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.

Description

FIELD

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

A KeyMod™ 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.

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 ⅜″ 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).

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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:

FIG. 1 illustrates a portion of a firearm hand guard including a prior art KeyMod™ configuration;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of a firearm including a hand guard consistent with the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a nut useful in a system consistent with the present disclosure;

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;

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;

FIG. 6 illustrates the portion of the firearm of FIG. 5, with the rail segment shown in phantom;

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

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

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.

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™ key and KeyMod™ 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).

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.

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.

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.

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%.

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™ 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™ system.

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.

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).

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.

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%.

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).

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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

102 key

104 hand guard

106 hole

108 butt end

110 slot

112 distal end

200 firearm

202 hand guard

204 hand guard body

206 key

208 first rail segment

210 second rail segment

212 hand grip

214 barrel

302 hole

304 slot

306 nut

308 large diameter circular portion

310 smaller diameter oblong portion

312 flat

314 flat

316 longitudinal axis

318 first group of keys

320 first circumference line

322 second group of keys

324 second circumference line

326 third group of keys

328 third circumference line

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; andeach 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; andthe 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; andthe 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; andeach 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; andthe 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; andeach 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; andmechanically 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; andmechanically 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; andthe 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.