U.S. patent application number 14/681024 was filed with the patent office on 2015-10-08 for mounting configuration to mount a rail segment and accessories to a hand guard of a firearm.
The applicant listed for this patent is Troy Industries, Inc.. Invention is credited to David Hewes, Stephen P. Troy.
Application Number | 20150285585 14/681024 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54209481 |
Filed Date | 2015-10-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150285585 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hewes; David ; et
al. |
October 8, 2015 |
Mounting Configuration to Mount a Rail Segment and Accessories to a
Hand Guard of a Firearm
Abstract
A hand guard comprising a hand guard body; a plurality of keys
formed in the hand guard body, each of the keys comprising a hole
portion and a slot portion intersecting the hole portion; each of
the keys have a longitudinal axis; and each of the keys are
arranged with the longitudinal axis of each of the keys extending
around a circumference of the hand guard body.
Inventors: |
Hewes; David; (Chesterfield,
MA) ; Troy; Stephen P.; (West Springfield,
MA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Troy Industries, Inc. |
West Springfield |
MA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
54209481 |
Appl. No.: |
14/681024 |
Filed: |
April 7, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61976381 |
Apr 7, 2014 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
42/71.01 ;
29/428 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 29/49826 20150115;
F41C 23/16 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F41C 23/16 20060101
F41C023/16 |
Claims
1. A hand guard comprising: a hand guard body; a plurality of keys
formed in the hand guard body, each of the keys comprising a hole
portion and a slot portion intersecting the hole portion; each of
the keys have a longitudinal axis; and each of the keys arranged
with the longitudinal axis of each of the keys extending around a
circumference of the hand guard body.
2. The hand guard of claim 1 wherein: the longitudinal axis of each
of the keys extending around the circumference of the hand guard
body is substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the hand
guard body.
3. The hand guard of claim 2 wherein: the plurality of keys are
provided in at least one group, the at least one group extending
around the circumference of the hand guard body along a
circumference line extending around the circumference of the hand
guard body, the circumference line maintaining a substantially
constant axial position of the longitudinal axis of the hand guard
body as the circumference line extends around the circumference of
the hand guard body.
4. The hand guard of claim 3 wherein: all of the keys of the at
least one group of keys are substantially equally spaced around the
circumference of the hand guard body.
5. The hand guard of claim 3 wherein: all of the keys of the at
least one group of keys have a same orientation of the hole portion
and the slot portion of the keys.
6. The hand guard of claim 3 wherein: all of the keys of the at
least one group of keys are substantially identical.
7. The hand guard of claim 3 wherein: the plurality of keys are
provided in at least two groups, the at least two groups comprising
a first group and a second group; the first group extending around
the circumference of the hand guard body along a first
circumference line extending around the circumference of the hand
guard body, the first circumference line maintaining a
substantially constant first axial position of the longitudinal
axis of the hand guard body as the first circumference line extends
around the circumference of the hand guard body; and the second
group extending around the circumference of the hand guard body
along a second circumference line extending around the
circumference of the hand guard body, the second circumference line
maintaining a substantially constant second axial position of the
longitudinal axis of the hand guard body as the second
circumference line extends around the circumference of the hand
guard body, the second axial position axially spaced from the first
axial position of the longitudinal axis of the hand guard body.
8. The hand guard of claim 3 wherein: the first group of keys and
the second group of keys are adjacent groups; and the first group
of keys and the second group of keys have opposite
orientations.
9. A hand guard of claim 1 further comprising: at least one rail
segment mounted to the hand guard body.
10. A firearm comprising: a hand guard comprising a hand guard
body; a plurality of keys formed in the hand guard body, each of
the keys comprising a hole portion and a slot portion intersecting
the hole portion; each of the keys have a longitudinal axis; and
each of the keys arranged with the longitudinal axis of each of the
keys extending around a circumference of the hand guard body.
11. The firearm of claim 10 wherein: the longitudinal axis of each
of the keys extending around the circumference of the hand guard
body is substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the hand
guard body.
