Bipod Mount with Integral Hand Grip

Abstract

A bipod mount with an integral hand-grip for mounting a bipod supporting grip assembly to a "picatinny" mounting rail structure as are often affixed below the forearm stock of a firearm such as a military rifle (e.g., as per standard MIL-STD-1913) includes a hand grip that, in a first configuration, conceals an un-deployed bipod's frame. The bipod frame includes a pair of extensible/retractable legs, each having a pair of telescoping sections to enable the height of the bipod to be adjusted as desired.

Description

RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS AND PRIORITY CLAIM INFORMATION

[0001] This application claims priority to and is owned by the applicant/owner of co-pending provisional application No. 60/905,044, filed Mar. 6, 2007, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. This application is also owned by the applicant/owner of U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,103 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,974, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. Additionally, this application is owned by the applicant/owner of provisional application number 60/338,153, filed Nov. 13, 2001, the entire disclosure of which is also incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to military small arms and support devices such as pistol-style grips and bipods, and more particularly, relates to a grip assembly for attaching a pistol-style grip and bipod to a mounting rail structure affixed to the forearm stock of a military-style small arm. The grip attaches to the rail structure and enables quick deployment of an integral bipod.

[0004] 2. Background of the Invention

[0005] Large caliber or select fire automatic military-style small arms can be difficult to control when firing and muzzle rise can cause the marksman to shoot above an intended point of aim. Controlling muzzle rise has been accomplished in the prior art by using a pistol-style grip at a fixed location under the barrel, near the muzzle, as best epitomized by the police version of the famed Thompson.RTM. sub-machinegun. While a permanently fixed pistol-style grip serves well in some situations; it limits the usefulness of the weapon and is not well suited for precise aiming.

[0006] When shooting firearms, especially in stressful tactical situations, it is important that the firearm be maintained in a steady, stable position to insure accuracy of aim. Most shooters are not able to hold a military-style small arm consistently in a set position without wavering, especially after the onset of fatigue.

[0007] Accordingly, peripheral support devices have been used in conjunction with military-style small arm since the early creation of firearms as a means of stabilizing a military-style small arm to reduce vibration, wavering, etc., and to improve accuracy. In the past, shooters have used everything from large stationary objects such as rocks and tree branches to forked sticks, shooting slings, bipods and tripods. Early bipod and tripod supports typically were somewhat crude strands that generally were bulky, inconvenient and difficult to use and typically were not easily adjustable. In more recent times, bipod supports have been developed that are compact and relatively lightweight and are mountable to the forearm stock of a firearm, such as a rifle, to make the bipods portable with the firearm. Most conventional bipod supports include a pair of legs that can be pivoted from an up position adjacent the firearm stock, to a down position engaging a support surface, with the legs also being extensible to adjust the height of the support.

[0008] A problem with conventional grips and bipods has been inability to mount either a grip or bipod to most firearms without requiring the use of special mounting tools and the machining or modification of the firearm stock to accommodate the grip or bipod. Additionally, most grips or bipods are not designed for quick and easy attachment and release from a firearm's stock. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,194,678 discloses a bipod assembly that includes legs that are pivotable independently of one another for ease of adjustment, but which is not easily attached/detached from the firearm. Other types of conventional bipods offer varying types of mountings that can be fitted to various types of rifles without requiring modification or machining of the rifle stock. For example, Harris Engineering, Inc. manufactures a series of bipod mounts for use with a variety of different firearms. However, these bipod mounts do not provide for the quick-release of the bipods from the firearm.

[0009] One of the most popular bipods on the market has been the Parker-Hale bipod assembly. This bipod includes a pair of telescoping legs attached to a mounting frame, and a mounting block for mounting the bipod to the firearm. The mounting block of the Parker-Hale bipod is releasably attached to the mounting frame of the bipod to enable quick attachment/release of the legs of the bipod from the firearm. The problem with the Parker-Hale bipod is that to mount the bipod to a firearm, the forearm stock of the firearm generally must be modified to mount a track or slide therein, along which the mounting block is received to mount the bipod to the firearm; this leaves no room for a grip. In addition, such modifications generally are expensive and often must be done by specialty gunsmiths and can mar the finish of the firearm.

