HANDGUARD ASSEMBLY AND STANAG MOUNT ADAPTER ASSEMBLY

• US 20100186278A1
• Filed: 01/28/2010
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daniel Defense, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Daniel Defense, Inc.
• Inventors: Daniel, Marvin C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,191,300 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 42/71.10
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 23/16 Forestocks; Handgrips; Hand guards pump-action guns F41C7/02

Abstract

A handguard assembly for a firearm includes a stationary handguard portion, a movable handguard portion, a catch, and a latch mechanism. The catch is positioned on an interior of the handguard assembly, and the latch mechanism is position on an exterior of the handguard assembly. Both the catch and the latch mechanism maintain the movable handguard portion in a closed position. A STANAG mount adapter assembly includes a body portion, two flange portions, and an alignment mechanism. The flange portions are positioned on opposite lateral sides of the body portion and are configured to engage a STANAG mount, while the alignment adjustment mechanism is configured to adjust the lateral alignment of the body portion with reference to the STANAG mount. The STANAG mount adapter assembly can be used together with the handguard assembly to create an elongated rail platform on an SA80 rifle.

Claims

1. A handguard assembly for a firearm, comprising:

a stationary handguard portion;

a movable handguard portion that can be moved from a closed position to an opened position;

a catch positioned on an interior of the handguard assembly, the catch maintaining the movable handguard portion in the closed position; and

a latch mechanism positioned on an exterior of the handguard assembly, the latch mechanism further maintaining the movable handguard portion in the closed position.

2. The handguard assembly of claim 1, wherein the latch mechanism comprises:

a channel formed on one of the handguard portions; and

a latch attached to another of the handguard portions, the latch movable between locked and unlocked configurations, the latch comprising a detent configured to engage the channel when the latch is in the locked configuration and to disengage the channel when the latch is in the unlocked configuration.

3. The handguard assembly of claim 2, wherein the latch mechanism further comprises a pivot pin that permits rotating the latch between the locked and unlocked configurations.

4. The handguard assembly of claim 3, wherein the latch mechanism further comprising a spring that is biased to normally maintain the latch to the locked configuration.

5. The handguard assembly of claim 4, wherein:

the latch comprises a plurality of teeth on an opposite end from the detent; and

the spring is positioned behind the latch adjacent to the teeth.

6. The handguard assembly of claim 4, wherein the pivot pin is relatively closer to the spring than the detent.

7. The handguard assembly of claim 2, wherein the latch mechanism further comprises a spring that is biased to normally maintain the latch to the locked configuration.

8. The handguard assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of the handguard portions comprises a rail platform configured for associating an accessory with the rifle.

9. The handguard assembly of claim 8, wherein the rail platform comprises one of the following:

a Picatinny rail and a Weaver rail.

10. The handguard assembly of claim 9, wherein the handguard portions are sized and shaped for use with an SA80 rifle.

11. The handguard assembly of claim 1, wherein the handguard portions are sized and shaped for use with an SA80 rifle.

12. The handguard assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the catch is releasable upon the application of a force in a first direction; and

the latch mechanism is releasable upon the application of a force in a second direction, the second direction being generally transverse to the first direction.

13. A STANAG mount adapter assembly configured to attach to a STANAG mount, the STANAG mount comprising a base and two mounting arms extending along opposite lateral sides of the base, the STANAG mount adapter assembly comprising:

a body portion;

two flange portions positioned on opposite lateral sides of the body portion, each flange portion configured to engage one of the mounting arms; and

an alignment adjustment mechanism configured to adjust the lateral alignment of the body portion with reference to the base.

14. The STANAG mount adapter assembly of claim 13, the STANAG mount further comprising a projection on each of the mounting arms, wherein each flange portion further comprises a receiving channel sized and shaped to engage the projection.

15. The STANAG mount adapter assembly of claim 13, wherein the alignment adjustment mechanism comprises a plurality of set screws extending through each flange portion, the set screws permitting lateral adjustment of the body portion with reference to the base.

16. The STANAG mount adapter assembly of claim 13, wherein the body portion comprises a rail platform.

17. The STANAG mount adapter assembly of claim 16, wherein the rail platform comprises one of the following:

a Picatinny rail and a Weaver rail.

18. An assembly for creating an elongated rail platform on an SA80 rifle, the assembly comprising:

a handguard comprising a first rail platform; and

a STANAG mount adapter comprising a second rail platform, the second rail platform sized to abut the first rail platform when the handguard and the STANAG mount adapter are attached to the rifle.

19. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the handguard comprises:

a stationary handguard portion;

an movable handguard portion that can be moved from a closed position to an opened position;

a catch positioned on an interior of the handguard assembly, the catch maintaining the movable handguard portion in the closed position; and

a latch mechanism positioned on an exterior of the handguard assembly, the latch mechanism further maintaining the movable handguard portion in the closed position.

20. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the STANAG mount adapter comprises:

a body portion;

two flange portions positioned on opposite lateral sides of the body portion, each flange portion comprising configured to associate the STANAG mount adapter with the rifle; and

an alignment adjustment mechanism- configured to adjust the lateral alignment of the STANAG mount adapter with reference to the rifle.