Firearms – Implements – Rests
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-08
2001-08-14
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3641)
Firearms
Implements
Rests
C089S037010, C089S037040, C089S040110
Reexamination Certificate
active
06272785
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to firearm accessories. In particular, the present invention relates to gun support devices for holding a rifle or a shotgun in a desired position.
2. Relevant Technology
For safety reasons, any hunter, target shooter, or other kind of gun user must be constantly aware of where his gun is being pointed. This is true not only as the gun is being fired, but also when the gun is not currently being used. Being aware of where a gun is pointed is the first tenet of firearm safety. For example, when a person is hunting with a rifle or shotgun, the hunter must always carefully point the gun away from other people and in a direction where no damage will be done if the gun accidentally fires.
Oftentimes, hunters sit or stand for extended periods of time in a single location. When doing so, hunters have had several choices of how they maintain their guns pointed in a safe direction. Perhaps the most frequently used technique involves the hunter holding the gun in a steady position and in a safe direction while ensuring that nobody walks in front of the gun. This technique can almost entirely ensure safety if the gun user is vigilant. However, holding a gun for extended periods of time is inconvenient because it can lead to fatigue or can prevent the gun user from participating in other activities that require the use of the hands.
Alternatively, in order to free up the hands, many gun users resort to placing their guns on the ground or propping them against a tree or another makeshift support. This approach to gun handling has several drawbacks. First, when a gun is placed on the ground or propped against an object, it is often not secured against accidental movement. For example, placing a gun against a tree often involves a balancing act that can result in the gun toppling if bumped or, sometimes, for no apparent reason at all. When a gun is displaced from a temporary resting position, it could discharge or at least be damaged. Accordingly, resting a shotgun or a rifle on the ground or an object in the gun's surroundings is often an unwise practice. However, because acceptable alternatives have not always been available, many hunters have done so.
Placing a gun on an object or on the ground is also often undesirable because the gun may be scratched or otherwise damaged even if no accidental gun movement. Many gun owners have had their guns damaged in this way. In some situations, hunters may be unable to lay their guns down on the ground or on a nearby object. For example, many waterfowl hunters hunt from blinds positioned in or near a body of water where no nearby dry ground is available. Furthermore, if a gun falls from a hunter's arm or from a temporary resting spot into the water, the gun may be severely damaged.
Many gun owners have experienced similar problems upon resting a gun against a makeshift support to brace the gun while firing. Many hunters can improve their aim by placing the stock or barrel of the gun against a tree branch or another similar object. Bracing the gun in this manner eliminates much of the unsteadiness of the shooter's hands. Bracing guns is also practiced while calibrating an optical or mechanical sight on the gun. For example, many target shooters rest their guns against stationary objects, such as truck tailgates, benches, and the like, at shooting ranges.
Bracing a gun against a tree branch, a truck tailgate, or another convenient object has several drawbacks. First, movement of the gun against the hard surface while the gun is fired can easily mar the finish of the gun. In addition, bracing a gun against an object as described above is often awkward, and does not always eliminate unsteadiness while shooting.
In view of the foregoing, it could be an advancement in the art to provide devices or structures for securely resting a gun in a safe position without the gun having to be held by the gun user. It would be particularly useful if the structure or device could be used in the field in a variety of environmental conditions. It would be advantageous to provide such a support device or structure that can also securely brace the gun while firing, whether at the shooting range or in the field.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to structures and devices securely supporting a gun. The gun support devices of the invention include a body defining an elongate channel shaped to receive a portion of a region of a gun that extends between the trigger and the forearm of the gun. The gun support devices can be mounted on a tripod or another support structure so that the gun held therein can be securely positioned with respect to the ground. The gun support devices of the invention can have several uses, including providing a safe technique for supporting guns in the field or at the shooting range and enabling guns to be securely braced while being fired.
In one implementation, the gun support devices of the invention include a generally flat center portion flanked by two restraining sidewalls. Together, the central portion and the restraining sidewall define an elongate channel or recess dimensioned to receive a gun, such as a rifle or a shotgun. The central portion generally supports the majority of the weight of the gun, while the two lateral sidewalls generally restrain the gun from lateral motion.
The central portion of the gun support device has an opening formed therethrough that admits the trigger assembly of the gun when the gun is received in the elongate channel. At least a portion of the trigger can thereby extend through the gun support device and beyond the lower surface of the gun support device. The trigger assembly is accessible by the gun user when the gun is received in the gun support device.
The gun support devices of the invention can be formed in part by a pliable material that contacts the gun when the gun is received in the gun support device. The pliable material protects the finish of the gun from damage. Any of a large number of soft or pliable materials can be used, including polyurethane, other foamed or pliable polymeric materials, natural or synthetic fur, natural or synthetic fabrics, and the like. The gun support device can also be partially formed by a rigid material or can instead be entirely formed by the soft or pliable material. For instance, aluminum or other metals can be used to provide rigidity to the central portion and lateral sidewall.
The gun support devices can further include one or more straps for tightly holding a gun within the elongate channel For example, when a gun is received in the gun support device, a strap can extend from one lateral sidewall to the other. The strap can be removably secured to one lateral sidewall by means of Velcro, snaps, buckles or the like. The elongate channel can have a longitudinal axis that is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the barrel of the gun.
The gun support devices can be attached to a tripod or other supporting structure using an attachment mechanism formed on the lower surface of the central portion. For example, the lower portion may have formed therein one or more threaded sockets that removably mate with a screw on the mounting structure of a tripod. Including multiple threaded sockets along the midline of the body of the gun support devices allows the point of attachment to be positioned near the center of gravity of the gun.
When a gun user takes a gun to the field or the shooting range, the gun support device in combination with a tripod or another supporting structure can conveniently support the gun when not in use and, optionally, while in use. No longer does the hunter need to hold a rifle or shotgun for extended periods of time or temporarily rest a gun against a tree or another object. Instead, the gun support devices disclosed herein provide a safe and secure resting place for guns. The gun user's hands are free to engage in other activities, the gun can be continually pointed in a safe direction, and the gun d
Mika Jerry M.
Reynolds Jerry B.
Jordan Charles T.
Richardson J. A.
Workman & Nydegger & Seeley
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