U.S. patent application number 12/455992 was filed with the patent office on 2010-12-09 for detachable mounting arrangement for universal bi-pod.
Invention is credited to Carson Cheng.
Application Number | 20100307046 12/455992 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43299700 |
Filed Date | 2010-12-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100307046 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cheng; Carson |
December 9, 2010 |
Detachable mounting arrangement for universal bi-pod
Abstract
A universal bi-pod for stably supporting and holding an object
in position includes an attachment base adapted for detachably
coupling with the object, a leg frame adapted for supporting the
object in a stably manner; and a detachable mounting arrangement.
The mounting arrangement includes a mounting seat provided on the
leg frame and having a sliding slot defining an open end at a
peripheral side of the mounting seat, a detachable adapter provided
at the attachment base to slide into the sliding slot through the
open end thereof in a detachably mounting manner; and a locker
arrangement provided at the mounting seat for detachably locking
the detachable adapter at the sliding slot. Therefore, the object
is able to be easily and quickly held and supported by the
universal bi-pod and detached from the universal bi-pod.
Inventors: |
Cheng; Carson; (El Monte,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DAVID AND RAYMOND PATENT FIRM
108 N. YNEZ AVE., SUITE 128
MONTEREY PARK
CA
91754
US
|
Family ID: |
43299700 |
Appl. No.: |
12/455992 |
Filed: |
June 9, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
42/94 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41A 23/08 20130101;
F41C 27/22 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
42/94 |
International
Class: |
F41C 27/00 20060101
F41C027/00 |
Claims
1. A universal bi-pod for an object, comprising: an attachment base
adapted for detachably coupling with said object; a leg frame
adapted for supporting said object in a stably manner; and a
detachable mounting arrangement which comprises: a mounting seat
provided on said leg frame, wherein said mounting seat has a
sliding slot defining an open end at a peripheral side of said
mounting seat, a detachable adapter provided at said attachment
base to detachably couple at said mounting seat, wherein said
detachable adapter has a polygonal cross section corresponding to
said sliding slot of said mounting seat in such a manner that said
detachable adapter is slid into said sliding slot through said open
end thereof in a detachably mounting manner; and a locker
arrangement provided at said mounting seat for detachably locking
said detachable adapter at said sliding slot.
2. The universal bi-pod, as recited in claim 1, wherein said
detachable adapter has a hexagonal cross section matching with said
sliding slot such that when said detachable adapter is slidably
engaged with said sliding slot, said attachment base is securely
mounted to said leg frame for preventing an unwanted lateral
movement of said attachment base.
3. The universal bi-pod, as recited in claim 1, wherein said
sliding slot further has a close end formed at said peripheral side
of said mounting seat at a position opposite to said open end to
retain said detachable adapter in position when said detachable
adapter is slidably blocked at said close end of said sliding
slot.
4. The universal bi-pod, as recited in claim 2, wherein said
sliding slot further has a close end formed at said peripheral side
of said mounting seat at a position opposite to said open end to
retain said detachable adapter in position when said detachable
adapter is slidably blocked at said close end of said sliding
slot.
5. The universal bi-pod, as recited in claim 1, wherein said locker
arrangement comprises a locker unit upwardly and slidably extended
from a bottom wall of said sliding slot, and an operation button
operatively provided at said mounting seat to move said locker unit
between a locked position that said locker unit is engaged with a
bottom side of said detachable adapter for locking said detachable
adapter at said mounting seat, and an unlocked position that said
locker unit is disengaged with said bottom side of said detachable
adapter to enable said detachable adapter being slidably detached
from said sliding slot.
6. The universal bi-pod, as recited in claim 2, wherein said locker
arrangement comprises a locker unit upwardly and slidably extended
from a bottom wall of said sliding slot, and an operation button
operatively provided at said mounting seat to move said locker unit
between a locked position that said locker unit is engaged with a
bottom side of said detachable adapter for locking said detachable
adapter at said mounting seat, and an unlocked position that said
locker unit is disengaged with said bottom side of said detachable
adapter to enable said detachable adapter being slidably detached
from said sliding slot.
