Firearm Bipod with Unified Cant and Pivot Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bipods for firearms lack a combined cant and pivot feature, often requiring separate controls and are bulky due to complexity, adding weight and lacking a simple means to adjust tension.
Innovation Solution
A bipod leg deployment assembly with a housing, leg assemblies, pivot rod, locking knob, and pivot block, allowing for integrated cant and pivot functions with a single control mechanism, featuring concentric detent receiving hollows for adjustable tension and leg deployment buttons for easy stowage and deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate controls are used for cant and pivot features, then each degree of freedom can be controlled independently, but the device complexity increases and bulkiness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cant control and pivot control into a single integrated locking knob mechanism. The locking knob simultaneously engages with both the cant detent mechanism and the pivot detent mechanism, allowing both degrees of freedom to be controlled and locked independently through one unified interface rather than requiring separate controls.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking knob serves multiple functions: it locks the cant angle, locks the pivot angle, and provides a unified interface for controlling both degrees of freedom. This multi-functional design reduces the overall number of control elements while maintaining independent adjustability of both cant and pivot features.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate controls are used for cant and pivot features, then each degree of freedom can be controlled independently, but the bipod becomes bulky and weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cant locking mechanism and pivot locking mechanism into a single integrated structure where the locking knob serves both functions. This consolidation eliminates redundant control elements and reduces the overall material required, thereby reducing weight while maintaining both cant and pivot adjustability.
3Reliability
If existing bipod designs are used, then basic support function is provided, but no simple means exists to adjust tension of pivot and cant adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism automatically applies tension to the locking knob, maintaining constant pressure against the detent surfaces. This self-adjusting tension system eliminates the need for manual tension adjustment while ensuring reliable engagement of the detents with the locking knob, providing both reliability and ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatus for a bipod having pivot and cant functionality built into a unified cant/pivot assembly, housing, and pivot block. Rotation of a locking knob under the housing can gradually increase or decrease friction of the cant and pivoting degrees of freedom. Sufficient loosening of the locking knob can allow a pivot block to be lifted from the housing and rotated 180°, and then retightened to lock in a given pivot position. Before this 180 rotation of the pivot block, the pivot block and hence the firearm is free to pivot up to 10°, or up to 20°, or up to 30°.