Abstract:
The present invention provides a shooting stabilization support apparatus with a saddle adapted to receive and support a variety of firearms. The saddle is supported by a hinge block or support mount and connected to a swivel mount allowing the saddle to freely and completely rotate in the horizontal and vertical plane space. The vertical or pitch elevation of the firearm resting in the shooting platform is easily adjusted and secured into position with a brake or a brake handle-brake clamp assembly that enables the user to easily adjust the elevation or pitch angle of the firearm muzzle and secure the rifle in the desired position. The shooter may then discharge the weapon with improved accuracy on target. The shooting platform apparatus may be permanently or detachably affixed to any fixed surface such as the floor, ceiling or wall of any enclosed space or it may be integrated or attached to vehicles, boats, aircraft or other transport equipment.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. provisional application, Ser. No. 61/767,953, filed on Feb. 22, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The stability with which a firearm is positioned is a critical factor contributing to the accuracy of a projectile discharged from the weapon. Likewise the ability to quickly bring a weapon to bear and position it accurately on the intended target is critical in shooting sports and public safety scenarios. Various prior apparatus and methods are known in the art that attempt to, but have not, solved such targeting and accuracy issues faced by shooters in hunting and military environments. 
         [0003]    For example, certain shooting systems have been developed for mechanically unsupported stabilization of the firearm that employs a sling device. A sling may be used as a shooting aid to pull the firearm into the user&#39;s shoulder area to provide stability against the shooter&#39;s body. However, the limitations with such body support systems do not adequately compensate for firearm recoil and its affect on the stability of the shooter&#39;s body. Likewise, the recoil associated with discharging a firearm may also cause the user to flinch or jerk in anticipation of the associated recoil. Flinching or jerking may affect the trigger pull and thereby further increase the inaccuracy associated with the shot. Other shooting support systems are designed to reduce or eliminate the recoil force transmitted to the user. However, such stabilization support systems are typically heavy, so as to absorb greater amounts of recoil from the weapon when discharged, and thus are not easily transportable or carried by the shooter into myriad environments where space and room to erect and utilize such support systems is limited. 
         [0004]    Despite advances in firearm manufacturing and optics capability, a need still exists in the art for a shooting platform which provides a stable platform on which the firearm may be rested and secured which prevents gross or reflexive movements by the shooter from affecting the desired shot placement and targeting accuracy. A need exists for a simple and easily transportable shooting platform that may be carried on the user&#39;s person, erected and utilized in a variety of shooting environments. Further, a need exists for a stabilized shooting platform that allows the user to easily rest, support and position the firearm on target, while providing the capability to easily adjust the elevation of the firearm and lock the firearm in the desired position for placing a projectile discharged from the firearm on the desired target. There is a need in the art for a shooting platform that supports the firearm without the aid of the shooter, while remaining light and easily transportable from one location to another by the shooter. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    According to one aspect, the present invention provides a shooting stabilization support apparatus (also referred to as a “shooting platform”) comprising a saddle with a forward and rear firearm supports adapted to receive and support a variety of firearms. The saddle is supported by a hinge block connected to a swivel mount allowing the saddle to freely and completely rotate in the horizontal and vertical plane space thereby aiding the shooter in easily and quickly placing the firearm on target desired by the shooter. The vertical elevation of the firearm is easily adjusted and secured into position using a brake that enables the user to easily adjust the elevation of the firearm muzzle and secure the rifle in the desired position. The shooter may then discharge the weapon with improved accuracy on target. The shooting platform apparatus may be permanently or detachably affixed to any fixed surface such as the floor, ceiling or wall of any enclosed space as further described herein. The shooting platform may be integrated or attached to vehicles, boats, aircraft or other transport equipment. 
         [0006]    In this respect, before explaining the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction or to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting. To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of this application. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view depicting an exemplary embodiment of the stabilization shooting platform apparatus in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a side elevational perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the stabilization shooting platform apparatus in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a perspective sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of the brake positioned between the hinge block and rear control arm of the stabilization shooting platform apparatus in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4A  is a side elevation sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of the brake positioned between the hinge block and rear control arm of the stabilization shooting platform apparatus in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4B  is a bottom elevation sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of the brake positioned between the hinge block and rear control arm of the stabilization shooting platform apparatus in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the stabilization shooting platform with swiveling extension arms in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the stabilization shooting platform apparatus in accordance with the present invention; and, 
           [0015]      FIG. 6B  is a bottom perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the stabilization shooting platform apparatus in accordance with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the present invention. Relative language used herein is best understood with reference to the drawings, in which like numerals are used to identify like or similar items. Further, in the drawings, certain features may be shown in somewhat schematic form. 