7. The universal bi-pod, as recited in claim 4, wherein said locker
arrangement comprises a locker unit upwardly and slidably extended
from a bottom wall of said sliding slot, and an operation button
operatively provided at said mounting seat to move said locker unit
between a locked position that said locker unit is engaged with a
bottom side of said detachable adapter for locking said detachable
adapter at said mounting seat, and an unlocked position that said
locker unit is disengaged with said bottom side of said detachable
adapter to enable said detachable adapter being slidably detached
from said sliding slot.
8. The universal bi-pod, as recited in claim 5, wherein said locker
unit has a locking groove indently formed at said bottom side of
said detachable adapter and comprises two locking latches spacedly
extended from said bottom wall of said sliding slot and arranged in
such a manner that when said detachable adapter is slidably engaged
with said sliding slot, said locking latches are engaged with said
locking groove to lock up said detachable adapter with said
mounting seat.
9. The universal bi-pod, as recited in claim 6, wherein said locker
unit has a locking groove indently formed at said bottom side of
said detachable adapter and comprises two locking latches spacedly
extended from said bottom wall of said sliding slot and arranged in
such a manner that when said detachable adapter is slidably engaged
with said sliding slot, said locking latches are engaged with said
locking groove to lock up said detachable adapter with said
mounting seat.
10. The universal bi-pod, as recited in claim 7, wherein said
locker unit has a locking groove indently formed at said bottom
side of said detachable adapter and comprises two locking latches
spacedly extended from said bottom wall of said sliding slot and
arranged in such a manner that when said detachable adapter is
slidably engaged with said sliding slot, said locking latches are
engaged with said locking groove to lock up said detachable adapter
with said mounting seat.
11. The universal bi-pod, as recited in claim 8, wherein each of
said locking latches has a tapered free end portion slidably
protruding from said bottom wall of said sliding slot and defines
an inclined guiding surface facing towards said open end of said
sliding slot in such a manner that when said detachable adapter is
slid at said sliding slot, said detachable adapter is guided to
slide at said guiding surfaces of said locking latches until said
locking latches are engaged with said locking groove.
12. The universal bi-pod, as recited in claim 9, wherein each of
said locking latches has a tapered free end portion slidably
protruding from said bottom wall of said sliding slot and defines
an inclined guiding surface facing towards said open end of said
sliding slot in such a manner that when said detachable adapter is
slid at said sliding slot, said detachable adapter is guided to
slide at said guiding surfaces of said locking latches until said
locking latches are engaged with said locking groove.
13. The universal bi-pod, as recited in claim 10, wherein each of
said locking latches has a tapered free end portion slidably
protruding from said bottom wall of said sliding slot and defines
an inclined guiding surface facing towards said open end of said
sliding slot in such a manner that when said detachable adapter is
slid at said sliding slot, said detachable adapter is guided to
slide at said guiding surfaces of said locking latches until said
locking latches are engaged with said locking groove.
14. The universal bi-pod, as recited in claim 10, wherein said
locking groove is longitudinally extended at a mid-portion of said
bottom side of said detachable adapter to define two symmetrical
sliding portions of said detachable adapter, wherein said locking
latches are upwardly extended from a mid-portion of said bottom
wall of said sliding slot in such a manner that said detachable
adapter is adapted to slidably engage with said sliding slot from
one of said sliding portions of said detachable adapter.
15. The universal bi-pod, as recited in claim 13, wherein said
locking groove is longitudinally extended at a mid-portion of said
bottom side of said detachable adapter to define two symmetrical
sliding portions of said detachable adapter, wherein said locking
latches are upwardly extended from a mid-portion of said bottom
wall of said sliding slot in such a manner that said detachable
adapter is adapted to slidably engage with said sliding slot from
one of said sliding portions of said detachable adapter.
16. The universal bi-pod, as recited in claim 13, wherein said
operation button is operatively mounted at a surrounding wall of
said mounting seat and arranged in such a manner that when said
operation button is pressed, said tapered free end portions of said
locking latches are driven to slide below said bottom wall of said
sliding slot so as to disengage said locking latches with said
locking groove.
