GB2455833A

GB2455833A - Handguard for firearms

Info

Publication number: GB2455833A
Application number: GB0815129A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Timothy F La France; Michael D Picciotta
Original assignee: Surefire LLC
Current assignee: Surefire LLC
Priority date: 2007-12-20
Filing date: 2008-08-19
Publication date: 2009-06-24
Anticipated expiration: 2028-08-19
Also published as: GB0815129D0; GB2455833B

Abstract

A handguard (i.e. foregrip or forend) for a firearm having a longitudinal barrel (14) comprises a first handguard housing (30) positionable along the barrel and adapted to be secured to the firearm, a second handguard housing (32) having an end pivotally secured to the first handguard housing (30) about a transverse pivot axis (64), and a latching mechanism (76) carried by the second handguard housing (32). The latching mechanism (76) latches the second handguard housing (32) in a closed condition with respect to the first handguard housing (30) when the first handguard housing (30) is secured to the firearm, and unlatches the second handguard housing (32) from the closed condition whereupon the second handguard housing (32) is pivotally urgeable about the transverse pivot axis (64) to an open condition with respect to the first handguard housing (30).

Description

I

Handguard for Firearms

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[00011 This invention relates to handguards for firearms, and more particularly to handguards for automatic rifles requiring user access for performing maintenance of firearm mechanisms normally covered by such handguards.

[00021 Handguards or foregrips secured to firearms, such as rifles, and positioned about the firearm's barrel, are useful for shielding the user from heat emanating from the firearm's barrel particularly during automatic operation of the firearm, as well as for mounting accessory devices to the firearm. Automatic rifles typically employ a gas tube arrangement for directing combustion gasses from the barrel to the firearm's operating rod for manipulating the bolt mechanism to eject spent cartridge cases and to load the new cartridges into the firearm's chamber. The gas tube arrangement is normally positioned above and along a section of the firearm's barrel, and is covered by the handguard when the handguard is fully secured in operational position to the firearm.

[00031 Some automatic rifles require maintenance to be performed to the gas tube arrangement from time to time, so that a handguard's capability to permit access to the gas tube arrangement for such purpose is desirable. Prior art handguards (or foregrips) for such rifles include a lower handguard section (or lower foregrip) secured to the rifle along the barrel, and an upper handguard section (or upper foregrip) secured to the lower handgrip section (and/or to the rifle) and covering the gas tube arrangement. The upper handguard section may be laterally pivotable about a longitudinal pivot of the lower handguard section, or the upper handguard section may be completely removable from the lower handguard section and from the rifle, by the user generally with the assistance of special tools, to provide user access to the gas tube arrangement for maintenance thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004) According to an embodiment of one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bandguard for a firearm having a longitudinal barrel, the handguard comprising: a first handguard section or housing positionable along the barrel and adapted to be secured to the firearm; a second handguard section or housing having an end pivotally secured to the first handguard housing about a transverse pivot axis; and a latching mechanism carried by the second handguard housing for latching the second handguard housing in a closed condition with respect to the first handguard housing when the first handguard housing is secured to the firearm, and for unlatching the second handguard housing from such closed condition whereupon the second handguard housing is pivotally urgeable about the transverse pivot axis to an open condition with respect to the first handguard housing. The latching mechanism preferably includes a latch member and a spring longitudinally biasing the latch member for latching the second handguard housing in its closed condition, the latch member longitudinally urgeable against the bias of the spring for unlatching the second handguard housing from its closed condition. The latch member is preferably adapted to latch the second handguard housing, in the vicinity of a second end thereof, to the firearm for effecting its closed condition.

[0005] In an embodiment of the present invention, a handguard or foregrip for a firearm is provided which facilitates covering of and access to the firearm's gas tube assembly, without removal of the upper handguard section from the lower handguard section or from the firearm and without the employment of special tools by the user, for permitting maintenance of the gas tube arrangement.

