Search

EP-4577795-B1 - HUNTING VEST SYSTEM

EP4577795B1EP 4577795 B1EP4577795 B1EP 4577795B1EP-4577795-B1

Inventors

  • SLANKAMENAC, Milan

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20220824

Claims (8)

  1. A gun carrying strap system, comprising - a chest part (1) made of belt webbing, - a back part (2) made of belt webbing, where the chest part (1) and the back part (2) are releasably connected, - a gunstock holder connected to the chest part (1), - a forestock (31) fastening means connected to the chest part (1), where the fastening means is designed as a quick-release clamp, wherein the chest part (1) is formed as a V-shaped belt strap comprising two legs (1B, 1C) connected to each other at one end, where a tip section (1A) of the chest part (1) is folded down behind a neck region of a user (3) wearing the gun carrying strap system in use position, and is connected through a length-adjustable hook-and-loop webbing link (22) to the upper extension (2A) of the back part (2) arranged on the back of the user (3) wearing the gun carrying strap system, the other ends of each of the two legs (1B, 1C) of the V-shaped belt strap are connected through each one length-adjustable link consisting of a webbing (23), a buckle (24) and a hook-and-loop webbing (25) to both side extensions (2B, 2C) of the back part (2) arranged on the user (3) wearing the strapsystem, the two legs (1B, 1C) of the V-shaped belt strap are equipped with buckles (17) on the neighbouring inner edges of the legs (1B, 1C) to connect both legs (1B, 1C) of the V-shaped belt strap in a use position with a spacer detachably on the chest of the user (3) wearing the strap system, and the legs (1B, 1C) of the V-shaped belt strap of the chest part (1) are in use position connected with each other detachably using the buckles (17) attached to inner edges of the legs (1B, 1C), the gunstock holder is designed as a separate basket (20) for receiving partly a stock (19) of the carried gun, which is connected through a buckle end (26) with a buckle (21) on outer edges of the legs (1B, 1C) near the end of both legs (1B, 1C) of the V-shaped belt strap, as well as through webbings (27, 29) and buckles (28, 30) with the tip section (1A) of the V-shaped belt strap through a buckle end (5) provided there, the gun carrying strap system comprises as a clamp to fix the forestock (31) a length-adjustable clamp with adjustable detachable fixing on one leg (1B, 1C) of the V-shaped belt strap in the front shoulder area of the user (3) in the use position of the strap system on the one hand, and, on the other hand, a length-adjustable clamp with detachable fixing on the other leg (1C, 1B) of the V-shaped belt strap near the chest of the user (3) wearing the strap system in a use position, the length of the webbing (27, 29) connecting the basket (20) holding the gunstock (19) to the chest part (1) is selected in a manner that the separate basket (20), which partially holds the stock of the carried gun (19), is positioned in use position below the gun forestock clamp (31), next to the hip of the user (3) wearing the strap system, viewing the user (3) from the front, further back than the clamp fixing the forestock (31).
  2. The gun carrying strap system according to claim 1, characterised in that the quick-release clamp for facilitating the upright gun carrying, fixed detachably in the use position of the sling system on the one leg (1B, 1C) of the V-shaped belt strap in the front shoulder area of the user (3) wearing the strap system comprises at least on a part of its length a hook-and-loop webbing (33), which is fixed in a webbing loop (8) on the corresponding leg (1B, 1C) of the chest part (1), and a second end of the quick-release clamp is equipped with a quick-release shackle (34), which is in operational connection with an attached release cord (35) used as an actuator.
  3. The gun carrying strap system according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the clamp for facilitating the gun carrying diagonally on the chest of the user (3), fixed detachably in the use position of the sling system on the other leg (1C, 1B) of the V-shaped belt strap in the chest area of the user (3) wearing the strap system comprises at least on a part of its length a hook-and-loop webbing (33), which is fixed in a D ring (11) on the corresponding leg (1B, 1C) of the chest part (1), and a second end of the quick-release clamp is equipped with a quick-release shackle (34), which is in operational connection with an attached release cord (35) used as an actuator.
  4. The gun carrying strap system according to claim 3, characterised in that the actuator attached to the quick-release shackle (34) for facilitating the gun carrying diagonally on the chest of the user (3), fixed detachably in the use position of the sling system on the other leg (1B, 1C) of the V-shaped belt strap in the chest area of the user (3) wearing the strap system is a magnetic plate (45) sticking detachably to the metalgun lock, and connected through a belt (44) to the quick-release shackle (43).
  5. A gun carrying strap system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the legs (1B, 1C) of the V-shaped belt strap are equipped with MOLLE compatible attachment segments (10).
  6. A gun carrying strap system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the legs (1B, 1C) of the V-shaped belt strap are equipped with elastic attachment webbings (16).
  7. A gun carrying strap system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that it comprises a webbing (36) attached with one end to the webbing loop (7) on the edge of the belt webbing at the tip section (1A) of the V-shaped belt strap and with the other end to the gunstock (19).
  8. A gun carrying strap system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the V-shaped belt strap with the components fixed on the legs (1B, 1C) is designed symmetrically to an imaginary vertical centre line (4) allowing both right-handed and left-handed gun handling.

