Apparatus for attaching an accessory to a handgun

Abstract

There is provided a flashlight attachment bracket useful for securing a flashlight or other similar device to a handgun. A resilient, grip-encircling arrangement is slid onto the handgun's grip from the front and secured against vertical movement (i.e., sliding off the bottom of the grip) by an opening adapted to receive a projection from the stock of the handgun. A flashlight-encircling bracket at the bottom of the support bracket slideably secures a flashlight so that the flashlight's front-to-back position may be adjusted for optimal balance and then the flashlight may be locked in place. No bracket components are permanently secured to the handgun; the mounting system allows the weapon to be holstered and quickly withdrawn without the flashlight in place.

1 . A bracket for removably attaching an accessory to a stock of a handgun, comprising: 
 a) a resilient, elongated, hollow body, open on a first side and a proximal end thereof, and adapted to receive the stock of a handgun therein, said elongated hollow body having a finger outwardly projecting from an outer surface of a second, opposing side of said hollow body, proximate said proximal end thereof, and an opening disposed in said second, opposing side of said hollow body proximate the distal end thereof to receive a projection of said handgun stock;    b) means for releasably securing an accessory affixed to said distal end of said resilient, elongated, hollow body;    whereby when said stock of said handgun is inserted into said hollow body along said first, open side, and said finger is abutted against a trigger guard of said handgun, and said protection of said stock is inserted into said opening, said stock is frictionally retained in said hollow body and motion in a direction substantially parallel to the major axis of said stock is prevented by said projection in said opening.    
     
     
         2 . The bracket for removably attaching an accessory to a stock of a handgun as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said means for releasably securing an accessory comprises a clamp adapted to receive and retain said accessory.  
     
     
         3 . The bracket for removably attaching an accessory to a stock of a handgun as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said clamp further comprises means for tightening disposed in axial alignment therewith and adapted to slidably secure said accessory in said clamp.  
     
     
         4 . The bracket for removably attaching an accessory to a stock of a handgun as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said accessory has a circular cross section.  
     
     
         5 . The bracket for removably attaching an accessory to a stock of a handgun as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said accessory comprises at least one of the group: flashlight, laser pointer, and other handgun accessory.  
     
     
         6 . The bracket for removably attaching an accessory to a stock of a handgun as recited in  claim 2 , said clamp further comprising a substantially flat surface adjacent said distal end of said hollow body to abut a bottom surface of said stock when said stock is retained in said hollow body.  
     
     
         7 . The bracket for removably attaching an accessory to a stock of a handgun as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said accessory has a circular cross section.  
     
     
         8 . The bracket for removably attaching an accessory to a stock of a handgun as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said accessory comprises at least one of the group: flashlight, laser pointer, and other handgun accessory.  
     
     
         9 . The bracket for removably attaching an accessory to a stock of a handgun as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said elongated body comprises one of the group: high impact plastic, and metal.  
     
     
         10 . The bracket for removably attaching an accessory to a stock of a handgun as recited in  claim 6 , wherein at least an outer portion of said elongated body comprises a textured surface.  
     
     
         11 . A method of attaching a cylindrical accessory to the stock of a handgun, the steps comprising: 
 a) providing a bracket adapted to at least partially encircle a stock of a handgun, said bracket being open along a rear facing vertical surface so as to slidably receive said stock of said handgun, said bracket comprising an opening adapted and configured to receive a projection proximate a bottom surface of said handgun, said bracket comprising means for clamping and aligning said cylindrical accessory;    b) sliding said stock of said handgun into said bracket along said open, rear facing, vertical surface; and    c) using said handgun with said cylindrical accessory attached thereto.    
     
     
         12 . The method for attaching a cylindrical accessory to the stock of a handgun as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said opening and said projection interact to prevent motion of said bracket in a vertical direction along an axis substantially perpendicular to a barrel of said handgun, whereby said bracket is retained in position on said stock of said handgun.  
     
     
         13 . The method for attaching a cylindrical accessory to the stock of a handgun as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said cylindrical accessory comprises a flashlight.  
     
     
         14 . A bracket for removably attaching an accessory to a stock of a handgun, comprising: 
 a) a resilient, elongated, hollow body, open on a first side and a proximal end thereof, and adapted to receive the stock of a handgun therein, said elongated hollow body having a finger outwardly projecting from an outer surface of a second, opposing side of said hollow body, proximate said proximal end thereof, and an opening disposed in said second, opposing side of said hollow body proximate the distal end thereof to receive a projection of said handgun stock;    b) a clamp for releasably securing an accessory having a circular cross-section affixed to said distal end of said resilient, elongated, hollow body, said clamp comprising means for tightening disposed in axial alignment therewith and adapted to slidably secure said accessory in said clamp, said clamp further comprising a substantially flat surface adjacent said distal end of said hollow body to abut a bottom surface of said stock when said stock is retained in said hollow body; whereby when said stock of said handgun is inserted into said hollow body along said first, open side, and said finger is abutted against a trigger guard of said handgun, and said protection of said stock is inserted into said opening, said stock is frictionally retained in said hollow body and motion is prevented in a direction substantially parallel to the major axis of said stock.    
     
     
         15 . The bracket for removably attaching an accessory to a stock of a handgun as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said accessory comprises at least one of the group: flashlight, laser pointer, and other handgun accessory.  
     
     
         16 . The bracket for removably attaching an accessory to a stock of a handgun as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said elongated body comprises at least one polymer one of the group: high impact plastic, and metal.  
     
     
         17 . The bracket for removably attaching an accessory to a stock of a handgun as recited in  claim 14 , wherein at least an outer portion of said elongated body comprises a textured surface.