SHOOTING REST AND USE OF A SHOOTING REST FOR SUPPORTING A FIREARM AT A FORE-END TO A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL EXTERNAL SUPPORT BODY

Abstract

A shooting rest comprising a body defining a centre line parallel to a first main direction of the body. The first main direction is adapted to be aligned with a direction of a barrel of a firearm when the shooting rest is fastened to a fore-end of the firearm. Furthermore, the body defines a second main direction transverse to the first main direction, wherein the main directions define a lateral plane. The shooting rest further comprises at least one supporting element which is fastened to the body movably at a fastening point. The supporting element comprises an arm and a pointed tip. Each supporting element can be arranged in at least a first position and a second position so that in the first position, the pointed tip is, in the second main direction, spaced by a predetermined distance.

Claims

1. A shooting rest comprising: a body defining a centre line parallel to a first main direction of the body, wherein the first main direction is adapted to be aligned with a direction of a barrel of a firearm when the shooting rest is fastened to a fore-end of the firearm, and wherein the body, in the lateral direction, defines a second main direction transverse to the first main direction, wherein the first main direction and the second main direction define a lateral plane, at least one supporting element which is fastened to the body movably at a fastening point, wherein said at least one supporting element comprises an arm and a pointed tip at an end of the arm at a distance from said fastening point; and wherein each of said at least one supporting element is arrangeable in at least a first position and a second position so that: in the first position, the pointed tip is, in the second main direction, spaced from the centre line of the body by a distance of at least one half of the width of the body in a direction parallel to the second main direction, and a projection of the pointed tip on said lateral plane forms a first angle to the second main direction, the first angle being greater than zero and opening in the direction of the centre line of the body; the pointed tip of said at least one supporting element arranged in the first position is below said lateral plane; the pointed tip is adapted to stick to an external support body, such as a tree trunk or a wall of a building, by exerting a force on the shooting rest in a direction parallel to the first main direction when said at least one supporting element is arranged in the first position and in contact with the external support body; and each of said at least one supporting element is lockable in at least the first position.

2. The shooting rest according to claim 1, wherein the pointed tip of each of the at least one supporting element is, in the second position, spaced from the centre line of the body by a distance smaller than one half of the width of the body parallel to the second main direction.

3. The shooting rest according to claim 1, wherein said at least one supporting element has a length not exceeding the length of the body in the first main direction.

4. The shooting rest according to claim 1, wherein each of said at least one supporting element is arranged to remain in the second position by spring force.

5. The shooting rest according to claim 1, comprising at least one locking member, wherein each of said at least one locking member locks at least one supporting element in the first position.

6. The shooting rest according to claim 5, wherein each of said at least one locking member locks at least one supporting element automatically in the first position when the supporting element is arranged in the first position.

7. The shooting rest according to claim 5, wherein each of said at least one supporting element is provided with a respective locking member.

8. The shooting rest according to claim 5, wherein each of said at least one locking member comprises a releasing member arranged to release at least one supporting element from locking.

9. The shooting rest according to claim 1, wherein the arm of at least one supporting element comprises a handling element for changing the position of the supporting element, wherein the handling element is a protrusion, a recess, or a hole.

10. The shooting rest according to claim 1, comprising a fastening part for a sling of the firearm.

11. The shooting rest according to claim 1, comprising a fastening member for fastening the shooting rest in connection to the fore-end of the firearm.

12. The shooting rest according to claim 11, wherein the body is shaped so that the shooting rest is fastenable against the bottom of the fore-end of the firearm by the fastening member, to a sling swivel stud at the bottom of the fore-end, or to a rail mounting system at the bottom of the fore-end, by the fastening member.

13. The shooting rest according to claim 1, wherein the body of the shooting rest comprises a rail part for mounting accessories or auxiliary devices, such as a bipod.

14. The shooting rest according to claim 1, comprising two supporting elements whose fastening points are arranged in the body, on different sides of the centre line, and wherein the pointed tips of the supporting elements, when arranged in the first position, are on different sides of the centre line.