         [0017]    Turning to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of the shooting platform  10  is depicted in greater detail. Shooting platform  10  includes saddle  12  which is formed by two support legs  12   a,   12   b  and with support legs  12   a,   12   b  terminating into rear support base  12   c  and front support base  12   d  as shown. Saddle  12  is attached to hinge block  18  by pin or other attachment means known in the art that allow saddle  12  to rotate or pitch in the vertical direction. Saddle  12  includes a U or V-shaped rear gun support  14  attached to rear support base  12   c  and U or V-shaped front gun support  16  attached to front support base  12   d.  In one embodiment, front gun support  16  includes an adjustment control  24  allowing the user to increase or decrease the width of front gun support  16  for accommodating firearm fore-ends or barrels of various shapes, widths and diameters. Brake  20  is positioned between and hingedly connected to hinge block  18  and rear control arm  22  as shown. Rear control arm  22  is hingedly connected to saddle  12  via rear support base  12   c.  Brake  20  provides both an adjustable tensile locking mechanism for target alignment in the vertical direction. The user actuates brake  20  by hand, acquires and sights the target through the rifle sites or scope, and then actuates brake  20  so as to substantially lock the position of the firearm on the target at the desired elevational pitch. The components and operation of shooting platform  10  will be shown and described in greater detail below. 
         [0018]    With regard to  FIG. 2 , a side elevational view of shooting platform  10  is shown. Front gun support  16  is shown fixed to saddle  12  and includes threaded hole  28  in which threaded adjustment control  24  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) is rotated to increase or decrease the width of front gun support  16  as previously described. Pins  26  are utilized to hingedly connect saddle  12  to hinge block  18  and rear control arm  22  allowing saddle  12  via rear support base  12   c,  hinge block  18  and rear control arm  22  to substantially rotate relative to each other. Brake  20  is connected to hinge block  18  and rear control arm  22  with pins  26  as further described herein. 
         [0019]    Pins  26  are utilized to hingedly attach brake  20  between hinge block  18  and rear control arm  22  allowing brake  20 , hinge block  18 , and rear control arm  22  to substantially rotate and/or translate relative to each other and thus impart vertical pitch movement to saddle  12 . This rotational and translational ability allows the shooter to move and adjust the elevation or vertical pitch of the firearm barrel supported in the saddle  12  during target acquisition and alignment. Brake  20  acts to lock and restrict elevational movement of the saddle  12  in the vertical direction when the brake handle is rotated to a locked position which substantially inhibits any relative rotation in the vertical direction as between the hinge block  18 , brake  20  and rear control arm  22  thus securing the firearm positioned in the saddle  12  at the desired elevation on sight on the target. It is also contemplated that connection means such as pins, bolts or other threaded or non-threaded connectors for rotatably securing the components of the shooting platform  10  may be utilized as known in the art. 
         [0020]    A swivel mechanism (not shown) or connection point may be fixed to the bottom surface of hinge block  18  allowing the shooting platform  10  to freely swivel in substantially the horizontal plane enabling the shooter to quickly place a firearm supported in the shooting platform on target in the horizontal direction. The shooting platform  10  may be mounted to a monopod, bipod, tripod, extension arm or multiple extension arms or fixed mounting assembly as will be further described herein in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 3  depicts a perspective elevational view of hinge block  18 , brake  20 , and rear control arm  22  assembly. As depicted, brake  20  is hingedly connected between hinge block  18  and rear control arm  22 . Brake  20  includes a rotatable brake handle  30 , a brake piston  32  secured partially within the interior of brake handle  30  with a link  34  attached or formed as part of brake piston  32  at one end of brake piston  32 , and a friction plate  36  attached to or formed as part of link  34  at the opposite end of brake piston  32 . Link  34  provides a hinged connection point to hinge block  18  via pin  26 . Link  34  and/or friction plate  36  provides a hinged connection point with rear control arm  22  via pin  26 . 
