Abstract:
A cheek rest is strapped onto a firearm stock to allow the user to get a tighter cheek weld when using rifle scopes. The cheek rest can be altered to fit various manufactured stocks. An adjustable strapping system provides greater tension on the bottom of the rest ensuring it mates tightly with the stock. A more rigid, highly-placed structure is provided to press ones face against when using a scope.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not Applicable. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0003]    Not Applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
       [0004]    The present invention relates to rifle stock rests for use with rifle scopes and in particular to a cheek rest to strap onto a firearm or non-firearm stock to allow the user to get a tighter cheek weld when using rifle scopes that set much higher than the natural line of sight and provide a contour of the rest where it mates to the stock which can be altered to fit various stocks by the manufacturer and have the straps positioned to pass through the rest over the stock allowing for greater tension on the bottom of the rest to mate tightly with the stock, thus having a more rigid structure to press ones face against. Description of Related Art including information disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 
         [0005]    When using rifle scopes that set much higher than the natural line of sight, some stock and scope configurations barely allow for shooters chins to touch the stock and prevents a user from getting a tight cheek weld for a more steady and accurate aim through the scope. Prior art devices which are pulled from the lower edges of the prior art rests do not provide straps which wrap all the way around the stock. 
         [0006]    What is needed is a cheek rest to strap onto a firearm or non-firearm stock to allow the user to get a tighter cheek weld when using rifle scopes that set much higher than the natural line of sight and provide a contour of the rest where it mates to the stock which can be altered to fit various stocks by the manufacturer and have the straps positioned to pass through the rest over the stock allowing for greater tension on the bottom of the rest to mate tightly with the stock, thus having a more rigid structure to press ones face against. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    An object of the present invention is to provide a cheek rest to strap onto a firearm or non-firearm stock to allow the user to get a tighter cheek weld when using rifle scopes that set much higher than the natural line of sight and provide a contour of the rest where it mates to the stock which can be altered to fit various stocks by the manufacturer and have the straps positioned to pass through the rest over the stock allowing for greater tension on the bottom of the rest to mate tightly with the stock, thus having a more rigid structure to press ones face against. 
         [0008]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable strapping system with adjustable buckles. 
         [0009]    An added object of the present invention is to provide a means for attaching a rifle carrying sling to the device. 
         [0010]    One more object of the present invention is to provide a sealable horizontal storage chamber within the body of the cheek rest. 
         [0011]    An additional object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight cheek rest with hollow portions inside. 
         [0012]    In brief, the basic function of the cheek rest is to strap on to a firearm or non-firearm stock. This allows the user to get a tighter cheek weld when using rifle scopes that set much higher than the natural line of sight. Some stock and scope configurations barely allow for shooters chins to touch the stock and this cheek rest fills that void. The contour of the rest where it mates to the stock can be altered to fit various stocks by the manufacturer and is not limited to one stock. Having the straps positioned to pass through the rest over the stock allows for greater tension on the bottom of the rest to mate tightly with the stock, thus having a more rigid structure to press ones face against. 
         [0013]    The cheek rest of the present invention will be mounted on top of a rifle stock with straps that pass through rest holes looping under and over the stock to be fastened by various means. This is a substantial difference compared with currently manufactured similar items. The present invention places more downward tension inside the rest as opposed to prior art devices which are pulled from lower edges of the prior art rests wherein the straps do not wrap all the way around the stock. In the present invention, the straps can be pulled out so that various other strap types may be substituted. 
         [0014]    There is no limit to how many straps, holes, or fasteners can be positioned, used, molded, cut or drilled and in different ways in the present invention. 
         [0015]    An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a cheek rest that straps onto a firearm or non-firearm stock and allows the user to get a tighter cheek weld when using rifle scopes that sit much higher than the natural line of sight. 
         [0016]    An added advantage of the present invention is that it provides an adjustable strapping system to fit a variety of stocks. An ensuing advantage of the present invention is that it provides a means for carrying the rifle by attaching a rifle carrying sling to the device. 
