Tool attachment system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12048368-B2
Application number	US-202318311059-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 2, 2023
Priority date	Feb 12, 2019
Publication date	Jul 30, 2024
Grant date	Jul 30, 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 be worn by a user;
a tool attachment device releasably coupled to the receiver, the tool attachment device comprising:
an elongated body having a top side and a bottom side opposite the top side;
an upper wall coupled to the top side and extending away from the elongated body;
a locking mechanism coupled to the upper wall that locks the tool attachment device against translational movement relative to the receiver when the locking mechanism is in a locked position; and
a shroud coupled to bottom side of the elongated body; and

an actuator coupled to the tool attachment device below the shroud;
wherein the actuator is configured to move the locking mechanism to an unlocked position when a force is applied to the actuator in a designated direction, and wherein, in the unlocked position, the locking mechanism allows translational movement of the tool attachment device relative to the receiver such that the tool attachment device is configured to move in the designated direction to release from the receiver.

2. The tool attachment system of claim 1 , wherein the designated direction is an upwards direction.

3. The tool attachment system of claim 1 , wherein the tool attachment device further comprises a disk, and wherein the receiver defines a channel that receives the disk.

4. The tool attachment system of claim 3 , wherein the tool attachment device is pivotally coupled to the receiver and configured to rotate relative to the receiver about an axis that is perpendicular to a front face of the channel of the receiver.

5. The tool attachment system of claim 4 , wherein the actuator further comprises a button, wherein the force is applied to the button of the actuator.

6. The tool attachment system of claim 5 , wherein the shroud partially surrounds the button.

7. The tool attachment system of claim 6 , wherein the tool attachment device further comprises a bag securing mechanism that is configured to attach a pouch under the shroud of the tool attachment device.

8. The tool attachment system of claim 7 , wherein the pouch is coupled to the tool attachment device through a plurality of attachment points.

9. The tool attachment system of claim 1 , wherein the tool attachment device is freely rotatable about an axis generally perpendicular to the receiver when the locking mechanism is in the locked position.

10. A tool attachment system, comprising:
a tool attachment device, comprising a disk and a locking pin;
a receiver releasably coupled to the receiver by the disk, the receiver comprising a hole configured to receive the locking pin; and
an actuator coupled to the tool attachment device, the actuator comprising:
a button; and
a post coupled to the button, the post having a slot;

wherein, when in a locked position, the locking pin passes through the slot to the hole and locks the tool attachment device against translational movement relative to the receiver; and
wherein when a force is applied to the button of the actuator, the post generates a force on the locking pin and causes the locking pin to move out of the hole of the receiver to an unlocked position.

11. The tool attachment system of claim 10 , wherein the tool attachment device is pivotally coupled to the receiver and rotates relative to the receiver about an axis that is generally perpendicular to the receiver when in the locked position.

12. The tool attachment system of claim 10 , wherein the post further comprises an angled surface, and wherein, when the force is applied to the button, the angled surface of the post generates a force on the locking pin that is transverse to the force on the button and causes the locking pin to move out of the hole of the receiver to the unlocked position.

13. The tool attachment system of claim 10 , further comprising a pin spring and a button spring, wherein the pin spring is oriented between the tool attachment device and the locking pin to bias locking pin into a locked position, and wherein the button spring is oriented between the tool attachment device and the post of the actuator to bias the actuator.

14. The tool attachment system of claim 10 , further comprising a shroud that partially surrounds the button.

15. A tool attachment system configured to engage a receiver worn by a user, comprising:
a tool attachment device configured to releasably couple to the receiver, the tool attachment device comprising:
a body;
an upper wall coupled to a top side of the body and extending away from the body; and
a locking mechanism coupled to the upper wall that locks the tool attachment device against translational movement relative to the receiver when the locking mechanism is in a locked position; and

an actuator coupled to a bottom side of the body opposite the upper wall;
wherein the actuator is configured to move the locking mechanism to an unlocked position when a force is applied to the actuator in a designated direction, and wherein in the unlocked position the locking mechanism allows translational movement of the tool attachment device relative to the receiver such that the tool attachment device is configured to move in the designated direction to release from the receiver.

16. The tool attachment system of claim 15 , wherein the designated direction is an upwards direction.

17. The tool attachment system of claim 15 , wherein the actuator further comprises a button, wherein the force is applied to the button of the actuator.

18. The tool attachment system of claim 17 , wherein further comprising a shroud that partially surround the button.

19. The tool attachment system of claim 17 , wherein the tool attachment system has a low profile having a width measured from a tool belt to the button of the actuator that is less than 1 inch.

20. The tool attachment system of claim 15 , wherein the tool attachment device is pivotally coupled to the receiver and rotates relative to the receiver about an axis that is perpendicular to the receiver when 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

• A45F2005/026

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

• 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

• A45F5/021 Primary

  to the belt · CPC title

• A45F2200/0575

  Human Necessities · mapped topic