Patent Application
20140338245
(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to vertical fore grips that can be quickly detached from a firearm for use as a handheld stabbing weapon or for other purposes.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
A vertical fore grip is a hand grip mountable on a Picatinny rail, alternatively known as a tactical rail, on the front of an AR-15 and M-16 or other tactical firearm that helps to control the firearm and allow for easier horizontal movement of the firearm, creating a firm grasping point. Generally, a fore grip is comprised of a vertical gripping handle sized for the shooter's hand, and a releasable mounting clamp at the top of the gripping handle to attach the fore grip to the Picatinny rail.
The prior art describes various modifications of fore grips to enable their use for purposes other than as a simple hand grip. For example, the interior of the fore grip may be modified for use as a storage compartment for batteries or other articles. In addition, a spring-loaded bipod may be stored inside the bipod and extended downwardly to serve as a ground support for the weapon.
The present invention relates to a unique improvement in fore grips in which the fore grip is modified to be useful as a rapidly deployable handheld stabbing weapon. The invention also describes a unique clamp enabling quick detachment of the fore grip from the firearm for use as a weapon if needed.
Generally, the present fore grip is comprised of a rail clamp, a vertically oriented gripping member having a central bore, a stabbing spike slidable from a stowed position within the gripping member bore to an extended position, and a latching member to secure the spike in the stored or extended position. The spike includes a shank.
The clamp is comprised of spaced parallel jaws having an open position in which the jaw inner faces are spaced at a distance greater than the width of the Picatinny rail to which the fore grip is attached, and a closed position in which the jaw faces are spaced at a distance equal the width of the rail to clamp the fore grip onto the rail. The jaws are held together by a connector rod having a distal end attached to one of the jaws. The rod extends through a bore in the second jaw to a proximal end.
A clamping actuator is provided to quickly attach and detach the clamp from the rail. Preferably, the actuator is a cam with open and closed positions attached to the proximal end of the connector rod. As the cam is rotated from the open position to the closed position, the cam rides against the second jay, urging the jaws against the force of a spring to the closed position. When the actuator is moved to the open position, the spring urges the jaws to their open position so that the fore grip can be detached from the rail.
The gripping handle includes an upper end attached to the clamp, a lower end and a central axially aligned bore having a given cross-section. The exterior of the handle may be grooved or otherwise shaped to aid in gripping. A cap with a central opening corresponding to the spike shank cross-section is attached to the bottom of the gripping handle so that the opening is axially aligned with the bore.
The spike is comprised of a shank with a pointed lower end and an enlarged head at its upper end. The spike head diameter is larger than the shank diameter with the diameter and cross-section corresponding to the gripping handle bore cross-section. The head also includes a recess to receive a latching member projection. For example, the head may have a continuous slide wall and a groove or recess extending around the side wall. The shank may have different cross-sections.
the latching member includes a protrusion that has a latching position in which the protrusion projects into the handle bore, preventing free movement of the spike within the bore, and a retracted position in which the protrusion is withdrawn from the bore so that the spike can move within the bore. A spring urges the protrusion into the bore, while an actuator, such as a cam, is used to withdraw the protrusion from the bore. Preferably, the actuator extends from the side of the handle and is thumb or finger actuated by pushing downward on the actuator. When the protrusion is withdrawn while the spike is in the stowed position, the spike is allowed to drop by gravity to an extended position for use of the fore grip as a handheld weapon. The protrusion can then be returned by the spring action into the bore and into a recess in the spike head to lock the spike in the extended position.
In the following description, terms such as horizontal, upright, vertical, above, below, beneath, and the like, are used solely for the purpose of clarity in illustrating the invention, and should not be taken as words of limitation. The drawings are for the purpose of illustrating the invention and are not intended to be to scale.
As illustrated in the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the fore grip, generally 10, is comprised of a rail claim 12, a vertically oriented gripping handle 14 having a central axially aligned bore 16, a stabbing spike 20 slidable from a stowed position within gripping handle bore 16 to an extended position, and a latching member 22 to secure spike 20 in the stowed and extended positions.
Clamp 12 is comprised of spaced parallel jaws 24 and 26 having an open position in which jaws 24 and 25 are spaced at a distance greater than the width of the Picatinny rail to which fore grip 10 is attached, and a closed position in which jaws 24 and 26 are spaced at a distance equal to the width of the rail to clamp fore grip 10 onto the rail. Jaws 24 and 26 are held together by a connector rod 30 having a distal end attached to jaw 24. Rod 30 extends through a bore in jaw 26 to a proximal end.
A rotatable cam 32 is attached to the proximal end of rod 30. Springs 34 urge jaw 26 against cam 32, which is rotatable with a handle 36 between an open position and a clamping position. As cam 32 is rotated from the open position to the closed position, jaw 26 is urged against the force of springs 34 to the closed position.
Gripping handle 14 includes an upper end attached to clamp 12, a lower end and central bore 16 having a given diameter to received spike 20, which is comprised of a shank 42 with a pointed lower end 44 and an enlarged head 46.
The exterior of handle 14 may be grooved or otherwise shaped to aid in gripping. A collar or cap 50 with a central opening 52 corresponding to the cross-section of shank 42 is attached to the bottom of gripping handle 14 so that opening 52 is axially aligned with bore 16. Spike head 46 is larger than shank 42 and has a diameter and size corresponding to the cross-section of bore 16. Head 46 also includes a latching groove 54. Shank 42 may have different cross-sections with corresponding openings 52 in cap 50. Representative openings are shown in
Latching member 22 is comprised of a bar 60 pivotal near its center point about Pivot pin 62, an upper end and a lower end. Bar 60 is mounted within a slot in the side of gripping member 14 that extends into bore 16. A compression spring 64 transversely mounted within the upper end of gripping member 14 urges the upper end of bar 60 outward, pivoting bar 60 about pivot pin 62 and urging the lower end of bar 60 inwardly. A latching protrusion 66 faces inwardly from the lower end of bar 60 and into bore 16.
A pivotal latch cam 70 having an inactive position and an active position is attached to the lower end of bar 60 on the exterior of gripping member 14. When in the active position, cam 70 exerts force against the exterior of gripping member 14 to move protrusion 66 out of bore 16.
Spike 20 is held in the stowed position within bore 16 by the projection of protrusion 66 into bore 16 against tapered lower end 44 of shank 42, preventing downward movement of spike 20. When cam 70 is pivoted to move protrusion 66 out of bore 16, spike 20 is allowed to fall under the force of gravity to its extended position.
since spike head 46 is larger than opening 52 in the bottom of cap 50, spike 20 is prevented from falling completely out of bore 16. When protrusion 66 is released into bore 16 with spike 20 in the extended position, protrusion 66 extends into latching groove 54, locking spike 20 in the extended position.
While the invention has been described in terms of using the detachable fore grip as a handheld weapon, it will be understood that the fore grip may also be used for other purposes. For example, by using a non-metallic spike, the fore grip can be used as a tool to detect buried mines. Also, the fore grip can be used as a utility spike, such as a marlin spike.
Certain modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art Upon a reading of the foregoing description. It should be understood that all such modifications and improvements have been deleted herein for the sake of conciseness and readability but are properly within the scope of the following claims.
This application claims the benefit of and priority to the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/653,611, filed May 31, 2012, the entire content of which is incorporated herein.