         [0017]    One more advantage of the present invention is that it provides a sealable chamber to carry objects, such as shells or batteries. 
         [0018]    An additional advantage of the present invention is that it provides a lightweight design with various means of hollowing out the inside of the cheek rest body. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    These and other details of the present invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention, and in which drawings: 
           [0020]      FIGS. 1A-1E  are side elevational views of the rifle stock cheek rest of the present invention showing hole placement to accommodate various removable strapping systems with the holes placed in whatever position necessary to accommodate various stocks and having a curvature of the bottom of cheek rest which can be a universal shape or made to fit specific firearm stocks; 
           [0021]      FIGS. 2A-2C  are side elevational views of the rifle stock cheek rest of the present invention showing a variety of configurations of skeletization of the cheek rest to reduce weight of materials which can be all within the rest not visible to the outside or visible and open to the outside as shown, or a skeletal outside that doesn&#39;t allow for visual see through; 
           [0022]      FIG. 2D  is a top plan view of the rifle stock cheek rest of the present invention showing vertical holes which extend up from the bottom to the top as a weight reduction means or as screw, nut and bolt spaces; 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken through the longitudinal centerline of the rifle stock cheek rest of the present invention showing an inner chamber extending longitudinally through the cheek rest that can be sealed with various plug types, screw, straight, etc. and can be modified in size to allow for more than one chamber, and can be a series of small chambers to accommodate shells, batteries, or other items; 
           [0024]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are side elevational views of the rifle stock cheek rest of the present invention showing channels cut or molded into the sides of the cheek rest for straps to lay in and transverse holes going through the cheek rest that can be straight or in an arch. Not shown are holes or molded areas that can serve as strap guides aside from top holes. 
           [0025]      FIGS. 5A-5C  are side elevational views of the rifle stock cheek rest of the present invention showing various types of removable or secured strapping systems that can be used; 
           [0026]      FIG. 5D  is a side elevational view of the rifle stock cheek rest of the present invention mounted on a rifle stock using four straps; 
           [0027]      FIG. 6A  is a side elevational view in partial section of the rifle stock cheek rest of the present invention showing a cheek rest top that is separate from the bottom to be strapped to the firearm stock to allow switching different height rests of the cheek rest top interconnected to the bottom by a series of interlocking mating protruding tabs and grooves; 
           [0028]      FIG. 6B  is an end elevational view in partial section of the rifle stock cheek rest of  FIG. 6A  showing one of the series of interlocking mating protruding rectangular tabs and grooves; 
           [0029]      FIG. 6C  is a side elevational view in partial section of the rifle stock cheek rest of the present invention showing a cheek rest top that is separate from the bottom to be strapped to the firearm stock to allow switching different height rests of the cheek rest top interconnected to the bottom by a longitudinal upwardly protruding elongated inverted trapezoidal ridge from the bottom portion which slides into a mating longitudinal elongated channel to interlock along the length of the cheek rest body; 
           [0030]      FIG. 6D  is an end elevational view in partial section of the rifle stock cheek rest of  FIG. 6C  showing the longitudinal upwardly protruding elongated inverted trapezoidal ridge from the bottom portion which slides into a mating longitudinal elongated channel to interlock along the length of the cheek rest body; 
           [0031]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  are perspective views of the rifle stock cheek rest of the present invention showing how softer or harder padding can be fit to a top molded or machined connector portion which attaches to the stock mounting bottom portion; 
           [0032]      FIG. 8A  is a side elevational view of the cheek rest body of  FIG. 1A  showing a loop through one of the transverse openings is used to mount or attach a rifle sling to the cheek rest body; 
