The present invention regards a device for distributing the weight of a bipod or a tripod, and more particularly a device for distributing the weight of a bipod or a tripod on a soft foundation. Background of the invention

Using a ground support such as a bipod or a tripod in a soft terrain creates some problems. If the bipod or tripod carries a rifle or a heavy camera, the legs of the bipod or tripod can easily sink into e.g. soft terrain such as snow. The result is that the rifle 10 or the camera is not level. This problem is especially relevant when using rifles on snow covered surfaces.

Ever since firearms were invented, it has been a goal to increase the accuracy of the shot. One way of solving this problem has been to use a ground mount on which the rifle or gun rests. The earliest solution for a ground support was to rest the front of the firearm on another person's shoulder. There are several types of different ground supports, examples are monopods, bipods, tripods and shooting sticks.

A monopod has one leg and has the advantage of being light. Having only one leg they are typically used with short-barrelled firearms.

A bipod has two legs which makes it possible to stabilise the gun along the left-to- right axis. Bipods can have either a fixed or an adjustable length. Bipods are usually used on rifles and machine guns to provide a forward rest and to reduce motion. They are also seen on other long-barrelled weapons. Bipods allow the user to rest the weapon on objects, like the ground or a wall, increasing accuracy and stability. Some bipods can be tilted and also have their tilting point close to the barrel's central axis, allowing the weapon to tilt left and right. Some designs also allow the weapon to be rotated side-to-side.

A tripod has three legs and provides stability not only along the left-to-right axis, but also forwards and backwards. Tripods have the disadvantage of being heavy and bulky although when used in firing mode it has enough stability to be used with large firearms. Tripods are typically used on long-barrelled, rapid-fire firearms.

Shooting sticks are portable and can have one or more legs and are usually used by field shooters, like hunters. Shooting sticks are commonly used on rifles to provide a forward rest and reduce motion. Shooting sticks can be of fixed or adjusta ble length and can be homemade or factory made.

In order for these solutions to give the support they were intended to give they need to rest on firm ground. If the ground is covered with a layer of snow, ordinary ground supports would sink into the snow and rendered useless. RU2003134836 solves the problem by having an elongated support running the length of the rifle.

SE200401200 uses much the same solution, but in this solution the elongated support can be folded away into the stock of the rifle.

US20060278797 is another solution that has a larger foot on the legs in order to better grip the surface of the ground it rests upon.

The problem with these solutions is that they either require permanent attachments to the rifle or they do not solve the problem properly. They are permanent solutions that try to solve both a gun resting on a snowy surface and a hard surface. Hence they are not particularly good at solving either. Not only firearms use ground support, but also cameras, and other equipment.

Summary of the invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention, as it is stated in the set of claims, to solve the problems mentioned above.

When it comes to carrying the weight of a human on snow, the normal way is to use either snow shoes or skies. Both of these solutions spread the weight of the person over a larger area and prevent the user from breaking through the surface. It is therefore a solution of the present invention, to spread the weight of the bipod or tripod over a larger area . In order to achieve this, a device for distributing the weight is attached to the feet of the bipod or tripod. At the attachment point the device comprises either a stiff material, or a fabric or canvas area that is kept taut by a peripheral ring of stiff and flexible material. Connecting each of these attachment points is a part of flexible fabric or canvas.

The part of flexible fabric or canvas connecting each of the attachment points ensures that the feet of the bipod or tripod are pressed into the ground and increases the carrying surface. Further the flexible fabric or canvas connecting the attachment points of the device ensures that the legs of the tripod or bipod can be folded up while attached to the bipod or tripod.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1 is a top view of an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a top view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in figure 1 mounted on a rifle 10 with the bipod folded out.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in figure 1.

Fig. 4 is a side view if the embodiment of the present invention shown in figure 1 mounted on a rifle 10 with the bipod folded up. Detailed description

Fig. 1 is a top view of an embodiment of the present invention. The device for distributing the weight 1 has an elongated shape. It comprises three sections. The length of the device 1 is determined by the length of all three sections. The width of the device 1 is determined by the width of either one of the sections. There is a first and a second section 2, 3 placed at each end, these are leg sections. A third, central, section 4, connects the leg section. In a preferred embodiment, the first and the second section 2, 3 comprise either a stiff material, or a flexible material such as a fabric or a canvas kept taut by a stiff and flexible rod. This rod is placed in a canal or a wire inlet around the peripheral edge of the first and second section. The rod keeps the fabric or canvas taut. The rod can preferably be made of a plastic material, metal or fibre glass.

The fabric or canvas is a dense cover. This cover can preferably be waterproof.

Across the width of the first and the second section 2, 3 there is attached a strong flexible strap 5. The strap is sewn to the fabric around the straps edges. In this strap there can be an opening 8. In this opening 8 the feet of the bipod or tripod can be placed. Around the opening 8 in the strap there is attached a rope. This rope is for securing the device 1 to the feet of the bipod or tripod.

In an alternative embodiment the strap has no opening 8. In this embodiment, the rope is attached to the strap creating a loop around the centre of the strap.

The third, central, section 4 connects the first and the second section 2, 3. The third, central, section 4 can preferably be made of a flexible material, preferably a fabric. The third, central, section 4 ensures that the feet of the bipod are pressed into the ground and increases the carrying surface.

Attached to one end of the third, central, section 4 is at least one strap 6. At the opposite side there is attached a corresponding buckle 7. This at least one buckle 7 and strap is for adjusting the distance between the first and the second section 2, 3.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the shape of the first and the second section 2, 3, is D-shaped.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in figure 1 mounted on a rifle 10 with the bipod 9 folded down. The left and the right foot of the bipod 9 are respectively attached to the first and the second section 2, 3 of the device 1, for distributing the weight. The left foot of the bipod 9 is placed in the opening 8 in the flexible strap 5 on the first section. The right foot of the bipod 9 is placed in the opening 8 in the flexible strap 5 on the second section. After the feet are placed in their respective openings 8 the rope is tightened to secure the device 1 for distributing the weight of the bipod 9. Fig. 3 is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention and here it can be seen that the first and the second section 2, 3 is flat and the third section connection the first and second sections 2, 3 are flexible.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in figure 1 mounted on a rifle 10 with the bipod 9 folded up. Here it can be seen that the first and the second section 2, 3 of the present invention folds up around the barrel of the rifle 10. This allows the user to use the sights of the rifle 10. The flexible nature of the third, central, section 4 allows the legs of the bipod 9 to be folded up and down without taking off the snowshoe. The present invention can be used on any kind of multi-legged ground support. For each leg there is a section comprising either a stiff material, or a flexible material such as a fabric or a canvas kept taut by a stiff and flexible rod. All of these sections are connected by a central section preferably made of a flexible material.

On a tripod there is one section attached to each of the legs of the tripod. These sections are connected by a central section made of a flexible material. The flexible material ensures that the feet of the tripod are pressed into the ground and increases the carrying surface.

Further the central section ensures that the legs of the tripod can be folded up without having to be taken off.