A firearm carrier that is design and configured to hold a firearm. In one embodiment, the firearm is a pump-action (or slide-action) firearm, such as a scattergun. The firearm can have a rear portion with a pistol grip, and a forward portion with a barrel and a pump-action (or slide-action) receiver. The firearm carrier can be secured to a user's waist and leg, and then the firearm can be removably secured to the firearm carrier. Advantageously, the firearm carrier is configured to receive a portion of the barrel of the firearm and can thus be secured to the firearm carrier. The firearm can also be rapidly removed from the firearm carrier should the user desire to remove the firearm from the firearm carrier.

A gun cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning tool and a storage case. The cleaning tool has a cleaning section and a pull cord having a distal end for pulling the cleaning section through a gun barrel. The storage case is configured for enclosing the cleaning tool. The storage case includes a substantially hollow container defining a rim at opening thereof, and a removable lid positionable between a closed configuration and an open position. The removable lid includes a handle section for gripping by a user to assist with pulling the cleaning tool through the gun barrel in the open configuration and configured to engage the rim in the closed configuration, and a connection section extending from the handle section, the connection section defining an elongated slot and a cavity for securing the distal end of the pull cord therein.

A load carrying and force distributing device to be worn on a user's limb is described. The device has one or more support members and a plurality of elongated compression members that couple with each of the support members at locations that are circumferentially spaced around the user's limb. The space between the plurality of compression members provides a relief area. The load carrying and force distributing device compresses the soft tissue of the limb against the bone structure to thereby reduce motion of the bone structure towards a wall of the load carrying and force distributing device when worn on the limb. A method of fitting a load carrying and force distributing device to a limb is also described. The method includes coupling the elongated compression members to each of the support members and adjusting compression to thereby reduce motion of the bone towards a wall of the device.

A sling apparatus that improves user comfort and weapon stabilization and that can be easily converted to and from single-point configuration, two-point configuration, and body armor configuration. The configuration flexibility and ease of conversion allows the user to tailor the sling apparatus to user preferences or environment. In any configuration, the sling improves the user's ability to stabilize the weapon, enhances the comfort of the user, secures the weapon more tightly to the user's body for increased weapon control, and provides an integrated source of paracord that can be utilized in emergency situations.

A holster is disclosed specially adapted for a long weapon, the long weapon having a pistol grip and a magwell. The holster comprises two separate brackets, an upper bracket and a lower bracket, where both the upper and lower holster brackets are adapted to be supported by a tactical vest with moly webbing. The upper holster bracket is U-shaped and snaps over the pistol grip of the long weapon. A detent is located on the inner surfaces of the U-shaped bracket which engages a channel located on the faces of the pistol grip. In another embodiment a post is attached to the holster that is adapted to engage a corresponding hole through the pistol grip of a weapon. The post has a spherical knob on the end opposite the holster wherein the knob snaps into a corresponding enlarged spherical section of the hole located through the pistol grip. A snap element including a spring biased button is embedded into the pistol grip wherein the snap element releasable engages the hemispherical bulb of the post.

A process for making nanoparticles of biocompatible materials is described, wherein an aqueous reaction mixture comprising cerous ion, ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid, an oxidant, water, and optionally citric acid, is provided along with temperature conditions to directly form within the reaction mixture, a stable dispersion of cerium oxide nanoparticles. Biocompatible nanoparticles comprised of cerium oxide, ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid, and optionally citric acid, are described. An increase in catalase-like enzyme activity is demonstrated by cerium oxide nanoparticles prepared with citric acid and ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid.

An apparatus in accordance with the invention includes a shoulder strap for use with a backpack, wherein the shoulder strap supports the backpack on a user’s shoulders. A hook is incorporated into the shoulder strap to carry cargo, such as a rifle, bow, binoculars, or the like. The hook and associated cargo provide a counterbalance for weight of the backpack on the user’s shoulders. In certain embodiments, the hook is designed to universally connect to different types of backpacks and shoulder straps. In certain embodiments, the apparatus includes a coupling mechanism to couple the hook to the shoulder strap and/or prevent swaying of the hook relative to the shoulder strap. The hook may foldable to enable the hook to be stowed away and/or prevent cargo from coming off the hook. A corresponding method is also disclosed herein.

An apparatus for carrying a rifle is disclosed. In one embodiment, such an apparatus includes a coupling mechanism to connect to a rifle. In certain embodiments, the coupling mechanism comprises a hook for engaging a loop, wherein one of the hook and the loop is connected to a rifle. An attachment mechanism, such as a clip or strap, is coupled to the coupling mechanism and configured to attach the coupling mechanism to a backpack or other shoulder harness. In certain embodiments, a retention mechanism may be provided to keep the rifle retained within the coupling mechanism. Similarly, a release mechanism may be provided to release the rifle from the retention mechanism. The release mechanism may engage/disengage the retention mechanism using a cable, or in other embodiments using wired or wireless communication. A corresponding method is also disclosed herein.

A method for protecting a rifle and stabilizing the rifle when shooting is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes providing a strap and connecting a first end of the strap to a backpack. A second end of the strap is connected to a rifle. A length of the strap is adjusted such that when a user pulls the rifle over the shoulder from the backpack and holds the rifle in a shooting position, the strap slides over the user's shoulder from the backpack to the rifle and reduces a weight of the rifle in the user's arms when the rifle is held in the shooting position. In certain embodiments, the length of the strap is adjusted to maintain the rifle substantially level when in the shooting position.

Sling sliders have a body defining an elongated sling strap passage configured to receive an elongated sling strap, the elongated sling strap passage defined at least in part by an elongated bar having opposed ends, the elongated bar defining an elongated cord passage extending between the opposed ends of the elongated bar, a cord received in the elongated cord passage, and the cord having a received portion within the elongated cord passage and a handle portion extending outside the elongated cord passage such that the handle portion operates to exert a motive force on the body. The sling slider may be a triglide. The body may have three parallel bars, and the elongated bar defining the elongated cord passage may be positioned between a second bar and a third bar. The body may define a pair of elongated sling strap passages on opposite sides of the elongated bar.