           [0033]      FIG. 8B  is a perspective view of the cheek rest body of the present invention showing straps with rings inserted through three transverse openings to aide other straps for more downward pressure creating a more secure positioning; 
           [0034]      FIG. 8C  is a side elevational view of the cheek rest body of  FIG. 1C  showing a protruding knob extending from the cheek rest body used to mount or attach a rifle sling to the cheek rest body; 
           [0035]      FIG. 8D  is a side elevational view of the rifle stock cheek rest of  FIG. 2B  mounted on a rifle stock using four vertical straps under the rifle stock and an addition horizontal strap between one of the vertical straps and the back butte end of the rifle stock; 
           [0036]      FIG. 9  is a side elevational view of the rifle stock cheek rest of  FIG. 2B  mounted on a rifle stock using four vertical straps under the rifle stock and an addition horizontal strap between one of the vertical straps and the back butte end of the rifle stock and further comprising a strap guide along the bottom of the rifle stock positioned to hold the vertical straps in alignment; 
           [0037]      FIG. 10A  is a side elevational view of the cheek rest body of  FIG. 1B  having sleeves or inserts in the transverse openings to allow the straps to pass through for using a harder material sleeve in a softer rest to prevent the rigid straps from cutting into the softer rest; 
           [0038]      FIG. 10B  is a side elevational view of rifle stock cheek rest of the present invention mounted on a rifle stock using three vertical straps under the rifle stock and showing a user resting the user&#39;s cheek on the cheek rest with the user&#39;s eye aligned with the scope for aiming to shoot the rifle. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0039]    In  FIGS. 1-10 , a rifle stock cheek rest apparatus  10 A- 10 G, used with a rifle  50  having an elevated scope  51  mounted on the rifle, comprises a cheek rest body  20 A- 20 R and the adjustable means  30 A- 30 E for attaching the cheek rest  10  to any of a variety of types of rifle stocks  50 . 
         [0040]    In  FIGS. 1-10 , the cheek rest body  20  comprises a contoured cheek rest bottom  24  and a smooth, substantially horizontal cheek rest top  22 . The contoured cheek rest bottom  24  rests on and conforms to the top of a rifle stock  50  of any of a variety of types of rifle stocks  50  having a scope  51  mounted on the rifle. The cheek rest bottom  24  has two downwardly extending side walls  25 A and  25 B for straddling the rifle stock  50 . The cheek rest body  20  further comprises a smooth, substantially horizontal cheek rest top  22  that has an elongated, transversely rounded top surface for resting the cheek of a user thereon while aiming through the scope  51  to fire the rifle. The cheek rest top  22  is spaced above the rifle stock  50  the same distance as from the center of the eyepiece of the scope  51  to the rifle sight on the rifle. The cheek rest body  20  also has a series of transverse openings  23 A- 23 C through the mid portion  21  of the cheek rest body  20 . 
         [0041]    In  FIGS. 1-10 , the adjustable means  30 A- 30 E ( FIGS. 5 ,  6 ,  8 ,  9 , and  10 ) for attaching the cheek rest to any of a variety of types of rifle stocks  50  extend through the series of transverse openings  23 A- 23 C and around a bottom of the rifle stock  50  comprises any of a variety of adjustable elongated elements, such as straps of various types. The series of transverse openings  23 A- 23 C comprises a plurality of transverse holes  23 A- 23 C through the side of the cheek rest body  20 A- 20 R to accommodate any of a variety of types of removable adjustable strapping systems  30 A- 30 E. The plurality of straps  30 A- 30 E pass through the plurality of horizontal slotted holes  23 A- 23 C as the adjustable means for attaching the cheek rest body  20 A- 20 R to any of a variety of types of rifle stocks  50 . Adjustable buckles  31  provide the means for adjusting the straps  30 A- 30 E to accommodate various size stocks  50  or different attachment configurations. 
         [0042]      FIG. 9  shows how a strap guide  32  can be positioned to hold the straps  30 E in alignment. The strap guide  32  can have various numbers of holes, molded loops, rings, hooks, or anything to accommodate the passing through of various types of straps  30 A- 30 E to hold the cheek rest body  20 A- 20 R in position. The shape is not limited to the illustration and can be altered to accommodate different stocks  50 . 
