Forend for a firearm

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11118859-B1
Application number	US-202016874009-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	May 14, 2020
Priority date	May 14, 2020
Publication date	Sep 14, 2021
Grant date	Sep 14, 2021

Abstract

A forend for a firearm is shown and described.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A forend for a firearm, the forend comprising:
a housing including a front surface, a grip portion, and a finger slot, the finger slot adapted to receive at least a portion of at least one finger of a hand of a user while the user is gripping at least a portion of the grip portion with at least a portion of a remainder of the hand, a forward-most edge of the front surface lying in a first plane when the housing is viewed straight-on from a side thereof, the finger slot comprising a surface and a point, the point being located below the surface of the finger slot when the housing is viewed straight-on from the side when the housing is in an upright orientation, a forward-most edge of the surface of the finger slot lying in a second plane and the point lying in a third plane when the housing is viewed straight-on from the side when the housing is in the upright orientation, the first plane, second plane, and third plane being parallel; wherein a first distance that is measured perpendicularly between the first plane and the second plane has a lower value than a second distance that is measured perpendicularly between the first plane and the third plane;
a strap, the strap having a first end that is pivotably attached to the housing via a first bracket and a second end that is pivotably attached to the housing via a second bracket, the strap being located at least partially below each of the grip portion and the finger slot;
a light assembly including at least one light source;
a power source in electrical connection with the light assembly to supply power to the light assembly; and
a switch assembly, the switch assembly comprising
a first tactile switch, the first tactile switch having a first trip force rating, a first state when a first applied force that is applied to the first tactile switch has a value that is less than the first trip force rating, and a second state that results when the first applied force has a value that is equal to or in excess of the first trip force rating,
a second tactile switch being spaced apart from the first tactile switch, the second tactile switch having a second trip force rating, a first state when a second applied force that is applied to the second tactile switch has a value that is less than the second trip force rating, and a second state that results when the second applied force has a value that is equal to or in excess of the second trip force rating,
a bar, the bar having a length, a top surface, and a bottom surface,
a first actuating button located at least partially between the bottom surface of the bar and the first tactile switch, and
a second actuating button located at least partially between the bottom surface of the bar and the second tactile switch,
wherein the application of a depressing force to the top surface of the bar anywhere along the length thereof causes the first actuating button to apply the first applied force to the first tactile switch and/or the second actuating button to apply the second applied force to the second tactile switch, and
wherein if at least one of the first tactile switch or the second tactile switch is placed into its respective second state, at least one state of the light assembly is adjusted.

2. The forend of claim 1 , wherein the bar has a first hole into which the first actuating button at least partially fits and a second hole into which the second actuating button at least partially fits.

3. The forend of claim 1 , wherein each of the first tactile switch and the second tactile switch has a body having a domed shape.

4. The forend of claim 3 , wherein each of the first tactile switch and the second tactile switch has a dimple extending outwardly from the respective body thereof toward the bottom surface of the bar.

5. The forend of claim 1 , the switch assembly further comprising a first electrical contact in electrical connection with the light assembly and the power source and a second electrical contact in electrical connection with the light assembly and the power source, the first tactile switch located adjacent to the first electrical contact and the second tactile switch located adjacent to the second electrical contact.

6. A forend for a firearm, the forend comprising:
a housing including a front surface, a grip portion, and a finger slot, the finger slot adapted to receive at least a portion of at least one finger of a hand of a user while the user is gripping at least a portion of the grip portion with at least a portion of a remainder of the hand, a forward-most edge of the front surface lying in a first plane when the housing is viewed straight-on from a side thereof, the finger slot comprising a surface and a point, the point being located below the surface of the finger slot when the housing is viewed straight-on from the side when the housing is in an upright orientation, a forward-most edge of the surface of the finger slot lying in a second plane and the point lying in a third plane when the housing is viewed straight-on from the side when the housing is in the upright orientation, the first plane, second plane, and third plane being parallel; wherein a first distance that is measured perpendicularly between the first plane and the second plane has a lower value than a second distance that is measured perpendicularly between the first plane and the third plane;
a light assembly including at least one light source;
a power source in electrical connection with the light assembly to supply power to the light assembly; and
a switch assembly, the switch assembly comprising
a first tactile switch, the first tactile switch having a first trip force rating, a first state when a first applied force that is applied to the first tactile switch has a value that is less than the first trip force rating, and a second state that results when the first applied force has a value that is equal to or in excess of the first trip force rating,
a second tactile switch being spaced apart from the first tactile switch, the second tactile switch having a second trip force rating, a first state when a second applied force that is applied to the second tactile switch has a value that is less than the second trip force rating, and a second state that results when the second applied force has a value that is equal to or in excess of the second trip force rating,
a bar, the bar having a length, a top surface, and a bottom surface,
a first actuating button located at least partially between the bottom surface of the bar and the first tactile switch, and
a second actuating button located at least partially between the bottom surface of the bar and the second tactile switch,
wherein the application of a depressing force to the top surface of the bar anywhere along the length thereof causes the first actuating button to apply the first applied force to the first tactile switch and/or the second actuating button to apply the second applied force to the second tactile switch, and
wherein if at least one of the first tactile switch or the second tactile switch is placed into its respective second state, at least one state of the light assembly is adjusted.

7. The forend of claim 6 , wherein the bar has a first hole into which the first actuating button at least partially fits and a second hole into which the second actuating button at least partially fits.

8. The forend of claim 6 , wherein each of the first tactile switch and the second tactile switch has a body having a domed shape.

9. The forend of claim 8 , wherein each of the first tactile switch and the second tactile switch has a dimple extending outwardly from the respective body thereof toward the bottom surface of the bar.

10. The forend of cla

Assignees

• Streamlight Inc

Inventors

• Hawk Joshua D
• Boris Thomas D

Classifications

• F41C27/00

  Accessories; Details or attachments not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• F41C23/16

  Forestocks; Handgrips; Hand guards (pump-action guns F41C7/02) · CPC title

• F41C23/10 Primary

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

• F21V33/0004

  Personal or domestic articles · CPC title

• F21L4/005

  the device being a pocket lamp (F21L4/022, F21L4/045, F21L4/085 take precedence) · CPC title