Patent Abstract:
A rail mount and handgrip modification system for attaching a rail mount in a non-traditional location. The rail mount modification system has a base bracket sized to fit over the barrel of a Kalashnikov-family rifle. The rail mount modification system has an upper rail portion having a top rail and an upper lateral rail coupled with a lower rail portion having a lower lateral rail. A modified pistol handgrip with an embedded remote control for wireless control of an electronic device.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention pertains generally to firearms. More particularly, the present invention pertains to rail systems for mounting accessories on firearms and modification systems to add rail systems to existing firearms. Additionally, the present invention pertains to modifications to a pistol grip on a firearm. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Many firearm users attach additional equipment such as optical sights, flashlights or laser sights to their weapons. Such equipment is attached to a rail system on the firearm. Not all firearms come with a rail system for attachments, so rail system modification systems allow a user to add a rail system to their firearm. Examples of rail systems used on firearms are known as a Picatinny rail or Weaver rail MIL-STD. 
         [0003]    Rail system modifications are known in the art to replace parts on a firearm to accommodate for the rails. Existing rail system modification systems such as “Firearm Modification Assembly,” U.S. Pat. No. 7,231,861 B1 to Gauny address modification of a Colt M4A1 or M16. “Rail Connector and Method,” U.S. Pat. No. 6,854,206 B2 to Oz provides a rail connector mounted onto the front sight of a rifle. Other known rail mount modification systems specifically for a Kalashnikov-family rifle require modifications of existing components such as the upper or lower handguards. Furthermore, known rail mount systems cannot be positioned on the barrel of the rifle just under the gas piston tube due to structural infeasibility. 
         [0004]    Other rail modifications known in the art are listed below: 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,571,562 B2, titled “Accessory Rail for a Rifle” to Sutherby. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,191,557 B2, titled “Firearms, Grips for firearms, and Methods for Using the Same” to Gablowski, et al. 
         [0007]    In light of the above, it is an object of the present disclosure to provide a rail system modification for a rifle based on the standardized Picatinny and Weaver rail systems. Another object of the present disclosure is a rail system modification for a rifle that adapts to the mechanical structure of the gas piston tube featured on a Kalashnikov rifle. A further object of the present disclosure is to provide a rail system modification that can be added without modifying existing parts already on a rifle. Yet another object of the present disclosure is a modified pistol grip with an embedded remote control for associated electronics. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    In one aspect of the invention, a rail mount modification system is provided having a rail mount and a base bracket. The rail mount has an upper rail portion and a lower rail portion and is configured to receive a firearm attachment, such as a flashlight. The base bracket is attached over a barrel of a rifle rather than over a handgrip. The rail mount attaches to the base bracket to be secured to the rifle. The base bracket has a first bracket portion and a second bracket portion combined to form an inner cavity to fit the barrel of the rifle. Each bracket portion has an inner cavity approximately the size of half of the barrel. 
         [0009]    In another aspect of the present invention, a handgrip modification system has a modified pistol grip. The modified pistol grip has an embedded remote control and a power supply to provide power to said modified pistol grip. The power supply is optimally a lithium-ion battery to achieve an extended battery life. The embedded remote control is configured to control an electronic device, such as the flashlight attached to the rail mount. 
         [0010]    Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a method for providing a rail mount and handgrip modification. The method has the steps of providing a rail mount having an upper rail portion and a lower rail portion, a base bracket having a first bracket portion and a second bracket portion, and a modified pistol grip having an embedded remote control and a power supply to provide power to said modified pistol grip. 
         [0011]    The invention can be better visualized by turning now to the following drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The novel features of this invention, as well as the invention itself, both as to its structure and its operation, will be best understood from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, and in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of a rail mount modification system coupled to a rifle; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2A  is a side perspective view of an upper rail portion; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2B  is an underside perspective view of the upper rail portion; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3A  is a side perspective view of a lower rail portion; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3B  is a front cross-section view of the lower rail portion; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4A  is a side perspective view of a base bracket; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4B  is a cross-section view of the base bracket; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5A  is a cross-section view of the rail mount modification system installed over a gas piston tube and a barrel of the rifle; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5B  is a side view of the installed rail mount modification system; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5C  is a left side perspective view of the base bracket; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5D  is a right side exploded view of the rail mount modification system; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5E  is a left side exploded view of the rail mount modification system; 
           [0025]      FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of a flashlight mounted on the rail mount modification system; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 6B  is a side view of a modified pistol grip with an embedded remote control for the flashlight. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0027]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of a rail mount modification system  10  coupled to a rifle  50  is illustrated. The rail mount modification system  10  comprises a rail mount  20  and a base bracket  40  optimally placed in a position where they do not require a modification of existing parts such as the handguards. 
         [0028]    The rail mount modification system  10  is arranged in a way to accommodate a gas piston tube  52  and a barrel  54  on a Kalashnikov-family rifle  50  such as the AKM or AK-47. The rail mount modification system  10  can be attached to the rifle  50  without having to do additional modifications to existing parts by fitting over the gas piston tube  52  and the barrel  54 . Moreover, the position of the rail mount modification system  10  would not interfere with any existing modifications or attachments due to its unique positioning relative to the traditional positions for attachments such as the upper handguard or the lower handguard. Such unique positioning would allow for more auxiliary attachments such as a flashlight, laser sights, infrared scopes or collimator sights without interfering with other attachments such as a bayonet or grenade launcher. 
         [0029]    Furthermore, the material used in the construction of the rail mount modification system  10  mirrors the materials used in the construction of the gas piston tube  52  and the barrel  54 , so there is an identical thermal expansion factor to the barrel  54  to act a heat sink. The durability of the rail mount modification system  10  would be improved over using traditional materials. 
         [0030]      FIG. 2A  depicts the upper rail portion  22  in a side perspective view. The upper rail portion  22  comprises a top rail  23   a  and an upper lateral rail  23   b.  The top rail  23   a  and upper lateral rail  23   b  can be, but not limited to, Picatinny-type or Weaver-type rails depending on the desired attachments to be used. The upper lateral rail  23   c  has a plurality of screw holes  25  to allow a screw to pass through an outer portion and couple with the base bracket  40  through the inner portion for stability and rigidity.  FIG. 2B  depicts the upper rail portion  22  from an underside perspective view. The upper rail portion  22  has an inside portion  21  curved to correspond to the gas piston tube  52 . The curved nature of the inside portion  21  allows the upper rail portion  22  to fit closely to the gas piston tube  52  while maintaining proper airflow therein. 
         [0031]      FIG. 3A  illustrates the lower rail portion  24  in a side perspective view. The lower lateral rail  23   c  can be, but not limited to, Picatinny-type or Weaver-type rails depending on the desired attachments to be used. The lower rail portion comprises a lower lateral rail  23   c.  The lower rail portion has a plurality of screw holes  25  to allow a screw to pass through an outer portion and couple with the base bracket  40  through the inner portion for stability and rigidity. The lower rail portion  24  is configured to be a Picatinny rail or a Weaver rail. The lower rail portion  24 &#39;s size is limited to that of the specification of a rail as to be efficient in its placement and functionality.  FIG. 3B  is a side cross-section view of the lower rail portion  24 . The lower rail portion  24  also has a cutout  26  on its inner portion to provide a clearing for other screws protruding out of the base bracket  40 . 
         [0032]    With regard to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the base bracket  40  for the rail mount modification system  10  is illustrated. The base bracket  40  comprises of a first bracket portion  42  and a second bracket portion  44 . The first bracket portion  42  and the second bracket portion  44  have a plurality of upper holes  46  and lower holes  48  for receiving screws on both sides of the base bracket. The screws pass through one side of the second bracket portion  44  to attach to the first bracket portion  42  to form an inner bracket cavity  41  over the barrel  54  of the rifle  50 . The bracket portions  42  and  44  can be rotated around for customized positioning of the corresponding rail portions  22  and  24 . The base bracket  40  is also constructed from a material similar to that used in the construction of the barrel  52  of the Kalashnikov-family rifle  50  to provide additional durability in use. 
         [0033]    With regard to  FIG. 5A , a cross-section view of the installed rail mount system is illustrated. The rail mount system does not fully enclose the gas piston tube to allow for proper airflow and ventilation.  FIG. 5B  depicts a side view of the installed rail mount system focused on the upper rail portion  22 . The upper rail portion  22  is fixed into position on the base bracket  40  by a plurality of screws which pass through corresponding screw holes  25  on both the upper rail portion  22  and the base bracket  40 . The lower rail portion  24  is also fixed into position on the base bracket  40  by a plurality of screws which pass through corresponding screw holes  25  on both the upper rail portion  22  and the base bracket  40 . 
         [0034]    Regarding  FIGS. 5C through 5E  illustrate the installation process of the rail mount modification system  10 . The base bracket  40  must first be placed into position over the barrel  54  of the rifle  50  underneath the gas piston tube  52 . Then, screws must be passed through both base bracket portions  42  and  44  to provide base support. The upper rail portion  22  and lower rail portion  24  must then be attached with additional screws to provide support the completed rail mount modification system  10 . 
         [0035]    Another aspect of the rail mount modification system  10  is illustrated in  FIGS. 6A and 6B . A flashlight  60  may be mounted onto the rail mount modification system  10 . Additionally, the flashlight  60  may be remotely controlled by an embedded remote control  62  in a modified pistol grip  60 . The modified pistol grip  60  would replace the existing grip on the rifle  50 . 
         [0036]    The embedded remote control  62  within the modified pistol grip  60  has a low-power radio frequency (RF) transmitter capable of being powered by a lithium-ion battery for up to 20 years. The embedded remote control  62  would be fully contained by the modified pistol grip  60  in such a way that a user will not need to service the parts on the remote control  62 . Additionally, the embedded remote control  62  would be shielded from outside elements. The modified pistol grip  60  is sealed to be waterproof to protect the embedded remote control  62  and its components. 
         [0037]    Many alterations and modifications may be made by those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiments have been set forth only for the purposes of example and that it should not be taken as limiting the invention as defined by the following claims. For example, notwithstanding the fact that the elements of a claim are set forth below in a certain combination, it must be expressly understood that the invention includes other combinations of fewer, more or different elements, which are disclosed in above even when not initially claimed in such combinations. 
         [0038]    While the particular rail mount and handgrip modification for a rifle as herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of obtaining the objects and providing the advantages herein before stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as described in the appended claims. 
         [0039]    Insubstantial changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalently within the scope of the claims. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8