Patent Application
20160334189
The present invention relates to support devices for use with firearms, crossbows, and other elongate items and/or devices that need to be held out from the body at a generally horizontal pitch. For example, the present invention may be used to support one's arm when aiming a rifle or other firearm to prevent shaking and fatigue due to the weight of the firearm.
The ability to keep a firearm still at the time of firing is essential to accurately firing the weapon. When holding a firearm up and taking aim, the shooter's arm may waiver under the weight of the firearm. Wind and other elements can also affect a shooter's aim. Even a slight amount of movement or flexure by the shooter can greatly affect shooting accuracy. A shot taken by the shooter may be off target due to movement that results from fatigue in the shooter's arm. Fatigue is one factor that is accentuated in the case of heavier firearms and other weapons, such as rifles, muzzle-loading firearms, crossbows, etc. Therefore, there is a need to provide a rest for supporting a firearm while shooting to increase accuracy by reducing the effects of fatigue while aiming.
Traditional shooting sticks are designed to rest on the ground to provide stable support to the firearm, the forestock of which rests in the cradle of the shooting stick.
Such traditional shooting sticks typically include telescoping leg(s) for adjusting the height of the shooting stick. However, the shooter may not be able to stabilize the base of the extensible or telescoping leg(s) against the immediately available surfaces. For example, the shooter may not have a convenient and stable surface to support the base of the shooting stick: the ground or terrain may be uneven and/or unstable and may be unsuitable for supporting the shooting stick and firearm. Thus, such traditional shooting sticks are limited in their utility, and a shooter may not be able to effectively deploy the shooting stick in many situations.
Due to such limitations in traditional shooting sticks, improved designs are needed.
The present invention provides a portable rest for supporting firearms, shooting bows, and other elongate objects. The invention can be used by an individual to support any one of a variety of guns, such as rifles, shotguns and pistols, or other objects that the person must hold out away from the body (e.g. a telescope) in a comfortable position, and which can be easily transported and quickly deployed by the individual during use, such as in remote hunting areas.
The invention is directed to a support apparatus comprising a weight-bearing end such as a foot structure or ball that acts as anchoring member that may be placed in a pouch, pocket, or against one's body to disburse weight, a shaft member of a predetermined length (which may be adjustable for use by people of differing heights), an elbow structure at the distal end of the shaft member, and a cradle in which the user's hand, wrist, or forearm may rest during use. In some embodiments, and without limitation, the shooting stick may also include an additional cradle located near the shoulder of the user that may be used to support the user's upper arm or the proximal portion of a firearm or other device that the user is supporting with the shooting stick.
The invention may further include a specialized shoulder belt that may include a pouch or pocket into which the anchoring member may be inserted, allowing the weight of the support apparatus to be distributed to the user's shoulder through the shoulder belt. The shoulder belt may be a single strap belt that sits over one shoulder, or it may be a bilateral chest and shoulder belt design having straps that fit over both shoulders, as well as other designs. In some embodiments, the invention may further include a pocket for receiving the anchoring member that may be connected to the user's waist. For example, and without limitation, the pocket may having one or more belt loops thereon through which a belt may pass (the belt may sit around the user's waist). In another example, and without limitation, the pocket may have clips thereon to that may be fastened to a belt on the user's waist or the user's pants. It is contemplated within the present invention that the pocket may include other means of attaching to the user's waist.
In some embodiments, and without limitation, the upper portion of the shooting stick (e.g., embodiments in which the shooting stick includes an additional cradle to support the user's upper arm or the butt of the gun) may have an attachment means for connecting to a shoulder belt. The attachment of the upper portion of the shooting stick to a shoulder belt may allow the user to steady the firearm or other tool supported by the shooting stick with one hand.