17. The universal bi-pod, as recited in claim 15, wherein said
operation button is operatively mounted at a surrounding wall of
said mounting seat and arranged in such a manner that when said
operation button is pressed, said tapered free end portions of said
locking latches are driven to slide below said bottom wall of said
sliding slot so as to disengage said locking latches with said
locking groove.
18. The universal bi-pod, as recited in claim 10, wherein said
detachable adapter further has an indention slot transversely
indent on said bottom side of said detachable adapter for
minimizing a friction between said bottom side of said detachable
adapter and said bottom wall of said sliding slot when said
detachable adapter slides at said sliding slot.
19. The universal bi-pod, as recited in claim 13, wherein said
detachable adapter further has an indention slot transversely
indent on said bottom side of said detachable adapter for
minimizing a friction between said bottom side of said detachable
adapter and said bottom wall of said sliding slot when said
detachable adapter slides at said sliding slot.
20. The universal bi-pod, as recited in claim 17, wherein said
detachable adapter further has an indention slot transversely
indent on said bottom side of said s detachable adapter for
minimizing a friction between said bottom side of said detachable
adapter and said bottom wall of said sliding slot when said
detachable adapter slides at said sliding slot.
21. The universal bi-pod, as recited in claim 1, wherein said leg
frame comprises two length-adjustable supporting legs, a pivot
hinge pivotally coupling with said supporting legs to pivotally
fold said supporting legs at an unfolded position that said
supporting legs are formed in an inversed V-shaped configuration,
and a folded position that said supporting legs are extended in
parallel.
22. The universal bi-pod, as recited in claim 20, wherein said leg
frame comprises two length-adjustable supporting legs, a pivot
hinge pivotally coupling with said supporting legs to pivotally
fold said supporting legs at an unfolded position that said
supporting legs are formed in an inversed V-shaped configuration,
and a folded position that said supporting legs are extended in
parallel.
23. The universal bi-pod, as recited in claim 21, wherein said leg
frame further comprises a folding hinge pivotally coupling said
pivot hinge with said mounting seat to pivotally fold said
supporting legs at a setup position that said supporting legs are
formed at said inversed V-shaped configuration and are vertically
extended from said mounting seat, and a storage position that said
supporting legs are extended in parallel and are horizontally
extended from said mounting seat.
24. The universal bi-pod, as recited in claim 22, wherein said leg
frame further comprises a folding hinge pivotally coupling said
pivot hinge with said mounting seat to pivotally fold said
supporting legs at a setup position that said supporting legs are
formed at said inversed V-shaped configuration and are vertically
extended from said mounting seat, and a storage position that said
supporting legs are extended in parallel and are horizontally
extended from said mounting seat.
25. The universal bi-pod, as recited in claim 1, wherein said
attachment base comprises a lower attaching panel integrally and
upwardly extended from said detachable adapter, an upper attaching
panel overlapping on said lower attaching panel and defining an
attachment cavity between said lower and upper attaching panels for
retaining said object in position, and an adjustable fastener
coupling between said lower and upper attaching panels to
selectively adjust a distance therebetween so as to selectively
adjust a size of said attachment cavity matching with said
object.
26. The universal bi-pod, as recited in claim 20, wherein said
attachment base comprises a lower attaching panel integrally and
upwardly extended from said detachable adapter, an upper attaching
panel overlapping on said lower attaching panel and defining an
attachment cavity between said lower and upper attaching panels for
retaining said object in position, and an adjustable fastener
coupling between said lower and upper attaching panels to
selectively adjust a distance therebetween so as to selectively
adjust a size of said attachment cavity matching with said
object.
