Patent Publication Number: US-8984790-B2

Title: Adjustable cheek rest

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/751,475, titled “ADJUSTABLE CHEEK REST” filed Jan. 11, 2013 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of Invention 
     This disclosure relates to a cheek rest on a rifle or other firearm and more particularly to a locking and adjustable mechanism for repositioning the cheek rest using a pinching grip. 
     2. Discussion of Related Art 
     Cheek rests or cheek pads have been in use for many years on rifles and shotguns. Adjustable cheek rests allow a user to customize the height of the cheek rest based on user preference and sight alignment requirements. A standard stock or buttstock does not consider the size and shape of the shooter, or the various scope mounts or aiming sights that may be employed by the user on their rifle. Accordingly, an adjustable cheek rest enables a user to customize the height of the cheek rest in order to best fit the user and the equipment. Many cheek rests are stationary and do not feature the ability to be customized in height to the preference of the user. Additionally, those that are adjustable (capable of being raised and lowered) often require tools or two hands in order to adjust the height of the cheek rest. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure describes a locking adjustable cheek rest for use on a rifle, the locking adjustable cheek rest comprising an upper U-shaped portion in an inverted position that is configured to essentially surround a lower portion located on the stock of a rifle or other firearm. The U-shaped portion is biased against the lower portion, such that the sides of the U-shaped upper portion press against the sides of the lower portion, thereby locking the upper portion in position. A pair of releases can be depressed to counter the bias and enable the upper portion to be raised and lowered relative to the lower portion. The upper portion may also include an integrated spring clip that can provide or add to the bias required to adequately grip the lower portion. An interlocking mechanism between on the upper and lower portions may facilitate locking of the cheek rest in a position determined by the user. 
     In one aspect an adjustable cheek rest for a firearm is provided, the cheek rest comprising a lower portion attached to or integral to the stock of a firearm, the lower portion defining a slot passing there through and having an outer surface, a resilient upper portion separable from the lower portion, the upper portion having a cross-sectional U shape including an open end and a curved end, the U-shaped upper portion having two sides each defining an aperture there through, the resilient upper portion exhibiting a preferred shape wherein an interior dimension between the two sides is less than a corresponding exterior dimension of the lower portion, and a compressible release mechanism configured to pass through the slot and the two apertures, wherein the release mechanism in an extended position allows the upper portion to grip the lower portion and when in a compressed position outwardly deforms the open end of the upper portion to release the grip and allow the upper portion to slide in relation to the lower portion. 
     In another aspect a method of adjusting a cheek rest for a firearm is provided, the method comprising pinching together two knobs positioned on opposing ends of a release mechanism, forcing the sides of a resilient cheek rest outwardly from a stock of the firearm, sliding the resilient cheek rest vertically from a first vertical position while pinching the knobs of the release mechanism, and releasing the knobs of the release mechanism to secure the resilient cheek rest in a second vertical position. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description, taken together with the drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a detailed view of the cheek rest on a stock according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a deconstructed view of the upper portion of the cheek rest shown independent from the rifle according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the cheek rest detailing the internal connections of the upper and lower portions and the release mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 4  is a detailed view of the connection between the first release and the second release according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to an adjustable cheek rest that can be operated with one hand, can offer ambidextrous design, and is capable of adjusting to a plurality of heights and maintaining the chosen height in a fixed manner until the user decides to alter the height of the cheek rest. Cheek rest height adjustment may be particularly useful when the user is changing firing positions, such as from standing to prone. The cheek rest may have three or more parts, including an upper removable portion, a lower portion attached to the stock of the firearm, and a release mechanism for securing the upper portion to the lower portion and releasing the upper portion from the lower portion. The upper portion may be made of a resilient material that has a memory that returns it to its original shape after minor deformation. As used herein, a resilient material is one that can be flexed to change a dimension of the piece by at least 5% yet returns to its original shape after the flexing force is released. The resilient upper portion can provide enough clamping force when fitted over the lower portion that the upper portion will remain fixed in relation to the stock when used under typical firing conditions. The release mechanism can be configured so that when the release mechanism is compressed, e.g., between a thumb and forefinger, the upper portion is expanded, releasing its grip on the lower portion and allowing the upper portion to be moved in relation to the stock. Thus, although the release mechanism passes through apertures in the walls of the upper portion, a decrease in the length of the release mechanism increases, temporarily, the distance between the walls of the upper portion. 
     One embodiment is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . An adjustable cheek rest  10  for a rifle  12  is released for repositioning by applying a pinching grip across knobs  32  and  26  (see  FIG. 3 ). The cheek rest can be freely repositioned while maintaining that grip, and secured in position by the act of releasing the knobs. In some cases, the cheek rest may be repositionable along only one axis, for example a vertical axis that is essentially normal to the axis of the firearm. The adjustment of the cheek rest does not require any tools and can be fully operated with one hand. The adjustable cheek rest allows the user to adjust the cheek rest to provide the correct alignment of eye and rifle sight as needed, particularly each time a shooting position is established. The adjustable cheek rest can also allow for lowering or removal of the cheek rest when a user needs to remove the bolt of a bolt action rifle for ease of cleaning the rifle barrel. 
     The cheek rest includes an upper portion  14 , shown semi-transparent in  FIG. 2 , which operates in conjunction with a lower portion  16 . The lower portion  16  is connected to the stock or buttstock  18  of the rifle  12 . Lower portion  16  may be integral to the stock, meaning that it is formed from a common piece, or it may be formed separately and attached to the stock, such as with screws or adhesive. Upper portion  14 , in cross-section, is a parabolic upside-down U-shape with a first side  36 , a second side  38 , and a connector portion  40 , wherein the first and second side  36 / 38  and the connector portion  40  are connected to one another via a continuous piece of material to form the U-shaped upper portion  14 . Sides  36  and  38  may be substantially planar while connector portion  40  is substantially parabolic, as shown. At curvature point  60  ( FIG. 3 ), the upper portion transitions from substantially planar to curved. The upper portion is configured to be placed onto the lower portion such that the U-shape is situated in an inverted manner. When in its lowermost position, as shown in  FIG. 3 , curvature point  60  is approximately even with the top of lower portion  16 . When upper portion  14  is raised or partially raised, as in  FIG. 1 , void  62  becomes larger. 
     Upper portion  14  of the cheek rest can be a single design element and may be made using a plastic molding process such as injection molding. The plastic may be hypoallergenic and can include fillers and additives such as pigments, UV inhibitors, plasticizers, glass or carbon fibers and fluorescent materials. Appropriate polymers are known to those of skill in the art and include polyolefins, polycarbonate, ABS and fiberglass reinforced plastics. The upper portion (in particular the lower edges of the upper portion) of the cheek rest can be shaped to provide a biasing force against the sides of the lower portion of the buttstock, or alternately can be shaped to require a bolt and nut in the place of the first and second releases  22 / 28  to bias and secure the upper portion of the cheek rest against the lower portion on the buttstock. The molding process of the cheek rest may be carried out so that the first side  36  and second side  38  are substantially parallel to one another when pulled from the mold and not fully cured. While the part is still warm and shapable, the two sides  36  and  38  can be compressed towards one another so that the dimension across the open end of the U is reduced. The part can then be fully cured and/or cooled while held in a compressed state. Upon release of the external compression force, the cured piece will have a preferred shape, in the absence of external forces, where the dimension across the open end of the U is less than or equal to the dimension across lower portion  16 . Thus, to be fitted over lower portion  16 , upper portion  14  can be expanded, or pulled apart, and then allowed to contract after placement on lower portion  16 . This means that upper portion  14  will be in compression around lower portion  16  and will provide a gripping function around lower portion  16 . Thus, in this embodiment, the upper portion exhibits a “spring clip” function without requiring any additional components. 
     In an alternate embodiment (not shown), a U-shaped or saddle-shaped spring clip can be used within the mold or on an internal surface of the mold, such that the spring-clip passes over the comb of the upper portion and is self-biased against the left and right sides of the stock. This bias is used to secure the upper portion of the cheek rest to the lower portion within a limited range of relative position. In these cases, the plastic itself need not have memory and can be flexible. The spring clip can be integrated into the upper portion and thus not visible when the cheek rest is in use. The spring clip may be removable or premanently molded into the upper portion. 
     A release mechanism for securing and releasing the upper portion may include two or more parts, or releases. A first release  22 ,  FIG. 3 , is configured to pass through a first aperture  24  on a first side  36  of the upper portion  14 , through slot  34  on lower portion  16  and contact an interior surface of a second side  38  of upper portion  14 . First knob  26  of the first release  22  is larger in diameter than at least a portion of the first aperture  24  and therefore the first knob  26  remains exposed on an exterior of the first side  36  of the upper portion  14 . Similarly, a second release  28  is configured to pass through a second aperture  30  on a second side  38  of the upper portion  14 , through slot  34  and contact an interior surface of the first side  36  of the upper portion  14 . A second knob  32  of the second release  28  is larger in diameter than at least a portion of the second aperture  30  and therefore the second knob  32  remains exposed on an exterior of the second side  38  of the upper portion  14 . In some embodiments apertures  24  and  30  can be of two or more diameters. For example, an outward facing portion of apertures  24  and  30  may be of large enough diameter to allow the passage of knobs  26  and  30  while an inward facing portion of apertures  24  and  30  may have smaller diameters, allowing for the passage of releases  22  and  28  while preventing the passage of knobs  26  and  32 . Apertures  24  and  30  may have, for example, two distinct cylindrical diameters as shown, or may be conically shaped to provide a variation in diameter. 
     Depressing the exposed first and second knobs  26 / 32  of both the first and second releases  22 / 28  at the same time, using a pinching grip with the user&#39;s hand, pushes at least a portion of the inner surfaces of sides  36  and  38  away from each other, allowing the user to release the gripping bias created by the upper portion  14 . This enables the user to move upper portion  14  upward or downward in relation to lower portion  16  on the buttstock  18 . The pinching grip allows the user to move the cheek rest into a new position, whereby it is secured simply by the letting go of the first and second knobs  26 / 32  of both the first and second releases  22 / 28 , thereby allowing the upper portion  14  to again bias against the sides of the lower portion  16 . The adjustment can be completed without tools and without disconnecting or reconnecting parts. The force needed to depress the first and second releases  22 / 28  may be, for example, between 5 and 20 lbs of force, preferably about 13 lbs of force, such that a user can depress the first and second releases  22 / 28  relatively easily between the thumb and forefinger of one hand. The opposing force can be provided by the sides of upper portion  14 , which can be in compression around lower portion  16 . 
     First and second releases  22 / 28 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , can be interlocked to one another to form a release mechanism. In the embodiment shown, at least one of the first and second releases includes an integral spring clip  20  (shown on second release  28  in  FIG. 4 ). The integral spring clip  20  can retain the two releases together while providing a path of substantially axial motion of the two releases in relation to each other. Thus, the manual compression of opposing knobs  26  and  32  can move the two releases axially in relation to each other, but the compression force provided by the opposed sides  36  and  38  of upper portion  14  forces the knobs back to their original position after the knobs are released by the operator. As the interior surface of the opposed sides  36  and  38  are in contact with distal ends of releases  22  and  28 , the compression force provided by the deformation of upper portion  14  can place the release mechanism in tension, pushing knobs  26  and  32  outwardly. 
     First and second releases  22 / 28  can be physically separated from one another in order to remove the upper portion  14  of cheek rest  10 . In one embodiment, the first and second releases  22 / 28  are separated from one another using, for example, a 3 mm pin or Allen key, inserted through opening  44  and pressed against end portion  46  of the integral spring clip  20 . The pin raises end portion  46  by sliding along the angled lower edge of end portion  46  until end portion  46  is raised to a height adequate to clear lip  64  of release  22 . Other separation and removal options, such as various pins or fasteners are also contemplated and within the scope of the present invention. The release and connection between the first and second releases  22 / 28  may be a dovetail connection  52  that enables the first and second releases  22 / 28  to slide relative to one another when the first and second knobs  26 / 32  are depressed and released. When the first and second releases  22 / 28  are separated from one another, the dovetail connection  52  can disengage. 
     The cheek rest can include an interlocking feature that helps fix upper portion  14  in relation to lower portion  16  when the release is depressed by the user. As shown in  FIG. 2  an interlocking mechanism can include features on the inner surface of upper portion  14  that complement features on the outer surface of lower portion  16 . For example, the interior surface of upper portion  14  can include raised or depressed features such as protrusions  48  and/or grooves, which can be in a repeated pattern, such as a series of ribs or teeth that are integral with the interior surface. Lower portion  16  can also include raised or depressed features  50 , such as ribs or teeth configured to complement and interlock with protrusions  48  on upper portion  14 . When protrusions  48  of upper portion  14  are engaged with grooves  50  of lower portion  16 , the cheek rest is in a stable or locked position. The configuration of the interlocking mechanism can allow the cheek rest to be positioned in a plurality of different locations, thereby fully customizing the height of the cheek rest based on the preference of the user. When the user depresses first and second releases  22 / 28 , protrusions  48  and grooves  50  disengage from one another and upper portion  14  can be freely raised or lowered with respect to lower portion  16 . Releasing the first and second releases  22 / 28  will then reengage or lock the first and second interlocking mechanisms  48 / 50  to one another, securing the cheek rest in the a second position determined by the user. In many embodiments the height of the protrusions extending from the surface of lower portion  16  may be less than the length of travel afforded to the release mechanism. In this manner, full compression of the release mechanism will fully clear the interlocking features, allowing upper portion  14  to slide smoothly up or down. Lower portion  16  may also include indicia that can be aligned with the lower edge of the upper portion to help a user re-adjust the cheek rest exactly to a previously used height. 
     The cheek rest may also include one or more guides  42  and  42 ′ on the upper portion and/or lower portion, which restrict relative rotation or horizontal movement of the cheek rest and/or restrict repositioning of the cheek rest to a single axis of travel. Guide members  42  and  42 ′ may be complementary to each other and can also serve to provide rigidity to resilient upper portion  14 . 
     It is also contemplated and within the scope of the present invention that a similar adjustable and biased mechanism could be used with a recoil pad or forearm and be configured to similarly adjust. 
     It is understood that the present invention is not intended to be limited to a system or method which must satisfy one or more of any stated objects or features of the invention. It is also important to note that the present invention is not limited to the preferred, exemplary, or primary embodiment(s) described herein. Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present invention and not to be limited except by the allowed claims and their legal equivalents.