MBelt –Wearable Tech for the Practical Man

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. - July 21, 2015 - PRLog -- Simply put, the MBelt takes the standard connotation of a “utility belt” and smashes it to pieces. Traditionally, a belt that can serve as a screwdriver, a knife, and a bottle opener would be bulky, ugly, expensive, and would require the wearer to at least undo the belt to use its functionality. It may even require the wearer to fully remove the belt from the waist. The MBelt, with its patent-pending design, houses a Spyderco HoneyBee SS knife, a bottle opener, and four screwdrivers (Phillips PH1 and PH00, Flathead 4mm and 2mm), in a sleek and stylish buckle that looks no different than a timeless belt. The belt buckle is two pieces – a base plate and a cover – which are attached magnetically and are a combined 7mm thick. Removing the cover reveals the tools, while the cover itself has a slot to insert the screwdriver bits, thus becoming the handle.

The idea for the MBelt originated when its creator, Rich Ozdowy, was talking to a co-worker. Mid conversation, his co-worker received an email alert on his Apple Watch, reads the email on his iPhone, and then realizes he needs a Phillips screwdriver. He spends the next 10 minutes looking for the screwdriver, uses it for less than a minute, and puts it back where he found it, for it to sit until the next person follows the same pattern. Though his co-worker saw this as a frustration, Rich saw it as an opportunity. Why is it so easy to find our digital tools, but so hard to find our physical tools? The goal of the MBelt is to take the convenience of the digital and make it physical.

In designing the MBelt, Rich knew his co-worker would not be willing to wear a Leatherman on his belt, nor would he don a clunky belt people can recognize from a mile away. His co-worker was fashionable and prideful, with only an occasional need for a tool set. This forced Rich to treat the MBelt not as a sophisticated tool box that happens to be a belt, but as a sophisticated belt that happens to have some tools. The MBelt was designed to four key principles, in order: 1) Comfort; 2) Style; 3) Price; 4) Tools. With these principles, Rich was able to design a sleek and timeless belt that will seem nothing different than a normal belt until it is needed.

The MBelt has so far raised over $7,500 from over 100 backers on Kickstarter, with 20 days to go. The project can be found here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1393241265/mbelt-simple-beautiful-utility-spydercotm. The funds gathered from the Kickstarter will be used to purchase the molds to cast the buckle, with the MBelt rewards delivered to each backer’s door by October 2015.

If you’d like more information about the MBelt, or if you would like to schedule an interview with Rich, please send an email to rich@mbelt.co or contact him directly at 248-622-6686.

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Rich Ozdowy is a recent graduate of the University Of Michigan College Of Engineering, where he received his B.S.E in Mechanical Engineering. He currently works as a mechanical engineer in automotive safety, with previous experience in manufacturing and purchasing.