GB2489043A

GB2489043A - Sling for a firearm

Info

Publication number: GB2489043A
Application number: GB201104583A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin Patten
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-03-18
Filing date: 2011-03-18
Publication date: 2012-09-19
Also published as: GB201104583D0

Abstract

A sling for a firearm (e.g. shotgun 10) comprises an elongate strap 2. One end of the strap 2 comprises means for attaching the strap 2 to a stock 12 of a firearm and the other end of the strap 2 comprises means for attaching the strap 2 to a barrel 13 of the firearm. The means for attaching the strap 2 to the stock 12 of the firearm comprises an adjustable loop 6. The means for attaching the strap 2 to the barrel 13 of the firearm comprises a shoe 5 which is so shaped and dimensioned as to grip the barrel 13 of the firearm. The firearm can be fired without removal of the shoe 5 from the barrel 13 of the firearm.

Description

Firearm Sling

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to slings or straps for a firearm, more particularly to slings or straps that allow a firearm to be carried on the shoulder.

Background to the Invention

Traditional firearm slings have two connection points that are attached to the front and tear of the firearm, and the sling is then attached between these points. Attaching sling connection points to the weapon itself can cause aesthetic damage to the weapon.

FR2941776 describes a leather strap for a rifle or shot gun. One end of the strap is looped around the stock of the gun and the barrels of the gun are inserted into a pocket or cap at the other end of the strap. The disadvantage of this arrangement is that the barrels of the gun must be removed from the pocket before the gun can be used, this is both time consuming and awkward for the user.

It would be desirable to provide an improved carrying sling for a firearm.

Summary of the Invention

One aspect of the invention provides a sling for a firearm comptising an elongate strap, one end of the strap comptising means for attaching the strap to the stock of a firearm and the other end of the strap comptising means for attaching the strap to the barrel of the firearm, wherein the means for attaching the strap to the stock of the firearm comptises an adjustable loop, and wherein the means for attaching the strap to the barrel of the firearm comptises a shoe, wherein the shoe is so shaped and dimensioned as to grip the barrel of the firearm, and wherein the firearm can be fired without removal of the shoe from the barrel of the firearm.

Preferably the length of the strap is adjustable. Favourably the strap comprises two parts joined together by a buckle and the length of the strap may be adjusted by adjustment of the position of the buckle.

Favourably the shoe is provided with a strap for engagement around the barrel of the firearm. One end of the strap is attached to the shoe. The strap may be attached to the shoe by means of a stud fastener or by stitching. Where the firearm has a ventilated rib the free end of the strap is preferably inserted through the ventilated rib and over the top of the barrel, then secured to the other side of the shoe. Where the firearm does not have a ventilated rib the strap may either be secured over the rib, or may be stowed by passing underneath the shoe and securing to the other side of the shoe. The free end of the strap may be secured to the shoe by means of a press stud. Alternatively, the strap may be provided with a hole or slit which is secured over a stud located on the shoe.

The loop for engagement around the stock of the firearm is preferably adjustable by means of a lasso-type fastening.

Favourably, the loop for engagement around the stock of the firearm is provided with a layer of non-slip material on the surface of the loop which comes into contact with the firearm. This protects the sling against wear and tear. The non-slip material may be a non-slip rubber material.

Favourably the sling is made from leather.

Favourably the shoe comprises at least two layers of stiffened leather shaped so as to receive and grip the barrel of the firearm. The layers of stiffened leather may be bonded or stitched together.

The firearm sling of the invention is easily attached to a firearm without causing any damage to the firearm.

It also allows the firearm to be fired without having to remove the sling.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention: Figure 1 ffiustrates a sling for a firearm according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2a is a side view of the sling of Figure 1 attached to a shot gun with a ventilated rib; Figure 2b is an end on view down the barrels of the gun of Figure 2a, illustrating the strap closure of the shoe fastening over the barrels of the gun, the strap passing through the ventilated rib.

