Hammer holster for a belt

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a holster for holding a hammer on a belt. The holster including a first base plate configured to couple with the belt; a loop configured to receive a handle of the hammer, the loop being coupled with the first base plate; a contact plate including a first and a second end, the first end of the contact plate being coupled with the first base plate, the contact plate extending from the first base plate at an angle; a support plate coupled with and extending from the second end of the contact plate, the support plate including a first and a second surface, the first surface being configured for being placed in contact with the handle of the hammer; and a magnet disposed adjacent to the second surface of the support plate.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application No. 63 / 658,480, filed on Jun. 11, 2024, the contents of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present invention relates to the field of portable tool storage; and more particularly relates to a holster that is configured to be coupled with a belt (e.g., a tool belt) for securely carrying a hammer.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] People working in the construction field often have their tool belt or utility belt on throughout the course of the workday. A common tool that they carry in their tool belt is a hammer. An oft-heard complaint from construction workers about existing tool belt systems is that the handle of the hammer hits their leg with every step they take because the current hammer holders on the market do not prevent the handle from swinging back and forth. Repetitive contact between a hammer and a user's legs can cause irritation. An attempt to address this issue involved a sleeve type system; however, this alternative approach is bulky and cumbersome to utilize when engaging or disengaging the hammer.

[0004] Accordingly, there exists a need for a belt mountable hammer holster that addresses the aforementioned drawbacks and deficiencies. The present invention addresses the above-noted needs as well as other needs.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is, therefore, an aspect of the present invention to provide a holster for holding a hammer on a belt. The holster may include a first base plate configured to couple with the utility belt, the first base plate including a first surface; a loop configured to receive a handle of the hammer, the loop being coupled with the first surface of the first base plate; a contact plate including a first and a second end, the first end of the contact plate being coupled with the first base plate, wherein the contact plate extends from the first base plate at an angle; a support plate coupled with and extending from the second end of the contact plate, the support plate including a first and a second surface, the first surface being configured for being placed in contact with the handle of the hammer; and a magnet disposed adjacent to the second surface of the support plate.

[0006] Additional aspects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and will in part become apparent to those in the practice of the invention, when considered with the attached figures.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith, wherein like reference numerals are employed to indicate like parts in the various views, and wherein:

[0008] FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate an isometric view of a hammer holster in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

[0009] FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of a hammer holster in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

[0010] FIG. 3 illustrates a back view of a hammer holster in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

[0011] FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of a hammer holster in accordance with embodiments of the present invention; and

[0012] FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of a hammer holster in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. It will be understood by those skilled in the art, however, that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the present invention.

[0014] The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with objects, features, and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read with the accompanying drawings.

[0015] It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.

[0016] Embodiments of the present invention provide a holster configured for holding a hammer on a belt (e.g., a tool belt or a utility belt). The holster may include a base plate that is configured to be secured to the belt. A loop is connected to, and extends outwardly from, the base plate, wherein the loop is configured to receive a handle of the hammer. Embodiments further include a contact plate extending from the base plate at an angle, and a support plate extending from the contact plate. The support plate is configured for being placed in contact with the handle of the hammer after the hammer is placed in the loop. Further a magnet may be disposed adjacent to the support plate (or the contact plate) and have an appropriate strength that operates to hold the hammer handle in place against the support plate, while allowing the hammer to be removed by a user without excessive force. Accordingly, with the magnet connected to the support plate (or the contact plate), the handle of the hammer can easily slide through the hammer loop, be drawn to and secured by the magnet, and angled out far enough by the support plate to prevent it from hitting a user's body.

[0017] FIGS. 1A-5 illustrate various views of a hammer holster in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 1A-5, embodiments of hammer holster 100 provide a first base plate 110 that serves as an upper support structure for hammer holster 100. First base plate 110 may include a first surface 111 and a second surface 113. First base plate 110 may be formed of aluminum, a thermoplastic acrylic-polyvinyl chloride (PVC) alloy (e.g., KYDEX, ROYALITE R52, BOLTARON 4330, etc.), Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE), High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), or any other suitable material.

[0018] First base plate 110 comprises at least one belt fastener 112 configured to allow the hammer holster to be coupled to a belt. For example, belt fastener 112 may include parallel, pre-cut slots defined in an upper portion of first base plate 110, the pre-cut slots being sized to allow a belt to be woven through two parallel slots. In other embodiments, belt fastener 112 may include one or more clips, loops, or other suitable means of securing hammer holster 100 to a belt.

[0019] First base plate 110 may further include at least one attachment point 114 by which a hammer loop 120 may be secured to first surface 111 of first base plate 110. Hammer loop 120 is configured to allow a handle of a hammer to be inserted, and to cradle a head of the hammer when the handle of the hammer is fully inserted through hammer loop 120. For example, the at least one attachment point 114 may comprise a plurality of pre-drilled holes defined in first base plate 110. In certain embodiments, the hammer loop 120 may comprise at least one hole corresponding to the at least one attachment point 114 that are in a similar pattern so that a corresponding number of fasteners 116 can be inserted therethrough to connect hammer loop 120 to first base plate 110. For example, hammer loop 120 may comprise four holes positioned to correspond with four attachment points 114. Hammer loop 120 may be coupled via the four holes to the four attachment points 114 using four fasteners 116. In certain embodiments, fasteners 116 by which hammer loop 120 is coupled to first base plate 110 may include Chicago screws.