27. The universal bi-pod, as recited in claim 24, wherein said
attachment base comprises a lower attaching panel integrally and
upwardly extended from said detachable adapter, an upper attaching
panel overlapping on said lower attaching panel and defining an
attachment cavity between said lower and upper attaching panels for
retaining said object in position, and an adjustable fastener
coupling between said lower and upper attaching panels to
selectively adjust a distance therebetween so as to selectively
adjust a size of said attachment cavity matching with said object.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a bi-pod, and more
particularly to a universal bi-pod with a detachable mounting
arrangement for supporting and stabilizing an object, such as a
firearm, wherein the detachable mounting arrangement provides a
quick and easy detachable attachment between the universal bi-pod
and the object.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Arts
[0004] A bi-pod is usually provided for stably supporting an object
to hold in a position. The bi-pod is also commonly provided for a
rifle or the like to reduce the unwanted motion, so as to
accurately aim a shooting target. In order to fire long continuous
bursts of fire, the machine guns provide an improved shooting
ability for the hunters or shooters for a long distance shooting
and aiming, but at the cost of increased weight to absorb the
stresses and increased recoil, so as to decrease the accuracy of
shooting.
[0005] Since the firearm is always heavier, the bi-pod
significantly permits the operator to stably rest the weapon on the
ground, a barrier, or other places via in conjunction the bi-pod
with the firearm of the rifles or machine guns. The bi-pod not only
reduces the fatigue of the operator while they are aiming the
shooting target by forwardly resting the firearm, but also provides
a significant stability along two axes motion of the bi-pod. The
bi-pod is capable of to reduce the recoil, vibration, or wavering
from the firing of the Rifles or machine guns.
[0006] However, for those early bi-pods, they are usually bulky and
complex for incorporating with other objects, such as the firearms.
The operators of the firearm, such as the hunters for example, have
to carry the heavy gun and bulky bi-pod as long as other personal
stuff for the wild hunting. Although there are some recent bi-pods
which are more compact, but the complication to set up the bi-pod
with the firearm is still a hassle for the operators. The
complication of setting up the bi-pod is another main concerned
issue.
[0007] The conventional bi-pod is inconvenient to assemble and
disassemble. The problem of the conventional bi-pod is that the
structure of the bi-pod is usually complicated which maximum the
assembling time to set up the bi-pod for holding and supporting the
firearms in position.
[0008] One of the complicated set up of the bi-pod is mounting the
firearm on the bi-pod. Lots of bi-pod requires special tools or
complicated steps for mounting the firearm on the legs frame of the
bi-pod. Thus, the operator may have to mount the bi-pod with the
firearm all the time to carry the gun with the bi-pod mounted on
the front portion of the firearm, which increases the actual weight
on the operator according to the ergonomics.
[0009] Even though some bi-pods can be attached to and detached
from the firearm, the attachment arrangement of the bi-pod and the
firearm still involves a considerable operation and installation.
It is exhaust and time consuming if the operator wants to attach to
and detach the bi-pod from the firearm each time they are aiming
the shooting target.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0010] A main object of the present invention is to provide a
universal bi-pod, which is able to quickly and easily to
incorporate with an object, such as a firearm, for holding and
supporting thereon.
[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
universal bi-pod, wherein a detachable mounting arrangement is
adapted for detachably mounting an attachment base with a sliding
slot of the mounting seat for holding the object in position on a
leg frame.
[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
universal bi-pod, wherein a detachable adapter of the attachment
has a polygonal, and preferably a hexagonal shape, for relatively
more stably engaging with a sliding slot to prevent the unwanted
lateral movement.
[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
universal bi-pod, wherein the detachable adapter is able to be
slidably attached to or detached from the sliding slot.
[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
universal bi-pod, wherein a locker arrangement is able to securely
engaging the detachable adapter with the sliding slot of the
mounting seat.
[0015] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
universal bi-pod, wherein the detachable adapter of the attachment
base is able to be detachably and slidably slid at the sliding slot
from either one of the sliding portions of the detachable
adapter.
[0016] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
universal bi-pod, wherein the leg frame can be selectively folded
in different position while a length of the leg frame of the
universal bi-pod is adjustable.
[0017] Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the
universal bi-pod of the present invention comprises an attachment
base adapted for detachably coupling with the object, and a leg
frame adapted for supporting the object in a stably manner.
[0018] The universal bi-pod further comprises a detachable mounting
arrangement for detachably coupling the leg frame with the
attachment base, wherein the detachable mounting arrangement
comprises a mounting seat, a detachable adapter, and a locker
arrangement.
[0019] The mounting seat is provided on the leg frame, wherein the
mounting seat has a sliding slot defining an open end at a
peripheral side of the mounting seat.
[0020] The detachable adapter is provided at the attachment base to
detachably couple at the mounting seat, wherein the detachable
adapter has a polygonal cross section corresponding to the sliding
slot of the mounting seat in such a manner that the detachable
adapter is slid into the sliding slot through the open end thereof
in a detachably mounting manner.
[0021] The locker arrangement is provided at the mounting seat for
detachably locking the detachable adapter at the sliding slot.
[0022] These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a universal bi-pod with a
detachable mounting arrangement for according to a preferred
embodiment of the present invention, illustrating an example of the
bi-pod in conjunction with a firearm of rifle or machine gun.
[0024] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the detachable
mounting arrangement for the universal bi-pod according to the
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0025] FIGS. 3A and 3B are sectional views of the detachable
mounting arrangement for the universal bi-pod according to the
preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a
locking groove disengaging and engaging with a locking latch
respectively.
[0026] FIG. 4 is a front view of the detachable mounting
arrangement for the universal bi-pod according to the preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 5 is a side view of the universal bi-pod with the
detachable mounting arrangement according to the preferred
embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the folding
positions of the leg frame.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0028] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5 of the drawing, a detachable
mounting arrangement for universal bi-pod according to a preferred
embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the
universal bi-pod comprises an attachment base 10 for detachably
coupling with an object, a leg frame 20 for detachably engaging
with the attachment base 10 to stably hold and support the object
in a position, and a detachable mounting arrangement 30 adapted for
detachably engaging the attachment base 10 with the leg frame 20,
so that a operator of the object, such as a rifle or machine gun
which needs to be firmly supported thereon, is able to easily
detach the object from the leg frame 20 via the detachable mounting
arrangement 30.
[0029] According to the preferred embodiment, the detachable
mounting arrangement 30 comprises a mounting seat 31, which is
provided on the leg frame 20, having a sliding slot 311 therewithin
to define an open end at a peripheral side of the mounting seat 31,
a detachable adapter 32 provided at a bottom side of the attachment
base 10 for detachably engaging with the sliding slot 311 on the
mounting seat 31, and a locker arrangement 33 provided at the
mounting seat 31 for detachably locking the detachable adapter 32
at the sliding slot 311.
[0030] Accordingly, the detachable adapter 32 is slidably sliding
into the sliding slot 311 through the open end thereof, wherein the
locker arrangement 33 is automatically and detachably locking the
detachable adapter 32 on the bottom side of the attachment base 10
with the mounting seat 31 in a detachably mounting manner. Thus,
the attachment base 10 is capable of slidably and detachably
mounting on the leg frame 20 by detachably engaging the mounting
seat 31 with the detachable adapter 32 of the detachable mounting
arrangement 30.
[0031] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the attachment base 10 comprises
a lower attaching panel 11 upwardly extended from the detachable
adapter 32 at the bottom of the attachment base 10, and an upper
attaching panel 12 overlapping with the lower attachment 11 to
define an attachment cavity 13 therebetween. The lower and upper
attaching panels 11, 12 are adjustably overlapping with each other
via at least an adjustable fastener 14 adjustably coupling the
lower attaching panel 11 with the upper attaching panel 12 to
selectively adjust the distance therebetween, so as to adjust the
attachment cavity 13 in accordance with the object for stably
holding the object in position. The fasteners 14 are embodied as
screws adapted for adjustably fastening the lower attaching panel
11 and upper attaching panel 12.
[0032] As shown in FIG. 1, the barrel of the firearm, as an example
of the object, is securely mounted between the lower and upper
attaching panels 11, 12 within the attachment cavity 13, wherein
the adjustable fastener 14 is adapted to selective adjust the
distance between the lower and upper attaching panels 11, 12 to fit
the barrel of the firearm within the attachment cavity 13.
[0033] The detachable adapter 32 has a polygonal shaped cross
section which is matching the cross section of the sliding slot 311
of the mounting seat 31, such that when the detachable adapter 32
is slidably engaged at the sliding slot 311, the detachable adapter
32 is retained in position to prevent the unwanted lateral movement
of the attachment base 10 with respect to the leg frame 20.
[0034] Accordingly, the detachable adapter 32 is preferably a
hexagonal cross section, geographically matching the size and shape
of the sliding slot 311 for slidably being received therewithin, so
as to securely and stably mounting the attachment base 10 on the
leg frame 20 via detachably mounting the detachable adapter 32 with
the mounting seat 31.
[0035] It is worth to mention that the hexagonal shaped detachable
adapter 32 efficiently prevent the unwanted lateral movement of the
attachment base 10 moving via the detachable mounting between the
detachable adapter 32 and the mounting seat 31, so as to provide a
relatively more stable support for holding the object in
position.
[0036] The locker arrangement 33 comprises a locker unit 331 and an
operation button 332 operatively coupling with the locker unit 331
to move the locker unit 331 from a locked position to an unlocked
position. The locker unit 331 comprises at least one locking latch
3311, preferably two locking latches 3311 upwardly and slidably
extended from a bottom wall of the sliding slot 311 of the mounting
seat 31, and at least one locking groove 3312 transversely indented
from a bottom side of the detachable adapter 32 for engaging with
the locking latches 3311, so as to detachably lock the detachable
adapter 32 at the sliding slot 311 of the mounting seat 31.
[0037] The operator button 332 is provided at a surrounding wall of
the mounting seat 31 to operatively move the locker unit 331
between the locked position and the unlocked position. At the
locked position, the two locking latches 3311 are spacedly and
upwardly protruded from the bottom wall of the sliding slot 311 to
engage with the bottom side of the detachable adapter 32 at the
locking groove 3312 for locking the detachable adapter 32 at the
mounting seat 31. At the unlocked position, the operation button
332 is pressed towards the surrounding wall of the mounting seat
31, wherein the two locking latches 3311 are spacedly and
downwardly slid below the bottom wall of the sliding slot 311 such
that the locking latches 3311 are disengaged with the bottom side
of the detachable adapter 32 so as to enable the detachable adapter
32 being slidably detached from the sliding slot 311.
[0038] More specifically, the operator button 332 is arranged to
operate the locking latches 3311 of the locking unit 331 to
downwardly slide toward the bottom wall of the sliding slot 311, so
as to disengage the locking latches 3311 with the locking groove
3312 for slidably unlocking the detachable adapter 32 and the
mounting seat 31 by detachably sliding manner.
[0039] It is worth to mention that the locking groove 3312 is
preferred to transversely and indently provided at the middle of
the bottom side of the detachable adapter 32, so that two
symmetrical sliding portions at the bottom side of the detachable
adapter 32 are formed. The locking latches 3311 of the locker unit
331 are preferably provided at the mid-portion of the bottom wall
of the sliding slot 311 in accordance with the locking groove 3312
for releasably engaging the locking latches 3311 with the locking
groove 3312. Therefore, the detachable adapter 32 is able to be
slid at the sliding slot 311 through the open end from either one
of the sliding portions of the detachable adapter 32. Therefore,
the detachable adapter 32 can be forwardly or backwardly slid to
the sliding slot 311 through the open end thereof for detachably
coupling the attachment base 10 to the leg frame 20.
[0040] In other words, the locking groove 3312 is longitudinally
extended at the mid-portion of the bottom side of the detachable
adapter 32 to define the two symmetrical sliding portions of the
detachable adapter, wherein the locking latches 3311 are upwardly
extended from the mid-portion of the bottom wall of the sliding
slot 311 in such a manner that the detachable adapter 32 is adapted
to slidably engage with the sliding slot 311 from one of the
sliding portions of the detachable adapter 32.
