U.S. patent application number 10/894499 was filed with the patent office on 2006-01-26 for magnetic arm band.
Invention is credited to Michael Shurm.
Application Number | 20060016841 10/894499 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35656054 |
Filed Date | 2006-01-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060016841 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shurm; Michael |
January 26, 2006 |
Magnetic arm band
Abstract
A magnetic arm band including a top sheet of material, a bottom
sheet of material, a two dimensional array of magnets positioned
between the two sheets of material and stitching to encase each
magnet in an individual pocket. Two cinch straps on the band allow
the band to be worn on the limb of a user. A stiff sheet of
material is used to retain the shape of the band. The magnets may
be magnetized after assembly.
Inventors: |
Shurm; Michael; (San Jose,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SCHNECK & SCHNECK
P.O. BOX 2-E
SAN JOSE
CA
95109-0005
US
|
Family ID: |
35656054 |
Appl. No.: |
10/894499 |
Filed: |
July 20, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
224/222 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45F 2005/008 20130101;
B25H 3/00 20130101; A45F 2003/006 20130101; A45F 2200/0575
20130101; A45F 5/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/222 |
International
Class: |
A45C 13/30 20060101
A45C013/30 |
Claims
1. A magnetic arm band comprising: a top sheet of material; a
bottom sheet of material; a two dimensional array of flat magnets
between the top and bottom sheets of material; a stitching pattern
extending through said top sheet of material and said bottom sheet
of material such that each magnet in said array of magnets is
individually enclosed in a pocket; a pair of side cinch straps of
sufficient length to attach said band to a user's upper arm; and a
means for inhibiting bending of said top sheet of material and said
bottom sheet of material.
2. The arm band of claim 1, wherein said magnets are neodymium
magnets.
3. The arm band of claim 2, wherein said magnets are coated.
4. The arm band of claim 1, wherein said cinch straps include a
elastic segment.
5. The arm band of claim 1, further including a means for holding a
pencil on said top sheet of material.
6. A method of making a magnetic arm band comprising: positioning a
two dimensional array of non-magnetized flat magnets between two
sheets of material of similar dimension; sewing said sheets of
material such that said magnets are each enclosed in a pocket; and
magnetizing said magnets.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein said magnets are neodymium
magnets.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein said magnets are coated neodymium
magnets.
9. The method of claim 6, wherein one of said sheets includes a
means for inhibiting bending of said top sheet.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention generally relates to devices for
holding tools or metallic building materials such as screws, nails,
and bolts, and more particularly to such devices that may be worn
on the arm of the user.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] When working, a builder or mechanic needs to have a number
of items within-easy reach. These items include both tools (such as
wrenches, hammers, screwdrivers and the like) and articles to be
acted upon by the tools (such as screws, nails, bolts, nuts,
washers, tacks, etc.) When working, the user of these tools often
requires both hands be free. Thus any device for holding the tools
and hardware preferably should leave both hands free.
[0003] One solution to this problem is a standard utility belt.
Such a belt is worn about the waist and generally includes a number
of pockets and usually at least one loop. A number of devices can
be carried in or on such a belt. A hammer may be inserted into the
loop and the pockets may contain a number of nails or screws used
by a worker. Such a belt has a number of potential drawbacks
however. Items placed in such pockets could fall out of the tool
belt pocket if the user is prone on a flat surface, as is the case
when working under a vehicle or in a crawl space.
[0004] One alternative to a tool belt which has been used is to use
magnets to hold the tool and other metallic devices. U.S. Pat. No.
4,826,059 discloses a magnetic tool holder including a set of
magnetic bars which are positioned side by side between sections of
material on a holder. A pair of loops allows the device to be
affixed about the waist of a user. In one embodiment of this device
the device is worn about the wrist and is secured by a single strap
and fastener extending from the device.
