Patent Publication Number: US-11022401-B1

Title: Firearm grip

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a firearm grip, and more particularly relates to a firearm grip for stabilizing the firearm when shooting. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Hand grips for firearms such as handguns and long rifles are well known in the prior art. Such hand grips are often formed of materials that are easy to grip to allow the user to better grasp the firearm handle. Some of the materials used are also compressible. Hand grips also come in many different styles, shapes and designs. 
     For example, many anatomical hand grips or ergonomic hand grips have been developed to minimize or eliminate hand fatigue when the firearm is being held by a user. U.S. Pat. No. 7,243,454 to Cahill. discloses vertical fore grip for a firearm with an integrated pressure switch pocket. The vertical fore grip includes a body with internal storage cavity, a mount adapted to secure a firearm, a pocket for a pressure switch on the perimeter of the body, and a cap to secure a pressure switch and waterproof the internal storage cavity. The mount has a groove for a firearm rail, at least one locking bar, and a spring for engaging the locking bar to a firearm rail. 
     Also, U.S. Pat. No. 7,191,557 to Gablowski discloses grip that includes an exterior grip defining an inner bore; a slider located within the bore for axial movement relative to the exterior grip, the slider having a projection to selectively detachably engage the at least one transverse slot of the rail; and a screw rotatably mounted within the exterior grip. The screw threadingly engages the slider to axially move the slider into and/or out of engagement with the rail, but the screw is substantially secured against axial movement relative to the exterior grip. 
     Recently, U.S. Pat. No. 7,578,089 to Griffin discloses a weapon grip assembly for attachment to a forward portion of a weapon that includes a base assembly supported for operative engagement by a handle. The base assembly includes clamps adapted to be secured to a forward portion of the weapon and further includes a post having a clamp end adapted to retain the clamps for pivot motion with respect thereto. The post of the base assembly is received within a bore of the handle, a mandrel being interposed between the handle and the clamps of the base assembly. As the base assembly is drawn into the handle, by rotation of the handle about the post of the base assembly, the mandrel receives the clamp end of the post, with an upper free surface thereof engaging the clamps for pivoted closure about a portion of the weapon in furtherance of securing the weapon grip assembly thereto. 
     However, none of the firearm grips or hand grips discussed above focuses on the firearm grip configured to stabilize the firearm on an uneven surface when shooting. Therefore, there remains a need for a new and improved firearm grip to better stabilize the firearm on an uneven surface when shooting. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect, a firearm grip may include an elongated grip body that includes a front side, a rear side and opposing sides. In one embodiment, the firearm grip is preferably constructed from a lightweight, durable polymer that can withstand the rigors of combat and normal use. Alternatively, the firearm grip can also be constructed from various metals, composites, natural materials (such as wood and ivory), and/or a combination thereof. 
     The grip body is preferably angled and contoured to conform to the natural grip and position of a user&#39;s hand. Alternatively, the angle of the firearm grip can be fixed or adjustable to allow the user to fire from non-standard positions, which includes such orientations as from a vertical grip, a grip with a forward sweep, a curved grip, or a grip that is canted to the left or right. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the elongated grip body may further include a front notch, side notches and a rear notch. A flange is formed on each side of the grip body between the side notch and rear notch. In one embodiment, the front notch may include a first front securing edge and a second front securing edge. More specifically, the first front securing edge can be formed from a midpoint of the front notch to a starting point of the side notch on one side, while the second front securing edge can be formed from the midpoint to the other starting point of the side notch on the other side. 
     Likewise, the rear notch may include a first rear securing edge and a second rear securing edge. More specifically, the rear front securing edge can be formed from a midpoint of the rear notch to an end point of one of the side notch, while the second rear securing edge can be formed from the midpoint to the end point of the other side notch. 
     When the firearm is being secured on an uneven surface such as an edge of a desk with the firearm grip in the present invention, the firearm along with the firearm grip is tilted and stabilized with a predetermined angle through the front notch and the rear notch of the firearm grip. In one embodiment, the firearm can be stabilized on the uneven surface through the front notch. More specifically, the first front securing edge and the second front securing edge of the front notch are configured to lean against the uneven surface, such as the edge of the desk, to stabilize the firearm. It is noted that when the firearm is stabilized at this angle, the side notches and the rear notch may not in contact with the uneven surface. 
     In another embodiment, the firearm along with the firearm grip in the present invention can be tilted with a different angle through the front notch and the rear notch. More specifically, the first and second front securing edges and the first and second rear securing edges are configured to lean against the uneven surfaces to provide support to stabilize the firearm. It is noted that the flange on one side may also be in contact with the uneven surface to provide support to stabilize the firearm. 
     In a further embodiment, the firearm can be stabilized through the side notches when the corner of the uneven surface is substantially perpendicular, and the firearm with the side notches can be used to lean against the corner to stabilize the firearm. It is noted that the firearm may still be stabilized with only one side of the side notches at the corner. 
     The present invention is advantageous because with at least of the front notch, side notches and rear notch of the firearm grip in the present invention, the firearm can be stabilized on an uneven surface through multiple securing edges on the firearm grip. More importantly, the firearm can be stabilized with different angles on the uneven surface when different securing edges are in contact with the uneven surface to provide support to stabilize the firearm. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of the firearm grip in the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view from another angle of the firearm grip in the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view from a different angle of the firearm grip in the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view from a front end of the firearm grip in the present invention when the firearm along with the firearm grip is stabilized on an uneven surface at a predetermined angle. 
         FIGS. 5 a  and 5 b    illustrate a schematic view of the firearm along with the firearm grip in the present invention to be stabilized on an uneven surface at a different angle. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a schematic view of the firearm along with the firearm grip in the present invention to be stabilized on an uneven surface at still a different angle. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description of the presently exemplary device provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention may be prepared or utilized. It is to be understood, rather, that the same or equivalent functions and components may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods, devices and materials similar or equivalent to those described can be used in the practice or testing of the invention, the exemplary methods, devices and materials are now described. 
     All publications mentioned are incorporated by reference for the purpose of describing and disclosing, for example, the designs and methodologies that are described in the publications that might be used in connection with the presently described invention. The publications listed or discussed above, below and throughout the text are provided solely for their disclosure prior to the filing date of the present application. Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that the inventors are not entitled to antedate such disclosure by virtue of prior invention. 
     As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a”, “an”, and “the” includes reference to the plural unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the terms “comprise or comprising”, “include or including”, “have or having”, “contain or containing” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
     It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of the embodiments. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. 
     In one aspect, referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , a firearm grip  100  may include an elongated grip body  110  that includes a front side  111 , a rear side  112 , and opposing sides  113 . In one embodiment, the firearm grip  100  is preferably constructed from a lightweight, durable polymer that can withstand the rigors of combat and normal use. Alternatively, the firearm grip  100  can also be constructed from various metals, composites, natural materials (such as wood and ivory), and/or a combination thereof. 
     The grip body  110  is preferably angled and contoured to conform to the natural grip and position of a user&#39;s hand. Alternatively, the angle of the firearm grip  100  can be fixed or adjustable to allow the user to fire from non-standard positions, which includes such orientations as from a vertical grip, a grip with a forward sweep, a curved grip, or a grip that is canted to the left or right. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the elongated grip body  110  may further include a front notch  114 , side notches  115  and a rear notch  116 . A flange  117  is formed on each side of the grip body  110  between the side notch  115  and rear notch  116 . In one embodiment, the front notch  114  may include a first front securing edge  1141  and a second front securing edge  1142 . More specifically, the first front securing edge  1141  can be formed from a midpoint  1143  of the front notch  114  to a starting point  1151  of the side notch  115  on one side, while the second front securing edge  1142  can be formed from the midpoint  1143  to the other starting point  1151 ′ of the side notch  115  on the other side. 
     Likewise, the rear notch  116  may include a first rear securing edge  1161  and a second rear securing edge  1162 . More specifically, the rear front securing edge  1161  can be formed from a midpoint  1163  of the rear notch  116  to an end point  1152  of one of the side notch  115 , while the second rear securing edge  1162  can be formed from the midpoint  1163  to the end point  1152 ′ of the other side notch  115 . 
     When the firearm is being secured on an uneven surface such as an edge of a desk with the firearm grip  100  in the present invention, the firearm along with the firearm grip  100  is tilted and stabilized with a predetermined angle through the front notch  114  and the rear notch  116  of the firearm grip  100  as shown in  FIGS. 4, 5   a  and  5   b . In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the firearm can be stabilized on the uneven surface through the front notch  114 . More specifically, the first front securing edge  1141  and the second front securing edge  1142  of the front notch  114  are configured to lean against the uneven surface, such as the edge of the desk, to stabilize the firearm. It is noted that when the firearm is stabilized at this angle, the side notches  115  and the rear notch  116  may not in contact with the uneven surface. 
     In another embodiment, the firearm along with the firearm grip  100  in the present invention can be tilted with a different angle. As shown in  FIGS. 5 a  and 5 b   , the firearm can be stabilized at this angle through the notch  114  and the rear notch  116 . More specifically, the first and second front securing edges ( 1141 ,  1142 ) and the first and second rear securing edges ( 1161 ,  1162 ) are configured to lean against the uneven surfaces to provide support to stabilize the firearm. It is noted that as shown in  FIG. 5 a   , the flange  117  on one side may also be in contact with the uneven surface to provide support to stabilize the firearm. 
     In a further embodiment, the firearm can be stabilized through the side notches  115 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the corner of the uneven surface is substantially perpendicular and the firearm with the side notches  115  can be used to lean against the corner to stabilize the firearm. It is noted that the firearm may still be stabilized with only one side of the side notches  115  at the corner as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     The present invention is advantageous because with at least of the front notch  114 , side notches  115  and rear notch  116  of the firearm grip  100  in the present invention, the firearm can be stabilized on an uneven surface through multiple securing edges on the firearm grip  100 . More importantly, the firearm can be stabilized with different angles on the uneven surface when different securing edges are in contact with the uneven surface to provide support to stabilize the firearm. 
     Having described the invention by the description and illustrations above, it should be understood that these are exemplary of the invention and are not to be considered as limiting. Accordingly, the invention is not to be considered as limited by the foregoing description, but includes any equivalent.