Abstract:
A sling that includes a first strap having an elastic sidewall enclosing a hollow interior and a pair of elastic cords attached at each end to the strap and located inside the hollow interior of the strap, the first strap further comprising a first connector member on a first end of the first strap; and a second strap having an elastic sidewall enclosing a hollow interior and a pair of elastic cords attached at each end to the strap and located inside the hollow interior of the strap, the second strap further comprising a second connector member on a first end and releasably connectable to the first connector member of the first strap, the first and second straps each having second ends permanently coupled together.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure pertains to slings for carrying and manipulating an object and, more particularly, to a sling adapted for use with firearms to accommodate rapid weapon deployment and use in a variety of tactical environments. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Slings are of ancient origin, devised generally of a loop of rope, strap, or a chain for supporting a load. While its history remains unknown, the sling is in widespread use in modern times in connection with a variety of manual and mechanical uses, including baby slings, arm slings, camera slings, musical instrument slings, and weapon slings. 
         [0005]    When used manually, a properly designed sling will distribute the load for balance and comfort, and it will facilitate use of the load. For example, a baby sling holds the baby close to the caregiver in a manner that keeps the caregiver&#39;s hands free and avoids back strain while keeping the baby in a position to see the caregiver and be fed and comforted. Slings used for musical instruments are designed for load support and comfort while positioning the instrument so it can be played and, in some cases, so that sheet music can be supported thereon for reading by the user. 
         [0006]    Slings for weapons, and in particular rifles, shotguns, and long-barreled weapons, have been designed to provide not only hands-free support, but to facilitate bringing the weapon quickly into a ready-to-use position. Such designs include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,211,351; 4,823,491; 5,810,219; 5,971,239; 6,260,748; 6,325,258; 6,536,153; 6,598,330; and D495,870. 
         [0007]    One area of concern is accommodating rapid deployment and use, including retraction and retention of a weapon, such as a rifle. While prior slings attempt to address this issue with the use of adjustment devices or multifunctional sling mounts, such approaches can be complex, costly, and time consuming to implement in the field and in some cases create noise that can interfere with the intended use. 
         [0008]    In the past, designers have incorporated elastic elements into the sling to allow a weapon to be thrust away from the user&#39;s body. For example, a single elastic cord has been used, but in order to properly support the weight of the resting weapon, the elastic had to be thick and heavy. This is not preferred because if the elastic cord is too thick it will cut into the user&#39;s shoulder or trapezius, resulting in discomfort, possible injury, and inhibiting proper use of the weapon. 
         [0009]    While a sling can incorporate a smaller one piece elastic cord, it will be too small and not support the weapon. The weight of the weapon will cause the elastic cord to stretch out, completely rending the elastic cord useless for its intended purpose. This describes most, if not all, of such type of stretchable slings on the market, which use elastic cord in only one side of the sling; this results in a less than ideal performance because the stretch is neither even nor uniform and in the fraction of a second that a user needs to reach out with the weapon, such as in hand-to-hand combat, the weapon can veer off to one side (the side without bungee) causing the user to miss the intended point of impact. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0010]    In accordance with the disclosed embodiments of the present disclosure, a sling is provided that includes a first strap having an elastic sidewall or tubular webbing enclosing a hollow interior and a pair of elastic cords attached to the strap and located inside the hollow interior of the strap, the first strap further comprising a first connector member on a first end of the first strap; and a second strap having an elastic sidewall or tubular webbing enclosing a hollow interior and a pair of elastic cords attached to the strap and located inside the hollow interior of the strap, the second strap further comprising a second connector member on a first end and releasably connectable to the first connector member of the first strap, the first and second straps each having second ends permanently coupled together. 
         [0011]    As will be readily appreciated from the foregoing, the bungee sling of the present disclosure allows the sling to expand as well as contract in order to provide two completely separate functions: 
         [0012]    Expand: the elastic bungee sling allows the user to evenly and accurately push his weapon away from the user&#39;s body (which could not be done with a traditional, fixed/non-bungee sling). Instances of this would be: 
         [0013]    striking an opponent with the barrel or muzzle of the weapon, which helps subdue opponents and encourage compliance with verbal commands, 
         [0014]    striking an opponent with any other part of the weapon, i.e., magazine, grip, etc., which is useful when an opponent is trying to gain control over a user&#39;s weapon, and lengthening the reach of the weapon to push open a door without the user&#39;s body having to get physically closer to the door. 
         [0015]    Shrink/Contract: when stretched or lengthened, the kinetic energy stored up in the lengthened elastic cords inside the sling urges the sling to shrink or contract back to its original length. This is useful to many users because it pulls the weapon back into the user&#39;s shoulder, providing a more solid shoulder mount and thus a more accurate shot. Again, this could not be done with a traditional, fixed/non-bungee sling. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be more readily appreciated as the same become better understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0017]      FIGS. 1-48  illustrate the steps of a method of making a bungee sling in accordance with the present disclosure: 
           [0018]      FIGS. 49 and 50  are isometric views of male and female buckle components used in the method illustrated in  FIGS. 1-48 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 51  is a pictorial illustration of components used to make the bungee sling of the present disclosure; and 
           [0020]      FIGS. 52A and 52B  are pictorial illustrations of the sling supporting a weapon on a user&#39;s torso. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]      FIG. 51  illustrates many of the components used in constructing a bungee sling in accordance with the present disclosure. 
       Cut Sheet 
       [0022]    Part Number/PIN: S1018-X* 
         [0023]    (*=B (black), G (olive drab), T (coyote tan), or F (foliage green) 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Material/Item 
                 Qty: 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 1.25 tubular webbing 
                 1 piece (35″ length) 
               