[0041] Accordingly, the sliding slot 311 further has a close end
provided at the peripheral wall the of the mounting seat 31 at a
position that is opposite to the open end of the sliding slot, so
that when the detachable adapter 32 is slidably sliding into the
sliding slot 311 through the open end, the detachable adapter 32 is
slidably blocked by the close end to retain the detachable adapter
32 in a position. It is worth to mention that when the detachable
adapter 32 is slid at the sliding slot 311 until the detachable
adapter 32 is blocked at the close end of the sliding slot 311, the
locking latches 3311 are engaged with the locking groove 3312 so as
to lock up the detachable adapter 32 with the mounting seat 31.
[0042] As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, each of the locking latches
3311 has a tapered free end portion 33111 upwardly protruded from
the bottom wall of the sliding slot 311 and defines an inclined
guiding surface 33112 facing towards the open end of the sliding
slot 311 for guiding the detachable adapter 32 being slidably
guided to slide into the sliding slot 311 of the mounting seat 31.
In other words, the tapered free end portion of each of the locking
latches 3311 is slidably protruded from the bottom wall of the
sliding slot 311, in such a manner that when the detachable adapter
32 is slid at the sliding slot 311, the detachable adapter 32 is
guided to slide at the guiding surfaces 33112 of the locking
latches 3311 until the locking latches 3311 are engaged with the
locking groove 3312 of the detachable adapter 32.
[0043] The detachable adapter 32 further has an indention slot 321
transversely indented on the bottom side of the detachable adapter
32 for reducing the sliding friction between the bottom side of the
detachable adapter 32 and the bottom wall of the sliding slot 311,
so as to form two spaced apart longitudinal guiding portions 322 of
the detachable adapter 32 parallely and downwardly extended from
the bottom side of the detachable adapter 32. The two longitudinal
guiding portions 322 also have the hexagonal shape matching the
sliding slot 311.
[0044] It is appreciated that the two longitudinal guiding portions
322 are downwardly extended along two sides of peripheral edge of
the indention slot 321, and parallely extended along the sliding
direction of the detachable adapter 32 sliding at the sliding slot
311, so as to easily slide the detachable adapter 32 into the
sliding slot 311 to detachably mount with the mounting seat 31.
[0045] It is worth mentioning that each of the two longitudinal
guiding portions 322 is divided into two symmetrical sliding
portions by the transverse locking groove 3312 at the two
symmetrical sliding portions of the detachable adapter 32
respectively, so that the detachable adapter 32 at the bottom of
the attachment base 10 is able to be slid at the sliding slot 311
from one of the sliding portions via slidably engaging the
longitudinal guiding portions 322 with the sliding slot 311 of the
mounting seat 31.
[0046] Accordingly, the leg frame 20 of the universal bi-pod for
supporting and holding the object in position preferably comprises
two length-adjustable supporting legs 21 for stably supporting and
holding the object, and a pivot hinge 22 pivotally coupling with
the supporting legs 21.
[0047] The pivot hinge 22 is pivotally coupling with the upper ends
of the supporting legs 21 to pivotally fold the supporting legs 21
between an unfolded position and a folded position, wherein at the
unfolded position, the supporting legs 21 are pivotally and
outwardly unfolded away from one of another supporting leg 21 to
form an inversed V-shaped configuration. At the folded position,
the supporting legs 21 are pivotally and inwardly folded toward one
of another supporting leg 21, so as to be folded in parallel.
[0048] In order to substantially retain the supporting legs 21 at
the inversed V-shaped configuration of the unfolded position, a
retention spring 24 is further provided between the two supporting
legs 21 at a vertex point of the V-shaped configuration of the
supporting legs 21. Accordingly, two ends of the retention spring
24 are biased against the supporting legs 21 respectively for
exerting an urging force therebetween so as to retain the
supporting legs 21 at the unfolded position to hold and support the
object.
[0049] The leg frame 20 further comprises a folding hinge 23
provided at the mounting seat 31 for pivotally coupling the
mounting seat 31 with the leg frame 20, and preferably by pivotally
folding the mounting seat 31 to retain the supporting legs 21 at
the folded position, and to release the supporting legs 21 at the
unfolded position for supporting the object.
