SLING RETAINING ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF USE
A sling retaining assembly for assisting the carrying of a plurality of devices on a single shoulder is provided. The sling retaining assembly includes a flexible body having an outer side, an under side, an aperture provided through the flexible body, and a self attachment assembly connected to the flexible body, wherein a first portion of the self attachment assembly is connected to the outer side of the flexible body and a second portion of the self attachment assembly is connected to the under side of the flexible body. A hook member is received by the aperture of the flexible body, the hook member having a first segment connected to a second segment, the first and second segments forming a retaining gap, wherein a portion of the flexible body is received by the retaining gap. In addition, a method of using the sling retaining assembly is also provided.
The present invention relates to an assembly for attaching, carrying and/or retaining a shoulder mounted carrying device. The present invention more specifically relates to an assembly adapted to couple to a shoulder mounted strap and retain a portion of a shoulder mounted sling.
BACKGROUNDIndividuals often desire to carry more than one device over a single shoulder. For example, hunters, hikers, campers, soldiers, or outdoor enthusiasts may carry equipment or necessities while participating in their respective activity. Often the equipment will be carried by a person in multiple, separate devices. Further, often the multiple devices are carried about one or both shoulders of a person. For example, a hunter may carry a backpack having shoulder straps as a first device and a firearm having a shoulder sling as a second device. As such, the person may carry multiple devices on a single shoulder. Unfortunately, carrying multiple devices on a single shoulder can lead to difficulties, including difficulty maintaining both devices on a single shoulder, potential damage to one or more of the devices due to the inadvertent or unwanted dropping of one or more of the devices, or potential injury to the person (e.g. due to the inadvertent or unwanted dropping of one or more of the devices).
SUMMARYIn view of the difficulties of carrying multiple devices on a single shoulder, it would be desirable to provide an assembly which would allow or assist a person to carry multiple devices on a single shoulder. Further, it would be desirable to have an assembly adapted to couple to a first device, such as the shoulder mounted strap of the first device. Further, it would be desirable to have an assembly with a retention apparatus adapted to retain a second device, such as a sling or strap.
Accordingly, a sling retaining assembly or sling keeper and associated method of use is provided.
The sling keeper includes a flexible body having an outer side, an under side, a self attachment assembly connected to the flexible body, and defining an aperture provided through the flexible body, wherein a first portion of the self attachment assembly is connected to the outer side of the flexible body and a second portion of the self attachment assembly is connected to the under side of the flexible body. A hook member is at least partially received by the aperture defined by the flexible body, the hook member having a first segment connected to a second segment, the first and second segments forming a retaining gap, wherein a portion of the flexible body is received by the retaining gap.
In addition, a sling retaining assembly adapted for helping carry a plurality of devices on a single shoulder of a person is provided. The sling retaining assembly includes a flexible strip having a first side and a second side. The flexible strip includes a body portion connected to a first arm and a second arm, an aperture provided through and defined by the body portion connecting the first side and second side, and a self attachment assembly having a first attachment portion and a second attachment portion, the first attachment portion connected to the first side of the first arm and the second attachment portion connected to the second side of the second arm. A hook member is received by the aperture of the flexible strip, the hook member having a first segment connected to a second segment to form a first pocket, wherein the first pocket receives a portion of the body of the flexible strip.
A method of carrying a plurality of devices on a single shoulder of a person is also provided. In the method, a sling retaining assembly is attached about a shoulder mounted strap of a first device by wrapping a first arm of the sling retaining assembly about the shoulder mounted strap of the first device, wrapping a second arm of the sling retaining assembly about the shoulder mounted strap of the first device, and engaging the self attachment assembly connecting the first arm and second arm. The shoulder mounted strap of the first device is then placed about a first shoulder of a person. The shoulder mounted carrying sling of a second device is then placed about the first shoulder of the person. The shoulder mounted carrying sling of the second device engages with the sling retaining assembly by placing the shoulder mounted carrying sling of the second device into a first retaining gap of the sling retaining assembly formed by a first segment connected to a second segment of a hook member, such that the shoulder mounted carrying sling of the second device is retained between the first segment and a flexible body of the sling retaining assembly.
Referring to
In
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As discussed above, first pocket 148 may include first opening 151. In addition, second pocket 149 may include a second opening 152. First opening 151 may be provided closer to second extension 123 than the first extension 122, while second opening 152 may be provided closer to first extension 122 than second extension 123. As such, first opening 151 may be provided on an opposing side of hook portion 140 than second opening 152. It should be appreciated that in various embodiments, however, that the first opening may be provided closer to the first arm than the second arm and the second opening may be provided closer to the second arm than the first arm.
