Sling apparatus

Abstract

A sling apparatus has a sling body with downwardly extending first and second arms downwardly. First and second upper straps is coupled to the sling body for carrying the sling body. A first release mechanism is coupled to a distal end of the first arm and a second release mechanism is coupled to a distal end of the second arm. The first and second release mechanisms are configured to attach to an object to be carried by a user, such as with a shoulder strap. A trigger assembly is integrated into the sling body and interconnected to the first and second release mechanisms, whereby actuating the trigger mechanism of the trigger assembly causes simultaneous detachment of the first and second release mechanisms from the object and thereby release of the object from the sling apparatus.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sling apparatus, comprising:
 a sling body having first and second arms downwardly extending therefrom;   a first upper strap coupled to an upper portion of the sling body for carrying the sling body;   a first release mechanism coupled to the first arm and a second release mechanism coupled to the second arm, the first and second release mechanisms configured to attach to an object to be carried about a shoulder of a user; and   a trigger assembly attached to the sling body and coupled to the first and second release mechanisms, whereby pulling a trigger of the trigger assembly will allow detachment of the first and second release mechanisms from the object.   
     
     
         2 . The sling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sling apparatus is configured to carry a bow. 
     
     
         3 . The sling apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the sling body is generally elongated and has a rectangular or trapezoidal shape. 
     
     
         4 . The sling apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first strap is part of a shoulder strap attached to and between top lateral sides of the sling body so that the sling body can be supported by the shoulder of the user. 
     
     
         5 . The sling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the trigger assembly is housed at least partially within the sling body. 
     
     
         6 . The sling apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the trigger assembly is positioned toward a front of the sling body so that the trigger is easily accessible by a hand of the user. 
     
     
         7 . The sling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the trigger assembly is linked through each of the first and second arms to the first and second release so that when the trigger is pulled, the two release mechanisms simultaneously open and release the object to which first and second release mechanisms are attached. 
     
     
         8 . The sling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the trigger assembly comprises a housing that defines a trigger slot sized and shaped for receiving the trigger, but that is longer than the trigger thereby forming a space between a back end of the trigger and a back wall of the trigger slot, the space allowing the trigger to slide from front to back within the trigger slot. 
     
     
         9 . The sling apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising biasing members positioned between the back of the trigger and a back of the trigger slot to bias the trigger toward a front end of the trigger slot. 
     
     
         10 . The sling apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a cable having a first end coupled to the first release mechanism and a second end coupled to the second release mechanism and coupled to the trigger assembly, whereby pulling the trigger pulls the cable relative to the first and second release mechanisms. 
     
     
         11 . The sling apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the trigger comprises a trigger body having a generally rectangular outer shape and a central aperture, a front end of the trigger body defining a C shaped channel, the cable extending to and between proximal ends of cable sleeve ends positioned proximate respective ends of the C shaped channel. 
     
     
         12 . The sling apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein when the trigger is pulled, the cable is pulled in precisely equal lengths relative to each side so as to cause the first and second release mechanisms to release the object to which they are attached substantially simultaneously. 
     
     
         13 . The sling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the trigger of the trigger mechanism is biased to keep the release mechanisms in a closed position. 
     
     
         14 . The sling apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein each of the first and second release mechanisms are comprised of a housing to which first and second clamping members are pivotally attached, a slidable clamp actuation member, a first biasing member biasing the clamping members into an open position, a second biasing member for biasing the actuation member into engagement with the first and second clamping members, the actuation member being retractable from the first and second clamping members by the cable to allow the first and second clamping members to open into the open position. 
     
     
         15 . The sling apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein each of the first and second clamping members have laterally extending first and second tabs and wherein the second biasing member engages the first and second tabs to bias the first and second clamping members into an open position. 
     
     
         16 . The sling apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the actuation member includes first and second forward extending tabs that when engaging with a respective one of the first and second clamping members pivots it into a closed position. 
     
     
         17 . The sling apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the first and second forward extending tabs are provided with beveled edges to provide a smooth transition surface between proximal ends of the clamping members to allow the clamping members to automatically move to a closed position. 
     
     
         18 . The sling apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the first and second forward extending tabs are provided with blunt edges to provide an abrupt transition surface between proximal ends of the clamping members and the tabs to hold the clamp members in the open position. 
     
     
         19 . The sling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the release mechanisms comprise a thumb actuation member for actuating the release mechanism. 
     
     
         20 . The sling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first upper strap is configured to couple to a shoulder strap of a backpack. 
     
     
         21 . The sling apparatus of  claim 20 , further comprising a second upper strap attached to the body of the upper portion of the sling body at a second end of the sling body opposite a first end where the first upper strap is attached and is configured to couple to a body of the backpack.