element being movably guided between the two guide elements, and/or the securing element rests at least in part against the two guide elements.

6. The belt adapter according to claim 1, wherein movement of the securing element is guided between two guide bars extending in the direction of the vertical axis of the belt adapter and the securing element has at least one catch lug configured for releasably engaging the securing element in the locked position with at least one stop element of one of the two guide bars, and wherein the belt adapter comprises a first actuating element with two guide elements extending in the direction of the vertical axis of the belt adapter, with the guide elements being designed to disengage the securing element engaged in the locked position on actuation of the first actuating element.

7. A belt adapter for attaching an object to a belt, the belt adapter comprising: a holding system for attaching the belt adapter to the belt, an opening elongated in a direction of a vertical axis of the belt adapter, through which opening a carrier element of the object is insertable into the belt adapter, and a securing element which is movable between an unlocked position, in which the carrier element is insertable into and removed from the belt adapter, and a locked position for securely holding the carrier element inserted into the belt adapter in a locked position, wherein the securing element is designed to receive at least part of the carrier element and is movably guided in the direction of the vertical axis of the belt adapter between the unlocked position and the locked position in which the carrier element inserted into the belt adapter is securely held in the locked position, wherein movement of the securing element is guided between two guide bars extending in the direction of the vertical axis of the belt adapter and the securing element has at least one catch lug for releasably engaging the securing element in the locked position with at least one stop element of one of the guide bars, wherein the belt adapter comprises a first actuating element with two guide elements extending in the direction of the vertical axis of the belt adapter, with the guide elements being designed to disengage the securing element engaged in the locked position on actuation of the first actuating element, wherein upon actuation of the first actuating element, one of the guide elements rests against one of the guide bars, and wherein the guide elements push the guide bars apart.

8. The belt adapter according to claim 1, wherein a first spring element is connected to the securing element, the first spring element configured for counteracting a movement of the securing element from the unlocked position into the locked position.

9. The belt adapter according to claim 1, further comprising a case shell with the opening and a case cover connected to the case shell, the case cover comprising two guide bars extending in the direction of the vertical access of the belt adapter, between which movement of the securing element is guided and/or the securing element rests at least in part against the guide bars.

10. The belt adapter according to claim 1, wherein the holding system for attaching the belt adapter to the belt comprises a holding flap which is swivel-hinged to the belt adapter, in particular a holding flap which is swivel-hinged to a case cover and/or a case shell of the belt adapter, the holding flap being securely held in an attachment position for attaching the belt adapter to the belt.

11. The belt adapter according to claim 10, wherein the belt adapter comprises at least one catch element for engaging the holding flap in the attachment position and a second actuating element disposed on a bottom face of the belt adapter, which is connected to the at least one catch element and/or which comprises the at least one catch element.

12. The belt adapter according to claim 1, wherein the opening and/or the receiving element of the securing element is configured for inserting and receiving a carrier element formed in a shape of a hook.

13. The belt adapter according to claim 1, wherein an insertion region surrounds the opening and slopes downwardly in a direction of the opening.

14. The belt adapter according to claim 2, wherein the securing element has at least one catch lug on both sides facing the two guide bars, and wherein both guide bars have a stop element for releasably engaging the securing element in the locked position.

15. A holding system, comprising the belt adapter according to claim 1 and a carrier element which is disposed on an object to be attached to the belt and/or the belt adapter, wherein the securing element can be moved by the carrier element inserted into the belt adapter from the unlocked position into the locked position.

16. The holding system according to claim 15, wherein the object is at least one of a tool, a tool bag, and a tool holder.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) These and other features and advantages and effects of the belt adapter of the disclosure and of the attachment system follow from the embodiment example further described below with reference to the attached drawings. The drawings show:

(2) FIG. 1 a perspective view of a belt adapter of the disclosure;

(3) FIG. 2 front view of the belt adapter shown in FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 a rear view of the belt adapter shown in FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4 a side view of the belt adapter shown in FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 5 a plan view of the belt adapter shown in FIG. 1;

(7) FIG. 6 a bottom view of the belt adapter shown in FIG. 1;

(8) FIG. 7 an exploded view of the belt adapter shown in FIG. 1;

(9) FIG. 8 a front view of a case cover of the belt adapter shown in FIG. 1;

(10) FIG. 9 a perspective view of a securing element of the belt adapter shown in FIG. 1;

(11) FIG. 10 a section along the vertical axis of the belt adapter of FIG. 1 in the view shown in FIG. 2 in the area of the securing element, with the securing element in the unlocked position;

(12) FIG. 11 same as FIG. 10, with the securing element in the locked position;

(13) FIG. 12 a section along the vertical axis of the belt adapter of FIG. 1 in the view shown in FIG. 4 in the area of the opening;

(14) FIG. 13 a section through the belt adapter of FIG. 1 along the vertical axis in the view shown in FIG. 4 in the area of the opening and a section through an object to be attached to the belt adapter in the area of the carrier element;

(15) FIG. 14 same as FIG. 13, with the carrier element being in the unlocked position;

(16) FIG. 15 same as FIG. 13, with the carrier element being in the locked position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(17) FIGS. 1 to 6 show different views of an embodiment example of a belt adapter 1 of the disclosure used for attaching objects to a belt, FIG. 7 shows an exploded view, and FIGS. 10 to 12 show sectional views. FIGS. 8 and 9 show individual components of the belt adapter 1. FIGS. 13 to 15 show sectional views to illustrate how an object is attached to the belt adapter 1.

(18) As can be seen particularly from FIG. 7, the belt adapter 1 comprises a case shell 2 on its front side facing away from a belt and intended for attachment of an object, a case cover 7 disposed on the side of the case shell 2 facing the belt, and a holding flap 25 disposed on the side of the case cover 7 facing away from the case shell 2. The case cover 7 can be connected to the case shell 2 by means of two catch connectors 13, each of which are disposed on each side of the case cover 7 and which can be engaged in a catch connector receiving means 6 of the case shell 2. FIG. 8 shows the side of the case cover 7 oriented in the direction of the case shell 2.

(19) Disposed between the case shell 2 and the case cover 7 is a securing element 14, described in greater detail below and shown separately in FIG. 9. The securing element 14 serves to securely hold a carrier element 31 of an object to be attached to the belt adapter 1 in a locked position, which carrier element can be inserted into the belt adapter 1. On the top face, hereinafter referred to as the top side, of the belt adapter 1, as viewed along the vertical axis V of the belt adapter 1 shown in FIG. 1, the belt adapter 1 has a first actuating element 21. The first actuating element 21 allows the securing element 14 to be disengaged, as described in greater detail below, from a locked position of the securing element 14, which locked position securely holds the carrier element 31 in the locked position.

(20) The holding flap 25 disposed on the case cover 7 is swivel-hinged to the case shell 2 and to the case cover 7 and swivel-connected thereto by means of a (hinge) pin 26. To this end, the pin 26 is inserted into and guided in two bores 36 of the case shell 2, as shown in FIG. 7, in a pin receiving means 12 of the case cover 7, and in two external sections 35 of the pin receiving means of the holding flap 25, which can be disposed or are disposed on the side of the pin receiving means 12. Between the holding flap 25 and the case cover 7, the belt to which the belt adapter 1 is to be attached can be inserted or, depending on the thickness of the belt, clamped in. On the side facing the case cover 7, the holding flap 25 has spikes or, at least in certain regions, a spiked surface, which can engage in an inserted belt, thereby improving the secure attachment of the belt adapter 1 to the belt. For securely holding the holding flap 25 in the locked position in which the holding flap rests against the case cover 7, the case cover 7 has a catch element 29 which can be engaged in complementary catch element receiving means 27 of the holding flap 25. The catch element 29 is an integral part of a second actuating element 28 which is disposed on a bottom face of the belt adapter 1 as shown especially in FIG. 6. By actuating the second actuating element 28, more specifically, by pushing the actuating element 28 upwardly along the vertical axis V of the belt adapter 1, the catch element 29 is disengaged from the catch element receiving means 27 of the holding flap 25. The second actuating element 28 is preferably spring-loaded. After actuation, the second actuating element 28, and therefore, due to the spring-loaded design, along with it, the catch element 29 as well, is moved into the starting position in which it is when engaged in the catch element receiving means 27.

