U.S. patent application number 14/833469 was filed with the patent office on 2015-12-10 for shooting rests for supporting firearms.
The applicant listed for this patent is Battenfeld Technologies, Inc.. Invention is credited to Dennis Cauley, Tim Morrow, Larry Potterfield, Russell A. Potterfield, Robert Joseph Zara.
Application Number | 20150354913 14/833469 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42736249 |
Filed Date | 2015-12-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150354913 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Morrow; Tim ; et
al. |
December 10, 2015 |
SHOOTING RESTS FOR SUPPORTING FIREARMS
Abstract
One aspect of the invention is directed to shooting rests for
supporting a firearm having a first portion and a second portion
rearward of the first portion. In one embodiment, a shooting rest
includes a frame, a front support for supporting the first portion
of the firearm, a support member for carrying one or more weights,
and a stop for inhibiting rearward movement of the firearm relative
to the shooting rest. The front support is coupled to the frame,
and the support member is positioned at least proximate to the
frame. The stop includes a flexible portion and is also coupled to
the frame.
Inventors: |
Morrow; Tim; (Jefferson
City, MO) ; Potterfield; Larry; (Columbia, MO)
; Potterfield; Russell A.; (Columbia, MO) ; Zara;
Robert Joseph; (Rocheport, MO) ; Cauley; Dennis;
(Boonville, MO) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Battenfeld Technologies, Inc. |
Columbia |
MO |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
42736249 |
Appl. No.: |
14/833469 |
Filed: |
August 24, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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14146960 |
Jan 3, 2014 |
9151561 |
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14833469 |
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11431956 |
May 10, 2006 |
8621773 |
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14146960 |
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10865595 |
Jun 10, 2004 |
8011129 |
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11431956 |
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60478557 |
Jun 13, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
42/94 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41A 23/02 20130101;
F41A 23/16 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F41A 23/02 20060101
F41A023/02 |
Claims
1. A shooting rest for supporting a firearm having a first portion
and a second portion rearward of the first portion, the shooting
rest comprising: a frame; a front support for supporting the first
portion of the firearm, the front support being coupled to the
frame; a support member for carrying one or more weights, the
support member being positioned at least proximate to the frame;
and a stop for inhibiting rearward movement of the firearm relative
to the shooting rest, the stop including a flexible portion, the
stop being coupled to the frame.
2. The shooting rest of claim 1 wherein: the frame comprises an
upper horizontal section and a lower horizontal section; the front
support is movably coupled to the upper horizontal section of the
frame such that the front support can move in a direction generally
parallel to the upper horizontal section; and the shooting rest
further comprises a rear support for supporting the second portion
of the firearm.
3. The shooting rest of claim 1 wherein the stop comprises a
flexible strap.
4. The shooting rest of claim 1, further comprising a rear support
for supporting the second portion of the firearm, the rear support
being coupled to the frame.
5. The shooting rest of claim 1 wherein the stop further comprises
a pocket sized to receive a butt of the firearm.
6. The shooting rest of claim 1 wherein the support member
comprises a projection projecting from the frame.
7. The shooting rest of claim 1 wherein the support member
comprises a section of the frame configured to removably carry the
one or more weights.
8. The shooting rest of claim 1 wherein the support member
comprises a flexible strap.
9. The shooting rest of claim 1 wherein the support member is
detachably coupled to the frame.
10. A shooting rest for supporting a firearm having a rear portion
and a first portion forward of the rear portion, the shooting rest
comprising: a frame; a rear support coupled to the frame and
positioned to carry the rear portion of the firearm; a front
support movably coupled to the frame and positioned to carry the
first portion of the firearm, the front support being selectively
movable in a direction generally parallel to an axis defined by the
firearm; a support member proximate to the frame, the support
surface including a surface for carrying a removable weight; and an
inhibiting member coupled to the frame and configured to inhibit
rearward movement of the firearm relative to the rear support.
11. The shooting rest of claim 10 wherein the inhibiting member
comprises a clamping device positioned to releasably secure the
firearm.
12. The shooting rest of claim 10 wherein: the direction is a first
direction; and the front support includes a first portion attached
to the frame and a second portion movably coupled to the first
portion such that the second portion can move in a second direction
generally transverse to the first direction to adjust the
horizontal aim of the firearm.
13. The shooting rest of claim 10 wherein the inhibiting member
comprises a flexible strap configured to contact the rear portion
of the firearm.
14. The shooting rest of claim 10 wherein the support member is
detachably coupled to the frame.
15. The shooting rest of claim 10 wherein the support member
comprises a projection projecting from the frame.
16. The shooting rest of claim 10 wherein: the frame comprises an
upper horizontal section and a lower horizontal section; and the
support member is attached to the upper horizontal section.
17. A shooting rest for supporting a firearm having a first portion
and a second portion rearward of the first portion, the shooting
rest comprising: a front support for supporting the first portion
of the firearm; a rear support for supporting the second portion of
the firearm, the rear support being disconnected with the front
support; a support member for carrying a supplemental weight, the
support member being coupled to the rear support; and a stop for
inhibiting rearward movement of the firearm relative to the
shooting rest, the stop being coupled to the rear support.
