Tool attachment system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11857064-B2
Application number	US-202318356881-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 21, 2023
Priority date	Feb 12, 2019
Publication date	Jan 2, 2024
Grant date	Jan 2, 2024

Abstract

A tool attachment system is provided. The tool attachment system includes a tool attachment device and a receiver that cooperate to lock or secure, for example, a bag or pouch. When the tool attachment device is coupled to the receiver, a locking mechanism locks the tool attachment device to the receiver in a locked position. To remove the tool attachment device, a user applies a force to a button to cause the tool attachment device to disengage from the receiver.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tool attachment system, comprising:
a receiver configured to attach to a belt of a user, the receiver comprising a channel and a locking hole;
a tool attachment device configured to be releasably coupled to the receiver, the tool attachment device comprising:
a body comprising a front surface and a rear surface;
a locking mechanism protruding past the rear surface of the body and into the locking hole of the receiver when the locking mechanism is in a locked position; and
a disk mating structure protruding outward from the rear surface of the body;

wherein the disk mating structure is configured to slidably engage the channel of the receiver;
a pouch coupled to the body of the tool attachment device, the pouch configured to support a tool; and
an actuator coupled to the tool attachment device;
wherein the channel of the receiver is sized to slidably receive the disk mating structure such that the tool attachment device is supported from the receiver;
wherein the actuator is configured to move the locking mechanism from the locked position to an unlocked position when a force is applied to the actuator, and wherein, in the unlocked position, the locking mechanism is moved out of the locking hole in the receiver and the tool attachment device is allowed to move relative to the receiver such that the disk mating structure slides upward and out of the channel of the receiver to release the tool attachment device from the receiver.

2. The tool attachment system of claim 1 , wherein the tool attachment device is pivotally coupled to the receiver via the engagement between the disk mating structure and the channel such that the tool attachment device pivots relative to the receiver about an axis that is perpendicular to a front face of the channel of the receiver when the locking mechanism is in the locked position.

3. The tool attachment system of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is located below the disk mating structure and above the pouch.

4. The tool attachment system of claim 3 , wherein a lower end of the actuator is located below the disk mating structure and above the pouch.

5. The tool attachment system of claim 1 , wherein the actuator moves upward relative to the pouch when the force is applied the actuator to move the locking mechanism to the unlocked position.

6. The tool attachment system of claim 5 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a pin protruding outward from the rear surface of the body, wherein the locking hole of the receiver receives the pin when the locking mechanism is in the locked position.

7. The tool attachment system of claim 6 , wherein the force applied to the actuator causes both the pin to be drawn out of the locking hole of the receiver and the disk mating structure to slide upward and out of the channel of the receiver to release the tool attachment device from the receiver.

8. The tool attachment system of claim 1 , wherein the actuator moves in a direction parallel to the channel when the force is applied to move the actuator to the unlocked position.

9. The tool attachment system of claim 8 , wherein the force is an upward force applied to the actuator.

10. The tool attachment system of claim 9 , wherein the tool attachment device further comprises a shroud extending from the body, wherein the shroud partially surrounds the actuator.

11. The tool attachment system of claim 10 , wherein the tool attachment device further comprises a bag securing mechanism attaching the pouch under the shroud of the tool attachment device.

12. The tool attachment system of claim 1 , wherein the pouch is coupled to the tool attachment device through a plurality of attachment points.

13. The tool attachment system of claim 1 , wherein the actuator further comprises a button and a post coupled to the button, the post including a slot, wherein the locking mechanism includes a pin protruding outward from the rear surface of the body, wherein, when in the locked position, the pin passes through the slot into the locking hole of the receiver and locks the tool attachment device against translational movement relative to the receiver and wherein, when the force is applied to the actuator, the post generates a force on the pin and causes the pin to move out of the locking hole of the receiver to the unlocked position.

14. The tool attachment system of claim 13 , wherein the post further comprises an angled surface, and wherein, when the force is applied to the actuator, the angled surface of the post generates the force on the pin that is transverse to the force on the actuator and causes the pin to move out of the locking hole of the receiver to the unlocked position.

15. The tool attachment system of claim 14 , further comprising a pin spring and an actuator spring, wherein the pin spring is oriented between the tool attachment device and the pin to bias the pin into the locked position, and wherein the actuator spring is oriented between the tool attachment device and the post of the actuator to bias the actuator, wherein the locking hole of the receiver is a cylindrical bore having an opening located in the channel of the receiver.

16. A tool attachment system, comprising:
a receiver configured to attach to a belt of a user, the receiver comprising a channel;
a tool attachment device configured to be releasably coupled to the receiver, the tool attachment device comprising:
a body;
a locking mechanism protruding from the body, the locking mechanism locking the tool attachment device against separation from the receiver when the locking mechanism is in a locked position; and
a mating structure protruding outward from the body and configured to slidably engage the channel of the receiver;

an actuator coupled to the tool attachment device; and
a pouch coupled below the body of the tool attachment device, the pouch configured to support a tool;
wherein the channel of the receiver is sized to slidably receive the mating structure such that the tool attachment device is supported from the receiver;
wherein the actuator is configured to move the locking mechanism to an unlocked position when a force is applied to the actuator, and wherein, when the locking mechanism in the unlocked position, the tool attachment device is slidable relative to the receiver such that the mating structure can move upward and out of the channel of the receiver to release the tool attachment device from the receiver;
wherein a lower end of the actuator is located below the mating structure and above the pouch.

17. The tool attachment system of claim 16 , wherein the tool attachment device is pivotally coupled to the receiver via the engagement between the mating structure and the channel such that the tool attachment device pivots relative to the receiver about an axis that is perpendicular to a front face of the channel of the receiver when the locking mechanism is in the locked position.

18. The tool attachment system of claim 17 , wherein the mating structure is disk shaped.

19. The tool attachment system of claim 16 , wherein the actuator moves upward when the force is applied to move the actuator to the unlocked position.

20. The tool attachment system of claim 16 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a pin protruding outward from the body, wherein the receiver includes a hole that receives the pin when the locking mechanism is in the locked position.

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Blumenthal Aaron S
• Thurner Jason D
• Hoppe Christopher S

Classifications

• A45F5/1575

  Holders or carriers for portable tools · CPC title

• A45F5/021 Primary

  to the belt · CPC title

• A45F2005/026

  with a pin having an enlarged head detachably connected to a fastening device, e.g. to a pin receiving slot · CPC title

• A45F2200/0575

  Human Necessities · mapped topic

• B25H3/00 Primary

  Storage means or arrangements for workshops facilitating access to, or handling of, work tools or instruments (containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents B65D83/00; {nail dispensers B25C3/00}) · CPC title