U.S. patent application number 11/418407 was filed with the patent office on 2007-11-08 for shooting rests for supporting firearms and methods for manufacturing shooting rests.
This patent application is currently assigned to Battenfeld Technologies, Inc.. Invention is credited to Tim Morrow, Larry Potterfield, Russell A. Potterfield.
Application Number | 20070256346 11/418407 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38659923 |
Filed Date | 2007-11-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070256346 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Potterfield; Larry ; et
al. |
November 8, 2007 |
Shooting rests for supporting firearms and methods for
manufacturing shooting rests
Abstract
Shooting rests for supporting firearms and methods for
manufacturing shooting rests are disclosed herein. In one
embodiment, a shooting rest includes a base and a support assembly
pivotably coupled to the base. The support assembly is configured
to carry the firearm such that the recoil of the firearm pivots the
support assembly about an axis in a first direction. The shooting
rest further includes a resilient member coupled to the base and
the support assembly and a triggering mechanism coupled to the
support assembly. The resilient member is configured to urge the
support assembly about the axis in a second direction opposite the
first direction. The triggering mechanism is configured to
selectively actuate the trigger of the firearm.
Inventors: |
Potterfield; Larry;
(Columbia, MO) ; Morrow; Tim; (Jefferson City,
MO) ; Potterfield; Russell A.; (Columbia,
MO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PERKINS COIE LLP;PATENT-SEA
P.O. BOX 1247
SEATTLE
WA
98111-1247
US
|
Assignee: |
Battenfeld Technologies,
Inc.
Columbia
MO
|
Family ID: |
38659923 |
Appl. No.: |
11/418407 |
Filed: |
May 4, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60778028 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
42/94 ; 73/167;
89/27.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41A 23/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
042/094 ;
089/027.3; 073/167 |
International
Class: |
F41C 27/00 20060101
F41C027/00 |
Claims
1. A shooting rest for supporting a firearm with a trigger, the
shooting rest comprising: a base; a support assembly movably
coupled to the base, the support assembly being configured to carry
the firearm such that the recoil of the firearm moves the support
assembly about an axis in a first direction; a resilient member
coupled to the base and the support assembly, the resilient member
configured to pivot the support assembly about the axis in a second
direction opposite the first direction; and a triggering mechanism
for selectively actuating the trigger of the firearm when the
firearm is carried by the support assembly.
2. The shooting rest of claim 1 wherein: the resilient member
comprises an axially-extendable spring; the axis is a first axis;
the base comprises a first portion attached to the support assembly
and a second portion pivotably coupled to the first portion, the
first and second portions being pivotable relative to each other
about a second axis generally perpendicular to the first axis; the
shooting rest further comprises an inhibiting member positioned to
inhibit rotation of the support assembly about the axis in the
first direction; and the triggering mechanism comprises a remotely
actuated triggering mechanism including (a) a first portion
positioned at least proximate to the trigger of the firearm when
the firearm is carried by the support assembly, and (b) a second
portion spaced apart from the support assembly such that an
individual can actuate the triggering mechanism without placing a
hand over the base and proximate to the support assembly.
3. The shooting rest of claim 1 wherein the triggering mechanism
comprises a remotely actuated triggering mechanism including (a) a
first portion positioned at least proximate to the trigger of the
firearm when the firearm is carried by the support assembly, and
(b) a second portion spaced apart from the support assembly such
that an individual can actuate the triggering mechanism without
placing a hand over the base and proximate to the support
assembly.
4. The shooting rest of claim 1 wherein the triggering mechanism
comprises a remotely actuated triggering mechanism including a
flexible filament.
5. The shooting rest of claim 1 wherein the triggering mechanism
comprises a remotely actuated triggering mechanism including a
housing, a plunger disposed at least partially within the housing,
and a flexible filament coupled to the plunger.
6. The shooting rest of claim 1 wherein the resilient member
comprises a torsional spring.
7. The shooting rest of claim 1 wherein the resilient member
comprises an axially-extendable spring.
8. The shooting rest of claim 1 wherein the axis is a first axis,
wherein the base comprises a first portion attached to the support
assembly and a second portion pivotably coupled to the first
portion, and wherein the first and second portions are pivotable
relative to each other about a second axis generally perpendicular
to the first axis.
9. The shooting rest of claim 1 wherein the support assembly
comprises a stop for limiting the range of pivot of the support
assembly.
