Modular shooting rests and shooting rest assemblies

Abstract

Modular shooting rests and associated assemblies are disclosed herein. One embodiment of the disclosure, for example, is directed to a shooting rest assembly for supporting a firearm. The shooting rest assembly can include a first base portion and a second base portion. The first base portion has an exterior surface, an inner surface, and a bottom surface defining a bottom surface plane. The first base portion also includes an inner volume defined, at least in part, by the inner surface and the bottom surface plane. The second base portion is engaged with the first base portion in a configuration selected from (a) a first shooting rest arrangement, and (b) a second shooting rest arrangement. In the first shooting rest arrangement, the second base portion is received at least approximately completely within the inner volume of the first base portion in a nested configuration. In the second shooting rest arrangement, the first base portion is positioned to support a first section of the firearm and the second base portion is positioned to support a second section of the firearm.

1 . A shooting rest assembly for supporting a firearm having a first section and a second section spaced apart from the first section, the shooting rest assembly comprising:
 a first base portion having an exterior surface, an inner surface, a bottom surface defining a bottom surface plane, and an inner volume defined at least in part by the inner surface and the bottom surface plane;   a second base portion engaged with the first base portion in a configuration selected from a first shooting rest arrangement and a second shooting rest arrangement, wherein
 the first shooting rest arrangement includes the second base portion received at least approximately completely within the inner volume of the first base portion in a nested configuration; and 
 the second shooting rest arrangement includes the first base portion positioned to support the first section of the firearm and the second base portion positioned to support the second section of the firearm; and 
 a third base portion configured to be attached to the first and second base portions and positioned between the first and second base portions. 
   
     
     
         2 . The shooting rest assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first support carried by and projecting from the first base portion; and   a second support carried by and projecting from the second base portion, and wherein in the second shooting rest arrangement, the first support is positioned to carry the first section of the firearm and the second support is positioned to carry the second section of the firearm.   
     
     
         3 . The shooting rest assembly of  claim 2  wherein:
 the first support comprises (a) a first rest assembly for supporting the first section of the firearm and selectively inhibiting movement of the first section of the firearm relative to the first base portion, and (b) an elevation adjustment assembly configured to adjust a position of the rest assembly relative to the first base portion; and 
 the second support comprises a second rest assembly for supporting the second section of the firearm and selectively inhibiting movement of the second section of the firearm relative to the second base portion. 
 
     
     
         4 . The shooting rest assembly of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first portion of the base comprises a first axis; and 
 the second portion of the base comprises a second axis, and wherein in the second shooting rest arrangement, the first and second axes are generally coaxial. 
 
     
     
         5 . The shooting rest assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first base portion, the second base portion and the third base portion are in a fixed position relative to each other. 
     
     
         6 . The shooting rest assembly of  claim 1  wherein:
 in the first shooting rest arrangement, the third base portion is received at least approximately completely within the inner volume of the first base portion in a nested configuration with the second base portion; and 
 in the second shooting rest arrangement, the third base portion is positioned between the first and second base portions and connects the first base portion to the second base portion. 
 
     
     
         7 . The shooting rest assembly of  claim 5 , further comprising a plurality of fasteners connecting the third base portion to the first and second base portions, and wherein the fasteners are configured for installation and uninstallation by hand without the use of any tools. 
     
     
         8 . The shooting rest assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first base portion and the second base portion are composed of a thermoset material. 
     
     
         9 . The shooting rest assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a container having an inner volume, and wherein:
 in the first shooting rest arrangement, the first and second base portions are configured to fit completely within the inner volume of the container; and   in the second shooting rest arrangement, the first base portion is connected to the second portion, and wherein the resulting shooting rest assembly does not fit completely within the inner volume of the container.   
     
     
         10 . The shooting rest assembly of  claim 9  wherein the container has a length of about 12 inches and a width of about 10.5 inches. 
     
     
         11 . The shooting rest assembly of  claim 1  wherein in the second shooting rest arrangement, the first base portion is fixed relative to the second base portion. 
     
     
         12 . The shooting rest assembly of  claim 1  wherein in the second shooting rest arrangement, the first base portion is movable relative to the second base portion. 
     
     
         13 . A firearm supporting device for supporting a firearm, the firearm supporting device comprising:
 a base including a front portion, a frame portion, and a rear portion, wherein the front base portion has a first footprint and the rear base portion has a second footprint smaller than the first footprint;   a front support attachable to the front portion of the base, the front support being configured to support a front section of a firearm; and   a rear support attachable to the rear portion of the base and configured to support a rear section of the firearm, wherein the firearm supporting device is reconfigurable between a non-operational arrangement and an operational arrangement to support the firearm, and wherein in the non-operational arrangement the rear base portion and the frame are positioned relative to the front base portion and within the first footprint in a nested and stacked configuration.   
     
     
         14 . The firearm supporting device of  claim 13  wherein the individual base portions are separate, distinct components releasably attachable to each other in a desired arrangement. 
     
     
         15 . The firearm supporting device of  claim 13  wherein:
 the front support comprises a first generally V-shaped assembly having a non-marring support surface for supporting the front section of the firearm, and a height adjustment assembly to change a position of the support surface relative to the front base portion; and 
 the rear support comprises a second generally V-shaped assembly having a non-marring support surface for supporting the rear section of the firearm. 
 
     
     
         16 . The firearm supporting device of  claim 13  wherein the front base portion includes a first axis, the rear base portion includes a second axis, and the frame includes a third axis, and wherein:
 in the operational arrangement, the first, second, and third axes are generally coaxial; and 
 in the non-operational arrangement, the first, second, and third axes are non-coaxial and generally parallel. 
 
     
     
         17 . A method of packaging a shooting rest for supporting a firearm having a first section and a second section spaced apart from the first section, the method comprising:
 providing a first base portion, a second base portion attachable to the first base portion, a first support configured to project from the first base portion and support the first section of the firearm, and a second support configured to project from the second base portion and support the second section of the firearm; and   placing the first and second base portions and the first and second supports in a container with the second base portion at least approximately completely received by the first base portion in a nested configuration.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 providing a third base portion configured to be attached to the first and second base portions and positioned between the first and second base portion; and   placing the third base portion in the container with the third base portion at least approximately completely received by the first base portion in a nested configuration.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein:
 providing a first base portion comprises providing a first base portion having a first length and a second base portion having a second length less than the first length; and 
 placing the first and second base portions in a container comprises placing the first and second base portions in a container having a third length, and wherein the third length is less than a minimum length of the base when the first and second base portions are attached together. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein:
 providing a first support comprises providing a first support having a rest assembly and an elevation assembly configured to change a position of the rest assembly relative to the first base portion; 
 placing the first and second base portions and the first and second supports in a container comprises placing the second base portion and at least a portion of the elevation assembly at least approximately completely within an inner volume of the first base portion in a nested configuration.