Firearm Harness Segmented Strap for Shoulder Stability

Solution Overview

Problem

Firearm slings tend to slip off the shoulder while carrying a rifle, requiring hunters to maintain a grip, which is inconvenient, especially in wooded or uneven terrain.

Innovation Solution

A simple firearm harness with a main strap segment and securing assemblies that can be fastened to a firearm with or without a sling, featuring releasable connectors and protectors to prevent slippage and allow hands-free carrying.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a sling is used to carry the rifle over the shoulder, then the hands are freed for other tasks, but the sling tends to slip off the shoulder requiring the user to hold it in place

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehands-free carryingVSAvoidsling stability on shoulder

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sling system is segmented into multiple functional components: a main sling strap, a shoulder retention strap, and connecting hardware. The shoulder retention strap is a separate element that works in conjunction with the main sling to provide additional stabilization, preventing slippage while maintaining hands-free operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The shoulder retention strap acts as an intermediary element between the main sling and the user's shoulder. It provides an additional contact point and distribution of force that prevents the main sling from slipping off the shoulder, thereby improving reliability without compromising the hands-free carrying benefit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the hunter maintains a grip on the sling to prevent slippage, then the sling stability is improved, but the hands are no longer free for other tasks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesling stability on shoulderVSAvoidhands-free carrying

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The sling system is segmented into multiple functional components: a main sling strap, a shoulder retention strap, and connecting hardware. The shoulder retention strap is a separate element that works in conjunction with the main sling to provide additional stabilization, preventing slippage while maintaining hands-free operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The shoulder retention strap is designed to automatically engage and stabilize the sling on the shoulder without requiring active user intervention. Once adjusted, the system self-regulates to prevent slippage, allowing the user's hands to remain free for other tasks while maintaining reliable sling positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If a simple sling design is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the sling cannot prevent slippage without additional components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesling constructionVSAvoidsling stability on shoulder

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sling system is segmented into multiple functional components: a main sling strap, a shoulder retention strap, and connecting hardware. The shoulder retention strap is a separate element that works in conjunction with the main sling to provide additional stabilization, preventing slippage while maintaining hands-free operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The shoulder retention strap serves multiple functions: it prevents sling slippage, distributes weight more evenly across the shoulder, and can be adjusted to accommodate different user sizes and preferences. This multi-functionality adds reliability without proportionally increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10816305B1Firearm harnesses

Publication Date: 2020.10.27 BEAVERS STEVEN BRETT

AI summary

Firearm harnesses suitable for securing a firearm on a firearm user may include a harness strap including a main strap segment. A rear securing assembly may be provided on the main strap segment. The rear securing assembly may include a rear securing strap segment extending from the main strap segment of the harness strap. A rear main strap segment end may terminate the rear securing strap segment. A releasable rear securing strap connector may releasably secure the rear main strap segment end of the rear securing strap segment to the main strap segment of the harness strap. A front securing assembly may be provided on the main strap segment of the harness strap in spaced-apart relationship to the rear securing assembly. The front securing assembly may include a front securing strap carried by the main strap segment. A releasable front securing strap connector may releasably secure the front securing strap between fastened and unfastened configurations.