This document relates to the field of firearms, and more specifically, shooting rests for firearms wherein a firearm is mounted onto a shooting rest.
Firearms, particularly long barrel firearms with stocks, often produce a significant amount of recoil. The recoil can be uncomfortable for the shooter and cause inaccuracies.
Battenfield's U.S. Pat. No. 8,011,129 discloses a recoil-reducing shooting rest that absorbs some or all of the recoil on the stock. However, in this configuration, the shooter is not able to shoulder the gun because part of the shooting rest sits behind the stock. The shortcoming of not allowing the shooter to shoulder the gun negatively impacts the shooters performance because shooters are conditioned to aim while shouldering the firearm. A need exists that allows a shooter to use a rest that allows the shooter to shoulder the gun in a natural shooting style while still absorbing the recoil from the firearm, while also having an innovative ball head with at least three degrees of freedom and controlled locking.
In an embodiment described herein, devices for resting or mounting a firearm are provided. A shooting rest for absorbing recoil of a firearm, the firearm having a buttstock section and one or more non-buttstock sections, in a manner that removes the recoil from the buttstock and allows the buttstock section to be shouldered by a user comprising 1) a mounting base having a handle and configured to support one or more weights 2) a support member coupled to the mounting base, 3) a ball head coupled to the support member, the ball head being configured for partial rotation, wherein the rotation has at least three degrees of freedom, and 4) a lug that couples the ball head to one of the non-buttstock sections and fits vertically or is fixed vertically into one of the non-buttstock sections and into the ball head. The lug couples firmly to a section of a firearm that is not the buttstock. In a more preferred embodiment, the lug couples to the fore-end chassis section. This allows the shooter to shoulder the gun just as the shooter would do if not using a gun rest or mount.
In another embodiment the support member is configured to add a fourth degree of freedom. Preferably, the support will be capable of rising or lowering so that it can be used by shooters of different sizes and shooting from various positions. The support member can be locked in using a locking mechanism. Preferably, the locking mechanism is a knob that turns a screw that presses into a shaft that can rise vertically inside the support member. The shaft connects to the ball head and is the coupling mechanism that couples the ball head to the support member.
In another embodiment the lug fits into any one of a plurality of openings on a fore-end chassis section on a firearm. The fore-end chassis section is the most ideal place for the lug to connect to, although it is within the scope of this invention that the lug can connect to any place that is not the back of the buttstock of the firearm so that the firearm can be shouldered in a traditional manner for long barrel firearms.
In another embodiment, the ball head is configured for pitch, yaw, and roll. The firearm can be rotated for its pitch, yaw, or roll and then can be locked into place by a locking mechanism that locks onto the ball to prevent rotation.
In another embodiment, the mounting base is configured with a strap for strapping weights onto the base and locking those weights in place. The strap extends beyond the width of the mounting base and is configured to be tightened and locked in place to hold weights during recoil. In another embodiment, the mounting base is configured to support up to one hundred pounds of weights and locking those weights in place with a strap.
In another embodiment, the lug fits into a fore-end chassis section of a firearm. Preferably, the fore-end chassis section will have multiple holes for the lug to fit vertically in. The weight of the firearm and fore-end chassis section lock the firearm into place over the lug. The lug couples to the ball head with a detent. Preferably, the detent is comprised of a spring that applies horizontal pressure on a pin that locks into a rounded groove on the lug. Other methods of a catch or detent may also be used. If the fore-end chassis section does not have holes for the lug, a modifying plate can be added to the firearm so that the firearm can couple to the ball head via the lug.
Also disclosed herein is a shooting rest for a firearm having a fore-end chassis, the shooting rest comprising 1) a mounting base having a handle and configured to support one or more weights 2) a mount coupled to the mounting base, the mount being configured for partial rotation, wherein the rotation has at least two degrees of freedom and 3) a lug configured to insert and lock into the mount and the fore-end chassis of a firearm. Preferably, the two or more degrees of freedom consists of at least pitch and yaw. This mount does not need to be a ball head and can be any mechanism to provide pitch and yaw allowing for a shooter to turn the gun from left and right and raise and lower the angle of shooting. A disc within a shaft or ring would be sufficient to provide the left and right degree of freedom or yaw. Rotation about a horizontal shaft could allow a shooter to shoot at lower or higher targets which allows the shooter to change the pitch. Other mechanisms known in the art can be used to provide the two or more degrees of freedom on the mount.
In another embodiment of the shooting rest, there is a support member that couples the mounting base to the mount. The support member couples to the mount via a connecting shaft and can move up and down to provide an additional degree of freedom.
In another embodiment of the shooting rest, the lug locks into the mount with a detent. The preferred detent comprising a spring applying pressure to a pin that fits into a grooved on the lug.
In a preferred embodiment of the shooting rest, a preferred ball head is disclosed comprising an upper body and a lower body. Together, the two surround a cavity that holds a ball that is connected to a base. The upper body and lower body are held together at one end with a vertical bold that can tighten to pull the upper body and lower body closer together to tighten around the ball. This allows the upper body and lower body to rotate around the ball before being tightened. The upper body also has a rail surface that allows the firearm to rest upon. The bolt is perpendicular to the shooting line of the firearm. The tightening knob coupled to the bolt is in a plane parallel to the firearm.
In a further preferred embodiment the rail surface has at least one hole with a spring configured to push a lug in a plane perpendicular to the rail surface.
In a further preferred embodiment, the ball head further comprises a first arm and a second arm capable of moving laterally in a plane that is parallel to the rail surface.
In another embodiment the ball head further comprises a second hole with a second spring configured to push a second lug in a plane perpendicular to the rail surface.
In another embodiment, the ball head has a front and a back and the knob is located at the back of the mount.
In another preferred embodiment, a shooting rest is disclosed comprising a ball head comprising an upper body having an upper cavity and a rail surface a lower body having a lower cavity and a threaded hole a base that includes a ball configured to be rotatably maintained within a cavity defined by the upper cavity and the lower cavity a bolt in a plane perpendicular to the rail surface that is on the upper body, the bolt having threads and a knob, wherein the knob is in a plane parallel to the rail surface and is capable of turning to decrease or increase the space between the upper body and the lower body to selectively inhibit or allow movement of the upper and lower body with respect to the ball wherein the ball head has a distal side and a proximal side and the knob is positioned on the proximal side wherein the upper body and the lower body are configured to rotate relative to the ball on the base for pitch, yaw, and roll and wherein the base is coupled to a weight of over twenty pounds.
In another embodiment, the shooting rest further comprises a first arm and a second arm capable of moving laterally in a plane that is parallel to the rail surface.
In another embodiment, the rail surface has at least one hole with a spring and a lug, the spring configured to push the lug in a plane perpendicular to the rail surface and beyond the rail surface.
In another embodiment, the shooting rest also has a second hole with a second spring and second spring, the second spring configured to push the second lug in a plane perpendicular to the rail surface.
In another embodiment, the base is coupled to a weight that is positioned on the distal side of the ball head.
In another embodiment disclosed herein, a shooting rest is disclosed for absorbing recoil of a firearm wherein the firearm has a buttstock section, a grip section, and a fore-end chassis section. This allows the buttstock section to be shouldered by a shooter. This rest has a mounting base configured to support one or more weights, a ball head having a surface for resting a firearm and a tightening knob that rotates in a plane that is parallel to the surface for resting a firearm, the ball head being configured for rotation, wherein the rotation has at least three degrees of freedom, a protrusion extending from the surface for resting a firearm configured to couple the ball head by preventing lateral movement of a firearm relative to the ball head by contacting the fore-end chassis section.
In another embodiment, the ball head has a proximal end and a distal end, and the tightening knob is positioned at the proximal end.
In another embodiment, the shooting rest also has a support member to support the ball head and configured to add an additional degree of freedom.
In another embodiment, the protrusion is configured to retract into the surface for resting a firearm. In this respect, the protrusion is the retractable lug described above.
