SECURE FIREARM HANDGUARD WITH QUICK RELEASE

A firearm including a barrel coupled to an upper receiver of the firearm, a removable handguard formed as a solid unit, wherein the removable handguard is securely interlocked with the upper receiver, wherein achieving a secure interlocking includes use of extrusions on the handguard that slide in grooves formed by teeth extending from the upper receiver or vice versa, and wherein the handguard is configured to be quickly removed by pressing on a linear operated release button of a locking mechanism that is part of the firearm or upper receiver.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to a handguard of a firearm and more specifically to a handguard that is securely mounted on the firearm and can be attached or released quickly.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Many firearms are provided with a handguard that is attached to the firearm in parallel to the barrel. The handguard protects the barrel and enable a user to grasp the firearm while shooting without coming in contact with the barrel, which can become very hot. The handguard needs to be securely attached to the firearm so that it won't move or fall off during use of the firearm, for example due to recoil.

In some firearms the handguard is designed to entirely surround the barrel. Whereas in some firearms an upper receiver is provided as an integral part of the firearm and the handguard is attached to the upper receiver from below the barrel.

Typically the handguard or the handguard with the upper receiver are designed to form a generally cylindrical porous enclosure surrounding the barrel. The porous enclosure enables the release of heat, yet also enables the entry of dirt. This can lead to the need to frequently remove the handguard to clean the barrel from dirt. In many firearms this could be a tedious task and require use of tools to dismantle the handguard from the upper receiver. Likewise when dismantling the handguard the user may need to keep track of multiple parts, for example clasps, screws or nuts and bolts. This makes it less desirable to maintain the firearm in the field. It would therefore be desirable to have a handguard that is securely attached to the firearm yet can be quickly dismantled without the use of tools and additional parts that need to be accounted for.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

An aspect of an embodiment of the disclosure, relates to a firearm with a barrel protector comprising an upper receiver and a handguard. The handguard is formed as a solid rigid unit that can be quickly attached or dismantled from the upper receiver without use of additional connecting elements, such as screws, clips or adhesives. The handguard is securely connected to the upper receiver with the aid of extrusions on the handguard, which slide in grooves formed by teeth extending from the upper receiver or vice versa. The handguard is locked in place by a linear locking mechanism with a release button installed on the firearm or upper receiver. The release button is configured to extend outward from the firearm and fit into a locking hole on the handguard to prevent it from moving when deployed on the firearm.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the handguard is attached by placing the handguard next to the upper receiver, sliding it backward toward the rear end (stock) of the firearm, until reaching the release button then pressing the release button inward so that the handguard can finish sliding backward and be locked in place by the release button. Alternatively, when reaching the release button the handguard can be slightly tilted to push on a top end of the release button and push it inward to continue sliding backward until reaching the position in which the release button locks the handguard by extending outward into the locking hole. Optionally, the release button is designed with a tapered side surface to form a special geometrical end at the tip of the release button and cause the release button to tightly interface the locking hole preventing freedom of motion.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, part of the handguard is designed to surround the barrel of the firearm, for example like a ring. Optionally, when deployed the part surrounding the barrel forms an extension to a rail on the upper receiver.

There is thus provided according to an embodiment of the disclosure, a firearm comprising:A barrel coupled to an upper receiver of the firearm;A removable handguard formed as a solid unit;Wherein the removable handguard is securely interlocked with the upper receiver; wherein achieving a secure interlocking includes use of extrusions on the handguard that slide in grooves formed by teeth extending from the upper receiver or vice versa;Wherein the handguard is configured to be quickly removed by pressing on a linear operated release button of a locking mechanism that is part of the firearm or upper receiver.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, part of the handguard is configured to form an enclosure that surrounds part of the barrel of the firearm. Optionally, the locking mechanism includes one or more springs that are configured to push the release button outward to lock the handguard in position and prevent it from moving. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the locking mechanism includes an extension extending from a side of the release button, which limits the distance the release button can extend outward from the locking mechanism. Optionally, the locking mechanism is surrounded by screws that tighten the barrel to the upper receiver.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the groove is configured to enable the handguard to tilt slightly downward to bypass the release button, when the handguard is sliding on the upper receiver to be locked on the firearm and is adjacent to the release button. Optionally, the enclosure of the handguard includes an extension that extends a rail of the upper receiver. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the release button has a tapered side surface that is narrower toward a top end of the release button. Optionally, the handguard forms an acute angle at a meeting location with the upper receiver. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the handguard comprises a locking hole that is configured to receive the release button.

