FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to apparatus for supporting weapons, such as rifles, and particularly for a support for a weapon that is assembled on clothing including any kind of load bearing equipment, such as being assembled on MOLLE gear.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Soldiers, police and other security personnel carry weapons in the line of duty. Many kinds of weapon carriers exist, including holsters, both hip-mounted and concealed, rifle slings, straps, and many others.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention seeks to provide a novel wearable weapon support assembly, as is described more in detail herein below.
In one embodiment, the invention includes a wearable rest for a rifle, machine gun or other weapon. It attaches to any modular (e.g., MOLLE) platform, vest or backpack and can also be attached via strap adaptors to the shoulder areas of any non-modular vest or backpack. The term clothing throughout the specification and claims encompasses any type of clothing, support equipment, load bearing equipment and the like.
In one embodiment, the invention includes a sternum mount that allows the weapon to rest on the chest area with little or no hand support, thus transferring the weight of the weapon to the wearer's shoulders and back.
In one embodiment, the mount employs a rear mounting plate that attaches to modular (e.g., MOLLE or PALS) equipment and enables connecting QD (quick detach) rifle sling pins or other quick release items instantly.
Different configurations of front “shelf” pieces may be employed, which support the weight of the weapon resting on it. The shelf has a forward lip which prevents the weapon from falling forwards as well as providing general stability and balance.
The front shelf piece can connect using either a standard quick-release pin or screw.
The rest is designed so that the weapon is accessible with one “grab” without the need to undo any latches or other closure mechanisms which delay employment of the weapon.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following drawings:
FIG. 1A is a simplified pictorial illustration of a portion of a wearable weapon support assembly, constructed and operative in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 1B and 1C are simplified side-view and pictorial illustrations, respectively, of connecting a clothing interface member to the wearable weapon support assembly, in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 2A and 2B are simplified pictorial and exploded assembly illustrations, respectively, of another wearable weapon support assembly, constructed and operative in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 2C and 2D are simplified pictorial and exploded assembly illustrations, respectively, of another wearable weapon support assembly, constructed and operative in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2E is a simplified pictorial illustration of another wearable weapon support assembly, constructed and operative in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3A is a simplified pictorial illustration of another wearable weapon support assembly, constructed and operative in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, assembled on a vest connector;
FIG. 3B is a simplified pictorial illustration of another wearable weapon support assembly, constructed and operative in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, with provisions for MOLLE attachment or strap connectors;
FIG. 3C is a simplified pictorial illustration of another wearable weapon support assembly, constructed and operative in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, with provisions for a vest connector or for a universal QD connector;
FIGS. 3D-3F are simplified pictorial illustrations of three different ways of wearing the wearable weapon support assembly;
FIG. 4 is a simplified pictorial illustration of yet another wearable weapon support assembly, constructed and operative in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a simplified pictorial illustration of a clothing interface member for MOLLE attachment, vest attachment or strap connector attachment; and
FIG. 6 is a simplified pictorial illustration of the wearable weapon support assembly being worn by a user and supporting a weapon.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
Reference is now made to FIGS. 1A-1C, which illustrate a wearable weapon support assembly 10, constructed and operative in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. The assembly 10 may be injection molded from plastic, or made of metal or any other suitable material. The assembly 10 includes a shelf member 12 upon which the weapon may rest. A forward lip 14 extends upwards from shelf member 12, which prevents the weapon from falling forwards as well as providing general stability and balance.
A clothing interface member 16 may be secured to a portion of the shelf member 12 of the wearable weapon support assembly 10, such as by means of fasteners 18. In the illustrated embodiment, clothing interface member 16 is secured to a receiving member 20 which extends from shelf member 12. For example fasteners 18 may be threadedly received in tapped bosses 22 formed in receiving member 20. Other fasteners, such as universal QD connectors, may be used instead of threaded fasteners. Clothing interface member 16 includes a mounting provision 17 that may be assembled to MOLLE vests or gear. For example, as seen in this embodiment and the other embodiments of the invention, the mounting provision may be a hook, hook and loop component, MOLLE attachment member, QD connector, slots for receiving straps, and many more.
Reference is now made to FIGS. 2A and 2B, which illustrate another wearable weapon support assembly 24, constructed and operative in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. As before, assembly 24 includes a shelf member 25 upon which the weapon may rest, and a forward lip 26 that extends upwards from shelf member 25. The shelf member 25 is shaped as an upside down U, suitable for supporting a middle portion of a rifle, such as but not limited to, an M-16. A clothing interface member 27 may be secured to the assembly 24. such as by means of a fastener 28 (e.g., threaded or QD).
FIGS. 2C and 2D illustrate another wearable weapon support assembly 70, constructed and operative in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. As before, assembly 70 includes a shelf member 72 upon which the weapon may rest, and a forward lip 74 that extends upwards from shelf member 72. The shelf member 72 is shaped as an upside down U, suitable for supporting a middle portion of a rifle, such as but not limited to, an M-16. A clothing interface member 76 may be secured to the assembly 70, such as by means of a fastener 78, which is a QD pin. The clothing interface member 76 has provisions for receiving straps or for mounting on a MOLLE system.
FIG. 2E illustrates another type of QD fastener 80 on a vest connector 82 (clothing interface member 82) which has mounting provisions for receiving straps or for mounting on a MOLLE system. In this embodiment, as with other embodiments of the invention, the QD (or quick release, the terms being used interchangeably) fastener 80 and the clothing interface member 82 can be used to mount a variety of equipment even without a shelf member.
FIG. 3A illustrates support assembly 24 assembled on a vest connector 30. FIG. 3B illustrates support assembly 24 with mounting provision 32 for MOLLE attachment or strap connectors.
FIG. 3C illustrates support assembly 24 with optional mounting on either vest connector 30 or on a hydration clip with a universal QD connector 34.
FIGS. 3D-3F illustrate three different ways of wearing the wearable weapon support assembly 24, namely, on MOUE strips 36 (FIG. 3D), vest connector 30 (FIG. 3E), or shoulder straps 38 (FIG. 3F).
Reference is now made to FIG. 4, which illustrates yet another wearable weapon support assembly 40, constructed and operative in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. As before, assembly 40 includes a shelf member 42 upon which the weapon may rest, and a forward lip 44 that extends upwards from shelf member 42. The shelf member 42 is shaped as an upside down V, suitable for supporting a middle portion of a rifle, such as but not limited to, an M-16. A clothing interface member 46 may be secured to the assembly 40, such as by means of a fastener 48 (e.g., threaded or QD).
Reference is now made to FIG. 5, which illustrates a clothing interface member 50 for MOLLE attachment, vest attachment or strap connector attachment. In the vertical position, clothing interface member 50 can attach to any MOLLE system; in the horizontal position, it can attach to a vest attachment or strap connector attachment.
FIG. 6 illustrates the wearable weapon support assembly being worn by a user and supporting a weapon.
Patent Application
20170284767
