The present invention relates generally to the field of sporting goods and equipment, and more particularly to a stackable shooting rest for supporting a firearm.
Hunters, target shooters and other sporting advocates often utilize firearms to shoot targets and game. In many settings, the shooter will generally prefer that the firearm is properly supported and stabilized so that the firearm can be precisely aimed at the target before firing. To achieve proper support and stability, a gun rest may be provided, which can be in several known forms, for example, sand bags, bi-pods, tri-pods, bench-top rests, lead sleds, shooting benches, etc. But many known gun rests can be bulky, unreliable, heavy, cumbersome, environment specific, and/or inconveniently require assembly and disassembly before and after shooting the firearm. As a result, the shooter may spend more time or effort focusing on the gun rest than aiming and shooting the firearm.
Accordingly, it can be seen that needs exist for an improved shooting rest system. It is to the provision of an improved shooting rest system meeting these and other needs that the present invention is primarily directed.
In example embodiments, the present invention provides a stackable shooting rest system to support and stabilize a firearm. In one aspect, the present invention relates to a shooting rest system including one or more stackable supports. Each of the stackable supports includes first and second side members. The first and second side members include an upper surface defining at least one male engagement feature and a lower surface defining at least one female engagement feature. Preferably, at least two of the stackable supports are stackable with the male engagement feature of the upper surface of one of the stackable supports nesting within the female engagement feature of the lower surface of the other stackable support. In one example form, the first and second side members are laterally offset from each other wherein a central member is positioned therebetween. The central member includes a upper surface and a lower surface. The upper surface is generally positioned below the upper surface of the first and second side members to define a central channel extending along each stackable support.
In example forms, the upper surface of each of the first and second side members includes an array of two or more spaced-apart male engagement features and the lower surface of each of the first and second side members includes an array of two or more spaced-apart female engagement features. In one form, the central channel is configured for receiving and supporting at least a portion of a firearm. In another form, the two spaced-apart male engagement features are configured for supporting at least a portion of a firearm therebetween. Preferably, at least a portion of the firearm is capable of being supported between the two spaced-apart male engagement features of both the first and second side members such that a portion of the firearm generally extends across the central channel and generally transverse relative thereto. In another example form, at least two of the stackable supports further include a central aperture formed in the central member and extending therethrough from the upper surface to the lower surface. And, in another form, at least one of the stackable supports further comprises an elongate groove formed within the lower surface of the central member. Optionally, at least two stackable supports including the central apertures are configured for rotatably mounting to each other whereby an elongate pin is inserted within the central apertures. The elongate pin extends from a first central aperture of a first stackable support to a second central aperture of a second stackable support whereby the stackable supports are oriented relative to one another such that the lower surfaces thereof contact each other. Preferably, the elongate groove is configured for receiving a portion of a window. Optionally, the channel of at least one of the stackable supports is configured for receiving at least a portion of a vehicle door frame or other secondary form of support such as a window frame or hunting blind window. In one form, the stackable supports are formed from a cross-linked polyethylene material.
In another aspect, the invention relates to a stackable shooting rest including one or more, and preferably a plurality of layered stackable support(s). Each of the supports includes first and second side members and a central member positioned between the side members. The first and second side members include an upper surface and a lower surface wherein the upper surface defines at least one male engagement feature and the lower surface defines at least one female engagement feature. Preferably, two of the plurality of stackable supports are stackable with the at least one male engagement feature of the upper surface of one of the stackable supports nesting within the at least one female engagement feature of the lower surface of the other stackable support. The central member includes an upper surface and a lower surface wherein the upper surface is generally positioned below the upper surface of the first and second side members to define a central channel extending along each of stackable supports. The upper surface of each of the first and second side members comprises an array of two spaced-apart male engagement features and the lower surface of each of the first and second side members comprises an array of two spaced-apart female engagement features.
In one form, the central channel is configured for receiving and supporting at least a portion of a firearm. In another form, the channel of at least one of the stackable supports is configured for receiving at least a portion of a vehicle door frame or other secondary form of support such as a window fame or hunting blind window. In yet another form, at least a portion of the firearm is capable of being supported between the two spaced-apart male engagement features of both the first and second side members, and wherein a portion of the firearm generally extends across the central channel and generally transverse relative thereto. In example forms, at least two of the stackable supports further include a central aperture formed in the central member, and at least one of the stackable supports further includes an elongate groove formed within the lower surface of the central member. In one form, the central aperture extends from the upper surface of the central member to a lower surface of the groove. Preferably, the at least two stackable supports including the central apertures are configured for rotatably mounting to each other whereby an elongate pin is inserted within the central apertures. The elongate pin extends from a first central aperture of a first stackable support to a second central aperture of a second stackable support, and wherein the stackable supports are oriented relative to one another such that the lower surfaces thereof contact each other. In example forms, the elongate groove is configured for receiving a portion of a window. Preferably, the stackable supports are formed from a cross-link polyethylene material.
