Portable shooting bench assembly

[0001] Not applicable.

[0002] Not applicable.

[0003] Not applicable.

[0004] 1. Field of the Invention

[0005] The present invention relates to a shooting bench assembly and, more particularly, to a shooting bench assembly for a rifle and, most particularly, to a portable shooting bench assembly for a rifle.

[0006] 2. Background Information

[0007] Various supports for steadying a firearm weapon when discharged have been developed. Shooting ranges often provide a shooting bench with a seat for use by individuals when sighting in a weapon or for target practice. Such shooting benches at a shooting range are stationary, providing a very stable foundation for supporting the firearm weapon. Numerous individuals have devised portable weapons support devices, including portable shooting benches, for use when hunting. Some of these devices have been granted patents, including the following.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 2,627,209 by Green et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,711,984 by Dyer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,026,059 by Cady, U.S. Pat. No. 4,506,466 by Hall, U.S. Pat. No. 4,563,829 by Bozick, U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,410 by Mueller, U.S. Pat. No. 5,173,563 by Gray, U.S. Pat. No. 5,271,175 by West, III, U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,905 by Flitter et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,414,949 by Peebles, U.S. Pat. No. 5,491,919 by Rather et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,491,921 by Allen, U.S. Pat. No. 5,933,999 by McClure et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,937,561 by Abernethy, U.S. Pat. No. 6,058,641 by Vecqueray; U.S. Pat. No. 6,269,578 by Callegari, U.S. Pat. No. 6,338,218 by Hegler; U.S. Pat. No. 6,546,662 by Chong, U.S. Pat. No. 6,574,899 by Mostello, U.S. Pat. No. 6,877,266 by Brownlee, U.S. Pat. No. 6,931,777 by Krien, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,935,064 by Thompson.

[0009] Applicant has devised a portable shooting bench assembly that is easily transported over any terrain by a single individual. The portable shooting bench assembly provides a stable foundation for supporting a firearm weapon, and is adjustable to accommodate hunters of various stature.

[0010] The invention is directed to a portable shooting bench assembly, comprising a base chassis assembly that includes a horizontally oriented T-shaped member having an arm section and a leg section intersecting a midpoint of the arm section. The T-shaped member includes a pair of adjustable support members, with one support member attached vertically at each end of a common side of the arm section. A rigid, vertical support and wheel housing member is attached to the leg section opposite the arm section. The support and wheel housing member has a top end extending above the T-shaped member and a bottom end extending below the T-shaped member. A wheel member is mounted vertically within the support and wheel housing member. The adjustable support members and the bottom end of the support and wheel housing member are in contact with a support surface, when the T-shaped member is in a horizontal orientation. The wheel member contacts the support surface upon elevating the arm section of the base chassis assembly. An L-shaped turret chassis member, having first and second ends, is pivotally mounted at a first end to the top end of the vertical support and wheel housing member and follows the contour of the base chassis assembly. The turret chassis member's second end extends to the midpoint of the arm section, with the turret chassis member's second end supported on at least one roller member that contacts the arm section of the T-shaped member. A seat member is secured to the turret chassis member's second end opposite the at least one roller member. The seat member is adapted to support an individual as the second end of the turret chassis member pivots in an arc along the arm section of the T-shaped member. The first end of the turret chassis member contains a vertically telescoping section having an offset support arm member extending to one side thereof. The support arm member is oriented parallel to the T-shaped member's arm section. A linear, rifle support assembly is adjustably secured to the offset arm member, with the rifle support assembly oriented parallel to the T-shaped member's leg section. The rifle support assembly includes a pair of spaced apart rifle supports to cradle a rifle place there upon. Thus, a hunter seated on the seat member moves himself and his rifle positioned in the support assembly by pivoting the second end of the turret chassis assembly on the at least one roller member along the T-shaped member's arm section.

[0011] In a further embodiment of the invention, the shooting bench assembly includes a brake assembly for anchoring the turret chassis member at a selected position. The brake assembly includes a linear, stationary member, secured perpendicularly to the T-shaped member's leg section and parallel to the T-shaped member's leg section. A brake member is adjustably secured to the turret chassis member. Movement of the brake member into contact with the stationary member prevents pivoting of the turret chassis member relative to the base chassis assembly.

[0012] In yet a further embodiment of the invention, the vertically telescoping section, with offset support arm extending to one side of the turret chassis member, is removable from the turret chassis member, allowing the offset support arm to extend to either side of the turret chassis member.

[0019]

	10	Portable Shooting Bench Assembly
	15	Base Chassis Assembly
	20	T-shaped Member
	25	Arm Section of T-shaped Member
	30	Leg Section of T-shaped Member
	35	Adjustable Support Members
	40	Linear Support Upright Member
	42	Threaded Fitting
	45	Threaded Rod Member
	50	Pad Member
	55	Handle Member
	60	Rigid Vertical Support and Wheel Housing Member
	65	Top End of Wheel Housing Member
	70	Bottom End of Wheel Housing Member
	75	Wheel Member
	80	Linear Handle Members
	85	L-Shaped Turret Chassis Member
	90	First End of Turret Chassis Member
	95	Second End of Turret Chassis Member
	100	Mounting Hinge Member
	105	Roller Member
	110	Seat Member
	115	Stop Members
	120	Telescoping Section of Turret Chassis Member
	125	Set Screw for Telescoping Section
	130	Offset Support Arm Member
	135	Aperture in Support Arm Member
	140	Set Screw for Aperture in Support Arm Member
	145	Linear Rifle Support Assembly
	150	Outer U-Shaped Section of Rifle Support Assembly
	155	Inner Section of Rifle Support Assembly
	160	Mounting Rod Member for Rifle Support Assembly
	165	Y-shaped Rifle Support Members
	170	Elevation Adjustment Threaded Rod Member
	175	Handle Member for Elevation Adjustment Rod
	180	Adjustment Knobs for Rifle Support Members
	185	Brake Assembly for Turret Chassis Member
	190	Linear Stationary Member
	195	Brake Member
	200	Threaded Rod Member of Brake Assembly
	205	Handle Member for Adjusting Brake Member
	210	Locking Mechanism for Turret Chassis Assembly

Construction

[0020] The invention is a portable shooting bench assembly, adapted for supporting a firearm weapon and for seating an individual firing the weapon. The portable shooting bench assembly comprises a base chassis assembly that includes a horizontally oriented T-shaped member, having an arm section and a leg section intersecting a midpoint of the arm section. The T-shaped member includes a pair of adjustable support members, with one support member attached vertically at each end of a common side of the arm section. A rigid vertical support and wheel housing member is attached to the leg section opposite the arm section. The support and wheel housing member has a top end extending above the T-shaped member and a bottom end extending below the T-shaped member. A wheel member is mounted vertically within the support and wheel housing member. The adjustable support members and the bottom end of the support and wheel housing member are in contact with a support surface, when the T-shaped member in a horizontal orientation. The wheel member contacts the support surface upon elevating the arm section of the base chassis assembly. An L-shaped turret chassis member, having first and second ends, is pivotally mounted at a first end to the top end of the vertical support and wheel housing member and follows the contour of the base chassis assembly. The turret chassis member's second end extends to the midpoint of the arm section, with the turret chassis member's second end supported on at least one roller member that contacts the arm section of the T-shaped member. A seat member is secured to the turret chassis member's second end opposite the at least one roller member. The seat member is adapted to support an individual as the second end of the turret chassis member pivots in an arc along the arm section of the T-shaped member. The first end of the turret chassis member contains a vertically telescoping section, having an offset support arm member extending to one side thereof. The support arm member is oriented parallel to the T-shaped member's arm section. A linear, rifle support assembly is adjustably secured to the offset arm member, with the rifle support assembly oriented parallel to the T-shaped member's leg section. The rifle support assembly includes a pair of spaced apart rifle supports to cradle a rifle place there upon. Thus, a hunter seated on the seat member moves himself and his rifle positioned in the support assembly by pivoting the second end of the turret chassis assembly on the at least one roller member along the T-shaped member's arm section.

[0021] Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, several perspective views of the portable shooting bench assembly of the present invention are shown. The portable shooting bench assembly 10 comprises a base chassis assembly 15 that includes a horizontally oriented T-shaped member 20, having an arm section 25 and a leg section 30 intersecting a midpoint of the arm section 25. The T-shaped member 20 includes a pair of adjustable supported member 35, with one support member 35 attached vertically at each end of a common side of the arm section 25. Each adjustable supported member 35 includes a linear support upright member 40 secured at a first end to the arm section 25 with a threaded fitting 42 fastened at the second end thereof. A threaded rod member 45 is mounted in the threaded fitting 42, with a pad member 50 fastened at one end and extending beyond the second end of the support upright 40 for contact the support surface. The rod member 45 also extends through an aperture in the arm section 25, with a handle member 55 at the end of the rod member 45 opposite the pad member 50. Thus, rotation of the rod member 45 with the handle member 55 raises or lowers the pad member 50 relative to the second end of the support upright 40.

[0022] A rigid vertical support and wheel housing member 60 is attached to the leg section 30 opposite the arm section 25. The support and wheel housing member 60 has a top end 65 extending above the T-shaped member 20 and a bottom end 70 extending below the T-shaped member 20. A wheel member 75 is mounted vertically within the support and wheel housing member 60. Preferably, the vertical support and wheel housing member 60 comprises a rectangular box structure with the wheel member 75 mounted within the rectangular box structure, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3. Thus, the pad members 50 of the adjustable support members 35 and the bottom end 70 of the support and wheel housing member 60 are in contact a support surface with the T-shaped member 20 in a horizontal orientation. The wheel member 75 contacts the support surface upon elevating the arm section 25 of the base chassis assembly 15. To assist in elevating the arm section 25 of the base chassis assembly 15, a pair of linear handle members 80 is secured to the arm section 25 of the T-shaped base chassis assembly 15. Each handle member 80 of the pair is secured near opposite ends of the arm section 25 and adapted for grasping by a user to enable elevating the arm section 25 of the base chassis assembly 15. Thus, the shooting bench assembly 10 is readily transported, with only the wheel member 75 contacting the support surface. The base chassis assembly 15 is shown in FIG. 4.

[0023] An L-shaped turret chassis member 85, having a first end 90 and a second end 95, is pivotally mounted at the first end 90 to the top end 65 of the vertical support and wheel housing member 60 and follows the contour of the base chassis assembly 15. Preferably, the pivotal mounting is provided by a mounting hinge member 100, securing the first end 90 of the turret chassis member 85 to the top end 65 of the vertical support and wheel housing member 60. The turret chassis member's second end 95 extends to the midpoint of the arm section 25, with the turret chassis member's second end 95 supported on at least one roller member 105 that contacts the arm section 25 of the T-shaped member 20. A seat member 110 is secured to the turret chassis member's second end 95, opposite the at least one roller member 105 attached thereto. The seat member 110 is adapted to support an individual as the second end 95 of the turret chassis member 85 pivots in an arc along the arm section 25 of the T-shaped member 20. Additionally, stop members 115 are secured to the arm section 25 of the T-shaped member 20, with the stop members 115 bracketing the second end 95 of the turret chassis member 85 to limit movement of the at least one roller member 105 on the arm section 25 of the T-shaped member 20. Thus, the at least one roller member 105 is prevented from moving beyond the edge of the arm section 25. Although the seat member 110 is shown as a relatively flat structure, the seat member 110 may include a vertical backrest (not shown) for additional support of the hunter seated thereon. The turret chassis member 85 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 5.

[0024] The first end 90 of the turret chassis member 85 contains a vertically telescoping section 120 having an offset support arm member 130 extending to one side thereof. Extension of the telescoping section 120 is controlled by a set screw 125 mounted in the first end 90 of the turret chassis member 85. Alternatively, the first end 90 of the turret chassis member 85 is slotted and includes a bolt that pinches the slotted first end 90 around the telescoping section 120. The support arm member 130 is oriented parallel to the T-shaped member's arm section 25. A linear, rifle support assembly 145 is adjustably secured to the offset arm member 130, with the rifle support assembly 145 oriented parallel to the T-shaped member's leg section 30. The rifle support assembly 145 includes a mounting rod member 160 extending from the bottom thereof, with the mounting rod member 160 fitting into an aperture 135 in the support arm member 130. A set screw 140, or similar fastener, adjustably secures the mounting rod member 160 within the aperture 135.

[0025] The rifle support assembly 145 includes a pair of spaced apart, Y-shaped, rifle supports 165 to cradle a rifle place there upon. The rifle supports 165 are vertically adjustable by means of adjustment knobs 180 contained in the support assembly 145. In a preferred embodiment, the linear rifle support assembly 145 includes nested, inner and outer sections. Preferably, the outer section 150 is U-shaped, with the inner section 155 pivotally secured at one end to the outer U-shaped section 150. A threaded rod member 170, mounted in a treaded aperture in the outer section 150, provides for elevating the end of the inner section 155 opposite the pivotally secured end thereof. A handle member 175, attached to the threaded rod member 170, is provided to manually rotate the rod member 170. The rifle support assembly 145 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 6.

[0026] In a further embodiment of the invention, the portable shooting bench assembly 10 includes a brake assembly 185 for anchoring the turret chassis member 85 at a selected position. The brake assembly 185 includes a linear, stationary member 190 secured perpendicularly to the T-shaped member's leg section 30 and parallel to the T-shaped member's arm section 25. A brake member 195 is adjustably secured to the turret chassis member 85. The brake member 195 is fastened to a thread rod member 200, mounted in the turret chassis member 85. A handle member 205 is located at the end of the rod member 200 opposite the brake member 195 for rotating the rod member 200 to vary the position of the brake member 195. Thus, movement of the brake member 195 into contact with the stationary member 190 prevents pivoting of the turret chassis member 85 relative to the base chassis assembly 15.

[0027] While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.