US20110016764A1

US20110016764A1 - Rifle stock cheek rest

Info

Publication number: US20110016764A1
Application number: US12/506,736
Authority: US
Inventors: Steven Cales
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-07-21
Filing date: 2009-07-21
Publication date: 2011-01-27

Abstract

A cheek rest is strapped onto a firearm stock to allow the user to get a tighter cheek weld when using rifle scopes. The cheek rest can be altered to fit various manufactured stocks. An adjustable strapping system provides greater tension on the bottom of the rest ensuring it mates tightly with the stock. A more rigid, highly-placed structure is provided to press ones face against when using a scope.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to rifle stock rests for use with rifle scopes and in particular to a cheek rest to strap onto a firearm or non-firearm stock to allow the user to get a tighter cheek weld when using rifle scopes that set much higher than the natural line of sight and provide a contour of the rest where it mates to the stock which can be altered to fit various stocks by the manufacturer and have the straps positioned to pass through the rest over the stock allowing for greater tension on the bottom of the rest to mate tightly with the stock, thus having a more rigid structure to press ones face against. Description of Related Art including information disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
When using rifle scopes that set much higher than the natural line of sight, some stock and scope configurations barely allow for shooters chins to touch the stock and prevents a user from getting a tight cheek weld for a more steady and accurate aim through the scope. Prior art devices which are pulled from the lower edges of the prior art rests do not provide straps which wrap all the way around the stock.
What is needed is a cheek rest to strap onto a firearm or non-firearm stock to allow the user to get a tighter cheek weld when using rifle scopes that set much higher than the natural line of sight and provide a contour of the rest where it mates to the stock which can be altered to fit various stocks by the manufacturer and have the straps positioned to pass through the rest over the stock allowing for greater tension on the bottom of the rest to mate tightly with the stock, thus having a more rigid structure to press ones face against.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a cheek rest to strap onto a firearm or non-firearm stock to allow the user to get a tighter cheek weld when using rifle scopes that set much higher than the natural line of sight and provide a contour of the rest where it mates to the stock which can be altered to fit various stocks by the manufacturer and have the straps positioned to pass through the rest over the stock allowing for greater tension on the bottom of the rest to mate tightly with the stock, thus having a more rigid structure to press ones face against.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable strapping system with adjustable buckles.
An added object of the present invention is to provide a means for attaching a rifle carrying sling to the device.
One more object of the present invention is to provide a sealable horizontal storage chamber within the body of the cheek rest.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight cheek rest with hollow portions inside.
In brief, the basic function of the cheek rest is to strap on to a firearm or non-firearm stock. This allows the user to get a tighter cheek weld when using rifle scopes that set much higher than the natural line of sight. Some stock and scope configurations barely allow for shooters chins to touch the stock and this cheek rest fills that void. The contour of the rest where it mates to the stock can be altered to fit various stocks by the manufacturer and is not limited to one stock. Having the straps positioned to pass through the rest over the stock allows for greater tension on the bottom of the rest to mate tightly with the stock, thus having a more rigid structure to press ones face against.
The cheek rest of the present invention will be mounted on top of a rifle stock with straps that pass through rest holes looping under and over the stock to be fastened by various means. This is a substantial difference compared with currently manufactured similar items. The present invention places more downward tension inside the rest as opposed to prior art devices which are pulled from lower edges of the prior art rests wherein the straps do not wrap all the way around the stock. In the present invention, the straps can be pulled out so that various other strap types may be substituted.
There is no limit to how many straps, holes, or fasteners can be positioned, used, molded, cut or drilled and in different ways in the present invention.
An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a cheek rest that straps onto a firearm or non-firearm stock and allows the user to get a tighter cheek weld when using rifle scopes that sit much higher than the natural line of sight.
An added advantage of the present invention is that it provides an adjustable strapping system to fit a variety of stocks. An ensuing advantage of the present invention is that it provides a means for carrying the rifle by attaching a rifle carrying sling to the device.
One more advantage of the present invention is that it provides a sealable chamber to carry objects, such as shells or batteries.
An additional advantage of the present invention is that it provides a lightweight design with various means of hollowing out the inside of the cheek rest body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other details of the present invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention, and in which drawings:

