US20070257072A1

US20070257072A1 - Tactical quick transition sling (TQT sling)

Info

Publication number: US20070257072A1
Application number: US11/418,771
Authority: US
Inventors: Eric Pena; Michael Brown
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-05-05
Filing date: 2006-05-05
Publication date: 2007-11-08

Abstract

What primarily makes this invention unique is how it is used. Most other slings wrap around the user's body causing discomfort and difficulty in transitioning the weapon to the opposite shoulder; this sling attaches to the user's tactical vest at each shoulder, allowing for maximum comfort, weight distribution, and smooth easy transitions to either shoulder. Most other slings remain attached to the weapon; this sling remains attached to the user's tactical vest, but can quickly be removed by two snaps. Most other slings attach to two points on the rifle or shotgun with a strap between the two points, causing the strap(s) of the sling to interfere with the functional operation of the weapon; this sling has a single attachment via the attachment clip with no interference of any kind. All points of attachment are designed for quick release and connection.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUESNCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention pertains to the field of military and law enforcement. This invention fits into the classification of Class 85—Gun Trimmings, Subclass 150—Sling attached to rifle or shotgun. This invention, however, does not remain attached to the rifle or shotgun, but instead remains attached to the user's tactical vest and attaches to the rifle or shotgun only by a single clip eliminating the problem of the rifle or shotgun being strapped to the body and the sling interfering with the functional operation of the rifle or shotgun.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is quiet, durable, fully adjustable, compact, lightweight, and completely versatile. It is created for maximum effectiveness and weight distribution. There are no parts to get in the way of performing any task or cause any the user any discomfort. The invention does not wrap around the body or neck. It does not get caught up in the user's gear. The invention does not have to be taken off of the user to transition the rifle or shotgun to the user's opposite shoulder as most slings do. The invention does not position the rifle or shotgun so that it protrudes beyond the user's body; keeping the user from getting caught up on their surroundings, slowing the user down, or making noise. There are no straps to block the bolt catch/release, magazine release, safety, or fire selector switch of their rifle or shotgun.
The invention is designed so that the user won't have any difficulty transitioning their rifle or shotgun to either shoulder at any time, dropping it to go hands free, transitioning to their side arm, or quickly getting back onto target. The invention attaches to preexisting loops on the shoulders of the user's tactical vest forming a “U” shape, allowing their rifle or shotgun to hang equally from both shoulders so the weight of their weapon is evenly displaced in the center of their body. The user also has the option of letting out a little slack to side sling their rifle or shotgun and still come up on target in no time. If the user ever needs to attach or detach their weapon in a hurry, a simple press of a finger on the sturdy connecting clip and the rifle or shotgun will be attached or detached.
For those that may not have a designated space on their rifle or shotgun to clip on the sling, the invention also has an additional attachment that accompanies the sling which will allow the user to attach the sling to their rifle or shotgun where they see fit. The invention offers two types of attachment clips; a swivel trigger clip that opens an overlapping metal ring with the squeeze of the thumb or a carabineer style snap hook that opens a bail with the press of the thumb.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

Page 1 of 2, FIG. 1: This drawing depicts the invention in whole. The arrows demonstrate the direction of possible movement. It shows how the invention is attached, operated, and adjusted. Pt. 1 shows the attachment straps in the closed position and depicts how they open up so that they can be attached to the user's vest, and then close to snap into place. Pt. 2 shows that if the quick release buckles are pressed on each side, the sling will detach from the attachment straps. Pt. 3 shows that the adjustment straps can either move up or down allowing for or taking away slack in the sling. Pt. 4 shows how the attachment clip easily slides along the sling in either direction allowing for the smooth and easy transition of the user's rifle or shotgun to either shoulder. Pt. 5 shows the two attachment clips in the closed position and how they function.
Page 2 of 2, FIG. 1A: This drawing depicts a more detailed view of how the attachment and connection points are operated. The top portions shows the attachment straps in the open position and depicts how they open and close. The circles within the attachment straps are the snap fasteners which snap together to close the strap or pull apart to open the strap. The middle portion shows how the quick release buckles in the detached position and depicts how they attach to and detach from the attachment straps. The bottom portion shows how the adjustment straps slide up or down to allow for or take away slack in the sling.
Page 2 of 2, FIG. 1B: This drawing shows the attachment clips in the open position and depicts how they are operated.
Page 2 of 2, FIG. 1C: This drawing depicts what the invention would look like while in use. It attaches to each of the user's shoulders on their tactical vests and forms a “U” shape across the user's chest.
Page 2 of 2, FIG. 2: This drawing depicts the additional attachment strap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Materials used in the invention: Tightly woven black in color nylon webbing commonly used in military style backpacks, one inch (1″) wide, one millimeter (1 mm) or two millimeters (2 mm) in thickness; black in color fifteen millimeter (15 mm) wide DOT Durable snap fasteners; one and one quarter inch (1¼″) wide by two and a half inch (2½″) long National Molding Side Squeeze quick release buckles for one inch (1″) webbing; brass swivel trigger snap, one inch (1″) wide by two and a half inch (2½″) long, painted black, or black in color metal snap hook, one and a half inch (1½″) wide by two inch (2″) long, both for one inch (1″) webbing; welded metal Dee ring, one and a half inch (1½″) wide by one and a quarter inch (1¼″) long for one inch (1″) webbing; black in color nylon plastic triglide, one and a quarter inch (1¼″) wide by fourteen sixteenths of an inch ( 14/16″) long for one inch (1″) webbing; and nylon thread.
Components of the invention: Each complete sling will require two (2) complete snap fasteners (cap, socket, stud, post), approximately seven inches (7″) of webbing for the attachment straps, adequate amount of thread to sew down and reinforce webbing around snap fasteners and pull tab on attachment straps, two (2) complete quick release buckles (top and bottom components), approximately thirty inches (30″) of webbing for the sling, adequate amount of thread to sew down and reinforce webbing around the pull tab on adjustment straps, one (1) attachment clip of either the swivel trigger snap or snap hook, approximately twelve inches (12″) of webbing for the additional attachment strap, one (1) Dee ring, one (1) triglide, adequate amount of thread to sew down and reinforce webbing around the triglide.
Assembling the invention: Begin by punching a hole in one of the seven inch (7″) attachment straps approximately two inches (2″) from an end and insert the cap/socket portion of the snap fastener, then punch another hole approximately two and a half inches (2½″) from the first and insert the stud/post portion of the snap fastener. Loop the remaining webbing material below the stud/post through the top opening in a quick release buckle and sew it down just under the stud/post snap fastener, and again about a quarter of an inch (¼″) lower towards the top of the quick release buckle. At the opposite end of the attachment strap, above the cap/socket portion of the snap fastener, fold over on itself and sew down approximate one quarter of an inch (¼″) of webbing to form a pull tab. Perform the same steps on the other seven inch (7″) piece of webbing to complete the attachment straps as depicted in the top portion of FIG. 1A. Next insert one end of the long thirty inch (30″) piece of sling webbing through the one inch (1″) opening at the top of either the swivel trigger snap or the snap hook attachment clip and allow the attachment clip to slide down to about the center of the sling webbing. Feed approximately four inches (4″) of an end of the long sling webbing through the double openings on the bottom portion of a quick release buckle to form the adjustment strap. Do this for the other end of the thirty inch (30″) webbing as well. Fold the last one inch (1″) of the webbing that was just fed through the bottom portion of each of the quick release buckles over on themselves and sew them down in with a pattern of a box with an “X” to form pull tabs. Ensure the snap fasteners are able to open and close, the quick release buckles are able to attach and detach from each other, the adjustment straps are able to adjust and hold in their position, and the attachment clip is able to slide along the sling webbing. The sling is now complete as depicted in FIG. 1. To assemble the additional attachment strap, feed about one and a half inches (1½″) of an end of the twelve inch (12″) additional attachment strap through the double openings of a triglide, fold it over on itself, and se it down at the end and just under the triglide. Feed the opposite end of the additional attachment strap through a dee ring. Slide the dee ring down the webbing until it is about two inches (2″) from the triglide. Pinch the webbing immediately to both sides of the dee ring together and sew them together along the flat side of the dee ring; keeping it from sliding along the webbing, but still able to pivot in both directions. The additional attachment strap is now complete as depicted in FIG. 2.
Using the invention: Ensure both the top and bottom portions of the quick release buckles are connected together on each side of the sling. Open each of the attachment straps by pulling on their pull tabs to separate the snap fasteners as depicted in FIG. 1A. Feed the cap/socket portion of the snap faster at the top of the attachment strap through any form of preexisting loop on a shoulder of the user's tactical vest and fold it back over to close by reconnecting it the stud/post portion of the snap fastener. Do this on the opposite shoulder as well. The sling is now attached to the user's vest as depicted in FIG. 1C and ready to attach to a rifle or shotgun. Find an attachment point on the desired weapon, preferably a metal loop of some sort to the rear of the receiver and trigger area, and simply clip on the attachment clip by opening the bail of the attachment clip as depicted in FIG. 1B, feeding the attachment clip through the desired attachment point, and allowing it to close. The weapon is now securely attached to the sling. If an attachment point does not exist on the rifle or shotgun then the user will need to attach the additional attachment strap to the weapon. Locate a section of the rifle or shotgun to the rear of the receiver and trigger area that the additional attachment strap will fit around. Position the additional attachment strap around the selected section of the weapon so that the dee ring is in an easily accessible position and feed the free end of the strap around the weapon and through the double openings in the triglide, pulling the strap tight. Clip the attachment clip onto the dee ring in the same fashion as attaching it to the weapon directly, and the weapon is now securely attached to the sling. The rifle or shotgun will hang down the center of the user's body. Pull down on the adjustment straps to raise or lower the position of the weapon. Grabbing the rifle or shotgun in a normal firing position, simply place the buttstock of the weapon against either shoulder as desired. If the user lets go of the rifle or shotgun with both hands, the weapon will fall back into the slung position down the center of the body, allowing free use of their hands. If the user desires to have the rifle or shotgun slung off center to one side or the other, this can be accomplished by letting out all of the slack in the adjustment strap of the desired side.

Claims

1. The unique claim on this invention is to the overall design and use of the sling to primarily include: the concept of attaching the sling to the user's tactical vest versus wrapping the sling around the user's body, the ability of the weapon to remain centered or off to one side of the user's body when slung, and the use of quick and easy attachment points to include the attachment straps, quick release buckles, and attachment clips in the manner of connecting the sling to both the user's vest and weapon.