         [0022]    Rear control arm  22  and friction plate  36  are in releasable contact at hinge brake contact surface  35 . Rear control arm  22  and friction plate  36  may include grooves, cleats or other roughened surface treatments enabling the contact surfaces at hinge brake contact surface  35  to securely mate together to substantially inhibit or restrict rotation relative to rear control arm  22  and friction plate  36  when the brake  20  is in a locked position. In turn and in this position, relative rotation between the brake  20  and hinge block  18  is restricted resulting in hinge block  18 , brake  20 , and rear control arm  22  assembly being restricted from elevational pitch rotation and/or translation in the vertical direction. Depending on the status of the brake  20  being in the locked or unlocked position, rear control arm  22  and friction plate  36  may rotate or be substantially fixed in position relative to each other as further described below. 
         [0023]    Brake  20  acts to provide an adjustable locking mechanism whereby the shooter may easily make gross or fine elevational adjustments to the shooting platform  10  in the vertical direction by simply rotating and/or counter-rotating brake handle  30  about brake piston  32 . Both brake handle  30  and brake piston  32  are partially or completely threaded  38  on one or both ends so that as brake handle  30  is rotated by the shooter about brake piston the rotation of the mated or meshed threads  38  causes brake piston  32  to rise, elongate or otherwise translate in an axial direction out and away from brake handle  30 . In the depicted embodiment, a substantial interior portion of brake handle  30  is threaded and a substantial exterior portion of brake piston  32  is threaded to accept the threaded portion of brake handle  30 . 
         [0024]    In the embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , brake handle  30  and links  34  may be partially or completely threaded across their external and/or internal axial lengths as desired or substantially threaded on both corresponding ends as shown. By threading both ends of brake handle  30  and links  34 , the brake handle  30  may be rotated so as to produce substantially simultaneous extension or refraction of each link  34  from or into brake handle  30  resulting in a doubling of the rate of expulsion or refraction of links  34  from brake handle  30  and the corresponding rate of control arm locking or unlocking and, in turn, requiring less rotation of brake handle  30  by the shooter for locking or unlocking the hinge block  18 , brake  20 , and rear control arm assembly. 
         [0025]    In the depicted embodiment, portions of the distal ends of brake handle  30  and links  34  include counter-meshing threads  38 . Links  34  are connected to, or may be preformed, as part of friction plates  36   a  as shown. As brake handle  30  is rotated to inhibit change in the vertical pitch of the shooting platform, links  34  are drawn into the interior of brake handle  30  and encounter the opposite distal ends of brake handle  30 . This results in a friction connection between brake handle  30  and friction plates  36  inhibiting further rotational movement of brake handle  30  about links  34  and locking the shooting platform into the desired alignment on the desired target. If minute adjustments need to be made in the alignment of the shooting platform  60 , the shooter may make fine adjustments in alignment of the shooting platform by rotating or counter-rotating brake handle  30  in small increments and reorienting the alignment of the shooting platform by the shooter pushing, pulling or by other bodily movement imparted to the shooting platform or the weapon secured in the shooting platform until the desired alignment is achieved. In one embodiment, rubber washers, grommets or cushioned pads, grommets or washers may be positioned inside the peripheral circumference of friction plates  36   a  so as to provide a variable friction surface that provides variable resistive frictional force sufficient to retard movement of brake handle  30  unless the shooter imparts sufficient rotational or counter-rotational force to overcome the resistive frictional force existing between brake handle  30  and friction plates  36   a.    
         [0026]      FIG. 5  depicts an embodiment of the shooting platform  10  mounted to an extension arm assembly that may be fixed to any stable structural component such as a wall, column, post or pole. As depicted, a firearm  2  is placed and rests in the saddle portion of shooting platform  10 . Shooting platform  10  is detachably secured to a swivel unit  40  that is connected to extension arm  52 . Extension arms  50 ,  52  are connected via arm swivel  54  with the distal end of extension arm  50  connected to swivel mount  56 . Swivel mount  56  may be permanently or detachably secured to a stable structure such as a wall in a dwelling, inside of a hunting blind, or in any space from which a firearm is to be utilized. 