15. The shooting rest according to claim 1, wherein at least a section of the arm of at least one supporting element is sharp-edged, and wherein the sharp-edged section of the arm is adapted to stick at least partly to an external support body, such as a tree trunk or a wall of a building, by exerting a force in a direction parallel to the first main direction on the shooting rest when said at least one supporting element is arranged in the first position and in contact with the external support body.

16. The shooting rest according to claim 1, wherein at least a section of the arm of at least one supporting element tapers towards the pointed tip in at least one direction.

17. A method, comprising using the shooting rest according to claim 1 for supporting a firearm at a point of its fore-end to a substantially vertical external support body.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] In the following, some embodiments of the disclosure will be described with reference to figures.

[0031] FIG. 1 shows schematically a slanted rear view, from the top, of a shooting rest according to an embodiment of the disclosure, with at least one of two supporting elements arranged in a first position.

[0032] FIG. 2 shows schematically a top view of the shooting rest according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, with both of the two supporting elements arranged in the first position.

[0033] FIG. 3 shows schematically a slanted rear view, from below, of the shooting rest according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, with both of the two supporting elements arranged in the first position.

[0034] FIG. 4 shows schematically a rear view of the shooting rest according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, with both of the two supporting elements arranged in the first position.

[0035] FIG. 5 shows an exploded slanted rear view, from the top, of the shooting rest according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, with at least one of the two supporting elements arranged in the first position.

[0036] FIG. 6 shows schematically a slanted rear view, from below, of the shooting rest according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, with both of the two supporting elements arranged in a second position.

[0037] FIG. 7 shows schematically a rear view of the shooting rest according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, with a first supporting element arranged in the first position and a second supporting element arranged in the second position.

[0038] FIG. 8 shows schematically a slanted front view, from below, of the shooting rest according to an embodiment of the disclosure, with a first supporting element arranged in the first position and a second supporting element arranged in the second position.

[0039] FIG. 9 shows schematically a shooting rest according to an embodiment of the disclosure, connected to a fore-end of a firearm.

[0040] FIG. 10 shows a shooting rest according to an embodiment of the disclosure, connected to a fore-end of a firearm and stuck to an external support body.

[0041] FIG. 11 shows a shooting rest according to an embodiment of the disclosure, connected to a fore-end of a firearm and stuck to an external support body.

[0042] FIG. 12 shows a shooting rest according to an embodiment of the disclosure, connected to a fore-end of a firearm of military type.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] FIG. 1 shows schematically a shooting rest 100. The shooting rest 100 comprises a body 103 defining a first main direction 101 and laterally a second main direction 102A transverse to the first main direction, and a respective opposite direction 102B. The first main direction 101 is arranged to be aligned with a direction of a barrel of a firearm when the shooting rest 100 is fastened to a fore-end of the firearm. The body 103 of the shooting rest also defines a centre line CL parallel to the first main direction, bisecting the body 103 in the first main direction 101. Thus, the distance from the centre line CL to the lateral edges parallel to the first main direction 101 is substantially not greater than a half 104 of the width of the body in the second main direction 102A or the respective opposite direction 102B, on both sides of the centre line CL. The half 104 of the width of the body is determined from the widest point of the body 103 in the direction of the second main direction 102A or the respective opposite direction 102B. The first main direction 101 and the second main direction 102A define a lateral plane.

[0044] The shooting rest 100 further comprises at least one supporting element 105 connected to the body 103 movably at a fastening point 106, wherein said at least one supporting element 105 comprises an arm 107 and a pointed tip 108 at the end of the arm at a distance from said fastening point 106. The arm 107 may be straight, or the arm 107 may comprise at least one bend. The supporting element 105 may consist of one or more parts. The pointed tip 108 and the arm 107 of the supporting element 105 may be, for example, separate parts, or the pointed tip 108 may be substantially an extension of the arm 107.

[0045] In an embodiment, each of said at least one supporting element 105 may have a length not exceeding the length of the body 103 in the first main direction 101. The supporting element 105, and thereby the body 103, may have a length of, for example, 1 to 10 cm, optionally 2 to 7 cm.

[0046] The arm 107 of the supporting element 105 may comprise a handling element 109 for changing the position of the corresponding supporting element 105, wherein the handling element 109 may be a protrusion, a recess, or a hole. The handling element 109 facilitates the arrangement of the supporting element 105 in the different positions to be described below, for example by a finger of a user's hand holding the fore-end, without a need to remove the grip from the fore-end.

[0047] In an embodiment, the body 103 of the shooting rest 100 may comprise a fastening member 110 for fastening the shooting rest 100 to the fore-end of the firearm. In an embodiment, the body 103 may also comprise a fastening part 113 for a sling of the firearm, the fastening part 113 being optionally placed in the rear part of the body 103 with respect to the first main direction 101.

[0048] In an embodiment, the body 103 is so shaped that the shooting rest 100 is fastenable against the bottom of the fore-end of the firearm, to a sling swivel stud at the bottom of the fore-end, or to a rail mounting system on the fore-end, by the fastening member 110. The upper surface of the body 103 may have, for example, a curved cross section so that the body 103 can be fitted to the fore-end of a typical firearm, such as a hunting rifle or an assault rifle, particularly against its bottom.

[0049] In an embodiment of the shooting rest 100, at least a section of the arm 107 of at least one supporting element tapers towards the pointed tip 108 in at least one direction so that the cross-sectional area of the arm 107 of the supporting element 105 is substantially smaller in the vicinity of the pointed tip 108 than in the vicinity of the fastening point 106. In an embodiment, the cross-section of the arm 107 of the supporting element 105 may be, in a significant section, substantially rectangular, except for such sections of the arm 107 that contain a handling element 109. The tapered shape makes it possible to arrange the supporting element 105 better shielded in the second position, so that it will not stick so easily, for example, when placing the firearm in a bag. However, the supporting element 105 can be implemented to be robust, because the end of the arm 107 on the side of the fastening point 106 may have a greater cross-sectional area than the pointed tip 108 side of the arm 107.

[0050] Each of said at least one supporting element 105 can be arranged in at least a first position and a second position so that, in the first position, the pointed tip 108 is spaced, in the second main direction 102A or the respective opposite direction 102B, from the centre line CL, by at least one half 104 of the width of the body 103 in the direction of the second main direction 102A. The projection 201 of the pointed tip 108 on said lateral plane forms a first angle 202 to the second main direction 102 as shown in FIG. 2. The projection 201 is aligned with the pointed tip 108, but in embodiments where the pointed tip 108 is parallel to the arm 107 and the arm is straight, the projection 201 may be substantially the projection of the whole supporting element 105 on said lateral plane. The first angle 202 is greater than zero and opens in the direction of the centre line CL of the body.

[0051] Each of said at least one supporting element 105 can be locked in at least a first position. In an embodiment, the shooting rest 100 may thus comprise at least one locking member 111 for locking at least one supporting element 105 in the first position, for example by a mechanical locking mechanism. Thanks to the locking, the supporting element 105 is more firmly held in the first position, for example when the shooting rest is in use and the supporting element 105 is stuck to an external support body.

[0052] In an embodiment, each of said at least one locking member 111 automatically locks at least one supporting element 105 in the first position by, for example, a mechanical locking mechanism when the supporting element 105 is arranged in the first position. The automatic locking relieves the user of the shooting rest 100 of operating the locking member 111 manually, which may speed up the arrangement of the supporting element 105 in the first position and thereby the supporting of the firearm to an external support body.

[0053] In an embodiment, each of said at least one supporting element 105 has a separate locking member 111, which enables the arrangement of each supporting element 105 in different positions, irrespective of each other.

[0054] Each of said at least one locking member 111 may also comprise a releasing member 112 arranged to release at least one supporting element 105 placed in the first position. In an embodiment, the shooting rest 100 may comprise a common releasing member 112 for all of said at least one locking member. The releasing member may comprise, for example, a switch which is mechanically or electronically connected to the locking mechanism of the locking member, wherein the releasing member 112 may, upon pressing said switch, release at least one supporting element 105 locked in the first position by the locking member 111. The releasing member 112 may also be a one-piece mechanical release lever.

