Angled bipod foregrip for firearm

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

p-0002This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/484,710, filed 11 May 2011.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

p-0003This invention relates to bipods for use on firearms.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

p-0004Firearms of the automatic and/or semiautomatic type generally include some form of rest or support, e.g. a tripod or bipod type support, for use during shooting exercises. In the prior art these types of supports are either permanently mounted and must be dismantled to remove or are temporary and, in many cases unstable. In many instances the permanently mounted supports are movable between a stored orientation adjacent the barrel and a use orientation in which they are pivoted so as to extend downwardly from the barrel. Generally, these permanent supports can be difficult to use and inconvenient or distracting while in the stored orientation.

p-0005It would be highly advantageous, therefore, to remedy the foregoing and other deficiencies inherent in the prior art.

p-0006Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved angled bipod foregrip for mounting on firearms.

p-0007It is another object of the present invention to provide new and improved angled bipod foregrip that can conveniently be mounted on a firearm and serves as a foregrip when positioned in the stored orientation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

p-0008Briefly, to achieve the desired objects of the instant invention in accordance with a preferred embodiment thereof, a bipod foregrip includes a longitudinally extending mounting base with an upwardly opening dovetail shaped groove in the upper surface constructed to slidingly engage a dovetail mounting rail of a firearm and locking structure designed to hold the mounting base in a selected longitudinal position along the dovetail mounting rail. A fixed gripping portion is affixed to the base adjacent the rear end of the base. A movable gripping portion has a first end pivotally attached adjacent a lower extremity of the fixed gripping portion and an opposed end. The movable gripping portion is pivotal between a stored orientation and an extended orientation. In the stored orientation the opposed end is positioned in abutting engagement with a lower surface of the mounting base. The movable gripping portion includes two legs forming the movable gripping portion in the stored orientation and extending angularly outwardly and downwardly into a bipod rest in the extended orientation. A manually operable locking mechanism is designed to releasably lock the movable gripping portion in either one of the stored orientation or the extended orientation.

p-0009The desired objects of the instant invention are further achieved in accordance with an embodiment of a bipod foregrip including a firearm having a dovetail mounting rail. A longitudinally extending mounting base with an upwardly opening dovetail shaped groove in the upper surface is slidingly engaged with the dovetail mounting rail of the firearm and locking structure is designed to hold the mounting base in a selected place along the dovetail mounting rail. A fixed gripping portion is integrally formed with the mounting base adjacent the rear end of the mounting base so as to extend at a convenient rearwardly directed angle downwardly from adjacent the rear end of the mounting base. A movable gripping portion has a first end pivotally attached adjacent a lower extremity of the fixed gripping portion and an opposed end. The movable gripping portion is pivotal between a stored orientation and an extended orientation. The opposed end is positioned in abutting engagement with a lower surface of the mounting base in the stored orientation. The movable gripping portion includes two legs forming the movable gripping portion in the stored orientation and extending angularly outwardly and downwardly into a bipod rest in the extended orientation. A manually operable locking mechanism is designed to releasably lock the movable gripping portion in either one of the stored orientation or the extended orientation. Each of the two legs forming the movable gripping portion include a tubular body portion and a foot portion, the tubular body portion being constructed to telescopingly receive the foot portion therein for movement between a retracted position and an extended position.

p-0010The desired objects of the instant invention are further achieved in accordance with a specific embodiment of a bipod foregrip including a longitudinally extending mounting base with an upwardly opening dovetail shaped groove in the upper surface constructed to slidingly engage a dovetail mounting rail of a firearm and locking structure designed to hold the mounting base in a selected place along the dovetail mounting rail. A fixed gripping portion is integrally formed with the mounting base adjacent the rear end of the mounting base so as to extend at a convenient rearwardly directed angle downwardly from adjacent the rear end of the mounting base. A movable gripping portion has a first end pivotally attached adjacent a lower extremity of the fixed gripping portion by a pivotal mounting element pivotally attached to the fixed gripping portion to define a first pivotal axis extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the mounting base and pivotally attached to the movable gripping portion to define a second pivotal axis extending in a direction perpendicular to the first pivotal axis. The movable gripping portion is pivotal about the first pivotal axis between a stored orientation and an extended orientation and the opposed end is positioned in abutting engagement with a lower surface of the mounting base in the stored orientation. The movable gripping portion includes two legs forming the movable gripping portion in the stored orientation, the two legs being mounted by the pivotal mounting element for pivotal movement about the second pivotal axis into an angularly outwardly and downwardly directed bipod rest position in the extended orientation. A manually operable locking mechanism designed to releasably lock the movable gripping portion in either one of the stored orientation or the extended orientation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

