Retractable swivel stud

The retractable swivel stud which extends to allow the attachment of a detachable gun sling swivel and strap to a firearm; and when force from the thumb or finger tip is exerted on the textured top surface of the spring-loaded stud, the stud retracts into the gunstock to a flush position and is retained there by means of symmetrically disposed slots, thus, leaving the stock free of protrusions, holes, or slots. The retracted position is retained by rotating the stud ninety-degrees in a clockwise direction, allowing the retaining device to enter detents in the sleeve's cylinder. The reversal of the foregoing procedure will extend the stud and retain it in the extended position. This movement is facilitated by the use of the spring which exerts pressure on the base of the stud at one end and the bottom of the hole in the stock at the other.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention is a flush-mounted, spring-loaded, sling swivel stud 
designed to extend to allow the attachment of a carrying strap to a 
firearm or other device, and to retract when not in use. 
The device used to attach sling swivels and slings to firearms (commonly 
known as a sling swivel stud) typically consists of an elongated plate 
which is secured by two screws at either end of a protruding eyelet. This 
plate is located on the underside of the firearm's buttstock and the 
eyelit serves as a securing device for one end of the carrying strap and 
swivel. The forward portion of the strap and the swivel is secured either 
with a similar stud which is housed in the forearm wood of this stock or 
in the form of a steel band around the circumference of the forearm and 
barrel or the barrel alone. 
A later development consisted of a cylindrical stud which featured a 
dome-shaped top. This stud has a hole drilled completely through the 
cylindrical portion in order to accommodate the readily available, quick, 
detachable-type sling swivels. This is the most popular style of sling 
stud, due to the simplicity of installation and low cost. The rear or 
buttstock stud has a tapered woodscrew thread on the bottom end and may be 
attached by simply drilling a pilot hole in the buttstock and turning the 
stud into the wood while the screw tends to form threads in the softer 
wood. The forward stud is installed by drilling completely through the 
underside of the forearm of the stock and into the stock barrel channel. 
The channel end of this hole is counterdrilled in a larger diameter and 
approximately onefourth inch deep in order to accept an escutcheon-type 
nut which is tapped or pressed into the large portion of the hole. The 
forward stud is threaded to mate with the escutcheon nut and the stud is 
turned into the stock forearm. 
The aforementioned type of stud is serviceable and practical; however, it 
has obvious disadvantages. The buttstock stud may (due to the expansion 
and contractions of the wood as well as constant pressure of carrying the 
firearm) strip the self-formed threads of the softer wood. This creates a 
complicated and costly repair. When the sling is removed (for storing, 
showing the firearm, etc.), this type of stud remains visible and 
unsightly. This type of protruding stud causes snagging on various objects 
(clothes, upholstery, gun cases, saddle scabbards, etc.) by virtue of the 
design. Studs mounted on the rifle forearm that protrude from the stock 
can also cause bodily injury due to the painful blow received as the rifle 
recoils--particularly on rifles having heavy recoil. 
All other sling swivel stud assemblies, which leave no protrusion on the 
gunstock when the sling and its swivels are removed, do not leave 
attractive, totally flush surfaces. They have holes which allow for the 
ingress of dirt and other foreign matter which can accumulate and 
interfere with their function. 
The solution, then, is a flush-mounted, retractable swivel stud that will 
eliminate the aforementioned problems and as this one does, and even 
complements the appearance of the firearm. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides for the attachment of a readily available, 
quick, detachable-type sling swivel to a gunstock. This is accomplished by 
means of a retractable swivel stud which acts as a secure mount for the 
swivel upon extension, and upon retraction, prevents snagging of the sling 
swivel stud during normal handling. In addition, the stud also prevents 
recoil injuries, exposes more area to be embellished with metal engraving 
and/or checkering, enhances the appearance of the firearm, and is 
resistant to the ingress of dirt and foreign substances. 
This invention consists of seven basic components: the sleeve which is 
comprised of the flange and cylinder, the cylindrical stud, at least one 
retaining pin, a spring, and retaining screws. The flange is the only 
portion of the sleeve that is visible when the device is installed in the 
firearm stock. There are two slots located on each side of the cylindrical 
portion of the sleeve. These slots contain ninety-degree turns thus 
allowing for the stud to be retracted. A detent (in addition to the 
spring) is used to keep the stud in the retracted position. 