18. The shooting rest of claim 17, further comprising a frame
coupling the rear support to the support member, wherein the
support member comprises a tray.
19. The shooting rest of claim 17, further comprising a frame
coupling the rear support to the support member, wherein the
support member comprises a projection projecting from the
frame.
20. The shooting rest of claim 17 wherein the stop comprises a
rigid member positioned to be adjacent to the second portion of the
firearm.
21. The shooting rest of claim 17 wherein the stop comprises a
flexible member positioned to be adjacent to the second portion of
the firearm.
22. The shooting rest of claim 17, further comprising: a first
frame coupling the rear support to the support member; and a second
frame attached to the front support; wherein the first frame is
disconnected from the second frame.
23. A shooting rest for supporting a firearm having a first portion
and a second portion rearward of the first portion, the shooting
rest comprising: a frame; a front support for supporting the first
portion of the firearm, the front support being coupled to the
frame; means for supporting a removable weight at least proximate
to the frame; and means for inhibiting rearward movement of the
firearm relative to the frame.
24. The shooting rest of claim 23 wherein the means for supporting
the removable weight comprise a projection projecting from the
frame.
25. The shooting rest of claim 23 wherein the means for supporting
the removable weight comprise a support member attached to the
frame.
26. The shooting rest of claim 23 wherein the means for supporting
the removable weight comprise a section of the frame configured to
carry the removable weight.
27. The shooting rest of claim 23 wherein the means for inhibiting
rearward movement comprise a flexible strap coupled to the
frame.
28. The shooting rest of claim 23 wherein the means for inhibiting
rearward movement comprise a clamping device for releasably
securing the firearm.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/865,595, filed on Jun. 10, 2004, which
claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.
60/478,557, filed Jun. 13, 2003, both of which are incorporated by
reference herein.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention is directed to shooting rests for
supporting firearms.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Firearm shooting sports are often associated with the
sometimes painful recoil that may result from shooting firearms.
Recoil from large caliber firearms can cause a shooter to flinch or
jerk the firearm trigger in anticipation of the shock to the
shooter's upper body. Flinching or jerking the trigger in
anticipation of recoil is a common negative factor in a shooter's
accuracy. Recoil can be described as the equal and opposite
reaction to the momentum of an ammunition cartridge's projectile
(e.g., bullet) and gunpowder charge upon firing of the cartridge.
This momentum is imparted to the firearm, causing it to travel in
the opposite direction of the fired bullet. The resulting recoil
energy of the firearm can be calculated using the following
equation derived from the Law of Conservation of Momentum:
Recoil Energy ( ft - lbs ) = ( Bullet Weight .times. Bullet
Velocity + 4700 .times. Gunpowder Weight ) 2 64.348 .times. Firearm
Weight ##EQU00001## [0004] Where 4700 is the velocity of the gases
generated by the burning gunpowder and 64.348 is a correction
factor for the acceleration of gravity.
[0005] As can be seen by the above equation, increasing the Firearm
Weight will result in a decreased Recoil Energy. As is common to
the art of firearm manufacture, large caliber, heavy recoiling
firearms are designed to be heavier in weight than small caliber,
low recoiling firearms for precisely this reason. The additional
weight has a dampening effect on the recoil felt by the
shooter.
[0006] To test the accuracy of a firearm, a shooter will commonly
shoot with the firearm placed atop a shooting rest, which in turn
is placed on a bench. The shooter then fires the firearm from a
sitting position behind the bench. This type of arrangement
minimizes the shooting errors caused by the inability of the human
body to hold a firearm perfectly steady and provides a steady,
accurate method of supporting a firearm while shooting. Shooting
from a bench has the drawback of subjecting the shooter to a higher
degree of "effective recoil." Actual recoil energy of the firearm
does not increase by shooting from a bench, but more of the recoil
energy is transferred to the shooter in a sitting position than in
a standing position. The standing position allows the entirety of
the shooter's body to flex and partially absorb the recoil energy.
In the sitting position, however, only the torso (i.e., shoulder to
waist) of the shooter is available to flex and absorb the recoil.
Because of the higher "effective recoil" when firing from a sitting
position, shooting a large caliber, heavy recoiling firearm from a
bench can create an unpleasant experience when firing more than a
few rounds. It is common for a shooter to fire upwards of twenty
rounds when zeroing, or sighting-in, especially in the case of
rifles and shotguns using telescopic sights.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a
recoil-reducing shooting rest with a rifle mounted in a firing
position.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a side view of the shooting rest of FIG. 1.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a top view of the shooting rest of FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a detailed section view of a portion of the
shooting rest taken along the plane including line 4-4 of FIG.
3.
[0011] FIG. 5 is a section view taken along the plane including
line 5-5 of FIG. 3.
[0012] FIG. 6 is a front isometric view of a shooting rest in
accordance with another embodiment of the invention.
[0013] FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of a shooting rest in
accordance with another embodiment of the invention.
[0014] FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of a shooting rest in
accordance with another embodiment of the invention.
[0015] FIG. 9 is a front isometric view of a shooting rest in
accordance with another embodiment of the invention.
[0016] FIG. 10 is a front isometric view of a shooting rest in
accordance with another embodiment of the invention.
[0017] FIG. 11 is a front isometric view of a shooting rest in
accordance with another embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
A. Overview
[0018] The following disclosure describes several embodiments of
shooting rests for supporting firearms. One feature of several
embodiments of the invention is that the shooting rests are
expected to reduce the recoil energy experienced by a shooter
without modifying the firearm. For example, the shooting rests in
these embodiments include a support member for carrying one or more
weights, which reduce the recoil. Specifically, when the firearm is
fired, the firearm and shooting rest can be considered as a single
unit subjected to the firearm's recoil energy. Mathematically, the
weight of the shooting rest can be added to the weight of the
firearm to yield a total Firearm Weight as used in the above-noted
Recoil Energy equation. Because the total Firearm Weight is
inversely proportional to recoil energy, adding more weight to the
shooting rest results in a corresponding reduction in recoil
energy.
[0019] One aspect of the invention is directed to shooting rests
for supporting a firearm having a first portion and a second
portion rearward of the first portion. In one embodiment, a
shooting rest includes a frame, a front support for supporting the
first portion of the firearm, a support member for carrying one or
more weights, and a stop for inhibiting rearward movement of the
firearm relative to the shooting rest. The front support is coupled
to the frame, and the support member is positioned at least
proximate to the frame. The stop includes a flexible portion and is
also coupled to the frame.
[0020] In another embodiment, a shooting rest includes a frame, a
rear support coupled to the frame and positioned to carry the rear
portion of the firearm, a front support movably coupled to the
frame and positioned to carry the first portion of the firearm, a
support member proximate to the frame, and an inhibiting member
coupled to the frame and configured to inhibit rearward movement of
the firearm relative to the rear support. The front support is
selectively movable in a direction generally parallel to an axis
defined by the firearm. The support surface includes a surface for
carrying a removable weight.
[0021] In another embodiment, a shooting rest includes a front
support for supporting the first portion of the firearm, a rear
support for supporting the second portion of the firearm, a support
member for carrying a supplemental weight, and a stop for
inhibiting rearward movement of the firearm relative to the
shooting rest. The rear support is disconnected from the front
support. The support member and the stop are coupled to the rear
support.
[0022] Specific details of several embodiments of the invention are
described below with reference to shooting rests for supporting
firearms. Although several of the figures illustrate particular
embodiments of shooting rests supporting rifles, those shooting
rests can also be configured to support other types of firearms
(e.g., shotguns). Several details describing well-known structures
or processes often associated with shooting rests and firearms are
not set forth in the following description for purposes of brevity
and clarity. Also, several other embodiments of the invention can
have different configurations, components, or procedures than those
described in this section. A person of ordinary skill in the art,
therefore, will accordingly understand that the invention may have
other embodiments with additional elements, or the invention may
have other embodiments without several of the elements shown and
described below with reference to FIGS. 1-11. Where the context
permits, singular or plural terms may also include the plural or
singular term, respectively. Moreover, unless the word "or" is
expressly limited to mean only a single item exclusive from other
items in reference to a list of at least two items, then the use of
"or" in such a list is to be interpreted as including (a) any
single item in the list, (b) all of the items in the list, or (c)
any combination of the items in the list. Additionally, the term
"comprising" is used throughout to mean including at least the
recited feature(s) such that any greater number of the same
features and/or other types of features and components are not
precluded.
B. Embodiments of Shooting Rests
[0023] FIGS. 1-3 illustrate one embodiment of a shooting rest 1
from varying angles with a firearm R (e.g., a rifle) placed atop
the unit in the shooting position. The illustrated shooting rest 1
includes four main subsystems, namely, a rear support 2, a front
support 3, a frame 4, and a support member or holder 5. The rear
support 2 supports a buttstock 6 of the firearm R and the front
support 3 supports the forend 7 of the firearm R. The frame 4
connects the rear support 2, front support 3, and holder 5 so that
the shooting rest 1 is a single, rigid unit.
[0024] In one embodiment, the frame 4 is constructed of steel
tubing and comprises a rear vertical section 13, a horizontal base
section 14, a front vertical section 17, and a horizontal support
member 24. The frame 4 provides a rigid infrastructure to the
shooting rest 1 by joining all the subsystems in a single unit. The
illustrated shooting rest 1 has three points of contact with a
bench or other flat surface but in other embodiments the shooting
rest may have more or less than three points of contact with the
bench. In the illustrated embodiment, a rear foot 25 is located on
the horizontal base section 14 of the frame 4, generally near the
rear of the shooting rest 1 and two front feet 23 are located
toward the outside edges of the holder 5. A three-point contact, or
tripod arrangement, provides a stable and self-leveling
configuration of the shooting rest 1. The front feet 23 and the
rear foot 25 provide a non-marring surface for contact of the
shooting rest 1 with the bench and may also provide a large
coefficient of friction between the shooting rest and the bench to
minimize movement of the shooting rest during firearm discharge.