p-0011The foregoing and further and more specific objects and advantages of the instant invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

p-0012<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a side perspective view of an angled bipod foregrip, folded into a stored or non-use orientation, in accordance with the present invention;

p-0013<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a front perspective view of the angled bipod foregrip of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>;

p-0014<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is an enlarged perspective view of a front portion of the angled bipod foregrip of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>;

p-0015<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is an enlarged top perspective view of the angled bipod foregrip of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>;

p-0016<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is a rear perspective view of the angled bipod foregrip of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>;

p-0017<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> is an exploded view from the front left of the angled bipod foregrip of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, illustrating the two legs and mounting element;

p-0018<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> is an exploded view from the front right of the angled bipod foregrip of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, illustrating the components of each of the two legs in an exploded view;

p-0019<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> is an exploded view of a leg;

p-0020<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 9</figref> is an exploded view of the leg mounting structure;

p-0021<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 10</figref> is an exploded view of the leg locking mechanism;

p-0022<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 11</figref> is an enlarged perspective view of the leg mounting and locking mechanism;

p-0023<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 12</figref> is a perspective view of a leg in the extended position;

p-0024<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 13</figref> is a perspective view of a leg in the stored position;

p-0025<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 14 and 15</figref> are front and rear perspective views of the angled bipod foregrip in the extended position; and

p-0026<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 16 through 21</figref> are rear, front, and side perspective views of a firearm with the angled bipod foregrip attached and in the extended and stored orientations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

p-0027Turning to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1 through 5</figref>, an angled bipod foregrip designated <b>10</b> is illustrated in a stored or non-use orientation. Foregrip <b>10</b> includes an elongated mounting base <b>12</b> with an upwardly opening dovetail shaped groove <b>14</b>, best seen in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>, in the upper surface. Base <b>12</b> is held in place on the dovetail mounting rail of a firearm by means of two screws <b>16</b> that extend laterally through base <b>12</b>. Generally, the mounting of foregrip <b>10</b> on a firearm is relatively simple, base <b>12</b> is simply slid into a desired position along the dovetail mounting rail of a firearm and screws <b>16</b> are tightened to firmly clamp foregrip <b>10</b> in the selected position.

p-0028A fixed gripping portion <b>20</b> is integrally formed with base <b>12</b> so as to extend at a convenient angle downwardly from the rear end of base <b>12</b>. Throughout this disclosure when directions (e.g. front, back, rear, etc.) are used, the direction in which the associated firearm is pointed as seen by the user/operator determines the direction being discussed or included (e.g. “forward or front” indicates a direction closest to the muzzle of the barrel and “backward or rear” indicates a direction closest to the stock). Gripping portion <b>20</b> is curved and angled to place it close to the mounting rail or base <b>12</b> and includes transverse ridges along the rear surface for gripping comfort. Also, the forward end of base <b>12</b> extends downwardly into a front lip <b>22</b> that is included to aid in preventing the user's hand from sliding forward during use. In addition, a lower surface <b>24</b> of lip <b>22</b> is flat to allow the user to rest the forward portion of the firearm on a surface during use and a forward surface <b>26</b> of lip <b>22</b> is provided with a spike-like surface to enhance stability when pressing surface <b>26</b> against an exterior surface during use.