         [0043]    In  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the cheek body  20 L and  20 M further comprises a channel or channels  29  in each outer side  25 A and  25 B of each cheek rest body  20  extending downwardly from each of the transverse openings  23 A and  23 B to accommodate a strap  30 A- 30 E recessed in the channel  29 . The channels  29  are cut or molded into the sides  25 A and  25 B for straps  30 A- 30 E to lay in so that the straps are recessed within the outer surface of the sides  25 A and  25 B. 
         [0044]    In  FIGS. 1-10 , the adjustable means for attaching the cheek rest body to any of a variety of types of rifle stocks  50  comprises at least one type of removable adjustable strapping system  30 A- 30 E taken from the list of removable adjustable strapping systems including ladderlocs, slide release buckles, plastic zip ties, plastic worm clamps, metal zip ties, and metal worm clamps. 
         [0045]    In  FIGS. 1-10 , the transverse openings  23 A- 23 C can be placed in any of a variety of positions to accommodate various stocks  50 . The contoured cheek rest bottom  24  can be configured to fit a variety of types of rifle stocks  50  and can also be configured to fit a specific type of rifle stock. 
         [0046]    In  FIGS. 2A-2C ,  8 D, and  9  a portion of the cheek rest body  20 E- 20 G is hollow leaving a transverse opening  19 A- 19 C through the midportion  21  to reduce the weight of the cheek rest  10 . A variety of configurations of skeletization of the cheek rest body  20 F- 20 G from side to side to reduce the weight of materials are shown including one embodiment  20 H, in  FIG. 2C  with some structure  18  left in to support the top  22 . The skeletizaton can be all within the cheek rest and not visible or open to the outside as shown. Skeletal shapes are not limited to drawings and may be of any shape or form. Grooved patterns or obtrusions can be molded, cut, fit on, painted, etched, made into by any means, into areas touching or not touching stocks  50  to aid in grip or for design. 
         [0047]    In  FIG. 2D , the rifle stock cheek body  20 J has a series of vertical holes  17  which extend up from the bottom to the top as a weight reduction means and spaces to receive threaded fasteners, such as screws, nuts or bolts, for securing the cheek rest body  20 J to the rifle stock  50 . 
         [0048]    In  FIG. 3 , the cheek rest body  20 K has at least one inner chamber  16  extending longitudinally through the cheek rest body  20 K to store items therein, and a means for closing the inner chamber with any of various plugs  15  including threaded plugs or friction fit or other plug types, wherein the cheek rest body  20 K can be modified in size to allow for more than one chamber. A series of small chambers can accommodate shells, batteries etc. The inner chamber can also be fitted with hinged or sliding closures. In  FIGS. 6A-6D  and  7 A- 7 B, the cheek rest top  22  and  22 A is removably attached to the cheek rest body  21 . 
         [0049]    In  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the cheek rest top  22 A comprises an elongated resilient pad for receiving a cheek of a user resting thereon while aiming through the scope  51 . The removable pad  22 A is separate from the base  21 A and  21 B that is strapped to the firearm stock  50  to allow switching different height rests or different types of channels. Inlets can be cut or molded, with different grooves. 
         [0050]    In  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the rifle stock cheek rest  10  may have a top pad  22  made from softer or harder padding, which can be hard or soft molded or cut material, and can be fit to a top molded or machined material connector portion  7  on the top portion of the two-piece body  21 A which attaches to the stock mounting base  21 B. The top pad  22 , top portion of the two-piece body  21 A, and bottom portion of two-piece body  22 B fasten with bolts or screws  8  and nuts  9 , VELCRO®, glue, or any fastener that is compatible. Molded material can have fasteners molded into, in a non-removable or removable manner. The shapes are not limited to the shapes in the drawings. The top pad  22 , top portion of the two-piece body  21 A, and bottom portion of two-piece body  22 B can have flat, round, dove tail or any shape of mating surface or non-mating surface. This applies also to rests that do not have levels as in  FIG. 7 , but are just the top portion  21 A and bottom portion  21 B as in FIGS. A and  6 B. 
