U.S. patent application number 17/325836 was filed with the patent office on 2021-09-09 for support.
The applicant listed for this patent is Spartan Boss Ltd. Invention is credited to Robert David GEARING.
Application Number | 20210278161 17/325836 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005635166 |
Filed Date | 2021-09-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210278161 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
GEARING; Robert David |
September 9, 2021 |
SUPPORT
Abstract
This invention relates to the field of firearms, and in
particular, though not exclusively to a support for a firearm. One
aspect provides a support for a firearm for supporting the firearm
above a surface, the support comprising a support body and at least
two surface-engaging support legs, the support further comprising a
projection which is received within a recess defined by a
connection element attached to or integral with the firearm to
longitudinally restrain the firearm with respect to the support, in
which the support further comprises a ball detent mechanism, the
ball detent mechanism including at least one ball which is biased
to engage a further recess defined by the connection element
attached to or integral with the firearm, the ball detent mechanism
being operated by a release mechanism to withdraw the said at least
one ball from the further recess, and in which the release
mechanism comprises a user grippable element which extends below
the projection.
Inventors: |
GEARING; Robert David;
(Hartfield, GB) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Spartan Boss Ltd |
Horsham |
|
GB |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005635166 |
Appl. No.: |
17/325836 |
Filed: |
May 20, 2021 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41A 23/08 20130101;
F41A 23/56 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F41A 23/08 20060101
F41A023/08; F41A 23/56 20060101 F41A023/56 |
Claims
1. A support for a firearm for supporting the firearm above a
surface, the support comprising a support body and at least two
surface-engaging support legs, the support further comprising a
projection which is received within a recess defined by a
connection element attached to or integral with the firearm to
longitudinally restrain the firearm with respect to the support, in
which the support further comprises a ball detent mechanism, the
ball detent mechanism including at least one ball which is biased
to engage a further recess defined by the connection element
attached to or integral with the firearm, the ball detent mechanism
being operated by a release mechanism to withdraw the said at least
one ball from the further recess, and in which the release
mechanism comprises a user grippable element which extends below
the projection.
2. A support for a firearm according to claim 1, in which the
release mechanism is operated by a downward movement to withdraw
the said at least one ball from the or each further recess.
3. A support for a firearm according to claim 1 in which the or
each further recess is part-spherical whereby a ball is held
laterally in such a part-spherical recess.
4. A support for a firearm according to claim 3 in which a
plurality of further part-spherical recesses is provided whereby
each associated ball of the ball detent mechanism is held laterally
in each of such part spherical recesses.
5. A support for a firearm according to claim 1 in which the or
each further recess is an elongate groove whereby a ball of the
ball detent mechanism is able to move along such an elongate
groove.
6. A support for a firearm according to claim 1 in which the user
grippable element of the release mechanism includes a user
grippable collar.
7. A support for a firearm according to claim 6 in which the collar
extends about the projection and can be moved downwardly by a user
to retract the ball detent mechanism to release the support from a
connected firearm.
8. A combination comprising a firearm, and the support for a
firearm according to claim 1.
9. A combination according to claim 8, in which the firearm is
formed to define a connection element in the bottom portion of the
fore stock of the firearm to receive the projection of the support
to permit connection of the support to the firearm.
10. A combination according to claim 8, in which the firearm has an
attached interconnection element which defines a recess formed in
the bottom portion of the fore stock of the firearm to receive the
projection of the support to connect the support to the
firearm.
11. A connection comprising a firearm connected to a support for a
firearm according to claim 1.
12. A connection according to claim 11 in which the support can be
detached from the firearm by downward movement of the release
mechanism of the support, to permit disengagement of the ball
detent mechanism from the connection element.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to the field of firearms, and in
particular, though not exclusively to a support for a firearm.
