Butt Stock Sling Attaching Device for a Shotgun

This invention is directed to an attaching device for attachment to the butt stock of a shotgun, rifle or the like and to which is in turn attached a shotgun or rifle sling. Typical of sling attaching devices of the type to which the present invention is directed can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 2,884,172 issued to Kubo which is considered to be the most pertinent of several patents selected during a search of the instant subject matter. Other patents uncovered during the latter search include U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,915,233; 3,182,871; 4,098,441; 4,760,944 and 5,092,505 issued respectively to Moomaw, Gossler, Campbell, Hughes and Olschleger. U.S. Des. Pat. No. 304,977 in the name of Pappas completes the totality of patents uncovered during the latter-noted search.

In keeping with the foregoing, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel butt stock sling attaching device for securing a sling to a shotgun, rifle or the like which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, can be easily secured to an associated butt stock, when so secured securement is reliable, and can be readily and quickly removed from the butt stock. The butt stock sling attaching device of the present invention provides the foregoing advantages through a unique construction in which a primary loop is formed from a strap having opposite ends sewn together and retaining thereby a "D"-ring for an associated sling. A secondary loop is formed of two separate straps each having an end sewn at diametrically opposite portions to the primary loop and carrying conventional loop and hook fastening means typically known as Velcro.RTM.. A portion of the primary loop remote from the "D"-ring embraces a stock toe of the butt stock and the two loop portions of the secondary loop are brought into intimate engagement with the stock comb and secured to each other through the hook and loop fastenings. Once thus attached to the butt stock, the associated shotgun or rifle can be carried or utilized in a conventional manner when the weapon is being aimed with total assurance that the sling and weapon are supported firmly, effectively and efficiently. By the same token, the butt stock sling attaching device can be just as quickly and efficiently removed from the stock butt by simply disengaging the hook and loop fastenings, opening the secondary loop portions and slipping the primary loop from the stock toe.

The butt stock sling attaching device preferably includes as part of the primary loop a half-twist therein which achieves proper orientation of the "D"-ring relative to the sling when the latter is associated with a shotgun, rifle or the like.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, and illustrates a shotgun to which a sling is attached at one end by a sling swivel stud and an associated fastening cap and at an opposite end by the butt stock sling attaching device of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the butt stock sling attaching device of the present invention, and illustrates a primary loop, a secondary loop formed of two looped portions having respective loop and hook fastenings, and a "D"-ring carried by the primary loop.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the butt stock sling attaching device, and illustrates the primary loop engaging the stock toe of the butt stock and one of the secondary looped portions intimately folded about the stock comb incident to the opposite secondary loop portion being secured thereto.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the butt stock sling attaching device and butt sock, and illustrates the secondary loop secured upon itself and retaining the butt stock sling attaching device secured to the butt stock.

A shotgun S is illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings, and includes a barrel B, a fore stock F and a butt stock BS. The butt stock BS includes a stock heel H, a stock toe T and a stock comb C. A conventional sling S' is secured at one end to a threaded end (not shown) of a magazine (also not shown) projecting slightly beyond the fore stock F by a cap-like sling attaching device D which is disclosed in Ser. No. 08/399,936, pending in the name of Floyd filed Mar. 6, 1995 Hightower. An opposite end of the sling S' is secured to the butt stock BS by a novel butt stock sling attaching device of the present invention which is generally designated by the reference numeral 10 (FIGS. 1 through 4).

The butt stock sling attaching device 10 includes a primary loop 15 (FIGS. 2 through 4) and a secondary loop 20, each of which is preferably constructed from 1" and 2" wide nylon webbing.

The primary loop 15 is a single piece of nylon webbing or web which includes a half-twist and is of a generally elongated oval-shaped configuration, as is best illustrated in FIG. 2. A first end or end portion 16 of the primary loop is a generally bight portion and is united to opposite side portions 17, 18 which have respective opposite ends 19, 21 with the end 19 being received within an overfolded portion or loop portion 22 forming a channel (unnumbered) encircling a "D"-ring 23. Stitching 24 passes through opposite sides of the looped portion 22 and the end 19 to fasten the latter securely to each other.

The secondary loop 20 includes a first secondary loop portion 31 and a secondary loop portion 32 having respective first ends 33, 34 and respective opposite second ends 35, 36. The ends 33, 34 are also sewn by stitching 38 to inside surfaces (unnumbered) of the respective side portions 17, 18. Fastening means in the form of loop fastenings 42 and hook fastenings 41, such as conventional Velcro.RTM. fastenings, are carrying by opposite sides or surfaces (unnumbered) of the respective loop portion 32 and hook portion 31 of the secondary loop 20.

In order to assembly or secure the butt stock sling attaching device 10 to the butt stock BS of the shotgun S, the stock toe T is slipped between the side portion 17, 18 and into engagement with the bight portion 16, as is most readily apparent in FIG. 3. The second secondary loop portion 32 is then folded over the comb stock C to the position shown in FIG. 3 after which the first secondary loop portion 31 is overfolded upon the second secondary loop portion, as shown in FIG. 4, bringing the fastenings 41, 42 into firm, though releasable, securing engagement with each other. When thus assembled in the manner shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the butt stock sling attaching device 10 is securely held to and upon the butt stock BS, yet can be readily removed therefrom.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been specifically illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that minor variations may be made in the apparatus without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined the appended claims.