Universal firearm sling

Abstract

An ambidextrous firearm sling having a transverse webbing piece having a first end adapted to removably engage a first sling swivel near a forward end of a firearm and a second end adapted to removably engage a buttloop webbing piece is disclosed. The sling has a top webbing piece attached at a first end to the transverse piece and adapted to attach at a second end to the buttloop webbing piece. The buttloop webbing piece provides first and second mating ends and is adapted to encircle the buttstock of a firearm and engage the buttstock circumferentially by engagement of the first and second mating ends. The buttloop webbing piece is secured against transverse movement along the length of the buttstock by an attached anchor strap with a hook and loop fastener adapted to removably engage a second sling swivel on the buttstock.

1 . A sling assembly for attachment to any one of a plurality of firearms for suspending the firearm, each of the plurality of firearms having a muzzle at one end, a buttstock at the opposite end, a longitudinal axis extending between the muzzle and the buttstock, and a first sling attachment fixture disposed proximate the muzzle, wherein some of the plurality of firearms, when oriented upright with the longitudinal axis generally horizontal, include a second sling attachment fixture disposed along the lower surface of the buttstock, whereas others of the plurality of firearms, when oriented upright with the longitudinal axis generally horizontal, include a second sling attachment fixture disposed above the lower surface of the buttstock proximate to the longitudinal axis, the sling assembly comprising:
 a side webbing member having a front side webbing end and a back side webbing end;   a plurality of strap adjusters disposed along the side webbing member including at least first and second strap adjusters adjustably disposed proximate the front side webbing end and the back side webbing end, respectively, and adapted to receive the doubled front side webbing end and back side webbing end respectively, when the sling assembly is attached to a firearm, and third and fourth strap adjusters adjustably disposed between the first and second strap adjusters;   a top webbing assembly including a first top webbing member and a second top webbing member;
 the first top webbing member including a connector ring permanently attached at a front end and a first portion of a side release buckle disposed at a back end, the connector ring being removably slidably fitted over the side webbing member between the third and fourth strap adjusters to restrict the movement of the connector ring to a selected portion along the side webbing member; 
 the second top webbing member including a front end and a back end, a second portion of a side release buckle being disposed at the front end, the second portion of the side release buckle being selectively connectable to the first portion of the side release buckle; and 
   a buttstock strap assembly including a circumferential webbing member having first and second mating ends and a side webbing attachment fixture, an anchor strap extending laterally from the circumferential webbing member, and a buttstock connector ring connected at a fixed position on the circumferential webbing member;   whereby, when attached to one of the plurality of firearms that, when oriented upright with the longitudinal axis generally horizontal, includes a second sling attachment fixture disposed along the lower surface of the buttstock, the front side webbing end of the side webbing member is removably connected to the firearm's first sling attachment member, the side webbing member is disposed generally parallel to the firearm's longitudinal axis, and the back side webbing end of the side webbing member is removably connected to the side webbing attachment fixture of the buttstock strap assembly, the circumferential webbing member of the buttstock strap encircles the firearm's buttstock such that the buttstock connector ring is disposed proximate to the top of the buttstock and the first and second mating ends are removably engaged with one another to hold the buttstock strap on the firearm's buttstock, the anchor strap of the buttstock strap assembly encircles a portion of the buttstock to limit transverse movement along the buttstock, and the back end of the second top webbing member is removably connected to the buttstock connector ring; and   whereby, when attached to another of the plurality of firearms that, when oriented upright with the longitudinal axis generally horizontal, includes a second sling attachment fixture disposed above the lower surface of the buttstock proximate to the longitudinal axis, the front side webbing end of the side webbing member is removably connected to the firearm's first sling attachment fixture, the side webbing member is disposed generally parallel to the firearm's longitudinal axis, the back side webbing end of the side webbing member is removably connected to the firearm's second sling attachment fixture, and the back end of the second top webbing member is removably connected to the back side webbing end of the side webbing member.   
   
   
       2 . The sling assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a dynamic expansion zone disposed within a length of the second top webbing member. 
   
   
       3 . The sling assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the dynamic expansion zone includes at least one length of cotton-cased natural rubber bungee cord secured in an interior canal of the second top webbing member. 
   
   
       4 . The sling assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the side webbing member, the first top webbing member, the second top webbing member, and the circumferential webbing member are each made from tubular nylon fiber webbing. 
   
