Composite grip module for a handgun

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10866059-B2
Application number	US-201916509960-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 12, 2019
Priority date	Aug 7, 2018
Publication date	Dec 15, 2020
Grant date	Dec 15, 2020

Abstract

A composite grip or grip module for a handgun is made from a polymer composite that includes a polymer and dense particles that increase the density of the grip. For example, the particles can be tungsten, tantalum, lead, iron, or mixtures thereof to provide a polymer density of greater than 2.5 grams per cubic centimeter.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A grip module for a handgun, the grip module comprising:
a handgrip portion extending downwardly; and
a receiver portion extending forward from the handgrip portion;
wherein the handgrip portion and the receiver portion are made of a polymer composite having metal particles dispersed throughout an entire volume of the polymer, the grip module having a density greater than 2.5 grams per cubic centimeter.

2. The grip module of claim 1 , wherein a center of mass of the grip module is located within the handgrip portion.

3. The module of claim 1 further comprising metal particles embedded into a surface of the grip module.

4. The grip module of claim 1 , wherein the metal particles comprise one or more of tungsten, tantalum, lead, and iron.

5. The grip module of claim 4 , wherein the polymer comprises polyamide.

6. The grip module of claim 5 wherein the polymer composite comprises at least 20% tungsten by weight.

7. The grip module of claim 1 , wherein the metal particles are homogeneously dispersed throughout the entire volume of the polymer.

8. The grip module of claim 1 , wherein the metal particles have a density of at least 7 g/cm 3 .

9. The grip module of claim 8 , wherein the polymer composite comprises at least 50% polymer by volume.

10. The grip module of claim 8 , wherein the polymer composite comprises at least 80% polymer by volume.

11. The grip module of claim 8 , wherein the polymer composite comprises less than 50% metal particles by volume.

12. The grip module of claim 8 , wherein the metal particles are non-uniformly distributed throughout the grip module.

13. The grip module of claim 12 , wherein the metal particles have a greater concentration in a backstrap portion of the grip module compared to neighboring portions of the grip module.

14. The grip module of claim 12 , wherein the metal particles have a greater concentration in a distal portion of the receiver portion of the grip module compared to neighboring portions of the grip module.

15. The grip module of claim 12 , wherein the metal particles have a greater concentration in a lower part of the handgrip portion of the grip module compared to neighboring portions of the grip module.

16. The grip module of claim 8 , wherein the metal particles comprise one or more of tungsten, tantalum, lead, and iron.

17. The grip module of claim 8 , wherein the grip module has a density of at least 3 grams per cubic centimeter.

18. The grip module of claim 8 , wherein the grip module has a density of at least 3.5 grams per cubic centimeter.

19. A handgun, comprising the grip module of claim 1 .

20. The handgun of claim 19 , wherein a center of mass of the handgun is located within the grip module.

21. The grip module of claim 1 , wherein the metal particles have an average diameter less than 1 mm.

22. The handgun of claim 19 , wherein the polymer composite comprises greater than 1% tungsten or tantalum by volume.

23. A grip module for a handgun, the grip module made of a polymer having metal particles dispersed throughout an entire volume of the polymer, wherein the grip module has a density greater than 2.5 grams per cubic centimeter.

24. The grip module of claim 23 , wherein the metal particles comprise tungsten.

Assignees

• Sig Sauer Inc

Inventors

• Haase Zachary Stephen
• Strader Jr Phillip Harold

Classifications

• F41C23/10 Primary

  Stocks or grips for pistols, e.g. revolvers (F41C23/12 takes precedence) · CPC title