Modular hand grip and rail assembly for firearms

• US 7,216,451 B1
• Filed: 02/10/2006
• Issued: 05/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stephen P Troy Jr (Stephen P. Troy)
• Original Assignee: Stephen P. Troy
• Inventors: Troy, Stephen P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone; Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin P.
• Application Number:
  US11/351,822
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 421/14, 421/15, 421/16, 421/17, 421/24, 421/42, 421/43, 421/46, 42/72, 42/710.1, 42/750.1, 89/14.2
• US Class Current: 42/72
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 23/16 Forestocks; Handgrips; Hand guards pump-action guns F41C7/02
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 11/003 Mountings with a dove tail element, e.g. "Picatinny rail systems"

Abstract

A modular hand grip for use on a firearm, the modular hand grip includes an upper portion, a lower portion and a coupling assembly. A rearward end of the upper portion is configured to engage a top portion of a barrel nut. Lug rails having gaps therein project from an inner surface of the upper portion at opposing sides and proximate edges thereof. The coupling assembly is engagable with a bottom portion of the barrel nut and is attached to the rearward end of the upper portion. The lower portion has opposing side sections, each terminating at an edge. A plurality of spaced apart lugs extend from each edge and are receivable in the gaps in the lug rails of the upper portion and are translatable in one of a forward direction and a rearward direction positioning the lugs under the lug rails.

Claims

1. A modular hand grip for use on a firearm, the modular hand grip comprising:

an upper portion having a forward end, a rearward end, an inner surface and an outer surface, the rearward end is configured to engage a top portion of a barrel nut;

lug rails project from the inner surface of upper portion at opposing sides and proximate edges thereof, the lug rails extend longitudinally from proximate the forward end to a position proximate the rearward end and include a plurality of gaps formed therein;

a clamp assembly for engaging a bottom portion of the barrel nut is attached to the rearward end of the upper portion, the clamp assembly includes a clamp element having a central recess configured to receive the barrel nut, and flanges extending to opposing sides and attached to the edges at the rearward end of the upper portion, wherein the flanges are attached to the rearward end with fasteners that are inserted through openings in the flanges and into holes in engagement portions of the edges of the upper portion; and

a lower portion having a top section and opposing side sections extending therefrom and each terminating at an edge, a plurality of spaced apart lugs extending from each edge and receivable in the gaps in the lug rails of the upper portion and translatable in one of a forward direction and a rearward direction positioning the lugs under the lug rails.

2. A modular hand grip as claimed in claim 1 wherein a groove is formed in the inner surface of the upper portion, perpendicular to a longitudinal axis thereof, and spaced from the rearward end, to receive the flange of a conventional factory barrel nut.

3. A modular hand grip for use on a firearm, the modular hand grip comprising:

an upper portion having a forward end, a rearward end, an inner surface and an outer surface, the rearward end is configured to engage a top portion of a barrel nut;

lug rails project from the inner surface of upper portion at opposing sides and proximate edges thereof, the lug rails extend longitudinally from proximate the forward end to a position proximate the rearward end and include a plurality of gaps formed therein;

a clamp assembly for engaging a bottom portion of the barrel nut is attached to the rearward end of the upper portion;

a lower portion having a top section and opposing side sections extending therefrom and each terminating at an edge, a plurality of spaced apart lugs extending from each edge and receivable in the gaps in the lug rails of the upper portion and translatable in one of a forward direction and a rearward direction positioning the lugs under the lug rails; and

a detent assembly carried by the clamp assembly for engaging the lower portion.

4. A modular hand grip as claimed in claim 3 wherein the detent assembly includes a plunger detent biased outwardly from a central portion of the clamping assembly and received in an aperture formed through a rearward end of the top section when the lugs are positioned under the lug rails.

5. A modular hand grip as claimed in claim 4 wherein the plunger detent is biased outwardly by a compression spring.

6. A modular hand grip for use on a firearm, the modular hand grip comprising:

a barrel nut including a cylindrical portion terminating at a forwardly directed end with a radially outwardly directed flange;

an upper portion having a forward end, a rearward end, an inner surface and an outer surface;

a groove formed in the inner surface of the upper portion, perpendicular to a longitudinal axis thereof, and spaced from the rearward end, the groove receiving the flange of the barrel nut to align the upper portion and to prevent longitudinal movement thereof;

a clamp assembly engaging a bottom portion of the barrel nut and attached to the rearward end of the upper portion, the clamp assembly includes a clamp element having a central semicircular recess receiving the cylindrical portion of the barrel nut, and flanges extending to opposing sides and attached to the edges at the rearward end of the upper portion, wherein the flanges are attached to the rearward end with fasteners that are inserted through openings in the flanges and into holes in engagement portions of the edges of the upper portion; and

a lower portion having a top section and opposing side sections extending therefrom and each terminating at an edge coupled to the upper portion.