BACKGROUND
[0002] A variety of supports are used for firearms including
monopods, bipods, and tripods, as well as other supports like quad
sticks. In relation to bipods, some designs such as the Harris
bipod of U.S. Pat. No. 4,625,620, are semi-permanently mounted on
the firearm. The applicant has developed a successful range of
lightweight hunting bipods and tripods which can be rapidly
connected to a firearm when needed to support the firearm, or
detached from the firearm, when not needed. One bipod or tripod can
be used with a range of firearms. See for example
US2015/0204479.
[0003] An object of the invention may be to provide an alternative
means for attaching a support for a firearm.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a
support, such as a bipod or tripod for a firearm according to claim
1. Preferably the support is a bipod. Some preferred features of
the support are set out in claims 2 to 7.
[0005] The support may be advantageous in that it can be quickly
attached to a firearm when needed or quickly disconnected from the
firearm when not needed. In particular, the release mechanism may
be operated by a user pulling down (or up according to the
mechanism) on a locking collar to release the balls of the ball
detent i.e., to unlock the ball detent's mechanism and so
permitting easy connection or disconnection of the support and
firearm. An element defining the recess and/or projection may be
provided with a magnet which attracts the other of the element and
projection to enhance insertion of the projection into the
recess.
[0006] According to another aspect of the invention there is
provided a combination of a support, such as a bipod or tripod, for
a firearm according to the invention and a firearm according to
claim 8. Some preferred features of the combination are set out in
claims 9 to 12. For example, the firearm of claim 8 may be that of
claim 1.
[0007] In the context of the invention, the term "firearm"
typically refers to a gun such as a rifle which may be rested on a
support to improve shooting accuracy.
[0008] In the context of the invention, the term "ball detent"
includes similar mechanisms including biased elements which may not
be spherical, which engage with correspondingly shaped recesses to
lock and disengage from those recesses to unlock.
[0009] In the context of the invention, references to directions,
such as "downward", refer to the normal orientation of the item
referred to in normal use. For example, in the context of a firearm
supported above a horizontal surface by a bipod in accordance with
the invention, "downward" means towards the surface.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] Supports in accordance with the disclosure and combinations
of such supports with firearms will now be described, by way of
example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, FIGS. 1
to 8 in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bipod in accordance with
the invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a detail perspective view of the bipod of FIG. 1
and a connection element in a disconnected condition;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a transverse cross section of a portion of the
bipod and connection element of FIG. 2 in a connected and locked
condition;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a transverse cross section of a portion of the
bipod and connection element of FIG. 2 in a connected and unlocked
condition;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the bipod of FIG. 1
connected to a firearm;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a combination of a bipod of
FIG. 1 and a firearm in an unconnected condition;
[0017] FIG. 7 is a detail perspective view of the bipod of FIG. 1
disconnected from a firearm; and
[0018] FIG. 8 is a detail perspective view of the bipod of FIG. 1
connected to a firearm.
DESCRIPTION
[0019] The bipod 10 shown in FIG. 1 comprises an aluminium support
body 12 and carbon fibre legs 14 and 16 which depend therefrom. The
legs 14, 16 are of conventional tubular construction and are
pivotally connected to the support body so that they can be brought
together in a convenient carrying condition or splayed apart in the
deployed condition shown in FIG. 1. A cylindrical projection 17
extends above the support body 12. The projection 17 is tubular.
The projection 17 houses a ball detent mechanism including balls
B1, B2, B3, and B4 (obscured) and a ball detent release mechanism
comprising annular knurled collar 18 which fits about the
projection 17, spring 19 and locking rod LR (both of which latter
elements are obscured in FIG. 1). The bipod projection 17 is shaped
to be received within a connection element 20 which is fitted onto,
or integral with or otherwise defined by, a firearm. The tubular
connection element 20 defines a cylindrical recess 22 which is
sized to receive the projection 17, the inner surface of the
connector defining hemispherical recesses H1, H2, H3, and H4 which
are sized to receive the balls B1, B2, B3, and B4 respectively when
the bipod 10 is connected to the connection element 20 by the
insertion of the projection 17 into the recess 22. In the unlocked
condition shown in FIG. 2, the collar 18 has been moved downwardly
(in the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. 2) and this operates the
ball detent mechanism so that the balls B1-4 are withdrawn into the
perimeter of projection 17 so that the projection 17 can be
conveniently inserted into the recess 22, so connecting the bipod
10 and connection element 20 (and therefore the connected
firearm).
