U.S. patent application number 12/613880 was filed with the patent office on 2011-05-12 for utility armband.
Invention is credited to Ju Han Kim.
Application Number | 20110108589 12/613880 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43973399 |
Filed Date | 2011-05-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110108589 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim; Ju Han |
May 12, 2011 |
UTILITY ARMBAND
Abstract
The present invention is a utility armband comprising an
elongated flexible band, and a main body panel having a top
portion, a bottom portion, and a central portion. Opposite ends of
the top portion include a pair of slits which is adapted to pass
the elongated flexible band therethrough. The utility armband
further comprises a left panel and a right panel extending from a
central portion, at least one slot piece mounted on the main body
panel, left panel, and right panel, and an adjustable strap
retractably attached at the bottom portion of the main body panel.
The slot piece includes at least one opening shaped to receive at
least one attachment elements coupled to an item such as a tool or
accessory, in a snap-fit manner. With at least one tool is inserted
onto the slot piece, the main body panel rests on a user's forearm
and the left and right panels wrap around the user's arm.
Inventors: |
Kim; Ju Han; (Glendale,
CA) |
Family ID: |
43973399 |
Appl. No.: |
12/613880 |
Filed: |
November 6, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
224/222 ;
224/267 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45F 2200/0575 20130101;
A45F 5/00 20130101; A45F 2005/008 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/222 ;
224/267 |
International
Class: |
A45F 3/14 20060101
A45F003/14; A45F 5/00 20060101 A45F005/00 |
Claims
1. A utility armband for providing easy access to a variety of
tools and accessories, comprising: a main body panel having a top
portion, a bottom portion, and a central portion. a left panel
extending from the central portion of the main body panel; a right
panel extending from the central portion of the main body panel; at
least one slot piece including at least one opening, the slot piece
being mounted on either the main body panel, left panel, or right
panel; and whereby with at least one item is inserted onto the slot
piece, the main body panel rests on a user's forearm and the left
and right panels wrap around the user's arm.
2. The utility armband as recited in claim 1 comprising of an
elongated flexible band having a pair of opposite ends attached to
the top portion of the main body;
3. The utility armband as recited in claim 1, wherein the said
bottom portion of the main body is retractably attached to at an
adjustable strap;
4. The utility armband as recited in claim 1, wherein the left
panel and the right panel are attached to the central portion of
the main body panel by a flexible joint;
5. The utility armband as recited in claim 1, wherein the pair of
opposite ends of the elongated flexible band is connected by a hook
and loop fastener;
6. The utility armband as recited in claim 1, wherein the
adjustable strap at the bottom portion of the main body panel is
connected by a hook and loop fastener;
7. The utility armband as recited in claim 1, wherein the
adjustable strap prevents the main body panel, left panel, and
right panel from slipping forward;
8. The utility armband as recited in claim 1, further comprising a
pair of attachment elements coupled to said at least one item by
any suitable coupling means;
9. The pair of attachments as recited in claim 8 being
removable;
10. The utility armband as recited in claim 1, wherein the pair of
openings is shaped to receive the pair of attachment elements in a
snap-fit manner;
11. The utility armband as recited in claim 1, wherein a removable
pad is secured on a bottom side of the main body panel, left panel,
and right panel;
12. The utility armband as recited in claim 1, where the opposite
ends of the top portion being including a pair of slits which is
adapted to pass said elongated flexible band through;
13. Said slot pieces of claim 1 being interchangeable;
14. A method for releasably storing a variety of tools and
accessories onto a utility armband, the method comprising: a.
providing the utility armband having an elongated flexible band and
a main body panel including a bottom portion and a central portion;
b. inserting at least one tool onto a pair of openings provided on
a slot piece that is mounted on the main body panel and left and
right panels of the central portion; c. wrapping the elongated
flexible band around an arm of a user and connecting by a hook and
loop fastener; and d. wrapping an adjustable strap that is
retractably attached at the bottom portion of the main body panel
by a hook and loop fastener.
15. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the left panel and
the right panel are retractably attached to the central portion of
the main body panel.
16. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the adjustable strap
prevents the main body panel, left panel, and right panel from
slipping forward.
17. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein a pair of attachment
elements is coupled to the at least one tool to be inserted through
the pair of openings.
18. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the pair of openings
is shaped to receive the pair of attachment elements in a snap-fit
manner.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] (1) Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to utility bands, and more
particularly to a utility armband for providing easy access to a
variety of tools and accessories.
[0003] (2) Description of Related Art
[0004] Carpenters, electricians, plumbers, and other builders need
to have necessary tools and supplies such as wrenches, hammers,
screwdrivers and the like within easy reach to avoid wasting
valuable time and energy searching for a needed tool while working.
Moreover due to the manual nature of the work performed, these
occupations require both hands to be free to perform the necessary
work. One solution to achieve both objectives is a standard tool
box for storing needed tools. U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,451 issued to Wei
on May 29, 2001 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,203,469 issued to Chang on Apr.
20, 1993 describe a tool box for storing/organizing tools. Though
the tool box can hold a variety of tools and allows the user to
choose the tools to be used, such a tool box often leads to
inefficiency as the tool box is not in close proximity to the user.
This may not be practical for enclosed spaces or for work on a
ladder. In those cases the user would needs to stop what he/she is
doing to get the desired tool or accessory.
[0005] Another example of a device attempting to solve the problems
associated with carrying tools is a utility belt. The utility belt
is worn around the waist and generally includes a hammer holster
and a number of pockets. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,105
issued to Snyder on May 8, 1990 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,747,527 issued
to Trumpower on May 31, 1988 describe utility belt having pouch and
loop arrangement. However, although a hammer can be inserted into
the loop and a number of nails or screws into the pockets, the
worker particularly on a ladder or in a small enclosed area would
still find difficulty in reaching down to the waist area to access
the needed tools and accessories. Likewise items placed in such
pockets could easily fall out of the tool belt. Further, the worker
may find difficult to reach down to retrieve a tool or accessory
from the utility belt if the worker is lying down on a flat
surface, working under a vehicle or in a crawl space.
[0006] Bands worn on the wrist are another proposed solution to
this problem. U.S. Pat. No. 6,530,508 issued to Devine on Mar. 11,
2003 discloses a magnetic utility wristband for holding
magnetically attractable metallic work items. The wristband
includes an elongated flexible band sized in length to wrap 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. Although this magnetic wristband may be successful,
it is also unduly complicated, costly, and time consuming as the
magnets get attracted to each other and any metal objects while its
manufacturing and assembling.
[0007] Similarly, a body mountable carrier that can be attached to
a wearer's arm or leg for carrying a detachable device such as a
portable phone, tool, appliance or the like is disclosed in U.S.
Pat. No. 5,433,359 issued to Flowers on Jul. 18, 1995. While such
body mountable carrier accomplishes its objectives, it is limited
to the extent that the carrier is not applicable for the majority
of hand held tools such as hammers, screwdrivers, wrenches, power
drills, scissors or the like.
[0008] There are numbers of wristband designs with a flashlight
holster for attaching a flashlight for example U.S. Pat. Nos.
4,508,249, 5,154,506, 5,601,356, and 5,752,633, however, these
designs have not been utilized to provide a simple and convenient
place to store heavy tools.
[0009] While many of the prior art designs provide access to
variety of tools, each of these belts or bands is quite limited for
the reasons mentioned, as well as complicated, and costly.
Furthermore, most of these traditional belts would not be useful
when the worker is on a ladder or in small enclosed areas.
[0010] All referenced patents, applications and literatures are
incorporated herein by reference to their entirety. Furthermore,
where a definition or use of a term in a reference, which is
incorporated by reference herein, is inconsistent or contrary to
the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that
term provided herein applies and the definition of the term in the
reference does not apply. The invention may seek to satisfy one or
more of the above-mentioned desire. Although the present invention
may obviate one or more of the above-mentioned desires, it should
be understood that some aspects of the invention might not
necessarily obviate them.
