Gun Rest

This invention relates to a portable gun rest which can be used by an individual to support any one of a variety of guns, such as rifles, shotguns and pistols, for example, in any one of a variety of firing positions, and which can be easily transported by the individual in the field with no undue strain.

The following U.S. patents relate to gun rests and the like, none of which, however, include the features of the present invention.

U.S. Pat No. Des. 203,680;

U.S. Pat. No. 167,169;

U.S. Pat. No. 1,890,423;

U.S. Pat. No. 3,156,062;

U.S. Pat. No. 3,390,477.

A gun rest in accordance with the invention comprises, for example, first and second oppositely directed, substantially U-shaped saddle members at the respective ends of an elongate support assembly. One of the saddle members may, conveniently, be shaped and dimensioned to fit over a user's thigh (when a thigh-supported firing position is required) and the other saddle member may be dimensioned to receive the forearm of a rifle, shotgun or the like.

The support assembly may comprise a pair of telescopic elongate elements with aligned holes and a locking pin which allows the overall height of the gun rest to be adjusted to suit a user's needs. The holes and locking pin may be oriented so as to dispose the respective saddle members in axial alignment. By releasing the locking pin, however, and collapsing the support assembly to its shortest length, the angularity of the saddle members can be adjusted. The locking pin may be carried on a cord secured to one of the telescopic elements and passing through an opening in the other telescopic element so as to form a carrying strap for the gun rest. The entire gun rest can be made in a strong lightweight plastic.

A gun rest in accordance with the invention has various advantageous features. For example, it requires no fastening to the clothing or body of a user when in use. The design of the rest makes it suitable for manufacture in lightweight plastic, making it easy to transport while being robust in use. The gun rest can be used for shooting with either hand, supported on either leg, or braced on the ground when the user is either in a sitting or lying position. It can be laid in the lap or hung on a suitable support when not in use. There are no separate parts to be screwed or fastened together, thereby minimizing the possibility of lost components. The rest is equally applicable for use with long guns, pistols, or cross-bows, and is particularly suitable for use with heavy muzzle-loading guns.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a user supporting a rifle on a gun rest, in a kneeling firing position.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the user supporting a rifle in a lying down firing position.

FIG. 3 is a similar view showing the user supporting a pistol on the gun rest.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the gun rest.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view on line 5--5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view on line 6--6 of FIG. 5.

Referring initially to FIGS. 4 to 6, there is illustrated a gun rest 10 in accordance with the invention comprising a pair of telescopically disposed tubular support elements 12 and 14, each having a substantially U-shaped saddle member 16 or 18 at its free end. Saddle member 16 may, for example, be shaped and dimensioned to fit snugly over a user's thigh, while saddle member 18 may be shaped and dimensioned to receive the forearm 20 of a rifle 22 or the like (see FIGS. 1 and 2). Saddle member 18 may also be lined with a suitable adherent padding material 23 such as felt, foamed plastic, or the like. The tubular support and saddle members may be formed in a lightweight hard plastic. The height of the respective support members may be about eleven inches. Saddle member 16 may, for example, have a diameter of about five and one-half inches and a length of about six inches, its circumferential extent being slightly greater than a semi-circle whereby the inherent flexibility of the plastic material allows it to grip snugly around a user's thigh. Saddle member 18 may for example have a diameter of about two and one-half inches and a length of about three inches. The circumferential extent of saddle member 18 may be about 180.degree..

Each of the tubular members is provided with a series of through holes 24, 26, and a cord 28 with a locking pin 30 at its free end is attached to member 14 adjacent saddle member 18, through holes 19 in the tubular member (FIG. 5). The cord is threaded through lateral holes 34 at the base of member 12. The pin can be inserted through selected aligned holes 24, 26 in the respective tubular members to set the height of the rest to that required by a user. It will be noted that the holes 24, 26 are oriented so that when the tubular members are secured together by the locking pin, the saddle members are coaxially aligned. However, if it is necessary to angle the respective saddle members, the pin can be removed and the rest collapsed to its shortest length.

The gun rest may be used for diverse gun-supporting purposes. For example, FIG. 1 shows the rest being used to support rifle 22 on the user's thigh with the user in kneeling position, FIG. 2 shows the rest being used to support the rifle on the ground with the user in lying position, and FIG. 3 shows the rest being used to support a pistol 36 on the user's thigh with the user seated on a treestand 38 or the like. In FIG. 3, the saddle member 18 is used to support the user's pistol hand. In each case, the rest is adjusted to the user's required height by telescopic adjustment of the tubular members and placement of pin 30 in the requisite holes 24, 26. The gun rest may also be used in applications other than those illustrated, for example for supporting a rifle or shotgun on a user's knee, with the user in seated position, for supporting a rifle, shotgun or pistol on the ground with the user in seated position on the ground. Further, the rest may also be used to support items other than guns, for example crossbows. Thus, while the ensuing claims refer to the article as a portable gun rest, it is to be understood that it is within the scope of the invention that the article also be used for supporting other types of firearms.

When the rest is not in use, it may be transported with cord 28 serving as a shoulder strap, or hung away by means of the cord, with pin 30 preventing the cord being pulled through holes 34 which preferably are of smaller diameter than the pin, thereby preserving a suitable loop in the cord.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.