Patent Publication Number: US-8533987-B2

Title: Magazine well grip

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/295,015, filed on Jan. 14, 2010, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to grips for firearms, and more particularly, to fore grips for assault rifles having magazine wells. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Assault rifle users are known to use the magazine well area of the receiver as a grip for the non-shooting hand, both while firing and carrying the rifle. In general, the magazine well area is not designed to accommodate a hand, having uncomfortable contours, including sharp edges. As a result, discomfort is experienced after prolonged contact. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Based on the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved magazine well grip. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a magazine well grip includes a generally U-shaped body with an outer surface and an inner surface. The outer surface is generally contoured to comfortably accommodate the non-shooting hand of a user and the inner surface is generally contoured to closely accommodate a magazine well. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, the inner surface includes a lip recess dimensioned to accommodate a lower lip of the magazine well in an interference fit arrangement. According to a further aspect of the present invention, a lower section of the inner surface flares outwardly to facilitate insertion of a magazine into the magazine well. According to an additional aspect of the present invention, a protrusion extending upwardly from a front wall of the magazine well grip is dimensioned to be closely accommodated between trunnions extending from a forward face of the magazine well. 
     These and other objects, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better appreciated in view of the drawings and following detailed description of a preferred embodiment. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a rifle including a magazine well grip, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the magazine well grip of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is another perspective view of the magazine well grip of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the rifle and magazine well grip of  FIG. 1 , in a disassembled configuration; 
         FIG. 6  is a detail view of portions of the rifle and magazine well grip of  FIG. 1 , in a partially assembled configuration; 
         FIG. 7  is a detail sectional view of portions of the rifle and magazine well grip of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the rifle and magazine well grip of  FIG. 1 , with the rifle partially broken down for servicing. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an assault rifle  10  includes a receiver assembly  12  having an upper receiver portion  14  and a lower receiver portion  16 . The lower receiver portion  16  includes a magazine well  20  releasably accommodating a magazine  22 . According to an embodiment of the present invention, a magazine well grip  30  is releasably fitted about the magazine well  20 . Advantageously, the grip  30  is formed as an integral, one-piece unit, preferably composed of a molded polymer material. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2-4 , the grip  30  has a generally U-shaped body  32  with an outer surface  34  and an inner surface  36 . The outer surface  34  is generally contoured to comfortably accommodate the non-shooting hand of a user, and defines one or more finger grooves  40 . 
     An upper section  42  of the inner surface  36  is generally contoured to closely accommodate the magazine well  20  and terminates in a lip recess  44 . The lip recess  44  is dimensioned to accommodate a lower lip  46  of the magazine well  20  in an interference fit arrangement. 
     A lower section  50  of the inner surface  36  flares outwardly to assist in proper loading of the magazine  22  into the magazine well  20 . The lower section  50  effectively forms a funnel to guide the magazine  22  during insertion. This is particularly advantageous for magazine loading in the dark or when the user must remain focused on a target. 
     The U-shaped body  32  is formed with generally opposed sidewalls  60  and a front wall  62 . A doubler notch  64  is defined in a lower edge of one of the sidewalls  60  to prevent interference between the grip  30  and a magazine doubler (not shown). An exemplary magazine doubler can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 7,497,043, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. A generally wedge-shaped protrusion  66  extends upwardly from the front wall. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , to secure the magazine well grip  30  to the magazine well  20 , the upper and lower receiver portions  14 ,  16  are unpinned and detached. The grip  30  is then slid onto to the magazine well  20  from the front, with the lip recess  44  (see  FIG. 3 ) aligned with the lip  46  to achieve an interference fit. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , trunnions  70  are arranged on the forward face of the magazine well  20 , which accommodate a pin  72  therethrough, for engaging a complementary bore in a hinge portion  74  of the upper receiver  14  (see  FIG. 7 ). Once the grip  30  has been slid all the way onto the magazine well  20 , the protrusion  66  will extend between the trunnions  70 , achieving a slight interference fit and inhibiting lateral motion of the grip  30 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , when the upper receiver portion  14  is re-attached and re-pinned, the hinge portion  74  of the upper receiver  14  is located in front of the protrusion  66 , inhibiting forward movement, and subsequent removal, of the grip  30 . Forward of the protrusion  66 , clearance between the grip  30  and the upper receiver potion  72  is sufficient to allow pivoting of the upper receiver portion  16  relative to the lower receiver potion  14  about the pin  72  without removal of the grip  30 . Referring to  FIG. 8 , the upper receiver portion  16  is in the pivoted position with the grip  30  attached, for instance, to facilitate inspection, cleaning or other servicing. 
     In general, the foregoing description is provided for exemplary and illustrative purposes; the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. Rather, those skilled in the art will appreciate that additional modifications, as well as adaptations for particular circumstances, will fall within the scope of the invention as herein shown and described, and of the appended claims.