[0011] In these respects, the utility armband according to the
present invention substantially departs from the conventional
concepts and designs of the prior art, and so doing provides a
utility armband that is not anticipated, rendered obvious,
suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art portable utility
band, either alone or in combination thereof.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known
types of utility bands now present in the prior art, the general
purpose of the present invention, which will be described
subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a utility armband for
providing easy access to a variety of tools and accessories.
[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
utility armband for easy access to a variety of tools in close
proximity;
[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
utility armband that can be used regardless of the working
situation or environment like when the user is lying down on a flat
surface, under a vehicle or in a crawl space, in a small enclosed
area etc.;
[0015] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
utility armband that is simple and economical to manufacture;
[0016] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
utility armband that is suitable to carry heavy tools like hammers,
screwdrivers, wrenches, power drills, scissors, etc.;
[0017] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
utility armband having a plurality of slot pieces for holding the
tools;
[0018] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
utility armband having the ability to have any tools and/or
accessories to be hung partially from a single mounting bracket
which allow the tools/accessories to hang loose so it can freely
rotate on the armband to allow such tools/accessories like a tool
bag which holds other items to remain horizontal to the ground
while the user's arm is in motion.
[0019] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
utility armband which contains a plurality of attachment elements
that can be coupled to any tools or accessories and said attachment
elements may be removable.
[0020] To attain this, the present invention in one embodiment
generally comprises of an elongated flexible band, and a main body
panel having a top portion, a bottom portion, and a central
portion. Opposite ends of the top portion include a pair of slits
which is adapted to pass the elongated flexible band therethrough.
The utility armband further comprises a left panel and a right
panel extending from a central portion of the main body panel, at
least one slot piece mounted on the main body panel, left panel,
and right panel, and an adjustable strap retractably attached at
the bottom portion of the main body panel. The slot piece includes
a pair of openings shaped to receive a pair of attachment elements
coupled to a tool in a snap-fit manner.
[0021] In typical use, a utility armband having an elongated
flexible band and a main body panel is provided. Opposite ends of a
top portion of the main body include a pair of slits which is
adapted to pass the elongated flexible band therethrough. The main
body panel includes a bottom portion attached with an adjustable
strap and a central portion having a left panel and a right panel
extending therefrom. At least one tool is inserted onto a pair of
openings provided on a slot piece that is mounted on the main body
panel, left panel, and right panel. Each tool or accessory would
contain a corresponding attachment element to correspond to the
slot piece openings on the main body, left panel and right panel.
In one present embodiment, the slot pieces on the armband may be
interchangeable and positioned at various locations on the armband.
In addition, the slot pieces may be interchangeable with other slot
pieces containing different configurations, such as a magnetic pad
to be used to hold small metal objects like screws, nails etc. The
attachment elements on the tools or accessories may also be made to
be permanently coupled to the tools or accessories or be removable.
Then, the elongated flexible band is wrapped around an arm of a
user and connected by a hook and loop fastener. The adjustable
strap is also connected by a hook and loop fastener to prevent the
main body panel, left panel, and right panel from slipping
forward.
[0022] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more
important features of the invention in order that the detailed
description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the
present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There
are additional features of the invention that will be described
hereinafter.
[0023] In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment
of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the
invention is not limited in its application to the details of the
construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in
the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The
invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced
and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that
the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose
of the description and should not be regarded as limiting. To
accomplish the above and related objects, this invention may be
embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are
illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific
construction illustrated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)
[0024] Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of
the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same
becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate
the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and
wherein:
[0025] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a utility armband in accordance
with the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 2 is a side view of a utility armband shown in FIG.
1;
[0027] FIG. 3 is a front view of a utility armband;
[0028] FIG. 4 is a side view of a utility armband, illustrating the
way a plurality of tools coupled with a pair of attachment elements
is inserted onto a slot piece;
[0029] FIG. 5 is a side view of a utility armband shown in FIG. 4;
and
[0030] FIG. 6 is a front view of a utility armband with a plurality
of tools inserted onto a slot piece.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0031] The invention and its various embodiments can now be better
understood by turning to the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments, which are presented as illustrated examples
of the invention defined in the claims. It is expressly understood
that the invention as defined by the claims may be broader than the
illustrated embodiments described below.
[0032] Many alterations and modifications may be made by those
having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention. Therefore, it must be understood that
the illustrated embodiment has been set forth only for the purposes
of example and that it should not be taken as limiting the
invention as defined by the following claims. For example,
notwithstanding the fact that the elements of a claims are set
forth below in a certain combination, it must be expressly
understood that the invention includes other combinations of fewer,
more or different elements, which are disclosed herein even when
not initially claimed in such combinations.
[0033] Referring now to the drawings, which are provided by way of
illustration and example, and wherein like reference numerals
designate like or corresponding elements among the several views,
there is shown in FIG. 1, a utility armband 10 for providing easy
access to a variety of tools and accessories comprising an
elongated flexible band 20 and a main body panel 30 having a top
portion 40, a bottom portion 50, and a central portion 60. Opposite
ends of the top portion 70 includes a pair of slits 80 which is
adapted to pass the elongated flexible band 20 therethrough. The
utility armband 10 further includes a left panel 90 and a right
panel 100 extending from the central portion 60 of the main body
panel 30, at least one slot piece 110 mounted on the main body
panel 30, left panel 90, and right panel 100, and an adjustable
strap 120 retractably attached at the bottom portion 50 of the main
body panel 30 using an adjustable retract 130. The at least one
slot piece 110 includes a pair of openings 140. The left panel 90
and the right panel 100 are retractably attached to the central
portion 60 of the main body panel 30.
[0034] A pair of opposite ends 150 of the elongated flexible band
20 is connected by a hook and loop fastener 160 to wrap around a
user's arm. The adjustable strap 120 at the bottom portion 50 of
the main body panel 30 is also connected by a hook and loop
fastener 170 to prevent the main body panel 30, left panel 90, and
right panel 100 from slipping forward. With at least one tool (not
pictured) is inserted onto the slot piece 110, the main body panel
30 rests on the user's forearm and the left and right panels 90 and
100 wrap around the user's arm.
[0035] Turning now to the FIG. 2, the left panel 90 and right panel
(not pictured) are connected to the central portion 60 with a flex
joint 180. FIG. 3 shows a front view of the utility armband 10. A
removable pad 190 is secured on bottom sides 200, 210, and 220 of
the main body panel 30, left panel 90, and right panel 100
respectively.
[0036] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the utility armband 10
illustrating the way a plurality of tools 240 coupled with a pair
of attachment elements 260 is inserted onto the pair of openings
140. For illustration purpose, the utility armband 10 is shown to
include a vinyl bag 280, an LED flashlight 300 inserted onto the
slot piece 110 mounted on the main body panel 30 and a hard
magnetic box 310 inserted onto the slot piece 110 mounted on the
left panel 90. The pair of attachment elements 260 can be coupled
to the at least one tool 240 by any suitable coupling means. As
shown, the pair of openings 140 is shaped to receive the pair of
attachment elements 260 in a snap-fit manner.
[0037] FIG. 5 shows a side view of a utility armband 10 shown in
FIG. 4. The vinyl bag 280, LED flashlight 300 are inserted onto the
slot piece 110 mounted on the main body panel 30 and the hard
magnetic box 310 is inserted onto the slot piece (not pictured)
mounted on the left panel (not pictured). FIG. 6 shows a front view
of the utility armband 10 with the LED flashlight 300 inserted onto
the slot piece 110 mounted on the main body panel 30, the hard
magnetic box 310 inserted onto the slot piece 110 mounted on the
left panel 90, and the vinyl bag 280 inserted onto the slot piece
110 mounted on the right body panel 100.
[0038] Thus, specific embodiments and applications of the have been
disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the
art that many more modifications besides those already described
are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein.
The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted
except in the spirit of the appended claims. Moreover, in
interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms
should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent
with the context. In particular, the terms "comprises" and
"comprising" should be interpreted as referring to elements,
components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the
referenced elements, components or steps may be present, or
utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps
that are not expressly referenced. Where the specification claims
refer to at least one of something selected from the group
consisting of A, B, C . . . and N, the text should be interpreted
as requiring only one element from the group, not A plus N, or B
plus N, etc.
* * * * *