Firearm bipod

Abstract

This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatus for a bipod having pivot and cant functionality built into a unified cant/pivot assembly, housing, and pivot block. Rotation of a locking knob under the housing can gradually increase or decrease friction of the cant and pivoting degrees of freedom. Sufficient loosening of the locking knob can allow a pivot block to be lifted from the housing and rotated 180°, and then retightened to lock in a given pivot position. Before this 180 rotation of the pivot block, the pivot block and hence the firearm is free to pivot up to 10°, or up to 20°, or up to 30°.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bipod leg deployment mechanism comprising:
 a bipod having two legs, the two legs having a stowed position and a deployed position, and each of the two legs having a first portion and a second portion;   a housing rotatably and independently coupled to each of the two legs; and   a first bipod deployment mechanism movably coupled to the housing of a first of the two legs and a second bipod deployment mechanism movably coupled to the housing of a second of the two legs;   wherein the first bipod deployment mechanism prevents a one of the two legs from rotating toward the deployed position when a first torque that is less than an unlocking threshold is applied to the one of the two legs while the one of the two legs is in the stowed position; and   wherein the second bipod deployment mechanism is pressed out of a locked position toward the unlocked position when a second torque that is greater than or equal to the unlocking threshold is applied to the one of the two legs while the one of the two legs is in the stowed position.   
     
     
         2 . The bipod leg deployment mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second bipod deployment mechanisms are configured to directly contact a corresponding first and second of the two legs when extended away from the housing and to not contact the corresponding first and second of the two legs when depressed toward the housing. 
     
     
         3 . The bipod leg deployment mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein a first portion of each leg is configured to directly contact a corresponding one of the two movable bipod deployment mechanisms when the corresponding leg is in the deployed position, and wherein a second portion of each leg is configured to directly contact the corresponding one of the two movable bipod deployment mechanisms when the corresponding leg is in the stowed position. 
     
     
         4 . The bipod leg deployment mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein each of the movable bipod deployment mechanisms has a first and a second length, the first length having a first diameter, and the second length having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, and the second length being further from a pivot axis of a corresponding one of the two legs than the first length. 
     
     
         5 . The bipod leg deployment mechanism of  claim 4 , wherein each of the two legs includes a curved top edge, such that when either of the movable bipod deployment mechanisms is depressed and a corresponding one of the two legs rotates, the curved top edge clears the second length. 
     
     
         6 . The bipod leg deployment mechanism of  claim 4 , wherein each of the movable bipod deployment mechanisms has a third length being a conical frustum and being arranged between and forming an angled connection between the first length and the second length. 
     
     
         7 . The bipod leg deployment mechanism of  claim 6 , wherein a corresponding one of the two movable bipod deployment mechanisms is backdrivable via the third length interacting with a conical or crescent cutout on a side of a corresponding one of the two legs; and
 the corresponding one of the two legs is rotatable from the stowed position toward the deployed position.   
     
     
         8 . The bipod leg deployment mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein, when the deployment mechanism comprises one of a spring or button biasing mechanism. 
     
     
         9 . The bipod leg deployment mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein, when in a locked state, the deployment mechanism acts as a leg rotation lock. 
     
     
         10 . The bipod leg deployment mechanism of  claim 1 , further comprising two feet, each foot removably coupled to one of the two legs. 
     
     
         11 . The bipod leg deployment mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein each of the two legs comprises an inner leg portion and an outer leg portion in sliding relation to one another. 
     
     
         12 . The bipod leg deployment mechanism of  claim 1 , further comprising a leg extension locking component.