There is further provided according to an embodiment of the disclosure, a method of assembly of a firearm, comprising:Coupling a barrel to an upper receiver of the firearm;Attaching a removable handguard, formed as a solid unit, to the upper receiver;Wherein the removable handguard is securely interlocked with the upper receiver; wherein achieving a secure interlocking includes use of extrusions on the handguard that slide in grooves formed by teeth extending from the upper receiver or vice versa;Wherein the handguard is configured to be quickly removed by pressing on a linear operated release button of a locking mechanism that is part of the firearm or upper receiver.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.1is a schematic illustration of a firearm100with an upper receiver120and a handguard110, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The handguard110is designed to be easily attached to the upper receiver120to protect a barrel130of the firearm110. The handguard110is configured to be securely locked to the upper receiver120and yet to be quickly released when necessary, for example with a single click of a release button142of a linear operated locking mechanism140. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the handguard110is formed as a solid unit without having additional parts for interlocking with the upper receiver120. For example the handguard110may be cast in a mold, or machined from an extrusion. Alternatively, the handguard110may be cut out from a sheet of material and folded up. The handguard110may be made entirely from plastic or metal e.g., Aluminum or other rigid materials. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the upper receiver120includes a rail160(e.g., a Picatinny rail) configured to accommodate accessories, such as a sight, a laser pointer or other devices. Optionally, the handguard110includes an extension that forms an enclosure112that surrounds the barrel130and the enclosure112may include a rail extension165that extends the length of the rail160. The handguard enclosure112may form an acute angle114at a meeting location190between a side119of the handguard110and a front129of the upper receiver120to enhance stability of the connection of the handguard110with the upper receiver120. Additionally, the handguard110and/or upper receiver120may include pores180to allow the flow of air to cool the barrel130during use of the firearm100.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the barrel130is secured to the upper receiver120with a fixating pin151and one or more tightening screws150that tighten the upper receiver120around the barrel130. Optionally, locking mechanism140with release button142is positioned between the tightening screws150to secure the locking mechanism140in position. For example one tightening screw150may be positioned in front of the locking mechanism140toward the barrel, and one tightening screw150may be positioned in back of the locking mechanism140toward the stock170of the firearm100.

FIG.2is a schematic illustration of a deployed and non-deployed handguard110andFIG.3is a schematic illustration of a tilted handguard110for deploying on firearm100, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. As shown byFIGS.2and3handguard110is initially positioned near to release button142. To complete installation of the handguard110the user needs to press release button142so that the handguard110may continue to slide into position and the release button142will extend outward through a locking hole135(FIG.5) in the body of the handguard110. Alternatively, the handguard110may be tilted downward to bypass the release button142, which is preventing the handguard110from sliding into the locking position. Optionally, by tilting downward the handguard110can slide forward a bit more (e.g. by the width of the release button142) and then be straightened back upward to slide into a locking position. Release of the handguard110can be performed by pressing the release button142inward, for example with a bullet185, a screwdriver or other rigid item. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the upper receiver120comprises teeth125that are bent to form a groove127. The handguard110comprises a matching extrusion115with a recess117between the extrusions (e.g.,FIG.5). The teeth125are configured to slide through the recess117to position the extrusions115to slide within the groove127, when deploying the handguard110onto the upper receiver120. The handguard110is configured to slide back and forth relative to the upper receiver120while limited by the teeth125and extrusions115from being separated. Optionally, when the handguard110is adjacent to the release button142the groove127may provide enough freedom for the handguard110to tilt slightly downward and bypass the release button142as illustrated inFIG.3. In an embodiment of the disclosure, when the handguard110is fully deployed the extrusions115of the handguard110are grasped tightly in the grooves127of teeth125of the upper receiver120and the handguard110is prevented from tilting. When the handguard110is fully deployed release button142extends outward through locking hole135and prevents the handguard110from moving forward toward the front of the firearm100. In some embodiments of the disclosure, the teeth125may extend from the handguard110and the extrusion may extends from the upper receiver115, as opposed to the above description.

