Abstract:
A gun holder and support apparatus that combines multiple gun engagement functions in a compact adjustable transportable configuration. The gun support device provides for a self-supporting and portable field gun holder with adjustment brackets to accommodate different rifle gun types as well as acting as a gun barrel rest during firing.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Technical Field 
   This invention relates to gun holders and supports that are used to support a rifle or a shotgun in a vertical storage or transportation orientation position. 
   2. Description of Prior Art 
   Prior art devices of this type have relied on a variety of different rifle engagement designs, see for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,007,581, 3,477,586, 3,876,078, 3,917,071, 3,952,878, 4,089,423, 4,144,971, 4,271,969, 4,318,567, 5,626,379 and applicant&#39;s own U.S. Pat. No. 5,680,939. 
   In U.S. Pat. No. 4,144,971 a gun caddy sling and support rod with barrel clamp on one end and a gun but engagement platform adjacent the base for engagement to the ground is shown. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 3,917,071 defines a weapons security rack having an elongated support channel with a gun but cap on its lower end and a barrel engagement latch adjustably positioned within the channel in spaced relation thereto. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 3,952,878 illustrates a gun stand with a pivoting gun tray and a barrel engagement dual clip on a telescopically adjustable main support section. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,089,423 discloses a ground engageable adjustable support rifle stand having a hinged gun rest arm and a stock rest bracket. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,271,969 shows a portable long barrel firearm stand for a rifle or shotgun having a ground engagement stake from which extends a tubular support element with an adjustable end barrel engagement rod extending therefrom. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,626,379 is drawn to a portable gun rack having a tripod leg configuration with a contoured multiple gun engagement base and a multiple notch barrel rest bracket in spaced relation thereto. 
   Applicant&#39;s own U.S. Pat. No. 5,680,939 discloses a basic ground engageable gun support on which the present invention is an improvement thereon. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A self-contained portable gun holder and support apparatus that utilizes multiple gun engagement functions in a single self-contained configuration for insertion into the ground or to be carried by the user. The device includes a ground engagement stake with a main support tube having a secondary gun engagement tube movably positioned therealong. The device provides for static holding of a rifle in either rest or for transportation as well as acting as a barrel rest during shooting by utilization of a rotating support element on its upper end. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the improved gun support in deployed position; 
       FIG. 2  is an enlarged exploded assembly view of an upper adjustable gun rest with a barrel engagement portion of the gun support of the invention; 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view on lines  3 — 3  of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged top plan view of an alternate barrel resilient engagement support; 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged partial side elevational view of the upper portion of the gun support device; 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged partial side elevational view of the lower portion of the gun support device; and 
       FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the gun but receiving tray and support tub. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to  FIG. 1  of the drawings, a gun support  10  of the invention can be seen for supporting a rifle or a shotgun R shown in broken lines within. The gun support  10  has a main support tube  11  and a parallel gun support tube  12  with a pair of interconnecting adjustable brackets  13  and  14  thereon. The brackets  13  and  14  are affixed to the gun support tube  12  and act as a guide for vertical adjustment of the gun support tube  12  in relation thereto as indicated by the directional arrows. The main support tube  11  has a removable ground engagement spike assembly  15  and a stabilization ground insert plate  16  which can be engaged by the user&#39;s foot (not shown) to aid in the insertion of the spike assembly into the ground G. The gun support tube  12  is, as noted, adjustably vertical in relation to the gun support tube  11  with the guide brackets  13  and  14  which have set bolts  17  and  18  to lock the gun support tube  12  into position. A gun stock receiving tray  19  is pivotally secured to the lower end  12 A of the gun support tube  12  and is adapted to receive and support the stock S of the rifle or shotgun R. The tray  19 , best seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  6  and  7  of the drawings has spaced oppositely disposed parallel sidewalls  20 A and  20 B extending from a base  21  which has a U-shaped notch at  22  for engagement about the main tube  11  prior to deployment and a pair of elongated apertures at  23  for drainage are provided. An end wall  24  interconnects said respective sidewalls  20 A and  20 B also have a U-shaped notch therein at  25  to accommodate the main support tube  11  when pivoted upwardly thereagainst as shown in broken lines in  FIG. 6  of the drawings. The tray  19  is pivotally secured to the main support tube  11  by a pivot bolt and nut  26  extending therethrough with respective spacers  26 A thereon on as seen in  FIG. 7  of the drawings. 
   The spike assembly  15  has a ground spike  27  with a threaded end at  27 A receivable into a threaded tube insert  28  within the main support tube  11  which allows for selective rotational removal of the spike  27  by the user. A second threaded tube insert  28 A is positioned with the oppositely disposed free end of said main support tube  11  with a threaded end plug  28 B secured therewithin. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3  of the drawings, a barrel support bracket  29  assembly is adjustably positioned on the gun support tube  12  by a guide flange  30  extending inwardly therefrom for registration with an elongated channel  31  within the gun support tube  11 . The bracket  29  assembly has a bifurcated clamp portion  32  for receiving a Y-shaped apertured insert  33  which extends therefrom. A lock knob  34  is threadably engaged through the aperture A in the clamp portion  32  and insert  33  allows for adjustable vertical repositioning of the support bracket  29  on the gun support tube  12  as indicated by directional arrows in  FIG. 5  of the drawings. 
   A resilient barrel grip fitting  35 , best seen in  FIG. 3  of the drawings is frictionally secured within the Y-shaped insert  33  and defines a broken annular ring surface  33 A which will yieldably grip the barrel portion B of the rifle or shotgun R. An alternate barrel grip fitting  35 A shown in  FIG. 4  of the drawings illustrates a double barrel configuration having a pair of broken resilient annular ring surfaces  35 B and  35 C to accommodate such double barrels as necessary (not shown). 
   Referring back to  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings, a swivel gun rest assembly  36  can be seen extending from the upper free end of the gun support tube  12 . The gun rest assembly  36  has a tube insert  37  which threadably receives a swivel post fitting  38  having an annular groove at  38 A therein. A rotatable mount  39  is snap fit onto the post fitting  38  by a spring clip  39 A and a washer  39 B so as to be freely rotatable thereon. 
   The rotating mount  39  has oppositely disposed apertured bifurcated end portion  40  which receive a secondary apertured Y-shaped bracket  41  held by a fastener F. The bracket  41  has a resilient gun engagement surface at  42  onto which the gun barrel B is steadied during firing as will be well understood by those skilled in the art. 
   It will be seen that by utilization of the removable ground engagement spike  27  that the gun support  10  of the invention can be free standing safely and securely holding a rifle or shotgun R within. Alternately, the gun support  10  can be used as a unidirectional gun rest for firing via the rotatable mount  39  on the upper end of the gun support tube  12  as hereinbefore described. The pivoted gun stock receiving tray  19  as noted will fold up against the gun support tube  12  when not in use allowing for easy access and transportation of the gun support for use. 
   It will thus be seen that a new and novel improvement to a gun support has been illustrated and described and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.