Abstract:
An adjustable cheek rest assembly for a firearm includes a stock adapted to be mounted on a support member of the firearm, and a cheek rest disposed in overlying relationship to the stock. A cheek rest adjustment arrangement is connected between the stock and the cheek rest and includes a movable linkage for enabling adjustment of the cheek rest relative to the stock.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure relates generally to firearms, and more particularly, pertains to an adjustable cheek rest assembly for a firearm stock used to improve the user&#39;s comfort and maximize a shooter&#39;s accuracy. 
     There has been a long-standing recognition as to the desirability of firearms in which the stock can be moved between various positions which provide the shooter with the desired length of pull for comfortable and accurate shooting. The adjustable positioning of the stocks is useful during transport, storage and use of firearms, and is particularly advantageous in certain tactical situations. Sliding stocks are known to have a stock assembly in which a butt stock is slidably adjustable along a fixed support member between one or more collapsed and extended shoulder-engaging positions. 
     In addition to the length of the butt stock being adjustable, it is also important for the top portion of the butt stock, known as the cheek rest, to be adjustable. Cheek rests are known to be variously adjustable on butt stocks as to quickly and comfortably provide a shooter with proper sight alignment. 
     Attempts have been made to advance the functionality of the cheek rest assembly to include different adjustable configurations, but have been found not to be reliable and durable over repeated operation. Previous variably configurable cheek rest assemblies have been unsatisfactory due to among other things, numerous pieces or parts which can unreasonably increase the weight of the assembly, problematic assembly and operation, expensive production costs, and susceptibility to dirt and grit encountered in the field which can negatively affect use. 
     Accordingly, there remains a need to provide a firearm cheek rest assembly which incorporates, in one integrated design, an enhanced adjustable cheek-engaging structure which overcomes the shortcomings of previous designs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure relates to an adjustable cheek rest assembly for a firearm which includes a stock adapted to be mounted on a support member of the firearm, and a cheek rest disposed in overlying relationship to the stock. A cheek rest adjustment arrangement is connected between the stock and the cheek rest and includes a movable linkage for enabling adjustment of the cheek rest relative to the stock. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the movable linkage is an expandable and collapsible scissors linkage. The cheek rest adjustment arrangement includes an adjustment device, and the linkage is movable in response to actuation of the adjustment device. The adjustment device enables incremental adjustment and locking of the cheek rest relative to the stock. The adjustment device is rotatable and includes a cheek wheel coupled to a lift pin operably connected to the linkage. The cheek rest adjustment arrangement permits selective movement of the cheek rest relative to the stock in a substantially vertical direction. 
     The present disclosure also relates to an adjustable cheek rest assembly for a firearm having a stock adapted to be mounted on a support member of the firearm, and a cheek rest disposed in overlying relationship to the stock. A cheek rest adjustment arrangement is connected between the stock and the cheek rest for selectively adjusting the cheek rest relative to the stock, wherein the cheek rest adjustment arrangement includes an expandable and collapsible linkage which is movable in response to an adjustment device. In the adjustable cheek rest assembly, the linkage includes a set of outer lift links and an inner lift link operably connected together to the stock and the cheek rest by a pivot pin arrangement. The expandable and collapsible linkage provides for vertically adjusting the cheek rest relative to the stock. Rotation of the adjustment device results in incremental adjustment and locking of the cheek rest relative to the stock. 
     The present disclosure further relates to an adjustable cheek rest assembly for a firearm which includes a stock, and a cheek rest disposed in an overlying relationship to the stock. A cheek rest adjustment arrangement is located intermediate the stock and the cheek rest for selectively adjusting the cheek rest in a substantially vertical direction relative to the stock. The cheek rest adjustment arrangement includes a cheek base attached to the cheek rest, a lift base secured to the stock, an expandable and collapsible scissors linkage connected between the cheek base and the lift base, and a rotatable adjustment device coupled to the expandable and collapsible linkage. 
