Shooting stick and sling combination

Abstract

A selectively collapsible shooting support is mounted on a sling for supporting a weapon to which the sling is attached. A cover is selectively moveable with respect to the sling for concealing and housing the collapsed shooting support in stored condition on the sling, and for releasing the support for deployment. The shooting support preferably comprises two segmented or collapsible sticks connected to the sling and extendable to support a firearm during firing. Movement of the firearm to follow a target is possible without loss of support or repositioning of the sticks on a support surface or a body portion of a shooter.

1 . Apparatus for supporting a hand manipulated element, said apparatus: comprising: 
 a sling having element engagement members and for operatively coupling the sling to the element;    an element support operatively coupled to the sling in a position spaced from said engagement members, and    a cover for covering said element support in a stored position and operable to uncover said element support for deployment.    
   
   
       2 . Apparatus of  claim 1  including a base coupled to said sling spaced from said engagement members, said element support being connected to said support base.  
   
   
       3 . Apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said element support comprises at least one collapsible leg and said apparatus further includes a cover moveable along said sling to one position to cover said collapsible leg when collapsed and to a second position away from said leg to permit erection thereof.  
   
   
       4 . Apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the element comprises a single monopod collapsible leg.  
   
   
       5 . Apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the element comprises a pair of collapsible legs.  
   
   
       6 . Apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said element comprises at least one leg of multiple telescoping section secured together by an elastic cord.  
   
   
       7 . Apparatus for supporting a firearm, said apparatus comprising: 
 a sling;    at least one leg operably attached to said sling;    a cover on said sling moveable between one position securing said leg along said sling and a second position spaced from said leg for movement of said leg away from said sling into a support position.    
   
   
       8 . Apparatus as in  claim 7  wherein said leg is comprised of a plurality of elastically-coupled sections, said sections being collapsible for disposition alongside one another for storage and being connectable end-to-end to define a deployable support leg.  
   
   
       9 . Apparatus as in  claim 8  further including a base member mounted on said sling, said leg having one end portion moveably connected to said base member for angular movement of said leg with respect to said base.  
   
   
       10 . Apparatus as in  claim 9  wherein said base member includes a socket for moveably receiving an end of said leg.  
   
   
       11 . Apparatus as in  claim 9  including an elongated slot extending from said socket.  
   
   
       12 . Apparatus as in  claim 11  wherein said leg includes an elongated elastic member extending through said leg sections, said elastic member disposed in said slot when said leg sections are disposed alongside one another.  
   
   
       13 . Apparatus as in  claim 12  including two collapsible legs, each having a plurality of said sections.  
   
   
       14 . Apparatus as in  claim 9  wherein said sling has at lest two ends for respectively coupling to a firearm, said base connected to said sling at a position spaced from each of said two ends.  
   
   
       15 . Shooting stick apparatus for supporting a firearm and comprising: 
 an elongated sling for attachment to a firearm;    a pair of collapsible shooting sticks moveably attached to said base; and    a cover moveable on said sling between a first position for holding said sticks alongside said sling and a second position to release said sticks for deploying in a direction extending away from said sling.    
   
   
       16 . Apparatus as in  claim 15  wherein said support base defines a pair of stick sockets, and one end of each stick receivable in a socket for angular movement of said stick with respect to said support base.  
   
   
       17 . Apparatus as in  claim 16  wherein each stick includes a plurality of sections elastically coupled together with an elastic member extending through said sticks, the sections having an end operably connected to another section, and said elastic member being coupled to said support base.  
   
   
       18 . Apparatus as in  claim 15  wherein said sling has two ends for attachment to said firearm, said base disposed on said sling in a position spaced from said ends.  
   
   
       19 . Apparatus as in  claim 15  wherein said cover is a sleeve surrounding a portion of said sling.  
   
   
       20 . Apparatus as in  claim 19  wherein said cover is elastic.  
   
   
       21 . Apparatus as in  claim 15  wherein said cover comprises a tube having a seam with seam edges releasably secured together by cooperating magnets in edges of said tube along said seam.  
   
   
       22 . Apparatus as in  claim 15  wherein said support base is of hemispherical shape, and has two concave sockets for movably receiving, respectively, ends of said sticks.  
   
   
       23 . Apparatus as in  claim 15  wherein each stick has an upper end proximate attachment to said base, said upper ends comprising support members engaging said sling beyond said base when said sticks are deployed.  
   
   
       24 . Apparatus as in  claim 23  wherein said support members form a concave trough in said sling when said sticks are deployed for receiving a portion of a firearm therein.  
   
   
       25 . A shooting stick apparatus for use with a weapon, and including a sling attachable to said weapon, a collapsible shooting stick mounted to said sling and being extensible from said sling for providing a shooting support for a weapon when said sling is attached thereto, and a cover moveable along said sling to one position to hold said stick along said sling and to another position wherein said stick is extended away from said sling.  
   
   
       26 . Shooting support apparatus for a firearm comprising, in combination: 
 a sling having two ends for attachment to a firearm;    a shooting support attachment to said sling at a position spaced from each of said ends;    a cover having at least a portion thereof movable with respect to said sling between one position holding said shooting support along said sling and another position spaced away from said shooting support.    
   
   
       27 . Apparatus as in  claim 26  wherein said shooting support is collapsible for disposition alongside said sling and is erectable for deployment in a position at an angle to said sling.  
   
   
       28 . A support for an implement, the support comprising: 
 a support base having a leg socket therein;    at least one leg having an upper end;    an elastic member extending through said leg and said socket and operably connected to bias the upper end of said leg into said socket;    said leg socket receiving said upper end of said leg and accommodating movement of said leg with respect to said socket;    said support base adopted for coupling to said implement.    
   
   
       29 . A support used in  claim 28  wherein said elastic member is secured to said support base.