Gun Stock Cover

Abstract

A cover for a gun stock comprising a body constructed of a multiplicity of panels sewn or otherwise united, and being contoured for snugly receiving the stock so as to be adapted for maintenance thereon during periods of use, as well as disuse, of the gun. Said cover is provided with a line of opening in its normally downwardly presented portion to permit ready application of the cover upon the gun stock and equally facile removal therefrom; there being closure means provided with said line of opening.

Description

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates in general to firearms, and more particularly, to a covering for the stock of shotguns, rifles, and the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cover for a gun stock which is adapted to protect the same against inadvertent damage during periods of use as well as disuse of the gun.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device of the character stated which may be constructed for form-fitting relationship upon the gun stock so as to conduce to ease of use of the gun while the cover is disposed thereon.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a gun stock cover which may be readily removed from, and easily mounted upon, the particular gun.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a gun stock cover which may be most economically manufactured of wear resistant, water proof material, and which is durable and reliable in usage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a side view of a shotgun having mounted upon the stock thereof a cover structured in accordance with and embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the gun stock cover in closed condition with the underside presented upwardly.

FIG. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view taken on the line 4--4 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now by reference characters to the drawing which illustrates the preferred embodiment of the present invention, A designates a gun stock cover comprising a pair of side panels 1,2 fabricated of suitable flexible material, such as, various plastics and the like, or leather, or other durable fabrics. Said side panels are contoured in correspondence to the stock of the gun to be accommodated, as well as to the adjacent receiver portion and thus each constitutes a relatively extensive rearward portion 3, and a forward, relatively reduced, neck cooperating portion 4; there being an intervening shoulder, as at 5, for complementing the usual downward curve in a gun stock. Each of said panels 1,2 are mutually secured by a line of stitching 6 extending from their upper, forward extremities to a point, indicated at 7, adjacent the upper rearward end of cover A. At their rearward, normally vertical ends, said side panels 1,2 are engaged, as by lines of stitching 8, to the marginal portions of an end panel 9; said latter extending between said side panels 1,2 and being on its inner surface in confrontation with the free end or butt plate (not shown) of the related gun stock. In its upper region, end panel 9 is turned inwardly and forwardly to provide a tongue 10, which is secured to each of said side panels 1,2 on their upper surface immediately rearwardly of point 7, whereat said side panels diverge (FIG. 3). Thus, by this relationship tongue 10 provides the requisite transverse extent for proper reception of the top portion of the end of the accommodated gun stock.

At its lower end, end panel 9 is continuous with an extension 11 progressing forwardly between the proximal edges of side panels 1,2, being secured thereto along lines of stitching 12,13, respectively. Said extension 11 is provided immediately forwardly of the lower end of panel 9 with a line of opening 14 which continues to the forward end extremity of cover A. Secured to each edge portion of extension 11, throughout opening 14, is a fabric strip 15,16, which latter are provided with cooperating fastener elements 17,18, respectively, for mutual engagement and disengagement by a slide fastener member 19. Overlying, and coextensive with, line of opening 14 is a flexible protective liner 20 engaged along one side edge to line of stitching 13 and having a transverse extent greater than the combined widths of strips 15, 16 (see FIG. 2). Thus, by operation of the fastener 19, line of opening 14 may be closed throughout its extent so as to maintain cover A securely upon the related gun stock, or fully opened from the forward end of cover A to a point immediately adjacent end panel 9 to permit of facile withdrawal of said cover A from the related gun stock.

If desired, the forward end of cover A may be reinforced by an end binder 21 and a loop-forming member 22 may be secured on the rearward lower end portion of extension 11 to allow of ready grasping for ease of manipulation of cover A.

It is to be understood that the structure hereinabove described is only one form of a myriad of related constructions which could be utilized to form a flexible form-fitted cover for gun stocks. It is certainly within the contemplation of this invention that a continuous, integral expansible cover could be made, although the construction described is a preferred form which has proved effective in usage.

It is thus seen from the foregoing that cover A is suitably contoured for correspondence with the particular gun stock and may thus be either custom made for a precise gun stock or produced in quantity in varying sizes to accommodate the normal range of gun stock sizes. Slide fastener 19 and the related assembly serve to maintain cover A securely in position when mounted on a gun stock and it will be seen that the relationship of the configuration of the cover to the gun stock, with the cross sectionally narrowed forward end portion will serve to inhibit any inadvertent displacement of the cover from the gun stock should the closure means become accidentally open.

By use of the present invention gun stocks are thus prevented from inadvertent damage during use and disuse. It has been found that gun stocks are subjected to severe hard usage during hunting with inadvertent surface marring, as well as cuts, abrasions, and the like of relatively deep extent. With cover A, gun stocks are at all times protected against the harmful contact with damaging objects and without any diminution in the effective handling of the gun since firing can be comfortably effected with cover A in operative position.

Claims

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to obtain by Letters Patent is:

1. For use with a firearm having a stock, a receiver, a trigger, a forepiece, and a barrel, a cover for said stock which permits use of the firearm when in covering position comprising: a pair of side panels having upper and lower side margins and forward and rearward end margins, and end panel attached to the rearward margins of said side panels; said end panel having a tongue at its upper end, said tongue progressing between the upper end margins of said first and second panels; means interengaging the upper margins of said side panels to the adjacent portions of said end panel tongue, closure means interconnecting the lower side margins of said panels, said side panels and said end panel being contoured for correspondence to the configuration of the stock, said side panels being relatively reduced in their forward end portions accommodating the portion of the stock immediately rearwardly adjacent said receiver with the forward end margins of said side panels being free, and terminating rearwardly of said trigger.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, and further characterized by said side panels and end panel being fabricated of flexible material and providing a non-rigid cover.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1, and further characterized by said closure means being a slide fastener.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1, and further characterized by said end panel having an extension at its lower end portion, said extension progressing between the said lower side margins of said side panels; means interengaging the lower side margins of said side panels to the adjacent portions of said extension; said extension having a line of opening extending from said end panel to the forward end margins of said side panels; said closure means being provided within said line of opening.