p-0029Foregrip <b>10</b> further includes a movable gripping portion <b>30</b> that is pivotally attached at a lower or rear end <b>32</b> to the lower end of gripping portion <b>20</b> with the opposed end positioned in abutting engagement with a lower surface of base <b>12</b> in the stored orientation as seen in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1-5</figref>. It can be seen that the combined elements, i.e. fixed gripping portion <b>20</b> and movable gripping portion <b>30</b>, also cooperate to provide a flat surface <b>34</b> which can be used as a rest for the firearm during use if desired.

p-0030Movable gripping portion <b>30</b> includes two legs, generally designated <b>36</b> and <b>38</b>, respectively, which form portion <b>30</b> in the stored or folded orientation and form a bipod rest in the unfolded or extended orientation. Turning to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 6 through 10</figref>, exploded views of various portions of movable gripping portion <b>30</b> and legs <b>36</b> and <b>38</b> are illustrated. Referring specifically to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref>, legs <b>36</b> and <b>38</b> are each illustrated in a stored or compressed orientation and separated from a pivotal mounting element <b>40</b>. Referring specifically to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref>, legs <b>36</b> and <b>38</b> are each illustrated with tubular body portions <b>42</b> and <b>44</b>, respectively, exploded from foot portions <b>46</b> and <b>48</b>, respectively.

p-0031Referring additionally to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref>, an enlarged exploded view of leg <b>36</b> is illustrated It will be understood that leg <b>38</b> is substantially the same as leg <b>36</b> but is basically a mirror image as will become apparent from the following description. Leg <b>36</b> includes an elongated hollow tubular body portion <b>42</b> with an open upper end (‘upper’ in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref>) designed to receive foot portion <b>46</b> in a telescoping arrangement therein. The lower end of body portion <b>42</b> is closed and terminates in a circular boss <b>43</b> designed to pivotally cooperate with pivotal mounting element <b>40</b>. A pin and compression spring combination <b>45</b> are positioned in a hole <b>47</b> in the side of foot portion <b>46</b> and operate as a detent in cooperation with a slot <b>49</b> through a side of body portion <b>42</b>. A tension spring <b>50</b> is attached between the lower end of foot portion <b>46</b> and the inner surface at the lower end of body portion <b>42</b>.

p-0032In operation, the lower end of foot portion <b>46</b> is telescopingly engaged in the longitudinal opening of body portion <b>42</b> with pin and compression spring combination <b>45</b> slidingly engaged in slot <b>49</b>. Tension spring <b>50</b> biases foot portion <b>46</b> toward a fully retracted position (see <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref>). To telescope foot portion <b>46</b> outwardly into a fully extended position (see <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 12</figref>) the user manually depresses pin/spring <b>45</b> and pulls foot portion <b>46</b> outwardly against the bias of tension spring <b>50</b>. Once foot portion <b>46</b> is in the fully extended or telescoped position, pin/spring <b>45</b> engages a special portion of slot <b>49</b> and holds foot portion <b>46</b> in the extended or telescoped position. To move foot portion <b>46</b> back to the retracted position the user simply depresses pin/spring <b>45</b> and tension spring <b>50</b> automatically retracts foot portion <b>46</b>. It will be understood that body portion <b>44</b> and foot portion <b>48</b> of leg <b>38</b> include comparable components and operate in a similar manner.

p-0033Referring additionally to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 9</figref>, it can be seen that pivotal mounting element <b>40</b> includes a pair of spaced apart bosses <b>52</b> designed to receive bosses <b>43</b> of legs <b>36</b> and <b>38</b> in a parallel orientation therebetween. Bosses <b>52</b> have an opening extending laterally therethrough so that with bosses <b>43</b> positioned in parallel therebetween a pin <b>54</b> is positioned to extend through all four bosses and pivotally mount legs <b>36</b> and <b>38</b>. A torsional spring <b>56</b> is positioned between bosses <b>43</b> so as to also receive pin <b>54</b> therethrough and so as to provide a bias on bosses <b>43</b> that tends to force legs <b>36</b> and <b>38</b> into a spread or bipod orientation (see <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 14 and 15</figref>).