[0055] At least one supporting element 105 may be arranged to be held in the second position by spring force. In an embodiment, the spring force may be generated by, for example, a spring whose first end is connected to the body 103 and whose second end is connected to, for example, the arm 107 of the supporting element 105. In an embodiment, the spring generating the spring force is between the body 103 and a locking lever. Returning the supporting elements 105 to the second position by spring force relieves the user of arranging some supporting elements 105 manually in different positions and thereby quickens the use of the shooting rest 100 and possibly prevents accidental sticking of the supporting elements 105 to the user or to external support bodies.

[0056] The pointed tip 108 of at least one supporting element 105 arranged in the first position may be below said lateral plane. In an embodiment, at least one supporting element 105, arranged in the first position, of the shooting rest 100 fixed against the bottom of the fore-end of the firearm, particularly the pointed tip 108 of the supporting element 105, is thus substantially below the fore-end of the firearm as well, which makes it possible for the firearm to stick to, for example, a horizontal external support body, such as the trunk of a fallen tree, or a tree branch. Further, this moves a significant part of the weight of the firearm above the supporting element 105 and allows, for example, the fore-end of the firearm to be used as a second supporting point against a vertical external support body.

[0057] At least a section of the arm 107 of at least one supporting element 105 may be sharp-edged. In an embodiment, the sharp-edged section of the arm 107 may be arranged to stick at least partly to an external support block, such as a tree trunk or a wall of a building, by exerting a force parallel to the first main direction 101 on the shooting rest 100 in the above mentioned way, said at least one supporting element 105 being arranged in the first position and in contact with the external support block. At least one supporting element 105 of the shooting rest 100 according to the described embodiment is thus a knife-like member with a pointed tip and sharp edges. In a preferred embodiment, the supporting element 105 can thus stick to an external support block, such as a tree trunk or a wall of a building, so that both its pointed tip 108 and at least a section of the sharp-edged arm 107 stick to the external support body, for example by penetrating at least partly into the external support body.

[0058] In the shooting rest 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, at least one supporting element 105 is arranged in the first position so that the pointed tip 108 of said supporting element 105 can be arranged to stick to an external support body by exerting a force parallel to the first main direction 101 on the supporting rest 100 when said supporting element is arranged in contact with the external support body. When the shooting rest 100 is fastened to the fore-end of the firearm, the user of the firearm can arrange said supporting element 105 to stick to the external support body, for example, by holding the firearm normally by both hands and by pressing the butt stock of the firearm with a shoulder.

[0059] The pointed tip 108 is adapted to be sharp so that it can stick to an external support body, which may be, for example, a living tree, treated wood, or plastic, when a pressing force, optionally a low force, parallel to the first main direction 101 is exerted on the firearm and thereby the shooting rest 100. The pointed tip 108 may be, but is not necessarily, adapted to stick to the external support body if the force exerted in the first main direction 101 is lower than 150 newtons and/or higher than 30 newtons. Because the pointed tip 108 of the supporting element 105 is outside the body 103 in the lateral direction, as described above, the supporting element 105 can be arranged to stick to a e.g. vertical external support body, such as a vertical tree trunk or a wall of a building.

[0060] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the shooting rest 100 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. The shooting rest is shown from above so that the curved upper surface of the body 103, to be fastened to the fore-end of the firearm, is fully visible. Both supporting elements 105 are arranged in the first position so that the first main direction 101 and the projection 201 of the pointed tip 108 of the supporting element 105 on said lateral plane form the above-mentioned first angle 202 which may optionally be at least 20 or at least 45, but which first angle 202 may be any angle greater than zero.

[0061] The shooting rest 100 schematically shown in FIG. 2 shows a preferred embodiment of the shooting rest 100 comprising two supporting elements 105 whose fastening points are arranged on different sides of the centre line CL of the body 103 and whose pointed tips 108 are on different sides of the centre line CL when arranged in the first position. On different sides of the centre line CL, the first angle 202 is considered to extend from a line parallel to the second main direction 102A or the opposite direction 102B on the respective side.

[0062] FIG. 3 shows schematically a slanted rear view, from below, of the shooting rest 100 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, with both of the two supporting elements 105 arranged in the first position.

