Sling clip and weapon sling

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.

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 of  claim 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 of  claim 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 of  claim 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 of  claim 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 of  claim 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 of  claim 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 of  claim 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 of  claim 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 of  claim 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 of  claim 1  wherein the strap comprises substantially inelastic material.  
   
   
       13 . The weapon sling of  claim 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 of  claim 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 of  claim 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 of  claim 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 of  claim 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 of  claim 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 of  claim 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.