Patent ID: 9683803
Date: 2017-06-20
CPC Classifications: F41A

Claim:
1. A tripod for mounting a machine gun between a front pintle and a traverse-and-elevation (T&E) device, said tripod mechanically alterable between stowage and deployment configurations, said tripod comprising: a head member for receiving the front pintle; a fore leg connecting to said head member at a fore pitch hinge, said fore leg extending forward in the deployment configuration and folding aft beneath said head member in the stowage configuration; first and second rear legs connectable to said head member by corresponding rear lateral hinges, each rear leg having a rail member that slides longitudinally therealong, said rear legs splaying outward from said head member in the deployment configuration and contracting substantially parallel in the stowage configuration; and a traverse bar that includes an elongated member for mounting the T&E device, first and second termini at opposite ends of said elongated member, and a sprocket, said termini respectively attaching to said first and second legs by respective first and second pivot orifices, and a sprocket, wherein said elongated member has an arc curvature that enables the T&E device to travel along said elongated member with constant elevation of the machine gun, and said first terminus includes a circular serrated cavity for receiving said sprocket having said first pivot orifice, said sprocket being removable to rotate said first pivot orifice for subsequent reinsertion into said serrated cavity, said first pivot orifice being offset from axial center of said sprocket.