Patent Publication Number: US-8967031-B2

Title: Weapon hand shield

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to firearms and other similar weapons, and more particularly to a defensive hand shield for a forward grip of a firearm. 
     Weapons such as firearms are frequently used in conditions which subject the weapon user to hazards such as return enemy fire and shrapnel. Various types of personal protective gear exist for weapon users, such as bullet-resistant vests, “flak jackets”, “body armor”, and the like. 
     While such conventional protective gear protects the user&#39;s torso and vital organs, his hands are still exposed to injury because of their position holding the weapon. The forward hand is particularly vulnerable. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a shield providing protection for a weapon user&#39;s hands. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This need is addressed by the present invention, which provides a modular hand shield that protects a user&#39;s hand and portions of the arm, while still permitting operation of a weapon. 
     According to one aspect of the invention, a hand shield assembly for a weapon includes: a flexible first hand shield made of penetration-resistant material, the first hand shield having opposed front and rear faces, and spaced-apart side edges connecting spaced-apart top and bottom edges, wherein a mounting point is defined near the top edge; and a mount attached to the mounting point and configured to attach the hand shield assembly to a weapon such that the first hand shield may hang vertically from the mount. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, a hand shield for a weapon includes: a rigid curved shell made of penetration-resistant material, the shell having opposed inner and outer surfaces; a mount disposed on the outer surface configured to attach the hand shield to a weapon; and a handle disposed inside the shell. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a hand shield constructed according to an aspect of the present invention, showing the hand shield attached to an accessory base; 
         FIG. 2  is another perspective view of the hand shield of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a front elevational view of the hand shield of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a rear elevational view of the hand shield of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a right side elevational view of the hand shield of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a left side elevational view of the hand shield of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the hand shield of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom plan view of the hand shield of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an alternative hand shield incorporating a plurality of lights, attached to an accessory base; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of another hand shield for a gun with a pocket for receiving a reinforcing plate, attached to an accessory base; 
         FIG. 11  is another perspective view of the hand shield of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective front view of the hand shield of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective rear view of the hand shield of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of another hand shield including two hand shield portions attached to each other with a plurality of snaps, attached to an accessory base; 
         FIG. 15  is a front perspective view of the hand shield of  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIG. 16  is a rear perspective view of a second hand shield for use with the hand shield of  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view of another hand shield having two hand shield portions connected together with a zipper, attached to an accessory base; 
         FIG. 18  is an exploded perspective view of the hand shield of  FIG. 17 ; 
         FIG. 19  is a rear perspective view of a portion of the hand shield of  FIG. 17 ; 
         FIG. 20  is a perspective view of a rigid hand shield; 
         FIG. 21  is a rear perspective view of the hand shield of  FIG. 20 ; 
         FIG. 22  is a perspective view of another rigid hand shield; 
         FIG. 23  is a rear perspective view of the hand shield of  FIG. 22 ; 
         FIG. 24  is an exploded perspective view of a rifle along with a flexible hand shield and two optional hand shields; 
         FIG. 25  is a side view of the hand shield of  FIG. 20  attached to a rifle, along with the hand shield of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 26  is a side view of the hand shield of  FIG. 22  attached to a rifle, along with the hand shield of  FIG. 1   
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings wherein identical reference numerals denote the same elements throughout the various views,  FIGS. 1-8  illustrate an exemplary hand shield  10  constructed according to the present invention. The hand shield  10  has opposed front and rear faces  12  and  14 , a top edge  16 , and a bottom edge  18 . Side edges  20  interconnect the top and bottom edges  16  and  18 . In the illustrated example, each side edge includes a lower section that is perpendicular to the bottom edge  18 , and an upper section that extends from the lower section to the top edge  16 , making the upper portion of the hand shield  10  generally trapezoidal, and the lower portion generally rectangular. 
     The hand shield  10  is constructed so as to be penetration-resistant, or in other words resistant to penetration by moving projectiles, such as bullets and shrapnel. Non-limiting examples of suitable materials include metal alloys, ceramics, composite materials, and ballistic fabrics. In the illustrated example the hand shield  10  incorporates layers of fabric made from aramid fibers available under the trade name KEVLAR. The layers of fabric are sandwiched between front and rear cover layers of fabric that form the front and rear faces  12  and  14 , respectively. The cover layers are secured together with stitching  24 . 
     The construction of the hand shield  10  is flexible. As used herein, the term “flexible” refers to a structure configured such that it will flex or bend forwards and backwards under its own weight. Nonlimiting examples of flexible structures include structures made in whole or part from fabric. 
     The hand shield  10  includes an attachment point so that it can be mounted to a weapon. Most commonly it would be mounted to a firearm, particularly a rifle, but it will be understood that it may be mounted to any weapon where it is desired to protect the weapon user from projectiles, shrapnel, etc. In the illustrated example, a mounting hole  26  is formed near the top edge  16  to accept a screw or other fastener. In the illustrated example the hand shield  10  is attached to the forward end of an accessory base  28  that is configured to be attached to the forearm part of a rifle and which includes a “pistol grip” type handle extending downward therefrom. More particularly, in the illustrated example, the accessory base  28  has a dovetail groove  30  formed therein, and is configured to mate with a rail of a known type, for example a rail conforming to the U.S. Department of Defense document MIL-STD-1913, commonly referred to as a “Picatinny” rail (not shown in  FIG. 1 ). Retention to the rail may be by one or more mechanical fasteners, or by a known type of releasable clamping mechanism. Together, the hand shield  10  and the accessory base  28  form a hand shield assembly. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a hand shield  110  similar in construction to the hand shield  10  described above. The hand shield  110  has opposed front and rear faces  112  and  114 , top and bottom edges  116  and  118 , and side edges  120 . A plurality of lights  122  are disposed on the front face  112 . Any type of light-emitting device may be used for this purpose, and the wavelength of the light may be varied to suit the end use. For example, visible light may be used for general illumination, while infrared light (IR) may be used to supplement active or passive night-vision devices. In the illustrated example, the lights  122  comprising light-emitting diodes (LEDs) of a known type, emitting in the visible light spectrum. The lights  122  may be supplied with electrical power by appropriate wiring incorporated into the hand shield  110  (not shown) and may be connected to an electrical power source like a battery (not shown) through a switch for selective activation. 
       FIGS. 10-13  illustrate another flexible hand shield  210  similar in construction to the hand shield  110  described above. The hand shield  210  has opposed front and rear faces  212  and  214 , top and bottom edges  216  and  218 , and side edges  220 . The hand shield  210  incorporates an internal pocket  222  that communicates with an opening  224  formed in the front face  212 . The opening  224  could also be formed in the rear face  214 . The pocket  222  is sized and shaped to hold a reinforcing plate  226 . The reinforcing plate is configured to increase the resistance of the hand shield  210  to penetration, and may be made from a material such as steel, ceramic, or other material. As shown, the opening  224  may be placed at the upper end of the pocket  222  so that the reinforcing plate  226  is naturally held in position by gravity during use. 
       FIGS. 14-16  illustrate another flexible hand shield  310  similar in construction to the hand shield  110  described above. The hand shield  310  opposed front and rear faces  312  and  314 , top and bottom edges  316  and  318 , and side edges  320 . The hand shield  310  is configured with a coupling device at or near its bottom edge  318  so that a second, similar hand shield can be attached thereto For example,  FIG. 15  illustrates that the hand shield  310  includes a row of snaps  322  disposed along the bottom edge  318 , with their working faces exposed along the front face  312 . A second hand shield  310 ′ is provided which is identical in shape and size to the first hand shield  310 . It includes another row of snaps  322 ′ that are complementary to the other snaps  322 . When the pairs of snaps  322  and  322 ′ are engaged the second hand shield  310 ′ hangs below the first hand shield  310 , doubling the size of the area protected. 
     Various means may be used to couple two hand shields together. For example,  FIGS. 17-19  illustrate another flexible hand shield  410  similar in construction to the hand shield  310  described above. The hand shield  410  has opposed front and rear faces  412  and  414 , top and bottom edges  416  and  418 , and side edges  420 .  FIG. 19  illustrates that the hand shield  410  includes a zipper portion  422  disposed along the bottom edge  418 . A second hand shield  410 ′ is provided which is identical in shape and size to the first hand shield  410 . It includes another zipper portion  422 ′ that is complementary to the first zipper  422 . When the zipper portions  422  and  422 ′ are engaged the second hand shield  410 ′ hangs below the first hand shield  410 , doubling the size of the area protected. 
       FIGS. 20 and 21  illustrate an alternative hand shield  510 . As explained in more detail below it may be used alone or in combination with any of the flexible hand shields described above. It includes a shell  512  which is roughly hemispherical with inner and outer surfaces  514  and  516 , respectively, an upper end  518 , and a lower end  520 . The hand shield  512  is rigid. As used herein the term “rigid” refers to a structure that generally maintains its shape and does not flex or bend under its own weight, and the term “rigid” has a meaning opposite to the term “flexible”. 
     The shell  512  is constructed from a material that is resistant to penetration by moving projectiles, such as bullets and shrapnel. Non-limiting examples of suitable materials include metal alloys, ceramics, composite materials, and ballistic fabrics. In the illustrated example the shell  512  is constructed from a composite comprising a cured polymer resin matrix incorporating layers of aramid fibers available under the trade name KEVLAR. 
     A mount  522  is disposed on the outer surface  516  at the upper end  518  of the shell  512 . The mount  522  may include any structure suitable to attach the hand shield  510  to a firearm or similar weapon. In the illustrated example, the mount  522  is a clamp having a dovetail groove  524  formed therein, configured to mate with a Picatinny rail as described above. The mount  522  itself may be attached to the shell  512  by mechanical fasteners, by adhesives, or by co-molding with the shell  512 . 
     A handle  526  is disposed inside the shell  512  and is oriented generally vertically to provide a secure grip. In the illustrated example the handle  526  has a generally circular cross-sectional shape, and is integrally formed with the mount  522 . 
       FIGS. 22 and 23  illustrate an alternative hand shield  610 . It includes a shell  612  which is roughly C-shaped with inner and outer surfaces  614  and  616 , respectively, an upper end  618 , and a lower end  620 . Like the hand shield  510  described above, the hand shield  610  is rigid rather than flexible. 
     The shell  612  is constructed from a material that is resistant to penetration by moving projectiles, such as bullets and shrapnel. Non-limiting examples of suitable materials include metal alloys, ceramics, composite materials, and ballistic fabrics. In the illustrated example the shell  612  is constructed from a composite comprising a polymer matrix with layers of aramid fibers available under the trade name KEVLAR. 
     A mount  622  is disposed on the outer surface  616  at the upper end  618  of the shell  612 . The mount  622  may include any structure suitable to attach the hand shield  610  to a firearm or similar weapon. In the illustrated example, the mount  622  is a clamp having a dovetail groove  624  formed therein, configured to mate with a Picatinny rail as described above. The mount  622  may be attached to the shell  612  by mechanical fasteners, by adhesives, or by co-molding with the shell  612 . 
     A handle  626  is mounted inside the shell  612  and is oriented generally vertically to provide a secure grip. 
       FIGS. 24-26  show how the hand shields described above may be mounted to a firearm. A rifle  700  of a known type includes a forearm  710  surrounding a barrel  712 . The forearm  710  is a of a known type including at least one accessory rail  714 , for example a Picatinny rail as described above.  FIG. 24  is an exploded view showing how either of the rigid hand shields  510  or  610  shown above may be mounted to the rifle  700  in combination with any of the flexible hand shields  10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310 , or  410  described above. In  FIG. 24 , the hand shield  10  is shown as an example, and is mounted to the accessory rail  714  by an accessory base  716  that includes a dovetail groove on its upper surface and a Picatinny rail on its lower surface. Optionally, either of the rigid hand shields  510  or  610  may be mounted directly to the forearm  710  of the rifle  700  and used without any flexible hand shields. 
     In  FIG. 25 , a flexible shield  10  is mounted to the accessory rail  714  by an accessory base  716  that includes a dovetail groove on its upper surface and a Picatinny rail on its lower surface. A generally hemispherical rigid shield  510  is mounted to the base accessory base  716  with its mount  522  engaging the Picatinny rail. This configuration provides the rifle&#39;s user with a forward handle as well as two separate layers of protection from injury from projectiles, shrapnel, etc. 
     In  FIG. 26 , a flexible shield  10  is mounted to the accessory rail  714  by an accessory base  716  that includes a dovetail groove on its upper surface and a Picatinny rail on its lower surface. A generally C-shaped rigid shield  610  is mounted to the base accessory base  716  with its mount  622  engaging the Picatinny rail. This configuration provides the rifle&#39;s user with a forward handle as well as two separate layers of protection from injury from projectiles, shrapnel, etc. 
     The foregoing has described a hand shield for a weapon. While specific embodiments of the present invention have been described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications thereto can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.