Hook portion 140 may connect to, be retained by, and/or be received by flexible portion 120. As illustrated in
An alternative embodiment of a hook portion 160 of sling keeper 100 is shown in
Second segment 163 may include or be connected to a retention segment 170. As illustrated in
As discussed above, first pocket 188 may include first opening 191. In addition, second pocket 189 may include a second opening 192. First opening 191 may be provided on an opposing side of hook portion 180 than second opening 192.
Hook portion 180 may include a strap engagement assembly 199. As illustrated in
The strap engagement assembly may include or utilize other known or hereafter developed ways of releasably coupling lanyard 196 to hook portion 180. For example, it should be appreciated that in various embodiments, the post may be provided on a portion of the third segment. Further, it should be appreciated that in one or more examples of embodiments, one or more apertures may be provided on or defined by a portion of the first segment. In addition, in one or more examples of embodiments, the lanyard may have a bias or elasticity to allow the lanyard to stretch or elongate about different sized shoulder mounted straps which may be received in the second opening. In one or more examples of embodiments, the retaining member may be spherical, triangular, polygonal or any other known shape. Further, in one or more examples of embodiments the retaining member may be a cap, clip or other device coupled to the retaining member formed of stainless steel, plastic, die cast aluminum, composite material or any other known and suitable material. In various embodiments, the loop may be a band, a member having an eyelet or aperture, or any other device adapted to removably receive the post. In addition, in various embodiments, the loop may have a bias or elasticity to allow the loop to stretch or elongate about the post, yet subsequently relax or retract such that the inner diameter of the loop is less than the outer diameter of the head of the post. In one or more examples of embodiments, the lanyard, loop and/or retaining member may be a unitary member formed of polyester, nylon, satin, silk, polyethylene terephthalate, or any other natural fiber, synthetic fiber or other suitable material. It should be appreciated that while the embodiment of hook portion 180 is illustrated for use exclusive of flexible portion 120, in various embodiments, flexible portion 120 may be adapted to engage with and/or operate with hook portion 180 in accordance with the disclosure provided herein.
Referring again to
A user may then removably connect or engage a second device (e.g. a shoulder mounted carrying device 210) with sling retaining assembly 100. As shown in
In various embodiments, once sling 210 is received by sling keeper 100, the user may move, scale or traverse terrain while carrying at least two devices on a single shoulder. For example, the user may carry both a shoulder mounted device having shoulder mounted strap 200, for example a backpack, and a second shoulder mounted device having a shoulder sling 210, for example a firearm having a sling, on a single shoulder. Sling keeper 100 is adapted to retain the second shoulder mounted device having sling 210. For example, sling 210 may have difficulty sliding and/or falling off the shoulder of the user.
The user may remove or disengage sling 210 from sling keeper 100 by withdrawing sling 210 from first retaining gap 148. Guide segment 145 may assist in easing removal of sling 210 from sling keeper 100. For example, by being provided at an angle α (theta) to first segment 142, sling 210 may be more easily removed or disengaged from sling keeper 100. In addition, the user may remove sling keeper 100 from shoulder strap 200 of the first shoulder mounted device by disengaging self attachment assembly 134, unwrapping first and second arms 122, 123 from around shoulder strap 200, and removing shoulder strap 200 from second retaining gap 149. Sling keeper 100 is then free to be connected or reconnected to a shoulder mounted strap 200.
It should be appreciated that in using one or more examples of embodiments of sling keeper 100 having hook portion 160 (as shown in
It should be appreciated that in operation and use of one or more examples of embodiments of sling keeper 100 having hook portion 180 (as shown in
There are several advantages to the disclosed sling retaining assembly. The sling retaining assembly is adaptable to attach or couple to numerous types of shoulder mounted straps. For example, the sling retaining assembly may attach to a strap for a backpack, hydration pack, hunting blind bag, hunting decoy bag, or any other strap adapted to be provided and/or carried over one or more shoulders of a person. This provides for use of the sling retaining assembly with numerous types of devices or products which may be carried about the shoulder of a user.
In addition, the sling retaining assembly is adapted to receive numerous and various types of shoulder mounted carrying devices. For example, the sling retaining assembly may receive and retain a sling for a firearm, including a carrying strap for a long gun, a long barrel rifle, a shotgun, or an assault rifle, a strap for a canteen, a strap for a water bag or sack, a strap or string for an archery bow, or any other shoulder mounted sling or carrying device or strap which may be carried over a shoulder of a user. This provides for use of the sling retaining assembly with numerous types of devices or products which may be carried and retained about the shoulder of a user while a user also carries a primary or another device having a shoulder mounted strap.
In addition, the sling retaining assembly is adjustable and/or removable after installation. The associated hook portion and/or self attachment assembly of the sling retaining assembly provide for the sling retaining assembly to be temporarily, removably, and/or adjustably connected to a shoulder mounted strap of a device. A user may adjust or reposition the sling retaining assembly during use (e.g. to improve comfort) and/or remove the sling retaining assembly from a shoulder mounted strap after use. Further, a user may attach the sling retaining assembly to another, separate shoulder mounted strap of a device, including, for example, a second shoulder mounted strap of a device (i.e. the left shoulder strap or right shoulder strap) or a shoulder mounted strap of a separate device.
In addition, the sling retaining assembly should not alter or permanently damage or distort the shoulder mounted strap to which the sling retaining assembly is attached. The sling retaining assembly and associated hook portion and/or self attachment assembly does not require installation of any components which may permanently alter, damage, distort or disfigure the shoulder mounted strap of a device for operation.
In addition, the sling retaining assembly should not alter or permanently damage or distort the sling or shoulder mounted carrying device of a device which is received and retained by the sling retaining assembly. The sling retaining assembly and associated hook portion does not require installation of any components which may permanently alter, damage, distort or disfigure the sling or shoulder mounted carrying device for operation.
In addition, the sling retaining assembly is adapted to he used effectively on either side of a user. For example, a device carried by a user may include two shoulder mounted straps, one to be carried on the right shoulder of a user and one to be carried on the left shoulder of a user. The sling retaining assembly may be connected to either shoulder mounted strap by rotating the sling retaining assembly approximately one hundred and eighty degrees (180°) before attachment. Further, more than one sling retaining assembly may be coupled to one or both shoulders.
In addition, the sling retaining assembly provides for the improved safe shoulder carrying by a user of a first and/or primary device, for example a backpack, and a second and/or secondary device, for example a firearm. The sling retaining assembly reduces the risk of the secondary device falling off the shoulder of the user. In situations where the secondary device is a loaded firearm, the sling retaining assembly may reduce the risk of an unintentional discharge of the firearm should the firearm fall off the shoulder of the user.
In addition, the sling retaining assembly lessens the risk of damage to a shoulder carried secondary device, for example a firearm, when carried by a user with a primary device, for example a backpack, carried on the same shoulder. The sling retaining assembly reduces the risk of the secondary device falling off the shoulder of the user. This lessens the risk of damage to the secondary device caused by dropping the secondary device should the secondary device fall off the shoulder of the user.
In addition, the sling retaining assembly is adjustable about a shoulder mounted strap during use. A user may adjust or reposition the sling retaining assembly about one or more shoulder mounted straps during use, for example to improve the comfort of the user or to improve the posture of the user.
It should be appreciated in various embodiments that the sling retaining assembly may be provided within or integrally formed with one or more shoulder mounted straps of a device. For example, the sling retaining assembly or associated hook members may be provided or formed in the shoulder mounted straps of a backpack or other known or future developed device during the manufacturing process of the shoulder mounted straps.
Although various representative embodiments of this invention have been described above with a certain degree of particularity, those skilled in the art could make numerous alterations to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventive subject matter set forth in the specification and claims. Joinder references (e.g., attached, coupled, connected) are to be construed broadly and may include intermediate members between a connection of elements and relative movement between elements. As such, joinder references do not necessarily infer that two elements are directly connected and in fixed relation to each other. In some instances, in methodologies directly or indirectly set forth herein, various steps and operations are described in one possible order of operation, but those skilled in the art will recognize that steps and operations may be rearranged, replaced, or eliminated without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. In addition, in some instances, in methodologies directly or indirectly set forth herein, various steps and operations are described in one possible order of operation, but those skilled in the art will recognize that steps and operations may be rearranged, replaced, or eliminated without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting. Changes in detail or structure may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
Claims
1. A sling keeper comprising:
- a flexible body having an outer side, an under side, a self attachment assembly connected to the flexible body, and defining an aperture provided through the flexible body, wherein a first portion of the self attachment assembly is connected to the outer side of the flexible body and a second portion of the self attachment assembly is connected to the under side of the flexible body; and
- a hook member at least partially received by the aperture defined by the flexible body, the hook member having a first segment connected to a second segment, the first and second segments forming a retaining gap, wherein a portion of the flexible body is received by the retaining gap.
2. The sling keeper of claim 1, wherein the self attachment assembly includes a hook and loop fastener, the hook fastener is connected to the outer side of the flexible body and the loop fastener is connected to the under side of the flexible body.
3. The sling keeper of claim 1, wherein the hook member is a unitary member.
4. The sling keeper of claim 1, wherein the flexible body includes a first extension and a second extension, the first portion of the self attachment assembly is connected to the first extension and the second portion of the self attachment assembly is connected to the second extension.
5. The sling keeper of claim 4, further comprising a third segment connected to the second segment of the hook member, the second and third segments forming a second retaining gap.
6. The sling keeper of claim 5, wherein the retaining gap has an opening facing the first extension and the second retaining gap has an opening facing the second extension.
7. The sling keeper of claim 6, wherein the first, second and third segments of the hook member have a serpentine profile.
8. The sling keeper of claim 7, wherein the first, second and third segments of the hook member have an S-shaped profile.
9. The sling keeper of claim 1, further comprising a stability strip connected to the under side of the flexible body, wherein the stability strip receives a portion of the second segment of the hook member.
10. The sling keeper of claim 9, wherein the second segment includes a retention segment having a first wing and a second wing opposite the first wing, the retention segment having a first width which is greater than a second width of the second segment.
11. A sling retaining assembly adapted for helping carry a plurality of devices on a single shoulder of a person comprising:
- a flexible strip having a first side and a second side, the flexible strip including a body portion connected to a first arm and a second arm, an aperture provided through and defined by the body portion connecting the first side and second side, and a self attachment assembly having a first attachment portion and a second attachment portion, the first attachment portion connected to the first side of the first arm and the second attachment portion connected to the second side of the second arm; and
- a hook member received by the aperture of the flexible strip, the hook member having a first segment connected to a second segment to form a first pocket, wherein the first pocket receives a portion of the body of the flexible strip.
12. The sling retaining assembly of claim 11, wherein the first segment of the hook member is provided on the first side of the flexible strip and the second segment of the hook member is provided on the second side of the flexible strip.
13. The sling retaining assembly of claim 12, wherein the hook member includes a third segment connected to the second segment to form a second pocket adapted to receive a portion of a shoulder mounted strap.
14. The sling retaining assembly of claim 13, wherein the first pocket has a first opening provided closer to the first arm than the second arm, and the second pocket has an opening provided closer to the second arm than the first arm.
15. The sling retaining assembly of claim 14, wherein the first attachment portion is a hook fastener and the second attachment portion is a corresponding loop fastener.
16. A method of carrying a plurality of devices on a single shoulder of a person comprising:
- attaching a sling retaining assembly about a shoulder mounted strap of a first device by wrapping a first arm of the sling retaining assembly about the shoulder mounted strap of the first device, wrapping a second arm of the sling retaining assembly about the shoulder mounted strap of the first device, and engaging the self attachment assembly connecting the first arm and second arm;
- placing the shoulder mounted strap of the first device about a first shoulder of a person;
- placing a shoulder mounted carrying sling of a second device about the first shoulder of the person; and
- engaging the shoulder mounted carrying sling of the second device with the sling retaining assembly by placing the shoulder mounted carrying sling of the second device into a first retaining gap formed by a first segment connected to a second segment of a hook member of the sling retaining assembly, such that the shoulder mounted carrying sling of the second device is retained between the first segment and a flexible body of the sling retaining assembly.
17. The method of carrying a plurality of devices on a single shoulder of a person of claim 16, wherein attaching a sling retaining assembly about a shoulder mounted strap of a first device further comprises:
- engaging the shoulder mounted strap of the first device with a second retaining gap formed by the second segment connected to a third segment of a hook member, such that the shoulder mounted strap of the first device is received between the second segment and third segment of the sling retaining assembly.
Type: Application
Filed: May 31, 2011
Publication Date: Dec 6, 2012
Inventor: Charles Scott Smith (Glenwood Springs, CO)
Application Number: 13/149,420
International Classification: A45F 3/02 (20060101);