U.S. patent application number 12/631862 was filed with the patent office on 2011-06-09 for hammer holder.
Invention is credited to Daniel Wade Kreitzer.
Application Number | 20110132953 12/631862 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44081047 |
Filed Date | 2011-06-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110132953 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kreitzer; Daniel Wade |
June 9, 2011 |
HAMMER HOLDER
Abstract
A hammer holder having a support member for attachment to a
belt, garment, tool bag or nail pouch of a hammer user. The hammer
holder includes a U shaped chamber integrated with the support
member and provides support for the hammer head and for the hammer
handle in an upright vertical position when the support member is
connected to a belt or a user. The chamber is large enough to
contain the head of the hammer and includes stop means which
prevents the head of the hammer from passing through the chamber or
out the top of the chamber. A clip is attached to the support
member for receiving the vertically oriented handle of the hammer
and a movable gate member pivotally attached to the support member
permits the hammer handle to move into the clip and spring back to
prevent the handle from moving out of the clip.
Inventors: |
Kreitzer; Daniel Wade;
(South Lyon, MI) |
Family ID: |
44081047 |
Appl. No.: |
12/631862 |
Filed: |
December 7, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
224/676 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45F 2200/0566 20130101;
A45F 5/02 20130101; A45F 5/021 20130101; A45F 2200/0575
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/676 |
International
Class: |
A45F 3/00 20060101
A45F003/00 |
Claims
1. A hammer holder comprising: a support member including means of
attaching the support member to a belt, garment, tool bag or nail
pouch of a hammer user, a chamber integrated with the support
member and so oriented relative thereto that the chamber extends
away from the support member and provides support for the hammer
head and for the hammer handle in an upright vertical position when
the support member is connected to a belt or a garment; said
chamber being large enough to contain the head of the hammer; stop
means coupled to the chamber to prevent the head of the hammer to
pass through the chamber; a clip attached to the support member for
receiving the handle of the hammer; and a movable gate member
coupled to the support member oriented to move downwardly to permit
the passage of the hammer handle into the clip and spring back to
prevent the handle from moving out of the clip.
2. The hammer holder of claim 1 wherein the movable gate member is
coupled to the support member with a living hinge.
3. The hammer holder of claim 2 wherein the gate pivots in a
generally vertical attitude when the support member is disposed in
a generally vertical attitude.
4. The hammer holder of claim 1 wherein the chamber for containing
the head of the hammer is a U shaped channel at the lower end of
the support member.
5. The hammer holder of claim 4 wherein said U shaped channel has a
first opening at one end for allowing the head of the hammer to
enter the U shaped channel and a second opening at the second end
of the U shaped channel.
6. The hammer holder of claim 5 wherein the stop means is located
near the second end of the U shaped channel to prevent the head of
the hammer from exiting the channel through the second end of the
channel.
7. The hammer holder of claim 5 wherein said stop means is located
near the second end of the U shaped channel and across the top of
the channel to prevent the head of the hammer from moving out of
the U shaped channel through the open top.
8. The hammer holder of claim 5 wherein said stop means is located
across the top and near the second end of the U shaped channel to
prevent the head of the hammer from exiting the channel through the
second end and from moving out of the channel through the open
top.
9. The hammer holder of claim 8 wherein said stop means is a member
that is located on top of the U shaped channel.
10. The hammer holder of claim 9 wherein said member is a strip of
material that is located across the top of the U shaped channel and
is attached to the two legs of the U shaped channel.
11. The hammer holder of claim 1 wherein at least the support
member is made of molded resinous material.
12. The hammer holder of claim 1 wherein the entire hammer holder
is molded in a unitary structure.
13. The hammer holder of claim 1 in which the entire structure
including the movable gate is molded in one piece, the resinous
material being selected so that by making the movable gate
sufficiently thin, the movable gate will provide its own resiliency
and the movable gate is molded in its closed position with
sufficient resilience that it will not move from closed position
without sufficient lateral force by a user's thumb or finger.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to a tool holder and
more specifically to a holder for a hammer that is adapted to be
attached to a worker's belt, garment, tool bag or nail pouch, a
holder which, when located on a worker's utility belt, can hold a
hammer captive whether the worker is jumping, knelling or bending
or even when the holder is upside down or subjected to heavy
motion, a holder into which a hammer can be inserted into and
removed from with one hand and, because the hammer is in its
upright position, it is ready for use by the worker immediately
upon removal.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] Carpenters and tradesmen often use a utility belt to hold
their various tools, one of which is usually a claw hammer which is
located in a metal loop attached to the worker's belt. In use, when
a worker requires the use of another tool, he/she will place the
hammer in the loop on his/her utility belt. To do this, the hammer
is initially turned upside down with the handle being below the
hammer head. Then, holding the loop with one hand and the head of
the hammer with the other hand, the worker inserts the end of the
handle into the loop and allows it to move down until the head of
the hammer rests on the loop. To now reuse the hammer, a right
handed worker must first grasp the hammer head with his/her right
hand, pull the hammer up and out of the loop and, while still
holding the head of the hammer in his/her right hand, transfer the
hammer to his/'her left hand so he/she can moves his/her right hand
to the end of the hammer to again use the hammer. Another
disadvantage of the prior art hammer holder is that the downwardly
hanging handle of the hammer bangs against a user's thigh, knee
and/or knee cap as the user walks, bends and/or jumps which can
cause bruses and injuries while the user is working. Clearly, prior
art hammer holders require awkward hand movements to insert and
remove a hammer from a belt mounted hammer holder and can cause
injuries to the user's leg while working on a job.