[0006] For a firearm including a gas tube arrangement communicating with the barrel, the second handguard housing may cover the gas tube arrangement when the second handguard housing is in its closed condition, and the gas tube arrangement may be accessible to a user when the second handguard housing is pivoted about the transverse pivot axis to its open condition.

[0007] In a preferred handguard embodiment, the second handguard housing includes a longitudinal rail structure for mounting a firearm accessory thereto, such rail structure including a longitudinal channel therealong; and the latch member carried by the second handguard housing includes a longitudinal stem retainably translatable along the rail structure channel in cooperation with the spring.

[0008] According to an embodiment of another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a handguard for a firearm having a frame and a longitudinal barrel, the handguard comprising: a first handguard housing positionable along the barrel and adapted to be secured to the firearm; a second handguard housing having a first end pivotally secured to the first handguard housing about a transverse pivot axis; and a latching mechanism carried by the second handguard housing, the latching mechanism including a latch member and a spring longitudinally biasing the latch member for latching the second handguard housing to the frame of the firearm in the vicinity of a second end of the second handguard housmg when the first handguard housing is secured to the firearm, the latch member longitudinally urgeable against the bias of the spring for unlatching the second handguard housing from the frame in the vicinity of the second end whereupon the second handguard housing is pivotably urgeable about the transverse pivot axis for placing the second handguard housing in an open condition with respect to the first handguard housing.

(0009) According to an embodiment of a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided firearm and handguard apparatus comprising in combination: a firearm including a longitudinal barrel and a gas tube arrangement conununicating with the barrel; a first semicylindrical handguard housing secured to the firearm and positioned along the barrel; a second semicylindrical handguard housing having an end pivotally secured to the first housing about a transverse pivot axis; a latching mechanism carried by the second housing for latching the second housing in a closed condition with respect to the first housing such that the gas tube arrangement is covered by the second housing, and for unlatching the second housing whereupon the second housing is pivotally urgeable about the transverse pivot axis for placing the second housing in an open condition uncovering the gas tube arrangement. The latching mechanism preferably includes a latch member and a spring longitudinally biasing the latch member for latching the second housing in the closed condition, the latch member longitudinally urgeable against the bias of the spring for unlatching the second housing from its closed condition. The latch member preferably latches the second housing, in the vicinity of a second end thereof, to the firearm's receiver for effecting its closed condition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

tOOlOl The novel features believed to be characteristic of the invention, together with further advantages thereof, will be understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

(0011J FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of an example of a firearm including a prior art handguard or foregrip secured thereto; (00121 FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an enlarged fragment of the firearm of FIG. I, showing a preferred embodiment of a handguard or foregrip according to the present invention secured thereto instead of the prior art handguard shown in FIG. 1; (00131 FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the firearm fragment and the secured handguard or foregrip of FIG. 2, shown with the upper foregrip or cover pivoted away from the lower foregrip or body for permitting access to an operational section of the firearm; (0014) FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the firearm fragment and secured handguard of FIGs. 2 and 3, showing the upper foregrip pivotally positioned with included latch member in process of latching to the firearm; (0015) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the latch member shown in FIG. 4, in enlarged scale; (00161 FIG. 6is a fragmentary cross-section of the firearm and handguard of FIG. 2, taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 2 and viewed in the direction of the appended arrows; 100171 FIG. 7is an elevation view of the firearm fragment and secured bandguard in its latched condition as in FIG. 2; and [0018) FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the firearm fragment and secured handguard in its latched condition as in FIG. 2, taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 2 and viewed in the direction of the appended arrows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(00191 Turning first to FIG. 1, there is illustrated an example of a firearm 10, specifically an Enfield SA-80 L85A2 assault rifle fitted with a prior art handguard or foregrip 12 along and surrounding a section of the firearm's barrel 14 which extends along a longitudinal axis a from the firearm's receiver 16. The firearm 10 includes a gas tube arrangement 18 (best shown in FIG. 3) communicating with the firearm's barrel 14 through a gas block 20 (which may further include a fitting for attachment of a front sight), the gas tube arrangement 18 longitudinally extending above the barrel 14 and to the firearm's receiver 16. When an ammunition cartridge is fired by the firearm 10, generated combustion gasses are directed from the barrel 14 through the gas tube arrangement 18 and to the firearm's operating rod for manipulating the firearm's bolt mechanism to eject the spent cartridge case and to load the new cartridge into the firearm's chamber for effecting automatic operation of the firearm 10.