[0020] Hammer holster 100 may further comprise a contact plate 130, a support plate 140, and a magnet 150. Contact plate 130 may include a first end 132 and a second end 134. First end 132 of contact plate 130 is connected to first base plate 110, with contact plate 130 extending away from first base plate 110 at an angle. In exemplary embodiments, contact plate 130 may extend from base plate 110 to form an obtuse angle A. Contact plate 130 is positioned to contact the handle of a hammer when the hammer is inserted through the hammer loop 120, and guide the handle into proper position in hammer holster 100.

[0021] Further, support plate 140 extends from second end 134 of contact plate 130. In an exemplary embodiment, support plate 140 may extend from contact plate 130 in a direction such that support plate 140 is substantially parallel to first base plate 110. Support plate 140 comprises a first surface 142 and a second surface 144, wherein first surface 142 is configured for being placed in contact with the handle of the hammer.

[0022] Hammer holster 100 may further include a magnet 150 to assist with maintaining the handle of the hammer in a desired position when inserted in hammer holster 100. For example, magnet 150 may be disposed adjacent to second surface 144 of support plate 140 as seen in FIG. 4. In certain embodiments, support plate 140 may define at least one predrilled hole so that magnet 150 may be secured adjacent to second surface 144 of support plate 140 using at least one fastener 156. In certain embodiments, at least one lock nut 158 may be threaded to the at least one fastener 156 to secure magnet 150 against second surface 144 of support plate 140. It should be understood that magnet 150 may also be disposed adjacent to contact plate 130 and operate in a similar manner. It should also be understood that magnet 150 need not be affixed to support plate 140 or contact plate 130, and may be attached to other components of hammer holster 100 and provide for the same functionality, such as, for example, a second base plate 160. Magnet 150 is of a strength appropriate to secure the hammer handle in place, while allowing the hammer to be removed without excessive force.

[0023] The hammer holster 100 may further comprise second base plate 160 coupled with a bottom end 146 of support plate 140. In exemplary embodiments, at least a portion of the second base plate 160 may be coplanar with first base plate 110 so that both first and second base plates 110, 160 can rest against a user during use of hammer holster 110. Hammer holster 100 may further include a bottom portion 170 configured to couple the second base plate 160 to bottom end 146 of support plate 140. First base plate 110, contact plate 130, support plate 140, bottom portion 170, and second base plate 160 may be formed from a single continuous sheet of material to have the shape, orientation, and function described above. In the alternative, it should also be understood that first base plate 110, contact plate 130, support plate 140, bottom portion 170, and second base plate 160 may be formed as distinct plates that are coupled, melted, or welded together to have the shape, orientation, and function described above. Further, it should be understood that first base plate 110 and second base plate 160 may be a single base plate, and at least one of contact plate 130 and / or support plate 140 may be connected to the single base plate and provide the same functionality described above.

[0024] The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for the purpose of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive nor is it intended to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed embodiments may be modified in light of the above teachings. The embodiments described are chosen to provide an illustration of principles of the invention and its practical application to enable thereby one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Therefore, the foregoing description is to be considered exemplary, rather than limiting, and the true scope of the invention is that described in the following claims.

Claims

1. A holster for a holding a hammer on a belt, the hammer including a head and a handle, the holster comprising:a first base plate configured for being coupled with the belt, wherein the first base plate includes a first surface;a loop configured for receiving the handle of the hammer, wherein the loop is coupled with the first surface of the first base plate;a contact plate including a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the contact plate is coupled with the first base plate, and wherein the contact plate extends from the first base plate at an angle;a support plate coupled with and extending from the second end of the contact plate, wherein the support plate includes a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface of the support plate is configured for being placed in contact with the handle of the hammer; anda magnet disposed adjacent to the second surface of the support plate.

2. The holster in accordance with claim 1, wherein the angle is an obtuse angle.

3. The holster in accordance with claim 1, wherein the support plate is disposed parallel with the first base plate.

4. The holster in accordance with claim 1, wherein the magnet is disposed in direct contact with the second surface of the support plate.

5. The holster in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a second base plate coupled with the support plate.

6. The holster in accordance with claim 5, wherein at least a portion of the second base plate is coplanar with the first base plate.

7. The holster in accordance with claim 5, further comprising a bottom plate, wherein the bottom plate couples the second base plate to the support plate.

8. A holster for holding a hammer on a belt, the hammer including a head and a handle, the holster comprising:a base plate comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the upper portion is configured for being coupled with the belt, and wherein the lower portion extends from the portion at an angle;a loop configured for receiving the handle of the hammer coupled with the upper portion of the base plate; anda magnet disposed at a distal end of the lower portion of the base plate.

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