Abstract:
A gun support includes a bracket pivotally supporting two stanchions detachably attachable to respective legs of a tripod. The gun support is foldable adjacent the tripod upon collapse of the tripod and extendable from the tripod upon pivotal extension of the legs of the tripod.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to gun rests and, more particularly, to tripod mounted gun rests. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Prior Art 
         [0004]    For long-range shooting on the order of several hundred yards, a shooter generally uses a rest of some type to maintain the rifle steady. Such a rest may be a sandbag or the like for shooting from a prone position. When shooting from a sitting, kneeling, or standing position, a raised rest of some type is usually used. If available, a tree or other above-ground platform-like element may be used. 
         [0005]    To provide versatility for using a gun rest of selectable height and upon terrain that may not be smooth and flat, a tripod may be used. The tripod permits independent extension of the three legs to accommodate the supporting surface. A fixture may be attached to the top of the tripod to support the rifle. This arrangement provides a single external support for the rifle. To enhance stabilization with the rifle, an upright, pivotally attached to one of the legs of the tripod, may be used. It includes at the upper end a platform of some type to assist in supporting the rifle. One of the main problems attendant such an upright is that it is not necessarily steady for and aft or sideways. Thus, even though two points of support are provided, the lack of stability of the upright may compromise the accuracy of the shot being taken. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Tripods having a U-shaped element for receiving a rifle have been used to steady a rifle for a target several hundred yards away. Tripods have the benefit of being height adjustable and can accommodate uneven or sloping terrain by appropriately adjusting the length of each of the three legs. The present invention is directed to a gun support that enhances the use of a tripod for stabilizing a rifle by having attached to two of the tripod legs a bracket to provide a second point of support for the rifle. By using two stanchions extending from the bracket in mechanical engagement with corresponding legs of the tripod, the resulting triangle precludes lateral displacement of the bracket and aids in stabilizing the rifle prior to and during the shot. The lower end of each stanchion is attached to a clamp of the respective leg of the tripod. For transport and storage purposes, the tripod is collapsed in the conventional manner. Such collapse brings each stanchion adjacent the respective leg of the tripod as a result of the pivotal attachment between each stanchion and its respective clamp and the pivotal attachment of each stanchion with the bracket. Thereby, the gun support can be readily transported in search of game and is rapidly erectable when game or a target is spotted. 
         [0007]    It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a stable gun support for a rifle. 
         [0008]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a tripod for supporting one location on a rifle and a gun support for supporting a second location on a rifle. 
         [0009]    Still another object of the present in invention is to provide a gun support for a rifle attached to two legs of a conventional tripod. 
         [0010]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a gun support attached to two legs of a tripod that is collapsible upon collapse of the tripod itself. 
         [0011]    A further object of the present invention is to provide a gun support useable in conjunction with any tripod to provide support for a rifle, other gun or a device. 
         [0012]    A still further object of the present invention is to provide a gun support pivotally attached to two legs of a tripod. 
         [0013]    A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a gun support for a rifle that is attached to each foot of two legs of a tripod. 
         [0014]    These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the description thereof proceeds. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    The present invention will be described with greater specificity and clarity with reference to the following drawings, in which: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a gun support attached to a conventional tripod; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a view of the gun support that may be attached to a conventional tripod; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a partial cross-sectional view taken along lines  3 - 3 , as shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  illustrates the pivotal attachment of the gun support to the lower end of a leg of a tripod; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  illustrates a leg of the gun support pivotally attached to a clamp formed as part of the foot of a leg of a tripod. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a conventional tripod  10  having three extendible legs  12 ,  14  and  16 . These legs are pivotally attached to a plate  18 , or the like. A receiver  20  in the form of a U-shape is attached to plate  18 . The function and purpose of receiver  20  is to serve as a rest for a location on a rifle in preparation for shooting at a target that may be several hundred yards distant. The tripod depicted is a representation of a tripod sold by Bog Gear, LLC, Fredericksburg, Tex. 
         [0022]    Tripod  10  may be regularly used in the field as each of legs  12 ,  14  and  16  may be adjusted to conform with the surface of the terrain to position receiver  20  in essentially a vertical orientation, as depicted in  FIG. 1 . To hit a target several hundred yards away requires a great deal of skill. It also requires experience to take into account any wind acting on the projectile and whether the target is higher or lower than the rifle. Moreover, the rifle must be essentially still at the time the projectile is fired. While a tripod configured as illustrated in  FIG. 1  and described above is of significant benefit to hit a distant target, there is a potential likelihood of movement of the rifle at the time the projectile is fired due to breathing or other incremental motion of the shooter. 
