Inventor: Juan Diego Martinez Rodriguez

Cross Reference to Related Applications

This application is a non-provisional application, the entire contents of which is incorporated by reference herein and claims priority, in part, of US Provisional Application No. 62/530,387, filed 10 July 2017.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a tool belt. More particularly, the present invention concerns a tool-holding apparatus adapted for use on both an individual's arm or fastened to a waist belt.

2. Description of the Related Art

Easy, reliable, and organized access to tools is important in many professions. For example, many construction workers find themselves on a job and when they need a tool or an accessory they have to go look for it through different bags or boxes. Such a process takes time and is difficult to do in some instances. This time and effort spent looking for tools may end up having significant costs to the construction company or to the client, when delays add up. Traditional tool belts are one of the traditional answers to this problem, but these can be bulky and can bounce along one's hips when one is walking, and can ride up if a user needs to crouch, spilling tools everywhere. What is needed is a tool-holding apparatus adapted for use on a person's arm.

Some attempts to solve this problem have been made. For example, disclosures such as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US2008/0185414, US20110005944, US20160029774, and US 20160135547 show different versions of tool belts, but such a location can cause injury if the person were to fall, and it provides very little circumference upon which to store tools. Therefore, a need exists for a unique and more effective a tool-holding apparatus adapted for use on an arm. Various attempts have been made to solve the problems which may be found in the related art but have been unsuccessful. A need exists for a reliable method and apparatus to avoid the challenges and problems with the prior art.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known art, the present invention provides a novel solution for holding tools. The general purpose of the present invention, which shall be described subsequently in greater detail, is to allow a user to store and retrieve tools using an apparatus adapted for use on an arm. The features of the invention are believed to be novel and to have been particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.

Accordingly, one embodiment of the present invention is a tool-holding apparatus comprising a pocket system having a flexible, flat material surface, at least one pocket for holding tools, and at least one group of small sleeves for holding paramagnetic tools composed of, but not limited to, aluminum, titanium or iron oxide and juxtaposed to a magnet embedded in the material to hold the paramagnetic tools within the small sleeves wherein at least one pocket for holding tools and at least one group of small sleeves are secured along one face of the material surface. A series of loops is located along an upper perimeter having at least one pocket wherein at least one loop is a belt noose for attachment to an individual's waist belt for supporting the pocket system. A fastener closure system along each side perimeter is optionally provided for support such that when the sides are attached to each other the flat material surface forms tubular shape for securing around an individual's arm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view of the flexibly material surface having pockets, small sleeves and an embedded magnet. Also shown are the belt loops for the waist belt configuration and a Velcro attachment means for the arm configuration.

FIGURE 2 is a rear view of the present invention attached to an individual in the arm configuration. FIGURE 3 is a rear view of the present invention attached to an individual in the arm configuration. FIGURE 4 is a side view of the present invention attached to an individual in the arm configuration.

FIGURE 5 is a side view of the present invention attached to an individual in the waist belt configuration.

FIGURE 6 is a front view of the present invention in the arm configuration showing the relative positions of the pockets, elastic strap and small sleeves.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Numerous advantages and aspects of the invention will be apparent to those skill in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings which generally provide illustrations of the invention in its preferred embodiments as they relate to a tool-holding apparatus adapted for use on an arm.

Referring now to FIGURES 1-6, a tool -hoi ding apparatus adapted for use on an arm is provided. While the invention will be described in connection with arms, it is understood that the invention is not limited in scope to use with arms, but may be used with other limbs or body parts, or other compatible obj ections.

The core design as shown in FIGURE 1 consists of a pocket system on one face of a flexible material surface, formed from a flexible material. The flexible material and pocket system must be light weight and flexible. All suitable materials known in the art are considered, especially suitable fabrics, leather and nylon. Optionally, the pockets may be attached to the surface through various means which includes, but not limited to, a hook and loop system such as Velcro® (Velcro Industries, BV) or other material to secure the contents. Other materials may likewise be used, as desired. Larger tools are attached through a strap-like structure, preferably an elastic strap. Small sleeves contain drill bits or similar tool pieces for easy access during work. A magnet is fixed on the material surface in a position that is juxtaposed to small sleeves or other pockets and such that the magnetic field is sufficient to secure any paramagnetic tool pieces (including nails, screws and other items). Several belt loops are positions along the upper perimeter to act as a noose for an individual's waist belt. The side perimeters have a self-attachment means for forming a tubular shape of the material surface for attachment to an individual's arm whereby the pocket system is facing away from the individual for quick access to needed tools and tool pieces. Preferably the self-attachment means is a hood and loop system such as Velcro®. The present invention comprises a tool-holding apparatus adapted for use on an arm (see FIGURES 2, 3, and 6). In some embodiments, the present invention may be thought of as similar to a fanny pack that holds construction tools, mechanic tools, or any tools needed for any industry, and can be used around the arm, or waist as well as shown in FIGURE 5. It is contemplated that the present invention may hold tools such as a measurement tape, nails, screwdriver, knife, flashlight, screwdriver for drill, and may provide for a magnetic side to hold nails, screws, and some other things containing magnetic or paramagnetic compositions, herein referred to as paramagnetic tools or paramagnetic tool pieces). Users from many different backgrounds are contemplated: construction, mechanic, hunting, sports, the military, or nurses, electricians, or plumbers. As shown in FIGURE 2 when used in the arm configuration, the small sleeves are located close the wrist to provide quick access to multiple drill bits while holding a standard drill. FIGURE 3 again shows the arm configuration with the embedded magnetic juxtaposed to a further group of small sleeves for drill bits or other paramagnetic tool pieces. This location is more proximal along the individual's arm to provide alternate access of specific paramagnetic tool pieces.

FIGURE 3 depicts an alternative view of the arm configuration. Here the individual is shown with a measuring tape attached to the strap which optionally can be elastic. The midway position of the strap along the outer face of the material surface allows for multiple quick removals and replacements of the measuring tape which is a common exercise during real-time working conditions. FIGURE 6 show a frontal view of the arm configuration where an elastic strap is facing away from the individual and midway along their forearm for easy access to larger tools. A belt loop used for attachment to a waist belt is shown on the upper perimeter of the material surface for use in the waist belt configuration.

FIGURE 4 depicts the waist belt configuration. Here the individual has a waist belt attached to the belt loops as a belt noose which supports the material surface and pocket system along the upper perimeter. Pockets, straps and the small sleeves support tools and tool pieces for user access, similar to other tool belts known in the art. Further, a magnet is embedded as described above for securing paramagnetic tools or paramagnetic tool pieces, preferably in the small sleeves but generally to hold in-place any paramagnetic tool or paramagnetic tool piece within the magnetic field.

Some embodiments of the present invention attach to a user's arm and may provide for different spaces and holders to hold any type of tool, and can loop around a user's waist as well. It is also contemplated that is may be very useful and light weight and not take up much space, along with providing for elastic holders, which prevent the tools from falling out of the holders. The present invention may be helpful in round-the house activities, professional tasks such as installing drywall, carpets, windows, or doors, and all jobs in between.

The user can simply fasten the present invention around a user' s arm, waist, leg, or other such location, insert the tools of the user's choosing, and start working. When a different tool is needed, the user can get what he or she needs right from his or her arm, without having to go looking for a tool.

The unique features of this product will provide the following benefits for consumers everywhere:

^■ No more losing tools.

^■ Complete jobs faster and easier.

^■ Simple design makes it easy to use.

^■ Practical, light, and useful.

The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Furthermore, while the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described in terms of the components and configurations, it is understood to that the invention is not intended to be limited to those specific dimensions or configurations but is to be accorded the full breadth and scope of the spirit of the invention.