Vibration dampening firearm mount for vehicles

Abstract

A method and apparatus for dampening vibration forces being transmitted from a vehicle to a firearm mount and firearm to permit substantially vibration free aiming and firing of the firearm from the moving vehicle. A support member supports a pliable membrane and permits flexing movement of a region of the membrane in response to vibration forces. A firearm mount is secured to a flexing region of the membrane. Vibration forces transmitted from the vehicle to the firearm mount are dampened by flexing of the membrane due to the mass of the firearm thereby permitting the firearm to remain stabilized for accurate aiming and firing.

1 . A method for dampening vibration forces being transmitted from a movable object responsive to movement of the object, comprising:
 with a support member supporting a pliable membrane and permitting flexing movement of a region of said pliable membrane;   mounting a firearm to said region of said pliable membrane, and   dampening vibration forces transmitted from the movable object by movement of said support member in a manner causing flexing of said region of said pliable membrane and permitting said firearm to be supported by said region of said pliable membrane and subject to dampened vibration forces.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 supporting edge portions of said pliable membrane by said support member and permitting said region of said pliable membrane to be movable relative to said support member and dampening vibration forces transmitted by the object to said support member to yield said region of said pliable membrane and substantially isolate said firearm from movement by the vibration forces.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 connecting a firearm support to said region of said pliable membrane, said firearm support mechanism being movable along with said region of said pliable membrane;   mounting said firearm to said firearm support mechanism; and   stabilizing said firearm and said firearm support by vibration force induced flexing movement of said region of said pliable membrane.   
     
     
         4 . A vibration dampening mount system for firearms mounted for use on a moveable object, comprising:
 a membrane support being connected with the moveable object;   a pliable membrane being secured to said membrane support and defining a movable membrane portion;   a firearm mount being secured to said movable membrane portion;   a firearm being moveably supported by said firearm mount for aiming and firing activity; and   vibration induced movement of said membrane support responsive to movement of the moveable object being dampened by said pliable membrane and minimizing transmission of vibration forces from said membrane support to said firearm and permitting aiming and firing of the firearm substantially free of the vibration forces.   
     
     
         5 . The vibration dampening mount system of  claim 4 , comprising:
 edge portions of said pliable membrane being secured to said membrane support and leaving a region of said pliable membrane free for vibration force induced flexing;   said firearm mount being secured to said region of said pliable membrane;   said firearm being releasably supported by said firearm mount; and   vibration forces from said moveable object being transmitted to said membrane support and causing vibration force induced flexing of said region of said pliable membrane and dampening vibration force transmission to said firearm and firearm mount and minimizing vibration induced movement of said firearm mount and said firearm.   
     
     
         6 . The vibration dampening mount system of  claim 4 , comprising:
 a mount support being connected with said moveable object and defining a mount receptacle;   a mount base having a connector member being receivable by said mount receptacle;   a membrane support being mounted in spaced relation with said mount base;   an edge portion of said pliable membrane being supported by said membrane support;   a membrane retainer member engaging said edge portion of said pliable membrane; and   a retainer securing said membrane support member said membrane retainer member to said edge portion of said pliable membrane.   
     
     
         7 . The vibration dampening mount system of  claim 6 , comprising:
 said mount base being a plate member; and   a mount pin being connected with said plate member and projecting downwardly therefrom and being received by a mount support member of the movable object.   
     
     
         8 . The vibration dampening mount system of  claim 6 , said membrane support comprising:
 a support frame member having supporting engagement with an edge portion of a lower surface of said pliable membrane;   a retention frame member engaging an edge portion of an upper surface of said pliable membrane; and   retainer members extending through said support frame member, said edge portion of said pliable membrane and said retention frame member and securing the same in assembly.   
     
     
         9 . The vibration dampening mount system of  claim 4 , comprising:
 at least one standoff member being interposed between said mount base and said mount support and defining said spaced relation of said mount base and said mount support.   
     