[0050] In other words, the mounting seat 31 is being folded via the
folding hinge 23 between a set up position and a storage position,
as shown in FIG. 5, wherein at the set up position, the supporting
legs 21 are pivotally folded at unfolded position via the pivot
hinge 22 and are vertically extended from the mounting seat 31,
i.e. perpendicular to the barrel of the firearm. At the storage
position, the supporting legs 21 are pivotally folded at the folded
position via the pivot hinge 22 and are horizontally extended from
the mounting seat 31, i.e. parallel to the barrel of the firearm.
Therefore, at the storage position, the universal bi-pod will
occupy the minimum space with respect to the firearm for storage
purpose and easy carrying.
[0051] It is worth to mention that when the supporting legs 21 are
pivotally folded at the storage position, the supporting legs 21
are retained at the parallel extending manner at the folded
position. Accordingly, two retention walls 231 are downwardly
extended from the mounting seat 31 for the folding hinge 23
pivotally coupling between the retention walls 231. When the
supporting legs 21 are pivotally folded at the set up position, the
upper ends of the supporting legs 21 are located below the bottom
edges of the retention walls 231 respectively. Before the
supporting legs 21 are pivotally folded at the storage position,
the supporting legs 21 must be pivotally folded at the folded
position. Once the supporting legs 21 are pivotally folded at the
folded position, the supporting legs 21 are adapted to pivotally
fold via the folding hinge 23. Accordingly, the upper ends of the
supporting legs 21 will be blocked by either the front or rear
edges of the retention walls 231, depending on the folding
direction, to retain the supporting legs 21 at the folded
position.
[0052] Accordingly, each of the length-adjustable supporting legs
21 comprises a fixed portion 211 having a hollow longitudinal shape
to define a cavity therewithin, and an extendable portion 212
slidably received within the cavity of the fixed portion 211 of the
supporting leg 21 for adjustably extending out from the cavity of
the fixed portion 211, so as to adjust the length of the supporting
legs 21.
[0053] It is worth to mention that the length-adjustable supporting
legs 21 allow the operator to adjust the high of the bi-pod for
supporting the object, such as the firearm of rifle or other
machine guns. Thus, the operator is able to selectively adjust the
length of the supporting legs 21 via the extendable portion 212
according to different purposes. When the operator is shooting in
an indoor facility, the operator is able to set up the universal
bi-pod on a low wall and adjust the length of the supporting legs
21 align the firearm supported on the bi-pod with the shoulder of
the operator depending on how tall the operator is.
[0054] Therefore, the object, such as the firearm of weapons for
example, is able to be held within the attachment cavity 13 via the
lower and upper attaching panel 11, 12 to detachably and securely
attach the firearm with the attachment base 10. The detachable
adapter 32 on the bottom of the attachment base 10 is capable of
detachably mounting at the sliding slot 31 of the mounting seat 31,
so as to stably support the firearm on the leg frame 20 and
minimize the fatigue of the operator from holding the heavy and
long firearm of machine gun.
[0055] The attachment base 10 is capable of being slidably detached
and attached from the leg frame 20 easily via the mounting seat 31
and the detachable adapter 32 of the detachable mounting arrange
30, so that the operator, such as a hunter aiming a shooting goal,
is able to only attach the attachment base 10 on the firearm and
quickly set up the firearm being held and supported on the leg
frame 20 of the universal bi-pod via detachably and slidably
mounting manner. The operator is able to set up the bi-pod on the
ground or low wall for stably supporting the firearm in position
easily via detaching or attaching the detachable adapter 32.
[0056] The detachably mounting arrangement is also capable of being
incorporated with a tri-pod or other supporting stands for stably
holding and supporting other objects.
[0057] One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment
of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described
above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.
[0058] It will thus be seen that the objects of the present
invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. The
embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of
illustrating the functional and structural principles of the
present invention and is subject to change without departure from
such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all
modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the
following claims.
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