(00201 The prior art handguard or foregrip 12 includes a lower section 24 secured to the firearm and a secured upper section or cover 26. One longitudinal side of the cover is pivotally secured to the lower section 24 about a longitudinal pivot axis, and the other longitudinal side is releasably fastened to the lower section 24 by a friction latch. A user may release the friction latch from the lower section 24, tica1ly using special tools, and laterally pivot the cover 26 about a longitudinal pivot axis to expose the gas tube arrangement 18 for permitting the user to perform maintenance thereto, after which the user replaces and refastens the cover 26 to the lower section 24.

100211 As used herein, the word "front" or "forward" describes a direction toward the muzzle 22 of the barrel 14 (i.e., to the left as shown in FIGs. 1-4 and 7); "rear" or "rearward" describes the direction opposite the front or forward direction (i.e., to the right as shown in FIGs. 1-4 and 7); "above" means vertically above when the firearm lOis in a firing position with its barrel 14 horizontal; "below" means vertically below when the firearm lOis in a firing position with its baxrel 14 horizontal; "longitudinal" means a direction along or parallel to the longitudinal axis a of the barrel 14; and "transverse" means a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

[00221 A preferred embodiment of the handguard or foregrip 28 according to the present invention is shown in FIGs. 2-8, secured to the firearm 10 instead of the prior art handguard or foregrip 12 of FIG. I. The handguard or foregrip 28 includes a first or lower handguard section (or Lower foregrip) comprising a generally semicylindrical first shell or housing 30, and a second or upper bandguard section (or upper foregrip) comprising a generally semicylindrical second shell or housing 32. The term "cylindrical" is used herein in its broad sense as having curved or polygonal surface configurations, as well as combinations thereof and the term "semicylindrical" is used herein in its broad sense as denoting a partial cylindrical configuration, i.e. the housing 30 or 32 may have a transverse cross-sectional configuration extending through an arc greater or less than 180°, as well as describing an arc of 1800. In the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 2-4 and 6-8, the transverse cross-sectional configuration of the first housing shown as a lower housing 30 describes an arc greater than 180°, while the transverse cross-sectional configuration of the second housing shown as an upper housing 32 describes an arc less than 180°.

[00231 The longitudinal handguard sections or housings 30, 32 may include at least one longitudinal rail structure therealong, such as a top rail structure 34 along the upper housing 32, and may also include longitudinal bottom and side rail structures 36 along the lower housing 30, to which rail structures may be mounted one or more firearm accessories such as target illuminators, a laser sight, a hand grip, and other devices.

t00241 Rails for mounting accessories are well-known in the firearms art, including rails comprising a series of longitudinally spaced-apart ribs 38 (FIG. 2), such as specified in MIL-STD-1913 and commonly known as a Picatinny rail, which is shown in FIGs. 2 and 6 as comprising the top rail 34. Such Picatinny rails may be Used for the bottom and side rails 36 as well, which Picatinny rails may be modified by including a slot or channel 40 (see FIGs. 2 and 8) longitudinally extending along the lower housing 30 through the ribs. Either type of rail structure may be utilized for securing accessories having a Weaver style or other clamping device, although the provision of the channel 44) permits greater adaptability of accessory arrangement on a rail as well as additional types of securement opportunities. Further, the housing wall of each channel 40 may include apertures therethough for weight and/or heat reducing purposes, as well as longitudinally spaced-apart apertures preferably with internal threads for the securement of accessories by other securement devices (e.g. screws) instead of or in addition to securement by utilization of the rails alone. Such rail structures are described in U.S. Patent No. 6,508,027 of Paul Y. Kim, incorporated herein by reference.