In another embodiment, the ball head is configured for pitch, yaw, and roll.
In another embodiment, the support member includes a support height wheel configured to move the ball head up and down.
In another embodiment, the mounting base is configured to support up to one hundred pounds.
In another embodiment, the ball head has a proximal side and a distal side, and wherein the mounting base is configured to support weights on the distal side.
In another embodiment, the mounting base includes a threaded post, a locking nut, and removable spacers.
In another embodiment, the mounting base includes two removable lips.
In another preferred embodiment of the shooting rest, the shooting rest comprises a mounting base configured to support one or more weights, a ball head, the ball head being configured for rotation, wherein the rotation has at least three degrees of freedom, a protrusion configured to couple the ball head to one of the non-buttstock sections by fitting vertically into one of the non-buttstock sections and vertically into the ball head and wherein the ball head has a tightening wheel, the tightening wheel positioned in a plane that is parallel to the firearm.
In another embodiment, the ball head has a distal end and a proximal end and the tightening wheel is positioned at the proximal end.
In another embodiment, the shooting rest also has a support member to support the ball head and configured to add an additional degree of freedom by allowing the ball head to move vertically.
In another embodiment, the protrusion is a retractable lug.
In another embodiment, the ball head is configured for pitch, yaw, and roll.
In another embodiment, the support member is configured to move the ball head up and down by turning a wheel that is in a plane that is parallel to the base.
In another embodiment, the mounting base includes a threaded post, a locking nut, and a removable spacer.
It should be understood that although illustrative implements of one or more embodiments of the present disclosure are provided below, the disclosed systems and/or methods may be implemented using multiple approaches. The disclosure should in no way be limited to the illustrative implementations and drawings included. These implementations and drawings may be modified within the scope of the claims with their full scope of equivalents.
In some embodiments, the mount 105 could couple directing to the base 101 but in the preferred embodiment, an intermediary support member 109 couples the mount 105 to the base 101. The shaft 109 encloses a support member 104 that can rise up and down by turning a wheel 134. Alternatively or in addition, the support member 104 may be locked into place by turning a base knob 103 that screws into the shaft 109 and locks into the support member 104 to lock the support member at a given height in a similar manner to the mount knob 110.
Preferably, the base 101 has a plurality of legs 102. The legs are short. The base may also have a strap 109 that can lock additional weight that can be placed on the base 101. Preferably, the base also has a handle 112 making it easily transportable.
The firearm rest system 100 does not include the firearm. Various materials can be used to make the components of the firearm rest 100, with metals and strong polymers being the preferred materials.
In the preferred embodiment, the lug fits into one or more holes 401 on the firearm fore-end chassis section as shown in
Some firearms do not have fore-end chassis sections that have otherwise empty holes beneath the barrel of the firearm. Such firearms include common wooden stock firearms. However, these firearms still have similar characteristics such that the common wooden stock firearm can be modified with the modifying plate to couple to, and be included in at least one embodiment, the rest system disclosed and claimed herein.
The modifying plate 501 can be coupled to the firearm by using two longer screws or studs 502 and 503 and putting those into the swivel hold 504 and the front end action screw hole 511. The studs 502 and 503 have quick detach ends 504 so that the modifying plate 501 can be quickly and easily removed. The modifying plate 501 has at least one lug hole 507 for coupling to the lug. The modifying plate 501 should be of sufficient thickness so that the lug 107 can fit into the one or more lug holes 507. The modifying plate will more preferably have a second hold 506 and third hole 505 for the lugs.
This base 101 can have a weight post that can hold standard lifting weights. The system may include spacers to go in between the weights. The system may also include a threaded section on the weight post to separate the weights. This threaded section will be capable of taking an end cap to hold the weights in place.
When the tightening knob is turned in a tightening direction, the upper body and the lower body close in upon each other to decrease the volume or space 626 that comprise the upper cavity 620 and lower cavity 621. When the tightening knob is loosened, the volume of the cavity increases to loosen the position and allow aiming of the firearm while not moving the base.