10. The shooting rest of claim 1 wherein the triggering mechanism
is attached to the support assembly.
11. The shooting rest of claim 1, further comprising an inhibiting
member positioned to inhibit rotation of the support assembly about
the axis in the first direction.
12. The shooting rest of claim 1, further comprising a handle
projecting from the support assembly.
13. A shooting rest for supporting a firearm with a trigger, the
shooting rest comprising: a base; a support assembly for carrying
the firearm, the support assembly being pivotably coupled to the
base; and a remotely actuated triggering mechanism for selectively
actuating the trigger of the firearm, the remotely actuated
triggering mechanism including a first portion positioned at least
proximate to the trigger of the firearm when the firearm is carried
by the support assembly, and a second portion spaced apart from the
support assembly such that an individual can actuate the triggering
mechanism without placing a hand over the base and proximate to the
support assembly.
14. The shooting rest of claim 13 wherein the remotely actuated
triggering mechanism is coupled to the support assembly.
15. The shooting rest of claim 13 wherein the support assembly is
pivotably coupled to the base such that the recoil of the firearm
pivots the support assembly about an axis.
16. The shooting rest of claim 13 wherein: the support assembly is
pivotably coupled to the base such that the recoil of the firearm
pivots the support assembly about an axis in a first direction; and
the shooting rest further comprises a resilient member coupled to
the base and the support assembly, the resilient member being
configured to urge the support assembly about the axis in a second
direction opposite the first direction.
17. The shooting rest of claim 13 wherein the remotely actuated
triggering mechanism further comprises a flexible filament.
18. The shooting rest of claim 13 wherein the remotely actuated
triggering mechanism further comprises a housing, a plunger
disposed at least partially within the housing, and a flexible
filament coupled to the plunger.
19. A shooting rest for supporting a firearm with a trigger, the
shooting rest comprising: a base; a support assembly coupled to the
base for supporting the firearm; and a remotely actuated triggering
mechanism for selectively actuating the trigger of the firearm when
the firearm is carried by the support assembly, the remotely
actuated triggering mechanism including a flexible filament.
20. The shooting rest of claim 19 wherein the support assembly is
pivotably coupled to the base such that the recoil of the firearm
pivots the support assembly about an axis.
21. The shooting rest of claim 19 wherein: the support assembly is
pivotably coupled to the base such that the recoil of the firearm
pivots the support assembly about an axis in a first direction; and
the shooting rest further comprises a resilient member coupled to
the base and the support assembly, the resilient member being
configured to urge the support assembly about the axis in a second
direction opposite the first direction.
22. The shooting rest of claim 19 wherein: the flexible filament
comprises a proximal end attached at the support assembly and a
distal end opposite the proximal end; and the remotely actuated
triggering mechanism further comprises (a) a housing proximate to
the distal end of the filament, and (b) a plunger disposed at least
partially within the housing and coupled to the distal end of the
filament.
23. A shooting rest for supporting a firearm with a trigger, the
shooting rest comprising: a base; a support assembly for supporting
the firearm, the support assembly being movably coupled to the base
such that the recoil of the firearm pivots the support assembly
about an axis in a first direction; means for urging the support
assembly about the axis in a second direction opposite the first
direction; and means for selectively actuating the trigger of the
firearm when the firearm is supported by the support assembly.
24. The shooting rest of claim 23 wherein the means for urging the
support assembly comprise a spring coupled to the support assembly
and the base.
25. The shooting rest of claim 23 wherein the means for selectively
actuating the trigger comprise a remotely actuated triggering
mechanism including (a) a first portion positioned at least
proximate to the trigger of the firearm when the firearm is carried
by the support assembly, and (b) a second portion spaced apart from
the support assembly such that an individual can actuate the
triggering mechanism without placing a hand over the base and
proximate to the support assembly.
26. The shooting rest of claim 23 wherein the means for selectively
actuating the trigger comprise a remotely actuated triggering
mechanism including a flexible filament.
27. The shooting rest of claim 23 wherein the means for selectively
actuating the trigger comprise a remotely actuated triggering
mechanism including a housing, a plunger disposed at least
partially within the housing, and a flexible filament coupled to
the plunger.
