Abstract:
Apparatus for retaining a rifle by its sling on a person. An upper anchorage pins the sling to a backpack harness strap, and a lower anchorage pins the rifle stock to a strap near the waist of the user. The upper anchorage provides a hook preventing the sling from slipping off the shoulder of the user. The lower anchorage provides a holster encircling the rifle stock and clamping to a harness strap near the waist.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/538,552, filed Oct. 7, 2015. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to securing a rifle on an upright person by engaging a sling of the rifle at two points, one at the shoulder and one near the waist. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Hunters and other users of rifles frequently walk along rough terrain while hunting or traveling through natural territory. The usual method of supporting a rifle by its sling, with the sling suspended from the shoulder, is an unreliable way of carrying the rifle, since the rifle is easily dislodged should the person stumble or fall. 
         [0004]    There exists a need for a way of securing a rifle supported by its sling for people traversing rough or uneven terrain. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The disclosed concepts address the above stated situation by providing retaining apparatus reliably securing the rifle by its sling, while still enabling quick deployment of the rifle. To this end, novel retaining apparatus includes an upper anchorage pinning the sling to a backpack harness strap, and a lower anchorage pinning the rifle stock to a strap near the waist of the user. The upper anchorage provides a hook preventing the sling from slipping off the shoulder of the user. The lower anchorage provides a holster encircling the rifle stock and clamping to a harness strap near the waist. 
         [0006]    The rifle is readily released for use from the upper and lower anchorages. 
         [0007]    It is an object to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof by apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
         [0008]    These and other objects will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the disclosed concepts will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective partial view of a person standing, with a rifle secured by the novel apparatus, according to at least one aspect of the disclosure; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective detail view of an upper anchorage device used in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged perspective detail view of a lower anchorage device used in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is similar to  FIG. 3 , but shows the lower anchorage device partially disassembled to enable engagement or release of the rifle; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective detail view taken from an opposite direction as  FIG. 4 ; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a perspective detail view similar to  FIG. 5 , but showing opening of a strap engagement feature. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Referring first to  FIG. 1 , according to at least one aspect of the disclosure, there is shown apparatus  100  for securing a rifle  2  supported by a sling  4  of rifle  2  on a user  6  wearing a harness  8  comprising straps  10 . Harness  8  may be that of a backpack (not shown in its entirety) for example. The apparatus  100  may comprise an upper anchorage  102  securing sling  4  at a shoulder strap  10 A ( FIG. 2 ) of harness  8  at a shoulder  12  of user  6 . Referring principally to  FIG. 2 , upper anchorage  102  may comprise a foldable loop  104  bearing a fastener  106 , such as hook and loop fastener, snaps, or still others. Foldable loop  104  is configured to encircle shoulder strap  10 A of harness  8 , and to folded upon itself as shown in  FIG. 2  and retained folded by fastener  106 . Upper anchorage  102  may also comprise a strap hook  108  ( FIG. 2 ) open towards a neck  14  of user  6  when foldable loop  104  encircles shoulder strap  10 A. Orientation of strap hook  108  assures that when the user is in the standing position illustrated in  FIG. 1 , sling  4  will not slip from shoulder  12  of user  6 . 
         [0017]    With sling  4  thus retained at the upper position at shoulder  12  of user  6 , a lower anchorage  110  clamps or pins a stock  14  of rifle  2  near a waist  16  of user  6 . Lower anchorage  110  advantageously prevents rifle  2  from being inclined to the point that it could be aimed at a person (not shown) walking behind user  6 . 
         [0018]    It should be noted at this point that orientational terms such as upper and lower refer to the subject drawing as viewed by an observer. The drawing figures depict their subject matter in orientations of normal use, which could obviously change with changes in body posture and position. Therefore, orientational terms must be understood to provide semantic basis for purposes of description only, and do not imply that their subject matter can be used only in one position. 
         [0019]    Also referring to  FIGS. 3-6 , lower anchorage  110  grasps rifle  2  at stock  14  ( FIG. 1 ), and comprises a holster  112  comprising a lateral wall  114  configured to define a pocket  116  partially encircling stock  14  of rifle  2 . Lateral wall  114  includes an open portion  118  and a pocket axis  120  passing through pocket  116  parallel to lateral wall  114 . Open portion  118  of lateral wall  114  is configured to enable stock  14  ( FIG. 1 ) to be moved into and withdrawn from pocket  116  when a longitudinal axis  18  of rifle  3  is parallel to pocket axis  120 . 
