FIREARM SLING

Abstract

A firearm sling comprising a forward portion configured to be secured to a forestock of a firearm, a rearward portion configured to be secured to a butt of the firearm, and a stabilizing loop disposed between the forward and rearward portions. The stabilizing loop includes a pressure absorbing material and a high friction material configured to abut against at least one of a user's non-trigger forearm or upper arm.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/926,558 filed Jan. 13, 2014, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to firearms, and, more particularly, to a sling for use in transporting a firearm and for stabilizing a firearm during firing.

BACKGROUND

Rifle slings have been used by individuals to facilitate transporting firearms and for stabilizing the firearm (e.g., a rifle, shot gun, or the like) against a user's elbow during firing. FIGS. 1A and 1B generally illustrate examples of such rifle slings 1. These rifle slings 1 may include a strap having a first end 2 connected proximate the forestock 3 of the rifle R and include a loop 3 disposed therebetween through which the user inserts his/her arm. The commonly held belief is that the loop 3 must be extremely tight around the user's bicep in order to properly stabilize the rifle R.

As set forth in the article entitled “The Proper Use of the Rifle Sling”, obtained from internet website referred to as Shooter's Carnival, if a rifle sling feels comfortable and does not impede circulation, then tighten it up by hooking the upper hook in the set of holes in the feed strap closer to the front sling swivel. The article goes on to set forth that a proper sling position will be uncomfortable to painful depending upon your tolerance, and, if it doesn't hurt, it is not tight enough. The article teaches that the long strap of the sling braces your forearm and elbow together to form a solid rest for your rifle, and that it is the tightness of the sling that creates the pain, but also makes for a steady platform to shoot from. The article states that some people get used to the pain, while others simply deal with it, or ignore it, and that, whatever the case, seeing your groups shrink to a tight little cluster will help motivate you to deal with the discomfort that a properly used sling will create.

Accordingly, while generally effective to stabilize the rifle during firing if properly tightened, rifle slings according to these designs are uncomfortable or painful to use.

FIGURES

Features and advantages of the claimed subject matter will be apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments consistent therewith, which description should be considered with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGS. 1A and 1B generally illustrate prior art rifle slings;

FIG. 2 generally illustrates a firearm sling consistent with the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 generally illustrates a firearm sling disposed over a user's shoulder consistent with the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 generally illustrates a firearm sling disposed about a user's non-trigger arm during firing consistent with the present disclosure; and

FIG. 4A is a close-up view of FIG. 4 in the area of the first loop strap of the firearm sling;

FIGS. 5-8 generally illustrate a the procedure for transitioning a firearm rifle sling consistent with the present disclosure from the transportation position (as generally illustrated in FIG. 3) to the firing position (as generally illustrated in FIG. 4).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

By way of a general overview, the present disclosure includes a firearm sling that may be used to transport the firearm over the user's shoulder and to stabilize the firearm while firing. The firearm sling includes a forward portion, a rearward portion, and a stabilizing loop disposed therebetween through which the user inserts his/her non-trigger arm while firing. The stabilizing loop may include a pressure absorbing material that increases the user's comfort while firing of the rifle by distributing the force of the firearm sling over a wider portion of the user's non-trigger arm and reducing areas of high pressure concentration. The firearm sling may also include a high friction material that reduces and/or eliminates the possibility of the stabilizing loop from sliding up the user's non-trigger arm toward the user's armpit while firing. Additionally, the high friction material increases the friction between the stabilizing loop and the user's non-trigger forearm while firing the rifle. Because of the increased friction, the firearm sling according to the present disclosure does not have to be tightened around the user's non-trigger arm nearly as much as in other designs of rifle slings, thereby greatly enhancing the user's comfort. Additionally, the high friction material may reduce and/or minimize undesired movement of the rifle on the user's shoulder while transporting the rifle, thereby further enhancing the user's comfort.

Turning now to FIG. 2, one embodiment of a firearm sling 10 is generally illustrated. For ease of explanation, the firearm sling 10 will be generally described in combination with a rifle and may be referred to as a rifle sling 10. It should be appreciated, however, that this is just for ease of explanation and that the firearm sling 10 may be used with any compatible firearm including, but not limited to, rifles, shotguns, and the like.

