Patent Description:
<CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT> may be seen as relevant prior art.

The invention is a system according to claim <NUM>.

In another more limited aspect, the system further includes a battery box attached to the handguard, wherein the power supply comprises one or more batteries carried within the battery box.

In another more limited aspect, the one or more batteries includes a first battery and a second battery, the battery box including a switch for selectively coupling a selected one of the first battery and the second battery to the at least one electrical connector disposed on each of the upper portion and the lower portion.

In another more limited aspect, each of the first battery and the second battery is replaceable independently of the other.

In another more limited aspect the at least one electrical connector disposed on each of the upper portion and the lower portion includes two or more conductive rails axially extending along the lower portion.

In another more limited aspect, the system further includes a vertical handgrip slidably attached to the lower portion, wherein said power supply comprises one or more batteries carried within the handgrip. An electrical connector on the handgrip is configured to electrically couple said one or more batteries to the conductive rails at a plurality of axial positions along the lower portion.

In another more limited aspect, the accessory includes a flashlight supported on the lower portion.

In another more limited aspect, the circuitry includes a flexible circuit substrate disposed between the upper portion and the lower portion.

In another more limited aspect, the circuitry is completely enclosed within an enclosure defined by the upper portion and the lower portion.

In another more limited aspect, the system further includes a firearm, wherein the handguard is removably attached to an upper receiver of the firearm in coaxial relation to a barrel of the firearm.

In a further aspect, a modular weapon system comprises a system for mounting an accessory device on a firearm, the system comprising a longitudinally extending handguard affixed to the firearm, the handguard configured to support the accessory device, the handguard including an upper portion and a lower portion. At least one electrical connector is disposed on each of the upper portion and the lower portion. A power supply is supported on the handguard. Circuitry is disposed between the upper portion and the lower portion for electrically coupling the power supply to the at least one electrical connector disposed on each of the upper portion and the lower portion. A lower grenade launcher support platform is configured to be interchangeably attached to the upper portion in place of the lower portion, wherein the upper portion and the lower grenade launcher support platform cooperate with an associated firearm to support a firearm-mounted grenade launcher system.

The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting the invention.

Referring now to <FIG>, a modular powered weapon platform includes a first configuration having a handguard assembly comprising an upper hand guard member <NUM>, a lower handguard member <NUM>, and an electrically operated accessory device <NUM>. The hand guard assembly is configured to attach to a firearm <NUM> or other weapon. In certain embodiments, the present system is configured to attach to a military or tactical weapon, such as an AR-<NUM>, M4 Carbine, M-<NUM>, or other like firearms, in place of a conventional accessory rail system, such as a Picatinny rail system (MIL-STD-<NUM> or NATO equivalent STANAG <NUM>) that extends around the barrel of the weapon. The upper hand guard member <NUM> includes an upper accessory rail <NUM>, which may be of a conventional configuration to allow legacy accessory devices to be mounted to the weapon. In the illustrated embodiment, the rail section <NUM> has a plurality of generally T-cross sectional shaped rail members <NUM> having recoil grooves <NUM> therebetween, as is known in the art.

The hand guard assembly upper shell <NUM> and lower shell <NUM> cooperate to define an axially extending sleeve defining a channel which is attached to the firearm <NUM> at or near a first, proximal end <NUM> and extends distally to surround at least a portion of a barrel of the firearm <NUM>. The upper and lower shells <NUM>, <NUM>, respectively, may be formed of a metal (including metal alloys) and may be formed by casting, extrusion, molding, machining, additive manufacturing, or any combination thereof. In certain embodiments, the hand guard assembly is configured to removably attach to the upper receiver of the firearm using a cam lever fastener to provide clamping attachment to a portion of the upper receiver, e.g., to a barrel nut assembly portion.

As best seen in <FIG> and <FIG>, and with continued reference to <FIG>, a flex circuit <NUM> includes a flexible circuit substrate <NUM> material such as a polyimide or other suitable flexible film material having printed circuit elements formed thereon. The flex circuit <NUM> includes a central axially extending portion <NUM>, a pair of transversely extending arms <NUM> extending therefrom, and a pair of opposing axially extending portions <NUM>. The central portion <NUM> includes electrical connector elements <NUM> for electrical connection between an attached accessory device <NUM> which can be moved to any of a plurality of positions on the rail section <NUM> and an attached power supply.

In certain embodiments, the power supply comprises one or more batteries or battery packs housed in a vertical handgrip member <NUM> attached to a slide rail <NUM> disposed on the lower shell <NUM>. One or both of the axially extending circuit portions <NUM> may include a plurality of electrical contacts <NUM> thereon. One of the circuit portions <NUM> includes an arm <NUM> having plurality of electrical connector elements <NUM> thereon. In certain embodiments, the power supply comprises a battery box as described below.

A heat shield (not shown) may be disposed between the barrel of the firearm and the flex circuit <NUM> to protect the flex circuit and the user's hands from heat buildup in the barrel. The flex circuit <NUM> may be sandwiched between the heat shield and the shell <NUM>. The heat shield may be formed of aluminum or other thermally conductive material.

The lower shell <NUM> includes the axial slide rail <NUM> housing a plurality of axially extending conductive rails <NUM> (see <FIG>) on an axially extending circuit board <NUM>. An arm <NUM> formed of a flexible circuit substrate is attached to the axially extending circuit board <NUM> and includes a plurality of electrical connector elements <NUM> which mate with the connector elements <NUM>. The connector elements <NUM> are housed in a connector housing <NUM> comprising housing shells <NUM> and <NUM> and extend through aligned openings therein. The arm <NUM> and the connector elements <NUM> are housed in a connector housing <NUM> comprising housing shells <NUM> and <NUM>. The connector elements <NUM> extend through aligned openings in the housing <NUM>. The housing <NUM> and the housing <NUM> mate to electrically couple the plurality of conductive rails <NUM> in the circuit board <NUM> with the connector elements <NUM> via the flex circuit <NUM>.

In certain embodiments, the upper shell <NUM> and lower shell <NUM> include complementary, keyed axially extending edges <NUM>, <NUM>, respectively, which may be as detailed in the aforementioned <CIT> and <CIT> and as best seen in <FIG>. In certain embodiments, the Picatinny-style accessory interface of the upper shell <NUM> may be replaced with a slide rail and conductive rails as described herein by way of reference to the lower shell <NUM>. In certain embodiments, end closures, sealing rings, gaskets, and the like may be provided to prevent water or other environmental contamination from entering into the enclosure defined by the upper and lower portions <NUM>, <NUM>.

The electrically operated device <NUM> includes an adapter pad <NUM> configured to attached to the upper shell <NUM>. The platform <NUM> includes a first set of electrical connector elements (not shown) which are aligned with the connector elements <NUM> on the upper shell <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the electrically operated device is a sighting device, such as a reflex sight and/or laser sight. In certain embodiments, the device <NUM> may be a combined laser/reflex sight, such as that described in commonly owned U. application no. <CIT> filed <NUM>/<NUM>/<NUM> (<CIT>).

Referring now to <FIG>, and with continued reference to <FIG> a handgrip <NUM> includes an outer housing <NUM> which may be formed of a material providing good grip adhesion and/or may have a textured surface for enhancing grip disposed over an inner housing <NUM>, which receives a battery compartment <NUM> which removable from the housing <NUM> and receiving one or more batteries or battery packs <NUM>.

The upper end of the handgrip <NUM> includes a rail receptacle <NUM> defining a channel <NUM> slidably receiving the slide rail <NUM>. The rail receptacle includes a first, fixed rail grabber <NUM> shaped to receive a first transverse side of the slide rail <NUM> and a second rail grabber <NUM> shaped to receive the second transverse side of the slide rail <NUM>. The second rail grabber <NUM> includes a movable section <NUM>, which is selectively moved into and out of clamping engagement with the second transverse side of the slide rail <NUM> using a throw lever <NUM>. The throw lever <NUM> includes a cam surface <NUM> at the proximal end thereof bearing against a bearing member <NUM> on the movable section <NUM> and pivotally secured to the rail receptacle <NUM> via a pivot pin <NUM> defining a pivot axis and engaging an off center opening <NUM> in the cam lever <NUM> proximal end. Pivoting the cam lever <NUM> to the unlocked position (see <FIG>) allows the user to axially slide the handgrip <NUM> to a desired axial position on the slide rail <NUM> and pivoting the cam lever to the locked position serves to selectively clamp the handgrip <NUM> at a desired axial position on the slide rail <NUM> while maintaining electrical contact between the conductive rails <NUM> and connector elements <NUM> on the handgrip <NUM>. The electrical contacts <NUM> on the grip assembly <NUM> thus provide an electrical communication between the power supply <NUM> and the conductors <NUM>, which, in turn, are in turn in electrical with the electrical connector elements <NUM> for supplying power to the attached accessory device <NUM>.