12. The firearm of claim 11 wherein: the plurality of keys are
provided in at least one group, the at least one group extending
around the circumference of the hand guard body along a
circumference line extending around the circumference of the hand
guard body, the circumference line maintaining a substantially
constant axial position of the longitudinal axis of the hand guard
body as the circumference line extends around the circumference of
the hand guard body.
13. The firearm of claim 12 wherein: the plurality of keys are
provided in at least two groups, the at least two groups comprising
a first group and a second group; the first group extending around
the circumference of the hand guard body along a first
circumference line extending around the circumference of the hand
guard body, the first circumference line maintaining a
substantially constant first axial position of the longitudinal
axis of the hand guard body as the first circumference line extends
around the circumference of the hand guard body; and the second
group extending around the circumference of the hand guard body
along a second circumference line extending around the
circumference of the hand guard body, the second circumference line
maintaining a substantially constant second axial position of the
longitudinal axis of the hand guard body as the second
circumference line extends around the circumference of the hand
guard body, the second axial position axially spaced from the first
axial position of the longitudinal axis of the hand guard body.
14. A method of providing a hand guard for a firearm, the method
comprising: attaching the rail segment to a hand guard body,
wherein the hand guard body comprises a plurality of keys formed in
the hand guard body, each of the keys comprising a hole portion and
a slot portion intersecting the hole portion; each of the keys have
a longitudinal axis; and each of the keys arranged with the
longitudinal axis of each of the keys extending around a
circumference of the hand guard body.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein: attaching the rail segment to a
hand guard body further comprises passing a retaining portion of at
least one nut through the hole portion of one of the keys;
inserting an oblong portion of the at least one nut in the slot
portion of the one of the keys; and mechanically engaging the
retaining portion of the at least one nut with the hand guard body
to inhibit separation of the rail segment from the hand guard
body.
16. The method of claim 14 wherein: attaching the rail segment to a
hand guard body further comprises passing a retaining portion of a
first nut through the hole portion of a first key of the keys, and
passing a retaining portion of a second nut through a hole portion
of a second key of the keys; inserting an oblong portion of the
first nut in the slot portion of the first key, and inserting an
oblong portion of the second nut in the slot portion of the second
key; and mechanically engaging the first nut retaining portion with
the hand guard body to inhibit separation of the rail segment from
the hand guard body, and mechanically engaging the second nut
retaining portion with the hand guard body to inhibit separation of
the rail segment from the hand guard body.
17. The method of claim 14 wherein: the longitudinal axis of each
of the keys extending around the circumference of the hand guard
body is substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the hand
guard body.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein: the plurality of keys are
provided in at least one group, the at least one group extending
around the circumference of the hand guard body along a
circumference line extending around the circumference of the hand
guard body, the circumference line maintaining a substantially
constant axial position of the longitudinal axis of the hand guard
body as the circumference line extends around the circumference of
the hand guard body.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein: the plurality of keys are
provided in at least two groups, the at least two groups comprising
a first group and a second group; the first group extending around
the circumference of the hand guard body along a first
circumference line extending around the circumference of the hand
guard body, the first circumference line maintaining a
substantially constant first axial position of the longitudinal
axis of the hand guard body as the first circumference line extends
around the circumference of the hand guard body; and the second
group extending around the circumference of the hand guard body
along a second circumference line extending around the
circumference of the hand guard body, the second circumference line
maintaining a substantially constant second axial position of the
longitudinal axis of the hand guard body as the second
circumference line extends around the circumference of the hand
guard body, the second axial position axially spaced from the first
axial position of the longitudinal axis of the hand guard body.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of the filing
date of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/976,381,
filed Apr. 7, 2014, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated
herein by reference.
FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to firearms, and,
more particularly, to a circumferentially oriented mounting
configuration for mounting firearm accessories to a firearm,
particularly a hand guard.
BACKGROUND
[0003] A KeyMod.TM. attachment system is a known open-source system
used to standardize attachment systems in the firearm accessories
market. The system may be used, for example, to directly attach
firearm accessories (such as flash light mounts, laser modules,
sights, scope mounts, vertical grips, rail panels, hand stops,
barricade supports, and many others) to a firearm or firearm hand
guard. The system generally includes two parts, the key (sometimes
referred to as a slot), and the nut. The key generally has a larger
diameter circular through-hole combined with a narrow elongated
slot, which has a width less than a diameter of the hole. As shown
in FIG. 1, for example, keys 102 extend axially along the
longitudinal axis of the hand guard 100 in which they are formed
with the circular hole 106 positioned closer to the butt end 108 of
the firearm and the elongated slot 110 positioned closer to the
distal end 112 of the firearm. The spacing of the holes 106 of
adjacent keys may be based on MIL-STD-1913 spacing to allow the
modularity with existing accessories.
[0004] The elongated slot 110 may be chamfered on the backside
while the circular hole 106 may be sized for clearance of a
quick-detach sling swivel, e.g. approximately 3/8'' diameter in
some embodiments. The nut is stepped and the larger diameter end
may be chamfered around a portion, e.g. 270 degrees, of its
diameter. The angled face may interface with the chamfer on the
backside of the key. The full diameter may be left intact to create
two flats on the nut which align the nut to the slot 110 in the
key, and allow it to be indexed to the accessory as well as to the
key. This may eliminate the need to align the nuts to the key holes
prior to accessory installation as well as the need for tools to
tighten the screw/nut. In some accessories, the screw may be swaged
after assembly to ensure that it cannot be backed out of the nut.
This may prevents loss of small parts (screws, nuts or other small
parts used in the assembly of the accessory).
[0005] One problem of the KeyMod attachment system is the
orientation of the keys 102. Since the recoil forces and counter
forces occur in the same general direction as installation and
removal of rail segments and other accessories, such may become
loose or detached as a result of the recoil force and counter
force.
SUMMARY
[0006] The present disclosure provides a mounting configuration to
mount a rail segment as well as accessories to a hand guard body of
a firearm hand guard in such a matter which overcomes certain
disadvantages in the art of the rail segment and/or accessories
potentially coming loose during operation of the firearm due to
recoil forces and counter forces.
[0007] According to at least one embodiment of the present
disclosure, a hand guard is provided comprising a hand guard body;
a plurality of keys formed in the hand guard body, each of the keys
comprising a hole portion and a slot portion intersecting the hole
portion; each of the keys have a longitudinal axis; and each of the
keys arranged with the longitudinal axis of each of the keys
extending around a circumference of the hand guard body.
[0008] According to at least one embodiment of the present
disclosure, the longitudinal axis of each of the keys extending
around the circumference of the hand guard body is substantially
transverse to a longitudinal axis of the hand guard body.
[0009] According to at least one embodiment of the present
disclosure, the plurality of keys are provided in at least one
group, the at least one group extending around the circumference of
the hand guard body along a circumference line extending around the
circumference of the hand guard body, the circumference line
maintaining a substantially constant axial position of the
longitudinal axis of the hand guard body as the circumference line
extends around the circumference of the hand guard body.
[0010] According to at least one embodiment of the present
disclosure, all of the keys of the at least one group of keys are
substantially equally spaced around the circumference of the hand
guard body.
[0011] According to at least one embodiment of the present
disclosure, all of the keys of the at least one group of keys have
a same orientation of the hole portion and the slot portion of the
keys.
[0012] According to at least one embodiment of the present
disclosure, all of the keys of the at least one group of keys are
substantially identical.
[0013] According to at least one embodiment of the present
disclosure, the plurality of keys are provided in at least two
groups, the at least two groups comprising a first group and a
second group; the first group extending around the circumference of
the hand guard body along a first circumference line extending
around the circumference of the hand guard body, the first
circumference line maintaining a substantially constant first axial
position of the longitudinal axis of the hand guard body as the
first circumference line extends around the circumference of the
hand guard body; and the second group extending around the
circumference of the hand guard body along a second circumference
line extending around the circumference of the hand guard body, the
second circumference line maintaining a substantially constant
second axial position of the longitudinal axis of the hand guard
body as the second circumference line extends around the
circumference of the hand guard body, the second axial position
axially spaced from the first axial position of the longitudinal
axis of the hand guard body.
[0014] According to at least one embodiment of the present
disclosure, the first group of keys and the second group of keys
are adjacent groups; and the first group of keys and the second
group of keys have opposite orientations.
[0015] According to at least one embodiment of the present
disclosure, a firearm is provided comprising a hand guard
comprising a hand guard body; a plurality of keys formed in the
hand guard body, each of the keys comprising a hole portion and a
slot portion intersecting the hole portion; each of the keys have a
longitudinal axis; and each of the keys arranged with the
longitudinal axis of each of the keys extending around a
circumference of the hand guard body.
[0016] According to at least one embodiment of the present
disclosure, a method of providing a hand guard for a firearm is
provided, the method comprising attaching the rail segment to a
hand guard body, wherein the hand guard body comprises a plurality
of keys formed in the hand guard body, each of the keys comprising
a hole portion and a slot portion intersecting the hole portion;
each of the keys have a longitudinal axis; and each of the keys
arranged with the longitudinal axis of each of the keys extending
around a circumference of the hand guard body.
[0017] According to at least one embodiment of the present
disclosure, attaching the rail segment to a hand guard body further
comprises passing a retaining portion of at least one nut through
the hole portion of one of the keys; inserting an oblong portion of
the at least one nut in the slot portion of the one of the keys;
and mechanically engaging the retaining portion of the at least one
nut with the hand guard body to inhibit separation of the rail
segment from the hand guard body.
[0018] According to at least one embodiment of the present
disclosure, attaching the rail segment to a hand guard body further
comprises passing a retaining portion of a first nut through the
hole portion of a first key of the keys, and passing a retaining
portion of a second nut through a hole portion of a second key of
the keys; inserting an oblong portion of the first nut in the slot
portion of the first key, and inserting an oblong portion of the
second nut in the slot portion of the second key; and mechanically
engaging the first nut retaining portion with the hand guard body
to inhibit separation of the rail segment from the hand guard body,
and mechanically engaging the second nut retaining portion with the
hand guard body to inhibit separation of the rail segment from the
hand guard body.
FIGURES
[0019] The above-mentioned and other features of this disclosure,
and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and
better understood by reference to the following description of
embodiments described herein taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates a portion of a firearm hand guard
including a prior art KeyMod.TM. configuration;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of a firearm
including a hand guard consistent with the present disclosure;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a nut
useful in a system consistent with the present disclosure;
[0023] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of a firearm
including a hand guard consistent with the present disclosure and
including the nut shown in FIG. 3;
[0024] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of a firearm
including a hand guard consistent with the present disclosure with
a rail segment mounted thereto;
[0025] FIG. 6 illustrates the portion of the firearm of FIG. 5,
with the rail segment shown in phantom;
[0026] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of a firearm
including a hand guard consistent with the present disclosure with
a rail segment and a hand grip mounted thereto; and
[0027] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of a firearm
including a hand guard consistent with the present disclosure with
a rail segment and a hand grip mounted thereto.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0028] It may be appreciated that the present disclosure is not
limited in its application to the details of construction and the
arrangement of components set forth in the following description or
illustrated in the drawings. The invention(s) herein may be capable
of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in
various ways. Also, it may be appreciated that the phraseology and
terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and
should not be regarded as limiting as such may be understood by one
of skill in the art.
[0029] By way of a general overview, the present disclosure
includes a key 206 and nut 306 mounting system for mounting firearm
accessories to a firearm 200 wherein the keys 206 are provided
circumferentially around the firearm hand guard 202. While being
provided in a different orientation, the key 206 and nut 306 may be
take the general shape of a KeyMod.TM. key and KeyMod.TM. nut, or
may be provided in different shapes, and the hand guard 202 may
constructed from a composite (e.g. carbon fiber reinforced plastic)
or metal (e.g. aluminum).
[0030] As shown herein, placing the keys 206 circumferentially
around the hand guard 202 avoids loosening of the accessories
attached via the key 206 and nut 306, particularly because forces
acting along the longitudinal axis of the hand guard 202 cannot act
to move the nut 306 out of the slot portion of the key 206,
particularly as the longitudinal axis of the slot is orientated
transverse to the forces acting along the longitudinal axis of the
hand guard 202. This allows for secure and reliable fastening of
firearm accessories to a fire arm 200.
[0031] Referring now to the figures, FIG. 2 shows a perspective
view of a portion of a firearm 200 including a hand guard 202 with
a hand guard body 204, including a plurality of keys 206 formed
therein to provide a key 206 and nut 306 mounting system according
to the present disclosure. As shown, hand guard 202 is positioned
around the barrel 214 of firearm 200, and a first rail segment 208
is mounted on the top of the hand guard 202, a second rail segment
210 is mounted on a vertical side of the hand guard 202, and a
third rail segment including a hand grip 212 is mounted to the
bottom of the hand guard 202.
[0032] In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, hand guard 202 may
be constructed as a composite hand guard 202 constructed using
carbon fiber with keys 206 formed circumferentially around the hand
guard 202. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize,
however, that a hand guard 202 consistent with the present
disclosure may be constructed of any of a variety of materials or
combinations thereof. Also, the hand guard 202 may be a monolithic
hand guard 202 or may be formed in multiple parts, and may be
coupled to the firearm 200 so that it is positioned around the
barrel 214 of the firearm 200 using any coupling mechanism.
[0033] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the keys 206 may have a general
shape with a large circular through hole 302 and a relatively
narrower elongated slot 304 intersecting the through hole 302. Each
of the keys 206 has a longitudinal axis extending from a center of
the hole 302 and bisecting the slot 304. The keys 206 are shown to
be substantially identical in size and shape, e.g. none of their
dimensions varying greater than 10%, and more particularly none of
their dimensions varying greater than 5%.
[0034] The nut 306 includes a larger diameter circular (retention)
portion 308 and a smaller diameter oblong (anti-rotation) portion
310 with flats 312, 314 on opposed sides, which will also inhibit
movement of the accessory out of the key 20 as discussed herein.
The larger diameter circular portion 308 of the nut 306 is
configured to pass through the circular hole 302 portion of the key
206 and the smaller diameter oblong portion 310 is configured to
mate within the elongated slot 304 portion of the key 206, with the
two flats 312, 314 positioned against opposite surfaces of the slot
304, e.g. as shown particularly in FIG. 4, and the larger diameter
circular portion 308 to bear against and mechanically engage the
inner surface of the hand guard body 204 adjacent the elongated
slot 304 to inhibit removal from the hand guard body 204. Although
the key 206 and nut 306 may be shaped as known KeyMod.TM. keys and
nuts in the embodiments illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill
in the art will recognize that the key 206 and nut 306 may be
provided in any of a variety of shapes, and are provided in an
orientation unlike the KeyMod.TM. system.
[0035] In the embodiments illustrated herein, the keys 206 are
positioned with their longitudinal length/axis orientated
circumferentially around the hand guard 202 substantially
transverse to the longitudinal axis 316 of hand guard body 204
(and/or the longitudinal axis 316 of barrel 214), and in groups
that are axially spaced, i.e. along the longitudinal axis 316 of
the hand guard body 204 and/or barrel 214 relative to each
other.
[0036] As used herein, the longitudinal length/axis of a key 206 is
substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis 316 of hand guard
body 204 (and/or the longitudinal axis 316 of barrel 214) if the
longitudinal length/axis of the key 206 is within 10 degrees of
being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 316 of hand guard body
204 (and/or the longitudinal axis 316 of barrel 214), and more
particularly within 5 degrees of being perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis 316 of hand guard body 204 (and/or the
longitudinal axis 316 of barrel 214), and even more particularly
within 2 degrees of being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis
316 of hand guard body 204 (and/or the longitudinal axis 316 of
barrel 214).
[0037] With reference to FIG. 4, for example, a first group 318 of
keys 206 are positioned in a circular pattern/row along (on) a
first circumferential line 320 extending around the circumference
of the hand guard body 204, a second group of keys 322 is
positioned in a circular pattern/row along (on) a second
circumferential line 324 extending around the circumference of the
hand guard body 204, and a third group of keys 326 is positioned in
a circular pattern/row along (on) a third circumferential line 328
extending around the circumference of the hand guard 202, and so
on.
[0038] As shown, the longitudinal axis of each key 206 is aligned
substantially planar and substantially parallel with a
circumferential line, e.g. lines 320, 324 or 328, extending around
the circumference of the hand guard body 204. Also, the keys 206 of
each group 318, 322, 326, etc. are substantially equally spaced
from one another, e.g. their spacing from one another does not vary
greater than 10%, and more particularly does not vary greater than
5%.
[0039] The circumferential lines, e.g. lines 320, 324 and 328, are
substantially equally axially spaced from each other along the
longitudinal axis 316 of the hand guard body 204, and maintain a
substantially constant axial position of the longitudinal axis 316
of hand guard body 204 (and/or the longitudinal axis 316 of barrel
214).
[0040] As used herein, each of the circumferential lines, e.g.
lines 320, 324 and 328 are substantially equally axially spaced
from each other along the longitudinal axis 316 of the hand guard
body 204 if the axial spacing of the circumferential lines, e.g.
lines 320, 324 and 328, varies less than 2 mm along the
longitudinal axis of hand guard body 204 (and/or the longitudinal
axis 316 of barrel 214), and more particularly varies less than 1
mm along the longitudinal axis of hand guard body 204 (and/or the
longitudinal axis 316 of barrel 214), and more particularly varies
less than 0.5 mm along the longitudinal axis of hand guard body 204
(and/or the longitudinal axis 316 of barrel 214).
[0041] As used herein, each of the circumferential lines, e.g.
lines 320, 324 and 328 maintain a substantially constant/uniform
axial position of the longitudinal axis 316 of hand guard body 204
(and/or the longitudinal axis 316 of barrel 214) if a position of
the circumferential line, e.g. lines 320, 324 and 328, varies less
than 2 mm along the longitudinal axis 316 of hand guard body 204
(and/or the longitudinal axis 316 of barrel 214) as the
circumference line extends around the circumference of the hand
guard body 204, and more particularly varies less than 1 mm along
the longitudinal axis 316 of hand guard body 204 (and/or the
longitudinal axis 316 of barrel 214) as the circumference line
extends around the circumference of the hand guard body 204, and
more particularly varies less than 0.5 mm along the longitudinal
axis 316 of hand guard body 204 (and/or the longitudinal axis 316
of barrel 214) as the circumference line extends around the
circumference of the hand guard body 204.
[0042] As shown, the keys 206 in the same group have holes 302 and
slots 304 in a same orientation/direction, while keys 206 in
adjacent groups have holes 302 and slots 304 positioned in opposite
orientation/direction. For understanding, in FIG. 4, on the side of
the hand guard body 204 shown, the keys 206 in the first group 318
have slots 304 directed generally downward and the keys 206 in the
second group 322 have slots 304 directed generally upward. The keys
206 in groups that include a single group therebetween have holes
302 and slots 304 positioned in the same orientation/direction.
Also as shown in FIG. 4, the holes 302 and slots 304 of the keys
206 in the first group 318 are oriented in the same direction as
the holes 302 and slots 304 in the third group 326. The holes 302
and/or slots 304 in groups that include a single group
therebetween, e.g. the first 318 and third 326 group in FIG. 4 may
be spaced by a standard distance d, e.g. as recited by military
standard MIL-STD-1913 to allow for standardization.
[0043] As shown in FIGS. 5-8, accessories such a rail sections 208,
210, and hand grip 212 may be coupled to the hand guard body 204 of
hand guard 202 using the keys 206 and nuts 306, e.g. by coupling
the accessory to nuts 306 disposed in associated keys 206. To
accommodate the circumferential positioning of the accessories in
the keys 206 of the hand guard body 204 of the hand guard 202, the
accessories may include an arcuate bottom surface having diameter
matching and corresponding to the outside diameter of the hand
guard body 204. As shown in FIG. 8, for example, the rail section
210 includes an arcuate bottom surface 802.
[0044] Advantageously, positioning the keys circumferentially
around a hand guard 202 in a manner consistent with the present
disclosure reduces loosening of an accessories coupled thereto as a
result of force transmitted along the longitudinal axis of the hand
guard 202/barrel 214. For example, with axial (in the direction of
arrows 702) recoil or hand grip force on the hand grip 212 shown in
FIG. 7, the nut 306 securing the hand grip 212 is forced against
the side surfaces of the slot 304. This mechanical
interference/lock inhibits forcing the nut 306 out of the slot 304,
which can cause loosening of the coupling between the hand grip 212
and the hand guard 202.
[0045] Moreover, in order to make better use of gravitational
force, when rail section 210 is mounted to a vertical side of the
hand guard body 204, the rail section 210 should be mounted in keys
206 with the slot 304 of the key 206 positioned vertically beneath
the hole 302 of the key 206. In the foregoing manner, the force of
gravity may additionally mechanically aid in keeping the nut 306
from being forced out of the slot 304. Such keys 206 are provided
in groups 318 and 326 shown in FIG. 4. However, on the other
vertical side of hand guard body 204, the rail section 210 should
be mounted in keys 206 of group 322 to provide keys 206 with the
slot 304 of the key 206 positioned vertically beneath the hole 302
of the key 206.
[0046] While embodiments of the present disclosure have been
described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the
art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or
structures for performing the functions and/or obtaining the
results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and
each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within
the scope of the present disclosure. More generally, those skilled
in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions,
materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be
exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials,
and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or
applications for which the teachings of the present disclosure
is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to
ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many
equivalents to the specific embodiments of the disclosure described
herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing
embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within
the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, the
disclosure may be practiced otherwise than as specifically
described and claimed. The present disclosure is directed to each
individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method
described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such
features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if
such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods
are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the scope of the
present disclosure.
[0047] All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be
understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in
documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of
the defined terms.
[0048] The indefinite articles "a" and "an," as used herein in the
specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the
contrary, should be understood to mean "at least one."
[0049] The phrase "and/or," as used herein in the specification and
in the claims, should be understood to mean "either or both" of the
elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively
present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases.
Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements
specifically identified by the "and/or" clause, whether related or
unrelated to those elements specifically identified, unless clearly
indicated to the contrary.
LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS
[0050] 102 key
[0051] 104 hand guard
[0052] 106 hole
[0053] 108 butt end
[0054] 110 slot
[0055] 112 distal end
[0056] 200 firearm
[0057] 202 hand guard
[0058] 204 hand guard body
[0059] 206 key
[0060] 208 first rail segment
[0061] 210 second rail segment
[0062] 212 hand grip
[0063] 214 barrel
[0064] 302 hole
[0065] 304 slot
[0066] 306 nut
[0067] 308 large diameter circular portion
[0068] 310 smaller diameter oblong portion
[0069] 312 flat
[0070] 314 flat
[0071] 316 longitudinal axis
[0072] 318 first group of keys
[0073] 320 first circumference line
[0074] 322 second group of keys
[0075] 324 second circumference line
[0076] 326 third group of keys
[0077] 328 third circumference line
* * * * *