[0005] In U.S. Pat. No. 5,248,072 by Jones there is disclosed a
hammer holder that includes two spaced apart J shaped members where
the upturned ends of the J shaped members are adapted to receive
the head of a hammer and the handle or the hammer hangs down
between the two J shaped members.
[0006] In U.S. Pat. No. 6,102,264 by Redzisz there is disclosed a
holder for a hammer where the head of the hammer rests on top of a
loop and the handle of the hammer hangs down from the loop. The
loop has a movable bridge member which allows the handle of the
hammer to open the bridge member and pass through the loop when the
handle is pivoted upward and presses against the bridge member.
[0007] What is needed is a holder for a hammer which does not
require awkward hand movements to place a hammer into or remove a
hammer from the holder, a holder which can be attached to a utility
belt worn by a worker, attached to a worker's garment, attached to
the side of a tool bag or to a nail pouch, a holder which, when
located on a worker's utility belt, can hold a hammer captive
whether the worker is jumping, knelling or bending or even when the
holder is upside down or subjected to heavy motion without banging
against and injuring the user's thigh, knee and/or knee cap.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In a principal aspect, the present invention comprises a
hammer holder which may be used in combination with a tool belt, a
garment, a tool bag, a nail pouch, etc. for holding a hammer in its
upright position. The hammer holder comprises a support member
which can be made of plastic and formed to provide an open ended
chamber for receiving the head of a hammer and a clip for holding
the hammer handle in an upright position where the hammer is ready
for use immediately upon removal. The chamber together with the
handle holding clip locks the hammer to the holder and prevents the
hammer from moving out of the holder. The hammer can be inserted
into and removed from the holder with one hand and, because it is
in its upright position when removed, the user does not have to use
two hands to reorient the hammer to its upright position in order
to start hammering.
[0009] Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide an
improved hammer holder for holding a hammer which can be easily
removed from the holder.
[0010] A further object of the invention is to provide an improved
holder for a hammer which can be used in combination with a tool
belt, a tool bag, a nail pouch, a garment worn by a worker,
etc..
[0011] A further object of the invention is to provide an improved
holder for a hammer which allows a worker to insert a hammer into
the holder and remove the hammer from the holder with one hand.
[0012] A further object of the invention is to provide a holder for
a hammer that holds the hammer in an upright position.
[0013] A further object of the invention is to provide a holder for
a hammer that can protect a user from harm caused by the claw of a
claw hammer.
[0014] Another object of the invention is to provide an improved
hammer holder for a utility belt or the like which is inexpensive
to manufacture and is of rugged construction.
[0015] These and other objects, advantages and features of the
invention will be set forth in the detailed description which
follows.
[0016] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention there is
disclosed a hammer holder comprising:
[0017] a support member including means of attaching the support
member to a belt, garment, tool bag or nail pouch of a hammer
user,
[0018] a chamber integrated with the support member and so oriented
relative thereto that the chamber extends away from the support
member and provides support for the hammer head and for the hammer
handle in an upright vertical position when the support member is
connected to a belt or a garment;
[0019] said chamber being large enough to contain the head of the
hammer;
[0020] stop means coupled to the chamber to prevent the head of the
hammer to pass through the chamber;
[0021] a clip attached to the support member for receiving the
handle of the hammer; and
[0022] a movable gate member coupled to the support member oriented
to move downwardly to permit the passage of the hammer handle into
the clip and spring back to prevent the handle from moving out of
the clip.
[0023] The foregoing has outlined, rather broadly, the preferred
feature of the present invention so that those skilled in the art
may better understand the detailed description of the invention
that follows. Additional features of the invention will be
described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the
invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they can
readily use the disclosed conception and specific embodiment as a
basis for designing or modifying other structures for carrying out
the same purposes of the present invention and that such other
structures do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention
in its broadest form.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present
invention will become more fully apparent from the following
detailed description, the appended claim, and the accompanying
drawings in which similar elements are given similar reference
numerals.
[0025] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a claw hammer locked in
place in an upright position in a holder in accordance with the
principles of the invention;
[0026] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the hammer holder of FIG. 1
without the claw hammer;
[0027] FIG. 3 is a front view of the hammer holder with the hammer
shown in phantom in accordance with the principles of the
invention; and
[0028] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the hammer holder attached
to a nail pouch which is, in turn, attached to a utility belt in
accordance with the principles of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0029] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of a
claw hammer locked in place in an upright position in a tool holder
10 in accordance with the principles of the invention. The hammer
holder 10 can be made from a single piece of material 12 such as
leather, heavy canvas, plastic, etc., where the preferred material
is a plastic of resinous material.
[0030] The holder has a support member or rear section 14, a bottom
section 16, and a front section 18. The rear section includes at
its top a fold over tab 20 that can bend about a scored fold line
22 and includes two openings which, when the tab is folded backward
and rests against the back of the rear section, are aligned with
two openings in the rear section. The openings are provided for
receiving rivets or screws for attaching the holder to a utility
belt, a worker's garment, a side of a tool bag, a nail pouch,
etc.
[0031] The bottom section 16, which is a continuation of the rear
section 14, is bent outward along a fold line to form an angle of
about 90 degrees with the rear section. The front section 18 is a
continuation of the bottom section 16 and is bent upward along a
fold line to form an angle of about 90 degrees. A Web member 36,
which is a continuation of the front section, is bent along a fold
line toward the rear section 14. Web member is attached to the rear
section with an adhesive, rivets, etc. The lower portion of the
rear section, together with the bottom section, the front section
and the web member form a chamber 34 for receiving the head of a
hammer such as a claw hammer. It is here noted that the various
parts of the chamber can hold the hammer head captive in all
directions except for moving into or out of the chamber via the end
38 as indicated by the double arrow line A-A.
[0032] The hammer holder has a front end 24 and a back end 26. The
front end 24 of the front section 18 is flared outward to
facilitate entry of the hammer head into the chamber by providing a
funnel shaped opening. The web member 34, in addition to preventing
the head of a hammer from moving up out of the chamber, also helps
to hold the front section substantially parallel to the rear
section 14.
[0033] Located at the top of the rear section and having a width of
one inch more or less is a hammer handle holding clip 28 with a
flared end 30. The upper and lower edges 40 of the handle holding
clip can include spring rod members or additional material which
allows the clip to be urged to an open position to receive a hammer
handle and spring back to hold the handle captive. Located
immediately below the handle holding clip is a flexible gate member
32 which is attached to the rear section 14 with a living hinge.
The entire structure including the flexible gate member is molded
in one piece, the resinous material being selected so that by
making the gate structure sufficiently thin, the gate structure
will provide its own resiliency. The gate structure is molded to
pivot about a living hinge and at an angle relative to the rear
section with sufficient resiliency that the gate structure will not
move from its closed position without sufficient lateral force by a
user's thumb or finger pressing to move the gate inwardly toward
the rear section.
[0034] Gate member 32 has a leading edge that has a generous radius
and a trailing edge that is substantially straight. The living
hinge maintains gate 32 at an angle of between 15 degrees and 45
degrees with the rear section. The generous radius at the leading
edge allows the handle of a hammer to urge the gate to pivot
downward as the handle is pushed into the clip. Once the handle is
located within the handle holding clip, the gate flips up and locks
the handle in position within the clip.
[0035] At this time the hammer including its handle is held captive
inside the holder. Thus, the handle can not injure a user by
banging against a user's thigh, knee and/or knee cap. Chamber 16
prevents the hammer from moving up, down, sideways and through the
opening at the front of the hammer. The handle holding clip
prevents the hammer from moving out of the chamber at the claw end
of the hammer. To remove the hammer from the holder a workman,
using his thumb or a finger, pushes the gate towards the rear
section. As the gate moves toward the rear section, it moves
downward and releases the hammer handle. The workman then, with the
same hand, pulls the handle out of the clip. As the hammer is
pulled out of the clip the hammer head follows and is pulled out of
the chamber, a one hand operation.
[0036] The holder for the hammer can be made for left or right
handed users and, when used with a utility belt, can be located on
the users left or right side. To insert a hammer into the holder,
while holding a hammer at the top of the handle, a user simply
swings the head of the hammer into the chamber 34 and then pushes
the handle into the clip 28.
[0037] Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a perspective view of
the hammer holder of FIG. 1 without the claw hammer. FIG. 3 is a
front view of the hammer holder with the hammer shown in phantom ;
and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the hammer holder attached to a
nail pouch which is, in turn, attached to a utility belt.
[0038] The hammer holder disclosed does not require awkward hand
movements to place a hammer into or remove a hammer from the
holder, it can be attached to a utility belt, a worker's garment,
the side of a tool bag or to a nail pouch. The holder, when located
on a worker's utility belt, can hold a hammer captive whether the
worker is jumping, kneeling or bending or even when the holder is
upside down or subjected to heavy motion. In addition, the hammer
can be inserted into and removed from the holder with one hand and,
because it is in its upright position when removed, the user does
not have to use two hands to reorient the hammer to its upright
position in order to start hammering.
[0039] While there have been shown and described and pointed out
the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the
preferred embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions
and substitutions and changes of the form and details of the
apparatus illustrated and in the operation may be done by those
skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the
invention.
* * * * *