Support

Abstract

A bipod for supporting a firearm above a surface is provided, comprising a pair of opposed bipod legs which are pivotally mounted for rotation about respective inclined intersecting axes. The bipod comprises a spigot for connecting the bipod to the firearm, or to an fitting mounted on the firearm, the spigot being mounted on, or integral with, a pivotable element which is arranged to pivot about an axis extending within a triangular area defined by the inclined intersecting axes about which the bipod legs pivot and a plane defined by corresponding upper surfaces of the opposed legs when depending from the bipod in a nominal upright condition.

1 . A bipod for supporting a firearm above a surface, the bipod comprising a pair of opposed bipod legs which are pivotally mounted for rotation about respective inclined intersecting axes, the bipod further comprising a spigot for connecting the bipod to the firearm, or to an fitting mounted on the firearm, the spigot being mounted on, or integral with, a pivotable element which is arranged to pivot about an axis extending within a triangular area defined by the inclined intersecting axes about which the bipod legs pivot and a plane defined by corresponding upper surfaces of the opposed legs when depending from the bipod in a nominal upright condition, in which the pivotable element pivots about an axis extending through or adjacent the centre of the triangular area, and in which the locking mechanism is operated by a button extending from the pivotable element. 
     
     
         2 . A bipod according to  claim 1 , in which the pivotable element houses or supports a locking mechanism for locking the spigot to a firearm or a fitting mounted on the firearm. 
     
     
         3 . A bipod according to  claim 2 , in which the pivotable element is mounted for pivotal movement substantially within a chassis on which the opposed bipod legs are pivotally mounted. 
     
     
         4 . A bipod according to  claim 1 , in which the pivotable element is substantially circular. 
     
     
         5 . A bipod according to  claim 2 , in which the locking mechanism for locking the spigot to the firearm is operable by a user. 
     
     
         6 . A bipod according to  claim 1 , in which the button extends from the pivotable element through an elongate aperture defined by the chassis. 
     
     
         7 . A bipod according to  claim 6 , in which the button moves along the elongate aperture defined by the chassis as the pivotable element pivots, whereby contact of the button with an end of the aperture limits pivoting of the pivotable element. 
     
     
         8 . A bipod according to  claim 2 , in which the locking mechanism includes a lug that can be retracted by a user by operation of the button. 
     
     
         9 . A bipod according to  claim 8 , in which the lug engages with an annular recess or groove extending around a cavity corresponding to the spigot which is defined by the fixture or the firearm. 
     
     
         10 . A bipod according to  claim 1 , in which the legs can be pivoted into forward and rearward extending conditions from the nominal, downwardly extending condition. 
     
     
         11 . A bipod according to  claim 10 , in which the legs can be locked in any such condition. 
     
     
         12 . A bipod according to  claim 1 , and in which the bipod connects with a fixture mounted on or integral with the firearm, wherein at least one of the spigot and fixture includes a magnet which attracts the other of the spigot and fixture. 
     
     
         13 . A bipod according to  claim 12 , in which attraction between the magnet and the other of the spigot and fixture encourages inter-engagement between the bipod and the fixture. 
     
     
         14 . A bipod according to  claim 1 , in which the spigot is connected to or integral with a clamp which can engage with an accessory rail mounted on or integral with the firearm to mount the bipod to the firearm. 
     
     
         15 . A bipod according to  claim 1 , which permits panning of a supported firearm, by 30 degrees of rotation or more, preferably by 60 degrees of rotation, more preferably by 120 degrees or more. 
     
     
         16 . A bipod according to  claim 1 , in which the user operated button is located on a user-facing (in normal use) surface of the chassis. 
     
     
         17 . A combination of a bipod according to  claim 1 , and a firearm, optionally with a fixture or accessory rail for connecting the bipod spigot to the firearm. 
     
     
         18 . A combination according to  claim 17  and where the combination includes a fixture or accessory rail for connecting the bipod spigot to the firearm wherein the fixture or accessory rail is mounted on or integral with the firearm. 
     
     
         19 . A bipod for supporting a firearm above a surface, the bipod comprising a pair of opposed bipod legs which are pivotally mounted for rotation about respective inclined intersecting axes, the bipod further comprising a spigot for connecting the bipod to the firearm, or to an fitting mounted on the firearm, the spigot being mounted on, or integral with, a pivotable element which is arranged to pivot about an axis extending within a triangular area defined by the inclined intersecting axes about which the bipod legs pivot and a plane defined by corresponding upper surfaces of the opposed legs when depending from the bipod in a nominal upright condition.