This Application is a Section 371 National Stage Application of International Application No. PCT/RU2013/000102, filed Feb. 12, 2013, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and published as WO 2013/180596 on Dec. 5, 2013, not in English.
The present invention relates to weapon technology and specifically to gun slings used by special forces.
The operations of special forces, which include combat at close range directly in a city and firing contact at small and ultra-small distances, require special types of guns, new methods of handling those, as well as special equipment. Such equipment also includes tactical gun slings allowing quick and easy gun handling.
Several types of tactical gun slings distinguished by the type of fixation to a firearm are currently known.
They include, for example, the tactical single-point sling, which is fixed to a gun at single point, usually on the butt of the gun. The single-point gun sling comprises a sling designed in the form of a length-adjustable loop and having an element for fixing to the gun (see. US Application No. US 2006/0208016, IPC F41C 23/02, 2006).
The main feature of the prior-art tactical sling is that it ensures maximum freedom for the gun. The gun is easily directed in any direction, can be fitted into the silhouette of the operator when passing through doorways and other narrow places, and can be easily moved from one shoulder to the other.
The main drawback of such a gun sling is the large amplitude of swinging of the gun in the free position. To overcome this drawback it is necessary to install special clamps what greatly complicates a design.
The most popular sling at present time is a two-point gun sling comprising a length-adjustable sling having at its ends elements for fixing to the gun (see. US Application No. US 2004/0188476, IPC F41C 23/02, 2004). The two-point gun sling enables the operator to quickly and easily adjust the length of the sling. By pulling one end of the sling, it is possible to change the length of the sling quickly so that the gun moves directly close to body, and vice versa, to restore its original length.
The drawback of such gun sling is that its design does not allow the operator to perform the movement of the gun to the other shoulder without changing position of the sling system on his body in process or without taking off the said sling system from his body at all.
The most perfect tactical gun sling is currently the three-point gun sling made of a length-adjustable sling in the form of a loop and having two elements for fixing to a gun and a third fixing element, which is used when moving the gun from one position into another. This element is mounted in such manner that it is able to move along the sling (see. US Application No. US 2007/0278262, IPC F41 C 23/02, 2007). This sling is intended for comfortable transportation of a gun. The design of such sling enables it to take a fixed position on the operator's body, and the design makes it possible to toss up a gun from any position, i.e., it is most balanced, according to the requirements to a gun sling system and it is one of the most popular among professional soldiers of special forces.
However, this design does not provide necessary comfort and freedom of action because a tight fit of a personal gun to body is impossible, and excessive adjustment of sling length makes it very difficult to fire the gun even when this sling system is actually transformed into a single-point system.
The gun sling that is most close in terms of design and principle of action is a gun sling comprising a length-adjustable sling in form of a loop, front sling mount, a quick-release element for fixing to a gun barrel unit and an element for fixing to butt of a gun, a sling adjustment unit, an adjustment strap passing through the sling adjustment unit, one end of which is fixed through the quick-release element to the front sling mount, and the second one remains free, while movement limiters are mounted close to the sling adjustment unit to limit the movement of said sling adjustment unit in both directions (see. Russian Patent No. RU2421675 for invention, “DOLG m2™ tactical gun sling,” IPC F41C 23/02, publication date Jun. 20, 2011).
This sling design makes it possible to increase comfort and freedom of action when moving the gun and using it.
Its drawback is that it does not make it possible to adjust sling length quickly due to rather small margin for adjusting the basic loop, and the limited possibility of transforming and using the gun.
The technical effect of the present invention is that quick adjustment of the length of the sling is ensured, the margin for adjusting the basic loop is increased, and new possibilities are offered for transforming and using the sling.
This technical effect is accomplished by the fact that the gun sling comprises a length-adjustable sling in a form of a loop, a front sling mount, a quick-release element for fixing to the gun barrel unit and an element for fixing to the butt of the gun, and a sling adjustment unit. What is novel is that the sling additionally comprises a quick adjustment unit, through which the sling passes in the form of a loop.
The present invention is explained by the drawing, which schematically shows a general view of the gun sling installed on the gun.
The gun sling comprises a sling 1 in a form of a loop, which passes through the adjustment unit 2, an adjustment strap 3 passed through the adjustment unit 2 and connected by one end to the front sling mount 5 through the fixing element 4, while its other end remains free, and sling 1 further passes freely through a rear sling mount 6 for fixing to the head part of the butt 7, an additional quick adjustment unit 8, through which the sling 1 also passes, forming a second loop.
The gun sling operates as follows.
In the initial state, the sling 1, passing through the adjustment units 2 and 8, forms two loops, which are put on the shoulders, like the straps of a backpack, and bring about the transfer of the gun onto the back according to the “biathlon” method. To use the sling on sniper rifles, the two loops of the sling 1 are put together, which transforms the sling into a two-point sling. The transformation from the “biathlon” variant into the two-point variant and vice versa without increasing the length of the sling is accomplished now without additional manipulations with the adjustment unit 8 of the basic loop of the sling. If it is necessary to increase the length of the sling, the adjustment strap 3 is pulled out through the unit 2 and so is the sling 1 through the quick adjustment unit 8. In order to set the “transport position,” the “combat position” and the “patrol position,” the gun is placed in advance in front of or behind the operator, putting the sling 1 over the neck and the shoulder. The free end of the adjustment strap 3 is pulled out completely in the “transport position” and the adjustment unit 2 is pulled now up to the fixing element 4, and the gun assumes a diagonal position, being closely in contact with the operator's uniform. In “patrol position” the adjustment strap 3 is pulled out through the adjustment unit 2 over a length comfortable for the operator. In the “combat position” the adjustment strap 3 is pulled out almost completely, the gun is freed, which makes it possible to fire with the butt from both the right shoulder and the left shoulder. To increase the length of the sling, the sling 1 is pulled out through the quick adjustment unit 8 in all these positions.
Thus presence of the quick adjustment unit 8 makes it possible to adjust length of the sling very quickly and to provide a rather large margin for adjusting the basic loop, which makes it possible to transform the sling into two straps, analogous to the straps of a backpack, and to bring about the transfer of the gun according to the “biathlon” method (on the back, after putting on the straps of the sling over both shoulders); to put the straps together, which transforms the sling into a two-point sling with the adjustment strap. Such a function is extremely useful for using the sling on sniper rifles. The transformation from the “biathlon” variant into the two-point variant and vice versa is accomplished very quickly and without additional manipulations with the adjustment unit of the basic loop of the sling, which ensures, on the whole, a great tactical advantage.
The sling can be used effectively in practically any type of personal small arm, offering functional and tactical advantages for each type in particular, starting from submachine guns, continuing with automatic rifles, sniper rifles, shotguns, machine guns and manual grenade launchers.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2012117403 | Apr 2012 | RU | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/RU2013/000102 | 2/12/2013 | WO | 00 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2013/180596 | 12/5/2013 | WO | A |
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Entry |
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International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Oct. 31, 2013 for corresponding International Patent Application No. PCT/RU2013/000102, filed Feb. 12, 2013. |
International Preliminary Report on Patentability and Written Opinion dated Oct. 28, 2014 for corresponding International Patent Application No. PCT/RU2013/000102, filed Feb. 12, 2013. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20150083763 A1 | Mar 2015 | US |