In another aspect, the invention relates to a shooting rest comprising an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface comprising projections defining a recess therebetween configured to support a firearm in the recess between the peaks, wherein the projections define a first profile, and wherein the lower surface comprises recesses defining a second profile complementary to the first profile, whereby two such shooting rests are stackable with the projections of a first one of said two shooting rests being received within the recesses of a second one of said two shooting rests.
In still another aspect, the invention relates to a shooting rest including a first side member, a second side member, and a central member. The first side member includes an upper surface and a lower surface. The upper surface defines at least one male engagement feature and the lower surface defines at least one female engagement feature. The second side member is generally laterally offset from the first side member and includes an upper surface and a lower surface. The upper surface defines at least one male engagement feature and the lower surface defines at least one female engagement feature. The central member generally extends between the first side member and the second side member and includes an upper surface and a lower surface. The upper surface is generally positioned below the upper surfaces of the first and second side members to define a channel extending between the first and second side members.
These and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will be understood with reference to the drawing figures and detailed description herein, and will be realized by means of the various elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following brief description of the drawings and detailed description of the invention are exemplary and explanatory of preferred embodiments of the invention, and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.
The present invention may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawing figures, which form a part of this disclosure. It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific devices, methods, conditions or parameters described and/or shown herein, and that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting of the claimed invention. Any and all patents and other publications identified in this specification are incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.
Also, as used in the specification including the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural, and reference to a particular numerical value includes at least that particular value, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” or “approximately” one particular value and/or to “about” or “approximately” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment.
Generally described, the present invention relates to a shooting rest support member and a stackable and reconfigurable shooting rest system comprising one or more such shooting rest support member(s) for supporting and stabilizing a least a portion of a firearm, which allows a user to accurately and precisely aim the firearm towards a target. In example forms, the stackable shooting support system comprises a plurality of stackable supports that can be easily stacked atop each other. Preferably, the stackable supports can be arranged and rearranged in a plurality of configurations to offer multiple options for the user, for example wherein the firearm can be supported in a variety of environments while allowing for height adjustability and/or rotational freedom.
With reference now to the drawing figures, wherein like reference numbers represent corresponding parts throughout the several views,
As depicted in
Each of the upper and lower surfaces 34, 36 of the first and second side members 30, 32 defines a jagged or triangular-like lobed or toothed surface comprising at least one male projection element and/or female receiver element. In the depicted embodiment, the upper surface 34 comprises an array of two convex peaks 40 and the lower surface 36 comprises two complementary concave valleys 42 arranged below the peaks 40. In the depicted embodiment, the peaks 40 and valleys 42 of the upper and lower surfaces 34, 36 of the stackable support 20 follow a generally zig-zag or V-shaped or U-shaped pattern along the length thereof, with triangular-shaped or jagged male projecting tooth elements or lobes and similarly configured triangular-shaped or jagged female receiving elements. In alternate embodiments, the peaks and valleys may take the form of sharply angled teeth, rectangular projections and recesses, or other surface configurations. Other forms of interengaging male and female elements may be provided, for example circular, elliptical, square, lobed, wavy, arcuate, or otherwise configured male projection elements engageable with cooperative female receiving elements. Also, while the depicted embodiment includes two peaks and valleys, one or three or greater are also within the scope of the invention. Generally, the peaks 40 of the upper surfaces 34 and the valleys 42 of the lower surfaces 36 are aligned in the depicted embodiment to define a substantially continuous body thickness along the length of the first and second side members 30, 32.
In one form, the central member 50 is positioned between the laterally offset side members 30, 32 and defines a generally U-shaped or V-shaped channel 54 that extends the length of the support member 20, generally perpendicular to the peaks 40 and valleys 42 that extend across the width of the support member. The upper surfaces 34, and thus the peaks 40, are generally positioned above the central member 50, thereby forming the channel 54 between corresponding peaks 40 of the respective first and second side members 30, 32. The central member 50 generally comprises the upper surface 56 and the lower surface 60, which in the depicted embodiment are generally flat and substantially smooth, and whereby the upper surface 56 defines the bottom surface of the channel 54. Alternatively, the upper and/or lower surfaces 56, 60 can comprise one or more male and/or female projection elements and or other surface features, as desired. Preferably, a generally central aperture 62 is formed within the central member 50 and extends through the thickness of the central member from the upper surface 56 to the lower surface 60. As will be described below, the central aperture 62 is provided for releasably coupling two or more supports 20 together with a pin or rod, which serves as a connector or axle in some forms to allow for multiple supports 20 to be connected together and/or rotate relative to each other. As depicted in
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While the invention has been described with reference to preferred and example embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications, additions and deletions are within the scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims.