Abstract:
Extendable tangs are used to increase the surface area of grips so as to better enable users with larger hands to adequately control smaller items. Tangs are stowed within the body of a grip and deployed through one of a number of mechanisms, including spring-loaded and non-spring loaded mechanisms.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This Application claims priority as a continuation-in-part of prior filed U.S. Non-provisional application Ser. No. 14/329,618, filed Jul. 11, 2014, which in turn claims priority on prior filed U.S. Non-provisional application Ser. No. 13/968,179 filed Aug. 15, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,844,184, issued Sep. 30, 2014, which in turn claims priority on prior filed U.S. Provisional application No. 61/691,229, filed Aug. 20, 2012 and incorporates all of these applications herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of firearms and more particularly relates to an extendable grip tang for use with a firearms, with particular use with a concealable spring-actuated revolver. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Personal defense is a matter of choice for individuals. Some choose to not have any, others prefer training in martial arts, some choose a weapon. Often times, that weapon is a firearm such as a small handgun, so the use of a firearm for personal defense is well known. Users of firearms tend to conceal them in their clothing or other objects. Law enforcement and military personnel often conceal them on their persons as a “back-up” weapon, in case their primary weapon fails or situations become dire. As such, the ideal back-up weapon is ideally small and easily concealable. Their positioning is not to hinder the movement of the carrier. They tend to carry a few rounds of ammunition and maybe have some container or magazine to carry spare rounds. They tend not to be very accurate at a distance. 
     The present invention is a an extendable grip tang with many different embodiments, all being suitable for reducing the stowage profile of a firearm, such as one of the many types suitable for a back-up weapon. The tang may or may not be spring-loaded and may be actuated by use of a pressure plate or by the cocking of the hammer or may be keyed such that removal from a holster deploys the tang or any other means known in the art or later discovered may be used to deploy the tang. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of firearms, this invention provides an extendable grip tang for many types of firearms, including the concealable spring-loaded revolver of the parent application. As such, the present invention&#39;s general purpose is to provide a new and improved tang which allows the firearm to be more compact and concealable, is easily constructed, and safe when in a concealable configuration. 
     To accomplish these objectives, the tang comprises a tang body concealable in an orifice within the grip of the firearm. Embodiments of the extendable tang may be either spring operated or pressure operated by the natural positioning of the user&#39;s hand. Embodiments for both revolvers and magazine fed handguns are shown, though the invention may be practiced on any type of firearm, or other device, with a suitable grip. 
     The more important features of the invention have thus been outlined in order that the more detailed description that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may better be appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter and will form the subject matter of the claims that follow. 
     Many objects of this invention will appear from the following description and appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views. 
     Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevation of one embodiment of a revolver according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the revolver of  FIG. 1  in a stowed orientation. 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the revolver of  FIG. 1 , in the process of cocking. 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the revolver of  FIG. 1 , fully cocked. 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the revolver of  FIG. 1 , firing. 
         FIG. 6  is a rear elevation of the cylinder of the revolver of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a front elevation of the cylinder of the revolver of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a sectional view of a second embodiment of a revolver with which the present invention may be utilized. 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view of the revolver of  FIG. 8 , with a deployed grip extension tang. 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional view of the an alternate revolver embodiment, with a stowed extension tang. 
         FIG. 11  is a side elevation of a handgun utilizing one embodiment of the present invention with the extension tang stowed. 
         FIG. 12  is the handgun of  FIG. 11 , with one grip panel removed. 
         FIG. 13  is the handgun of  FIG. 11 , with the extension tang deployed. 
         FIG. 14  is the handgun of  FIG. 13 , with one grip panel removed. 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the mechanism utilized in the handgun of  FIG. 11 , in a stowed orientation. 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the mechanism utilized in the handgun of  FIG. 11 , in a deployed orientation. 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the linkage components of the mechanism used in the handgun of  FIG. 11 , in a stowed orientation. 