         [0023]    To provide additional stability of the rifle, a gun support  30  is used. Referring jointly to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4 , the features and operation of the gun support will be described in detail. The gun support includes a bracket  32  for providing a second point of support for the rifle. It may be configured as, and functionally equivalent to, receiver  20  mounted on tripod  10 . That is, it may have in the manner of a V-shaped or U-shaped surface for supporting the rifle. A first stanchion  36  pivotally depends from bracket  32 . It may include a flattened end  38  extending into a slot  40  in bracket  32 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . A screw  42  or the like, extends into bracket  32  to pivotally engage a hole  44  in flattened end  38 . The size of slot  40  must be of sufficient dimension to accommodate pivotal movement of stanchion  36  therein. Lower end  46  of stanchion  36  is flattened and apertured. A clamp  50  includes wings  52 ,  54  disposed on either side of flattened end  46 . A screw  56  extends through an aperture in wing  52 , the aperture in flattened end  46  and into threaded engagement with an aperture in wing  54 . Thereby, the clamp can be tightened. Stanchion  60  is essentially duplicative in configuration of stanchion  36  and includes a flattened end  62  in pivotal engagement with screw  64  in bracket  32 . Similarly, flattened end  66  is in engagement with clamp  68  and disposed intermediate wings  70 ,  72  and retained therein by screw  74 . 
         [0024]    Referring jointly to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  4 , attachment of gun support  30  with tripod  10  will be described in further detail. Clamp  68 , supporting stanchion  60 , encircles leg  14  of the tripod and is frictionally held in place by tightening screw  74 . The angle between gun support  30  and tripod  10 , as depicted by arrow  80  in  FIG. 1 , can be set by clamping flattened ends  46 ,  66  of stanchions  36 ,  60  to prevent pivotal movement between the stanchions and the respective clamps. Alternatively, flattened end  66  of stanchion  60  may include an extension  76  to bear against leg  14  as the angle represented by arrow  80  is increased. The resulting engagement of flattened end extension  76  with leg  14  will prevent further angular displacement of stanchion  60  (and stanchion  36 ) and hence the gun support from the tripod. It is to be understood that screws  56  and  74  may be replaced by bolts with wingnuts to permit ease of adjustment in the field and/or during use. By using wingnuts, the angular position (arrow  80 ) of gun support  30  can be fixed relatively quickly to provide the desired position of bracket  32  relative to the tripod. 
         [0025]    Several distinct features are illustrated in  FIG. 5 . First, tripod  10  may be collapsed in the conventional manner by bringing the three legs  12 ,  14  and  16  toward one another, as illustrated. During such collapse, gun support  30  is angularly repositioned adjacent the collapsed tripod, as represented by arrow  82 . Because of the pivotal movement of stanchions  36 ,  60  possible by use of screws  42 ,  64  or the like to permit pivotal movement of the stanchions relative to bracket  32 , the stanchions can be collapsed toward one another in the same angular displacement as effected with respect to legs  12 ,  14  and  16 . Thereby, the tripod, in combination with the gun support, can be collapsed to a relatively compact state for transport and storage. 
         [0026]    Second, some tripods incorporate a clamp  90 , as depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 5 , at the foot of each leg. This clamp may be used to receive and clamp flattened end  66  of stanchion  60 . It is to be understood that clamp  90  is part of foot  92  present at the lower end of each of legs  12 ,  14  and  16 . When such a clamp is part of foot  92 , clamps  50  and  68 , shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4 , may be eliminated. 
         [0027]    It is to be understood that in the expanded position of gun support  30 , represented by arrow  80  in  FIG. 1 , may be set in a number of ways. As described with respect to  FIG. 4 , the flattened ends of each of the stanchions may be extended to interfere with the respective leg of the tripod once a certain desired angle  80  is reached. Alternatively, a chain interconnecting the gun support and the tripod may be used to limit angle  80 . As alluded to above, the clamp supporting each stanchion may be tightened manually or with a tool to set the desired angle  80  of the gun support. Other arrangements may also be incorporated.