Hammer Holster for a Belt

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

illustrate various views of a hammer holster in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Referring to, embodiments of hammer holsterprovide a first base platethat serves as an upper support structure for hammer holster. First base platemay include a first surfaceand a second surface. First base platemay 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.

First base platecomprises at least one belt fastenerconfigured to allow the hammer holster to be coupled to a belt. For example, belt fastenermay include parallel, pre-cut slots defined in an upper portion of first base plate, the pre-cut slots being sized to allow a belt to be woven through two parallel slots. In other embodiments, belt fastenermay include one or more clips, loops, or other suitable means of securing hammer holsterto a belt.

First base platemay further include at least one attachment pointby which a hammer loopmay be secured to first surfaceof first base plate. Hammer loopis 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. For example, the at least one attachment pointmay comprise a plurality of pre-drilled holes defined in first base plate. In certain embodiments, the hammer loopmay comprise at least one hole corresponding to the at least one attachment pointthat are in a similar pattern so that a corresponding number of fastenerscan be inserted therethrough to connect hammer loopto first base plate. For example, hammer loopmay comprise four holes positioned to correspond with four attachment points. Hammer loopmay be coupled via the four holes to the four attachment pointsusing four fasteners. In certain embodiments, fastenersby which hammer loopis coupled to first base platemay include Chicago screws.

Hammer holstermay further comprise a contact plate, a support plate, and a magnet. Contact platemay include a first endand a second end. First endof contact plateis connected to first base plate, with contact plateextending away from first base plateat an angle. In exemplary embodiments, contact platemay extend from base plateto form an obtuse angle A. Contact plateis positioned to contact the handle of a hammer when the hammer is inserted through the hammer loop, and guide the handle into proper position in hammer holster.

Further, support plateextends from second endof contact plate. In an exemplary embodiment, support platemay extend from contact platein a direction such that support plateis substantially parallel to first base plate. Support platecomprises a first surfaceand a second surface, wherein first surfaceis configured for being placed in contact with the handle of the hammer.

Hammer holstermay further include a magnetto assist with maintaining the handle of the hammer in a desired position when inserted in hammer holster. For example, magnetmay be disposed adjacent to second surfaceof support plateas seen in. In certain embodiments, support platemay define at least one predrilled hole so that magnetmay be secured adjacent to second surfaceof support plateusing at least one fastener. In certain embodiments, at least one lock nutmay be threaded to the at least one fastenerto secure magnetagainst second surfaceof support plate. It should be understood that magnetmay also be disposed adjacent to contact plateand operate in a similar manner. It should also be understood that magnetneed not be affixed to support plateor contact plate, and may be attached to other components of hammer holsterand provide for the same functionality, such as, for example, a second base plate. Magnetis of a strength appropriate to secure the hammer handle in place, while allowing the hammer to be removed without excessive force.

The hammer holstermay further comprise second base platecoupled with a bottom endof support plate. In exemplary embodiments, at least a portion of the second base platemay be coplanar with first base plateso that both first and second base plates,can rest against a user during use of hammer holster. Hammer holstermay further include a bottom portionconfigured to couple the second base plateto bottom endof support plate. First base plate, contact plate, support plate, bottom portion, and second base platemay 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, contact plate, support plate, bottom portion, and second base platemay 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 plateand second base platemay be a single base plate, and at least one of contact plateand/or support platemay be connected to the single base plate and provide the same functionality described above.

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.