Firearm attachment

An attachment for the slide assembly of a firearm. The attachment includes a pair of laterally opposed arms, each arm having a proximal end and a distal end, the arms being joined by a central portion oriented perpendicular to the arms, the arms and the central portion defining a void therebetween for receiving a portion of the slide assembly, a bridging portion having a radius, disposed in the void and coupled to the central portion, and a flange portion coupled to the bridging portion and having a radius greater than the radius of the bridging portion.

BACKGROUND

Semiautomatic firearms are adapted to harness the recoil energy from discharging the firearm so as to automatically eject the shell casing of a fired round and to load a subsequent round into the firing chamber. However, if the firing chamber is empty, for example after reloading the firearm, the slide mechanism of the firearm needs to be manually pulled back and released in order to chamber the first round. This is commonly referred to as “racking the slide” of the firearm.

Racking the slide on a semiautomatic firearm requires sufficient strength to counteract the compression of the recoil spring, and, if present, the firing pin spring. To rack the slide, the user is required to grip the firearm with one hand while using the second hand to grasp the firearm slide and pull the slide towards the rear of the firearm. Thus, racking the slide is an operation that requires the use of both hands as well as a significant amount of strength on part of the user. Indeed, one of the most frequent complaints made about firearms is regarding the difficulty of racking the slide. Thus, a problem exists for users who are weaker, such as the elderly, as well as users who are injured, who do not have sufficient dexterity in both hands to execute the necessary motions, or who are otherwise limited to the use of only one hand.

Accordingly, a device that allows for reduced effort to rack a firearm slide is desired. Additionally, a device that allows the user to rack the slide using either hand is desired. A device that allows a user that is limited to the use of only one hand to rack the slide is also desired.

SUMMARY

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, an attachment for a slide assembly of a firearm is disclosed. The attachment can includes a pair of laterally opposed arms, each arm having a proximal end and a distal end, the arms being joined by a central portion oriented perpendicular to the arms, the arms and the central portion defining a void therebetween for receiving a portion of the slide assembly, a bridging portion having a radius, disposed in the void and coupled to the central portion, and a flange portion coupled to the bridging portion and having a radius greater than the radius of the bridging portion.

According to another exemplary embodiment, a method for racking the slide assembly of a firearm is disclosed. The method can include coupling the attachment to a portion of the slide assembly, applying a force to the engagement face of the attachment so as to move the slide assembly rearward with respect to the firearm, and ceasing the application of the force.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, and referring toFIGS. 1-2d, an attachment for the slide assembly of a firearm10is disclosed. Attachment100may include a body102and a flange portion104connected to body102via bridging portion106. The attachment may be formed as an integral unit, and may be constructed of any solid, rigid material, for example metal, plastic, or the like. For example, attachment100may be constructed from hard-anodized, billet aluminum. Attachment100may be adapted to couple to the slide of a firearm, for example as a direct replacement for the cover plate of a firearm such as a Glock pistol.

Body102may be substantially U-shaped, and may include laterally opposed arms108. Arms108can be parallel to each other and can be joined at a proximal end thereof by a central portion110oriented perpendicular to arms108. Arms108may terminate at a distal end disposed at a length L away from the proximate end of arms108. Arms108and central portion110can be oriented so as to define a void112into which the slide of a firearm may be received and in which flange portion104and bridging portion106can be disposed. Arms108may also have a width W such that arms108may overhang the sides of the slide of the firearm. Both length L and width W may be between approximately 0.25 inches and approximately 0.75 inches.

Central portion110can include an interior face114, an exterior face positioned opposite and parallel to interior face114, and top and bottom faces positioned opposite and parallel to each other and forming a right angle with each of the exterior and interior faces of central portion110. Each of arms108can likewise include an interior face116, an exterior face positioned opposite and parallel to interior face116, and top and bottom faces positioned opposite and parallel to each other and forming a right angle with each of the exterior and interior faces of arms108. The top face of central portion110may be disposed coplanar to the top faces of arms such that body102has a smooth top surface. Similarly, the bottom face of central portion110may be disposed coplanar to the bottom faces of arms108such that body102has a smooth bottom surface. Alternatively, the above-described top and bottom faces of the various portions of body102can be disposed in any desired arrangement so as to provide a desired aesthetic or functional effect. In other embodiments, at least one notch may be defined in the bottom face of central portion110so as to receive any internal mechanisms or structures disposed within the slide assembly that may overlap attachment100.

The vertices between the exterior face of central portion110and the exterior faces of arms108may be rounded. The rounding of the exterior vertices may present a desired aesthetic appearance to body102, and may reduce the likelihood of injuries or damage resulting from an impact of attachment100on a body part or on an object. Alternatively, the vertices may be chamfered so as to achieve the described effect.

Each of arms108can further include an engagement face118. The width of engagement face118may be substantially similar to the width W of an arm108. Engagement face118can be disposed at the distal end of an arm108, and can be positioned perpendicular to the interior and exterior faces of arm108and parallel to interior face114of center portion110, as well as perpendicular to the top and bottom faces of arm108. The vertices between the exterior faces of arms108and engagement faces118may be rounded, with a radius smaller than that of the vertices between the exterior face of central portion110and the exterior faces of arms108. The rounding of the exterior vertices may present a desired aesthetic appearance to body102, and may reduce the likelihood of injuries or damage resulting from an impact of attachment100on a body part or on an object. Alternatively, the vertices may be chamfered so as to achieve the described effect.

Attachment100may be adapted to couple to a slide20having two side walls22, a top wall24and a partial rear wall26, wherein the rear wall26has a cutout28for a rear cover defined therein. An example of such a slide is the one used on the Glock pistol and depicted inFIGS. 1 and 3a. However, attachment100may be adapted to couple to similarly-configured slides of other firearms without departing from the spirit of the embodiments disclosed herein. When attachment100is mounted on the slide of a firearm, engagement faces118can be oriented substantially perpendicular to the side walls of the slide of the firearm, and can face towards the muzzle end of the firearm.

As previously discussed, arms108and central portion110can be oriented so as to define a void112into which the slide20of a firearm10may be received and in which flange portion104and bridging portion106can be disposed. The walls of the void112can be defined by the interior face114of central portion110and the interior faces116of arms108.

Flange portion104may be disposed substantially at the center of interior face114of central portion110and may have an archlike shape, with the bottom edge of flange portion104being coplanar with the bottom face of central portion110, and the top edge of flange portion104having an arcuate shape with an apex coplanar with the top face of central portion110. The gap between the side edges of flange portion104and the thereto-opposed interior faces116of arms108may be such that a side wall22of slide20can be disposed therebetween. Flange portion104can further include a recess105disposed substantially at the center of flange portion104.

Bridging portion106may have a width that is less than the width of flange portion104and a height that is less than the height of flange portion106. Thus, the gap between the side edges of bridging portion106and the thereto-opposed interior faces116of arms108can be greater than the gap between the side edges of flange portion104and the same interior faces. Accordingly, sufficient space is provided for the rear wall26of slide20to be disposed between the side edges of bridging portion106and the thereto-opposed interior faces116.

Turning now toFIGS. 3a-3b, attachment100may be inserted into the rear end of a slide20of a firearm10. Insertion of attachment100may be accomplished via several steps. First, the slide cover, if present, is removed from cutout28of slide20. During the first step, the user can manually retain any internal mechanisms, such as, for example, the firing pin and the extractor spring, so as to prevent the internal mechanisms from exiting the slide. Attachment100can then be positioned below the rear end of slide20, such that the rear wall26of slide20is aligned with the gap between the side edges of bridging portion106and the thereto-opposed interior faces116of arms108. Additionally, the gap between the side edges of flange portion104and the thereto-opposed interior faces116of arms108may be aligned with the side walls22of slide20. Attachment100can then be pushed up into the rear end of slide20, as shown inFIG. 3a. After placement into the desired position, attachment100may be retained in the position by a friction fit between the attachment and the slide, as well as by the pressure exerted upon the attachment by the internal mechanisms of the firearm.

In operation, attachment100may be utilized by a user to rack slide20with reduced effort. The attachment may be utilized to rack the slide in a variety of methods. For example, in a two-handed method of racking the slide, the user can grip the firearm with one hand and grasp the attachment with the other hand such that the user's index and middle fingers engage and exert a force on the engagement faces118of arms108. With the hands in such a position, the user can exert a rearward force on engagement faces118so as to move the slide rearwardly (with respect to the orientation of the firearm). The user therefore only has to exert a rearward force on the engagement faces of the attachment, as opposed to, in the absence of attachment100, an inwardly compressive force on the sidewalls of the slide and a simultaneous rearward force on the side walls of the slide. Subsequently, the user can cease the application of force to the engagement faces so as to allow the slide to return to its original position. Thus, the attachment can facilitate reduced effort on part of the user in gripping and racking the slide of a firearm.

As another example, attachment100may be utilized in a one-handed method of racking the slide. In such a method, the user can grip the firearm with one hand. The user can then position the firearm against an object such that the object is proximity to or in contact with one of the engagement faces118of arms108. The user may then move the firearm forwardly (with respect to the orientation of the firearm) such that the counteracting force of the object on the engagement face118pushes the slide rearwardly, thereby racking the slide. Such objects may include a rigid surface, a firearm holster, a boot heel, a pocket of an article of apparel, or any other object that can remain substantially stationary while a force is applied thereto. Subsequently, moving the firearm away from the object can allow the slide to return to its original position. Thus, the attachment can facilitate one-handed slide racking for users who may be injured or who are otherwise limited to the use of only one hand.