The ball head also has at least one locking lug 613 that sits in a hole 611 in the upper body 604 on top of a spring 612. In another embodiment, the ball head may have a second lug 631 in a second hole 632 above a second spring 633.
The post 901 can be removed and a first lip 907 can be attached with screws 905. An option second lip 920 can also be attached with screws 921. The at least one lip 907 can hold bags of heavy granulated materials or other types of weight. Preferably, the weight is on the distal side of the ball head. The most preferred ball head 915 comprises at least one protrusion 911 and a tightening wheel proximal to the ball head. The ball head 915 is tightened in place with a knob 950 that is located on the proximal 911 side of the ball head.
In other embodiments, the ball head and or support member can attached to any form of weight. For example, the weight could be the shooters weight such as if the ball head was at least indirectly coupled to a chair used by the shooter.
To use any of the firearm rests disclosed herein, a shooter will place a firearm on the balancing surface of a rotatable mount in a way that allows the protrusion to fit vertically into the front-end chassis section and or grip section and lock into any firearm slot of the firearm or the slot 507 of the modifying plate 501. The desired weights can be place on the base to absorb some or all of the recoil of the firearm. The firearm can be rotated so that the firearm can be aimed at the desired target. Once the firearm is aimed, it can be locked in place by tightening the ball head knob or tightening wheel and the base knob or wheel, if applicable.
In an embodiment disclosed herein, a support member 104 is coupled to a shaft 109 that is fixed to a base 101. A mount 105 is threaded onto the support member 104. A firearm is placed on the top of the mount and a lug 107 fits vertically into an extension off the mount 107 and into a hole on the firearm. The lug is locked into place by locking into the extension off the ball head. The weight of the firearm keeps the firearm coupled to the firearm.
Regardless of the configuration, the frame 1121 must be rigid so that the recoil created by a firearm, which will impart a primarily lateral force, is absorbed by the weight of the shooters sitting in the seat 1101. The frame 1121 connects to the base at a central portion 1108 which is where the support legs 1109, 1110 and 1111 intersect. The frame should also be as light as possible to make it portable. Aluminum is an ideal material.
The firearm mount 1112 has a vertical protrusion 1113 that locks into a firearm to prevent lateral movement when a shooter's weight is imparted on the seat 1101, which does not move laterally with respect to the frame 1121.
The ideal firearm mount 1112 is one of the embodiments of the ball head described herein. However, other mounts are also sufficient. In the preferred embodiment, the central portion 1108 is a pivot point. The firearm, frame, seat, and firearm mount can rotate relative to the base because the shooting rest chair has a pivot point 1108 where the frame couples to the base 1122. The pivot point 1108 can be locked with a locking pin 1114.
The seat 1101 is what holds the weight to absorb the recoil from a firearm, and that weight being the shooters weight. Instead of the recoil being absorbed just by the shooter's shoulder, the invented shooting rest chair 1120 more evenly distributes the recoil to the shooters entire body or at least the amount of the shooter's body is supported by the seat. The seat 1101 is between the two rear legs 1111 and 1109. The seat 1101, frame 1121, and mount 1112 are configured to pivot at the pivot point 1108, but the seat 1101 does not move past the rear legs 1111 and 1109 so that the weight of the shooter is always between the rear legs 1111 and 1109. The seat is not directly over the pivot point, but is instead offset at least one fifth of the length of the rear legs 1111 and 1109.
The pivot point 108 is positioned at the center of the base 1122 or where the at least three support legs 1109, 1110, and 1111 intersect. When a shooter is sitting in the seat 1101, the shooter will face the direction of the front leg 1110 although that position can rotate approximately sixty degrees to either side because of the pivot point 1108. The firearm mount 1112 is positioned on the opposite side of the central portion 1108 of the base from the seat 1101.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/444,965 filed Feb. 12, 2023 titled SHOULDERED SHOOTING REST and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/393,671 filed Jul. 29, 2022 titled SHOULDERED SHOOTING REST, both of which are references and incorporated herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
63393671 | Jul 2022 | US | |
63444965 | Feb 2023 | US |