p-0034A pin <b>60</b> with a rectangularly shaped head <b>61</b> extends through an opening <b>62</b> in pivotal mounting element <b>40</b> in a direction perpendicular to the direction of pin <b>54</b>. Referring additionally to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 11</figref>, pin <b>60</b> with pivotal mounting element <b>40</b> (and movable gripping portion <b>30</b>) pivotally positioned thereon is mounted in lower or rear end <b>32</b> of fixed gripping portion <b>20</b> so that movable gripping portion <b>30</b> is rotatable along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of base <b>12</b>. The rectangularly shaped head <b>61</b> of pin <b>60</b> is designed and positioned to engage one of two slots formed in pivotal mounting element <b>40</b> (see <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 11</figref>). Further, a compression spring <b>64</b> is positioned to bear against one end of pin <b>60</b> and provide a longitudinal bias on pin <b>60</b> tending to bias pin <b>60</b> toward the two slots and so that rectangularly shaped head <b>61</b> remains in which ever of the two slots it is engaged in. A pin <b>66</b> is engaged in a perpendicular direction through pin <b>60</b> and portions of lower or rear end <b>32</b> of fixed gripping portion <b>20</b> so as to hold pin <b>60</b> fixedly engaged against rotary movement while allowing limited axial or longitudinal movement.

p-0035With rectangularly shaped head <b>61</b> engaged in either of the two slots the end of pin <b>60</b> opposite head <b>61</b> extends a slight distance out of lower or rear end <b>32</b> of fixed gripping portion <b>20</b>, as illustrated in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>. Further, as illustrated in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>, movable gripping portion <b>30</b> is positioned in the folded or storage orientation. To move movable gripping portion <b>30</b> into the extended orientation the user simply presses the extended end of pin <b>60</b> and rotates movable gripping portion <b>30</b> downwardly. When the bipod orientation is reached, rectangularly shaped head <b>61</b> is biased into the second slot and movable gripping portion <b>30</b> is effectively locked in the bipod orientation. Simultaneously, when movable gripping portion <b>30</b> is rotated into the bipod orientation, torsion spring <b>56</b> biases legs <b>36</b> and <b>38</b> into the spread or bipod orientation (see <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 14 and 15</figref>). At this point the user can manually depress pin/spring <b>45</b> on each leg <b>36</b> and <b>38</b> and then move foot portion <b>46</b> and foot portion <b>48</b>, respectively, into the extended orientation (see <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 12</figref> or <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 14 and 15</figref>). To move the various components into the stored configuration the procedure is simply reversed.

p-0036Referring to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 16 through 21</figref>, a firearm is illustrated with the angled bipod foregrip <b>10</b> operatively attached in accordance with the present invention. <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 16</figref>, <b>17</b>, and <b>21</b> illustrated angled bipod foregrip <b>10</b> in the retracted or stored orientation, wherein the novel structure operates like a convenient and comfortable foregrip. In <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 18</figref>, <b>19</b> and <b>20</b> angled bipod foregrip <b>10</b> is illustrated in the extended or bipod orientation.

p-0037Thus, a new and improved angled bipod foregrip is illustrated and described. The new and improved angled bipod foregrip is designed to provide a user with a more stable and convenient mount and is specifically designed to be easily and conveniently installed on any firearm by means of a standard dovetail rail. The angled bipod foregrip folds into a convenient foregrip in the stored orientation so as not to hamper use of the firearm and extends or unfolds into a sturdy bipod in the use orientation.

p-0038Various changes and modifications to the embodiments herein chosen for purposes of illustration will readily occur to those skilled in the art. To the extent that such modifications and variations do not depart from the spirit of the invention, they are intended to be included within the scope thereof which is assessed only by a fair interpretation of the following claims.

p-0039Having fully described the invention in such clear and concise terms as to enable those skilled in the art to understand and practice the same, the invention claimed is: