Firearm accessory

Description of equivalent WO 2009095921 A2

Firearm Accessory FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This presented invention relates to the ability of individual, firearms owners and representatives of the law enforcement, military and governmental entities to enhance the pointability and shootability of their firearms.

As is the case with any handheld firearm, a user must first "cock" the firearm. Cocking is known as the process of displacing the hammer of a firearm to a rearward position, thereby preparing the trigger of the weapon for firing. Cocking is generally accomplished in one of several ways, depending on the make and model of a given firearm. In many handgun models a user may cock the weapon by manually thumbing back the hammer of the firearm. In other models, a "slide" is displaced to aft of the firearm. In still other models, such as in double action handguns, a rearward displacement of the trigger results in a complimentary rearward displacement of the hammer. Release of the hammer occurs when the trigger of the firearm is depressed with the requisite amount of pressure. Once the firearm has been appropriately cocked, the firearm thereby becomes ready to be discharged by a rearward displacement of the firearm's trigger.

When the user "pulls the trigger" of the firearm, it causes a complimentary displacement of the hammer to a forward position, which hammer hits the weapon's firing pin, thereby displacing the firing pin to impact the firing cap of the chambered cartridge. With a standard cartridge, impacting the firing cap causes a chemical reaction whereby the primer and gunpowder in the bullet are burned, which burning leads to the bullet being launched from the cartridge at a high velocity invariably between 800-1400 feet per second (fps) in handguns and even in excess of 3000 fps in high powered rifles.

The term "firearm" as used herein shall include any firearm and/or handheld firearm including but limited to, handguns, revolvers, rifles, shotguns, carbines, sub machine guns (SMG's), assault rifles and the like.

With modern usage of firearms for self defense and especially handguns and revolvers, there is a growing need to adapt the firearm for- longer range use and/or Close Quarter Battle (CQB), attachment of optical device such as "red- dot" sights, illuminations system, laser sights, telescopic sights and the like. Some handgun manufacturers now offer several model with a "under barrel" Picatinny rail. The Picatinny rail is a bracket used on some firearms in order to provide a standardized mounting platform for telescopic sights and other accessories, such as tactical lights and laser sighting modules. The standard was first published by the Picatinny Arsenal and carries the official title MIL- STD-1913. It is also known by the NATO designation STANAG 2324. Nevertheless, this system is deficient when trying to mount ACOG (Advanced . Combat Optical Gunsight) Telescopic sight, Aimpoint™, Red Dot and similar systems which systems require an "over barrel" mounting on many firearms.

Many short firearms and handguns especially are carried in. a holster which significantly impedes any attachments thereto. Furthermore, Handguns do not have stocks and cannot be "shouldered" in many scenarios. There is an increasing need for a quick, rapid deployment accessory readily facilitating transition from a handgun or short firearm use to a "stocked" firearm which firearms can be readily equipped with a plurality of ACOG' s or picatinny railed and "over barrel" optics.

This has become especially true and pertinent in lieu of modern "active shooter" scenarios and modern terror threats which negate negotiations and require rapid response from on-scene officers, law enforcement or armed professional.

An active shooter is defined to include, but not be limited to, any armed person who has used deadly physical force on other persons and continues to do so^'while having unrestricted access to additional victims. ^>

The definition includes so-called . "snipers" and may include suicide bombers as well. Consequently Active shooters have caused a paradigm shift in law enforcement training and tactics, especially as these persons do not necessarily expect to escape or even survive these situations.

When an active shooter begins his attack, it is imperative that the initial police responders immediately pursue and establish contact with the shooter at ^■ the earliest opportunity. The sooner the shooter can be contained, captured or neutralized, the fewer the casualties incurred. During the pursuit, police officers will move through unsecured areas, and bypass dead, wounded and panicked citizens while approaching the perpetrators. It is important for law enforcement personnel to survive the encounter to end a massacre, rather than become additional victims. Modern "Immediate Action Rapid Deployment" (IARD) police tactics and protective equipment have been developed that enable first responder patrol officers to rapidly approach armed individuals. Trained officers must 'have the ability to move swiftly while simultaneously aiming and operating a pistol, submachine gun, or assault rifle. Sadly, most officers only have a handgun available and cannot convert them to shouldered/stocked weapons rapidly and/or readily.

