U.S. patent application number 10/449188 was filed with the patent office on 2004-12-02 for gun shooting support for vehicles.
Invention is credited to Frye, Larry S..
Application Number | 20040237372 10/449188 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33451705 |
Filed Date | 2004-12-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040237372 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Frye, Larry S. |
December 2, 2004 |
Gun shooting support for vehicles
Abstract
A table like bench rest structure for stabilizing a firearm
position for shooting, wherein a special clamping device is
provided for removably affixing the structure to a luggage rack of
an ATV, and wherein the structure is provided with a table top
support mechanism which affords substantially universal position
and posture adjustment for the table top.
Inventors: |
Frye, Larry S.; (Saltville,
VA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Donald W. Spurrell
P.O. Box 970
Johnson City
TN
37605
US
|
Family ID: |
33451705 |
Appl. No.: |
10/449188 |
Filed: |
May 30, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
42/94 ;
89/37.04 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41A 23/34 20130101;
F41A 23/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
042/094 ;
089/037.04 |
International
Class: |
F41A 031/00; F41C
027/00 |
Claims
1: A firearm rest structure 10 adapted for mounting on a vehicle 12
having a luggage rack 14 positioned either forward or rearward of
the drivers seat or both, wherein the rack 14 is comprised of a
plurality of normally generally horizontally postured members 18
which are oriented and fixed together at angles to each other to
form a plurality of openings 20 thru a normally generally
horizontal luggage plane 22, wherein said rest structure comprises
a table 11 having a top 17, clamping means 19 having an elongated
bottom strut 24 having a longitudinal dimension 26, and having an
elongated upper strut 24 having a longitudinal dimension 26, at
least one of adjacent surface portions 30, 32 of said struts being
substantially flat to provide a lateral stabilizer means for
contact with adjacent ones of said members 18, slot means 34 formed
generally vertically thru said struts and adapted to be aligned for
receiving fastener means 36 for tightening said surface portions
30, 32 in a clamping manner to said members 18 interposed generally
horizontally between said struts, and table top support means 21
(elements 42,40,46,48,51,52,43,55,57) affixed at its lower portion
to said clamping means 19 and at it upper portion to said table top
17, wherein said support means 21 provides linear and angular
adjustment means which affords substantially universal position and
posture adjustment to said table top relative to said luggage
rack:
2 (cancelled):
3: The firearm rest structure of claim 1 wherein said support means
21 comprises a first tubular member 38 having a lower section 42
having a bore providing a first bearing means 41, and having an
upper section 40 slidably (axially) and angularly (rotatably)
mounted in 41, a first stop means 43 mounted on said section 42 and
engageable with said section 40 to adjustably fix the relative
positions, both axially and angularly, of section 40 with respect
to section 42, a second tubular member 46 affixed to a top end 44
of section 40 and having a bore providing a second bearing means
35, support beam means 48 slidably and rotatably mounted in said
bearing means 35, a second stop means 55 mounted on member 46 and
engageable with beam means 48 to adjustably fix the relative
positions, both axially and angularly, of beam means 48 with
respect to member 46, a third tubular member 51 affixed to a distal
end 50 of said beam means 48 and having a bore providing a third
bearing means 33, a table support shaft 52 sidably and rotatably
mounted in said bearing means 33, a third stop means 57 mounted on
said member 51 and engageable with said shaft 52 to adjustably fix
the relative positions, both axially and angularly, of shaft 52
with respect to member 51, wherein with respect to the horizontal
posture of said plane 22, said member 38 is on a generally vertical
axis 39, said member 46 is on a generally horizontal axis 37, said
member 51 is on a generally vertical axis 60, and said table top 17
lies generally in a horizontal plane 31.
4: The firearm rest structure of claim 3 wherein said table is a
single structure having shaft 52 and plate 54 as its sole immediate
support whereby said table is allowed substantially vertical
adjustment and angular adjustment whereby the plane of said table
is not subject to inopportune tilting with respect to plane 22.
