Adjustable Gun Rest

Abstract

Apparatus for supporting a firearm and having a support arm adjustably mounted on a post which is adapted to penetrate the earth a predetermined distance. The center of gravity of the support arm and rifle is disposed directly above the point of earth penetration to provide a stable rest.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention is in the field of supports and specifically rests for firearms and the like.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Gun rests heretofore used have been subject to criticism for various reasons including lack of adjustability for height, being complicated and expensive, of excessive weight and inclined to movement during use particularly at critical times. Further they were not easily carried and required considerable time and effort to render them ready for use as the situation required. Hunters who use rifles frequently are a considerable distance from the game, for example 200 or 300 yards, in order to keep from being detected by sight or smell, and any slight movement of the firearm at such distance is likely to result in a miss. The hunter may desire to shoot from any of several positions at different heights and angles, including while sitting, kneeling, or prone. Accordingly, there is need for a lightweight rest for a firearm which rest is conveniently portable, easily used, and easily adjustable to various heights and angles in a minimum of time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention includes a post or shaft having a point at one end and a handle at the other with a step plate and anchor adjacent to but spaced from the pointed end and which projects in the same plane as and is parallel to the handle for causing the post to penetrate the earth. The gun rest is mounted on the post so that it extends laterally therefrom and is held in adjusted position by an adjusting screw or thumbscrew. The gun rest has on its lower portion indicia such as a small projection, for assisting the hunter in aligning the center of gravity of the rest substantially in a vertical plane with the point of penetration in order that the vertical force will have substantially no tendency to cause the post to tilt in the ground thereby improving stability notwithstanding the fact that the post is at an angle to a vertical plane.

It is an object of the invention to provide an adjustable gun rest of simple inexpensive, lightweight construction which can be easily carried by the hunter and setup, used and removed with minimum effort, as well as to provide a gun rest which will facilitate accurate aim with the use of a gun.

A further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable gun rest which can be readily installed and adjusted to the desired height and angularity with the supporting arm directly above the point of entry of the post in the earth.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the invention with the gun rest rotated substantially 90.degree. to the carrying position.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation illustrating the device in use.

FIG. 3 is a perspective thereof.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail side elevation.

FIG. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detail perspective of the handle.

With further reference to the drawings, the invention includes a generally tubular post or upright member 10 having a handle 11 at its upper end and a pointed earth-penetrating extremity 12 at its lower end. An anchor plate 13 is welded or otherwise attached to one side of the post 10 adjacent to but spaced a short distance from the penetrating extremity 12. The anchor plate preferably is generally triangular in shape and may have an upper edge which serves as a step for forcing the penetrating extremity into the earth. As illustrated, the upper portion of the anchor plate may be bent at substantially right angles to provide a flange or step plate 14 which likewise may be welded or otherwise attached to the post 10. The flange or step plate 14 extends outwardly generally normal to the post 10 and extends laterally from the anchor plate 13 at a slight angle of approximately 12.degree. above a horizontal plane for a purpose which will be described later.

The handle 11 preferably is of generally tubular construction and has a major portion 16 disposed on one side of the post 10 and located generally perpendicular to the axis thereof and generally parallel to the step plate 14. A minor portion 17 extends from the opposite side of the post and generally coextensive with the major portion 16.

In order to support a firearm R, a gun rest 20 is adjustably mounted on the post 10 between the handle 11 and the step plate 14. The gun rest incudes a V-way 21 of substantial length adapted to engage the post 10. The V-way 21 has an outwardly extending portion 22 at one side forming a generally C-shaped portion having a threaded opening 24 for the reception of a set screw of thumbscrew 25. The set screw 25 is substantially opposite the center of the V-way 21 so that the inner end of the adjusting screw will engage the post 10 and force such post against the sides of the V-way 21 to hold the gun rest in fixed adjusted position. It is noted that if desired a V-shaped clamp could be rotatably mounted on the end of the adjusting screw so that the post will be clamped between two V-shaped portions.

Projecting outwardly from the V-way 21 on the side remote from the C-shaped portion, is a generally semicircular support arm 30. Preferably the outer portion of the support arm is generally round in cross section to produce identical placement of a portion of the rifle through full rotation ranges and forearm adjustments. The outer free end 31 of the support arm terminates slightly below the plane of the top of the V-way so that a line 32 (FIG. 4) from the top of the V-way to the outer end 31 is at a slight angle of substantially 12.degree. for a purpose which will be described later. A button or projection 33 is located on the bottom of the support arm 30 substantially at the center thereof or approximately at the center of gravity thereof. As indicated in FIG. 4, it will be apparent that a radial line 34 drawn from the center 35 of the semicircle to the center of the button 33 will be disposed at an angle to the axis of the post 10.

In order to facilitate the use of the device a dot, button or other indicia 36 (FIG. 3) is placed on the post at the level of the step plate 14 and on the side of the post from which the support arm 30 extends.

While various lengths of post may be employed, a post which permits an adjustment in height of the rest through a range of approximately 27 inches permits it to be used for prone, kneeling, and sitting use for most hunters.

Various materials may be used for the construction of the device. The post 10 and handle 11 preferably are constructed of steel or aluminum tubing with an appropriate finish to avoid corrosion. A baked wrinkle finish for steel posts is particularly desirable for maximum durability, ease in gripping, and low-light reflection and an anodized finish, which may be of any desired color, is desirable for an aluminum post. The gun rest 20 preferably is constructed of cast manganese bronze or aluminum of high tensile strength and preferably has a resilient sleeve 37 of a material such as polyvinyl chloride to cushion and protect the finish of the firearm. The thumbscrew preferably is made of brass or aluminum with a wing having a dull finish.

To facilitate use of the device indicia such as crossed long and short arrows 38 and 39, respectively, may be placed on the handle.

In the use of the device the hunter may carry the rest like a cane until he reaches a position of use. As he faces toward the target, the handle 11 and anchor plate 13 are held so that they are substantially in line with the line to the target. Then, the hunter adjusts the rest to the height which he desires, with the rest projecting at substantially right angles to the line of sight and to the right of the post. If he is referring to the indicia arrows 38 and 39 on the handle, the long arrow 38 points toward the target and the short arrow 39 in the line along which the gun rest extends. With the rest adjusted at the proper height and maintaining the line of the handle along the line of sight the hunter then holds the rod at such an angle that a plumb line 40 (FIG. 2) from the button 33 on the lower side of the support arm would intersect the dot or button 36 adjacent to the step plate. Then, he uses his foot against the step plate at the same time he presses down on the handle in order to push the rod into the ground at such angularly disposed position. The rod is pushed into the ground until the step plate is pressed flat and tight against it. The rest is then ready to use.

It will be apparent that with the rest in place as described, the weight of the firearm acts in substantially a direct line with the intersection of the rod and the ground and, therefore, the moment tending to rotate the rod in the ground is substantially zero. Accordingly, the tendency to move the rod or to cause it to sway is substantially avoided. Also, the anchor plate 13 extends flatwise to any tendency of the rod to move and, therefore, is well anchored against such movement. Further, the step plate being engaged firmly with the surface of the ground likewise resists any tendency of the rod to move. Hence, with only a small penetration of the rod, a very stable rest is provided.

The semicircular support arm is arranged so that when the gun rest 20 is positioned approximately midway of the rod, the radial line 34 coincides with the plumb line 40 and the line 32 from the top of the V-way to the outer free end 31 of the support arm will be horizontal as indicated in FIG. 2. At other positions, the line 32 approaches but is slightly off the horizontal. Since the firearm is placed in the support arm and the post is tilted away from the firearm, the tendency of the post to interfere with vision along the line of sight is reduced.

While the rest is adapted for heavy rifles with high powered scopes, it also can be used advantageously for lighter rifles and for hand guns. In addition to being useful for hunting of animals such as woodchucks, crows, foxes, wolves, antelopes, turkeys or deer, where precise bullet placement is essential, it may also be used for sighting in, target work, and as a "bench rest" under field conditions.

Claims

I claim:

1. An adjustable height gun rest comprising a post having a tapered end portion to facilitate insertion in the ground, an anchor plate extending from the post adjacent to the tapered end portion, a handle extending from the other end of the post and substantially coplanar with said anchor plate, a support arm, said support arm including a clamping member and a semicircle support member, said clamping member embracing the post and having adjustable means for holding the clamping member in a predetermined position along said post, said semicircle support member extending from said clamping member and substantially coplanar with said post, the semicircle support member having a first axis defined by an imaginary line drawn across its ends and a second axis perpendicular thereto, indicia on said support arm indicating the location of the intersection of said second axis with the support arm, indicia on said post adjacent to the top of said anchor plate, whereby the user may insert said post into the ground at such an angle that said indicia of said semicircle support arm is substantially in vertical alignment with the indicia on said post.

2. The invention of claim 1 in which said anchor plate has a flange at its upper portion, the flange being inclined at an angle which is substantially parallel to the first axis of said support arm.

3. The invention of claim 1 in which the major portion of said handle and said anchor plate extend from the same side of said post.

4. The invention of claim 1 in which indicia on said arm is a projection from its lower side.

5. The invention of claim 1 in which the axis of said adjustable means substantially intersects the inner end portion of said arm.

6. The invention of claim 1 in which said handle has direction indicating indicia applied thereto, one of said last mentioned indicia indicating a direction along said handle and the other a direction perpendicular to said handle and toward the side of the post on which said support arm is normally used.

7. An adjustable height gun rest comprising a post having an end portion for insertion in the ground, handle means extending from the other end of the post, a support arm including a substantially semicircle support member, means for holding the support arm in a predetermined position along said post, means on said support member for indicating a reference point, and means on the post for indicating a second reference point adjacent to but spaced from said end portion, whereby the user may insert said post into the ground at such an angle that said reference points are substantially in a vertical alignment.