The ability of police officers to apply accurate firepower is vital during an active shooter emergency, as rescuing officers are reluctant to use. weapons in crowded areas for fear of adding to the casualty count, and have a difficult time getting closer to an active shooter without ballistic protection.

The history of firearms has shown many attempts to ad butt stocks to handguns by attaching a stock to the rear of the handgun. By way of example, Russian Stechkin APS machine pistols have the capability of using a detachable wooden stock. Nevertheless, due to the fact there is no foregrip and no means to attach any optics and/or ACOG' s this attempted solution is woefully deficient.

Another example is the Mauser C96 with an integral box magazine in front of the trigger, the long barrel, the wooden shoulder stock which can double as a holster or carrying case, and the handle shaped like the end of a broom's handle that earned it the nickname "Broomhandle" among Anglophone speakers. A latent deficiency of this attempted solution is the bulkiness of the firearm which renders it almost useless as a modern LE weapon, as well as the inability to attach any optics/ ACOG' s and the like. Furthermore, any attempt to use either a Stechkin style or Mauser style weapon system in any situation in which IARD is required is bound to fail costing innocent lives.

A further attempt was performed with Heckler & Koch™ producing a version of the VP70 with attached shoulder stock covered by US Patent number 3,861,273 with a fire selector behind backstrap of the pistol, capable of selecting three shot bursts while the shoulder stock doubled as a rather clumsy holster, reminiscent of the Russian Stechkin series.

Nevertheless, even the VP70 and all subsequent attempts suffer from the above latent deficiencies of an inability to attach optics and/or ACOG' s as well as a lack of foregrip and a usually cumbersome constructions rendering the firearms incapable of IARD roles as well as primary sidearm.

Thus, there is a need for a firearm accessory readily facilitating a firearm to be rapidly converted to a shouldered weapon capable of IARD tasks. There is a further need for a firearm accessory facilitating a firearm to be converted rapidly to a weapon system with a foregrip and/or not cumbersome.

There is still a further need for a firearm accessory readily facilitating a firearm to be rapidly converted to a shouldered weapon capable of attaching a wide variety and even a plurality of optics/ ACOG' s and the like as well as adding multiple picatinny rails to a handgun, especially with an "over barrel" configuration. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of an exemplary firearm accessory of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows an upper view of an exemplary firearm accessory of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a side view of an alternative exemplary firearm accessory of the present invention with a variety of magazine carrying options.

The following illustrations describe few of the possibilities for the potential product and are not limiting or dictating in. any way the final configuration of the firearm accessory.

DESCMPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

It has been recognized that it would be advantageous to develop a firearm accessory to enable a rapid and safe mounting and removal of a firearms. Preferably, such a firearm accessory would readily facilitate a firearm to be rapidly converted to a shouldered weapon capable of IARD tasks. Preferably, such a firearm accessory would readily facilitate a firearm to be converted rapidly to a weapon system with a fore-grip and/or not being cumbersome.

More preferably, such a firearm accessory facilitate converting a firearm to be a shouldered weapon capable of attaching a wide variety and even a plurality of optics/ACOG's and as well as adding multiple picatinny rails to a handgun, especially with an "over barrel" configuration. This present invention provides a firearm accessory for enabling rapid and safe mounting and removal of a firearms and/or facilitating a firearm to be rapidly converted to a shouldered weapon capable of IARD tasks and/or readily facilitating firearm conversion to a weapon system with a fore-grip and/or readily facilitating converting a firearm to a shouldered weapon capable of attaching a wide variety and even a plurality of optics/ACOG's and as well as adding multiple picatinny rails to a handgun, especially with an "over barrel" configuration.

The principles and operation of the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description. Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description and\or as illustrated in the drawings.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The materials, dimensions, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and are not intended to be limiting.

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a firearm accessory 10 according to the present invention.

Firearm accessory 10 preferably includes a body 11 for readily and securely accommodating a firearm 12. Optionally, body 11 secures firearm 12 in at least one location. As shown in Figure 1, body 11 includes a trigger guard securer 14 for readily securing a trigger guard 16 of firearm 12 to firearm accessory 10.

Optionally, firearm accessory 10 includes a grip securer 18 for readily securing a grip 20 of firearm 12 to firearm accessory 10.

