Bipod assembly & kit with interchangeable bipod legs providing a selection of bipod leg end effecters

Abstract

A bipod with interchangeable legs comprises first and second tubular, spring-loaded telescopically extendable legs terminating distally in one of a plurality of selected end effectors. Each of the interchangeable bipod legs has a selected end effecter adapted to provide support on a specific surface.

1 . A bipod assembly and kit, comprising:
 (a) a clamp body carrying first and second tubular upper leg segments, said first and second tubular upper leg segments each having a proximal ends hingedly attached to said clamp body;   (b) said first tubular upper leg segment having an open distal end opposite said proximal end to define a first interior lumen;   (c) said second tubular upper leg segment having an open distal end opposite said proximal end to define a second interior lumen;   (d) a first leg extension member having a proximal end opposing a distal end and an exterior sidewall, said first leg extension being dimensioned to be slidably received within said first tubular upper leg segment with said first leg extension member's proximal end adapted to be releasably retained within said first tubular upper leg segment and wherein said first leg extension member's distal end carries a first selected end effecter selected from a plurality of available distinct end effecters;   (e) a second leg extension member having a proximal end opposing a distal end and an exterior sidewall, said second leg extension being dimensioned to be slidably received within said second tubular upper leg segment with said second leg extension member's proximal end adapted to be releasably retained within said second tubular upper leg segment and wherein said second leg extension member's distal end carries a second selected end effecter selected from a plurality of available distinct end effecters; and   (f) a third leg extension member having a proximal end opposing a distal end and an exterior sidewall, said third leg extension being dimensioned to be slidably received within one of said first or second tubular upper leg segments with said third leg extension member's proximal end adapted to be releasably retained within said first or second tubular upper leg segment and wherein said third leg extension member's distal end carries a selected end effecter selected from said plurality of available distinct end effecters.   
   
   
       2 . The bipod assembly and kit of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second selected end effecters comprise a central substantially planar segment from which depend first, second and third radially spaced triangular claw members. 
   
   
       3 . The bipod assembly and kit of  claim 1 , wherein said third leg extension carries a self leveling end effecter comprising a ball-in-socket swivel mounted foot having a substantially smooth bottom surface. 
   
   
       4 . The bipod assembly and kit of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 (g) a fourth leg extension member having a proximal end opposing a distal end and an exterior sidewall, said fourth leg extension being dimensioned to be slidably received within one of said first or second tubular upper leg segments with said fourth leg extension member's proximal end adapted to be releasably retained within said first or second tubular upper leg segment and wherein said fourth leg extension member's distal end carries a selected end effecter selected from said plurality of available distinct end effecters.   
   
   
       5 . The bipod assembly and kit of  claim 4 , wherein said wherein said third and fourth leg extension members each carry a self leveling end effecter comprising a ball-in-socket swivel mounted foot having a substantially smooth bottom surface. 
   
   
       6 . A bipod assembly adapted for use with interchangeable bipod end effecters, comprising:
 (a) a body adapted for attachment to an instrument to be steadied and carrying first and second tubular upper leg segments, said first and second tubular upper leg segments each having a proximal ends hingedly attached to said clamp body;   (b) said first tubular upper leg segment having an open distal end opposite said proximal end to define a first interior lumen enclosed within a solid sidewall;   (c) said first tubular upper leg segment further including a spring biased catch including a transverse end, wherein said catch is movable to a locking position having the catch's transverse end project into said first tubular upper leg segment's interior lumen;   (d) said first tubular upper leg segment further including a removable threaded retaining pin member including a distal pin end, wherein said retaining pin is movable to a retaining position having the pin's distal end project into said first tubular upper leg segment's interior lumen;   (e) a first leg extension member having a proximal end opposing a distal end and an exterior sidewall, said first leg extension being dimensioned to be slidably received within said first tubular upper leg segment with said first leg extension member's proximal end adapted to be releasably retained within said first tubular upper leg segment and wherein said first leg extension member's distal end carries a first selected end effecter selected from a plurality of available distinct end effecters;   (f) wherein said first leg extension's sidewall defines an elongate longitudinal groove dimensioned to slidably receive said retaining pin when said retaining pin is threadably advanced into said first tubular upper leg segment;   (g) wherein said first leg extension's sidewall also defines a plurality of transverse notches dimensioned to receive and releasably engage said catch's transverse end; and   (h) wherein a user may remove said first leg extension from said bipod assembly by withdrawing said retaining pin away from engagement with said first leg extension's longitudinal groove and by actuating said spring biased catch to disengage said catch's transverse end from one of said first leg extension's transverse notches.   
   
   
       7 . The bipod assembly adapted for use with interchangeable bipod end effecters of  claim 6 , wherein said second first tubular upper leg segment has an open distal end opposite said proximal end to define a second interior lumen enclosed within a solid sidewall;
 (i) said second tubular upper leg segment further including a second spring biased catch including a transverse end, wherein said second catch is movable to a locking position having the second catch's transverse end project into said second tubular upper leg segment's interior lumen;   (j) said second tubular upper leg segment further including a removable threaded second retaining pin member including a distal pin end, wherein said second retaining pin is movable to a retaining position having the second pin's distal end project into said second tubular upper leg segment's interior lumen;   (k) a second leg extension member having a proximal end opposing a distal end and an exterior sidewall, said second leg extension being dimensioned to be slidably received within said second tubular upper leg segment with said second leg extension member's proximal end adapted to be releasably retained within said second tubular upper leg segment and wherein said second leg extension member's distal end carries a second selected end effecter selected from a plurality of available distinct end effecters;   (l) wherein said second leg extension's sidewall defines an elongate longitudinal groove dimensioned to slidably receive said retaining pin when said retaining pin is threadably advanced into said second tubular upper leg segment;   (m) wherein said second leg extension's sidewall also defines a plurality of transverse notches dimensioned to receive and releasably engage said second catch's transverse end; and   (n) wherein a user may remove said second leg extension from said bipod assembly by withdrawing said second retaining pin away from engagement with said second leg extension's longitudinal groove and by actuating said second spring biased catch to disengage said second catch's transverse end from one of said second leg extension's transverse notches.   
   
   
       8 . The bipod assembly of  claim 6 , wherein said first end effecter comprises a central substantially planar segment from which depend first, second and third radially spaced triangular claw members. 
   
   
       9 . The bipod assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said first end effecter comprises a self leveling ball-in-socket swivel mounted foot having a substantially smooth bottom surface.