Adjustable support for firearms

Abstract

An adjustable support for a firearm includes an extension shaft having a distal end, a proximal end, a central axis, and a plurality of engagement features formed at a plurality of axial locations between the distal end and the proximal end. A housing assembly is configured to house the extension shaft and defines a reference datum. At least one locking member is operatively associated with the housing assembly and is configured selectively engage the engagement features. An actuator is operatively associated with the housing assembly such that translation of the actuator relative to the central axis moves the locking members into and out of engagement with the engagement features on the extension shaft. Rotation of the actuator relative about the central axis moves the distal end of the extension shaft away from the housing assembly.

1 . An adjustable support for a firearm, comprising:
 an extension shaft having a distal end, a proximal end, a central axis, and a plurality of engagement features formed at a plurality of axial locations between the distal end and the proximal end;   a housing assembly configured to house the extension shaft and defining a reference datum;   at least one locking member operatively associated with the housing assembly and configured selectively engage the engagement features; and   an actuator operatively associated with the housing assembly, wherein translation of the actuator relative to the central axis moves the locking members into and out of engagement with the engagement features on the extension shaft and wherein rotation of the actuator about the central axis moves the distal end of the extension shaft away from the reference datum associated with the housing assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The adjustable support of  claim 1 , wherein translation of the actuator relative to the central axis is translation parallel to the central axis. 
     
     
         3 . The adjustable support of  claim 1 , wherein translation parallel to the central axis moves the locking member radially inward and outward relative to the extension shaft. 
     
     
         4 . The adjustable support of  claim 3 , wherein the locking member includes a spherical locking member. 
     
     
         5 . The adjustable support of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement features include alternative grooves and ridges. 
     
     
         6 . An adjustable support for a firearm, comprising:
 an extension shaft having a distal end, a proximal end, a central axis, and a plurality of engagement features formed at a plurality of axial locations between the distal end and the proximal end;   a housing assembly having a reference datum, a first housing member configured to receive at least a portion of the extension shaft, and a second housing member configured to receive at least a portion of the first housing member;   at least one locking member operatively associated with the housing assembly and configured selectively engage the engagement features; and   an actuator operatively associated with the housing assembly, wherein translation of the actuator parallel to the central axis moves the first housing assembly relative to the second housing assembly to move the locking members into and out of engagement with the engagement features on the extension shaft and wherein rotation of the actuator relative about the central axis moves the distal end of the extension shaft away from the reference datum, the actuator being configured to move parallel to the central axis independently of rotation about the central axis.   
     
     
         7 . The adjustable support of  claim 6 , wherein the first housing member includes receiving recesses defined therein configured to receive at least a portion of each of the locking members. 
     
     
         8 . The adjustable support of  claim 7 , wherein the second housing member includes an interior lumen defined therein forming an interior surface, wherein the interior surface has an annular groove formed therein such that alignment of the annular groove and the receiving recesses allows the locking features to move out of engagement with the engagement features on the extension shaft and wherein alignment of the receiving recesses with the inner surface adjacent the annular groove moves the locking features into engagement with the engagement features on the extension shaft. 
     
     
         9 . The adjustable support of  claim 8 , wherein a proximal end of the second housing member includes a threaded portion. 
     
     
         10 . The adjustable support of  claim 9 , wherein the housing assembly further includes a threaded third housing member configured to be threadingly coupled to the threaded portion of the proximal end of the second housing member and wherein rotation of the actuator about the central axis threads and unthreads the second housing member to and from the third housing member. 
     
     
         11 . An adjustable support for a firearm, comprising:
 an extension shaft having a distal end, a proximal end, a central axis, and a plurality of engagement features formed at a plurality of axial locations between the distal end and the proximal end;   a housing assembly having:
 a first housing member having a shaft portion extending distally from a proximal end toward a distal end, a flared portion positioned distally from the shaft portion, a first lumen extending proximally from the distal end and being configured to receive at least a portion of the extension shaft, and wherein a plurality of receiving recesses are defined in the first housing member and are in communication with the first lumen, 
 a second housing member having a second lumen defined therein extending proximally from a distal end of the second housing member toward a proximal end, the second lumen being configured to receive at least a portion of the first housing member, an annular groove defined in an inner surface of the second housing member, and alternating tabs and slots formed adjacent the distal end of the second housing member; 
   a plurality of locking members positioned between the inner housing of the second housing member and the first housing member in the receiving recesses; and   an actuator operatively associated with the housing assembly, the actuator being configured to move the first housing member parallel to the central axis relative to the second housing member to move the receiving recesses into and out of alignment with the annular groove in the second housing member to move the locking member into and out of engagement with the engagement features on the extension shaft, the actuator being further configured to rotate the second housing member relative to the central axis independently of movement of the first housing member parallel to the central axis.   
     
     
         12 . The adjustable support of  claim 11 , wherein further comprising a biasing member between the distal end of the first housing member and the extension shaft. 
     
     
         13 . The adjustable support of  claim 11 , wherein the shaft of the first housing member extends proximally of a proximal end of the second housing member. 
     
     
         14 . The adjustable support of  claim 13 , further comprising a biasing member positioned between the proximal end of the first housing member and the proximal end of the second housing member. 
     
     
         15 . The adjustable support of  claim 11 , wherein a proximal end of the second housing member includes a threaded portion. 
     
     
         16 . The adjustable support of  claim 15 , further comprising a third housing member having a threaded distal portion configured to have the threaded portion of the proximal end of the second housing member coupled thereto, wherein the rotation of the actuator about the central axis threads and unthreads the second housing member from the third housing member to move the distal end of the extension shaft independently from extension of the extension shaft relative to the first housing member.