Dual-Yoke Rifle Bipod Locking for One-Hand Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bipods for machine guns are cumbersome and unreliable, often requiring two hands to operate and can inadvertently deploy due to simple pivots that snag on vegetation.
Innovation Solution
A dual-yoke bipod assembly with a first yoke and a second yoke that is translatable and pivotable, allowing legs to be moved between stowed and deployed positions using one hand, featuring locking structures to maintain position and prevent inadvertent deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple pivot mechanism is used for bipod legs, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates due to inadvertent deployment from snagging on vegetation
Solution Approach 1:
The bipod mechanism is divided into separate functional components: a pivot mechanism for movement and a locking mechanism for stabilization. The locking mechanism includes discrete elements such as locking lugs or detents that can independently engage with corresponding features on the legs, allowing the system to maintain reliability without excessive overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism is designed to proactively prevent inadvertent deployment by counteracting the snagging force before it can cause unwanted movement. The locking elements engage positively with the legs to resist external forces such as vegetation snagging, thereby maintaining deployment stability without requiring complex control systems.
2Ease of operation
If a two-handed operation mechanism is used for bipod deployment, then the ease of operation deteriorates, but the reliability improves through more controlled movement
Solution Approach 1:
The operation of both legs is merged into a single coordinated action through a common locking mechanism. A single manual input (such as moving a lever or pressing a button) simultaneously controls the locking state of both legs, allowing one-handed operation while maintaining controlled and synchronized deployment. This integration ensures that both legs move together reliably without requiring two separate hand operations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If an adjustable leg length mechanism is provided, then the adaptability improves for uneven terrain, but the device complexity increases with additional moving parts
Solution Approach 1:
The leg length adjustment mechanism employs dynamic elements such as telescoping sections with friction locks or bayonet-style quick-release joints. These mechanisms allow the leg length to be easily changed by the user while maintaining structural integrity during use. The adjustment features are designed to be simple and robust, adding minimal complexity while providing effective adaptability for uneven terrain.
Data Source
AI summary
A bipod assembly includes a first yoke configured to be attached to a firearm. A second yoke is pivotably attached to the first yoke. Right and left legs are pivotably connected to the second yoke and movable between an open position and a closed position. The bipod assembly is movable between a stowed and locked position, a stowed and unlocked position, a deployed and unlocked position, and a deployed and locked position. In a locked position, part of each leg engages the first yoke to maintain the leg's open or closed position as well as the leg's deployed or stowed position. The bipod assembly enables one-hand deployment from a stowed state.