Patent ID: 7523580

Claim:
A handguard system for use on a firearm, the firearm having a receiver, a barrel, a gas block, and a gas tube, the receiver having a forward portion, a top, and a rearward portion, the gas block attached to the barrel, the barrel attached to the receiver, the gas tube connecting the gas block to the receiver, the gas tube further defined as being disposed offset from the barrel, the handguard system comprising: an extended barrel nut being a single-piece and having a tubular shape, the extended barrel nut having an outer surface, an inner surface, a forward and a rear end, the outer surface disposed to pass between the gas tube and the barrel, the inner surface including a rearward disposed thread adapted to threadably engage the receiver to secure the barrel to the receiver; and a handguard being a single-piece having a generally tubular shape, the handguard having a forward end, a rear end, a top, a bottom, a left and a right side, an outer and an inner surface, the outer surface having a longitudinal top rib; and the inner surface having a first inner diameter, the first inner diameter being slightly larger than the extended barrel nut outer surface; and the inner surface further defined by having a groove, the groove aligned with rib, the groove adapted to provide clearance to the gas block and gas tube, the handguard adapted to slide over and along the barrel, gas block, gas tube, and extended barrel nut, the handguard first inner diameter engaging the outer surface of the extended barrel nut; wherein, the handguard surrounds the barrel and attaches to the firearm only at the handguard rear end.