     
         10 . The vibration dampening mount system of  claim 4 , comprising:
 said pliable membrane being composed of at least one panel of fabric impregnated resilient material and having sufficient structural integrity to provide adequate support for said firearm mount and firearm and yielding in response to vibration forces communicated thereto to dampen the vibration forces and substantially isolate the vibration forces from the firearm so that the firearm is maintained substantially steady during movement of said movable object and can be accurately aimed and fired.   
     
     
         11 . The vibration dampening mount system of  claim 4 , comprising:
 a membrane connector plate member engaging a lower surface of said movable portion of said pliable membrane;   said firearm mount having a lower plate member disposed in engagement with an upper surface of said movable portion of said pliable membrane; and   retainer members extending through said membrane connector plate member, said movable portion of said pliable membrane and said lower plate member of said firearm mount and securing said firearm to said movable portion of said pliable membrane.   
     
     
         12 . A vibration dampening mount system for firearms mounted for use on a moveable object, comprising:
 a support mechanism having supporting relation with the moveable object;   a pliable vibration dampening membrane having edge portions being supported by said mount frame structure and having a movable portion;   a firearm mount being secured to and moveable with said movable portion of said pliable vibration dampening membrane;   a firearm being moveably supported by said firearm mount for aiming and firing activity; and   vibration movement of said mount frame structure responsive to movement of the moveable object being dampened by yielding movement said movable portion of said pliable membrane and minimizing transmission of vibration forces from said mount frame structure to said firearm, thus permitting aiming and firing of the firearm substantially free of the vibration forces.   
     
     
         13 . The vibration dampening mount system of  claim 12 , comprising:
 said mount body defining a membrane support perimeter and defining a relieved region within said membrane support perimeter permitting a region of said pliable vibration dampening membrane to be substantially unsupported and disposed in movable relation with said mount body; and   said firearm mount being secured to said substantially unsupported portion of said pliable dampening membrane; and   upon movement of said mount body by vibration forces transmitted from said movable object said pliable dampening membrane yielding and dampening the vibration forces, whereby the firearm mount and firearm remain substantially steady for accurate aiming and firing of the firearm.   
     
     
         14 . The vibration dampening mount system of  claim 12 , comprising:
 said pliable dampening membrane having edge portions thereof secured to said membrane support perimeter and having a portion thereof being substantially unsupported and moveable relative to said membrane support perimeter.   
     
     
         15 . The vibration dampening mount system of  claim 12 , wherein said mount body comprises:
 a mount plate member;   said pliable vibration dampening membrane defining an edge portion having an upper surface and a lower surface and defining a movable region;   a support frame engaging said lower surface   a membrane retention frame engaging said upper surface; and   standoff members interposed between said mount plate member and said support frame and defining a sufficiently spaced relation therebetween to permit maximum pliable vibration dampening membrane flexing movement in response to vibration forces.   
     
     
         16 . The vibration dampening mount system of  claim 15 , comprising:
 a mount pin being secured to said mount plate member and being receivable by a mount support of said movable object;   
     
     
         17 . The vibration dampening mount system of  claim 15 , comprising:
 a firearm mount being secured to said moveable region of said pliable dampening membrane; and   a firearm being moveably received by said firearm mount and being moveable relative to said firearm mount for aiming and firing activity; and   yielding movement of said moveable region of said pliable vibration dampening membrane responsive to transmission of vibration forces thereto causing dampening of the vibration forces and permitting the firearm and said firearm mount to remain substantially free of the vibration forces and sufficiently steady for accurate aiming and firing of the firearm.   
     
     
         18 . The vibration dampening mount system of  claim 17 , comprising:
 a mount plate member;   said pliable vibration dampening membrane defining an edge portion having an upper surface and a lower surface and defining a movable region;   a membrane support frame engaging said lower surface;   a membrane retention frame engaging said upper surface; and   retainer members extending through said membrane support frame, said edge portion of said pliable vibration dampening membrane and said membrane retention frame and securing the same in assembly.