Abstract:
An ergonomic forward grip for firearms that provides ambidextrous usage and comfort and has a low profile. It is comprised of three parts that fit together with two nuts and two screws that can attach to a Picatinny rail and hold either of two different battery types in its compartment.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to firearms, and more specifically to firearm forward grips and how their design affects the performance of the firearm. 
         [0002]    In situations where it would be applicable to be shooting a firearm, a tool, referred to as a forward grip, is sometimes attached to the front area of the rifle between the action and the muzzle of the barrel. These forward grips provide a number of advantages and improvements when using a rifle. Among them is having your front hand positioned more consistently. This allows you to maintain a sight picture more quickly and easily and provide stability and control against recoil. Also, the forward grip, in general, provides a more comfortable area to grasp the rifle and hold it more firmly against your shoulder when moving around without having your hand slide down the length of the rifle. The grips can serve as a handhold when pulling back the charging handle or bolt. Forward grips allow the user to move quickly, freely, and strategically in CQB (Close Quarter Battle) situations. 
         [0003]    There are many variations of the forward grip. They each have different characteristics that make them individual. However, most forward grips fail to provide an ergonomic interface. The majority of grips are cylindrical in shape. This design is basic in nature and provides little comfort during use. Also, most of the forward grips that exist extend past the user&#39;s hand, vertically, when being grasped. This length can cause the grip to get caught in any gear a shooter might be wearing and deter the shooter from raising their gun fast enough. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention is a forward grip that provides an area with which to grasp the front of the rifle and aid in stability and control. The forward grip is designed to be ergonomic in the sense that its grasping area is comfortable to hold. This is due to a swell in the mid-section of the left and right sides of the grip as well as a swell at the front of the grip between the index and middle finger-holds. Having a symmetrical swell on both sides of the grip allow the grip to be ambidextrous and fit comfortably in the palm of a right or left-handed individual. The frontal swell provides a solid area for fingers to squeeze and not slip during use. 
         [0005]    Included in the forward grip is an area that can attach to a 1913 Picatinny rail. The rail attachment area is split into two pieces that come together via two screws that tighten the side key to the main body of the grip and take hold of the Picatinny rail so that the grip stays in place and cannot be moved. 
         [0006]    The profile of the grip is such that the back follows the contours of the inside of the palm of the hand where the thumb connects so that the hand can lay comfortably along the grip. The front follows the contours of the fingers providing clear areas to place each finger so that maximum comfort can be achieved. The grip is shorter than most grips to allow for a compact feel and to prevent snagging on the user&#39;s clothing or gear. 
         [0007]    The grip includes a battery compartment and separate cover built into the bottom of the grip for convenience. The compartment can hold one CR123 battery and up to two AA batteries. 
         [0008]    Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0009]    As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a grip depicting the best mode of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an alternate perspective view of the grip of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the grip of  FIG. 1 . p  FIG. 4  is an alternate exploded view of the grip of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of the grip of  FIG. 1 , in its best mode. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the grip of  FIG. 5 , taken along line A-A. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of the grip of  FIG. 1 , in an open position. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view of the grip of  FIG. 7 , taken along line B-B. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the battery hatch cover of the grip of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a plan view from the side of the battery hatch cover of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a plan view of the grip of  FIG. 1 , in its best mode. 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is a sectional view of the grip of  FIG. 11 , taken along line C-C. 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  is a plan view of the grip with the battery hatch cover in an open position. 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  is a sectional view of the grip of  FIG. 13 , taken along line D-D. 
           [0023]      FIG. 15  is a plan view of the grip without the side locking key. 
           [0024]      FIG. 16  is a sectional view of the grip of  FIG. 15 , taken along line E-E. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0025]    With reference now to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the grip is herein described. It should be noted that the articles “a”, “an”, and “the”, as used in this specification, include plural references unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. 
         [0026]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the grip  1  is formed of three parts, the handle  2 , the locking key  3 , and the battery compartment hatch  4 . The handle  2  and the key  3  attach to each other via two screws  5  and two nuts  6 . This allows the grip  1  to clamp around a Picatinny rail and attach to a firearm. Also depicted is the grip texture pattern  7 . 
         [0027]      FIGS. 3 and 4  depict the components of the grip in greater detail. The handle  2  features two countersunk holes  11  where the two nuts  6  fit. The handle features a finger swell  26  that sits between an index finger and a middle finger and a swell  27  on either side of the handle to allow the fingers to grip the handle more easily. The handle also has an area marked out for a customized logo template  9 . Embedded into the design is the company logo  18 . There is a flat area  28  and  29  that is defined as the area that clamps to a standard Picatinny rail. Within that area are two tube like dugouts  15  that serve as beds for the two screws  5  that attach the key  3  to the handle  2 . The key  3  has a long rounded protrusion  8  that acts as a male key part and guides the key  3  into the female indentation  17  on the handle  2 . The key  3  has two countersunk holes  10  in the side for the two screws  5  to rest within it. The key  3  has two stars and the words “MADE IN USA”  19  embedded into the side of it. The handle has a protruding flat shelf area  16  that supports the key  3  when it is attached to the handle. Also depicted is the grip texture  7  on the handle  2  that gives the part more friction in the user&#39;s hand. The battery compartment hatch cover  4  has a wrap-around overhang  14  that acts as the male part that slides into the handle  2  and keeps the cover in place. There are also two overhangs on either side of the cover  13  that act as a stopping point for the cover  4  when it is being pushed into the handle  2 . The cover also features a hole  12  that receives a protruded ramped ramped ball-lock  24  (shown in  FIG. 14 ) and is part of the mechanism that keeps the cover securely locked. 
         [0028]      FIGS. 5-8  show the grip  1  in use.  FIG. 6  shows the grip closed which is the grip&#39;s optimal functioning position. The screw  5  goes through the key  3  and then attaches to the handle  2  through nut  6 .  FIG. 8  depicts the grip in the state it would be in if one loosened it to begin the attachment process or to remove it from the firearm. Screw  5  is undone and removed from nut  6  and the key  3  is pulled away from and removed from the handle  2 . 
         [0029]      FIGS. 9 and 10  show the battery compartment hatch cover  4  in more detail. Including the aforementioned features,  14 ,  13 , and  12 , the hatch cover  4  also features a thumb push  21  which is an area used to push the cover off of the handle  2  and expose the interior of the battery compartment  22  ( FIG. 12 ). The thumb push  21  has on it striations  20  that provide aid in pushing the cover  4  off the handle  2 . 
         [0030]      FIGS. 11-14  depict the AA battery compartment  22 , the CR123 battery compartment  23 , and the battery compartment hatch cover  4  engaging with the handle&#39;s ramped ball-lock  24  in an opened ( FIG. 14 ) and closed state ( FIG. 12 ). The cover  4  slides into the groove  25  and then goes over the ramped ball-lock  24 . The ramped ball-lock rests within the hole  12  on the cover  4 . To open the hatch the user&#39;s thumb pushes on the thumb push  21  and forces the cover over the ramped ball-lock  24  until the cover slides out of the groove  25  and becomes separated from the handle  2 . 
         [0031]      FIGS. 15 and 16  show alternate views of the battery compartments within the handle  2 . The AA battery compartment  22  is slightly thinner in width than the CR123battery compartment  23  which allows for a clear division between compartments due to the fact that compartment  23  is restrained to CR123 battery dimensions which are not the same as AA battery dimensions. Compartment  23  will hold one CR123 battery while compartment  22  will hold two AA batteries. 
         [0032]    Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, numerous modifications and variations can be made and still the result will come within the scope of the invention. No limitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein is intended or should be inferred.