Patent Publication Number: US-10323898-B1

Title: Shooting support bag

Description:
FIELD 
     This application relates to a shooting bag for supporting a firearm. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Shooting support bags may be used to support firearms and stabilize the optical devices on the firearms for accurate shooting. However, the firearm may slip off the bag or may result in an unsteady shooting platform due to slippery bearing surfaces on the bag or slippery bag surfaces upon which the firearm rests. The firearm may also fall off of the bag due to the small surface area of the bag that the firearm rests upon. In addition, the shooting support bags may be filled with material such as plastic beads for flexibility, so that the bag can conform to the shape of the firearm. However, the material may not be of suitable construction to hold the shape of the bag very well. Also, long-time shooters know that ordinary plastic pellets lose shape and can compress over time, requiring the addition of more fill. 
     Shooting support bags may benefit from improvements. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention provides a solution to the above problems by providing a shooting support bag. The shooting support bag includes first and second opposite sides. The first side has a butterfly shape and has at least one panel. The shooting support bag further includes a top portion. The top portion is positioned between the first and second sides. The top portion includes a top section and a first angled section. The first angled section extends downwardly and outwardly relative to the top section. The first angled section defines a first bearing surface area. The top portion has an exterior surface. The exterior surface comprises a non-slip surface. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a shooting support bag is provided. The shooting support bag includes first and second opposite sides. The first side has a butterfly shape and has at least one panel. The shooting support bag further includes a top portion. The top portion is positioned between the first and second sides. The top portion has an exterior surface. The exterior surface includes a non-slip surface. A fill material inside the bag. The fill material includes a plurality of pellets that are configured to reduce shifting of the pellets against each other and provide a gel-like soft feel to the shooting support bag. 
     Other aspects of the disclosed shooting support bag will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the shooting support bag as viewed from the first side according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the shooting support bag as viewed from the second side of the shooting support bag of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the first or fourth panel of the shooting support bag of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the second or third panel of the shooting support bag of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the fifth or sixth panel of the shooting support bag of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the pellets of the fill material of the shooting support bag  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the top portion of the shooting support bag of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the bottom portion of the shooting support bag of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of the seventh side panel of the shooting support bag of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of the eight side panel of the shooting support bag of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a portion of the support bag of  FIG. 1  showing the fill port; 
         FIG. 12  is a side view of the panel of the shooting support bag according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It will be readily understood that the components of the embodiments as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations in addition to the described example embodiments. Thus, the following more detailed description of the example embodiments, as represented in the figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments, as claimed, but is merely representative of example embodiments. 
     Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to give a thorough understanding of embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the various embodiments can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obfuscation. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain example embodiments. 
     Throughout the present description, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “top”, “bottom”, “left”, “right”, “front”, “forward”, “rear”, and “rearward” shall define directions or orientations with respect to the holder as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . It will be understood that the spatially relative terms “upper”, “lower”, “top”, “bottom”, “left”, “right”, “front”, “forward”, “rear”, and “rearward” are intended to encompass different orientations of the shooting support bag in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the shooting support bag in the figures is turned over, elements described as “upper” elements or features would then be “lower” elements or features. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the shooting support bag  20  comprises first and second fabric pieces or panels  22 ,  24  that are both located on a first side  26  ( FIG. 1 ) of the shooting support bag  20 . The bag  20  also comprises third and fourth fabric pieces or panels  28 ,  30  that are both located on a second side  32  ( FIG. 2 ) of the bag  20  that is opposite the first side  26 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , each of the first, second, third, and fourth panels are similar in shape and generally shaped like a trapezoid and further comprise parallel top and bottom ends  34 ,  36 , a lower outer end  38 , an upper outer end  40 , and an inner end  42 . As seen in  FIG. 5 , the bag also comprises fifth and sixth generally triangular fabric pieces or center panels  44 ,  46  that are similar to each other and smaller than the first, second, third and fourth panels. Each of the fifth and sixth center panels  44 ,  46  has parallel top and bottom ends  48 ,  50 , and first and second side ends  52 ,  54  that are located on opposite sides of the fifth or sixth center panel. The side ends  52 ,  54  converge going in the upward direction so that the top end  48  is smaller in length than the bottom end  50 . The first and second panels  22 ,  24  are separated from each other by the fifth center panel  44 . The fifth center panel  44  is located between the inner ends  42  of the first and second panels  22 ,  24  as seen in  FIG. 1 . In particular, the first side end  52  of the fifth center panel  44  is sewn or otherwise attached to the inner end  42  of the first panel  22 , and the second side end  54  of the fifth center panel  44  is sewn or otherwise attached to the inner end  42  of the second panel  24 . The bottom end  50  of the fifth center panel  44  and inner ends  42  of the first and second panel  22 ,  24  define an inverted u-shaped gap. 
