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BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates generally to gun accessories and specifically to supports on which guns can be rested while shooting. 
     In order to increase the accuracy of aiming a gun, the gun can be rested upon a gun stand, often called a shooting stick. Gun stands come in a variety of different styles, such as a tripod, bipod, or monopod. Gun stands can be structurally separate from the gun or they can be attached (e.g., hinged) to the gun in a refracted or stored position to facilitate quick deployment of the gun stand. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention provides a gun stand comprising a base adapted to support a gun and a ribbon of stiff material including a coiled portion and an uncoiled portion (e.g., having a curved lateral cross-sectional shape). Preferably, the base defines a concave cradle adapted to support the gun. The base can further include a housing having a grip portion and that substantially entirely encloses the coiled portion of the ribbon. In one embodiment, the ribbon is biased in a rotational direction (e.g., in a direction that winds the ribbon into the housing or, alternatively, in a direction that unwinds the ribbon from the housing). 
     The gun stand can further include a lock mechanism that inhibits movement of the ribbon relative to the housing. The lock mechanism can be moved between an engaged position (inhibiting movement of the ribbon) and a released position. Preferably, the lock mechanism further includes a trigger for selectively moving the lock mechanism between the engaged and released positions. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the ribbon comprises two ribbons of stiff material, each having a coiled portion and an uncoiled portion. For example, the uncoiled portions of the ribbons can each have a curved cross-sectional shape positioned in opposing relation to each other. The curved cross-sectional shape of each uncoiled portion can define a convex surface and a concave surface, and the convex surfaces of the uncoiled portions of the ribbon can be in facing relation to an in contact with each other. 
     If desired, at least one of the ribbons can include a releasable securing mechanism for securing the uncoiled portions of the ribbons to each other. For example, the releasable securing mechanism can include a magnetic material on or in one of the ribbons. 
     The gun stand can further include a foot brace secured to a free end of the ribbon. For example, the foot brace can include an arm that is movable (e.g., pivotable from a position substantially parallel to a position substantially perpendicular to the ribbon) relative to the ribbon. 
     The gun stand can further include a releasable attachment mechanism that secures the gun to the gun stand. In one embodiment, the releasable attachment mechanism comprises a strap. 
     Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a gun being supported by a retractable gun stand embodying the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the retractable gun stand. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the gun stand illustrated in  FIG. 2  with a foot brace in a retracted position. 
         FIG. 4  is a rear view of the gun stand illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of the gun stand illustrated in  FIG. 2  with the foot brace in an extended position. 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of the gun stand illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view taken along line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 8  is a section view taken along line  8 - 8  in  FIG. 2  with a front housing, a rear housing, and an upper support removed for clarity. 
         FIG. 9  is the section view of  FIG. 7  with the foot brace in the extended position and the locking mechanism in a locked position. 
         FIG. 10  is the section view of  FIG. 9  with the foot brace in the extended position and the locking mechanism it in a released position. 
         FIG. 11  is an enlarged perspective view of the foot brace. 
     
    
    
     Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a gun  20  being supported by a gun stand  22  to thereby create a gun and gun stand assembly. The gun  20  can be any of numerous different types of guns, such as a rifle or a handgun. 
     A different gun stand  24  is illustrated in more detail in  FIGS. 2-11 . The illustrated gun stand  24  includes a housing  26  (including a front portion  26   a  and a rear portion  26   b ), an upper support  28 , and a foot brace  30 . The housing  26  includes a grip portion  32  and defines an enclosure for housing the movable components of the gun stand  24 . The illustrated housing  26  is made from a rigid plastic material, although other materials could be used. If desired, the housing  26  can be formed as a single part. 
     The upper support  28  is secured to the upper surface of the housing  26 . The upper support  28  defines a concave cradle  34  and is made from a soft resilience material (more resilient than the housing) that enhances the frictional contact between the gun and the gun stand  24 . The upper support  28  includes a plurality of longitudinal ribs  36  separated by channels  38 , and further includes side supports  40  that limit lateral movement of the gun relative to the gun stand  24 . Each side support  40  includes an opening  42  extending longitudinally through the side support  40  to reduce the weight of the gun stand  24  and also increase the resiliency of the side support  40 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4-6 , the foot brace  30  can be moved relative to the housing  26  from a retracted position ( FIG. 4 ) to an extended position ( FIG. 5 ). This movement is facilitated by a tape spring mechanism  44  ( FIG. 6 ). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6-10 , the tape spring mechanism  44  includes left and right spools  46 , left and right ribbons  48  coiled onto the spools, and a locking mechanism  50  that selectively locks and releases the ribbons  48 . 
     Each spool  46  is supported on each end by mounting bosses  52  formed on the inside surface of the housing  26 . If desired, each spool  46  can be designed to be rotatable relative to the housing  26  to thereby facilitate winding and unwinding the corresponding ribbon  48 . Alternatively, the spool  46  can be rigidly secured in the housing  26 , in which case the ribbon  48  will be loosely coiled around the spool  46 . Each spool  46  is completely enclosed within the housing  26  and upper support  28 . 
     Each ribbon  48  is a thin-walled ribbon of steel having a coiled portion  54  wrapped onto the corresponding spool  46  and a straight portion  56  extending from the corresponding spool  46 . Each straight portion  56  corresponds with a static (non-stressed) condition of the ribbon  48  and has a curved lateral cross-sectional shape defining a convex surface  60  and a concave surface  62 . Each coiled portion  54  corresponds with a stressed condition of the ribbon and has a flatter lateral cross-sectional shape. Each ribbon and spool assembly operates on the same principles as a tape measure. In the illustrated embodiment, the convex surface  60  of each straight portion  56  is in a facing orientation relative to the other straight portion  56 , although other orientations (e.g., concave surfaces facing each other) are also possible. A free end  64  of each straight portion  56  is secured to the foot brace  30 . Due to this arrangement of parts, each ribbon  48  will be uncoiled from the corresponding spool  46  at substantially the same rate as the other ribbon  48 . 
     The illustrated ribbons  48  are arranged to be biased in the coiled direction so that they will automatically wind onto the spools  48  when the locking mechanism  50  is released. For example, if the spools  46  are rotatable, the spools  46  can be biased in a winding direction by a torsion spring. This is advantageous in that it facilitates quick and easy retraction of the ribbons  48  using a single hand. Alternatively, the ribbons  48  can be arranged to be biased in the uncoiled direction so that they will automatically unwind off the spools  48  when the locking mechanism  50  is released. This is advantageous in that it facilitates quick and easy deployment of the foot brace  30  using a single hand when use of the gun stand  24  is desired. This second arrangement further facilitates adjustment of the height of the gun stand  24  without the need to push down on the foot brace  30 . 
     At least one of the ribbons  48  includes a releasable securing mechanism for securing the straight portions  56  of the ribbons  48  to each other. For example, one of the ribbons  48  can be provided with a magnetic material  66  ( FIG. 8 ) embedded into or secured onto the ribbon  48  that will attract the metallic material of the other ribbon  48  to thereby enhance the stability of the gun stand  24 . Other releasable securing mechanisms, such as hook and loop fasteners (e.g., Velcro® brand) or zippers could be used instead. 
     The locking mechanism  50  includes wedge-shaped locking members  70  positioned on opposing sides of each straight portion  56  of the each ribbon  48 . Each locking member  70  is movable vertically relative to the housing  26 . As each locking member moves upward (toward the upper support  28 ) relative to the housing  26 , a cam surface  72  of the locking member  70  engages an angled guide member  74  on the housing  26  to thereby force the locking member  70  into contact with the corresponding ribbon  48 . Because of the alignment of the locking members  70  with each other, any force applied by a locking member  70  on the ribbon  48  is opposed by an opposite force applied by the other locking member  70  on the other ribbon  48 . A biasing member in the form of a coil spring  76  biases each locking member  70  in the upward direction into contact with the corresponding guide member  74  and ribbon  48 . Absent additional forces on the locking members  70 , upward movement of the straight portions  56  of the ribbons  48  is substantially prevented due to the locking members  70  being wedged between the guide members  74  and the ribbons  48 . Downward movement of the straight portions  56  of the ribbons  48  is permitted because such movement of the ribbons  48  does not create the wedge effect caused by the locking members  70 . 
     The locking mechanism  50  further includes a release mechanism that releases the locking members  70  and facilitates retraction (upward movement) of the ribbons  48 . The release mechanism includes release members  82  that are movable (e.g., pivotable) relative to the housing  26  between a locked position ( FIG. 9 ) and a released position ( FIG. 10 ). In the locked position, the release members  82  are inactive and have no effect on the locking members  70 . In the released position, the release members  82  are moved downward into contact with the locking members  70  to thereby move the locking members  70  downward against the biasing force of the springs  76 . This downward movement of the locking members  70  prevents the locking members  70  from assuming the wedged position, thereby allowing the ribbons  48  to move upward and coil onto the spools  46 . Each release member  82  includes a stop member  83  engageable with the corresponding guide member  74  to limit downward movement of the release members  82 . 
