U.S. patent application number 14/182592 was filed with the patent office on 2014-08-28 for stabilization shooting platform.
This patent application is currently assigned to Kopfjager Industries, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Kopfjager Industries, LLC. Invention is credited to Matthew Banes, Garret Hellinger.
Application Number | 20140237882 14/182592 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51386685 |
Filed Date | 2014-08-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140237882 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Banes; Matthew ; et
al. |
August 28, 2014 |
Stabilization Shooting Platform
Abstract
The present invention provides a shooting stabilization support
apparatus with a saddle adapted to receive and support a variety of
firearms. The saddle is supported by a hinge block or support mount
and connected to a swivel mount allowing the saddle to freely and
completely rotate in the horizontal and vertical plane space. The
vertical or pitch elevation of the firearm resting in the shooting
platform is easily adjusted and secured into position with a brake
or a brake handle-brake clamp assembly that enables the user to
easily adjust the elevation or pitch angle of the firearm muzzle
and secure the rifle in the desired position. The shooter may then
discharge the weapon with improved accuracy on target. The shooting
platform apparatus may be permanently or detachably affixed to any
fixed surface such as the floor, ceiling or wall of any enclosed
space or it may be integrated or attached to vehicles, boats,
aircraft or other transport equipment.
Inventors: |
Banes; Matthew; (Sachse,
TX) ; Hellinger; Garret; (Sachse, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Kopfjager Industries, LLC |
Sachse |
TX |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Kopfjager Industries, LLC
Sachse
TX
|
Family ID: |
51386685 |
Appl. No.: |
14/182592 |
Filed: |
February 18, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61767953 |
Feb 22, 2013 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
42/94 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41A 23/02 20130101;
F41A 23/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
42/94 |
International
Class: |
F41A 23/02 20060101
F41A023/02 |
Claims
1. An apparatus, comprising: a saddle with at least two support
legs connected with a front support base and a rear support base; a
front gun support and a rear gun support attached to the front
support base and rear support base of the saddle for supporting a
firearm; a hinge block hingedly connected to the saddle and about
which the saddle may pitch in the vertical direction; a rear
control arm connected to the bottom surface of the rear support
base; and, a brake hingedly connected to the hinge block and rear
control arm.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: an adjustment
control operable to increase or decrease the width of the front gun
support.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a swivel attached
to the bottom surface of the hinge block.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: an extension arm
connected to the bottom surface of the hinge block.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the brake further comprises: a
rotatable brake handle with a brake piston secured partially within
the brake handle; a link attached or formed as part of the brake
piston; and, a friction plate attached to or formed as part of the
link.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising: a brake pin
substantially enclosed in a friction plate wherein the brake pin is
in contact with an inclined surface of the link.
7. An apparatus, comprising: a saddle with a front support base and
a rear support base positioned at opposing ends of the saddle; a
front gun support and a rear gun support connected to front support
base and rear support base of the saddle for supporting a firearm;
a clamp brake attached to the saddle wherein the clamp brake
includes a rotatable brake handle for adjusting the clamping force
of the clamp brake applied to a dowel rod extending through an
orifice in the clamp brake and attached to a support mount and
which acts to link and provide a rotational axis about which the
pitch elevation of the cradle may be fixed or adjusted by rotating
or counter-rotating the brake handle.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising: a swivel attached
to the support mount.
9. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising: an extension arm
attached to the support mount.
10. A method, comprising: resting a firearm in a shooting platform
with a saddle, a front gun support and a rear gun support and a
brake handle; orienting the shooting platform with the firearm
resting in the saddle in alignment on a target; rotating the brake
handle so as to lock the shooting platform in the desired
orientation.
11. The method of claim 7 further comprising: unlocking the
shooting platform by counter-rotating the brake handle of the
brake.
12. The method of claim 7, further comprising: attaching an
extension arm to the shooting platform.
13. The method of claim 7, further comprising: attaching a swivel
mount to the shooting platform.
14. The method of claim 7, further comprising: attaching the
shooting platform to a fixed structure.