   
       5 . The sling assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second top webbing member includes at least one strap adjuster for adjusting a length of the second top webbing member. 
   
   
       6 . The sling assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the side webbing member is formed of a continuous strip of tubular nylon webbing. 
   
   
       7 . A sling assembly for attachment to any one of a plurality of firearms for suspending the firearm, each of the plurality of firearms having a muzzle at one end, a buttstock at the opposite end, a longitudinal axis extending between the muzzle and the buttstock, and a first sling attachment fixture disposed proximate the muzzle, wherein some of the plurality of firearms, when oriented upright with the longitudinal axis generally horizontal, include a second sling attachment fixture disposed along the lower surface of the buttstock, whereas others of the plurality of firearms, when oriented upright with the longitudinal axis generally horizontal, include a second sling attachment fixture disposed above the lower surface of the buttstock proximate to the longitudinal axis, the sling assembly comprising:
 a side webbing member having a front side webbing end and a back side webbing end;   a plurality of strap adjusters disposed along the side webbing member including at least first and second strap adjusters adjustably disposed proximate the front side webbing end and the back side webbing end, respectively, and adapted to receive the doubled front side webbing end and back side webbing end respectively, when the sling assembly is attached to a firearm, and third and fourth strap adjusters adjustably disposed between the first and second strap adjusters;   a connector ring removably slidably fitted over the side webbing member between the third and fourth strap adjusters to restrict the movement of the connector ring to a selected portion along the side webbing member   a top webbing assembly including a first top webbing member and a second top webbing member;
 the first top webbing member including a free front end and a first portion of a side release buckle disposed at a back end and a strap adjuster disposed proximate the free front end and adapted to received the doubled free front end; 
 the second top webbing member including a front end and a back end, a second portion of a side release buckle being disposed at the front end, the second portion of the side release buckle being selectively connectable to the first portion of the side release buckle; and 
   a buttstock strap assembly including a circumferential webbing member having first and second mating ends and a side webbing attachment fixture, an anchor strap extending laterally from the circumferential webbing member, and a buttstock connector ring connected at a fixed position on the circumferential webbing member;   whereby, when attached to one of the plurality of firearms that, when oriented upright with the longitudinal axis generally horizontal, includes a second sling attachment fixture disposed along the lower surface of the buttstock, the front side webbing end of the side webbing member is removably connected to the firearm's first sling attachment fixture, the side webbing member is disposed generally parallel to the firearm's longitudinal axis, and the back side webbing end of the side webbing member is removably connected to the side webbing attachment fixture of the buttstock strap assembly, the circumferential webbing member of the buttstock strap encircles the firearm's buttstock such that the buttstock connector ring is disposed proximate to the top of the buttstock and the first and second mating ends are removably engaged with one another to hold the buttstock strap on the firearm's buttstock, the anchor strap of the buttstock strap assembly encircles a portion of the buttstock to limit transverse movement along the buttstock, and the back end of the second top webbing member is removably connected to the buttstock connector ring; and   whereby, when attached to another of the plurality of firearms that, when oriented upright with the longitudinal axis generally horizontal, includes a second sling attachment fixture disposed above the lower surface of the buttstock proximate to the longitudinal axis, the front side webbing end of the side webbing member is removably connected to the firearm's first sling attachment fixture, the side webbing member is disposed generally parallel to the firearm's longitudinal axis, the back side webbing end of the side webbing member is removably connected to the firearm's second sling attachment fixture, and the back end of the second top webbing member is removably connected to the back side webbing end of the side webbing member.   
   
   
       8 . An ambidextrous firearm sling comprising:
 a transverse webbing piece having a first end adapted to removably engage a first sling swivel near a forward end of a firearm and a second end adapted to removably engage a buttloop webbing piece; and   a top webbing piece attached at a first end to the transverse webbing piece and adapted to attach at a second end to the buttloop webbing piece;   wherein the buttloop webbing piece provides first and second mating ends and is adapted to encircle the buttstock of a firearm and engage the buttstock circumferentially by engagement of the first and second mating ends;   wherein the buttloop webbing piece is secured against transverse movement along the length of the buttstock by an attached anchor strap having a hook and loop fastener.   
   
   
       9 . The ambidextrous firearm sling of  claim 8  further comprising an elastically expandable segment in the top webbing piece adapted to elastically absorb shocks produced when carrying a firearm using the ambidextrous firearm sling. 
   
   
       10 . The ambidextrous firearm sling of  claim 8  wherein the transverse webbing piece is formed from a single continuous tubular webbing piece having at least two first strap adjusters disposed near opposite ends of the transverse webbing piece and adapted to accept doubled ends of the transverse webbing piece for attaching the transverse webbing piece to the first sling swivel and buttloop webbing piece and at least two additional strap adjusters disposed between the two first strap adjusters. 
   
   
       11 . The ambidextrous firearm sling of  claim 8  wherein the transverse webbing piece, the top webbing piece, and the buttloop webbing piece are made from high tenacity fiber nylon tubular webbing. 
   
   
       12 . The ambidextrous firearm sling of  claim 8  wherein the top webbing piece further comprises first and second top webbing piece members that are selectively detachable from one another via a side release buckle. 
   
   
       13 . A universal firearm sling kit for providing a universal firearm sling for attachment to any of a plurality of firearms having a front sling swivel mounted near the front of the firearm including firearms having fixed-length buttstocks and firearms with adjustable-length buttstocks, the firearms having fixed length buttstocks having a rear sling swivel on the buttstock, the firearms with adjustable-length buttstocks having a slot formed through the buttstock, the universal firearm sling kit comprising:
 a buttstock webbing assembly for use with firearms having fixed length buttstocks, the buttstock webbing assembly having an encircling member removably attachable about the circumference of the buttstock and having an attached lateral stabilizer strap removably securable around a rear portion of the buttstock;   a lower webbing assembly having a transverse webbing piece having an upper webbing piece attachment point and being adapted to attach to the first sling swivel and in the case of a firearm having a fixed length buttstock, to a buttstock strap assembly, and in the case of an firearm having an adjustable-length buttstock, to the slot of the buttstock; and   an upper webbing assembly adapted to attach at a first end to the upper webbing piece attachment point and in the case of a firearm with a fixed length buttstock, to the buttstock webbing assembly, and in the case of a firearm with an adjustable length buttstock to the transverse webbing piece proximate the slot formed in the buttstock.   
   
   
       14 . The universal firearm sling kit of  claim 13 , wherein the lower webbing assembly transverse piece is formed of a continuous length of tubular flat stock ballistic nylon. 
   
   
       15 . The universal firearm sling kit of  claim 13 , wherein the upper webbing piece attachment point comprises a D-ring slidably secured by first and second strap adjusters. 
   
   
       16 . The universal firearm sling kit of  claim 13  wherein the upper webbing piece is adapted to elastically expand when exposed to shock tensile stress. 
   
   
       17 . The universal firearm sling kit of  claim 13  wherein the lateral stabilizer strap is removably securable to the buttstock by a hook and loop fastener. 
   
   
       18 . A sling assembly for attachment to a firearm for suspending the firearm in an upright, generally horizontal orientation from a shoulder of the user, the firearm having a muzzle at one end, a buttstock at the opposite end, a longitudinal axis extending between the muzzle and the buttstock, and a first sling attachment fixture disposed proximate the muzzle, the sling assembly comprising:
 a side webbing member having a front side webbing end and a back side webbing end;   a top webbing assembly including a first top webbing member and a second top webbing member;
 the first top webbing member including a connector ring disposed at a front end and a first portion of a side release buckle disposed at a back end, the connector ring being removably slidably fitted over the side webbing member between the front side webbing end and the back side webbing end; 
 the second top webbing member including a front end and a back end, a second portion of a side release buckle being disposed at the front end, the second portion of the side release buckle being selectively connectable to the first portion of the side release buckle; and 
   a buttstock strap assembly including a self-tightening girthing strap adapted to circumscribe the buttstock horizontally and being anchored a predetermined distance from an end of the buttstock by a buttstock strap forming first and second loops about the girthing strap on opposite sides of the buttstock;   wherein the first and second loops also retain first and second D-rings for selective attachment to the side webbing member.   
   
   
       19 . The sling assembly of  claim 18 , further comprising a hook and loop fastener attached to the girthing strap and adapted to retain the girthing strap in a fixed position about the buttstock prior to having a self-tightening load applied to the girthing strap. 
   
   
       20 . The sling assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the side webbing member, the first and second top webbing members, the girthing strap, and the buttstrap, each comprise a length of high tenacity fiber nylon woven as tubular flat stock. 
   
   
       21 . The sling assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the second top webbing member further comprises a dynamic expansion zone with at least one length of cotton-cased natural rubber bungee sewn within a crimped portion of the second top webbing member.