Firearms – Implements – Rests
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-30
2001-06-12
Carone, Michael J. (Department: 3641)
Firearms
Implements
Rests
C182S187000, C182S135000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06243979
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention is related to shooting rests, gun rests, rifle rests or shooting rails that will assist a hunter in aiming and discharging a firearm, especially when the hunter is in a tree stand.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Tree stands are commonly used by hunters, especially deer hunters. These tree stands are mounted at an elevated position in a tree and give a hunter a better field of view as well as positioning a hunter out of the normal line of sight of game animals, such as deer. Elaborate permanent or semipermanent tree stands complete with a permanent frame with railing arms surrounding an occupant are known, but these stands are both costly and difficult to mount at an elevated position. An opposite extreme is represented by self climbing tree stands that allow a hunter to ratchet the stand upwardly as he climbs the tree. However, these self climbing tree stands must also be lowered when the hunter descends. Another type of tree stand comprises a lower tree stand platform that is lashed or chained to a tree and ladders or steps attached to the tree allow the hunter to ascend or descend at will without removing the tree stand. These combo stands can be equipped with a seat. These relatively simple stands do not provide means for mounting a camouflage cover or partition hide an occupant from view. Furthermore not all of these intermediate stands include a shooting rest or rail to assist a hunter in aiming or discharging a firearm. Furthermore a hunter will typically remain in a tree stand at an elevated position for extended periods and since these stands may not have a permanent frame or railing, it is possible for a hunter to lose his balance and fall from the stand. Indeed safety belts can be used to secure the hunter directly to the tree.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,512 discloses a blind structure for use on a tree stand platform. This platform includes a seat that is chained to a tree and a platform below the seat includes an inner edge segment that forms an abutment which bears against a tree trunk. A camouflage blind is attached to the platform by inner and outer cross beams that can be removably secured to the tree stand platform. Sockets are attached to the ends of the inner and outer cross beams and rods, extending generally upward, are mounted in the sockets at four corners of the blind. Flexible blind panels can be inserted over the rods on the platform. Although the flexible blind panels provide a camouflage cover surrounding an occupant or hunter, they do not provide any frame for supporting a fire arm or for supporting an occupant or hunter to provide a measure of security, safety or a feeling of well being. U.S. Pat. No. 3,990,536 discloses a another blind structure with curtains wrapped around poles extending upwardly from the front, again without providing a shooting rest or a rigid rail at the top of the curtains.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,116,808 discloses a portable deer stand including a safety rail and a detachable closure. A closed tubular frame having substantially the same configuration as the perimeter of the stand platform is supported by two support posts at the outer or front end of the stand and is attached to a tree by a chain.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention depicted by the representative embodiments shown here comprises a rifle rest for use by a hunter that can be folded and collapsed from a deployed position in which the hunter can use the rifle rest for support and a retracted position for storage and transport. The rifle rest comprises a front bar having a central section and end sections extending transversely relative to the front bar. Two horizontal side bars are hinged about the end sections of the front bar. Two vertical posts are hinged relative to the central section, the posts being hinged at locations on the central section adjacent to the end sections. The two side and the two posts are hinged about mutually transverse axes so that the side bars and the posts can be retracted. The t bars, the side bars, the posts and the central section of the front bar extend in substantially the same direction when folded into a retracted configuration. This collapsible rifle or shooting rest can therefore be easily transported and stored and it can be deployed by a hunter on a tree stand to provide support for aiming and discharging a firearm along three sides. A camouflage partition can be positioned on the deployed rifle rest frame to form a hunting blind on and elevated tree stand. The frame can also be deployed on the ground to form a hunting blind.
This hunting blind includes a support base attachable to the tree stand platform at a location spaced from the tree. First and a second upright members are attachable to opposite ends of the support base and extend upwardly therefrom. A front horizontal member is attachable to the first and second upright members and extends between the first and second upright members. Side horizontal members extend from the upright members to fasteners attachable to opposite sides of the tree at a position above the tree stand platform. The hunting blink also includes a partition extending from the front and side horizontal members downward toward the tree stand platform to camouflage an occupant of the hunting blind.
The frame of the hunting blind also comprises a shooting rest for use on a tree stand platform mounted at an elevated position on a tree. The shooting rest includes a support base attachable to a front edge of the tree stand platform. The shooting rest also includes first and second posts insertable into opposite ends of the support base. A horizontal front shooting rail is attachable between the first and second posts with the posts supporting the shooting rail. Side rails are attachable to the front shooting rail and to the tree to support the front shooting rail. The posts, the front shooting rail and the side rails are mountable on and attachable to the tree stand platform by an occupant on the tree stand platform at the elevated position on the tree. Thus this invention provides either a shooting rest or a hunting blind that can be mounted on a conventional tree stand and can be relatively easily moved between tree stands or can be left in place for future use.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2847906 (1958-08-01), Kester
patent: 2847909 (1958-08-01), Kester
patent: 3022898 (1962-02-01), Loeb
patent: 4230203 (1980-10-01), Sweat et al.
patent: 4501082 (1985-02-01), Phillips et al.
patent: 5105908 (1992-04-01), Freund
patent: 5167298 (1992-12-01), Porter
patent: 5279390 (1994-01-01), Phillips
patent: 5482137 (1996-01-01), McNeill
patent: 5492198 (1996-02-01), Williams
patent: 5590738 (1997-01-01), Hunt et al.
patent: 5628383 (1997-05-01), McIntyre
patent: 5791436 (1998-08-01), Talley, Sr.
Seats Donald L.
Surratt Bryan R.
Buckley Denise J
Carone Michael J.
Pitts Robert W.
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