The rear foot 25 can be threadably engaged to the horizontal base
section 14. The threaded engagement allows for elevation adjustment
for the rear portion of the shooting rest 1. The front feet 23 can
be attached to the holder 5 by conventional fasteners (e.g. sheet
metal screws not shown). In other embodiments, the frame 4 may have
a different configuration.
[0025] The rear support 2 carries the buttstock 6 and provides the
main transfer point of the recoil energy from the firearm R to the
frame 4 of the shooting rest 1. In the illustrated embodiment, the
rear support 2 includes of a buttstop 9, toe plate 10, and a recoil
shoulder pad 16. As seen in FIG. 4, the rifle buttstock 6 rests
atop the toe plate 10 with the rear surface of the buttstock,
called a buttplate 12, contacting the inside surface 15 of the
buttstop 9. In one embodiment, the buttstop 9 is formed from sheet
metal and has two side panels and a rear panel that contacts the
rear surface of the rifle buttstock 6. The buttstop 9 is rigidly
connected to the toe plate 10, the rear vertical section 13 of the
frame 4, and the horizontal support member 24 of the frame 4. In
one embodiment, the buttstop 9 and toe plate 10 are fixed to the
rear vertical section 13 and horizontal support member 24 of the
frame 4 by threaded fasteners (e.g., bolts 35 in FIG. 4). Firing
the firearm R will urge the firearm R to translate in a rearward
direction, as indicated by arrow A in FIG. 2. With the buttplate 12
in contact with the inside surface 15 of the buttstop 9, the recoil
energy of the firearm R will be transferred to the buttstop 9, and
therefore to the entire shooting rest 1. Moreover, the buttstop 9
inhibits rearward movement of the firearm R relative to the
shooting rest 1. The recoil pad 16 can comprise a resilient foam
pad attached (e.g., sewn) to a thin nylon sleeve 36 that fits over
the buttstop 9 to provide a soft, comfortable surface for the
shooter's shoulder (FIG. 4). The nylon sleeve 36 covers the inside
surface 15 of the buttstop 9 to provide a non-marring surface for
contact with the buttplate 12 of the firearm R. The rear support 2
can have a different configuration in other embodiments.
[0026] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, the illustrated front
support 3 functions as a vertically adjustable (elevation
adjustment) support for the firearm's forend 7. As shown in FIG. 5,
a cylindrical, threaded ram 19 is removably inserted into an open
end of the front vertical section 17 of the frame 4. A threaded
adjustment wheel 20 rests atop the end of the front vertical
section 17 of the frame 4 and is threadably engaged with the ram
19. Rotating the adjustment wheel 20 causes the ram 19 to translate
vertically in relation, to the front vertical section 17 of the
frame 4. A cradle 21 is rigidly joined to the top surface of the
ram 19. In one embodiment, the cradle 21 is a stamped sheet metal
platform that supports a bag 22 filled with sand, or other
particulate media, that is shaped to fit the typical contour of the
firearm's forend 7. When the adjustment wheel 20 is rotated, the
ram 19 moves vertically causing corresponding movement of the
cradle 21 to adjust the vertical position of the rifle forend 7 to
a desired position.
[0027] In one embodiment, the support member or holder 5 is formed
of sheet metal and is rigidly connected to the horizontal base
section 14 of the frame 4. Two holder support tubes 26 can be
attached to horizontal section 14 to add support and stability to
the holder 5 by preventing it from rotating about the horizontal
section 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the holder 5 has a
generally U-shaped cross-section with front and back lips 18 that
curve upward from a bottom surface 27 of the holder 5. The holder 5
provides a stable platform to receive weights 8 placed on the
shooting rest 1 by the shooter and a structure for the attachment
of the front feet 23 to the shooting rest 1. In other embodiments,
the holder 5 may comprise other structures for supporting the
weights 8 on the frame 4 or the weights may be attached directly to
the frame 4. In the illustrated embodiment, the weights 8 are in
the form of 25 lb. bags of lead shot due to their availability to a
typical marksman and ease of portability. However, other forms of
additional weight may be used. In the illustrated embodiment, the
holder 5 is designed to hold up to four bags of lead shot 8, but
only two bags are shown loaded on the holder. The lips 18 are sized
to prevent the bags of lead shot 8 from shifting during
discharge.
[0028] The subsystems of the shooting rest 1 may be joined via
bolted or welded connections, for example, to form a rigidly
constructed unit. In one embodiment, the shooting rest 1 can have a
weight of approximately 15 lbs., an overall length of approximately
25 inches and a height of approximately 13 inches the shooting rest
1. Thus, the shooting rest 1 may be portable.
[0029] The recoil-reducing aspect of the shooting rest 1 is created
by adding weight to the unit to increase resistance to the recoil
of the firearm. Recoil energy is reduced when, according to the Law
of Conservation of Momentum, the recoiling firearm encounters a
greater opposing weight than merely the weight of the firearm
alone. In the illustrated embodiment, the holder 5 supports this
opposing weight (e.g., four 25 lb. bags of lead shot 8), so that
the shooting rest 1 reduces recoil energy when the firearm R is
discharged. According to the Law of Conservation of Momentum,
written below in terms pertaining to the discussion, the Recoil
Energy of the firearm can be calculated from the following
equation:
Recoil Energy ( ft - lbs ) = ( Bullet Weight .times. Bullet
Velocity + 4700 .times. Gunpowder Weight ) 2 64.348 .times. Firearm
Weight ##EQU00002## [0030] Where 4700 is the velocity of the gases
generated by the burning gunpowder and 64.348 is a correction
factor for the acceleration of gravity.
