Abstract:
A swiveling gun rest is disclosed, comprising a mounting unit for mounting to a surface of a hunting blind, and a swiveling support unit for supporting a gun and a body of a person using the gun. The mounting unit may include a mast having a foot able to contact a floor of the hunting blind. A swivel joint accommodates swivel of the support unit about a vertical axis, so as to be able to fire through windows of the hunting blind. The foot may accommodate the combined weights of the gun rest, gun, and a portion of the body weight of the person. The swivel joint may comprise a plurality of sockets fixed to the mounting unit and an equal number of fingers fixed to the support unit, the fingers configured to occupy the sockets. The support unit may comprise a frame and a cushion atop the frame.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to supports, and more particularly to a swiveling support for supporting an elongated rifle or the like in a horizontal orientation. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Hunters frequently avail themselves of hunting blinds when hunting game. A hunting blind is a small shelter, typically built rigid and fixed in configuration. The hunting blind serves to shelter a hunter and conceal the hunter from game animals. A hunting blind has windows through which projectiles are fired. 
         [0003]    Hunting can be difficult in that a weapon must be held in carefully controlled position until the moment of firing. Any deviation from the controlled position can cause the hunter to miss his or her target. Weapons used by hunters can include long rifles, which are difficult to hold steady merely by manual grasp. 
         [0004]    Gun rests have been provided to address this problem. A gun rest may be fixed to a suitable structural portion of the hunting blind, such as a vertical wall. However, construction of hunting blinds typically does not anticipate any specific type of gun rest. Hence it falls to the gun rest to conform to and accommodate the hunting blind. There exists a need for a gun rest which is well adapted for mounting to a hunting blind, accommodating a hunter&#39;s weight and preferred body position, and is suitable for use with diverse styles of guns. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention addresses the above stated situation by providing a gun rest which readily mounts to a hunting blind, provides a flat support table unencumbered by complicated construction or by projections, thereby accommodating diverse placement of a gun and different body positions when leaning on the gun support, and which accommodates different gun styles and configurations. 
         [0006]    To these ends, the gun rest includes a mounting unit for mounting to a wall of the hunting blind, and a support unit for supporting a gun and a body of a person using the gun. A swivel joint accommodates swivel of the support unit relative to the mounting unit about a vertical axis, thereby enabling the gun to fire through any one of the windows of the hunting blind. The mounting unit includes a foot located to be able to contact a floor of the hunting blind, thereby reducing loads imposed on mounting bolts securing the mounting unit to the wall of the hunting blind. The swivel joint may comprise an upper socket and lower socket on the mounting unit, and corresponding fingers on the swiveling support unit. 
         [0007]    The support unit comprises a support member including a flat planar horizontal support surface, enabling a variety of gun supports to be laid thereon, with the hunter supporting some of his or her upper body on the support unit as well as the gun. 
         [0008]    It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof by apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
         [0009]    This and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a swiveling gun rest mounted in a hunting blind, according to at least one aspect of the invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of two major components of the swiveling gun rest of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a perspective exterior view of the hunting blind shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    Referring first to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , according to at least one aspect of the invention, there is shown a swiveling gun rest  100  comprising a mounting unit  102  configured to be mounted on a surface (e.g., a wall  204 ) of a hunting blind  200  or the like. Mounting unit  102  comprises a mast  104  including an upper end  106 , a lower end  108 , and a bracket member  110  attached to the lower end  108 . Bracket member  110  includes an adjuster configured to raise and lower bracket member  110  relative to mast  104 . Swiveling gun rest  100  also comprises a support unit  112  for supporting a gun (not shown) and a body of a person (not shown) using the gun. Support unit  112  comprises a support member  114  including a flat planar horizontal support surface  116 . Swiveling gun rest  100  further comprises at least one swivel joint configured to swivel support unit  112  relative to mounting unit  102  about a vertical axis  118  when mounting unit  102  is on the surface of hunting blind  200 . 
         [0015]    The adjuster will be described hereinafter. Axis  118  is an axis of rotation of support unit  112  as the latter swivels on mounting unit  102 . Swivel joints will be further explained hereinafter. 