The present invention also includes embodiments of a support apparatus that supports the weight of the users arm and the firearm, tool or other item that the user may be holding with a platform that includes at least one cradle thereon for receiving a portion of the user's arm. In such embodiments, and without limitation, the support structure includes a vertical support member (e.g., a shaft) that may sit against or near the torso of the user. The vertical support member may include an anchoring member on the inferior end thereof, which can be placed in a pocket or pouch positioned near the waist of the user. The platform may be attached to the vertical support member at the top of the vertical support member by a static, detachable, or hinged connection. The vertical support member may have a length that positions the platform just under the axilla or upper portion of the user's humerus when the user's arm is extended. The platform may be positioned on the vertical support member at an angle that allows the user to rest his arm and aim a firearm or other device (e.g., a rifle, bow and arrow, cross-bow, a telescope, etc.) comfortably and supports the weight of the arm and the weapon or other device such that the user's arm does not fatigue or shake. In some embodiments, and without limitation, the connection between the platform and the vertical support member may be hinged and collapsible and the support apparatus may include a positioning arm or propping rod that (1) holds the platform in position during use, and (2) can be disengaged during non-use so that the support apparatus can be collapsed. In other implementations, and without limitation, the support apparatus may have a collapsible elbow joint that supports the platform. The collapsible elbow joint may allow the platform to be positioned at various heights. In the collapsed configuration, the support apparatus can be carried on the shoulder belt for easy access.
In some implementations and without limitation, the vertical support member of the support apparatus may have an adjustable height by its insertion into one of a plurality of pockets in an apron worn on or near the waist of the user. The apron may have multiple pockets at different vertical locations on the apron, such that the anchoring member of the vertical support member can be placed at different vertical positions by virtue of the pocket into which it is inserted. The adjustability of the vertical position of the vertical support member may allow the user to accommodate for his height and build, and optimize the comfortable use of the support apparatus. In other implementations, and without limitation, the vertical support member may have an adjustable length for accommodating the height and build of the user and to optionally allow the user to extend the vertical support member for positioning on the ground. In such implementations, the support member may be supported by a pocket at or near the user's waist (e.g., a belt adapter) or by the ground. It is to be understood that the height of the apron or pockets can also be adjusted by varying the length of the shoulder belt to the user's preference (e.g., the shoulder belt may have an adjustable length to allow the pocket or apron to be placed at different heights).
The present invention also includes embodiments in which the support apparatus includes a cradle that may be attachable to the user's arm (e.g., the upper arm or forearm) and the support shaft may be hingedly attached to the cradle such that it can be stowed against (e.g., parallel to the surface of) the cradle during periods of non-use and deployed by swinging the support shaft from the stowed position to a position in which the anchoring member (located at the distal end of the shaft member) may be inserted into a pocket or pouch positioned near the waist of the user. The cradle may be attached to the vertical support member at the top of the vertical support member by a hinged connection that allows the support shaft to pivot through up to a 180° range of angles (e.g., the shaft can be positioned against the cradle when rotated in either direction allowed by the hinged joint). The support apparatus may include a receiving structure for the support shaft to hold the support shaft in place when it is placed against the cradle in the stowed position. The receiving structure may be a clip, a magnet, a trough, closable compartment, or other structure for holding the support shaft in the stowed position. In the stowed position, the support shaft may be positioned behind the arm of the user, and may thus be out of the way of the user and present not obstruction or restriction of the user's movement. The vertical support member may have a fixed length or may be extendible and collapsible (e.g., a telescoping rod, a folding rod with one or more joints therein, or other design). The cradle may be attached to the user's arm by one or more adjustable attachment members that allow the user to adjust the tightness of the one or more attachment members for a tight fit. The one or more adjustable attachment members may be belts, laces, or straps, or an adjustable cuff that wraps around the user's arm. In such embodiments, the support shaft can be quickly stowed and deployed, allowing for convenient and efficient use of the support apparatus. The user can swing the support shaft up against the cradle into the stowed position in one motion. Likewise, the user can grasp the support shaft when in the stowed position and pull it down to the desired angle relative to the cradle and place the anchoring member in into a pocket or pouch positioned near the waist of the user to support the user's arm.
Several embodiments are discussed below, but the examples embodiments shall not to be interpreted as an exhaustive list. One with ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the scope of the present invention includes further variations and equivalents to the specific examples described herein.
