Patent Application
20210222994
The present invention relates generally to firearm parts and accessories, and more particularly to a firearm grip that is removably connected to a firearm receiver.
The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
Many firearm owners routinely modify their weapons to suit a particular interest or a desired look. With regard to handguns and rifles, it can be desirable to change out the pistol grip (i.e., “grip”) with an aftermarket product so as to include a different shape, size, color, construction material, and/or gripping texture, depending on the conditions under which the firearm is to be used.
For this reason, there are no shortages of available aftermarket firearm grips which can be mated to existing firearm receivers. With particular regard to assault-style rifles, such as the AR-15, for example, the grip is physically mounted to the bottom of the lower receiver by a selector spring and bolt at a location adjacent to the trigger assembly. In this regard, traditional replacement grips have required the use of specialized tools and knowledge to remove one grip and replace it with another.
Although this procedure goes well for experienced firearm users, it does take several minutes to effectuate a handgrip swap. Moreover, due to the small parts and tools involved, it is not recommended to perform this action at a range or outdoor area as it is possible to lose the spring, bolt or tool, thus rendering the firearm unusable. Additionally, many less experienced individuals are hesitant to physically disassemble and reassemble a firearm grip assembly. As a result, these individuals utilize the firearm with a grip that is less than optimal for their given circumstances.
Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide a firearm adapter that can be mated with a firearm in order to quickly and easily receive, engage and swap any number of different types of grips without requiring specialized knowledge or tools, so as to overcome the drawbacks described above.
The present invention is directed to a firearm grip assembly. One embodiment of the present invention can include a firearm adapter having functionality for engaging the receiver of a firearm. An elongated handgrip body having an opening along the top end can be in communication with the adapter, and a latching mechanism can secure the handgrip body and adapter together.
In one embodiment, the handgrip body and the adapter are slidingly engaged whereby the bottom end of the adapter is positionable through the open top end of the handgrip body.
In one embodiment, the latching mechanism includes a resilient member having a pair of buttons extending outward therefrom. The buttons can be positioned through a first set of openings on the adapter body and can be selectively positioned within a second pair of openings on the handgrip body when the adapter is positioned within the handgrip body.
The bottom end of the adapter can be oriented at different angles relative to the top end of the adapter body to permit placement of the handgrip at different angles relative to the receiver to which the adapter is secured.
This summary is provided merely to introduce certain concepts and not to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter.
Presently preferred embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should be appreciated, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the description in conjunction with the drawings. As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the inventive arrangements in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting but rather to provide an understandable description of the invention.
Although illustrated with regard to positioning a grip on an assault-style rifle, the inventive concepts are not so limiting. To this end, the inventive concepts can be used with any type of firearm such as a handgun, rifle, shotgun, crossbow, etc., and can be used to removably position any number of different devices anywhere along the weapon.
As described herein, the term “removably secured” and derivatives thereof shall be used to describe a situation wherein two or more objects are joined together in a non-permanent manner so as to allow the same objects to be repeatedly joined and separated. This can be accomplished through the use of the below described latching mechanism and/or through the use of any number of connectors such as various magnets, or compression fittings such as locking pins, male and female fittings, clamps, and tethers, for example.
As will be described below, the assembly 10 can function as a replacement to the manufacturer-supplied handgrip of any number of different types of firearms. The assembly includes an adapter having certain dimensions and connectors at locations that are complementary to those found on the original handgrip, so as to use the manufacturer supplied hardware (e.g., springs, bolts, etc.). Once secured onto the receiver, the adapter can removably engage any number of different hand grips in the manner hereinafter described, so as to allow a user to quickly and easily swap grips at any time.
To this end, the inventive concepts can be provided with the new construction of a firearm and/or firearm receiver, as an aftermarket product, and/or as a kit having one or more adapters and one or more different handgrips.
As shown at
A raised channel 25 can extend upward from the top end of the body section. The channel can include sidewalls 25a and 25b that are separated by a distance D. The channel functioning to receive a portion of the bottom end of a firearm receiver between the sidewalls, so as to secure the adapter to the receiver at a location adjacent to the trigger assembly. To this end, the adapter 20 can include any number of different apertures that are positioned along the channel and/or body sections at any number of different locations so as to be positioned complementary to those of a factory-supplied handgrip in order to allow the adapter to be secured to the receiver using the same mounting hardware.
