Patent Abstract:
An ergonomic grip for a revolver can be better suited to people&#39;s hands by extending the forward edge of the finger interface forward to near the lower portion of the trigger guard. The palm interface and the finger interface can intersect or nearly intersect at the bottom of the grip. The grip has a substantially cone shaped cross-section.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit and priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/925,451 titled “Cone Grip for Handgun” and filed on Jan. 9, 2014 and is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/478,902 titled “Firearm Grip” and filed on Jan. 9, 2014 both of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    Embodiments relate to the fields of small arms, handguns, and handgun grips. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Standard handgun grips, particularly revolver grips, must be held in a manner that often leads to discomfort and higher sensitivity to recoil. This is particularly true when the operators hand is large in comparison to the grip size. Systems and methods for providing a more ergonomic grip are needed. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The following summary is provided to facilitate an understanding of some of the innovative features unique to the embodiments and is not intended to be a full description. A full appreciation of the various aspects of the embodiments can be gained by taking the entire specification, claims, drawings, and abstract as a whole. 
         [0005]    Systems and methods are needed for providing a more ergonomic revolver grip. The needed grip can be obtained by use of a cone grip that mounts on a revolver frame in place of a standard revolver grip. 
         [0006]    It is therefore an aspect of the embodiments to provide a grip for a revolver. The revolver has a frame with a trigger guard and a grip area. The grip area includes the frames base, palm strap, and typical finger interface. The grip includes a left overmold, left substrate, right substrate, and right overmold. The left substrate fits into the left substrate to form the left half of the grip. The right substrate fits into the right overmold to form the right half of the grip. The left half and the right half can be fastened together with the grip area between them to thereby install the grip on the revolver. 
         [0007]    It is another aspect of the embodiments that the grip fills the large gap between the typical finger interface and the trigger guard. To accomplish this, the grip can contact the trigger guard or the finger interface forward edge can lie underneath at least some portion of the trigger guard. 
         [0008]    It is yet another aspect of certain embodiments to have a finger interface with finger grooves. A possible side effect of filling the large gap is that one or more of the finger groves can be located within or under the large gap. 
         [0009]    It is a further aspect of the embodiments that the palm interface and the finger interface are closer together at the bottom of the grip than the top of the grip such that the grip has a substantially conical cross-section. Certain embodiments can have the finger interlace and the palm interface intersecting. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The accompanying figures, in which like names (reference numerals in utility) refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, further illustrate the present invention and, together with the background of the invention, brief summary of the invention, and detailed description of the invention, serve to explain the principles of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates a right side front view of a cone grip mounted on a revolver frame form in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  illustrates a top view of a cone grip mounted on a revolver frame form in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  illustrates a bottom view of a cone grip mounted on a revolver frame form in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  illustrates a left side view of a cone grip mounted on a revolver frame form in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  illustrates a back left exploded view of a cone grip and a revolver frame form in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  illustrates another back left exploded view of a cone grip and a revolver frame form in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7 , which shows prior art, illustrates a machine screw and brass insert; 
           [0018]      FIG. 8 , which shows prior art, illustrates a right front view of a revolver frame form; 
           [0019]      FIG. 9 , which shows prior art, illustrates a left front view of a revolver frame form; 
           [0020]      FIG. 10 , which shows prior art, illustrates a right back view of a revolver frame form; 
           [0021]      FIG. 11 , which shows prior art, lustrates a left back view of a revolver frame form; 
           [0022]      FIG. 12 , which shows prior art, illustrates a right side view of a revolver frame form; 
           [0023]      FIG. 13 , which shows prior art, illustrates a left side view of a revolver frame form; 
           [0024]      FIG. 14 , which shows prior art, illustrates a bottom view of a revolver frame form; 
           [0025]      FIG. 15 , which shows prior art, lustrates a top view of a revolver frame form; 
           [0026]      FIG. 16  illustrates a left side view of a left overmold for a cone grip in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; 
           [0027]      FIG. 17  illustrates a right side view of a left overmold for a cone grip in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; 
           [0028]      FIG. 18  illustrates a front left view of a left overmold for a cone grip in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; 
           [0029]      FIG. 19  illustrates a right front view of a left overmold for a cone grip in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; 
           [0030]      FIG. 20  illustrates a bottom left view left overmold for a cone grip in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; 
           [0031]      FIG. 21  illustrates a bottom right view of a left overmold for a cone grip in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; 
