Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]    This invention relates generally to firearm accessories and specifically to a firearm rest that adjustably absorbs the recoil of the firearm when it is fired while maintaining consistent support on the butt stock of the rifle regardless of the position of the rifle. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]    Sportsmen often wish to test fire new rifles to ensure that the rifle in question fires accurately. The recoil that is created when a rifle is fired can often cause human error and prevent accurate shooting. This additional source of error can make it difficult for the user to determine whether any misses are due to an inaccurate rifle or an inaccurate marksman. Furthermore, some sportsmen wish to set a rifle up in a hidden location to fire on wild game. These sportsmen also want to accurately fire a rifle at a predetermined location and would like to use a device to do so accurately in a repeatable manner. Also, sportsmen with disabilities that impair normal rifle use may wish to use a device to hold a rifle for them. 
         [0003]    Several shooting rests have been created to accommodate these sportsmen. These shooting rests hold a rifle in position to steady its aim. However, many of these shooting rests have no ability to absorb recoil. As a result, when the rifle is fired, the recoil causes the rifle to bounce, which significantly affects the rifles aim and can potentially cause damage to the rifle. 
         [0004]    Some shooting rests are built to absorb recoil. However, the recoil absorbing element of these shooting rests cannot be adjusted. Therefore, these rests prevent rifle bounce for some rifles, but not others. This is because the recoil absorbing means of these rests cannot absorb all of the recoil from rifles with heavy recoil, which causes these rifles to bounce when fired. However, if the recoil absorbing means is designed to absorb all of the recoil from a rifle with a heavy recoil, a rifle with a light recoil will not impact the recoil absorbing means enough to cause significant absorption, which in turn causes the rifle to bounce. 
         [0005]    Additionally, these hunting rests must be secured to some stationary object to prevent the entire rest from bouncing when a rifle is fired. While many of these rests claim to be portable, they must be attached to a modified surface to prevent the rest from bouncing. This means that the rest cannot operate anywhere without a specially modified support surface being present. 
         [0006]    Finally, many of these rests are not adjustable. This makes aiming the associated rifle difficult or impossible. Other rests claim to allow the user to aim the rifle in the rest, but aiming the rifle vertically in these rests places pressure on the rifle in a manner not intended by the rifle manufacturer. The butt stock of the rifle is designed to be placed against a persons shoulder. This puts the recoil absorbing means in contact with the entire butt stock of the rifle. The currently available shooting rests with adjustable aim place pressure on limited areas of the butt stock when the rifle is aimed at a vertical angle. This causes additional wear on the rifle&#39;s alignment and stock over time. 
         [0007]    Therefore, what is needed is an adjustable recoil reducing shooting rest. The adjustable recoil reducing shooting rest should absorb recoil from a rifle, the recoil absorbing means should be adjustable, the rest should be securable to an unmodified support surface, and the user should be able to aim the rest and the associated rifle without placing uneven pressure on the rifle butt stock. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent when this background of the invention is read in conjunction with the subsequent detailed description of the invention, appended claims, and the accompanying drawings. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]    The present invention advantageously fills the aforementioned deficiencies by providing an adjustable recoil reducing shooting rest. The adjustable recoil reducing shooting rest absorbs recoil from a rifle, is adjustable, may secured to an unmodified support surface, and consistently supports the butt stock of the rifle regardless of the vertical angle of the rest. 
         [0009]    The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are intended to be read in conjunction with both this summary, the detailed description, and any preferred and/or particular embodiments specifically discussed. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of illustration only and so that this disclosure will be thorough, complete and will fully convey the full scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0010]    The drawings contained herein exemplify one of the embodiments of the claimed invention. The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown. The embodiment shown is purely an example, and the invention is capable of many variations of said embodiment. In the drawings, 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates a side perspective view of the present invention holding an example of a rifle. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  illustrates a side sectional view of the stock support unit of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  illustrates a bottom plan view of the base of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  illustrates a front sectional view of the receiving unit of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  illustrates a side perspective view of a primary attachment member attached to a support surface. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  illustrates a front plan view of the base showing the horizontal control unit and related components. 
