Adjustable gun rest apparatus

Abstract

A gun support apparatus is provided, which includes a base portion, a first arm member, and a second arm member. The first arm member is attached to the base portion. The second arm member is attached to the base portion. Each of the first and second arm members includes an upright member, a distal support member, a first link, and a second link. The first link is pivotably coupled to the upright member and attached to the distal support member, such that the first link is located between the distal support member and the upright member. The second link is pivotably coupled to the upright member and pivotably coupled to a distal end of the first link, such that the second link is located between the distal support member and the upright member. The second link has a variable length, and may include a dampener, spring, and/or friction element.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A gun support apparatus, comprising: 
 a base portion;    a first arm attached to the base portion, the first arm comprising 
 a first upright member,  
 a first distal support member,  
 a first elongated link pivotably coupled to the first upright member and attached to the first distal support member, wherein the first elongated link is located between the first distal support member and the first upright member, and  
 a first slider link attached to the first upright member and attached to the first elongated link, wherein the slider link comprises 
 a first piston portion, and  
 a first cylinder portion, wherein the first piston portion is adapted to slidably fit within the first cylinder portion,  
 
   a second arm attached to the base portion, the second arm comprising 
 a second upright member,  
 a second distal support member,  
 a second elongated link pivotably coupled to the second upright member and attached to the second distal support member, wherein the second elongated link is located between the second distal support member and the second upright member, and  
 a second variable length link attached to the second upright member and attached to the second elongated link.  
   
     
     
         2 . The gun support apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second variable length link is a second slider link comprising: 
 a second piston portion, and    a second cylinder portion, wherein the second piston portion is adapted to slidably fit within the second cylinder portion.    
     
     
         3 . The gun support apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first slider link comprises a friction element adapted to provide a variable coefficient of friction between the first piston portion and the first cylinder portion.  
     
     
         4 . The gun support apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first slider link further comprises a dampener portion.  
     
     
         5 . The gun support apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first slider link further comprises a spring.  
     
     
         6 . The gun support apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a dampener attached to and extending between the first and second arms.  
     
     
         7 . A gun support apparatus, comprising: 
 a base portion;    a first link extending along a first link axis and attached to the base portion at a proximate end of the first link; and    a second link extending along a second link axis and attached to the base portion at a proximate end of the second link, wherein a distal end of the second link is attached to a distal end of the first link, wherein an angle formed between the first link axis and the second link axis is less than 90 degrees, and wherein the second link comprises a slider mechanism providing a variable length for the second link.    
     
     
         8 . The gun support apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 a third link extending along a third link axis and attached to the base portion at a proximate end of the third link; and    a fourth link extending along a fourth link axis and attached to the base portion at a proximate end of the fourth link, wherein a distal end of the fourth link is attached to a distal end of the third link, wherein an angle formed between the third link axis and the fourth link axis is less than 90 degrees, and wherein the fourth link comprises a slider mechanism providing a variable length for the fourth link.    
     
     
         9 . The gun support apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second links are jointly rotatable about the base, and wherein the third and fourth links are jointly rotatable about the base independent of the first and second links.  
     
     
         10 . The gun support apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the angle formed between the first link axis and the second link axis is variable between about 10 degrees and about 50 degrees.  
     
     
         11 . The gun support apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the angle formed between the first link axis and the second link axis is variable between about 20 degrees and about 40 degrees.  
     
     
         12 . The gun support apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the slider mechanism comprises: 
 a piston portion; and    a cylinder portion, wherein the piston portion is adapted to slidably fit within the cylinder portion.    
     
     
         13 . The gun support apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the slider mechanism comprises a friction element adapted to provide a variable coefficient of friction between the piston portion and the cylinder portion.  
     
     
         14 . The gun support apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the slider mechanism comprises a dampener.  
     
     
         15 . The gun support apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the slider mechanism comprises a spring.  
     
     
         16 . A gun support apparatus, comprising: 
 a base portion;    a first arm attached to the base portion; and    a second arm attached to the base portion,    wherein the first arm comprises 
 a first upright member,  
 a first distal support member, and  
 a first slider mechanism pivotably coupled to the first upright member and pivotably coupled to the first distal support member, wherein the first slider mechanism is located between the first distal support member and the first upright member.  
   
     
     
         17 . The gun support apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the first distal support member is removably attachable to a gun.  
     
     
         18 . The gun support apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the first slider mechanism comprises: 
 a piston portion; and    a cylinder portion, wherein the piston portion is slidably contained within the cylinder portion.    
     
     
         19 . The gun support apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the first slider mechanism comprises a friction element adapted to provide a variable coefficient of friction between the piston portion and the cylinder portion.  
     
     
         20 . The gun support apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the first slider mechanism comprises a dampener.  
     
     
         21 . The gun support apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the first slider mechanism comprises a spring member.  
     
     
         22 . The gun support apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the second arm comprises: 
 a second upright member;    a second distal support member; and    a second slider mechanism pivotably coupled to the second upright member and pivotably coupled to the second distal support member, wherein the second slider mechanism is located between the second distal support member and the second upright member.    
     
     
         23 . The gun support apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the base portion comprises an upright shaft, and wherein the upright shaft extends through the first and second upright members, such that the first and second arms are pivotably coupled to the base portion via the upright shaft.  
     
     
         24 . A method of assembling a gun support apparatus, the method comprising: 
 assembling first and second arm members, wherein assembling of each of the arm members comprises 
 attaching a slider mechanism to an upright member, and  
 attaching the slider mechanism to a distal support member, such that the slider mechanism is located between the distal support member and the upright member;  
   attaching the first arm member to a base portion; and    attaching the second arm member to the base portion.    
     
     
         25 . A gun support apparatus, comprising: 
 an upright member;    a first distal support member;    a first variable length arm having a proximate end pivotably coupled to the upright member, and a distal end pivotably coupled to the first distal support member, the first arm comprising a first slider mechanism located between the first distal support member and the upright member;    a second distal support member; and    a second arm having a proximate end pivotably coupled to the upright member, and a distal end pivotably coupled to the second distal support member.    
     
     
         26 . The gun support apparatus of  claim 25 , further comprising: 
 a base; and    an upright shaft coupled to the base, wherein the upright member is rotatably coupled to the upright shaft.    
     
     
         27 . The gun support apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the base comprises a traversable track, and wherein the upright shaft is traversably mounted to said track.  
     
     
         28 . The gun support apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the first slider mechanism comprises: 
 a piston portion; and    a cylinder portion, wherein the piston portion is slidably contained within the cylinder portion.    
     
     
         29 . The gun support apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the first slider mechanism comprises a friction element providing a variable amount of friction between the piston portion and the cylinder portion.  
     
     
         30 . The gun support apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the second arm is a variable length arm, and further comprises a second slider mechanism located between the second distal support member and the upright member.  
     
     
         31 . The gun support apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the first and second slider mechanisms each comprise: 
 a piston portion;    a cylinder portion, wherein the piston portion is slidably contained within the cylinder portion; and    a friction element providing a variable amount of friction between the piston portion and the cylinder portion.    
     
     
         32 . The gun support apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the first and second slider mechanisms each further comprise an adjustment knob for varying said variable amount of friction by applying variable force to said friction element.  
     
     
         33 . The gun support apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the first arm extends along a first link axis, wherein the second arm extends along a second link axis, and wherein the first and second link axes are horizontally inline with each other and vertically offset from each other.  
     
     
         34 . The gun support apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the first and second distal support members are removably attachable to a gun.  
     
     
         35 . The gun support apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the first distal support member is adapted to removably attach to a stock end of said gun, wherein the second distal support member is adapted to removably attach to a barrel end of said gun, and wherein a first acute angle formed between said first arm and said upright member is greater than a second acute angle formed between said second arm and said upright member.  
     
     
         36 . The gun support apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein said upright member is directly traversably mounted to a track.  
     
     
         37 . The gun support apparatus of  claim 25 , further comprising a base, wherein said base comprises a track, and wherein said upright member is traversably attached to said base.  
     
     
         38 . A method of assembling a gun support apparatus, the method comprising: 
 pivotably coupling a proximate end of a first variable length arm to an upright member;    pivotably coupling a first distal support member to a distal end of the first variable length arm, wherein the first arm comprises a first slider mechanism located between the first distal support member and the upright member;    pivotably coupling a proximate end of a second arm to the upright member; and    pivotably coupling a second distal support member to a distal end of the second arm.