Firearm with ammunition storage within a handgrip portion thereof

Abstract

A kit for providing a handgrip on a firearm includes a handgrip body mountable on a handgrip body mounting structure of the firearm. The handgrip body includes an ammunition storage space therein. The ammunition storage space defines a storage space opening in a surface of the handgrip body through which a round of ammunition can be inserted into the ammunition storage space. A storage space cover has a primer recess within an ammunition support surface thereof and is attached to the handgrip body in a manner allowing the storage space cover to be moved between an open position in which access to the storage space opening is provided and a closed position in which the ammunition support surface extends over the storage space opening. A portion of the primer recess overlies a primer occupying region of the ammunition storage space when the storage space cover is in the closed position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A kit for providing a handgrip on a firearm, comprising:
 a handgrip body mountable on a handgrip body mounting structure of the firearm, wherein the handgrip body includes an ammunition storage space therein and wherein said an ammunition storage space defines a storage space opening in a surface of the handgrip body through which a round of ammunition can be inserted into the ammunition storage space; and   a storage space cover having a primer recess within an ammunition support surface thereof, wherein the storage space cover is moveably attached to the handgrip body in a manner allowing the storage space cover to be moved between an open position in which access to the storage space opening is provided and a closed position in which the ammunition support surface extends over the storage space opening and wherein a portion of the primer recess overlies a primer occupying region of the ammunition storage space when the storage space cover is in the closed position.   
     
     
         2 . The kit of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a latch engaging structure connected to the handgrip body; and   a latch assembly movably mounted on the storage space cover in a manner allowing the latch assembly to be moved between a latched configuration and an unlatched configuration with respect to the storage space cover.   
     
     
         3 . The kit of  claim 2  wherein the latch assembly is biased into engagement with the latch engaging structure when the latch assembly is in the latched configuration and the storage space cover is in the closed position. 
     
     
         4 . The kit of  claim 1  wherein:
 the ammunition storage space includes an ammunition base receiving recess at the surface of the handgrip body; and 
 the ammunition support surface of the storage space cover abuts the surface of the handgrip body when the storage space cover is in the closed position. 
 
     
     
         5 . The kit of  claim 1  wherein:
 the storage space opening is substantially round in shape with respect to the surface; 
 the primer recess is substantially round in shape with respect to the ammunition support surface; and 
 the storage space opening is approximately concentric with the primer recess when the storage space cover is in the closed position. 
 
     
     
         6 . The kit of  claim 5  wherein:
 the ammunition storage space includes an ammunition base receiving recess at the surface of the handgrip body; 
 the ammunition base receiving recess is substantially round in shape with respect to the surface; 
 the ammunition base receiving recess is approximately concentric with the storage space opening; and 
 the ammunition support surface of the storage space cover abuts the surface of the handgrip body when the storage space cover is in the closed position. 
 
     
     
         7 . The kit of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a latch engaging structure connected to the handgrip body; and   a latch assembly movably mounted on the storage space cover in a manner allowing the latch assembly to be moved between a latched configuration and an unlatched configuration with respect to the storage space cover, wherein the latch assembly is biased into engagement with the latch engaging structure when the latch assembly is in the latched configuration and the storage space cover is in the closed position.   
     
     
         8 . A firearm, comprising:
 a frame including a handgrip body mounting structure;   a handgrip body is one of attached to and integral with the handgrip body mounting structure, wherein the handgrip body includes at least one ammunition storage space therein and wherein the ammunition storage space defines a storage space opening in a bottom end face of the handgrip body through which a round of ammunition can be inserted into the ammunition storage space; and   a storage space cover having a primer recess within an ammunition support surface thereof, wherein the storage space cover is moveably attached to at least one of the handgrip body and the handgrip body mounting structure in a manner allowing the storage space cover to be moved between an open position in which access to the storage space opening is provided and a closed position in which the ammunition support surface extends over the storage space opening and wherein a portion of the primer recess overlies a primer occupying region of the ammunition storage space when the storage space cover is in the closed position.   
     
     
         9 . The firearm of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a latch engaging structure connected to the handgrip body; and   a latch assembly movably mounted on the storage space cover in a manner allowing the latch assembly to be moved between a latched configuration and an unlatched configuration with respect to the storage space cover.   
     
     
         10 . The firearm of  claim 9  wherein the latch assembly is biased into engagement with the latch engaging structure when the latch assembly is in the latched configuration and the storage space cover is in the closed position. 
     
     
         11 . The firearm of  claim 8  wherein:
 the ammunition storage space includes an ammunition base receiving recess at the bottom end face of the handgrip body; and 
 the ammunition support surface of the storage space cover abuts the bottom end face of the handgrip body when the storage space cover is in the closed position. 
 
     
     
         12 . The firearm of  claim 8  wherein:
 the storage space opening is substantially round in shape with respect to the bottom end face; 
 the primer recess is substantially round in shape with respect to the ammunition support surface; and 
 the storage space opening is approximately concentric with the primer recess when the storage space cover is in the closed position. 
 
     
     
         13 . The firearm of  claim 12  wherein:
 the ammunition storage space includes an ammunition base receiving recess at the bottom end face of the handgrip body; 
 the ammunition base receiving recess is substantially round in shape with respect to the bottom end face; 
 the ammunition base receiving recess is approximately concentric with the storage space opening; and 
 the ammunition support surface of the storage space cover abuts the bottom end face of the handgrip body when the storage space cover is in the closed position. 
 
     
     
         14 . The firearm of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a latch engaging structure connected to the handgrip body; and   a latch assembly movably mounted on the storage space cover in a manner allowing the latch assembly to be moved between a latched configuration and an unlatched configuration with respect to the storage space cover, wherein the latch assembly is biased into engagement with the latch engaging structure when the latch assembly is in the latched configuration and the storage space cover is in the closed position.   
     
     
         15 . A handgrip assembly, comprising:
 a handgrip body mounting structure of a firearm;   a handgrip body is one of attached to and integral with the handgrip body mounting structure, wherein the handgrip body includes at least one ammunition storage space therein and wherein the ammunition storage space defines a storage space opening in a bottom end face of the handgrip body through which a round of ammunition can be inserted into the ammunition storage space; and   a storage space cover having a primer recess within an ammunition support surface thereof, wherein the storage space cover is pivotably attached to at least one of the handgrip body and the handgrip body mounting structure in a manner allowing the storage space cover to be pivoted between an open position in which access to the storage space opening is provided and a closed position in which the ammunition support surface extends over the storage space opening and wherein a portion of the primer recess overlies a primer occupying region of the ammunition storage space when the storage space cover is in the closed position.   
     
     
         16 . The handgrip assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a latch engaging structure connected to the handgrip body; and   a latch assembly movably mounted on the storage space cover in a manner allowing the latch assembly to be moved between a latched configuration and an unlatched configuration with respect to the storage space cover.   
     
     
         17 . The handgrip assembly of  claim 16  wherein the latch assembly is biased into engagement with the latch engaging structure when the latch assembly is in the latched configuration and the storage space cover is in the closed position. 
     
     
         18 . The handgrip assembly of  claim 15  wherein:
 the ammunition storage space includes an ammunition base receiving recess at the bottom end face of the handgrip body; and 
 the ammunition support surface of the storage space cover abuts the bottom end face of the handgrip body when the storage space cover is in the closed position. 
 
     
     
         19 . The handgrip assembly of  claim 15  wherein:
 the storage space opening is substantially round in shape with respect to the bottom end face; 
 the primer recess is substantially round in shape with respect to the ammunition support surface; and 
 the storage space opening is approximately concentric with the primer recess when the storage space cover is in the closed position. 
 
     
     
         20 . The handgrip assembly of  claim 19  wherein:
 the ammunition storage space includes an ammunition base receiving recess at the bottom end face of the handgrip body; 
 the ammunition base receiving recess is substantially round in shape with respect to the bottom end face; 
 the ammunition base receiving recess is approximately concentric with the storage space opening; and 
 the ammunition support surface of the storage space cover abuts the bottom end face of the handgrip body when the storage space cover is in the closed position. 
 
     
     
         21 . The handgrip assembly of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a latch engaging structure connected to the handgrip body; and   a latch assembly movably mounted on the storage space cover in a manner allowing the latch assembly to be moved between a latched configuration and an unlatched configuration with respect to the storage space cover, wherein the latch assembly is biased into engagement with the latch engaging structure when the latch assembly is in the latched configuration and the storage space cover is in the closed position.   
     
     
         22 . A kit for providing a handgrip on a firearm, comprising:
 a handgrip body mountable on a handgrip body mounting structure of the firearm, wherein the handgrip body includes an ammunition storage space therein and wherein said an ammunition storage space defines a storage space opening in a surface of the handgrip body through which a round of ammunition can be inserted into the ammunition storage space; and   a storage space cover having a primer recess within an ammunition support surface thereof, wherein the storage space cover is moveably attached to the handgrip body in a manner allowing the storage space cover to be moved between an open position in which access to the storage space opening is provided and a closed position in which the ammunition support surface extends over the storage space opening and wherein the ammunition support surface includes means for limiting a primer of the round of ammunition within the ammunition storage space from being unintentionally discharged as a result of contact with the storage space cover.   
     
     
         23 . The kit of  claim 22  wherein:
 the ammunition storage space includes an ammunition base receiving recess at the surface of the handgrip body; and 
 the ammunition support surface of the storage space cover abuts the surface of the handgrip body when the storage space cover is in the closed position. 
 
     
     
         24 . The kit of  claim 22  wherein:
 the storage space opening is substantially round in shape with respect to the surface; 
 said means for limiting includes a primer recess within an ammunition support surface thereof; 
 a portion of the primer recess overlies a primer occupying region of the ammunition storage space when the storage space cover is in the closed position; 
 the primer recess is substantially round in shape with respect to the ammunition support surface; and 
 the storage space opening is approximately concentric with the primer recess when the storage space cover is in the closed position. 
 
     
     
         25 . The kit of  claim 24  wherein:
 the ammunition storage space includes an ammunition base receiving recess at the surface of the handgrip body; 
 the ammunition base receiving recess is substantially round in shape with respect to the surface; 
 the ammunition base receiving recess is approximately concentric with the storage space opening; and 
 the ammunition support surface of the storage space cover abuts the surface of the handgrip body when the storage space cover is in the closed position.