       
    
    
       [0017]    The first digit of each reference numeral in the above figures indicates the figure in which an element or feature is most prominently shown. The second digit indicates related elements or features, and a final letter (when used) indicates a sub-portion of an element or feature. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]      FIG. 1  illustrates a side perspective view of the present invention.  FIG. 1  discloses, among other components, a base member further comprising a base  10 . The base  10  serves as a support for the other components of the present invention. In the preferred embodiment, the base  10  comprises three eights inch aluminum flat bar. However, any durable material may be used. The forgoing notwithstanding, the base  10  should be light enough for a user to carry by hand, but heavy enough to support the other components and partially absorb the kinetic energy created when a rifle is fired while secured to the shooting rest. Referring briefly to  FIG. 3 , in the preferred embodiment, the base is a rectangular prism like shape which further comprises a central compartment  10 C comprised of two sidewalls  10 A and two end-walls  10 B, with an open top and bottom. This central compartment  10 C is accessible from either the top or the bottom of the base  10 , for containing other components. 
         [0019]    In the preferred embodiment, the base  10  further comprises a plurality of anchor crossbars  63 . The base also comprises one or more attachment units which may be removably connected to the anchor crossbars  63  of the base  10 . This allows the base member of the present invention to be securely attached to an unmodified support surface by means of an attachment unit or units. One example of an attachment unit is a primary attachment member  53  as discussed more fully below in reference to  FIG. 5 . The user may also employ one or more strap members  110  as attachment units to attach the base to the support surface. An attachment unit may also be any other similar device that can releaseably attach the present invention to an unmodified support surface such as chains, cords, clamps, ropes, or the like. 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  also discloses a primary adjustment member further comprising a vertical adjustment unit  11 . In the preferred embodiment, the vertical adjustment unit  11  is further comprised of two triangular shaped sidewalls  11 A and a rectangular shaped top-wall  11 B attached to each sidewall  11 A. Referring briefly to  FIG. 3 , the vertical adjustment unit  11  further comprises a crossbar  33  connecting each sidewall  11 A. The vertical adjustment unit  11  is placed inside the central compartment  10 C of the base  10  and the crossbar  33  is pivotally affixed to the sidewalls  10 A of the base  10 . Pivotally affixed means that one component is permanently attached to another component in such a manner that the first component can pivot relative to the second component. This configuration allows the vertical adjustment unit  11  to pivot when the base  10  is stationary. When a rifle is placed in the present invention, the pivoting action of the vertical adjustment unit  11  allows the user to adjust the vertical position of the barrel and thereby adjust the weapons aim in the vertical plane. 
         [0021]    The primary adjustment member further comprises one or more primary retaining units  12 . In the preferred embodiment, the primary adjustment member comprises two primary retaining units  12 . These primary retaining units  12  are placed in contact with the vertical adjustment unit  11 . The primary retaining units  12  prevent the vertical adjustment unit  11  from pivoting without some form of user adjustment, and thereby perform the function of adjustably retaining the primary adjustment member  11  in position relative to the base member. In the preferred embodiment, each primary retaining unit  12  further comprises two slots. The primary retaining unit  12  is then placed so that each slot encloses a portion of each vertical adjustment unit sidewall  11 A. Referring briefly to  FIG. 3 , in the preferred embodiment, the primary adjustment unit further comprises one or more support units  12 . The two primary retaining units  12  are connected by the support units  31 . In the preferred embodiment, the support units  31  comprise two springs. In this configuration, the slot contact between the primary retaining units  12  and vertical adjustment unit sidewalls  11 A coupled with the pressure from the support units  31  prevent the retaining units  12  and the vertical adjustment unit  11  from moving without user adjustment as discussed herein below in reference to  FIG. 3 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  also discloses a cradle member further comprising a horizontal adjustment unit  13 . The horizontal adjustment unit  13  is pivotally affixed to the top-wall  11 B of the vertical adjustment unit  11  by a vertical crossbar  19 . This allows the cradle member to pivot freely in the horizontal plane and thereby allows the user to change the horizontal aim of a rifle, when said rifle is present. In the preferred embodiment, the horizontal adjustment unit  13  comprises a rear section  13 A, a raised section  13 B, and a rail section  13 C. 
