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Stabilizing apparatus and methodRelated Patent Categories: Firearms, Implements, RestsStabilizing apparatus and method description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060137233, Stabilizing apparatus and method. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND [0001] This invention relates in general to a stabilizing apparatus and in particular to a stabilizing apparatus that steadies or stabilizes a component to facilitate the aiming of the component. [0002] In the sport of hunting, a hunter's aim and accuracy in shooting a rifle, shotgun, pistol, bow or other component of choice is highly dependent upon the ability of the hunter to hold the component steady. Several factors that may contribute to a steady shot, or the lack thereof, include the length of the shot, the level of mental stress and/or the degree of concentration of the hunter, the amount of sleep or rest that the hunter has had in the past few days, the hunter's experience level and/or confidence, and any physical limitations such as arthritis or other types of joint pain. [0003] Similarly, with respect to military applications, a soldier or other user's aim and accuracy in shooting a weapon is highly dependent upon the ability of the soldier or user to hold the weapon steady. [0004] To improve aim and accuracy, devices such as gun rests are sometimes used to steady a hunter's or other user's component of choice. However, a typical gun rest is bulky and usually requires a predetermined amount of volumetric space for set up and operation. Also, the gun rest may require a flat surface upon which the gun rest must be set for proper operation. These requirements sometimes preclude the use of the gun rest in areas where space is limited or flat surfaces are not readily available such as, for example, tree stands, boats, wetlands or other outdoor areas. [0005] Moreover, although the typical gun rest may stabilize a hunter's or other user's component of choice with respect to any up-or-down movement of the component or the arms of the hunter or user, and may even stabilize the component with respect to any side-to-side movement of the component, the typical gun rest is unable to adequately stabilize the component and the arms of the hunter or user with respect to all three directional axes, that is, the x axis or the side-to-side directional axis, the y axis or the front-to-back directional axis, and the z axis or the up-and-down directional axis. [0006] Therefore, what is need is a stabilizing apparatus and/or method that overcomes one or more of the above-described problems, among others. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view depicting an operational mode of a stabilizing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [0008] FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the stabilizing apparatus of FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0009] Referring to FIG. 1, a stabilizing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is generally referred to by the reference numeral 10 and is connected to a structure in the form of a tree 12. A user of the apparatus 10, such as a hunter 14, is seated in a conventional tree stand 16, holding the apparatus 10 and supporting a rifle 18 having a rifle stock 18a. [0010] Referring to FIG. 2, with continuing reference to FIG. 1, the apparatus 10 includes a line in the form of a strap 20, and a buckle 22 engaged with the strap 20 so that the strap 20 extends through the buckle in a conventional manner. The strap 20 further extends through a clasp 24, and then extends back through the buckle 22 so that the length of extension of the strap may be adjusted in any conventional manner under conditions to be described. [0011] Loops 26a, 26b and 26c extend from the strap 20, with the loop 26b spaced from the loop 26a by a predetermined increment along the length of the strap, and with the loop 26c spaced from the loop 26b by another predetermined increment along the length of the strap. The loops 26a, 26b and 26c are in the form of looped strips sewn to the strap 20, with portions of the strips defining a section 20a of the strap 20. Thus, the strap 20 extends from the clasp 24 to the loop 26c. [0012] A loop 28 having an open and a closed configuration is connected to the clasp 24, and includes straps 30 and 32 extending from the clasp 24. A j-hook bracket 34 is connected to the distal end of the strap 30. A generally rectangular bracket 36 is engaged with the strap 32 and is further engaged with the j-hook portion of the j-hook bracket 34, thereby placing the loop 28 in its closed configuration and defining a diameter of the loop 28. An insert 36a is hingedly connected to the bracket 36, and is biased against the strap 32 in a conventional manner to prevent appreciable relative movement between the bracket 36 and the strap 32. For example, the hinged connection between the bracket 36 and the insert 36a may be spring loaded to prevent any appreciable relative movement between the bracket 36 and the strap 32. It is understood that the insert 36a may include teeth formed therein that, due to the biasing of the insert 36a, bear upon the strap 32 to further prevent any relative movement between the strap 32 and the bracket 36. [0013] In operation, the apparatus 10 is placed in a stabilizing configuration. The loop 28 is placed in its open configuration by disengaging the bracket 36 from the j-hook bracket 34. The straps 30 and 32 are then drawn around the tree 12, and the bracket 36 and the j-hook bracket 34 are re-engaged to place the loop 28 in its closed configuration. The insert 36a of the bracket 36 is rotated about its hinged connection so that the insert 36a is not biased against the strap 32, and the distal end portion of the strap is pulled, thereby moving the strap relative to the bracket 36 and reducing the diameter of the loop until the straps 30 and 32 of the loop fit snugly around the tree 12. [0014] It is understood that, if necessary or desired, the diameter of the loop 28 may be increased by rotating the insert 36a and pulling the strap 32 so that the distal end portion of the strap 32 moves relative to and towards the bracket 36. It is further understood that, prior to drawing the straps 30 and 32 around the tree 12, the insert 36a may be rotated and the bracket 36 may be moved along the strap 32, towards or away from the distal end of the strap 32, in order to increase or decrease, respectively, the initial diameter of the loop 28. [0015] After the diameter of the loop 28 is adjusted so that the loop fits snugly around the tree 12, the insert 36a is released and the insert 36a is again biased against the strap 32, thereby preventing relative movement between the strap 32 and the bracket 36 and maintaining the snug fit. As a result, the strap 20 is connected to the tree 12. [0016] The length of extension of the strap 20 from the clasp 24 to the loop 26c is adjusted as desired and/or as necessary by sliding the buckle 22 relative to the strap 20 in a conventional manner. Sliding the buckle 22 away from the tree 12 decreases the length of extension of the strap 20, and sliding the buckle 22 towards the tree 12 increases the length of extension of the strap 20. It is understood that the length of extension of the strap 20 may be increased or decreased for several reasons such as, for example, accommodating the length of the arms of the hunter 14. It is further understood that the length of extension of the strap 20 may be adjusted before, during or after the strap 20 is connected to the tree 12. [0017] The hunter 14 positions himself or herself on the tree stand 16 and holds the apparatus 10. The thumb of the non-shooting hand of the hunter 14 is extended through the loop 26a, and the stock 18a of the rifle 18 is supported by the non-shooting hand of the hunter 14, thereby associating the rifle 18 with the strap 20. The hunter 14 aims the rifle 18 in any conventional manner, further supporting the rifle with his or her shooting hand. Before or during aiming, the hunter 14 applies a force to the loop 26a by extending or pushing the non-shooting hand in a direction away from the clasp 24 and the tree 12, thereby causing the portion of the non-shooting hand extending between the thumb and the index finger to bear upon the loop 26a. As a result, the force is applied to the strap 20 via the non-shooting hand of the hunter 14 and the force-receiving loop 26a. [0018] The connection between the apparatus 10 and the tree 12 resists the force applied to the strap 20 via the loop 26a. That is, due to the force received by the loop 26a, the strap 20, the clasp 24 and the loop 28 are urged away from the tree 12. However, the tree 12 prevents any appreciable movement of the strap 20, the clasp 24 and the loop 28 by applying a resisting or reaction force to the loop 28 that is equal and opposite to the force applied to the strap 20 via the loop 26a. [0019] The opposing forces acting on the apparatus 10, that is, the force applied to the strap 20 via the loop 26a and the equal-and-opposite resisting or reaction force of the tree 12 on the loop 28, place the strap 20 in tension. Since the strap 20 is in tension and engaged with the non-shooting hand of the hunter 14, and since the stock 18a of the rifle 18 is supported by the non-shooting hand, the rifle 18 is restrained from any unwanted shifting relative to the hunter 14 or the tree 12 that may otherwise occur due to, for example, the hunter being unable to absolutely control the position of his or her arms. As a result, the apparatus 10 is in its stabilizing configuration and the rifle 18, and the arms of the hunter 14, are significantly steadied or stabilized with respect to all three directional axes, that is, the x axis or the side-to-side directional axis, the y axis or the front-to-back directional axis (or the towards-or-away-from the tree 12 directional axis), and the z axis or the up-and-down directional axis. Thus, due to the stabilization provided by the apparatus 10, the aiming of the rifle 18 is facilitated and the hunter 14 is better able to make a reasonable shot with a high degree of accuracy. [0020] Instead of solely via the loop 26a, it is understood that the force may be applied to the strap 20 via any one of the loops 26a, 26b or 26c, or any combination thereof. [0021] It is further understood that, when the apparatus 10 is in its stabilizing configuration, the rifle 18 may still be repositioned as desired or necessary to adjust the aim of the rifle 18, albeit in a highly controlled manner due to the tension in the strap 20. It is further understood that the hunter 14 may control the degree of tension in the strap 20 by controlling the magnitude of the force applied to the loop 20a. It is further understood that the strap 20 may be composed of any type of material suitable for undergoing opposing forces and/or tension such as, for example, durable, lightweight polyester webbing. 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