The rifle sling 10 generally includes a forward portion 12, a rearward portion 14, and a stabilizing loop 16. The forward and rearward portions 12, 14 are configured to be coupled to the rifle, for example, proximate the forestock and butt, respectively. The forward and rearward portions 12, 14 may include any type of fastener or coupler 18, 20 such as, but not limited to, a tightenable loop, Chicago screw, or the like. As explained herein, the rifle sling 10 may be disposed over a user's shoulder to carry/transport the rifle with minimum effort, for example, as generally illustrated in FIG. 3. Additionally, a user may insert his/her arm through the stabilizing loop 16 to stabilize the rifle against the user's bicep and/or forearm during firing of the rifle, for example, as generally illustrated in FIG. 4.

With reference to FIG. 2, one embodiment of the rifle sling 10 consistent with the present disclosure will be generally described. The lengths of the forward portion, 12, the rearward portions 14, and/or the stabilizing loop 16 may be adjustable. As explained herein, the length of the stabilizing loop 16 may be adjusted to easily fit over the user's arm without the need to tighten the loop excessively as previously believed to be necessary in order to achieve proper setup. The forward portion 12 and/or the stabilizing loop 14 may be adjusted such that the stabilizing loop 16 is properly positioned during firing of the rifle as explained herein (e.g., to account for different user's statures, arm lengths, etc.). The rearward portion 14 may also be adjusted to allow the sling 10 to easily and controllably slung over the user's shoulder, for example, while transporting the rifle. One or more of the forward portion 12, the rearward portion 14, and/or the stabilizing loop 16 may be independently adjustable (i.e., adjustment of any one does not alter the length of any of the others). Of course, it should also be appreciated that one or more of the forward portion 12, the rearward portion 14, and/or the stabilizing loop 16 may have a fixed length.

As noted above, the stabilizing loop 16 (along with the forward portion 12) is used during firing of the rifle to stabilize the rifle against the user's bicep and/or forearm. The stabilizing loop 16 has an adjustable length/diameter. The length of the stabilizing loop 16 may be adjustable using any configuration known to those skilled in the art.

At least a portion of the inner and/or outer portions or surfaces 22, 24 of the stabilizing loop 16 may optionally include a pressure adsorbing material 26. As used herein, the inner surface 22 of the stabilizing loop 16 refers to the portion of the stabilizing loop 16 that contacts the user's bicep while firing the rifle, only a portion of which may be seen in FIG. 2. Additionally, as used herein the outer surface 24 of the stabilizing loop 16 refers to the portion of the stabilizing loop 16 that contacts the user's body (e.g., shoulder) while transporting the rifle. For example, the inner surface 22 may include a pressure absorbing material 26 configured to increase the user's comfort while using the rifle sling 10 during firing of the rifle. The pressure absorbing material 26 may distribute the force of the rifle sling 10 while firing over a wider portion of the user's arm. Additionally, the pressure absorbing material 26 may act as a cushion to further increase the user's comfort while firing the rifle. For example, the pressure absorbing material 26 may conform to the contour of the user's arm, thereby reducing areas of high pressure concentration. According to one embodiment, the pressure absorbing material 26 may include padding, foam, memory or “viscoelastic” material (e.g., polyurethane foam), or the like. Similarly, the outer surface 24 of the stabilizing loop 16 may include a pressure absorbing material 26 configured to increase the user's comfort while using the rifle sling 10 to carry the rifle. As such, the comfort of a rifle sling 10 consistent with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure may be greatly enhanced while firing the rifle as well as while transporting the rifle compared to other rifle sling designs.

Optionally, at least a portion of the inner and/or outer portions or surfaces 22, 24 of the stabilizing loop 16 may include a high friction material 28. The high friction material 28 may include any material having an overall coefficient of friction greater than that of canvas and/or leather. For example, the high friction material 28 may include, but it not limited to, high friction polymers such as rubber (e.g., rubber webbing), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) and other elastomeric polymer compositions, microfiber arrays, or the like. The high friction material 28 may be disposed in a plurality of discrete regions along the inner and/or outer surfaces 22, 24. Alternatively, the high friction material 28 may be continuously disposed along a portion of the inner and/or outer surfaces 22, 24. When disposed continuously along the inner or outer surfaces 22, 24, the high friction material 28 is preferably flexible enough to bend during use of the rifle sling 10.