Figure 2c is a perspective view of the shoe of the sling attached to the barrels of the gun of Figure 2a; Figure 3a illustrates the sling of Figure 1 attached to a shot gun without a ventilated rib; Figure 3b is an end on view down the barrels of the gun of Figure 3a, illustrating the strap closure of the shoe fastening underneath the barrels of the gun; Figure 3c is a perspective view of the shoe of the sling attached to the barrels of the gun of Figure 3a; Figure 4 ffiustrates how the sling is used to carry a firearm on the shoulder; and Figure 5 ffiustrates the fiting position of a gun with the sling remaining attached to the barrel of the gun via the shoe.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

As shown in Figure 1, a sling 1 for a firearm comptises an elongate strap 2. Preferably the strap is made of leather. One end of strap is folded over to form a small loop 3. In the example shown the loop is secured by fastening the two layers of strap together with a stud 4. The layers could alternatively be stitched together to form the small loop 3. The other end of the strap is provided with a shoe 5. The shoe 5 is shaped to fit snugly around the barrel of a firearm as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

The shoe 5 and the rest of the strap 2 are passed through the small loop 3 to form an adjustable loop 6 in the manner of a lasso. In use the adjustable loop 6 is passed over the stock of a firearm and then tightened around it by puffing on the strap 2 until the loop 6 is tightiy secured around the stock of the firearm (shown in more detail in Figure 2 and 3). The inside surface 19 of the loop 6 may be provided with a layer of non-slip rubber to protect against wear.

In the example shown in Figure 1 the strap 2 is made of two pieces connected together by a buckle 7. The buckle 7 may be inserted into a number of different holes 8 in the strap 2. This allows the length of the sling 1 to be adjusted to suit individual users or firearms.

Figure 2a illustrates the sling attached to a shot gun 10 with a ventilated rib 11. The adjustable loop 6 has been secured around the stock 12 of the shot gun 10. The barrels 13 of the gun 10 sit snugly inside the shoe 5. Attached to the shoe 5 is a securing strap 9 which is stitched or otherwise attached to one side of the shoe 5. The securing strap 9 passes through a gap 14 in the ventilated rib 11, over the barrels 13 of the gun. The securing strap 9 then fastens to the other side of the shoe. This is shown in more detail in Figures 2b and 2c, wbich illustrate an end-on view down the barrels of the gun, and a perspective view of the shoe 5 attached to the barrels 13. The securing strap 9 may be secured to the shoe 5 by means of stud 15 and a corresponding hole or slit 16 in the strap 9 through which the stud 15 locates. Alternatively, the fastening means could be a press stud.

As shown more clearly in Figure 2c, the shoe 5 is made from two layers 17, 18 of stiffened leather. The two layers 17, 18 of leather are bonded together and shaped into a curved shape that snugly fits around the barrels 13 and grips them tightly.

Figure 3a illustrates the sling attached to a shot gun 20 which does not have a ventilated rib. The adjustable loop 6 has been secured around the stock 22 of the shot gun 20. The barrels 23 of the gun 20 sit snugly inside the shoe 5. In this example, where the gun does not have a ventilated tib the secuting strap 9 on the shoe 5 preferably passes back underneath the shoe 5. The secuting strap 9 then fastens to the other side of the shoe. This is shown in more detail in Figures 3b and 3c, which illustrate an end-on view down the barrels of the gun, and a perspective view of the shoe 5 attached to the barrels 23. As desctibed previously, the secuting strap 9 may be secured to the shoe 5 by means of stud 15 and a corresponding hole or slit 16 in the strap 9 through which the stud 15 locates. Alternatively, the fastening means could be a press stud.

Figure 4 illustrates the sling 1 being used to carry a shot gun 20 over the shoulder. As shown in Figure 5 the shot gun 20 may be moved to a shooting position and fired without removing any part of the sling 1 since the shoe 5 does not obstruct the barrels 23 of the firearm 20, nor does it obstruct the line of sight along the barrels 23.

Claims

Claims 1. A sling for a firearm comprising an elongate strap, one end of the strap comprising means for attaching the strap to the stock of a firearm and the other end of the strap comprising means for attaching the strap to the barrel of the firearm, wherein the means for attaching the strap to the stock of the firearm comprises an adjustable loop, and wherein the means for attaching the strap to the barrel of the firearm comprises a shoe, wherein the shoe is so shaped and dimensioned as to grip the barrel of the firearm, and wherein the firearm can be fired without removal of the shoe from the barrel of the firearm.
2. A sling according to Claim 1, further comprising means for adjusting the length of the elongate strap.
3. A sling according to any preceding Claim, wherein the sling is fabricated from leather and wherein the shoe comprises at least two layers of stiffened leather.
4. A sling according to any preceding Claim, wherein the adjustable loop is adjustable by means of a lasso-type fastening.
5. A sling according to any preceding Claim, wherein the shoe is provided with a securing strap for fastening around the barrel of the firearm.
6. A sling for a firearm substantially as shown in and described with reference to the drawings.