Granted Patent B2

US 9,254,032 · App. 14/496,598 · Granted Feb 9, 2016

Abstract

Claims (21)

1. A method of tethering a power tool having a battery pack comprising:

providing a battery pack pouch that defines a compartment sized to receive the battery back of a cordless power tool, the battery pack pouch having a pouch opening convertible between a smaller opening size and a larger opening size, and having a retaining cord with a first portion extending through a flexible conduit attached along the pouch opening and with a second portion extending out of the flexible conduit;

converting the pouch opening to the larger opening size;

installing the battery pack pouch over the battery pack of the cordless power tool with a portion of the cordless power tool extending through the pouch opening;

converting the pouch opening to the smaller opening size, thereby retaining the battery pack in the compartment;

extending the retaining cord in a closed loop around the portion of the cordless power tool extending through the pouch opening;

tightening the retaining cord against the portion of the cordless power tool extending through the pouch opening; and

connecting the second portion of the retaining cord to a tether;

wherein the retaining cord is configured to tighten around the tool and retain the pouch with the tool when the retaining cord is subjected to a pulling force, thereby preventing the battery pack from decoupling from the cordless power tool.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the flexible conduit extends along a major portion of the pouch opening.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the providing step further includes selecting the battery pack pouch wherein the retaining cord is elasticized.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the providing step includes selecting the battery pack pouch with the retaining cord extending through a first sidewall opening and through a second sidewall opening in a sidewall of the battery pack pouch, wherein the retaining cord extends through the first sidewall opening, across the portion of the cordless power tool, and through the second sidewall opening.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the providing step includes selecting the battery pack pouch with an elasticized pouch opening, the step of converting the pouch opening to the larger opening size includes stretching the elasticized opening, and the step of converting the pouch opening to the smaller opening size includes permitting the elasticized opening to at least partially resume a relaxed state.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the providing step includes selecting the battery pack pouch with the conduit comprising a plurality of loops each connected to and extending from a top sidewall portion of a sidewall of the battery pack pouch.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the providing step further comprises:

selecting the battery pack pouch to include a strap secured to an outside surface of a pouch sidewall and defining a strap passageway between the strap and the pouch sidewall; and

prior to the step of connecting the second portion of the retaining cord to the tether, extending the second portion of the retaining cord through the strap passageway.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the providing step further comprises:

selecting the battery pack pouch to include a cord lock installed on the second portion of the retaining cord between the flexible conduit and the strap.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the providing step further comprises:

selecting the battery pack pouch to include a retaining strap extending from a first pouch sidewall and across the pouch opening to a second pouch sidewall.

Assignments (9)