This invention relates generally to firearms and firearm components and more particularly to a system method for providing a heated firearm grip which may be interchanged between multiple receivers and firearms.
Most grips simply attach to the firearm and allow the user to handle and control the weapon. In extremely cold conditions a person's hands can become cold and stiff, restricting the movement of the hands and fingers. A person needs to have smooth and steady trigger control and maximum dexterity in order to shoot a firearm accurately. While gloves on the users' hands can help provide some warmth, they also restrict movement, dexterity and sensitivity. What is needed is a heated firearm grip that allows a user to retain more heat in their hands and fingers, decreasing the restrictive movement caused from gloves and the cold environment.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,164,003 on Dec. 26, 2000 to Miller shows a heated firearm stock which requires batteries held in the stock of the firearm to provide power to heat a portion of the stock surface. The Miller patent is limited in that it the heating element is limited to the shooting hand and the Miller patent does not teach the heating of the non-shooting hand. Additionally, the Miller patent teaches that only a portion of the grip of the firearm contains a heating element instead of the entire grip of the firearm. The Miller patent also requires the use of the entire stock of the firearm instead of only the grip of the firearm. What is needed is a system and method of heating a firearm grip without use of the firearm stock and that heats the entire surface of the firearm grip. In addition, what is needed is a heated firearm grip which is removable and interchangeable between multiple firearms.
The invention is directed toward a heated firearm grip. The heated firearm grip comprises a grip body, an electrically resistive heating element, and a power source. The grip body is shaped as a pistol style firearm grip, has a hollow internal cavity, and has a hinged lower lid located on the bottom of the grip body. The power source is located within the hollow internal cavity of the grip body and is electrically connected to the electrically resistive heating element. The grip body is interchangeable with the factory installed grip of a firearm.
In one embodiment of the invention the electrically resistive heating element is embedded in a polyurethane sleeve substantially surrounding the external surface of the grip body. In another embodiment of the invention the electrically resistive heating element is located within the hollow internal cavity of the grip body and is located between the power source and the internal surface of the hollow internal cavity of the grip body. In another embodiment of the invention the electrically resistive heating element is molded into the body of the grip body. In another embodiment of the invention the power source is a battery pack. In another embodiment of the invention the power source is a plurality of batteries. The hollow internal cavity of the grip body has a plurality of metal springs and a plurality of metal tabs. The plurality of metal springs and a plurality of metal tabs are electrically connected to the resistive heating element. The plurality of batteries are placed in series in connection with the plurality of metal springs and a plurality of metal tabs.
In another embodiment of the invention, the heated firearm grip further comprises a switch. The switch located on the hinged lower lid on the bottom of the grip body. The switch regulates the amperage of electricity flowing from the power source and through the electrically restrictive heating element. The switch has plurality of positions. Furthermore, in this embodiment of the invention, the electrically resistive heating element is embedded in a polyurethane sleeve substantially surrounding the external surface of the grip body. In an alternative version of this embodiment the electrically resistive heating element is located within the hollow internal cavity of the grip body and is located between the power source and the internal surface of the hollow internal cavity of the grip body. In an alternative version of this embodiment the electrically resistive heating element is molded into the body of the grip body.
In another embodiment of the invention the heated firearm grip further comprises a rechargeable cartridge. The rechargeable cartridge houses the electrically resistive heating element and the power source. The rechargeable cartridge may be connected to a recharging station to recharge the power source.
The invention is also directed toward a firearm having a heated grip comprising a grip body, a grip mount bolt, an electrically resistive heating element, and a power source.
The grip body is shaped as a pistol style firearm grip, has a hollow internal cavity, and has a hinged lower lid located on the bottom of the grip body. The power source is located within the hollow internal cavity of the grip body and is electrically connected to the electrically resistive heating element. The grip body is interchangeable with the factory installed grip of a firearm. The grip mount bolt passes through the hollow internal cavity of the grip body to removably secure the grip body to the firearm.
In one embodiment the firearm is a paintball gun. In another embodiment of the invention the firearm is a semiautomatic rifle. In another embodiment of the invention the electrically resistive heating element is embedded in a polyurethane sleeve substantially surrounding the external surface of the grip body. In another embodiment of the invention the electrically resistive heating element is located within the hollow internal cavity of the grip body and is located between the power source and the internal surface of the hollow internal cavity of the grip body.
In another embodiment of the invention the electrically resistive heating element is molded into the body of the grip body. Furthermore, this embodiment of the invention may further comprise a switch. The switch is located on the hinged lower lid on the bottom of the grip body and regulates the amperage of electricity flowing from the power source and through the electrically restrictive heating element. The switch has plurality of positions.
The invention is also directed toward a method for replacing a grip on a firearm with a heated grip. The method comprises removing a factory installed grip from the lower receiver of a firearm, connecting a grip body to the lower receiver of the firearm, and removably securing the grip body to the lower receiver of the firearm by means of a grip mount bolt. In this method the grip body is shaped as a pistol style firearm grip, has a hollow internal cavity, and has a hinged lower lid located on the bottom of the grip body. The hollow internal cavity houses a power source. The power source is electrically connected to an electrically resistive heating element. The grip mount bolt passes through the hollow internal cavity of the grip body to removably secure the grip body to the firearm.
In another embodiment of the method the grip body further comprises a switch. The switch is located on the hinged lower lid on the bottom of the grip body and regulates the amperage of electricity flowing from the power source and through the electrically restrictive heating element. The switch has plurality of positions
Although the present invention will be described with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the present invention can be embodied in many alternate forms or embodiments. Alternative materials and designs may be used in the alternative forms and embodiments.
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A user can use utilize the invention on any firearm receiver 200 structured to receive a pistol style grip. To replace, a person removes the original factory installed grip. Then the person places the grip body 100 on the firearm receiver 200. The person then securely attaches the grip body 100 to the firearm receiver 200 by means of the grip mount bolt 115. The person screws the grip mount bolt 115 through the mount bolt hole 135 in the grip body 100. It is anticipated that the heated grip body 100 may be attached to any type of firearm, including but not limited to pistols, shotguns, assault rifles, and paintball guns.