28. A shooting rest for supporting a firearm with a trigger, the
shooting rest comprising: a base; a support assembly for carrying
the firearm, the support assembly being movably coupled to the base
such that the recoil of the firearm pivots the support assembly
about an axis in a first direction; a resilient member for urging
the support assembly to pivot about the axis in a second direction
opposite the first direction, the resilient member being coupled to
the base and the support assembly; and an inhibiting member
positioned to inhibit rotation of the support assembly about the
axis in the first direction.
29. The shooting rest of claim 28 wherein the inhibiting member is
aligned with the axis and positioned between the base and the
support assembly.
30. The shooting rest of claim 28 wherein the inhibiting member
comprises a spacer.
31. The shooting rest of claim 28 wherein the inhibiting member
comprises a torsional spring.
32. The shooting rest of claim 28 wherein the inhibiting member
inhibits rotation of the support assembly about the axis in the
first direction without a spring.
33. A method for manufacturing a shooting rest for supporting a
firearm with a trigger, the method comprising: pivotably coupling a
support assembly to a base with the support assembly configured to
carry the firearm such that the recoil of the firearm pivots the
support assembly about an axis in a first direction; attaching a
resilient member to the base and the support assembly for urging
the support assembly to pivot about the axis in a second direction
opposite the first direction; and coupling a triggering mechanism
to the support assembly for selectively actuating the trigger of
the firearm when the firearm is carried by the support
assembly.
34. The method of claim 33 wherein attaching the resilient member
comprises coupling an axially-extendable spring to the base and the
support assembly.
35. The method of claim 33 wherein attaching the resilient member
comprises coupling a torsional spring to the base and the support
assembly.
36. The method of claim 33 wherein coupling the triggering
mechanism comprises attaching a remotely actuated triggering
mechanism including (a) a first portion positioned at least
proximate to the trigger of the firearm when the firearm is carried
by the support assembly, and (b) a second portion spaced apart from
the support assembly.
37. The method of claim 33 wherein coupling the triggering
mechanism comprises attaching a remotely actuated triggering
mechanism including a flexible filament.
38. The method of claim 33 wherein coupling the triggering
mechanism comprises attaching a remotely actuated triggering
mechanism including a housing, a plunger disposed at least
partially within the housing, and a flexible filament coupled to
the plunger.
39. The method of claim 33, further comprising attaching an
inhibiting member to at least one of the support assembly or the
base for inhibiting rotation of the support assembly about the axis
in the first direction.
40. The method of claim 33 wherein pivotably coupling the support
assembly to the base comprises attaching the support assembly to a
base having (a) a first portion attached to the support assembly
and (b) a second portion pivotably coupled to the first portion.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/778,028, filed on Mar. 1, 2006, entitled
"Shooting Rest," which is incorporated by reference herein.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to shooting rests for
supporting firearms and methods of manufacturing shooting rests for
supporting firearms.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Many shooters accurize their firearms to increase the
firearm's consistency. Because most modern firearms are mass
produced with interchangeable parts that have a range of acceptable
tolerances, accurizing an individual firearm can significantly
improve its accuracy. The goal of accurizing a firearm is to
improve the consistency of firing each projectile (e.g., bullet).
The accuracy and consistency of a firearm are typically determined
by (a) placing the firearm in a shooting rest to eliminate human
movement, (b) firing several shots at a target, and (c) measuring
the distance between the two holes that are spaced apart by the
largest distance (i.e., the group size).
[0004] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a conventional shooting rest
1 for testing a firearm 90 in accordance with the prior art. The
shooting rest 1 includes a base 10, a pivot arm 30 attached to the
base 10 and pivotable about an axis Z, a spring 58 attached to the
base 10 and the pivot arm 30, and a trigger release 60 attached to
the pivot arm 30. When a shooter actuates the trigger release 60
and discharges the firearm 90, the recoil of the firearm 90 pivots
the pivot arm 30 and the firearm 90 in a direction S about the axis
Z from the firing position (shown in FIG. 1) to a recoil position
in which the firearm 90 is aimed upward. The spring 58 slows and
eventually stops the rotation of the pivot arm 30 and the firearm
90 about the axis Z in the direction S so that the pivot arm 30 and
the firearm 90 remain in the recoil position. After discharge, the
shooter manually pivots the pivot arm 30 and the firearm 90 from
the recoil position back to the firing position to discharge
another shot.
[0005] The conventional shooting rest 1 has several drawbacks.
