Abstract
Covers for key lock mounting systems on small arms such as the AR or M4 family of rifles and carbines can provide protection for the firearm and comfort for the operator. The cover has keyhole grips that are pressed into the key lock mounting points in mounting system. The cover is held seated against the surface of the mounting system by the shape and resilience of keyhole grips. V-notch keyhole grips can attach to keyhole shaped mounting points and slot shaped mounting points.
Claims
1. A cover for a firearm fore end comprising a plurality of key lock mounting points, the cover comprising: a cover body comprising a cover top, and a cover bottom wherein the cover body comprises a resilient material; and a keyhole grip comprising a narrow part and a wide part, wherein the keyhole grip is fixed to the cover bottom, wherein the keyhole grip is dimensioned to be pressed into at least one point of the plurality of key lock mounting points, wherein the keyhole grip and the cover body are a single piece of the resilient material, wherein pressing the keyhole grip into the key lock mounting point causes the wide part to deform more than the narrow part, wherein the narrow part is between the wide part and the bottom of the cover body, wherein the wide part comprises two wedges, wherein pressing the keyhole grip into the key lock mounting point causes the wedges to press together until a widest part of the wide part has passed through the key lock mounting point, wherein the wedges press back apart as the widest part is pressed past the key lock mounting point, and wherein the two wedges are separated by a v-notch.
2. The cover of claim 1 wherein the wide part comprises a rounded lower portion, wherein the rounded lower portion is attached to a bottom edge of the narrow part to thereby form the wide part, wherein the key lock mounting point is keyhole shaped as illustrated in FIGS. 2-4 of the drawings, and wherein the wide part is stepped such that the rounded lower portion is discontinuous.
3. The cover of claim 1 wherein the key lock mounting point is slot shaped, wherein the key lock mounting point is not keyhole shaped wherein the key lock mounting point comprises an angled inside surface, and wherein the two wedges are angled at their tops to match the angled inside surface.
4. The cover of claim 1 wherein the key lock mounting point is slot shaped, wherein the key lock mounting point is not keyhole shaped, wherein the key lock mounting point comprises a non-angled angled inside surface, and wherein the two wedges are not angled at their tops to thereby match the non-angled inside surface.
5. The cover of claim 2 further comprising a firearm, the firearm fore end, a second key lock mounting point, a second keyhole grip, a third key lock mounting point, and a third keyhole grip, wherein the second key lock mounting point is slot shaped, wherein the second key lock mounting point is not keyhole shaped, wherein the wide part of the second keyhole grip comprises two second grip wedges, wherein pressing the second keyhole grip into the second key lock mounting point causes the second wedges to press together until a widest part of the wide part of the second keyhole grip has passed through the second key lock mounting point, wherein the second wedges press back apart when the widest part of the second keyhole grip is pressed through the second key lock mounting point, wherein the second wedges are separated by a v-notch, wherein the second key lock mounting point comprises a second angled inside surface, and wherein the second wedges are angled at their tops to match the second angled inside surface, wherein the third key lock mounting point is slot shaped, wherein the third key lock mounting point is not keyhole shaped, wherein the wide part of the third keyhole grip comprises two third wedges, wherein pressing the third keyhole grip into the third key lock mounting point causes the third wedges to press together until a widest part of the wide part of the third keyhole grip has passed through the third key lock mounting point, wherein the third wedges press back apart when the widest part of the third keyhole grip is pressed through the third key lock mounting point, wherein the third key lock mounting point comprises a non-angled angled inside surface, and wherein the two third wedges are not angled at their tops to thereby match the non-angled inside surface, wherein the cover top comprises a raised surface above the keyhole grip, the second keyhole grip, and the third keyhole grip and a non-raised surface between the keyhole grip and the second keyhole grip and between the second keyhole grip and the third keyhole grip.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The accompanying figures, in which like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, further illustrate the present invention and, together with the background of the invention, brief summary of the invention, and detailed description of the invention, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.
