Resilient Pistol Grip

Abstract

A resilient pistol grip to be connected to the handle of a pistol and including a body of elastomeric material forming two side portions of the grip to be connected to opposite sides of the pistol handle, with each of these side portions containing rigid reinforcing plates, and with the elastomeric body having a forward portion extending between and interconnecting the two side portions and adapted to extend across the front of the pistol handle.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to improved pistol grip structures to be connected to the handle of a pistol in a relation presenting resiliently deformable external surfaces of elastomeric material for contact with the hand of a person using the gun, in a relation maximizing comfort to the hand and reducing the transmission of recoil from the gun to the user.

The present grip is in some respects similar to the type of grip shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,672,084 issued June 27, 1972. In that patent there has been shown a grip structure including a pair of similar molded rubber body sections received at opposite sides of the handle of a pistol and interengaged in a central plane of the grip, with reinforcing plates received in the two sections.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an arrangement in which essentially a single unitary grip unit is adapted to be connected to the handle of a pistol in a manner such that the single unit serves to provide resilient surfaces of elastomeric material at both sides of the handle and extending across the front thereof, to by itself effectively cushion the contact between the gun and a person's hand at all of these locations. Of particular importance is the manner in which this single unit very positively retains in position the portion of the grip which extends across the front of the pistol handle, without the necessity for any fasteners at that location. The manner of retention of this forward portion of the grip is such as to enable that portion to be made very thin if desired, to thus provide a continuous elastomeric surface at the front of the handle without requiring the provision of an excessively thick piece of material at that location which might interfere with optimum gripping of the gun.

Structurally, the grip of the present invention has two opposite side portions of elastomeric material, desirably an appropriate fairly soft rubber, adapted to be received at the opposite sides respectively of the pistol handle and containing essentially rigid reinforcing plates embedded in and stiffening these two side portions, with the elastomeric material also forming a forward portion of the grip extending between and interconnecting and formed integrally with the two side portions and adapted to extend across the front of the pistol handle. The two side sections are adapted to be secured in position at opposite sides of the handle, and by such retention will in turn effectively hold in proper position the forward portion of the grip which is received at the front of the handle. The reinforcing plates in the side portions enable those side portions to have sufficient rigidity to serve their intended purpose even though the elastomeric material itself may be fairly soft, to maximize the cushioning action. The side portion may be retained in place by screws extending through openings in those side portions and connecting to the gun handle. Preferably, threaded projections carried by the opposite sides of the handle extend into these openings, in a relation accurately locating the side portions of the grip relative to the gun handle. The reinforcing plates in the elastomeric side portions may contain apertures for contacting or essentially contacting the projections on the gun handle, and may have shoulders engageable by the retaining screws to positively position the entire grip very accurately and in predetermined manner on the pistol handle.

Each of the reinforcing plates in the side portions of the grip unit is desirably curved essentially arcuately about a generally vertical axis, and between two opposite side edges of the plate, with the plate preferably reducing gradually in width as it advances upwardly along the side of the handle, and with the plate preferably having inturned top and bottom ears or flanges at its upper and lower extremities.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The above and other features and objects of the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the typical embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the handle portion of an automatic pistol carrying a grip formed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the grip, taken on line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a generally vertical section taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3a is an enlargement of a portion of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 are generally horizontal sections taken on lines 4--4, 5--5 and 6--6 respectively of FIG. 1, all of which are perpendicular to the previously mentioned line 3--3;

FIG. 7 is a vertical section taken on line 7--7 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the grip unit as it appears when removed from the pistol and when it is open to an essentially flattened condition;

FIG. 9 is a transverse section taken on line 9--9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a side view of one of the metal reinforcing plates of the grip unit;

FIGS. 11 and 12 are end views of the upper and lower ends respectively of the reinforcing plate, taken on lines 11--11 and 12--12 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a section taken on line 13--13 of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 14--14 of FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

While it is to be understood that certain features of the invention can be applied to grips for any of various different types of pistols, I have typically illustrated at 10 in FIG. 1 and others of the figures a gun of the `Colt` type, having a downwardly projecting hollow handle 11 to which a grip unit 12 embodying the invention is attached. The handle contains the usual ammunition clip 13 (FIG. 3), which is insertable upwardly into the interior of the handle from its lower end, to feed a series of rounds successively to the chamber 14 of the gun for firing. A trigger 15 controls firing operation of the hammer 16, which is automatically cocked by recoiling movement of a slide 17.

As seen in FIGS. 2 through 6, the handle 11 of the pistol has two parallel essentially planar vertically extending opposite side walls 18 and 19, having oppositely facing outer planar parallel vertical surfaces 20 and 21. At the front of the handle, the two side walls 18 and 19 are connected together by a forward portion 22 of the rigid handle 11, which may be externally curved or rounded as seen in FIGS. 5 and 6. Each of the side walls 18 and 19 of the gun handle carries two upper and lower outwardly projecting locating bosses 23 and 24, which are externally cylindrical about horizontal axes 25 and 26 extending perpendicular to planar opposite side surfaces 20 and 21 of the handle. These bosses contain internal threads 27 for connection to screws 28 to be utilized in securing the grip 12 on the gun.

The grip unit itself may be considered as including two opposite side sections 29 and 30, to be received at opposite sides of handle 11 as shown, and interconnected by a forward portion 31 of the grip which extends across the front of forward wall 22 of the gun handle. As will be best understood by reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, all three of these sections or portions 29, 30 and 31 of the grip are molded integrally as a single body of elastomeric material, desirably a fairly soft neoprene or other rubber having a shore hardness between about 35 and 55, with two rigid preferably metal reinforcing plates 32 and 33 being embedded within and bonded continuously to the side portions 29 and 30 respectively. The two side sections 29 and 30 have inner planar surfaces 34 and 35 which abut against the outer planar surfaces 20 and 21 respectively formed at the opposite sides of the gun handle, with bosses or lugs 23 and 24 received and fitting closely within two apertures 36 and 37 in each of the side sections of the grip unit, in a relation very accurately locating the side sections relative to the rigid handle of the gun.

The rubber of the grip may be initially molded in the flattened condition of FIG. 9, in which the central or forward portion 31 of the grip unit may have a planar surface 38 extending between and forming a continuation of the two aligned previously mentioned flat surfaces 34 and 35. When the grip is attached to the gun, this surface 38 of portion 31 is held tightly against and curves in correspondence with the forward curving surface of portion 22 of the handle, as seen in FIGS. 5 and 6. This portion 31 desirably has a thickness t which is much less than the maximum thickness T of the two side portions.

As seen in FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 11 and 12, each of the reinforcing plates is curved arcuately about a generally vertical axis, in extending between two edges 43 and 44 of the plate, with the radius of curvature desirably decreasing slightly as the plate 32 or 33 advances upwardly. Further, the front to rear dimension of each plate, between its edges 43 and 44, desirably decreases gradually in an upward direction. Edges 43 and 44 are just slightly embedded within the rubber, and are located essentially within a plane 47 which is spaced only slightly from and parallel to the plane of the corresponding surface 34 or 35. At its upper end, the material of each of the plates 32 or 33 is turned inwardly as seen in FIG. 11 to form a flange or tab 48 whose edge 49 lies essentially in the same plane 47 as do edges 43 and 44. Similarly, at the bottom of each plate 32 or 33, an inturned tab or flange 50 is formed having an edge 51 desirably lying again in the same plane 47.

The rubber of each of the side sections 32 or 33 is molded to present an outer arcuately curved surface 52, which curves in correspondence with and is essentially parallel to and spaced outwardly a short distance from the outer arcuately curved surface 53 of the reinforcing plate 32 or 33. Each surface 52 extends between and is defined by two front and rear edges 41 and 42 which are closely proximate to and essentially parallel to edges 43 and 44 of the reinforcing plates. Like plates 32 and 33, surfaces 52 preferably decrease gradually in radius of curvature, and in front to rear width w between edges 41 and 42, as they advance upwardly from their lower ends 39 to their upper ends 40. Plates 32 and 33 may have a series of cutaway regions 45 along edges 43 and 44, and a series of spaced openings 46, for assuring an effective bonding of the rubber body to each of the plates.

Surfaces 52, as well as the outer surface 54 of the forward or intermediate portion 31 of the grip unit, are all provided with "checkering" or other irregularities 55, to facilitate effective grasping of the gun handle in use. A non-checkered protrusion 155 may be provided on each of the side sections if desired, as shown, to better fit the contour of the user's thumb and fingers at the level of the trigger.

The openings 36 and 37 within which bosses or lugs 23 and 24 on the gun handle are received extend through both the rubber and metal of the side sections 32 and 33, and are circular and a close fit about the corresponding circular lugs 23 and 24, to thus positively locate the side portions of the grip unit relative to the gun by actual metal to metal contact of the reinforcing plates with lugs 23 and 24. As best seen in FIG. 3a, the screws 28 have enlarged heads at their outer ends which are just slightly larger than the openings 36 and 37 in the metal reinforcing plates 32 and 33, so that when the screws are tightened they engage inwardly against the metal of the reinforcing plates about openings 36 and 37, to thus tightly clamp the plates inwardly in a manner retaining the side sections of the grip unit against the opposite sides of the handle. The reinforcing plates 32 and 33 may also have a pair of inwardly necked essentially tubular portions 56 which can be engaged by locating pins in a molding die during the molding of the rubber body of the grip unit, to thereby assure proper positioning of the reinforcing plates within the rubber, with the peripheral edges of the plates preferably being completely enclosed within the rubber at all locations.

In mounting the grip unit 12 to a gun, one of the side sections 32 or 33 may first be positioned adjacent its respective side of the gun handle, with two of the lugs or bosses 23 and 24 received in locating relation within the openings 36 and 37 of that section. Two of the screws 28 may then be tightened into their respective bosses 23 and 24, to tightly clamp that first side section against the gun handle. The forward portion 31 of the grip unit is then pulled across the front of the gun handle, following which the second side section may be positioned at the second side of the gun handle, with the second pair of lugs 23 and 24 received in the second set of apertures 36 and 37. In order to position this second pair of lugs within their corresponding apertures 36 and 37, the forward portion 31 of the grip must be pulled tightly against the front of the gun handle. The application of the final pair of screws to the second side of the handle retains the entire assembly in place. In using the gun, a person's hand engages and grasps the checkered surfaces of the two side portions 32 and 33 of the grip, and of the forward portion 31, with the soft rubber providing a very effective cushioning action at all of these locations, to increase the comfort and effectiveness of the grip and cushion the recoil, while the reinforcing plates maintain the soft rubber against excessive deformation.

Though a certain embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed as typical, the invention is of course not limited to this particular form, but rather is applicable broadly to all such variations as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. A pistol grip comprising a molded body of elastomeric material to be attached to a handle of a pistol, said elastomeric body having two side portions adapted to be received at opposite sides respectively of said pistol handle and containing essentially rigid reinforcing plates embedded in and stiffening said two side portions, and said elastomeric body having a forward portion molded integrally with and connecting together said two opposite side portions of said body and extending across the front of said pistol handle.

2. A pistol grip as recited in claim 1, including fastener means for retaining said side portions against said opposite sides respectively of the pistol handle.

3. A pistol grip as recited in claim 1, including screws adapted to extend through apertures in said side portions and said reinforcing plates and connectable to said pistol handle to secure said grip thereto.

4. A pistol grip as recited in claim 1, in which said forward portion of said elastomeric body is adapted for flexure from a first condition in which said two side portions extend in opposite directions from said forward portion, all in generally a common plane, to a second condition in which said two side portions are approximately parallel to one another for reception against opposite sides of said pistol handle.

5. A pistol grip as recited in claim 1, in which the elastomeric material of each of said portions has an inner essentially flat surface engageable with the pistol handle and an external surface curving essentially arcuately and convexly about a generally vertical axis, each of said reinforcing plates being curved essentially arcuately generally in correspondence with said external surface of the corresponding side portion of the elastomeric body.

6. A pistol grip as recited in claim 5, in which said arcuately curved external surfaces of said side portions of the elastomeric body and said curved reinforcing plates both decrease gradually in front to rear width and in radius of curvature as they advance upwardly.

7. A pistol grip as recited in claim 1, in which said reinforcing plates have apertures and peripheral cutaway regions for enhancing adherence of the plates to said elastomeric material.

8. A pistol grip comprising a molded body of elastomeric material to be attached to a handle of a pistol, and screws for attaching said body to said handle, said elastomeric body having two side portions adapted to be received at opposite sides respectively of said pistol handle and containing essentially rigid reinforcing plates embedded in and stiffening said two side portions, and said elastomeric body having a forward portion molded integrally with and connecting together said two opposite side portions of said body and extending across the front of said pistol handle, said forward portion being thin as compared with said side portions and being adapted for flexure between a first condition in which said side portions lie in generally the same plane as said forward portion and project in opposite directions therefrom, and a second condition curved to a generally U-shaped form in which said side portions project therefrom generally parallel to one another at opposite sides of the pistol handle, said elastomeric material of each of said side portions having an inner essentially flat surface engageable with the pistol handle and an external surface curving essentially arcuately and convexly about a generally vertical axis, each of said reinforcing plates being curved essentially arcuately generally in correspondence with said external surface of the corresponding side portion of the elastomeric body, said curved reinforcing plates both decreasing gradually in front to rear width and in radius of curvature as they advance upwardly, said plates having bonding apertures and peripheral cutaway regions, said side portions and said plates containing additional apertures through which said screws extend for connection to said pistol handle and about which said plates are engageable with the screws.

9. The combination comprising a pistol having a downwardly projecting handle, a pistol grip, and fasteners securing said grip to said handle, said grip comprising a molded body of elastomeric material having two side portions received at opposite sides of said pistol handle and containing essentially rigid reinforcing plates embedded in and stiffening said two side portions, said elastomeric body having a forward portion molded integrally with and connecting together said two opposite side portions of said body and extending across the front of said pistol handle.

10. The combination as recited in claim 9, in which said fasteners extend through openings in said side portions of the elastomeric body and in said reinforcing plates and connect to said pistol handle.

11. The combination as recited in claim 9, in which said pistol body has projections extending outwardly therefrom and containing internal threads, said side portions and said plates therein containing locating apertures within which said projections are received, said fasteners being screws extending through said apertures and connected to said internal threads in said projections and exerting force inwardly against said plates about said apertures to retain said side portions against the pistol handle.

12. The combination as recited in claim 11, in which said forward portion of said elastomeric body is externally irregularized and thin as compared with said side portions, said side portions of the elastomeric body having inner essentially flat surfaces engaging said pistol handle and having external irregularized convex surfaces curved essentially arcuately about a generally vertical axis and decreasing in front to rear width and radius of curvature as they advance upwardly, said reinforcing plates being curved essentially arcuately about a generally vertical axis in general correspondence with and near said external surface of said body and being of similar decreasing width and decreasing radius of curvature as they advance upwardly, said plates containing additional apertures and having peripheral cutaway regions for enhancing the bond to the elastomeric material.