For example, when the adapter 20 is designed for use with an AR-15 rifle, such as the adapter illustrated in
In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom end of the adapter (e.g., the portions of sidewalls 21b, 21c, 21d and 21d beneath the lip 24), is oriented in line with the top end of the adapter, so as to receive the below described grip 40 vertically. Such a feature functioning to position the grip in a generally perpendicular orientation to the major axis of the firearm receiver (See
Of course, other embodiments are contemplated wherein the bottom end of the adapter is oriented diagonally from the top end of the adapter. Such a feature functioning to receive and position the grip diagonally relative to the major axis of the receiver. This diagonal angle can be any number of different angles so as to provide users with multiple options for orienting their chosen grip along the firearm.
Although described above with regard to a button spring clip, many other components may be utilized. For example,
In the preferred embodiment, the opening defined by the top end 41 can include a shape and a size that is complementary to the shape and the size of the bottom end of the adapter (e.g., the portions of sidewalls 21b, 21c, 21d and 21d beneath the lip 24), so as to receive the same. Additionally, openings 42a and 42b can be positioned at locations complementary to openings 22a and 22b, respectively, so as to be in line with each other when the bottom end of the adapter is positioned within the grip.
As described herein, the grip 40 can be constructed from any number of different materials and can include any number of different shapes and sizes. Moreover, the exterior facing portions of the handgrip can include any number of gripping elements such as various finger ridges 43 and/or texturing 44, to aid in a user's ability to firmly grasp the grip body. Although not specifically illustrated, the bottom end 41f of the grip can be solid or can include an opening and an optional door for selectively closing the bottom opening.
When so positioned, the adapter 20 will be positioned adjacent to the trigger assembly 3 as shown. Next, a user can insert the bottom of the adapter through the open top end of the grip 40. As the grip is slid over the adapter body, the buttons 32a and 32b that extending outward from the adapter walls 21d and 21e will make contact with the inside portions of the grip walls 41d and 41e until the top end 41a of the grip makes contact with the lip 24.
As shown at
In the preferred embodiment, the buttons 32a and 32b can be positioned so as to be flush with the outside surface of the grip when positioned within apertures 42a and 42b, respectively. Such a feature ensuring the buttons cannot be accidentally engaged or otherwise felt by a user when grasping the grip.
Accordingly, the above described adapter and grip assembly allows a user to quickly and easily swap the handgrip of a firearm through the press of a button, thus eliminating the need for specialized tools and hardware.
Although described with regard to two buttons that are placed on the sides of the components, this is for illustrated purposes only. To this end, other embodiments are contemplated where a single button is utilized and/or wherein the button(s) is/are positioned at other locations. Moreover, although described with regard to a vertical alignment and securement of the components, other embodiments are contemplated wherein the components can be secured horizontally or diagonally and can include securement components for facilitating the same.
Additionally, although described for use with a handgrip that is secured along the receiver, other embodiments are also contemplated. To this end, variants on the inventive concepts include the ability to secure the adapter 20 to other locations along a firearm such as the barrel rail system (e.g., KEYMOD, M-LOK, and PICATINNY), for example. Such a feature allowing a forward handgrip to be positioned onto the weapon. In such an embodiment, the handgrip can be augmented with additional functionality such as a flashlight, laser sight, and/or optical scope, for example, so as to impart the inventive functionality of a push button connection for accessory items onto the firearm rail system.
As described herein, one or more elements of the assembly components can be secured together utilizing any number of known attachment means such as, for example, screws, glue, compression fittings and welds, among others. Moreover, although the above embodiments have been described as including separate individual elements, the inventive concepts disclosed herein are not so limiting. To this end, one of skill in the art will recognize that one or more individually identified elements may be formed together as one or more continuous elements, either through manufacturing processes, such as welding, casting, or molding, or through the use of a singular piece of material milled or machined with the aforementioned components forming identifiable sections thereof.
As to a further description of the manner and use of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. Likewise, the terms “consisting” shall be used to describe only those components identified. In each instance where a device comprises certain elements, it will inherently consist of each of those identified elements as well.
The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Applications 62/963,945 filed, on Jan. 21, 2020, and is a continuation in part to U.S. application Ser. No. 16/805,459, filed on Feb. 28, 2020, which ultimately claims the benefit of U.S. Application 62/570,245, filed on Oct. 10, 2017, the contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62963945 | Jan 2020 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 16805459 | Feb 2020 | US |
| Child | 17144851 | US |
