Rapid fire attachment for semiautomatic firearms

Abstract

A rapid fire attachment for semiautomatic firearms is presented that includes an insert that is rigidly attached to a firearm adjacent the trigger and a housing that covers the insert. The housing and insert include a plurality of rails and grooves that engage one another and allow for sliding forward-to-back movement of the housing with respect to the insert and the other portions of the firearm. The housing also includes a trigger finger support that selectively covers and uncovers the trigger of the firearm. The rapid fire attachment allows for rapid firing of the firearm by allowing the housing to reciprocate between a rearward position that covers the trigger and a forward position that uncovers the trigger. When the trigger is uncovered the shooter's finger engages the trigger thereby firing the firearm whereas when the trigger is covered the trigger is allowed to reset thereby allowing the firearm to be fired again in rapid succession.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A rapid fire attachment for a semiautomatic firearm, comprising:
 an insert;   a housing positioned around the insert;   one of the insert or the housing having a plurality of grooves therein;   the other of the insert or the housing having a plurality of rails therein;   wherein the rails of one of the insert or the housing are slidably received within the grooves of the other of the insert or the housing such that the housing is configured to slide forward to back over the insert;   wherein the rapid fire attachment facilitates rapid firing of the semiautomatic firearm when the housing slides forward to back over the insert.   
     
     
         2 . The rapid fire attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is formed of a pair of halves that connect together along a seam line. 
     
     
         3 . The rapid fire attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is formed of a pair of halves that connect together along a seam line, wherein one of the halves includes a step and the other of the halves includes a flange, wherein when the halves are assembled the step of one half receives the flange of the other half. 
     
     
         4 . The rapid fire attachment of  claim 1  further comprising at least one biasing member positioned within the housing and configured to provide a biasing force. 
     
     
         5 . The rapid fire attachment of  claim 1  further comprising at least one biasing member positioned between the housing and the insert. 
     
     
         6 . The rapid fire attachment of  claim 1  wherein the housing and the insert form a pistol grip without an attached butt stock. 
     
     
         7 . The rapid fire attachment of  claim 1  further comprising a switch member, wherein when the switch member is engaged the position of the housing with respect to the insert is locked thereby disabling the rapid fire ability of the rapid fire attachment, wherein when the switch member is disengaged housing is allowed to slide with respect to the insert thereby enabling the rapid fire ability of the rapid fire attachment. 
     
     
         8 . The rapid fire attachment of  claim 1  further comprising a trigger finger support connected to the housing, the trigger finger support positioned adjacent to a trigger of the semiautomatic firearm. 
     
     
         9 . A method of firing a semiautomatic firearm, the steps comprising:
 providing a semiautomatic firearm having a trigger;   connecting a rapid fire pistol grip to the semiautomatic firearm, the rapid fire pistol grip having a housing that fits over an insert, the housing configured to cycle by sliding forward to back over the insert between a forward most position and a rearward most position;   applying a forward bias on the firearm;   applying a rearward bias on the housing;   activating the trigger a first time by moving a user's trigger finger into an engagement position with the trigger;   causing the housing to move forward with respect to the firearm in response to kickback from firing the first round;   resetting the trigger when the housing moves forward with respect to the firearm;   causing the housing to move rearward after the housing has reached the forward most position;   automatically activating the trigger when the housing moves rearward on subsequent cycles until the user moves their trigger finger from the engagement position to a disengaged position.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein one of the insert or the housing includes a plurality of grooves therein; wherein the other of the insert or the housing includes a plurality of rails therein; wherein the rails of one of the insert or the housing are slidably received within the grooves of the other of the insert or the housing 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the housing is formed of a pair of halves that connect together along a seam line. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one biasing member positioned within the housing and configured to provide a biasing force. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one biasing member positioned between the housing and the insert. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the housing and the insert form a pistol grip without an attached butt stock. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising a switch member, wherein when the switch member is engaged the position of the housing with respect to the insert is locked thereby disabling the rapid fire ability of the rapid fire attachment, wherein when the switch member is disengaged housing is allowed to slide with respect to the insert thereby enabling the rapid fire ability of the rapid fire attachment. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising a trigger finger support connected to the housing, the trigger finger support positioned adjacent to a trigger of the semiautomatic firearm. 
     
     
         17 . A rapid fire attachment for a semiautomatic firearm, comprising:
 an insert;   a housing positioned around the insert;   the insert having a plurality of grooves therein;   the housing having a plurality of rails therein;   wherein the rails housing are slidably received within the grooves of the insert such that the housing is configured to slide forward to back over the insert;   wherein the rapid fire attachment facilitates rapid firing of the semiautomatic firearm when the housing slides forward to back over the insert.