Patent Publication Number: US-10328569-B2

Title: Configurable handgrip

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/593,580, entitled “CONFIGURABLE HANDGRIP,” filed Jan. 9, 2015, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all that is taught and disclosed therein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to handgrips for firearms, and more particularly to a device that replaces the standard factory-supplied firearm handgrip without requiring significant modification of the firearm and enhances the functionality of the firearm by providing a handgrip that can be configured for a customized and adjustable fit. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Standard factory-supplied firearm handgrips may include ergonomic features such as finger ridges and palm swells to provide adequate security for holding the gun during recoil, but many do not. For those that do, the ergonomic features are fixed in position, making it impossible for the features to precisely match every user&#39;s hand. Users with larger or smaller hands than average may even find the ergonomic features uncomfortable because the features&#39; locations poorly match the users&#39; hand. In addition, users with large hands may need a larger grip circumference than the standard factory-supplied firearm handgrip, and users with small hands may need a smaller grip circumference than the standard factory-supplied firearm handgrip. 
     Therefore, a need exists for a new and improved configurable handgrip that provides that provides a customizable fit to the user&#39;s hand. In this regard, the various embodiments of the present invention substantially fulfill at least some of these needs. In this respect, the configurable handgrip according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing a configurable handgrip that can be customized to enable a more secure grip by the user. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an improved configurable handgrip, and overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior art. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide an improved configurable handgrip that has all the advantages of the prior art mentioned above. 
     To attain this, the preferred embodiment of the present invention essentially comprises a plurality of plates, the plates being arranged in a stack, a clamp element operably engaging the stack, and the clamp element being operable to transition between a first released position in which the plates are free to move with respect to each other, and a second clamped position in which the plates are secured against movement with respect to each other, such that the stack may be formed into a selected shape when the clamp is in the released position, and the plates are held in the selected shape when the clamp is in the clamped position. Each plate may define a plate aperture. The clamp element may be an elongated member received in the plate apertures. The plates may each have a contact edge and an opposed recessed edge. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims attached. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of the current embodiment of a configurable handgrip constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention installed on the lower receiver and forend of a firearm. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the current embodiment of the configurable handgrip of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of the configurable handgrip of  FIG. 1  denoted by the circled portion  3 . 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of an alternative embodiment of the configurable handgrip constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a top isometric view of the configurable handgrip of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a side sectional view of the configurable handgrip of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the configurable handgrip of  FIG. 1  installed on a bolt action rifle. 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the configurable handgrip of  FIG. 1  installed on a ski pole. 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of the configurable handgrip of  FIG. 1  installed on a knife. 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of the configurable handgrip of  FIG. 1  installed on a circular saw. 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of the configurable handgrip of  FIG. 1  installed on a hammer. 
         FIG. 12  is a side view of the configurable handgrip of  FIG. 1  installed on a handgun. 
     
    
    
     The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various figures. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT EMBODIMENT 
     An embodiment of the configurable handgrip of the present invention is shown and generally designated by the reference numeral  10 . 
       FIGS. 1-3  illustrate the improved configurable handgrip  10  of the present invention. More particularly, two handgrips  10  are shown attached to a firearm  200  having a muzzle  214  in  FIG. 1 . One handgrip is attached to the lower receiver  210 , and one handgrip is attached to the forend  212 . Each handgrip has a stack of alternating front plates  12  and rear plates  24 . The front and rear plates can be slid forward and rearward to create customized ergonomic features, such as finger ridges  58  and palm swells  60 , which precisely fit a user&#39;s hand. An elongated member  36  having a head  40  clamps each stack of plates into a fixed position between the head and the firearm once the desired ergonomic features are created. In the current embodiment, firearm  200  is a semi-automatic rifle. 
     The elongated member  36  has a shaft  38  with the head  40  connected at one end and an opposed threaded end  42  with threads  44 . A square tube  46  having a central bore  48  is fitted over the shaft  38  such that the bottom  50  of the square tube contacts the head, and the top  52  of the square tube terminates below the threads such that the threads are exposed. A front foam  54  and a rear foam  56  are positioned to abut the square tube  46  such that the front foam, square tube, and rear foam form an elongate rectangle. 
     The front plates  12  and rear plates  24  each have longitudinally offset rectangular plate apertures  22 ,  34  that are sized to closely receive the front foam  54 , square tube  46 , and rear foam  56 . The front plates each have a forward facing contact edge  14 , a rearward facing recessed edge  16 , a top  18 , and a bottom  20 . The rear plates each have a rearward facing contact edge  26 , a forward facing recessed edge  28 , a top  30 , and a bottom  32 . The front and rear plates are identical to facilitate manufacturing and only differ in orientation by being rotated 180° when they are assembled into a stack  62  in an alternating manner. In the current embodiment, the front and rear plates are essentially oblong with a race track/rectangle with rounded corners shape and can be made of plastic, metal, or any suitable composite material. 
     When the front plates  12  and rear plates  24  are initially assembled into a stack  62  on the shaft  38  of the elongate member  36 , the front foam  54 , square tube  46 , and rear foam  56  are self-centering and urge the front and rear plates into a uniform neutral rest position arrangement with the square tube centered within the plate apertures  22 ,  34  and the contact edges  14 ,  26  extending outward over the recessed edges  16 ,  28 . Lateral movement of the front and rear plates is tightly constrained by the sides of the square tube. However, the plates&#39; tops  18 ,  30  and bottoms  20 ,  32  are free to slide forward and rearward with respect to one another as pressure is applied to their contact edges. As a result, customized ergonomic features such as finger ridges  58  and palm swells  60  can be created by a user by squeezing the front and rear plates to compress the front and rear foam to move the front and rear plates into the desired compressed position custom configuration, including providing the handgrip  10  with a varying width. 
     In order to secure the front plates  12  and rear plates  24  in the desired custom configuration, and to attach the stack  62  to the firearm  200 , the threads  44  on the threaded end  42  of the elongated member  36  are inserted into a threaded bore  214  in the lower receiver  210 . The elongated member is tightened until the stack  62  of plates is firmly clamped between the head  40  and the lower receiver. When sufficient clamping force is applied, friction between the tops  18 ,  30  and bottoms  20 ,  32  of the front and rear plates increases to the point that squeezing the front and rear plates no longer will move the plates. 
     To facilitate the creation of a customized configuration of the stack  62  of front and rear plates  12 ,  24 , the user may first loosely engage the threads  44  on the threaded end  42  of the elongated member  36  with the threaded bore  214  in the lower receiver  210  such that insufficient clamping force is applied to hold the plates in position. The user may then squeeze the front and rear plates into the desired configuration, and then firmly tighten the elongated member to create sufficient clamping force to prevent additional plate movement. The same procedure would apply when attaching an additional handgrip  10  to the forend  212  of the firearm  200 . The threaded bore in the forend is not shown. 
       FIGS. 4-6  illustrate an alternative embodiment of the improved configurable handgrip  100  of the present invention. More particularly, the handgrip  100  has a stack of alternating front plates  112  and rear plates  124 . The front and rear plates can be slid forward and rearward to create customized ergonomic features, such as finger ridges and palm swells, which precisely fit a user&#39;s hand. An elongated member  36  having a head  40  clamps each stack of plates into a fixed position between the head and the rifle once the desired ergonomic features are created. 
     The elongated member  36  has a shaft  38  with the head  40  connected at one end and an opposed threaded end  42  with threads  44 . The front plates  112  and rear plates  124  each have longitudinally offset rectangular plate apertures  122 ,  134  that receive a shaft ring  146 ,  156  with an aperture  148 ,  158 . The shaft rings are held within the plate apertures by dual leaf springs  150 ,  160 . The shaft rings are free to move forward and rearward within the limits imposed by the dual leaf springs, but are tightly constrained laterally by the sides of the plate apertures. The apertures of the shaft rings are sized to closely receive the shaft of the elongated member when the plates are assembled into a stack  166 . 
     The front plates  112  each have a forward facing contact edge  114 , a rearward facing recessed edge  116 , a top  118 , a bottom  120 , an upwardly extending central dovetail ridge  152 , and a central bottom dovetail slot  154 . The rear plates  124  each have a rearward facing contact edge  126 , a forward facing recessed edge  128 , a top  130 , a bottom  132 , an upwardly extending central dovetail ridge  162 , and a central bottom dovetail slot  164 . The dovetail slots are sized to closely receive the dovetail ridges. The front and rear plates are identical to facilitate manufacturing and only differ in orientation by being rotated 180° when they are assembled into a stack  166  in an alternating manner. In the current embodiment, the front and rear plates are essentially oblong with a race track/rectangle with rounded corners shape. The front and rear plates can be molded in one piece with the dual leaf springs and shaft ring included. 
     When the front plates  112  and rear plates  124  are initially assembled into a stack  166  on the shaft  38  of the elongate member  36 , the shaft rings  146 ,  156  and dual leaf springs  150 ,  160  are self-centering and urge the front and rear plates into a uniform neutral rest position arrangement with the shaft rings centered within the plate apertures  122 ,  134  and the contact edges  114 ,  126  extending outward over the recessed edges  116 ,  128 . Lateral movement of the front and rear plates is tightly constrained by the interaction of the dovetail ridges  152 ,  162  with the sides of the dovetail slots  154 ,  164 . However, the plates&#39; tops  118 ,  130  and bottoms  120 ,  132  are free to slide forward and rearward with respect one another as pressure is applied to their contact edges. As a result, customized ergonomic features such as finger ridges and palm swells can be created by a user by squeezing the front and rear plates to expand and compress the dual leaf springs to move the front and rear plates into the desired compressed position custom configuration. 
     In order to secure the front plates  112  and rear plates  124  in the desired custom configuration, and to attach the stack  166  to the firearm  200 , the threads  44  on the threaded end  42  of the elongated member  36  are inserted into a threaded bore  214  in the lower receiver  210 . The elongated member is tightened until the stack  166  of plates is firmly clamped between the head  40  and the lower receiver. When sufficient clamping force is applied, friction between the tops  118 ,  130  and bottoms  120 ,  132  of the front and rear plates increases to the point that squeezing the front and rear plates no longer will move the plates. 
     To facilitate the creation of a customized configuration of the stack  166  of front and rear plates  112 ,  124 , the user may first loosely engage the threads  44  on the threaded end  42  of the elongated member  36  with the threaded bore  214  in the lower receiver  210  such that insufficient clamping force is applied to hold the plates in position. The user may then squeeze the front and rear plates into the desired configuration, and then firmly tighten the elongated member to create sufficient clamping force to prevent additional plate movement. The same procedure would apply when attaching an additional handgrip  100  to the forend  212  of the firearm  200 . The threaded bore in the forend is not shown. 
       FIGS. 7-12  illustrate additional applications of the improved configurable handgrip  10  of the present invention present invention. More particularly, although the handgrip  10  is depicted, the alternative handgrip  100  can also be used in these applications. In  FIG. 7 , the handgrip is used to connect the stock  310  to the receiver  312  of the bolt action rifle  300  and provides a customizable gripping surface for the user&#39;s shooting hand. In  FIG. 8 , the handgrip is used to connect a wrist strap  412  to one end of a shaft  410  of a ski pole  400  and provides a customizable gripping surface for the user&#39;s hand. In  FIG. 9 , the handgrip is attached to one end of a blade  510  of a knife  500  and provides a customizable gripping surface for the user&#39;s cutting hand. In  FIG. 10 , the handgrip is connected to a handle  610  of a circular saw  600  and provides a customizable gripping surface for the user&#39;s sawing hand. In  FIG. 11 , the handgrip is connected to one end of a shaft  710  of a hammer  700  having a head  712  and provides a customizable gripping surface for the user&#39;s hand that swings the hammer. In  FIG. 12 , the handgrip is attached to one end of a grip frame  810  of a handgun  800  and provides a customizable gripping surface for the user&#39;s shooting hand. In the current embodiment, handgun  800  is a revolver. 
     In the context of the specification, the terms “rear” and “rearward,” and “front” and “forward,” have the following definitions: “rear” or “rearward” means in the direction away from the muzzle of the firearm while “front” or “forward” means it is in the direction towards the muzzle of the firearm. 
     While a current embodiment of a configurable handgrip has been described in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and variations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. For example, while semi-automatic rifles as described are the most likely contemplated application for the concepts of the present invention, it should be appreciated that the current invention could be used with any firearm grip, including revolvers and pistols, as well as hand and power tools and other implements with a handgrip. Furthermore, an elastomeric sleeve could be placed over the stack of plates or friction tape could be wrapped around the stack of plates to bridge the gaps between the plates and provide a continuous surface. Also, the plates could be arranged in more than two axes spiraling right, front, back, and left to create ergonomic features on the left and right sides of the stack in addition to the front and back of the stack. And, although replacing the standard factory-supplied firearm handgrip has been described, it should be appreciated that the configurable handgrip herein described is also suitable for being installed as a factory-supplied handgrip. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.