Firearm shooting rest

The present disclosure generally relates to shooting rests, and more particularly to recoil reducing shooting rests.

Firearm shooting sports are often associated with painful recoil that can result from shooting firearms. A large caliber, heavy recoiling firearm can create an unpleasant experience when firing more than a few rounds. Recoil can be described as the equal and opposite reaction to the momentum of an ammunition cartridge's projectile (e.g., bullet) and gunpowder charge upon firing of the cartridge. This momentum is imparted to the firearm, causing it to travel in the opposite direction of the fired bullet.

Shooters commonly use a shooting rest for supporting a firearm in a steady position when practicing with or sighting-in the firearm. Even when using a shooting rest, flinching or jerking the trigger in anticipation of recoil is a common negative factor in a shooter's accuracy and can present challenges when attempting to sight-in the firearm. Shooters commonly fire upwards of twenty rounds when sighting-in, especially in the case of rifles and shotguns using telescopic sights. To reduce discomfort and inaccuracy resulting from recoil, some shooting rests are configured to absorb recoil to reduce the recoil force felt by the shooter.

One aspect of the present invention is directed to a shooting rest for supporting a firearm. The shooting rest includes a frame. The shooting rest includes a forward support operatively connected to the frame for supporting a forward portion of the firearm. The shooting rest includes a rear support operatively connected to the frame for supporting a rearward portion of the firearm. The rear support includes a stop configured to inhibit rearward movement of the firearm relative to the frame when the firearm is supported on the rest and fired. The stop includes a rear panel having at least one opening therein. The rear support includes a recoil pad for cushioning recoil of a butt of the firearm. The recoil pad includes a resiliently compressible cushion positioned in front of the rear panel and at least one protrusion extending rearward from the cushion through the at least one opening of the rear panel for mounting the recoil pad on the rear panel.

Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a method of manufacturing a shooting rest for supporting a firearm. The method includes assembling a rear support for supporting the rearward portion of the firearm. Assembling the rear support includes mounting a recoil pad of the rear support on a stop of the rear support by disposing at least one protrusion of the recoil pad in at least one opening of the stop.

Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a shooting rest for supporting a firearm. The shooting rest includes a frame. The shooting rest includes a forward support operatively connected to the frame for supporting a forward portion of the firearm. The shooting rest includes a rear support operatively connected to the frame for supporting the rearward portion of the firearm. The rear support includes a stop configured to inhibit rearward movement of the firearm relative to the frame when the firearm is supported on the rest and fired. The stop includes a rigid rear panel. The rear support includes a recoil pad for cushioning recoil of a butt of the firearm. The recoil pad includes a resiliently compressible cushion positioned in front of the rear panel. The cushion has a thickness of at least about 0.5 inch extending between front and rear surfaces of the cushion. The cushion includes thermoplastic material having a durometer between about 20 Shore A and about 60 Shore A.

Other objects and features of the present invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out herein.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective of a shooting rest embodying aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary front perspective of the shooting rest illustrating a rear portion of the shooting rest;

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective of a rear support of the shooting rest;

FIG. 4 is an exploded front perspective of the rear support;

FIG. 5 is an exploded rear perspective of the rear support;

FIG. 6 is a section of the rear support taken in the plane including line 6 - 6 shown in FIG. 3 ; and

FIG. 7 is a section of the rear support taken in the plane including line 7 - 7 shown in FIG. 3 .

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1 , a shooting rest is designated generally by the reference number 10 . The shooting rest 10 is constructed for supporting a firearm (not shown) in a shooting position so a user can fire the firearm while it is supported by the shooting rest. As will become apparent, the shooting rest 10 assists the user in holding the firearm steady while aimed at a target and is configured for reducing recoil felt by the user when the firearm is fired.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the rest 10 includes a frame, generally indicated by the reference number 12 , and forward and rear supports, generally indicated by the reference numbers 14 and 16 , respectively. The forward and rear supports 14 , 16 are connected to the frame 12 and positioned with respect to each other for supporting respective forward and rear portions of a firearm. For example, the forward portion of the firearm could include a barrel and/or forestock of the firearm. The rear portion of the firearm could include a buttstock having a butt.

In the illustrated embodiment, the frame 12 includes an upper frame member 12 A and a lower frame member 12 B. The lower frame member 12 B is a tube having a generally U-shape with upstanding front and rear ends. The upper frame member 12 A is a tube spanning the upstanding ends of the U-shaped lower frame member 12 B. Other types and configurations of frames can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.

A weight support 20 for holding one or more removable weights (not shown) is connected to the lower frame member 12 B. It will be understood that addition of removable weight onto the weight support 20 can increase the effective mass of the shooting rest 10 for absorbing recoil force when the firearm is fired. Other types and configurations of weight supports can be used, and the weight support can be omitted, without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, various types of weight supports for supporting removable weight are disclosed in co-assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,011,129 and 8,621,773, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

The rest 10 has three feet 22 for supporting the rest on a support surface such as a table top. Two feet 22 extend downward from opposite sides of the weight support 20 , and a third foot 22 extends downward from a rear end of the lower frame member 12 B. It will be appreciated that other arrangements for supporting the shooting rest 10 can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 , the forward support 14 includes a cradle 30 for receiving the forward portion of the firearm and a height adjustment assembly 32 configured for adjusting a vertical position of the cradle with respect to the frame. In the illustrated embodiment, the cradle 30 includes a generally U-shaped pad 30 A formed of thermoplastic material mounted on a base plate 30 B. The height adjustment assembly 32 includes a threaded shaft (not shown) inside the upstanding front end of the lower frame member 12 B, and course and fine adjustment members 32 A, 32 B permitting height adjustment of the cradle 30 for supporting the firearm in a desired orientation with respect to a target. Other types and configurations of front supports can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the cradle and the height adjustment assembly can have other constructions or be omitted without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-7 , the rear support 16 defines a pocket 40 sized for receiving a portion of the buttstock of the firearm, including the butt of the firearm. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , in the illustrated embodiment, the rear support 16 comprises an assembly including a stop 42 , a cover 44 , and a recoil pad 46 . As will become apparent, the stop 42 is configured for inhibiting rearward movement of the firearm relative to the frame 12 when the firearm is fired, the recoil pad 46 is configured for absorbing recoil of the firearm when the firearm is fired, and the cover 44 assists in preventing damage to the buttstock of the firearm by engagement with the stop.

As shown in FIG. 3-5 , the stop 42 includes an upper brace portion 42 A and a lower mounting portion 42 B. For example, the stop 42 can be formed of rigid metal. Other types of rigid material can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. The lower mounting portion 42 B is configured for mounting to the frame 12 . In particular, the mounting portion 42 B includes side walls 48 spaced sufficiently to receive a rear end of the upper frame member 12 A and the top of the upstanding rear portion of the lower frame member 12 B. The mounting portion 42 B includes two sets of eyelets 50 for receiving bolts 52 for mounting the stop 42 on the frame. The bolted mounting of the stop 42 on the frame provides a rigid connection.

The upper brace portion 42 A of the stop 42 includes a rigid rear panel 60 and opposite left and right side rigid panels 62 sized and positioned with respect to one another for use in defining the buttstock receiving pocket 40 with a size and shape for receiving the buttstock therein. The upper brace portion 42 A has a size and shape for being engaged by a user's shoulder for aiming and firing the firearm when the firearm is supported on the shooting rest 10 .

The rear panel 60 is positioned to back the butt of the firearm in use for inhibiting rearward movement of the firearm relative to the frame 12 when the firearm is fired. The rear panel 60 has an inner surface facing toward the pocket, and an outer surface facing away from the pocket. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , the rear panel 60 includes a plurality of openings 60 A extending in a row between upper and lower ends of the rear panel. In the illustrated embodiment, the openings 60 A are provided in the form of holes passing entirely through the rear panel 60 and having perimeters surrounding the entirety of the respective holes defined by the rear panel. As will be explained in further detail below, the holes 60 A are for mounting the recoil pad 46 on the stop 42 .

The side panels 62 are positioned on opposite sides of and in front of the rear panel 60 for forming the pocket 40 of the rear support 16 . The side panels 62 have respective inner surfaces facing toward the pocket 40 and outer surfaces facing away from the pocket. The side panels 62 have rear ends rigidly connected to respective left and right sides of the rear panel 60 . The side panels 62 extend forward from the rear panel 60 and taper in height from their rear ends adjacent the rear panel to their front ends. Opposing flanges 68 extend inward from respective left and right side panels 62 adjacent lower ends of the side panels for engaging and supporting the cover 44 , as explained in further detail below.