The inner surface 22 of the stabilizing loop 16 may include a high friction material 28 that aids in the stabilization of the rifle during firing. For example, the high friction material 28 may reduce and/or eliminate the possibility of the stabilizing loop 16 from sliding up the user's arm toward the user's armpit while firing. In such regards, the high-friction material may be provided in the form of a non-slip member. As used herein, “non-slip” may be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to mean a material or member which inhibits slipping, which may include reducing slipping or preventing slipping.

Moreover, the outer surface 24 of the stabilizing loop 16 may include a high friction material 28 that increases the friction between the stabilizing loop 16 and the user's forearm while firing the rifle. Because of the increased friction, the rifle sling 10 according to the present disclosure does not have to be tightened around the user's arm nearly as much as in other designs of rifle slings. As such, the comfort of a rifle sling 10 consistent with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure may be greatly enhanced while firing the rifle compared to other rifle sling designs. Additionally, the high friction material 28 on the outer surface 24 of the stabilizing loop 16 may reduce and/or minimize undesired movement of the rifle on the user's shoulder while transporting the rifle, thereby enhancing the user's comfort.

It may be appreciated that the forward portion 12 may be eliminated and the stabilizing loop 16 may be secured to the forestock of the rifle by way of the fastener 18.

Another embodiment consistent with the present disclosure will be described. The rifle sling 10 includes a forward portion 12 having a fixed length. The lengths of the rearward portion 14 and the stabilizing loop 16 of the rifle sling 10 are adjustable as described herein. The forward portion 12 may include strap 30 (e.g., of canvas, leather, or the like) having a first and a second end 32, 34. The first end 32 is configured to be mounted, secured, or otherwise coupled to the rifle, for example, using fastener 18. The second end 34 of the forward portion 12 is configured to be coupled to a portion of the stabilizing loop 16. For example, the second end 34 may include a strap slider 36 configured to allow the stabilizing loop 16 to be slidably coupled to the second end 34.

The rearward portion 14 has an adjustable length. For example, the rearward portion 14 includes strap 38 having a first and a second end region 40, 42. The first end region 40 is configured to be mounted, secured, or otherwise coupled to and/or extends from the stabilizing loop 16. The second end region 42 is configured to be mounted, secured, or otherwise coupled to the rifle, for example, using fastener 20. The second region 42 includes a rearward adjustment loop 44. The length of the rearward adjustment loop 44 (and therefore the overall length of the rearward portion 14) may be adjusted using a buckle or the like 46. The rearward adjustment loop 44 may be slidably coupled to the fastener 20, for example, using a strap slider 48. It should be appreciated that that the first and second end regions 40, 42 may be switched (i.e., first region 40 may be coupled to the strap slider 48 and the rearward adjustment loop 44 of the second region 42 may be coupled to the buckle 60). Additionally, it may be appreciated that the length of the rearward portion 14 may be adjustable using other configurations known to those skilled in the art.

The stabilizing loop 16 has an adjustable length. For example, the stabilizing loop 16 includes a first and a second loop strap 50, 52 (e.g., of canvas, leather, or the like) forming a continuous loop 54. The first loop strap 50 includes a first and a second end portion 56, 58. The first portion 56 is configured to be mounted, secured, or otherwise coupled to and/or extends from the forward portion 12 and the second portion 58 is secured to buckle 60 and/or the second strap 52.

The second loop strap 52 includes an adjustment region 62 and a free end region 64. The adjustment region 62 extends from a first end 63 mounted, secured, or otherwise coupled to and/or extending from the forward portion 12 and ends at the buckle 60. The free end region 64 extends from the buckle 60 and terminates at a free end 65. Optionally, one or more retaining loops 68 may be provided along a portion of the free end region 64 to maintain the free end region 64 in close proximity to the adjustment region 62. The length of the second strap 52 (and therefore the overall length of the stabilizing loop 16) may be adjusted using the buckle 60 to change the relative lengths of the adjustment region 62 and the free end region 64. For example, to enlarge the stabilizing loop 16, the free end region 64 is advanced through the buckle 60, thereby extending the length of the adjustment region 62 and reducing the length of the free end region 64. To reduce the size of the stabilizing loop 16, the adjustment region 62 is advanced through the buckle 60, thereby extending the length of the free end region 64 and reducing the length of the adjustment region 62.

As noted above, the stabilizing loop 16 also may optionally include one or more of a pressure absorbing material 26 and/or high friction material 28. In the illustrated embodiment, substantially the entire length of the first strap 50 includes pressure absorbing material 26 and at least a portion of the free end region 64 includes a pressure absorbing material 26. Additionally, substantially the entire length of the inner and outer surfaces 22, 24 of the first strap 50 includes a high friction material 28. The high friction material 28 includes a plurality of rubber webbings that may be woven into or otherwise coupled to the first strap 50.

As best shown by FIG. 4A, which is a close-up of FIG. 4 in the area of the first loop strap 50, in certain embodiments, the first loop strap 50 (as well as the second loop strap 52) may be formed from a flexible tubular sleeve 50a. The flexible tubular sleeve 50a, which may also be referred to as a flexible tubular web in the art, is provided without a terminating edge or a seam extending in the longitudinal direction of the tubular sleeve 50a which adds to the comfort of the rifle sling 10.

In such instance where the first loop strap 50 comprises a flexible tubular sleeve 50a, the pressure absorbing material 26 may comprise a compressible (resilient) elongated planar foam padding member 26a located within the tubular sleeve 50a. The foam padding member 26a may be an extruded closed-cell polyolefin foam having a density in a range of 1 to 5 lbs/ft³. The foam padding member 26a may have a width (transverse to the longitudinal length) in a range of 0.75 inch to 3 inches (and more particularly have a width of 0.1 inch to 1.25 inches), and a thickness in a range of 0.075 inch to 0.2 inch (and more particularly have a thickness in a range of 0.10 inch to 0.150 inch), particularly to distribute carrying loads to a suitable level without significantly increasing bulkiness and weight.

The high friction material 28 may be in the form of a non-slip member 28a which overlies at least a portion of the tubular sleeve 50a, which may comprise at least one elongated gripping strip 28b. The at least one elongated gripping strip 28b may comprise at least one row of stitches 28c sewn to a textile backing 29 in an overlying relationship thereto. The textile backing 29 may be then sewn in overlying relationship to the tubular sleeve 50a.

The at least one row of stitches 28b may be formed by a thread. The thread may have a diameter in a range of 0.1 mm to 1.5 mm, and may be formed of an elastomeric polymer composition. As shown, the at least one row of stitches 28b may comprises a plurality of rows of stitches 28b, and the plurality of rows of stitches 28b may be adjacent one another and stagger relative to one another.

As used herein, an elastomeric polymer composition may include any composition with a glass transition temperature Tg below room temperature and which is at most, 50% crystalline (i.e., the material contains an amorphous phase of 50% or greater, up to 100% amorphous phase). The elastomeric polymer composition may also be characterized as a material that has an elongation at 23° C. of at least 100%, and which, after being stretched to twice its original length and being held at such for one minute, may recover in a range of 50% to 100% within one minute after release from the stress. More particularly, the elastomeric polymer composition may recover in a range of 75% to 100% within one minute after release from the stress, and even more particularly recover in a range of 90% to 100% within one minute after release from the stress.

Exemplary elastomeric polymer compositions may particularly include elastomers, particularly styrene block polymers, such as styrene block copolymers (e.g. styrene-butadiene copolymer) and styrene block terpolymers (e.g. styrene-butadiene-styrene terpolymer, styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene terpolymer, styrene-ethylene/propylene-styrene terpolymer); polyolefin blends (e.g. polypropylene and ethylene-propylene-diene monomer rubber, polypropylene and nitrile rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber); elastomeric alloys such as melt-processable rubbers and thermoplastic vulcanizates; polyolefins; polyurethanes; polyesters; and rubbers such as natural rubber, neoprene rubber, acrylic rubber, butadiene rubber, butyl rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber, ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber, fluorocarbon rubber, isoprene rubber, nitrile rubber, polyurethane rubber and silicone rubber.

Turning now to FIGS. 5-8, steps illustrating the procedure for transitioning the rifle sling 10 from the transportation position (as generally illustrated in FIG. 3) to the firing position (as generally illustrated in FIG. 4) are shown. The user starts by removing the rifle sling 10 from the user's shoulder to the position as generally illustrated in FIG. 5. The user then advances his/her non-trigger arm through the stabilizing loop 16 as generally illustrated in FIG. 6. With the user's arm within the stabilizing loop 16, the user places the butt of the rifle R against his/her shoulder, grasps the forestock of the rifle R and bends the non-trigger arm until the forward portion 12 and the stabilizing loop 16 are under tension as generally illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. The tension aids in stabilizing the rifle R during firing. The pressure absorbing material 26 increases the user's comfort while firing of the rifle R by distributing the force of the rifle sling 10 over a wider portion of the user's non-trigger arm and reducing areas of high pressure concentration. The high friction material 28 reduces and/or eliminates the possibility of the stabilizing loop 16 from sliding up the user's non-trigger arm toward the user's armpit while firing. Additionally, the high friction material 28 increases the friction between the stabilizing loop 16 and the user's non-trigger forearm while firing the rifle R. Because of the increased friction, the rifle sling 10 according to the present disclosure does not have to be tightened around the user's non-trigger arm nearly as much as in other designs of rifle slings, thereby greatly enhancing the user's comfort. Additionally, the high friction material 28 on the outer surface 24 of the stabilizing loop 16 may reduce and/or minimize undesired movement of the rifle R on the user's shoulder while transporting the rifle R, thereby further enhancing the user's comfort.

While embodiments of the present disclosure have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the functions and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the present disclosure. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the teachings of the present disclosure is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments of the disclosure described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, the disclosure may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed.

The present disclosure is directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the scope of the present disclosure.

All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the defined terms.

The indefinite articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.”

The phrase “and/or,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified, unless clearly indicated to the contrary.

Claims

1. A firearm sling comprising:

a forward portion securable to a forestock of a firearm;

a rearward portion securable to a butt of said firearm; and

a stabilizing loop disposed between said forward and rearward portions, said stabilizing loop including a pressure absorbing material.

2. The firearm sling of claim 1, wherein:

said stabilizing loop comprises at least one strap; and

said at least one strap comprises a tubular sleeve disposed over said pressure absorbing material.

3. The firearm sling of claim 1, wherein:

said pressure absorbing material comprises padding.

4. The firearm sling of claim 3, wherein:

said padding comprises a foam padding.

5. The firearm sling of claim 1, wherein:

said stabilizing loop further includes a high friction material.

6. The firearm sling of claim 5, wherein:

said high friction material is disposed about a portion of an inner surface of said stabilizing loop and is arranged on said stabilizing loop to abut against a user's non-trigger upper arm.

7. The firearm sling of claim 5, wherein:

said high friction material is disposed about a portion of an outer surface of said stabilizing loop and is arranged on said stabilizing loop to abut against a user's non-trigger forearm.

8. The firearm sling of claim 5, wherein:

said high friction material is formed of an elastomeric polymer composition.

9. The firearm sling of claim 8, wherein:

said elastomeric polymer composition is formed of rubber.

10. The firearm sling of claim 2, further comprising:

a non-slip member disposed over said tubular sleeve.

11. The firearm sling of claim 10, wherein:

said non-slip member comprises at least one elongated gripping strip.

12. The firearm sling of claim 11, wherein:

said at least one elongated gripping strip comprises a plurality of elongated gripping strips.

13. The firearm sling of claim 11, wherein:

said at least one elongated gripping strip comprises at least one row of stitches.

14. The firearm sling of claim 13, wherein:

said at least one row of stitches comprises a plurality of rows of stitches.

15. The firearm sling of claim 14, wherein:

said stitches are formed of an elastomeric thread.

16. The firearm sling of claim 15, wherein:

said elastomeric thread has a diameter of 0.1 mm to 1.5 mm.

17. The firearm sling of claim 13, wherein:

said at least one row of stitches are sewn to a textile backing.

18. The firearm sling of claim 17, wherein:

said textile backing is sewn to said tubular sleeve.

19. The firearm sling of claim 2, wherein:

said at least one strap comprises at least a first strap and a second strap;

said pressure absorbing material comprises a first strap pressure absorbing material and a second strap pressure absorbing material;

said first strap comprises a first strap tubular sleeve disposed over said first strap pressure absorbing material; and

said second strap comprises a second strap tubular sleeve disposed over said second strap pressure absorbing material.

20. The firearm sling of claim 1, wherein:

said firearm sling is a rifle sling.