Loop-shaped Sling Adapter for use on Buffer Tube Assembly or Rifle Stock

Abstract

A clamping sling attachment is configured for use on a carbine or rifle such as the M4 having it's a butt stock mounted on a cylindrical proximally projecting buffer tube, where a distal end of the buffer tube is threaded into the rear of the rifle's receiver. The sling attachment is releasably mountable on the buffer tube as an openable spring-clamp like loop which can be opened enough to go around the buffer tube's cylindrical outer wall. The sling attachment also has a laterally or transversely projecting sling mount defining a substantially vertical, transverse sling-hook receiving through-bore on one side to which the lower end of a weapon sling is releasably attachable. The buffer tube's central axis is the same as the sling attachment loop's central axis and is substantially perpendicular to the sling attachment's transverse sling-hook receiving through-bore.

1 . A sling adapter for a weapon or firearm such as an M4 Carbine having a substantially tubular proximally projecting member, comprising:
 (a) first open loop-shaped body with a substantially tubular sidewall terminating in proximal and distal edges and defining a main interior lumen having a center within an interior diameter selected to be clamped tightly around the exterior surface of the weapon's proximally projecting tubular member;   (b) wherein said loop-shaped body's tubular sidewall carries a transversely projecting boss, and wherein said transversely projecting boss defines a sling-fastener receiving attachment bore radially displaced from the main interior lumen and defining the sling fitting for attachment of a sling system to the weapon, the attachment bore being configured to releasably accommodate a sling-fastener;   (c) wherein the loop-shaped body's main aperture is configured as a radially adjustable clamp for mounting said body upon the firearm at a selected radial orientation, and wherein said weapon is then configured to hang at a selected vertical orientation, so the user can readily grasp the weapon and bring it into a ready or aiming position.   
     
     
         2 . The sling adapter of  claim 1 , wherein said loop-shaped body and transversely projecting boss are fabricated in a one-piece, unitary spring clamp from a resilient metal. 
     
     
         3 . The sling adapter of  claim 2 , wherein said loop-shaped body and transversely projecting boss are fabricated from a stainless steel alloy. 
     
     
         4 . The sling adapter of  claim 3 , wherein said loop-shaped body and transversely projecting boss are fabricated from 17-4 stainless steel alloy. 
     
     
         5 . The sling adapter of  claim 2 , wherein said loop-shaped body and transversely projecting boss are fabricated from spring steel. 
     
     
         6 . The sling adapter of  claim 2 , wherein said loop-shaped body and transversely projecting boss are fabricated from aluminum. 
     
     
         7 . The sling adapter of  claim 2 , wherein said loop-shaped body and transversely projecting boss are fabricated from 7075-T6 aluminum alloy. 
     
     
         8 . A releasable and user-adjustable sling attachment for a firearm, comprising:
 a loop-shaped clamping member configured as a substantially cylindrical spring clamp-like assembly made from a strip of resilient, tough material fabricated to be biased in the closed or clamped position, such that a first clamp end is proximate to or abuts a second clamp end when the loop-shaped clamping member of the present invention is at rest;   wherein said loop-shaped clamping member, when in the normal, closed position defines a cylinder having a central axis and an axial wall with an interior lumen, and wherein each of said clamp ends is configured with a transversely projecting flange to receive and engage a threaded fastener in first and second fastener receiving bores;   wherein said first end flange's bore is aligned with the second end flange's bore along a fastener axis which is orthogonal to the central axis of the clamp, so that a threaded bolt or screw may be inserted into and through the bore in the first end flange and threadably engaged in the bore of the second end flange, to approximate and fasten the clamp ends together; and   wherein said transversely projecting boss projects outwardly from the clamp's exterior wall at an azimuth which is approximately one quarter of the wall's circumference from the nearest end's flange.   
     
     
         9 . The releasable and user-adjustable sling attachment of  claim 8 , wherein said loop-shaped clamping member wall and transversely projecting boss are fabricated into a one-piece, unitary clamp from a resilient metal. 
     
     
         10 . The sling adapter of  claim 9 , wherein said loop-shaped clamping member wall and transversely projecting boss are fabricated from a stainless steel alloy. 
     
     
         11 . The sling adapter of  claim 10 , wherein said loop-shaped clamping member wall and transversely projecting boss are fabricated from 17-4 stainless steel alloy. 
     
     
         12 . The sling adapter of  claim 9 , wherein said loop-shaped clamping member wall and transversely projecting boss are fabricated from spring steel. 
     
     
         13 . The sling adapter of  claim 9 , wherein said loop-shaped clamping member wall and transversely projecting boss are fabricated from aluminum. 
     
     
         14 . The sling adapter of  claim 13 , wherein said loop-shaped clamping member wall and transversely projecting boss are fabricated from 7075-T6 aluminum alloy. 
     
     
         15 . A method for adjusting the angular orientation of a sling attachment clamp to a rifle with a proximally projecting buttstock or buffer tube assembly, comprising the method steps of:
 (a) providing a first open loop-shaped body with a substantially tubular sidewall terminating in proximal and distal edges and defining a main interior lumen having a center within an interior diameter selected to be clamped tightly around the exterior surface of the weapon's proximally projecting tubular member; wherein said loop-shaped body's tubular sidewall carries a transversely projecting boss, and wherein said transversely projecting boss defines a sling-fastener receiving attachment bore radially displaced from the main interior lumen and defining the sling fitting for attachment of a sling system to the weapon, the attachment bore being configured to releasably accommodate a sling-fastener, and wherein the loop-shaped body's main aperture is configured as a radially adjustable clamp having a first sidewall end which is spring-biased to abut a second end sidewall for mounting said body upon the firearm at a selected radial orientation;   (b) opening and spreading said sidewall's first end apart from said sidewall's second end to define an sidewall gap or opening large enough to go around the exterior of the rifle's buffer tube or stock; and   (c) placing said loop-shaped body over the exterior surface of the rifle's proximally projecting stock or buffer tube via the sidewall gap or opening so that said loop shaped body springs back to a closed position and encircles the exterior of the rifle's buffer tube or stock.   
     
     
         16 . The method for adjusting the angular orientation of a sling attachment clamp to a rifle of  claim 15 , further comprising the method step of:
 (d) selecting a desired angular orientation for said loop-shaped body upon said rifle's buffer tube or stock.   
     
     
         17 . The method for adjusting the angular orientation of a sling attachment clamp to a rifle of  claim 16 , further comprising the method step of:
 (e) hanging said weapon a resulting, selected vertical orientation, so the user can readily grasp the weapon and bring it into a ready or aiming position.