Firearm

Abstract

A firearm includes a barrel, a frame providing support for the barrel, and a hand grip. The hand grip may include a hand-grip main body and a first back-strap extension detachably engaged to a rear portion of the hand-grip main body. The firearm may also include a light system, which may include a light and an ancillary light-system component disposed at least partially in the hand grip between the hand-grip main body and a rear outer surface of the first back-strap extension.

1 . A firearm, comprising:
 a barrel;   a frame providing support for the barrel;   a hand grip, including a hand-grip main body and a first back-strap extension detachably engaged to a rear portion of the hand-grip main body; and   a light system, including
 a first light, and 
 an ancillary light-system component disposed at least partially in the hand grip between the hand-grip main body and a rear outer surface of the first back-strap extension. 
   
   
   
       2 . The firearm of  claim 1 , wherein the ancillary light-system component is mounted to the first back-strap extension. 
   
   
       3 . The firearm of  claim 2 , further including a first electrical contact terminal attached to the first back-strap extension and a second electrical contact terminal attached to the hand-grip main body, wherein engagement of the first electrical contact terminal to the second electrical contact terminal provides electrical connection between the light and the ancillary light-system component. 
   
   
       4 . The firearm of  claim 3 , wherein the first electrical contact terminal and the second electrical contact terminal are configured to automatically engage one another when the first back-strap extension is engaged to the hand-grip main body and to automatically disengage from one another when the first back-strap extension is detached from the hand-grip main body. 
   
   
       5 . The firearm of  claim 1 , wherein the ancillary light-system component includes an energy source for the first light. 
   
   
       6 . The firearm of  claim 1 , wherein the ancillary light-system component includes driving circuitry for the first light. 
   
   
       7 . The firearm of  claim 1 , wherein the ancillary light-system component includes a control switch for the first light. 
   
   
       8 . The firearm of  claim 1 , wherein the light system further includes a replaceable light cartridge, the replaceable light cartridge including
 a light housing attached to the firearm,   a second light attached to the housing, and   one or more additional ancillary light-system components attached to the housing, including an energy source for the second light; and   wherein the replaceable light cartridge is removable from the firearm as a unit.   
   
   
       9 . The firearm of  claim 8 , wherein the first light is a laser, and the second light is an incandescent light. 
   
   
       10 . The firearm of  claim 1 , further including a second back-strap extension, wherein the second back strap extension is configured to be detachably secured to the rear portion of the hand-grip main body in place of the first back-strap extension, and the second back-strap extension has at least one of a different size and a different shape than the first back-strap extension. 
   
   
       11 . A firearm, comprising:
 a barrel;   a frame providing support for the barrel; and   a light system with a replaceable light cartridge, the replaceable light cartridge including
 a light housing attached to the firearm, 
 a first light attached to the housing, and 
 one or more ancillary light-system components attached to the housing, including an energy source for the first light; and 
   wherein the replaceable light cartridge is removable from the firearm as a unit.   
   
   
       12 . The firearm of  claim 11 , wherein the replaceable light cartridge is disposed in a first cavity integrally formed in the frame. 
   
   
       13 . The firearm of  claim 12 , wherein the first cavity is integrally formed in a dust cover of the frame beneath the barrel. 
   
   
       14 . The firearm of  claim 13 , wherein the light system further includes a second light. 
   
   
       15 . The firearm of  claim 14 , wherein the second light is disposed in a second cavity integrally formed in the frame. 
   
   
       16 . The firearm of  claim 15 , wherein the first light is an incandescent light, and the second light is a laser. 
   
   
       17 . A firearm, comprising:
 a barrel;   a frame providing support for the barrel;   a trigger; and   a light system, including
 an incandescent light, and 
 a control switch for the incandescent light, the control switch having a handle located rearward of the trigger. 
   
   
   
       18 . The firearm of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a hand grip; and   wherein the handle of the control switch is located on the hand grip.   
   
   
       19 . The firearm of  claim 18 , wherein the incandescent light is part of a light cartridge that includes the light and an energy source, the light cartridge being removable from the firearm as a unit. 
   
   
       20 . The firearm of  claim 17 , wherein the incandescent light is part of a light cartridge that includes the light and an energy source, the light cartridge being removable from the firearm as a unit.