Aug 12, 2025

US12385719 - Weapon sling with integral connectors for wired communication and/or power transfer

A weapon sling includes a strap having first and second free ends and defining a main branch between the first and second free ends. The strap member is formed of an elongate hollow flexible, e.g., textile, element. A loop branch attached to the main branch is configured to be looped around a user's body. First and second connector assemblies are secured to the respective first and second free ends. The first connector assembly is for detachable coupling to a weapon connector on the weapon. The second connector assembly is for detachable coupling to a hub connector on a hub worn by the user. A plurality of electrical conductors extend within the elongate hollow flexible element for electrically coupling electrical contacts on the first connector assembly with electrical contacts on the second connector assembly for providing communications between a host computer on the weapon and the hub.

Assignee: Wilcox Industries Corp.
Inventors: James W. Teetzel, Elliott S. Turner
Filing date: 2024-01-26

The patent describes a weapon sling that integrates electrical conductors within a flexible strap, allowing for communication between a weapon’s host computer and a hub worn by the user. It features detachable connector assemblies at both ends for secure attachment to the weapon and the user’s hub.

Claim 1

A weapon sling for supporting a weapon, comprising: a strap member having a first free end and a second free end opposite the first free end and defining a main branch extending between the first free end and the second free end, the strap member being formed of an elongate hollow flexible element; a loop branch attached to the main branch, the loop branch configured to be looped around at least a portion of a body of a user; a first connector assembly secured to the first free end and a second connector assembly secured to the second free end; the first connector assembly configured for detachable coupling to a weapon connector disposed on the weapon; the second connector assembly configured for detachable coupling to a hub connector disposed on a hub worn on the body of the user; a plurality of electrical conductors extending within the elongate hollow flexible element for electrically coupling a plurality of electrical contacts on the first connector assembly with a corresponding plurality of electrical contacts on the second connector assembly, the plurality of electrical conductors for providing communications between a host computer on the weapon and the hub. a strap member having a first free end and a second free end opposite the first free end and defining a main branch extending between the first free end and the second free end, the strap member being formed of an elongate hollow flexible element; a loop branch attached to the main branch, the loop branch configured to be looped around at least a portion of a body of a user; a first connector assembly secured to the first free end and a second connector assembly secured to the second free end; the first connector assembly configured for detachable coupling to a weapon connector disposed on the weapon; the second connector assembly configured for detachable coupling to a hub connector disposed on a hub worn on the body of the user; a plurality of electrical conductors extending within the elongate hollow flexible element for electrically coupling a plurality of electrical contacts on the first connector assembly with a corresponding plurality of electrical contacts on the second connector assembly, the plurality of electrical conductors for providing communications between a host computer on the weapon and the hub.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12385719

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12385719