Electrified handguard

• US 7,627,975 B1
• Filed: 02/12/2007
• Issued: 12/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stephen Hines And Melissa O'connel As Co-Trustees Of The Stephen Hines And Barbara Zinn Hines Trust
• Original Assignee: Steve Hines
• Inventors: Hines, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone; Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): TILLMAN, JR, REGINALD S
• Application Number:
  US11/706,666
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: 42/84, 42/90
• US Class Current: 42/84
• 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

An electrified handguard for firearms has mounting rails and also supplies electrical power to rail mounted accessories such as flashlights and lasers. A handguard power coupler can receive electrical power from a battery or other power source located elsewhere such as in a buttstock assembly. The electrical power is then routed to power connections in the handguard power coupler. A rail accessory can then be electrically connected to a power connection when it is mechanically attached to a mounting rail.

Claims

1. A firearm system comprising:

a handguard power coupler comprising a handguard power input and at least one power connection;

a handguard comprising at least one powered mounting rail comprising at least one rail power connection;

wherein a power source electrically connected to the handguard power input is also electrically connected to the at least one rail power connection; and

wherein a rail accessory attached to the at least one mounting rail receives electrical power from the power source.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a power switch for controlling the flow of electrical power from the power source to the rail accessory.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one powered mounting rail is a detachable mounting rail.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one powered mounting rail is dimensioned as a Picatinny rail.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a first rail accessory mechanically connected to the at least one powered mounting rail and electrically connected to the at least one rail power connection.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a first rail accessory mechanically connected to the at least one powered mounting rail and electrically connected to the at least one rail power connection;

a second rail accessory mechanically connected to the at least one powered mounting rail and electrically connected to the at least one rail power connection;

wherein the second rail accessory comprises a power source; and

wherein the second rail accessory provides power to the first rail accessory.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein a toy replica firearm comprises the handguard.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one mounting rail is dimensioned as a Picatinny rail.

8. A firearm system comprising:

a handguard power coupler comprising a handguard power input and at least one power connection;

wherein a handguard comprises at least one mounting rail;

wherein the handguard power coupler attaches to the at least one mounting rail;

wherein a power source electrically connected to the handguard power input is also electrically connected to the at least one power connection;

wherein a rail accessory attached to the at least one mounting rail receives electrical power from the power source.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a switch accessory comprising a power switch, a switch input and a switch output;

wherein the switch accessory mechanically attaches to the mounting rail;

wherein the switch input electrically connects to the power source;

wherein the switch output electrically connects to the rail accessory; and

wherein the power switch controls the flow of electrical power from the switch input to the switch output.

11. The system of claim 8 further comprising a first rail accessory mechanically connected to the at least one mounting rail and electrically connected to the at least one power connection.

12. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a first rail accessory mechanically connected to the at least one mounting rail and electrically connected to the at least one power connection;

a second rail accessory mechanically connected to the at least one mounting rail and electrically connected to the at least one power connection;

wherein the second rail accessory comprises a power source; and

wherein the second rail accessory provides power to the first rail accessory.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein a toy replica firearm comprises the handguard.

14. A firearm system comprising:

a receiver comprising at least two electrically conductive pathways wherein at least one of the at least two electrically conductive pathways is insulated from the rest of the at least two electrically conductive pathways;

a power source electrically connected to the at least two electrically conductive pathways;

a handguard comprising at least one mounting rail;

a handguard power coupler comprising a handguard power input and at least one power connection; and

wherein the at least two electrically conductive pathways electrically connect the handguard power input to the firearm power source.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising a butt stock assembly wherein the buttstock assembly comprises the power source.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the at least one mounting rail is a detachable mounting rail.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein the at least on mounting rail is dimensioned as a Picatinny rail or a weaver rail.

18. The system of claim 14 further comprising a rail accessory mechanically connected to the at least one mounting rail and electrically connected to the handguard power coupler.

19. The system of claim 14 wherein a toy replica firearm comprises the receiver and handguard.

20. The system of claim 14 further comprising:

a first rail accessory mechanically connected to the at least one mounting rail and electrically connected to the handguard power coupler;

a second rail accessory mechanically connected to the at least one mounting rail and electrically connected to the handguard power coupler;

wherein the second rail accessory comprises a power source; and

wherein the second rail accessory provides power to the first rail accessory.