FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to weapon mounts. More specifically, the present invention is an apparatus for converting a pair of poles into a portable weapon mount by creating a pivot point between the pair of poles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In present society, there has been an increase in the use of firearms, and other related weapons, in outdoor recreational activities like hunting, camping, and/or hiking. In hiking, most individuals utilize walking sticks, such as trekking poles, as they navigate the natural world. However, as with any outdoor recreational activity, there can be chance encounters with wild animals or game. In such situations, the user might need to resort to using their firearm. However, some users might need assistance in handling their firearm, like long barreled hunting rifles, in order to aim or support the firearm. Such devices that can assist users in handling their firearm are often referred to as a shooting stick. However, some currently marketed shooting sticks can be time-consuming in assembling together. Others can be cumbersome to be carried along by a user while they are hiking; especially when, in hiking, the user is carrying all of their provisions and other necessary equipment with them. One common method that some users might employ to address some of these problems to utilize their walking sticks as a shooting stick. Often, users will utilize two walking sticks when they are hiking. The most common way to achieve this is to create a pivot point between the two walking sticks by form a X-shaped configuration with the two walking sticks. However, with the walking sticks alone, this method has many faults. Firstly, the pivot point between the two walking sticks is often not sturdy enough to support the full weight of a firearm and not secured enough to facilitate aiming of the firearm about the pivot point. Secondly, the two walking sticks are not sturdy enough on their own to maintain the X-shaped configuration needed to form a pivot point.
It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide users with an apparatus that can convert a pair of poles such as, but not limited to, walking sticks into a weapon mount. The present invention intends to provide users with an apparatus that includes braces that can be attached to a pair of poles. The present invention intends to provide users with an apparatus that can securely mount one pole to another pole to form a X-shaped configuration with the poles make a shooting stick-styled weapon mount.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the present invention displaying the at least one strap.
FIG. 4 is an exploded front perspective view of the present invention displaying the brace-attachment mechanism.
FIG. 5 is an exploded front perspective view of the brace-attachment mechanism.
DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION
All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
In reference to FIGS. 1 through 5, the present invention is an apparatus for converting a pair of poles into a weapon mount by mounting one pole to another pole in order to form an X-shaped configuration with the poles. The X-shaped configuration, formed by the poles, provides a pivot point on which a barrel of a firearm can be supported. A preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a first brace 1, a second brace 2, and a brace-attachment mechanism 10. The first brace 1 allows the present invention to attach onto one pole, and the second brace 2 allows the present invention to attach onto the other pole. The brace-attachment mechanism 10 allows the first brace 1 to be selectively and physically attached to the second brace 2 and, therefore, one pole is mounted to the other pole.
The general configuration of the aforementioned components allows the present invention to convert a pair of poles into a weapon mount. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the first brace 1 and the second brace 2 each comprise a brace body 3 and a pole-attachment mechanism 5. The brace body 3 is preferably a hemispherical shape in order for a user to easily grip both the first brace 1 and the second brace 2, and thus, the brace body comprises a face 4. The pole-attachment mechanism 5 allows both the brace body 3 to attach onto a pole. The pole-attachment mechanism 5 is integrated into the brace body 3, opposite the face 4. This arrangement positions the pole-attachment mechanism 5 to the rounded portion of the hemispherical shape rather than the face 4. Thus, the pole-attachment mechanism 5 is easily accessible and is provided enough area in order to effectively allow the brace body 3 to attach onto a pole. The face 4 of the first brace 1 and the face 4 of the second brace 2 are positioned coincident with each other. This arrangement allows a pair of poles to be mounted offset from each other when the first brace 1 is attached onto one pole and the second brace 2 is attached to the other pole. Further with reference to FIG. 4, the brace body 3 of the first brace 1 and the brace body 3 of the second brace 2 are rotatably coupled to each other by the brace-attachment mechanism 10. This arrangement allows the first brace 1 to be rotated while attached to the second brace 2. Therefore, one pole is torsionally rotated with the first brace 1 in order to form the X-shaped configuration with the pair of poles.
In order for the brace-attachment mechanism 10 to allow the first brace 1 to be rotated while attached to the second brace 2 with reference to FIG. 5, the brace-attachment mechanism 10 may comprise an elongated member 11, a stump 14, a disk-shaped cavity 15, and an entrance slot 17. The elongated member 11 is positioned parallel and offset from the face 4 of the first brace 1, and the stump 14 is centrally connected in between the elongated member 11 and the face 4 of the first brace 1. This arrangement allows the elongated member 11 to traverse into the disk-shaped cavity 15 through the entrance slot 17 and to rotate within the disk-shaped cavity 15 as the first brace 1 and the second brace 2 are independently rotated in relation to each other. The disk-shaped cavity 15 is integrated within the brace body 3 of the second brace 2 and is positioned parallel and offset from the face 4 of the second brace 2. This arrangement positions the disk- shaped cavity 15 in order to receive the elongated member 11 after the elongated member 11 traverses through the entrance slot 17. The entrance slot 17 traverses from the face 4 of the second brace 2, into the brace body 3 of the second brace 2, and into the disk-shaped cavity 15. The entrance slot 17 is shaped and sized to receive the elongated member 11. This arrangement allows the stump 14 and the elongated member 11 to be inserted into the brace body 3 of the second brace 2 through the entrance slot 17. Moreover, the elongated member 11 is able to rotate within the disk-shaped cavity 15 about a rotation axis traversing through the stump 14. Thus, the brace-attachment mechanism 10 allows the first brace 1 to be rotated while attached to the second brace 2.
In order for the rotation of the first brace 1 to be precise and with reference to FIG. 5, the disk-shaped cavity 15 may comprise a lateral wall 16, and the elongated member 11 may comprise a first convex-shaped end 12 and a second convex-shaped end 13. The first convex-shaped end 12 and the second convex-shaped end 13 are slidably pressed against the lateral wall 16 and are circumscribed by the lateral wall 16 which allows the lateral wall 16 to frictionally hold the elongated member 11 in place. Thus, this arrangement prevents the first brace 1 from freely rotating while attached to the second brace 2 without an input torque force provided by a user. In further detail, the first brace 1 remains in place when attached to the second brace 2 and only rotates when a user manually applies a torque force to the first brace 1 which causes the elongated member 11 to rotate within the disk-shaped cavity 15.
The first brace 1 and the second brace 2 can be in an engaged configuration, where the first brace 1 is prevented from accidently being detached from second brace 2. The elongated member 11 is compressed within the disk-shaped cavity 15, and the stump 14 is positioned within the entrance slot 17. This arrangement allows the first brace 1 to be interfaced with the second brace 2. Moreover, the elongated member 11 is oriented at an angle with the entrance slot 17. This arrangement prevents the first brace 1 from being detached from the second brace 2 due to the elongated member 11 being unable to pass through the entrance slot 17.
The first brace 1 and the second brace 2 can alternatively be in a disengaged configuration, where a user can detach the first brace 1 from the second brace 2. Similar to the engaged configuration, the elongated member 11 is positioned within the disk- shaped cavity 15, and the stump 14 is positioned within the entrance slot 17. This arrangement allows the first brace 1 to be interfaced with the second brace 2. Further, the elongated member 11 is positioned parallel to the entrance slot 17. Thus, the first brace 1 can be detached from the second brace 2 because the elongated member 11 is allowed to freely pass through the entrance slot 17. In further detail, a user can pull the first brace 1 from the second brace 2, which causes the elongated member 11 to pass through the entrance slot 17, and, therefore, the first brace 1 is detached from the second brace 2.
In order for the pole-attachment mechanism 5 to effectively allow both the first brace 1 and second brace 2 to attach onto a pole and with reference to FIG. 3, the pole-attachment mechanism 5 may comprise at least one pole strap 6 and a pole-receiving recess 9. The at least one pole strap 6 may any type of strap such as, but not limited to, a hook-and-loop strap, an elastic strap, or a zip-tie strap. The pole-receiving recess 9 is a cutout from the brace body 3 which is designed to brace the lateral surface of a pole. The at least one pole strap 6 comprises a first strap end 7 and a second strap end 8. The pole-receiving recess 9 traverses into the brace body 3, opposite the face 4. This arrangement allows the pole-receiving recess 9 to brace the lateral surface of a pole without any obstruction when the first brace 1 is attached to the second brace 2. The first strap end 7 and the second strap end 8 are connected onto the brace body 3, opposite the face 4, and the pole-receiving recess 9 is positioned in between the first strap end 7 and the second strap end 8. This arrangement positions the at least one pole strap 6 to be pull a pole towards the pole-receiving recess 9, therefore, effectively securing a pole to the brace body 3 of both the first brace 1 and the second brace 2.
In order for the pole-attachment mechanism 5 to be more effective in attaching the first brace 1 and the second brace 2 onto a pole and with reference to FIG. 3, the at least one pole strap 6 is a plurality of pole straps. The plurality of pole straps is distributed along the pole-receiving recess 9. This arrangement allows the plurality of pole straps to make contract with multiple points of a lateral surface of a pole, and, therefore, the pole can be effectively secured to the brace body 3 of both the first brace 1 and the second brace 2.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
Patent Application
20200386507
