Grip insert for glock handgun

Abstract

A Glock firearm handgrip is modified to accept a removable ergonomic insert that changes the palm relief of the firearm. A portion of the rounded rear wall of the grip is cut away along a plane parallel to the back plate of the magazine to create a well for the introduction of the insert. The rear surface of the back plate and the converging interior surfaces of the rear wall are used as butting surfaces to hold in place the insert. A prong with a distal latch in the insert is provided for engagement with a transverse pin passed through the sidewalls of the grip. The insert is also preferably equipped with two wings adapted to engage the beveled lower edge of the magazine's back plate. Several inserts with different profiles are provided to a user to select the most comfortable and/or appropriate for him or her.

1 . A removable grip insert for a modified handgun grip having an open cavity obtained by a planar removal of a portion of a rear wall of an original grip, said original grip having backward-converging sidewalls and a magazine well with a flat back plate defining a cavity with said rear wall, said insert comprising:
 a support structure with outer-facing surfaces adapted to mate with corresponding converging interior surfaces of said backward-converging sidewalls, said support structure having a thickness sized so that a front surface of the support structure mates with a flat rear surface of said back plate when the insert is introduced into the open cavity of the modified handgrip;   a forward-facing surface on each side of the insert sized to mate with a corresponding backward-facing surface produced in the modified handgrip by said planar removal of a portion of the rear wall; and   a prong with a latch extending from said support structure and adapted for insertion into the modified grip and for subsequent engagement by a retaining device in the modified grip;
 whereby the insert may be fitted into the open cavity of the modified grip and securely locked in place. 
   
     
     
         2 . The insert of  claim 1 , wherein said retaining device is a pin inserted transversely through the modified grip. 
     
     
         3 . The insert of  claim 1 , further including at least one retaining wing adapted to engage a beveled portion of said back plate. 
     
     
         4 . The insert of  claim 3 , wherein said retaining device is a pin inserted transversely through the modified grip. 
     
     
         5 . A method for providing alternative ergonomic grips for a user of a handgun grip having backward-converging sidewalls and a magazine well with a flat back plate defining a cavity with said rear wall, the method comprising the following steps:
 producing a modified handgrip by the planar removal of a portion of said rear wall, thereby creating an open cavity for receiving a grip insert;   providing a plurality of grip inserts with a variety of grip profiles, each insert including a support structure having outer-facing surfaces adapted to mate with corresponding converging interior surfaces of said backward-converging sidewalls, said support structure having a thickness sized so that a front surface of the support structure mates with a flat rear surface of said back plate when the insert is introduced into the open cavity of the modified handgrip; said insert further having a forward-facing surface on each side of the insert sized to mate with a corresponding backward-facing surface produced in the modified handgrip by said planar removal of a portion of the rear wall; and having a prong with a latch extending from the support structure and adapted for insertion into the modified grip and for subsequent engagement by a retaining device in the modified grip;   fitting one of said plurality of grip inserts into the open cavity of the modified grip; and   securely locking the insert in place with said retaining device.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said retaining device is a pin inserted transversely through the modified grip. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , further including the step of including in the insert at least one retaining wing adapted to engage a beveled portion of said back plate. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said retaining device is a pin inserted transversely through the modified grip. 
     
     
         9 . A handgun/removable-grip-insert kit combination comprising:
 a handgun with a grip having a magazine well with a flat back plate and backward-converging sidewalls defining an open cavity with a back surface of the back plate; and   a plurality of grip inserts with a variety of grip profiles, each insert including:
 a support structure having outer-facing surfaces adapted to mate with corresponding converging interior surfaces of said backward-converging sidewalls, said support structure having a thickness sized so that a front surface of the support structure mates with a flat rear surface of said back plate when the insert is introduced into the open cavity of the grip; 
 a forward-facing surface on each side of the insert sized to mate with a corresponding backward-facing surfaces in said backward-converging sidewalls; and 
 a prong with a latch extending from the support structure and adapted for insertion into the open cavity of the grip and for subsequent engagement by a retaining device in the grip; 
   whereby the insert may be fitted into the open cavity of the grip and securely locked in place.   
     
     
         10 . The kit of  claim 9 , wherein said retaining device is a pin inserted transversely through the modified grip. 
     
     
         11 . The kit of  claim 9 , further including at least one retaining wing adapted to engage a beveled portion of said back plate. 
     
     
         12 . The kit of  claim 11 , wherein said retaining device is a pin inserted transversely through the modified grip.