Insulated handguard for a semi-automatic or fully automatic firearm

Abstract

An insulated handguard for a semi-automatic or fully automatic firearm. The insulated handguard includes an elongated inner shell, an elongated outer shell, and a space between the inner shell and the outer shell. The inner shell is configured to radially surround a barrel of a firearm at a first radial distance from the barrel. The outer shell radially surrounds the inner shell at a second radial distance from the inner shell. The space is hermetically sealed and is either evacuated or charged with an inert gas. The insulated space blocks heat from passing from the barrel of the firearm to the outer surface of the handguard.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This patent application claims the benefit of provisional Application No. 63 / 789,651, filed Apr. 16, 2025. Application No. 63 / 789,651 is incorporated into the present disclosure by this reference.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The subject matter is related to an apparatus and methods for an insulated handguard for a rifle, and, more particularly, to a system and methods for an insulated handguard for an automatic or semi-automatic rifle.BACKGROUND

[0003] Semi-automatic and fully automatic rifles are well-known and are used by amateurs, military, and police forces worldwide. Semi-automatic rifles are firearms that fire a single round per trigger pull while automatically chambering the next cartridge, allowing for significantly faster firing of rounds than bolt-action and lever-action rifles, which require manual chambering of a new round before firing again. Fully automatic rifles, as the name suggests, fire continuously until the trigger is released, thus firing multiple rounds with a single trigger pull.

[0004] Because of their increased firing speed, semi-automatic and fully automatic rifles are very useful in military and police operations where rapid firing of numerous rounds may be necessary or desirable. Two popular models of semiautomatic rifles are the AR-10 and the AR-15, the “AR” standing for ArmaLite, the first manufacturer of AR semiautomatic rifles. The AR-10 was designed by Eugene Stoner in the late 1950s and put into production by ArmaLite in 1956. In 1957, the basic AR-10 design was rescaled and substantially modified by ArmaLite to accommodate the .223 Remington cartridge and was given the designation AR-15.

[0005] Today, numerous firearm manufacturers offer their own AR-15-style rifles. The AR-15 has proven quite popular owing to its modular construction, which allows for simple substitution of parts rather than having to have several different rifles for several different purposes. Indeed, some firearm enthusiasts capitalize on the modular nature of AR-15 rifles to use aftermarket parts from multiple suppliers to build their own, custom AR-15-style rifle.

[0006] One of the several modular component parts of a typical AR-15-style rifle is the handguard, employed on the upper receiver of the rifle, typically enclosing the barrel and attached to the upper receiver (or, in some instances, the barrel's gas block). Fully automatic rifles typically also have handguards. The handguard provides a place for the shooter to position his non-trigger hand, to steady the weapon and help with aiming. Additionally, handguards often include a firearm rail interface system such as the popular M-LOK® system, which allows for direct accessory attachment onto the “negative space” (a hollow slot) mounting points on the handguard. In this manner, the rifle can be further customized to include any number of accessories, such as lasers and lights, which can be removably attached to the handguard (and, accordingly, the semi-automatic rifle) in whatever configuration is needed or desired for a particular application.

[0007] Because the handguard is mounted around the barrel of the rifle, it transfers heat generated by rounds passing through the barrel. In high-firing situations, such as in combat situations, this can prove particularly problematic; the more rounds that are fired, the more heat that is generated and transferred to the handguard. This can lead to the handguard becoming so hot that it damages attached accessories, such as melting the wiring for attached lasers and lights. It can also become so hot that the heat passes through to the shooter's supporting hand placed on the handguard, even if the shooter is wearing gloves, potentially burning the shooter's hand in the process.

[0008] Existing handguard designs sometimes include rail covers, such as M-LOK® rail covers. These rail covers serve aesthetic purposes, blocking M-LOK® slots that are not in use. In addition, the rail covers provide added grip and shield heat from the barrel in lower-volume shooting situations. The rail covers, however, do not adequately prevent heat transfer in high-volume shooting situations, such as in combat situations. For example, it is common to employ rail covers only on the sides or top of the handguard so that the lower set of M-LOK® slots (on the underside of the handguard) are available for attaching accessories. With existing designs, it is not possible to use both a rail cover and a slot at the same time. Since the underside of the handguard typically lacks rail covers for the reason noted, heat from the barrel will transfer to the exposed portions of the handguard in higher-volume shooting situations. This could potentially melt wiring for the attached accessories or otherwise damaging the accessories. It could also potentially burn the shooter's hand.

[0009] Also, existing handguards are manufactured to have a single wall. The air in the space between the rifle's barrel and the single wall of the handguard conducts heat from the barrel to the handguard. Some existing handguards have attempted to address this problem by adding a thin heat shield to the handguard, such as a thin piece of metal, to redirect some of the heat from transferring to the handguard. But such alternatives have likewise proven insufficient for high-volume shooting situations.

