Selectable lug handgrip mount for a firearm

A mount for a firearm allows a user to selectively mount a handgrip to a barrel end of the firearm. Preferred embodiments mount to a Picatinny rail of the firearm. The mount includes a rotatable lug body that is carried within an internal cavity of the body of the mount. Differing lugs corresponding to differing handgrip types are disposed on the lug body. The user simply rotates the lug body within the mount to select a desired lug corresponding to a desired handgrip. The handgrip may then be secured to the selected lug. When the user wants to secure a different handgrip, the first handgrip may be removed, the lug body rotated, and another handgrip is secured to the another lug.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to firearms, and more particularly to hand grips for firearms.

For many firearm enthusiasts, it is desirable to equip their firearm with customized grips. However, the mounts for the grip are typically designed either for a specific firearm or a particular grip. Accordingly, the firearm enthusiast must purchase both a mount and a hand grip. Likewise, they must also install both the mount and the hand grip. If they desire to change the grip, they must remove both the mount and the grip and purchase another set.

Many firearms are provisioned with a Picatinny rail and a number of hand grip mounts are attachable to the Picatinny rail. However, the mounting lug and the remainder of the mount may still only be adapted to receive a particular hand grip and are not amenable to selective attachment of different hand grip styles.

As can be seen, there is a need for an improved handgrip mount for a firearm that is configured to mount hand grips of differing styles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a handgrip mount for a firearm, is disclosed. The handgrip mount includes an elongate body having a top end, a bottom end, and an internal cavity defined therein. A keyed slot is disposed at the top end of the elongate body and is dimensioned to removably attach to a Picatinny rail of the firearm. A lug body is rotatably carried within the internal cavity. The lug body includes a plurality of lugs, each dimensioned to mount one of a plurality of differing hand grips.

In some embodiments, a handgrip attachment aperture is defined in an end face of each of the plurality of lugs. The handgrip attachment aperture is adapted to receive a fastener to attach a selected one of the plurality differing hand grips to a corresponding lug.

In some embodiments, the keyed slot includes a first lateral edge defined by a protrusion of the elongate body. A second lateral edge is defined by a detachable side plate. The detachable side plate is secured to the elongate body via one or more fasteners.

In some embodiments, a pivot hole extends transversely through the lug body, while an aperture extends through a lateral sidewall of the elongate body. A pivot pin is received through each of the pivot hole and the aperture to rotatably carry the lug body within the internal cavity.

In other embodiments, the plurality of lugs include a first lug dimensioned to receive a first handgrip and a second lug dimensioned to receive a second handgrip. The first handgrip may be an M-16/AR-15 handgrip and the second handgrip may be an AK-47 handgrip.

In other aspects of the invention, a handgrip mount for a firearm is disclosed in which the handgrip mount includes an elongate body having an internal cavity defined therein. A clamp coupling is configured for attachment to a barrel end of the firearm. A lug body is rotatably carried within the internal cavity. The lug body includes a plurality of lugs, with each lug dimensioned to mount one of a plurality of hand grip styles.

In a preferred embodiment, the clamp coupling is adapted to couple to a Picatinny rail disposed on the barrel end of the firearm.

In some embodiments, a keyed slot defined at a top end of the elongate body. The keyed slot has a first lateral edge dimensioned to receive a first side of a Picatinny rail and a plate is operable to clamp a second side of the Picatinny rail.

In some embodiments, a pivot pin is received through each of the lug body and the elongate body to rotatably carry the lug body within the internal cavity.

In yet other aspects of the invention, a method of adapting a hand grip to a firearm is disclosed. The method includes attaching a handgrip mount to a barrel end of the firearm. One of a plurality of lugs from a lug body rotatably carried on the handgrip mount is selected. A first hand grip having a style corresponding to the selected one of the plurality of lugs is attached to the lug.

Other steps in the method may include removing the first hand grip from the selected one of the plurality of lugs. The lug body may then be rotated to select another of the plurality of lugs. A second hand grip having a style corresponding to the selected another of the plurality of lugs may then be attached to the selected another of the plurality of lugs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Broadly, embodiments of the present invention provide a system, method, and apparatus for selectively positioning a plurality of mounting lugs for a firearm handgrip. The lugs are configured for attachment of a plurality of handgrip styles to a firearm.

As seen in reference to the drawings ofFIGS. 1-6, the handgrip mount10is attachable to a Picatinny rail12of a firearm14. The handgrip mount10permits the attachment of a plurality of handgrip styles to a plurality of lugs18′ of the handgrip mount10.

The handgrip mount10includes an elongate body11that is dimensioned to rotatably carry a lug body18having a plurality of lugs18′ selectable by the user to mount one of a plurality of hand grip16styles, via a handgrip attachment aperture26defined in an end face of the lug18′. The handgrip attachment aperture26receives a fastener, such as a pin, bolt, or screw to attach the handgrip16to a corresponding lug18′.

A top end of elongate the body11has a clamp coupling configured for removable attachment to a barrel end of a firearm14. In the non-limiting embodiment shown, the top end of the elongate body11has a keyed slot20, having a notched face that is dimensioned to attach to the Picatinny rail12of the firearm14. A first lateral edge of the keyed slot20may be defined by a protrusion of the elongate body11and a second lateral edge of the keyed slot20may be defined by a detachable side plate22. The detachable side plate22may be secured to the body11and to the Picatinny rail12via one or more fasteners24, such as pins, bolts, or screws. The detachable side plate22may be adjustably carried on a shelf23extending along a longitudinal length of the elongate body11, opposite the protrusion20.

The body11has an internal cavity28that is dimensioned to rotatably carry the lug body18with the plurality of lugs18′. An aperture30is defined at opposed side walls of the body11and is dimensioned to receive a pivot pin32about which the lug body18rotates to select from one of the plurality of lugs18′.

The plurality of lugs18′ are radially disposed about the lug body18. A pivot hole36extends transversely through the sidewall of the lug body18and when axially aligned with the aperture30in the body11and receives the pivot pin32there through. In the non-limiting embodiment shown, a first lug18′ is dimensioned to receive a handgrip16of an M-16/AR-15 firearm. A second lug18′ is dimensioned to receive a handgrip16of an AK-47 firearm. Each of the plurality of lugs18′ have a threaded aperture26to receive a threaded fastener to secure the respective handgrip16to the corresponding lug18′. As will be appreciated from the present disclosure, each of the plurality of lugs18′ may be dimensioned to receive a handgrip16of differing mounting dimensions.

In use, the body11of the mount10is secured to the Picatinny rail12by securing the slot22on the Picatinny rail12. The side plate22is then secured to the body11with the fastener24. The user can then rotate the lug body34to select a desired lug18to protrude from the internal cavity28. The desired handgrip16is then secured to the corresponding lug18with the threaded fastener. When the user desires to change the handgrip16, they may simply remove the threaded fastener, rotate the lug body34and secure the other handgrip16corresponding to the selected lug18.