U.S. patent application number 13/269688 was filed with the patent office on 2013-04-11 for weapon rest.
The applicant listed for this patent is Steven W. Minneman. Invention is credited to Steven W. Minneman.
Application Number | 20130086835 13/269688 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48041148 |
Filed Date | 2013-04-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130086835 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Minneman; Steven W. |
April 11, 2013 |
WEAPON REST
Abstract
A weapon rest for supporting a weapon. The weapon rest has an
improved lock or jaw clamp for locking a vertical column support in
a predetermined position.
Inventors: |
Minneman; Steven W.;
(Clayton, OH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Minneman; Steven W. |
Clayton |
OH |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
48041148 |
Appl. No.: |
13/269688 |
Filed: |
October 10, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
42/94 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41A 23/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
42/94 |
International
Class: |
F41C 27/00 20060101
F41C027/00 |
Claims
1. A weapon rest for supporting a weapon, comprising: a base; at
least one support slidably or adjustably mounted on the base, said
at least one support having a weapon rest for supporting a weapon
above the base; and a jaw clamp for engaging said at least one
support and for locking it into a predetermined position.
2. The weapon rest as recited in claim 1 wherein said jaw clamp is
elongated and has a longitudinal axis.
3. The weapon rest as recited in claim 2 wherein said at least one
support comprises a support axis, said longitudinal axis being
generally parallel to said support axis.
4. The weapon rest as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one
support comprises threaded cylindrical wall and a hand nut for
raising and lowering said at least one support, said jaw clamp
engaging a plurality of threads of said threaded cylindrical wall
said that when said jaw clamp is tightened, a clamping force is
applied to said plurality of threads.
5. The weapon rest as recited in claim 1 wherein said base has a
vertical support column extending from said base, said vertical
support column having a support wall, at least a portion of said
support wall providing a platen or bearing surface against which
said jaw clamp may drive said at least one support in order to lock
said at least one support in said vertical support column in
response to a clamping force by said jaw clamp.
6. The weapon rest as recited in claim 5 wherein said vertical
support column comprises an inner wall, an outer wall and a
plurality of ribs integrally formed between said inner wall and
said outer wall.
7. The weapon rest as recited in claim 6 wherein said plurality of
ribs are integrally formed along lines that are generally radial
with respect to an axis of at least one support.
8. The weapon rest as recited in claim 7 wherein said plurality of
ribs are integrally formed in said inner wall so that an engaging
area of said inner wall that engages said at least one support
becomes situated or arranged generally opposite an area of said at
least one support wherein said jaw clamp engages a plurality of
threads.
9. The weapon rest as recited in claim 8 wherein said vertical
support column comprises a threaded aperture, said jaw clamp
further comprising a screw for screwing into said threaded aperture
and for driving said jaw clamp into said plurality of threads.
10. The weapon rest as recited in claim 9 wherein said threaded
aperture is situated generally opposite said plurality of ribs so
that when said screw is tightened, said jaw clamp forces said at
least one support against said inner wall.
11. The weapon rest as recited in claim 10 wherein said jaw clamp
is generally V-shaped.
12. A gun support comprising: a base having an internal wall for
defining an aperture; a gun support slidably received in said
aperture; and a lock for locking said gun support in said aperture
after said gun support has been situated in a predetermined
position.
13. The gun support as recited in claim 12 wherein said lock
comprises a clamp.
14. The gun support as recited in claim 13 wherein said gun support
comprises a generally elongated support member having a gun rest at
an end thereof; said generally elongated support member being
slidably received in said gun support and said clamp being
generally elongated and having an elongated clamping surface that
engages said generally elongated support member.
15. The gun support as recited in claim 14 wherein said generally
elongated support member being generally cylindrical and having a
support axis; said elongated clamping surface having an elongated
axis that is generally parallel to said support axis.
16. The gun support as recited in claim 12 wherein said base
comprises a storage compartment and at least one lid or cover.
17. The gun support as recited in claim 12 wherein said base
comprises at least one second support.
18. The gun support as recited in claim 17 wherein said at least
one second support is integral and monolithically formed with said
base.
