Abstract:
A method and apparatus providing for a rail system which further acts to cool a firearm. Wherein said cooling process acts by the passage of air through fins of the apparatus. Whereby said method and apparatus provides for a cooling mechanism which does not inhibit the firearm from attaching accessories.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The application relates to a method and apparatus for a handguard rail system on a firearm with heat dissipating qualities. 
         [0003]    2. Prior Art 
         [0004]    Presently, most modern automatic small projectile weapons, including machine guns, rifles, and sub-machine guns, use a handguard made of aluminum or other metals with standard picatinny rails in order to mount rifle accessories, such as a flash light, scope, red dot, laser, vertical grip and others. 
         [0005]    Though these rails are convenient for mounts and attachments, these Aluminum and metal constructed handguards conduct heat which transfers from the barrel, chamber and gas block to the hand of the shooter quickly, as aluminum and other metals have superior heat conducting ability. To prevent pain or burning during use, shooters must wear gloves or other protection. Though wearing gloves or other protection can keep the shooter&#39;s hands safe from the issues of overheating that accompany present embodiments of the prior art, the excessive heat will transfer to the accessories on the rail and cause failure on the electronic components. 
         [0006]    One method for fixing the problem of an overheating rail system or handguard is using polymer, wood or other heat resistant materials to form the apparatus. This method slows or stops heat transfer to the rail system by keeping the heat on the barrel of the weapon. This method can cause the barrel to overheat, which will shorten the barrel&#39;s effective life, make the weapon less accurate and reliable in its shooting and may cause dangerous cook-off (projectile fires automatically). 
         [0007]    Most similar methods for avoiding damage or pain to the user from gripping the firing side of a firearm employ methods that remove a shooter&#39;s hand from the vicinity of the hot barrel, generally through the use of material between the grip of the user and the barrel of the firearm. This method is useful in preventing the user from hurting himself or herself, but does not cool the barrel itself and can in some cases cause more rapid overheating of the barrel. Cooling the barrel is as important if not more important than protecting the shooter&#39;s hand from painful heat because overheating the barrel will shorten the barrel&#39;s effective life, make the weapon less accurate and reliable in its shooting and may cause dangerous cook-off (projectile fires automatically). 
         [0008]    It is common among rail systems to employ methods which attach to the barrel at both the front and back ends of the rail system. If the shooter grasps the rail system which is firmly attached to the barrel at both ends, the shooter&#39;s grip will affect the firing of the firearm negatively, therefore reducing accuracy or potentially damaging the barrel. 
         [0009]    There exists a need for a rail system which can provide heat dissipating properties, thus preventing the overheating of the barrel or gas tube, as well as preventing the overheating of the rail system apparatus as well. 
       OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
       [0010]    Accordingly, several objects and advantages of this invention are:
       (a) To allow for the possible attachment of accessories and/or mounted attachments to the weapon;   (b) To allow for the dissipation of heat from the barrel and gas tube to prevent overheating that may be damaging to the weapon;   (c) To allow for the dissipation of heat from the rail system apparatus such the shooter may be able to hold the rail system with reduced danger of burning or such discomfort;   (d) Free-float style which only attaches to the barrel at one end, reducing the impact of a shooter&#39;s grip on the accuracy of the firearm.       
 
         [0015]    Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    The following summary is provided to facilitate an understanding of some of the innovative features unique to the embodiments and is not intended to be a full description. A full appreciation of the various aspects of the embodiments can be gained by taking the entire specification, claims, drawings, and abstract as a whole. 
         [0017]    In accordance with the present invention, a method and apparatus allowing for the dissipation of heat within a rail system for a firearm. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the fully assembled rail system on the barrel of a firearm. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the rail covering alone. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the outer cooling layer of the heat sink rail system. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the o-rings. 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the heat sink layer and inner cooling layer of the heat sink rail system. 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a portion of the barrel of the firearm with the heat sink rail system removed. 
       
    
    