Preferably, firearm accessory 10 includes a "racker" 22 for readily engaging an upper end 24 of firearm 12. Preferably, "racker" 22 is geared towards a user performing an action selected from the group consisting of: racking upper end 24 of firearm 12, loading firearm 12, unloading firearm 12 and clearing any malfunctions and jams in the operation of firearm 12. Namely, "racker" 22 readily facilitates performing an action selected from the group consisting of: racking upper end 24 of firearm 12, loading firearm 12, unloading firearm 12 and clearing any malfunctions and jams in the operation Of firearm 12, such that ''racker" 22 can be situated according to any location known in the art. Thus, "racker" 22 can be readily situated substantially aft of firearm 12, substantially forward , of firearm 12, substantially on top of firearm 12 or substantially in adjacency to firearm 12.

Preferably, firearm accessory 10 is attached to or integrally formed with a shoulder pad 26 for readily facilitating shouldering and/or rapid deployment of firearm 12 with firearm accessory 10.

Optionally, a "pistol grip" 28 is attached to or integrally formed with firearm accessory 10, for readily enhancing portability and/or rapid alignment of firearm and sighting of the user. Preferably, "pistol grip" 28 is hingedly attached by way of a hinge 30 attached to, or integrally formed with, firearm accessory 10. Pistol grip 28 is geared towards readily facilitating "folding" of pistol grip 28. Thus, a user can choose between conventional use of firearm accessory 10 similarly of standard rifles and/or SMG's as well as rapid conversion to a pistol grip weapon. As shown in Figure 1, firearm accessory 10 includes pistol grip 28 in the open position.

Optionally, firearm accessory 10 includes an upper picatinny rail 32 for readily facilitating attaching a wide variety of optics/ACOG's and/or aiming devices. Optionally, firearm accessory 10 includes at least one side picatinny rail 34 for readily facilitating attaching a wide variety of optics/ACOG's and/or aiming devices. It is quite common in the modern battlefield as well as LE and civilian uses to attach more than one optic accessory. By way of example only, a light source, a laser aiming device and even a "red dot" have been known to be used in conjunction on a single weapon system. It is envisaged that firearm accessory 10 can include a plurality of side picatinny rails 32 in addition to upper picatinny rail 34 for this purpose, among others.

Optionally, firearm accessory 10 includes a: lower picatinny rail 36 for readily facilitating attaching a wide variety of optics/ACOG's and/or aiming devices.

It is further envisaged to replace any of the above picatinny rails with any , other mounting system beneficial to the usefulness and properties of firearm accessory 10. Figure 2 shows an upper view of the first embodiment of a firearm

accessory 10 according to the present invention.

As shown in Figure 2, firearm accessory 10 includes a body 11 for

readily and securely accommodates a firearm 12.

Optionally, firearm accessory 10 secures firearm 12 in at least one

location. As shown in Figure 2, body 11 includes a trigger guard securer 14 for

readily securing a trigger guard 16 of firearm 12 to firearm accessory 10.

Optionally, firearm accessory 10 includes a grip securer 18 for readily

securing a grip 20 of firearm 12 to firearm accessory 10.

Preferably, firearm accessory 10 includes a "racker" 22 for readily

engaging an upper end 24 of firearm 12. Preferably, "racker" 22 is geared

towards a user performing an action selected from the group consisting of:

racking upper end 24 of firearm 12, loading firearm 12, unloading firearm 12

and clearing any malfunctions and jams in the operation of firearm 12.

Preferably, firearm accessory 10 is attached to or integrally formed with

a shoulder pad 26 for readily facilitating shouldering and/or rapid deployment

of firearm 12 with firearm accessory 10.

Preferably, shoulder pad 26 is attached to, or integrally formed with, a

folding and/or retractable stock 27 as shown in Figure 2. Thus, a plurality of

overall weapon system lengths can be readily achieved to suit differing i physique and body sizes as well as to suit a variety of shooting techniques

including but not limited to "peck Vest", instinctive pointing, raising shoulder

pad 26 above the shoulder of the user akin of certain special forces disciplines, centering shoulder pad in the middle of a ceramic plate or middle solar plexus of a bullet proof vest and the like.

