Bipod Mount with Integral Hand Grip

Abstract

A bipod mount with an integral hand-grip for mounting a bipod supporting grip assembly to a “picatinny” mounting rail structure as are often affixed below the forearm stock of a firearm such as a military rifle (e.g., as per standard MIL-STD-1913) includes a hand grip that, in a first configuration, conceals an un-deployed bipod's frame. The bipod frame includes a pair of extensible/retractable legs, each having a pair of telescoping sections to enable the height of the bipod to be adjusted as desired.

1 . A bipod mount and integral handgrip, comprising:
 (a) a clamp body carrying first and second bipod leg assemblies, said first and second bipod leg assemblies having a proximal end hingedly attached to said clamp body to proved a closed position, wherein said leg assemblies are together and a spread position, wherein said leg assemblies provide a bipod support;   (b) said first and second bipod leg assemblies each having a a textured, non-reflective outer surface;   (c) said first and second bipod leg assemblies being configured in a mirror-image pair to close tolerances such that when closed, there is a small and uniform vertical seam therebetween; and   (d) wherein said first bipod leg assembly's exterior and said second bipod leg assembly's exterior, when said bipod is in a closed position they define a unitary vertical grip having a substantially seamless or continuous exterior circumference.   
   
   
       2 . The bipod mount and integral handgrip of  claim 1 , wherein each leg assembly comprises a distal end opposing said proximal end, wherein said distal end carries an end effecter 
   
   
       3 . The bipod mount and integral handgrip of  claim 2 , wherein each leg assembly comprises a spring biased extendable bipod leg member terminating distally in a ski foot end effecter. 
   
   
       4 . The bipod mount and integral handgrip of  claim 2 , wherein
 (a) said first and second leg assemblies are configured with a latch for latching said first and second leg assemblies in the closed position, and   (b) between the bipod leg assemblies, a spreading force is provided by a spring which bears outwardly on the first and second leg assemblies and are biased to spread apart when said latch is released.   
   
   
       5 . The bipod mount and integral handgrip of  claim 4 , wherein
 (a) said first leg assembly has an outer grip surface defined by a left side body and includes lock subassembly;   (b) wherein said lock subassembly comprises an elongate deployment member which, when pressed, actuates a pinned closing latch and compresses a deployment button spring while disengaging a pivoting closing latch and compressing a pivoting closing latch spring.   
   
   
       6 . A method for deploying a bipod mount and integral handgrip:
 (a) providing a clamp body carrying first and second bipod leg assemblies, said first and second bipod leg assemblies having a proximal end hingedly attached to said clamp body to proved a closed position, wherein said leg assemblies are together and a spread position, wherein said leg assemblies provide a bipod support; said first and second bipod leg assemblies each having an outer surface and being configured in a mirror-image pair to close tolerances such that when closed, there is a small and uniform vertical seam therebetween; and wherein said first bipod leg assembly's exterior and said second bipod leg assembly's exterior, when in a closed position, define a unitary vertical grip having a substantially seamless or continuous exterior circumference;   (b) opening the clamp and then sliding said bipod mount with integral hand-grip assembly over a firearm's rail;   (c) selecting a fore-aft position and then clamping said bipod mount to securely engage bipod mount with integral hand-grip to said firearm;   (d) grasping the continuous exterior circumferential surface defined by the exterior surfaces of the first bipod leg assembly's exterior and said second bipod leg assembly's exterior.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 (e) deploying the bipod by releasing the latch, whereupon the first bipod leg assembly is spread laterally apart from said second bipod leg assembly  318 ; and   (f) resting the firearm on the bipod leg assemblies' distal ends.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 (g) extending at least one of the extendable bipod legs.