Abstract:
A firearm assembly includes a receiver having a trigger guard structure, and a stock structure coupled to a rear portion of the receiver. An insert is positioned between the trigger guard structure and the stock structure for ensuring a tight fit and preventing contact therebetween.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates generally to firearms, and more specifically, pertains to a trigger guard cushioning insert which is particularly useful in adapting a replacement stock to various receiver configurations on firearms. 
         [0002]    It may be necessary or desirable to replace the buttstock of a firearm for a variety of reasons. For example, it is common practice in tactical operations to replace the buttstock of a firearm with a replacement stock in the form of a pistol grip unit or pistol grip stock assembly. Such modification can be problematical because receivers of different types of firearms are variably configured, and replacement stocks are typically manufactured for a specific single firearm. More specifically, it is desirable that the relative disposition of the stock and the receiver meet certain design parameters with respect to “shoulder pull”, the desired distance between the buttpad and the trigger, “finger pull”, the desired distance between the trigger and the point on the stock where the web of a shooter&#39;s hand rests, and “drop”, the desired distance from the top of the receiver to the position on the stock where the shooter places his or her cheek to sight a target. Such parameters tend to vary between different types and models of firearms with the result that a stock designed to accommodate a particular type and model of the receiver generally cannot accommodate other receivers and still conform to the various desired design parameters. 
         [0003]    As a result, adapter kits have been developed that enable a replacement stock such as a pistol grip unit or pistol grip stock assembly to be interchangeably mounted on differently configured receivers so that the mounted replacement stock and receiver continue to meet the desired design parameters described above. 
         [0004]    One problem that arises in firearm modification utilizing these adapter kits is a creation of a gap or space between the trigger guard and the pistol grip unit or pistol grip stock assembly. Such a gap interferes with and can scratch or pinch a shooter&#39;s fingers during a firing operation. In addition, such gap can cause recoil forces and shock energy to be transferred to the shooter&#39;s hand. From an aesthetics viewpoint, this gap creates an undesirable discontinuous and unfinished look between the trigger guard and the pistol grip unit or pistol grip stock assembly. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, there is a need for eliminating the gap that occurs between the trigger guard and the pistol grip structure during stock replacement without requiring tight manufacturing tolerances between each trigger guard and pistol pip structure. More specifically, there is a need in firearm modification for an insert that effectively fills the gap between the trigger guard and the pistol grip structure, and functions to provide comfort to the shooter&#39;s hand, cushioning of shock energy and a clean, streamlined firearm appearance following stock replacement. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present disclosure relates to a firearm assembly including a receiver having a trigger guard structure, and a stock structure coupled to a rear portion of the receiver. An insert is positioned between the trigger guard structure and the stock structure for ensuring a tight fit and preventing contact therebetween. 
         [0007]    The insert is retained on and projects beyond the stock structure. The insert is comprised of a resilient cushioning material that extends upwardly and rearwardly along the trigger guard structure. The insert has a first upwardly extending leg and a second leg extending rearwardly therefrom. 
         [0008]    The present disclosure further relates to a firearm stock assembly adapted to be coupled to a receiver having a trigger guard structure. The stock assembly includes a pistol grip constructed with a housing portion and adapted to be coupled to the receiver. A cushioning insert is retained by the housing portion of the pistol grip, and is adapted to be positioned between the trigger guard structure and the housing portion of the pistol grip. The housing portion of the pistol grip includes a forwardly projecting first support wall and a second support wall recessed therefrom for receiving and supporting the insert. The cushioning insert projects outwardly from the housing portion of the pistol grip and extends upwardly and rearwardly along the first and second support walls. In one exemplary embodiment, the pistol grip is attached to a stock and cheek rest assembly. 
         [0009]    The present disclosure also relates to a cushioning insert positioned between a trigger guard structure and a stock structure. The cushioning insert includes a body constructed from a resilient maternal and having a first generally vertically extending leg connected to a second generally horizontally extending leg. The first leg is engaged between a first portion of the trigger guard structure and a first portion of the stock structure, and the second leg is engaged between a first portion of the trigger guard structure and a second portion of the stock structure. 
         [0010]    The body is retained within and projects forwardly from the stock structure. The first leg has a front surface with a contour which matches a contour of and engages a rear portion of a trigger guard included in the trigger guard structure. The first leg and the second leg have a common upper surface which engages a rear portion of a trigger guard housing extending rearwardly of the trigger guard. The body has a rear surface which is continuously curved between a bottom end of the first leg and a rear end of the second leg. The rear surface of the body has a contour which matches a contour of a recessed support wall formed in the stock structure. The body is received and supported within a projecting support wall of the stock structure that extends forwardly from the recessed support wall of the stock structure. 