         [0051]    The different types of channels or inlets  11  and  11 A can be cut or molded, dovetail slide on, straight on, round, oval, etc. The different grooves can be large and few or many and small, small and few or large and many. In  FIGS. 6A and 6B , a series of downwardly open transverse rectangular channels or inlets  11  in the top portion  21 A receive mating upwardly protruding tabs  14  form the bottom portion  21 B and a series of intermittent upwardly opening transverse rectangular channels or inlets  13  in the bottom portion  21 B receive downwardly extending mating protrusions  12  from the top portion  21 A which do not fill the inlets  13  so that the straps  30 B fit therebetween. 
         [0052]    In  FIGS. 6A-7B , the cheek rest bottom portion  21 B and two downwardly extending side walls  25 A and  25 B are separable from the upper cheek rest body  21 A. Means for attaching the cheek rest bottom portion  21 B and two downwardly extending side walls  25 A and  25 B to an upper portion of the cheek rest body  21 A may comprise threaded fasteners, such as bolts or screws  8  and nuts  9 . 
         [0053]    In  FIGS. 6C-6D  longitudinal upwardly protruding elongated inverted trapezoidal ridges from the bottom portion  21 B slide into mating longitudinal elongated channels to interlock along the length of the cheek rest body  20 P. Bolts or screws  8  pointing down connect with nuts  9 , or the sides may lock together from one side to the other by any means. The contour of the upper portion  21 A and the lower portion  21 B is not limited to the shapes in the drawings. 
         [0054]    In  FIGS. 5B ,  6 A,  6 C,  8 D, and  9 , at least one adjustable strap  30 C attaches between a transverse opening  23 B through the cheek rest body  20  and around the back butt end of the stock  50  (as shown in  FIG. 9 ). Sides  25 A and  25 B can extend from the top of the stock  50  to a complete wrap around, including rear or butt, in conjunction with straps  30 A- 30 C and connect by any means available or to be made available. The back strap  30 C can be removably connected to other straps  30 A,  30 B,  30 D, or  30 E by means of loops, studs, sewed on or molded into one strap that does both. These straps  30 C are secondary attachments that are optional for the user. 
         [0055]    In  FIGS. 8A and 8C , a loop  40 A or rod  40 B (respectively) are used to mount or attach a rifle sling to the cheek rest body  20 A. In  FIG. 8A , a string loop, D-ring, square ring, or similar device passes through a hole  23 A to allow for a rifle sling to pass through for carrying, It may also be molded into the cheek rest body  20 A or secured asa strap, stud with hole or ring, or similar object for the same purpose. Rings may have sleeves around them that act as a bushing that rotates. It can be molded through the sides or straight out the rear or top or front. 
         [0056]    In  FIG. 10A , the cheek rest body  21  comprises sleeves or inserts  33 A and  33 B in the transverse openings  23 A to allow the plurality of straps to pass through. The purpose of the sleeves or inserts  33  is that using a harder material sleeve  33  in a softer rest will prevent the rigid straps from cutting into the softer rests. Sleeves or inserts  33  can be molded into or affixed by any means to be made available. Sleeves or inserts  33  can be of any shape (round, square, etc.) and can go all the way through as one piece or partially in from each side, creating a separate sleeve for each side. They can be flared out as in  FIG. 10A  or the shape of the hole  23  with their own strap hole. 
         [0057]    A high friction outer surface may be on at least a portion of the cheek rest body  20  to prevent slipping. Non-slip or smooth textured inserts may be affixed or molded by any method to the bottom or sides to aide in creating a movement-free, secure positioning. Inserts may also be affixed to top or sides by any method to add smoothness, softening, firming, non slip, or slickness. Non-slip or slick coatings may be applied, as well, to top, bottom, or sides for aiding non-movement or comfort to user. 
         [0058]    In use, in  FIG. 10B , the rifle stock cheek rest  10 A of the present invention is mounted on a rifle stock  50  using three vertical straps  30 B secured under the rifle stock and a user rests the user&#39;s cheek on the cheek rest with the user&#39;s eye aligned with the scope  51  for aiming to shoot the rifle. 
         [0059]    It is understood that the preceding description is given merely by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention and that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.