[0025j The first or lower handguard section or housing 30 is secured to the firearm 10 along the barrel 14 and forwardly of the receiver 16. In the preferred embodiment, the lower handguard housing 30 is forwardly secured to the firearm's gas block 20, which is secured about the barrel 14. The gas block 20 includes a transverse bore 42 therethrough at a location below the barrel 14 (FIG. 4), and a bolt 44 extends through the transverse bore 42 with the bolt's ends being received by respective apertures in the lower housing 30 on either side of the gas block 20 and secured thereto. The rear end of the lower housing 30 is secured to the firearm's frame 46, such as by a bracket 48 at the lower housing's rear end secured (as by at least one vertical pin 50) to a forwardly protruding member 52 secured to the firearm's frame 46 at a location below the barrel 14.

100261 The second or upper handguard section or housing 32 is pivotally secured to the lower handguard housing 30 in the vicinity of one end (preferably the forward end 54) of the upper housing 32 and the corresponding one end (preferably the forward end 56) of the lower housing 30, such as may be implemented by a screw 58 and bushing 60 combination along each side of the housings, acting as a pivot 62 along a transverse pivot axis 64 (see FIGS. 2, 3 and 6).

100271 The upper handguard housing 32is shown in its closed condition with respect to the lower handguard section or housing 30 in FIG. 2, and pivoted to its fully open condition in FIG. 3. The upper housing 32 preferably includes a lateral lip 66 longitudinally extending along each side thereof, for laterally overhanging a longitudinal top edge 68 of each side of the lower housing 30 when the upper housing 32 is in its closed condition with respect to the lower housing 30, for precluding excessive downward pivoting (clockwise as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3) of the upper housing 32. The forward edge 70 of each of the lips 66 may be configured for interfering with the generally vertical forward edges 72 of the lower housing 30, for stopping excessive open pivoting (counter-clockwise as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3) of the upper housing 32 about the pivot axis 64.

[00281 In the preferred embodiment, the transverse pivot axis 64 is positioned forwardly of the gas tube arrangement 18 (including the gas block 20), and the upper housing 32 is configured with an opening 74 for precluding interference by the upper housing 32 with the gas block 20 (and an attached front sight) during pivotal opening and closing of the upper housing 32. As shown in FIG. 3, the gas tube arrangement 18 (including the gas block 20) is accessible from either side and from above, for pennitting a user to perform maintenance thereof when the upper housing 32 is in its fully open condition with respect to the lower housing 30.

f0029J A latching mechanism 76 is carried by the upper housing 32, for latching the upper housing 32 in its closed condition with respect to the lower housing 30. As shown in FIGS. 4-6, a latch member 78 includes an elongate stem 80 and a latching head 82. The elongate stem 80 includes a longitudinal hollow section 84 longitudinally housing a helical spring 86. The stem is retained within a longitudinal channel 88 formed in the upper housing 32 (such as in the top rail 34) and a captive plate 90 transverseLy held by the upper housing 32. Opposing walls of the stem 80, such as a top wall 92 and a bottom waIl 94, include respective longitudinal apertures or slots 96,98 near the stem's forward end 100, through which a pin 102 is inserted, which pin 102 is fixedly retained by the upper housing 32 (such as through a threaded bore 104 through the top wall of the upper housing 32 and a correspondingly positioned blind bore 106 in the plate 90.

(00301 The spring 86 is captured within the hollow section 84 of the stem 80, between the fixed pin 102 and the rear wall 108 of the stem's hollow section 84. The spring 86 is in compression, longitudinally biasing the latch member 78 rearwardly. It may be appreciated that the latch member 78 may be urged by a user, forwardly against the bias of the spring 86, through a longitudinal distance equal to the length of the pair of correspondingly positioned apertures 104, 106 less the diameter of the pin 102.

100311 The latching head 82 of the latch member 78 depends from the rear end 110 of the longitudinal stem 80 and includes two nubs 112 laterally spaced apart to avoid interfering with the firearm's gas tube arrangement 18. The nubs 112 are each configured with a rearwardly projecting upwardly facing flat surface 114 and a forwardly inclined guide surface 116 depending from the transverse rear edge 120 of each of the flat surfaces 114.

100321 To place the upper housing 32 in its closed condition (FIG. 2) from its IWly open condition (FIG. 3), a user pivots the upper housing 32 about the pivot axis 64 (clockwise as viewed in the drawing of FIG. 3). The length of the upper housing 32 and the location of the pivot 62 is such that the guide surfaces 116 of the latch member 78 contact a forward edge 118 of the firearm's frame 16 (e.g., the receiver). Further clockwise pivoting of the upper housing 32 (i.e., downward urging of the upper housing's rear end 119) causes the guide surfaces 116 to downwardly slide upon the preferably transverse forward edge 118 of the receiver 16, in turn causing the stem 80 of the latch member 78 to be longitudinally forwardly translated and causing the spring 86 to be ftirther compressed between the pm 102 and the rear wall 108 of the stem's hollow section 84. Such urging by the user continues until the rear edges 120 of the flat surfaces 114 pass the frame's forward edge 118, whereupon the bias of the spring 86 urges the latch member 78 rearwardly causing its upwardly facing flat surfaces 114 to slide under the frame edge 118 while a rearward protrusion 122 on each side of the upper housing 32 contacts the top surface of the frame 16 at its forward edge 118 (FIGS. 2, 7 and 8), thereby capturing the rear end 119 of the upper member 32 to the frame 16. In the preferred embodiment, the closing operation is facilitated by the flat surfaces 114 being slightly inclined upwardly in the forward direction.

100331 When it is desired to place the upper housing 32 in its open condition with respect to the lower housing 30, the user urges the latch member 78 forwardly by applying a forwardly directed force to the rear end 110 of the elongate stem 80, against the bias of the spring 86, until the flat surfaces 114 are forwardly moved to clear the forward edge 118 of the frame 16. At this point, the user pivots the upper housing 32 about the pivot axis 64 (counterclockwise as viewed in the drawing of FIGS. 2-4). The application of such force and pivoting may be implemented without special tools, by the user merely exerting a finger against the rear end 110 of the stem; if desired, the user may place an ammunition cartridge against the laterally disposed notch 124 at the longitudinal stem's rear end 110, and exerting a forward force followed by an upward force thereto.

100341 The handguard housings 30, 32 may be made using fabrication methods well known in the art, of well known materials typically used for making handguards or foregrips for firearms including metals such as light weight aluminum alloys and other rigid and durable materials such as polymeric materials. Although the Enfield SA8O assault rifle has been illustrated by way of example herein, the handguard of the present invention may be fitted for being installed on rifles and in particular on automatic rifles of other manufacturers.

[00351 Thus, has been described a preferred embodiment of a handguard for a firearm, the handguard including a lower handguard housing securable to the firearm and an upper handguard housing pivotally secured to the lower handguard housing about a transverse pivot axis, the upper handguard housing including a latching mechanism for latching the pivotable upper section in a closed condition with respect to the secured lower handguard housing and for unlatching the upper handguard housing for placing the upper handguard housing in an open condition. Other embodiments of the present invention, and variations of the embodiments described herein, may be developed without departing from the essential characteristic thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1 1. A handguard for a firearm having a longitudinal barrel, the handguard 2 comprising: 3 a first handguard housing positionable along the barrel and adapted to be 4 secured to the firearm; a second handguard housing having an end pivotally secured to said first 6 handguard housing about a transverse pivot axis; and 7 a latching mechanism carried by said second handguard housing for 8 latching said second handguard housing in a closed condition with respect to 9 said first handguard housing when said first handguard housing is secured to the firearm, and for unlatching said second handguard housing from said closed 11 condition whereupon said second handguard housing is pivotally urgeable about 12 said transverse pivot axis to an open condition with respect to said first 13 handguard housing.
2. The handguard according to Claim 1, the firearm including a receiver and a 16 gas tube arrangement communicating with the barrel, wherein: 17 said second handguard housing covers said gas tube arrangement when 18 said second handguard housing is in said closed condition, and said gas tube 19 arrangement is accessible to a user when said second handguard housing is pivoted about said transverse pivot axis to said open condition.

1
3. The handguard according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein: 2 said latching mechanism includes a latch member and a spring 3 longitudinally biasing said latch member for latching said second handguard 4 housing in said closed condition, said latch member longitudinally urgeable against the bias of said spring for unlatching said second handguard housing 6 from said closed condition.

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4. The handguard according to Claim 3, wherein: 2 said latch member is adapted to latch said second handguard housing, in 3 the vicinity of a second end thereof, to said firearm for effecting said closed 4 condition.

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5. The handguard according to Claim 4, when read as appended to Claim 2, 2 wherein: 3 said latch member is adapted to latch said second handguard housing, in 4 the vicinity of a second end thereof, to the receiver for effecting said closed condition.

1
6. The handguard according to Claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein: 2 said second handguard housing includes a longitudinal rail structure for 3 mounting a firearm accessory thereto, said rail structure including a longitudinal 4 channel therealong; and said latch member includes a longitudinal stem retainably translatable 6 along said channel in cooperation with said spring.

1
7. A handguard for a firearm having a frame and a longitudinal barrel, the 2 handguard comprising: 3 a first bandguard housing positionable along the barrel and adapted to be 4 secured to the firearm; a second handguard housing having a first end pivotally secured to said 6 first handguard housing about a transverse pivot axis; and 7 a latching mechanism carried by said second handguard housing, said 8 latching mechanism including a latch member and a spring longitudinally 9 biasing said latch member for latching said second haudguard housing to the frame of the firearm in the vicinity of a second end of said second handguard 11 housing when said first handguard housing is secured to the firearm, said latch 12 member longitudinally urgeable against the bias of said spring for unlatching 13 said second handguard housing from the frame in the vicinity of said second end 14 whereupon said second handguard housing is pivotally urgeable about said transverse pivot axis for placing said second handguard housing in an open 16 condition with respect to said first handguard housing.

1
8. Firearm and handguard apparatus, comprising in combination: 2 a firearm including a longitudinal barrel and a gas tube arrangement 3 communicating with said barrel; 4 a first semicylindrical handguard housing secured to said firearm and positioned along said barrel; 6 a second semicylindrical handguard housing having an end pivotally 7 secured to said first housing about a transverse pivot axis; 8 a latching mechanism carried by said second housing for latching said 9 second housing in a closed condition with respect to said first housing such that said gas tube arrangement is covered by said second housing, and for unlatching 11 said second housing from said closed condition whereupon said second housing 12 is pivotally urgeable about said transverse pivot axis for placing said second 13 housing in an open condition uncovering said gas tube arrangement.

1
9. The handguard according to Claim 8, wherein: 2 said latching mechanism includes a latch member and a spring 3 longitudinally biasing said latch member for latching said second housing in said 4 closed condition, said latch member longitudinally urgeable against the bias of said spring for unlatching said second housing form said closed condition.

1
10. The handguard according to Claim 9, wherein: 2 said firearm includes a receiver; and 3 said latch member latches said second housing, in the vicinity of a 4 second end thereof, to said receiver for effecting said closed condition.