Optionally, a "pistol grip" 28 is attached to or integrally formed with firearm accessory 10, for readily enhancing pointability and/or rapid alignment of firearm and sighting of the user.

Preferably, "pistol grip" 28 is hingedly attached by way of a hinge 30 attached to, or integrally formed with, firearm accessory 10. Pistol grip 28 is geared towards readily facilitating "folding" of pistol grip 28. Thus, a user can choose between conventional use of firearm accessory 10 similarly of standard rifles and/or SMG' s as well as rapid conversion to a pistol grip weapon. As shown in Figure ,2 firearm accessory 10 is with pistol grip 28 in the "closed position"

Optionally, firearm accessory 10 includes an upper picatinny rail 32 for readily facilitating attaching a wide variety of optics/ACOG's and/or aiming devices. Optionally, firearm accessory 10 includes at least one side picatinny rail 34 for readily facilitating attaching a wide variety of optics/ACOG's and/or aiming devices. It is quite common in the modern battlefield as well as LE and civilian uses to attach more than one optic accessory. By way of example only, a light source, a laser aiming device and even a "red dot" have been known to be used in conjunction on a single weapon system. It is envisaged that firearm accessory 10 can include a plurality of side picatinny rails 32 in addition to upper picatinny rail 34 for this purpose, among others. Optionally, firearm accessory 10 includes a lower picatinny rail 36 for readily facilitating attaching a wide variety of optics/ACOG's and/or aiming devices.

Figure 2 shows at least one, recoil control system 38 attached to, or integrally formed with either firearm accessory 10 or firearm 12 for readily controlling and/or decreasing objective and subjective recoil.

Preferably, recoil control system is selected from the group consisting of: a weight, a muzzle brake, a¹ compensator, a porting, a slowing of departing combustion gasses and an expansion chamber.

Notably, muzzle brakes are usually external to the barrel of the firearm or cannon, while a recoil compensator is typically part of the structure of the barrel of the firearm.

Typically, Muzzle brakes are simple in concept wherein, the muzzle brake consists of a small length of tubing mounted at right angles to the end of the barrel.

Muzzle brakes most often utilize slots, vents, holes, baffles, and similar devices to redirect and control. the burst , of combustion gases that follows the departure of a projectile.

Typically, porting involves ports or holes in the barrel near the muzzle that vent gas prior to the departure of the bullet.

A third method involves slowing the departure of combustion gases rather than redirection. Slowing of the gases is the method used on suppressors and linear compensators. In conventional designs, combustion gases depart the brake at an angle to the bore. This counteracts the rearward movement of the barrel due to recoil as well as the upward rise of the muzzle. The mass and velocity of the gases is significant enough to move the firearm in the opposite direction of recoil.

Optionally, the muzzle brake is angled slightly to the right to counteract the sideways movement of the gun under recoil.

There are advantages and disadvantages to muzzle brakes. Recoil is a subjective concept. Whilst some users may perceive it as pain, others may perceive recoil as movement of the sights, and some users as rearward thrust.

Recoil energy can be sharp if the impulse is fast or may be considered soft even if the same total energy is transferred. Though there are numerous ways of meastiring the energy of a, recoil impulse, it's generally true that between 10% and 50% reductions can be measured.

One of the primary advantages of a muzzle brake is the reduction of muzzle rise. This allows a weapon's sights to be realigned more quickly. This is relevant particularly for fully automatic weapons. Muzzle rise is often entirely eliminated by an efficient design. Because the rifle moves rearward less, the shooter has little to compensate for. This is particularly true of rapid-fire, fully- automatic fire, and large-bore hunting rifles. They are also common on smallbore varmint rifles, where reducing the muzzle rise allows the shooter to see the bullet impact through the scope.

Figure 3 shows a first embodiment of a firearm accessory 10 according to the present invention. Firearm accessory 10 includes a body 11 preferably for readily and securely accommodates a firearm 12.

Optionally, firearm accessory 10 secures firearm 12 in at least one location. As shown in Figure 3, body 11 includes a trigger guard securer 14 for readily securing a trigger guard 16 of firearm 12 to firearm accessory 10.

Preferably, firearm accessory 10 includes a "racker" 22 for readily engaging an upper end 24 of firearm 12. Preferably, "racker" 22 is geared towards a user performing an action selected from the group consisting of: racking upper end 24 of firearm 12, loading firearm 12, unloading firearm 12 and clearing any malfunctions and jams in the operation of firearm 12.

Optionally, firearm accessory 10 includes an upper picatinny rail 32 for readily facilitating attaching a wide variety of optics/ACOG's and/or aiming devices. Optionally, firearm accessory 10 includes at least one side picatinny rail 34 for readily facilitating attaching a wide variety of optics/ACOG's and/or aiming devices. It is quite common in the modern battlefield as well as LE and civilian uses to attach more than one optic accessory. By way of example only, a light source, a laser aiming device and even a "red dot" have been known to be used in conjunction on a single weapon system. It is envisaged that firearm accessory 10 can include a plurality of side picatinny rails 32 in addition to upper picatinny rail 34 for this purpose, among others.

It is further envisaged to replace any of the above picatinny rails with any other mounting system beneficial to the usefulness and_. properties of firearm accessory 10. Optionally, firearm accessory 10 includes a magazine grip securer 40 for readily securing a grip 20 of firearm 12 to firearm accessory 10. Furthermore, magazine grip securer 40 readily accommodates a standard magazine 42 or an extended magazine 44 for firearm 12. Optionally, a magazine safety catch 46 is attached to or integrally formed with magazine grip securer 40 for readily facilitating secure carriage of either standard magazine 42 or an extended magazine 44 for firearm 12 as well as rapid reloads upon depletion of any magazine in firearm 12.

Preferably, firearm accessory 10 is attached to or integrally formed with a magazine shoulder pad 48 for readily facilitating shouldering and/or rapid deployment of firearm 12 with firearm accessory 10 as well as magazine shoulder pad 48 readily accommodating a standard magazine 42 or an extended magazine 44 for, firearm 12. Optionally, a magazine safety catch 46 is attached to or integrally formed with magazine shoulder pad 48 for readily facilitating secure carriage of either standard magazine 42 or an extended magazine 44 for firearm 12 as well as rapid reloads upon depletion of any magazine in firearm 12.

Preferably, magazine shoulder pad 48 is attached to, or integrally formed with, a folding and/or retractable stock 50 as shown in Figure.3. Thus, a plurality of overall weapon system lengths can be readily achieved to suit differing physique and body ^' sizes as well as to suit a variety of shooting techniques including but not limited to "peck vest", instinctive pointing, raising magazine shoulder pad 48 above the shoulder of the user akin of certain special forces disciplines, centering shoulder pad in the middle of a ceramic plate or middle solar plexus of a bullet proof vest and the like.

Optionally, a magazine "pistol grip" 52 is attached to or integrally formed with firearm accessory 10, for readily enhancing pόintability and/or rapid alignment of firearm and sighting of the user for readily facilitating shouldering and/or rapid deployment of firearm 12 with firearm accessory 10 as well as magazine "pistol grip" 52 readily accommodating a standard magazine 42 or an extended magazine 44 for firearm 12. Optionally, a magazine safety catch 46 is attached to or integrally formed with magazine "pistol grip" 52 for readily facilitating secure carriage of either standard magazine 42 or an extended magazine 44 for firearm 12 as well as rapid reloads upon depletion of any magazine in firearm 12.

Preferably, magazine "pistol grip" 52 is hingedly attached by way of a hinge 54 attached to, or integrally formed with, firearm accessory 10. Magazine "pistol grip" 52 is geared towards readily facilitating "folding" of magazine "pistol grip" 52. Thus, a user can choose between conventional use of firearm accessory 10 similarly, of standard rifles and/or SMG's as well as rapid conversion to a pistol grip weapon. As shown in Figure 3, firearm accessory 10 includes magazine "pistol grip" 52 in the open position.

It is further envisaged to replace any of the above picatinny rails with any other mounting system beneficial to the usefulness and properties of firearm accessory 10. Optionally, a "locking" mechanism 56 is provided for preventing the subject from removing the restrainer prior to when desired by the retaining government body.

Preferably, "locking" mechanism 56 is an electronic locking mechanism which is encoded according to authorized users who bear a complimentary electronic key.

Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is¹ intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.

It will be appreciated that the^' above descriptions are intended to only serve as examples, and that many other embodiments are possible within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

<img file="WO2009095921A2_D0001.tif" />