It will be appreciated that the stop 42 is configured for providing a rigid backing to the recoil pad 46 (i.e., inhibiting rearward movement relative to the frame 12 when the firearm is fired). The stop 42 is configured for transmitting rearward force of the firearm generated during recoil from the stop to the frame 12 . Desirably, rearward acceleration caused by the recoil force is substantially resisted by mass of the shooting rest 10 augmented by removable weight supported on the weight support 20 , as explained more fully in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,011,129 and 8,621,773, incorporated by reference above. This reduces recoil felt by the shooter. Other types of rigid connections of the stop to the frame and other types of stops for providing a rigid backing to the recoil pad can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the side panels can be omitted. Moreover, the stop can comprise flexible material such as fabric configured for providing a rigid backing to the recoil pad (e.g., fabric defining the rear and side panels).

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5 , the cover 44 includes a rear wall 70 and left and right walls 72 for lining the respective inner surfaces of the rear panel 60 and left and right panels 62 of the stop 42 . The cover 44 includes a lip 74 that extends along upper ends of the rear, left, and right walls 70 , 72 . The lip 74 overlies top edges of the rear panel 60 and left and right panels 62 for protecting the firearm from rigid edges of the stop 42 around the top and front of the pocket 40 . The cover 44 also includes a bottom wall 76 extending between bottom ends of the left and right walls 72 in front of the rear wall 70 . In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom wall 76 has a channel 76 A for receiving a bottom of the buttstock. The cover 44 includes eyelets 76 B extending downward from the bottom wall positioned for receiving the front bolt 52 in the assembled rear support 16 for securing the front end of the cover in position. The rear wall 70 of the cover 44 includes a hole 78 sized for receiving a portion of the recoil pad 46 , as explained in further detail below.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7 , the cover 44 has slots 80 on opposite left and right sides of the cover positioned for receiving the inward extending flanges 68 of the left and right stop side panels 62 . For assembling the rear support 16 , the slots 80 are configured for slidingly and matingly receiving the flanges 68 of the stop 42 by aligning rear ends of the slots with front ends of the flanges, and moving the cover 44 rearward toward the rear panel 60 of the stop 42 . The reception of the flanges 68 in the slots 80 connects the rear portion of the cover 44 to the stop 42 and maintains the cover seated on the stop, with the lip 74 overlying upper ends of the rear panel 60 and side panels 62 .

Desirably, the cover 44 is formed of a thermoplastic material, such as thermoplastic elastomer or thermoplastic rubber, and has a durometer of between about 70 Shore A and about 100 Shore A, such as about 90 Shore A. The term “about” as used herein with reference to durometer means the inclusive range of plus or minus three units of the stated durometer value. It will be appreciated the cover 44 is softer than the stop 42 and is designed to provide protection for the firearm against scratching, marring, or other damage against the stop.

Covers having other configurations can be used, and the cover can be omitted, without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the cover can be made of several pieces formed separately from each other, the cover can omit the lip, and/or the cover can be configured for covering more or less of the stop than illustrated.

Referring to FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 , the recoil pad 46 includes a cushion 90 and a plurality of protrusions 92 extending rearward from the cushion. The cushion 90 is sized for engaging the butt of the firearm when the buttstock is received in the pocket 40 . The cushion 90 is configured for cushioning the butt of the firearm during recoil. Desirably, the cushion 90 has a thickness between a front surface and a rear surface of the cushion of at least about 0.5 inch, or between about 0.25 inch and about 2.5 inches, more desirably between about 0.5 inch and about 1.25 inches. In the illustrated embodiment, the thickness of the cushion is about 0.8 inch. The term “about” as used herein with reference to the thickness of the cushion 90 means the inclusive range of plus or minus ⅛ inch of the stated value. The thermoplastic material is desirably resiliently compressible such that the cushion 90 temporarily compresses during recoil of the firearm and expands to assume its original shape when recoil is complete. In the illustrated embodiment, the cushion 90 has multiple voids 90 A therein in the form of generally cylindrical bores extending between and opening out of the opposite left and right sides of the cushion. The voids 90 A are spaced from each other between the upper and lower ends of the cushion. It will be appreciated that the voids 90 A increase the resilient compressibility of the cushion 90 for absorbing an increased amount of firearm recoil. The voids can be sized to provide the cushion with a void percentage of at least 10%, at least 20%, or at least 30%. For example, the void percentage could be between 10% and 45%, or between 20% and 40%. In the illustrated embodiment, the void ratio is about 27%. Desirably, the recoil pad 46 is formed of a thermoplastic material, such as thermoplastic elastomer or thermoplastic rubber, and the cushion 90 (and optionally the remainder of the recoil pad) has a durometer of between about 20 Shore A and about 60 Shore A, and more desirably between about 30 Shore A and about 50 Shore A. In one example, the cushion has a durometer of about 40 Shore A. It will be appreciated that the cushion 90 is softer than the cover 44 to provide cushioning action against recoil force and prevent damage to the firearm buttstock resulting from recoil. However, the cushion 90 can be firmer than the cover 44 or have the same softness as the cover without departing from the scope of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 , the rear face of the cushion 90 includes a rearward projecting portion 90 B of reduced height and width having a cross-sectional shape and size closely corresponding to the shape and size of the hole 78 in the rear wall 70 of the cover 44 . The rear face of the cushion 90 includes a rearward peripheral edge margin surface 90 C surrounding and offset forward from the projecting portion 90 B. In the assembled configuration of the rear support 16 , the rearward projecting portion 90 B of the rear face of the cushion 90 is received in the hole 78 of the cover 44 and engages the inner surface of the rear panel 60 of the stop 42 , and the peripheral edge margin surface 90 C of the cover rear face overlies and engages the peripheral edge margin surrounding the hole 78 in the cover 44 .