         [0020]    A closure  122  releasably secures stock  14  of rifle  2  in pocket  116 . A retainer  124  (see  FIG. 5 ) is configured to engage a waist strap  10 B ( FIG. 1 ) of harness  8 . Closure  122  of holster  112  may comprise a flexible strap  128  made for example from a woven fabric. Holster  112  may comprise a holster hook  126  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ). Flexible strap  128  may comprise a strap loop  130  configured to engage and be releasably retained by holster hook  126 . Strap loop  130  may be elastic, so that it may more readily stretch to slip over and be removed from holster hook  126 . Strap loop  130  may include a pull tab  132  ( FIGS. 3, 4, 5 ) projecting from strap loop  130  to facilitate drawing flexible strap  128  past and into engagement with holster hook  126 . 
         [0021]    Strap hook  108  of upper anchorage  102  is rigid. That is, in use, strap hook  108  is sufficiently rigid as to oppose deflection, compressing, spreading open, etc. Strap hook  108  may be fabricated from one eighth inch thick metals such as steel, aluminum, and brass, or alternatively, hard plastic. Foldable loop  104  of upper anchorage  102  is flexible. Foldable loop  104  may be fabricated from fabric, leather, flexible plastics, stranded metal, and like materials. 
         [0022]    Lateral wall  114  of holster  112  may be rigid, and may be fabricated from one eighth inch thick metals such as steel, aluminum, and brass, or alternatively, hard plastic. Lateral wall  114  of holster  112  may include an outer layer of yielding material. The yielding material may comprises a fabric, leather, and other materials which would avoid abrading rifle  2 . 
         [0023]    Referring specifically to  FIG. 6 , apparatus  100  may further comprise an adjustment feature configured to enable flexible strap  128  to be drawn tight against stock  14  of rifle  2  when stock  14  is in holster  112 . This is shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . The adjustment feature may comprise a cinch  134  maintaining tightness of flexible strap  128  after flexible strap  128  has been drawn tight against stock  14  of rifle  2 . 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , retainer  124  of lower anchorage  110  may comprise a flap  136  configured to close over and retain waist strap  10 B of harness  8  proximate waist  16  of user  6  (see  FIG. 1 ). Cinch  134  of lower anchorage  110  may be located along flexible strap  128  of lower anchorage  110  such that cinch  134  is covered by flap  136 . In an implementation of apparatus  100  illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , snaps  138  engage complementing snaps  140  in a lower flap  142 . Flap  136  and lower flap  142  may be of leather, and may be stitched to a fabric or leather covering of holster  112 . 
         [0025]    In use, upper anchorage  102  is coupled to shoulder strap  10 A of harness  8 , with strap hook  108  opening towards neck  15  of user  6 . Sling  4  of rifle  2  is then placed onto upper anchorage  102  such that strap hook  108  prevents sling  4  from sliding from shoulder  12  (to the left, as shown in  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0026]    After lower anchorage  110  has engaged waist strap  10 B by closing flap  136  over lower flap  142  (see  FIG. 6 ), snaps  138  are pressed into engagement with complementing snaps  140  of lower flap  142 .  FIG. 5  depicts lower anchorage  110  in the closed condition after snaps  138  and complementing snaps  140  are mutually affixed. With waist strap  10 B entrapped between flap  136  and lower flap  142 , stock  14  may be placed in pocket  116 , and flexible strap  128  may be drawn tightly over stock  14 .  FIG. 4  shows flexible strap  128  prior to engagement with holster hook  126 .  FIG. 3  shows flexible strap  128  secured to holster hook  126 . Rifle  2  will then be pinned at two points to user  6 , using harness  8 . While rifle  2  will still have some mobility relative to user  6 , rifle  2  is now securely retained on the person of user  6  for purposes of walking, hiking, light climbing, and the like. 
         [0027]    While the disclosed concepts have been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred implementation, it is to be understood that the disclosed concepts are not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but are intended to cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent arrangements which are possible.