Bipod assembly & kit with interchangeable bipod legs providing a selection of bipod leg end effecters

Abstract

A bipod with interchangeable legs comprises first and second tubular, spring-loaded telescopically extendable legs terminating distally in one of a plurality of selected end effectors. Each of the interchangeable bipod legs has a selected end effecter adapted to provide support on a specific surface.

Description

RELATED PATENT APPLICATION AND PRIORITY CLAIM INFORMATION[0001]This application claims priority benefit from commonly owned provisional application No. 60 / 929,486, filed Jun. 29, 2007, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. This application is also owned by the applicant / owner of provisional application No. 60 / 643,108, filed Jan. 12, 2005, U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,103 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,974, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. Additionally, this application is owned by the applicant / owner of provisional application No. 60 / 338,153, filed Nov. 13, 2001, the entire disclosure of which is also incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for supporting a firearm or other apparatus when at a range or in the field, and more particularly to a support device such as a bipod providing a selection of end effectors adapted t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015]The present invention comprises a bipod support for the forearm stock of a firearm such as a military rifle and includes first and second tubular, spring-loaded telescopically extendable legs adapted to receive a selected bipod leg from a plurality of bipod legs terminating distally in a selected end effecter, so that the shooter or user can select the best foot or end effecter for any of a wide variety of surfaces, including smooth hard surfaces, uneven surfaces and soft, muddy or uneven terrain.

[0016]The most important feature of the bipod system of the present invention is the ability of the user (e.g., the shooter or the armorer) to change between bipod legs having different feet or end effectors. That's come about as a result of re-engineering the leg design. In this applicant's previous designs (such as shown in the Versa-Pod™ detachable bipod assembly), the legs had leg-extension latching or locking notches to the rear facing the shooter when in the prone position and running longitudinally along the length of the leg was always a long central slot or groove. Basically the longitudinal slot or groove was there to receive a pin preventing the extended bipod leg from falling out and to prevent the leg from turning about the leg's central axis or rotating freely. Heavy use revealed that the leg extension springs in the leg eventually caused the latching notches to wear excessively in a very short period of time.

Problems solved by technology

Heavy use revealed that the leg extension springs in the leg eventually caused the latching notches to wear excessively in a very short period of time.

The notch corners were worn within a couple weeks use and some became almost rounded, thereby providing a poor securing surface for the leg catch.

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