SUL Sling

[0021]As used in this disclosure, a “SUL sling” shall mean the device and its variations disclosed herein, comprising at least a lanyard portion and a retainer portion (referred to herein as the “SUL stick”). The terms “SUL sling” and “sling” can be used interchangeable, A “SUL stick” shall mean the portion of the SUL sling used to removably connect to and retain objects. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the SUL sling 10 can include a lanyard strap 12, a SUL stick 22, and a connection means 14 for connecting the SUL stick 22 to the lanyard strap 12. The lanyard strap can include a strap, generally made of nylon or similarly durable material, formed into a loop. Though not shown, the lanyard strap is customizable and can be made of a variety of materials and of materials of a preferred size. The criteria use to determine material and size of the lanyard strap varies greatly. For example, the lanyard strap can be made of a 1-inch nylon webbing and sized to fit around the torso of an average sized adult male.

[0022]The SUL sling 100 can be adjustable and can include one or more adjustment buckles 16, The adjustment buckle(s) 16 allows for the retraction or extension of the length of the loop created by the lanyard strap 12. Additional retention clips, buckles or ladder locks can be used to secure excess strap length.

[0023]The SUL stick 22 can include a body being at least partially magnetic and a connector 14b. As shown herein, the SUL stick 22 can include an elongated body of tubular webbing housing one or more magnets therein. FIG. 1 depicts the SUL stick 22 design for retaining a firearm. The body of the SUL stick 22 can be sized and shaped such that the body corresponds to at least a portion of a firearm. As shown for retaining a handgun 52, the elongated body of the SUL stick 22 corresponds in length and size to the slide portion of the handgun 52. In some modern handguns, the body of the handgun is made of a non-metallic composite and at least the slid portion is made of metal. The magnetic body 22 can connect to, or magnetically engage, the metal slide of the handgun 52.

[0024]Two primary factors can improve the effectiveness of the SUL stick 22 for retaining the handgun 52. First, the body of the SUL stick 22 can match, align, and/or correspond with the handgun 52. Most firearms, including handguns and long guns, have an elongated metallic portion at or about the firing section of the firearm. For handguns, this metallic portion generally includes the gun slide and/or barrel and/or receiver, which includes a length of the handgun for magnetic connection. For rifles, the magnetic portion generally includes at least a portion of the upper receiver and/or barrel and/or attached accessories. In firearms made of non-metallic composites or on non-magnetic metals, a magnetic accessory can be attached to the firearm to cause the firearm to work with the magnetic properties of the SUL stick 22.

[0025]Second, the type and strength of the magnet used for the SUL stick 22 can increase or decrease the SUL sling's 100 ability to retain a particular firearm. One or more embodiments can include one or more of a variety of magnets. Magnets used are commonly known as “permanent magnets” that have a retained level of magnetism. The magnets can be one of several classes of permanent magnets, including Neodymium Iron Boron (NdFeB or NIB), Samarium Cobalt (SmCo), Alnico, and Ceramic or Ferrite, and magnetic rubber. The magnetic feature can include one or more rare earth magnets.

[0026]The SUL sling 10 can include the connector 14 to attach the SUL stick 22 to the lanyard strap 12. As emphasized in FIG. 2, a first connector 14a disposed on or extending from the lanyard strap 12 can be a connectable, or removably connected, to a second connector 14b disposed on the SUL stick 22. As shown, the second connector 22 can be connected to the proximal end of the body of the SUL stick 22; by doing so the elongated body of the SUL stick 22 can extend downward from the lanyard strap 12.

[0027]The connector 14 can include a buck or clip, where a first part of the clip is the first connector 14a and the second part of the clip is the second connector 14b. Though not shown, the connector 14a, 14b can include alternative connector options. For example, the connector 14a, 14b can include one or more snaps, magnets, threaded male and female portions, Velcro®, glue, or other reasonable connection means. In some embodiments, the SUL stick 22 can be permanently connected to the lanyard strap 12 without a connector, such that it is not detachable, by way of stitching, sewing, or glue means or the lanyard strap 12 can extend directly into the SUL stick portion 22,

[0028]FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of a SUL stick 22 attached to a firearm 52 in a first position. As shown, the body of the SUL stick 22 can be an exterior material housing or containing a magnet 24, The magnet 24 can be about or define the shape and/or size of the body of the SUL stick 22. For example, the body of the SUL stick 22 can be made of a flexible material, including textile or cloth made of cotton, nylon, synthetic material, or other material, and formed into an embodiment for containing the one or more magnets 24. In one or more embodiments, the body, of the SUL stick can be made of a more rigid material including metals, plastics and thermoplastics, including thermoplastic acrylic-polyvinyl chloride (i.e., KYDEX®). As indicated by FIG. 3, the material can encase or enclose a magnet 24 general rectangular in shape. In other embodiments, the magnetic properties of the SUL stick 22 can be created by a plurality of magnets, optionally contained in one or more compartments formed in the SUL stick, Magnets of different sizes, magnetic strength, shape, can be used in combination with one another in a single SUL stick embodiment. In at least one embodiment, the SUL stick can comprise a body of magnetic rubber; which can be attached to a connector for connecting to the lanyard strap or can be connected directly to the lanyard strap.

[0029]FIG. 3 depicts the SUL stick 22 magnetically connected to the top of the slide of the handgun with the connector 14b oriented at the proximal end of the SUL stick 22 and toward the rear of the handgun 52 so that the muzzle of the handgun 52 will be pointed downward when hanging from the SUL sling or any other host. FIG. 4 depicts the SUL stick 22 disposed about the lateral side of the slide of the handgun 52. This illustrates the alternative configurations in which the SUL stick can be used to retain a firearm while stick keeping the muzzle or barrel of the firearm pointed in a safe, downward direction.

[0030]Though not shown, the SUL stick 22 can be connected to one of a plurality of devices and receivers other than the lanyard strap. A first device can include a receiver stick that can be attached to the user or the user's gear. In a first example, the receiver stick can be disposed in tactical molle, including the molle of a user's clothing, vest, or pack. (“MOLLE” is an acronym for Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment. This universal spec lets smaller packs and pouches swap in and out as needed by the user anywhere there's a grid on their gear.) In a second example, a user can have a strap with a receiver connector sewn into or otherwise connected directly to his vest or tactical gear so that the connector of the Sul stick can connect directly thereto.

[0031]Though not show, in an alternative embodiment of the SUL sling can include the lanyard portion having magnetic properties. For example, a portion of, or the entire, sling can be made of tubular nylon material and have one or more magnets secured within the tubular nylon material at a preferred position. The magnet(s) can be secured in a fixed position by one or more means of connection, including sewing the tubular nylon closed at each end of the magnet. In another example, the magnet can be fixed the exterior surface of the lanyard strap. Generally, the magnet can be sized and/or shaped and can have the preferred magnetic strength to retain a preselected magnetic metal object. More specifically, the size, shape, and strength of the magnet can be selected based in the size, shape, and weight of a particular firearm or type of firearm.

[0032]FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 depict the SUL sling 10 in an environment of use. In several circumstances, the user may not be able or willing to re-holster his handgun but may need to user one or both of his hands. In such circumstances, the user may desire to keep the handgun in a ready position. A “ready position” generally means a position or placement of a non-holstered firearm requiring minimal or reduced movement of the user to take hold of the firearm and/or to take aim at a target. One of the several circumstances in which a user might use the SUL sling is when the user is in a hostile or potentially hostile environment, but the user needs to render aid to an injured person or attend to the body of a deceased person (shown as item 70).

[0033]Another general circumstance for using the SUL sling can include a user needing to access his weapon while in a seated position. Such seated positions can include a user being seated in a wheelchair, seated in a vehicle, seated while using a toilet, and seated at a restaurant. Drawing a handgun from a holster while in a seated position and/or kneeling position is much more difficult than if the user was standing, greatly decreasing the speed and accuracy with which the user can safely take aim at a target. If the user kept his handgun attached to his SUL sling while seated, instead of holstered, his use of the handgun to address a threat is greatly improved.

[0034]The SUL sling 10 can be worn around the user's neck and/or shoulder such that the SUL stick is positioned in front of the torso of the user. Ideally, the use of the SUL sling 10 will result in the handgun being at position SUL so that the user need only bring his hand(s) to the front of his torso, sometimes about his chest, to take hold of the handgun. FIG. 5 depicts the user of the SUL sling rendering aid to a downed person. FIG. 6 depicts the user viewing a threat and bringing a first hand, or shooting hand, to the handgun. FIG. 7 depicts the user having taken hold of the handgun, removing the handgun from the SUL stick, and pointing the handgun toward the perceived threat. In other scenarios, the user may instead bring both hands to the weapon so that both hands can be used to grasp and/or fire the weapon.

[0035]Although the present invention has been described with respect to specific details and embodiments, it is not intended that such description be regarded as limitations on the scope of the apparatus. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise numerous alternative arrangements that, while not shown or described herein, embody the principles of the disclosure and thus are within its spirit and scope.