(2) FIG. 1, labeled as prior art, illustrates an M16 type firearm 101 with mounting rails 106;
(3) FIG. 2, labeled as prior art, illustrates a handguard 201 with key lock mounting points 202 and a mounting rail 106;
(4) FIG. 3, labeled as prior art illustrates three keylock mounting points as viewed from the underside which would also be the inside of the keylock mounting system;
(5) FIG. 4, labeled as prior art, illustrates a cut view of the keylock mounting point of FIGS. 2-3;
(6) FIG. 5 illustrates a cover having key shaped keyhole grips in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;
(7) FIG. 6 illustrates a different view of the cover of FIG. 5 in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;
(8) FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of the cover of FIGS. 5-6 in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;
(9) FIG. 8 illustrates a cover having a step-patterned top surface and stepped keyhole shaped keyhole grips in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;
(10) FIG. 9 illustrates a different view of the cover of FIG. 8 in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;
(11) FIG. 10 illustrates a cover with a keyhole grip having two wedges and a which in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;
(12) FIG. 11 illustrates a view from the underside of the cover of FIG. 10 in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;
(13) FIG. 12 illustrates a side view of the cover of FIGS. 10-11 in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;
(14) FIG. 13 illustrates a view from above of the cover of FIGS. 10-12 in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;
(15) FIG. 14 illustrates a view from above of the cover of FIGS. 10-13 attached to a keyhole mounting point such as that of FIG. 3 in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;
(16) FIG. 15 illustrates a cut view of the assembly illustrated in FIG. 14 in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;
(17) FIG. 16 illustrates a cover having a V-notch keyhole grip and an upper outer surface shaped to match a key lock mounting points with non-angled inside surfaces. In accordance with aspects of the embodiments;
(18) FIG. 17 illustrates a view from the underside of the cover of FIG. 16 in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;
(19) FIG. 18 illustrates a view from above of the cover of FIGS. 16-17 attached to a slot shaped keyhole mounting point in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;
(20) FIG. 19 illustrates a cut view of the assembly illustrated in FIG. 18 in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;
(21) FIG. 20 illustrates a cut view of an assembly similar to that illustrated in FIG. 18 excepting for a slight angling of the upper surface of the keyhole grip in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;
(22) FIG. 21 illustrates a cover similar to that of FIGS. 10-15 excepting for more rounded front and back keyhole grip ends while the front and back clip ends are flat in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;
(23) FIG. 22 illustrates a side view of the cover of FIG. 21 in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;
(24) FIG. 23 illustrates a bottom view of the cover of FIGS. 21-22 in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;
(25) FIG. 24 illustrates a view from the underside of the cover of FIGS. 21-23 in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;
(26) FIG. 25 illustrates a profile of a cover having an extend angled surface that s harder to pull of the mounting system in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;
(27) FIG. 26 illustrates a profile of a cover having a curved surface on the wedge tops to accommodate keyhole mounting points with and without angled inner surfaces in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;
(28) FIG. 27 illustrates a front view of a cover having a substrate and over old in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;
(29) FIG. 28 illustrates a cut view of the cover of FIG. 27 and showing the substrate in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;
(30) FIG. 29 illustrates a front view of the substrate of the cover of FIGS. 27-28 in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;
(31) FIG. 30 illustrates a view from above of the substrate of FIG. 29 in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;
(32) FIG. 31 illustrates a side view of the substrate of FIGS. 29-30 in accordance in aspects of the embodiments:
(33) FIG. 32 illustrates a front view of the over old of the cover of FIGS. 27-28 in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; and
(34) FIG. 33 illustrates a view from below of the over laid of the cover of FIG. 32 in accordance with aspects of the embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(35) The particular values and configurations discussed in these non-limiting examples can be varied and are cited merely to illustrate at least one embodiment and are not intended to limit the scope thereof. In general, the figures are not to scale.
(36) Covers for key lock mounting systems on small arms such as the AR or M4 family of rifles and carbines can provide protection for the firearm and comfort for the operator. The cover has keyhole grips that are pressed into the key lock mounting points in mounting system. The cover is held seated against the surface of the mounting system by the shape and resilience of keyhole grips. V-notch keyhole grips can attach to keyhole shaped mounting points and slot shaped mounting points.
(37) U.S. Ser. No. 14/593,134 was filed Jan. 9, 2015, is entitled Cone Grip For Handgun and is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. U.S. Ser. No. 14/593,134 discloses a handgrip having an overmold and a substrate. It is for its teachings of grips, overmolds, and substrates that U.S. Ser. No. 14/593,134 is herein included by reference in its entirety.
(38) Provisional Application 62/056,172 was filed Sep. 26, 2014, is entitled Cover For Key Lock Systems and is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. Provisional Application 62/056,172 discloses prior art keylock systems for mounting accessories to firearms and discloses a variety of embodiments of covers for key lock systems, many of which are also taught in this application. It is for its teachings of keylock systems and covers for keylock systems that Provisional Application 62/056,172 is herein included by reference in its entirety.
(39) Provisional Application 62/232,393 was filed Sep. 24, 2015, is entitled Cover For Key Lock Systems and is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. Provisional Application 62/232,393 discloses prior art keylock systems for mounting accessories to firearms and discloses a variety of embodiments of covers for key lock systems, many of which are also taught in this application. It is for its teachings of keylock systems and covers for keylock systems that Provisional Application 62/232,393 herein included, by reference in its entirety.
(40) FIG. 5 illustrates a cover 501 having key shaped keyhole grips 502 in accordance with aspects of the embodiment. The cover body 505 has raised surface 503 over the keyhole grips and a non-raised surface 504 elsewhere such as between the keyhole grips.
(41) FIG. 6 illustrates a different view of the cover 501 of FIG. 5 in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. The keyhole grips 502 can be seen to be keyhole shaped and to have a narrow part 602 and a wide part that has a rounded lower portion 601.
(42) FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of the cover 501 of FIGS. 5-6 in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. The raised surface 503 can be seen as can the narrow part 602 and the wide part 601 of the keyhole grip 502. Also more clearly visible is the widest part 701 of the wide part 601. Pressing the keyhole grip 502 into a key lock mounting point 302 causes the keyhole grip to deform until the widest, part 701 has been pressed through the opening. Being made of resilient material, the keyhole grip attempts to return to its original shape and the widest part 701 presses out. When pressed into a mounting point such as that of FIGS. 3-4, the widest part presses out and into the angled inner surface. It is this action of the keyhole grip pressing out and into the side of the keyhole mounting point that holds the cover 501 and all similar covers onto keylock mounting systems.
(43) FIG. 8 illustrates a cover 801 having a step-patterned top surface 804 and keyhole grips 802 with stepped wide parts 803 in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. The stepped wide part allows the keyhole grip to better match the stepped contour on the underside of keyhole mounting points such as those of FIGS. 3-4 in which part of the underside has an angled surface and another part does not.
(44) FIG. 9 illustrates a different view of the cover 801 of FIG. 8 in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. As with other keyhole grips, the keyhole grip of FIG. 9 has a narrow part 901. The stepped wide part has a first rounded lower portion 802 and a second rounded lower portion 803.
(45) FIGS. 10-15 illustrate a cover 1001 with a keyhole grip 1102 having two wedges 1004 and a v-notch 1005 in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. The cover has a cover body 1002 with a cover top 1202 and a cover bottom 1101. The keyhole grip 1102 has a narrow part 1103 and a wide part 1301 with the wedges 1004 being part of the wide part. The wedges 1104 have an upper surface 1006. FIG. 12 illustrates an aggressively patterned cover top 1202 whereas other cover tops can be smooth, lightly textured, or otherwise patterned. FIGS. 14-15 show the cover 1001 fixed to a keyhole system 301. The illustrated keyhole system has keyhole shaped keyhole mounting points although cover 1001 can as easily be fixed to slot shaped keyhole mounting points. FIG. 12 shows that this particular embodiment has round ends 1202 that can have a radius equal to that of the rounded slot ends 1401. FIG. 15 shows that the upper surfaces 1006 of the wedges 1004 are angled such that they have the same angle as the slot's inner surface 305 when the cover 1001 is installed in slot 302. Other inner surface angles can be used. For example, a different angle can make the cover 1001 easier to pull from the slot 302.
(46) FIG. 10 illustrates a front view of the cover of FIGS. 10-15. FIG. 11 illustrates a view from the underside of the cover of FIGS. 10-15. FIG. 12 illustrates a side view of the cover of FIGS. 10-15. FIG. 13 illustrates a view from above of the cover of FIGS. 10-15. FIG. 14 illustrates a view from above of the cover of FIGS. 10-15 attached to a keyhole mounting point such as that of FIG. 3. FIG. 15 illustrates a cut view of the assembly illustrated in FIG. 14.
(47) FIGS. 16-19 illustrate a cover 1601 having a V-notch keyhole grip and wedge upper surfaces 1603 shaped to match a key lock mounting points with non-angled inside surfaces. In accordance with aspects of the embodiments. As with the other covers, cover 1601 has cover body 1602 and a keyhole grip with a wide part and a narrow part 1605. The wide part has two wedges 1604 with a v-notch 1606 between them. The wedges 1604 have non-angled upper surfaces 1603. The wedge in this embodiment have clips 1607 with flat clip ends 1702 with the remainder of the wedge ends rounded 1701. FIGS. 18-19 show cover 1601 fixed to a keyhole mounting system 1801. The illustrated keyhole mounting system 1801 has slot shaped key hole mounting points 1802. As can be seen in FIG. 19, these particular keyhole mounting points do not have angled inner surfaces.
