Tool Holder System

BACKGROUND

0001In a structure fire situation, firefighters commonly enter a burning structure in groups of two or three. There are various tasks that need to be accomplished that require the use of two hands depending on the situation as each fire is unique to itself. For example, many times the first-in-a-structure firefighter will deploy the hose line, which requires the use of both hands. In another situation, firefighters might climb a ladder to the roof or a higher window, which also requires the use of both hands. In another situation, a fire fighter's assignment might be to search for people or animals in a structure. In each of these situations the firefighter needs to have both hands as free as possible to drag the hose, climb a ladder or search for victims. To perform these exercises that require both hands, firefighters are required to leave behind their axe, a potentially lifesaving tool, because there is not an effective way to carry their axe.

0002Currently, firefighters might put a full-size tool or axe tucked in their waist strap or on a belted sheath. Other options include a miniature tool or axe on a hammer hoop attached to their belt. However, firefighters most commonly enter a structure without a tool or axe due to inconvenience or safety concerns.

0003There are drawbacks in the presently employed carrying techniques. Carrying a full-size axe causes difficulty when crawling on the ground as a full-size axe is 3 feet long and drags on the ground, limiting the firefighter's movement. Also, an axe tucked in one's waist strap is insecure and may fall out or become problematic in tight situations. A miniature tool or axe could be helpful for small issues; however, if the firefighter finds himself in a serious life-threatening situation, a large capable tool or axe is needed to bring down doors or make an egress through floors, walls and roofs.

0004These shortcomings are addressed by the present invention referred to as a tool holder system. The invention pertains to aiding a firefighter to effectively carry needed tools or axes on a fireground by the firefighter. However, it can be appreciated that this tool holder system may be used by other operators that use a harness such as a rock climber, mountain climber, scuba diver or other operator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

0005The present tool holder system addresses these above-mentioned problems by allowing the firefighter or operator to be equipped with a tool attached to a harness. The harness can be used to support a Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), that among other pieces of equipment, may include an air tank. However, the present tool holder system is compatible with the SCBA as a guide rail strap is easily attached in the front of a person and may extend over the operator's right shoulder or left shoulder and extends to terminate at a termination point on a rear side of the harness. The rear side is where an air tank might be optionally found on the harness. The tool holder system allows the operator to carry a tool on his back and leaves the operator's hands free for necessary tasks. The operator is then able to deploy a tool when needed. The operator wearing the tool holder system on his SCBA also makes the tool accessible to a second operator that might be positioned behind him.

0006In a first embodiment of the invention, a tool holder system for carrying a tool on a person is provided where the tool holder system includes a harness comprising a plurality of body straps, a guide rail strap provided with a guide and an at least one guide locking strap secured to a front end of the plurality of body straps of the harness, and a sheath for supporting the tool wherein the sheath corresponds to said guide with a post secured to said sheath for maneuvering said sheath linearly in relation to the guide on the guide rail strap.

0007In an alternative embodiment of the invention, a method of carrying a tool using a tool holder system on a person is provided wherein the tool holder system comprises a sheath and a guide rail strap secured to a harness. The method then comprises of steps such as inserting a head of a tool into a sheath and where the sheath is provided with a post located on a back side of the sheath, then inserting a post head of the post into a post receiving slot of a guide located on the guide rail strap, and then sliding the sheath along a length of the guide rail strap to terminate at a termination point on said guide and the termination point is located proximate to a rear side of the harness.

0008In yet another alternative embodiment of the invention, a tool holder system for carrying a tool on a person is provided where the tool holder system comprises a harness. The harness is comprised of a right shoulder strap, a left shoulder strap and a waist strap. Furthermore, there is a guide rail strap that is provided with a guide and an at least one guide locking strap secured to a front end of the right shoulder strap or secured to a front end of the left shoulder strap. Moreover, a sheath is also provided for supporting the tool wherein the sheath corresponds to the guide with a post secured to the sheath for maneuvering the sheath linearly in relation to the guide on the guide rail strap. Optionally, a waist strap clip is provided and located on the waist strap that corresponds to an extended end of the tool.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0009<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a view of a tool holder system in operation on the back of an operator.

0010<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a view of a sheath and a guide rail strap without a series of guide locking straps that comprise the tool holder system.

0011<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a view of the guide rail strap with a series of guide locking straps to secure the tool holder system to the individual.

0012<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is front perspective view of the sheath.

0013<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is rear perspective view of the sheath.

0014<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> is a waist strap clip that may optionally be provided to the tool holder system to secure a tool to the waist strap of a harness.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

0015The tool holder system <b>10</b> as shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> may be partially comprised of a harness <b>12</b> that has a plurality of body straps <b>14</b> that secure the harness and is optionally provided with an air tank <b>16</b> in one embodiment. It is this general setup that makes the foundation of a Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus or SCBA that can be used for fire fighters, divers, mountain climbers and other professionals or adventurers.

0016Now referring to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 2 and 3</figref>, the main part of the tool holder system <b>10</b> features a guide rail strap <b>18</b> that is secured to the harness <b>12</b> and the guide rail strap <b>18</b> is provided with a guide <b>20</b> and an at least one guide locking strap <b>22</b> that secures the guide rail strap <b>18</b> to a front end (not shown) of the plurality of body straps <b>14</b> of the harness <b>12</b>. The guide <b>20</b> may be raised as a member that may be secured to the guide rail strap <b>18</b>. It may be secured by a means of a plurality of screws, adhered with an adhesive or sewn or stapled to the fabric just to mention a few examples. The guide rail strap <b>18</b> is preferably made of a durable material to withstand the intended environment. The intended environment could be in a fire burning structure, on a mountain, underwater or other environmental condition. In most instances, a leather guide rail strap <b>18</b> would be ideal, but rubber, plastic, metal, infused fabric, or polyester could make good guide rail strap <b>18</b> material. The at least one guide locking strap <b>22</b> is preferably lockable in multiple lengths to ensure the guide rail strap <b>18</b> is secure to the front end of the plurality of body straps <b>14</b>. The multiple lengths could be achieved using Velcro, buttons, buckle mechanism or other means well known in the art. In a preferred embodiment, a claw buckle <b>24</b> is used to ensure the grip is snug and tight. Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, two guide locking straps <b>22</b> are used and in another preferred embodiment, three guide locking straps <b>22</b> are used to ensure that there are multiple anchor points along the front end and a back end <b>26</b> of the plurality of body straps <b>14</b> to ensure stability. At least one guide locking strap <b>22</b> is secured to the back end <b>26</b> of the plurality of body straps <b>14</b> of the harness <b>12</b>.

0017The guide rail strap <b>18</b> is attached to the harness <b>12</b> and is removable or stationary depending on the needs of an operator <b>28</b>. In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of body straps <b>14</b> comprise of a right shoulder strap, a left shoulder strap and a waist strap <b>29</b>. The operator <b>28</b> then can decide when to attach a tool <b>30</b> (or axe) to the harness <b>12</b> via the tool holder system <b>10</b>. This allows the operator <b>28</b> or firefighter to get dressed on the way to a location. The operator <b>20</b> puts on his harness <b>12</b>, then attaches the tool <b>30</b> when the operator <b>28</b> gets out of a vehicle or fire engine. The operator <b>28</b> then can wear the tool <b>30</b> as long as he desires, then remove the tool <b>30</b> when the tool <b>30</b> is no longer needed on his back.

0018Now referring to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 2, 4 and 5</figref>, a sheath <b>32</b> for supporting the tool <b>30</b> is also provided and preferably corresponds to a head <b>34</b> (see <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>) of the tool <b>30</b>. When the tool <b>30</b> is an axe, the head <b>34</b> would constitute the blade and face portion of the axe. The sheath <b>32</b> can be made of a durable material, but the material is preferably pliable to better conform to the head <b>34</b> and may comprise of a leather, plastic, rubber or fabric material (such as nylon). The sheath <b>32</b> corresponds to the guide <b>20</b> with a post <b>36</b> secured to the sheath <b>32</b> for maneuvering said sheath <b>32</b> linearly in relation to the guide <b>20</b> on the guide rail strap <b>18</b>. In a preferred embodiment, the post <b>36</b> is attached to a back side <b>38</b> of the sheath <b>32</b>. Referring now to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>, in the preferred embodiment, the post <b>36</b> is provided with post head <b>40</b> and a post stem <b>41</b> and wherein the post head diameter is greater than a post stem diameter. Referring now to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 4 and 5</figref>, the sheath <b>32</b> is provided with a sheath front side gap <b>42</b> to allow an extended end <b>56</b> of the tool <b>30</b> to feed through the sheath <b>32</b> and rest on a sheath bottom lip <b>43</b>. The sheath bottom lip <b>43</b> should extend sufficiently to hold the head <b>34</b> but reside back enough to allow the extended end <b>56</b> to reside in a downward direct that is parallel to the air tank <b>16</b>. In this embodiment, the head <b>34</b> of the tool <b>30</b> can easily be inserted or removed from the sheath <b>32</b> by sliding the head <b>34</b> through a top area of the sheath <b>32</b> and slipping the extended end <b>56</b> of the tool <b>30</b> through the sheath front side gap <b>42</b> until the head rests on the sheath bottom lip <b>43</b>.

0019In one embodiment, the sheath <b>32</b> has a length of about 8 to 10 inches, a height of about 4 to 6 inches tall and a width from about 1 to 2 inches. The post <b>36</b> in one embodiment has a height of about ½ an inch to 1 inch and the post head <b>40</b> of the post <b>36</b> is about ¼ of an inch. The guide <b>20</b> preferably has a length of about 12 to 18 inches. The sheath <b>32</b> is optionally provided with a head strap (not shown) that extends from the back side <b>38</b> of the sheath <b>32</b> to the opposite side of the sheath <b>32</b> (also referred to as the sheath front side) to secure the head <b>34</b> into the sheath <b>32</b>. The head strap, in a preferred embodiment, is sewn or adhered into one side (either the back side <b>38</b> or sheath front side) and is buttoned, Velcroed or buckled into the opposite side. This mechanism fastens the head <b>34</b> into the sheath <b>32</b> and prevents the head <b>34</b> from slipping out of the sheath <b>32</b>.

0020Referring now to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 2 and 3</figref>, to attach the sheath <b>32</b> to the guide rail strap <b>18</b>, the guide <b>20</b> on the guide rail strap <b>18</b> is provided with a post receiving slot <b>44</b> with a slot diameter greater than the post head diameter of the post <b>36</b> and a post channel <b>46</b> with a channel width less than the post head diameter. This configuration allows the sheath <b>32</b> to be slideably connected to the guide rail strap <b>18</b>. When the tool holder system <b>10</b> is in operation on the operator <b>28</b>, the post receiving slot <b>44</b> resides on the guide rail strap <b>18</b> located proximate to the front end (not shown) of the plurality of body straps <b>14</b> of said harness <b>12</b>. The post channel <b>46</b> begins as an extension of the post receiving slot <b>44</b> and extends along a length of the guide rail strap <b>18</b> referred to as the post channel <b>46</b> to terminate at a termination point <b>48</b> on said guide <b>20</b>. The termination point <b>48</b> is located proximate to a back end <b>26</b> of the plurality of body straps <b>14</b> of the harness <b>12</b>. As such, the head <b>34</b> of the tool <b>30</b> in the sheath <b>32</b> is moveable through the length of the guide <b>20</b> so that the tool <b>30</b> travels over the shoulder of the operator <b>28</b> to rest alongside an air tank <b>16</b> as shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>.

0021Now referring to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1 and 6</figref>, in a preferred embodiment, the tool holder system <b>10</b> also comprises of the waist strap clip <b>50</b> that corresponds to the tool <b>30</b>. The waist strap clip <b>50</b> is located on the waist strap <b>29</b> that secures the tool <b>30</b> to the waist strap <b>29</b> of the harness <b>12</b>. The waist strap clip <b>50</b> may be fed onto the waist strap <b>29</b> through a belt slit or clipped onto the waist strap <b>29</b>. The waist strap clip <b>50</b> holds the tool <b>30</b> in place enabling the operator <b>28</b> to crawl or move quickly without the tool <b>30</b> from becoming dislodged. The waist strap clip <b>50</b> fastens the tool <b>30</b> in a secure position with a locking mechanism <b>52</b>. The locking mechanism <b>52</b> is preferably a tightening strap that has a loop that fastens onto some corresponding teeth as shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref>, but the locking mechanism could also be a collapsing clamp, Velcro strap, belt with buckle or other known means in the art to fasten a protruding object to a belt or waist strap <b>29</b>.

0022Use of the tool holder system <b>10</b> for carrying a tool <b>30</b> on a person generally involves the following steps. An operator <b>28</b> inserts the head <b>34</b> of the tool <b>30</b> into the sheath <b>32</b>. The sheath <b>32</b> is provided with a post <b>36</b> located on a back side <b>38</b> of the sheath <b>32</b>. The operator <b>28</b> inserts the post head <b>40</b> of the post <b>36</b> into the post receiving slot <b>44</b> of the guide <b>20</b> located on the guide rail strap <b>18</b>. The operator <b>28</b> then slides the sheath <b>32</b> along a length of the guide rail strap <b>18</b> to terminate at a termination point <b>48</b> on the guide <b>20</b>. The termination point <b>48</b> is located proximate to a rear side <b>54</b> of the harness <b>12</b>. Optionally, the operator <b>28</b> or other person can fasten the tool <b>30</b> to the waist strap clip <b>50</b> located on the waist strap <b>29</b> of the harness <b>12</b>. The fastening is achieved by tightening the tightening strap around an extended end <b>56</b> of the tool <b>30</b>. Ideally the operator <b>28</b> should be able to release the locking mechanism <b>52</b> with one hand. Optionally, a person from behind the operator <b>28</b> should be able to release the locking mechanism <b>52</b> and remove the tool <b>30</b> from the sheath <b>32</b>.

0023While a particular embodiment of the tool holder system has been described herein, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the invention in its broader aspects and as set forth herein.