U.S. patent application number 15/419782 was filed with the patent office on 2018-08-02 for kneepad with implement holder.
This patent application is currently assigned to Q.E.P.Co., Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Q.E.P.Co., Inc.. Invention is credited to Bradley Scott Miller, Christopher Thomas Ortega.
Application Number | 20180213856 15/419782 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 60953682 |
Filed Date | 2018-08-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180213856 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Miller; Bradley Scott ; et
al. |
August 2, 2018 |
KNEEPAD WITH IMPLEMENT HOLDER
Abstract
A kneepad includes a front, top, bottom and first and second
lateral sides and a stretchable band attached to the kneepad to
form at least one channel to snugly releasably receive an
implement.
Inventors: |
Miller; Bradley Scott; (Boca
Raton, US) ; Ortega; Christopher Thomas; (Boynton
Beach, FL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Q.E.P.Co., Inc. |
Boca Raton |
FL |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Q.E.P.Co., Inc.
Boca Raton
FL
|
Family ID: |
60953682 |
Appl. No.: |
15/419782 |
Filed: |
January 30, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 13/065 20130101;
A41D 2600/20 20130101; A41D 2400/48 20130101; A45F 2005/008
20130101; A45F 5/00 20130101; A41D 13/0562 20130101; A41D 13/0568
20130101 |
International
Class: |
A41D 13/06 20060101
A41D013/06; A41D 13/05 20060101 A41D013/05; A45F 5/00 20060101
A45F005/00 |
Claims
1. A composite kneepad comprising: a kneepad having a top, bottom
and first and second lateral sides; the kneepad having a front face
generally extending in a first direction from the top to the bottom
and in a second direction generally perpendicular to the first
direction, the kneepad front face being substantially rigid and
non-deformable; and an elastic band secured to the kneepad and
having an open top and an opposed open bottom to form at least one
channel to releasably receive and retain an implement therein.
2. The composite kneepad according to claim 1, wherein the band is
secured to a lateral side of the kneepad.
3. The composite kneepad according to claim 1, where the band is
secured to at least two locations spaced apart in said second
direction.
4. The composite kneepad according to claim 1, wherein the band is
secured to at least two locations on a lateral side of the
kneepad.
5. The composite kneepad according to claim 1, wherein the band
forms at least two channels to releasably receive and retain
implements therein.
6. The composite kneepad according to claim 1, wherein the band has
first and second ends wherein both of said ends are secured to one
of said lateral sides of the kneepad.
7. The composite kneepad according to claim 1, wherein the band is
sufficiently flush against the kneepad to avoid interfering with
the use of the kneepad in the absence of an implement therein.
8. The composite kneepad according to claim 1, wherein the band is
secured to the kneepad in more than two locations and defines more
than one channel between the band and the kneepad.
9. The composite kneepad according to claim 1, wherein the band
extends generally away from the substantially rigid and
non-deformable front face.
10. The composite kneepad according to claim 1, wherein the kneepad
includes a peripheral edge and at least one end of the band is
secured to the peripheral edge.
11. The composite kneepad according to claim 1, wherein the kneepad
includes a peripheral edge and only one end of the band is secured
to the peripheral edge.
12. The composite kneepad according to claim 1, wherein the channel
extends generally parallel to the first direction.
13. The composite kneepad according to claim 1, wherein the band is
stitched to the kneepad.
14. The composite kneepad according to claim 1, wherein the band is
stitched to the lateral side of the kneepad.
15. The composite kneepad according to claim 1, wherein the band is
permanently attached to the kneepad.
16. The composite kneepad according to claim 1, wherein the band is
configured as a loop to form the channel.
17. The composite kneepad according to claim 1, wherein the channel
is formed solely by the interior of the band.
18. The composite kneepad according to claim 1, wherein the channel
is partially formed by the band.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] This application relates to kneepads and, more particularly
to kneepads which securely retain an implement so that a worker
wearing the kneepad has convenient access to the implement when
needed. The term "implement" should be interpreted in its broadest
sense to include anything that a wearer of the kneepad might need
to use. By way of non-limiting example, this would include tools,
writing instruments, marking instruments, drawing instruments,
etc.
