Patent Application
20150369560
The present application generally relates to slings that attach firearms, and more particularly, a sling that manage recoil, stabilizes the weapon and allows for transition between different shooting positions.
Firearm slings allow an individual to hold and carry a firearm. One type of sling may be a quick sling that includes a simple strap that an individual can wrap around his arm to hold and support the firearm. Another type of sling may include a rigid support that anchors a part of the firearm to an individual's body. Yet another type of sling may include a flexible support such as a strap to anchor a part of the firearm to an individual's body. However, none of the noted slings support, stabilize and provide control of a firearm when carrying, holding, or holding the firearm in different positions.
Referring to
The second end portion 102B of the first part 102 can be connected to one of two locations on a user's body, which may be in the right body connection region 110R and the left body connection region 110L. The right body connection region 110R is around the right side of the torso of the user (i.e., offset toward the right from the center region of the torso) and may extend from the shoulder region of the user to a waist region of a user. The left body connection region 110L is around the left side of the torso of the user (i.e., offset toward the left from the center region of the torso) and may extend from the shoulder region of the user to a waist region of a user. The second end portion 104B of the second part 104 can be connected to a location on the user's body in a center body connection region 110C. The center body connection region 110C is around a center region of the torso of the user and may extend from the neck of the user to the waist region of the user. The body connection regions 110R, 110L and 110C can be defined on a dedicated worn item such as a jacket or by using parts that attach to a worn item on the user's body (e.g. vest, harness, body armor, etc.). Each of the body connection regions 110R, 110L and 110C may have multiple connection locations for connecting the second end portions 102B and 104B.
The second end portions 102B and 104B may be connected to locations in the body connection regions 110L and 110C, respectively, for a right handed user. Alternatively, the second end portions 102B and 104B may be connected to locations in the body connection regions 110L and 110C, respectively, for a left handed user. Thus, the second end portion 102B may be connected to either a location in the right body connection region 110R or a location in the left body connection region 110L, while the second end portion 104B can be connected to a location in the center body connection region 110C. A user may also use a firearm both in a right handed hold and a left handed hold. A right handed user may use a right handed hold, which is his strong side shooting position, but easily switch to a left handed hold, which may be his weak side shooting position. Similarly, a left handed user may use a left handed hold, which is his strong side shooting position, but easily switch to a right handed hold, which may be his weak side shooting position. Accordingly, a user may require only two locations in two of the connection regions for using the sling system 100 depending on the handedness of the user and/or preferences of the user for attaching the sling system 100 to a worn item.
As shown in
According to one embodiment, each of the second end portions 102B and 104B may be a piece of webbing that can be wrapped around loops on the connection points of the harness 200 and secured using hardware (tri-glide, snap buttons, clamps, Velcro®, etc.) Alternatively, other hardware can be used to secure the second end portions 102B and 104B to the wearer such as clips, carabineers, buckles, Velcro®, etc. depending on what the user is wearing (vest with loops, armor, etc.)
Referring to
The first part 102 may include at least one biasing member 112 that provides at least on direction of tension for biasing the firearm 108 toward the body of a user. The biasing member 112 may be partly or fully constructed from a spring, an elastomer, rubber and/or any type of elastic material. Thus, one of the functions of the first part 102 is to keep the firearm close to the body of the user. The second part 104 functions as a tether or anchor and limits the movement of the buttstock 109 of the firearm 108 relative the center body connection region 110C. Thus, the center body connection region 110C may be also referenced herein as the center anchor region 110C.
The first part 102 and the second part 104 can be used individually or in combination. When the first part 102 and the second part 104 are combined, the second part 104 and the first part 102 limit the movement of the firearm, which allows the user to easily attain the same cheek position which assists accuracy, help stability while aiming, control recoil, assist with target acquisition and reacquisition, and assist with weapons control and handling. Because the center anchor region 110C is around the center of the user's body, a user can transition between strong side and weak side shooting positions easily and without adjustment or disconnecting any portion of the sling system 100 from his body or his rifle since the user can use the elastic nature of the biasing member 112 to create enough slack in the first part 102 to allow the user to transition from strong side to weak side. Another alternative is for the user to quickly disconnect the second end portion 102B from a location in the right body connection region 110R and connect the second end portion 102B to a location in the left body connection region 110L, while the second end portion 104B remains connected to a location in the center anchor region 110C. Similarly, the user can for example quickly disconnect the second end portion 102B from a location in the left body connection region 110L and connect the second end portion 102B to a location in the right body connection region 110R, while the second end portion 104B maintains connected to the center anchor region 110C.
The second part 104 may pivot on at least one point for ease of movement. For example, the second part 104 may pivot at the first end portion 104A, the second end portion 104B and/or a pivot point 104C along the length of the second part 104 where multiple segments may be connected to form the second part 104. The second part 104 may include at least one segment having an adjustable length and/or having a length that is adjustable by adding or removing segments. The second part 104 may include more than two segments for length adjustment. For example, as shown in
The first part 102 includes a biasing member 112 that provides tension between the firearm 108 and the user. The tension of the biasing member 112 may be adjustable through various methods (e.g. changing the length of biasing member 112, replacing the biasing member with another biasing member having a larger or smaller biasing force, clamps, adding additional biasing members, etc.). The overall length of the first part 102 and/or the biasing member 112 may also be adjustable with a strap and buckle 126. Adjusting the length of the first part 102 may also change the tension in the biasing member 112. The first part 102 provides at least one direction of tension between the firearm 108 and the user. Maintaining tension between the user and the firearm can help the user better anticipate the movement of the firearm and thereby control the firearm. For example, when a user is walking, running or in movement, the tension provided by the biasing member 112 limits or prevents excessive movement of the firearm 108 (i.e., the firearm 108 flopping around), thereby allowing the user to more readily and rapidly grab, hold and use the firearm 108. Because the biasing member 112 keeps the muzzle of the weapon 108 close to the anchor point (either 110R or 110L) it keeps the weapon at an angle and can prevent the muzzle from pointing straight down, which is a common occurrence in single point slings and traditional two point slings when there is no positive control over the weapon by the user. The preventing the muzzle from pointing down can help avoid a common injury, which happens when the muzzle of the weapon hits the ground and sends the buttstock of the weapon into the user's chin or face. This happens when the user does not have positive control of their weapon because they are handling equipment, accessing pouches, or using a secondary weapon (such as a pistol or shotgun) and are transition from a upright position (standing, jogging, sprinting) to a kneeling or sitting position (to take cover or concealment).
When the user goes to a kneeling or sitting shooting position, the first part 102 also provides biasing forces between the user and the firearm 108 while in a shooting position. The biasing force during shooting helps stabilize the firearm and/or reduce vibration, twitching, and/or movement of the firearm so as to improve aiming. For example, a shooter can stabilize the firearm by using the tensioning force of the biasing member 112 depending on the position of the shooter's support arm. The shooter can pull his support hand toward the middle of the firearm and enhance bone on bone support while at the same time relaxing muscles, which affect aim stability. Alternatively, the user can extend his support hand toward the front of the firearm where the tension forces allow the user to engage large muscle groups which are better at controlling the firearm. The tension of the first part 102 due to the biasing force can also provide a counter-force against muzzle rise, which helps to make target reacquisition faster. This tension can support and stabilize the firearm regardless of shooting position. When a user is finished shooting, the tension in the biasing member 112 pulls the firearm 108 toward the one of the connection regions 110R or 110L. Accordingly, the firearm 108 is moved back to a stable and/or stowed position against the user's body for enhanced mobility of the user as described in detail herein.
The firearm sling system 100 may include a worn part such as a harness, vest, one or more articles of clothing, plate carrier, etc. The first part 102 and the second part 104 can connect to a worn part at a minimum of two locations such as two locations in the body connection regions 110R or 110L and 110C between the wearer and the firearm as described herein. At least one point of connection may be near the center portion of the user's chest as described herein, such as a location in the center body connection region 110C and another point may be on the user's body, such as a location in the body connection region 110R or 110L. According to one example, one point may be near the center of the user's chest, such as a location in the body connection region 110C and the second point may be near the side of the user's body such as around, above, below or over the shoulder of the user, such as a location in the body connection region 110R or 110L. Thus, the firearm sling system 100 may include all of the necessary parts for a user so that a user is not required to have a separate worn part or item of clothing for use with the first part 102 and the second part 106. Alternatively, the firearm sling system 100 may include the first part 102 and the second part 104 for use with a user's existing worn part or item of clothing. For example, a user may already have a harness or vest, to which the first part 102 and the second part 104 can be connected. The first part 102 and the second part 104 may include various clips, buckles, straps and/or similar parts for connecting the first part 102 and the second part 104 to a user's worn item or an article of clothing. Thus, the first part 102 and the second part 104 may be connectable to any worn item or item of clothing.
The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein may be implemented in a variety of embodiments, and the foregoing description of some of these embodiments does not necessarily represent a complete description of all possible embodiments. Instead, the description of the drawings, and the drawings themselves, disclose at least one embodiment, and may disclosure alternative embodiments.
Although certain example apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture have been described herein, the scope of coverage of this disclosure is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this disclosure covers all apparatus, methods, and articles of articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope of the appended claims either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents.
The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/014,413, filed Jun. 19, 2014, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62014413 | Jun 2014 | US |
