US20050236444A1

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Info

Publication number: US20050236444A1
Application number: US11/107,106
Authority: US
Inventors: Stephen Thompson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-04-16
Filing date: 2005-04-14
Publication date: 2005-10-27

Abstract

A sling clip is disclosed that has a clamping mechanism capable of releasably securing the strap when the strap is slidably received through an opening in the sling clip. The sling clip also has an attachment mechanism configured to secure the sling clip proximate to a weapon bearer's body. The clamping mechanism is operatively configured to secure the strap within the sling clip when the weapon is in a firing position such that the strap minimizes movement of a muzzle end of the weapon caused by recoil of the weapon upon firing. A weapon sling including the sling clip also is disclosed. The weapon sling also includes a flexible strap having a first end and a second end is disclosed. The first end of the strap is configured to be secured to a weapon near a near a butt end of the weapon. The weapon may be a rifle, shotgun, or handgun as well as hand-held equipment such as a binocular or a camera.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a sling for stabilizing weapons and other hand-held equipment during use and for transporting the same. More specifically, the present invention relates to a sling that couples the weapon or equipment to the bearer's body to effect stabilization of the weapon or equipment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Slings and straps and the like are commonly used for transporting and stabilizing weapons and other hand-held equipment such as rifles, shotguns, handguns, bows, crossbows, binoculars, telescopes, and still and motion picture cameras. As used herein, the term weapon is intended to include rifles, shotguns, handguns, bows, crossbows and other weapons as well as hand-held equipment such as binoculars, telescopes, cameras and the like.

One problem common to slings designed to facilitate the transportation of weapons is that there is little thought given to whether or how these slings may be used to stabilize the weapon during firing. One example is U.S. Pat. No. 3,098,591 to Lerude. Lerude's harness is adapted for carrying a rifle in a slung position but teaches nothing with regard to the stabilization of the weapon during firing. U.S. Pat. No. 4,613,067 to Gann discloses a carrying sling that permits a weapon to be transported in a variety of positions but discloses no manner in which the carrying sling may be used to stabilize the gun during firing.

Other slings attempt to navigate the middle ground between ease of transportation and stabilization of the weapon for firing. Examples of such patents include U.S. Pat. No. 4,331,271 to Anderson and U.S. Pat. No. 6,260,748 to Lindsey. Anderson discloses a sling for shoulder guns in which a shoulder gun is supported in a slung position from a belt to which is attached a strap. Pains are taken to insure that the shoulder gun will maintain its slung position during transport. However, for stabilization, Anderson relies on the well-known technique of wrapping the sling strap about the elbow of the arm with which the bearer of the weapon grasps the forearm of the stock. In this way, the bearer of the weapon is able to achieve a more secure connection between his or her arm and the weapon. However, this method of stabilizing a weapon for firing relies on the stability of the bearer's arms, an inherently unstable member of the human body. Accordingly, the Anderson sling is not capable of providing much in the way of stabilization for a weapon being fired.

The Lindsey sling is adapted for supporting a weapon across the front of the bearer's chest. A strap may be included between the muzzle end of the weapon and the shoulder of the bearer and by tensioning this strap between the shoulder and the muzzle end of the weapon the weapon may be stabilized to some degree. Not only is Lindsey's sling relatively limited insofar as it offers only two carrying positions for the weapon, but it provides no dissipation of the phenomenon of muzzle flip as the anchoring point for the stabilizing strap is positioned above the muzzle end of the weapon when the weapon is fired.

Other prior art designs have all but abandoned the goal of supporting a weapon for transport in favor of providing a maximum amount of stability for the weapon during firing. U.S. Pat. No. 5,738,256 to Goff et al. discloses an adaptable aiming support that essentially comprises a belt that has a rigid support with a fork at its upper end attached thereto. In use, the fork at the end of the rigid support is placed beneath the forearm or muzzle end of the weapon being fired when the weapon is in its firing position. The Goff et al. aiming support does offer better stability to the weapon during firing but is incapable of use as a traditional sling in that it is not able to support a weapon during transport at all.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,988,466 to Brown is a variation upon the adaptable aiming support of Goff et al. in that the tubular support member upon which a weapon is supported is permanently affixed to the weapon and is constructed and arranged to have a greater degree of rotation, thereby allowing the gun to be moved from a firing position to a carrying position in which the muzzle of the gun points upwardly. However, the weapon remains coupled to the tubular support member and may not be transported apart from the support without first uncoupling the weapon from the support. But in doing so, the weapon will have to be re-coupled to the support for use in the intended manner.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,112,448 to Gray et al. discloses a forearm sling that attempts to improve the stability of a weapon during firing by coupling the weapon to the forearm of the bearer. Again, while coupling a weapon to the arm of a bearer can increase the stability of the weapon during firing to some degree, the arm of a bearer is inherently unstable and cannot adequately stabilize a weapon during firing. What is more, the Gray et al. forearm sling has no way of counteracting the incidence of muzzle flip engendered by the firing of the weapon and does not provide a means for transporting the weapon.

