Firearm supports and gas-assisted methods of filling firearm supports

Abstract

A firearm support configured for gas-assisted filling with particulate matter having an enclosure with a cavity, first and second portions, and particulate matter disposed in the cavity. The enclosure has an inlet through which the particulate matter is introduced in the cavity during a gas-assisted filling process, and an outlet configured to generally retain the particulate matter and allow gas to escape from the cavity during the gas-assisted filling process. Alternatively, the enclosure includes a vent having a porosity configured to permit gas to escape from the cavity during the filling process.

1 . A firearm support configured for gas-assisted filling with particulate matter, the support comprising:
 an enclosure having a cavity, a first portion configured to support a firearm, and a second portion attached to the first portion;   an inlet in the enclosure through which the particulate matter is introduced in the cavity during a gas-assisted filling process; and   an outlet configured to generally retain the particulate matter in the cavity and allow gas to escape from the cavity during the gas-assisted filling process.   
   
   
       2 . The firearm support of  claim 1  wherein the enclosure comprises a flexible enclosure. 
   
   
       3 . The firearm support of  claim 1  wherein the inlet comprises a third portion, the third portion being configured to extend away from the second portion in an open position when the particulate matter is introduced in the cavity and be retained against the second portion in a closed position after the gas-assisted filling process. 
   
   
       4 . The firearm support of  claim 3  wherein the closed position comprises closing the inlet and folding and retaining the third portion against the second portion. 
   
   
       5 . The firearm support of  claim 3  wherein the outlet is positioned proximate to the third portion and is at least partially covered by the third portion when the third portion is placed in the closed position. 
   
   
       6 . The firearm support of  claim 3  wherein the outlet is positioned on the third portion and is at least partially covered by the third portion when the third portion is placed in the closed position. 
   
   
       7 . The firearm support of  claim 3  wherein the outlet is positioned in the third portion proximate to the inlet. 
   
   
       8 . The firearm support of  claim 1  wherein the inlet comprises a third portion that extends away from the cavity when the particulate matter is introduced in the cavity, and the outlet comprises a fourth portion that extends away from the cavity when the gas is allowed to escape from the cavity, wherein the inlet and the outlet are folded and retained against the second portion after the gas-assisted filling process. 
   
   
       9 . The firearm support of  claim 1  wherein the outlet is configured to receive a suction mechanism for removing the gas during the gas-assisted filling process. 
   
   
       10 . The firearm support of  claim 1  wherein the outlet is configured to allow the gas to exit from the enclosure at least as fast as the gas is received into the enclosure. 
   
   
       11 . The firearm support of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of outlets. 
   
   
       12 . A firearm support configured for gas-assisted filling, the firearm support comprising:
 a flexible body defining a cavity;   an opening in the body sized to receive a filling mechanism during a gas-assisted filling process; and   a vent in the body having a porosity configured to permit a gas to escape from the cavity while retaining the filler material in the cavity during the filling process.   
   
   
       13 . The firearm support of  claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of vents having porosities configured to permit the gas to escape from the cavity while retaining filler material in the cavity during the filling process. 
   
   
       14 . The firearm support of  claim 12  wherein the flexible body further comprises an upper portion composed of a first material for supporting the firearm and a lower portion composed of a second material and containing the opening and the vent, wherein the opening is composed of the second material and the vent is composed of a third material. 
   
   
       15 . The firearm support of  claim 12  wherein:
 the opening comprises an inlet sleeve that is configured to be closed and retained proximate to the body after the filling process.   
   
   
       16 . The firearm support of  claim 15 , further comprising a strap attached to the lower portion, wherein the strap retains the inlet sleeve proximate to the body. 
   
   
       17 . The firearm support of  claim 15  wherein the vent is positioned proximate to the inlet sleeve such that the inlet sleeve at least partially covers the vent when the inlet sleeve is retained proximate to the body. 
   
   
       18 . The firearm support of  claim 15  wherein the vent is positioned on the inlet sleeve and is at least partially covered by the inlet sleeve when the inlet sleeve is retained proximate to the body. 
   
   
       19 . The firearm support of  claim 15  wherein the vent is positioned in the inlet sleeve and is configured to be closed after the filling process. 
   
   
       20 . The firearm support of  claim 12  wherein:
 the opening comprises an inlet sleeve that is configured to be closed and retained proximate to the body after the filling process; and   the vent comprises an outlet sleeve that is configured to be closed and retained proximate to the body after the filling process.   
   
   
       21 . The firearm support of  claim 12  wherein the filler material comprises particulate matter. 
   
   
       22 . A firearm support containing a filler material, the support comprising:
 a cover having first and second portions defining an enclosure, wherein the first portion is composed of a first material having a first porosity and a second material having a second porosity different from the first porosity, and the second portion is composed of a third material having a third porosity different from the first and second porosities; and   an inlet at the first portion, the inlet being configured to receive a mixture of a gas and particulate matter, wherein the combination of the first, second and third porosities is configured to allow the gas to flow through the first portion and exit the enclosure during a gas-assisted filling process while retaining the filler material in the enclosure.   
   
   
       23 . The firearm support of  claim 22  wherein the cover comprises a flexible cover. 
   
   
       24 . The firearm support of  claim 22  wherein the inlet is composed of the first material and further comprises an open position extending away from the second portion and a closed position folded and retained against the second portion, the support further comprising:
 a gas exit region of the first portion positioned proximate to the inlet, wherein the gas exit region is composed of the second material and configured to allow the gas to flow through the gas exit region at a greater rate than through the second portion and to be at least partially covered by the inlet when the inlet is in the closed position.   
   
   
       25 . The firearm support of  claim 22  wherein the third porosity does not allow the gas to flow through the second portion and the second porosity at least partially allows the gas to flow through the second portion. 
   
   
       26 . The firearm support of  claim 22  wherein the third material comprises leather. 
   
   
       27 . The firearm support of  claim 22  wherein the filler material comprises particulate matter. 
   
   
       28 . A method of at least partially filling a firearm support with filler material, the method comprising:
 flowing a mixture of gas and particulate matter into a cavity in the firearm support through an inlet; and   venting the gas from the cavity while flowing the mixture in the cavity.   
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein evacuating the gas from the cavity comprises allowing the gas to exit from the cavity at a rate at least as fast as the rate of the gas entering the bag. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 28  wherein:
 the cavity comprises first, second and third materials each being non-permeable to the particulate matter; and   evacuating the gas from the cavity comprises allowing the gas to exit through at least the first and second materials.   
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the first and second materials are permeable to the gas. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 28  wherein evacuating the gas from the cavity comprises removing the gas from the cavity using a vacuum source. 
   
   
       33 . A method of constructing a firearm support bag for gas-assisted filling with a filling material, the method comprising:
 constructing a body having a generally flexible enclosure;   forming an inlet in the flexible enclosure, the inlet being configured to introduce particulate matter in the flexible enclosure during a gas-assisted filling process; and   forming an outlet in the flexible enclosure, the outlet being configured to allow gas to exit the flexible enclosure while the retaining particulate matter during the gas-assisted filling process.