         [0023]    The primary adjustment member further comprises a horizontal control unit  17 . Referring briefly to  FIG. 6 , the vertical adjustment unit  11  further comprises two attachment points  11 C, attached to the vertical adjustment unit side-walls  11 A. The horizontal control unit  17  is rotationally connected to each of the attachment points  11 C of the vertical adjustment unit  11 . Rotationally connected means that the components are connected in such a way that at least one of the components can rotate while remaining connected to the other component or components. The primary adjustment member further comprises a horizontal connection unit  62  attached to the horizontal adjustment unit  13  of the cradle member. The horizontal connection unit  62  is rotationally connected to the horizontal control unit  17 . This causes the horizontal control unit  17  to be rotationally connected to the horizontal adjustment unit  13 . In the preferred embodiment, the horizontal control unit  17  further comprises adjustment handles. In this configuration, the orientation of the horizontal adjustment unit  13  is controlled by turning the adjustment handles of the horizontal control unit  17 , which causes the horizontal control unit  17  to rotate. The rotation of the horizontal control unit  17  causes the horizontal connection unit  62  to move along the horizontal control unit  17 , which moves the attached horizontal adjustment unit  13  in the horizontal plane. 
         [0024]    The cradle member further comprises a receiving unit  41  connected to the horizontal adjustment unit  13 . In the preferred embodiment, the receiving unit  41  should be slidably connected to the rail section  13 C of the horizontal adjustment unit  13 , allowing the receiving unit  41  to slide to any position on the rail section  13 C to accept rifles of different lengths. However, the receiving unit  41  should be prevented from sliding onto the raised section  13 B or sliding free of the rail section  13 C. The purpose of the receiving unit  41  is to be capable of securely receiving the forward portion of a rifle. The forward portion of a rifle may be the rifle barrel or the forestock. The operation of the receiving unit  41  is discussed in greater detail below in reference to  FIG. 4 . 
         [0025]    The cradle member further comprises a primary stock support unit  21 , affixed to the rear section of the horizontal adjustment unit  13 A. When in use, the butt stock of a rifle may be placed against the primary stock support unit  21  and the barrel placed in the receiving unit  41 . Because the entire cradle moves when the rifle is aimed, using the horizontal adjustment unit  13  and vertical adjustment unit  11 , the primary stock support unit  21  consistently supports the butt stock of the rifle regardless of the position of either the horizontal adjustment unit  13  or the vertical adjustment unit  11 . This ensures that stress is distributed evenly on the rifles butt stock when the rifle is fired. The primary stock support unit is discussed in greater detail in relation to  FIG. 2  herein below. 
         [0026]    In the preferred embodiment, the cradle member also comprises a secondary stock support unit  16  connected to the primary stock support unit  21 . The secondary stock support unit  16  supports the stock of any rifle placed in the cradle and prevents the rifle from sliding down the primary stock support unit  21 . As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , the secondary stock support unit  16  connects to the primary stock support unit  21  by a threaded bolt and can be adjusted vertically to accommodate different rifles. The secondary stock support unit  16  may also comprise a retaining strap  16 A which may be placed around a rifle stock and attached via Velcro, snaps, or similar means to further restrict the rifles movement. It should be noted that while the secondary stock support unit  16  is useful to restrict unwanted rifle movement, its presence is not required for the normal operation of the present invention. The receiving unit  41  and the primary stock support unit  21  are capable of retaining the rifle without the need of the secondary stock support unit  16 . The secondary stock support unit  16  also assists the user by holding the rifle as the barrel or forestock of the rifle is being secured in the receiving unit  41 . 
         [0027]    In the preferred embodiment, the cradle member may also comprise one or more secondary retaining units  18 . In the preferred embodiment, the secondary retaining unit  18  is a bolt, or similar structure, that can be rotationally connected to the horizontal adjustment unit  13 A and to the vertical adjustment unit  11  in such a way that engaging the secondary retaining unit  18  prevents the horizontal adjustment unit  13 A from moving. This performs the function of granting additional support to the horizontal control unit  17 , and helps prevent the cradle from making unwanted horizontal movements. It should be noted that while the horizontal lock is useful, it is not required for the proper function of the present invention. 
         [0028]      FIG. 2  illustrates a sectional view of the primary stock support unit  21  of the present invention. The primary stock support unit  21  further comprises one or more recoil dampening devices  21 A for adjustably dampening the recoil of any rifle that is fired while secured in the present invention. The preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises eight recoil dampening devices  21 A that can be removed or replaced by the user to increase or decrease the resistance of the dampening action. It should be noted that optimal operation of the present invention is achieved when the recoil dampening devices  21 A create enough resistance to partially compress when a rifle is fired. If the recoil dampening devices  21 A completely compress due to low resistance or do not compress at all due to high resistance, the rifle is more likely to bounce, decreasing the accuracy and reliability of the rifle&#39;s aim while secured in the present invention and subjecting the rifle to potential damage. Since each rifle exerts a different amount of recoil pressure when fired, the user may remove or replace the recoil dampening devices  21 A until the optimal resistance is achieved. 
         [0029]    In the preferred embodiment, the primary stock support unit  21  further comprises a front plate  21 C, a rear plate  21 D, and four tension supports  21 B. The tension supports  21 B are affixed to the rear plate  21 D and slidably connected to the front plate  21 C by the tension support heads  21 E. In this configuration, under most conditions, the pressure exerted by the recoil dampening devices  21  on the front plate  21 C forces the front plate  21 C to slide down the tension supports  21 B to the tension support heads  21 E and remain at a maximum distance from the rear plate  21 D. When a weapon is fired in the present invention, the front plate  21 C transfers the recoil pressure to the recoil dampening devices  21 A and slides along the tension supports  21 B toward the rear plate  21 D. Once the recoil pressure has been absorbed and distributed throughout the shooting rest, the front plate  21 C returns to its standard position as noted above. It should be noted that, in an alternate embodiment, the tension supports  21 B could be affixed to the front plate  21 C and slideably connected to the rear plate  21 D without significantly effecting the overall function of the present invention. 
         [0030]    In the preferred embodiment, the primary stock support unit  21  further comprises a stock support pad  21 F. The purpose of the stock support pad  21 F is to further dampen the recoil of any rifle fired while secured to the present invention. The stock support pad  21 F also reduces possibility that the rifle will receive a scratch or gouge from impact with the primary stock support unit  21 . However, it should be noted that the stock support pad  21 F may be omitted without significantly affecting the overall function of the present invention. 
         [0031]      FIG. 3  illustrates a bottom perspective view of the base of the present invention. As mentioned above, the central compartment  10 C contains several of the present inventions components. As mentioned above, the sidewalls of the vertical adjustment unit  11 A are placed inside the central compartment  10 C and the crossbar  33  connects to each sidewall  11 A and is pivotally connected to the sidewalls of the base  10 A. The retaining units  12  retain the vertical adjustment unit  11  in position and are connected by one or more support units  31 . 
         [0032]    The vertical adjustment unit  11  further comprises a vertical control unit  32 . The vertical control unit  32  is affixed to both end-walls  10 B of the base  10  and is rotationally connected to one or both of the primary retaining units  12 . The vertical control unit  32  is preferably a threaded rod, bolt, or a like device. The vertical control unit  32  is also preferably attached to an adjustment handle. The vertical control unit  32  turns when the handle is turned. The rotational connection between the primary retaining units  12  and the vertical control unit  32  causes the primary retaining units  12  to move along the vertical control unit  32 . The movement of the primary retaining units  12  along the vertical control unit  32  forces movement in the vertical adjustment unit  11  which in turn changes the vertical aim of the cradle member. In this configuration, movement of the handle of the vertical control unit  32  changes the vertical aim of any rifle in the shooting rest. 
         [0033]      FIG. 4  illustrates a sectional view of the receiving unit  41  of the present invention. The receiving unit  41  comprises a slide member  41 D which is slidably connected to the rail section of the horizontal adjustment device  13 C. In the preferred embodiment, the slide member  41 D comprises two openings which enclose each rail of the rail section  13 C. 