5: The firearm rest structure of claim 4 wherein said struts 24 and
28 are each rectangular in shape and having a center portion to
which a bottom end of said lower section 42 is affixed, and each
further having an end section on either longitudinal side of said
center portion thru which said slots 34 are formed, whereby said
struts are readily positioned on said rack 14 to bridge the
distance between adjacent ones of said rack member to provide for
quick mounting and dismounting of said firearm rest structure on
said rack.
6: The combination of a firearm rest structure 10 mounted on a
vehicle 12 having a luggage rack 14 positioned either forward or
rearward of the drivers seat or both, wherein the rack 14 is
comprised of a plurality of normally generally horizontally
postured members 18 which are oriented and fixed together at angles
to each other to form a plurality of openings 20 thru a normally
generally horizontal luggage plane 22, wherein said rest structure
comprises a table 11 having a top 17, clamping means 19 having an
elongated bottom strut 24 having a longitudinal dimension 26, and
having an elongated upper strut 24 having a longitudinal dimension
26, at least one of adjacent surface portions 30, 32 of said struts
being substantially flat to provide a lateral stabilizer means for
contact with adjacent ones of said members 18, slot means 34 formed
generally vertically thru said struts and adapted to be aligned for
receiving fastener means 36 for tightening said surface portions
30, 32 in a clamping manner to said members 18 interposed generally
horizontally between said struts, and table top support means
affixed at its lower portion to said clamping means 19 and at it
upper portion to said table top 17, wherein said support means 21
provides linear and angular adjustment means which affords
substantially universal position and posture adjustment to said
table top relative to said luggage rack.
7: The combination of claim 6 wherein said support means 21
comprises a first tubular member 38 having a lower section 42
having a bore providing a first bearing means 41, and having an
upper section 40 slidably (axially) and angularly (rotatably)
mounted in 41, a first stop means 43 mounted on said section 42 and
engageable with said section 40 to adjustably fix the relative
positions, both axially and angularly, of section 40 with respect
to section 42, a second tubular member 46 affixed to a top end 44
of section 40 and having a bore providing a second bearing means
35, support beam means 48 slidably and rotatably mounted in said
bearing means 35, a second stop means 55 mounted on member 46 and
engageable with beam means 48 to adjustably fix the relative
positions, both axially and angularly, of beam means 48 with
respect to member 46, a third tubular member 51 affixed to a distal
end 50 of said beam means 48 and having a bore providing a third
bearing means 33, a table support shaft 52 slidably and rotatably
mounted in said bearing means 33, a third stop means 57 mounted on
said member 51 and engageable with said shaft 52 to adjustably fix
the relative positions, both axially and angularly, of shaft 52
with respect to member 51, wherein with respect to the horizontal
posture of said plane 22, said member 38 is on a generally vertical
axis 39, said member 46 is on a generally horizontal axis 37, said
member 51 is on a generally vertical axis 60, and said table top 17
lies generally in a horizontal plane 31.
8: The combination of claim 7 wherein said table is a single
structure having shaft 52 and plate 54 as its sole immediate
support whereby said table is allowed substantially vertical
adjustment and angular adjustment whereby the plane of said table
is not subject to inopportune tilting with respect to plane 22.
9: The combination of claim 8 wherein said struts 24 and 28 are
each rectangular in shape and having a center portion to which a
bottom end of said lower section 42 is affixed, and each further
having an end section on either longitudinal side of said center
portion thru which said slots 34 are formed, whereby said struts
are readily positioned on said rack 14 to bridge the distance
between adjacent ones of said rack member to provide for quick
mounting and dismounting of said firearm rest structure on said
rack.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Field: This invention concerns gun support or bench rest
devices for assisting he shooter by stabilizing the gun position,
and particularly concerns such devices which are mountable on
vehicles.
[0002] Prior Art: Various U.S. Patents have been issued on gun
supporting structures, including the following: U.S. Pat. No.
