Hunting Belt and Shoulder Sling

Abstract

A convertible hunting belt and shoulder sling is provided with an elongated tongue section and elongated tongue joiner section that are adjustably attached along the length of the opposing ends of a central band section so that the overall closed, or fastened, diameter of the belt and shoulder sling has a wide range of adjustability for convertible use as a waist belt or shoulder sling. Various type of equipment can be attached to the elongated central band.

1 . A convertible belt and shoulder sling for storage and transport of hunting equipment, the convertible belt and should sling comprising:
 an elongated central band having a first and second longitudinal end;   a series of longitudinally spaced apart fastening elements located along each of the first and second longitudinal ends of the elongated central band;   an elongated tongue band having a first and second longitudinal end, the first longitudinal end of the elongated tongue band having at least one elongated central band fastening element for adjustable attachment to at least one of the series of longitudinally spaced apart fastening elements located along the first longitudinal end of the elongated central band;   an elongated tongue joiner band having a first and second longitudinal end, the first longitudinal end of the tongue joiner band having at least one elongated central band fastening element for adjustable attachment to at least one of the series of longitudinally spaced apart fastening elements located along the second longitudinal end of the elongated central band, the second longitudinal end of the elongated tongue joiner band having a tongue joiner element for selectively connecting with at least one tongue joiner band fastening element in a series of longitudinally spaced apart tongue joiner band fastening elements located along the second longitudinal end of the elongated tongue band; and   at least one equipment retaining element attached to the elongated central band.   
   
   
       2 . The convertible belt and shoulder sling of  claim 1  wherein each of the series of longitudinally spaced apart tongue joiner band fastening elements located along the second longitudinal end of the elongated tongue band comprises an opening or hole, and the tongue joiner element comprises a single prong buckle. 
   
   
       3 . The convertible belt and shoulder sling of  claim 1  wherein the series of longitudinally spaced apart fastening elements located along each of the first and second longitudinal ends of the elongated central band, the at least one elongated central band fastening element at the first longitudinal end of the elongated tongue band, and the at least one elongated central band fastening element at the first longitudinal end of the elongated tongue joiner band are openings or holes, the convertible belt and shoulder sling further comprising at least one first fastener passing through the combination of at least one of the openings or holes in the first longitudinal end of the elongated central band and at least one of the openings or holes in the first longitudinal end of the elongated tongue band, and at least one second fastener passing through the combination of at least one of the openings or holes in the second longitudinal end of the elongated band and at least one of the openings or holes in the first longitudinal end of the elongated tongue joiner band. 
   
   
       4 . The convertible belt and shoulder sling of  claim 3  wherein each of the series of longitudinally spaced apart tongue joiner band fastening elements located along the second longitudinal end of the elongated tongue band comprises an opening or hole, and the tongue joiner element comprises a buckle. 
   
   
       5 . The convertible belt and shoulder sling of  claim 1  wherein the series of longitudinally spaced apart fastening elements in the elongated central band and tongue band are arranged so that connection of the tongue joiner element to different tongue joiner band fastening elements located at along the second longitudinal end of the elongated tongue band forms a closed loop having a length ranging from less than the length of the elongated central band to greater than the length of the elongated band. 
   
   
       6 . The convertible belt and shoulder sling of  claim 1  wherein the at least one equipment retaining element comprises a plurality of loops at least partially along the length of the elongated central band, at least some of the plurality of loops formed to hold a round of ammunition. 
   
   
       7 . The convertible belt and shoulder sling of  claim 1  wherein the at least one equipment retaining element is selected from the group of loops, D-rings, pouches, holes and grommets. 
   
   
       8 . The convertible belt and shoulder sling of  claim 1  wherein each of the series of longitudinally spaced apart fastening elements located along the first and second longitudinal ends of the elongated central band is the male disc of a snap fastener and each of the at least one elongated central band fastening elements on the elongated tongue band and tongue joiner band is the female disc of a snap fastener. 
   
   
       9 . The convertible belt and shoulder sling of  claim 1  wherein each of the series of longitudinally spaced apart fastening elements located along the first and second longitudinal ends of the elongated central band is the loop of a hook and loop fastener and each of the at least one elongated central band fastening elements on the elongated tongue band and tongue joiner band is the hook of a hook and loop fastener. 
   
   
       10 . A convertible belt and shoulder sling for storage and transport of hunting equipment, the convertible belt and shoulder sling comprising:
 an elongated central band having a first and second longitudinal end;   a series of longitudinally spaced apart holes located along each of the first and second longitudinal ends of the elongated central band;   an elongated tongue band narrower in width than the width of the elongated central band, the tongue band having a first and second longitudinal end, the first longitudinal end of the tongue band having two elongated central band holes for selectable attachment to two adjacent holes in the series of the longitudinally spaced apart holes located along the first longitudinal end of the elongated central band;   a separate tongue fastener passing through the combination of each of the two elongated central band holes in the tongue band and each of the two adjacent holes located in the series of longitudinally spaced apart holes along the first longitudinal end of the central band;   an elongated tongue joiner band narrower in width than the width of the elongated central band, the tongue joiner band having a first and second longitudinal end, the first longitudinal end of the tongue joiner band having two elongated central band holes for selectable attachment to two adjacent holes in the series of longitudinally space apart holes located along the second longitudinal end of the elongated central band, the second longitudinal end of the tongue joiner band having a tongue joiner element for selectively connecting with at least one tongue joiner band hole in a series of longitudinally spaced apart tongue joiner band holes located along the second longitudinal end of the elongated tongue band;   a separate tongue joiner fastener passing through the combination of each of the two elongated central band holes in the tongue joiner band and each of the two adjacent holes located in the series of longitudinally spaced apart holes along the second longitudinal end of the central band; and   at least one equipment retaining element attached to the elongated central band.   
   
   
       11 . The convertible belt and shoulder sling of  claim 10  wherein the tongue joiner element comprises a single prong buckle. 
   
   
       12 . The convertible belt and shoulder sling of  claim 10  wherein the series of longitudinally spaced apart holes in the elongated central band and tongue band are arranged so that connection of the tongue joiner element to different tongue joiner band holes located along the second longitudinal end of the elongate tongue band forms a closed loop having a length ranging from less than the length of the elongated central band to greater than the length of the elongated band. 
   
   
       13 . The convertible belt and shoulder sling of  claim 10  wherein the at least one equipment retaining element comprises a plurality of loops at least partially along the length of the elongated central band, at least some of the plurality of loops formed to hold a round of ammunition. 
   
   
       14 . The convertible belt and shoulder sling of  claim 10  further comprising an indicia adjacent to one or more holes in the series of longitudinally spaced apart holes in the elongated central band to indicate the length of the closed loop formed when the tongue band and tongue joiner band are fastened to the central band to the one or more holes adjacent to the indicia. 
   
   
       15 . A convertible belt and shoulder sling for storage and transport of hunting equipment, the convertible belt and shoulder sling comprising:
 an elongated central band having a first and second longitudinal end;   a series of longitudinally spaced apart fastening elements located along each of the first and second longitudinal ends of the elongated central band;   an elongated tongue band having a first and second longitudinal end, the first longitudinal end of the elongated tongue band having at least one elongated central band fastening element for adjustable attachment to at least one of the series of longitudinally spaced apart fastening elements located along the first longitudinal end of the elongated central band;   an elongated tongue joiner band having a first and second longitudinal end, the first longitudinal end of the tongue joiner band having at least one elongated central band fastening element for adjustable attachment to least one of the series of longitudinally spaced apart fastening elements located along the second longitudinal end of the elongated central band, the second longitudinal end of the elongated tongue joiner band having a tongue joiner element for selectively connecting with a tongue joiner connecting element located along the second longitudinal end of the elongated tongue band; and   at least one equipment retaining element attached to the elongated central band.   
   
   
       16 . The convertible belt and shoulder sling of  claim 15  wherein the tongue joiner connecting element is the female piece of a release buckle and the tongue joiner element is the male piece of a release buckle. 
   
   
       17 . The convertible belt and shoulder sling of  claim 16  wherein the series of longitudinally spaced apart fastening elements located along each of the first and second longitudinal ends of the elongated central band, the at least one elongated band fastening element at the first longitudinal end of the elongated tongue band, and the at least one elongated central band fastening element at the first longitudinal end of the elongated tongue joiner band are openings or holes, the convertible belt and shoulder sling further comprising at least one first fastener passing through the combination of at least one of the openings or holes in the first longitudinal end of the elongated central band and at least one of the openings or holes in the first longitudinal end of the elongated tongue band, and at least one second fastener passing through the combination of at least one of the openings or holes in the second longitudinal end of the elongated band and at least one of the openings or holes in the first longitudinal end of the elongated tongue joiner band. 
   
   
       18 . The convertible belt and shoulder sling of  claim 17  wherein the at least one equipment retaining element comprises a plurality of loops at least partially along the length of the elongated central band, at least some of the plurality of loops formed to hold a round of ammunition. 
   
   
       19 . The convertible belt and shoulder sling of  claim 17  wherein the at least one equipment retaining element is selected from the group of loops, D-rings, pouches, holes and grommets.