     The cheek rest adjustment arrangement includes a pivot pin arrangement for operatively interconnecting the scissors linkage together with the cheek base and the lift base. The scissors linkage includes a pair of outer lift links coupled to an inner lift link. The cheek base and the lift base are provided with hole and slot structure for receiving the pivot pin arrangement. A spring biased detent member is positioned between the cheek base and the rotatable adjustment device. The adjustment device is provided with a series of recesses which are variously engageable with the spring biased detent member. The cheek rest adjustment arrangement further includes a lift pin threadably coupled to the rotatable adjustment device and movably mounted in the slot structure of the lift base. The rotatable adjustment device includes a cheek wheel attached to a lift rod which is threadably engaged with the lift pin. Rotation of the cheek wheel and the lift rod causes movement of the lift pin, and results in movement of the scissor linkage and the cheek rest relative to the stock. The adjustment device is accessible at a rearward end of the lift base. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated in carrying out the disclosure. In the drawings: 
         FIGS. 1 and 2  are perspective views of a shotgun provided with a stock and cheek rest assembly; 
         FIGS. 3 and 4  are exploded views of various components defining the stock and cheek rest assembly; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged, fragmentary elevational view of the stock and cheek rest assembly showing an adjustable cheek rest in a first, lowered position as shown in solid lines, and a second, raised position as shown in dotted lines; 
         FIG. 6  is a partial sectional view of  FIG. 5  illustrating the adjustable cheek rest in the first position; and 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view similar to  FIG. 6  illustrating the adjustable cheek rest in the second position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings,  FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a stock and cheek rest assembly  10  movably attached relative to a rear portion of a firearm, such as a semi-automatic shotgun  12 . 
     Shotgun  12  typically includes a receiver  14 , a barrel  16 , a gripping forend  18 , a trigger guard  20  and a trigger  22 . The shotgun  12  shown also includes a cartridge-storing magazine tube  24  that extends longitudinally forward of the receiver  14  and below the barrel  16 . A forward portion of the magazine tube  24  engages a barrel lug  26  and is held thereto by a magazine cap  28 . An accessory mounting rail  30  is provided alongside magazine tube  24 . In addition, shotgun  12  is provided with a pistol grip assembly formed by a pistol grip  32  and a mounting device  34 , and connected below and at the rear of receiver  14 . A forward sight  36  is located adjacent a front upper end of barrel  16 , and a rearward sight  38  is positioned on a back upper end of receiver  14 . 
     In accordance with the present disclosure, the stock and cheek rest assembly  10  is generally comprised of a stationary stock support or buffer tube  40  extending rearwardly and downwardly from the receiver  14  and passing through the mounting device  34 , a stock  42  mounted for movement on the buffer tube  40 , a butt pad assembly  44  secured on a rear end of the stock  42  and an adjustable cheek rest  46  movably mounted on the stock  42 . As will be further explained below, the stock and cheek rest assembly  10  also includes a cheek rest adjustment arrangement for various height adjustment of the cheek rest  46  relative to the stock  42 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the stock  42  has a tubular body  48  with open front and rear ends designed to be slidably mounted on an outer surface of the buffer tube  40 . The stock body  48  has front and rear mounting rails  50 ,  52 , respectively, provided on either side of an upper opening  54 , and a vertically extending mounting fin  56  at the rear end. The butt pad assembly  44  includes a butt plate  58  which is secured to walls of various apertures formed on the mounting fin  56  and the rear end of the stock body  48  by fasteners  60 . The butt pad assembly  44  further includes a butt pad insert  62  coupled frictionally by projections  64  to butt plate  62 , and a butt pad  66  which is attached to the butt plate  62  and is adapted to engage the shoulder of the shooter during use of the shotgun  12  as is well known. A lever  68 , a lever base  70  and latch pin  72  are designed to be mounted at the bottom of the stock body  48  using fasteners  74 ,  76  and bumpers  78 . The lever  68 , the lever base  70  and the latch pin  72  are used to selectively engage various recesses on the bottom of the buffer tube  40  to establish positioning the stock  42  in different locations along an axis of the buffer tube  40 . A curved apertured plate  80  is supported by tabs  82  on the top of the stock  42  over opening  54 . 
     The adjustable cheek rest  46  has a top wall  86  and depending side walls  88 ,  90  which form a saddle-shaped body designed to overlie the stock  42 . An outer periphery of the cheek rest  46  can be provided with a soft surface to comfortably cushion the cheek of a shooter during the use of the shotgun  12 . 
     A key feature of the assembly  10  is a cheek rest adjustment arrangement  92  located between the stock  42  and the cheek rest  46  for providing height or vertical adjustment of the cheek rest  46  relative to the stock  42 . As depicted in  FIG. 5 , the cheek rest adjustment arrangement  92  permits selective incremental movement of the cheek rest  46 , such as between a first or lowered position shown in solid lines, and a second or raised position shown in dotted lines in upward and downward directions depicted by double ended arrow A. 
     The cheek rest adjustment arrangement  92  includes a cheek base  94 , a lift base  96  and set of cooperating outer lift links  98 ,  100  and a central or inner lift link  102  which are interconnected together to form an expandable and collapsible scissors linkage. The cheek rest adjustment arrangement  92  also includes an adjustment device defined by a cheek wheel  104  and lift rod  106  which are joined together and operatively coupled to the scissors linkage. As will be appreciated hereafter, the scissors linkage is expanded and collapsed to control height adjustment of the cheek rest  46  relative to the stock  42  in response to rotational movement of the adjustment device  104 ,  106 . 