15. The method of claim 7, further comprising: attaching the
shooting platform to a vehicle.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S.
provisional application, Ser. No. 61/767,953, filed on Feb. 22,
2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The stability with which a firearm is positioned is a
critical factor contributing to the accuracy of a projectile
discharged from the weapon. Likewise the ability to quickly bring a
weapon to bear and position it accurately on the intended target is
critical in shooting sports and public safety scenarios. Various
prior apparatus and methods are known in the art that attempt to,
but have not, solved such targeting and accuracy issues faced by
shooters in hunting and military environments.
[0003] For example, certain shooting systems have been developed
for mechanically unsupported stabilization of the firearm that
employs a sling device. A sling may be used as a shooting aid to
pull the firearm into the user's shoulder area to provide stability
against the shooter's body. However, the limitations with such body
support systems do not adequately compensate for firearm recoil and
its affect on the stability of the shooter's body. Likewise, the
recoil associated with discharging a firearm may also cause the
user to flinch or jerk in anticipation of the associated recoil.
Flinching or jerking may affect the trigger pull and thereby
further increase the inaccuracy associated with the shot. Other
shooting support systems are designed to reduce or eliminate the
recoil force transmitted to the user. However, such stabilization
support systems are typically heavy, so as to absorb greater
amounts of recoil from the weapon when discharged, and thus are not
easily transportable or carried by the shooter into myriad
environments where space and room to erect and utilize such support
systems is limited.
[0004] Despite advances in firearm manufacturing and optics
capability, a need still exists in the art for a shooting platform
which provides a stable platform on which the firearm may be rested
and secured which prevents gross or reflexive movements by the
shooter from affecting the desired shot placement and targeting
accuracy. A need exists for a simple and easily transportable
shooting platform that may be carried on the user's person, erected
and utilized in a variety of shooting environments. Further, a need
exists for a stabilized shooting platform that allows the user to
easily rest, support and position the firearm on target, while
providing the capability to easily adjust the elevation of the
firearm and lock the firearm in the desired position for placing a
projectile discharged from the firearm on the desired target. There
is a need in the art for a shooting platform that supports the
firearm without the aid of the shooter, while remaining light and
easily transportable from one location to another by the
shooter.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] According to one aspect, the present invention provides a
shooting stabilization support apparatus (also referred to as a
"shooting platform") comprising a saddle with a forward and rear
firearm supports adapted to receive and support a variety of
firearms. The saddle is supported by a hinge block connected to a
swivel mount allowing the saddle to freely and completely rotate in
the horizontal and vertical plane space thereby aiding the shooter
in easily and quickly placing the firearm on target desired by the
shooter. The vertical elevation of the firearm is easily adjusted
and secured into position using a brake that enables the user to
easily adjust the elevation of the firearm muzzle and secure the
rifle in the desired position. The shooter may then discharge the
weapon with improved accuracy on target. The shooting platform
apparatus may be permanently or detachably affixed to any fixed
surface such as the floor, ceiling or wall of any enclosed space as
further described herein. The shooting platform may be integrated
or attached to vehicles, boats, aircraft or other transport
equipment.
[0006] In this respect, before explaining the invention in detail,
it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its
application to the details of construction or to the arrangements
of the components set forth in the following description or
illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other
embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.
Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology
employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should
not be regarded as limiting. To the accomplishment of the above and
related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form
illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to
the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and
that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated
and described within the scope of this application.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of
the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same
becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate
the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and
wherein:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view depicting an exemplary
embodiment of the stabilization shooting platform apparatus in
accordance with the present invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a side elevational perspective view of an
exemplary embodiment of the stabilization shooting platform
apparatus in accordance with the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a perspective sectional view of an exemplary
embodiment of the brake positioned between the hinge block and rear
control arm of the stabilization shooting platform apparatus in
accordance with the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 4A is a side elevation sectional view of an exemplary
embodiment of the brake positioned between the hinge block and rear
control arm of the stabilization shooting platform apparatus in
accordance with the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 4B is a bottom elevation sectional view of an exemplary
embodiment of the brake positioned between the hinge block and rear
control arm of the stabilization shooting platform apparatus in
accordance with the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of
the stabilization shooting platform with swiveling extension arms
in accordance with the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 6A is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of
the stabilization shooting platform apparatus in accordance with
the present invention; and,
[0015] FIG. 6B is a bottom perspective view of an exemplary
embodiment of the stabilization shooting platform apparatus in
accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and
is not to be taken as a limitation on the present invention.
Relative language used herein is best understood with reference to
the drawings, in which like numerals are used to identify like or
similar items. Further, in the drawings, certain features may be
shown in somewhat schematic form.
[0017] Turning to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the shooting platform 10
is depicted in greater detail. Shooting platform 10 includes saddle
12 which is formed by two support legs 12a,12b and with support
legs 12a,12b terminating into rear support base 12c and front
support base 12d as shown. Saddle 12 is attached to hinge block 18
by pin or other attachment means known in the art that allow saddle
12 to rotate or pitch in the vertical direction. Saddle 12 includes
a U or V-shaped rear gun support 14 attached to rear support base
12c and U or V-shaped front gun support 16 attached to front
support base 12d. In one embodiment, front gun support 16 includes
an adjustment control 24 allowing the user to increase or decrease
the width of front gun support 16 for accommodating firearm
fore-ends or barrels of various shapes, widths and diameters. Brake
20 is positioned between and hingedly connected to hinge block 18
and rear control arm 22 as shown. Rear control arm 22 is hingedly
connected to saddle 12 via rear support base 12c. Brake 20 provides
both an adjustable tensile locking mechanism for target alignment
in the vertical direction. The user actuates brake 20 by hand,
acquires and sights the target through the rifle sites or scope,
and then actuates brake 20 so as to substantially lock the position
of the firearm on the target at the desired elevational pitch. The
components and operation of shooting platform 10 will be shown and
described in greater detail below.
[0018] With regard to FIG. 2, a side elevational view of shooting
platform 10 is shown. Front gun support 16 is shown fixed to saddle
12 and includes threaded hole 28 in which threaded adjustment
control 24 (shown in FIG. 1) is rotated to increase or decrease the
width of front gun support 16 as previously described. Pins 26 are
utilized to hingedly connect saddle 12 to hinge block 18 and rear
control arm 22 allowing saddle 12 via rear support base 12c, hinge
block 18 and rear control arm 22 to substantially rotate relative
to each other. Brake 20 is connected to hinge block 18 and rear
control arm 22 with pins 26 as further described herein.
[0019] Pins 26 are utilized to hingedly attach brake 20 between
hinge block 18 and rear control arm 22 allowing brake 20, hinge
block 18, and rear control arm 22 to substantially rotate and/or
translate relative to each other and thus impart vertical pitch
movement to saddle 12. This rotational and translational ability
allows the shooter to move and adjust the elevation or vertical
pitch of the firearm barrel supported in the saddle 12 during
target acquisition and alignment. Brake 20 acts to lock and
restrict elevational movement of the saddle 12 in the vertical
direction when the brake handle is rotated to a locked position
which substantially inhibits any relative rotation in the vertical
direction as between the hinge block 18, brake 20 and rear control
arm 22 thus securing the firearm positioned in the saddle 12 at the
desired elevation on sight on the target. It is also contemplated
that connection means such as pins, bolts or other threaded or
non-threaded connectors for rotatably securing the components of
the shooting platform 10 may be utilized as known in the art.
[0020] A swivel mechanism (not shown) or connection point may be
fixed to the bottom surface of hinge block 18 allowing the shooting
platform 10 to freely swivel in substantially the horizontal plane
enabling the shooter to quickly place a firearm supported in the
shooting platform on target in the horizontal direction. The
shooting platform 10 may be mounted to a monopod, bipod, tripod,
extension arm or multiple extension arms or fixed mounting assembly
as will be further described herein in FIG. 5.
[0021] FIG. 3 depicts a perspective elevational view of hinge block
18, brake 20, and rear control arm 22 assembly. As depicted, brake
20 is hingedly connected between hinge block 18 and rear control
arm 22. Brake 20 includes a rotatable brake handle 30, a brake
piston 32 secured partially within the interior of brake handle 30
with a link 34 attached or formed as part of brake piston 32 at one
end of brake piston 32, and a friction plate 36 attached to or
formed as part of link 34 at the opposite end of brake piston 32.
Link 34 provides a hinged connection point to hinge block 18 via
pin 26. Link 34 and/or friction plate 36 provides a hinged
connection point with rear control arm 22 via pin 26.
[0022] Rear control arm 22 and friction plate 36 are in releasable
contact at hinge brake contact surface 35. Rear control arm 22 and
friction plate 36 may include grooves, cleats or other roughened
surface treatments enabling the contact surfaces at hinge brake
contact surface 35 to securely mate together to substantially
inhibit or restrict rotation relative to rear control arm 22 and
friction plate 36 when the brake 20 is in a locked position. In
turn and in this position, relative rotation between the brake 20
and hinge block 18 is restricted resulting in hinge block 18, brake
20, and rear control arm 22 assembly being restricted from
elevational pitch rotation and/or translation in the vertical
direction. Depending on the status of the brake 20 being in the
locked or unlocked position, rear control arm 22 and friction plate
36 may rotate or be substantially fixed in position relative to
each other as further described below.
[0023] Brake 20 acts to provide an adjustable locking mechanism
whereby the shooter may easily make gross or fine elevational
adjustments to the shooting platform 10 in the vertical direction
by simply rotating and/or counter-rotating brake handle 30 about
brake piston 32. Both brake handle 30 and brake piston 32 are
partially or completely threaded 38 on one or both ends so that as
brake handle 30 is rotated by the shooter about brake piston the
rotation of the mated or meshed threads 38 causes brake piston 32
to rise, elongate or otherwise translate in an axial direction out
and away from brake handle 30. In the depicted embodiment, a
substantial interior portion of brake handle 30 is threaded and a
substantial exterior portion of brake piston 32 is threaded to
accept the threaded portion of brake handle 30.
[0024] In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 4A and 4B, brake handle
30 and links 34 may be partially or completely threaded across
their external and/or internal axial lengths as desired or
substantially threaded on both corresponding ends as shown. By
threading both ends of brake handle 30 and links 34, the brake
handle 30 may be rotated so as to produce substantially
simultaneous extension or refraction of each link 34 from or into
brake handle 30 resulting in a doubling of the rate of expulsion or
refraction of links 34 from brake handle 30 and the corresponding
rate of control arm locking or unlocking and, in turn, requiring
less rotation of brake handle 30 by the shooter for locking or
unlocking the hinge block 18, brake 20, and rear control arm
assembly.
[0025] In the depicted embodiment, portions of the distal ends of
brake handle 30 and links 34 include counter-meshing threads 38.
Links 34 are connected to, or may be preformed, as part of friction
plates 36a as shown. As brake handle 30 is rotated to inhibit
change in the vertical pitch of the shooting platform, links 34 are
drawn into the interior of brake handle 30 and encounter the
opposite distal ends of brake handle 30. This results in a friction
connection between brake handle 30 and friction plates 36
inhibiting further rotational movement of brake handle 30 about
links 34 and locking the shooting platform into the desired
alignment on the desired target. If minute adjustments need to be
made in the alignment of the shooting platform 60, the shooter may
make fine adjustments in alignment of the shooting platform by
rotating or counter-rotating brake handle 30 in small increments
and reorienting the alignment of the shooting platform by the
shooter pushing, pulling or by other bodily movement imparted to
the shooting platform or the weapon secured in the shooting
platform until the desired alignment is achieved. In one
embodiment, rubber washers, grommets or cushioned pads, grommets or
washers may be positioned inside the peripheral circumference of
friction plates 36a so as to provide a variable friction surface
that provides variable resistive frictional force sufficient to
retard movement of brake handle 30 unless the shooter imparts
sufficient rotational or counter-rotational force to overcome the
resistive frictional force existing between brake handle 30 and
friction plates 36a.
[0026] FIG. 5 depicts an embodiment of the shooting platform 10
mounted to an extension arm assembly that may be fixed to any
stable structural component such as a wall, column, post or pole.
As depicted, a firearm 2 is placed and rests in the saddle portion
of shooting platform 10. Shooting platform 10 is detachably secured
to a swivel unit 40 that is connected to extension arm 52.
Extension arms 50, 52 are connected via arm swivel 54 with the
distal end of extension arm 50 connected to swivel mount 56. Swivel
mount 56 may be permanently or detachably secured to a stable
structure such as a wall in a dwelling, inside of a hunting blind,
or in any space from which a firearm is to be utilized.
[0027] In one example embodiment, swivel mount 56 is secured to a
wall in a hunting blind (not shown). Once secured to a stable
structural unit, the shooter may place firearm 2 into the saddle of
the shooting platform 10 then position and sight the firearm 2 into
the desired field of fire in the horizontal plane. The shooter may
then push the shooting platform 10 supporting firearm 2 into a
secure and safe position until the shooter is ready to fire the
firearm 2. When the shooter desires to fire the firearm 2, he or
she simply moves the shooting platform 10 into position and only
needs to make vertical pitch adjustments for sighting the weapon on
to the intended target. Such vertical pitch adjustments are easily
made by rotating or counter-rotating the brake handle (as
previously described herein) thereby allowing the shooter to
position and sight the firearm 2 on to the target in a quick and
accurate fashion. The shooter may simply discharge the firearm
without having the accuracy of the shot affected by the shooter's
reflexive or reactionary motion, as the recoil of the discharge is
substantially absorbed by the shooting platform 10. The user may
then either sight and prepare for another shot or stow the firearm
suspended by the extension arm assembly for later use.
[0028] FIG. 6A discloses an embodiment of shooting platform 60
wherein a twisting brake clamp mechanism is utilized to lock or
adjust the vertical orientation of the saddle as the brake handle
is rotated and counter-rotated. In the depicted embodiment, saddle
62 is a one-piece fabricated rigid body with a rear support 64 and
front support 66 attached at opposing rear support base 62a and
front support base 62b of saddle 62 as shown. Saddle 62 is
manufactured from a rigid material such as metal, wood, polymer or
other known natural or composite materials. Rear support 64 and
front support 66 are secured to saddle 62 at rear support base 62a
and front support base 62b as shown with commonly known fasteners
66a,64a (shown in FIG. 6B) such as bolts, pins, rivets or other
known materials in the art. Saddle 62 is secured to clamp brake 74
with bolts 70 or other connectors as known in the art. Brake handle
72 is connected to clamp brake 74 via thread connectors as known in
the art. Dowel rod 78 is shown secured or otherwise fixed to
support mount 68 as described in detail in below.
[0029] Turning to FIG. 6B, shooting platform 60 is shown from a
lower perspective where clamp brake 74 is shown in rotatable
mechanical connection by dowel rod 78 to support mount 68. Clamp
brake 74 is generally square or rectangular in shape with a section
of material (shown at 74a) removed from one side of the clamp brake
(creating opposing sides of a portion of brake clamp 74) as shown
so that actuation of the brake handle 72, which is threaded into
the clamp brake in a threaded orifice 74b allows the clamp brake to
increase or decrease the force clamp brake 72 exerted on dowel rod
78 in effect drawing the opposing sides closer or further apart
about dowel rod 78 as brake handle 72 is rotated or
counter-rotated. Clamp brake 74 includes an orifice (not shown)
through which dowel rod 78 passes through clamp brake 74 and into
support mount 68 where it is secured by a circumferential flange or
enlarged circumferential head on one end of dowel rod 78 (not
shown). Dowel rod 78 is restricted from rotation about the
longitudinal axis of dowel as dowel rod 78 is fixed in support
mount 68. Dowel rod 78 is secured to the exterior side surface of
clamp brake 74 by threaded connection between dowel rod 78 and into
which screw 80 is inserted and supported by cap 76 resting against
clamp brake 74. Support mount 68 with attach points 68a is provided
to allow the operator to easily attach or detach the shooting
platform from a swivel mount or extension arm assembly as described
herein. Alternatively, support mount 68 may be attached to a
structure, vehicle or other fixed or movable support as desired by
the user.
[0030] As depicted, the user rotates brake handle 72 to unlock the
compressive force imparted by clamp brake 74 about the dowel rod 78
which allows the user to adjust the pitch elevation of the cradle
62. Once the user orients the cradle 62 at the desired pitch angle,
the user counter-rotates brake handle 72 resulting in the placement
of sufficient compressive force imparted by clamp brake 74 on dowel
rod 78. The user may adjust the compressive force placed on dowel
rod 78 by gradual rotation or counter-rotation of brake handle 72
sufficient to completely immobilize, allow partial movement or
allow free movement of the cradle 62 in the vertical direction as
desired by the user. The stabilization platform is easily
deconstructed into its various compenents for storage and transport
and can easily be reassembled for use in the field.
[0031] Illustrative embodiments have been described herein and it
will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above
apparatus and methods may incorporate changes and modifications
without departing from the general scope of the disclosed
invention. It is intended to include all such changes and
modifications within the scope of the present invention.
* * * * *