         [0016]    It should be noted at this point that orientational terms such as upper and lower refer to the subject drawing as viewed by an observer. The drawing figures depict their subject matter in orientations of normal use, which could obviously change with changes in body posture and position. Therefore, orientational terms must be understood to provide semantic basis for purposes of description only, and do not imply that their subject matter can be used only in one position. For example, axis  118  is vertical in an orientation of normal use illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         [0017]    Support member  114  is used to support a gun, cushions or other structure holding the gun in an operable position, and weight of the upper body of a person using the gun. To comfortably and stably support these items, support member  114  comprises a yielding material, such as cotton batting or an open cell or closed cell synthetic resinous foam. A fabric or other cover (not shown) may be provided to protect the yielding material from contamination. Support member  114  has a length  122  ( FIG. 1 ) between two feet and four feet, and a width  120  between six and fifteen inches. 
         [0018]    Support unit  102  comprises a frame  124 . Support member  114  is coupled to frame  124 . Support member  114  is removably mounted to frame  124  of support unit  112 . Support unit  112  comprises a plurality of fasteners  126  ( FIG. 2 ) removably securing support member  114  to frame  124  of support unit  112 . Referring principally to  FIG. 2 , frame  124  of support unit  112  comprises a vertical first member  128  proximate mast  104  of mounting unit  102 , a horizontal second member  130  fixed to vertical first member  128 , and a spanning member  132  fixed to vertical first member  128  and to horizontal second member  130 . Horizontal second member  130  of frame  124  of support unit  112  comprises a frame upper surface  134  and a plurality of laterally projecting tabs  136  having tab upper surfaces  138  coplanar with frame upper surface  134 . Vertical first member  128  of frame  124  has a height between fifteen inches and twenty-five inches. Horizontal second member  130  of frame  124  has a length between twenty-five and forty inches. In  FIG. 2 , the height is vertical and the length is horizontal. 
         [0019]    Unless otherwise indicated, the terms “first”, “second”, etc., are used herein merely as labels, and are not intended to impose ordinal, positional, or hierarchical requirements on the times to which these terms refer. Moreover, reference to, e.g., a “second” item does not either require or preclude the existence of, e.g., a “first” or lower-numbered item, and/or, e.g., a “third” or higher-numbered item. 
         [0020]    In the example of swiveling gun rest  100  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the swivel joint comprises at least one socket  140  on one of mounting unit  102  and support unit  112 , and at least one finger  142  rigidly coupled to the other one of mounting unit  102  and support unit  112 . Finger  142  is dimensioned and configured to slidably penetrate socket  140  in close cooperation therewith. In the example of swiveling gun rest  100  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the swivel joint comprises a first socket  140  on one of mounting unit  102  and support unit  112 , a second socket  140  axially aligned with the first socket  140  on the one of mounting unit  102  and support unit  112 , a first finger  142  on the other one of mounting unit  102  and support unit  112 , and a second finger  142  axially aligned with the second socket  140  on the other one of mounting unit  102  and support unit  112 . The first socket  140  and first finger  142  are proximate upper end  106  of mast  104 , and the second socket  140  and second finger  142  are proximate lower end  108  of mast  104 . Locating one socket  140  and associated finger  142  at each end of  128  results in the most stable support arrangement for support unit  112 , in that torques applied to potentially one swivel joint are minimized by distribution over two such joints. Spreading the two joints apart vertically further reduces maximum loading at any one point along mast  104 . 
         [0021]    Also, using sockets  140  and associated fingers  142  enables ready assembly of swiveling gun rest  100  after mounting unit  102  is fixed to hunting blind  200 . Additionally, support unit  112  may be readily removed from hunting blind  200  to dissuade likelihood of theft or vandalism. 
         [0022]    Foot  110  of mounting unit  102  comprises a horizontal surface  144  engaging floor  202  of hunting blind  200  and a vertical surface  146  engaging a vertical wall  204  of hunting blind  200  when horizontal surface  144  engages floor  202 . Mounting unit  102  comprises an adjuster selectively and adjustably coupling foot  110  to mast  104 , wherein direction of adjustability is the same as that of axis  118  of rotation of the at least one swivel joint. In the example of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the adjuster comprises telescoping fit of mast  104  with a cooperating tube  148  of foot  110 , and a setscrew  150  which threads to mast  104 . Setscrew  150  clamps mast  104  and cooperating tube  148  together at any selected mutual position. Adjustment of foot  110  can reduce some of the weight that would otherwise be imposed on fasteners used to affix mounting unit  102  to vertical wall  204 . 
         [0023]    Mast  104  of mounting unit  102  comprises a plurality of laterally projecting tabs  152  each bearing at least one hole  154  for receiving a fastener (not shown) to accommodate mounting mounting unit  112  to vertical wall  204  of hunting blind  200 . 