     Referring also to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , forward and rearward ends of cheek base  94  are fixedly attached to an underside of the cheek rest top wall  86  and between side walls  88 ,  90  by fasteners  108 . The lift base  96  has forward and rearward ends secured to the mounting rails  50 ,  52  of stock  42  by fasteners  110 ,  112 . The cheek base  94  and the lift base  96  have spaced apart sidewalls  114 ,  116 , respectively, variously configured with aligned throughholes and slots to facilitate a pivotal attachment of the lift links  98 ,  100 ,  102  thereto via a set of pivot and lift pins. Outer lift links  98 ,  100  are pivotally mounted outside the sidewalls  114 ,  116 , while inner lift link  102  is pivotally mounted within the sidewalls  114 ,  116 . 
     The pivotal mounting includes a first pivot pin  118  that passes through aligned holes  120  in lift base  96 , and through a hole  122  on a forward end of inner link  102 . The pin  118  is held in place by retainers  124 . 
     A second pivot pin  126  is received through aligned holes  128  in forward ends of the outer links  98 ,  100 , and a throughhole  130  formed through a medial portion  132  of the cheek base  94 . The pin  126  is held in place by retainers  134 . 
     A third pivot pin  136  passes through a hole  138  in a rearward end of inner link  102 , and aligned slots  140  formed in a rearward end of the cheek base  94 . The pin  136  is designed to move back and forth in the slots  140  during height adjustment of cheek rest  46 . The pin  136  is held in place by retainers  142 . 
     A fourth pivot pin  144  is received through aligned holes  146  in center portions of outer links  98 ,  100 , and a center hole  148  in inner link  102 . The pin  144  also passes through a pair of spacers  150  positioned between outer side surfaces of inner link  102  and inner side surfaces of outer links  98 ,  100 . The pin  144  is held in place by retainers  152 . 
     A lift pin  154  extends through aligned slots  156  formed in a rearward end of the lift base  96 , and through aligned holes  158  formed in rearward ends of the outer links  98 ,  100 . The pin  154  is designed to move back and forth in the slots  156  during height adjustment of the cheek rest  46 . The lift pin  154  is held in place by retainers  160 . 
     The lift pin  154  has a threaded hole  162  formed transversely therethrough which receives a threaded portion  164  on the lift rod  106  that is fixed to the cheek wheel  104  for rotation therewith. The cheek wheel  104  is accessible outside the rear end of the lift base  96 . An outer end of the lift rod  106  is received in a hole  166  formed transversely through an anchor pin  168 , and held in place by retainers  170 . Outer ends of the anchor pin  168  are engaged with walls forming aligned holes  172  towards the rearward end of the lift base  96 . A detent pin  174  is received in a recess  176  at the rear of the lift base  96 , and is surrounded by a spring  178  ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ) which normally biases the ball shaped head of the pin  174  into engagement with one of a set of mating recesses  180  ( FIG. 4 ) formed in a face of the cheek wheel  104 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates the cheek rest  46  in a lowered position with the scissors linkage formed by links  98 ,  100 ,  102  and operatively coupled to the lift rod  106  and cheek wheel  104  in a collapsed condition. The cheek rest  46  is normally held or locked in such position by virtue of the engagement of the spring biased detent pin  174  with the walls of the recess  180  formed in the base of the cheek wheel  104 . 
     When it is desired to vertically adjust the cheek rest  46 , such as from the position of  FIG. 6 , the cheek wheel  104  is rotated in the direction of arrow B shown in  FIG. 7  to overcome the spring force imposed on detent pin  174 . This turning motion causes the lift pin  154  to move forward in the slots  156  of lift base  96  in the direction of arrow C. At the same time, the forward end of the lift link  102  pivots about pivot pin  118  in the direction of arrow D, the rearwards ends of outer links  98 ,  100  pivot about the lift pin  154  and pivot pin  136  moves forwardly in slots  140  of cheek base  94  in the direction of arrow E. As a result, the scissors linkage  98 ,  100 ,  102  expands and effectively lifts the cheek rest  46  upwardly in the direction of arrow F to the raised position depicted in  FIG. 7 . 
     It should be appreciated that the cheek wheel  104  can be rotated as desired to enable incremental adjustment and locking of cheek rest  46  relative to the stock  42 . The spring biased engagement of the cheek wheel  104  maintains the height adjustment of cheek rest  46  despite recoil forces encountered during discharge of the shotgun  12 , and provides a tactile feel to the user during the desired adjustment. 
     Various alternatives are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention.