Package and article carriers – Carried by animate bearer – Article held by receiver
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-13
2001-05-29
Garbe, Stephen P. (Department: 3727)
Package and article carriers
Carried by animate bearer
Article held by receiver
C224S234000, C224S678000, C224S247000, C224S269000, C224S904000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06237822
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed generally to retaining devices for retaining hand tools and, more specifically, to devices for retaining hand tools such as hammers and hatchets.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Devices for retaining hand tools, such as hammers and hatchets, have been known for a long time. However, all previously-known hand tool retaining devices are awkward to use for several reasons. First of all, the prior art retaining devices are generally designed to hang downwardly from the worker's belt, so that tools retained within the retaining devices dangle at the user's side. These and similar designs frequently result in the tools retained in such prior art devices obstructing the worker's freedom of movement. Secondly, many prior art retaining devices do not securely retain the hand tool within the retaining device. Use of such devices presents a danger that the hand tool may come loose from the retaining device and fall to the ground. (This presents a very serious problem where work is performed at elevated locations.) Thirdly, those prior art retaining devices which actually do firmly retain the hand tool are generally awkward to use. In most cases, the user must use both hands to engage and disengage the hand tool from the retaining device.
Accordingly, there is a need for a hand tool retaining device which avoids the aforementioned problems with the prior art in an inexpensive and efficient manner.
SUMMARY
The invention satisfies this need. The invention is a hand tool retaining device for retaining a hand tool having a handle and a head, the head having a base portion, a neck portion and a bulbous portion, the hand tool retaining device comprising (a) an elongate backing element having a top end and a bottom end, (b) a base element disposed proximate to the bottom end of the backing element, and (c) an elongate guide element disposed along the backing element, the guide element having a first exterior side, an opposed second exterior side and an elongate slot which connects the first exterior side with the second exterior side, the slot having a top end, a bottom end, a width between about ½ inch and about 2 inches and an opening proximate to the top end of the slot for placing the head of a hand tool within the slot, the guide element being disposed along the backing element such that a hand tool can be disposed against the backing element with the head of the hand tool resting upon the base element, with the handle of the hand tool disposed parallel to and contiguous with the backing element, with the neck portion of the head of the hand tool disposed within the elongate slot of the guide element, with the base portion of the head disposed outside of the elongate slot along the first exterior side of the guide element and with the bulbous portion of the head disposed outside of the elongate slot along the second exterior side of the guide element.
In a typical embodiment, the elongate guide element is provided by an elongate loop, and the retaining means is provided by a metal clip.
Preferably, the hand tool retaining device further comprises attachment means for attaching the retaining device on the back of the user, so that the retaining device does not impede the user's freedom of movement.
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Anderson Denton L.
Garbe Stephen P.
Sheldon & Mak
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