         [0011]    The present disclosure additionally contemplates a method of assembling a firearm comprising the steps of a) providing a receiver having a trigger guard structure; b) providing a stock structure having a cushioning insert retained therein; and c) coupling the receiver to the stock structure such that the insert is simultaneously positioned between the trigger guard structure and the stock structure. 
         [0012]    In step c, the insert is engaged against a rear portion of a trigger guard of the trigger guard structure, and a bottom surface of a trigger guard housing of the trigger guard structure. Preferably the stock structure includes a pistol grip. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated in carrying out the disclosure. In the drawings: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is an elevational view of a firearm provided with a trigger guard cushioning insert in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective view of a pistol grip stock assembly which is coupled to a receiver of the firearm of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged perspective view of the cushioning insert used in the firearm of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged sectional view taken on line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1  illustrating the placement of the cushioning insert between a trigger guard of the firearm and a pistol pip of the pistol pip stock assembly attached to the firearm; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the receiver, the cushioning insert and the pistol grip stock assembly. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    Referring now to the drawings.  FIG. 1  illustrates a firearm, such as a shotgun  10 , which typically includes a receiver  12 , a barrel  14 , a gripping forend  16 , a trigger guard  18  and a trigger  20 . The trigger guard  18  and trigger  20  depend from a housing  22  (as best seen in  FIG. 4 ) which is retained within the receiver  12 . Trigger guard  18  and the trigger guard housing  22  define a trigger guard structure on which trigger  20  is movably mounted. The shotgun  10  also includes a cartridge storing magazine tube  24  that extends longitudinally forward from the receiver  12  and below the barrel  14 . A forward portion of the magazine tube  24  engages a barrel lug  26  and is held thereto by a magazine cap  28 . In addition, the shotgun  10  is provided with a stock structure embodied in a pistol pip stock assembly  30  which is removably mounted to a rear end of the receiver  12  by means of an adapter arrangement  32 . The pistol grip stock assembly  30  is typically a stock replacement for the buttstock normally provided on the firearm. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the pistol grip stock assembly  30  generally includes a pistol grip  34  having a lower gripping portion  36 , an intermediate housing portion  38  and an upper mounting portion  40 . The upper mounting portion  40  has a front mounting face configuration  42  which is designed for coupling to the adapter arrangement  32 . A stationary stock support or buffer tube  44  extends rearwardly from the mounting portion  40  of the pistol grip  34 . A stock  46  is adjustably mounted for sliding movement on the buffer tube  44 , and carries a buttpad assembly  48  secured to a rear end thereof. A cheek rest  50  is mounted on the stock  46  for sliding movement therewith. A lever assembly  52  is provided at the bottom of the stock  46 , and is configured to engage an underside of the buffer tube  44  to establish selected positioning of the stock  46  and cheek rest  50  at different positions along the buffered tube  44 . 
         [0021]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the adapter arrangement  32  for removably coupling the receiver  12  to the pistol grip stock assembly  30  includes a first adapter  54  and a second adapter  56 . A rear surface  58  of the first adapter  54  is matingly coupled and attached to the front mounting face configuration  42  on the upper mounting portion  40  of the pistol grip  34 . A front surface  60  of the second adapter  56  is matingly received in and secured to a mounting face  62  at the rear end of the receiver  12 . Once the adapters  54 ,  56  have been separately secured to the respective mounting faces  42 ,  62 , the adapters  54 ,  56  are slidably joined together in a dovetail mounting arrangement and then suitably retained together. The particular adapters  54 ,  56  thus permit the convenient coupling of the pistol grip stock assembly  30  to the particular firearm receiver  12  so that predetermined design parameters are met as discussed in the Background of the Invention. While not illustrated in the drawings, it should be understood that the adapters  54 ,  56  also permit the coupling of the receiver  12  to the pistol grip  34  itself without the buffer tube  44 , stock  46 , buttpad assembly  48 , cheek rest  50  and lever arrangement  52 . 
         [0022]    In use, it may be necessary or desirable to remove one stock from the receiver  12  and replace that stock with a different structure, such as the pistol grip stock assembly  30  or the pistol grip  34  as described above. In the course of modification, a gap or space may occur between a front portion of the pistol grip  34  and a rear portion of the trigger guard  18  and its housing  22 . Such gap may cause interference and discomfort to a shooter&#39;s hand during a firing operation as well as detract from the aesthetic look of the firearm. 