[0005] A number of wrist mounted magnetic holders have also been
disclosed. U.S. Pat. No. 5,333,767 discloses a single magnet
mounted on a wrist band. The single magnet can hold small articles
such as screws, nails, or bolts. The magnet used is a block-type
ceramic magnet polarized in selected regions and a flux
concentrator for increasing the magnetic flux density at the holder
surface.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,593,073 discloses a wrist band made of a
flexible resilient strip having a central magnetic portion for
holding nails or other similar objects. A combination of hooks and
hook receptors are used to fasten a wrist band onto a user's
wrist.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 6,530,508 discloses alternative magnetic wrist
band including an elongated flexible band able to strap around a
user's wrist using a single centrally located hook and hook
receptor combination. A number of elongated magnetic bars are held
in a central portion of the wristband and spaced in a substantially
parallel strip. By alternating the surface polarity of adjacent
magnetic bars, the device may be shortened for smaller wrist sizes
or collapsed in an accordion fashion for storage.
[0008] Bands worn on the wrist are not very suitable for holding
tools. Instead, they are best suited for holding small items, such
as washers or small screws or small nails. When using a hammer or
other heavy tools, a band on the wrist would move repeatedly with
significant force. This could jar loose items on the band. In
contrast, a band on the upper arm would be subject to much less
force, as the upper arm moves much less in such movements.
[0009] Design of these devices suffer from a number of drawbacks.
If a single large flat magnet is used the magnetic surface is
unable to bend. This makes the device less comfortable to wear. If
a number of flat magnets are used (such as bar magnets) the device
is able to bend around a user's wrist. However, this generally
comes as the cost of holding power of the device. Weaker magnets
generally are used to prevent problems associated with very strong
magnets. During assembly of the device, the magnets are attracted
to each other and any metal objects, making an article difficult to
manufacture, especially if the item is sewn.
[0010] A second problem is the need for a holder to hold a variety
of objects. Ideally a device for the greatest functionality would
be able to hold both tools (including hammers which can be quite
heavy), and objects to be used with the tools (such as nails,
screws, bolts, etc.) The surface would be most useful if it were
adapted to allow the nails, screws or other similar hardware to be
easily grippable and removable from the surface.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The above objects have been achieved by an armband including
a top sheet material, a middle sheet material and a bottom sheet
material. Extending along the edges of the materials are two
independently adjustable cinch straps. The adjustable cinch straps
are preferably hook and loop fastener types. One embodiment of the
cinch straps include an elastic element to provide greater comfort
and accommodate flexing of the arm.
[0012] The magnets preferably are flat magnets arranged in a
two-dimensional grid each, magnet separated by stitching extending
through the layers of material. This grid provides a typography
that is advantageous for both securely holding the band adapting
the band to the contours of the users arms and allowing easy or
removal of small objects from the band.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a top view of the armband of the present
invention.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along lines of FIG. 1.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0015] The present magnetic tool holding band is both rugged and
durable yet also flexible means for providing a magnetic source to
hold metal objects. With reference to FIG. 1, the top sheet of
material 10 is shown having adjustable cinch straps 15 affixed to
two sides of material 10. The cinch straps 15 may be sewn onto the
materials making up the band or affixed with adhesive or any other
fixing means. In the illustrated embodiment the cinch strap is
about 18 inches long. The largest central area 16 of the cinch
strap is comprised of a "hook" material. At one end of hook
material 16 is an small elastic band 24. At the end of elastic 24
is loop 22. At the opposite end of hook material 16 is "loop"
material 26. Material 26 may then be inserted through ring 22
cinched tight and pressed against hook material 16 to serve the
band onto the arm or leg of a user. Each of these cinch straps are
independently adjustable to allow for a proper fit. In one
embodiment, the elastic section is about 0.75 inches long, the hook
section 14.5 inches long, and the loop section 2.75 inches
long.
[0016] The elastic portion 24 allows an amount of flexibility (for
example during flexing of a user's arm). The cinch straps may be
stored affixed together. The user then may simply slide one arm or
leg into the device and cinch to tighten if necessary. The cinch
strap allows a form fit on the upper middle or lower arm and fits a
range of arm sizes. Additionally the band could be used on the
lower leg. The elastic section accommodates flexing in which the
limb may change in diameter somewhat while ensuring a snug fit that
prevents the limb from sliding off the device to which it has been
attached.
[0017] The sheet of material on the outward facing surface of the
armband preferably is a durable material which would not be damaged
by the tools and is resistant tearing by nails or screws. One
possible material to be used as an encasing material is a two-sided
material including an inside knit polyester with an outside rough
non-skid neoprene layer. This would be waterproof and potentially
suitable for marine use. The surface is high textured to reduce
sliding and rolling. This material is sold as Toughtek.RTM. by
(company, location?).
