초록 ▼

A forward hand guard assembly for a rifle includes an upper metal hand guard which is secured to the receiver rifle by a clamp, and a lower grip which is releasably secured to the upper guard and the clamp by a latching pin. The clamp has a locking mechanism which can be released without tools. The

A forward hand guard assembly for a rifle includes an upper metal hand guard which is secured to the receiver rifle by a clamp, and a lower grip which is releasably secured to the upper guard and the clamp by a latching pin. The clamp has a locking mechanism which can be released without tools. The grip is a molded plastic body designed to rest comfortably in the hand.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A forward hand guard assembly for a firearm having a receiver and a barrel extending along a firing axis, said assembly comprising an upper hand guard portion, a lower grip portion, and a clamp for securing a rear end of the upper hand guard and the grip to a barrel nut of the firearm so that a p

1. A forward hand guard assembly for a firearm having a receiver and a barrel extending along a firing axis, said assembly comprising an upper hand guard portion, a lower grip portion, and a clamp for securing a rear end of the upper hand guard and the grip to a barrel nut of the firearm so that a portion of the upper hand guard and the grip surround the barrel without contacting it, wherein the lower grip portion has a gripping surface comprising a substantially flat bottom surface, and structure for being gripped by the fingers, said structure lying entirely below the firing axis, wherein said gripping structure comprises a pair of substantially quarter-round convex surfaces having a first radius, said convex surface being tangent to the flat bottom surface, one on either side thereof, and a pair of substantially quarter-round concave surfaces having a second radius, said concave surfaces lying above said convex surfaces and meeting said convex surfaces at an angle thereby defining a gripping edge for the thumb and fingers of a shooter. 2. The invention of claim 1, wherein said concave and convex surfaces meet at an angle of about 90°. 3. The invention of claim 1, wherein said concave and convex surfaces are substantially cylindrical, each having a longitudinal axis. 4. The invention of claim 3, wherein said longitudinal axes are parallel or taper toward one another. 5. The invention of claim 3, wherein said longitudinal axes are parallel to or taper toward the firing axis. 6. The invention of claim 1, wherein said first radius is in the range of 0.5 inch to 1.0 inch. 7. The invention of claim 1, wherein said second radius is in the range of 0.5 inch to 1.0 inch. 8. The invention of claim 1, wherein the gripping edges are rounded to a third radius of not more than 0.125 inch. 9. The invention of claim 1, wherein the grip has a width of at least 2.5 inches. 10. The invention of claim 1, wherein the upper hand guard is made of a metal and the grip is made of a polymeric resin. 11. The invention of claim 1, wherein the upper hand guard has an integral Picatinny rail formed thereon. 12. The invention of claim 11, wherein the upper hand guard has walls extending from either side of said Picatinny rail. 13. The invention of claim 12, wherein said walls have flat outer surfaces on which accessories may be mounted. 14. The invention of claim 13, further comprising at least one modular Picatinny rail and fasteners for securing the modular Picatinny rail to at least one of said flat surfaces. 15. The invention of claim 1, further comprising a heat shield between the grip and the barrel of the firearm. 16. The invention of claim 15, wherein the heat shield is perforated so that fluids can pass through the shield, while allowing air to circulated around the barrel to increase barrel cooling. 17. The invention of claim 1, wherein the clamp comprises a semicircular shell shaped to engage the barrel nut and fasteners for drawing the clamp toward the upper hand guard as it engages the top of the receiver. 18. The invention of claim 1, further comprising a reinforcing metal channel member embedded in the grip and flush with the bottom surface thereof, said channel member running lengthwise of the upper hand guard and having a T-section slot with a keyhole opening for receiving mounting elements for auxiliary supports and accessories. 19. The invention of claim 1, wherein the grip has connecting structures at its front and rear ends which are engaged and disengaged with complementary structures on the upper hand guard and the clamp, respectively, by sliding the grip lengthwise relative to the upper hand guard. 20. The invention of claim 19, further comprising a pin which may be inserted through portions of both the upper hand guard and the grip, to prevent them from being moved lengthwise and thereby disconnected. 21. The invention of claim 20, further comprising a spring detent mechanism to prevent inadvertent withdrawal of the pin. 22. The invention of claim 19, wherein the connecting structure at the front end of the grip is a pair of slots extending lengthwise in the grip at its forward end, and the complementary structure on the upper hand guard is a pair of tabs which are slidably received in the slots. 23. The invention of claim 22, wherein upwardly open gaps are formed in the grip above the slots, to permit the tabs to enter the slots as the upper hand guard and grip are brought together. 24. The invention of claim 19, wherein the connecting structure at the rear end of the grip is a dovetail groove, and the complementary structure on the clamp is a dovetail tenon which engages the dovetail groove when the upper hand guard and the grip are assembled.