         [0024]    The invention may be thought of either as swiveling gun rest  100 , or alternatively, as hunting blind  200  incorporating swiveling gun rest  100 . 
         [0025]    Referring also to  FIG. 3 , hunting blind  200  incorporating swiveling gun rest  100  may comprise a shelter structure including a roof  206 , and at least one vertical wall  204  having at least one window  208 , and swiveling gun rest  100  for hunting blind  200 . Swiveling gun rest  100  comprises mounting unit  102  for mounting to the at least one vertical wall  204  of hunting blind  200 . Mounting unit  102  comprises mast  104  including upper end  106 , lower end  108 , and foot  110  at lower end  108 . Foot  110  is located to be able to contact an upwardly facing ground surface of hunting blind  200 . Swiveling gun rest  100  further comprises support unit  112  for supporting a gun (not shown) and a body of a person (not shown) using the gun, support unit  112  comprising support member  114  including flat planar horizontal support surface  116 . Swiveling gun rest  100  further comprises at least one swivel joint accommodating swivel of support unit  112  relative to mounting unit  102  about vertical axis  118 . Flat planar horizontal support surface  116  is aligned with a window  208  such that a gun supported on flat planar horizontal support surface  116  fires through window  208 . Preferably, windows  208  are distributed about the perimeter of hunting blind  200  to provide three hundred sixty degrees of aiming coverage of the environs of hunting blind  200 . 
         [0026]    In the example of  FIGS. 1 and 3 , hunting blind  200  incorporating swiveling gun rest  100  comprises a shelter structure including roof  206 , floor  202 , and four vertical walls  204  between roof  206  and floor  202 . Each one of vertical walls  204  has a window  208 . Hunting blind  200  comprises swiveling gun rest  100  comprising mounting unit  102  for mounting to one vertical wall  204  of hunting blind  200 . Mounting unit  102  comprises mast  104  including upper end  106 , lower end  108 , and foot  110  at lower end  108 . Foot  110  is located to be able to contact floor  202  of hunting blind  200 . Hunting blind  200  comprises support unit  112  for supporting a gun (not shown) and a body of a person (not shown) using the gun, support unit  112  comprising support member  114  including flat planar horizontal support surface  116  and at least one swivel joint accommodating swivel of support unit  112  relative to mounting unit  102  about vertical axis  118 . Flat planar horizontal support surface  116  is aligned with each one of windows  208  such that a gun supported on flat planar horizontal support  116  surface fires through any one of windows  208 . 
         [0027]    Although presented thus far as having four vertical walls  204 , hunting blind  200  may have fewer or more vertical walls  204 . For example, hunting blind  200  may be open at one end where it is anticipated that hunting blind  200  will be pushed against a bluff or other vertical environmental surface, which may render at least one of the four vertical walls unnecessary. Alternatively, a single curved wall (not shown) may replace the four discrete vertical walls  204 . Floor  202  of hunting blind  200  may be eliminated if ground conditions are deemed sufficient as not to warrant floor  202 . Therefore, reference to an “upwardly facing ground surface”, where the term is applied to hunting blind  200 , will be understood to encompass both floor  202  and also natural ground surfaces where floor  202  is absent. 
         [0028]    In addition to hunting blinds, swiveling gun rest  100  may be mounted on or incorporated into other structures (none shown), such as houses, garages, sheds, carports, fences, shooting range structures, fences, docks, piers, vehicles, boats, and other structures, both stationary and mobile, presenting a generally vertical surface for mounting. 
         [0029]    Although the invention has been described in terms of certain components being referred to in either the singular or the plural, other arrangements are possible. For example, hunting blind has been presented as comprising four walls. It would be possible to have a single curved wall instead. Alternatively, in a hunting blind adapted to be pushed against a bluff or other natural vertical surface, one or more walls may be omitted, as may be floor. 
         [0030]    While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but is intended to cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent arrangements which are possible. 
         [0031]    It should be understood that the various examples of the apparatus(es) disclosed herein may include any of the components, features, and functionalities of any of the other examples of the apparatus(es) disclosed herein in any feasible combination, and all of such possibilities are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Many modifications of examples set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. 
         [0032]    Therefore, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not to be limited to the specific examples presented and that modifications and other examples are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, although the foregoing description and the associated drawings describe examples of the present disclosure in the context of certain illustrative combinations of elements and/or functions, it should be appreciated that different combinations of elements and/or functions may be provided by alternative implementations without departing from the scope of the appended claims.