Mountain tool holster

Abstract

A system or device for securely holding mountain tools, such as ice axes / ice tools and avalanche probe pools (and other such tools), on a backpack in a manner that allows the user to easily and conveniently acquire the tool when needed without first removing the backpack. This is applicable in emergency situations such as a crevasse fall where an ice axe in needed for preparing a rescue anchor or in the event of an avalanche where a probe pole is needed for a victim search. The system also allows for easy and convenient stowing of mountain tools without removal of the backpack as the situation dictates in non-emergency situations, such as after using the probe pole to probe for crevasses when crossing a glacier or after needing an ice tool for security when a repelling (abseiling) onto an icy stance.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 206,822 that was filed on Feb. 5, 2009 and entitled “Mountain Tool Holster” the subject matter which is herein incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONField of Invention[0002]The invention relates generally to devices and systems used to attach equipment, such as climbing, hiking or other tools / implements, to backpacks and the like. In particular the invention relates to a holster type device used to firmly and safely secure an ice axe, avalanche probe pole or other tool / implement to a backpack in a manner that is both novel and clearly demonstrates improvement over the prior art.[0003]In climbing, hiking and other pursuits it is common for participants to carry tools on the outside of a backpack that has some means for the attachment of tools. An example is seen in the device patented by Anscher (U.S. Pat. No. 5,435,045). Typically most attachment mechan...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]The general idea of the invention is to provide a mechanism to safely and securely fasten a mountain tool (ice axe, ice tool, probe pole, fishing rod, etc) to any backpack (a generic backpack or a new backpack design that integrates the invention into the backpack) in a way that allows the wearer of the backpack to quickly and easily retrieve the tool for immediate use, without first removing the backpack. Conversely, the general idea of the invention is to allow the user to easily (one handed while wearing gloves) safely and securely re-attach a tool to backpack without first removing the backpack.

[0009]It is also the general idea of the invention to not only reduce the potential danger inherent to many of the mountain tools, but to use the strong and rigid nature of the tool to help protect the user from the impact of a fall by strategically placing the tools on the body. Holding the tool close to the hip and along the back means that not only can the tool directly protect the user in the event of a fall by physically taking the brunt of an impact, but this placement on the body also means that there is little room for acceleration forces to develop between the user and the tool if the tool is ripped from the backpack.

Problems solved by technology

Holding the tool close to the hip and along the back means that not only can the tool directly protect the user in the event of a fall by physically taking the brunt of an impact, but this placement on the body also means that there is little room for acceleration forces to develop between the user and the tool if the tool is ripped from the backpack.

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