FIGS. 1A-1E are side elevational views of the rifle stock cheek rest of the present invention showing hole placement to accommodate various removable strapping systems with the holes placed in whatever position necessary to accommodate various stocks and having a curvature of the bottom of cheek rest which can be a universal shape or made to fit specific firearm stocks;

FIGS. 2A-2C are side elevational views of the rifle stock cheek rest of the present invention showing a variety of configurations of skeletization of the cheek rest to reduce weight of materials which can be all within the rest not visible to the outside or visible and open to the outside as shown, or a skeletal outside that doesn't allow for visual see through;

FIG. 2D is a top plan view of the rifle stock cheek rest of the present invention showing vertical holes which extend up from the bottom to the top as a weight reduction means or as screw, nut and bolt spaces;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken through the longitudinal centerline of the rifle stock cheek rest of the present invention showing an inner chamber extending longitudinally through the cheek rest that can be sealed with various plug types, screw, straight, etc. and can be modified in size to allow for more than one chamber, and can be a series of small chambers to accommodate shells, batteries, or other items;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are side elevational views of the rifle stock cheek rest of the present invention showing channels cut or molded into the sides of the cheek rest for straps to lay in and transverse holes going through the cheek rest that can be straight or in an arch. Not shown are holes or molded areas that can serve as strap guides aside from top holes.

FIGS. 5A-5C are side elevational views of the rifle stock cheek rest of the present invention showing various types of removable or secured strapping systems that can be used;

FIG. 5D is a side elevational view of the rifle stock cheek rest of the present invention mounted on a rifle stock using four straps;

FIG. 6A is a side elevational view in partial section of the rifle stock cheek rest of the present invention showing a cheek rest top that is separate from the bottom to be strapped to the firearm stock to allow switching different height rests of the cheek rest top interconnected to the bottom by a series of interlocking mating protruding tabs and grooves;

FIG. 6B is an end elevational view in partial section of the rifle stock cheek rest of FIG. 6A showing one of the series of interlocking mating protruding rectangular tabs and grooves;

FIG. 6C is a side elevational view in partial section of the rifle stock cheek rest of the present invention showing a cheek rest top that is separate from the bottom to be strapped to the firearm stock to allow switching different height rests of the cheek rest top interconnected to the bottom by a longitudinal upwardly protruding elongated inverted trapezoidal ridge from the bottom portion which slides into a mating longitudinal elongated channel to interlock along the length of the cheek rest body;

FIG. 6D is an end elevational view in partial section of the rifle stock cheek rest of FIG. 6C showing the longitudinal upwardly protruding elongated inverted trapezoidal ridge from the bottom portion which slides into a mating longitudinal elongated channel to interlock along the length of the cheek rest body;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are perspective views of the rifle stock cheek rest of the present invention showing how softer or harder padding can be fit to a top molded or machined connector portion which attaches to the stock mounting bottom portion;

FIG. 8A is a side elevational view of the cheek rest body of FIG. 1A showing a loop through one of the transverse openings is used to mount or attach a rifle sling to the cheek rest body;

FIG. 8B is a perspective view of the cheek rest body of the present invention showing straps with rings inserted through three transverse openings to aide other straps for more downward pressure creating a more secure positioning;

FIG. 8C is a side elevational view of the cheek rest body of FIG. 1C showing a protruding knob extending from the cheek rest body used to mount or attach a rifle sling to the cheek rest body;

FIG. 8D is a side elevational view of the rifle stock cheek rest of FIG. 2B mounted on a rifle stock using four vertical straps under the rifle stock and an addition horizontal strap between one of the vertical straps and the back butte end of the rifle stock;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the rifle stock cheek rest of FIG. 2B mounted on a rifle stock using four vertical straps under the rifle stock and an addition horizontal strap between one of the vertical straps and the back butte end of the rifle stock and further comprising a strap guide along the bottom of the rifle stock positioned to hold the vertical straps in alignment;

FIG. 10A is a side elevational view of the cheek rest body of FIG. 1B having sleeves or inserts in the transverse openings to allow the straps to pass through for using a harder material sleeve in a softer rest to prevent the rigid straps from cutting into the softer rest;

FIG. 10B is a side elevational view of rifle stock cheek rest of the present invention mounted on a rifle stock using three vertical straps under the rifle stock and showing a user resting the user's cheek on the cheek rest with the user's eye aligned with the scope for aiming to shoot the rifle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIGS. 1-10, a rifle stock cheek rest apparatus 10A-10G, used with a rifle 50 having an elevated scope 51 mounted on the rifle, comprises a cheek rest body 20A-20R and the adjustable means 30A-30E for attaching the cheek rest 10 to any of a variety of types of rifle stocks 50.
In FIGS. 1-10, the cheek rest body 20 comprises a contoured cheek rest bottom 24 and a smooth, substantially horizontal cheek rest top 22. The contoured cheek rest bottom 24 rests on and conforms to the top of a rifle stock 50 of any of a variety of types of rifle stocks 50 having a scope 51 mounted on the rifle. The cheek rest bottom 24 has two downwardly extending side walls 25A and 25B for straddling the rifle stock 50. The cheek rest body 20 further comprises a smooth, substantially horizontal cheek rest top 22 that has an elongated, transversely rounded top surface for resting the cheek of a user thereon while aiming through the scope 51 to fire the rifle. The cheek rest top 22 is spaced above the rifle stock 50 the same distance as from the center of the eyepiece of the scope 51 to the rifle sight on the rifle. The cheek rest body 20 also has a series of transverse openings 23A-23C through the mid portion 21 of the cheek rest body 20.
In FIGS. 1-10, the adjustable means 30A-30E (FIGS. 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10) for attaching the cheek rest to any of a variety of types of rifle stocks 50 extend through the series of transverse openings 23A-23C and around a bottom of the rifle stock 50 comprises any of a variety of adjustable elongated elements, such as straps of various types. The series of transverse openings 23A-23C comprises a plurality of transverse holes 23A-23C through the side of the cheek rest body 20A-20R to accommodate any of a variety of types of removable adjustable strapping systems 30A-30E. The plurality of straps 30A-30E pass through the plurality of horizontal slotted holes 23A-23C as the adjustable means for attaching the cheek rest body 20A-20R to any of a variety of types of rifle stocks 50. Adjustable buckles 31 provide the means for adjusting the straps 30A-30E to accommodate various size stocks 50 or different attachment configurations.
FIG. 9 shows how a strap guide 32 can be positioned to hold the straps 30E in alignment. The strap guide 32 can have various numbers of holes, molded loops, rings, hooks, or anything to accommodate the passing through of various types of straps 30A-30E to hold the cheek rest body 20A-20R in position. The shape is not limited to the illustration and can be altered to accommodate different stocks 50.
In FIGS. 4A and 4B, the cheek body 20L and 20M further comprises a channel or channels 29 in each outer side 25A and 25B of each cheek rest body 20 extending downwardly from each of the transverse openings 23A and 23B to accommodate a strap 30A-30E recessed in the channel 29. The channels 29 are cut or molded into the sides 25A and 25B for straps 30A-30E to lay in so that the straps are recessed within the outer surface of the sides 25A and 25B.
In FIGS. 1-10, the adjustable means for attaching the cheek rest body to any of a variety of types of rifle stocks 50 comprises at least one type of removable adjustable strapping system 30A-30E taken from the list of removable adjustable strapping systems including ladderlocs, slide release buckles, plastic zip ties, plastic worm clamps, metal zip ties, and metal worm clamps.
In FIGS. 1-10, the transverse openings 23A-23C can be placed in any of a variety of positions to accommodate various stocks 50. The contoured cheek rest bottom 24 can be configured to fit a variety of types of rifle stocks 50 and can also be configured to fit a specific type of rifle stock.
In FIGS. 2A-2C, 8D, and 9 a portion of the cheek rest body 20E-20G is hollow leaving a transverse opening 19A-19C through the midportion 21 to reduce the weight of the cheek rest 10. A variety of configurations of skeletization of the cheek rest body 20F-20G from side to side to reduce the weight of materials are shown including one embodiment 20H, in FIG. 2C with some structure 18 left in to support the top 22. The skeletizaton can be all within the cheek rest and not visible or open to the outside as shown. Skeletal shapes are not limited to drawings and may be of any shape or form. Grooved patterns or obtrusions can be molded, cut, fit on, painted, etched, made into by any means, into areas touching or not touching stocks 50 to aid in grip or for design.
In FIG. 2D, the rifle stock cheek body 20J has a series of vertical holes 17 which extend up from the bottom to the top as a weight reduction means and spaces to receive threaded fasteners, such as screws, nuts or bolts, for securing the cheek rest body 20J to the rifle stock 50.
In FIG. 3, the cheek rest body 20K has at least one inner chamber 16 extending longitudinally through the cheek rest body 20K to store items therein, and a means for closing the inner chamber with any of various plugs 15 including threaded plugs or friction fit or other plug types, wherein the cheek rest body 20K can be modified in size to allow for more than one chamber. A series of small chambers can accommodate shells, batteries etc. The inner chamber can also be fitted with hinged or sliding closures. In FIGS. 6A-6D and 7A-7B, the cheek rest top 22 and 22A is removably attached to the cheek rest body 21.
In FIGS. 7A and 7B, the cheek rest top 22A comprises an elongated resilient pad for receiving a cheek of a user resting thereon while aiming through the scope 51. The removable pad 22A is separate from the base 21A and 21B that is strapped to the firearm stock 50 to allow switching different height rests or different types of channels. Inlets can be cut or molded, with different grooves.
In FIGS. 7A and 7B, the rifle stock cheek rest 10 may have a top pad 22 made from softer or harder padding, which can be hard or soft molded or cut material, and can be fit to a top molded or machined material connector portion 7 on the top portion of the two-piece body 21A which attaches to the stock mounting base 21B. The top pad 22, top portion of the two-piece body 21A, and bottom portion of two-piece body 22B fasten with bolts or screws 8 and nuts 9, VELCRO®, glue, or any fastener that is compatible. Molded material can have fasteners molded into, in a non-removable or removable manner. The shapes are not limited to the shapes in the drawings. The top pad 22, top portion of the two-piece body 21A, and bottom portion of two-piece body 22B can have flat, round, dove tail or any shape of mating surface or non-mating surface. This applies also to rests that do not have levels as in FIG. 7, but are just the top portion 21A and bottom portion 21B as in FIGS. A and 6B.
The different types of channels or inlets 11 and 11A can be cut or molded, dovetail slide on, straight on, round, oval, etc. The different grooves can be large and few or many and small, small and few or large and many. In FIGS. 6A and 6B, a series of downwardly open transverse rectangular channels or inlets 11 in the top portion 21A receive mating upwardly protruding tabs 14 form the bottom portion 21B and a series of intermittent upwardly opening transverse rectangular channels or inlets 13 in the bottom portion 21B receive downwardly extending mating protrusions 12 from the top portion 21A which do not fill the inlets 13 so that the straps 30B fit therebetween.
In FIGS. 6A-7B, the cheek rest bottom portion 21B and two downwardly extending side walls 25A and 25B are separable from the upper cheek rest body 21A. Means for attaching the cheek rest bottom portion 21B and two downwardly extending side walls 25A and 25B to an upper portion of the cheek rest body 21A may comprise threaded fasteners, such as bolts or screws 8 and nuts 9.
In FIGS. 6C-6D longitudinal upwardly protruding elongated inverted trapezoidal ridges from the bottom portion 21B slide into mating longitudinal elongated channels to interlock along the length of the cheek rest body 20P. Bolts or screws 8 pointing down connect with nuts 9, or the sides may lock together from one side to the other by any means. The contour of the upper portion 21A and the lower portion 21B is not limited to the shapes in the drawings.
In FIGS. 5B, 6A, 6C, 8D, and 9, at least one adjustable strap 30C attaches between a transverse opening 23B through the cheek rest body 20 and around the back butt end of the stock 50 (as shown in FIG. 9). Sides 25A and 25B can extend from the top of the stock 50 to a complete wrap around, including rear or butt, in conjunction with straps 30A-30C and connect by any means available or to be made available. The back strap 30C can be removably connected to other straps 30A, 30B, 30D, or 30E by means of loops, studs, sewed on or molded into one strap that does both. These straps 30C are secondary attachments that are optional for the user.
In FIGS. 8A and 8C, a loop 40A or rod 40B (respectively) are used to mount or attach a rifle sling to the cheek rest body 20A. In FIG. 8A, a string loop, D-ring, square ring, or similar device passes through a hole 23A to allow for a rifle sling to pass through for carrying, It may also be molded into the cheek rest body 20A or secured asa strap, stud with hole or ring, or similar object for the same purpose. Rings may have sleeves around them that act as a bushing that rotates. It can be molded through the sides or straight out the rear or top or front.
In FIG. 10A, the cheek rest body 21 comprises sleeves or inserts 33A and 33B in the transverse openings 23A to allow the plurality of straps to pass through. The purpose of the sleeves or inserts 33 is that using a harder material sleeve 33 in a softer rest will prevent the rigid straps from cutting into the softer rests. Sleeves or inserts 33 can be molded into or affixed by any means to be made available. Sleeves or inserts 33 can be of any shape (round, square, etc.) and can go all the way through as one piece or partially in from each side, creating a separate sleeve for each side. They can be flared out as in FIG. 10A or the shape of the hole 23 with their own strap hole.
A high friction outer surface may be on at least a portion of the cheek rest body 20 to prevent slipping. Non-slip or smooth textured inserts may be affixed or molded by any method to the bottom or sides to aide in creating a movement-free, secure positioning. Inserts may also be affixed to top or sides by any method to add smoothness, softening, firming, non slip, or slickness. Non-slip or slick coatings may be applied, as well, to top, bottom, or sides for aiding non-movement or comfort to user.
In use, in FIG. 10B, the rifle stock cheek rest 10A of the present invention is mounted on a rifle stock 50 using three vertical straps 30B secured under the rifle stock and a user rests the user's cheek on the cheek rest with the user's eye aligned with the scope 51 for aiming to shoot the rifle.
It is understood that the preceding description is given merely by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention and that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Claims

1. A rifle stock cheek rest apparatus used with a rifle having an elevated scope mounted on the rifle, the apparatus comprising:

a cheek rest body comprising a contoured cheek rest bottom for resting on and conforming to a top of a rifle stock of any of a variety of types of rifle stocks having a scope mounted on the rifle, the cheek rest bottom having two downwardly extending side walls for straddling the rifle stock; the cheek rest body further comprising a smooth substantially horizontal cheek rest top having an elongated transversely rounded top surface for resting a cheek of a user thereon while aiming through the scope to fire the rifle, the cheek rest top spaced above the rifle stock a distance equal to a distance of a center of an eyepiece of the scope above a rifle sight on the rifle, the cheek rest body having a series of transverse openings through a mid portion of the cheek rest body;

adjustable means for attaching the cheek rest to any of a variety of types of rifle stocks having the adjustable means extending through the series of transverse openings and around a bottom of the rifle stock.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the series of transverse openings comprises a plurality of horizontal slotted holes through the side of the cheek rest body to accommodate any of a variety of types of removable adjustable strapping systems comprising a plurality of straps as the adjustable means for attaching the cheek rest body to any of a variety of types of rifle stocks.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a strap guide to hold the plurality of straps in alignment.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising inserts in the transverse openings to allow the plurality of straps to pass through.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a channel in each outer side of each cheek rest body extending downwardly from each of the transverse openings to accommodate a strap recessed in the channel.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the adjustable means for attaching the cheek rest body to any of a variety of types of rifle stocks comprises at least one type of removable adjustable strapping system taken from the list of removable adjustable strapping systems comprising ladderlocs, slide release buckles, plastic zip ties, plastic worm clamps, metal zip ties, and metal worm clamps.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transverse openings are placed in any of a variety of positions to accommodate various stocks.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the contoured cheek rest bottom is configured to fit a variety of types of rifle stocks.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the contoured cheek rest bottom is configured to fit a specific type of rifle stock.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a portion of the cheek rest body is hollow to reduce the weight of the cheek rest.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rifle stock cheek rest has a series of vertical holes which extend up from the bottom to the top as a weight reduction means and spaces to receive threaded fasteners for securing the cheek rest to the rifle stock.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rifle stock cheek rest has at least one inner chamber extending longitudinally through the cheek rest to store items therein, and further comprising means for closing the inner chamber.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cheek rest top is removably attached to the cheek rest body.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the cheek rest top comprises an elongated resilient pad for receiving a cheek of a user resting thereon while aiming through the scope.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cheek rest bottom and two downwardly extending side walls are separable from the cheek rest body and further comprising means for attaching the cheek rest bottom and two downwardly extending side walls to an upper portion of the cheek rest body.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one adjustable strap attached between a transverse opening through the cheek rest body and attached around a back butt end of the stock.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for attaching a rifle sling to the cheek rest body.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a high friction outer surface on at least a portion of the cheek rest body to prevent slipping.