Rifle handguard with grip

Abstract

This invention relates to a forearm “free floating” handguard for high rate of fire semiautomatic rifles and carbines such as the M16 family. More particularly, a handguard is disclosed that includes an integral gripping section and ventilation cut-outs, providing optimal grip strength, improved convective barrel cooling, while minimizing weight of the firearm.

1 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A handguard, comprising:
 a cylindrical member including an inner surface, an outer surface, a forward end portion, and a rear end portion, wherein the rear end portion includes screw holes configured to attach the cylindrical member to a firearm such that the inner surface of the cylindrical member maintains radial space from the outer surface of the firearm's barrel;   one or more bracket slots disposed on the cylindrical member, wherein the bracket slots are oval in shape with a first side of a slot larger than a second side of the slot and wherein the bracket slots are configured to support a removable accessory.   
     
     
         9 . The handguard of  claim 8 , further comprising a gripping section disposed on the cylindrical member at a position between the forward end portion and the rear end portion of the cylindrical member and radially surrounding the cylindrical member. 
     
     
         10 . The handguard of  claim 9 , wherein the gripping section is surrounded by a plurality of triangular ridges. 
     
     
         11 . The handguard of  claim 8 , further comprising one or more forward ventilation cut-outs disposed about the forward end portion of the cylindrical member. 
     
     
         12 . The handguard of  claim 11 , wherein the forward ventilation cut-outs are generally rectangular in shape. 
     
     
         13 . The handguard of  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of rear ventilation cut-outs located in the rear end portion of the cylindrical member. 
     
     
         14 . The handguard of  claim 8 , wherein the cylindrical member further comprises a top portion, wherein an integral top mounting rail is located along the top portion of the cylindrical member and extends longitudinally along its length. 
     
     
         15 . The handguard of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more bracket slots comprises:
 one or more bracket slots disposed about a bottom side of the front end portion of the cylindrical member;   one or more bracket slots disposed about a left side of the forward end portion of the cylindrical member;   one or more bracket slots disposed about a right side of the forward end portion of the cylindrical member;   one or more bracket slots disposed about a bottom side of a back end portion of the cylindrical member;   one or more bracket slots disposed about a left side of the back end portion of the cylindrical member; and   one or more bracket slots disposed about a right side of the back end portion of the cylindrical member.