The stud is housed inside the sleeve and is exposed in the center hole of 
the sleeve flange. Near its base the stud has two pins (which serve as a 
retaining device) protruding at ninety-degree angles from each side. These 
pins prevent the stud from being removed from the flange end of the 
sleeve. In the center of the stud's base or inner end, a hole is drilled 
for the insertion and retention of the coil spring. The spring makes 
contact with a base of the stud at one end, and the bottom of a hole in 
the gun stock at the other end. This spring provides constant resilient 
bias on the stud to facilitate extension as well as keeping the stud in 
its detent in the retracted position. 
The retractable swivel stud is assembled by inserted the textured surface 
of the stud into the slotted base of the sleeve's cylinder. The coil 
spring is inserted into the hole at the base of the stud. This unit is 
inserted into a hole drilled in the stock. The flange portion is inletted 
into the stock to a depth where the top surface of the flange is flush 
with the stock's surface. Two woodscrews are countersunk into each 
shoulder of the oval flange. The sleeve's flange can be contoured to the 
profile shape of the stock. 
As the stud is depressed at the flange end, the spring-loaded stud retracts 
to the flush position by means of the cylinder's slots. The retracted 
position is retained by rotating the stud ninety-degrees in a clockwise 
direction to a location where the retaining pins rest in detent. A 
reversal of the foregoing procedure extends the stud and retains it in the 
extended position. This allows for the attachment of a readily available, 
quick, detachable-type sling swivel which is affixed to the stud by the 
hole drilled in the exposed side of the stud. 
A principal object of the present invention is the provision that (with the 
use of readily available, quick, detachable-type sling swivels) the 
carrying strap may be detached from the spring-loaded stud and the stud 
may be retracted into the flush-mounted stock sleeve and rotated into a 
locked position--rendering the stud incapable of snagging (clothes, 
upholstery, gun cases, saddle scabbards, etc.). 
Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a safety 
feature. Studs mounted on the firearm that protrude from the stock can 
cause bodily injury due to the painful blow received as the rifle 
recoils--particularly on rifles having heavy recoil. The present invention 
allows the user to retract the studs to avoid injury. 
A further object of the present invention is that in the extended position, 
this stud device provides a very strong carrying strap attachment by 
virtue of its design. The sleeve distributes the pressure of the carrying 
strap over a greater area inside the stock. It also provides less chance 
of the stock cracking from excessive pressure during installation. 
Another object of the invention is that in its retracted position, the 
flush-mounted retractable swivel stud provides relatively more area (which 
is readily accessible) to be embellished with metal engraving and/or 
checkering. 
Yet another important advantage of the present invention is that it 
provides the viewer with an impression of the complete absence of sling 
swivel studs. This is a paramount consideration in attempting to influence 
show judges. 
A still further object of the invention provides that upon removal of the 
sling and swivel assembly from the gunstock and the retraction of the 
stud, dirt and other foreign substances cannot enter the stud mechanism. 
Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent herein 
as the detailed description which now follows is read in conjunction with 
the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
In describing a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the 
drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for sake of clarity. 
However, it is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so 
selected and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all 
technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a 
similar purpose. 
Referring now to the drawings in FIGS. 1-11, wherein like numerals are used 
to designate similar parts throughout the several views. The numeral 16, 
as shown in FIG. 1, refers to a conventional gunstock having a detachable 
swivel and sling attached to identical retractable stud assemblies and 
constructed in accordance with my invention. 
As shown in FIG. 2, a conventional gunstock (16) containing identical 
retractable swivel stud assemblies constructed in accordance with my 
invention are in their retracted position, thus, presenting a pleasing 
appearance and preventing the ingress of dirt and other foreign substances 
into the assembly. 
In FIG. 3, as shown in the exploded view, the retractable swivel stud 
assembly (29) consists of seven basic components. The components are the 
sleeve (28) which is comprised of the flange (15) and the cylinder (17), 
the cylindrical stud (6), two retaining pins (2), the coil spring (8), and 
two retaining screws (9). 
FIGS. 1-4 in the drawings show that, the flange (15) is oval-shaped to keep 
it and the cylinder (17) from rotating in the gunstock (16) when the 
firearm is being handled by the sling or strap. The sleeve is secured to 
the gunstock (16) by two woodscrews (9) that enter through the screw holes 
(14) in each shoulder (23) of the flange (15). The retractable cylindrical 
stud (6) moves snuggly through a bore (12) located and opening in the 
center of the flange (15) and equidistant from the axial center of the two 
woodscrew holes (14). This bore (12) extends from an opening in the 
surface (11) of the flange (15) through the cylinder (17) and exits at a 
second opening in the cylinder's base (10). The cylinder (17) and flange 
(15) are set into a mortise and retaining hole machined into the gunstock 
(16) to such a depth as to cause the exposed surface (11) of the flange 
(15) to be level with the surface of the gunstock (16). 
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cylinder (17) has symmetrically disposed 
slots (19) extending from the base (26) of the flange (15) to the base 
(10) of the cylinder (17). These slots (19) are milled to allow the stud 
(6) access to the sleeve and act on the stud (6) in such a way as to allow 
the stud (6) to be extended and retracted at will. The slots (19) each 
have two ninety-degree corners (20,21) which require the stud to have to 
be rotated for operation of this invention. The corners (21) near the 
slotted base (10) have detents (18). 
Referring to FIGS. 3-5, the stud's wall (22) has two sets of through holes 
(1,7). The through hole (1) which is drilled near the textured surface (3) 
of the stud (6) is for attaching a sling swivel when the stud (6) is 
extended. Pins (2) are placed in the through holes (7) near the base (4) 
of the stud (6) and silver-brazed in place so as to extend radially 
outwardly from the stud (6). The pins (2) do not extend past the outer 
wall (27) of the cylinder (17) nor into the guide hole (5) in the base (4) 
of the stud (6). A coil spring (8) holds the stud (6) against the closed 
end (24) of the sleeve's slots (19) upon extension outwardly and against 
the detents (18) upon retraction inwardly. The spring (8) is held snuggly 
in place by the guide hole (5) located in the center of the base (4) of 
the stud (6) and aligned with the retaining hole in the gunstock (16). 
Considering FIG. 3 along with FIGS. 4 and 5, the retractable swivel stud is 
assembled by inserted the textured outer end surface (3) of the stud (6) 
into the slotted base (10) of the cylinder (17). The pins (2) and stud (6) 
travel through the slots (19) until the stud (6) has completely entered 
the sleeve (28). The spring (8) is inserted into the guide hole (5) in the 
base (4) of the stud (6). This unit is inserted into the mortise and 
retaining hole machined in the gunstock (16). The flange (15) and 
woodscrews (9) can be contoured to the profile shape of the gunstock (16) 
after the two woodscrews (9) are countersunk into each shoulder (23) of 
the flange (15). 
FIGS. 4, 6-8, illustrate the invention in its retracted position. To 
retract the stud (6), into the gunstock the user pushes the stud into the 
cylinder (17) by placing a thumb or finger tip on the textured end surface 
(3) of the stud (6) and applies enough force to overcome the spring (8). 
The stud (6) is pushed into the cylinder (17) until it is stopped by the 
two pins (2) bearing on the ninety-degree corners (20) of the 
symmetrically disposed slots (19). At this point, the user's finger 
rotates the stud clockwise ninety-degrees to cause the pins (2) on the 
stud (6) to move to the next ninety-degree corners (21). The stud (6) is 
stopped by the corners (21). As the user releases pressure on the stud 
(6), the spring (8), which is being retained by the guide hole (5) and the 
retaining hole (30), forces the pins (2) on the stud (6) into the detents 
(18), thereby, holding the stud (6) in a retracted position until it is to 
be extended. This retracted position renders the stud (6) incapable of 
snagging and causing bodily injury to the user. 
FIGS. 4, 9-11, illustrate the invention in its extended position. To extend 
the stud (6) outwardly relative to the stock, the user places a thumb or 
finger tip on the textured surface (3) of the stud (6) with enough force 
to overcome the spring (8). This retracts the pins (2) from the detents 
(18). The user rotates his thumb or finger tip ninety-degrees 
counterclockwise until the stud (6) is stopped by the pins' (2) contact 
with the ninety-degree corners (20). Pressure is released and the spring 
(8) pushes the stud (6) and pins (2) out of the corners (20) of the 
cylinder (17) until the pins (2) contact the closed ends (24) of the slots 
(19). The spring (8) holds the stud (6) in place in its outwardly extended 
status while the sling is attached and used. 
Considering FIGS. 1-11, torque is transferred from the sling to the pins 
(2) through the stud (6) and to the base (26) of the flange (15). From the 
flange (15), pressure is transferred to the gunstock (16) by means of the 
heads (25) of the screws (9) holding against the counterbores (13) in the 
shoulders (23) of the flange (15), thus, creating a strong carrying strap 
attachment by distributing the pressure over a greater area inside the 
gunstock (16). 
It will be recognized that the foregoing is but one example of an apparatus 
and method within the scope of the invention and that various other 
modifications will occur to those skilled in the art upon reading the 
disclosure set forth hereinbefore.