Referring to FIGS. 3, 5, and 6 , the protrusions 92 extending rearward from the cushion 90 are configured for mounting the recoil pad 46 on the rear panel 60 of the stop 42 . The protrusions 92 include respective heads 92 A and necks 92 B constructed for reception in the holes 60 A in the rear panel 60 of the stop 42 . In the assembled configuration of the rear support 16 , the necks 92 B are received in the holes 60 A, and the heads 92 A are on the outer side of the rear panel 60 . The heads 92 A have a relatively larger height and width compared to the holes 60 A such that rearward facing surfaces of the heads overlie and engage peripheral edge margins of the outer surface of the rear panel 60 around the holes. The arrangement is such that engagement of the heads 92 A with the outer side of the rear panel 60 retains the protrusions 92 in the holes 60 A for maintaining the recoil pad 46 on the rear panel. It will be appreciated that, in this position, the recoil pad 46 , and in particular the offset peripheral edge margin surface 90 C of the rear cushion face and the heads 92 A of the protrusions sandwich the rear wall 70 of the cover 44 against the rear panel 60 of the stop 42 . Accordingly, the rear support assembly 16 is rather robust and reinforced. Desirably, the heads 92 A of the protrusions 92 are resiliently deformable to permit insertion of the heads through the holes 60 A in the stop rear panel 60 and to return to their original shape after passed therethrough for retaining the protrusions in the holes.

Recoil pads having other configurations can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the recoil pad can be formed as one piece with the cover, the recoil pad can be made of multiple parts formed separately from each other (e.g., separately formed cushion and protrusions), and/or the recoil pad can have more, fewer, or other types of protrusions for mounting the recoil pad on the stop.

As is now apparent, the stop 42 , cover 44 , and recoil pad 46 can be formed separately and assembled to manufacture the rear support 16 . The cover 44 can be positioned in front of the stop 42 and moved rearward to engage the slots 80 with the flanges 68 of the stop. Rearward movement of the cover 44 also brings left and rights sides of the lip 74 into overlying engagement with the top edges of the left and right panels 62 of the stop 42 . The portion of the lip 74 adjacent the upper end of the rear wall 70 of the cover 44 can be temporarily deformed to be moved into overlying engagement with the top edge of the rear panel 60 of the stop 42 . The recoil pad 46 can be positioned in front of the cover 44 and stop 42 and moved rearward such that the protrusions 92 become seated in the holes 60 A in the rear panel 60 of the stop, and the rear face of the cushion 90 becomes seated in the hole 78 in the rear wall 70 of the cover.

In use, the firearm can be supported on the forward and rear supports 14 , 16 of the shooting rest 10 for shooting the firearm. The user can engage his shoulder on the rear support 16 and adjust the orientation of the rest 10 and firearm for aiming the firearm at a target. Upon firing the firearm, a portion of the rearward recoil force is absorbed by the resilient compression of the recoil pad 46 , a significant amount of the rearward recoil force is transmitted by the stop 42 to the frame 12 for absorbing the force with removable weight on the weight support 20 , and the user feels a significantly reduced recoil force on their shoulder against the stop. A recoil pad constructed according to the present invention has been tested and was shown to reduce recoil by about 30% more than a similarly constructed rear support with a cover provided merely to prevent marring of the firearm on the rear support. Accordingly, the rear support 16 disclosed herein provides not only an improved construction for manufacturing assembly purposes, but also an improved performance in reducing recoil. The recoil pad 46 and cover 44 not only protect the buttstock of the firearm from damage against the hard surface of the rear panel 60 , but the recoil pad actually serves a substantial role in reducing recoil by absorbing recoil force.

Having described the invention in detail, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions and methods without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.