Portable Shooting Bench

Abstract

This invention relates to a portable collapsible shooting bench. The bench of this invention collapses into a suitcase-like box for storage or transportation. The bench is comprised of a seat member; a connecting member for connecting seat to bench; a bench member; and a gun support. As set up the seat unit may be adjusted for height and for a right or left hand shooter via the connecting member. The seat member is secured to the bench member so that when the shooter sits on the seat, his weight is employed in steadying the unit. The gun support is secured to the bench member and is adjustable for height and angular displacement. Leveling means are also provided.

Description

This invention relates to a portable, collapsible gun rest bench of a type employed by target shooters.

Benches of the above type which are now available are either permanently fastened to the ground or, if portable, too loose which would affect accurate shooting.

The device of the present invention has a unitized configuration as set up which allows the shooter's weight to be employed in steadying the unit. The legs of the unit, while foldable for transporting, are adjustable for various terrain which may be soft or uneven. The legs are foldable and removable so that they may be stored in the collapsed unit.

In presently available benches the seat is either independent of the bench and adjustable only by obtaining a different seat or, if fixed, not adjustable. In the present invention, the seat may be adjusted vertically to accommodate shooters of varying height as well as being adjustable to accommodate right or left handed shooters.

Presently available portable benches, are, aside from lack of rigidity, difficult to carry and transport. The present invention provides a rigid unit which is adjustable and which may be collapsed into a suitcase-like box with all accessories and appendages contained inside for transporting.

The bench of this invention is equally applicable to handgun shooters as well as long gun users. Further, means are provided for attaching a spotting telescope for reading scores or prints on the target.

Referring now to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bench of this invention set up and ready to use;

FIG. 2 is a section along the line 2 -- 2 and the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a section along the line 3 -- 3 and in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a section along the line 4 -- 4 and in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the bench with the elements about to be stored.

In the drawings a seat member 10 is shown. The seat 10 is provided with adjustable ground support members, as demonstrated by legs 12 and 14. Legs 12 and 14 are held in extended position by folding braces 16 and 18 respectively. Legs 12 and 14 are adjustable for length and leveling to accommodate a variety of shooters and terrain. One suitable means for achieving such adjustment is by providing telescoping tubes for legs 12 and 14. The telescoping tubes may be locked by cotter pins 20. While the legs 12 and 14 are comprised basically of hollow tubing, they are provided with wide feet 22 and 24 respectively, to prevent digging in in sandy or soft soil.

A bench member 26 is provided with one leg 28. Leg 28 is held in position by folding braces 29. By providing only three legs, additional stability is obtained on uneven terrain. Foot 30 is shown as being removable from leg 28 to facilitate storeage.

A connecting means is provided for securing bench 26 to seat 10. Such connecting means is adjustably removably secured to bench 26 and seat 10. Such a means is demonstrated by rod 32. Means for removably adjustably attaching rod 32 to bench 26 are shown by threaded flange 34 secured to bench 26 which flange 34 receives threads on the end of rod 32. A hole 36 is provided in seat 10 to accommodate rod 32 with a loose sliding fit. A hand nut 38 is employed above seat 10 to limit the down travel of the bench 26 relative seat 10. Hand nut 38 is threaded onto threads on rod 32. A second hand nut 40 is employed below seat 10 on rod 32 to hold the unit tightly together. It will be observed that if flange 34 is located in the approximate middle and near the end of bench 26, then seat 10 may be rotated about the axis of rod 32. By so rotating seat 10, the unit will accommodate either a right or left handed shooter.

An article support or gun rest 42 is adjustably secured to bench 26. In the preferred form of the unit a sleeve 44 is provided attached to bench 26 near the opposite end thereof from flange 34. Gun rest 42 is comprised of a shaft 46 and a support pad 48. Shaft 46 is of such dimension as will provide a loose sliding fit in sleeve 44. Any manner of clamp or lock may be employed to prevent vertical movement of gun rest 42 relative bench 26, however, the clamp 50, best seen in FIG. 3, has been found very suitable for the purpose. The use of clamp 50 allows a shooter to raise gun rest 42 freely to position and then gravity working with clamp 50 will prevent slippage of shaft 46 in sleeve 44. It will be noted that gun rest 42 may be rotated about the axis of shaft 46 to provide angular adjustment for the shooter as for wind compensation or in using a handgun.

A further innovation is the provision of an accessory attachment 52, best seen in FIG. 4. Accessory attachment 52 is removably secured to bench 26 by any suitable means, however, the use of at least two bolts 54 and wing nuts 56 provides a very rigid removable attachment. Accessory attachment 52 may be used for securing such articles as spotting telescopes 58 to bench 26. By attaching spotting telescopes 58 to bench 26, the shooter does not have to move far and disturb his position to locate his shots on the target with spotting telescope 58. It will be noted that accessory attachment 52 may be mounted on either side of bench 26 to accommodate right and left hand shooters.

The unit as seen in FIG. 5 may be collapsed to a compact suitcase-like package. Bench 26 and seat 10 each take the form of one-half of a hollow box. The box so formed by bench 26 and seat 10 may be used to contain various accessories and parts of the unit. The box is suitably held together in storeage or transporting configuration by providing locks 60. Handles 62 are provided to facilitate carrying the box.

Claims

We claim:

1. A collapsible gun rest bench comprising: A seat member, said seat including two ground support contact means; a bench member, said bench including one ground support means; connecting means removably adjustably secured to said bench and removably adjustably secured to said seat; and connecting means adapted to adjustably secure said bench to said seat; gun support means adjustably secured to said bench and adapted to vertical and angular adjustment relative said bench member.

2. The collapsible gun rest bench of claim 1 further characterized by said seat member being hollow and said ground support means adapted to selectively fold and be stored within said seat member; and said bench member being hollow and said ground support means adapted to selectively fold and be stored within said bench member.

3. The collapsible gun rest of claim 2 further characterized by said bench member and said seat member being of such dimensions as would facilitate mating to form a hollow box.

4. The collapsible gun rest of claim 3 further characterized by mating locking means secured to said bench member and to said seat member to selectively hold said members in mated relationship.

5. The collapsible gun rest of claim 4 further characterized by at least one accessory attachment being removably, adjustably secured to said bench member.

6. A portable, collapsible support bench and seat comprising: A seat member including ground support members so that said seat is adapted to be adjusted relative the surface on which the bench is to be set up; a bench member including at least one ground support member which ground support member is adapted to be adjusted relative the surface on which the bench is to be set up; adjusting means removably secured to said bench member and to said seat member and adapted to selectively vary the distance between said member and to selectively permit horizontal movement of said seat member relative said bench member; and an article support member removably and adjustably secured to said bench member and adapted to permit adjustment of said support member relative said bench member.

7. The support bench of claim 6 further characterized by: Said bench member and said seat member being hollow and adapted to mate to form a closed box and said ground support members being adapted to be contained within the formed box.

8. The support bench of claim 7 further characterized by: Said ground support member removably secured to said bench member and seat member, respectively, and adapted, in the removed position, to be contained within the formed box.

9. The support bench of claim 8 further characterized by: Said article support member adapted to be contained within the formed box when said article support member is removed from said bench member.

10. The support bench of claim 9 further characterized by: At least one accessory support member removably adjustably secured to said bench member and adapted to be contained within the formed box when removed from said bench member.