FIREARM HAVING A REMOVABLE HAND GUARD

• US 20080301994A1
• Filed: 04/09/2008
• Published: 12/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Colt's Manufacturing IP Holding Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Colt Defense LLC (Colt Defense Holding LLC)
• Inventors: Langevin, Kevin, Kuczynko, Grzegorz, Hochstrate, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,336,243 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 42/71.01
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 23/16 Forestocks; Handgrips; Hand guards pump-action guns F41C7/02

Abstract

A semi-automatic or automatic rifle is provided. The rifle has a receiver having a receiver frame, a barrel removably connected to the receiver frame, and an end cap coupled to the barrel. A removable hand guard section is provided extending over and generally surrounding the barrel, the removable hand guard section removably connected to the receiver. The removable hand guard section has a locating feature adapted to engage with the end cap and locate the hand guard relative to the end cap. The removable hand guard section has a mounting rail portion and a body portion, the mounting rail portion molded into the body portion. The barrel has a locking collar adapted to removably position and lock the removable hand guard section relative to the receiver frame and the barrel. The removable hand guard floats in position relative to the barrel.

Claims

1. A semi-automatic or automatic rifle comprising:

a receiver having a receiver frame;

a barrel removably connected to the receiver frame;

a removable hand guard section extending over and generally surrounding the barrel, the removable hand guard section removably connected to the receiver;

a hand guard capture coupled to the barrel;

the removable hand guard section having a locating feature adapted to engage the capture and locate the hand guard relative to the capture;

the removable hand guard section having a mounting rail portion and a body portion, the mounting rail portion molded into the body portion; and

the barrel having a locking collar adapted to removably position and lock the removable hand guard section relative to the receiver frame and the barrel;

wherein, the removable hand guard floats in position relative to the barrel.

2. The semi-automatic or automatic rifle of claim 1, wherein the mounting rail portion is aluminum, and wherein the body portion is made of peek polymer.

3. The semi-automatic or automatic rifle of claim 1, wherein the removable hand guard section comprises an upper hand guard section and a lower hand guard section.

4. The semi-automatic or automatic rifle of claim 1, wherein the removable hand guard section comprises an upper hand guard section and a lower hand guard section, and wherein the lower hand guard section comprises an integrally molded pistol grip.

5. The semi-automatic or automatic rifle of claim 1, wherein the removable hand guard section comprises an upper hand guard section and a lower hand guard section, and wherein the mounting rail portion of the upper hand guard section comprises a piccatiny rail.

6. The semi-automatic or automatic rifle of claim 1, wherein the removable hand guard section comprises an upper hand guard section and a lower hand guard section, and wherein the mounting rail portion of the upper hand guard section comprises a piccatiny rail, and wherein the mounting rail portion of the lower hand guard section comprises a T-track rail capable of having another accessory mounting rail removably mounted thereto.

7. The semi-automatic or automatic rifle of claim 1, wherein the removable hand guard section comprises a removable heat shield.

8. A semi-automatic or automatic rifle having a black rifle configuration comprising:

a receiver having a receiver frame;

a barrel removably connected to the receiver frame;

the receiver extending over and generally surrounding the barrel,

the receiver having a removable hand guard section removably connected to the receiver; and

the removable hand guard section having a molded composite structure having a mounting rail portion and a non-metallic body portion,

the mounting rail portion molded into the body portion;

wherein, the removable hand guard section is modular and interchangeable with other different hand guards or rails.

9. The rifle of claim 8, wherein the mounting rail portion is aluminum, and wherein the body portion is made of peek polymer.

10. The rifle of claim 8, wherein the removable hand guard section comprises a lower hand guard section.

11. The rifle of claim 8, wherein the removable hand guard section comprises a lower hand guard section, and wherein the lower hand guard section comprises an integrally molded pistol grip.

12. The rifle of claim 8, wherein the removable hand guard section comprises a lower hand guard section, and wherein the mounting rail portion of the lower hand guard section comprises a piccatiny rail.

13. The rifle of claim 8, wherein the removable hand guard section comprises a lower hand guard section, and wherein the mounting rail portion of the lower hand guard section comprises a T-track rail capable of having another accessory rail slidably mounted therein.

14. The rifle of claim 8, wherein the removable hand guard section comprises a removable heat shield.

15. A rifle hand guard kit for a rifle having a black rifle configuration, the kit comprising:

a removable hand guard section adapted to extend over and generally surround a barrel of the rifle, the removable hand guard section removably connectable to a receiver of the rifle;

the removable hand guard section having a locating feature adapted to engage a hand guard capture of the rifle and locate the hand guard relative to the capture; and

the removable hand guard section having a molded composite structure having an integral mounting rail portion and a non-metallic body portion, the mounting rail portion molded into the body portion;

wherein, the removable hand guard section is modular and arranged so that the hand guard section is freely interchangeable, at least in part, with other rifle hand guards that are different from the removable hand guard section and have different predetermined characteristics.

16. The rifle hand guard kit of claim 15, wherein the mounting rail portion is aluminum, and wherein the body portion is made of peek polymer.

17. The rifle hand guard kit of claim 15, wherein the removable hand guard section comprises an upper hand guard section and a lower hand guard section, and wherein the lower hand guard section comprises an integrally molded pistol grip.

18. The rifle hand guard kit of claim 15, wherein the removable hand guard section comprises an upper hand guard section and a lower hand guard section, and wherein the mounting rail portion of the upper hand guard section comprises a piccatiny rail, and wherein the mounting rail portion of the lower hand guard section comprises a T-track rail.

19. The-rifle hand guard kit of claim 15, wherein the removable hand guard section comprises an upper hand guard section and a lower hand guard section, and wherein the mounting rail portion of the upper hand guard section comprises a piccatiny rail, and wherein the mounting rail portion of the lower hand guard section comprises a T-track rail capable of having another accessory rail slidably mounted therein.

20. The rifle hand guard retrofit kit of claim 15, wherein the removable hand guard section comprises a removable heat shield.