In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a weight support system, comprising that includes an anchoring member for resting against a user's body in the area of the waist; a support member including a platform and a cradle for supporting a portion of the user's arm or an object held by the user; and a support shaft extending from the anchoring member to the support member, wherein an angle between the plane of the platform and the support shaft is acute. The portion of the user's arm may be the user's upper arm. The acute angle between the support shaft and the platform may be in a range of about therein of about 30° to about 80°. The support shaft may have an adjustable length, allowing the user to adjust the support system to his height. In some implementations, the weight support system may also include at least one pocket or pouch for resting against the area of the waist and for receiving the anchoring member of the shooting stick. In some implementations, the support shaft may be detachable from the platform. In some implementations, the support member may have two support shaft receivers, where a first support shaft receiver is located at a first end of the platform and a second support receiver is located a second end of the platform. In such implementations, the support shaft may have a connector at a proximal end thereof that is operable to engage the first support shaft receiver and the second support shaft receiver. In such implementations, the first support shaft receiver may be positioned on the platform such that the engagement of the support shaft connector with the first support shaft receiver places the support shaft at the acute angle relative to the plane of the platform, and the second support shaft receiver may be positioned on the platform such that the engagement of the support shaft connector with the second support shaft receiver places the support shaft at an angle different from the acute angle.
In some embodiments, the present invention relates to an apparatus for supporting a person's arm that includes a cradle for receiving a portion of the person's arm, a fastening member for securing the cradle to the portion of the person's arm; and a support shaft attached to a back side of the cradle, wherein the support shaft is attached to the back side of the cradle by a articulating joint that allows the support shaft to change position relative to the cradle. The portion of the user's arm may be the user's upper arm, elbow, forearm, or wrist. The support shaft has an adjustable length to allow the user to adjust the support apparatus to his height. In some implementations, the articulating joint may be a hinge joint that allows a range of positions of about 180°. In some implementations, the apparatus may include a support shaft receiver on the back side of the cradle for engaging and holding the support shaft in a stowed position, wherein receiver is operable to reversibly engage with the support shaft. In such implementations, the receiver may be a clip, magnetic clasp, a trough, a closable compartment, or other receiving structure. In some embodiments, the support apparatus may be included in an arm support system that includes at least one pocket or pouch for resting against the area of the waist and for receiving and supporting the distal end of the support shaft. In such embodiments, the at least one pocket or pouch may be part of an apron having a plurality of pockets or pouches at various heights, allowing the user to adjust the height of the shooting stick assembly.
In some embodiments, the present invention relates to a shooting stick kit that includes a shooting stick assembly having a cradle assembly for supporting a portion of the user's arm or an object held by the user, and a support shaft connected to the underside of the cradle assembly; and at least one pocket or pouch for resting against the area of the waist and for receiving a distal end of the support shaft. In some implementations, the at least one pocket or pouch may be attached to a shoulder or waist belt. The at least one pocket or pouch may be part of an apron having a plurality of pockets or pouches at various heights, allowing the user to adjust the height of the shooting stick assembly. In some implementations, the support shaft may have an adjustable length. In some implementations, the support shaft may be connected to the cradle assembly by an articulating joint that allows the support shaft to change position relative to the cradle assembly. In some implementations, the cradle assembly may include a platform having two support shaft receivers, wherein a first support shaft receiver is located at a first end of the platform and a second support receiver is located a second end of the platform, where the support shaft has a connector at a proximal end thereof that is operable to engage the first support shaft receiver and the second support shaft receiver. In such implementations, the first support shaft receiver may be positioned on the platform such that the engagement of the support shaft connector with the first support shaft receiver places the support shaft at the acute angle relative to the plane of the platform, and the second support shaft receiver may be positioned on the platform such that the engagement of the support shaft connector with the second support shaft receiver places the support shaft at an angle different from the acute angle.
The embodiments of the present invention are discussed in more detail below.
Without limiting the invention,
Without limiting the invention,
The support apparatus assembly of the present invention may be further varied to increase the adjustability of the design. For example, and without limitation, the cradle 104 may be adjustable to accommodate various individuals and various positioning of the user's limb within the cradle. For example, and without limitation, the cradle may have an adjustable joint at the base of the cradle where it meets the angled neck that allows the angle between the lateral arms of the cradle to be adjusted, and/or allows the lateral arms to extended.
The elements of the shooting stick assembly may be varied in other ways as well. For example, and without limitation, the anchoring member may have various shapes and sizes. In some implementations, and without limitation, the anchoring member may have a spherical (e.g., having a diameter in the range of 1 in. to about 6 inches) or an ovoid or ellipsoid shape (e.g., having a greater diameter in the range of 1 in. to about 6 inches), or may be a foot structure with various shapes (e.g., cylindrical, pyramidal, rectangular prism, etc.), and may be made from various materials (e.g., metals, composites, polymeric materials, wood, etc.). In some implementations, and without limitation, the support apparatus may not include an anchoring member and the bottom end of the vertical support member may itself be inserted into a pouch or pocked at the waist of the user. In further implementations, and without limitation, the anchoring member may be a curved arch-like cradle structure that has a substantially complementary shape to a human waist and can rest against the curvature of the waist of the user. In such examples, there may be no need for a pouch or pocket to hold the anchoring member of the support apparatus assembly. The cradle structure may be adjustable, having an adjustable joint at the apex of the cradle where it meets the support shaft. The adjustable joint may allow the angle between the lateral arms of the cradle to be adjusted.
In some implementations, and without limitation, the angled neck may be (1) rotatable, and/or (2) operable to adjust the angle of the neck. For example, and without limitation, the cradle 104 may be attached to the angled neck by a joint that can rotate 360°. The rotatable joint may also include a locking bolt hold it in a desired orientation. The angled neck may also include a bendable section that allows the angle of the neck to be varied. For example, and without limitation, the angled neck may have a pivoting joint therein that allows the angle of the neck to be changed. The pivoting joint may include a locking mechanism (e.g., a locking bolt) to hold the angle of the neck at a desired angle during use. The operability to rotate and change the angle of the neck may allow the user to position his arm and the object held (e.g., rifle), such that the user's accuracy is optimized. The adjustment of the neck may allow the user to adjust the support apparatus such that his hand, wrist, forearm, elbow, or the rifle itself can rest in the cradle of the support apparatus assembly, depending on his preference.
Without limiting the invention,
The operability to (1) adjust the size and/or shape of the cradle, (2) to rotate and/or adjust the angle of the neck, and (3) adjust the length of the support shaft may allow the user to set the shooting stick at just the right custom orientation for the user's build and preferred shooting stance.
In further embodiments of the support apparatus, and without limitation, the support apparatus may include a cradle or support structure at the superior end of a vertical support member for supporting the user's upper arm or the proximal end of the firearm or other device that the user is supporting with the support apparatus. For example, and without limitation,
The present invention also includes embodiments of a support apparatus that supports the weight of the users arm and the object that the user is holding with a platform that includes at least one cradle thereon for receiving a portion of the user's arm. Without limiting the invention, the support structure may include a vertical support member (e.g., a leg) that may sit against or near the torso of the user (see, e.g.,
The support apparatus may be paired with a shoulder or waist belt that includes at least one pocket that sits near the hunter's waist, as described herein. The support apparatus can be quickly inserted into the pocket so that the user's arm may be supported by a cradle on the support structure during aiming and firing. In some implementations, and without limitation, an apron that includes multiple pockets or pouches may be attached to the shoulder or waist belt, providing multiple positions for the anchoring member of the support apparatus. For example, and without limitation, the apron may include multiple pockets at different vertical positions in the apron, such that the user can position the anchoring member of the support apparatus at different heights and thereby adjust the height of the cradle of the shooting stick. The multiple pockets allow the combination of the shooting stick assembly and the belt and apron to accommodate users having various heights, anatomies, and preferences.
The vertical support member of the support apparatus may have a length designed to position the platform just under the axilla or upper portion of the user's humerus when the user's arm is extended. Variations in the user's height can be accommodated by the various pockets in the apron or other means as described below. In some embodiments, and without limitation, the vertical support member may be extendable (e.g., telescoping) such that the user may adjust the length of the support apparatus to accommodate the user's height. For example, and without limitation, the vertical support member may include a telescoping joint (e.g., like that shown in
As shown in
The platform may be supported by a strut 505 that connects to the bottom surface of the platform 503 and to the vertical support 501 at a point that is inferior to the connection between the vertical support 501 and the platform 503. The strut 504 functions to aid in supporting the position of the platform 503 under the load of the user's arm.
In further implementations, and without limitation, the support apparatus may include an additional wrist support structure to provide the user with further support and steadiness.
In some embodiments, and without limitation, the platform may be detachable form the vertical support member and the vertical support member may be configured such that each end of the vertical support member may connect to the platform (see, e.g.,
As shown in
In related embodiments, and without limitation, the platform may be adjustably connected to the vertical support . For example, and without limitation, the support apparatus 800 shown in
As shown in
In further embodiments, and without limitation, the rotatable strut may be hingedly attached to the bottom of the platform, instead of the vertical support member. In such embodiments, and without limitation, the vertical support member may include one or more slots, holes, or other receivers into which the rotatable strut may be inserted. In embodiments in which the vertical support member includes a plurality of receivers for receiving the rotatable strut, the angle of the platform can be adjusted to the user's preference by changing the slot into which the rotatable strut is inserted.
In some implementations and without limitation, the vertical support member may have an adjustable height by its insertion into one of a plurality of pockets in an apron worn on or near the waist of the user, as described herein. The apron may have multiple pockets at different vertical locations on the apron, such that the anchoring member can be placed at different vertical positions by virtue of the pocket into which it is inserted. The adjustability of the vertical position of the vertical support member may allow the user to accommodate for his height and build, and optimize the comfortable use of the support apparatus.
In other implementations, and without limitation, the vertical support member may have an adjustable length for accommodating the height and build of the user and to optionally allow the user to extend the vertical support member for positioning on the ground. For example, and without limitation, the vertical support member may include a telescoping rod therein with sufficient length to extend the vertical support member 401 from the axilla of the user to flat or sloped ground on which the user is standing.
In some embodiments, and without limitation, the support apparatus may include an additional cradle structure that extends from the end of the platform that can be used to support the user's wrist or forearm, the forestock of a rifle, the barrel of a pistol, the distal end of a telescope or other structures. The additional (distal) cradle structure may include an adjustable rod (e.g., a telescoping or sliding rod, etc.) that can extend several inches (e.g., about 3 inches to about 24 inches) beyond the end of the platform, and may include a cradle structure on a distal end thereof. The adjustable rod may additionally have a joint therein that allows vertical rotation of all or a portion of the rod to adjust a height of the cradle relative to the platform. The adjustability of both the length of the rod and the height of the cradle may allow the user to optimize the position of the cradle for comfortable use.
As examples, and without limitation,
A support apparatus 1100 is shown in
The embodiments shown in
In some implementations, and without limitation, the hinge joint 1220 may be connected to the underside of the cradle 1203 by a swivel joint, such that not only can the support shaft is swing due to the pivoting action of the hinge joint, the hinge joint 1220 itself can swivel to change the angle of the plane along which the support shaft swings. The swiveling action of the hinge joint may allow the user to adjust the support apparatus such that the user can comfortably support his arm in positions that are further away from the midline of the user's body (e.g., positions lateral to the user's shoulder girdle).
The present invention provides a weight support device for a person supporting an elongate object at generally horizontal pitch. Specific uses of the invention include use as a shooting stick for firearms. It is to be understood that here are several variations in the weight support device that provide additional benefits, as disclosed above. It also to be understood that the present invention is not limited to firearms and that the present invention may be used to support a person's arm when using various other elongate devices, such as telescopes, bow and arrow, cross-bows, etc.
It should further be understood that the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62159964 | May 2015 | US | |
| 62163377 | May 2015 | US | |
| 62186377 | Jun 2015 | US |
