Patent Publication Number: US-11397068-B2

Title: Configurable cable holder for firearms

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure is generally related to firearms and, more particularly, to a configurable cable holder for firearms. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Unless otherwise indicated herein, approaches described in this section are not prior art to the claims listed below and are not admitted as prior art by inclusion in this section. 
     On firearms such as rifles, carbines and pistols based on the AR-15, AR-10 or AK platform as well as shotguns, it is customary for a user to mount one or more accessories on the firearm to enhance one or more aspects such as, for example, handling of the firearm, illumination of an area in front of the firearm, vision in a relatively dark environment, and/or accuracy in shot placement. For instance, an electronic device such as a light and/or laser may be mounted toward the front and near the muzzle of the firearm while the control thereof (e.g., buttons for power on/off and adjustments) may be mounted somewhere behind the light/laser for easier and faster access to the control by the user. In such cases, there is usually an electric cable connecting the control and the light/laser. However, if the cable is not properly secured and routed, the setup could be unruly and could hinder the operation and/or handling of the firearm. 
     SUMMARY 
     The following summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be limiting in any way. That is, the following summary is provided to introduce concepts, highlights, benefits and advantages of the novel and non-obvious techniques described herein. Select implementations are further described below in the detailed description. Thus, the following summary is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended for use in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     An objective of the present disclosure is to provide innovative designs of a configurable cable holder that addresses aforementioned issues associated with conventional dust covers. For instance, a configurable cable holder under various proposed schemes in accordance with the present disclosure may be utilized in different configurations to hold and secure a cable on a firearm. 
     In one aspect, a device implementable on a firearm (e.g., a firearm based on the AR-15, AR-10 or AK platform) may include an elastic band configured to wrap around a portion of the firearm (e.g., handguard, grip or buttstock) in one of a plurality of configurations when installed on the firearm. The elastic band may have a clamp portion configured to elastically clamp a portion (e.g., cable) of an accessory of the firearm. 
     In another aspect, a device implementable on a firearm (e.g., a firearm based on the AR-15, AR-10 or AK platform) may include an elastic band configured to wrap around a portion of the firearm (e.g., handguard, grip or buttstock) in one of a plurality of configurations when installed on the firearm. The elastic band may have a clamp portion configured to elastically clamp a portion (e.g., cable) of an accessory of the firearm. In some implementations, when the elastic band wraps around the portion of the firearm in a first configuration of the plurality of configurations, the clamp portion may protrude away from the firearm. Moreover, when the elastic band wraps around the portion of the firearm in a second configuration of the plurality of configurations, the clamp portion may protrude toward the firearm. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of the present disclosure. The drawings illustrate implementations of the disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. It is appreciable that the drawings are not necessarily in scale as some components may be shown to be out of proportion than the size in actual implementation in order to clearly illustrate the concept of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram of two configurations of a configurable cable holder in accordance with an implementation of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram of an example scenario in accordance with an implementation of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram of an example scenario in accordance with an implementation of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram of an example scenario in accordance with an implementation of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram of an example scenario in accordance with an implementation of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram of an example scenario in accordance with an implementation of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram of an example scenario in accordance with an implementation of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram of an example scenario in accordance with an implementation of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED IMPLEMENTATIONS 
     Detailed embodiments and implementations of the claimed subject matters are disclosed herein. However, it shall be understood that the disclosed embodiments and implementations are merely illustrative of the claimed subject matters which may be embodied in various forms. The present disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the exemplary embodiments and implementations set forth herein. Rather, these exemplary embodiments and implementations are provided so that description of the present disclosure is thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art. In the description below, details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the presented embodiments and implementations. 
     Overview 
     Under various proposed schemes in accordance with the present disclosure, a device implementable on a firearm (e.g., an AR-style firearm, an AK-style firearm or a shotgun) may include a configurable cable holder  100  that is configured with one or more cable holders and may be utilized in different configurations. Detailed description of configurable cable holder  100  is provided below with reference to  FIG. 1 - FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 1  illustrates two configurations of a configurable cable holder  100  in accordance with an implementation of the present disclosure. Under various proposed schemes in accordance with the present disclosure, configurable cable holder  100  may be in the form of an elastic band that is configured to wrap around a portion of the firearm (e.g., handguard, grip or buttstock) in one of a plurality of configurations when installed on the firearm. For instance, configurable cable holder  100  may be in the form of an elastic band made of nitrile rubber, also known as NBR, Buna-N, and acrylonitrile Butadiene rubber. Alternatively, configurable cable holder  100  may be made of rubber, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), silicone, or another elastic material. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , configurable cable holder  100 , as an elastic band, may have a first surface  110  and a second surface  120  opposite the first surface  110 . Part (A) of  FIG. 1  shows configurable cable holder  100  in a first configuration of the plurality of configurations. When in the first configuration, first surface  110  faces outwardly and second surface  120  faces inwardly. Part (B) of  FIG. 1  shows configurable cable holder  100  in a second configuration of the plurality of configurations. When in the second configuration, second surface  120  faces outwardly and first surface  110  faces inwardly. 
     Under a proposed scheme in accordance with the present disclosure, each of first surface  110  and second surface  120  may be textured to provide an anti-slip effect as well as good tensile. For instance, each of first surface  110  and second surface  120  may be textured with a plurality of indentations, respectively. As shown in part (A) of  FIG. 1 , the plurality of indentations on first surface  110  may include: (1) a first group of indentations  112  extending from a first side (e.g., left side as shown in part (A) of  FIG. 1 ) of the elastic band toward a second side (e.g., right side as shown in part (A) of  FIG. 1 ) of the elastic band opposite the first side but not reaching the second side; and (2) a second group of indentations  114  extending from the second side of the elastic band toward the first side of the elastic band but not reaching the first side. Under the proposed scheme, the first group of indentations  112  and the second group of indentations  114  may be interleaved with each other, as shown in part (A) of  FIG. 1 . As shown in part (B) of  FIG. 1 , the plurality of indentations on second surface  120  may include: (3) a third group of indentations  122  extending from the first side (e.g., right side as shown in part (B) of  FIG. 1 ) of the elastic band toward the second side (e.g., left side as shown in part (B) of  FIG. 1 ) of the elastic band but not reaching the second side; and (4) a fourth group of indentations  124  extending from the second side of the elastic band toward the first side of the elastic band but not reaching the first side. Under the proposed scheme, the third group of indentations  122  and the fourth group of indentations  124  may be interleaved with each other. 
     Each of  FIG. 2 - FIG. 8  respectively illustrates an example scenario involving an apparatus  50  in accordance with an implementation of the present disclosure. Apparatus may include configurable cable holder  100 , cable  200  and at least a portion of a firearm  300 . Referring to  FIG. 1 - FIG. 8 , configurable cable holder  100 , as an elastic band, may be configured with a clamp portion  130  which may protrude from either first surface  110  or second surface  120 . For simplicity, in each of  FIG. 1 - FIG. 8 , clamp portion  130  is shown to protrude from first surface  110 . Moreover, in some implementations, there may be multiple claim portions  130  protruding from either or both of first surface  110  and second surface  120 . Functionally, clamp portion  130  may be configured to elastically clamp a portion (e.g., cable  200 ) of an accessory (not shown) of firearm  300 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , clamp portion  130  may include a first half portion  132  and a second half portion  134  separate by a gap  135  therebetween with a section of gap  135  being shaped to accommodate cable  200  therein. For instance, each of a portion of first half portion  132  and a corresponding portion of second half portion  134 , which may form the section of gap  135  shaped to accommodate cable  200  therein, may be shaped as a concave to respectively accommodate one half of cable  200 . 
     Each of  FIG. 2 - FIG. 8  respectively illustrates an example scenario involving an apparatus  50  in accordance with an implementation of the present disclosure. Specifically,  FIG. 2  shows configurable cable holder  100  in the first configuration and holding a cable  200 .  FIG. 3  shows configurable cable holder  100  in the second configuration and holding cable  200 .  FIG. 4  shows configurable cable holder  100  in the first configuration and wrapped around a handguard  320  of firearm  300 , with handguard  320  surrounding a barrel  310  of firearm  300 .  FIG. 5  shows configurable cable holder  100  holding cable  200  in the first configuration and wrapped around a handguard  320  of firearm  300 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , in the first configuration, cable  200  may be routed along an exterior surface of handguard  320 .  FIG. 6  shows configurable cable holder  100  in the second configuration and wrapped around handguard  320  of firearm  300 , with clamp portion  130  inserted into a hole  325  on handguard  320  of firearm  300 .  FIG. 7  shows configurable cable holder  100  holding cable  200  in the second configuration and wrapped around handguard  320  of firearm  300 , with clamp portion  130  inserted into a hole  325  on handguard  320  of firearm  300 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , in the second configuration, at least part of cable  200  may be routed between handguard  320  and configurable cable holder  100 . 
     Under a proposed scheme in accordance with the present disclosure, when the elastic band wraps around a portion (e.g., handguard  320 ) of firearm  300  in the first configuration, clamp portion  130  may protrude away from firearm  300 . Moreover, when the elastic band wraps around the portion of firearm  300  in the second configuration, clamp portion  130  may protrude toward firearm  300 . Under the proposed scheme, an exterior dimension (e.g., a width) of clamp portion  130  may be configured to allow clamp portion  130  to snugly fit in a hole  325  on handguard  320  of firearm  300  when the elastic band wraps around handguard  320  of firearm  300  in the second configuration. For instance, the exterior dimension of clamp portion  130  may be configured to allow clamp portion  130  to snugly fit in an M-LOK hole, a KeyMod hole or a proprietary hole on handguard  320  of firearm  300 , with claim portion  130  inserted into one of multiple M-LOK holes or KeyMod holes on handguard  325 , as shown in  FIG. 6 - FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 8  shows a front view of apparatus  50  (and firearm  300 ) looking down barrel  310  from the front of firearm  300  toward the back of firearm  300 . In the example shown in  FIG. 8 , configurable cable holder  100 , as an elastic band, wraps around handguard  320  in the second configuration with clamp portion  130  protruding toward (or inwardly) handguard  320 . Specifically, clamp portion  130  is inserted through and snugly fitted in one of the M-LOK holes or KeyMod holes (e.g., hole  325 ) on handguard  320 . Under a proposed scheme in accordance with the present disclosure, an exterior dimension (e.g., width) of clamp portion  130  is slightly smaller than the width of the holes on handguard  320  to allow snug-fit of first half portion  132  and second half portion  134  of clamp port  130  in one of the holds (e.g., hole  325 ) on handguard  320 . Advantageously, in addition to the anti-slip textured design of the first group of indentations  112  and second group of indentations  114 , the fact that clam portion  130  is inserted in one of the holes on handguard  320  may prevent at least a section of cable  200  from being unruly (e.g., freely or otherwise loosely moving). 
     Feature Highlight 
     In view of the above, select features of various implementations in accordance with the present disclosure are highlighted below. 
     In one aspect, a device implementable on a firearm (e.g., a firearm based on the AR-15, AR-10 or AK platform) may include an elastic band configured to wrap around a portion of the firearm (e.g., handguard, grip or buttstock) in one of a plurality of configurations when installed on the firearm. The elastic band may have a clamp portion configured to elastically clamp a portion (e.g., cable) of an accessory of the firearm. 
     In some implementations, the elastic band may have a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. Moreover, the elastic band may be configured to wrap around the portion of the firearm in either a first configuration or a second configuration of the plurality of configurations. For instance, when in the first configuration, the first surface may physically contact the portion of the firearm while the second surface faces away from the portion of the firearm. Similarly, when in the second configuration, the second surface may physically contact the portion of the firearm while the first surface faces away from the portion of the firearm. 
     In some implementations, the clamp portion may protrude from either the first surface or the second surface. Additionally, the clamp portion may include a first half portion and a second half portion separate by a gap therebetween with a section of the gap being shaped to accommodate a cable therein. 
     In some implementations, an exterior dimension of the clamp portion may be configured to allow the clamp portion to snugly fit in a hole on the firearm. For instance, the exterior dimension of the clamp portion may be configured to allow the clamp portion to snugly fit in a Modular Lock (M-LOK) hole or a KeyMod hole on the firearm. 
     In some implementations, the elastic band may have a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. In some implementations, each of the first surface and the second surface may be textured to provide an anti-slip effect. For instance, each of the first surface and the second surface may be textured with a plurality of indentations, respectively. 
     In some implementations, the plurality of indentations on the first surface may include: (1) a first group of indentations extending from a first side of the elastic band toward a second side of the elastic band opposite the first side but not reaching the second side; and (2) a second group of indentations extending from the second side of the elastic band toward the first side of the elastic band but not reaching the first side. In some implementations, the first group of indentations and the second group of indentations may be interleaved with each other. In some implementations, the plurality of indentations on the second surface may include: (3) a third group of indentations extending from the first side of the elastic band toward the second side of the elastic band but not reaching the second side; and (4) a fourth group of indentations extending from the second side of the elastic band toward the first side of the elastic band but not reaching the first side. In some implementations, the third group of indentations and the fourth group of indentations may be interleaved with each other. 
     In some implementations, the elastic band may be made of NBR, rubber, TPU, or silicone. 
     In another aspect, a device implementable on a firearm (e.g., a firearm based on the AR-15, AR-10 or AK platform) may include an elastic band configured to wrap around a portion of the firearm (e.g., handguard, grip or buttstock) in one of a plurality of configurations when installed on the firearm. The elastic band may have a clamp portion configured to elastically clamp a portion (e.g., cable) of an accessory of the firearm. In some implementations, when the elastic band wraps around the portion of the firearm in a first configuration of the plurality of configurations, the clamp portion may protrude away from the firearm. Moreover, when the elastic band wraps around the portion of the firearm in a second configuration of the plurality of configurations, the clamp portion may protrude toward the firearm. 
     In some implementations, the elastic band may have a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. Accordingly, when in the first configuration, the first surface may physically contact the portion of the firearm. Moreover, when in the second configuration, the second surface may physically contact the portion of the firearm. 
     In some implementations, the clamp portion may protrude from either the first surface or the second surface. Additionally, the clamp portion may include a first half portion and a second half portion separate by a gap therebetween with a section of the gap being shaped to accommodate a cable therein. 
     In some implementations, an exterior dimension of the clamp portion may be configured to allow the clamp portion to snugly fit in a hole on the firearm when the elastic band wraps around the portion of the firearm in the second configuration. For instance, the exterior dimension of the clamp portion may be configured to allow the clamp portion to snugly fit in an M-LOK hole or a KeyMod hole on the firearm. 
     In some implementations, the elastic band may have a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. In some implementations, each of the first surface and the second surface may be textured to provide an anti-slip effect. For instance, each of the first surface and the second surface may be textured with a plurality of indentations, respectively. 
     In some implementations, the plurality of indentations on the first surface may include: (1) a first group of indentations extending from a first side of the elastic band toward a second side of the elastic band opposite the first side but not reaching the second side; and (2) a second group of indentations extending from the second side of the elastic band toward the first side of the elastic band but not reaching the first side. In some implementations, the first group of indentations and the second group of indentations may be interleaved with each other. In some implementations, the plurality of indentations on the second surface may include: (3) a third group of indentations extending from the first side of the elastic band toward the second side of the elastic band but not reaching the second side; and (4) a fourth group of indentations extending from the second side of the elastic band toward the first side of the elastic band but not reaching the first side. In some implementations, the third group of indentations and the fourth group of indentations may be interleaved with each other. 
     In some implementations, the elastic band may be made of NBR, rubber, TPU, or silicone. 
     Additional Notes 
     The herein-described subject matter sometimes illustrates different components contained within, or connected with, different other components. It is to be understood that such depicted architectures are merely examples, and that in fact many other architectures can be implemented which achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense, any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality is effectively “associated” such that the desired functionality is achieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve a particular functionality can be seen as “associated with” each other such that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective of architectures or intermedial components. Likewise, any two components so associated can also be viewed as being “operably connected”, or “operably coupled”, to each other to achieve the desired functionality, and any two components capable of being so associated can also be viewed as being “operably couplable”, to each other to achieve the desired functionality. Specific examples of operably couplable include but are not limited to physically mateable and/or physically interacting components and/or wirelessly interactable and/or wirelessly interacting components and/or logically interacting and/or logically interactable components. 
     Further, with respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity. 
     Moreover, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims, e.g., bodies of the appended claims, are generally intended as “open” terms, e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc. It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to implementations containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an,” e.g., “a” and/or “an” should be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more;” the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should be interpreted to mean at least the recited number, e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations. Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention, e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc. In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention, e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc. It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.” 
     From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various implementations of the present disclosure have been described herein for purposes of illustration, and that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the various implementations disclosed herein are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.