7. A modular hand grip for use on a firearm, the modular hand grip comprising:

a barrel nut including a cylindrical portion terminating at a forwardly directed end with a radially outwardly directed flange;

an upper portion having a forward end, a rearward end, an inner surface and an outer surface;

a groove formed in the inner surface of the upper portion, perpendicular to a longitudinal axis thereof, and spaced from the rearward end, the groove receiving the flange of the barrel nut to align the upper portion and to prevent longitudinal movement thereof;

a clamp assembly engaging a bottom portion of the barrel nut and attached to the rearward end of the upper portion;

a lower portion having a top section and opposing side sections extending therefrom and each terminating at an edge coupled to the upper portion;

a detent assembly carried by the clamp assembly for engaging the lower portion; and

wherein the upper portion further includes lug rails projecting from the inner surface at opposing sides and proximate edges thereof, the lug rails extending longitudinally from proximate the forward end to a position proximate the rearward end and including a plurality of gaps formed therein, and the lower portion further includes a plurality of spaced apart lugs extending from each edge thereof and receivable in the gaps in the lug rails of the upper portion and translatable in one of a forward direction and a rearward direction positioning the lugs under the lug rails.

8. A modular hand grip as claimed in claim 7 wherein the detent assembly includes a plunger detent biased outwardly from a central portion of the clamping assembly and received in an aperture formed through a rearward end of the top section when the lugs are positioned under the lug rails.

9. A modular hand grip as claimed in claim 8 wherein the plunger detent is biased outwardly by a compression spring.

10. A modular hand grip on a firearm comprising:

a firearm having a receiver, a barrel, and a barrel nut including a cylindrical portion terminating at a forwardly directed end with a radially outwardly directed flange, the barrel nut coupling the barrel to the receiver;

an upper portion having a forward end, a rearward end, an inner surface and an outer surface;

a groove formed in the inner surface of the upper portion, perpendicular to a longitudinal axis thereof, and spaced from the rearward end, the groove receiving the flange of the barrel nut to align the upper portion with the receiver and to prevent longitudinal movement thereof;

a clamp assembly engaging a bottom portion of the barrel nut and attached to the rearward end of the upper portion, the clamp assembly includes a clamp element having a central semicircular recess receiving the cylindrical portion of the barrel nut, and flanges extending to opposing sides and attached to the edges at the rearward end of the upper portion, the flanges are attached to the rearward end with fasteners that are inserted through openings in the flanges and into holes in engagement portions of the edges of the upper portion; and

a lower portion having a top section and opposing side sections extending therefrom and each terminating at an edge coupled to the upper portion, the upper portion and the lower portion encircling the barrel.

11. A modular hand grip as claimed in claim 10 wherein the upper portion further includes lug rails projecting from the inner surface at opposing sides and proximate edges thereof, the lug rails extending longitudinally from proximate the forward end to a position proximate the rearward end and including a plurality of gaps formed therein, and the lower portion further includes a plurality of spaced apart lugs extending from each edge thereof and receivable in the gaps in the lug rails of the upper portion and translatable in one of a forward direction and a rearward direction positioning the lugs under the lug rails.

12. A modular hand grip on a firearm comprising:

a firearm having a receiver, a barrel, and a barrel nut including a cylindrical portion terminating at a forwardly directed end with a radially outwardly directed flange, the barrel nut coupling the barrel to the receiver;

an upper portion having a forward end, a rearward end, an inner surface and an outer surface;

a groove formed in the inner surface of the upper portion, perpendicular to a longitudinal axis thereof, and spaced from the rearward end, the groove receiving the flange of the barrel nut to align the upper portion with the receiver and to prevent longitudinal movement thereof;

a clamp assembly engaging a bottom portion of the barrel nut and attached to the rearward end of the upper portion; and

a lower portion having a top section and opposing side sections extending therefrom and each terminating at an edge coupled to the upper portion, the upper portion and the lower portion encircling the barrel;

the upper portion further includes lug rails projecting from the inner surface at opposing sides and proximate edges thereof, the lug rails extending longitudinally from proximate the forward end to a position proximate the rearward end and including a plurality of gaps formed therein, and the lower portion further includes a plurality of spaced apart lugs extending from each edge thereof and receivable in the gaps in the lug rails of the upper portion and translatable in one of a forward direction and a rearward direction positioning the lugs under the lug rails; and

a detent assembly carried by the clamp assembly for engaging the lower portion.

13. A modular hand grip as claimed in claim 12 wherein the detent assembly includes a plunger detent biased outwardly from a central portion of the clamping assembly and received in an aperture formed through a rearward end of the top section when the lugs are positioned under the lug rails.