U.S. patent application number 13/895428 was filed with the patent office on 2014-11-20 for vertical fore grip and handheld weapon combination.
The applicant listed for this patent is Justin Lanasa, Zeljko Vesligaj. Invention is credited to Justin Lanasa, Zeljko Vesligaj.
Application Number | 20140338245 13/895428 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51894645 |
Filed Date | 2014-11-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140338245 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lanasa; Justin ; et
al. |
November 20, 2014 |
VERTICAL FORE GRIP AND HANDHELD WEAPON COMBINATION
Abstract
A vertical fore grip mountable on the tactical rail of a
tactical firearm is described. The fore grip includes a vertically
oriented gripping member having an upper end, a lower end and an
axially aligned bore; a tactical rail clamp attached to the
gripping member upper end; a stabbing spike with a shank slidable
within the gripping member bore between a stowed position within
the gripping member and an extended position projecting from the
lower end of the gripping member; and a latching member selectively
securing the spike in the stowed and extended positions.
Inventors: |
Lanasa; Justin; (Wilmington,
NC) ; Vesligaj; Zeljko; (Burgaw, NC) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Lanasa; Justin
Vesligaj; Zeljko |
Wilmington
Burgaw |
NC
NC |
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
51894645 |
Appl. No.: |
13/895428 |
Filed: |
May 16, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
42/72 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41C 23/16 20130101;
F41B 13/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
42/72 |
International
Class: |
F41C 27/16 20060101
F41C027/16; F41C 23/22 20060101 F41C023/22; F41C 23/12 20060101
F41C023/12; F41C 23/16 20060101 F41C023/16 |
Claims
1. A vertical fore grip mountable on the tactical rail of a
tactical firearm comprising: a) a vertically oriented gripping
member having an upper end, a lower end and an axially aligned
bore; b) a tactical rail clamp attached to said gripping member
upper end; c) a stabbing spike with a shank slidable within said
gripping member bore between a stowed position within said gripping
member and an extended position projecting from the lower end of
said gripping member; and d) a latching member selectively securing
said spike in said stowed and extended positions.
2. The fore grip of claim 1, wherein said rail has a give width,
and said clamp is comprised of spaced parallel jaws with inner
faces having an open position in which the jaw inner faces are
spaced at a greater width than the width of the tactical rail and a
closed position in which the jaw inner faces are spaced at a
distance equal to the width of said tactical rail; a connector rod
having a distal end attached to one of said jaws and slidable
within a bore in the other of said jaws; a spring urging said jaws
to their open position; and an actuator attached to said rod to
move said jaws to their closed position.
3. The fore grip of claim 2, wherein said actuator is a rotatable
cam.
4. The fore grip of claim 1, wherein said shank has a given
cross-section, said grip further including a cap attachable to the
lower end of said grip, said cap including a central opening
axially aligned with said bore and having a cross-section
corresponding to the cross-section of said shank.
5. The fore grip of claim 4, wherein said shank cross-section is
round, square, diamond shaped, star shaped, or triangular.
6. The fore grip of claim 1, wherein said spike includes a shank
with a pointed lower end and an upper end, and an enlarged head
attached to the upper end of said shank, said head having a
cross-section corresponding to the cross-section of said gripping
member bore.
7. The fore grip of claim 1, wherein said latching member includes
a protrusion having a latching position extending into said
gripping member bore and a retracted position withdrawn from said
bore, a spring to urge said protrusion to the latching position,
and an actuator to withdraw said protrusion to the retracted
position.
8. The fore grip of claim 7, wherein said actuator is a finger
operated cam.
9. A vertical fore grip mountable on the tactical rail of a
tactical firearm comprising: a) a vertically oriented gripping
member having an upper end, a lower end and an axially aligned
bore; b) a tactical rail clamp attached to said gripping member
upper end; c) a stabbing spike slidable within said gripping member
bore between a stowed position within said gripping member and an
extending position projecting from the lower end of said gripping
member, said spike including a shank with a tapered lower end and
an upper end, and a head with a recess attached to said shank upper
end; and d) a latching member selectively securing said spike in
said stowed and extended positions, said latching member including
a protrusion having a latching position extending into said
gripping member bore and said spike head recess when said spike is
in the extended position and against said shank tapered lower and
when said spike is in the stowed position, and a retracted position
withdrawn from said bore, a spring to urge said protrusion to the
latching position, and an actuator to withdraw said protrusion to
the retracted position.
10. The fore grip of claim 9, wherein said rail has a give width,
and said clamp is comprised of spaced parallel jaws with inner
faces having an open position in which the jaw inner faces are
spaced at a greater width than the width of the tactical rail and a
closed position in which the jaw inner faces are spaced at a
distance to the width of said tactical rail; a connector rod having
a distal end attached to one of said jaws and slidable within a
bore in the other of said jaws; a spring urging said jaws to their
open position; and an actuator attached to said rod to move said
jaws to their closed position.
11. The fore grip of claim 10, wherein said shank is a non-metallic
shank.
12. The fore grip of claim 9, wherein said shank has a given
cross-section, said grip further including a cap attachable to the
lower end of said grip, said cap including a central opening
axially aligned with said bore and having a cross-section
corresponding to the cross-section of said shank.
13. The fore grip of claim 9, wherein said shank cross-section is
round, square, diamond shaped, star shaped, or triangular.
14. The fore grip of claim 9, wherein said spike head has a
continuous side wall with a continuous recess in said side wall
extending around said spike bead.
15. The fore grip of claim 9, wherein said gripping member includes
a side wall with a longitudinal slot, and said latching member
includes a bar recessed in said slot, said bar having a upper end,
a lower end, said bar being pivotal intermediate said upper and
lower ends, said protrusion extending inwardly from said bar lower
end, and a spring urging said bar upper end outwardly.
16. A vertical fore grip mountable on the tactical rail of a
tactical firearm comprising: a) a vertically oriented gripping
member having an upper end, a lower end and an axially aligned
bore; b) a tactical rail clamp attached to said gripping member
upper end; c) a cap attachable to the lower end of said grip, said
cap including a central opening axially aligned with said bore; d)
a stabbing spike with a head and a shank slidable within said
gripping member bore between a stowed position within said gripping
member and an extended position projecting from the lower end of
said gripping member and through said cap opening, said cap opening
having a cross-section corresponding to the cross-section of said
shank; and e) a latching member selectively securing said spike in
said stowed and extended positions.
17. The fore grip of claim 16, wherein said rail has a give width,
and said clamp is comprised of spaced parallel jaws with inner
faces having an open position in which the jaw inner faces are
spaced at a greater width than the width of the tactical rail and a
closed position in which the jaw inner faces are spaced at a
distance equal to the width of said tactical rail; a connector rod
having a distal end attached to one of said jaws and slidable
within a bore in the other of said jaws; a spring urging said jaws
to their open position; and an actuator attached to said rod to
move said jaws to their closed position.
18. The fore grip of claim 16, wherein said shank cross-section is
round, Square, diamond shaped, star shaped, or triangular.
19. The fore grip of claim 16, wherein said spike includes a shank
with a pointed lower end and an upper end, and an enlarged head
attached to the upper end of said shank, said head having a
cross-section corresponding to the cross-section of said gripping
member bore and engaging said cap in the extended position.
20. The fore grip of claim 16, wherein said latching member
includes a protrusion having a latching position extending into
said gripping member bore and a retracted position withdrawn from
said bore, a spring to urge said protrusion to the latching
position, and an actuator to withdraw said protrusion to the
retracted position.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of and priority to the
filing date of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/653,611,
filed May 31, 2012, the entire content of which is incorporated
herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] (1) Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates generally to vertical fore
grips that can be quickly detached from a firearm for use as a
handheld stabbing weapon or for other purposes.
[0004] (2) Description of the Prior Art
[0005] A vertical fore grip is a hand grip mountable on a Picatinny
rail, alternatively known as a tactical rail, on the front of an
AR-15 and M-16 or other tactical firearm that helps to control the
firearm and allow for easier horizontal movement of the firearm,
creating a firm grasping point. Generally, a fore grip is comprised
of a vertical gripping handle sized for the shooter's hand, and a
releasable mounting clamp at the top of the gripping handle to
attach the fore grip to the Picatinny rail.
[0006] The prior art describes various modifications of fore grips
to enable their use for purposes other than as a simple hand grip.
For example, the interior of the fore grip may be modified for use
as a storage compartment for batteries or other articles. In
addition, a spring-loaded bipod may be stored inside the bipod and
extended downwardly to serve as a ground support for the
weapon.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention relates to a unique improvement in
fore grips in which the fore grip is modified to be useful as a
rapidly deployable handheld stabbing weapon. The invention also
describes a unique clamp enabling quick detachment of the fore grip
from the firearm for use as a weapon if needed.
[0008] Generally, the present fore grip is comprised of a rail
clamp, a vertically oriented gripping member having a central bore,
a stabbing spike slidable from a stowed position within the
gripping member bore to an extended position, and a latching member
to secure the spike in the stored or extended position. The spike
includes a shank.
[0009] The clamp is comprised of spaced parallel jaws having an
open position in which the jaw inner faces are spaced at a distance
greater than the width of the Picatinny rail to which the fore grip
is attached, and a closed position in which the jaw faces are
spaced at a distance equal the width of the rail to clamp the fore
grip onto the rail. The jaws are held together by a connector rod
having a distal end attached to one of the jaws. The rod extends
through a bore in the second jaw to a proximal end.
[0010] A clamping actuator is provided to quickly attach and detach
the clamp from the rail. Preferably, the actuator is a cam with
open and closed positions attached to the proximal end of the
connector rod. As the cam is rotated from the open position to the
closed position, the cam rides against the second jay, urging the
jaws against the force of a spring to the closed position. When the
actuator is moved to the open position, the spring urges the jaws
to their open position so that the fore grip can be detached from
the rail.
[0011] The gripping handle includes an upper end attached to the
clamp, a lower end and a central axially aligned bore having a
given cross-section. The exterior of the handle may be grooved or
otherwise shaped to aid in gripping. A cap with a central opening
corresponding to the spike shank cross-section is attached to the
bottom of the gripping handle so that the opening is axially
aligned with the bore.
[0012] The spike is comprised of a shank with a pointed lower end
and an enlarged head at its upper end. The spike head diameter is
larger than the shank diameter with the diameter and cross-section
corresponding to the gripping handle bore cross-section. The head
also includes a recess to receive a latching member projection. For
example, the head may have a continuous slide wall and a groove or
recess extending around the side wall. The shank may have different
cross-sections.
[0013] the latching member includes a protrusion that has a
latching position in which the protrusion projects into the handle
bore, preventing free movement of the spike within the bore, and a
retracted position in which the protrusion is withdrawn from the
bore so that the spike can move within the bore. A spring urges the
protrusion into the bore, while an actuator, such as a cam, is used
to withdraw the protrusion from the bore. Preferably, the actuator
extends from the side of the handle and is thumb or finger actuated
by pushing downward on the actuator. When the protrusion is
withdrawn while the spike is in the stowed position, the spike is
allowed to drop by gravity to an extended position for use of the
fore grip as a handheld weapon. The protrusion can then be returned
by the spring action into the bore and into a recess in the spike
head to lock the spike in the extended position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a side view of the fore grip with the spike in the
stowed position.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the fore grip with the spike in the
stowed position.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a top view of the fore grip with the rail clamp in
the open position.
[0017] FIG. 4 is a top view of the fore grip with the rail clamp in
the closed position.
[0018] FIG. 5 is a side view of the fore grip with the spike in the
extended position.
[0019] FIGS. 6A-6G are bottom views of the bottom cap with
different shank openings.
[0020] FIG. 7 is a sectional rear view of the fore grip with the
spike in the stowed and latched position.
[0021] FIG. 8 is a sectional rear view of the fore grip with the
spike in the partially extended and unlatched position.
[0022] FIG. 9 is a sectional rear view of the fore grip with the
spike in the extended and latched position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] In the following description, terms such as horizontal,
upright, vertical, above, below, beneath, and the like, are used
solely for the purpose of clarity in illustrating the invention,
and should not be taken as words of limitation. The drawings are
for the purpose of illustrating the invention and are not intended
to be to scale.
[0024] As illustrated in the drawings, a preferred embodiment of
the fore grip, generally 10, is comprised of a rail claim 12, a
vertically oriented gripping handle 14 having a central axially
aligned bore 16, a stabbing spike 20 slidable from a stowed
position within gripping handle bore 16 to an extended position,
and a latching member 22 to secure spike 20 in the stowed and
extended positions.
[0025] Clamp 12 is comprised of spaced parallel jaws 24 and 26
having an open position in which jaws 24 and 25 are spaced at a
distance greater than the width of the Picatinny rail to which fore
grip 10 is attached, and a closed position in which jaws 24 and 26
are spaced at a distance equal to the width of the rail to clamp
fore grip 10 onto the rail. Jaws 24 and 26 are held together by a
connector rod 30 having a distal end attached to jaw 24. Rod 30
extends through a bore in jaw 26 to a proximal end.
[0026] A rotatable cam 32 is attached to the proximal end of rod
30. Springs 34 urge jaw 26 against cam 32, which is rotatable with
a handle 36 between an open position and a clamping position. As
cam 32 is rotated from the open position to the closed position,
jaw 26 is urged against the force of springs 34 to the closed
position.
[0027] Gripping handle 14 includes an upper end attached to clamp
12, a lower end and central bore 16 having a given diameter to
received spike 20, which is comprised of a shank 42 with a pointed
lower end 44 and an enlarged head 46.
[0028] The exterior of handle 14 may be grooved or otherwise shaped
to aid in gripping. A collar or cap 50 with a central opening 52
corresponding to the cross-section of shank 42 is attached to the
bottom of gripping handle 14 so that opening 52 is axially aligned
with bore 16. Spike head 46 is larger than shank 42 and has a
diameter and size corresponding to the cross-section of bore 16.
Head 46 also includes a latching groove 54. Shank 42 may have
different cross-sections with corresponding openings 52 in cap 50.
Representative openings are shown in FIGS. 6A-6G.
[0029] Latching member 22 is comprised of a bar 60 pivotal near its
center point about Pivot pin 62, an upper end and a lower end. Bar
60 is mounted within a slot in the side of gripping member 14 that
extends into bore 16. A compression spring 64 transversely mounted
within the upper end of gripping member 14 urges the upper end of
bar 60 outward, pivoting bar 60 about pivot pin 62 and urging the
lower end of bar 60 inwardly. A latching protrusion 66 faces
inwardly from the lower end of bar 60 and into bore 16.
[0030] A pivotal latch cam 70 having an inactive position and an
active position is attached to the lower end of bar 60 on the
exterior of gripping member 14. When in the active position, cam 70
exerts force against the exterior of gripping member 14 to move
protrusion 66 out of bore 16.
[0031] Spike 20 is held in the stowed position within bore 16 by
the projection of protrusion 66 into bore 16 against tapered lower
end 44 of shank 42, preventing downward movement of spike 20. When
cam 70 is pivoted to move protrusion 66 out of bore 16, spike 20 is
allowed to fall under the force of gravity to its extended
position.
[0032] since spike head 46 is larger than opening 52 in the bottom
of cap 50, spike 20 is prevented from falling completely out of
bore 16. When protrusion 66 is released into bore 16 with spike 20
in the extended position, protrusion 66 extends into latching
groove 54, locking spike 20 in the extended position.
[0033] While the invention has been described in terms of using the
detachable fore grip as a handheld weapon, it will be understood
that the fore grip may also be used for other purposes. For
example, by using a non-metallic spike, the fore grip can be used
as a tool to detect buried mines. Also, the fore grip can be used
as a utility spike, such as a marlin spike.
[0034] Certain modifications and improvements will occur to those
skilled in the art Upon a reading of the foregoing description. It
should be understood that all such modifications and improvements
have been deleted herein for the sake of conciseness and
readability but are properly within the scope of the following
claims.
* * * * *