Shooting rest and support system
A shooting rest for different weapons provides ends that are offset from the central portion of the rest to provide a space that accommodates a portion of the weapon being used with the rest. The shooting rest can be used with one or two supports that engage the weapon being used with the rest. Each support includes pliable arms that can be configured by the user to a custom shape. Each arm has an inner member that can be bent with no or little spring back to allow the user to shape the arm to a desired configuration. When in use, the entire rest can be tilted about its main support. A support assembly includes an adjustable arm that carries the shooting rest from the top of a monopod that is anchored to allow repositionable use without interference with the hunter's legs.
1 . A user-configurable weapon support member comprising:
a base having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side, and a second side; the base defining at least one threaded mounting hole capable of receiving a threaded mounting screw; the threaded mounting hole extending through the bottom surface of the base;
a device capable of supporting the base from a stable structure; the device having a threaded screw threadedly received in the at least one threaded mounting hole of the base;
first, second, third, and fourth arms extending from the base;
each of the arms being pliable to allow each arm to be bent to and retained in a configuration determined by a user;
the first and third arms extending from the first side of the base and being spaced from each other;
the second and fourth arms extending from the second side of the base and being spaced from each other;
wherein the first and second arms extend in opposite directions from the base and wherein the third and fourth arms extend in opposite directions from the base; and
each of the arms capable of being bent to a configuration that cradles a weapon on top of the base.
2 . The support member of claim 1 , wherein the base has a front end and a rear end; the first and second arms being connected to the base at the front end of the base and the third and fourth arms being connected to the base at the rear end of the base.
3 . The support member of claim 2 , wherein the first and second arms have a front edge that is even with the front end of the base.
4 . The support member of claim 3 , wherein the third and fourth arms have a rear edge that is even with the rear end of the base.
5 . The support member of claim 4 , wherein each of the arms has a top surface; and at each location where an arm extends from the base, the top surface of the arm being level with the top surface of the base.
6 . The support member of claim 1 , wherein each arm includes an inner member and a protective outer member.
7 . The support member of claim 6 , wherein the inner member is metal.
8 . The support member of claim 7 , wherein the metal is steel.
9 . The support member of claim 6 , wherein the protective outer member is a polymer.
10 . The support member of claim 9 , wherein the protective outer member is one of rubber and silicone.
11 . The support member of claim 1 , wherein each arm includes an inner member having a length that is longer than its width and its width longer than its thickness; the inner member being bendable about axes parallel with the width of the inner member.
12 . The support member of claim 11 , wherein the inner member is a metal.
13 . The support member of claim 12 , wherein the metal is steel.
14 . The support member of claim 13 , wherein the inner member is covered by a polymer.