               
                   
                 1.25 tubular webbing 
                 1 piece (49″ length) 
               
               
                   
                 ⅜ elastic cord 
                 4 pieces (8″ lengths) 
               
               
                   
                 1.25 triglide 
                 1 
               
               
                   
                 1.25 common loop 
                 1 
               
               
                   
                 Patent Pending label 
                 1 
               
               
                   
                 1.25 swivel connector 
                 1 
               
               
                   
                 1.25 male QRB (Quick-Release Buckle) 
                 1 
               
               
                   
                 1.25 female QRB (Quick-Release Buckle) 
                 1 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       Procedure 
       [0024]    1. Cut all necessary pieces and begin below with the longer piece. 
       Longer Piece 
       [0025]    2. Sear one end  100  of the longer webbing piece  102  on both sides ( FIGS. 1-2 ). 
         [0026]    3. Sew in the triglide  104  at the recently seared end  100  with a box X with no less than 6 thread passes at the top and bottom of the box X. The box X should be no longer than ¾ inch ( FIG. 3 ). 
         [0027]    4. Thread the free end through the common loop ( FIG. 4 ). IMPORTANT: It is essential to maintain proper orientation of triglide  104  while threading the common loop! 
         [0028]    5. Thread the free end back through the triglide ( FIGS. 5-7 ). 
         [0029]    6. Insert elastic cords ( 2 )  106  into the open/non-seared end of the longer webbing piece ( FIG. 8 ). TIP: insert elastic cords into the tubular webbing a finger length or approximately 4 inches ( FIG. 9 ). 
         [0030]    7. Now sear this end (on both sides), sealing the elastic cords into the longer strap ( FIG. 10 ). 
         [0031]    8. Threading the webbing through the female part  108  of the QRB making sure “good side” is facing out ( FIGS. 11-13 ). If needed, reference sample for proper orientation. 
         [0032]    9. Next, fold webbing under as seen below making sure fold does not exceed ¾ of an inch ( FIG. 14 ). 
         [0033]    10. Sew in the female part of the QRB  108  with a box X with no less than 6 passes at the top and bottom of the box X ( FIG. 15 ). 
         [0034]    11. As far as possible, move elastic cords to the end of the strap  102  ( FIGS. 16 and 17 ). 
         [0035]    12. Bartack elastic cords in place near the end of the strap ( FIGS. 18 and 19 ). TIP: Pinch elastic cords together during the first 2 thread passes to ensure elastic cords stays centered in the tubular webbing. 
         [0036]    13. Sew two (2) bartacks ¼ inch apart with a minimum of 6 passes of thread per bartack. 
         [0037]    14. Mark the strap 8 inches from end of elastic cords ( FIG. 20 ). 
         [0038]    15. Compress tubular webbing onto the elastic cords (as seen in  FIG. 21 ) until the chalk mark reaches the end of elastic cords. IMPORTANT: make sure that the tubular webbing does not twist and that it sits flat on the table. If webbing twists, the sling will not be comfortable. 
         [0039]    16. Bartack elastic cords in place near the end of the elastic cords ( FIG. 22 ). TIP: As performed above, pinch elastic cords together during the first 2 thread passes to ensure elastic cords stays centered in the tubular webbing. 
         [0040]    The longer piece is now complete. 
       Shorter Piece 
       [0041]    17. Insert bungee pieces ( 2 )  112  into one end of the shorter webbing piece  114  ( FIG. 23 ). 
         [0042]    18. Sear this end  116  (on both sides) as seen in  FIG. 24 . 
         [0043]    19. Now sear the opposite end (on both sides), sealing the elastic cords into the longer strap ( FIG. 25 ). 
         [0044]    20. Take the end farthest from the elastic cords and thread the swivel connector  118  onto the strap  102  ( FIG. 26 ). 
         [0045]    21. Then thread the male part  122  of the QRB as shown in  FIGS. 27 and 28 . See  FIGS. 49 and 50  for correct installation of the QRB male  122  and female components. 
         [0046]    22. Next, thread the end of the strap back through the loop of the swivel connector  118  as seen in  FIG. 29 , to finally rest up against the male  122  QRB ( FIGS. 30 and 31 ). IMPORTANT: The total distance between the inside edge of the male part  122  of the QRB and the fold should be no longer than 2¾ inches. ( FIG. 32 ). 
         [0047]    23. Sew a 2 inch box X into place ( FIG. 33 ). IMPORTANT: The box X can be no longer than 2″. 
         [0048]    24. To determine proper placement of label  124 , fold strap at the swivel connector  118  ( FIG. 34 ). 
         [0049]    25. Place label with the right-side edge lining up with the male part  122  of the QRB ( FIG. 35 ). Make sure label  124  is oriented properly (as seen below) and not upside down ( FIG. 36 ). 
         [0050]    26. Sew on label  124  ( FIG. 37 ). IMPORTANT: Proper placement of label (without being twisted or crooked) is ESSENTIAL to Tactical Link. 
         [0051]    27. Next, mark the free end of strap 4½ inches from the end ( FIG. 38 ). 
         [0052]    28. Bartack elastic cords in place near the end of the elastic cords ( FIGS. 38 and 39 ) with 2 bartacks  128  ¼ inch apart from each other. TIP: As performed above, pinch elastic cords together during the first 2 thread passes to ensure elastic cords stays centered in the tubular webbing. 
         [0053]    29. Compress elastic cords as far as possible toward the label  124 , leaving a finger widths distance between end of the elastic cords and the edge of the label as seen in  FIG. 40 . 
         [0054]    30. Bartack elastic cords in place near the end of the elastic cords ( FIGS. 41 and 42 ) with 2 bartacks  130  ¼ inch apart from each other. TIP: As performed above, pinch elastic cords together during the first 2 thread passes to ensure elastic cords stays centered in the tubular webbing. 
         [0055]    31. With the label and triglide facing up, thread the free end  132  of the strap  102  up and into the opening of the common loop  105  ( FIGS. 43-45 ). 
         [0056]    32. Fold the free end  132  as seen below in  FIGS. 46 and 47 . 
         [0057]    33. Fold under the free end  132  until it touches the common loop ( FIG. 47 ). The width of the fold should be ½ inch (no larger than ¾ inch) as seen in  FIG. 47 . 
         [0058]    34. Sew a ½ inch box X with 6 passes on the top and bottom ( FIG. 48 ). 
         [0059]    35. Clip any and all loose threads. 
         [0060]    36. Compare finished product to sample. 
         [0061]    In use, the sling  200  provides a single point of attachment to a weapon  202 . It is to be understood however, that the concept of the present disclosure can be extended to slings providing multiple points of attachment. The user puts the sling strap over their head and rests it on the shoulder of use (left or right) as shown in  FIGS. 52A and 52B . The user thus dons the sling by placing an arm and shoulder (either dominant or non-dominant) through the sling (between the sling and the weapon) and up and over his head. The user can then bring the weapon up into firing position or bring it to striking position and use it to hit without risk of having it dropped or taken away. The user can use the same firing position (weapon mounted to either the dominant or non-dominant shoulder) and simply push the weapon forward to reach out and contact an opponent or object with the weapon&#39;s muzzle; or the user can turn the weapon across his body, i.e., barrel pointing to the left and the buttstock pointing to the right, and point the magazine or pistol grip toward the opponent or object and extend the weapon toward the person or object, such as to inflict injury and pain. 
         [0062]    As will be readily appreciated from the foregoing, the bungee sling of the present disclosure allows the sling to expand as well as contract in order to provide two completely separate functions: 
         [0063]    Expand: the elastic bungee sling allows the user to push his weapon away from the user&#39;s body (which could not be done with a traditional, fixed/non-bungee sling). Instances of this would be: 
         [0064]    striking an opponent with the barrel or muzzle of the weapon, which helps subdue opponents and encourage compliance with verbal commands, 
         [0065]    striking an opponent with any other part of the weapon, i.e., magazine, grip, etc., which is useful when an opponent is trying to gain control over a user&#39;s weapon, and 
         [0066]    lengthening the reach of the weapon to push open a door without the user&#39;s body having to get physically closer to the door. 
         [0067]    Shrink/Contract: when stretched or lengthened, the kinetic energy stored up in the lengthened elastic cords inside the sling urges the sling to shrink or contract back to its original length. This is useful to many users because it pulls the weapon back into the user&#39;s shoulder, providing a more solid shoulder mount and thus a more accurate shot. Again, this could not be done with a traditional, fixed/non-bungee sling. 
         [0068]    It is to be understood, however, that other materials and finishes may be used as necessitated by a particular application. Hence, while representative embodiments of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described hereinabove, it is to be understood that various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Thus, the disclosure is to be limited only by the scope of the claims that follow. 
         [0069]    All of the above U.S. patents, U.S. patent application publications, U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patent applications and non-patent publications referred to in this specification and/or listed in the Application Data Sheet, are incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety. 
         [0070]    From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments of the disclosure have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. For example, the concepts of the present disclosure are applicable to slings of multiple points of contact, such as 2-point and 3-point, as well as to connectors that are not necessarily swivel connectors. Accordingly, the disclosure is not limited except as by the appended claims.