Grip for firearm and method of manufacture therefor

Abstract

A grip for a weapon accessory rail, in which the grip is latched into any position on the accessory rail by a plastic compression latch which is inserted through the side of the grip, and is designed to be removed with the aid of a cartridge, or alternatively by a user depressing a button on the latch through a hole in the grip. The grip is manufactured by overmolding, allowing a variety of textures to be formed thereon, and allowing the material of the overmolded part to be selected for maximum grip, whilst the material of the core of the grip can be selected for maximum strength.

What is desired to be claimed in Letters Patent is:  
     
         1 . A latch bar for retaining an accessory on an accessory rail of a firearm, comprising: 
 a proximal end, a central portion and a distal end;    said latch bar configured to be inserted in a lateral aperture in said accessory;    wherein:    said central portion is compressed against said rail when said accessory is mounted on said rail and said latch bar is inserted in said lateral aperture in said accessory.    
     
     
         2 . The latch bar according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said latch bar comprises thermoplastic material.    
     
     
         3 . The latch bar according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said proximal end is provided with a detent;    whereby said latch bar is withdrawn from said lateral aperture in said accessory by applying a force to said detent.    
     
     
         4 . The latch bar according to  claim 3 , wherein: 
 said detent is a resiliently biased button; and    said accessory is provided with a vertical aperture;    said latch bar disengaged from said lateral aperture in said accessory by applying said force to said detent through said vertical aperture in said accessory.    
     
     
         5 . The latch bar according to  claim 3 , wherein: 
 said detent is a resiliently biased stop;    said accessory is provided with at least one slot; and    said stop in said latch bar engaging said slot in said accessory to retain said latch bar in said accessory.    
     
     
         6 . The latch bar according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said accessory is a grip for supporting said firearm.    
     
     
         7 . The latch bar according to  claim 6 , wherein: 
 said latch bar comprises thermoplastic material.    
     
     
         8 . The latch bar according to  claim 7 , wherein: 
 said proximal end is provided with a detent;    whereby said latch bar is withdrawn from said lateral aperture in said accessory by applying a force to said detent.    
     
     
         9 . The latch bar according to  claim 8 , wherein: 
 said detent is a resiliently biased button; and    said accessory is provided with a vertical aperture;    said latch bar disengaged from said lateral aperture in said accessory by applying said force to said detent through said vertical aperture in said accessory.    
     
     
         10 . The latch bar according to  claim 8 , wherein: 
 said detent is a resiliently biased stop;    said accessory is provided with at least one slot; and    said stop in said latch bar engaging said slot in said accessory to retain said latch bar in said accessory.    
     
     
         11 . A grip for mounting on an accessory rail of a firearm, comprising: 
 a core configured to engage said accessory rail; and    an overmolding formed upon said core.    
     
     
         12 . The grip according to  claim 11 , wherein: 
 said core comprises a glass-filled polymer; and    said overmolding comprises a thermoplastic that is softer than said glass-filled polymer.    
     
     
         13 . The grip according to  claim 12 , wherein: 
 said glass-filled polymer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: 
 nylon 66, nylon 666, polystyrene, and polypropylene.  
   
     
     
         14 . The grip according to  claim 12 , wherein: 
 said overmolding comprises a textured pattern comprising raised portions.    
     
     
         15 . The grip according to  claim 14 , wherein: 
 said raised portions comprise shapes of the letter L and the number 7;    said letter L and said number 7 being arranged as inverted mirror images of each other.    
     
     
         16 . The grip according to  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a lateral aperture provided in said grip for receiving a latch bar.    
     
     
         17 . The grip according to  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 a vertical aperture provided in said grip for receiving a release button.    
     
     
         18 . The grip according to  claim 16 , wherein: 
 said grip comprises two ends; and    a center of said lateral aperture is located at least 0.25 inches from a nearest end of said grip.    
     
     
         19 . The grip according to  claim 18 , wherein: 
 said center of said lateral aperture is located 0.9 to 1.0 inches from said nearest end of said grip.    
     
     
         20 . A method of making a grip for mounting on an accessory rail of a firearm, comprising the steps of: 
 forming a core of a first material, configured to engage said accessory rail; and    forming an overmolding of a second material upon an upper surface of said core.    
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein: 
 said first material comprises a glass-filed polymer; and    said second material is softer than said first material.    
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein: 
 said glass-filled polymer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: 
 nylon 66, nylon 666, polystyrene, and polypropylene.  
   
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein: 
 said overmolding comprises a textured pattern comprising raised portions.    
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein: 
 said raised portions comprise shapes of the letter L and the number 7;    said letter L and said number 7 being arranged as inverted mirror images of each other.    
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 20 , further comprising the step of: 
 before forming said overmolding of said second material upon said upper surface of said core, forming at least one indentation in said upper surface of said core;    whereby said at least one indentation becomes filled with said second material and provides increased strength in a joint between said overmolding and said core.