[0031] Increasing the Firearm Weight in the above-stated formula
decreases the Recoil Energy. When the firearm is discharged, the
firearm and the shooting rest 1 can be considered as a single unit
subjected to the firearm's recoil. Mathematically, the weight of
the shooting rest 1 can be added to the weight of the firearm R to
yield a total Firearm Weight as used in the Recoil Energy equation.
The more weight added to the rest 1, the higher the reduction in
recoil. The illustrated holder 5 is designed to accept up to four
25 lb. bags of lead shot 8 but other types of weights could be used
to increase the weight of the shooting rest 1. Twenty-five lb. bags
of shot 8 are commonly available to the typical shooter and provide
an easily portable system of weight addition for the shooting rest.
In several applications, the recoil energy of a firearm can be
reduced by up to 90% by adding weight to the shooting rest 1. The
amount of weight needed to provide a certain percentage of recoil
reduction is dependant on the caliber and size of the firearm used
on the shooting rest 1.
[0032] In one embodiment of a method for operating the illustrated
shooting rest 1, the shooter performs the following steps: [0033]
1) Place the shooting rest 1 on top of a relatively flat table or
bench; [0034] 2) Place weights 8 on the holder 5 of the shooting
rest 1; [0035] 3) Place the firearm R atop the shooting rest 1 in
such a manner that the buttstock 6 of the firearm rests in the rear
support 2 and the front support 3 cradles the forend 7 of the
firearm; [0036] 4) Optionally adjust the vertical elevation of the
front Support 3 and/or the rear foot 25 and/or make elevation
sighting adjustments of the firearm R; [0037] 5) Sit behind the
shooting rest 1 and firearm R with the rear support 2 of the
shooting rest 1 close to the shooter. The shooting rest 1 may be
oriented such that an imaginary line connecting the rear and front
supports 2 and 3 is generally perpendicular to an imaginary line
connecting the shooter's shoulders; [0038] 6) Place a shoulder
against the shoulder rest 16 attached to the rear support 2; [0039]
7) Place both hands on the firearm R in a comfortable shooting
position; [0040] 8) Pull the buttstock 6 of the firearm R towards
the shoulder so as to make contact with the inside surface 15 of
the rear support 2; [0041] 9) Fire or discharge the firearm R;
[0042] 10) Discharge of the firearm R will cause the firearm to
translate linearly, or recoil, in a rearward direction; [0043] 11)
With the recoiling firearm R in firm contact with the rear support
2, the recoil energy of the firearm is transferred to the shooting
rest 1; [0044] 12) The shooting rest 1 translates linearly, or
recoils, in a rearward direction. Due to the resistance offered by
the weights 8 added to the shooting rest, the shooting rest will
recoil with a significantly reduced velocity and energy than the
firearm alone; and [0045] 13) With the shooter in firm contact with
the shooting rest 1 the shooter's upper body will in turn absorb
the reduced recoil energy of the shooting rest.
[0046] With respect to the embodiment of the shooting rest 1
described above, various changes could be made in the above
construction. For example, the frame 4 may comprise materials other
than steel tubing. Also, the holder 5 may be an integral part of
the frame 4 or the holder may be eliminated so that the weights 8
are supported directly on the frame. Further, the weights 8 could
be separate components attached to the frame 4 or the weights may
be integral with the frame so that the weight of the shooting rest
1 is increased and the recoil energy transferred to a shooter is
decreased.
C. Additional Embodiments of Shooting Rests
[0047] FIG. 6 is a front isometric view of a shooting rest 100 in
accordance with another embodiment of the invention. The shooting
rest 100 is generally similar to the shooting rest 1 described
above with reference to FIGS. 1-5. For example, the shooting rest
100 includes a rear support 2 for carrying the buttstock 6 of the
firearm R, a front support 3 for carrying the forend 7 of the
firearm R, and a frame 104 for connecting the rear and front
supports 2 and 3. The illustrated frame 104, however, does not
include a support member attached to the first horizontal section
14. Rather, the frame 104 includes two legs 114 (identified
individually as 114a-b) projecting from the first horizontal
section 14 and two front feet 23 attached to corresponding legs
114. The legs 114 and the front feet 23 provide stability to the
shooting rest 100. In other embodiments, the rear and/or front
support 2 and/or 3 can have a different configuration. For example,
the rear and/or front support 2 and/or 3 can have a clamping
mechanism that selectively grasps or clamps the firearm R to
inhibit rearward movement of the firearm R during discharge. In one
such embodiment, the clamping mechanism can include two clamping
members that selectively move toward each other and exert opposing
forces on the firearm R to selectively secure the firearm R in a
desired position for discharge.
[0048] The illustrated shooting rest 100 further includes a support
member 105 attached to the second horizontal section 24 with a
plurality of connectors 126. The illustrated support member 105 is
a tray or plate having an upper surface 107 for supporting a
plurality of removable weights 108. The weights 108 may rest on the
surface 107 detached from the support member 105 or the weights 108
can be attached to the support member 105 with straps, Velcro.RTM.,
or other fasteners. Although the illustrated support member 105 is
a generally flat member, in other embodiments the support member
may include one or more lips, recesses, protrusions, and/or other
features for retaining the weights 108 on the support member 105
during discharge of the firearm R. For example, the support member
105 can be a tray, basket, or rack for carrying the removable
weights 108. In additional embodiments, the support member 105 may
not be positioned between the first and second horizontal sections
14 and 24, but rather the support member 105 can be positioned
between the second horizontal section 24 and the firearm R.
Alternatively, in other embodiments, the support member 105 can be
attached to the first horizontal section 14 in lieu of the second
horizontal section 24.
[0049] The connectors 126 couple the support member 105 to the
second horizontal section 24. The illustrated connectors 126 are
discrete and separate members that are attached to the second
horizontal section 24 and the support member 105 with a plurality
of fasteners 140 (e.g., screws, bolts, or pins). In other
embodiments, the connectors 126 can be an integral part of the
support member 105 or the frame 104. The connectors 126 can be
flexible members or rigid members (e.g., sections of steel tubing).
For example, the connectors 126 can include a strap, rope, cord,
belt, and/or other suitable flexible member for coupling the
support member 105 to the frame 104. In additional embodiments, the
shooting rest 100 may not include the connectors 126. For example,
the support member 105 may be a flexible member (e.g., a strap,
rope, cord, or belt) configured to wrap around the second
horizontal section 24 and support one or more weights. In one such
embodiment, the weight may include a through hole through which the
flexible support member is received to removably couple the weight
to the frame.
[0050] FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a shooting rest 200 in
accordance with another embodiment of the invention. The shooting
rest 200 is generally similar to the shooting rest 100 described
above with reference FIG. 6. For example, the shooting rest 200
includes a front support 3 for carrying the forend 7 of the firearm
R, a frame 204 for supporting the front support 3, and a support
member 205 for carrying one or more removable weights (not shown).
The illustrated frame 204 includes a front vertical section 17
attached to the front support 3 and a horizontal section 214
projecting from the front vertical section 17 opposite the front
support 3. The illustrated support member 205 includes a horizontal
portion 206a attached to the vertical section 17 of the frame 204
and a vertical portion 206b attached to the horizontal section 214
of the frame 204. The horizontal portion 206a has a plurality of
recessed surfaces 207 for supporting removable weights during
discharge. The contour of the individual recessed surfaces 207 can
correspond to the contour of the weights, and the recessed surfaces
207 can be sized and configured to retain the weights during
discharge. For example, the width of the horizontal portion 206a at
the recessed surfaces 207 can be greater than the width of the
horizontal portion 206a at other sections. In other embodiments,
the support member 205 can have a different configuration for
carrying one or more removable weights. For example, the support
member 205 can include a plurality of protrusions, bosses, hooks,
wings, and/or other devices for interfacing with the weights.
[0051] The illustrated shooting rest 200 further includes a
flexible member 250 for inhibiting rearward movement of the firearm
R during discharge. The illustrated flexible member 250 includes a
first portion 252a extending between the support member 205 and the
buttstock 6 of the firearm R and a second portion 252b extending
around the buttstock 6 in a direction generally transverse to the
first portion 252a. The flexible member 250 can be a strap, cord,
belt, or other flexible member that is selectively attached to the
buttstock 6 of the firearm R. In other embodiments, the flexible
member 250 can have a different configuration. For example, the
flexible member 250 can include a pocket into which at least a
portion of the buttstock 6 of the firearm R can be received. In
either case, the flexible member 250 inhibits rearward movement of
the firearm R during discharge. Although the illustrated shooting
rest 200 does not include a rear support for carrying the buttstock
6 of the firearm R, in other embodiments the shooting rest may
include a rear support.
[0052] FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of a shooting rest 300 in
accordance with another embodiment of the invention. The
illustrated shooting rest 300 includes a rear portion 301a and a
front portion 301b spaced apart and disconnected from the rear
portion 301a. The rear portion 301a includes a rear support 2 for
carrying the buttstock 6 of the firearm R, a first frame 304a for
supporting the rear support 2, and a support member 305 for
carrying one or more removable weights. The first frame 304a
includes a vertical section 313 attached to the rear support 2 and
a horizontal section 314 projecting from the vertical section 313
opposite the rear support 2. The support member 305 is attached to
the horizontal section 314 and positioned so that a shooter can
place one or more weights on the support member 305. The support
member 305 can be a tray, plate, basket, or other suitable member
for carrying the weights. The illustrated support member 305 is a
plate having upward extending ends 318 to prevent the weights from
falling off the support member 305 during discharge. The rear
portion 301a may further include one or more front feet 23 attached
to the support member 305 and a rear foot 25 attached to the first
frame 304a for increasing stability.