       [0024]    So that the manner in which the above recited features, advantages and objects of the present invention are attained and can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to the preferred embodiment thereof which is illustrated in the appended drawings, which drawings are incorporated as a part hereof. 
         [0025]    It is to be noted however, that the appended drawings illustrate only a typical embodiment of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIGS.  1 ,  7   
       [0026]    With reference now to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the heat sink rail system according the present invention is herein described. As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , according to certain embodiments of the prior art, the rail system  100  is situated around barrel  11  of the firearm  20 . Rail system  10  contains holes for air to pass through. Rail system  100  allows shooter to grip firearm at a distance from barrel  11  such that heat from barrel  11  does not fully reach shooter&#39;s grip. 
         [0027]    As can be seen in  FIG. 7 , according to certain embodiments of the present invention, rail system  10  is situated around barrel  11  of firearm  20 . Fins  12  extend inwards from inner layer of cooling system  13 . Inner layer of cooling system  13  is circumscribed by o-rings  14 , made, in certain embodiments of the present invention, of non-conducting material, which are circumscribed by outer layer of cooling system  15 . Outer layer of cooling system  15  is circumscribed by rail cover  16 . Railing  17  is part of rail cover  16  and allows for the attachment of accessories. According to certain embodiments of the present invention, the space between inner layer of cooling system  13  and outer layer of cooling system  15  may be filled with little or no air. According to certain embodiments of the present invention, rail cover  16  contains holes  18 . 
         [0028]    The foregoing description of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and other modifications and variations may be possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the appended claims be construed to include other alternative embodiments of the invention except insofar as limited by the prior art. 
         [0029]    The invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein. 
       OPERATION 
     FIGS.  1 ,  7   
       [0030]    As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , according to the certain embodiments of the prior art, rail system  100  does not provide the cooling capabilities of the present invention, and if it does, this cooling is only cursory and not a main component of the design. Rail system  10  operates as a guard against the heat of barrel  11  by removing the shooter&#39;s hand from direct contact with the barrel, but rail system  100  will have significant amount of heat and will hurt shooter&#39;s hands. 
         [0031]    As can be seen in  FIG. 7 , according to certain embodiments of the present invention, rail system  10  provides cooling capabilities by providing a medium for the removal of heat from the barrel  11 . The configuration of fins  12  oriented axially parallel to the axis of the barrel  11  and situated around inner layer of cooling system  13 , allows for the passage of air through this part of the rail system  10  and around the barrel  11 , facilitating the cooling of the rail system  10  and barrel  11  through the transfer of heat between the air and the rail system  10  or barrel  11 . According to certain embodiments of the present invention, heat in the inner layer of cooling system  13  will, either completely or in part, not be transferred to outer layer of cooling system  15  because inner layer of cooling system  13  and outer layer of cooling system  15  will only be connected by o-rings  14 , which, according to certain embodiments of the present invention are made of non-conducting material such as silicon. Further, according to certain embodiments of the present invention, the inside surface of the outer layer of the cooling system  15  will be the metal&#39;s original silver color or another light color. Further, according to certain embodiments of the present invention, the outside surface of the inner layer of the cooling system  13  will be the metal&#39;s original silver color or another color. These adjacent light surfaces have a lower propensity for absorbing and emitting light and heat. According to certain embodiments of the present invention, the space between inner layer of cooling system  13  and outer layer of cooling system  15  contains little or no air for the further reduction of heat transfer between the layers. Furthermore, according to certain embodiments of the present invention, rail cover  16  contains holes  18  which allow air to pass over or about outer layer of cooling system  15 , further cooling the rail system  10 . According to certain embodiments of the present invention, railing  17  allows for the attachment of accessories or attachments on rail system  10 . 
         [0032]    Heat transfer can occur primarily through radiation, contact, and convection. As can be seen in  FIG. 7 , according to certain embodiments of the present invention, the control of heat concentrations is manipulated through elements of these three types of heat transfer. The primary source of heat originates from the barrel  11 ; through convection, the heat from barrel  11  passes through the air to inner layer of cooling system  13 . Heat originating from barrel  11  may also be transferred to inner layer of cooling system  13  through radiation. Because of the heat sink design, fins  12  can maximize the air contact surface which will allow air to bring away heat. Heat from inner layer of cooling system  13  physically contacts only o-rings  14  which are non-conducting, therefore heat transfer to o-rings  14  is reduced or prevented. According to certain embodiments of the present invention, the space between inner layer of cooling system  13  and outer layer of cooling system  15  contains little or no air, reducing or preventing the effects of convection on transferring heat to outer layer of cooling system  15 . According to certain embodiments, the outer surface of inner layer of cooling system  13  and/or the inner surface of outer layer of cooling system  15  are of a light color such as white. White and other light colors both emit and absorb less light than materials of other colors, thus reducing the effects of radiation on the transfer of heat from inner layer of cooling system  13  to outer layer of cooling system  15 . Thusly, according to certain embodiments of the present invention, very little of the heat originating in barrel  11 , remains in barrel  11  and very little reaches rail covering  16 . This prevents the problems of an overheating barrel while also working to reduce pain or damage to the hand of the shooter if he or she chooses to grip rail covering  16 . 
       CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE 
       [0033]    Thus, the reader will see that the method and apparatus provides for the dissipation of heat produced by a firearm during operation. While the above description contains many specifications, these should not be construed as limitations of the scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of a preferred embodiment of the invention. Many other variations and embodiments are possible. 
         [0034]    Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiment illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.