(21) For insertion of a carrier element 31 into the belt adapter 1, the case shell 2 has a slot-like opening 3 which extends along the vertical axis V of the belt adapter 1. In the area around the opening 3, the case shell 2 has an insertion region 4 which is sloped downwardly in the direction of the opening 3 and which facilitates insertion of the carrier element 31 into the opening 3. The insertion region 4 is delimited by an elevated region 34 of the case shell 2 which surrounds the insertion region 4. The opening 3 in the case shell 2, as especially shown in FIG. 1, is delimited along the sides and on the top and bottom by the case shell 2 itself, with the case shell 2 having a positioning edge 5 on the lower end of the opening 3.

(22) The elongated securing element 14, the individual components of which are separately shown in FIG. 9, has a slot-like receiving means 15 which extends along the vertical axis V of the belt adapter 1 and which is delimited at the top and bottom and along the sides. The receiving means 15 serves to receive at least part of the carrier element 31 which is inserted into the belt adapter 1 through the opening 3 of the case shell 2. The securing element 14 can be moved along the vertical axis V of the belt adapter 1 between an unlocked position, as shown in the sectional views of FIGS. 10 and 12, in which the carrier element 31 can be at least partially inserted into and removed from the receiving means 15 of the securing element 14 through the opening 3, and a locked position shown in FIG. 11, in which the inserted carrier element 31 is securely held in a locked position. By analogy to the locked position, the position, in which the carrier element 31 is inserted into the securing element 14 in the belt adapter 1 when the securing element is in the unlocked position, is referred to as the unlocked position. As shown in FIG. 9, on the lower end of the securing element 14, the securing element has a recess 19 which, when the securing element 14 is in the unlocked position, rests against the inside surface of the positioning edge 5 of the case shell 2, which inside surface faces the direction of the securing elements 14, as is illustrated in particular in FIG. 12.

(23) For securely guiding the securing element 14 along the vertical axis V, the securing element 14 on each side has an upper guide lug 16 and a lower guide lug 17. The lower guide lugs 17 rest against two guide bars 8, 9, a first guide bar 8 and a second guide bar 9, of the case cover 7 which guide bars extend along the vertical axis V. More specifically, the lower guide lugs 17 rest against the inside surfaces of the guide bars 8, 9, with the inside surfaces of the guide bars facing each other. The guide bars 8, 9 disposed on the case cover 7 can be seen especially in the diagrammatic representation of the case cover 7 shown in FIG. 8 and in the sectional views of the belt adapter 1 shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11. The upper guide lugs 16 of the securing element 14 are guided by means of a first and second guide element 23, 24 of the first actuating element 21, which guide elements extend along the vertical axis V. As shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the upper guide lugs 16 rest against the inside surfaces of the guide elements 23, 24, which inside surfaces face each other. The upper and the lower guide lugs 16, 17 also rest against the guide elements 23, 24 and the guide bars 8, 9 so as to be able to move when the securing element 14 is moved from the unlocked position shown in FIG. 10 into the locked position shown in FIG. 11 and when it is moved back into the unlocked position.

(24) A first spring element 20, especially a compression spring, which is connected to the securing element 14 and which rests against the case cover 7, counteracts a movement of the securing element 14 from the unlocked position shown in FIG. 10 into the locked position shown in FIG. 11. For reasons of better illustration, the tensioned first spring element 20 is not shown in FIG. 11.

(25) For securely holding the carrier element 31, which is inserted into the belt adapter 1 and especially into the receiving means 15 of the securing element 14, in the locked position, the securing element 14 has each a catch lug 18 disposed between the upper and the lower guide lugs 16, 17. In the locked position of the securing element 14, the catch lugs 18, as shown in FIG. 11, rest against a stop element 10 of the guide bars 8, 9, which causes the securing element 14 to be engaged in the locked position. The stop elements 10 and the catch lugs 18 acting on the stop elements 10 prevent an unintended movement of the securing element 14 into the unlocked position and thus also an unintended movement of a carrier element 31, which is inserted into the receiving means 15, from the locked position into the unlocked position.

(26) The securing element 14 is disengaged from the locked position shown in FIG. 11 by means of the first actuating element 21. In the starting position of the first actuating element 21, as shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the guide elements 23, 24 rest against the guide bars 8, 9, more specifically on a slope of the guide bars 8, 9 which, in the direction of the guide elements 23, 24, is disposed above and on the stop elements 10. Actuating or pushing the first actuating element 21 downwardly along the vertical axis V in the direction of the guide bars 8, 9 causes the guide elements 23, 24 to slide along the slopes of the guide bars 8, 9 and to push against these slopes. On the sloped side, the guide bars 8, 9 are designed to be movable at least to the extent that they allow the catch lugs 18 of the securing element 14, which rest against the stop elements 10, to be disengaged by the action of the guide elements 23, 24. Specifically, the stop elements 10 are moved outwardly essentially at right angles to the vertical axis V, which has the effect that the catch lugs 18 no longer rest against the stop elements 10. By means of the first spring element 20 and/or an active upward movement of the object or the carrier element 31, which is attached to the belt adapter 1, along the vertical axis V, the securing element 14 can be moved into the unlocked position. To move the first actuating element 21 back into the starting position shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the first actuating element 21 is connected to a second spring element 22 which rests against the case cover 7, as is illustrated especially in FIG. 12.

(27) FIG. 12 shows a section along the vertical axis V through the lateral view of the belt adapter 1 along the opening 3, and FIGS. 13 to 15 illustrate how a carrier element 31, which is disposed on an attachment adapter 30 of an object to be attached to the belt adapter 1, is inserted. The attachment adapter 30 can, for example, be an integral part of a tool bag with the bag disposed on the side facing away from the carrier element 31 or an integral part of a tool itself. To facilitate handling, the top portion of the attachment adapter 30 has a handle 32 to be gripped by one or more fingers. The carrier element 31 of the attachment adapter 30 has a hook-shaped design, especially an angled shape as viewed from the side.

(28) To attach the attachment adapter 30 to the belt adapter 1, the carrier element 31 shown in FIG. 13 is inserted through the opening 3 into the belt adapter 1. Insertion of the carrier element 31 is possible only when the securing element 14 is in the unlocked position. The securing element 14 or, more specifically, the receiving means 15 of the securing element 14 receives at least part of the carrier element 31 which is inserted into belt adapter 1, as shown in the unlocked position of the carrier element 31 in FIG. 14. The receiving means 15 has essentially the shape of the carrier element 31 or is only slightly larger than the carrier element. In particular, the carrier element 31 inserted into the receiving means 15 rests against or close to the sides and, as shown in FIG. 14, the top and bottom faces of the securing element 14 which delimit the receiving means 15. On the front side oriented in the direction of the case cover 7, the carrier element 31 rests against a recess 11 of the case cover 7 extending along the vertical axis V as shown in FIG. 8. The securing element 14 (or, more specifically, the areas of the securing element 14 surrounding the receiving means 15 of the securing element 14) and the recess 11 of the case cover 7 ensure that the carrier element 31 inserted into the belt adapter 1 is disposed in a clearly defined position in the belt adapter 1. To securely hold the carrier element 31 in the belt adapter 1, the carrier element 31 (or, more specifically, the attachment adapter 30 as a whole) is moved downwardly along the vertical axis V relative to the belt adapter 1 from the unlocked position shown in FIG. 14 into the locked position. Depending on the weight of the attached object and the spring force of the first spring element 20, the movement of the carrier element 31 into the locked position can possibly also be caused by the attached object itself. The carrier element 31, which rests against the bottom end of the receiving means 15 of the securing element 14, serves as a driving element for the securing element 14, with the securing element 14 being moved along the vertical axis V from the unlocked position shown in FIG. 14 into the locked position shown in FIG. 15. The downward movement of the carrier element 31 is limited by the positioning edge 5 of the opening 3, as also illustrated by the locked position shown in FIG. 15 in which the carrier element 31 is shown to rest against the positioning edge 5. An unintended movement of the carrier element 31 from the locked position into the unlocked position is prevented by the securing element 14 which is engaged in the locked position. Thus, it is not possible for the carrier element 31, which is securely held in the locked position, to be removed from the belt adapter 1.

(29) To further stabilize the attachment adapter 30 disposed on the belt adapter 1, a contact face 33 of the attachment adapter 30 rests against the case shell 2, more specifically, against the elevated region 34 of the case shell 2 which surrounds the insertion region 4.

(30) To remove the carrier element 31, which is securely held in the locked position, from the belt adapter 1, the catch mechanism of the securing element 14 engaged in the locked position is disengaged, as described above, by means of the first actuating element 21. The tensioned first spring element 20, which, solely for reasons of clarity, is not shown in FIG. 15, supports, at least to a certain extent, a movement of the securing element 14 in the direction of the unlocked position. However, if the object attached to the belt adapter 1 is heavy, application of external force is required to move the carrier element 31 from the locked position into the unlocked position. To actuate the first actuating element 21 and at the same time to move the carrier element 31 or, more specifically, the attachment adapter 30 upwardly, the design of the attachment adapter 30, with the handle 32 disposed on the upper portion as shown in FIGS. 13 to 15, is particularly advantageous. For example, to move the attachment adapter 20 upwardly, two fingers can engage the handle 32, and the first actuating element 21 can be simultaneously actuated by the thumb of the same hand. The upward movement of the carrier element 31 also causes the securing element 14 to be moved from the locked position into the unlocked position. The carrier element 31 disposed in the unlocked position shown in FIG. 14 can be subsequently removed from the belt adapter 1.

(31) Because of the described design of the belt adapter 1, the carrier element 31 inserted into the belt adapter 1 is reliably and securely held in the locked position. More specifically, the described design of the belt adapter 1 reliably prevents an unintended disengagement of the carrier element 31 from the locked position, even if an external force were to be exerted in the direction along the vertical axis V. In addition, a lateral movement of the carrier element 31 relative to the vertical axis V or any other movement, e.g., a twisting movement of the carrier element 31, is prevented or at least largely limited by the receiving means 15 of the securing element 14 which conforms to a specific carrier element 31. Thus, the belt adapter 1 described ensures that the carrier element 31 remains securely attached to the belt adapter.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

(32) 1 Belt attachment device 2 Case shell 3 Opening 4 Insertion region 5 Positioning edge 6 Catch connector receiving means 7 Case cover 8 First guide bar 9 Second guide bar 10 Stop element 11 Recess 12 Pin receiving means 13 Catch connectors 14 Securing element 15 Receiving means 16 Upper guide lugs 17 Lower guide lugs 18 Catch lug 19 Recess 20 First spring element 21 First actuating element 22 Second spring element 23 First guide element 24 Second guide element 25 Holding flap 26 Pin 27 Catch element receiving means 28 Second actuating element 29 Catch element 30 Attachment adapter 31 Carrier element 32 Handle 33 Contact face 34 Elevated region 35 Section of the pin receiving means 36 Bore V Vertical axis