[0018] Arranged in a two-dimensional grid are a number of magnets
18. The magnets are preferably sufficiently strong to allow tools
such as hammers to be retained even during arm movement. Neodymium
rare earth magnets may be used, although reasonably flat magnet of
disc or other shape would be adaptable to the present use.
[0019] Neodymium magnets are a very strong commercially available
magnet. Commercially available magnets are rare earth magnets
composed primarily of Neodymium (Nd), Iron (Fe), and Boron (B). It
is preferred that the magnets be coated (e.g., with a nickel or
ceramic paint coating) to prevent iron oxidation and to strengthen
the brittle magnet. The magnetic strength is sufficient such that
an array of one inch diameter by 0.25 inch thick magnets can
support a framing hammer even during rigorous arm motion.
[0020] It is preferred that the magnets be magnetized after
positioning of the magnets and sewing of the armband. Because these
are very strong magnets it is difficult to prevent the magnets from
sticking to one another during manufacture of the armband. If the
device is sewn the magnets may stick not only to each other but
also to the sewing machine needles or other sewing equipment.
However, if the magnets are magnetized only after assembly this
would not be a problem. The magnets are separated by a stitched
grid 20 such that each magnet is encased in its own
compartment.
[0021] The various layers of the material are assembled by first
sewing a single seam lengthwise along the edge of the band. Then
six perpendicular seams are sewn. After the perpendicular seams are
sewn the magnetic discs may be inserted in the channels. Once the
magnets are inserted in the channel another seam is sewn lengthwise
across the band with the magnets between the lengthwise seams. This
process is repeated until each of the magnets have been secured
within an individual compartment in the encasing materials.
Following this the cinch straps are sewn on and the item is ready
to be placed into a magnetizer to magnetize the magnets.
[0022] This assembly technique is time and resource efficient. In
addition the sewing of the bottom and top material with the flat
magnets sandwiched in between creates small valleys in between the
magnets. This allows easier removal of small items (such as washers
that are flat). The washers can be slid off of the top of a magnet
into a groove and readily pried off of the strong magnet. In
addition, the two-dimensional grid allows the band to flex in both
dimensions. Thus, the band is able to flex both around and across a
user's arm or leg. The bending, twisting, and flexing is not
possible with a single rigid magnet or bar-type magnets. The gaps
also prevent items that are round in one dimension such as nails
and screws from rolling across the surface of the armband. The gaps
serve to retain the article in place even as the article
momentarily comes in contact with another surface.
[0023] Extending along the sides of material 10 on which the cinch
straps are not affixed may be one or more elastic strap 30. Such a
strap may be 1.5 inches long and about 0.25 inches wide. This
provides a holder for a pencil, pen or other similar device. One or
more such holders may be included as part of the device and may be
attached simply sewing on the elastic strip, glueing on the strip
or attached by any other means.
[0024] The cross section taken along arrows A of FIG. 1 is
illustrated in FIG. 2. This view shows the magnets 18 each encased
in a pocket defined by top material 10 and bottom material 14. The
device has at least two material sheets joined together. In the
illustrated device these sheets are rectangular but square or oval
sheets may be also used. As noted, the top sheet may a durable two
ply material. A waterproof material is desirable for some uses. The
top sheet 10 is in the present preferred embodiment as a two-sided
material having a inside knit polyester and outside rough, non-skid
neoprene. This neoprene layer is the layer which the tools would
contact. The bottom material may be a knit polyester, nylon, canvas
or leather material or any other material which is comfortable
against the wearer's skin. Sheet 10 and sheet 14 may be used alone.
Alternatively, a rigid backbone material 12 may be used. This
backbone material preferably is joined to material 14 to form a
single sheet. This backbone material is sufficiently stiff such
that the armband retains a essentially linear surface even when not
being worn. In one embodiment the backbone may be made of 20 mm
polycarbonate sheet or other similarly stiff material. Such a
backbone of material. For the purposes of this invention, stiff
material shall mean any sheet of material having equal or greater
stiffness of a 20 mm polycarbonate sheet. The use of a stiff layer
enhances the assembly, storage and packaging of the device by
ensuring that it retains its shape.
[0025] On the edge of the material is hook material 16. Stitching
20 affixes together the materials.
* * * * *