[0063] FIG. 4 shows schematically a rear view of the shooting rest 100 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, with both of the two supporting elements 105 arranged in the first position. In a preferred embodiment, the pointed tips 108 of the supporting elements 105 are, in the second main direction 102A or the respective opposite direction 102B, spaced by a distance of at least one half 104 of the width of the body 103 in the direction of the second main direction 102A from the centre line CL of the body 103, and furthermore, the pointed tips 108 are below said lateral plane. In this embodiment and in this position, the shooting rest 100 may stick to an external support body extending in substantially any direction, for example a horizontal or vertical external support body.

[0064] In a preferred embodiment, the rotation axis 401 of the supporting element 105 of the shooting rest 100, shown in FIG. 4, forms a second angle 402, different from zero and opening upwards, to the second main direction 102A or the respective opposite direction 102B. Thus, arranged in the second position, the arm 107 and the pointed tip 108 of the supporting element 105 may be substantially parallel to the centre line CL. On the other hand, the direction of the rotation axis 401 of the supporting element 105 arranges the pointed tip 108 substantially below said lateral plane when the supporting element 105 is arranged in the first position. As mentioned above, this arrangement makes it possible for the shooting rest 100 to stick to an external support body extending in substantially any direction, particularly to horizontal external support bodies and vertical external support bodies.

[0065] FIG. 5 shows schematically a partial exploded slanted rear view, from the top, of the shooting rest 100 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, with at least one supporting element 105 arranged in the first position. The exploded view shows, in more detail, a fastening member 110 according to an embodiment, which may comprise a fastening frame 501 and a locking pin 503 by which the fastening frame 501 can be fastened to, for example, a sling swivel stud 502 of the firearm. In an embodiment, the shooting rest 100 can be fastened to the fore-end of the firearm, particularly against the bottom of the fore-end of the firearm, by fastening elements 504. The fastening elements 504 can be, for example, screws, and they can be fastened to the fore-end of the firearm by arranging them through screw holes provided in the fastening frame 501.

[0066] FIG. 6 shows schematically a slanted rear view, from below, of the shooting rest 100 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, with both of the two supporting elements 105 arranged in the second position. In an embodiment, the pointed tip 108 of each of said at least one supporting element is, in the second position, spaced by a distance of less than one half 104 of the width of the body 103 parallel to the second main direction 102A, from the centre line CL of the body 103. In a preferred embodiment, the supporting element 105 arranged in the second position may be substantially parallel to the centre line CL of the body 103, and the pointed tip 108 of the supporting element 105 and the sharp-edged arm 107 of the supporting element 105 are very close to the body 103, for example spaced by less than one millimetre, or abutting the body 103. As mentioned above, in an embodiment, the supporting elements 105 may have a length not exceeding the length of the body 103 in the first main direction 101, so that in a preferred embodiment, the above described arrangement protects the pointed tip 108 and the sharp-edge arm 107 of the supporting element 105 from blunting as well as prevents the supporting element 105 from unintentionally sticking to the user or an external support body. When the supporting element 105 is arranged in the second position, the handling element 109 according to an embodiment is exposed so that the user can easily, for example by means of a finger, apply the handling element 109 to arrange the supporting element 105 in the first position.

[0067] In a way corresponding to FIG. 4, FIG. 7 shows schematically a rear view of the shooting rest 100 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, with the supporting element 105 on the right hand side arranged in the first position and the supporting element 105 on the left hand side independently arranged in the second position. The supporting element 105 of the shooting rest 100 according to a preferred embodiment is thus, arranged in the second position, fully shielded by the body 103 when seen from behind.

[0068] FIG. 8 shows schematically a slanted front view, from below, of a shooting rest 800 according to an embodiment of the disclosure, with the supporting element 105 on the left hand side arranged in the first position and the supporting element on the right hand side arranged in the second position. The body 801 of the shooting rest 800 comprises a rail part 802 for mounting accessories or auxiliary devices, such as a bipod. The rail part may be arranged to be compatible to common commercial standard rail systems, such as Picatinny or the like. According to preferred embodiments, the rail part 802 is arranged in the first main direction 101 so that the supporting element 105 in the second position does not extend to the rail part 802.