         FIG. 18  is a perspective view of the linkage components of the mechanism used in the handgun of  FIG. 11 , in a deployed orientation. 
         FIG. 19  is a perspective view of the plunger rod of the mechanism used in the handgun of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 20  is a perspective view of the blade of the mechanism used in the handgun of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 21  is a partial section of a magazine fed handgun, utilizing a modified embodiment of the mechanism of the handgun of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 22  is a perspective view of one embodiment of an extension grip tang for use with a magazine fed handgun. 
         FIG. 23  is an exploded view of a handgun utilizing a second embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 24  is a side elevation of the handgun of  FIG. 23 , with one grip panel removed the grip extension tang in a stowed orientation. 
         FIG. 25  is a side elevation of the handgun of  FIG. 23 , with one grip panel removed, the grip extension tang in a deployed orientation. 
         FIG. 26  is an exploded view of a handgun utilizing a third embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 27  is a side elevation of the handgun of  FIG. 26 , with one grip panel removed the grip extension tang in a stowed orientation. 
         FIG. 28  is a side elevation of the handgun of  FIG. 26 , with one grip panel removed, the grip extension tang in a deployed orientation. 
         FIG. 29  is an exploded view of a handgun utilizing a fourth embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 30  is a side elevation of the handgun of  FIG. 29 , with one grip panel removed the grip extension tang in a stowed orientation. 
         FIG. 31  is a side elevation of the handgun of  FIG. 29 , with one grip panel removed, the grip extension tang in a deployed orientation. 
         FIG. 32  is a side elevation of a handgun grip embodying a fifth embodiment of the invention, with a tang in a stowed orientation. 
         FIG. 33  is a side elevation of the handgun grip of  FIG. 32 , with a grip panel removed. 
         FIG. 34  is a side elevation of the grip of  FIG. 33 , with the tang deployed. 
         FIG. 35  is a side elevation of the lock bar utilized in the grip of  FIG. 32 . 
         FIG. 36  is a side elevation of the plunger utilized in the grip of  FIG. 32 . 
         FIG. 37  is a front elevation of the plunger of  FIG. 36 . 
         FIG. 38  is a perspective view of the tang utilized in the grip of  FIG. 32 . 
         FIG. 39  is a partial sectional view of the working components of the grip of  FIG. 32 , in a stowed orientation. 
         FIG. 40  is a partial sectional view of the working components of  FIG. 39 , deployed. 
         FIG. 41  is a side elevation of an alternate handgun grip utilizing the fifth embodiment of the invention, with a tang in a stowed orientation. 
         FIG. 42  is a side elevation of the handgun grip of  FIG. 41 , with a grip panel removed. 
         FIG. 43  is a side elevation of the handgun grip of  FIG. 42 , with the invention deployed. 
         FIG. 44  is a perspective view of the working components of the grip of  FIG. 43 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, the preferred embodiment and alternate embodiments of the grip extension tang are herein described. It should be noted that the articles “a,” “an,” and “the,” as used in this specification, include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. It should also be realized that while the figures depict handguns, the invention may be practiced on any firearm or other object with a suitable grip, such as an AR-15 rifle with a “pistol grip” attachment. The use of handguns in the drawings and use of terminology in this Specification related to handguns should not be deemed limiting the invention to practice with handguns alone. 
     A basic revolver with which the invention may be used is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-7 . With reference to  FIG. 1 , a revolver  100  has the main components expected of a revolver, that is to say it has a barrel  110 , cylinder  120 , hammer  130 , trigger  140  and grip  150  all mounted upon a frame or receiver. Its internal workings, however, shown in  FIGS. 2-5 , however, reveal a different sort of weapon. First, the cylinder  120  is powered by a torsion-type cylinder spring  112  mounted beneath the barrel  110 . A pivoting locking bar  114  maintains the cylinder  120  against the spring pressure. The forward end of the locking bar  114  is a locking bar key  116  designed to interface with specifically positioned lock grooves  126 ,  128  on a forward end of the cylinder  120 . The end of the locking bar opposite the key features a locking bar plate  134  which interfaces with a hammer pawl  132  pivotably mounted upon the hammer  130 . 
