Accessory mounts for shotguns and other firearms

• US 20030106251A1
• Filed: 12/12/2001
• Published: 06/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SureFire LLC (Surefire Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: SureFire LLC (Surefire Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Kim, Paul Y.
• Granted Patent: US 6,655,069 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 42/71.01
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 11/003 Mountings with a dove tail element, e.g. "Picatinny rail systems"

Abstract

Accessory mounts for firearms, including a combined handgrip and accessory mount for a shotgun, as well as detachably securable rails and modified Picatinny rails for mounting accessories to shotguns and other firearms.

Claims

1. A handgrip for a shotgun having a longitudinally moveable fore-end assembly, the handgrip comprising:

a shell adapted to be secured to the fore-end assembly for manually moving the fore-end assembly; and

at least one rail structure on said shell for mounting a firearm accessory to said at least one rail structure.

2. The handgrip according to claim 1, wherein the fore-end assembly includes a moveable fore-end tube, and wherein:

said shell includes interior arcuate sections for fitting said shell about the fore-end tube, said shell adapted to be secured to said fore-end tube.

3. The handgrip according to claim 1, wherein:

said at least one rail structure includes a rail longitudinally extending along a bottom of said shell.

4. The handgrip according to claim 3, wherein:

said rail along the bottom of said shell is a Picatinny rail.

5. The handgrip according to claim 1, wherein:

said at least one rail structure includes a longitudinal rail for mounting a firearm accessory to said rail and further includes a channel longitudinally along said rail.

6. The handgrip according to claim 5, wherein:

said channel includes a longitudinally extending wall having at least one aperture therethrough; and

said shell is adapted for securing a firearm accessory thereto through said at least one aperture.

7. The handgrip according to claim 1, wherein:

at least one of said at least one rail structure is detachably secured to said shell.

8. The handgrip according to claim 1, wherein:

said shell includes at least one longitudinally extending wall adapted for securing a firearm accessory thereto.

9. A handgrip for a shotgun having a longitudinally moveable fore-end assembly, the handgrip comprising:

a shell adapted to be secured to the fore-end assembly for manually moving said fore-end assembly; and

at least one rail member adapted to be detachably secured to said shell for mounting a firearm accessory to said at least one rail member when said at least one rail member is secured to said shell.

10. The handgrip according to claim 9, wherein:

said shell includes at least one longitudinal groove therealong; and

said at least one rail member includes a lateral projection longitudinally extending along said rail member for being received by said at least one longitudinal groove when said at least one rail member is secured to said shell.

11. The handgrip according to claim 10, wherein:

said at least one longitudinal groove along said shell comprises a longitudinally extending channel between two laterally outward projections longitudinally extending along said shell; and

said lateral projection along said at least one rail member projects laterally inwardly for being received by said channel of said shell.

12. The handgrip according to claim 11, wherein:

said at least one rail member includes a longitudinal rail including a channel longitudinally therethrough.

13. The handgrip according to claim 12, wherein:

said channel of said rail includes a longitudinally extending wall having an aperture therethrough; and

said shell is adapted for securing a firearm accessory thereto through said aperture.

14. The handgrip according to claim 10, wherein:

said at least one longitudinal groove includes two longitudinal grooves each on opposite sides of said shell.

15. The handgrip according to claim 9, wherein:

said shell includes a rail structure longitudinally extending along a bottom of said shell for mounting a firearm accessory to said rail structure.

16. An accessory mount for a firearm, the accessory mount comprising:

a shell adapted to be secured to the firearm; and

at least one rail member detachably securable to said shell for mounting a firearm accessory to said at least one rail member when said at least one rail member is secured to said shell.

17. The accessory mount according to claim 16, wherein:

said shell includes at least one longitudinal groove therealong; and

said at least one rail member includes a lateral projection longitudinally extending along said rail member for being received by said at least one longitudinal groove when said at least one rail member is secured to said shell.

18. The accessory mount according to claim 17, wherein:

said at least one longitudinal groove along said shell comprises a longitudinally extending channel between two laterally outward projections longitudinally extending along said shell; and

said lateral projection along said at least one rail member projects laterally inwardly for being received by said channel of said shell.

19. The accessory mount according to claim 18, wherein:

said at least one rail member includes a longitudinal rail including a channel longitudinally therethrough.

20. The accessory mount according to claim 19, wherein:

said channel of said rail includes a longitudinally extending wall having an aperture therethrough; and

said shell is adapted for securing a firearm accessory thereto through said aperture.

21. The accessory mount according to claim 17, wherein:

said at least one longitudinal groove comprises two longitudinal grooves each on opposite sides of said shell.

22. The accessory mount according to claim 16, wherein:

said shell further includes a rail structure longitudinally extending along said shell for mounting a firearm accessory to said shell.

23. Shotgun and accessory mount apparatus, comprising in combination:

a shotgun having a longitudinally moveable fore-end assembly;

a shell secured to the fore-end assembly for manually moving the fore-end assembly; and

at least one rail structure on said shell for mounting a firearm accessory to said shell.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein:

said fore-end assembly includes a moveable fore-end tube; and

said shell is fitted about and secured to said fore-end tube.

25. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein:

said at least one rail structure includes a rail longitudinally extending along a bottom of said shell.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein:

said rail along the bottom of said shell is a Picatinny rail.

27. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein:

said at least one rail structure includes a longitudinal rail for mounting a firearm accessory to said rail and further includes a channel longitudinally along said rail.

28. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein:

said channel includes a longitudinally extending wall having at least one aperture therethrough; and

said shell is adapted for securing a firearm accessory thereto through said at least one aperture.

29. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein:

at least one of said at least one rail structure is detachably secured to said shell.

30. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein:

said shell includes at least one longitudinally extending wall adapted for securing a firearm accessory thereto.

31. The apparatus according to claim 23, further including:

a pistol grip mounted to a one of said at least one rail structure.

32. A shotgun and accessory mount apparatus, comprising in combination:

a shotgun having a longitudinally moveable fore-end assembly

a shell secured to said fore-end assembly for manually moving said fore-end assembly; and

at least one rail member adapted to be detachably secured to said shell for mounting a firearm accessory to said at least one rail member when said at least one rail member is secured to said shell.

33. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein:

said shell includes at least one longitudinal groove therealong; and

said at least one rail member includes a lateral projection longitudinally extending along said at least one rail member for being received by said at least one longitudinal groove when said at least one rail member is secured to said shell.

34. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein:

said at least one longitudinal groove along said shell comprises a longitudinally extending channel between two laterally outward projections longitudinally extending along said shell; and

said lateral projection along said at least one rail member projects laterally inwardly for being received by said channel of said shell.

35. The apparatus according to claim 34, wherein:

said at least one rail member includes a longitudinal rail including a channel longitudinally therethrough.

36. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein:

said channel of said rail includes a longitudinally extending wall having an aperture therethrough; and

said shell is adapted for securing a firearm accessory thereto through said aperture.

37. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein:

said at least one longitudinal groove includes two longitudinal grooves each on opposite sides of said shell.

38. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein:

said shell further includes a rail structure longitudinally extending along a bottom of said shell for mounting a firearm accessory to said rail structure.

39. The apparatus according to claim 38, further including:

a pistol grip mounted to said rail structure.

40. The apparatus according to claim 32, further including:

a pistol grip mounted to a one of said at least one rail member when said one is secured to said shell.

41. Firearm and accessory mount apparatus comprising in combination:

a firearm;

a shell secured to said firearm; and

at least one rail member adapted to be detachably secured to said shell for mounting a firearm accessory to said rail member when said at least one rail member is secured to said shell.

42. The apparatus according to claim 41, wherein:

said shell includes at least one longitudinal groove therealong; and

said at least one rail member includes a lateral projection longitudinally extending along said rail member for being received by said at least one longitudinal groove when said at least one rail member is secured to said shell.

43. The apparatus according to claim 42, wherein:

said at least one longitudinal groove along said shell comprises a longitudinally extending channel between two laterally outward projections longitudinally extending along said shell; and

said lateral projection along said at least one rail member projects laterally inwardly for being received by said channel of said shell.

44. The apparatus according to claim 43, wherein:

said at least one rail member includes a longitudinal rail including a channel longitudinally therethrough.

45. The apparatus according to claim 44, wherein:

said channel of said rail includes a longitudinally extending wall having an aperture therethrough; and

said shell is adapted for securing a firearm accessory thereto through said aperture.

46. The accessory mount according to claim 42, wherein:

said at least one longitudinal groove comprises two longitudinal grooves each on opposite sides of said shell.

47. The accessory mount according to claim 41, wherein:

said shell further includes a rail structure longitudinally extending along said shell for mounting a firearm accessory to said shell.

48. An accessory mount for a firearm, the accessory mount comprising:

a shell adapted to be secured to the firearm;

at least one longitudinal rail on said shell for mounting a firearm accessory to said at least one rail;

a channel longitudinally along said at least one rail, said channel including a longitudinally extending wall having at least one aperture therethrough; and

said shell is adapted for securing a firearm accessory thereto through said at least one aperture.

49. The accessory mount according to claim 48, wherein:

said at least one rail includes longitudinally spaced-apart ribs; and

said channel longitudinally extends through said ribs.

50. The accessory mount according to claim 48, wherein:

at least one of said at least one rail is detachably secured to said shell.