Description

The invention is a gun carrying strap system according to the subject matter of claim 1 for carrying a long gun on the upper body. The proposed strapsystem is designed to carry a gun and equipment used by a user, in this description also referred to as a hunter, i.e. any long gun, mainly a hunting rifle during hunting activities in two preferred carrying modes, firstly for rapid retrieval of the rifle from the haul position and bringing in the firing position for shooting the game, and secondly for carrying the weapon in a further preferred carrying mode opened during hunting breaks. Currently available gun belts, straps and body straps facilitate the passive carrying of a gun, hereinafter also referred to simply as a rifle, and other equipment on a hunt only partially. This means that bringing the rifle into a firing position requires the hunter to make at least two or more complex hand movements, the duration of which is longer than the time required for the hunter to bring the rifle from the haul position to a firing position to shoot a fast-moving game in time. WO 2009/092359 A1 describes a known gun carrying system. EP 2507578 B1 describes a common and commonly used solution whereby the rifle is stored and carried in a box-like container designed for this purpose, which is attached to or integrated into the hunter's backpack. This design obviously cannot allow the hunter to bring the rifle from the haul position to the firing position with sufficient speed and a simple, natural movement. US 11,054,213 B2 describes an adjustable chest strapto carry a long gun or a crossbow and to release it quickly. The strap comprises a main belt strap supported by the wearer's shoulder, and the opposite ends of the strap are connected to a pocket-like basket that fits against the side of the wearer's waist and holds the stock of the firearm or crossbow. Asecondary support strap extends from the main belt strap and can be attached tothe forestock of the firearm or crossbow to provide a hands-free support when carried by the wearer. The chest carrying strap had the shortage that the weight of the gun, mostly a rifle, about 3-8 kg (6.6-17.6 lbs) is supported by a small and inadequate muscle group, the narrow webbings of the strap do provide insufficient contact surface, and the supporting body parts may get very fatigued, causing itching, irritation, and pain. Furthermore, a sudden movement of the hunter's body to the left (other) side, a movement common in hunting, may cause a head injury to the hunter. The gunstock is held and supported in the front grip and support for the rifle's muzzle is located in the frontal thigh area, which significantly reduces the hunter's movement range and excludes a crouching position. US 2022/0042766 A1 describes a hands-free carrying device for a long gun, such as a rifle, where the support plate is supported on the user's chest and the support plate features a gripping device, which is designed to engage and support the weapon in a ready position allowing detachment. At least one of the jaw elements on the gripping device open to the outside is resiliently flexible to receive and retain the gun forestock between the jaw elements. However, the horizontally worn belt strap is inappropriately positioned, passing through the stomach area, over soft tissue, without being supported by bones. This position of the horizontal belt strapsignificantly restricts the natural movement of the diaphragm, the breathing, particularly in the squatting position, which is a natural basic position for hunting. The rifle carrying method with a carrying tool is not suitable, or even impossible for hunting in environments such as high cornfields or other high bushes in the hunting area. The areas mentioned are considered as essential bird hunting areas. In the case of a gun attached to the belt to the body, the hunter must apply a more complex and time-consuming procedure to bring the rifle into the firing position. The above summary also states that the existing technical features for carrying a rifle do not allow hunters to carry the rifle safely on their upper body during a break in hunting and to easily retrieve it to resume hunting. Since the currently known technical solutions do not offer a satisfactory solution to retrieve the rifle simply and quickly by a natural hand and body movement from the haul position and to bring it to the firing position, hunters are mostly forced to carry the rifle in the traditional way, either in the hand or shoulder-hung with a gun sling. Carrying the rifle in the hand fatigues the hunter's hands excessively, and the hunter has limited movement opportunities. Carrying a rifle on the shoulder with a gun sling requires the hunter to perform a more complex and prolonged set of movements to bring the rifle in the firing position and to shoot the game, significantly increases the fatigue of the hunter's hand muscles and the whole body, resulting in an increased number of missed