     When stowed,  FIG. 2 , the cylinder rests in a unique position off-chamber from the bore of the barrel  110  (and consequently the hammer  130 ). It is held in this position by the locking bar key  116  residing in a specially positioned safety lock groove  128  (shown in  FIG. 3 ). In subsequent use, the action of cocking the hammer  130  drives the hammer pawl  132  against the locking bar plate  134 , pushing it upwards. The locking bar  114  pivots about its pivot point  118  and forces the locking bar key  116  downward, releasing the cylinder  120 . Immediate over-rotation of the cylinder is prevented by a chamfer  142  in the locking bar  114 . The chamfer  142  stops rotation of the cylinder  120  by blocking one of its corners. Other structures may of course be utilized, including having other structure on the cylinder interface with the chamfer  142  or other movable blocking structure; however, this embodiment is preferred. In the fully cocked position ( FIG. 4 ), the hammer pawl  132  has passed beyond the locking bar plate  134 , releasing it and thereby forcing the locking bar key  116  to move upwards into the next successive position lock groove  126 . In this position, the revolver is ready to fire with a chamber  122  in line with the barrel  110  and hammer  130 . An interface with the trigger  140  holds the hammer  130  in cocked position. The illustrated mechanism is a simple spur-and-groove lock where a sear-spur  138  on the trigger  140  interfaces with a groove  136  on the hammer  130 . Other structures of sears may of course be used. Upon firing ( FIG. 5 ), the sear lock is broken and the hammer  130  begins to return. The pawl  132  rotates against the locking bar plate  134  and into a crevice in the hammer  130  until the pawl  132  is moved away from the locking bar plate  134  and returns to its position underneath the locking bar plate  134 . 
     The cylinder  120  provides a slim profile to aid in concealment. As can be seen in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the cylinder is uniquely shaped. There are limited lines of symmetry with the design of the cylinder and the outside surface of the cylinder proximate each chamber is not consistent relative to the axis of rotation of the cylinder. 
     Another revolver  200  is shown in  FIGS. 8-10 , where a specialized grip is used to provide a still smaller stowed profile. A grip extension tang  242  is provided in the bottom of grip  240  that may be deployed into an extended position and thus provide a larger gripping surface ( FIG. 9 ). The tang  242  may be spring-loaded and actuated by use of a pressure plate or may be actuated by the cocking of the hammer or may be keyed to removal from a holster or any other means known in the art or later discovered. The tang  242  may also not be spring-loaded and may pivot or slide into position due to direct pressure on some part of the grip. 
     One tang embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 11-20 . This particular embodiment is spring-biased. Tang  310  resides hingedly within the grip  300  of a handgun, firearm, or other device and is actuated by a plunger  320  connected to a push button  330 . Plunger  320  is a bent rod pivotably attached to the tang  310  and passing through blade  340  on the back of push button  330 . The bend in the rod of the plunger allows for free movement of the tang  310  and plunger  320  relative to each other between the stowed and extended positions. Two notches reside in an upper portion of the plunger  320 , forming a narrower portion  327  (“notched portion”) of the plunger. A spring  325  resides about plunger  320  between blade  340  and tang  310  while at least one spring  335  biases the push button outward from the grip  300 . Blade  340  features a T-shaped aperture  345  ( FIG. 20 ), through which plunger  320  passes. In the stowed position, the notched portion  327  ( FIGS. 18, 19 ) resides in the narrower portion of the T-shaped aperture  345  and spring  325  is compressed ( FIG. 15 ). When actuated, the push button  330  biases the blade  340  such that the notched portion resides in the broader portion of the T-shaped aperture  345 , allowing the plunger  320  to slide through the aperture  345  and allows spring  325  to release, forcing the plunger  320  downwards and deploying the tang  310  ( FIG. 16 ). Springs  335  remain compressed as the plunger  320  forces the push button  330  to remain depressed. When the tang  310  is pressed back into the grip  300 , the notched portion  327  of the plunger is again positioned in the aperture  345 . This then allows the push button  330  to return to its original position and bias the blade  340  forward so that the notched portion  327  again resides in the narrower portion of the T-shaped aperture  345 , locking the system in place. 