[0053] The front portion 301b of the shooting rest 300 includes a
front support 3 for carrying the forend 7 of the firearm R and a
second frame 304b for supporting the front support 3. The second
frame 304b includes a plurality of legs 360 for providing stability
to the front portion 301b. In additional embodiments, the front
support 3 can include a clamping device to inhibit rearward
movement of the firearm R during discharge, and/or the front
portion 301b may include the support member 305. In other
embodiments, the shooting rest 300 may not include the rear or
front portion 301a or 301b.
[0054] FIG. 9 is a front isometric view of a shooting rest 400 in
accordance with another embodiment of the invention. The
illustrated shooting rest 400 is generally similar to the shooting
rest 100 described above with reference to FIG. 6. For example, the
illustrated shooting rest 400 includes a rear support 402 for
carrying a rear portion of a firearm, a front support 403 for
carrying a forward portion of the firearm, a frame 404 extending
between the rear and front supports 402 and 403, and a support
member 405 for carrying one or more removable weights. The
illustrated frame 404 includes a rear vertical section 413 attached
to the rear support 402, a lower horizontal section 414 projecting
from the rear vertical section 413, a front vertical section 417
projecting from the lower horizontal section 414, and first and
second upper horizontal sections 424a-b extending between the front
vertical section 417 and the rear vertical section 413. In the
illustrated embodiment, the rear vertical section 413, the lower
horizontal portion 414, the front vertical section 417 are integral
sections of a single member, and the first and second upper
horizontal sections 424a-b are separate members attached to the
rear and front vertical sections 413 and 417. In other embodiments,
however, the frame 404 can have a different configuration.
[0055] The illustrated rear support 402 includes a horizontal wall
450, two side walls 452 projecting upward from the horizontal wall
450, and a vertical wall 454 projecting upward from the horizontal
wall 450 and extending between the two side walls 452. The
horizontal, side, and vertical walls 450, 452, and 454 define a
pocket sized to receive an aft portion of a firearm. The
horizontal, side, and/or vertical wall 450, 452, and/or 454 can be
rigid panels. As such, the horizontal wall 450 is positioned to
support the weight of the aft portion of the firearm; the side
walls 452 are positioned to prevent the aft portion of the firearm
from sliding off the horizontal wall 450; and the vertical wall 454
is positioned to inhibit rearward movement of the firearm during
discharge. In the illustrated embodiment, the rear support 402
further includes a sleeve 455 placed over the horizontal, side, and
vertical walls 450, 452, and 454. In other embodiments, the rear
support 402 can have a different configuration.
[0056] The illustrated front support 403 includes a base 470, a
cradle 421 carried by the base 470, and a bag 422 carried by the
cradle 421. The illustrated base 470 includes a plate 472 and a
securing member 474 attached to the plate 472. The plate 472 is
positioned over the first and second upper horizontal sections
424a-b. The securing member 474 includes a first portion 475a
positioned under the first and second upper horizontal sections
424a-b and end portions 475b projecting from the first portion 475a
toward the plate 472. The plate 472 and the securing member 474
connect the front support 403 to the first and second upper
horizontal sections 424a-b such that the front support 403 can
slide along the upper horizontal sections 424 in a direction
D.sub.1. As a result, the distance between the front support 403
and the rear support 402 can be changed to accommodate firearms
with different lengths and/or configurations. In additional
embodiments, the front support 403 may not be slidably coupled to
the first and second upper horizontal sections 424a-b.
[0057] The base 470 may also include a first locking mechanism 478
(only a portion of which is shown in FIG. 9) for selectively
inhibiting movement of the base 470 along the first and second
upper horizontal sections 424a-b in the direction D.sub.1. The
first locking mechanism 478 may include a stop or other device for
contacting the first and/or second upper horizontal sections 424a-b
to inhibit relative movement between the base 470 and the upper
horizontal sections 424. The illustrated first locking mechanism
includes a handle 480 configured such that a shooter can pivot the
handle (a) downward to selectively lock the base 470 in a specific
position, and (b) upward to enable the base 470 to move in the
direction D.sub.1.
[0058] The illustrated base 470 further includes a height
adjustment mechanism 482 for adjusting the elevation of the cradle
421 and the vertical aim of the firearm. The height adjustment
mechanism 482 includes a handle 484 and a hub 485 with a threaded
hole (not shown) operably coupled to the handle 484. The threaded
hole is positioned to interact with a threaded shaft (not shown) of
the cradle 421. As such, a shooter can rotate the handle 484 to
pivot the hub 485 about an axis A-A, which drives the threaded
shaft and cradle 421 upward or downward along the axis A-A. The
base 470 may also include a second locking mechanism (only a
portion of which is shown in FIG. 9) for inhibiting vertical
movement of the cradle 421 along the axis A-A. The illustrated
second locking mechanism includes a handle 486 for enabling a
shooter to lock the cradle 421 in a specific position at a
particular elevation. In other embodiments, the cradle 421 may not
be movable along the axis A-A.
[0059] The illustrated cradle 421 includes a first portion 488
attached to the base 470, a second portion 490 moveably attached to
the first portion 488, and a driving mechanism (only a portion of
which is shown in FIG. 9) attached to the first and second portions
488 and 490 for moving the second portion 490 relative to the first
portion 488. The driving mechanism includes a handle 492 that
allows a shooter to move the second portion 490 laterally in a
direction D.sub.2 relative to the first portion 488. The driving
mechanism accordingly enables a shooter to adjust the position of
the second portion 490 and the horizontal aim of the firearm.
[0060] The support member 405 in the illustrated embodiment is
attached to the lower horizontal section 414 of the frame 404 and
configured to carry at least one removable weight. Although the
support member 405 is attached to the lower horizontal section 414
proximate to the forward vertical section 417, in other embodiments
the support member 405 can be attached to an aft portion of the
frame 404. The illustrated support member 405 is a tray having
front and rear lips 418a-b for preventing the weights from falling
off the support member 405 during discharge. The support member 405
may further include a raised portion 407 extending laterally across
the support member 405 in a direction generally parallel to the
front and rear lips 418a-b. The raised portion 407 inhibits the
weights from moving on the support member 405 during recoil. In
additional embodiments, the support member 405 can have a different
configuration. For example, the support member can be a reservoir
configured to receive water, sand, lead shot, pellet-like material,
and/or other material for adding weight to the shooting rest. In
other embodiments, portions of the frame 404 can function as the
support member. For example, the frame may include an opening
configured to receive water, sand, lead shot, pellet-like material,
and/or other material for adding weight to the shooting rest.
[0061] The illustrated shooting rest 400 further includes an angle
adjustment mechanism 460 attached to the frame 404 and a rear foot
425 attached to the angle adjustment mechanism 460. The angle
adjustment mechanism 460 can include a threaded hole; and the rear
foot 425 can include a threaded shaft that projects through a hole
in the lower horizontal section 414 and is received in the threaded
hole of the angle adjustment mechanism 460. As a result, a shooter
can pivot the angle adjustment mechanism 460 about an axis B-B to
drive the rear foot 425 upward or downward in a direction D.sub.3
to adjust the elevation of the frame 404 and the vertical aim of
the firearm. In other embodiments, the shooting rest 400 may not
include the angle adjustment mechanism 460 and/or the rear foot
425.
[0062] FIG. 10 is a front isometric view of a shooting rest 500 in
accordance with another embodiment of the invention. The
illustrated shooting rest 500 is generally similar to the shooting
rest 400 described above with reference to FIG. 9. For example, the
shooting rest 500 includes a rear support 402, a front support 403,
a frame 404 connecting the rear and front supports 402 and 403, and
a support member 505 attached to the frame 404. The illustrated
support member 505, however, projects from the lower horizontal
section 414 of the frame 404 in a direction generally parallel to
the axis A-A. The support member 505 can be an integral part of the
frame 404 or a separate component attached to the frame 404. The
support member 505 is configured to be received within an aperture
of a removable weight W (shown in broken lines) to secure the
weight W to the frame 404. In other embodiments, the support member
505 may interact with and/or engage a removable weight having a
different configuration such that the support member 505 releasably
secures the weight W to the frame 404. In additional embodiments,
the shooting rest 500 may include multiple support members 505
projecting from the lower horizontal section 414 and/or other
portions of the frame 404. For example, in one such embodiment, the
support members can project from the legs 114a-b of the frame 414
or the legs 114a-b can include a section for receiving the weights
W.
[0063] FIG. 11 is a front isometric view of a shooting rest 600 in
accordance with another embodiment of the invention. The
illustrated shooting rest 600 is generally similar to the shooting
rest 400 described above with reference to FIG. 9. For example, the
shooting rest 600 includes a rear support 602, a front support 403,
a frame 404 connecting the rear and front supports 602 and 403, and
a support member 405 attached to the frame 404. The illustrated
rear support 602, however, includes a plate 650 attached to the
frame 404, a bag 652 attached to the plate 650, and a strap 656
attached to the plate 650, bag 652, and/or frame 404. The bag 652
can be generally similar to the bag 422 of the front support 403.
For example, the bag 652 can have a support surface 654 with a
V-shape configuration for supporting the buttstock of a firearm.
The strap 656 is configured to wrap around the buttstock of the
firearm and inhibit rearward motion of the firearm during
discharge. The illustrated strap 656 includes two end portions
658a-b attached to the plate 650, bag 652, and/or frame 404 and an
intermediate section 659 between the end portions 658a-b. The
intermediate portion 659 is positioned to contact the butt of the
firearm. In other embodiments, the shooting rest 600 may include
multiple straps that extend between the frame 404 and the firearm
to inhibit movement of the firearm during discharge. For example,
the shooting rest 600 may include one or more straps coupled to the
swivel stud, scope base, and/or firearm wrist.
[0064] From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific
embodiments of the invention have been described herein for
purposes of illustration, but that various modifications may be
made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention.
For example, many of the elements of one embodiment can be combined
with other embodiments in addition to or in lieu of the elements of
the other embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not limited
except as by the appended claims.
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