[0002] Kneepads typically are used for impact protection, such as
by participants in sporting events, and for comfort, such as by
persons engaged in outdoor or indoor activities that require
kneeling. Non-limiting examples of the former activities include
roofing, general contracting, bricklaying, carpentry, landscaping
and gardening. Non-limiting examples of the latter include interior
construction, general contracting, plumbing, electrical, floor,
carpet and tile installation.
[0003] Previously suggestions have been made to provide a tool
holder on a kneepad such as, for example, in McKee U.S. Pat. No.
9,326,555 the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by
reference. U.S. Pat. No. 9,326,555 refers to a tool or accessory
holder preferably attached to a kneepad through the use of snap
fasteners so that the holder may be removed. One of the many
limitations of the holder described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,326,555 is
that it is bulky thus encouraging the user to remove the holder
when it is not being used. However, this leads to a first problem,
namely, that it is easy to misplace the holder. Second, the holder
typically can be used only on one kneepad depending on the
placement of the snap fasteners on the holder and on the kneepad,
thus a worker typically cannot conveniently move the holder from
one knee to the other knee. Yet another problem is the relative
rigidity and size of the holder in that some tools do not fit
snugly in the holder and therefore can move, or even fall from the
holder as the worker moves up and down as well as forward,
sideways, and backward.
[0004] Thus there is a need for a kneepad implement holder that
recognizes and solves the aforementioned problems.
SUMMARY
[0005] The kneepad and implement holder described herein overcomes
the aforementioned problems, and other problems, through the use of
a flexible holder that does not protrude from the kneepad when not
in use and that snugly retains implements of various
configurations.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The foregoing advantages of the kneepad and implement
holder, together with other benefits and advantages that may be
attained by its use will become apparent upon reading the following
detailed description in conjunction with the following drawings. In
the drawings, which are exemplary only:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of a kneepad viewed
generally from one side;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a perspective illustration of a kneepad viewed
generally from the side opposite the side of FIG. 1; and
[0009] FIG. 3 is a perspective illustration of the kneepad of FIG.
1 with an implement retained in the holder.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] Referring first to FIG. 1, a kneepad 10 includes a top 12,
bottom 14, first lateral side 16, and an opposed second lateral
side 18. The lateral sides extend from the top 12 to the bottom 14
and the kneepad includes a front face 20 extending from the top to
the bottom and from the first side to the second side. The kneepad
includes a peripheral edge 22 extending from the top 12, along a
first lateral side 16, along the bottom 14, and along the second
lateral side 18 and returning to the top 12. The kneepad includes
two straps 24, 26 each extending away from the front face 20 so
that when the kneepad is placed in position by the user, the straps
encircle the leg of the user. The straps fasten together such as
through the use of hook and loop fasteners. In some embodiments a
single strap may be used to encircle the leg of the user with the
single strap extending from one side of the kneepad and engaging
fasteners on the opposite side of the kneepad. Snap fasteners or
buckles rather than hook and loop fasteners may be used. The front
face 20 is the part of the kneepad that, in use, would be in
contact with a surface from which the user of the kneepad seeks
protection or comfort. Thus while the front face 20 may be of rigid
material for protection or flexible material for comfort, it is
contemplated that peripheral edge and lateral sides be made of
fabric. All of the foregoing is conventional.
[0011] The present kneepad may include one or more implement
holders. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, one form of an implement
holder or band or sleeve 30 is illustrated having a top 32, and a
bottom 34, and first and second lateral ends 36, 38. The size and
dimensions of the band or sleeve 30 may be selected to take into
account the types of implements to be retained. For explanatory
purposes only, a non-limiting form of the band 30 is illustrated as
having a length between the ends 36, 38 that is greater than the
height between the top and bottom 32, 34. The band is preferably
made of a material that is elastic or stretchable and that has some
memory so that it may return to its non-stretched
configuration.
