Sling swivel

Abstract

A sling swivel for attachment of a sling or strap to a firearm or other item. The swivel includes a body portion defining a slot for receiving the sling or strap, and a mounting pin having a fixed end attached to the body portion and a free end projecting therefrom. A handle is pivotally mounted to the body portion, and a spring is located within the handle portion to bias the handle portion toward the body portion.

1 . A sling swivel comprising:
 a body portion defining a slot for receiving a sling;   a mounting pin having a fixed end attached to the body portion and a free end projecting therefrom;   a handle pivotally mounted to the body portion; and   a spring within the handle portion biasing the handle portion toward the body portion.   
     
     
         2 . The sling swivel of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is mounted to the body portion by a retainer, the retainer having a first end affixed to the body portion and a shaft forming an axis about which the handle pivots. 
     
     
         3 . The sling swivel of  claim 3 , wherein the shaft of the retainer extends through the spring. 
     
     
         4 . The sling swivel of  claim 3 , wherein the shaft of the retainer is generally parallel to the mounting pin. 
     
     
         5 . The sling swivel of  claim 1 , wherein the handle has a radiused end interfacing with the body portion. 
     
     
         6 . The sling swivel of  claim 1 , wherein the body portion and the handle have a substantially uniform thickness T, and a minimum width-wise dimension W, wherein W≧2T. 
     
     
         7 . The sling swivel of  claim 1 , wherein the body portion and the handle have a substantially uniform thickness T, and a minimum width-wise dimension W, wherein W≧3T. 
     
     
         8 . The sling swivel of  claim 1 , wherein the body portion and the handle have gripping elements along outer edges thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The sling swivel of  claim 1 , wherein the handle comprises a hole for releasably engaging the free end of the mounting pin. 
     
     
         10 . A sling swivel comprising a handle portion pivotally attached to a body portion by a retainer, the retainer having a shaft extending through a bore in the handle portion about which the handle portion rotates and an end attached to the body portion, further comprising a spring coiled about the shaft of the retainer for biasing the handle toward the body portion, the spring being enclosed within the bore in the handle portion, and further comprising a mounting pin having a fixed end attached to the body portion and a free end receivable within a hole formed in the handle portion, wherein the shaft of the retainer and the mounting pin are generally parallel to one another, and wherein the free end of the mounting pin is disengaged from the hole formed in the handle by retracting the handle away from the body portion to compress the spring. 
     
     
         11 . The sling swivel of  claim 10 , wherein the body portion comprises a loop for receiving a sling therethrough. 
     
     
         12 . The sling swivel of  claim 10 , wherein the handle portion has a rounded first end for clearance with the body portion when the handle is rotated. 
     
     
         13 . The sling swivel of  claim 10 , wherein the handle portion fits within a cutout area of the body portion. 
     
     
         14 . The sling swivel of  claim 10 , wherein the body portion and the handle portion have a substantially uniform thickness T, and a minimum width-wise dimension W, wherein W≧2T. 
     
     
         15 . The sling swivel of  claim 10 , wherein the body portion and the handle portion have a substantially uniform thickness T, and a minimum width-wise dimension W, wherein W≧3T. 
     
     
         16 . The sling swivel of  claim 10 , wherein the body portion and the handle have gripping ridges along outer edges thereof. 
     
     
         17 . In combination with a firearm having at least one swivel stud mounted thereto and a sling, each swivel stud having a bore extending therethrough, the improvement comprising:
 a sling swivel detachably coupled to each swivel stud, the sling swivel comprising:   a body portion having a slot for receiving the sling, a cutout region, and a mounting pin projecting outwardly therefrom;   a handle portion receivable within the cutout region of the body portion, and having a bore extending therethrough and a hole for releasably engaging a free end of the mounting pin;   a retaining member extending through the bore of the handle portion and attached to the body portion, about which retaining member the handle portion can pivot; and   a spring within the handle portion for biasing the handle portion and the body portion toward one another.   
     
     
         18 . The sling swivel of  claim 17 , wherein the handle portion has a rounded first end for clearance with the body portion when the handle portion is pivoted. 
     
     
         19 . The sling swivel of  claim 17 , wherein the body portion and the handle portion have a substantially uniform thickness T, and a minimum width-wise dimension W, wherein W≧2T. 
     
     
         20 . The sling swivel of  claim 17 , wherein the body portion and the handle portion have a substantially uniform thickness T, and a minimum width-wise dimension W, wherein W≧3T. 
     
     
         21 . The sling swivel of  claim 17 , wherein the body portion and the handle portion have gripping ridges along outer edges thereof. 
     
     
         22 . A sling swivel for a firearm, comprising:
 a body portion having a slotted loop for receiving a sling adjacent a first end thereof;   a handle portion pivotally mounted to the body portion; and   a mounting pin extending between the body portion and the handle portion for detachable engagement with a sling swivel stud mounted to a firearm;   wherein the body portion and the handle portion have a substantially uniform thickness T, and a minimum width-wise dimension W, wherein W≧2T.   
     
     
         23 . The sling swivel of  claim 22 , wherein W≧3T. 
     
     
         24 . The sling swivel of  claim 22 , wherein the mounting pin extends from the body portion. 
     
     
         25 . The sling swivel of  claim 22 , wherein the handle portion is pivotally mounted to the body portion by a retainer extending through a bore in the handle portion and having a tip end attached to the body portion. 
     
     
         26 . The sling swivel of  claim 25 , wherein a spring is mounted over the retainer and received within the bore of the handle portion.