Firearm bipod

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11732991-B2
Application number	US-202016811791-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 6, 2020
Priority date	Dec 23, 2016
Publication date	Aug 22, 2023
Grant date	Aug 22, 2023

Abstract

This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatus for a bipod having pivot and cant functionality built into a unified cant/pivot assembly, housing, and pivot block. Rotation of a locking knob under the housing can gradually increase or decrease friction of the cant and pivoting degrees of freedom. Sufficient loosening of the locking knob can allow a pivot block to be lifted from the housing and rotated 180°, and then retightened to lock in a given pivot position. Before this 180 rotation of the pivot block, the pivot block and hence the firearm is free to pivot up to 10°, or up to 20°, or up to 30°.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bipod leg deployment assembly comprising:
a housing;
a leg assembly comprising two cutouts, and having a deployed and a stowed position, wherein each of the two cutouts is one of a conical or cylindrical cutout;
a leg deployment pivot axis around which the leg assembly rotates when moved from the deployed position to the stowed position, and wherein the two cutouts are proximal the leg deployment pivot axis; and
a bipod leg deployment lock shaped to engage with a first of the two cutouts when the leg assembly is in the deployed position and shaped to engage with a second of the two cutouts when the leg assembly is in the stowed position, wherein the bipod leg deployment lock is shaped to be backdriven when the leg assembly is in the stowed position, but not when the leg assembly is in the deployed position.

2. The bipod leg deployment assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bipod leg deployment lock is arranged near, but not coincident with the leg deployment pivot axis.

3. The bipod leg deployment assembly of claim 2 , wherein the leg assembly has a curved edge maintaining a first distance from the leg deployment pivot axis, and wherein the leg assembly can rotate and the curved edge can clear a length extending along a longitudinal axis of the bipod leg deployment lock when the bipod leg deployment lock is depressed.

4. The bipod leg deployment assembly of claim 3 , wherein the leg deployment lock further comprises a conical frustum arranged between two cylindrical sections of the leg deployment lock.

5. The bipod leg deployment assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a pivot/cant assembly pivotally coupled to a top of the housing, and comprising a firearm interface shaped to cant relative to the housing.

6. The bipod leg deployment assembly of claim 5 , wherein the pivot/cant assembly further comprises a pivot block arranged between the housing and the firearm interface and being pivotally and removably coupled to the housing.

7. The bipod leg deployment assembly of claim 1 , wherein,
when the leg assembly is in the deployed position, the bipod leg deployment lock is shaped to:
in a locked state, prevent rotation of the leg assembly toward the stowed position, and
in an unlocked state, allow rotation of the leg assembly toward the stowed position;

when the leg assembly is in the stowed position, the bipod leg deployment lock is shaped to,
in the locked state, prevent rotation of the leg assembly toward the deployed position when less than an unlocking threshold torque is applied to the leg assembly, and
in the locked state, allow rotation of the leg assembly toward the deployed position when the unlocking threshold torque, or more, is applied to the leg assembly.

8. A bipod leg deployment lock comprising:
an elongated and cylindrical cross section split into at least two lengths, the lengths extending along a longitudinal axis of the bipod leg deployment lock;
a first of the lengths comprising one of a tubular shape or a conical frustum, wherein, when the first of the lengths comprises the tubular shape, it has a first diameter, and wherein, when the first of the lengths comprises the conical frustum, it has a second and a third diameter, the third diameter smaller than the second diameter; and
a second of the lengths having a fourth diameter, wherein the fourth diameter is smaller than the first diameter, or wherein the fourth diameter is smaller than the second and third diameters,
wherein a shape of the first of the lengths substantially matches a shape of at least one cutout in a leg assembly, wherein each of the at least one cutouts is curved.

9. The bipod leg deployment lock of claim 8 , wherein when a first cutout of the at least one cutout in the leg assembly interfaces with the first of the lengths, the leg assembly is unable to rotate.

10. The bipod leg deployment lock of claim 9 , wherein the leg assembly has a curved edge maintaining a first distance from a pivot axis of the leg assembly, and wherein a circumference of the second length is a second distance from the pivot axis, and wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance, such that the leg assembly can rotate and the curved edge can clear the second length when the bipod leg deployment lock is depressed such that the leg assembly is aligned with the second length.

11. The bipod leg deployment lock of claim 10 , further comprising a third length, being a conical frustum, and arranged between and forming an angled connection between the first and second lengths.

12. The bipod leg deployment lock of claim 8 , wherein the bipod leg deployment lock is shaped for backdriving when the leg assembly is in a stowed position.

13. The bipod leg deployment lock of claim 12 , wherein the bipod leg deployment lock is not shaped for backdriving when the leg assembly is in the deployed position.

14. A method of deploying a bipod leg, the method comprising:
biasing a bipod leg deployment lock away from a bipod housing into a locked state;
providing a first length of the bipod leg deployment lock comprising at least a first diameter, the first length being a tubular shape or a conical frustum;
providing a first cutout in a leg assembly near a leg deployment pivot axis of the leg assembly, the first cutout shaped to interface with the first length of the bipod leg deployment lock such that the leg assembly is unable to rotate when the bipod leg deployment lock is in the locked state, and wherein the first cutout is curved;
depressing the bipod leg deployment lock toward the bipod housing into an unlocked state such that the first cutout and the first length no longer interface; and
rotating the leg assembly from a deployed position toward a stowed position.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
providing a second length of the bipod leg deployment lock, the second length having a second diameter;
wherein the leg assembly has a curved edge maintaining a first distance from the leg assembly pivot axis, and wherein a circumference of the second length is a second distance from the leg assembly pivot axis, and wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance, such that when the bipod leg deployment lock is depressed and the leg assembly rotates, the curved edge clears the second length.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
providing a third length of the bipod leg deployment button, the third length being a conical frustum and arranged between and forming an angled connection between the first and second lengths;
applying a torque to the leg assembly in a direction from the stowed position towards the deployed position of the leg assembly;
backdriving the bipod leg deployment lock via the third length interacting with a second cutout on an end of the leg assembly, the second cutout being curved; and
rotating the leg assembly from the stowed position toward the deployed position.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the depressing is caused
by backdriving of the bipod leg deployment lock.

18. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
backdriving the bipod leg deployment lock into the unlocked state via a torque applied to the leg assembly, the torque applied tangentially to the leg deployment pivot axis; and
rotating the leg assembly from the stowed position towards the deployed position.

Assignees

• Magpul Ind Corp

Inventors

• Roberts Timothy Eric
• Mayberry Michael T

Classifications

• F41A23/10 Primary

  adjustable · CPC title

• A47B19/00

  Reading-desks; Lecterns; Pulpits {, i.e. free-standing} · CPC title

• F16M11/20

  Undercarriages with or without wheels · CPC title