Tool sheath
A tool sheath and associated components and methods. The sheath can be configured to receive a pliers. The sheath can include one or more pliers retainers configured to engage the pliers to retain the pliers in a pliers receiving space of the pliers.
1. A pliers sheath for holding a pliers, the pliers having a head and at least two handles connected to the head at a joint, the pliers sheath comprising:
a mounting portion for mounting the sheath onto a support structure;
a pliers holder including a holder body made of flexible material and defining an upper opening and a receiving space for receiving the head of the pliers, the upper opening being arranged to permit passage of the head of the pliers into the receiving space through the upper opening, the upper opening having a peripheral edge including opposite side segments and a central segment extending between the side segments, the pliers holder including a keeper on the holder body and arranged to engage the pliers to retain the pliers in the sheath, the keeper being located on the same side of the holder body as the central peripheral edge segment in a position that is higher than locations of the opposite side segments of the peripheral edge, the flexible material of the holder body being configured to resiliently deform to move the keeper away from an at rest position in response to the insertion of the head of the pliers into the receiving space, and the flexible material of the holder body being configured to resiliently return the keeper toward the at rest position.
2. The pliers sheath of claim 1 , wherein the keeper is configured to be located between the handles of the pliers when the pliers is in the pliers holder.
3. The pliers sheath of claim 1 , wherein the keeper is arranged to be above the joint of the pliers when the pliers is in the pliers holder.
4. The pliers sheath of claim 1 , wherein the keeper includes a detent that protrudes into the receiving space.
5. The pliers sheath of claim 2 , wherein the keeper is a first keeper, the pliers holder further comprising a second keeper arranged to engage at least one of the at least two handles to retain the pliers in the sheath, the flexible material being configured to permit the second keeper to deflect away from an at rest positon in response to the insertion of the pliers into the receiving space, the flexible material being configured to resiliently return the second keeper toward the at rest positon when the pliers is in the pliers holder.
6. The pliers sheath of claim 5 , wherein the second keeper protrudes into the receiving space above the first keeper.
7. The pliers sheath of claim 6 , wherein the receiving space is configured to receive the pliers in a receiving direction, and the second keeper protrudes into the receiving space transversely with respect to the receiving direction.
8. The pliers sheath of claim 7 , wherein the first and second keepers are configured to conjointly retain the pliers in the pliers holder.
9. The pliers sheath of claim 5 , wherein the pliers holder further comprises a third keeper arranged to engage the other of the at least two handles to retain the pliers in the sheath, the flexible material being configured to permit the third keeper to deflect away from an at rest position in response to the insertion of the head of the pliers into the receiving space, the flexible material being configured to resiliently return the third keeper toward the at rest position.
10. The pliers sheath of claim 9 , wherein the third keeper protrudes into the receiving space toward the second keeper.
11. The pliers sheath of claim 10 , wherein the receiving space is configured to receive the pliers in a receiving direction, and the third keeper protrudes into the receiving space transversely with respect to the receiving direction.
12. The pliers sheath of claim 11 , wherein the first, second, and third keepers are configured to conjointly retain the pliers is in the pliers holder.
13. The pliers sheath of claim 5 , wherein the second keeper includes a thumb having a camming surface configured to engage one of the at least two handles.
14. The pliers sheath of claim 13 , further comprising a third keeper including a thumb having a camming surface facing the camming surface of the second keeper, the thumb of third keeper being configured to engage the other of the at least two handles.
15. The pliers sheath of claim 14 , wherein the first, second, and third keepers are configured to conjointly retain the pliers in the pliers holder.
16. The pliers sheath of claim 5 , wherein the second keeper includes a ramp having a tapered surface facing away from the pliers receiving space, the ramp being configured to engage the at least one of the at least two handles to permit the second keeper to deflect away from the at rest positon.
17. The pliers sheath of claim 16 , wherein the third keeper includes a ramp having a tapered surface facing away from the pliers receiving space, the ramp is configured to engage the segment of the other of the at least two handles to permit the third keeper to deflect away from the at rest positon.
18. The pliers sheath of claim 1 , wherein said flexible material includes a polymeric material.
19. The pliers sheath of claim 1 , in combination with the pliers received in the holder body.