Abstract:
A system and apparatus for improving firearm accuracy, specifically as it relates to recoil management, is disclosed. The apparatus attaches to the rail system commonly found on many handguns.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to Provisional Application No. 62/021,080, filed Jul. 4, 2014, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a system and apparatus for improving firearm accuracy, specifically as it relates to recoil management. The apparatus attaches to a rail system commonly found on many styles of handguns. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    When a handgun is fired, the muzzle tends to jump or raise as a consequence of the recoil caused by the firing of each bullet. This is sometimes known as muzzle flip, which causes the user to have to re-aim, re-adjust the handgun after each shot is fired. As a standard practice, shooters attempt to compensate for the recoil by applying vice-like pressure on the side of the firearm with their left thumb (assuming a right-handed shooter) positioned high and prominent on the side of the firearm. However, this process is known to not work real well, and can actually result in reducing accuracy and reducing speed of firing, given that lateral pressure does very little to reduce the vertical movement caused by recoil. 
         [0004]    A traditional and popular handgun grip is shown in  FIGS. 1A-C , sometimes referred to as “thumbs-forward”. This position results in the shooter&#39;s support hand thumb resting on the frame of the gun. This often interferes with the slide (using the word “slide” in its noun form) of a typical gun as it moves backwards after each firing. This matters because the slide needs to move, uninhibited, to the rear of the gun after each shot in order to allow subsequent rounds/bullets to be in position for subsequent firing. This is such a problem that an entire line of products, sometimes called “thumb shields”, have been developed. While thumb shields keep the shooter&#39;s support hand thumb off of the slide, they are not designed to mitigate recoil in any way. 
         [0005]    It is sometimes attempted to reduce recoil and vertical muzzle flip by using devices that allow the shooter to apply downward pressure as the bullet leaves the gun. The mitigation of such muzzle flip can enable the shooter to quickly and accurately make follow-on shots. To address this, there exist various products on the market, sometimes termed ‘thumb rests’, that ostensibly mitigate muzzle flip by using a mechanism which allows exerting downward pressure with the support hand thumb during firing. However, these products are not known to be retractable. As such, a weapon with one of these thumb rest products can never be holstered. Additionally, such products often require the services of gunsmiths to attach the thumb rest, with the unwanted byproduct of permanently altering the handgun. 
         [0006]    Consequently, a more effective mechanism for enabling a user to reduce or eliminate the “jump” or recoil effect is desired. 
         [0007]    The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which: 
           [0009]      FIGS. 1A-1C  show a weapon being fired in a thumb-forward position; 
           [0010]      FIG. 1D  show a weapon with a conventional undermount rail; 
           [0011]      FIGS. 2A-2G  and  3 A- 3 H show various views of an attachment, having an accessory rail manufactured therein; 
           [0012]      FIGS. 4A-C  shows more detail of an attachment; 
           [0013]      FIGS. 5A-5C  show how the embodiments disclosed herein do not impede movement of a slide; 
           [0014]      FIGS. 6A-C  show an embodiment of the attachment that does not have an accessory rail, attached to a weapon; and 
           [0015]      FIGS. 7A-D  show the embodiment of  FIGS. 6A-C , without any weapon. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]    In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1D  shows a prior art rail system  100  commonly found on many styles of handguns. This rail system is sometimes a Weaver Rail system, Weaver Rail, or a Universal Rail system or Universal rail. For simplicity and to avoid confusion, the rail system in  FIG. 1D  may also be referred as an undermount rail.  FIG. 1D  also depicts a locking notch commonly incorporated into the undermount rail. The notch assists in securing various devices that are attached to the rail system. 
         [0018]    At least two alternative embodiments of the attachment  200  are disclosed herein.  FIGS. 2A-G  shows various views of an embodiment of the attachment  200  having an accessory rail  256  on its underside. A non-limiting example of such an accessory rail is a Picatinny rail. Meanwhile, the other embodiment of the attachment  200  will have a smooth underside. This would be suitable for user that do not want the option to include accessories. The embodiment with the accessory rail  256  is shown in  FIGS. 2-3 . The embodiment without such an accessory rail is shown in  FIGS. 6-7 .  FIGS. 4 and 5  apply to both embodiments. 
         [0019]    Within  FIGS. 2A-G , a spring-loaded paddle  208  is shown in various views in both its in-use (outward) and non-use (retracted) positions. The circular receptacle shown in some of these views houses the single tightening screw  252 . 
         [0020]    Within  FIGS. 3A-H , the paddle  208  is attached to a frame  204  at a pivot point or hinge  224 . A tension spring  216  (shown in  FIG. 4C  but obscured from view in  FIGS. 3A-H ) continually urges the paddle  208  into an in-use/open position, working with a spring pin  264 . The paddle  208  thus arrives into the in-use/open position as soon as the handgun is withdrawn from a holster. This adaptation is intended to accommodate a user that may want the paddle  208  in its in-use/open position instantly, without requiring any manual adjustment. For simplicity, within  FIGS. 2A-G  not all elements are always shown in every view. 
         [0021]    An accessory rail  256  is also shown in various of  FIGS. 2A-G . As stated, the accessory rail  256  can be in the form of a Picatinny rail. 
         [0022]    As shown at least within  FIGS. 2B ,  3 A, and  3 G, an indentation  244  on the top-side of the paddle thumb rest enables a no-slip surface for the thumb when applying downward pressure. However, either in addition to or in place of an indentation  244 , a gnurled or machined surface  220  can be located in a similar position, again for the purpose of provide a non-slip surface for a thumb of a user. 
         [0023]    As stated, the  FIGS. 2E-G  show various views of the attachment  200  secured to a weapon. The tightening screw  252  assists in providing tight secure contact between the attachment  200  and the weapon.  FIGS. 2E-G  all show the embodiment with the accessory rail  256 , in which a lighting device is attached to the accessory rail  256 . It is to be noted that even with the addition of a laser or light accessory on the accessory rail  256 , the attachment  200  can still be holstered in a variety of tactical holsters designed to accommodate such accessories. 
         [0024]      FIGS. 4A-B  shows more detail of all embodiments. Specifically,  FIG. 4A  shows the attachment  200  from a front view.  FIG. 4B  shows the attachment  200  from underneath.  FIG. 4C  shows the attachment  200  in an exploded view. As stated, for simplicity and brevity, within  FIGS. 4A-C  not all parts are shown in every view. 
         [0025]    Within the attachment  200 , it is intended that re-holstering the weapon be facilitated and not impeded. Consequently, within the attachment  200 , the pivot/hinge  224  is positioned toward the front (discharge-end) of the weapon. This way, during a re-holstering process, the paddle  208  is naturally urged or impelled to return back to its storage non-use position as the muzzle enters the holster. 
         [0026]      FIG. 4B  shows a view of the gnurled or other type of non-slip fingertip patterns  220  machined or manufactured or attached therein. In  FIG. 4B , the paddle  208  is shown as a simple rectangle in order to convey principles of the embodiment related to movement. Further, while the paddle  208  is shown mostly in o9ne specific shape, other shapes not shown in the Figures could also be utilized. 
         [0027]    Additionally, the paddle can have a depression or indentation  244  machined therein, as shown in  FIG. 4C . As stated, the depression  244  can be combined with the fingertip patterns  220 , or either can be included separately, without the other. 
         [0028]    The paddle  208  can be machined to have a predetermined contour/shape suitable for allowing the paddle  208  to be folded into to the attachment  200  as the gun is reholstered. Various sizes and shapes are contemplated, depending on manufacturing requirements. Further, the frame  204  can be machined to have a cavity suitable for accepting and housing the paddle  208 . Again, this cavity can be in a variety of sizes. 
         [0029]      FIG. 4A  also shows a slot lock  236  and groove mounts  240 . The slot lock  236  matches up with the locking notch shown in  FIG. 1D , which is found on most handguns. Similarly, the groove mounts  240  match up with the undermount rail from  FIG. 1D  (found on most handguns). The groove mounts  240  are designed to slide on and off the undermount rail. 
         [0030]    As stated, many firearms have a slide (again using the word ‘slide’ in its noun form) which moves in a direction parallel with the barrel. This slide must be able to move back and forth along the barrel in an uninhibited fashion after each shot, in order to allow subsequent rounds/bullets to be in position for subsequent firing. Accordingly,  FIGS. 5A-5C  show how the embodiments disclosed herein utilize a thumbs-forward grip, but do so in such a way as to take a user&#39;s support hand thumb completely off of the slide altogether. From  FIGS. 5A-5C  it is apparent that the user&#39;s thumb is not impeding movement of the slide. 
         [0031]    Within the various Figures shown herein, the embodiments are shown for use by right-hand shooters. That is, all paddles  208  shown in the drawings herein are positioned for the left (non-shooting) thumb. However, although not explicitly shown in the drawings, the embodiments disclosed herein also can be adapted to be manufactured for left-handed users as well. 
         [0032]      FIGS. 7A-D  show an embodiment of the attachment  200  that does not have an accessory rail.  FIGS. 6A-C  show this embodiment attached to a weapon. 
         [0033]    In an embodiment, the attachment  200  is made from aluminum, which is chosen for its durability, affordability, and malleability. However, a variety of other compositions could also be used, including but not limited to a composite plastic. 
         [0034]    The embodiments of the attachment  200  are shown working with an undermount rail, such as but not limited to a Weaver Rail/Universal rail mount, for at least the following reasons. Accessories designed to fit the Weaver Rail/Universal rail will (in most cases) fit, albeit snugly, on a Picatinny Rail. This is because of larger recoil grooves/slot locks in the Picatinny system. Picatinny accessories, however, are too large to attach to the Weaver Rail/Universal rail, and would eventually (if not immediately) work themselves loose. 
         [0035]    Meanwhile, the Picatinny system is used on the underside of the attachment  200  ( FIGS. 2-3 ) because a military standard exists for the Picatinny system, and most tactical light/laser accessories are designed to fit this military standard. 
         [0036]    The attachment  200  will fit the vast majority of handguns on the market with some type of Weaver/Universal Rail (as stated referred to herein as undermount rail). That said, the length of the accessory from front to back must be shorter than the distance from the end of the barrel/muzzle to the trigger guard. Additional embodiments, however, can be shortened and yet can still incorporate the full functionality of the attachment  200 . As such, the attachment  200  will be manufactured in various lengths. The width of the attachment  200  should not change as most undermount rails are of a standardized size (as discussed earlier). 
         [0037]    In an embodiment, it is possible to “blue” the attachment  200 . That is, utilizing chemical/electric processes the attachment  200  can have a blacker appearance (despite the word “blue-ing”). Doing so is advantageous so that the attachment  200  will be an aesthetic match with the weapon. In another embodiment, the attachment  200  is equipped with a velcro tape material for securely fitting within a military-style back-pack. One purpose would be for safe keeping of the attachment  200  when not in use. 
         [0038]    As stated, prior art and conventional products often require the services of gunsmiths to attach the accessory, with the unwanted byproduct of permanently altering the handgun. Meanwhile, the embodiments disclosed herein can be installed in seconds with just a few manual adjustments that can be made in seconds. 
         [0039]    Step One: visually align the groove mounts  240  with grooves of the rail system on the underside of the weapon. 
         [0040]    Step Two: slide the entire attachment  200  onto the existing rails of the weapon. 
         [0041]    Step Three: continue sliding the attachment  200  until receiving a tactile sensation that a lock occurs between the slot lock  236  and the locking notch. 
         [0042]    Step Four: insert a hex wrench into the single tightening screw  252  on the underside of the invention. 
         [0043]    Step Five: turn the hex wrench a few rotations until receiving a tactile sensation of snugness. 
         [0044]    In the foregoing specification, embodiments of the invention have been described with reference to numerous specific details that may vary from implementation to implementation. Thus, the sole and exclusive indicator of what is the invention, and is intended by the applicant to be the invention, is the set of claims that issue from this application, in the specific form in which such claims issue, including any subsequent correction. Any definitions expressly set forth herein for terms contained in such claims shall govern the meaning of such terms as used in the claims. Hence, no limitation, element, property, feature, advantage or attribute that is not expressly recited in a claim should limit the scope of such claim in any way. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.