Motorized Extension for a Bipod Gun Support

Abstract

An extension system for a gun support, the gun having a barrel with an effective muzzle. The extension system includes a motorized telescopic assembly having a first telescopic portion and a second telescopic portion nested therein. A gun support is removably coupled to a distal end of the second telescopic portion. An actuator that is configured to selectively adjust a horizontal displacement of the second telescopic portion relative to the first telescopic portion is disposed within the first telescopic portion. When the actuator is activated, a piston may be extended which drives the second telescopic portion away from within the first telescopic portion. The extension system may be selectively coupled to the gun or incorporated into a chassis of the gun itself. A distal end of the telescopic assembly comprises means for rotational adjustment relative the proximal end of the assembly.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An extension system for a gun support, the gun having a barrel with an effective muzzle, comprising:
 a telescopic assembly having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the telescopic assembly includes a first telescopic portion and second telescopic portion;   an actuator configured to selectively adjust a horizontal displacement of the second telescopic portion relative to the first telescopic portion; and   means for rotating the distal end of the telescopic assembly relative to the second telescopic portion,   wherein the gun support is coupled to the distal end of the telescopic assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The extension system of  claim 1 , further comprising a chassis configured to accommodate the telescopic assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The extension system of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator configured to selectively adjust a horizontal displacement of the second telescopic portion relative to the first telescopic portion comprises an extendable piston disposed therein. 
     
     
         4 . The extension system of  claim 3 , wherein a proximal end of the actuator is coupled to a proximal end of the first telescopic portion and wherein a distal end of the extendable piston is coupled to a distal end of the second telescopic portion. 
     
     
         5 . The extension system of  claim 1 , further comprising a motor disposed within the first telescopic portion and coupled to the actuator. 
     
     
         6 . The extension system of  claim 1 , further comprising a battery removably coupled to the first telescopic portion and electrically communicated to the actuator. 
     
     
         7 . The extension system of  claim 2 , further comprising a battery removably coupled to the chassis and electrically communicated to the actuator. 
     
     
         8 . The extension system of  claim 1 , wherein means for rotating the distal end of the telescopic assembly relative to the second telescopic portion comprises:
 a front plug which extends beyond a distal end of the second telescopic portion;   a plug adapter disposed within the second telescopic portion and inserted into the front plug; and   a set screw disposed through an aperture defined in the front plug and engaged with the plug adapter.   
     
     
         9 . The extension system of  claim 8 , wherein the plug adapter comprises a channel defined around a circumference of a distal portion of the plug adapter, wherein the channel is configured to accommodate a portion of the set screw. 
     
     
         10 . The extension system of  claim 8 , wherein the gun support is coupled to the front plug. 
     
     
         11 . The extension system of  claim 1 , further comprising means for selectively fixing a position of the second telescopic portion relative to the first telescopic portion. 
     
     
         12 . A method for using an extension system for a gun support while in a prone position, the method comprising:
 selectively activating an actuator disposed within a telescopic assembly;   moving a second telescopic portion of the telescopic assembly from a first horizontal position relative to a first telescopic portion of the telescopic assembly;   selectively deactivating the actuator when the second telescopic portion has reached a second horizontal position relative to the first telescopic portion; and   selectively adjusting an angle of the gun support coupled to a distal end of the second telescopic portion.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein selectively activating an actuator disposed within a telescopic assembly comprises selectively activating a motor coupled to the actuator. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein moving a second telescopic portion of the telescopic assembly from a first horizontal position relative to a first telescopic portion of the telescopic assembly comprises:
 displacing a piston from the actuator, wherein the actuator is disposed in the first telescopic portion;   driving the second telescopic portion away from within the first telescopic portion when the piston is extended from the actuator; and   driving the second telescopic portion into the first telescopic portion when the piston is retracted into the actuator.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein displacing a piston from the actuator further comprises displacing the gun support disposed on the distal end of the second telescopic portion by a corresponding horizontal distance relative to the first telescopic portion. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein selectively adjusting an angle of the gun support coupled to a distal end of the second telescopic portion comprises rotating a front plug selectively coupled to the gun support, wherein the front plug is disposed on a distal end of the second telescopic portion. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein rotating a front plug selectively coupled to the gun support comprises rotating the front plug about a plug adapter coupled to a distal end of a piston, wherein a proximal end of the piston is disposed within the actuator. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein rotating the front plug about a plug adapter comprises:
 disposing a set screw through the front plug and into a channel defined around a circumference of the plug adapter; and   traversing the set screw through the channel as the front plug is rotated about the plug adapter.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein selectively activating an actuator disposed within a telescopic assembly and selectively deactivating the actuator when the second telescopic portion has reached a second horizontal position relative to the first telescopic portion comprises actuating a switch coupled to the actuator. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising selectively locking the second telescopic portion into position at the second horizontal position relative to the first telescopic portion.