Swivel connector

Abstract

A swivel connector has the form of a split ring that enables a carrying element such as a sling or strap to be connected to a mounting device such as a sling swivel stud of a firearm. The swivel connector can be constructed of a single continuous piece of elastic material and can have a geometry that reduces rotation of the swivel connector about the mounting device.

1 . A swivel connector comprising a wound body formed from a single piece of a flexible material having a first end and a second end, wherein the body includes: 
 a base; and    a pivot section, wherein the base is wider than the pivot section.    
   
   
       2 . The swivel connector of  claim 1 , wherein the single piece of flexible material is formed into at least a double winding of flexible material along at least a majority of a length of the single piece of a flexible material.  
   
   
       3 . The swivel connector of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second ends of the single piece of flexible material are disposed at the base.  
   
   
       4 . The swivel connector of  claim 1 , wherein the body further includes: 
 first and second upper corners connected to opposite ends of the pivot section;    first and second lower corners connected to opposite ends of the base; and    first and second side sections disposed on opposite sides of the swivel connector between the upper and lower corners.    
   
   
       5 . The swivel connector of  claim 4 , wherein the first and second upper corners and the first and second lower corners are curved.  
   
   
       6 . The swivel connector of  claim 4 , wherein the base is substantially straight.  
   
   
       7 . The swivel connector of  claim 6 , wherein the pivot section is substantially straight.  
   
   
       8 . The swivel connector of  claim 4 , wherein an interior width of the pivot section is less than about eighty per cent of an interior width of the base section.  
   
   
       9 . The swivel connector of  claim 3 , wherein the single piece of flexible material is wound into at least a double winding of flexible material along a majority of a length of the single piece of a flexible material.  
   
   
       10 . The swivel connector of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible material of the body is selected from the group consisting of plastics, composites, synthetics, aluminum, steel, and alloys thereof.  
   
   
       11 . The swivel connector of  claim 1 , wherein the single piece of flexible material is elastic.  
   
   
       12 . The swivel connector of  claim 1 , wherein an interior width of the pivot section is less than about two thirds of an interior width of the base section.  
   
   
       13 . A swivel connector for attaching a sling to a firearm, the swivel connector comprising a wound body having a first end and a second end, wherein the body includes: 
 a substantially straight base;    a pivot section, wherein the first and second ends of the wound body are disposed at the base;    first and second upper corners connected to opposite ends of the pivot section;    first and second lower corners connected to opposite ends of the base; and    first and second side sections disposed on opposite sides of the swivel connector between the upper and lower corners, wherein    the wound body is wound into at least a double winding of a strip of flexible material along a majority of a length of the strip of flexible material.    
   
   
       14 . The swivel connector of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second upper corners and the first and second lower corners are curved.  
   
   
       15 . The swivel connector of  claim 14 , wherein the pivot section is substantially straight.  
   
   
       16 . The swivel connector of  claim 13 , wherein the flexible material of the wound body is selected from the group consisting of plastics, composites, synthetics, aluminum, steel, and alloys thereof.  
   
   
       17 . The swivel connector of  claim 13 , wherein the wound body is elastic.  
   
   
       18 . A method of attaching a sling to a firearm, comprising: 
 providing a swivel connector, the swivel connector comprising a wound body of flexible material having a first end and a second end, wherein the body includes:    a base;    a pivot section having a width that is smaller than a width of the base;    first and second upper corners connected to opposite ends of the pivot section;    first and second lower corners connected to opposite ends of the base; and    first and second side sections disposed on opposite sides of the swivel connector between the upper and lower corners, wherein the wound body is wound into at least at least a double winding of the flexible material along at least a majority of a length of the wound body;    inserting a swivel stud of a firearm into the wound body by separating the wound body at either the first end or the second end of the body; and    inserting a sling into the wound body by separating the wound body at either the first end or the second end of the body, wherein when the sling is attached to the firearm, the pivot section is movably engaged with the swivel stud, and the sling is movably engaged with the base.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the first and second upper corners and the first and second lower corners are curved.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein an interior width of the pivot section is less than about eighty per cent of an interior width of the base section.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the pivot section and the base are substantially straight.