Belt hook for a power tool

Abstract

A belt hook for a power tool includes an L-shaped member having a free end and an attachment end. The attachment end is configured for removably and lockingly mating with an attachment point of a power tool. The free end is configured for coupling to a storage location, such as a belt. The attachment end includes a spring arm having a knob that is configured to engage a notch in an opening defined in a power tool. Where the power tool is a nailer, the opening extends through the back leg of the nailer. The belt hook may be positioned on either side of the back leg.

1 . A belt hook for a power tool comprising: 
 an L-shaped member having a free end and an attachment end, with the attachment end configured for removably mating with an attachment point of a power tool and the free end configured for coupling to a storage location.    
   
   
       2 . The belt hook of  claim 1 , wherein the free end of the L-shaped member is configured for coupling to a belt of a user.  
   
   
       3 . The belt hook of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment end of the L-shaped member includes a spring arm.  
   
   
       4 . The belt hook of  claim 3 , wherein the attachment end includes an inner ledge, a middle portion having the spring arm, and an outer stop member, with the attachment end being configured to extend into and through an opening in a power tool and be turnable within the opening to lock the attachment end to a power tool.  
   
   
       5 . The belt hook of  claim 3 , wherein the spring arm includes an outwardly extending knob, configured to removably lockingly mate with an attachment point of a power tool.  
   
   
       6 . The belt hook of  claim 1 , wherein the L-shaped member has a first leg and a second leg, with the first leg being oriented perpendicular to the second leg.  
   
   
       7 . The belt hook of  claim 1 , wherein the L-shaped member is plastic.  
   
   
       8 . A belt hook for a nailer comprising: 
 means for removably attaching a nailer to a belt of a user.    
   
   
       9 . A belt hook for a power tool comprising: 
 a rigid member having a free end and an attachment end, with the attachment end having a spring arm, the attachment end configured to engage and releasably lock into an opening in a power tool.    
   
   
       10 . The belt hook of  claim 9 , wherein the spring arm includes a knob configured for mating with a notch defined in an opening of a power tool.  
   
   
       11 . The belt hook of  claim 9 , wherein the attachment end includes an inner ledge, a middle portion that includes the spring arm, and an outer stop member, with the outer stop member having an oval cross-section, the middle portion having a cylindrical shape, and the inner ledge having a circular cross-section.  
   
   
       12 . A power tool comprising: 
 a housing having an attachment opening defined in the housing; and    the belt hook of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment end is configured for releasably coupling with the attachment opening.    
   
   
       13 . The power tool of  claim 12 , wherein the attachment opening extends through a portion of the housing.  
   
   
       14 . The power tool of  claim 13 , wherein the housing includes a leg and the attachment opening extends through the leg.  
   
   
       15 . The power tool of  claim 12 , wherein the attachment end of the belt hook includes a spring arm for locking into the attachment opening.  
   
   
       16 . The power tool of  claim 15 , wherein the spring arm includes an outwardly extending knob and the attachment opening includes a notch configured to accept the knob of the spring arm.  
   
   
       17 . The power tool of  claim 14 , wherein the attachment end includes an inner ledge configured to abut a side of the leg of the power tool in the vicinity of the attachment opening, a middle portion configured to extend into the attachment opening and including the spring arm, and an outer stop member configured to extend out of the opening on the opposite side of the leg from the inner ledge, said stop member configured to hold the belt hook securely in position on the leg upon rotation of the belt hook.  
   
   
       18 . The power tool of  claim 12 , wherein the belt hook has a first leg of the L extending perpendicularly from a surface of the housing and a second leg of the L extending perpendicularly from the first leg of the L, and the second leg of the L is configured to engage a belt of a user.  
   
   
       19 . A power tool comprising; 
 a housing having an attachment opening defined therethough; and    the belt hook of  claim 9 , wherein the attachment end is configured for releasably coupling with the attachment opening.