[0020] The ball detent mechanism is shown in more detail in FIG. 3
and FIG. 4. In the locked and connected condition shown in FIG. 3,
the projection 17 has been inserted into the connection element
20's recess 22 and the balls B1-B-4 have been received within the
corresponding recesses R1-4 (with any necessary angular rotation of
the projection 17 to permit the balls to engage the recesses). The
balls B1-B-4 are held within the recesses R1-R4 by the extended
compression spring 19 acting against locking rod LR which in turn
acts against the balls B1-4 to maintain them in the corresponding
recesses R1-4. In this way, the bipod is held in a fixed angular
position with respect to the firearm. In the unlocked condition
shown in FIG. 4, the locking collar 18 has been moved downwardly
(in the direction of arrow A) which drives the locking rod LR
downwardly against the compression spring 19, allowing the balls
B1-B-4 to extract from the recesses R1-R4. In this unlocked
condition, the bipod 10 and connection element 20 can easily be
separated. It will be appreciated by the skilled addressee that it
may be possible to insert the projection into the connection
element 20, or correspondingly withdraw the projection 17 from the
connection element 20 against, or overcoming, the ball detent
mechanism which has been described by a suitable use of force.
[0021] FIG. 5 shows a combination comprising a firearm 30, which
includes a fore stock 32 and barrel 34, in combination with a bipod
10 which is generally as described above. The connection element
20G differs from the connection element 20 described above, as will
be described later. The combination of firearm 30 and bipod 10 is
shown in a connected condition in FIG. 5. A corresponding
disconnected condition for the combination of the firearm 30 and
bipod 10 is shown in FIG. 6.
[0022] FIGS. 7 and 8 show in more detail how the bipod 10 is
connected to the firearm 30 and attached connection element 20G. As
can be seen, especially in FIG. 7, connection element 20G is fixed
to the forestock 32 of the firearm 30 by fastenings (not shown, but
such as screws extending into a wooden/synthetic forestock, or
bolts connecting with a synthetic forestock). The connection
element 20G defines a central cylindrical recess 20G, similar to
the recess 22 of connection element 20 described above which
receives the projection 17 of the bipod 10. The perimeter of
cylindrical recess 20G defines an annular groove G which extends
about the circumference of the recess which receives balls B1-4 of
the detent mechanism. The lateral movement of the balls B1-4 in
annular groove G allows the connected bipod 10 to rotate about axis
X which may be advantageous in a practical shooting situation as it
permits panning of the rifle on the bipod support.
[0023] The bipod 10 can be quickly and conveniently detached from
the firearm 30 by pulling down on the knurled collar 18, which is
especially easy for a user to operate even from a shooting
position.
[0024] The connection elements 20 and 20G have described above as
being mounted external to the firearm 30's forestock. It will be
appreciated that connection elements may be fitted within a
firearm's forestock (as with applicant's "gunsmith
adapters--https://javelinbipod.co.uk/products/gunsmith-adaptors-)
or even formed by the forestock itself e.g., a synthetic forestock
is formed to define a recess to receive a bipod/tripod projection
and an annular groove or hemispherical recesses to receive balls of
a ball detent mechanism.
[0025] Whilst a number of embodiments of supports for a firearm and
combinations of firearms have been disclosed in this specification
and described above, the skilled addressee will appreciate that
numerous modifications, changes or variants may be made to those
embodiments or other embodiments devised without departing from the
spirit of scope of the invention.
* * * * *
References