Tool holders used at construction sites

Abstract

There were concerns about the excessive strain on the waists of workers who carried tools by attaching many tool holders to their waists, the risk of workers falling due to tools and building materials being placed on the floor, and the danger of tools and building materials falling when placed in unstable conditions. [Solution] To provide a holder that allows tool brackets removed from a worker's waist to be directly attached to the structure or installation of a building at the work site.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a holder that is installed on a building structure or installation in a work site and can removably hold tools and the like.

Background Art

[0002] There are known a tool holder for holding tools and the like on a worker's waist belt or the like, and a tool bracket for removably holding a tool on a tool holder body. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a tool holder including a bracket fixed to a tool and a holder body that engages with the bracket to hold the tool. The holder body is provided with a storage space for sliding the bracket into the storage space along a groove, and a stopper that abuts against the rear end of the bracket accommodated in the storage space to prevent the bracket from being pulled out of the storage space.

[0003] Further, Patent Document 2 discloses that in a tool bracket that can removably hold a tool, the tool includes, for example, a hammer, a bar, a ratchet wrench, an electric driver, a measuring tape, etc., and also includes a bag for storing tools, a tool holder, etc.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] This is particularly noticeable among electrical workers, but when they need a large number of tools and building materials such as hardware, they are forced to carry these tools and hardware by attaching numerous tool holders to a belt around their waist, densely packed together without any gaps.

[0006] However, there is a limit to the belt length, and it is not possible to attach tool holders side by side beyond that limit. Therefore, it may be difficult to carry all tools and building hardware using only tool holders attached to the belt.

[0007] Furthermore, even if all tools and construction hardware could be attached to the waist, the weight would be extremely heavy, forcing workers to work under constant strain on their backs.

[0008] Therefore, tools and building materials such as construction hardware that cannot be stored in the tool holders worn on the worker's waist are often left on the floor of the work site. Tools and building materials left on the floor of the work site pose a risk of workers tripping over them and falling or stumbling when moving around the work site. Furthermore, if the floor of the work site is at a height, such as scaffolding erected on a building, there is a possibility that tools and building materials may fall downwards, creating a dangerous situation.

[0009] Furthermore, the floor of the work site is often cluttered with metal shavings and dust generated during the work, as well as protective sheets laid down to shield the work area from these. This can lead to situations where tools and building materials are not easily found or are lost, reducing work efficiency.

[0010] Furthermore, when working at heights such as near the ceiling indoors using a stepladder, it is conceivable that tools and building materials may be placed on the stepladder's treads to reduce the number of times one climbs up and down the ladder. In this case, there is a risk that the worker standing on the stepladder's treads, which have a very small surface area, may accidentally kick the tools or building materials with their feet, or that vibrations generated during the work may cause the tools or building materials to fall from the stepladder's treads, potentially damaging the fallen tools or building materials or scratching the floor of the work site. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] This device can be attached to structural elements of a building, such as walls and columns at a work site, or to scaffolding and ladders necessary for the work. It provides a holder that securely holds tool brackets removed from the worker's waist within easy reach. It is also possible to incorporate a locking mechanism to prevent the bracket attached to the holder from accidentally coming loose from its storage compartment. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, it becomes possible to directly attach tool brackets, which have been removed from the worker's waist, to the structure or installation of a building at the work site. This reduces the burden on the worker's waist and avoids dangers such as the worker stumbling or falling, or tools or building materials falling due to being placed on the floor or other surfaces. Furthermore, by providing a locking mechanism to prevent the bracket attached to the holder from accidentally coming off, it is possible to safely and securely hold the tools even when moving the holder with the tool bracket attached, thus ensuring safety. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing the housing portion of the holder according to the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view showing the structure of the projection according to the present invention. [Figure 3]It is a perspective view showing the structure of an operation member according to the present invention. [Figure 4] It is a perspective view of a fixture according to the present invention assuming a wooden wall. [Figure 5] It is a perspective view showing from the back a fixture according to the present invention assuming a metallic wall. [Figure 6] It is a perspective view of a fixture according to the present invention assuming a metal column. [Figure 7] It is a perspective view of a fixture according to the present invention assuming the column of a step ladder. [Figure 8] It is a perspective view showing a conventional tool holder and a bracket for tools. [Figure 9] It is a perspective view showing a conventional tool holder and a bracket for tools.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Also, the side on which the brackets for tools are accommodated will be described as the front of the fixture.

[0015] The basic configuration of the fixture according to the present invention has a housing portion for mounting the brackets for tools on the fixture and a fixing portion for fixing the fixture to the structure or installation of a building at the work site.

[0016] Regarding the mounting portion for mounting the brackets for tools in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, on the front side of the fixture A, six housing portions for the brackets B for tools including the housing space S are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction. These housing portions each have a frame portion 1 and a support 2 that partition and form the housing space S and a projecting piece 3 that regulates the removal of the bracket B. Note that the housing portions can be arranged singly or a plurality of them can be appropriately arranged side by side in the vertical direction or / and the horizontal direction, and the number and arrangement direction thereof are not particularly limited.

[0017] Since all the accommodating portions of the brackets B for the tools are of the same shape and dimensions, one of them will be described below. In this embodiment, the accommodating space S for accommodating the brackets B for the tools is partitioned and formed by a rail-shaped frame portion 1 surrounding the front, rear, left, and right directions of the brackets and a support 2 erected at the lower center to support the brackets from below. By the frame portion 1 and the support 2, the movement of the brackets B for the tools mounted in the accommodating space S in the front-rear direction, left-right direction, and downward direction is restricted within a predetermined range.

[0018] Further, above the accommodating space S, a protruding piece 3 that can protrude and retract in the front-back direction of the holder is provided. In this embodiment, the protruding piece 3 is provided substantially at the center above the front of the accommodating portion that holds the bracket B. Further, the protruding piece 3 has a substantially horizontally long T-shaped shape when viewed from the front toward the front side.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 2, the protruding piece 3 is biased rearward to the front side of the holder by an elastic body 4. When the bracket B for the tools is inserted into the accommodating portion from above, the bracket B overcomes the biasing force to the front side of the protruding piece 3 and enters the accommodating portion while pushing the protruding piece 3 backward. When the bracket B completely enters the accommodating portion, passes through the lower end of the protruding piece 3, and the load on the protruding piece 3 disappears, the protruding piece 3 returns to its original position by its biasing force, and the bracket B accommodated in the accommodating space S cannot come out upward, so that the bracket B for the tool is mounted in the accommodating portion of the holder, and the bracket B for the tool can be easily and surely mounted on the holder.

[0020] Here, the protruding piece 3 functions as a locking mechanism for preventing the unexpected removal of the bracket B disposed in the accommodating space S. That is, even when the holder is removed from the structure or installation of the building at the work site and carried while the bracket B for the tools is accommodated in the holder, the bracket B for the tools will not unexpectedly come out of the holder and fall, and it is possible to carry it safely.

[0021] Next, we will explain the operation for removing the bracket from the housing. As shown in Figure 3, the operating member 5 is a rectangular plate-shaped member that extends laterally and is assembled inside the main body of the holding unit. The operating member 5 has a projection 6 that protrudes outward from a slit provided near the center of the upper surface of the main body of the holding unit, and this projection 6 can be used as an operating button to slide it left and right. The operating member 5 is also biased by an elastic body 7 so that it automatically returns to its original position. Furthermore, a seat 9 on the front side of the operating member 5 is provided on which the rear end of the projection 3 can be placed, and a slope 10 is provided on one lateral side of the seat 9 such that the thickness increases towards the end.

[0022] On the other hand, a slope 11 is also provided on one side in the lateral direction at the rear end of the projection 3, and is configured to increase in thickness towards the end. The slope 10 of the operating member and the slope 11 of the projection are arranged to face each other and interlock.

[0023] When the operating part 6 of the operating member 5 is slid laterally, the entire operating member moves laterally. The inclined surface 10 provided on the operating member 5 also moves, generating a force that pushes up the inclined surface 11 of the contacting projection 3. As the inclined surface 10 of the operating member 5 moves and its height increases, the inclined surface 11 of the projection 3 is pushed, generating a force that pulls the projection downward in the rearward direction.

[0024] When bracket B is pulled out of the housing and the operation of the operating member 5 is completed and the hand is released, the operating member 5 automatically returns to its original position due to the biasing force of its elastic body 7. As a result, the height of the inclined surface 10 of the operating member 5 and the inclined surface 11 of the projection 3, which are in contact with each other, also shifts to a lower contact position. Therefore, the projection 3 is pushed from behind by the biasing force of the elastic body 4 and returns to its original position, protruding from above the housing towards the front side of the holder body.

[0025] On the other hand, the holding mechanism is designed to adapt to a wide range of on-site environments. Work sites are expected to take place on various locations, including building walls and columns, scaffolding made up of single-pipe scaffolding, and even ladders brought in by workers. The mechanism is designed to securely hold objects in these locations.

[0026] The shapes that can be used on building walls include shapes that can be fixed to wooden walls and shapes that can be fixed to metal walls. These may be used individually, or a configuration that combines both may be used.

[0027] First, as a means of securely fixing it to a wooden wall, it can be designed to be fixed using nails or screws. As shown in Figure 4, holes 12 are provided on the front of the holder for fixing it to the wall using nails or screws. Ideally, the holes should be countersunk so that the heads of the nails or screws do not obstruct the passage of the bracket B through the housing. The wooden wall surface is expected to be plywood, such as that used in interior construction.

[0028] As a means of securely fixing to a metal wall, a magnetic design can be used. As shown in Figure 5, a magnet 13 is provided on the back of the holder body. The attractive force can be improved by using multiple magnets 13. Also, by arranging multiple magnets in a left-right direction on the back of the body, stable attachment to the wall can be achieved. Furthermore, legs 14 can be provided below the magnet at a height that contacts the wall where the holder body is fixed. The legs 14 have the effect of preventing the holder from slipping downwards due to gravity. It is possible to further improve the anti-slip effect by providing a material with a high coefficient of friction, such as rubber, on the contact surface of these legs 14 with the wall. Also, since it is conceivable that it may not be easy to remove the holder from the metal wall if the magnet is strong, a gap 15 may be provided at the bottom of the holder body that can be used as a handhold when removing it from the wall. Examples of metal walls include the doors of distribution boards in electrical work and the interior and exterior of vehicles that have arrived at a work site.

[0029] Next, we will explain how to secure the structure to its columns. Regarding the columns, we can consider both wooden columns erected during interior construction and metal scaffolding pipes erected on the structure at the work site.

[0030] One method for securing the device to a wooden post is to use a clamp structure that clamps the device between flat surfaces. It is also advisable to cover the contact surface with the wooden post using a soft material such as soft resin, rubber, felt, or other soft fabric to prevent damage.

[0031] As a method for fixing the holder of the present invention to cylindrical building materials, such as so-called single pipes used as metal scaffolding pipes to erect structures, a clamp structure with a shape that encloses the cylinder can be adopted. As shown in Figure 6, a clamp is formed on the back of the holder. The clamp consists of opening and closing parts 16, 16, which are connected by screws. The knob 17 provided at the tip of the screw is rotated to open the opening and closing part of the clamp, and after clamping the cylindrical column, the knob is rotated in the opposite direction to tighten and fix it. The clamp is configured to be rotatable relative to the holder, so that it can be used regardless of whether the column to which the holder is fixed is vertical, horizontal, or diagonal.

[0032] Figure 7 illustrates how to fix the holder of the present invention to a stepladder as an installation object brought in by a worker. Stepladders come in two types: those with columns that have a circular cross-section and those with columns that have a roughly U-shaped cross-section. The holder consists of a clamp and a holding part that are well-suited to both types of columns. The clamp has a frame body 21 with a roughly pentagonal shape and one open side, with a female screw portion 23 at the end 22 of the frame body, and a screw rod 24 that screws into the female screw portion 23. A handle 25 is provided on the head of the screw rod 24, which is located on the outside of the frame body end 22. The handle is used to rotate the screw rod. A pressure receiving portion 26 is provided at the end of the frame body 21 opposite to the frame body end 22. A clamping portion 27 is provided at the end of the screw rod 24 opposite to the handle 25. In addition, an elastic member 28 is provided in the part of the frame body end 22 through which the screw rod 24 passes, in order to change the angle of the screw rod 24. A notch 29 is also provided in the pressure receiving portion 26.

[0033] To secure the holder to the support column of the stepladder, the clamp is fixed by turning the handle 25 of the clamp. The female screw portion is provided in a hole drilled at one end of the frame. The threaded rod is screwed into the female screw portion so as to be able to move back and forth, and when tightened, it can generate pressure to clamp onto the support column of the stepladder. The clamping portion is provided at the end of the threaded rod opposite the handle side, and is positioned and oriented such that a right-angle corner is positioned at approximately a right angle to the tip of the threaded rod when viewed from the side. The pressure receiving portion is also configured to be approximately at a right angle so as to coincide with the clamping portion that has advanced by the screw.

[0034] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to directly attach tool brackets, which have been removed from the worker's waist, to the structure or installation of a building at the work site. This reduces the burden on the worker's waist and avoids dangers such as the worker stumbling or falling, or tools or building materials falling due to being placed on the floor or other surfaces. Furthermore, by providing a locking mechanism to prevent the bracket attached to the holder from accidentally coming off, it is possible to safely and securely hold the tools even when moving the holder with the tool bracket attached, thus ensuring safety.

[0035] In addition to the methods described above, other methods for securing the holder include using double-sided tape or hook-and-loop fasteners on the wall surface, or using suction cups as the holder for glass surfaces. Furthermore, a structure that can be assembled with ceiling materials such as lightweight steel frames or suspension bolts may also be used as the holder.

[0036] The above-described embodiments are merely exemplary, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0039] 1: Frame, 2: Support, 3: Projection, 4: Elastic body, 5: Operating member, 6: Projection, 7: Elastic body, 8: Slit, 9: Seat, 10: Inclined surface, 11: Inclined surface, 12: Operating button, 13: Annular member, 14: Locking device, 15: Front member, 16: Back member, 17: Suspenders, 19: Hook, 20: Harness, 21: Shoulder belt, 22: Chest belt, 23: Waist belt, 24: Thigh belt, A: Retainer, S: Storage space, B: Bracket

Claims

1. A tool holder that is fixed to the structure or installation of a building at a work site, and has a storage compartment to which brackets attached to tools can be attached.

2. The tool holder according to claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism for restricting the removal of tool brackets from the storage compartment.

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