(48) FIG. 16 illustrates a front view of cover 601 FIG. 17 illustrates a view from the underside of cover 1601. FIG. 18 illustrates a view from above of cover 1601 attached to a slot shaped keyhole mounting point 1802 FIG. 19 illustrates a cut view of the assembly illustrated in FIG. 18.
(49) FIG. 20 illustrates a cut view of an assembly similar to that illustrated in FIGS. 18-19 excepting for that the cover 2001 has a slight angling of the upper surface 2002 to make it easier to pull the cover 2001 from the keyhole mounting assembly 1801.
(50) FIGS. 21-24 illustrate a cover 2101 similar to that of FIGS. 10-15 excepting for more rounded front and back keyhole grip ends 2201 while the front and back clip ends 2107 are flat in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. The cover 2101 has a cover body 2102 and a keyhole grip a narrow part 2105 with two wedges 2104 and a v-notch 2106. The wedges in this embodiment have angled upper surfaces 2103.
(51) FIG. 21 illustrates a front view of cover 2101. FIG. 22 illustrates a side view of cover 2101. FIG. 23 illustrates a bottom view of cover 2101. FIG. 24 illustrates a view from the underside of cover 2101.
(52) FIG. 25 illustrates a profile of a cover 2501 having an extended angled upper surface 2502 that is harder to pull off a mounting system because the keyhole grip must deform more than for a cover with a narrower keyhole grip.
(53) FIG. 26 illustrates a profile of a keyhole grip 2601 for cover having a curved surface 2602 on the wedge tops in order to accommodate keyhole mounting points with and without angled inner surfaces.
(54) FIGS. 27-28 illustrate a front view of a cover 2701 having a substrate 2703 and overmold 2702 in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. The substrate 2703 includes the keyhole grip 2704 and a lower portion 2705 of the cover body 2706. The overmold is a plastic that provides structural rigidity to the cover while the overmold is a softer plastic that provides an ergonomic gripping surface and form. The substrate material is not only more rigid than the overmold material but also gives the keyhole grip a less resilient surface than the overmold material. The less resilient surface is less prone to binding in a key hole mounting points before the keyhole grip is fully inserted. The substrate material typically has a higher melting point than the overmold material such that substrates can be formed first and then overmolds cast directly over and into the substrates.
(55) FIG. 27 illustrates a front view of a cover 2701 having substrate 2703 and overmold 2703. FIG. 28 illustrates a cut view of the cover 2701 and shows substrate 2703 and overmold 2704 in accordance with aspects of the embodiments.
(56) FIGS. 29-31 illustrate aspects of substrate 2703 of FIGS. 27-28. The substrate is typically a single molded piece with the lower cover body 2705 and keyhole grip 2704 which has wedges 2901 and v-notch 2902. It should be noted that the keyhole grip of cover 2701 can very similar, even identical, in form, to the keyhole grips of other embodiments contemplated herein. Many of the other embodiments are formed from a single piece of material whereas cover 2701 is formed from two materials. Although the substrate material is more rigid than the overmold material, the substrate material must be resilient enough that the keyhole grip can be pressed into a key hole mounting point without breaking and must be resilient enough that the wedges press outward and hold the cover to the mounting system.
(57) FIG. 29 illustrates a front view of substrate 2703. FIG. 30 illustrates a view from above of substrate 2703. FIG. 31 illustrates a side view of substrate 2703.
(58) FIGS. 32-33 illustrate a views and aspects of overmold 2702 of cover 2701 of FIGS. 27-28 in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. Overmold 2702 includes the top portion of the cover body 3201 and a cavity 3202 into which the top portion 2705 of the substrate 2703 fits.
(59) FIG. 32 illustrates a front view of overmold 2702. FIG. 33 illustrates a view from below of overmold 2702.
(60) An embodiment similar to that of FIGS. 27-33 reverses the overmold and the substrate elements such that the elements illustrated in FIGS. 29-31 become the overmold are made of the softer more resilient overmold material and such that the elements illustrated in FIGS. 32-33 become the substrate and are made of the harder and less resilient substrate material.
(61) It will be appreciated that variations of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also, that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.