The moveable portion <NUM> of the rail grabber and bearing member <NUM> are carried on a frame <NUM> attached to the rail receptacle <NUM>. A stop piece <NUM> is secured to the rail receptacle <NUM> and includes springs <NUM> which bear against the movable portion <NUM> to urge the movable portion <NUM> out of engagement with the slide rail <NUM>. When the lever <NUM> is moved to the locked position (see, e.g., <FIG>), the cam surface <NUM> moves the moveable portion <NUM> toward the rail against the bias of the springs <NUM>.

The rail receptacle <NUM>, in turn, includes male dovetail connector elements <NUM> which are slidably received within complementary female dovetail receptacles <NUM> on an end cap <NUM> attached to the upper end of the handgrip housing shell <NUM>. It will be recognized that other keyed geometrical interlocking cross-sectional shapes, besides dovetail, are also contemplated. The end cap <NUM> is secured to struts <NUM> on the upper end of the housing <NUM> with threaded fasteners <NUM>. An electrical connector <NUM> comprises a housing <NUM> and connector elements <NUM> on a circuit substrate <NUM>. The connector elements <NUM> are configured to contact the conductors <NUM> when the handgrip <NUM> is attached to the slide rail <NUM> at any axial position of the handgrip <NUM> along the slide rail <NUM>. The connector <NUM> is attached to the end cap <NUM> via threaded fasteners <NUM>. A sealing ring <NUM> is disposed between the housing <NUM> and the connector element substrate <NUM> to prevent entry of moisture or other environmental contamination.

The circuit substrate includes connectors <NUM> which are electrically connected to a mating connector <NUM> on a circuit board <NUM> which is seated in a recess <NUM> at the upper end of the housing <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the circuit board <NUM> also carries additional circuitry, such as processing electronics and electronic memory, one or more sensors such as an accelerometer, e.g., a three-axis accelerometer for sensing weapon movement, an RF transceiver such as a Bluetooth, ZigBee, or other wireless communications module, to enable the recording and output of data to an accessory device such as a sight, computer, smartphone, tablet, or other computer-based information handling system.

The circuit board <NUM> also includes a connector (not shown) electrically coupled to a connector <NUM> on a circuit board <NUM>, which, in turn is electrically coupled to the one or more batteries <NUM> via a battery contact <NUM>. The battery compartment <NUM> includes one or more recesses, such as the annular channel <NUM> in the depicted embodiment, receiving pivoting retention tabs <NUM> pivotally secured to the housing <NUM> and extending through aligned openings <NUM> therein. Springs <NUM> captured between the tabs <NUM> and the interior surface of the outer grip sleeve <NUM> cause the tabs <NUM> to pivot inward through the respective openings <NUM> about respective pivot pins <NUM> to engage the channel <NUM> and thereby secure the battery compartment <NUM> in fixed axial position with respect to the housing <NUM>.

The outer sleeve <NUM> includes depressible portions <NUM> aligned with lever portions <NUM> of the tabs <NUM> to allow the lever portions <NUM> to be manually depressed by the user. Manual depression of the levers <NUM> against the urging of the springs <NUM> causes the tabs <NUM> to disengage from the channel <NUM> and thereby release the battery compartment <NUM> from the housing <NUM>, e.g., for inserting or replacing the battery(ies) <NUM>.

With continued reference to <FIG>, in certain embodiments, the upper shell <NUM> and/or lower shell <NUM> include insulating pads <NUM>, such as silicone rubber (polysiloxane) pads configured to improve a user's grip and insulate the user's hand from heat generated in the barrel of the firearm, which may be as detailed in the aforementioned <CIT> and <CIT>. Optionally, the upper shell <NUM> and/or lower shell <NUM> may include one or more keypad buttons as detailed in the aforementioned <CIT> and <CIT> for controlling operation of one or more attached electrical devices. Alternatively or additionally, one or more buttons, switches, or the like, may be provided on the grip <NUM> for controlling operation of one or more attached electrical devices.

In the illustrated embodiment, a second electrically operated device <NUM> is a flashlight comprising a flashlight head <NUM> extending distally from a mounting receptacle <NUM>. The flashlight head may have one or more light emitting elements, preferably LEDs. In certain embodiments, the flashlight head <NUM> includes one or more LEDs which emit radiation in a visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. In other embodiments, the flashlight head <NUM> includes one or more LEDs which emit radiation in an infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. In still further embodiments, the flashlight head <NUM> is a dual mode flashlight which includes one or more LEDs which emit radiation in a visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum and one or more LEDs which emit radiation in an infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.

The mounting receptacle <NUM> is complementary with the slide rail <NUM> configured for removable mounting to the distal end of the slide rail <NUM>. The mounting receptacle <NUM> includes electrical connectors which make contact with the conductors <NUM> to supply electrical power to the flashlight electrical circuit.

In certain embodiments, it is contemplated that the user may not wish to use the vertical grip <NUM>. In such cases, the grip <NUM> may be replaced with a dedicated power supply. Alternatively, the grip may be replaced with an electrical connector configured slidably attached to the slide rail <NUM> and in electrical communication with the conductors <NUM>, wherein a cabled connection may be provided to electrically couple a remote power supply, such as a remote power supply located elsewhere on the weapon (such as being attached to an accessory rail or interface, housed within the buttstock, etc.) or a power supply configured to be worn by the user.

Referring now to <FIG> and <FIG>, there appears a second configuration of the powered weapon platform herein. The configuration appearing in <FIG> and <FIG> includes the upper shell member <NUM> and accessory device <NUM> as detailed above, and a lower shell member <NUM>, which may be a grenade launcher support as described in the aforementioned <CIT>. The members <NUM> and <NUM> are configured to secure to a firearm (e.g., via clamping connection to the barrel nut of the firearm), e.g., as described in the aforementioned <CIT> and <CIT>. The firearm is omitted in <FIG> and <FIG> for ease of exposition.

The lower shell member <NUM>, in turn, removably interfaces with a grenade launcher barrel assembly <NUM> and trigger assembly <NUM>. The mating edge configurations are complementary, e.g., comprising axial sliding tongue and groove features (which may be continuous or, more preferably, segmented) to provide a removable sliding connection therebetween and wherein the upper and lower members <NUM>, <NUM> are held in place using one more fasteners as described in the aforementioned <CIT> and <CIT>.

The grenade launcher barrel assembly <NUM> and/or trigger assembly <NUM>, in turn, may advantageously be modular components which are interchangeable with one or more alternative barrel assemblies and/or trigger assemblies to accommodate grenades having different calibers and/or designed for different firing platforms, including those described in the aforementioned <CIT>. The operation and internal construction of the lower shell <NUM> and the interfacing elements of the grenade launcher barrel assembly <NUM> and the lower shell member <NUM> may be as described in the aforementioned <CIT>.

Referring now to <FIG> and <FIG>, there appears a third configuration of the powered weapon platform herein, which provides a standalone, handheld, grenade launcher configuration. The embodiment appearing in <FIG> and <FIG> includes the grenade launcher barrel assembly <NUM> and the lower shell member <NUM>, as described above and as further detailed in the aforementioned <CIT>.

An upper shell <NUM> is slidably attached to the lower shell member <NUM> in place of the upper shell <NUM> via the slidably mating edge interfaces 352a, 352b, which may form a tongue and groove or other keyed connection and are secured in position via a fastener, such as the drawbar <NUM> operated by the cam lever <NUM> as described in the aforementioned <CIT>. The upper shell <NUM> includes a distal end member <NUM> configured to close or cover the distal end of the shells <NUM>, <NUM>, and a proximal end member <NUM> at the opposite end for removably attaching a pistol grip <NUM>.

The lower shell member <NUM> is removably attached to the grenade launcher barrel assembly <NUM> and trigger assembly <NUM>, one or both of which may advantageously be modular components that are interchangeable with one or more alternative barrel assemblies and/or trigger assemblies to accommodate grenades having different calibers and/or designed for different firing platforms, including those described in the aforementioned <CIT>. Again, the operation and internal construction of the lower shell <NUM> and the interfacing elements of the grenade launcher barrel assembly <NUM> and the lower shell member <NUM> may be as described in the aforementioned <CIT>.

Referring now to <FIG>, there appears an exemplary battery compartment <NUM> operable to provide power via the rail system to one or more attached accessory devices such as the accessory device <NUM>. The battery box <NUM> includes mounting rails <NUM> for connection to the lower handguard member <NUM>. The battery compartment may be secured in positon via threaded fasteners <NUM>.

The battery box <NUM> includes a housing <NUM> with a rear cover <NUM> which houses two batteries 416a and 416b within an interior compartment thereof. In certain embodiments, the batteries 416a, 416b are <NUM>-volt lithium batteries such as CR123 batteries. The housing includes removable covers <NUM> for providing access to the interior compartment of the housing for inserting or replacing the cells <NUM>. Electrical circuitry within the battery compartment is provided to selectively couple the terminals of the cells to an electrical connector assembly <NUM>.

The electrical connector assembly <NUM> includes a circuit substrate <NUM> carrying an electrical connector <NUM> (e.g., a male multi-pin connector in the illustrated embodiment) which mates with an aligned, complementary connector element within the lower handguard member <NUM> (e.g., a female multi-pin connector on the circuit board <NUM>). The circuit substrate <NUM> is received within an opening <NUM> in the housing <NUM>. The pins <NUM> extend through an opening in a cover <NUM>, which is secured to the substrate <NUM> and housing <NUM> via threaded fasteners <NUM>. Sealing rings or gaskets 434a and 434b are provided on either side of the substrate <NUM> to protect against entry of external contamination or moisture into the interior compartment.

The electrical circuitry within the battery compartment includes a switch <NUM> for selective electrical coupling of a selected one of the batteries 416a or 416b to the connector <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the switch <NUM> is a rotary switch on a circuit board <NUM>. The switch <NUM> includes a lever <NUM> which is pivotal between position B1 in which battery 416a is coupled to the connector <NUM> and position B2 in which battery 416b is coupled to the connector <NUM>, as well as an intermediate "OFF" position in which neither battery is electrically coupled to the connector <NUM>. The lever <NUM> may include a spring biased detent assembly <NUM> to provide positive retention in the desired position and resist against inadvertent movement of the lever <NUM> from the desired position.

In operation, one of the batteries (e.g., battery 416a when the lever is in the B1 position) is used to power an accessory device attached to the rail system, such as the device <NUM>, the flashlight device <NUM>, etc. When the battery 416a is depleted, the user may manually throw the lever to the other position (e.g., the B2 position) to continue powering the attached device(s). Each battery is individually swappable such that when one cell is depleted it can be changed without affecting operation of the devices being powered.

Claim 1:
A system for mounting a firearm accessory device (<NUM>), comprising:
a longitudinally extending handguard configured to be affixed to an associated firearm (<NUM>), the handguard configured to support the accessory device, the handguard including an upper portion (<NUM>) and a lower portion (<NUM>);
at least one electrical connector (<NUM>, <NUM>) disposed on each of the upper portion and the lower portion;
a power supply (<NUM>, 416a, 416b) supported on the handguard;
circuitry (<NUM>) disposed between the upper portion and the lower portion, the circuitry electrically coupling the power supply to the at least one electrical connector disposed on each of the upper portion and the lower portion;
a lower grenade launcher support platform (<NUM>) configured to be interchangeably attached to the upper portion in place of the lower portion, wherein the lower grenade launcher support platform (<NUM>) is configured to removably interface a grenade launcher barrel assembly (<NUM>) and a grenade launcher trigger assembly (<NUM>); and
an upper grenade launcher support platform (<NUM>) configured to be interchangeably attached to the lower grenade launcher support platform (<NUM>) in place of the upper portion (<NUM>), wherein the upper grenade launcher support platform (<NUM>) is configured to removably attach a pistol grip (<NUM>).