The present disclosure relates to a mounting device for a grenade launcher to a firearm having a handguard.
Grenade launchers have been typically designed as standalone units. The standalone unit is designed to handle the rigors of the firing of the grenade and other stresses that are imparted on the grenade launcher through the firing of the grenade as well as field use.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustration, there is shown in the drawings certain embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be understood, however, that the present disclosure is not limited to the precise embodiments and features shown. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an implementation of apparatuses consistent with the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain advantages and principles consistent with the present disclosure.
The present disclosure provides a system and apparatus for coupling a grenade launcher to a firearm. The aforementioned may be achieved in an aspect of the present disclosure by providing a mounting system operable to couple a grenade launcher to a firearm. The mounting system comprises a rail system operable to be coupled to a firearm, where the rail system comprises at least one rail that is mounted on an underside of a barrel of the firearm that is opposite to sights mounted on an upperside of the barrel. The mounting system also comprises a front lug that is coupled to the barrel in front of the rail system and aligned with the at least one rail and a grenade launcher rail that is operable to be coupled to the grenade launcher. The mounting system also comprises a lug adapter operable to be coupled to the grenade launcher rail and the front lug.
The aforementioned may be achieved in another aspect of the present disclosure by providing a lug adapter operable to couple a grenade launcher rail to a front lug of a firearm. The lug adapter comprises a rail base that is operable to be received by a grenade launcher rail, where the rail base has a first end and a second end, the second end being opposite the first end. The rail base also forms an opening near the first end, where the opening is operable to receive a set screw. The lug adapter also comprises a housing protruding from the rail base at the second end and extending towards the first end, where the housing forms a front lug receiving portion that is operable to receive a front lug of a firearm. The lug adapter further includes an adjustment screw that is operable to be received in an adjustment screw receiving portion formed in the housing, wherein the adjustment screw is operable to engage the housing with the front lug.
Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented. “Coupled” refers to the linking or connection of two objects. The coupling can be direct or indirect. An indirect coupling includes connecting two objects through one or more intermediary objects. Coupling can also refer to electrical or mechanical connections. Coupling can also include magnetic linking without physical contact. “Substantially” refers to an element essentially conforming to the particular dimension, shape or other word that substantially modifies, such that the component need not be exact. For example, substantially cylindrical means that the object resembles a cylinder, but can have one or more deviations from a true cylinder. The term “comprising” means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in a so-described combination, group, series and the like. “About” refers to almost, nearly, on the verge of, or without significant deviation from the numeric representation. For example, about 20 can be 20, or a small deviation from 20. The use of relational terms such as, but not limited to, “front,” “rear,” “underside,” “upperside,” “top,” “bottom,” “left,” “right,” “upper,” “lower,” “down,” “downward,” “up,” “upward,” and “side,” are used in the description for clarity in specific reference to the figures and are not intended to limit the scope of the present inventive concept or the appended claims. “Near” refers to a point or position located a short distance away. For example, near an end means that the point or position is located within a short distance from the end but is not at the end itself. “Portion” refers to a part of the whole, or less than the whole. For example, a portion of a circle means not the whole or entire circle, but a piece less than the whole circle.
Generally, a system and apparatus for coupling a grenade launcher to a firearm is provided. In an example implementation, a grenade launcher is attached to a firearm via a rail system and a lug adapter, where the lug adapter is operable to add a point of attachment of the grenade launcher to a barrel of the rifle. The grenade launcher includes a grenade launcher rail which slides onto a quad-rail handguard of a firearm. A set of rail launcher set screws lock the grenade launcher to the firearm. To alleviate stress on the handguard created by recoil of the grenade launcher when fired, the lug adapter is also provided which connects the grenade launcher to a front lug located on the bottom of the barrel of the firearm. By connecting the grenade launcher to the front lug via the lug adapter, the stress created by the recoil is directed to the barrel instead of the handguard.
The housing 402 includes a front lug receiving portion 504 and an adjustment screw receiving portion 506. The adjustment screw receiving portion 506 may be a threaded opening 410, shown in
Under usage of a grenade launcher 7 with the lug adapter 4, no recoil should cause the grenade launcher 7 to slide on the quad-rail handguard 8. If movement occurs, ensure all launcher rail set screws 1, 2, and 3 are correctly positioned, tightened, and snug. Do not overtighten, damage to quad-rail handguard 8 and other components may occur.
The description above includes example systems, methods, and/or techniques, products that embody techniques of the present disclosure. However, it is understood that the described disclosure may be practiced without these specific details.
It is believed that the present disclosure and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components without departing from the disclosed subject matter or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form described is merely explanatory, and it is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.
While the present disclosure has been described with reference to various embodiments, it will be understood that these embodiments are illustrative and that the scope of the disclosure is not limited to them. Many variations, modifications, additions, and improvements are possible. More generally, embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure have been described in the context of particular implementations. Functionality may be separated or combined in blocks differently in various embodiments of the disclosure or described with different terminology. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements may fall within the scope of the disclosure as defined in the claims that follow.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20190011219 A1 | Jan 2019 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62529383 | Jul 2017 | US |