     Movement of the release members  82  between the locked position and the relaxed position is facilitated by a trigger  84  that extends through an opening  86  in the front portion  26   a  of the housing  26 . The trigger  84  is formed integrally with the release members  82  such that squeezing of the trigger  84  will cause rotation of the release members  82  from the locked position to the released position. 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , the illustrated foot brace  30  is a disc-shaped member having an engagement surface  90  that is roughened (e.g., knurled) to increase the frictional engagement of a users boot with the foot brace  30 . The foot brace  30  includes a center portion  92  that is raised and includes two arcuate-shaped slots  94  extending longitudinally into the upper surface of the center portion  92 . Each slot  94  is shaped to receive the free end  64  of one of the ribbons  48 . Each side of the center portion  92  includes to openings  96  that are dimensioned to receive fasteners (e.g., setscrews, bolts, pins, or other suitable fastener) for securing the foot brace  30  to the ribbons  48 . 
     In operation, use of the gun stand  24  is initiated by pulling the foot brace  30  downward relative to the housing  26 , thereby causing the ribbons  48  to be uncoiled from the spools  46 . If desired, the trigger  84  can be pressed to decrease the effort required to move the foot brace  30 . The foot brace  30  is then contacted the ground, and the users foot is placed on the engagement surface  90  to hold the foot brace  30  in engagement with the ground. The height of the upper support  28  can then be adjusted (with or without the gun  20  resting in the upper support  28 ) by moving the housing  26  upward (with or without the trigger  84  pressed) or downward (while pressing the trigger  84 ). When the desired height is achieved, the trigger  84  is released. When it is desired to collapse the gun stand  24 , the trigger  84  is pressed, thereby causing the ribbons  48  to retract into the housing  26  and causing the foot brace  30  to move toward the housing  26  and into the retracted position. 
     An alternative configuration for the foot brace is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The alternative foot brace  100  includes a base  102  and a folding arm  104  that can be pivoted relative to the base  102  from and unfolded position (as illustrated in  FIG. 1 ) to a folded position. In the folded position, each arm  104  is substantially aligned with and resides within a cavity  106  defined by the curved shape of one of the ribbons  108 . This folded position of the arms  104  facilitates retraction of the foot brace  100  into the housing  110  by allowing the folded arms  104  to fit inside the lower opening of the housing  110  through which the ribbons  108  extend. 
     The gun stand  22  illustrated in  FIG. 1  further includes a securing mechanism in the form of an adjustable strap  112  that secures the gun stand  22  to the gun  20 . The strap  112  wraps over the top of the gun  20  and is secured to both sides of the housing  110 . At least one end of the strap  112  includes multiple openings  114  for adjusting the effective length of the strap  112 . Preferably, the strap  112  is made from a resilient material that can be tensioned when it is securing the gun  20  to the gun stand  22 . Such a securing mechanism inhibits movement of the gun  20  relative to the gun stand  22 , and further allows the gun stand  22  to stay attached to the gun  20  when the foot brace  100  is in the retracted position (e.g., when the gun  20  is not being operated). Such an arrangement facilitates quick and easy deployment of the gun stand  22 . 
     Thus, the invention provides, among other things, a gun stand that is compact, lightweight, retractable, and can be easily deployed in the field. It should be understood that the above described stand can be used to support rifles, pistols, still cameras, video cameras, cross bows, or other similar devices. Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

Summary:
A gun stand comprising a base for supporting a gun and a ribbon of stiff material including a coiled portion and an uncoiled portion (e.g., having a curved lateral cross-sectional shape). A lock mechanism (e.g., movable between an engaged position and a released position) can be used to inhibit movement of the ribbon relative to the base. Preferably, the lock mechanism further includes a trigger for selectively moving the lock mechanism between the engaged and released positions. The gun stand can comprise two ribbons, each having a coiled portion and an uncoiled portion. At least one of the ribbons can include a releasable securing mechanism (e.g., magnets) for securing the uncoiled portions of the ribbons to each other. A foot brace can be secured to a free end of the ribbon. A releasable attachment mechanism (e.g., a strap) can be provided to secure the gun to the gun stand.