FIG.4is a schematic illustration of a perspective view of upper receiver120, andFIG.5is a schematic illustration of a perspective view of a handguard110, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. As shown inFIGS.4and5the handguard110is configured to slide onto the upper receiver120until reaching the release button142. Then the user either presses release button142upward to allow the handguard110to finish sliding into position and be locked into position by the release button142or the user tilts the handguard110slightly downward so that the handguard110can advance another few millimeters, then press against the release button142upward using the handguard itself and finish by sliding the handguard linearly into position.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, toward the front of the handguard110, the extrusions115include bumps118that extend outward from the extrusions115. The bumps118use the self-flexibility of the handguard110and upper receiver120causing the handguard110to tightly grip the upper receiver120and limit the freedom of motion of the handguard110, for example preventing sideway motion when the upper receiver110is fully deployed.

FIG.6is a schematic illustration of locking and releasing mechanism140, andFIG.7is a schematic illustration of a cross sectional view (AA) of locking and releasing mechanism140, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. In an embodiment of the disclosure, locking mechanism140includes one or more springs145(e.g.,2springs) or other resilient material to push release button142outward, so that it will keep the handguard110locked in position. Optionally, locking mechanism140includes a locking pin146and release button142includes an extension148that extends from a side of the release button142and is blocked by the locking pin146to limit the distance that the release button142can extend outwards and prevent the release button142from falling off. In some embodiments of the disclosure, the release button142has a tapered head144, for example with one side becoming narrower toward the top end of the tapered head144. The tapered head144may limit the distance that the release button can extend outward. Alternatively or additionally, the tapered head144may help lock the handguard by matching locking hole135and preventing movement. Optionally. The tapered head144is pushed downward into locking hole135, pushes the handguard110backward toward the firearm stock170, locking the handguard110relative to the upper receiver120.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the locking mechanism140is located between tightening bores155that accept screws150to secure the barrel to the upper receiver120on firearm100. This position may protect the locking mechanism140from damage. Optionally, a fixating pin bore157, which accepts fixating pin151to position the barrel130, is located above the location of the locking mechanism140.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the release button142is configured not to extend beyond the body of the handguard110to prevent it from being accidently pressed while grasping the handguard110or due to an impact. Optionally, pushing the release button with a bullet or screwdriver will enable quickly releasing the handguard110as a single unit, without additional screws or pieces that can be misplaced.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the side119of the handguard110at meeting location190is tilted backward and configured to geometrically match the front side129of the upper receiver120to prevent motion of the handguard110relative to the upper receiver120. In some embodiments of the disclosure, the handguard110and the upper receiver120are configured to meet geometrically in a similar manner at other positions, for example at a second meeting location192and/or a third meeting location194to enhance stability of the handguard110.

FIG.8is a schematic illustration of a cross sectional view BB of handguard110interlocking with upper receiver120, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Optionally, handguard110is configured that extrusions115tightly pinch grooves127of the upper receiver teeth125to prevent the handguard110from moving relative to upper receiver120. Alternatively or additionally, the thickness of extrusions115is selected to snugly fit into grooves127and prevent motion of the handguard110relative to the upper receiver120when the handguard110is fully deployed onto the upper receiver120.

It should be appreciated that the above described methods and apparatus may be varied in many ways, including omitting or adding steps, changing the order of steps and the type of devices used. It should be appreciated that different features may be combined in different ways. In particular, not all the features shown above in a particular embodiment are necessary in every embodiment of the disclosure. Further combinations of the above features are also considered to be within the scope of some embodiments of the disclosure.