First, the shooting rest 1 requires the shooter to manually pivot
the firearm 90 from the discharge position to the firing position
after each shot. This process is time consuming and presents a
safety hazard because the shooter must approach the firearm 90 when
the firearm 90 is loaded and aimed upward. Second, the trigger
release 60 requires the shooter to place his hand close to the
firearm 90 to discharge the firearm 90, which also presents safety
issues. Third, the base 10 of the shooting rest 1 is expensive to
manufacture because it has three different plates with separate
knobs to adjust the horizontal aim or windage of the firearm 90.
Accordingly, there exists a need to improve shooting rests for
testing firearms.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a conventional shooting rest
in accordance with the prior art.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a top isometric view of a shooting rest in
accordance with one embodiment of the invention.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the shooting rest
illustrated in FIG. 2 with the support assembly in the discharge
position.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the shooting rest
illustrated in FIG. 2 with the support assembly in the recoil
position.
[0010] FIG. 5 is a top isometric view of a shooting rest in
accordance with another embodiment of the invention.
[0011] FIG. 6 is a top isometric view of a shooting rest in
accordance with another embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
A. Overview
[0012] The following disclosure describes several embodiments of
shooting rests for supporting firearms and methods for
manufacturing such shooting rests. In one embodiment, a shooting
rest includes a base and a support assembly pivotably coupled to
the base. The support assembly is configured to carry the firearm
such that the recoil of the firearm pivots the support assembly
about an axis in a first direction. The shooting rest further
includes a resilient member coupled to the base and the support
assembly and a triggering mechanism coupled to the support
assembly. The resilient member is configured to urge the support
assembly about the axis in a second direction opposite the first
direction. The resilient member can be an axially-extendable
spring, a torsional spring, or another suitable device. The
triggering mechanism is configured to selectively actuate the
trigger of the firearm when the firearm is carried by the support
assembly.
[0013] In another embodiment, a shooting rest includes a base, a
support assembly for carrying the firearm, and a remotely actuated
triggering mechanism for selectively actuating the trigger of the
firearm. The support assembly is pivotably coupled to the base. The
remotely actuated triggering mechanism includes a first portion
positioned at least proximate to the trigger of the firearm and a
second portion spaced apart from the support assembly such that an
individual can actuate the triggering mechanism without placing a
hand over the base and proximate to the support assembly. The
remotely actuated triggering mechanism can be coupled to the
support assembly.
[0014] In another embodiment, a shooting rest includes a base, a
support assembly coupled to the base for supporting the firearm,
and a remotely actuated triggering mechanism for selectively
actuating the trigger of the firearm. The remotely actuated
triggering mechanism includes a flexible filament, such as a wire,
cable, or fiber. The triggering mechanism may further include a
plunger coupled to an end of the filament and a housing around at
least part of the plunger.
[0015] In another embodiment, a shooting rest includes a base and a
support assembly for carrying the firearm. The support assembly is
pivotably coupled to the base such that the recoil of the firearm
pivots the support assembly about an axis in a first direction. The
shooting rest further includes (a) a resilient member for urging
the support assembly to pivot about the axis in a second direction
opposite the first direction, and (b) an inhibiting member
positioned to inhibit rotation of the support assembly about the
axis in the first direction.
[0016] Another aspect of the invention is directed to methods for
manufacturing shooting rests for supporting firearms. In one
embodiment, a method includes (a) pivotably coupling a support
assembly to a base with the support assembly configured to carry
the firearm such that the recoil of the firearm pivots the support
assembly about an axis in a first direction, (b) attaching a
resilient member to the base and the support assembly for urging
the support assembly to pivot about the axis in a second direction
opposite the first direction, and (c) coupling a triggering
mechanism to the support assembly for selectively actuating the
trigger of the firearm when the firearm is carried by the support
assembly.
[0017] Specific details of several embodiments of the invention are
described below with reference to shooting rests for supporting
handguns, but in other embodiments the shooting rests can be
configured to support rifles and other firearms with longer
barrels. Several details describing well-known structures or
processes often associated with shooting rests and firearms are not
set forth in the following description for purposes of brevity and
clarity. Also, several other embodiments of the invention can have
different configurations, components, or procedures than those
described in this section. A person of ordinary skill in the art,
therefore, will accordingly understand that the invention may have
other embodiments with additional elements, or the invention may
have other embodiments without several of the elements shown and
described below with reference to FIGS. 2-6. Where the context
permits, singular or plural terms may also include the plural or
singular term, respectively. Moreover, unless the word "or" is
expressly limited to mean only a single item exclusive from other
items in reference to a list of at least two items, then the use of
"or" in such a list is to be interpreted as including (a) any
single item in the list, (b) all of the items in the list, or (c)
any combination of the items in the list. Additionally, the term
"comprising" is used throughout to mean including at least the
recited feature(s) such that any greater number of the same
features and/or other types of features and components are not
precluded.
B. Embodiments of Shooting Rests
[0018] FIG. 2 is a top isometric view of a shooting rest 100 for
supporting a firearm 190 in accordance with one embodiment of the
invention. The shooting rest 100 includes a base 110 and a support
assembly 130 attached to the base 110 and pivotable about a first
axis A-A between a discharge position (shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) and
a recoil position (shown in FIG. 4). The illustrated base 110
includes a first portion 112 and a second portion 116 rotatably
coupled to the first portion 112. The first portion 112 is
configured to contact a table, bench, or other support surface and
may include skid-reducing feet (not shown) to inhibit movement of
the shooting rest 100 relative to the surface when the firearm 190
is discharged. The second portion 116 includes a projection 117
attached to the support assembly 130. As a result, the second
portion 116 and the support assembly 130 can pivot relative to the
first portion 112 about a second axis B-B. The pivotable base 110
advantageously allows a shooter to adjust the windage or horizontal
aim of the firearm 190 without picking up the entire shooting rest
100. In other embodiments, the base 110 may not include pivotable
components. In additional embodiments, the base 110 may not include
the first portion 112, but can have a different mechanism for
adjusting windage.
[0019] In the illustrated embodiment, the base 110 further includes
a range of motion mechanism 118 for limiting and controlling the
pivot of the second portion 116. The illustrated range of motion
mechanism 118 includes an arcuate slot 120 in the second portion
116, a pin 122 attached to the first portion 112 and received in
the slot 120, and a head 124 attached to the pin 122 and positioned
external to the slot 120. The arcuate slot 120 is centered about
the second axis B-B so that the pin 122 slides in the slot 120 as
the second portion 116 pivots relative to the first portion 112.
When the pin 122 contacts one of the ends of the slot 120, the
range of motion mechanism 118 prevents further movement of the
second portion 116 in that particular direction about the second
axis B-B. As such, the B-B length of the slot 120 defines the
maximum range of motion of the second portion 116. The head 124
selectively contacts the second portion 116 to prevent the pin 122
from moving within the slot 120. For example, the pin 122 can have
a threaded end and the head 124 can be a threaded nut that screws
onto the threaded end of the pin 122. In this embodiment, the
shooter can rotate the nut about the pin 122 such that the nut
contacts the second portion 116 and prevents the pin 122 from
moving in the slot 120. The range of motion mechanism 118
accordingly controls and limits the relative movement of the first
and second portions 112 and 116 of the base 110. In several
applications, the range of motion mechanism 118 further includes a
plurality of marks 128 on the second portion 116 that enable the
shooter to identify the precise location of the pin 122 within the
slot 120. In other embodiments, the range of motion mechanism 118
may have a different configuration, or the base 110 may not include
a range of motion mechanism.
[0020] The support assembly 130 is pivotably attached to the base
110 and configured to engage the firearm 190. The illustrated
support assembly 130 includes a pivot arm 132 attached to the
projection 117 of the second portion 116, a plate 140 detachably
coupled to the pivot arm 132, and first and second inserts 148a-b
positioned between the pivot arm 132 and the plate 140. The pivot
arm 132, the plate 140, and the inserts 148 include a plurality of
aligned holes 139 for receiving corresponding fasteners (not shown)
to secure the components together. The illustrated holes 139 in the
pivot arm 132 have a hexagonal shape for receiving a fastener with
a hexagonal head to facilitate attachment of the components. In
other embodiments, however, the pivot arm 132, the plate 140, and
the inserts 148 may include a different arrangement of holes or be
secured together with a different device.
[0021] The illustrated inserts 148 have an inner surface (not
shown) with a contour corresponding to the shape of the firearm
190. As such, the firearm 190 can be placed between the first and
second inserts 148a-b and secured in a fixed position relative to
the support assembly 130 such that the recoil of the firearm 190
causes the entire support assembly 130 to pivot in a first
direction SI about the first axis A-A from the discharge position
(shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) to the recoil position (shown in FIG. 4).