[0010] Configurations of the disclosed technology address shortcomings in the prior art.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is a side view of an exemplary semiautomatic rifle having an insulated handguard, according to an example configuration.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a detail view of a portion of the rifle and insulated handguard of FIG. 1.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a sectional view as defined in FIG. 2.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] As described in this document, aspects are directed to an insulated handguard for a rifle—such as a semi-automatic, AR-15-style rifle—capable of significantly reducing heat transfer from the rifle's barrel to the outer surface of the handguard in high-volume shooting situations. Accordingly, configurations include a double-walled handguard, where the space between the walls is hermetically sealed. In some configurations, the space is evacuated. In some other configurations, the space is charged with an inert gas. The insulated space blocks heat from passing from the barrel to the outer surface of the handguard.

[0015] While the examples illustrated and discussed here are of a handguard for a semi-automatic, AR-15-style rifle, the disclosed insulated handguard can be used with any semi-automatic or fully automatic rifle.

[0016] FIG. 1 is a side view showing portions of an exemplary semiautomatic rifle having an insulated handguard, according to an example configuration. FIG. 2 is a detail view of a portion of the rifle and insulated handguard of FIG. 1. And FIG. 3 is a sectional view as defined in FIG. 2.

[0017] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a rifle 100 may include a barrel 101 and an insulated handguard 102. The barrel 101 of the rifle 100 passes through the insulated handguard 102 when the insulated handguard 102 is installed on the rifle 100. Hence, for example, the insulated handguard 102 may be mounted to the upper receiver of the rifle 100 using methods known in the art. In configurations, the insulated handguard 102 includes a firearm rail interface, such as the M-LOK® system, which includes multiple, hollow slots 103 cut through the insulated handguard 102. In this manner, accessories such as lasers and lights can be attached to the insulated handguard 102, according to methods known in the art. In configurations, the insulated handguard 102 may include rail covers.

[0018] With particular reference to FIG. 3, the insulated handguard 102 includes an elongated inner shell 104, an elongated outer shell 105, and a space 106 between the inner shell 104 and the outer shell 105.

[0019] The inner shell 104 is configured to radially surround the barrel 101 of the firearm 100. The inner shell 104 is at a first radial distance 107 from the barrel 101. The first radial distance 107 is nonzero.

[0020] The outer shell 105 radially surrounds the inner shell 104 at a second radial distance 108 from the inner shell 104. The second radial distance 108 is nonzero. Preferably, the second radial distance 108 is less than about 0.175 inch. More preferably, the second radial distance 108 is less than about 0.135 inch. Even more preferably, the second radial distance 108 is less than 0.100 inch. In some configurations, though, the second radial distance 108 may be greater than 0.175 inch.

[0021] Accordingly, rather than being constructed of a single wall like existing handguards, the insulated handguard 102 is double walled. The outer shell 105 is the outer wall, while the inner shell 104 is the inner wall, where “inner” and “outer” are relative to where the barrel 101 would be during typical use.

[0022] The space 106 between the inner shell 104 and the outer shell 105 is hermetically sealed. In configurations, the space 106 between the inner shell 104 and the outer shell 105 is substantially evacuated before being sealed. As used in this context, “substantially evacuated” means largely or essentially emptied, without requiring absolute removal of all air within the space 106. In configurations, the space 106 between the inner shell 104 and the outer shell 105 includes an inert gas. The inert gas could be, for example, argon. In other configurations, another gas that is also a poor conductor of heat could be used to charge the space 106 between the inner shell 104 and the outer shell 105.

[0023] With particular reference again to FIG. 3, in the illustrated configuration, the outer shell 105 has a cross-sectional profile that is octagonal. The cross-sectional profile is a sectional view that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 109 of the insulated handguard 102 (and the barrel 101, when the insulated handguard 102 is installed on the barrel 101). As used in this context, “substantially perpendicular” means largely or essentially at right angles, without requiring perfect perpendicularity. In other configurations, the inner shell 104 or the outer shell 105, or both, have cross-sectional profiles that are other shapes, including circular, rectangular, and hexagonal. Also, the inner shell 104 and the outer shell 105 may have different cross-sectional profiles. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the inner shell 104 may have a circular cross-sectional profile, while the outer shell 105 may have an octagonal cross-sectional profile.

[0024] In configurations, the insulated handguard 102 is modular, and can be disassembled and removed from the firearm 100. In other configurations, the insulated handguard 102 is integrated into the firearm 100 and is not removable.

[0025] As noted above, the insulated handguard 102 as described here could be implemented on an automatic or semiautomatic firearm 100, such as a semiautomatic rifle. When so implemented, the insulated handguard 102 reduces the heat transfer from the barrel 101 of the firearm 100 to the outer surface 110 of the insulated handguard 102, particularly in rapid firing situations. This is because the space 106, whether hermetically sealed, evacuated, or charged with an inert gas, reduces the flow of heat from the inner shell 104 to the outer shell 105 of the insulated handguard 102. Consequently, the insulated handguard 102 is substantially cooler than a prior-art handguard would be under rapid firing conditions, thereby reducing or eliminating heat damage to mounted accessories and the shooter's hand.EXAMPLES

[0026] Illustrative examples of the disclosed technologies are provided below. A particular configuration of the technologies may include one or more, and any combination of, the examples described below.

[0027] Example 1 includes an insulated handguard for a semi-automatic or fully automatic firearm, the handguard comprising: an elongated inner shell configured to radially surround a barrel of a firearm at a first radial distance from the barrel; an elongated outer shell that radially surrounds the inner shell at a second radial distance from the inner shell; and a space between the inner shell and the outer shell, the space being hermetically sealed.

[0028] Example 2 includes the handguard of Example 1, in which the space between the inner shell and the outer shell is substantially evacuated.

[0029] Example 3 includes the handguard of Example 1, in which the space between the inner shell and the outer shell is charged with an inert gas.

[0030] Example 4 includes the handguard of any of Examples 1-3, in which the second radial distance is 0.100 inch or less.

[0031] Example 5 includes the handguard of any of Examples 1-4, in which the outer shell has a cross-sectional profile that is octagonal, the cross-sectional profile being substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the handguard.

[0032] Example 6 includes a rifle having an insulated handguard coupled to an upper receiver of the rifle, the handguard comprising: an elongated inner shell configured to radially surround a barrel of a firearm at a first radial distance from the barrel; an elongated outer shell that radially surrounds the inner shell at a second radial distance from the inner shell; and a space between the inner shell and the outer shell, the space being hermetically sealed.

[0033] Example 7 includes the rifle of Example 6, in which the space between the inner shell and the outer shell is substantially evacuated.

[0034] Example 8 includes the rifle of Example 6, in which the space between the inner shell and the outer shell is charged with an inert gas.

[0035] Example 9 includes the rifle of any of Examples 6-8, in which the second radial distance is 0.100 inch or less.

[0036] Example 10 includes the rifle of any of Examples 6-9, in which the outer shell has a cross-sectional profile that is octagonal, the cross-sectional profile being substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the handguard.

[0037] * * * * *

[0038] The contents of the present document have been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but such contents are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the disclosure in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. The aspects of the disclosure in this document were chosen and described to explain the principles of the disclosure and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the disclosure with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

[0039] Accordingly, it is to be understood that the disclosure in this specification includes all possible combinations of the particular features referred to in this specification. For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a particular example configuration, that feature can also be used, to the extent possible, in the context of other example configurations.

[0040] Additionally, the described versions of the disclosed subject matter have many advantages that were either described or would be apparent to a person of ordinary skill. Even so, all of these advantages or features are not required in all versions of the disclosed apparatus, systems, or methods.

[0041] Also, when reference is made in this application to a method having two or more defined steps or operations, the defined steps or operations can be carried out in any order or simultaneously, unless the context excludes those possibilities.

[0042] The terminology used in this specification is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a,”“an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, or groups thereof. Hence, for example, an article “comprising” or “which comprises” components A, B, and C can contain only components A, B, and C, or it can contain components A, B, and C along with one or more other components.

[0043] Also, directions such as “upper,”“lower,” and “underside” are used for convenience and in reference to the views provided in figures. But the handguard may have a number of orientations in actual use. Thus, a feature that is above, below, on top of, or underneath another feature in the figures may not have that same orientation or direction in actual use.

[0044] It is understood that the present subject matter may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the example configurations set forth in this specification. Rather, these example configurations are provided so that this subject matter will be thorough and complete and will convey the disclosure to those skilled in the art. Indeed, the subject matter is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents of these example configurations, which are included within the scope and spirit of the subject matter set forth in this disclosure. Furthermore, in the detailed description of the present subject matter, specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present subject matter. It will be clear to those of ordinary skill in the art, however, that the present subject matter may be practiced without such specific details.

Claims

1. An insulated handguard for a semi-automatic or fully automatic firearm, the handguard comprising:an elongated inner shell configured to radially surround a barrel of a firearm at a first radial distance from the barrel;an elongated outer shell that radially surrounds the inner shell at a second radial distance from the inner shell; anda space between the inner shell and the outer shell, the space being hermetically sealed.

2. The handguard of claim 1, in which the space between the inner shell and the outer shell is substantially evacuated.

3. The handguard of claim 1, in which the space between the inner shell and the outer shell is charged with an inert gas.

4. The handguard of claim 1, in which the second radial distance is 0.100 inch or less.

5. The handguard of claim 1, in which the outer shell has a cross-sectional profile that is octagonal, the cross-sectional profile being substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the handguard.

6. A rifle having an insulated handguard coupled to an upper receiver of the rifle, the handguard comprising:an elongated inner shell configured to radially surround a barrel of a firearm at a first radial distance from the barrel;an elongated outer shell that radially surrounds the inner shell at a second radial distance from the inner shell; anda space between the inner shell and the outer shell, the space being hermetically sealed.

7. The rifle of claim 6, in which the space between the inner shell and the outer shell is substantially evacuated.

8. The rifle of claim 6, in which the space between the inner shell and the outer shell is charged with an inert gas.

9. The rifle of claim 6, in which the second radial distance is 0.100 inch or less.

10. The rifle of claim 6, in which the outer shell has a cross-sectional profile that is octagonal, the cross-sectional profile being substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the handguard.

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