[0012] The kneepad extends in a generally first direction from the
top 12 to the bottom 14. The first and second lateral ends 36, 38
of the band may be secured such as by stitching 40 to the kneepad
with the stitching preferably extending generally parallel to the
first direction of the kneepad and thus generally perpendicular to
the front-to-back direction of the kneepad. As one non-limiting
example, FIG. 1 illustrates two vertical lines of stitching 40, one
at each end 36, 38 of the band 30.
[0013] Thus one exemplary location for one line of stitching 40
would be the peripheral edge 22 of the kneepad as illustrated in
FIG. 1 with the opposite end of the band 30 stitched to the lateral
side 16 at or adjacent to the front face 20. In this variation the
two ends of the band 30 may be stitched solely to spaced-apart
locations on one lateral side of the kneepad and a channel for the
implement is present between the band and the lateral side.
[0014] A second exemplary location for the stitching is illustrated
in FIG. 3 involving three vertical lines of stitching 40, with one
end of the band 30 stitched to the peripheral edge, the second end
of the band 30 stitched to the lateral side at or adjacent to the
front face, and a third line of stitching 40 intermediate the two
ends 36, 38. The third line of stitching need not be exactly
halfway between the other two lines of stitching. In this
situation, two separate channels are present between the band and
the lateral side. If the band is secured to a different part of the
kneepad, i.e., other than a lateral side, then the channel is
present between the band and the associated part of the
kneepad.
[0015] Yet a third exemplary option as illustrated in FIG. 2
includes the band 30 where both ends are stitched to the same
general area of the kneepad such that the band forms a loop.
Alternatively, one end of the band may be stitched adjacent to the
other end of the band to form a loop. In either of these
alternatives, the loop is then stitched to the kneepad and one
non-limiting position is at or adjacent the face of the kneepad,
and a second non-limiting position for the stitching would be at
the peripheral edge 22 and a third position would be on the lateral
side itself. In the variations described in this paragraph, the
interior of the loop itself forms the channel.
[0016] The band, when not in use is, preferably flush to the
kneepad but this is not required as long as the band does not
interfere with use of the kneepad when there is no implement within
the sleeve. Thus alternatives to stitching and alternatives to the
band being absolutely flush with the kneepad are contemplated. The
space between the band and the lateral side of the kneepad
functions as a channel or receptacle or holder for an implement,
except in the variation of FIG. 2 where the interior space of the
loop of the band functions as a channel or receptacle or holder for
an implement.
[0017] Optionally, as noted above, the band may include an
intermediate vertical stitching 40 and the location of the
intermediate vertical stitching may be closer to one of the ends
36, 38. Through the use of this option two channels or receptacles
may be provided for retaining implements. Additional channels may
be similarly provided.
[0018] In addition to or in lieu of stitching, the band may be
attached to the kneepad (and attached to itself in the variation of
FIG. 2) with hook and loop fasteners, snap fasteners or other
attachment mechanisms in addition to or instead of stitching.
[0019] In use, the wearer will insert an implement 42 through the
open top 32 of the band 30 as illustrated at 44. The implement, if
of sufficient length, will extend through the open bottom 34 of the
band 30 as illustrated at 46. The elastic nature of the material of
the band causes the band to expand as necessary to generally
conform to the external configuration of the implement and securely
retain the implement in place. The elastic material snugly retains
the implement in place even as the wearer may move about. This
prevents the implement from being accidentally dislodged. In those
situations where the intermediate vertical stitching is provided,
there are two channels each of which will snugly engage an
implement as well as preventing the implements from being
accidentally dislodged. When the implements are removed (and even
when the kneepads are removed) the memory of the band causes the
band to return to its normal position lying generally (but not
necessarily absolutely) flat against the side of the kneepad. The
band should not interfere with use of the straps or the kneepad and
vice-versa. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the implement is placed
within the top of the loop of the band, as illustrated at 44 and,
the implement, if of sufficient length, will extend through the
open bottom 34 of the band as illustrated at 46.
[0020] The foregoing is a complete description of a preferred form
of the present kneepad and implement holder. Various changes and
modification may be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the above description. The invention therefore should be
limited only by the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *