Folding stack plate for foregrips

• US 7,861,451 B1
• Filed: 11/02/2007
• Issued: 01/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grip Pod Systems International, LLC
• Original Assignee: Grip Pod Systems LLC (Grip Pod Systems International, LLC)
• Inventors: Gaddini, Joseph D., Moody, Joseph R.
• Primary Examiner(s): CLEMENT, MICHELLE RENEE
• Application Number:
  US11/934,392
• Time in Patent Office: 1,159 Days
• Field of Search: 42/72, 42/94, 42/710.1, 89/14.2, 89/370.4
• US Class Current: 42/72
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 23/08 Bipods
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 23/04 Folding or telescopic stocks or stock parts articulated or collapsible guns F41A11/04
• 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"
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

Adapter devices, apparatus, systems and methods of allowing a firearm to be supported by a foldable fore grip/gun handle. The fore grip gun handle can have bipod type legs that can be extendable from the handle. The fore grip handle can be just a vertical extension. The adapter can allow for the fore grip/gun handle to move from a fold back position along the bottom of the firearm so that the firearm can be easily carried, and the adapter to can allow for the handle to move down to a vertical support position beneath the firearm when the firearm is to be used. The adapter can also support a light in both a folded position and in a downwardly extended position, where light can be aimed forward, rearward to the side and/or pointed down from the firearm. The adapter can allow for a dual functioning component that can be either or both a fore grip and/or a light source.

Claims

1. A firearm fore grip adapter, comprising:

an upper plate member on the adapter for allowing the member to be attachable beneath a firearm, the upper plate member having a top clamp side and a bottom side, the top clamp side having clamp edges adaptable for sliding about picatinny rails underneath of a firearm, the bottom side having an indentation, the indentation having a front inner side wall and a rear inner side wall and a ceiling side wall; and

a lower plate member having a front end and a rear end, the lower plate member having sides with outwardly facing picatinny rail edges substantially perpendicular to the front end and the rear end, the rear end of the lower plate member pivotally attached to the rear inner side wall in the bottom side of the upper plate member, the lower plate member sized to fit within the indentation in the bottom side of the upper plate member, the picatinny rail edges on the sides of the lower plate member adaptable for supporting a fore grip thereon, wherein the fore grip moves between a vertical downward position for supporting the firearm to a folded position with fore grip adjacent to the firearm.

2. The fire arm fore grip adapter of claim 1, wherein the top clamp side includes:

compressible clamp edges for clamping about the picatinny rails underneath the firearm with a rotatable knob/screw.

3. The fire arm fore grip adapter of claim 1, wherein the adapter includes:

a pullable button for releasing the pivotable lower plate member.

4. The fire arm fore grip adapter of claim 1, wherein the adapter includes:

a depressible button for releasing the pivotable lower plate member.

5. The fire arm fore grip adapter of claim 1, wherein the adapter includes:

a switch for releasing the pivotable lower plate member.

6. The fire arm fore grip adapter of claim 1, further comprising:

bipod legs attached to the lower plate member.

7. The fire arm fore grip adapter of claim 1, further comprising:

a light attached to the lower plate member.

8. The fire arm fore grip adapter of claim 1, wherein the lower plate member includes:

a stop for limiting the pivoting of the lower plate member to a substantially vertical orientation perpendicular to the bottom side of the upper plate member.

9. A foldable adapter for firearms, comprising:

a rectangular adapter member;

an upper clamp portion on the rectangular adapter member for allowing the member to be adapted to be attachable to picatinny rails beneath a firearm;

a bottom surface on the rectangular adapter member, the lower surface having an indentation with a front inner side wall and a rear inner side wall and a ceiling side wall and

a lower plate member having a front end and rear end and sides with outwardly extending picatinny rail edges, the rear end of the lower plate member being pivotally attached to the rear inner side wall in the indentation of the adapter member, the lower plate member sized to tit within the indentation in the bottom surface of the adapter member, the picatinny rail edges on the lower plate member for supporting another component thereon, wherein the other component can move between a vertical downward position for to a folded position adjacent to the firearm.

10. The foldable adapter for firearms of claim 9, further comprising:

a light attached to the lower plate member.

11. The foldable adapter for firearms of claim 9, further comprising:

a vertical fore grip attached to the lower plate member.

12. The foldable adapter for firearms of claim 9, further comprising:

both a vertical fore grip and a light attached to the lower plate member.

13. The foldable adapter for firearms of claim 9, further comprising:

a vertical fore grip with a light integrated inside of the fore grip attached to the lower plate member.

14. The foldable adapter of claim 9, wherein the lower plate member includes:

a stop for limiting the pivoting of the lower plate member to a substantially vertical orientation perpendicular to the bottom surface of the adapter member.

15. The foldable adapter of claim 9, wherein the upper clamp portion includes:

compressible clamp edges for clamping about the picatinny rails underneath the firearm with a rotatable knob/screw.

16. The foldable adapter of claim 9, further comprising:

a switch for releasing the pivotable lower plate member.

17. A firearm fore grip adapter, comprising:

an upper plate member on the adapter for allowing the member to be attachable beneath a firearm, the upper plate member having a top clamp side and a bottom side, the top clamp side having clamp edges adaptable for sliding about picatinny rails underneath of a firearm, the bottom side having an indentation, the indentation having a front inner side wall and a rear inner side wall and a ceiling side wall;

a lower plate member having a front end and a rear end, the lower plate member having sides with outwardly facing picatinny rail edges substantially perpendicular to the front end and the rear end, the rear end of the lower plate member pivotally attached to the rear inner side wall in the bottom side of the upper plate member, the lower plate member sized to fit within the indentation in the bottom side of the upper plate member, the picatinny rail edges on the sides of the lower plate member adaptable for supporting a fore grip thereon, wherein the fore grip is moveable between a vertical downward position for supporting the firearm to a folded position with fore grip adjacent to the firearm;

a switch for releasing the pivotable lower plate member; and

a stop for limiting the pivoting of the lower plate member to a substantially vertical orientation perpendicular to the bottom side of the upper plate member.