           [0032]      FIG. 22  illustrates a back right view of a left overmold for a cone grip in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; 
           [0033]      FIG. 23  illustrates a back left view of a left overmold for a cone grip in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; 
           [0034]      FIG. 24  illustrates a top right view of a left overmold for a cone grip in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; 
           [0035]      FIG. 25  illustrates a top left view of a left overmold for a cone grip in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; 
           [0036]      FIG. 26  illustrates a right side view of a left substrate for a cone grip in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; 
           [0037]      FIG. 27  illustrates a left side view of a left substrate for a cone grip in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; 
           [0038]      FIG. 28  illustrates a back left view of a left substrate for a cone grip in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; 
           [0039]      FIG. 29  illustrates a back right view of a left substrate for a cone grip in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; 
           [0040]      FIG. 30  illustrates a front left view of a left substrate for a cone grip in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; 
           [0041]      FIG. 31  illustrates a right front view of a left substrate for a cone grip in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; 
           [0042]      FIG. 32  illustrates a top left view of a left substrate for a cone grip in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; 
           [0043]      FIG. 33  illustrates a bottom left view of a left e for a cone grip in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; 
           [0044]      FIG. 34  illustrates a top right view of a left substrate for a cone grip in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; 
           [0045]      FIG. 35  illustrates a bottom right view of a left substrate for a cone grip in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; 
           [0046]      FIG. 36  illustrates a left side view of a right substrate for a cone grip in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; 
           [0047]      FIG. 37  illustrates a right side view of a right substrate for a cone grip in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; 
           [0048]      FIG. 38  illustrates a top right view of a right substrate or a cone grip in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; 
           [0049]      FIG. 39  illustrates a top left view of a right substrate for a cone grip in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; 
           [0050]      FIG. 40  illustrates a front left view of a right substrate for a cone grip in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; 
           [0051]      FIG. 41  illustrates a front right view of a right substrate for a cone grip in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; 
           [0052]      FIG. 42  illustrates a bottom left view of a right substrate for a cone grip in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; 
           [0053]      FIG. 43  illustrates a bottom right view of a right substrate for a cone grip in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; 
           [0054]      FIG. 44  illustrates a back left view of a right substrate for a cone grip in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; 
           [0055]      FIG. 45  illustrates a back right view of a right substrate for a cone grip in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; 
           [0056]      FIG. 46  illustrates a left side view of a right overmold for a cone g p n accordance with aspects of the embodiments; 
           [0057]      FIG. 47  illustrates a right side view of a right overmold for a cone grip in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; 
           [0058]      FIG. 48  illustrates a top left view of a right overmold for a cone grip in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; 
           [0059]      FIG. 49  illustrates a top right view of a right overmold for a cone grip in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; 
           [0060]      FIG. 50  illustrates a front left view of a right overmold for a cone grip in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; 
           [0061]      FIG. 51  illustrates a front right view of a right overmold for a cone grip in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; 
           [0062]      FIG. 52  illustrates a bottom right view of a right overmold for a cone grip in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; 
           [0063]      FIG. 53  illustrates a bottom left view of a right overmold for a cone grip in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; 
           [0064]      FIG. 54  illustrates a back right view of a right overmold for a cone grip in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; and 
           [0065]      FIG. 55  illustrates a back left view of a right overmold for a cone grip in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0066]    The particular values and configurations discussed in these non-limiting examples can be varied and are cited merely to illustrate at least one embodiment and are not intended to limit the scope thereof. In general, the figures are not to scale. 
         [0067]    A handgun grip  102  having a left side and a right side and that provides finger grooves  104  and a somewhat conical shape can provide a more ergonomic and controllable grip for a revolver. Each grip half has a substrate and an overmold with the substrate being a rigid plastic that provides structural rigidity and the overmold being a softer plastic that provides an ergonomic gripping surface and form. The two halves can be positioned over a firearm frame and secured there with fasteners such as a machine screw  105  and a threaded insert. 
         [0068]      FIG. 1  illustrates a right side front view of a cone grip  102  mounted on a revolver frame form  101  in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. The right overmold  103  can be seen with a machine screw  105  attaching the right side of the grip to the left side. The generally conical shape of the grip  102  can be seen as can the finger grooves  104 . 