6,042,080; 4,937,965; 4,672,898; 5,833,308; and 5,697,181, however,
none of these devices provide the necessary structures for mounting
on ATVs or for giving the stability, universal movement,
versatility in gun positioning, or comfort required to shoot a
rifle from a sitting position on the ATV, or by a shooter standing
on the ground, alongside or in back of or in front of the
vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention in one of its broad structural
embodiments is defined as a gun rest table structure having
substantially universal positioning and posture adjusting
mechanisms for the convenience and comfort of the shooter, wherein
special clamping means is provided on the structure, and wherein
said table structure can be quickly mounted on and removed from the
luggage racks of an ATV or equivalent type vehicle by way of said
clamping means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] The invention and its objects and advantages will be
understood further from the description and drawings herein wherein
the various figures are not drawn to scale or relative proportions,
but illustrate the inventive concepts of the invention, and
wherein:
[0005] FIG. 1 is a side view of a portion of an ATV ("ARTIC CAT")
with the present table structure mounted on the rear luggage rack
thereof and supporting a gun on stabilizing sandbags;
[0006] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the table structure of FIG.
1 with the table top shown in dotted outline, and showing a portion
of the ATV rear luggage rack;
[0007] FIG. 3 is a top view of the luggage rack taken along line
3-3 in FIG. 1 showing a side edge mounting of the table structure
clamping means;
[0008] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 in
FIG. 3; and
[0009] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 in
FIG. 2 of a preferred hand locking knob means for the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] The invention will be further understood from the following
description with particular reference to the claims hereof wherein
in a preferred structural embodiment the invention comprises a gun
rest table structure generally designated 10 for an off-the-road
vehicle 12, particularly an ATV having a luggage rack 14 positioned
either forward or rearward of the drivers seat 16 or both and
firmly fixed to the vehicle frame. The rack is constructed of a
plurality of normally generally horizontally positioned steel pipe
or rod members 18 oriented and welded together at angles to each
other to form a plurality of openings 20 thru a normally generally
horizontal plane 22 of the luggage rack. It is noted that the terms
"horizontal", "vertical", "top", "lower", "upper", "height" and the
like used herein refer to the positions or postures of the
particular structure involved relative to the positions or postures
of the other related structures, and not necessarily with respect
to the terrain surface.
[0011] The table structure comprises a table top 17 of any desired
configuration and material, e.g., treated plywood, fiberglass,
aluminum, or the like, a clamping means 19 for removably affixing
the table structure to said rack, and table top support means
generally designated 21. The clamping means 19 is comprised of an
elongated bottom bar or strut 24 having a longitudinal dimension or
axis 26, and an elongated bar or upper strut 28 having a
longitudinal dimension or axis, also 26. At least one of adjacent
surface portions 30 or 32 of said struts is substantially flat to
provide a lateral stabilizer means in contact with the adjacent
rack members 18. Slots 34 are formed generally vertically thru the
struts and are adapted to be aligned for receiving fastener means
36 for tightening surface portions 30, 32 in a clamping manner to
members 18 interposed generally horizontally between the
struts.
[0012] Support means 21 comprises a stanchion 38 affixed to said
upper strut and extending substantially vertically therefrom. This
stanchion preferably comprises an upper pipe section 40 slidably
mounted in a first bearing means component provided by the bore 41
of a lower pipe section 42 and is adapted to be adjustably fixed to
section 42 by stop means 43 to adjust the height of its top end 44
above the luggage rack. The construction of stop means 43 is
preferably used for all of the adjustment means employed in the
present invention for support means 21 and comprises a bolt or set
screw 45 affixed preferably by welding to a hand knob 47 and
threaded thru a nut 49 welded to the side of the support means
component such as 42. When knob 47 is rotated in a clamping (screw
in) direction, the inner end of 45 will frictionally and tightly
engage the inner pipe or shaft component such as section 40 and
securely hold the sections together. A second bearing means
component 46 is affixed on said top end 44 and a supporting beam
means 48 is slidably mounted in said second bearing means component
46 in a normally generally horizontal plane. A distal support end
50 of beam 48 is provided with a third bearing means component 51
for receiving a shaft 52 affixed to a table top mounting plate 54
which is fixed to the bottom 53 of table top 17 by screws or the
like 56.
[0013] Each of the three bearing means provides for axial and
angular adjustment of the internal member and affords universal
position and posture adjustment for the table top. Such adjustment
versatility can thus accommodate the requirements of the most
particular of shooters.
[0014] The invention has been described in detail with particular
reference to preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be
understood that variations and modifications will be effected with
the spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *