IP Library Granted Patent US 8,646,768
Granted Patent B2
US 8,646,768 · App. 12/725,442 · Granted Feb 11, 2014

Quick spin holder for tools and accessories

Inventors: Louis Kish (Santa Ana, CA); William Mathews (Woodstock, GA)
Assignee: Python Safety, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,646,768
App. No.
12/725,442
Granted
Feb 11, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A holder adapted to be attached to a tether to help retrieve a dropped tool or prevent a dropped tool from being lost or forgotten during use where the holder has a hollow member with an open end and a closed end and is adapted to frictionally hold a non-working end of a tool in the hollow member. The closed end of the hollow member has a centrally located opening within which is located a cylindrical member which is connected at one end to a shoulder connector and is coupled, either directly or indirectly, to an attachment means at its other end. The cylindrical member can be either fixed or rotatably coupled to the opening in the hollow member and the attachment means is configured to be attached to an end of a tether.

Claims (31)

1. A holder adapted to be attached to a tether to help retrieve a dropped tool or prevent a dropped tool from being lost or forgotten during use, the holder comprising:

a cylindrical hollow member made of a yieldable flexible material, having an open end and a closed end adapted to receive a non-working end of a tool which is inserted into the open end of the cylindrical hollow member, wherein a wall of the cylindrical hollow member conforms to the shape of the non-working end of the tool and frictionally engages and grips the non-working end of the tool located in the cylindrical hollow member;

a centrally located opening in the closed end of the cylindrical hollow member;

a shoulder connector having:

a lower disk shaped member;

an upper disk shaped member; and

a cylindrical member located between and connected to the lower and upper disk shaped members and located in the centrally located opening in the closed end of the hollow member; and

attachment means coupled to the cylindrical member;

wherein the attachment means is configured to be attached to an end of a tether.

2. The holder of claim 1 wherein the cylindrical hollow member is made of rubber or a plastic.

3. The holder of claim 2 wherein the attachment means has a loop or an opening for receiving an end of a tether.

4. The holder of claim 3 wherein the attachment means is rotatably coupled to the cylindrical member.

5. The holder of claim 3 wherein the attachment means is securely attached to the cylindrical member.

6. The holder of claim 3 wherein the attachment means is swiveling coupled to the cylindrical member.

7. The holder of claim 4 wherein the cylindrical hollow member has a chamber that has a diameter and depth which is sufficient to receive a specific tool such as a wrench, a screw driver, or a pen.

8. The holder of claim 3 wherein the attachment means has a loop or an opening for receiving an end of a flexible tether.

9. A method of preventing a dropped tool from being lost or forgotten during use comprising:

providing a cylindrical hollow member made of a yieldable flexible material, having an open end and a closed end adapted to receive a non-working end of a tool located in the open end of the cylindrical hollow member; locating an opening in the center of the closed end of the cylindrical hollow member, wherein a wall of the cylindrical hollow member conforms to the shape of the non-working end of the tool and frictionally engages and grips the non-working end of the tool located in the cylindrical hollow member;

providing a shoulder connector having:

a lower disk shaped member;

an upper disk shaped member; and

a cylindrical member located between and connected to the lower and upper disk shaped members and located in the opening in the closed end of the cylindrical hollow member; and

connecting an attachment means to the cylindrical member;

wherein the attachment means is configured to be attached to an end of a tether.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the cylindrical hollow member is made of rubber or a plastic.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the attachment means has a loop or an opening for receiving an end of a tether.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the attachment means is rotatably coupled to the cylindrical member.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the attachment means is securely attached to the cylindrical member.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the attachment means is swiveling coupled to the cylindrical member.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the cylindrical hollow member has a chamber that has a diameter and depth which is sufficient to receive a specific tool such as a wrench, a screw driver, or a pen.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the attachment means has a loop or an opening for receiving an end of a flexible tether.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 10, 2018
From: PYTHON SAFETY, INC.
To: D B INDUSTRIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 046307/0089 →
CERTIFICATE OF MERGER Recorded Aug 17, 2016
From: PYTHON SAFETY, LLC
To: D B INDUSTRIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 039717/0455 →
CONVERSION Recorded Oct 8, 2015
From: PYTHON SAFETY, INC.
To: PYTHON SAFETY, LLC
Reel/Frame 036818/0256 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 8, 2013
From: MATHEWS, WILLIAM
To: PYTHON SAFETY, INC.
Reel/Frame 031608/0267 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 18, 2012
From: KISH, LOUIS
To: PYTHON SAFETY, INC.
Reel/Frame 028393/0364 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61160482 · Mar 16, 2009
Related Publication 20100229347A1 · Sep 16, 2010