Support

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of firearms, and in particular to a bipod for supporting a firearm, particularly high-calibre weapons. A bipod for supporting a bipod for supporting a firearm having a barrel, the bipod comprising: two legs rotatably mounted at respective opposing ends of a yoke and moveable between folded, intermediate, and firing positions, an elongate support member extending rearwardly of the yoke, and attachment means for attaching the bipod to the firearm in which the elongate support member is fixed to the yoke, and the attachment means is pivotally mounted on the elongate support number to permit canting of the firearm about a longitudinal axis.

1 . A bipod for supporting a bipod for supporting a firearm having a barrel, the bipod comprising:
 two legs rotatably mounted at respective opposing ends of a yoke and moveable between folded, intermediate, and firing positions, an elongate support member extending rearwardly of the yoke, and   attachment means for attaching the bipod to the firearm in which the elongate support member is fixed to the yoke,   wherein the attachment means is pivotally mounted on the elongate support number to permit canting of the firearm about a longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         2 . A bipod according  claim 1  in which the legs are independently movable between folded, intermediate, and firing positions and can be retained in positions selected from any of an upright, forward-extending, or rearward-extending horizontal position. 
     
     
         3 . A bipod according to  claim 1 , in which the elongate support member includes a shaft about which the attachment means can pivot. 
     
     
         4 . A bipod according to  claim 1 , in which the yoke has a curved profile. 
     
     
         5 . A bipod according to  claim 4 , in which the yoke is of unitary construction. 
     
     
         6 . A bipod according to  claim 1 , in which each leg may be rotated through 360° on the respective side of the bipod. 
     
     
         7 . A bipod according to  claim 6 , in which the retaining means, controlling leg movement are operated by a user from the rear of the bipod. 
     
     
         8 . A bipod according to  claim 7 , in which the retaining means are operated by means of a button located at a rearward facing portion of the bipod. 
     
     
         9 . A bipod according to  claim 8 , in which the retaining means can be operated to release a leg from a horizontal, intermediate or upright position. 
     
     
         10 . A bipod according to  claim 9 , in which the retaining means includes a slidable element, which in a retained condition engages indexing means mounted to or integral with the yoke, and, in a released condition, disengages the indexing means allowing rotation of an associated leg. 
     
     
         11 . A bipod according to  claim 10 , and in which the retaining means is in the form of a slidable plate, in which the slidable plate includes at least one portion shaped to engage the indexing means in a retained condition, which at least one said portion is disengaged from the indexing means when the retaining means is in a released condition. 
     
     
         12 . A bipod according to  claim 11 , in which the said portion includes at least one regular side, shaped to engage a corresponding regular side provided by the indexing means. 
     
     
         13 . A bipod according to  claim 1 , which attaches to an accessory mounting rail of, or attached to, the firearm. 
     
     
         14 . A bipod according to  claim 13 , in which the accessory mounting rail is on a lower portion of the firearm below the barrel whereby the firearm is supported from below by the bipod or in which the accessory mounting rail is on an upper portion of the firearm above the barrel whereby the firearm is suspended below the yoke and between the legs of the bipod. 
     
     
         15 . A bipod according to  claim 1 , which is able to pivot about a vertical axis to permit the supported rifle to pan at least 20 degrees in either side to side direction. 
     
     
         16 . A bipod according to  claim 15 , in which pivoting of the yoke about the longitudinal axis can be partially or completely inhibited. 
     
     
         17 . A bipod according to  claim 16 , in which the pivoting of the yoke about the longitudinal axis can be controlled by locking means, preferably including a lever, arranged to extend leftward or rightward of the bipod. 
     
     
         18 . A bipod according to  claim 1 , in which the yoke spaces the legs apart such that a line extending the longitudinal axis of each leg would meet above a firearm supported by the bipod. 
     
     
         19 . A bipod for supporting a bipod for supporting a firearm having a barrel, the bipod comprising:
 two legs rotatably mounted at respective opposing ends of a yoke and moveable between folded, intermediate, and firing positions, an elongate support member extending rearwardly of the yoke, and   attachment means for attaching the bipod to the firearm in which the elongate support member is fixed to the yoke,   wherein the attachment means is pivotally mounted on the elongate support number to permit canting of the firearm about a longitudinal axis, in which the legs are removable so that they can be replaced by alternative length legs or trekking poles.   
     
     
         20 . A combination of a bipod according to  claim 1  and a firearm, the firearm being attached to the bipod.