Axially offset foregrip for a firearm and related devices, systems, and methods

Abstract

An axially offset foregrip assembly for a long gun has a grip portion having a first grip axis, the grip portion configured to be grasped by a hand of a user about the first grip axis. The foregrip assembly also has a coupling portion coupled to the grip, the coupling portion configured to be coupled to a fore-end of a long gun. The long gun has a barrel having a longitudinal axis and a rear grip having a second grip axis. The longitudinal axis and the second grip axis define a vertical barrel plane. The coupling portion is configured to couple the grip portion to the fore-end of the long gun such that the first grip axis is plane horizontally offset from the vertical barrel plane, and the first grip axis is substantially parallel to the vertical barrel plane.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An axially offset foregrip assembly for a long gun, the foregrip assembly comprising:
 a grip portion having a first grip axis, the grip portion configured to be grasped by a hand of a user about the first grip axis; and   a coupling portion coupled to the grip, the coupling portion configured to be coupled to a fore-end of a long gun, the long gun comprising a barrel having a longitudinal axis and a rear grip having a second grip axis, the longitudinal axis and the second grip axis defining a vertical barrel plane,   wherein the coupling portion is configured to couple the grip portion to the fore-end of the long gun such that:
 the first grip axis is plane horizontally offset from the vertical barrel plane, and 
 the first grip axis is substantially parallel to the vertical barrel plane. 
   
     
     
         2 . The foregrip assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling portion is configured to couple the grip portion to the fore-end of the long gun such that the first grip axis is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         3 . The foregrip assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the grip portion has a top end and a bottom end, and wherein the coupling portion is configured couple the grip portion to the fore-end of the long gun such that the first grip axis and the longitudinal axis define an angle between 60 degrees and 90 degrees with respect to the top end of the grip portion and a muzzle end of the barrel. 
     
     
         4 . The foregrip assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the grip portion has a top end and a bottom end, and wherein the coupling portion is configured to couple the grip portion to the fore-end of the long gun such that the first grip axis and the longitudinal axis define an angle between 90 degrees and 120 degrees with respect to the top end of the grip portion and a muzzle end of the barrel. 
     
     
         5 . The foregrip assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling portion is configured to couple the grip portion to the fore-end of the long gun via an accessory mounting system. 
     
     
         6 . The foregrip assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the accessory mounting system comprises a rail, wherein the coupling portion is configured to couple the grip portion to the rail. 
     
     
         7 . The foregrip assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the rail is a Picatinny rail. 
     
     
         8 . The foregrip assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the grip portion comprises a top end and a bottom end along the first grip axis, and wherein the coupling portion comprises:
 a first fastening feature configured to fixedly attach to the fore-end of the long gun; and   a first connector portion connected between the fastening feature and one of the top end and the bottom end.   
     
     
         9 . The foregrip assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the first fastening feature is configured to fixedly attach to a side portion of the fore-end of the long gun, such that the first connector portion extends substantially horizontally from the side of the fore-end of the long gun. 
     
     
         10 . The foregrip assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the first fastening feature is configured to fixedly attach to one of a top portion and a bottom portion of the fore-end of the long gun, such that the first connector portion extends substantially horizontally from the one of the top portion and the bottom portion of the fore-end of the long gun. 
     
     
         11 . The foregrip assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the coupling portion is a first coupling portion, the foregrip assembly further comprising:
 a second coupling portion comprising:
 a second fastening feature configured to fixedly attach to the other of the top portion and the bottom portion of the fore-end of the long gun; and 
 a second connector portion connected between the second fastening feature and the other of the top end and the bottom end. 
   
     
     
         12 . The foregrip assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the grip portion comprises a top end and a bottom end along the first grip axis, and wherein the coupling portion comprises:
 a fastening feature configured to fixedly attach to the fore-end of the long gun; and   an extension member connected between the fastening feature and the grip portion at a position between the top end and the bottom end.   
     
     
         13 . The foregrip assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a button disposed on the grip portion, the button configured to be pressed by the user to actuate a function. 
     
     
         14 . The foregrip assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the function comprises one of a group consisting of operating a light, operating a laser, operating a camera, and operating a microphone. 
     
     
         15 . The foregrip assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising an accessory port configured to receive an accessory connector of an accessory, the accessory port configured to operate the accessory via the button. 
     
     
         16 . The foregrip assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a storage compartment disposed in the grip portion. 
     
     
         17 . A long gun comprising:
 a fore-end comprising a barrel having a longitudinal axis;   an axially offset foregrip sub-assembly coupled to the fore-end, the foregrip sub-assembly comprising:
 a grip portion having a first grip axis, the grip portion configured to be grasped by a hand of a user about the first grip axis; and 
 a coupling portion coupled between the grip portion and the fore-end; and 
   a rear grip having a second grip axis, the longitudinal axis and the second grip axis defining a vertical barrel plane,   wherein the first grip axis is plane horizontally offset from the vertical barrel plane, and   wherein the first grip axis is substantially parallel to the vertical barrel plane.   
     
     
         18 . The long gun of  claim 17 , wherein the long gun is a carbine type rifle. 
     
     
         19 . The long gun of  claim 17 , wherein the long gun is a shotgun. 
     
     
         20 . The long gun of  claim 19 , wherein the fore-end further comprises a forestock,
 wherein the foregrip sub-assembly is fixed with respect to the forestock, and   wherein the forestock and the foregrip sub-assembly are movable with respect to the barrel in a longitudinal direction parallel to the longitudinal axis.