Patent Publication Number: US-11385020-B2

Title: Handle for holding a weapon and weapon comprising such a handle

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Divisional of co-pending application Ser. No. 16/603,510, filed on Oct. 7, 2019, which is a 371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2018/059797 filed on Apr. 17, 2018, for which priority is claimed under 35 U.S.C. § 120; and this application claims priority of Application No. 1753604 filed in France on Apr. 25, 2017 under 35 U.S.C. § 119, the entire contents of all of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     The invention relates to a weapon front handle. 
     The invention also relates to a weapon including such a front handle. 
     TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the field of firearms, it is known to fit firearms with an additional handle, also referred to as a front handle, that is placed at the front of the weapon. As a result, the user can take hold of the weapon with one hand via a rear handle including the trigger for actuating the weapon, and with the other hand via the front handle. 
     This makes it easier for the user to handle the weapon, and also makes it easier to shoot it. 
     Nevertheless, the front handle is usually simply in the shape of a cylinder, which is not very ergonomic for the user. 
     In order to mitigate that drawback and to increase the grip force that can be applied, proposals have been made in particular to shape the front handle so that it presents recesses to facilitate placing the user&#39;s fingers. 
     Nevertheless, users sometimes feel uncomfortable when taking hold of a front handle shaped in that way. 
     OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the invention is to propose a weapon front handle that is more ergonomic. 
     Another object of the invention is to propose a weapon including such a front handle. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to achieve this object, there is provided a weapon front handle, the handle extending along a given axis and comprising a plate for securing to a weapon and a grip for gripping the handle, which grip is connected to the plate and shaped to present grooves for receiving a user&#39;s fingers. 
     According to the invention, the grip is connected to the plate in such a manner as to be mounted to pivot relative to the plate about the given axis, the handle including at least one latch for temporarily blocking pivoting of the grip relative to the plate about the given axis. 
     Thus, the relative angular position about the given axis between the grip and the plate can be modified by the user in order to adapt the positioning of the grooves in the most appropriate manner. In particular, it is thus possible for the grip not to be placed symmetrically relative to the plate about the given axis, should the user prefer such positioning. 
     A user can thus arrange the grip in appropriate manner relative to a working axis for the forces exerted by the fingers of the user&#39;s hand, depending on the weight of the weapon in question, on the recoil of the weapon in question when shooting, on the way in which the user holds the weapon, . . . . 
     In advantageous manner, the handle is found to be equally usable by left-handers and by right-handers. 
     The handle of the invention is thus found to be particularly ergonomic. 
     It should be observed that the handle of the invention is indeed an additional handle fitted to the front of the weapon in order to facilitate taking hold of the weapon, and under no circumstances is it the rear handle of the weapon that includes the trigger. 
     In particular manner, the handle includes a control ring arranged between the plate and the grip and mounted to pivot relative to the plate and to the grip about the given axis, the handle including at least one latch for temporarily blocking pivoting of the control ring relative to the plate and to the grip. 
     In particular manner, the latch associated with the grip is the same latch as the latch associated with the control ring. 
     In particular manner, the latch comprises a support rod arranged through the grip and screw fastened to the plate, the latch being movable in translation along the given axis relative to the plate by being tightened and loosened relative to the plate, the grip being driven in translation along the given axis by the latch. 
     In particular manner, the grip and/or the latch associated with the grip is hollow. 
     In particular manner, the handle includes a power supply element and/or a control element. 
     In particular manner, the handle includes a control button. 
     In particular manner, the control button is mounted on the handle to pivot about an axis of rotation orthogonal to the given axis of rotation of the grip. 
     The invention also provides a weapon including such a front handle. 
     In particular manner, the weapon front handle is removably mounted on the weapon. 
     Other characteristics and advantages of the invention appear on reading the following description of particular, nonlimiting embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention can be better understood in the light of the following description given with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a weapon in a particular embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the front handle of the weapon shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a section view of the handle shown in  FIG. 2 , with the various elements of the handle not being clamped together; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of a front handle in a second embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of a front handle in a third embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , in a first embodiment of the invention, the weapon, given overall reference  1 , includes both a rear handle  2  for actuating the weapon and also a front handle  3 , also known as a “foregrip”, making it easier for a user to handle the weapon. The front handle  3  is arranged at the front of the weapon  1  and the rear handle  2  at the rear of the weapon  1 , with the user, in action, taking hold of the handles in respective hands. 
     In this example, the front handle  3  is designed to be removably mounted on the weapon  1 . Typically, the front handle is designed to be mounted on of the weapon  1  by means of a rail fastener system, in this example of the Picatinny type. 
     The front handle  3  is described below in greater detail with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
     The front handle  3  extends generally along an axis X, orthogonal to an axis Y along which the barrel of the weapon extends generally (with the front and the rear of the weapon being specified relative to the axis Y). 
     The front handle  3  has a plate  4  constituting the portion of the front handle  3  that is mounted on the weapon  1 , with this being done in removable manner, as mentioned above. 
     In particular manner, the front handle  3  includes a control ring  5  that is connected to the plate  4  in such a manner as to be mounted to pivot relative to the plate  4  about the axis X. In this example, the control ring  5  extends immediately under the plate  4 . The plate  4  and the control ring  5  are designed to engage temporarily one within the other so as to hold the control ring  5  temporarily stationary relative to the plate  4 . Typically, the proximal end  6  of the control ring  5  carries teeth so as to engage in a corresponding toothed portion  7  of the plate  4 . 
     Furthermore, the front handle  3  includes a grip  8  via which the front handle  3  is held. The grip  8  is shaped, e.g. by thermoforming, so as to present grooves  9  for receiving the user&#39;s fingers. Typically, said grooves  9  are in the form of mutually parallel recessed zones arranged in the grip  8 . In this example, there are three grooves  9 . 
     The grip  8  is connected to the plate  4  so as to be mounted to pivot relative to the plate  4  about the axis X, in this example via the control ring  5 . In this example, the grip  8  extends immediately under the control ring  5 . The control ring  5  and the grip  8  are designed to engage temporarily one within the other so as to hold the control ring  5  temporarily stationary relative to the grip  8 . Typically, the distal end  10  of the control ring  5  carries teeth so as to engage in a proximal end  11  of the grip  8  that is toothed in corresponding manner. 
     In order to hold the grip  8  and the control ring  5  temporarily stationary relative to the plate  4 , the front handle  3  includes a latch. In this example, said latch comprises a clamping rod  12  that extends inside the grip  8  along the axis X and that is screwed at its proximal end  13  to a support rod  14  that is rigidly fastened to the plate  4  and that extends along the axis X inside the control ring  5  and inside the grip  8 . 
     Screwing the clamping rod  12  into the support rod  14  then causes the clamping rod  12  to rise towards the support rod  14  along the axis X. The clamping rod  12  is thus designed so that it comes into abutment against the grip  8 , with its upward movement in translation leading to a corresponding movement of the grip  8 . The grip  8  thus ends up engaging with the control ring  5 , which in turn engages with the plate  4 , thereby completing temporary holding of the grip  8 , of the control ring  5 , and of the clamping rod  12  stationary relative to the plate  4 , until the clamping rod  12  is next loosened. When the grip  8 , the control ring  5 , and the plate  4  are moved fully towards one another, they engage mutually in one another so as to form a single unit that is rigidly fastened to the weapon  1 . 
     Furthermore, if the user desires to change the position of the control ring  5  and/or of the grip  8  relative to the plate  4 , it suffices to loosen the clamping rod  12 , to change the angular position of the control ring  5  and/or of the grip  8 , and then to tighten the clamping rod  12 . 
     The front handle  3  can thus be adapted simply and quickly to each user. 
     It should be observed that it is thus possible to modify the relative positions between the various elements of the front handle  3  about the axis X, and to do so over 360°. 
     The front handle  3  is thus found to be highly adjustable for a user. 
     Furthermore, as a result of the teeth of the various elements of the front handle  3  preventing rotation, it is ensured that the various elements are held robustly in position relative to one another while the weapon is in use, even though that can lead to vibration, e.g. while firing the weapon. 
     At its distal end  15 , the clamping rod  12  preferably includes a grip knob  16 , which in this example is rigidly secured to the clamping rod  12 , and which is arranged outside the grip  8  so as to make it easier for the user to manipulate the clamping rod  12 . In the present situation, it is this knob  16  that comes into abutment against the corresponding distal end  17  of the grip  8  while the clamping rod  12  is being tightened so as to move the grip  8  in translation along the axis X. This knob  16  thus rests against the distal end  17  of the grip  8  while the grip  8  is temporarily held stationary relative to the control ring  5  and the plate  4 . 
     This knob  16  is preferably not smooth (e.g. it is serrated) so as to make it easier to manipulate. 
     In preferred manner, the grip  8  and the clamping rod  12  are both hollow, at least over respective portions of the grip and of the clamping rod  12 . In this example, the grip  8  and the clamping rod  12  are both hollow over substantially the entire length (along the axis X) respectively of the grip  8  and of the clamping rod  12 . 
     This makes it possible to arrange additional elements (not shown) in the front handle  3 , and thus in the grip  8 , such as a power supply element (e.g. an optionally rechargeable battery, . . . ), a control element (e.g. an electronic card, a radio transmitter, . . . ) . . . . 
     By way of example, the clamping rod  12  is closed at its distal end, specifically at the knob  16 , by means of a plug in order to give access to the inside of the clamping rod  12 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, the front handle  3  includes at least one control button  18  configured to trigger a command, the control button  18  being remote from the element on which the button command acts. By way of example, this operating button  18  is configured to actuate a radio transmitter arranged inside the clamping rod  12 . 
     Said control button  18  is typically arranged on the control ring  5 : because the control ring  5  is movable around the axis X, it is possible for a user to position the control button  18  in an angular position that the user finds comfortable, particularly depending on the length of the user&#39;s thumb or on the angle of the user&#39;s hand on the front handle  3 . 
     Preferably, the control button  18  is movably mounted on the control ring  5  to turn about a second axis Z that is orthogonal both to the axis X and also to the axis Y along which the weapon extends. 
     The front handle  3  also includes a latch  119  for temporarily preventing the control button  18  from turning about the axis Z relative to the control ring  5 . For example, the control button  18  may be configured to cooperate with snap-fastening abutments of the control ring  5  for temporarily holding the control button  18  stationary in one of its abutment positions. Preferably, in order to prevent the control button  18  accidentally unblocking while the weapon  1  is in use, the control button  18  is configured to be capable of being turned about the axis Z only while pressure is being exerted on its pivot rod in a manner that is constant (and not spontaneous). 
     As a result, a user can adapt the position of the control button  18  not only relative to the axis X but also relative to the axis Z. It is thus possible for a user to position the control button  18  in an angular position that the user finds comfortable, in particular depending on whether the user is left-handed or right-handed. 
     In particular, if the control button  18  presents a curved surface for positioning the user&#39;s thumb, the user can adapt the angle of inclination of this curved surface in personalized manner. 
     It should be observed that it is thus possible to modify the position of the control button  18  relative to the axis X and relative to the axis Z, and to do so over 360° for both axes. 
     The front handle  3  is thus found to be highly adjustable for a user. 
     Preferably, the front handle  3  includes a sensor (not shown) associated with the control button  18  in order to determine the position of said control button  18  about the axis Z relative to the control ring  5 . 
     This serves to provide an indication to a control member (optionally included in the front handle  3 ) concerning the direction in which the control button  18  is being turned and concerning its position relative to the plate  4 . 
     Specifically, it might be necessary to reverse the direction of the command issued by the control button  18  depending on its relative position, e.g. if the control button is a button of the type that is moved up and down in translation. 
     With reference to  FIG. 4 , there follows a description of a second embodiment. 
     This second embodiment is identical to the first embodiment, except that the front handle  103  no longer includes a control ring. 
     The grip  108  is thus connected directly to the plate  104  so as to be mounted to pivot relative to the plate  104  about the axis X. In this example, the grip  108  thus extends immediately under the plate  104 . The grip  108  and the plate  104  are shaped so as to engage temporarily one within the other so as to hold the grip  108  temporarily stationary relative to the plate  104 . Typically, the proximal end  111  of the grip  108  carries teeth so as to engage in a corresponding toothed portion  110  of the plate  104 . 
     Screwing the clamping rod into the support rod then causes the clamping rod to rise towards the support rod along the axis X. The clamping rod is thus designed so that it comes into abutment against the grip  108 , with its upward movement in translation leading to a corresponding movement of the grip  108 . The grip  108  thus ends up engaging with the plate  104 , thereby holding the grip  108  and the clamping rod temporarily stationary relative to the plate  104 , until the clamping rod is next loosened. When the grip  108  and the plate  104  are moved fully towards each other, they engage so as to form a single unit that is rigidly fastened to the weapon  101 . 
     In this embodiment, the control button  118  is arranged directly on the plate  104 . 
     The above-described handle  103  can thus be handled equally well by a left-hander or by a right-hander. Specifically, in order to change position, it suffices for a user to carry out the following steps:
         turn the grip  108  relative to the plate  104  about the axis X (the grip  108  is then turned towards the rear handle and no longer towards the barrel of the weapon);   pivot the control button  118  about the axis Z (the entire handle  103  is then configured in a right-handed or left-handed position, but is turned towards the rear handle); and   remove the handle  103  from the weapon and re-connect it to the weapon in the opposite direction so that the handle  103  is now turned towards the barrel of the weapon and no longer towards the rear handle.       

     Thus, a user can adapt the position of the control button  118  not only relative to the axis X but also relative to the axis Z. It is thus possible for a user to position the control button  118  in an angular position that the user finds comfortable, in particular depending on whether the user is left-handed or right-handed. 
     In particular, this also makes it possible to change the depth of the position of the control button  118  relative to the user. The user can thus adapt the position of the control button  118  also depending on the length of the user&#39;s thumb or on the angle of the user&#39;s hand on the front handle  103 . 
     This embodiment is simpler than the first embodiment. 
     Nevertheless, the first embodiment makes it possible to avoid separating the front handle  103  temporarily from the weapon in order to re-connect it in a different direction. 
     Naturally, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described, and variant embodiments may be provided without going beyond the ambit of the invention as defined by the claims. 
     In particular, although the front handle is described as being mounted removably on the weapon, the front handle could be fastened to the weapon rigidly and without being removable from the weapon. The plate of the front handle could thus be integral with the remainder of the weapon, or it could be an independent element fitted to the remainder of the weapon and rigidly fastened thereto. 
     It is also possible to omit the control ring, and thus to arrange the front handle directly under the plate. 
     The various elements of the front handle may be connected together differently from the above description. For example, it is possible to omit a support rod: the clamping rod would then be screwed directly into a tapped hole formed in the plate. 
     Although in this example the front handle serves to provide a radio function, the front handle could also provide other types of function, either in addition or as a replacement. The front handle could also have a number of control buttons that is greater than that described above. The control buttons could be carried directly by the grip rather than by the control ring. The front handle could thus provide wireless communication, modify images projected to the user on a screen (e.g. it could control zooming of images projected onto a telescopic sight of the weapon) . . . . 
     It is also possible for the front handle not to include any power supply or controls.  FIG. 5  thus shows a third embodiment in which the handle does not include any power supply or controls, and thus does not include any control button.