     In a similar manner, the third and fourth panels  28 ,  30  are separated from each other by the sixth center panel  46 . The sixth center panel  46  is located between the inner ends  42  of the third and fourth panels  28 ,  30  as seen in  FIG. 2 . In particular, the first side end  52  of the sixth center panel  46  is sewn or otherwise attached to the inner end  42  of the fourth panel  30 , and the second side end  54  of the sixth panel  46  is sewn or otherwise attached to the inner end  42  of the third panel  28 . The bottom end  50  of the sixth center panel  46  and inner ends  42  of the third and fourth panel  28 ,  30  define an inverted u-shaped gap. The fifth and sixth center panels  44 ,  46  may be made of a non-slip fabric material. 
     The shooting support bag  20  may comprise a top portion  56 . The top portion  56  may comprise a top fabric piece or panel  58 . As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the top panel  58  is generally rectangular in shape and includes opposite first and second longitudinal ends  60 ,  62  and opposite first and second axial ends  64 ,  66 . The top panel  58  includes a top section  68  that is located between opposite first and second angled side sections  70 ,  72 . The first and second angled side sections  70 ,  72  extend downwardly and outwardly relative to the top section  68  as seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The portion of the first longitudinal end  60  located at the first angled side section  70  is sewn or otherwise attached to the upper outer end  40  of the first panel  22  as seen in  FIG. 1 . The portion of the first longitudinal end  60  located at the top section  68  is sewn or otherwise attached to the top ends  34  of the first and second panels  22 ,  24  and the top end  48  of the fifth center panel  44 . The portion of the first longitudinal end  60  located at the second angled side section  72  is sewn or otherwise attached to the upper outer end  40  of the second panel  24 . 
     The portion of the second longitudinal end  62  located at the first angled side section  70  is sewn or otherwise attached to the upper outer end  40  of the third panel  28  as depicted in  FIG. 2 . The second longitudinal end  62  located at the top section  68  is sewn or otherwise attached to the top ends  34  of the third and fourth panels  28 ,  30  and top end  48  of the sixth center panel  46 . The portion of the second longitudinal end  62  located at the second angled side section  72  is sewn or otherwise attached to the upper outer end  40  of the fourth panel  30 . In alternative embodiments, the top portion  56  may comprise multiple panels. For example, the top portion may comprise a top panel and first and second angled side panels instead of first and second angled side sections. 
     The shooting support bag  20  may comprise a bottom portion  74 . The bottom portion may comprise a bottom fabric piece or panel  76 . As depicted in  FIG. 8 , the bottom panel  76  is generally rectangular in shape and includes opposite third and fourth longitudinal ends  78 ,  80  and opposite third and fourth axial ends  82 ,  84 . The bottom panel  76  includes a bottom section  85  that is located between opposite inner side sections  86  and opposite outer side sections  88 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 2, and 8 , the third longitudinal end  78  is sewn or otherwise attached to the bottom end  50  of the fifth center panel  44  and the bottom, inner, and lower outer ends  36 ,  42 ,  38  of the first and second panels  22 ,  24 . The fourth longitudinal end  80  is sewn or otherwise attached to the bottom end  50  of the sixth center panel  46  and the bottom, inner, and lower outer ends  36 ,  42 ,  38  of the third and fourth panels  28 ,  30 . In this embodiment, the width of the top panel  58  is the same as the width of the bottom panel  76 . In alternative embodiments, the width of the bottom panel may be greater than the width of the top panel. In alternative embodiments, the bottom portion may comprise multiple panels. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1, 2, 9 and 10 , the shooting support bag  20  may comprises a seventh and eighth side panels  90 ,  92  located on opposite sides of the shooting support bag  20 . As depicted in  FIG. 9 , the seventh side panel  90  includes first and second side ends  94 ,  96  and upper and lower ends  98 ,  100 . The upper end  98  is sewn or otherwise attached to the first axial end  64  of the top panel  58 . The lower end  100  is sewn or otherwise attached to the third axial end  82  of the bottom panel  76 . The first side end  94  is sewn or otherwise attached to the lower outer end  38  of the first panel  22 , and the second side end  96  is sewn or otherwise attached to the lower outer end  38  of the third panel  28 . A fabric handle  101  is sewn or otherwise attached at its axial ends to the first and second side ends  94 ,  96  of the seventh side panel  90 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the eight side panel  92  also includes first and second side ends  102 ,  104  and upper and lower ends  106 ,  108 . The first side end  102  is sewn or otherwise attached to the lower outer end  38  of the second panel  24 , and the second side end  102  is sewn or otherwise attached to the lower outer end  38  of the fourth panel  30 . A fabric handle  110  is sewn or otherwise attached at its axial ends to the first and second side ends  102 ,  104  of the eighth side panel  92 . The upper end  106  of the eighth side panel  92  is sewn or otherwise attached to the second axial end  66  of the top panel  58 . The lower end  108  of the eighth side panel  92  detachably attaches to the fourth axial end  82  of the bottom panel  76  by a hook and pile fastener such as Velcro®. In particular, as depicted in  FIG. 11 , a first lineal fabric strip  112  comprising small hooks is sewn or otherwise adhered to the exterior side of bottom panel  76  at the fourth axial end  84 , and a second lineal fabric strip  114  comprising smaller loops is sewn or otherwise adhered to the inner side of the eight side panel  92  at the lower end  108 . When the strips  112 ,  114  are pressed together, the hooks catch in the loops and the eight side panel  92  and bottom panel  76  are fasten or bind temporarily together. 
     The strips  112 ,  114  are separated from each other to expose a fill port  118  for the shooting support bag  20 . Fill material  119  ( FIG. 6 ) may be poured or otherwise placed through the fill port  118  and into the shooting support bag  20  to fill the shooting support bag  20 . The fill port  118  is closed when the fabric strips  112 ,  114  are attached to each other.  FIGS. 1 and 2  show the bag in its filled state. Specifically, the bag panels are attached to each other as previously described to define a butterfly shape bag that has side by side u-shaped chambers  120 ,  122  that are in fluid communication with each other such that the fill material can flow between them. 
     In another embodiment as shown in  FIG. 12 , the shooting support bag  220  may comprise one fabric piece or panel  222 . The panel  222  may comprise first and second butterfly shaped sections  224 ,  226  that are located on opposite sides of the shooting support bag  220 . A rectangular joining section  228  is located between the first and second butterfly shaped sections  224 ,  226  and has axial ends  230  that are sewn or otherwise attached to each other. The longitudinal ends  232  of the joining section  228  is also sewn or otherwise attached to the peripheral ends  234  of the first and second butterfly shaped sections  224 ,  226  to join them together. Fabric handles may be sewn or otherwise attached at to the joining section. The shooting support bag  220  may also include the fill port that may be opened and closed by a hook and pile fastening arrangement as previously mentioned. 
     In one or more of the embodiments, each of the panels may be made of a pliable textile material. The top, bottom, fifth, and sixth panels comprise a non-slip material such that a firearm or other object does not slip off of the exterior surface of the panel. The non-slip material may be made of Toughtek ST-40, which is manufactured by M. Becker &amp; Associates, Inc. and has a taper abrasion (ASTM D3884) and 2933.33 cycles average. This non-slip material may have a coefficient of friction (ATSM D1894) of 2.02 for static friction and 2.11 for kinetic friction. The non-slip material may comprise substrates. One substrate may comprise 65% Polyester and 35% Rayon, a Single Jersey, 200 G/yard. Another substrate may comprise XXH 100% Polyester, and another substrate may comprise 100% Nylon, 400 D-86 T. The non-slip material may be a rubberized material. The other panels may be made of 500 Denier Nylon having a urethane coating that is durable water repellant (DWR). 
     As depicted in  FIG. 6 , the fill material  119  may comprise pellets  121  that configured to bind and lock rather than shift against each other. This provides a solid, stable shooting platform that consistently responds to the slightest squeeze. The fill material  119  may allow the shooting bag  20  to conform to both the shooting surface and whatever shape you need because of the fill technology. 
     One type of fill material may be composed of one of two specific grades of engineering resins mixed in a proprietary ratio with Organic Buckwheat hulls (used to lower the overall density). The fill material of these grades may have a ratio of 1 part buckwheat hulls to 7 parts Geloy XP4025 pellet by weight. The ratio may be changed to adjust to the lower density of the Starex material. The key properties of the fill material derive from the shape of the pellet to bind and lock, and also the hardness of the pellet is sufficient to prevent pellet compression and provide resilience, durability and moisture-resistance. The fill material may be of a first grade in which the specific polymer type is Polycarbonate plus Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate (ASA). The specific manufacturer and grade is SABIC Geloy XP 4025 black virgin pellet. The fill material having the first grade may have a density of 1.14 specific gravity, and a hardness of 114 on a Rockwell R-scale. 
     Alternatively, the fill material may be of a second Grade 2 in which the specific polymer type is Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate (ASA). The specific manufacturer and grade is LOTTE ADVANCED MATERIALS CO., LTD. Starex WR-9300-HF black virgin pellet. The fill material having the second grade may have a density of 1.07 specific gravity, and a hardness of 107 on Rockwell R-scale. 
     In one embodiment as shown in  FIG. 6 , the fill material may be composed of a custom compounded Thermoplastic Vulcanizate (TPV) pellet  121  in the thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) family. As depicted in  FIGS. 6 and 11 , this fill material may have irregular size and shaped pellets  121 . This configuration in combination with the porosity of the pellet surface and softness (technically measured as durometer on the hardness A scale) replicate the binding and locking of the hard pellet of that of a standard fill but provide a uniquely gel-like soft feel to the bag. This fill material may have a density of 0.97 specific gravity, and a hardness of 80+/−5 Shore A. 
     The above-mentioned fill materials are configured to fill the bag quickly and conform to the shooting surface and the shape that a shooter needs to provide sufficient support. Because the fill material binds rather than slips, the fill material provides a solid shooting platform that consistently responds to the shooter&#39;s slightest squeeze to easily fine-tune each shot. The pellets  121  in the fill material are configured to reduce shifting of the pellets against each other 
     The pellets of the fill material are resilient, durable, and moisture-resistant, and resistant to being compressed, because the pellets won&#39;t change shape. No additional fill may be needed, since the pellets do not compress. 
     This stabilizing shooting bag has panels with non-slip material on its commonly used bearing surfaces to provide a gripping action on damp or irregular/angled surfaces. The first and second angled side sections  70 ,  72  of the top panel  58  provide additional surface area on the bag while folded along its middle axis  63  ( FIG. 7 ) to support a firearm during the aiming process. The portion of the bottom panel  76  located between the bottom ends  50  of the fifth and sixth center panels  44 ,  46  provide a non-slip bearing surface while the shooting support bag is utilized on a round narrow diameter surface. The hook and loop fastener on the shooting support bag  20  provide an easy access fill port  118  to empty or fill the shooting support bag  20  with fill material. Although various embodiments of the disclosed shooting support bag for supporting a firearm have been shown and described, modifications may occur to those skilled in the art upon reading the specification. The present application includes such modifications and is limited only by the scope of the claims.