         [0069]    The frame form  101  is used in the illustrations as a stand in for a revolver frame  101 , which are herein treated as equivalents. It is understood that the frame form  101  is dimensioned the same as a revolver frame  101 . A frame form  101  is typically used for ease of presentation and shipping because the frame form  101  is not a firearm and therefor requires no special licensing or handling. The cone grip  102  is designed to fit on a firearm. 
         [0070]      FIG. 2  illustrates a top view of a cone grip  102  mounted on a revolver frame form  101  in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. The left overmold  201  and the right overmold  103  can be seen with the revolver frame  101  between them, The palm interface  202  is the back side area where the palm of the operators hand lies while operating the firearm. 
         [0071]      FIG. 3  illustrates a bottom view of a cone grip  102  mounted on a revolves frame form  101  in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. The left overmold  201  and the right overmold  103  can be seen with the firearm frame  101  between them. The finger grooves help position the operators fingers while gripping the firearm. The finger interface  301  is the front side area where the operator&#39;s fingers, other than the index finger, grip the firearm. 
         [0072]      FIG. 4  illustrates a left side view of a cone grip  102  mounted on a revolver frame form  101  in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. The left overmold  201 , which includes the left portion of the palm interface  202  and finger interface  301 , can be seen. The grip  102  can be seen to fill the area directly behind the trigger guard and therefor extends much further forward than other styles of grip. In fact, certain embodiments can have the forward edge  402  of the finger interface  301  lying directly under the firearm trigger or even slightly in front of the firearm trigger. Another aspect is that the finger interface  301  and the palm interface  202  extend downward in smooth curves to nearly meet each other near the bottom of the grip  102 . It is therefore an aspect of the cone grip  102  to have no base but instead have a transition between the finger interface  301  and palm interface  202 . Other styles of revolver grip can have a large and essentially flat base area at the bottom. 
         [0073]      FIG. 5  illustrates a back left exploded view of a cone grip  102  and a revolver frame form  101  in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. The illustrated grip embodiments have six parts that fit together and onto a revolver frame  101 . Those parts include a left overmold  201 , a left substrate  501 , a right substrate  502 , and a right overmold  103 . A machine screw  105  and brass insert  503  can attach the grip  102  to a firearm. 
         [0074]      FIG. 6  illustrates another back left exploded view of a cone grip  102  and a revolver frame form  101  in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. The difference between  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  is that the viewing angle has shifted further to the left and the machine screw  105  and brass insert  503  are not shown. 
         [0075]      FIG. 7 , which shows prior art, illustrates a machine screw  105  and brass insert  503 . A brass insert  503  that is threaded to receive the machine screw  105  is taught here because it reduces the likelihood of galling or seizing with the non-brass, typically steel or iron, machine screw  105 . In practice, other materials can be used including plastic. The brass insert  503  can be pressed into a proper receptacle in one grip half. The machine screw  105 , after passing through the other grip half and the firearm, can be threaded in the brass insert  503  to fasten the grip  102  to the firearm. Other alternatives include molding or tapping threads directly into one of the substrates to thereby remove the need for an insert. 
         [0076]      FIGS. 8-15 , which show prior art, illustrate views of a revolver frame form  101 . The trigger guard area  401  is clearly indicated. Another aspect of the illustrated frame form  101  is that there are two frame studs  801  on either side of the lower frame. The illustrated frame studs  801  mimic the frame studs  801  in certain well known revolvers and are used to help fasten and align firearm grips. 
         [0077]      FIG. 12 , which shows prior art, illustrates a right side view of a revolver frame form  101 . The silhouette of the frame form  101  provides an indication of the normal grip profile. While using a typical prior art firearm grip, an operator&#39;s palm rests against the palm strap  1201  and the fingers wrap around the grip encompass the typical finger interface  1202 . The palm strap  1201  and the typical finger interface  1202  do not curve smoothly to meet each other, but instead meet the essentially flat base  1203  at the bottom. In addition, the large gap  1204  between the typical finger interface  1202  and the trigger guard  401  is readily apparent. The cone grip  102  occupies the large gap  1204  to provide a finger interface  301  that begins much further forward than otherwise possible. 
         [0078]    Also with respect to  FIG. 12 , the revolver frame  101  represented by the frame form  101  clearly shows the large gap  1204  between the finger interface  301  and the trigger guard  401 . Many semi-automatic handguns also exhibit a similar large gap. As such, a modification of the illustrated cone grip design would be appropriate for semi-automatic handguns to thereby move the forward edge  402  of the finger interface  301  forward and to fill the large gap  1204 . The operator of a semi-automatic handgun would thereby enjoy the ergonomic benefits of the cone grip design. 
         [0079]      FIGS. 16-25  illustrate views of a left overmold  201  for a cone grip  102  in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. 
         [0080]      FIG. 17  illustrates a right side view of a left overmold  201  for a cone grip  102  in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. The left overmold  201 , as with the right overmold  103 , is typically thermoformed or thereto-set to provide a firm but not hard or stiff gripping surface. More specifically, the durometer of the left and right overmolds  103 ,  201  can have Shore Hardness A 55 or thereabout. In general, Shore Hardness A 55 works very well with the cone grip  102  although values between 40 and 65 have produced good grip. Manufacturing process has repeatably produced durometers within plus or minus 2% of the desired value. 
         [0081]    The illustrated overmold embodiments can be produced by an over-molding process with a substrate placed in a mold, the mold sealed, and then the overmold material introduced into the mold. Given an overmold material that melts at 375 degrees, the substrate must not melt at 375 degrees. 
         [0082]    The left side overmold  201  has pins  1701  that interface with pin holes  4601  in the right side overmold  103 . Certain of the structures are the result of material flowing into and around the left substrate  501 . Those structures include the formed plugs  1703 , the formed indent  1704 , the insert hole  1705 , and the rib grooves  1702 , Notice that the formed plugs  1703  are shaped like disks atop cylinders. The formed plugs  1703  get their shape from the overmold material flowing through a hole and filling a cavity on the other side of the hole. The insert hole  1705  is often a blind hole. 
         [0083]      FIGS. 26-35  illustrate views of a left substrate  501  for a cone grip  102  in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. 
         [0084]      FIG. 26  illustrates a right side view of a left substrate  501  for a cone grip  102  in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. The overmold material flowing into the plug forms  2602  produces the formed plugs  1703 . The stud hole  2603  matches the frame stud  801  in the revolver frame  101  or frame form  101 . The insert holder  2601  is a hole into which the brass insert  503  can be pressed. Note that other embodiments could provide a threaded hole instead of an insert holder  2601 . Also note that the substrate can be smaller such that the stud hole  2603  is molded into the overmold material instead of the substrate material. 
         [0085]      FIG. 27  illustrates a left side view of a left substrate  501  for a cone grip  102  in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. The overmold material flows through the plug holes  2702  to thereby produce the formed plugs  1703 . The overmold material flows around the insert hole form  2704 , indent form  2703 , and ribbing  2701  to thereby produce the insert hole  1705 , formed indent  1704 , and plug hole grooves  1702 , respectively. 
         [0086]      FIGS. 36-45  illustrate views of a right substrate  502  for a cone grip  102  in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. 
         [0087]      FIG. 36  illustrates a left side view of a right substrate  502  for a cone grip  102  in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. The right substrate  502  is very similar to the left substrate  501  with the exception of providing a screw hole  3601  for the machine screw. Otherwise, similar structures perform similar functions. 
         [0088]      FIG. 37  illustrates a right side view of a right substrate  502  for a cone grip  102  in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. The hole support  3701  around the screw hole  3601  can be seen. 
         [0089]      FIGS. 46-55  illustrate views of a right overmold  103  for a cone grip  102  in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. 
         [0090]      FIG. 46  illustrates a left side view of a right overmold  103  for a cone grip  102  in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. Most of the illustrated elements and structures are similar to those of the left overmold  201 . The right overmold  103  has pin holes  4601  to interface with the left overmold&#39;s pins  1701 . The right overmold  103  also has a support indent  4602  and a screw hole  3601 . The support indent  4602  is formed by overmold material flowing around the hole support  3701  of the right substrate  502 . The screw hole  3601  can be molded in a cut later. 
         [0091]      FIG. 47  illustrates a right side view of a right overmold  103  for a cone grip  102  in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. The head of the machine screw  105  fits fully into the recess  5101  in the right overmold  103  to protect the operator&#39;s hand. 
         [0092]    It will be appreciated that variations of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also, that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5