Rifle with sling and clip and method for slinging a rifle with a clip

Abstract

A plastic clip attaches to a gun sling, and assists in the carrying of a gun over the shoulder. The gun sling is an ordinary strap that attaches to the gun and loops over the shoulder. The clip attaches to the strap, and hooks into the waist belt. The clip allows the waist belt to support much of the weight of the gun, and keeps the gun from flopping around. The gun is further stabilized by a bungee cord that connects the clip to a belt loop.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/957,997 to Schweikert, filed Oct. 4, 2004.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to straps and fasteners.

2. Description of Related Art

Hunters, soldiers, and others who have to carry a rifle often use shoulder sling. The sling is a strap that holds a gun, usually a rifle or shotgun, and extends over the shoulder. The weight of the gun is supported by the shoulder, and the sling leaves the hands free.

Backpacks also commonly use shoulder straps to support a load. Because backpacks can be quite heavy, some backpacks have belts that go around the waist. A belt can support much of the weight of a backpack on the hips, as the hips can hold more weight that the shoulders.

A soldier might carry a gun and backpack, but he will usually not put the gun in the backpack. Most backpacks are not designed for the odd shape of a gun. Usually the soldier would rather carry the gun with a sling anyway, as it keeps the gun readily accessible for quick use when needed.

Carrying a gun with a simple sling has some disadvantages. The gun can flop around, and a hand is often needed to keep the gun in place. The sling can also put a strain on the shoulder if the gun is heavy of if on a long hike.

There is a need for a gun sling that is comfortable and convenient, and a need for something to keep the gun from flopping around. Any such product should also be cheap, reliable, sturdy, and weatherproof.

SUMMARY

The purpose of this device is to aid in the carriage of shoulder-strapped items, such as (but not restricted to) rifles, shotguns, cameras, purses, personal stereos, and guitars.

This device is used to relieve the relative weight from the shoulder of the user and transferring said weight to the waistline of the user by means of a clip or hook attached to the straps, or sling, or to the body itself or carrying case in which the carried item is contained, or carried by which clips or hooks upon user's belt, pants pocket, or pants waist.

By reducing the burden of weight upon the shoulder and transferring this weight to the user's waistline, the user experiences less upper body fatigue, the carried item is stabilized by a line attachment to the body of user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a sling clip with a bungee cord and hook.

FIG. 2 shows a sling clip.

FIG. 3 shows a sling clip attached to a sling on a gun.

FIG. 4 shows a man carrying a gun, with sling on shoulder, clip on belt, and bungee cord.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the preferred embodiment, the clip is made of some sort of plastic. The plastic can be any inexpensive and durable substance like nylon of polypropylene. The clip is manufactured using plastic injection molding equipment. Such plastics have the advantage that they are cheap, reliable, sturdy, and weatherproof. Alternatively, the clip can be made of metal, such as aluminum, titanium, or some alloy.

The clip in FIG. 2 is made of a solid piece of plastic. It has a slotted end 21 with slots 22 and 23. The slots can accommodate a strap or sling. The clip also has a hooked end 24 with a hook 25. A slot 26 underneath the hook 25 is also shown. The slot is not actually necessary for the function of the clip, but assists in the manufacture of the clip. With the slot 26, the clip can be made with two-piece mold. Without the extra slot, the clip can be made with a three-piece mold.

The hook on the clip is simple, straight, and snag-free. A hunter or soldier may have to use his gun in a hurry, and the clip just slides off the belt when he pulls the gun up and forward?

FIG. 1 shows the clip 11 of FIG. 1 with an attached bungee cord 12. The bungee cord 12 is attached to the clip's slotted end with a loop 13, and has a hook 14 at its other end.

FIG. 3 shows the clip 31 of FIG. 1 attached to a sling 32. The sling 32 is attached to a rifle 33. The 31 is attached to belt 34.

FIG. 4 shows the invention as it might be used by a hunter. The hunter 41 is carrying a rifle 42 on his back with a sling 43 over his shoulder. The sling 43 is attached to a clip 44 and hooked onto his belt 45 in order to support much of the weight of the rifle 42. The rifle 42 is stabilized by a bungee cord 46 which is connected to the clip 44 and to a hook 47. The hook 47 is attached to a belt loop 48.

The bungee cord is an elasticized rope or rubber cord. Any cord can be used, but an elastic cord works best.

The belt can be an ordinary leather or fabric belt, or any convenient part of the man's clothing. For example, the clip could hook directly into the top of the man's pants, and the bungee cord could hook into the man's pocket, or backpack, or something else. Usually, the clip will hook into a waistband, which can be either a belt or the upper part of trousers that goes around the waist.

The man can carry the gun on a sling and clip by threading a sling through a clip, fastening the sling to the gun, putting the sling over his shoulder, hooking the clip to his belt or pants, and thereby support the gun on his belt and shoulder. The shoulder is partially supporting the weight, but the clip supports nearly all of the weight on the belt. When the clip and sling are properly adjusted, nearly all of the tension on the upper part of the sling is eliminated.

While the invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A system for the carrying of a rifle, said system comprising:

a rifle;

a sling attached to said rifle; and

a clip, said clip attached to said sling.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said rifle has a first end and a second end, said rifle having a barrel at said first end.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said sling is attached to said at a first attach point and a second attach point, said first attach point closer to said first end of said rifle, said second attach point closer to said second end of said rifle.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said clip comprises a hook.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein said clip comprises a hook.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said clip is attached to said sling at a point close to said second attach point of said sling to said rifle.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a strap, said strap attached to said clip on a first end, said strap having an attaching portion on a second end.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said attaching portion is a hook.

9. The system of claim 6 further comprising a strap, said strap attached to said clip on a first end, said strap having a releasable attaching portion on a second end.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said attaching portion is a hook.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein said strap is an elastic strap.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein said strap is an elastic strap.

13. A method for carrying a rifle, said method comprising the steps of:

putting a rifle with a sling on a shoulder of a user, said sling having a clip near the stock end of the sling, said clip having a hook portion; and

hooking said hook portion onto the waistband of the user.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of attaching a strap attached to said clip to an article of clothing worn by the user, wherein the strap captures the rifle against the user.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of attaching a strap attached to said clip to an article of clothing worn by the user comprises attaching the strap to the waistband of the user.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of adjusting the sling so as to eliminate all vertical tension in the sling in the vicinity of the shoulder.