Patent ID: 8726558

Claim:
An aftermarket hand guard system for use with an assault rifle, comprising: a unitary upper receiver and elongated, arcuate upper hand guard section substantially defining a longitudinal axis and a plurality of radial planes normal thereto, the hand guard section laterally terminating in left and right generally outwardly directed rail flanges, each flange having a substantially planar flange mating surface; a plurality of lower arcuate hand guard sections, each having a plurality of laterally extending rail flanges having substantially non-parallel flange mating surfaces when juxtapositioned with respect to a corresponding rail flange; a plurality of substantially “T” shaped accessory rails each having a stem portion having opposed, diverging, non parallel sidewalls adapted to be closely received by the rail flanges, each stem portion terminating in a transverse head portion adapted to receive hand guard accessories; and, means for securing the accessory rails to the hand guard sections such that when the system is assembled about an assault rifle barrel the rail flange mating surfaces are not substantially parallel to a radial plane that bisects a corresponding accessory rail stem.