         [0027]    In one example embodiment, swivel mount  56  is secured to a wall in a hunting blind (not shown). Once secured to a stable structural unit, the shooter may place firearm  2  into the saddle of the shooting platform  10  then position and sight the firearm  2  into the desired field of fire in the horizontal plane. The shooter may then push the shooting platform  10  supporting firearm  2  into a secure and safe position until the shooter is ready to fire the firearm  2 . When the shooter desires to fire the firearm  2 , he or she simply moves the shooting platform  10  into position and only needs to make vertical pitch adjustments for sighting the weapon on to the intended target. Such vertical pitch adjustments are easily made by rotating or counter-rotating the brake handle (as previously described herein) thereby allowing the shooter to position and sight the firearm  2  on to the target in a quick and accurate fashion. The shooter may simply discharge the firearm without having the accuracy of the shot affected by the shooter&#39;s reflexive or reactionary motion, as the recoil of the discharge is substantially absorbed by the shooting platform  10 . The user may then either sight and prepare for another shot or stow the firearm suspended by the extension arm assembly for later use. 
         [0028]      FIG. 6A  discloses an embodiment of shooting platform  60  wherein a twisting brake clamp mechanism is utilized to lock or adjust the vertical orientation of the saddle as the brake handle is rotated and counter-rotated. In the depicted embodiment, saddle  62  is a one-piece fabricated rigid body with a rear support  64  and front support  66  attached at opposing rear support base  62   a  and front support base  62   b  of saddle  62  as shown. Saddle  62  is manufactured from a rigid material such as metal, wood, polymer or other known natural or composite materials. Rear support  64  and front support  66  are secured to saddle  62  at rear support base  62   a  and front support base  62   b  as shown with commonly known fasteners  66   a,   64   a  (shown in  FIG. 6B ) such as bolts, pins, rivets or other known materials in the art. Saddle  62  is secured to clamp brake  74  with bolts  70  or other connectors as known in the art. Brake handle  72  is connected to clamp brake  74  via thread connectors as known in the art. Dowel rod  78  is shown secured or otherwise fixed to support mount  68  as described in detail in below. 
         [0029]    Turning to  FIG. 6B , shooting platform  60  is shown from a lower perspective where clamp brake  74  is shown in rotatable mechanical connection by dowel rod  78  to support mount  68 . Clamp brake  74  is generally square or rectangular in shape with a section of material (shown at  74   a ) removed from one side of the clamp brake (creating opposing sides of a portion of brake clamp  74 ) as shown so that actuation of the brake handle  72 , which is threaded into the clamp brake in a threaded orifice  74   b  allows the clamp brake to increase or decrease the force clamp brake  72  exerted on dowel rod  78  in effect drawing the opposing sides closer or further apart about dowel rod  78  as brake handle  72  is rotated or counter-rotated. Clamp brake  74  includes an orifice (not shown) through which dowel rod  78  passes through clamp brake  74  and into support mount  68  where it is secured by a circumferential flange or enlarged circumferential head on one end of dowel rod  78  (not shown). Dowel rod  78  is restricted from rotation about the longitudinal axis of dowel as dowel rod  78  is fixed in support mount  68 . Dowel rod  78  is secured to the exterior side surface of clamp brake  74  by threaded connection between dowel rod  78  and into which screw  80  is inserted and supported by cap  76  resting against clamp brake  74 . Support mount  68  with attach points  68   a  is provided to allow the operator to easily attach or detach the shooting platform from a swivel mount or extension arm assembly as described herein. Alternatively, support mount  68  may be attached to a structure, vehicle or other fixed or movable support as desired by the user. 
         [0030]    As depicted, the user rotates brake handle  72  to unlock the compressive force imparted by clamp brake  74  about the dowel rod  78  which allows the user to adjust the pitch elevation of the cradle  62 . Once the user orients the cradle  62  at the desired pitch angle, the user counter-rotates brake handle  72  resulting in the placement of sufficient compressive force imparted by clamp brake  74  on dowel rod  78 . The user may adjust the compressive force placed on dowel rod  78  by gradual rotation or counter-rotation of brake handle  72  sufficient to completely immobilize, allow partial movement or allow free movement of the cradle  62  in the vertical direction as desired by the user. The stabilization platform is easily deconstructed into its various compenents for storage and transport and can easily be reassembled for use in the field. 
         [0031]    Illustrative embodiments have been described herein and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above apparatus and methods may incorporate changes and modifications without departing from the general scope of the disclosed invention. It is intended to include all such changes and modifications within the scope of the present invention.