19. The gun support as recited in claim 12 wherein said base
comprises an external wall surrounding at least a portion of said
internal wall, said gun support further comprising a plurality of
ribs integrally formed between said external wall and said internal
wall.
20. The gun support as recited in claim 19 wherein said plurality
of ribs are integrally formed along lines that are generally radial
with respect to an axis of at least one support.
21. The gun support as recited in claim 20 wherein said plurality
of ribs are integrally formed in a rib area of a first side of said
internal wall, a second side of said internal wall having a platen,
bearing surface or engaging area generally opposite said rib area,
said lock being situated in a locking area of said external wall
and generally opposite said platen, bearing surface or engaging
area so that when said gun support is received between said lock
and said engaging area, said lock can be tightened to force said
gun support into engagement with said engaging area, thereby
locking said gun support at a predetermined height in said
base.
22. The gun support as recited in claim 21 wherein lock is a jaw
clamp.
23. The gun support as recited in claim 22 wherein said jaw clamp
is elongated and has a longitudinal axis.
24. The gun support as recited in claim 23 wherein said gun support
comprises a support axis, said longitudinal axis being generally
parallel to said support axis.
25. The gun support as recited in claim 22 wherein said gun support
comprises a threaded cylindrical wall and a hand nut for raising
and lowering said gun support, said jaw clamp engaging a plurality
of threads of said threaded cylindrical wall said that when said
jaw clamp is tightened, a clamping force is applied to said
plurality of threads.
26. The gun support as recited in claim 22 wherein said external
wall comprises a threaded aperture at said locking area, said jaw
clamp further comprising a screw and a clamp for screwing into said
threaded aperture and for driving said gun support into engagement
with said engaging area, thereby locking said gun support at a
predetermined height in said base.
27. The gun support as recited in claim 26 wherein said clamp is
generally V-shaped in cross section.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to weapon rests and, more
particularly, to weapon rests having at least one support and
improved means and apparatus for locking the at least one support
in a predetermined position.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] A weapon rest is a device which facilitates the use of a
weapon, such as a hand gun, rifle, crossbow and the like. The
weapon rest typically provides a stable surface for supporting the
weapon during target practice, marksmanship competition, hunting,
cleaning of the weapon and the like.
[0005] Various types of weapon rests have been used in the past and
provided different means for supporting the weapon. For example,
U.S. Pat. No. 5,600,913 illustrates a pistol rest that provided a
two-piece adjustable molded plastic rest that had a fork member to
be retained within a base member and the fork member and base
member had means for raising and lowering the rest portion of the
device.
[0006] Several prior art rifle rests had an adjustable support that
raised and lowered in a generally cylindrical column. A threaded
screw was threaded through the column and its end would engage the
support to hold it in place. One problem with this design of the
past is that an end of the screw engaged the support column with
point contact force that was not distributed. Sometimes the end of
the screw would puncture the wall of the support column if it was
screwed too tight. Also, the point contact of the end of the screw
against the support did not always provide the necessary locking
force to prevent vertical movement of the support column,
especially during cleaning of a rifle or during shooting.
[0007] What is needed, therefore, is an improved system for locking
the weapon support in a predetermined position in the weapon
rest.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is, therefore, an object to provide an improved weapon
rest.
[0009] Another object of the invention is to provide a weapon rest
that has an improved locking of the weapon support.
[0010] Another object is to provide a weapon rest in the form of a
gun rest that utilizes a jaw clamp for locking at least one support
in a predetermined position;
[0011] Still another object is a weapon rest that provides an
elongated jaw clamp that distributes a locking force across an
adjustable support, including but not limited to, an adjustable
support having a plurality of threads of an adjustable support.
[0012] In one aspect, one embodiment comprises a weapon rest for
supporting a weapon, comprising a base, at least one support
slidably mounted on the base, the at least one support having a
weapon rest for supporting a weapon above the base and a jaw clamp
for engaging the at least one support and for locking it into a
predetermined position.
[0013] In another aspect, another embodiment comprises a weapon
support comprising a base having an internal wall for defining an
aperture, a weapon support slidably received in the aperture and a
lock for locking the weapon support in the aperture after the
weapon support has been situated in a predetermined position.
[0014] These and other objects and advantages of the invention will
be apparent from the following description, the accompanying
drawings and the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the
invention;
[0016] FIG. 1A is a sectional view taken along line 1A-1A in FIG.
1;
[0017] FIGS. 2 and 3 are fragmentary views illustrating various
features of the adjustable support and jaw clamp used in the
embodiment shown in FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in FIG.
3;
[0019] FIG. 5 is an exploded fragmentary view illustrating the
assembly of the adjustable support and the jaw clamp and a
thumbscrew in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the jaw clamp used in the
embodiment of FIGS. 1-5;
[0021] FIG. 7 is a right-side view of the jaw clamp shown in FIGS.
1-5;
[0022] FIG. 8 is a rear view of the jaw clamp shown in FIGS.
1-5;
[0023] FIG. 9 is a front view of the jaw clamp shown in FIGS. 1-5
showing engaging surfaces;
[0024] FIG. 10 is a left-side view of the jaw clamp in the
embodiment of FIGS. 1-5;
[0025] FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the jaw clamp in the embodiment
of FIGS. 1-5;
[0026] FIG. 12 is top view of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-5;
and
[0027] FIG. 13 is an exploded view of the weapon rest.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0028] Referring now to FIGS. 1-13, a weapon rest 10 is shown for
supporting a weapon (not shown). In the illustration being
described, the weapon rest 10 may be used for supporting a gun,
such as a pistol, rifle, shotgun or the like, or a crossbow during
cleaning, storage or during shooting. The weapon rest 10 may be
adapted to support a rifle or crossbow during, for example,
maintenance. Features of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,640,944; 5,600,913;
5,058,302; 4,467,947; 3,923,152; 3,813,987; D543,604; D519,183;
D380,116; D375,538; D314,273; D300,183; D237,611; D234,495 and/or
D227,517, all of which are incorporated herein by reference and
made a part hereof, may be used in combination with features of the
weapon rest 10 described herein.
[0029] The weapon rest 10 comprises a base 12 having a headstock or
first support 14 and a tailstock or second support 16, all of which
are molded from a polymer or plastic material. Note that the second
support 16 comprises a pair of generally cylindrical members 28 and
30 slidably received in the first support 14 to provide an
adjustable weapon support 18. The second support 16 further
comprises a generally U-shaped support 20. In the illustration
being described, the weapon rest 10, including the base 12 and
first support 14, is molded from plastic, but the generally
U-shaped support 20 may comprise an overmolded or inmolded rubber
or other polymer 21 for supporting and retaining the weapon (not
shown) in the generally U-shaped support 20.
[0030] As shown in FIG. 1A, the first support 14 is molded and
comprises two generally opposed L-shaped walls 38 and 40 (when
viewed in cross-section). The first support 14 comprises a middle
area 42 defining a surface 42a that cooperates with a surface 38a
of the L-shaped wall 38 and a surface 40a of the L-shaped wall 40
to provide or define an engaging area that a clamp 46 may move
toward and away from the second support 16. In this regard, note
that the clamp 46 comprises a plurality of pre-molded nut seats 51
for receiving at least one or a plurality of nuts 48. The nuts 48
are threadably received on thumb screws 50 in order to drive the
clamp 46 in the direction of double arrow A (FIG. 1A).
[0031] Advantageously, the second support 16 may telescope toward
and away from the first support 14 when the thumb screws 50 are
loosened. Thereafter, the user moves the first support 14 relative
to the second support 16 so that the distance D1 (FIG. 1) between
the first support 14 and the second support 16 is adjusted to a
desired distance. Thereafter, the user tightens the thumb screws 50
(FIGS. 1A and 13), which cause a clamping force of the clamp 46
against the generally cylindrical members 28 and 30 to retain and
lock the first support 14 to the second support 16. In this regard,
it should be understood that the generally cylindrical members 28
and 30 may be slightly larger than a distance D2 (FIG. 1A) in order
to permit the clamp 46 to apply a compressive force against the
generally cylindrical members 28 and 30 to lock the first support
14 to the second support 16.
[0032] Note, in FIG. 13, that the weapon rest 10 further comprises
a molded storage container or compartment 52 having a top portion
54 and a bottom portion 56 that are secured together with a
plurality of pre-molded detents 54a, 56a or alternatively the
bottom portion 56 may comprise a in-molded hinge (not shown). In
the illustration being described, the integrally molded first
support 14 comprises an outer wall 14b having or defining a first
generally curved area 14b1 for receiving the generally cylindrical
member 28, a generally flat area 14b2 and a second generally curved
area 14b3 for receiving the generally cylindrical member 30 that
cooperate to define a support for receiving the bottom portion 56
(FIG. 13). In this regard, note that the storage container or
compartment 52 is molded from a polymer or plastic and the bottom
portion 56 comprises a generally complementary pre-molded bottom. A
screw 51 is received in a threaded aperture 51a and used to secure
the bottom portion 56 to the first support 14. Advantageously, the
molded storage container or compartment 52 provides a storage area
for receiving and storing gun and crossbow accessories, such as
safety glasses, ear protection, weights, range tools and the
like.
[0033] The first support 14 comprises an integrally-molded column
or support 58 having an integrally molded column 60 comprising an
external wall 62 and an internal wall 64. In the illustration being
described, the integrally molded column 60 further comprises an
inner wall 66 having an inner wall surface 66a that defines a
receiving area 68 for receiving at least one adjustable support 78.
In the illustration being described, the at least one adjustable
support 78 comprises a molded first half 72 and a molded second
half 74 that are secured together by conventional means such as a
screw 76.
[0034] In the illustration being described, the at least one
adjustable support 78 has a generally U-shaped end 78a (FIG. 1)
that, like the generally U-shaped support 20 has an in-molded or
inserted rubber or polymer support 80 as shown.
[0035] As best illustrated in FIGS. 3-5, note that the internal
wall 64 of the integrally-molded column or support 58 comprises a
plurality of integrally molded flat areas 64a, 64b, 64c and 64d. A
plurality of ribs 82, 84, 86 and 88 are integrally molded with the
flat areas 64a-64d, respectively, and are also integrally molded
with the external wall 62. The flat areas 64a-64d are adapted to
define engaging surfaces 64a1, 64b1, 64c1 and 64d1 that provide an
engaging area, platen or brace against which the at least one
adjustable support 78 may be driven as explained later herein. Note
that the ribs 82-88 support the engaging surfaces 64a1, 64b1, 64c1
and 64d1 a predetermined distance D3 (FIG. 4) from the integrally
molded external wall 62.
[0036] The internal wall 62 further comprises a notched-out or
U-shaped wall 64e that is integrally molded with the external wall
64 and that defines a generally U-shaped receiving area or
longitudinal channel 90.
[0037] In the illustration being described, the notched-out area or
longitudinal channel 90 is adapted to receive a jaw clamp 92 for
engaging the at least one adjustable support 78 and for locking the
at least one adjustable support 78 into a predetermined position
selected by the user after the at least one adjustable support 78
has been adjusted or moved to a desired position. In one
embodiment, the jaw clamp 92 is made of a polymer material, but it
could be made from other suitable materials, such as other polymer
or synthetic materials, metallic materials, such as steel or
aluminum, carbon or composite materials, for example.
[0038] The at least one adjustable support 78 comprises the threads
91 that receive a mating, threaded hand nut 94 that, when rotated,
causes the at least one adjustable support 78 and its polymer
support 80 to be raised or lowered to a desired position. In this
regard, the external wall 62 has an end 62a that comprises an
internal wall 96 that defines a generally U-shaped circular channel
98, as best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5. The hand nut 94 comprises
a mating flange or lip 100 (FIG. 3) that is received in the
generally U-shaped circular channel 98 to facilitate retaining the
hand nut 94 and so that its axis is generally coaxial with the axis
defined by the column 60. The hand nut 94 comprises an internal
U-shaped wall 94a (FIG. 3) that defines a U-shaped channel that
receives the raised portion or wall 102 (FIG. 5) of column 60. A
bottom 94a1 of the wall 94a of hand nut 94 rides on and is
supported by a top surface 102a (FIG. 5) of the surface 102a of
wall 102.
