Gun Sling Restraint Device for a Backpack Shoulder Strap

A gun sling restraint device for a backpack shoulder strap is an apparatus that allows a user to hang the gun sling of a rifle on their backpack shoulder strap and comprises a platform, a sling hook, and an attachment strap. The platform is a rigid panel that braces the apparatus against the top surface of the backpack shoulder strap. The platform properly positions the sling hook on the user's shoulder so that the user can hang the gun sling on the apparatus. The sling brace is connected normal to the platform but then angles toward the user's neck in order to prevent the gun sling from falling off the apparatus. The attachment strap connects to the platform by weaving through a pair of holes that are located on the platform and wraps around the backpack shoulder strap as a means to situate the platform on the backpack shoulder strap.

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Description

The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 61/437,777 filed on Jan. 31, 2011.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for restraining a shoulder strap. More particularly, the present invention is a backpack shoulder strap restraint for a gun sling.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The sport of hunting is a very meticulous activity, which requires a hunter to focus on their surroundings and positioning. Any mishap by the hunter can cause the hunter to lose their prey. One such mishap is the hunter's gun sling slipping off their shoulder, which can occur when the hunter is maneuvering their body through rough terrain. Typically, a hunter will also carry a backpack and a rifle on hunting trips through the wilderness. If the hunter is wearing a backpack on their shoulders, then the gun sling is even more likely to slip off The hunter will have to continuously reposition the gun sling on their shoulder in order to keep the gun sling from falling off their shoulder. Thus, the objective of the present invention is to provide a restraint for the gun sling on the backpack shoulder strap in order to prevent the gun sling from accidentally or unwillingly slipping off the hunter's shoulder. The present invention is specifically designed to be attached to a backpack without any modifications to the backpack shoulder straps.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the present invention with the attachment strap not engaged to the second slot.

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the present invention with the attachment strap not engaged to the second slot.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the platform and the sling hook.

FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the platform and the sling hook.

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the present invention with the end segment not attached to the middle segment.

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the present invention with the end segment not attached to the middle segment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the present invention with the end segment attached to the middle segment.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the present invention with the end segment attached to the middle segment.

 DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention is a gun sling restraint device for a backpack shoulder strap, which provides a user with additional support to carry a gun sling on their shoulder while wearing a backpack. The present invention can also be used to keep anything with a shoulder strap from slipping off their shoulder while wearing a backpack. Two or more of the present invention can be used on the same backpack shoulder strap to keep the gun sling situated in extremely rugged terrain. The present invention comprises a platform 1, a sling hook 7, and an attachment strap 10. The platform 1 is a base for all the other components of the present invention to be attached together and is used to properly position the sling hook 7 on top of the backpack shoulder strap. The sling hook 7 allows the present invention to hang the gun sling on the backpack shoulder strap. The attachment strap 10 wraps around the backpack shoulder strap so that the present invention stays attached to backpack shoulder strap. The attachment strap 10 allows the user to quickly attach and detach the present invention from the backpack shoulder strap with relative ease.

The platform 1 is a flat panel that rests on top of the backpack shoulder strap and is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The length of the platform 1 would be about the same as the width of the backpack shoulder strap, which would properly situate the sling hook 7 normal to the top surface of the backpack shoulder strap. Unlike the attachment strap 10, the platform 1 is rigid, which ensures that the present invention does not rotate around the backpack shoulder strap. The platform 1 comprises a first slot 2, a second slot 3, a first end 5, and a second end 6. The first end 5 and the second end 6 are positioned to be opposite to each other along the length of the platform 1. The first slot 2 traverses through the platform 1 and is positioned adjacent to the first end 5. Similarly, the second slot 3 also traverses through the platform 1 and is positioned adjacent to the second end 6. Both the first slot 2 and the second slot 3 allows the attachment strap 10 to weave in and out of the platform 1 in order to connect the attachment strap 10 to the platform 1.

The sling hook 7 is positioned on the top surface of the platform 1 and allows the user to hang the gun sling onto the present invention. The height of the sling hook 7 should be able to accommodate a variety of padded gun slings and be able to compensate for the natural downward slope of the user's shoulder. The sling hook 7 comprises an extension portion 8 and a sloped portion 9. The extension portion 8 is connected normal to the top surface of the platform 1 and is positioned adjacent to the second slot 3. Once the user hangs the gun sling onto the sling hook 7, the gun sling rests on the extension portion 8 and the platform 1. The sloped portion 9 is connected to the extension portion 8 opposite to the platform 1. The sloped portion 9 is angled towards the first slot 2 and, more importantly, towards the user's neck, which prevents the gun sling from slipping off of the sling hook 7 and sliding down the user's shoulder. Alternatively, the user can attach the present invention in the opposite direction on the backpack shoulder strap so that the sloped portion 9 is angled away from the user's neck, which allows the user to hang the gun sling across their chest. This orientation of the present invention prevents the gun sling from pressing against the user's neck when the user wears the gun sling across their chest. If the user attaches two of the present invention with the sloped portion 9 facing outward on each of the backpack shoulder straps, then the user can hang anything with a neck-strap, such as binoculars or a camera, onto their backpack and, thus, transfer the weight of such an item off their neck.

The attachment strap 10 wraps around the backpack shoulder strap in order to keep the platform 1 and the sling hook 7 situated atop the user's shoulder. As can be seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, the attachment strap 10 comprises a loop segment 11, a middle segment 12, a bending segment 15, and an end segment 16. The loop segment 11 traverses through the first slot 2 and encircles the first end 5 of the platform 1. The loop segment 11 serves as a permanent bond between the attachment strap 10 and the platform 1. The middle segment 12 is connected adjacent to the loop segment 11 and is located underneath the platform 1. When the present invention is attached to the backpack shoulder strap, the backpack shoulder strap is sandwiched in between the bottom surface of the platform 1 and the middle segment 12. The bending segment 15 is connected adjacent to the middle segment 12 opposite to the loop segment 11. The bending segment 15 traverses through the second slot 3 and is positioned around the second end 6. The bending segment 15 completes the present invention's embrace around the backpack shoulder strap, which includes the bottom surface of the platform 1, the loop segment 11, the middle segment 12, and the bending segment 15. The bending segment 15 and the second end 6 serve as a pulley system to tighten the attachment strap 10 against the platform 1. The end segment 16 is connected adjacent to the bending segment 15 opposite to the middle segment 12. The end segment 16 is located below the middle segment 12 and fastens to the middle segment 12 so that the appropriate amount of tension is maintained throughout the attachment strap 10.

The middle segment 12 and the end segment 16 each have two different surfaces that accomplish two different functions, which can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6. The middle segment 12 comprises a backpack surface 13 and a loops surface 14. The backpack surface 13 is located on top of the middle segment 12 and presses against the backpack shoulder strap. The backpack surface 13 could provide an additional means for the present invention to grip the backpack shoulder strap from the bottom. The loops surface 14 is located on the bottom of the middle segment 12 and contains the loop portion of a hook-and-loop fastener. The end segment 16 comprises a hooks surface 17 and a shoulder surface 18. The shoulder surface 18 is located on the bottom of the end segment 16 and presses against the user shoulder. The shoulder surface 18 could be padded as a means to make the present invention more comfortable to wear on the backpack shoulder strap for the user. The hooks surface 17 is located on top of the end segment 16 and contains the hook portion of a hook-and-loop fastener. Consequently, the hooks surface 17 is able to engage the loops surface 14, which attaches the end segment 16 to the middle segment 12.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the attachment strap 10 is one piece of material with the loop portion of a hook-and-loop fastener on one side and with the hook portion of a hook-and-loop fastener on the other side. In order to form the loop segment 11 and the middle segment 12, one end of the attachment strap 10 traverses through the first slot 2 and loops around the first end 5 so that the hook portion of the attachment strap 10 can fold back on itself and can be adhered together. In order to form the bending segment 15 and the end segment 16, the other end of the attachment strap 10 traverses through the second slot 3 and loops around the second end 6 so that the hook portion of the attachment strap 10 is able to be attached to the loops surface 17 on the middle segment 12.

