Vertical fore grip and handheld weapon combination

Abstract

A vertical fore grip mountable on the tactical rail of a tactical firearm is described. The fore grip includes a vertically oriented gripping member having an upper end, a lower end and an axially aligned bore; a tactical rail clamp attached to the gripping member upper end; a stabbing spike with a shank slidable within the gripping member bore between a stowed position within the gripping member and an extended position projecting from the lower end of the gripping member; and a latching member selectively securing the spike in the stowed and extended positions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vertical fore grip mountable on the tactical rail of a tactical firearm comprising:
 a) a vertically oriented gripping member having an upper end, a lower end and an axially aligned bore;   b) a tactical rail clamp attached to said gripping member upper end;   c) a stabbing spike with a shank slidable within said gripping member bore between a stowed position within said gripping member and an extended position projecting from the lower end of said gripping member; and   d) a latching member selectively securing said spike in said stowed and extended positions.   
     
     
         2 . The fore grip of  claim 1 , wherein said rail has a give width, and said clamp is comprised of spaced parallel jaws with inner faces having an open position in which the jaw inner faces are spaced at a greater width than the width of the tactical rail and a closed position in which the jaw inner faces are spaced at a distance equal to the width of said tactical rail; a connector rod having a distal end attached to one of said jaws and slidable within a bore in the other of said jaws; a spring urging said jaws to their open position; and an actuator attached to said rod to move said jaws to their closed position. 
     
     
         3 . The fore grip of  claim 2 , wherein said actuator is a rotatable cam. 
     
     
         4 . The fore grip of  claim 1 , wherein said shank has a given cross-section, said grip further including a cap attachable to the lower end of said grip, said cap including a central opening axially aligned with said bore and having a cross-section corresponding to the cross-section of said shank. 
     
     
         5 . The fore grip of  claim 4 , wherein said shank cross-section is round, square, diamond shaped, star shaped, or triangular. 
     
     
         6 . The fore grip of  claim 1 , wherein said spike includes a shank with a pointed lower end and an upper end, and an enlarged head attached to the upper end of said shank, said head having a cross-section corresponding to the cross-section of said gripping member bore. 
     
     
         7 . The fore grip of  claim 1 , wherein said latching member includes a protrusion having a latching position extending into said gripping member bore and a retracted position withdrawn from said bore, a spring to urge said protrusion to the latching position, and an actuator to withdraw said protrusion to the retracted position. 
     
     
         8 . The fore grip of  claim 7 , wherein said actuator is a finger operated cam. 
     
     
         9 . A vertical fore grip mountable on the tactical rail of a tactical firearm comprising:
 a) a vertically oriented gripping member having an upper end, a lower end and an axially aligned bore;   b) a tactical rail clamp attached to said gripping member upper end;   c) a stabbing spike slidable within said gripping member bore between a stowed position within said gripping member and an extending position projecting from the lower end of said gripping member, said spike including a shank with a tapered lower end and an upper end, and a head with a recess attached to said shank upper end; and   d) a latching member selectively securing said spike in said stowed and extended positions, said latching member including a protrusion having a latching position extending into said gripping member bore and said spike head recess when said spike is in the extended position and against said shank tapered lower and when said spike is in the stowed position, and a retracted position withdrawn from said bore, a spring to urge said protrusion to the latching position, and an actuator to withdraw said protrusion to the retracted position.   
     
     
         10 . The fore grip of  claim 9 , wherein said rail has a give width, and said clamp is comprised of spaced parallel jaws with inner faces having an open position in which the jaw inner faces are spaced at a greater width than the width of the tactical rail and a closed position in which the jaw inner faces are spaced at a distance to the width of said tactical rail; a connector rod having a distal end attached to one of said jaws and slidable within a bore in the other of said jaws; a spring urging said jaws to their open position; and an actuator attached to said rod to move said jaws to their closed position. 
     
     
         11 . The fore grip of  claim 10 , wherein said shank is a non-metallic shank. 
     
     
         12 . The fore grip of  claim 9 , wherein said shank has a given cross-section, said grip further including a cap attachable to the lower end of said grip, said cap including a central opening axially aligned with said bore and having a cross-section corresponding to the cross-section of said shank. 
     
     
         13 . The fore grip of  claim 9 , wherein said shank cross-section is round, square, diamond shaped, star shaped, or triangular. 
     
     
         14 . The fore grip of  claim 9 , wherein said spike head has a continuous side wall with a continuous recess in said side wall extending around said spike bead. 
     
     
         15 . The fore grip of  claim 9 , wherein said gripping member includes a side wall with a longitudinal slot, and said latching member includes a bar recessed in said slot, said bar having a upper end, a lower end, said bar being pivotal intermediate said upper and lower ends, said protrusion extending inwardly from said bar lower end, and a spring urging said bar upper end outwardly. 
     
     
         16 . A vertical fore grip mountable on the tactical rail of a tactical firearm comprising:
 a) a vertically oriented gripping member having an upper end, a lower end and an axially aligned bore;   b) a tactical rail clamp attached to said gripping member upper end;   c) a cap attachable to the lower end of said grip, said cap including a central opening axially aligned with said bore;   d) a stabbing spike with a head and a shank slidable within said gripping member bore between a stowed position within said gripping member and an extended position projecting from the lower end of said gripping member and through said cap opening, said cap opening having a cross-section corresponding to the cross-section of said shank; and   e) a latching member selectively securing said spike in said stowed and extended positions.   
     
     
         17 . The fore grip of  claim 16 , wherein said rail has a give width, and said clamp is comprised of spaced parallel jaws with inner faces having an open position in which the jaw inner faces are spaced at a greater width than the width of the tactical rail and a closed position in which the jaw inner faces are spaced at a distance equal to the width of said tactical rail; a connector rod having a distal end attached to one of said jaws and slidable within a bore in the other of said jaws; a spring urging said jaws to their open position; and an actuator attached to said rod to move said jaws to their closed position. 
     
     
         18 . The fore grip of  claim 16 , wherein said shank cross-section is round, Square, diamond shaped, star shaped, or triangular. 
     
     
         19 . The fore grip of  claim 16 , wherein said spike includes a shank with a pointed lower end and an upper end, and an enlarged head attached to the upper end of said shank, said head having a cross-section corresponding to the cross-section of said gripping member bore and engaging said cap in the extended position. 
     
     
         20 . The fore grip of  claim 16 , wherein said latching member includes a protrusion having a latching position extending into said gripping member bore and a retracted position withdrawn from said bore, a spring to urge said protrusion to the latching position, and an actuator to withdraw said protrusion to the retracted position.