[0069] An example of the fastening of a shooting rest 100 according to an embodiment to a fore-end of a firearm is shown in FIG. 9, in which the firearm shown in an exemplary view is a hunting rifle 901. In FIG. 9A, the firearm 901 and the shooting rest 100 connected to its fore-end 902 are shown from below; in FIG. 9B, the firearm 901 and the shooting rest 100 connected to its fore-end 902 are shown from the left side; and in FIG. 9C, the firearm 901 and the shooting rest 100 connected to its fore-end 902 are shown from above. In the example of FIG. 9, both of the two supporting elements of the shooting rest 100 are arranged in the first position so that the pointed tips 108 extend from the body 103 of the shooting rest 100 in the second main direction 102A or the respective opposite direction 102B. In a preferred embodiment, the width of the body 103 in the second main direction 102 is arranged to correspond to the thickness of the fore-end of typical firearms in the lateral direction, whereby the pointed tips 108 of the supporting elements 105 also extend from the fore-end of the firearm in the second main direction 102A or the respective opposite direction 102B. In a preferred embodiment, the pointed tips 108 of the supporting elements 105 are also below said lateral plane and on both sides of the centre line CL of the body 103. Thus, the shooting rest 100 can be arranged to stick to an external support body on, for example, both the left and the right hand side of the firearm.

[0070] FIG. 10 shows a top view of a firearm 901 which is supported to an external vertical cylindrical support body 1001 by using one support element 105 of a shooting rest 100 arranged in the first position. The external support body 1001 may be, for example, a tree trunk. FIG. 10A shows the whole system, whereas FIG. 10B is an enlarged view of the contact points of the firearm 901 and the shooting rest 100 with the external support body 1001. The pointed tip 108 of the supporting element 105 and a part of the arm 107 have stuck to the external support body 1001 by penetrating into it. Thanks to the advantageously arranged supporting element, the fore-end 902 of the firearm 901, namely its side surface, is also in contact with the external support body 1001, forming a second supporting point for the firearm 901, further contributing to the stability of the firearm 901 upon shooting. The stability of the second supporting point can be increased further by turning the firearm 901 in the direction of the first main direction 101 to the side of the supporting point.

[0071] FIG. 11 shows an application example of arranging a shooting rest 100, connected to a firearm 901, in connection with an external support body 1101, viewed from a lateral plane. The external support body 1101 may be cylindrical, as shown in FIG. 10, or substantially a rectangular, box-like object, such as a plank of wood. FIG. 11A shows a front view of the firearm 901 and the shooting rest 100 stuck to the external support body 1101. An enlarged view of the contact point is shown in FIG. 11B which highlights the formation of the second supporting point by the fore-end 902 of the firearm and the external support body 1101. FIG. 11C shows the same arrangement viewed from the right hand side of the firearm 901.

[0072] FIG. 12 shows a shooting rest 100 according to an embodiment connected to a rail mounting system 1203 (for example, M-LOK) in the fore-end 1202 of a military type firearm 1201. Thanks to the rail mounting system 1203, the shooting rest 100 can be fastened to the bottom of the fore-end 1202, as shown in FIG. 12, or, for example, to a lateral side of the fore-end 1202.

[0073] The supporting element(s) 105 and/or the body 103 of the shooting rest 100 may be made of a suitable rigid material which can be provided with a pointed tip 108 and optionally also sharp edges, for example, during the manufacture by shaping a supporting element 105 or by working a ready-made supporting element 105 with e.g. a sharpener. The material of a supporting element 105 may be, for example, a metal, such as steel or titanium.

[0074] The size of the shooting rest 100 according to the disclosure is not limited, but it may be defined in various sizes where appropriate and necessary. The size may depend on e.g. the size of the firearm 901 or its fore-end 902. The length of the supporting element 105 may also vary from one embodiment to another. In an embodiment, the supporting element 105 may have a length of, for example, 1 to 12 cm, optionally 2 to 7 cm.

[0075] The drawings and the description relating to them are only intended to illustrate the inventive idea. It will be obvious for a person skilled in the art that the disclosure is not limited merely to the above described embodiments in which the disclosure has been described by some examples, but various modifications and different embodiments of the disclosure are possible within the scope of the inventive idea defined in the claims presented hereinbelow.