Firearm with handguard

Provided is a firearm, comprising a receiver; a barrel; an upper handguard, a lower handguard, an upper barrel clamp and a lower barrel clamp, configured to be affixed to the receiver, wherein the upper barrel clamp and the lower barrel clamp are configured to be fastened together, affixing the upper barrel clamp and the lower barrel clamp to the barrel at a back-end of barrel; and wherein the upper handguard and lower handguard slide onto and are configured to be affixed to the upper barrel clamp and the lower barrel clamp, thus affixing the upper handguard and the lower handguard to both the barrel and the receiver such that the upper and lower handguards attach to the barrel solely at the back-end of the barrel.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present subject matter relates to the field of firearms and an integration means, and more particularly to hand guard that is angularly adjustable relative to the firearm receiver and barrel.

BACKGROUND

A constant goal for firearms operators is to improve the accuracy of their firearms. Handguards may be provided that enable a user to hold a firearm without touching the barrel, which may become too hot to handle when the firearm is used. Current handguards attach to a barrel at two points, i.e., at both the front and back of the handguard. This configuration prevents the barrel from “free-floating,” which affects the accuracy of the firearm. A handguard attached at two points may cause a difference in the rate at which a handguard and the barrel heat resulting in a deflection of the barrel. In addition, any pressure applied to the handguard, such as bracing the handguard with a strap or against another object, may deflect the barrel. Further, a barrel has a natural frequency that may be affected by a handguard, causing the barrel to vibrate inconsistently and therefore affecting a bullet's trajectory.

SUMMARY

The claimed subject matter, while generally applicable to firearms and not limited in scope to any single type of firearm, for purposes of description will be herein described as relating to an AK-47 type rifle. The design of the AK-47 type rifle is intended for reliability, simplicity, and ease of manufacture. The configuration of an AK-47 type rifle includes easy to disassemble components for field stripping, cleaning, and maintenance.

Provided is a firearm, comprising a receiver, a barrel, an upper handguard, a lower handguard, an upper barrel clamp and a lower barrel clamp, configured to be affixed to the receiver, wherein the upper barrel clamp and the lower barrel clamp are configured to be fastened together, affixing the upper barrel clamp and the lower barrel clamp to the barrel at a back-end of barrel; and wherein the upper handguard and lower handguard slide onto and are configured to be affixed to the upper barrel clamp and the lower barrel clamp, thus affixing the upper handguard and the lower handguard to both the barrel and the receiver such that the upper and lower handguards attach to the barrel solely at the back-end of the barrel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The claimed subject matter, while generally applicable to firearms and not limited in scope to any single type of firearm, for purposes of description ill be herein described as relating to an AK-47 type rifle. Numerous configurations of the AK-47 type rifle are commercially available throughout the world. The typical AK-47 type rifle is well known and will not be described in substantial detail herein and will be hereinafter referred to as a rifle.

Turning now to the figures.FIG. 1is an illustration of an AK-47 type rifle100with a handguard configured in accordance with the claimed subject matter. The various components of rifle100include a buttstock102, a trigger104a trigger guard106, a receiver108, a receiver cover110, a rear sight112, an upper hand guard114, a lower hand guard116, a gas block118, a barrel120, a front sight122and a muzzle124. Components102,104,106,108,110,112,114,116,118,120,122,124and126are used as examples throughout the Specification andFIGS. 2-9. It should be understood that rifle100also includes many other components but only some are illustrated for the sake of simplicity. In addition, some components that are obscured in this illustration are revealed in subsequent figures. Throughout the Specification the end of rifle100at barrel120is referred to as the “front” or “muzzle-end” of rifle100and the end at buttstock102is referred to as the “back-end” or “butt-end” of rifle100.

FIG. 2is an illustration of a handguard150, including both upper handguard114and lower handguard116, both first introduced in conjunction withFIG. 1, configured in accordance with the claimed subject matter.FIG. 2includes an upper barrel clamp152and a lower barrel clamp154and guide tube support156for a supporting guide tube158. A wedge clamp160that includes a floating wedge161and a draw wedge162are also illustrated. Wedge clamp160, floating wedge161and draw wedge162including their use and configuration, are described in more detail below in conjunction withFIGS. 3-9.

Components for the assembly of handguard150are also illustrated, including various bolts164and165, washers166and rivets168. The use and configuration of bolts164and165, washers166and rivets168should be familiar to those with skill in the relevant arts. Also included inFIG. 2are ventilation holes169in both upper handguard114and lower handguard116. Although ventilation holes169are shown along both sides and the length of both upper handguard114and lower handguard116only four (4) are labeled for the sake of simplicity. It should be understood that the orientation of the elements ofFIG. 2are reversed from the orientation of rifle100(FIG. 1) ofFIG. 1. In other words, the end of handguard150with wedges161and162would be facing the back, or back-end, of rifle100.

Several features ofFIG. 2provide advantages over a typically configured rifle, as explained in more detail below. Briefly, since handguard150is attached to barrel120by upper barrel clamp152and lower barrel clamp154, which are situated further from muzzle124than typical handguard clamps, handguard150does not heat as much as a typical handguard while rifle100is in operation. It should be understood that the barrel of a rifle heats up faster at the muzzle-end because fired bullets are traveling fastest in barrel120at that point and thus create more friction heat. Ventilation holes169also provide a cooling effect on handguard150. In addition, guide tube support156is loosely coupled to guide tube158so that guide tube158and gas block118(FIG. 1), into which guide tube158fits, neither exert any significant force on barrel120nor conduct significant heat to handguard150. Further, the fact that clamps152and154are situated further from muzzle124than typical clamps, optimizes barrel float for an improvement in the accuracy of rifle100. A sling socket (not shown) may be attached to lower handguard116to enable a strap to be attached to handguard150rather than gas block118, which also improves barrel float and prevents pressure on a sling (not shown) from exerting pressure on barrel120. Other features are explained below in conjunction withFIGS. 3-9.

FIGS. 3 and 4are illustrations of upper hand guard114and lower handguard116ofFIG. 2, assembled into handguard150(FIGS. 1 and 2) from two (2) different perspectives. The orientation of handguard150inFIG. 3is the same as the orientation inFIG. 2, showing handguard150from a perspective of the side and back. The orientation of handguard inFIG. 4is from the bark-end of rifle100(FIG. 1). Also included inFIGS. 3 and 4are upper clamp152, lower clamp154and wedges161and162, illustrated in relation to handguard150and each other. In addition, upper barrel clamp152and lower barrel clamp154are shown affixed to handguard150. When handguard150is slid into place, lower barrel clamp154and upper barrel clamp152are clamped around barrel120(FIG. 1). Floating wedge161and draw wedge162are slid into place in receiver108(FIG. 1) and affixed therein such that handguard150becomes affixed to both barrel120and receiver108.

FIG. 4also shows the position of guide tube support156within upper handguard114. Although not shown inFIG. 4, guide tube158fits into, and is loosely coupled to guide tube support156. Guide tube support156, guide tube158, gas block118, a bolt carrier (not shown) and an operating rod with a piston (not shown), which pass through guide tube158, are typically referred to as a bolt carrier assembly. The use and makeup of a typical bolt carrier assembly should be familiar to those with skill in the relevant arts. The manner in which clamps152and154are affixed to barrel120and handguard150is affixed to clamps152and154is explained in more detail below in conjunction withFIGS. 8-9.

FIGS. 5-7are illustrations of floating wedge161and draw wedge162in conjunction with upper barrel clamp152and lower barrel clamp154, all of which are described in conjunction withFIGS. 2, 3 and 4, from different perspectives.FIG. 5shows clamps152and154and wedges161and162from the top.FIG. 6shows clamps152and154and wedges161and162from the back-end of rifle100.FIG. 7shows clamps152and154and wedges161and162from a side and top perspective.

Also visible inFIG. 5are two holes174in upper barrel clamp152. Corresponding threaded holes (not shown) in lower barrel clamp154enable bolts165(FIG. 2) to secure upper barrel clamp152to lower barrel clamp154, pinching barrel120between clamps152and154, thereby securing the assembled clamps to barrel120.

InFIGS. 5 and 6, draw wedge162is illustrated with two threaded holes175and a channel176. Bolts164(FIG. 2) pass through corresponding holes182in lower barrel clamp154and corresponding holes (not shown) in wedge161, visible inFIG. 7, and are threaded into holes175in wedge162thus drawing wedges161and162together and causing expansion of wedges161and162within receiver108. Relative radial and axial movement between lower barrel clamp154, wedges161and162and around barrel120enable handguard150to be correctly positioned with respect to receiver. Channel176, a corresponding hole184, visible inFIG. 7, in lower clamp154, provide an opening (not shown) in receiver108into which an accessory, such as but not limited to a cleaning rod (not shown), may be stored. As illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4, handguard150slides onto upper barrel clamp152and lower barrel clamp154such that, when upper barrel clamp152and lower barrel clamp154are secured to barrel120and lower barrel clamp154is secured to receiver108by wedges161and162, handguard150is secured to both barrel120and receiver108.

FIG. 8is an illustration of guide tube support156, first introduced inFIG. 2, in greater detail.FIG. 8shows guide tube support156from a side perspective. Two holes188are used to attach guide tube support156to upper hand guard114(FIGS. 1-4), typically with rivets, screws or any other suitable attachment mechanism (not shown).

FIG. 9is an illustration of guide tube158, first introduced inFIG. 2, in greater detail. Guide tube158includes a muzzle or front end192, which fits onto gas block118(FIG. 1) and a back end194that fits into guide tube support156(FIGS. 2 and 8). A slot196in back end194of guide tube158serves to align guide tube158onto rivets or other attachment mechanisms (not shown) through one of holes188that hold the guide tube support156onto upper hand guard114. The alignment of slot196prevents guide tube158from rotating, within hand guard150(FIG. 24). Guide tube158also includes vent holes198, which direct hot gas vented by gas block118onto barrel120(FIG. 1). The heat of the hot gas is thus dispersed by barrel120over a broad area. In this manner, the hot gas is prevented from blowing directly onto handguard150, enabling handguard150to remain cooler than otherwise.

Guide tube support156is configured so that guide tube158(FIG. 2) may “float” inside guide tube support156. In other words, guide tube support156provides support for guide tube158and sealing guide tube158within guide tube support156without unduly restricting the ability of guide tube158to have small movements thus mitigating any deflection of barrel120(FIG. 1) of rifle100(FIG. 1) by pressure on handguard150. In addition, guide tube158is able to have a small amount of back and forth movement in guide tube support156due to the loose coupling, while still able to guide an operating rod assembly (not shown).

Other embodiments of the subject matter may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the subject matter and fall within the spirit and scope thereof it is to be understood that the subject matter is not limited to the specific features; shown and described since the means herein disclosed comprise only some of the forms of putting the subject matter into effect. The above detailed description constitutes only some of the preferred embodiments. The subject matter is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the claims.