Tool holder

Abstract

A tool holder for holding a handled tool on a belt or other article of clothing of a wearer. The tool holder includes a cradle secured to a base, a mounting element, and a projection projecting from an interior surface of the base toward the wearer or object to hold the tool away from the wearer or object. The base may also include containment flanges below the cradle and/or opposite the mounting element. The containment flanges cooperate to limit or eliminate swaying of a tool held in the tool holder.

1 . A tool holder for suspending a tool from a belt of a wearer, the tool including a handle, comprising: 
 a base including a lower portion, a base interior facing toward the wearer and a base exterior facing away from the wearer;    a mounting element joined with the base to secure the base to the belt;    a cradle mounted to the base at a location to support the tool;    a projection protruding from the base interior toward the wearer, the projection separate from said mounting element, said projection located substantially entirely above said cradle mount location,    wherein said lower portion of the base extends downwardly below at least one of said projection and said cradle, said projection and lower portion cooperating to hold the handle of the tool away from the wearer a preselected distance, whereby the handle of the tool is prevented from striking the wearer as the wearer walks.    
   
   
       2 . The tool holder of  claim 1  wherein the lower portion of the base is substantially rigid and wherein the lower portion and the projection are in a rigid, substantially immovable configuration relative to one another so that the lower portion and projection cooperate to deflect the handle away from the wearer.  
   
   
       3 . The tool holder of  claim 2  wherein the lower portion of the base includes at least one containment flange that extends outwardly at an angle from the lower portion.  
   
   
       4 . The tool holder of  claim 3  wherein the containment flange includes a near portion near said cradle and a distal portion distal from said cradle, said containment flange being curved with a decreasing radius of curvature in transitioning from said near portion to said distal portion.  
   
   
       5 . The tool holder of  claim 3  wherein the containment flange includes a free edge opposite a fixed edge, said fixed edge secured to the lower portion of the base and said free edge configured to include a varying curvature.  
   
   
       6 . A tool holder for suspending a tool from a belt of a wearer, the tool including a handle, comprising: 
 a base including a thickness, a lower portion, an interior facing toward the wearer and an exterior facing away from the wearer;    a mounting element joined with the base to secure the base to the belt;    a cradle mounted to the base to support the tool; and    a projection protruding from said base interior separate from said mounting element and separate from said cradle, said projection protruding a distance away from said base that is substantially greater than said thickness so that said projection maintains the handle of the tool a preselected distance away from the wearer, whereby the handle of the tool is prevented from striking the wearer as the wearer walks.    
   
   
       7 . The tool holder of  claim 6  wherein said lower portion includes a containment flange extending outwardly from said lower portion.  
   
   
       8 . The tool holder of  claim 6  wherein said projection is aligned with said cradle so that a portion of the tool supported by said cradle is above at least a portion of the projection.  
   
   
       9 . The tool holder of  claim 6  wherein said projection is above said cradle to maximize the distance that the handle of the tool is held away from the wearer.  
   
   
       10 . The tool holder of  claim 6  wherein said projection comprises a loop of flexible material attached to said base interior.  
   
   
       11 . The tool holder of  claim 10  wherein a cushioning material is disposed at least partially in the loop.  
   
   
       12 . The tool holder of  claim 6  wherein said base, said mounting portion, said projection, and said lower portion are comprised of leather, said cradle comprised of a rigid material attached to said base exterior, said lower portion including an interior and a rigid piece attached to said interior, said rigid piece including at least one outwardly extending containment flange and attached to said lower portion such that said lower portion curves outwardly to match the shape of the flange.  
   
   
       13 . A tool holder for suspending a tool from a belt of a wearer, the tool including a handle, comprising: 
 a section of flexible material including a thickness, an interior facing toward the wearer, an exterior facing away from the wearer, a base, a mounting portion extending from said base and shaped to secure said material to the belt, and a lower portion extending from said base;    a cradle mounted to said base for supporting a tool; and    a projection extending from said interior of said flexible material, said projection comprising a loop of material that extends outwardly from said flexible material a distance that is at least twice said thickness of said material.    
   
   
       14 . The tool holder of  claim 13  wherein said flexible material and said loop material are made of leather.  
   
   
       15 . The tool holder of  claim 13  further including a rigid piece attached to the interior of said flexible material in said lower portion, said rigid piece including at least one outwardly extending containment flange, said flexible material attached to said rigid piece such that it extends over said rigid piece and is formed to the shape of said rigid piece.  
   
   
       16 . The tool holder of  claim 13  wherein said projection is positioned to align with said cradle.  
   
   
       17 . The tool holder of  claim 13  wherein said projection is positioned above said cradle.  
   
   
       18 . The tool holder of  claim 13  wherein said containment flange includes a near portion near said cradle and a distal portion distal from said cradle, said containment flange being curved with a decreasing radius of curvature in transitioning from said near portion to said distal portion.  
   
   
       19 . The tool holder of  claim 13  wherein said containment flange includes a free edge opposite a fixed edge, said fixed edge secured to the lower portion of the base and said free edge configured to include a varying curvature.  
   
   
       20 . The tool holder of  claim 13  comprising a cushioning material disposed at least partially within said loop.  
   
   
       21 . The tool holder of  claim 13  wherein said section of flexible material is plastic.