Accordingly, there is a recognized need for a sling for use with weapons of various types and with other types of hand-held equipment that can facilitate the transport of the weapon in a variety of slung positions, in the crook of an arm, or in the hands, that does not involve the need to disassemble the sling. There is also a need for a sling that can couple a weapon to the bearer's body (e.g., proximate, the chest, the back, the hips or other truncal portion of a bearer's body) to sufficiently stabilize the weapon for firing . . . Such a sling must be usable in multiple shooting/use positions.

These and other objectives and advantages of the invention will appear more fully from the following description, made in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Additional advantages and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part, will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a bearer of a rifle holding the weapon in a standing, offhand firing position with the rifle sling of the present invention being deployed in its firing position.

FIG. 2 is a close-up of an embodiment of the present invention comprising a simple carabiner coupled to a belt passed around the waist of the bearer.

FIG. 3 is a close-up of an embodiment of the present invention comprising a sling clip having a clamping mechanism.

FIG. 4 illustrates a bearer of a rifle having a sling of the present invention coupled thereto with the bearer holding the rifle in a kneeling firing position.

FIG. 5 illustrates a bearer of a rifle having a sling of the present invention coupled thereto with the bearer holding the rifle in an open-legged sitting firing position.

FIG. 6 illustrates a bearer of a rifle having a sling of the present invention coupled thereto with the bearer holding the rifle in the Olympic prone firing position.

FIG. 7 illustrates a bearer of a rifle having an alternative embodiment sling of the present invention coupled thereto with the bearer holding the rifle in a kneeling firing position.

FIG. 8 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention comprising a sling clip having a clamping mechanism.

FIG. 9 is a close-up view of the bearing assembly taken along a cute line of the clamping mechanism shown inFIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a close-up of the alternative embodiment clamping mechanism with the remaining portions of the sling clip shown inFIG. 8 being shown in phantom lines.

FIG. 11 is a close-up exploded view of the alternative embodiment sling clip shown inFIG. 8.

FIG. 12 is a close-up view of an alternative embodiment sling taken along a cut line of the sling shown inFIG. 7.

FIG. 13 illustrates another alternative embodiment of the present invention weapon sling with a sling clip attached at a single point to a handgun.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An embodiment of the present invention is realized in a sling for a typical rifle or shotgun. The rifle has a barrel mounted in a stock with a butt end arranged to be positioned against the shoulder of a bearer when the rifle is in a firing position and a forearm portion positioned adjacent a muzzle end of the barrel, with the muzzle end of the rifle being supported at the forearm portion of the stock by the bearer when the rifle is in its firing position. The rifle is steadied in its firing position by a sling that comprises a flexible strap that has a first end and a second end. The first end of the strap is rotatively attached to the rifle adjacent its butt end, the second end of the strap being similarly attached to the rifle at the forearm portion of the stock of the rifle adjacent the muzzle end of the barrel of the rifle. Typically, the strap of the sling is attached to the rifle using standard, well-know devices such as a simple D-ring screwed to the stock of the rifle or a hammerhead sling socket. The strap also has an intermediate portion that is coupled proximate to a body portion of the bearer of the rifle (e.g., waist, side, chest, or back).

When the rifle is in its firing position with the butt end of the rifle positioned against the bearer's shoulder, the strap of the sling extends downward to the bearer's waist and from there to the forearm portion of the stock of the rifle, thereby creating a relatively rigid coupling between the waist or torso of the bearer of the rifle. This coupling between the muzzle end of the rifle and the waist of the bearer prevents recoil forces engendered in the rifle as a result of firing the rifle from causing to the muzzle end of the rifle to rise. This rise, called muzzle flip, can negatively affect the aim of the bearer and result in inaccurate and imprecise shooting.