         [0023]    In order to eliminate any gap created during stock replacement, the present disclosure contemplates the provision of a cushioning insert  64  located between the pistol grip  34  and the trigger guard  18  including its housing  22 . The present disclosure further contemplates incorporating the cushioning insert  64  within the pistol grip  34 . 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIGS. 2-5 , the cushioning insert  64  is constructed of a compressible and expandable resilient material such as foam, rubber or the like. As best seen in  FIG. 3 , the cushioning insert  64  is integrally formed as a body such as by molding or other suitable process with a first generally vertically or upwardly extending leg  66  and a second generally horizontally extending leg  68 . The first leg has a concave front surface  70  which merges into a bulbous corner  72  and proceeds into a substantially flat upper surface  74  that is common to the first and second legs  64 ,  68  and extends downwardly and rearwardly at  76  on second leg  68 . A continuously curved rear surface  78  extends from a bottom end  80  of the first leg  66  to a rear end  82  of the second leg  68 . 
         [0025]    With reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a front end on the intermediate housing portion  38  of the pistol grip  34  is constructed with a first support wall  84  projecting forwardly from the side and bottom surfaces of housing portion  38 , and a second support wall  86  recessed from a front end of the support wall  84 . The walls  84 ,  86  receive and support the cushioning insert  64  along the rear surface  78 , the bottom end  80  and the rear end  82  thereof as well as along rear segments of opposed side surfaces of the leg  66 ,  68 . Portions of the cushioning insert  64  may be fictionally retained within the wall  84  and/or may be more positively retained or fixed, if desired, such as by providing an adhesive between the rear surface  78  and the wall  86 . An upper end  88  of the wall  86  is engaged against a rear end  82  of the cushioning insert  64 , and a bottom portion  90  of the wall  84  is engaged with a bottom end  80  of the cushioning insert  64 . 
         [0026]    As seen in  FIG. 2 , the cushioning insert  64  is sized and shaped to project forwardly from and beyond the intermediate housing portion  38  of the pistol grip  34 . 
         [0027]    When the pistol grip  34  is connected to the rear of the receiver  12  by means of the adapters  54 ,  56  as described above, the concave surface  70  and the bulbous corner  72  of the cushioning insert  64  are tightly engaged with the curved rear portion of the trigger guard  18 . In addition, the upper surfaces  74 ,  76  are tightly engaged with a bottom horizontally extending surface  92  ( FIG. 4 ) on the rear end of the trigger guard housing  22 . With this construction, the insert  64  completely and continuously cushions the trigger guard-pistol grip interface between a lower rearward end of the trigger guard  18  and the bottom portion  90  of pistol grip  34  as well as between the rearward end  92  of the trigger guard housing  22  and an upper end of wall  86  of the pistol grip  34 . It should be appreciated that upon coupling of the pistol grip  34  to the receiver  12 , the cushioning insert  64  supported on the pistol grip  34  is simultaneously engaged against a rear portion of the trigger guard  18  and against the bottom surface  92  of the trigger guard housing  22  which extends rearwardly of the trigger guard  18 . The cushioning insert  64  when installed prevents contact between the pistol grip  34 , the trigger guard  18  and the trigger guard housing  22 . 
         [0028]    The cushioning insert  64  retained in walls  84 ,  86  is designed for easy installation with the pistol grip  34  to provide a snug, cushioned fit with different trigger guard configurations. While the cushioning insert  64  may be compressed during one installation, it will expand to its original shape and size upon removal of the pistol grip  34  from receiver  12  and permit use of the pistol grip  34  with the cushioning insert  64  in other pistol grip replacement installations with different receivers. 
         [0029]    The cushioning insert  64  is advantageous in stock replacement of firearms because it minimizes the need for close manufacturing tolerances between various trigger guards and pistol grip configurations. Use of the cushioning insert  64  prevents the creation of any gap between the pistol grip  34  and the trigger guard  18  and its housing  22  so that a shooter&#39;s fingers are not pinched or abraded dining firing of the shotgun  10 . The insert  64  provides a cushioning effect with increased comfort and absorption of recoil forces during a firing operation. In addition, the shotgun  10  maintains a clean streamlined appearance with continuity in the trigger guard-pistol grip interface. As seen in  FIG. 1 , the cushioning insert  64  is substantially concealed from view when the pistol grip and the stock assembly  30  is mounted on the receiver  12 . 
         [0030]    Various alternatives are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention.