CUSHIONED GRIP

• US 20180195833A1
• Filed: 01/05/2018
• Published: 07/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adaptive Tactical LLC
• Original Assignee: Adaptive Tactical LLC
• Inventors: BENTLEY, JAMES K., BEAUDRY, GREY O.
• Granted Patent: US 10,704,861 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/102 the shape being specially adapted to facilitate handling or improve grip
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 23/10 Stocks or grips for pistols, e.g. revolvers F41C23/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 23/18 characterised by the material used F41C23/08 takes precedence

Abstract

A cushioned article includes a cage and a compressible material. The cage has at least one opening, an interior volume, and an outer surface. The at least one opening provides a passage from the outer surface to the interior volume. The compressible material extends through the at least one opening in the cage. A method for manufacturing a cushioned article includes providing a mold having at least one cavity, placing a cage within the mold, and injecting a compressible material into an interior of the cage. The cage includes at least one opening. A portion of the compressible material flows through the at least one opening in the cage and fills the at least one cavity of the mold.

Claims

1. A cushioned article comprising:

a cage having at least one opening, an interior volume, and an outer surface, the at least one opening providing a passage from the outer surface to the interior volume; and

a compressible material extending through the at least one opening in the cage.

2. The cushioned article of claim 1, wherein the compressible material includes a base positioned within the interior volume and at least one protrusion positioned within the at least one opening.

3. The cushioned article of claim 2, wherein the compressible material is formed of a single molded piece extending from the interior volume of the cage through the at least one opening and beyond the outer surface of the cage.

4. The cushioned article of claim 3, further comprising a cavity extending through an interior of the compressible material from a bottom end of the compressible material to a top end of the compressible material.

5. The cushioned article of claim 2, wherein the compressible material is a thermoplastic elastomer.

6. The cushioned article of claim 2, wherein the compressible material forms an insert configured to be received into the interior volume of the cage and extend through the at least one opening in the cage.

7. The cushioned article of claim 6, further comprising a cavity extending through an interior of the insert from a bottom end of the insert toward a top end of the insert.

8. The cushioned article of claim 7, wherein the at least one opening is a plurality of openings and the insert is comprised of a plurality of pieces, each of the plurality of pieces extending through at least one of the plurality of openings.

9. The cushioned article of claim 8, further comprising a core shaped to be received within the cavity of the insert and force the insert into engagement with an inner surface of the cage.

10. The cushioned article of claim 8, wherein one of the plurality of pieces includes a palm swell.

11. The cushioned article of claim 1, wherein the cage is configured to attach to a firearm.

12. The cushioned article of claim 1, wherein the at least one opening is a plurality of openings and the compressible material forms palm swells.

13. The cushioned article of claim 12, wherein the palm swells are ambidextrous.

14. The cushioned article of claim 12, wherein the compressible material forms a back strap and a front grip.

15. The cushioned article of claim 14, wherein the back strap and the front grip are positioned to attenuate recoil.

16. The cushioned article of claim 1, wherein the cage and compressible material form a grip.

17. An interchangeable grip system, the system comprising:

a cage having at least one opening, an interior volume, and an outer surface, the at least one opening providing a passage from the outer surface to the interior volume;

a first insert including at least one of a palm swell, a front grip, or a back strap, wherein the first insert is configured to be received into the interior volume of the cage and extend through the at least one opening in the cage; and

a second insert including at least one of a palm swell, a front grip, or a back strap, the second insert having a different configuration from the first insert, wherein the first insert is configured to be received into the interior volume of the cage and extend through the at least one opening in the cage.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the first insert comprises an elastomer.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the first insert includes two palm swells and the second insert includes two palm swells, the palm swells of the first insert having a different shape than the palm swells of the second insert.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the cage is configured to attach to a firearm.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the first insert include a first cavity and the second insert includes a second cavity, the first cavity having the same shape as the second cavity, the system further comprising a core shaped to be received within the first cavity of the first insert and force the first insert into engagement with an inner surface of the cage.

22. A method for manufacturing a cushioned article, the method comprising:

providing a mold having at least one cavity;

placing a cage within the mold, the cage including at least one opening;

injecting a compressible material into an interior of the cage, wherein a portion of the compressible material flows through the at least one opening in the cage and fills the at least one cavity of the mold; and

removing the cage and compressible material from the mold.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the cage comprises a non-compressible material.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the cage and compressible material form a grip.