A feature of an embodiment of the sling is that the strap of the sling is also capable of supporting the rifle in a carrying position in which the rifle is positioned on the back of the bearer for transport.

The strap of the rifle sling of the present invention may be coupled to the waist or torso of the bearer of the rifle in many ways. It must be pointed out that in at least one embodiment of the present invention thesling strap20 is simply passed through thebelt28 or abelt loop27 of the bearer. Because the butt end of the rifle stock is firmly anchored to the shoulder area of the torso, the fixed length of the strap effectively couples the muzzle end of the rifle to the waist of the bearer so as to prevent or at least reduce muzzle flip.

In another embodiment as shown inFIG. 2, thestrap20 of the rifle sling10 is coupled to the waist of the user using a simplecarabiner type mechanism26 that is itself coupled to thebelt28 orbelt loop27 of the bearer. Use of the carabiner allows the sling strap to be easily detached from the waist of the bearer. Alternatively, the bearer may couple the sling strap to his or her waist using a more complex harness that attaches to the waist and/or at least one leg of the bearer.

Where desirable, the sling strap may be constrained with respect to the bearer's waist and to the carabiner type structure used to couple the sling strap thereto. A simple way of accomplishing this is to secure a stop to the sling strap so as to control the movement of the sling strap through the carabiner or loop that couples the sling strap to the bearer's waist. The stop creates a relatively rigid connection of predetermined length between the muzzle end of the rifle and the waist of the bearer by limiting the travel of the sling strap through the carabiner or ring coupled to the waist of the bearer. Another, more complex embodiment of the present invention comprises a sling clip that is coupled to the waist of the bearer and which is constructed and arranged to releasably grip the strap of the sling when the rifle is in its firing position. Once the rifle is in its firing position, the sling clip grasps the strap and securely couples the muzzle end of the rifle to the waist of the bearer to prevent or limit muzzle flip.

In general, the sling strap should be substantially non-elastic or have an elasticity that is relatively low. Good examples of suitable materials from which the sling strap may be fashioned include webbing of nylon and other synthetic materials such as Kevlar, polyvinyl chloride, and the like and natural materials such as leather.

A feature of the preferred embodiment sling is that the flexible strap and the sling clip permit the bearer of the rifle to carry the rifle in the port arms position, cradled in the crook of the bearer's right or left arm, cantilevered over the bearer's right or left forearm with the stock of the rifle being wedged under the bearer's respective arm, to be slung over the shoulder of the bearer, to be slung across the bearer's back, and to be carried in the hand of the bearer with the bearer's arm extended, respectively. Similarly, the rifle may be fired from a group of firing positions consisting of a prone position, a sitting position, a squatting position, an offhand position, a standing position, a kneeling position, and a rest position in which the rifle is supported, at least in part, by an object that is not the bearer of the rifle. The rifle may be freely moved between the transport or carrying positions and the firing position with ease and without requiring the sling strap to be uncoupled from the hips of the bearer.

FIG. 1 illustrates the rifle sling10 of the present invention as it is employed with a firearm such as arifle12. Therifle12 is of a known configuration, having atubular barrel13amounted on a stock13b. The stock13bhas a forward portion known as the forearm13cthat is generally positioned under thebarrel13aof therifle12 near themuzzle end16 of the rifle. The forearm13cof therifle12 may be separated from the remainder of the stock13bor may be formed integral therewith. As can be seen, the bearer B of therifle12 has placed therifle12 in a firing position in which the butt end14 of therifle12 is seated firmly into the shoulder of the bearer B with therifle12 held generally horizontal and supported by the bearer B at the forearm13cnear themuzzle end16 of therifle12.

The sling10 essentially comprises astrap20 that is secured at afirst end22 to the butt end14 of therifle12 and at asecond end24 to themuzzle end16 of therifle12. SeeFIG. 2. Note that the exact manner in which the respective ends22,24 of thestrap20 are secured to therifle12 may vary, but preferably thestrap20 is secured at its

ends

22,24 to therifle12 by means of aswivel23 of a type commonly known to the prior art for attaching rifle slings to arifle12. Thestrap20 is fashioned of a flexible material such as leather or nylon webbing and may also include an adjustment mechanism for modifying the length of the strap (not shown). Such adjustment mechanisms are commonly known in the prior art.

Thestrap20, along with any adjustment mechanisms and the mechanisms whereby the strap ends22,24 are secured to therifle12 are preferably inelastic . . . While thestrap20 must be flexible in order to facilitate firing and transportation of therifle12, it is important that once configured, thestrap20 maintains substantially the same length at all times. While it is appreciated that the preferred materials from which the strap are made, namely leather and nylon webbing, do incorporate some degree of flexibility, this inherent flexibility is within the requirements of the present invention. At the very least, it is important to minimize the degree of flexibility present within thestrap20 and therefore it may be preferable to utilize a substantially inelastic material such as Kevlar™, carbon fiber composites, or the like.

Theportion25 of thestrap20 intermediate the

ends

22,24 is passed through asling clip26. The sling clip is in turn coupled to the waist or truncal portions of the bearer B. In the simplest embodiment of the present invention as illustrated inFIG. 1, when arifle12 is to be fired, the butt14 of the rifle will be firmly pressed into the shoulder of the bearer B. The placement of the butt end14 of therifle12 in the shoulder essentially fixes the position of thefirst end22 of thestrap20 with regard to the waist and truncal portions of the bearer B. Theintermediate portion25 of thestrap20 is similarly anchored to the waist and truncal portions of the bearer's body by means of thesling clip26. Thesling clip26 may be as simple as abelt loop27 on the bearer's B trousers or a carabiner of the type commonly used by climbers. More complex sling clips26 may also be used. Note that thesling clip26 may be coupled to the bearer's waist by means of abelt loop27 or abelt28. Thebelt28 may be used on its own or may be combined with or may form part of aharness29. Preferably, aharness29 will further couple thesling clip26 to the legs of the bearer B similar to the manner in which a typical climbing harness is secured to both the waist and legs of a climber.

The secure placement of the butt end14 of therifle12 into the shoulder of the bearer B, along with the secure coupling of theintermediate portion25 of thestrap20 to the waist of the bearer B effectively couples themuzzle end16 of therifle12 to the waist and truncal portions of the bearer B. The application of a light to moderate upward force against the forearm13cof the rifle by the forward hand of the bearer B, indicated by arrow F, serves to complete the coupling of themuzzle16 of therifle12 to the truncal portions of the bearer b by creating of a relatively rigid structural member having a triangular shape with apexes at the first and second ends22,24 of thestrap20 and at theintermediate portion25 of thestrap20 where it passes through thesling clip26.

When therifle12 is fired, the recoil engendered by the firing tends to create a moment indicated by arrow M that is commonly referred to as muzzle flip. In rifles, shotguns, or other weapons constructed and arranged for a high rate of fire such as with semi-automatic and fully automatic weapons, the additive effect of multiple applications of the moment M can result in severe accuracy problems in that themuzzle end16 of therifle12 will be jerked out of alignment with an intended target (not shown). The sling10 of the present invention counteracts the moment M by applying a counteracting corrective force indicated by arrow C to themuzzle end16 of therifle12 through thesecond end24 of thestrap20. Because therifle12, the truncal portion of the bearer's body between the shoulder and the waist, and thestrap20 maintain essentially the same dimensions at all times during the firing of therifle12, the moment M engendered by the recoil in therifle12 will be counteracted by a tension in thestrap20 indicated by arrow C. Note that therifle12 may be fired in many different positions while using the sling10 of the present invention. By way of example, and without limiting the application of the present invention in any way, arifle12 incorporating the present invention may be fired from an offhand standing position as seen inFIG. 1, from a kneeling position as seen inFIG. 4, from an open-legged position as seen inFIG. 5, and from the Olympic prone position as seen inFIG. 6. Note that sling10 may be employed from virtually any firing position, including, but not limited to, standing positions, sitting positions, prone positions, kneeling positions, and bench rest positions.

Because theintermediate portion25 of thestrap20 may freely pass through thesling clip26 illustrated inFIG. 1, it is relatively simple to move therifle12 from its firing position illustrated inFIG. 1 to a slung position (not shown) in which the rifle is positioned over the right shoulder with themuzzle end16 of therifle12 pointing upwards over the bearer's shoulder; thestrap20 passes over the shoulder to support therifle12. Therifle12 may also be transported slung diagonally across the bearer's back, in the hand with the carrying arm extended, cradled in the crook of the bearer's right or left arm with themuzzle end16 of therifle12 pointing upward, in a port arms or ready position, or cantilevered over the right or left forearm of the bearer B with the butt end14 of therifle12 wedged beneath the corresponding right or left arm. Each of these transport positions for therifle12 may be achieved without first uncoupling thestrap20 from the waist and truncal regions of the bearer B.

As shown inFIG. 3, a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises asling clip26 that incorporates a clamping or lockingmechanism30. Thesling clip26 comprises aU-shaped ring32 and a slidingblock34 received onto theparallel legs36 of thering32. The slidingblock34 slides on thelegs36 between the open position shown inFIG. 3 and a closed position. In the closed position, the upper, curved portion38 of the sliding block engages the bottom33 of thering32 and consequently clamps thestrap20 therebetween and controls the movement of thestrap20 through thesling clip26. InFIG. 3, thestrap20 of the sling10 is shown in phantom. The slidingblock34 is actuated between its open and closed positions by thelocking mechanism30.

Lockingmechanism30 comprises an over-center lever mechanism having a lever arm40 that is rotatively pinned to the sliding block by pin42. One or more fulcrum arms44 are rotatively pinned to the distal ends oflegs36 of bypin46. The fulcrum arms44 are rotatively pinned at their opposing ends to an intermediate portion of the lever arm40 by pins48. When the lever arm40 is moved from its open position to its closed position as shown in phantom inFIG. 3, the pinned end of the lever arm acts in conjunction with the fulcrum arms44 to move the slidingblock34 to its closed position (not shown). Thelocking mechanism30 may be operated by the bearer B by simply pressing down the lever arm40 with the trigger hand when therifle12 is in its desired firing position. Preferably, thelocking mechanism30 will be constructed and arranged to remain in its closed position until such time as the bearer B physically opens or actuates the lever arm40. This is easily accomplished by forming the lever arm40 and the fulcrum arms44 in an over-center arrangement. Thesling clip26 may be coupled to the hips of thebearer26 by providing an attachment mechanism that may be coupled to abelt28 or harness29 that are themselves coupled to the bearer B.

FIGS. 7 through 12 illustrates a bearer of a rifle having an alternative embodiment sling of the present invention that is similar to the preferred embodiment depicted inFIGS. 1 through 6. In this alternative embodiment, as more clearly shown inFIG. 7, a bearer B of a rifle or other weapon having an alternativeembodiment sling clip126 coupled proximate to a side or chest portion of the bearer's body B. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that thesling clip126 could be attached to various parts of the bearer's body without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention (e.g., proximate a thigh, arm, back, chest, side, or waist portion of the body). Thespring clip126 can be securely attached by various attachment mechanism (not shown) such as a bolt, rivet, screw, button hole, leather loop, or the like that to clothing orbody armor154 on the bearer B so that thespring clip126 is secured proximate to the weapon bearer's body B. The bearer B is holding therifle12 in a kneeling firing position.

Thesecond end24 ofstrap20 shown inFIG. 7 also has anelastic member150 located near themuzzle end16 of therifle12. Thiselastic member150 helps to dampen vertical movement of themuzzle end16 caused by recoil motion of the rifle when the rifle is fired. This dampening action of theelastic member150 is especially helpful on semi-automatic firearms that may have recoil motion when fired in rapid succession by supplementing the counteracting corrective force indicated by arrow C that is already being applied by sling10. Theelastic member150 may be an elastic strap, rubberized link, a metal or plastic spring or any other device that tends to dampen movement of elements that are attached to opposite ends of the elastic member.

Turning now toFIG. 8 and the exploded view ofFIG. 11 that illustrates the alternativeembodiment sling clip126 and associated

clamping mechanism

132,138. Thesling clip126 has alever knob158 which is movable in aT slot160 between a locked up position and a released down.Lever knob158 is connected to curvedlower member138. Curvedlower member138 pivots frompivot portion164 about a pivot point in response to movements of thelever knob158.FIG. 8 shows lever know158 in the locked position wherestrap20 is clamped into position and prevented from freely sliding between the U-sharedupper member132 and the curvedlower member138. The curvedlower member138 may include astraight knurled portion139 that can more readilyfrictionally grip strap20 when the curvedlower member138 is pressed next to theupper member132 in the locked position. Thefront wall172 is secured to the rear wall by ascrew176 to form the main body of thesling clip126. Thesling clip126 also includes afront door portion178 with a hinge adjacent to the

clamping mechanism

132,138. Thisfront door portion178 is engaged withfront wall172 through the hinge. When in the open position, thestrap20 can be inserted through thefront door portion178 into the slot formed between the U-sharedupper member132 and the curvedlower member138. The use of thisfront door portion178 allows thestrap20 to be inserted into thesling clip126 without the need for removing thesling clip126 from its secured position proximate to the weapon bearer's body B. In addition, the use of thisfront door portion178 allows thestrap20 to remain secured to theweapon12 while being inserted into thesling clip126. Thefront door portion178 can be secured to therear wall174 in the closed position by a flexibleflanged rope180 by moving theflanged portion184 into slottedsection182 of therear wall174 . . .

FIG. 9 is a close-up view of the bearing assembly taken along acut line9 of the

clamping mechanism

132,138 shown inFIG. 8.Lever162 has apivot portion164 with bearingpoints166 formed thereon. The bearing points engage the front172 and rear174 walls ofsling clip126 to provide a pivot point for thelever162. The

walls

172,174 are spaced apart from one another by ablank side plate168 and a Tslot side plate170.

FIG. 10 is a close-up of the alternative

embodiment clamping mechanism

132,138 in an open or released position with the remaining portions of thesling clip126 shown inFIG. 8 being shown in phantom lines. Thelever knob158 has been moved downward in theT slot160 so thanstrap20 can freely slide between the U-sharedupper member132 and curvedlower member138.

FIG. 12 is a close-up view of analternative embodiment strap20 having a taperedportion156 taken along acut line12 of the sling10 shown inFIG. 7. The taperedportion156 may be added to astrap20 so thatspring clip126 can be formed with a narrower depth than one would have to be formed to accommodate a wider strap. Awider strap20 may be desirable especially on the strap portion that would typically fall on a bearer's shoulder. The wider strap portion in the shoulder region would spread the weapon weight over a larger body surface and thus alleviate undue pressure on the bearer's shoulder. At the same time, it is desirable to minimize the size of thespring clip126 so that weight of thespring clip126 can be minimized. A reasonable compromise of these competing desires is to form a taperedportion156 of thestrap20 near thespring clip126 and perhaps provide a wider portion of the strap near the shoulder. Alternatively, a shoulder pad could be added to thestrap20 near the shoulder where the bearer would have the strap located when carrying therifle12 or other weapon.

FIG. 13 illustrates another alternative embodiment of the presentinvention weapon sling120 or lanyard with asling clip126 attached at asingle point124 to ahandgun112 that is held by a bearer B. In this embodiment, thestrap120 has oneend124 coupled to abutt end114 of thehandgun112. Thestrap120 passes throughspring clip126, and operating is substantially the same way to provide a counteracting corrective force C as previously described in reference tostrap20. The strap also includes a self-recoiling spring152 or other dampening device likeelastic member150 shown inFIG. 7. In this alternative embodiment, theother end122 of thestrap120 may be left unattached to the bearer's clothing or may for convenience be loosely dangled from thespring clip126.

It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of various embodiments of the present invention have been set forth in the description, together with details of the structure and function of various embodiments of the invention, this disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of structure and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. For example, the particular elements may vary depending on the particular application for the sling while maintaining substantially the same functionality without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A weapon sling comprising:

a flexible strap having a first end and a second end, the first end of the strap being configured to be secured near a butt end of the weapon, the second end of the strap being configured to be secured to a weapon near a muzzle end of the weapon; and

a sling clip having a clamping mechanism capable of releasably securing the strap when the strap is slidably received through an opening in the sling clip, the sling clip having an attachment mechanism configured to secure the sling clip proximate to a weapon bearer's body, the clamping mechanism being operatively configured to secure the strap within the sling clip when the weapon is in a firing position such that the strap minimizes movement of the muzzle end caused by recoil of the weapon upon firing.

2. A weapon sling comprising:

a flexible strap having a first end and a second end, the first end of the strap being configured to be secured to a weapon near a near a butt end of the weapon; and

a sling clip having a clamping mechanism capable of releasably securing the strap when the strap is slidably received through an opening in the sling clip, the sling clip having an attachment mechanism configured to secure the sling clip proximate to a weapon bearer's body, the clamping mechanism being operatively configured to secure the strap within the sling clip when the weapon is in a firing position such that the strap minimizes movement of a muzzle end of the weapon caused by recoil of the weapon upon firing.

3. The weapon sling ofclaim 1 wherein the clamping mechanism is operatively configured to loosely hold the strap within the sling clip when the weapon is not in a firing position so that the bearer may move the weapon from a slung position to the firing position without disconnecting the strap from the sling clip.

4. The weapon sling ofclaim 1 wherein the flexible strap and the sling clip are constructed and arranged to allow the bearer of the weapon to carry the weapon in the port arms position, cradled in the crook of the bearer's arm, to be slung over the shoulder of the bearer, to be slung across the bearer's back, and to be carried in the hand of the bearer with the bearer's arm extended, respectively.

5. The weapon sling ofclaim 1 wherein the strap is constructed and arranged to permit the weapon to be fired from a group of firing positions consisting of a prone position, a sitting position, a squatting position, an offhand position, a standing position, a kneeling position, and a rest position in which the weapon is supported, at least in part, by an object that is not the bearer of the weapon.

6. The weapon sling ofclaim 1 wherein the sling clip comprises a carabiner that may be looped around a belt of a bearer of a weapon and wherein the weapon sling further comprises a stop that limits the free travel of the strap through the carabiner of the sling clip when the weapon is in its firing position.

7. The weapon sling ofclaim 1 wherein the sling clip comprises a carabiner that is attached to one of a group consisting of a belt, a belt loop, and a harness, all of which are themselves coupled to a truncal portion, waist, hip, or leg of a bearer of the weapon.

8. The weapon sling ofclaim 1 wherein the sling clip further comprises a clamping mechanism for selectively clamping the strap therein to control the movement of the strap through the sling clip and for defining a predetermined length of strap between the sling clip and the muzzle end of the weapon when the weapon is in its firing position.

9. The weapon sling ofclaim 1 wherein the second end of the strap is configured to be secured to a weapon near the muzzle end of the weapon.

10. The weapon sling ofclaim 9 further comprising an elastic member located along the strap near the muzzle end of the rifle, the elastic member being configured to help dampen vertical movement of the muzzle end caused by recoil motion of the rifle when the rifle is fired.

11. The weapon sling ofclaim 1 wherein the sling clip comprises a front door portion adjacent to the clamping mechanism that in operation permits the strap to be inserted into the clamping mechanism without detaching the strap from the weapon.

12. The weapon sling ofclaim 1 wherein the strap comprises substantially inelastic material.

13. The weapon sling ofclaim 1 wherein the strap comprises material selected from a group consisting of webbing material and leather.

14. A sling clip having a clamping mechanism capable of releasably securing a strap when the strap is slidably received through an opening in the sling clip, the sling clip having an attachment mechanism configured to secure the sling clip proximate to a weapon bearer's body, the clamping mechanism being operatively configured to secure the strap within the sling clip when a weapon is in a firing position such that the strap minimizes movement of a muzzle end of the weapon caused by recoil of the weapon upon firing.

15. The sling clip ofclaim 14 wherein the clamping mechanism is operatively configured to loosely hold the strap within the sling clip when the weapon is not in a firing position so that the bearer may move the weapon from a slung position to the firing position without disconnecting the strap from the sling clip.

16. The sling clip ofclaim 14 wherein the attachment mechanism that is attached to one of a group consisting of a belt, a belt loop, and a harness, all of which are themselves coupled to a truncal portion, waist, hip, or leg of a bearer of the weapon.

17. The sling clip ofclaim 14 wherein the clamping mechanism is selectively clamped the strap therein to control the movement of the strap through the sling clip and for defining a predetermined length of strap between the sling clip and the muzzle end of the weapon when the weapon is in its firing position.

18. The sling clip ofclaim 14 further comprising a front door portion adjacent to the clamping mechanism that in operation permits the strap to be inserted into the clamping mechanism without detaching the strap from the weapon.

19. A weapon sling comprising the sling clip ofclaim 14 and further comprising a flexible strap having a first end and a second end, the first end of the strap being configured to be secured to the weapon near a near a butt end of the weapon.

20. The weapon sling ofclaim 19 wherein the second end of the strap is configured to be secured to a weapon near the muzzle end of the weapon and further comprising an elastic member located along the strap near the muzzle end of the rifle, the elastic member being configured to help dampen vertical movement of the muzzle end caused by recoil motion of the rifle when the rifle is fired.