The attachment strap 10 does not require any special modifications to the backpack shoulder strap in order to affix the present invention to the backpack shoulder strap. Any kind of modifications to the backpack shoulder strap such as buttons, snaps, or screws would be cumbersome and would press into the user' skin as the weight of gun on the gun sling bears down on the present invention, which would cause the user to feel pain. The attachment strap 10 is the most efficient means to attach the present invention to the backpack shoulder strap. An adhesive means to attach the present invention to the backpack shoulder strap would not be able to bear the weight of the gun while dealing the dynamic movement of the gun, the backpack, and the user through rough terrain. The adhesive means to attach the present invention to the backpack shoulder pack would also not allow the user to adjust the position of the present invention along the length of the backpack shoulder strap. A means to sew the present invention onto the backpack shoulder strap would be plausible with modifications to the platform 1 but would make the present invention only available to backpacks produced in the future and not available to already existing backpacks. The means to sew the present invention onto the backpack shoulder strap would also not allow the user to adjust the position of the present invention along the length of the backpack shoulder strap.

The design of the present invention has many advantages. One advantage is that the design of the present invention utilizes the padding in the backpack shoulder strap to reduce the fatigue on the user's shoulder from carrying the weight of the gun sling. Another advantage is that the dynamic horizontal load of the gun sling is distributed to the opposite backpack shoulder strap because most common backpacks have a sternum strap. The sternum strap is used to attach both of the backpack shoulder straps to each other across the user's chest, which prevents the backpack shoulder strap with the present invention from sliding off the user's shoulder. Another advantage is that the present invention is completely self-contained in that the present invention can attach to the backpack shoulder strap without any modifications to the backpack shoulder strap. Another advantage is that the present invention does not have any moving parts that would fail in wet or freezing weather or does not have any sort of covering or jacket that could wear out over time. The present invention can be used in very hot or very cold climates and is impervious to weather conditions such as snow, rain, and sleet. Another advantage is that the user can quickly remove the gun sling off the present invention so that the user can get off a quick shot with their rifle. The present invention does not use any snaps or straps to restrain the gun sling and allows the user to access their rifle without any unnecessary or noisy movement that could spook the prey. Another advantage is that the present invention allows the user's hands to be free of reposition the gun sling on their shoulder and allows the user to carry other objects and drag game. The last advantage is that the present invention can be easily moved from the backpack shoulder strap to the opposite backpack shoulder strap, which should reduce the fatigue of long carries on one shoulder.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

1. A gun sling restraint device for a backpack shoulder strap comprises,

a platform;
a sling hook;
an attachment strap;
said platform comprises a first slot, a second slot, a first end, and a second end;
said sling hook comprises an extension portion and sloped portion;
said attachment strap comprises a loop segment, a middle segment, a bending segment, and an end segment;
said middle segment comprises a backpack surface and a loops surface; and
said end segment comprises a hooks surface and a shoulder surface.

2. The gun sling restraint device for a backpack shoulder strap as claimed in claim 1 comprises,

said first end and said second end being positioned opposite to each other on said platform;
said first slot traversing through said platform adjacent to said first end; and
said second slot traversing through said platform adjacent to said second end.

3. The gun sling restraint device for a backpack shoulder strap as claimed in claim 2 comprises,

said sling hook being positioned atop said platform; and
said sling hook being positioned in between said first slot and said second slot.

4. The gun sling restraint device for a backpack shoulder strap as claimed in claim 1 comprises,

said extension portion being connected normal to said platform;
said extension portion being positioned adjacent to said second slot;
said sloped portion being connected to said extension portion opposite to said platform; and
said sloped portion being angled towards said first end.

5. The gun sling restraint device for a backpack shoulder strap as claimed in claim 1 comprises,

said loop segment traversing through said first slot and encircling said first end;
said loop segment being connected adjacent to said middle segment;
said middle segment being located below said platform;
said bending segment being connected adjacent to said middle segment opposite to said loop segment;
said bending segment traversing through said second slot and being positioned around said second end;
said end segment being connected adjacent to said bending segment opposite to said middle segment; and
said end segment being located below said middle segment.

6. The gun sling restraint device for a backpack shoulder strap as claimed in claim 5 comprises,

said backpack surface being positioned atop said middle segment;
said loops surface being positioned beneath said middle segment;
said hooks surface being positioned atop said end segment; and
said shoulder surface being positioned beneath said end segment.

7. The gun sling restraint device for a backpack shoulder strap as claimed in claim 6 comprises,

said loops surface being engaged by hooks surface.

8. A gun sling restraint device for a backpack shoulder strap comprises,

a platform;
a sling hook;
an attachment strap;
said platform comprises a first slot, a second slot, a first end, and a second end;
said sling hook comprises an extension portion and sloped portion;
said attachment strap comprises a loop segment, a middle segment, a bending segment, and an end segment;
said middle segment comprises a backpack surface and a loops surface;
said end segment comprises a hooks surface and a shoulder surface;
said first end and said second end being positioned opposite to each other on said platform;
said first slot traversing through said platform adjacent to said first end;
said second slot traversing through said platform adjacent to said second end;
said sling hook being positioned atop said platform; and
said sling hook being positioned in between said first slot and said second slot.

9. The gun sling restraint device for a backpack shoulder strap as claimed in claim 8 comprises,

said extension portion being connected normal to said platform;
said extension portion being positioned adjacent to said second slot;
said sloped portion being connected to said extension portion opposite to said platform; and
said sloped portion being angled towards said first end.

10. The gun sling restraint device for a backpack shoulder strap as claimed in claim 8 comprises,

said loop segment traversing through said first slot and encircling said first end;
said loop segment being connected adjacent to said middle segment;
said middle segment being located below said platform;
said bending segment being connected adjacent to said middle segment opposite to said loop segment;
said bending segment traversing through said second slot and being positioned around said second end;
said end segment being connected adjacent to said bending segment opposite to said middle segment;
said end segment being located below said middle segment;
said backpack surface being positioned atop said middle segment; and
said shoulder surface being positioned beneath said end segment.

11. The gun sling restraint device for a backpack shoulder strap as claimed in claim 10 comprises,

said loops surface being positioned beneath said middle segment;
said hooks surface being positioned atop said end segment; and
said loops surface being engaged by hooks surface.

12. A gun sling restraint device for a backpack shoulder strap comprises,

a platform;
a sling hook;
an attachment strap;
said platform comprises a first slot, a second slot, a first end, and a second end;
said sling hook comprises an extension portion and sloped portion;
said attachment strap comprises a loop segment, a middle segment, a bending segment, and an end segment;
said middle segment comprises a backpack surface and a loops surface;
said end segment comprises a hooks surface and a shoulder surface;
said first end and said second end being positioned opposite to each other on said platform;
said first slot traversing through said platform adjacent to said first end;
said second slot traversing through said platform adjacent to said second end;
said sling hook being positioned atop said platform;
said sling hook being positioned in between said first slot and said second slot;
said extension portion being connected normal to said platform;
said extension portion being positioned adjacent to said second slot;
said sloped portion being connected to said extension portion opposite to said platform; and
said sloped portion being angled towards said first end.

13. The gun sling restraint device for a backpack shoulder strap as claimed in claim 12 comprises,

said loop segment traversing through said first slot and encircling said first end;
said loop segment being connected adjacent to said middle segment;
said middle segment being located below said platform;
said bending segment being connected adjacent to said middle segment opposite to said loop segment;
said bending segment traversing through said second slot and being positioned around said second end; and
said end segment being connected adjacent to said bending segment opposite to said middle segment.

14. The gun sling restraint device for a backpack shoulder strap as claimed in claim 13 comprises,

said end segment being located below said middle segment;
said backpack surface being positioned atop said middle segment;
said loops surface being positioned beneath said middle segment;
said hooks surface being positioned atop said end segment;
said shoulder surface being positioned beneath said end segment; and
said loops surface being engaged by hooks surface.
Patent History
Publication number: 20120193378
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 7, 2011
Publication Date: Aug 2, 2012
Inventor: Thomas E. SCHROEDEL, JR. (Olympia, WA)
Application Number: 13/313,277
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Sling Attached To Rifle Or Shotgun (224/150)
International Classification: F41C 33/00 (20060101);