[0039] Returning to FIGS. 3-13, the lock or jaw clamp 92 engages
the at least one adjustable support 78 and locks it into a
predetermined position in the first support 14. In the illustration
being described, the jaw clamp 92 is received in the generally
U-shaped or longitudinal channel 90 which comprises a channel width
W (FIG. 4) that is slightly larger than a width W2 (FIG. 9) of the
jaw clamp 92. As best illustrated in the views in FIGS. 6, 7 and
10, the jaw clamp 92 is slightly U or V-shaped in profile. The jaw
clamp 92 has a longitudinal dimension that is substantially larger
than its width W2 so that when the jaw clamp 92 is received in the
generally U-shaped receiving area or longitudinal channel 90 its
longitudinal axis is generally parallel to the axis of the at least
one adjustable support 78. The longitudinal channel 90 also
restricts or prevents the jaw clamp 92 from undesired movement. As
best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, that the jaw clamp 92 is adapted
to traverse a plurality of the threads 91. The integrally-molded
column or support 58 comprises a reinforced molded area portion 112
(FIG. 2) that is substantially thicker than the external wall 62
and that comprises a threaded aperture 114 for receiving a
thumbscrew 116 as best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The jaw clamp
92 comprises an aperture 114 that defines a notched-out area 114a
for receiving an end 116a (FIGS. 5, 6, and 8) of the thumbscrew
116.
[0040] After the user adjusts a vertical height V1 (FIG. 1) and
position of the U-shaped end 78a, the user tightens the thumbscrew
116 which forces the end 116a of the thumbscrew 116 into engagement
with the jaw clamp 92 in the notched-out area 114a. This, in turn,
causes an engaging surface 117 (FIG. 6) of the jaw clamp 92 to
engage a plurality of the threads 91. As the jaw clamp 92 drives
the engaging surface 117 into engagement with the plurality of
threads 91, it forces the at least one adjustable support 78
leftward (as viewed in FIG. 4) until the portions of the threads 91
that are opposite the portions of the threads 91 being engaged
engage the surfaces 64a1, 64b1, 64c1 and 64d1 as illustrated in
FIG. 4, thereby locking the at least one adjustable support 78 in a
locked and fastened position in the weapon rest 10. While the
embodiment is shown engaging the plurality of threads 91, the at
least one adjustable support could be provided without threads,
such as in a smooth continuous column (not shown). In that case,
the jaw clamp 92 engages the column directly.
[0041] The jaw clamp 92 may comprise notched internal walls 120,
122 and 124 that define notched out areas which facilitate or
enable the jaw clamp to be generally elastic. It should be
understood, however, that the jaw clamp 92 could be solid.
[0042] Note that the plurality of ribs 82, 84, 86 and 88 are
positioned substantially radially with respect to the axis of the
at least one adjustable support 78 and are otherwise positioned to
strengthen and support the internal wall 64 when it is engaged by
the threads 91 of the at least one adjustable support 78.
[0043] The column 60 may have an integral key 121 (FIG. 4) that is
received in the keyway 123 (FIG. 13) that prevents the at least one
adjustable support 78 from undesired rotational movement.
[0044] Advantageously, the weapon rest 10 provides an improved
support for supporting weapons above a surface. The lock or jaw
clamp 92 also provides improved means for providing an improved
engaging area for traversing a plurality of threads 91, which
improves the locking of the at least one adjustable support 78 in
the predetermined position so that it does not move after the
thumbscrew 116 has been tightened by the user.
[0045] Although not shown, it should be understood that the second
support 16 could also have an adjustable support similar to the at
least one adjustable support 78 if desired.
[0046] While the system, apparatus and method herein described
constitute preferred embodiments of this invention, it is to be
understood that the invention is not limited to this precise
system, apparatus and method, and that changes may be made therein
without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined
in the appended claims.
* * * * *