In other embodiments, the shooting rest 100 can include different
inserts with various surface contours to secure firearms with other
configurations. In additional embodiments, the shooting rest 100
may not include the first and second inserts 148a-b, but rather the
firearm 190 can be secured to the pivot arm 132 with a different
mechanism. For example, the firearm 190 can be bolted directly to
the pivot arm 132. In either case, the support assembly 130
releasably secures the firearm 190 and pivots with the firearm 190
about the first axis A-A.
[0022] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the shooting rest 100
illustrated in FIG. 2. The illustrated support assembly 130 further
includes a stop 134 for limiting the pivot of the support assembly
130 about the first axis A. The illustrated stop 134 is an integral
portion of the pivot arm 132 and projects radially outward from the
first axis A. The stop 134 can be positioned to contact the second
portion 116 of the base 110 when the support assembly 130 pivots
about the first axis A in the first direction S.sub.1 to a maximum
desired distance. The stop 134 can be a separate component attached
to the pivot arm 132 in other embodiments.
[0023] FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the shooting rest 100
with the support assembly 130 in the recoil position and with the
stop 134 contacting the second portion 116 of the base 110 to
prevent additional rotation of the support assembly 130 about the
first axis A in the first direction S.sub.1. In several
applications, the recoil of the firearm 190 may not cause the
support assembly 130 to pivot about the first axis A in the first
direction S.sub.1 such that the stop 134 contacts the base 110. In
other embodiments, the stop can have a different configuration, or
the shooting rest 100 may not include a stop.
[0024] Referring back to FIG. 3, the illustrated shooting rest 100
further includes an angle adjustment mechanism 150 for adjusting
the elevation or vertical aim of the firearm 190. The illustrated
angle adjustment mechanism 150 includes a threaded shaft 152, a
head 153 carried by the shaft 152, and a nut 154 threadably coupled
to the shaft 152. The shaft 152 projects from the second portion
116 of the base 110, and the head 153 is positioned to contact a
projection 136 on the pivot arm 132 to prevent the support assembly
130 from pivoting about the first axis A in a second direction
S.sub.2 opposite the first direction S.sub.1. The nut 154 is
positioned against the second portion 116 of the base 110 and can
be rotated on the shaft 152 to drive the shaft 152 upward in a
direction D.sub.1 or downward in a direction D.sub.2. Because the
projection 136 rests on the head 153 when the support assembly 130
is in the discharge position, the upward or downward movement of
the shaft 152 pivots the support assembly 130 about the first axis
A and, consequently, adjusts the elevation of the firearm 190. In
other embodiments, the shooting rest 100 may include other
mechanisms for adjusting the angle of the firearm 190.
[0025] In the illustrated embodiment, the shooting rest 100 further
includes a resilient member 180 for urging the support assembly 130
about the first axis A in the second direction S.sub.2. The
illustrated resilient member 180 includes a first end portion 182
pivotably attached to the second portion 116 of the base 110 and a
second end portion 184 pivotably attached to the pivot arm 132 of
the support assembly 130. The resilient member 180 is extendable
between a first length when the support assembly 130 is in the
discharge position (shown in FIG. 3) and a second length when the
support assembly 130 is in the recoil position (shown in FIG. 4).
The resilient member 180 can be an axially-extendable spring (e.g.,
a gas spring, a cord spring, or a shock chord) or other suitable
member. In either case, the resilient member 180 places a force on
the support assembly 130 to urge the assembly 130 to pivot about
the first axis A in the second direction S.sub.2. As such, the
resilient member 180 maintains the support assembly 130 in the
discharge position until the firearm 190 is discharged or another
external force acts on the support assembly 130. After discharge,
the recoil of the firearm 190 drives the support assembly 130 about
the first axis A in the first direction S.sub.1, and the resilient
member 180 slows and eventually stops the rotation of the support
assembly 130 and returns the support assembly 130 and the firearm
190 to the discharge position. In additional embodiments, the
resilient member 180 can have other configurations. For example, a
resilient member can be attached to (a) the pivot arm 132 and (b)
the second portion 116 of the base 110 proximate to the range of
motion mechanism 118. As such, the resilient member can push the
pivot arm 132 to urge the assembly 130 to pivot about the first
axis A in the second direction S.sub.2. Alternatively, as described
below with reference to FIG. 5, the shooting rest may include a
torsional resilient member in lieu of an axially-extendable
resilient member. In other embodiments, the shooting rest 100 may
not include a resilient member for returning the support assembly
130 to the discharge position.
[0026] Referring back to FIG. 2, the illustrated shooting rest 100
further includes a triggering mechanism 160 for remotely actuating
a trigger 192 of the firearm 190. The illustrated triggering
mechanism 160 includes a linkage 162 pivotably coupled to the
support assembly 130 and positioned to contact the trigger 192. The
linkage 162 includes a lever 164 attached to the pivot arm 132 and
pivotable about a third axis C-C, a link 166 attached to the lever
164, and a spur 168 projecting from the link 166 and positioned
proximate to the trigger 192. The lever 164 includes a first end
portion 165a attached to the link 166 and a second end portion 165b
opposite the first end portion 165a. The illustrated link 166 has a
plurality of holes 167 so that the link 166 can be attached to the
lever 164 at several different places to adjust the position of the
spur 168 and accommodate various configurations of firearms.
[0027] The illustrated triggering mechanism 160 further includes a
housing 172, a plunger 174 disposed at least partially within the
housing 172, a flexible filament 176 (not shown) extending between
the plunger 174 and the linkage 162, and a tube 178 encasing the
flexible filament 176. The housing 172 is configured to inhibit
accidental actuation of the plunger 174. The housing 172 includes
two flanges 173 positioned so that a shooter can place two fingers
on corresponding flanges 173 and press the plunger 174 in a
direction X.sub.1 relative to the housing 172. The filament 176 has
a first end 177a attached to the plunger 174 and a second end 177b
attached to the second end portion 165b of the lever 164 with a
wire clamp 170. The filament 176 can be a fiber, cable, wire, or
other flexible member that enables a shooter to move the housing
172 to a comfortable position spaced apart from the firearm 190. In
operation, the shooter presses the plunger 174 in the direction
X.sub.1 to move the filament 176 within the tube 178, which drives
the second end portion 165b of the lever 164 in a direction X.sub.2
and pivots the lever 164 in a direction S.sub.3 about the third
axis C-C so that the spur 168 contacts and actuates the trigger 192
of the firearm 190. In other embodiments, the shooting rest 100 can
include other triggering mechanisms that may or may not be remotely
actuated. In additional embodiments, the shooting rest 100 may not
include a triggering mechanism for actuating the trigger 192 of the
firearm 190.
[0028] The illustrated shooting rest 100 further includes an
inhibiting member 158 for inhibiting rotation of the support
assembly 130 about the first axis A-A in the first direction
S.sub.1. The illustrated inhibiting member 158 is a spacer (e.g.,
nylon washer) aligned with the first axis A-A and positioned
between the pivot arm 132 and the projection 117 of the base 110.
The inhibiting member 158 creates resistance and/or friction
between the pivot arm 132 and the projection 117 that inhibits the
support assembly 130 from pivoting about the first axis A-A. The
shooter can adjust the resistance by changing the tension of the
fastener 129 that connects these components together. Although the
illustrated inhibiting member 158 does not include a spring, in
other embodiments, the inhibiting member 158 can be a torsional
spring, such as the spring 58 illustrated in FIG. 1, or have a
different configuration. In additional embodiments, the shooting
rest 100 may not include an inhibiting member for inhibiting
rotation of the support assembly 130 about the first axis A-A.
[0029] One feature of the shooting rest 100 described above with
reference to FIGS. 2-4 is that the resilient member 180
automatically pivots the support assembly 130 and the firearm 190
from the recoil position to the discharge position after each shot.
An advantage of this feature is that the shooting rest 100 is safer
to operate than conventional shooting rests, such as the shooting
rest 100 illustrated in FIG. 1, because the shooter does not need
to approach the firearm 190 after discharge. Moreover, the shooting
rest 100 enables a shooter to fire multiple shots more quickly
because the shooter need not manually pivot the firearm 190 from
the recoil position to the discharge position after each shot.
[0030] Another feature of the shooting rest 100 described above
with reference to FIGS. 2-4 is that the triggering mechanism 160
allows a shooter to remotely actuate the trigger 192 of the firearm
190. An advantage of this feature is that the shooter can select a
comfortable position from which to discharge the firearm 190.
Another advantage of this feature is that the shooting rest 100 is
safer to operate than conventional shooting rests, such as the
shooting rest 100 illustrated in FIG. 1, because the shooter need
not place his hand next to the firearm 190 and over the base 110 to
discharge the firearm 190. Rather, the shooter can discharge the
firearm 190 in the shooting rest 100 from a safe position spaced
apart from the firearm 190.
C. Additional Embodiments of Shooting Rests
[0031] FIG. 5 is a top isometric view of a shooting rest 200 in
accordance with another embodiment of the invention. The
illustrated shooting rest 200 is generally similar to the shooting
rest 100 described above with reference to FIGS. 2-4. For example,
the shooting rest 200 includes a base 110, a support assembly 130
pivotably coupled to the base 110, and a triggering mechanism 160
for selectively actuating the trigger 192 of the firearm 190. The
illustrated shooting rest 200, however, includes a torsional
resilient member 280 for urging the support assembly 130 about the
first axis A-A in the second direction S.sub.2. The torsional
resilient member 280 can be a torsional spring that is aligned with
the first axis A-A and attached to the support assembly 130 and the
base 110. In other embodiments, the shooting rest 200 may not
include the torsional resilient member 280.
[0032] The illustrated shooting rest 200 further includes a handle
246 attached to the plate 140 for enabling the shooter to (a) pivot
the support assembly 130 about the first axis A-A, and/or (b) hold
the support assembly 130 in the recoil position. As a result, the
shooter can grasp the handle 246, pivot the support assembly 130,
hold the support assembly 130 in the recoil position, and change
the magazine in the firearm 190 without removing the firearm 190
from the shooting rest 200. In other embodiments, the shooting rest
200 may not include the handle 246. In additional embodiments, the
shooting rest 200 may further include a kickstand (not shown) or
other device that selectively maintains the support assembly 130 in
the recoil position so that the shooter may release the handle 246
while changing the magazine in the firearm 190.
[0033] FIG. 6 is a top isometric view of a shooting rest 300 in
accordance with another embodiment of the invention. The
illustrated shooting rest 300 is generally similar to the shooting
rest 100 described above with reference to FIGS. 2-4. For example,
the shooting rest 300 includes a base 110 and a support assembly
130 pivotably coupled to the base 110. The illustrated shooting
rest 300, however, does not include a resilient member for urging
the support assembly 130 about the first axis A-A. Rather, a
shooter manually pivots the support assembly 130 from the recoil
position to the discharge position after discharging the firearm
190. In additional embodiments, the shooting rest 300 may include a
resilient member for urging the support assembly 130 about the
first axis A-A.
[0034] The illustrated shooting rest 300 further includes a
triggering mechanism 360 for selectively actuating the trigger 192
of the firearm 190. The triggering mechanism 360 includes a lever
364 pivotably attached to the support assembly 130, a link 166
attached to the lever 364, and a spur 168 projecting from the link
166 and positioned proximate to the trigger 192. The lever 364 is
pivotable about a third axis C-C and includes a first end portion
365a attached to the link 166 and a second end portion 365b
opposite the first end portion 365a. The second end portion 365b
projects away from the pivot arm 132 to enable a shooter to easily
press the second end portion 365b in a direction X.sub.2 to actuate
the triggering mechanism 360 and discharge the firearm 190. In
other embodiments, the shooting rest 300 can have triggering
mechanisms 360 with different configurations.
[0035] The illustrated shooting rest 300 further includes a
sighting tube 388 attached to the plate 140 and a plurality of
marks 319 (identified as 319a-b) on the base 110 and the support
assembly 130. The sighting tube 388 is positioned parallel to the
bore of the firearm 190 so that a shooter can look through the
sighting tube 388 and determine the aim of the firearm 190 in the
shooting rest 300. The marks 319 on the base 110 and the support
assembly 130 enable the shooter to compare the recoil of different
firearms. In the illustrated embodiment, the pivoting arm 132
includes a single mark 319a and the projection 117 includes a
plurality of second marks 319b. In other embodiments, the shooting
rest 300 may not include the sighting tube 388 and/or the marks
319.
[0036] From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific
embodiments of the invention have been described herein for
purposes of illustration, but that various modifications may be
made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention.
For example, many of the elements of one embodiment can be combined
with other embodiments in addition to or in lieu of the elements of
the other embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not limited
except as by the appended claims.
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