U.S. patent application number 12/685616 was filed with the patent office on 2010-07-15 for two piece rail system for firearm.
Invention is credited to Steve Hines.
Application Number | 20100175293 12/685616 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42317984 |
Filed Date | 2010-07-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100175293 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hines; Steve |
July 15, 2010 |
TWO PIECE RAIL SYSTEM FOR FIREARM
Abstract
A firearm handguard having two identical halves, or half guards,
can engage the barrel nut of certain firearms to thereby provide a
mounting rail system. The barrel nut attaches the barrel to the
receiver. The half guards can be separately positioned in
engagement with the barrel nut before fastening them together. The
fastening operation can cause the half guards to clamp onto the
barrel nut. Alternatively, the front handguard cup of some firearms
can prevent the handguard from slipping forward while the rear
barrel nut engagement prevents handguard rotation. Free floating
variants, however, must clamp onto the barrel nut.
Inventors: |
Hines; Steve; (Edgewood,
NM) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Richard H. Krukar;Attorney, Intellectual Property
Ortiz & Lopez, PLLC, P.O. Box 4484
Albuquerque
NM
87196-4484
US
|
Family ID: |
42317984 |
Appl. No.: |
12/685616 |
Filed: |
January 11, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61143795 |
Jan 11, 2009 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
42/71.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41C 23/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
42/71.01 |
International
Class: |
F41C 23/16 20060101
F41C023/16 |
Claims
1. A handguard for a firearm, the firearm comprising a receiver and
a barrel nut threaded onto the receiver, wherein the barrel nut
comprises a barrel nut sprocket, and wherein the handguard
comprises: a first half guard comprising a mounting rail, inner
engagement, outer engagement, and a means for engaging the barrel
nut sprocket wherein the first half guard is semi-cylindrical with
the inner engagement and the outer engagement radially opposed to
one another, wherein the outer engagement comprises at least one
open hole, and wherein the inner engagement comprises at least one
threaded hole; a second half guard identical to the first half
guard; and a plurality of threaded fasteners that pass through the
open holes and thread into the threaded holes to thereby attach the
first half guard and the second half guard together in a radially
opposed arrangement and wherein the threaded fasteners are
tightened to thereby clamp the means for engaging the barrel nut
sprocket onto the barrel nut sprocket.
2. The handguard of claim 1 wherein the barrel nut sprocket
comprises a plurality of teeth, wherein the means for engaging the
barrel nut sprocket comprises a plurality of indentations that
engage the sprocket teeth and prevent the handguard from rotating
around the barrel nut.
3. The handguard of claim 2 wherein the fasteners are loosened but
not removed to release the handguard from the barrel nut sprocket
and to thereby render the handguard removable from the firearm.
4. The handguard of claim 1 wherein the fasteners are loosened but
not removed to release the handguard from the barrel nut sprocket
and to thereby render the handguard removable from the firearm.
5. The handguard of claim 1 wherein the barrel nut sprocket
comprises a plurality of teeth, wherein the means for engaging the
barrel nut sprocket comprises a plurality of indentations that
engage the sprocket teeth to prevent the handguard from rotating
around the barrel nut.
6. The handguard of claim 1 wherein the firearm further comprises a
front handguard cup and wherein the first half guard further
comprises a cup engagement that fits into the front handguard cup
to thereby retain the first half guard between the receiver and the
front handguard cup.
7. A handguard for a firearm, the firearm comprising a receiver and
a barrel nut threaded onto the receiver, wherein the barrel nut
comprises a barrel nut sprocket, and wherein the handguard
comprises: a first half guard comprising a mounting rail, inner
engagement, outer engagement, and a means for engaging the barrel
nut sprocket wherein the first half guard is semi-cylindrical with
the inner engagement and the outer engagement radially opposed to
one another, wherein the outer engagement comprises at least one
open hole, and wherein the inner engagement comprises at least one
threaded hole; a second half guard identical to the first half
guard; a plurality of threaded fasteners that pass through the open
holes and thread into the threaded holes to thereby attach the
first half guard and the second half guard together in a radially
opposed arrangement; and at least one clamping fastener passing
through the means for engaging the barrel nut sprocket wherein the
means for engaging the barrel nut sprocket clamp onto the barrel
nut sprocket when the clamping fastener is tightened and to thereby
attach the handguard to the receiver as a free floating
handguard.
8. The handguard of claim 7 wherein the means for engaging the
barrel nut sprocket comprises a sprocket slot that slips over the
sprocket to thereby attach the handguard to the barrel nut.
9. The handguard of claim 8 further comprising a pin, wherein the
first half guard further comprises a pin slot, wherein the barrel
nut sprocket comprises a plurality of teeth, wherein the pin fits
into the pin slot to thereby engage the teeth and prevent the
handguard from rotating on the barrel nut.
10. The handguard of claim 7 further comprising a pin, wherein the
first half guard further comprises a pin slot, wherein the barrel
nut sprocket comprises a plurality of teeth, wherein the pin fits
into the pin slot to thereby engage the teeth and prevent the
handguard from rotating on the barrel nut.
11. A handguard for a firearm, the firearm comprising a receiver
and a barrel nut threaded onto the receiver, wherein the barrel nut
comprises a barrel nut sprocket, and wherein the handguard
comprises: a first half guard comprising a mounting rail, inner
engagement, outer engagement, and a means for engaging the barrel
nut sprocket wherein the first half guard is semi-cylindrical with
the inner engagement and the outer engagement radially opposed to
one another, wherein the outer engagement comprises at least one
open hole, and wherein the inner engagement comprises at least one
threaded hole; a second half guard identical to the first half
guard; and a plurality of threaded fasteners that pass through the
open holes and thread into the threaded holes to thereby attach the
first half guard and the second half guard together in a radially
opposed arrangement.
12. The handguard of claim 11 wherein the barrel nut sprocket
comprises a plurality of teeth, wherein the means for engaging the
barrel nut sprocket comprises a plurality of indentations that
engage the sprocket teeth and prevent the handguard from rotating
around the barrel nut.
13. The handguard of claim 12 wherein the fasteners are tapered
fasteners and wherein the open holes are oversize and countersunk
such that the first half guard and the second half guard pull
towards each other as the fasteners are tightened to thereby clamp
the handguard onto the barrel nut.
14. The handguard of claim 13 wherein the firearm further comprises
a front handguard cup and wherein the first half guard further
comprises a cup engagement that fits into the front handguard cup
to thereby retain the first half guard between the receiver and the
front handguard cup.
15. The handguard of claim 11 further comprising a pin, wherein the
first half guard further comprises a pin slot, wherein the barrel
nut sprocket comprises a plurality of teeth, wherein the pin fits
into the pin slot to thereby engage the teeth and prevent the
handguard from rotating on the barrel nut.
16. The handguard of claim 15 wherein the fasteners are tapered
fasteners and wherein the open holes are oversize and countersunk
such that the first half guard and the second half guard pull
towards each other as the fasteners are tightened to thereby clamp
the handguard onto the barrel nut.
17. The handguard of claim 16 wherein the means for engaging the
barrel nut sprocket comprises a sprocket slot that slips over the
sprocket to thereby attach the handguard to the barrel nut.
18. The handguard of claim 11 wherein the firearm further comprises
a front handguard cup and wherein the first half guard further
comprises a cup engagement that fits into the front handguard cup
to thereby retain the first half guard between the receiver and the
front handguard cup.
19. The handguard of claim 11 wherein the fasteners are tapered
fasteners and wherein the open holes are oversize and countersunk
such that the first half guard and the second half guard pull
towards each other as the fasteners are tightened to thereby clamp
the handguard onto the barrel nut.
20. The handguard of claim 11 wherein the means for engaging the
barrel nut sprocket comprises a sprocket slot that slips over the
sprocket to thereby attach the handguard to the barrel nut.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This patent application claims the priority and benefit of
U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/143,795 filed on Jan.
11, 2009 entitled "Firearm Vertical Fore Grip and Rail System" and
which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] Embodiments relate to the fields of small arms, rifle
handguards, carbine handguards, and mounting rails.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Current small arms use mounting rail systems for attaching
accessories to the small arm. For example, M4 and M16 carbines are
often fitted with a single piece handguard that incorporates up to
four Picatinny rails. Picatinny rails are well known mounting rails
that meet the specifications contained in MIL-STD-1913 and
MIL-STD-1913 Notice 1. Another mounting rail called the Weaver rail
is a notoriously well known variation of the Picatinny rail.
Battaglia discloses a mounting rail system in U.S. Pat. No.
6,792,711 while Olson discloses another in U.S. Pat. No.
5,826,363.
[0004] FIG. 1, labeled as "Prior Art", illustrates a handguard 101
with four mounting rails 102 of which three are visible. A number
of accessories have been developed to attach to small arms by way
of mounting rails 102. The mounting rails have recoil grooves 103
that help lock accessories in place and help users attach
accessories in repeatable positions.
[0005] FIG. 2, labeled as "Prior Art", illustrates an M16 type
firearm 201 with mounting rails 102. The specific rifle is a flat
top model having a mounting rail 102 on the upper receiver 202 as
well as the four on the handguard 101. The handguard 101 is
attached to the firearm by being pushed into a front handguard cup
204 by a delta ring 203.
[0006] FIG. 3, labeled as "Prior Art", illustrates a barrel nut 301
having a barrel nut sprocket 302. The barrel nut sprocket 302 has
numerous teeth 303 that can provide a gripping surface for turning
the barrel nut 301.
[0007] FIG. 4, labeled as "Prior Art", illustrates a barrel nut 301
attaching a barrel 401 to a firearm receiver 202. The barrel nut
301 is tightened onto the receiver 202 by gripping the barrel nut
sprocket 302 and twisting. A special tool is often used to tighten
the barrel nut 301 until the barrel nut 301 and the barrel 401 are
firmly attached to the receiver 202.
[0008] Typically, the handguard is a "clamshell" arrangement made
of two pieces, an upper piece and a lower piece, that fit between
the delta ring 203 and front handguard cup. As such, the handguard
is not as rigidly attached as is often desired. Systems and methods
for rigidly attaching a handguard with integral mounting rails are
needed.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0009] The following summary is provided to facilitate an
understanding of some of the innovative features unique to the
embodiments and is not intended to be a full description. A full
appreciation of the various aspects of the embodiments can be
gained by taking the entire specification, claims, drawings, and
abstract as a whole.
[0010] Systems and methods are needed for rigidly attaching a
handguard with integral mounting rails to a firearm that uses a
barrel nut to attach a barrel to the receiver. The barrel nut has a
toothed barrel nut sprocket for gripping and turning the barrel
nut.
[0011] The handguard includes two identical half guards fastened
together. Each half guard has a mounting rail, an inner engagement,
an outer engagement, and a portion that engages the barrel nut,
typically at the barrel nut sprocket. The half guards are
semi-cylindrical such that an assembled handguard is cylindrical.
Fasteners passing through open holes in the outer engagements are
threaded into threaded holes in the inner engagements. A complete,
rigid, and cylindrical handguard is produced when the fasteners are
tightened.
[0012] Tightening the fasteners can cause the handguard to clamp
onto the barrel nut or barrel nut sprocket. Optionally, the half
guards can include clamping mechanisms such that an assembled
handguard can be slipped onto a barrel nut and clamped directly
onto it. In some embodiments, the half guards include sprocket
slots such that the sprocket slot of each half guard is slipped
onto the barrel nut socket before the half guards are fastened
together.
[0013] The half guards can incorporate elements to prevent the
assembled handguard from rotating around the barrel nut. In some
embodiments, the half guards themselves are machined, molded, or
cast to include indentations that match the teeth of the barrel nut
sprocket. Other embodiments can have slots into which pins fit and
engage the teeth to prevent rotation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The accompanying figures, in which like reference numerals
refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the
separate views and which are incorporated in and form a part of the
specification, further illustrate the present invention and,
together with the background of the invention, brief summary of the
invention, and detailed description of the invention, serve to
explain the principles of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 1, labeled as "Prior Art", illustrates a handguard with
four mounting rails of which three are visible;
[0016] FIG. 2, labeled as "Prior Art", illustrates an M16 type
firearm with mounting rail;
[0017] FIG. 3, labeled as "Prior Art", illustrates a barrel nut
having a barrel nut sprocket;
[0018] FIG. 4, labeled as "Prior Art", illustrates a barrel nut
attaching a barrel to a firearm receiver;
[0019] FIG. 5 illustrates a quarter front view of a half guard in
accordance with aspects of some embodiments;
[0020] FIG. 6 illustrates a quarter back view of a half guard in
accordance with aspects of some embodiments;
[0021] FIG. 7 illustrates a rear view of a first half guard in
accordance with aspects of some embodiments;
[0022] FIG. 8 illustrates a rear view of a second half guard in
accordance with aspects of some embodiments;
[0023] FIG. 9 illustrates a rear view of a first half guard and a
second half guard positioned together in a radially opposed
arrangement in accordance with aspects of some embodiments;
[0024] FIG. 10 illustrates a quarter back view of a half guard in
accordance with aspects of some embodiments;
[0025] FIG. 11 illustrates a quarter back view of a half guard with
a clamping fastener and pin in accordance with aspects of some
embodiments;
[0026] FIG. 12 illustrates a quarter back view of a free floating
type handguard in accordance with aspects of some embodiments;
[0027] FIG. 13 illustrates a tapered head fastener and oversize
countersunk open hole for clamping two half guards together in
accordance with aspects of some embodiments; and
[0028] FIG. 14 illustrates a fastener clamping two half guards
together in accordance with aspects of some embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0029] The particular values and configurations discussed in these
non-limiting examples can be varied and are cited merely to
illustrate at least one embodiment and are not intended to limit
the scope thereof. In general, the figures are not to scale.
[0030] A firearm handguard having two identical halves, or half
guards, can engage the barrel nut of certain firearms to thereby
provide a mounting rail system. The barrel nut attaches the barrel
to the receiver. The half guards can be separately positioned in
engagement with the barrel nut before fastening them together. The
fastening operation can cause the half guards to clamp onto the
barrel nut. Alternatively, the front handguard cup of some firearms
can prevent the handguard from slipping forward while the rear
barrel nut engagement prevents handguard rotation. Free floating
variants, however, must clamp onto the barrel nut.
[0031] FIG. 5 illustrates a quarter front view of a half guard 501
in accordance with aspects of some embodiments. The front half
guard has mounting rails 102, open holes 504, threaded holes 502,
and a cup engagement 503. The open holes 504 can be countersunk so
that the heads of fasteners do not stick out. The cup engagement
503 is designed to fit into a firearm's front handguard cup.
[0032] FIG. 6 illustrates a quarter back view of a half guard 501
in accordance with aspects of some embodiments. The back view shows
indentations 601 that can engage the teeth 303 of the barrel nut
sprocket 302 to keep the half guard 501, or fully assembled
handguard, from rotating around the barrel nut 301. The inner
engagement 602 and outer engagement 603 are more easily visible
than in the previous figure.
[0033] FIG. 7 illustrates a rear view of a first half guard in
accordance with aspects of some embodiments. The indentations 601
are clearly visible as is the radially opposed arrangement of the
inner and outer engagements.
[0034] FIG. 8 illustrates a rear view of a second half guard in
accordance with aspects of some embodiments. The second half guard
501 is identical to the first half guard 501 but rotated 180
degrees.
[0035] FIG. 9 illustrates a rear view of a first half guard 501 and
a second half guard 501 positioned together in a radially opposed
arrangement in accordance with aspects of some embodiments. When
fastened together, the two half guards 501 form a handguard 901.
Note that the inner engagements and the outer engagements are
aligned so that a fastener passing through an open hole immediately
encounters a threaded hole such that the two half guards can be
fastened together. The fasteners should not intrude into the
handguard interior where they might interfere with the firearm
barrel, gas tube, or other element.
[0036] FIG. 10 illustrates a quarter back view of a half guard 1001
in accordance with aspects of some embodiments. This half guard
1001 lacks a cup engagement because it is intended for a free
floating handguard. A free floating handguard is a handguard that,
ideally, does not touch the barrel at all although some
arrangements do contact the barrel where it meets the receiver. The
half guard 1001 has a pin slot 1003 and a sprocket slot 1002. The
barrel nut sprocket fits into the sprocket slot 1002 such that the
half guard 1001 can not slip forward along the barrel when properly
positioned on a firearm.
[0037] The half guard of FIG. 10 also has a clamping mechanism. A
clamping fastener can pass through open clamp hole 1004 and be
threaded into threaded clamp hole 1005. When tightened, the
clamping fastener can cause clamping surface 1006 to bear down and
press against the barrel nut and thereby clamp an assembled
handguard to the barrel nut.
[0038] FIG. 11 illustrates a quarter back view of a half guard 1001
with clamping fasteners 1102 and a pin 1101 in accordance with
aspects of some embodiments. The pin 1101 is positioned in pin slot
1003 such that it can engage the barrel nut sprocket teeth to
prevent the handguard from rotating around the barrel nut. The
clamping fasteners 1102 are properly inserted into the half guard.
Notice that two clamping fasteners 1102 are illustrated whereas, in
practice, one or more can be used.
[0039] FIG. 12 illustrates a quarter back view of a free floating
type handguard 1201 in accordance with aspects of some embodiments.
Two half guards 1001 are properly positioned in radial opposition
to one another. The fasteners for attaching the two halves 1001
together are not shown.
[0040] FIG. 13 illustrates a tapered head fastener 1301 and
oversize countersunk open hole 1302 for clamping to two half guards
together in accordance with aspects of some embodiments. The
oversize countersunk open hole 1302 is in the outer engagement 603
and a threaded hole 502 is in the inner engagement 602. Tightening
the fastener 1301 causes the tapered head to press down into the
countersunk hole 1302 and pull two half guards together. The result
can be that the half guards, when pulled together, clamp onto the
barrel nut, perhaps at the barrel nut sprocket portion of the
barrel nut.
[0041] FIG. 14 illustrates a fastener 1401 clamping to two half
guards together in accordance with aspects of some embodiments.
Tightening the fastener 1401 pulls the two parts together such that
a clamping action is achieved.
[0042] It will be appreciated that variations of the
above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives
thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different
systems or applications. Also that various presently unforeseen or
unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or
improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in
the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following
claims.
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