[0010] Another problem often encountered with the bipods of the prior art is that the attachment to the firearm (e.g., rifle) is defined by a union of substantially perpendicular lengths of steel. When a shooter assumes the prone position, for example, the optimum results are obtained by forcing the forward hand distally, usually against the front mounting point of a sling, thereby creating a tension in the shooter's body to support the rifle and steady the point of aim. If a shooter were to force his or her forward hand against the perpendicular steel parts of the prior art bipods, the result would be a painful grip against irregularly shaped parts having no ergonomic benefit for the shooter.

[0011] This situation is compounded for military or police shooters using military or SWAT rifles carrying special mounts known as picatinny rails under the rifle forearm; the picatinny rails are customarily used for mounting grenade launchers, lights or other accessories and so the rifles often weigh much more than the lighter sporting arms most shooters are used to carrying.

[0012] Combining accessories in the interest of saving clutter and weight appears to be part of the solution to these challenges. The prior art for supports adapted for use with military-style small arms includes U.S. Pat. No. 7,111,424, to Moody et al, entitled "fore grip with bipod" and this product is now offered as a Grip-Pod.TM. support. Mr. Moody's Grip-Pod.TM. support does integrate a concealed bipod in a fore-grip, but that bipod has a pair of short bipod legs deployed from the fore-grip's tubular interior lumen, so that the bipod legs have a length less than or equal to the grip's interior axial length and so the resulting structure is relatively unstable when deployed. Mr. Moody's Grip-Pod.TM. support, when deployed, has a bipod leg hinge point 27 that positions the top of the bipod with a spring-biased plunger at the open distal or bottom end of the fore-grip, and so the deployed bipod is not strongly supported close to the mount or picatinny rail engaging the rail-receiving slot 4.

[0013] Accordingly, it can be seen that a need exists for a bipod mount with an integral hand-grip for selectively permitting a user to deploy a bipod from a grip adapted for use in military or SWAT situations, where the shooter may need either to control muzzle rise or, for precision aiming, to have a stable support. Ideally, the bipod mount with an integral hand-grip should not require extensive modification to the firearm such as machining of the forearm stock of the firearm. Preferably, a bipod mount with an integral hand-grip would also enable quick attachment and detachment to a military-style small arm or other firearm.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The present invention comprises a bipod mount with an integral hand-grip for mounting a bipod supporting grip assembly to a "picatinny" mounting rail structure as are often affixed below the forearm stock of a firearm such as a military-style small arm or rifle (e.g., as per standard MIL-STD-1913). In particular, the present invention is directed to mounting a Parker-Hale style of firearm bipod as part of a supporting grip assembly including a contoured mount inletted to cover and attach to a picatinny rail affixed beneath the forearm stock of the firearm.

[0015] The bipod mount with an integral hand-grip assembly is releasably attachable to a military-style small arm and includes a pair of extensible/retractable legs, each having a pair of telescoping sections to enable the height of the bipod to be adjustable as desired.

[0016] The bipod mount with an integral hand-grip assembly of the present invention generally comprises an elongate downwardly projecting handle or grip terminating proximally in an integral grip mount adapted to slide over and receive a picatinny rail.

[0017] The mount is releaseably affixed to and hangs from a military-style small arm's picatinny rail and supports the first and second bipod legs at a hinge point that is near the upper end of the assembly, close to the rail, thereby providing a solid connection between the deployed bipod legs and the rail.

[0018] The picatinny rail is a standard element of the military firearm and comprises a mounting rail structure (per standard MIL-STD-1913) having evenly spaced transverse grooves or troughs of standard size. The picatinny rail is normally used for attaching a variety of accessories such as lights, grenade launchers and other devices.

[0019] The bipod mount with integral hand-grip assembly of the present invention preferably has opposing, separable side walls with one wall defined by a removable clamp member. The opposable walls each have first and second transversely aligned horizontal fastener openings through which first and second transverse screws, pins or fasteners are received and attached to the side walls, with the shank of each transverse fastener extending through the clamp member, to attach the mount to the rail.

[0020] Once the mount has been attached to the picatinny rail of the firearm and placed in a selected fore/aft position, the bipod mount with integral hand-grip mounting block provides a quick and easy push-button mechanism permitting the user to deploy the bipod's legs while providing a support for the forearm stock of the firearm in a stable, secure selected position. This prevents the bipod mount and thus the bipod from shifting fore and aft or wobbling during use.

[0021] Various objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art upon a review of the following specification, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] FIGS. 1-20 illustrate features and use of a first embodiment of the bipod mount and integral handgrip assembly, in accordance with the present invention.

[0023] FIGS. 21-23D illustrate features and use of a second embodiment of the bipod mount and integral handgrip assembly, in accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] Turning now to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1-20, bipod mount with integral hand-grip 200 is configured for mounting a bipod supporting grip assembly to a "picatinny" mounting rail structure 120 as are often affixed below the forearm stock of a firearm such as a military-style small arm or rifle such as an M4 rifle 100 (e.g., as per standard MIL-STD-1913). In particular, the present invention is directed to mounting a Parker-Hale style of firearm bipod as part of a supporting grip assembly including a contoured mount inletted to cover and attach to picatinny rail 120 affixed beneath the forearm stock of firearm 100.

[0025] The bipod mount with an integral hand-grip assembly of the present invention 200 is releasably attachable to rifle 100 and includes a pair of extensible/retractable leg assembly, each leg assembly has a tubular leg 226 that slidably receives a spring biased elongate telescoping leg extension 228 to enable the height of the bipod to be adjusted as desired.

[0026] The bipod mount with an integral hand-grip assembly of the present invention 200 generally comprises a two-part, elongate downwardly projecting handle or grip terminating proximally in an integral grip mount 260 adapted to slide over and receive picatinny rail 120.

[0027] The mount 260 is releaseably affixed to and hangs from rail 120 and supports the first and second bipod legs at a hinge point that is near the upper end of the assembly, close to the rail 120, thereby providing a solid connection between the deployed bipod legs and the rail 120, as shown in FIGS. 1-4.

[0028] As noted above, rail 120 is a standard element of the military firearm 100 and comprises a mounting rail structure (per standard MIL-STD-1913) having evenly spaced transverse grooves or troughs of standard size. The picatinny rail is normally used for attaching a variety of accessories such as lights, grenade launchers and other devices.

[0029] The bipod mount with integral hand-grip assembly 200 preferably has opposing, separable side walls with one wall defined by a removable clamp member 217. The opposable walls each have first and second transversely aligned horizontal fastener openings through which first and second transverse screws 220, pins or fasteners are received and attached to the side walls, with the shank of each transverse fastener 220 extending through the clamp member 221, to attach the mount to rail 120.

[0030] Once the mount has been slidably captured upon the picatinny rail of the firearm and clamped in a selected fore/aft position, the bipod mount with integral hand-grip 200 provides a quick and easy push-button mechanism 239 permitting the user to deploy the bipod's legs while providing a support for the forearm stock of the firearm in a stable, secure selected position. This prevents the bipod mount and thus the bipod from shifting fore and aft or wobbling during use.

[0031] FIGS. 5-20 illustrate the bipod mount with integral hand-grip assembly 200 in greater detail. Each component and sub-assembly is illustrated in the exploded view of FIG. 10 and the other figures. Bipod mount with integral hand-grip 200 comprises a an adapter or clamping subassembly with a rigid clamp housing 221 with downwardly depending spaced trunions that support a bipod leg retaining lug, axle or hinge pin 203 from which depend left leg subassembly 207 and right leg subassembly 208. Clamping subassembly also includes first and second locking lugs 216 and the mounting clamp 217 which is movable relative to the clamp housing 221, due to a camming action of the mounting lever 223

[0032] The first and second hex socket head cap screws 220 each pass through their respective clamp tension screw springs 218 and horizontal parallel pin 222 bears against the lever's camming surface. Lever 223 pivots about the axis of vertical parallel pin 224, and hex socket set screw 243, ball 244 and mounting lever spring 245 all contribute to spring tension keeping the clamp locked in the closed position.

[0033] Between the bipod legs, a spreading force is provided by main spring 201 which bears outwardly on the left and right tubular legs 226.

[0034] The left leg subassembly 207 has an outer grip surface defined by left side body 209 and includes lock subassembly 205. As best seen in FIGS. 10 and 14c, lock subassembly 205 comprises an elongate member called the deployment button 239 which, when pressed, actuates the pinned closing latch 240 and compresses the deployment button spring 246 while disengaging the pivoting closing latch 248 and compressing the pivoting closing latch spring 249 while pivoting about the axis of the parallel pin 250. The shaft or elongate body of deployment button 239 has a transverse bore sized to receive actuator pin 251 which carries and moves closing latch 240.

[0035] Left leg subassembly 207 includes a tubular leg 226 which receives a leg extension 228 terminating distally in left ski foot 234 and retained by leg extension retaining screw 225. The tubular leg 226 carries a latch pivot pin 227 dimensioned to engage transverse notches in the leg extension 228 which is biased distally by leg spring 232. A locking latch spring guide 229 aligns the top of the locking latch 231 with its locking latch spring 233.

[0036] Similarly, the right leg subassembly 208 has an outer grip surface defined by right side body 204, and right leg subassembly 208 also includes a tubular leg 226 which receives a leg extension 228 terminating distally in right ski foot 235 and retained by leg extension retaining screw 225. The tubular leg 226 on the right also carries a latch pivot pin 227 dimensioned to engage transverse notches in the leg extension 228 which is biased distally by another leg spring 232. A locking latch spring guide 229 aligns the top of the locking latch 231 with its locking latch spring 233.

[0037] The components of bipod mount with integral hand-grip assembly 200 are fabricated from typical, sturdy materials as used in modern gunsmithing, including metals such as steel and aluminum and plastics (e.g., nylon) with fiber reinforcement.

[0038] Right side body 204 and left side body 209 are preferably made from a tough durable material having a textured, non-reflective surface, and are made in a mirror-image pair to close tolerances so that when closed, there is a small and uniform vertical seam therebetween. Advantageously, when right side body 204 and left side body 209 are in the closed position (e.g., as shown in FIGS. 1, 6a and 6b) they define a unitary vertical grip having an almost seamless or continuous exterior circumference.

[0039] In use, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, a user first opens the clamp (as shown in FIG. 4) and then slides bipod mount with integral hand-grip 200 over a firearm's rail 120, selecting a fore-aft position before actuating lever 223 to securely engage bipod mount with integral hand-grip assembly 200 to the rifle 100.

[0040] The user can grasp the continuous exterior circumferential surface defined by the exterior surfaces of the right side body 204 and left side body 209. When choosing to deploy the bipod, the user (as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) depresses actuating button 239, thereby releasing internal latches 240 and 248, whereupon the biasing spring forcibly spreads right leg subassembly 208 laterally apart from left leg subassembly 207, both pivoting about lug or axle 203 to the open position shown in FIG. 2.

[0041] If the bipod is at the desired height, the user can rest the rifle down on the bipod's distal ends. If, on the other hand, more height is desired, the user can deploy one or both of the extendable bipod legs, as shown in FIG. 3, using each leg's locking latch 231 to releasably set the extended length for either bipod leg.

[0042] A second embodiment of the bipod mount with integral hand-grip 300 is illustrated in FIGS. 21-23D, in accordance with the present invention. The second embodiment of the bipod mount with integral hand-grip 300 is assembled from a left cover 301, a right cover 302, an adapter 303, a clamp 304, a lever 305, first and second parallel hex head cap screws 306 each biased by an adapter spring 307. The left and right legs are hingedly carried on pivot pin 308, and right leg assembly 309 includes a leg cap 317 with leg tube 320 which receives a lower leg 319 terminating distally in a right side metal foot 310.

[0043] Left leg assembly 318 includes a leg cap 317 with leg tube 320 which receives a lower leg 319 terminating distally in a left side metal foot 327. The leg extension is controlled by left and right latches or catches 322, and each leg includes a catch spring 323, a catch peg 324, a catch bracket 325, and an extension leg spring 326.

[0044] The clamping assembly includes a long pin 311, a parallel pin 312, a first lock or actuator 313, a second lock 314, and a transverse pin 315 to engage biasing lock spring 316. Clamping assembly also includes first and second spaced square pins 321, spline socket button head cap screw 328, and a parallel pin 329. The bipod's legs are biased outwardly by main spring 330. When actuating lock 313 is depressed and actuating lock 313 and second lock 314 each release engagement with notches defined in the left and right leg covers, the bipod's lags are forced apart.

[0045] FIGS. 21 and 22A-22J show bipod mount with integral hand-grip 300 with the bipod legs in the concealed or "carry" position and FIGS. 23A-23D show bipod mount with integral hand-grip 300 with the legs in the opened or supporting position.

[0046] The components of bipod mount with integral hand-grip assembly 200 are fabricated from typical, sturdy materials as used in modern gunsmithing, including metals such as steel and aluminum and plastics (e.g., nylon) with fiber reinforcement.

[0047] Right side cover or body 302 and left side cover or body 301 are also preferably made from a tough durable material having a textured, non-reflective surface, and are made in a mirror-image pair to close tolerances so that when closed, there is a small and uniform vertical seam therebetween. Advantageously, when right side cover 302 and left cover 301 are in the closed position (e.g., as shown in FIGS. 22A-J they define a unitary vertical grip having an almost seamless or continuous exterior circumference.

[0048] In use, user first opens the clamp and then slides bipod mount with integral hand-grip assembly 300 over a firearm's rail 120, selecting a fore-aft position before actuating lever 305 to securely engage bipod mount with integral hand-grip 300 to the rifle 100.

[0049] The user can grasp the continuous exterior circumferential surface defined by the exterior surfaces of the right side body 302 and left side body 301. When choosing to deploy the bipod, the user depresses actuator 313, thereby releasing second lock 314, whereupon the biasing spring 330 forcibly spreads right leg subassembly 309 laterally apart from left leg subassembly 318, both pivoting about lug or axle 308 to the open position shown in FIGS. 23A-D.

[0050] If the bipod is at the desired height, the user can rest the rifle down on the bipod's distal ends. If, on the other hand, more height is desired, the user can deploy one or both of the extendable bipod legs, using each leg's locking latch 322 to releasably set the extended length for either bipod leg.

[0051] It will be understood that while the foregoing relates to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, various modifications, additions and changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A bipod mount and integral handgrip, comprising: (a) a clamp body carrying first and second bipod leg assemblies, said first and second bipod leg assemblies having a proximal end hingedly attached to said clamp body to proved a closed position, wherein said leg assemblies are together and a spread position, wherein said leg assemblies provide a bipod support; (b) said first and second bipod leg assemblies each having a a textured, non-reflective outer surface; (c) said first and second bipod leg assemblies being configured in a mirror-image pair to close tolerances such that when closed, there is a small and uniform vertical seam therebetween; and (d) wherein said first bipod leg assembly's exterior and said second bipod leg assembly's exterior, when said bipod is in a closed position they define a unitary vertical grip having a substantially seamless or continuous exterior circumference.

2. The bipod mount and integral handgrip of claim 1, wherein each leg assembly comprises a distal end opposing said proximal end, wherein said distal end carries an end effecter

3. The bipod mount and integral handgrip of claim 2, wherein each leg assembly comprises a spring biased extendable bipod leg member terminating distally in a ski foot end effecter.

4. The bipod mount and integral handgrip of claim 2, wherein (a) said first and second leg assemblies are configured with a latch for latching said first and second leg assemblies in the closed position, and (b) between the bipod leg assemblies, a spreading force is provided by a spring which bears outwardly on the first and second leg assemblies and are biased to spread apart when said latch is released.

5. The bipod mount and integral handgrip of claim 4, wherein (a) said first leg assembly has an outer grip surface defined by a left side body and includes lock subassembly; (b) wherein said lock subassembly comprises an elongate deployment member which, when pressed, actuates a pinned closing latch and compresses a deployment button spring while disengaging a pivoting closing latch and compressing a pivoting closing latch spring.

6. A method for deploying a bipod mount and integral handgrip: (a) providing a clamp body carrying first and second bipod leg assemblies, said first and second bipod leg assemblies having a proximal end hingedly attached to said clamp body to proved a closed position, wherein said leg assemblies are together and a spread position, wherein said leg assemblies provide a bipod support; said first and second bipod leg assemblies each having an outer surface and being configured in a mirror-image pair to close tolerances such that when closed, there is a small and uniform vertical seam therebetween; and wherein said first bipod leg assembly's exterior and said second bipod leg assembly's exterior, when in a closed position, define a unitary vertical grip having a substantially seamless or continuous exterior circumference; (b) opening the clamp and then sliding said bipod mount with integral hand-grip assembly over a firearm's rail; (c) selecting a fore-aft position and then clamping said bipod mount to securely engage bipod mount with integral hand-grip to said firearm; (d) grasping the continuous exterior circumferential surface defined by the exterior surfaces of the first bipod leg assembly's exterior and said second bipod leg assembly's exterior.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising: (e) deploying the bipod by releasing the latch, whereupon the first bipod leg assembly is spread laterally apart from said second bipod leg assembly 318; and (f) resting the firearm on the bipod leg assemblies' distal ends.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising: (g) extending at least one of the extendable bipod legs.