Patent ID: 7707762

Claim:
A modular integrated rail system for a firearm, said firearm including an upper receiver having a forward end and a rearward end, said upper receiver further including a dovetail rail extending longitudinally between the forward end and the rearward end, said upper receiver still further having a barrel receiving receptacle at a forward end thereof, said firearm further including a barrel received in said barrel receiving receptacle and a barrel nut received around an outer surface of said barrel receiving receptacle to retain said barrel within said barrel receiving receptacle, said barrel nut including an outer surface and a toothed flange, said modular integrated rail system comprising: an upper hand guard having a forward end and a rearward end, and further having a dovetail rail extending longitudinally between the forward end and the rearward end; and a clamp removably secured to said rearward end of said upper hand guard, said rearward end of said upper hand guard and said clamp each comprising a clamping surface configured to cooperatively engage said outer surface of said barrel nut and thereby support said upper hand guard on said barrel nut, wherein said upper hand guard extends from said forward end of said upper receiver forwardly above said barrel without engaging said firearm forward of said barrel nut, and further wherein said dovetail rail of said upper hand guard extends forwardly in linear alignment with said dovetail rail of said upper receiver.