Target grip apparatus for a firearm

Abstract

A target grip for a firearm comprising fixed and removable trigger finger extenders for a side panel of the firearm for enabling the distal portion of a user's trigger finger to contact a trigger at an angle approximately perpendicular to the trigger for more shooting accuracy and consistency. Various size target grip trigger finger extenders are provided for the side panel of the firearm until the proper size extender is found by a user. In one embodiment, the target grip extender is secured by a locking device positioned within the extender. In another embodiment, the trigger finger extender is an integral part of the side panel. The side panel may be attached to the side of a firearm by screws or by an adhesive. In a further embodiment, the trigger finger extender is an integral part of a sleeve that slips over the frame of the firearm.

1 . A firearm having a target grip, said target grip comprising: 
 a contoured outward extension increasing in depth from a back edge to a front edge for an inside of a user's trigger finger to rest on wherein said front edge enables a first joint of said trigger finger to bend at approximately a right angle in order to position a distal portion of said trigger finger directly in front of a trigger of said firearm and approximately perpendicular to said trigger.    
   
   
       2 . The firearm as recited in  claim 1  wherein said target grip comprises one of a plurality of different size trigger finger extenders of varying contoured outward extensions to accommodate different lengths of a user's trigger finger.  
   
   
       3 . The firearm as recited in  claim 1  wherein said target grip comprises a notch in an inside front corner extending from top to bottom for receiving an edge of a holster.  
   
   
       4 . A trigger finger extender for attaching to a firearm comprising a varying contoured outward extension for guiding a trigger finger of a user to bend at approximately a right angle in order to position a distal portion of said trigger finger directly in front of a trigger of said firearm and approximately perpendicular to said trigger.  
   
   
       5 . The trigger finger extender as recited in  claim 4  wherein said trigger finger extender comprises one of a plurality of different size trigger finger extenders of varying contoured outward extensions to accommodate different lengths of a user's trigger finger.  
   
   
       6 . The trigger finger extender as recited in  claim 4  wherein said trigger finger extender comprises a notch in an inside front corner extending from top to bottom for receiving an edge of a holster.  
   
   
       7 . A side panel for a firearm comprising: 
 a base section for attaching to a frame of said firearm;    a trigger finger extender for removably attaching to said base section;    a locking device positioned within said trigger finger extender having a button protruding through said extender for unlocking and removing said extender portion.    
   
   
       8 . The side panel as recited in  claim 7  wherein said base section comprises an opening for receiving a screw for securing said base section and said extender.  
   
   
       9 . The side panel as recited in  claim 7  wherein said extender portion comprises a varying contoured outward extension for guiding a trigger finger of a user to bend at approximately a right angle in order to position a distal portion of said trigger finger directly in front of a trigger of said firearm and approximately perpendicular to said trigger.  
   
   
       10 . The side panel as recited in  claim 7  wherein said locking device comprises: 
 an opening in a main body of said locking device for positioning said locking device on a retaining screw; and    a flexible leg extending downward from said main body for flexing when said button is pressed to unlock and remove said trigger finger extender.    
   
   
       11 . The side panel as recited in  claim 7  wherein said trigger finger extender portion comprises a contoured outward extension increasing in depth from a back edge to a front edge for an inside of a user's trigger finger to rest on wherein said front edge enables a first joint of said trigger finger to bend at approximately a right angle in order to position a distal portion of said trigger finger directly in front of a trigger of said firearm and approximately perpendicular to said trigger.  
   
   
       12 . The side panel as recited in  claim 7  wherein said side panel comprises one of a plurality of different size trigger finger extenders of varying contoured outward extensions to accommodate different lengths of a user's trigger finger.  
   
   
       13 . The side panel as recited in  claim 7  wherein said trigger finger extender comprises a notch in an inside front corner extending from top to bottom for receiving an edge of a holster.  
   
   
       14 . A side panel for attaching to a firearm comprising: 
 an upper portion of said side panel having a varying contoured outward extension for guiding a trigger finger of a user to bend at approximately a right angle in order to position a distal portion of said trigger finger directly in front of a trigger of said firearm and approximately perpendicular to said trigger; and    a lower portion of said panel having a surface for receiving other fingers of said user to enable said user to securely hold said firearm.    
   
   
       15 . The side panel as recited in  claim 14  wherever said side panel comprises a first opening in said upper portion and a second opening in said lower portion for receiving a screw in each opening for attaching said side panel to a firearm.  
   
   
       16 . The side panel is recited in  claim 14  where said side panel comprises an adhesive on an inner surface of said side panel for securing said side panel to the side of a firearm.  
   
   
       17 . The side panel as recited in  claim 14  wherein each side panel comprises one of a plurality of different sizes of said contoured outward extension to accommodate different lengths of a user's trigger finger.  
   
   
       18 . The side panel as recited in  claim 14  wherein said upper portion of said side panel comprises a cut-out running the height of said upper portion and in the front surface of said upper portion for receiving an edge of a holster.  
   
   
       19 . A target grip extender sleeve for a firearm comprising: 
 a flexible base portion having an opening for receiving the frame of said firearm by sliding said target grip sleeve onto said frame; and    an upper portion of said sleeve comprises a trigger finger extender on one side having a varying contoured outward extension for guiding a trigger finger of a user to bend at approximately a right angle in order to position a distal portion of said trigger finger directly in front of a trigger of said firearm and approximately perpendicular to said trigger.    
   
   
       20 . The target grip extender sleeve as recited in  claim 19  wherein said flexible base portion comprises a stretchable rubber material.  
   
   
       21 . The target grip extender sleeve as recited in  claim 19  wherein said flexible base portion comprises at least two finger grooves on a front end of said extender sleeve.  
   
   
       22 . The target grip extender sleeve as recited in  claim 19  wherein said trigger finger extender comprises an outward extension increasing in depth from a back edge to a front edge for an inside of a user's trigger finger at a first joint to bend at approximately a right angle in order to position a distal portion of the trigger finger directly in front of a trigger of the firearm and approximately perpendicular to the trigger.  
   
   
       23 . The target grip extender sleeve as recited in  claim 22  wherein said trigger finger extender comprises a concave side surface from an upper edge to a lower edge along said outward extension as said side surface increases in depth from a back edge to a front edge.  
   
   
       24 . The target grip extender sleeve as recited in  claim 19  wherein said sleeve comprises one of a plurality of different size trigger finger extenders of varying contoured outward extensions to accommodate different lengths of a user's trigger finger.  
   
   
       25 . A side panel for attaching to a firearm comprising: 
 a base section having a pair of spaced apart holes for receiving means for fastening said base section to said firearm; and    an upper panel section removably attached to an upper portion of said base section by said fastening means.    
   
   
       26 . The side panel as recited in  claim 26  wherein said base section comprises means for preventing side movement when said upper panel section is positioned on said base section.  
   
   
       27 . The side panel as recited in  claim 26  wherein an outer surface of said base section and an outer surface of said upper panel section comprises a textured surface.  
   
   
       28 . The side panel as recited in  claim 26  wherein said upper panel section comprises a removably attached trigger finger extender.  
   
   
       29 . The side panel as recited in  claim 28  wherein said trigger finger extender comprises a varying contoured outward extension for guiding a trigger finger of a user to bend at approximately a right angle in order to position a distal portion of said trigger finger directly in front of a trigger of said firearm and approximately perpendicular to said trigger.  
   
   
       30 . The side panel as recited in  claim 25  wherein said upper panel section of said base section comprises a notch in an inside front corner extending from top to bottom of said upper portion.  
   
   
       31 . The side panel as recited in  claim 25  wherein said upper panel section comprises one of a plurality of different sizes of said contoured outward extension to accommodate different lengths of a user's trigger finger.