     Any tang embodiment may be adapted for magazine fed firearms, as this one is shown in  FIGS. 21 and 22 , simply by providing a hollow tang  350  which fits about the magazine or any solid obstruction in the design of the firearm. 
     A second embodiment involves a specially shaped tang  420  with a tang extension  430  that is deployed due to direct pressure on the tang extension  430 . This embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 23-25 . Tang  420  and tang extension  430  are hollow and surround firearm receiver  400 . The tang extension  430  extends, when tang  420  stowed, past the back strap of the firearm grip  410 . Grip panels  405  for firearm grip  410  each feature an arcuate channel  415  through which the tang extension  430  of the tang travels. The tang extension  430  acts as a push button that is passively depressed when the weapon is brought to bear in the user&#39;s hand. When grasping the firearm, the user&#39;s hand depresses the tang extension  430  into receiver  400  (with a provided notch), thereby forcing the tang  420  downwards. The tang  420  may be spring-biased so that holstering the firearm, or in any way unhanding it, will automatically retract the tang  420  to a stowed position. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 26-28 , a third embodiment is also passively deployed, but utilizes a lever  520  so that pressure from the user grasping the firearm is indirectly applied from the user&#39;s hands to the extendible tang  530 . Lever  520  protrudes from the front of grip  510  and is pivotally mounted within the grip  510 , between the grip panels  507  and receiver frame  505 . The location of this protruding end of the lever  520  is such that a user will automatically actuate the lever  520  when gripping the firearm  500 . Grip panels  507  may provide the fulcrum for the lever and possibly channels for the tang  530 . The other end of the lever is connected to the tang  530 , close to its pivot point  535  on the receiver frame  505  of the firearm  500 , or, alternately, on the grip panels  507 . Because of its location on the tang  530 , small movements of the lever  520  create arcuately significant movement of the tang  530 , such that the tang  530  is fully exposed when the lever  520  is actuated by the user. The lever  520  and/or tang  530  may be spring biased to have the tang  530  remain in a stowed orientation when the lever is not actuated, thus allowing for automatic stowage when the firearm  500  is released. For optimum operation, this embodiment features an oblong slot  525  in the lever  520  where the lever  520  and tang  530  meet. This provides a certain amount of play between the components which aids in the linkage of said components. This play may also be achieved by placing the slot  525  on the tang  530  and a pivot point on the lever  520 . 
     A fourth embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 29-31  in which the tang  630  is held in a sliding relationship between grip panels  620  and frame  610 . A notch is provided in frame  610  to accommodate the tang  630  and this notch may be cut out of existing frames or the frame may be manufactured with this invention in mind. The tang may or may not be spring biased and may be utilized with any of the latching and/or deployment mechanisms described in the previous three embodiments with little alteration. It is to be readily understood that the angular motion of the tang described in the previous embodiment may also be translated into a linear motion without departing from the scope of this invention. As such, the depicted fourth embodiment, in actuality, represents a variation on the previous three and may utilize any of the features previously described. 
     Still yet another embodiment of the invention may be seen in  FIGS. 32-44 . In this embodiment, a trigger button  710  resides at a forward location on the grip while it resides on a lock bar  720  ( FIG. 33 ) that is pivotably mounted  721  upon the grip panels  705  of the grip. The lock bar  720  is forked into two prongs  722 ,  724  ( FIG. 35 ) with a gap  728  therebetween. One prong  722  conforms generally to the shape of the grip and serves as a mount for the trigger button  710  ( FIG. 33 ). Together trigger button  710  and prong  722  are accessible from the outside of the grip by the user. For this Application, the prong  722  shall be considered “accessible” even if it is entirely obscured by the trigger button  710  and it should be noted that a trigger button  710  is an optional feature, the prong  722  itself may be exposed. The other prong  724  has an inwardly facing spur  726 . A plunger  730  ( FIGS. 36 and 37 ) is also provided. It generally resides within gap  728  ( FIG. 35 ), with the joint of the fork residing within a slot  733  in the upper, stirrup portion of the plunger  730 . The top of the lock bar fork may be sealed, creating an orifice rather than two tines. However, this functional equivalent is still considered to be a “fork” for purposes of this Specification. A bend  734  in the plunger  730  divides the upper  732  and lower  735  portions and serves as a seat for latch spring  750 . The lower portion  735  is pivotably attached  736  to the tang  740 , which is in turn mounted  742  to grip panels  705  ( FIG. 32 ). The bend  734  also serves to aid in clearance of the plunger  730  around the tang  740 . 
     In use, as shown in  FIGS. 33 and 34 , the latch spring  750  resides about plunger  730  and is held down by the joint in latch bar  720 . The plunger is positioned so that the top of the slot  733  is resting upon the spur  726 , compressing the spring. When the trigger button  710  is pressed, simply be a user grasping the grip, the latch bar  720  is pivoted backwards, releasing the plunger  730  from the spur  726  and allowing the plunger to be pushed downwards by latch spring  750 . This then pivots the grip tang  740  downwards into a deployed position. This is illustrated without the firearm structure in  FIGS. 39 and 40 . 
     Grip tang  740  ( FIG. 38 ) may be of any shape, but it is preferred to be a shell, or a wall with two roughly orthogonal bends, defining a gap  746  so that the tang may fit around internal firearm components, such as frame  707  in FIG.  33  or firearm magazine  703  in  FIG. 42 . It is pivotably mounted upon both the grip panels and the plunger at provided holes  742 ,  744  respectively. While the preferred tang embodiment is described as having “orthogonal” walls, this would, of course yield to the internal geometry of the firearm. Its exterior and interior shapes may be of any conceived to fit within the confines of the grip and also for providing user comfort and utility, this would include adding a floor panel to the tang and having bends which are not perfectly orthogonal. It could be said that the firearm has both internal grip structure, such as a frame and/or magazine, and external grip structure, such as grip panels. The extendable grip tang must fit within a gap between the internal and external grip structures. When stowed, the tang would at least partially encompass the internal grip structure while fitting at least partially underneath the external grip structure in a manner to allow deployment without hindrance. 
     It should also be noted that the fifth embodiment is readily adaptable for magazine fed handguns ( FIGS. 41-44 ), not just the revolver depicted in the initial figures. For this version of the embodiment, the lock bar  729  may have a differently shaped fork so as to comport with the shape of the grip. It nonetheless operates in the same manner. 
     The embodiments indicated within this specification may be utilized on any existing firearm with minimal alteration of the firearm. In some cases, the receiver frame may need to be cut in order to accommodate the mechanisms described herein. Grip panels are easily designed to incorporate the mechanisms described. Tangs and other components may be mounted either upon the firearm frame or grip panels. Firearms may also be developed and designed with the mechanisms described herein specifically in mind such that grip panels and receiver frames may be manufactured intending for the use of the present invention therewith. It is easily considered that the spring pressure may be used to either deploy or stow the tang and embodiments described herein may be altered within the scope of this invention such that the tang is automatically deployed when unholstered and stowed when holstered. 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, numerous modifications and variations can be made and still the result will come within the scope of the invention. No limitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein is intended or should be inferred.