Patent ID: 7770317

Claim:
A handguard system for use on a firearm having a receiver, a barrel, and an operating member, the barrel and operating member joined to the receiver, the operating member offset from the barrel, the handguard system comprising: a barrel nut being a unitary member, having an inner surface with a threaded portion adapted to threadably engage the receiver for securing the barrel to the receiver and an outer surface, said outer surface disposed to pass between the firearm barrel and said operating member; and a unitary tubular handguard having a rear end, an inside surface, and an outside surface, the tubular handguard surrounding the barrel, operating member and barrel nut, engaging the outer surface of said barrel nut, the handguard inner surface further including a longitudinal groove for providing clearance to said firearm operating member; and a clamp device comprising an actuating screw, a plate for mounting said clamp device to said handguard, and a clamp pad; and the actuating screw includes a head and an opposing screw end, the head having wrenching means, the screw having an external screw thread; and the plate including a plate screw thread and means for attaching said plate to said handguard; and the handguard outside surface further including a clamp bore for receiving the clamp device, the bore generally opposite said longitudinal groove and near the handguard end, the handguard further having means for securing said plate to said handguard; and said plate screw thread aligned coaxially with said clamp bore; and said clamp pad having a top surface with a curvature matching the curvature of the barrel nut mating outer surface, the pad having an opposing flat bottom surface, said bottom surface facing the plate and abutting said screw end; and said pad further having a cross-sectional shape, relative to axis of said bore, adapted to both orient said pad top surface to said barrel nut outer surface, and permit said pad to travel within said bore; whereby, said clamp pad, forced by said actuating screw, engaging and applying clamping force to said barrel nut outer surface when said actuating screw is advanced and tightened; and the barrel nut outer surface is gripped between said clamp pad and the opposing handguard inner surface, thus securing said handguard to said firearm.