Rifle Retainer
Apparatus for retaining a rifle by its sling on a person. An upper anchorage pins the sling to a backpack harness strap, and a lower anchorage pins the rifle stock to a strap near the waist of the user. The upper anchorage provides a hook preventing the sling from slipping off the shoulder of the user. The lower anchorage provides a holster encircling the rifle stock and clamping to a harness strap near the waist.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/538,552, filed Oct. 7, 2015.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSUREThe present disclosure relates to securing a rifle on an upright person by engaging a sling of the rifle at two points, one at the shoulder and one near the waist.
BACKGROUNDHunters and other users of rifles frequently walk along rough terrain while hunting or traveling through natural territory. The usual method of supporting a rifle by its sling, with the sling suspended from the shoulder, is an unreliable way of carrying the rifle, since the rifle is easily dislodged should the person stumble or fall.
There exists a need for a way of securing a rifle supported by its sling for people traversing rough or uneven terrain.
SUMMARYThe disclosed concepts address the above stated situation by providing retaining apparatus reliably securing the rifle by its sling, while still enabling quick deployment of the rifle. To this end, novel retaining apparatus includes an upper anchorage pinning the sling to a backpack harness strap, and a lower anchorage pinning the rifle stock to a strap near the waist of the user. The upper anchorage provides a hook preventing the sling from slipping off the shoulder of the user. The lower anchorage provides a holster encircling the rifle stock and clamping to a harness strap near the waist.
The rifle is readily released for use from the upper and lower anchorages.
It is an object to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof by apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.
These and other objects will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the disclosed concepts will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:
Referring first to
With sling 4 thus retained at the upper position at shoulder 12 of user 6, a lower anchorage 110 clamps or pins a stock 14 of rifle 2 near a waist 16 of user 6. Lower anchorage 110 advantageously prevents rifle 2 from being inclined to the point that it could be aimed at a person (not shown) walking behind user 6.
It should be noted at this point that orientational terms such as upper and lower refer to the subject drawing as viewed by an observer. The drawing figures depict their subject matter in orientations of normal use, which could obviously change with changes in body posture and position. Therefore, orientational terms must be understood to provide semantic basis for purposes of description only, and do not imply that their subject matter can be used only in one position.
Also referring to
A closure 122 releasably secures stock 14 of rifle 2 in pocket 116. A retainer 124 (see
Strap hook 108 of upper anchorage 102 is rigid. That is, in use, strap hook 108 is sufficiently rigid as to oppose deflection, compressing, spreading open, etc. Strap hook 108 may be fabricated from one eighth inch thick metals such as steel, aluminum, and brass, or alternatively, hard plastic. Foldable loop 104 of upper anchorage 102 is flexible. Foldable loop 104 may be fabricated from fabric, leather, flexible plastics, stranded metal, and like materials.
Lateral wall 114 of holster 112 may be rigid, and may be fabricated from one eighth inch thick metals such as steel, aluminum, and brass, or alternatively, hard plastic. Lateral wall 114 of holster 112 may include an outer layer of yielding material. The yielding material may comprises a fabric, leather, and other materials which would avoid abrading rifle 2.
Referring specifically to
Referring to
In use, upper anchorage 102 is coupled to shoulder strap 10A of harness 8, with strap hook 108 opening towards neck 15 of user 6. Sling 4 of rifle 2 is then placed onto upper anchorage 102 such that strap hook 108 prevents sling 4 from sliding from shoulder 12 (to the left, as shown in
After lower anchorage 110 has engaged waist strap 10B by closing flap 136 over lower flap 142 (see
While the disclosed concepts have been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred implementation, it is to be understood that the disclosed concepts are not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but are intended to cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent arrangements which are possible.
Claims
1. Apparatus for securing a rifle supported by a sling of the rifle on a user wearing a harness comprising straps, the apparatus comprising:
- an upper anchorage securing the sling at a shoulder of the user, the upper anchorage comprising: a foldable loop bearing a fastener, the foldable loop configured to encircle a shoulder strap of the harness, and a strap hook open towards a neck of the user when the foldable loop encircles the shoulder strap; and
- a lower anchorage for grasping the rifle at a stock of the rifle, the lower anchorage comprising: a holster comprising a lateral wall configured to define a pocket partially encircling the stock of the rifle, the lateral wall including an open portion and a pocket axis passing through the pocket parallel to the lateral wall, wherein the open portion of the lateral wall is configured to enable the stock to be moved into and withdrawn from the pocket when a longitudinal axis of the rifle is parallel to the pocket axis, a closure releasably securing the stock of the rifle in the pocket, and a retainer configured to engage a strap of the harness.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the strap hook of the upper anchorage is rigid and the foldable loop of the upper anchorage is flexible.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lateral wall of the holster is rigid.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the lateral wall of the holster includes an outer layer of yielding material.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the yielding material comprises a fabric.
6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the yielding material comprises leather.
7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the closure of the holster comprises a flexible strap.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the holster comprises a holster hook, and the flexible strap comprises a strap loop configured to engage and be releasably retained by the holster hook.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the strap loop is elastic.
10. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a pull tab projecting from the strap loop.
11. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising an adjustment feature configured to enable the flexible strap to be drawn tight against the stock of the rifle when the stock is in the holster.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the adjustment feature comprises a cinch maintaining tightness of the flexible strap after the flexible strap has been drawn tight against the stock of the rifle.
13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the retainer of the lower anchorage comprises a flap configured to close over and retain a strap of the harness.
14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein
- the retainer of the lower anchorage comprises a flap configured to close over and retain a strap of the harness, and
- the cinch of the lower anchorage is located along the flexible strap of the lower anchorage such that the cinch is covered by the flap.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 6, 2016
Publication Date: Apr 13, 2017
Inventor: Lennis Janzen (Tehachapi, CA)
Application Number: 15/286,912