Tool Holder With Self-Locking Flexible Carrier Sheet

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tool belt receivers require removal from the waist to rearrange or disconnect, leading to sliding and accessibility issues during work, causing tools to fall out.

Innovation Solution

A tool holder design featuring a flexible carrier sheet with self-locking mechanisms, including a belt hanger with upper and lower legs and a ridge, which connects and disconnects without tools, preventing sliding and ensuring secure attachment to the tool belt.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If receivers are attached to the tool belt with a loop or aperture, then the belt and receivers can be worn around the waist, but it is necessary to remove the belt from the waist to rearrange or disconnect the receivers

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveRearrangement and disconnection of receiversVSAvoidTime to remove and reattach belt
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The receiver is divided into a belt interface portion and a tool receiver portion that can move relative to each other along the belt, allowing the receiver to be rearranged without removing it from the belt

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The receiver is designed with dynamic movement capability along the belt length, allowing it to slide and reposition while maintaining attachment, enabling easy rearrangement during use

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If receivers are attached with a loop or aperture, then the belt can be worn around the waist, but the receivers can slide along the length of the belt and end up in the way of the user or angled such that contents fall out

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveAccessibility of tool contentsVSAvoidPosition stability of receiver on belt
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The belt interface portion is designed with a gripping element that actively engages with the belt to prevent sliding, establishing stable positioning before use

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The gripping element automatically engages with the belt when the receiver is attached, providing self-positioning and preventing unwanted sliding without user intervention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of manufacture

If the carrier sheet is made flexible to enable self-locking through bending, then connection and disconnection can be done without tools, but the structure becomes less rigid

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveTool-free connection and disconnectionVSAvoidStructural rigidity of carrier sheet
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The carrier sheet is made of flexible material that can bend to enable tool-free connection and disconnection, while maintaining sufficient strength to hold tools when attached

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The bending action is localized to specific connection interfaces rather than the entire carrier sheet, extracting the flexibility requirement to only where needed while maintaining rigidity elsewhere

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables easy connection and disconnection of tool holders to tool belts without tools, prevents sliding, and maintains accessibility, ensuring tools remain secure and easily reachable during use.

Implementation Method 1

The carrier sheet may bend around a bend axis which is parallel to the plane of the sheet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

If a tool or a tool receiver is connected to the carrier sheet, the weight of the tool strives to drag the carrier sheet to a flat/ straight position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Implementation Method 3

Alternatively, or additionally, intrinsic resilience of the carrier sheet may strive to bring the carrier sheet to a flat position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectResilience: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3731999B1Tool holder
Publication Date: 2024.06.26 HUSQVARNA AB
  • EP3731999B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3731999B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3731999B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a tool holder for a tool belt comprises a flexible carrier sheet (5) and at least one belt hanger (7). The at least one belt hanger (7) comprises a belt interface configured to be connected to a tool belt and a carrier sheet connection interface configured to be connected to the carrier sheet (5). The flexible carrier sheet (5) comprises a tool suspension interface configured to be connected to a tool or a tool receiver, and a hanger connection interface configured to be connected to the carrier sheet connection interface of the belt hanger (7). The carrier sheet (5) is configured to be connected to the belt hanger (7) by bending the hanger connection interface. The disclosure also relates to a method for connecting a tool holder to a tool belt.