         [0034]    The receiving unit  41  also comprises two fulcrum units  41 C affixed to the slide member  41 D. The receiving unit  41  also comprises two gripping units  41 A. Each gripping unit  41 A is attached to a fulcrum unit  41 C. The receiving unit  41  further comprises a central post  41 E affixed to the slide member  41 D. The receiving unit  41  also comprises a receiving control unit  41 B. The receiving control unit  41 B is preferably a threaded rod, bolt, or like device. The receiving control unit  41 B should have one or more handles and should be rotationally connected to each gripping unit  41 A and the central post  41 E. The threads on the receiving control unit  41 B should run counter clockwise on one side of the central post  41 E and clockwise on the other side of the central post  41 E. In this configuration, the center of the receiving control unit  41 B will remain inside the center post  41 E when the receiving control unit  41 B is manipulated by the user. Because the threads on each end of the receiving control unit  41 B are oriented in opposite directions, as mentioned above, the gripping units  41 A each move in opposite directions when the receiving control unit  41 B is manipulated by the user. The gripping unit  41 A attachment to the fulcrum unit  41 C, in combination with the aforementioned directional motion by each gripping unit  41 A in response to the receiving control unit  41 B, causes the gripping units  41 A to grip or release above the slide member  41 D when the receiving control unit  41 B is manipulated by a user. This gripping action allows the receiving unit to securely receive the barrel of a rifle and release the rifle when the user desires. Also, the receiving unit  41  may comprise a barrel foam support  41 F to prevent a rifle that has been securely received by the receiving unit  41  from scratching against the slide member  41 D and possibly scarring the rifle. 
         [0035]      FIG. 5  a side perspective view of a primary attachment member  53  attached to a support surface. In the preferred embodiment, the primary attachment member  53  comprises a threaded rod, or similar device, a clamp unit  52 , and a link unit  51 . The threaded rod is rotationally connected to a clamp unit  52  via the link unit  51 . The clamp unit  52  may be any device that is capable of securely attaching to a support surface. 
         [0036]    The primary attachment member  53  further comprises a base connection unit  54  connected to the threaded rod. The base connection unit  54  is capable of releasably attaching to anchor crossbar  63  the base  10 . This configuration has the effect of securely attaching the base  10  to a support surface and preventing the present invention from bouncing when a rifle is fired. In the preferred embodiment, the primary attachment member  53  further comprises a handle  55  which is affixed to the threaded rod. The handle  55  is present to allow the user to twist the threaded rod through the link unit  51  and thereby adjust the length of the primary attachment member  53  as needed to properly attach to the base  10  as it sits on a given support surface. 
         [0037]      FIG. 6  illustrates a front plan view of the base  10 . As indicated above, the base  10  comprises an anchor crossbar  63 . The present view cuts away a section of the anchor crossbar  63  to show the connections between the horizontal control unit  17  and the horizontal connection unit  62  and attachment points  11 C, as discussed above. It should be noted that the anchor crossbar  63  is not altered by its depiction in this Figure. It should also be noted that this figures depiction of the width of the sidewalls  11 A of the vertical adjustment unit  11  has been exaggerated from the preferred embodiment to show the sidewalls  11 A, the attachment points  11 C, and a portion of the anchor crossbar  63 . 
         [0038]    The method of use of the present invention is now discussed hereinbelow. The user should place the adjustable recoil reducing shooting rest on a support surface. The support surface should be strong enough and stable enough to hold the present invention and a rifle, however, the support surface does not need any particular modifications. The base  10  of the present invention should then be securely attached to the support surface by means of any combination of attachment units as discussed hereinabove. The user may then place the rifle in the cradle of the shooting rest. The rifle should be secured in the cradle member by placing the buttstock of the rifle against the primary stock support  21  and the barrel should be securely received by the receiving unit  41 . The resistance of the primary stock support  21  should be adjusted by replacing or removing recoil dampening devices  21 A from the primary stock support  21  until the desired resistance is achieved. The user may then adjust the vertical aim of the rifle by manipulating the vertical control unit  32  of the vertical adjustment unit  11 . The user may also adjust the horizontal aim of the rifle by manipulating the horizontal control unit  17  of the horizontal adjustment unit  13 . Once the rifle has been aimed to the user&#39;s satisfaction, the rifle may be fired repeatedly at the same target or location. 
         [0039]    It should be noted that the foregoing disclosure sometimes labels components with terms like front, rear, bottom, top, primary, secondary, side, horizontal, vertical, and the like. These terms are used for ease of identification purposes only and are not intended as limiting language. A person of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the orientation of many of the components contained herein can be changed to an equivalent structure without significantly affecting the overall function of the present invention. This disclosure is intended to cover and does cover all such equivalent embodiments. 
         [0040]    While the present invention has been described above in terms of specific embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these disclosed embodiments. Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind of those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains, and which are intended to be and are covered by both this disclosure and the appended claims. It is indeed intended that the scope of the invention should be determined by proper interpretation and construction of the appended claims and their legal equivalents, as understood by those of skill in the art relying upon the disclosure in this specification and the attached drawings.

Technology Category: 2