Rifle handguard with grip

Abstract

This invention relates to a forearm “free floating” handguard for high rate of fire semiautomatic rifles and carbines such as the M16 family. More particularly, a handguard is disclosed that includes an integral gripping section and ventilation cut-outs, providing optimal grip strength, improved convective barrel cooling, while minimizing weight of the firearm.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]This invention relates to the general field of forearm handguard assemblies for a rifles, and to the particular field of forearm handguards for high rate of fire semiautomatic rifles and carbines such as the M16 family of firearms.[0003]2. Description of Related Art[0004]Modern semiautomatic rifles enable rapid, high volume firing which can heat the barrel to very high temperatures. To protect the shooter from burns from the hot barrel, the barrel is usually surrounded by a handguard located directly in front of the receiver. In many cases, the handguard is vented to provide convective cooling and dissipate heat from barrel. An example of an early handguard can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 2,965,994, “Gun forearm”.[0005]In addition to their heat protection function, handguards are commonly designed to attach weapon accessories such as optics, laser, night vision, foregrips, bipods, and tactical lights to the firearm. A current ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]In accordance with the invention, an ergonomic gripping section is longitudinally incorporated into the free-floating cylindrical member. This design improves grip, reduces muscle fatigue and provides improved convective cooling of the firearm while reducing the overall weight of the firearm.

[0011]If desired, particular embodiments of the invention can be made of different sizes, materials, or colors, have numbers or letters on the handguard, or can contain other uniquely identifiable characters. Furthermore, the gripping section may incorporate various textures to improve friction and grip. Although any light weight, high strength, corrosion resistant, heat resistant material may be used, manufacturing the invention using a single integral section of high strength aluminum provides an optimum combination of strength, heat resistance, and low weight.

[0012]The handguard and gripping section may also incorporate cooling vents, ventilation cut-outs, ribbing, heat shields, or double heat shields and liners to provide cooling air circulation around the barrel of the firearm. Cooling vents and ventilation cut-outs also reduce the weight of the handguard and provide an aesthetically pleasing “skeletal” look. One or more removable and moveable mounting rails may be provided with the handguard. Finally, the handguard may include mounting structures to enabling weapon accessory attachments as needed.

Problems solved by technology

As described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,528,246, “Forward Handguard Assembly for Rifle”), the traditional tubular design can result in poor grip and muscle fatigue.

Application No. 2009 / 0178325, address the problems of grip strength and muscle fatigue, they introduce other problems such as increased weight and inefficient cooling of the rifle barrel.

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