Interchangeable handguard system

Abstract

A handguard assembly includes a first handguard including an interior surface and an exterior surface. The interior surface faces toward an associated barrel of an associated firearm and the exterior surface faces away from the associated barrel. The first handguard extends between a breech end of the first handguard and a muzzle end of the first handguard so as to define a longitudinal axis and a first handguard length. The handguard assembly also includes an adapter radially surrounding an associated barrel nut along the longitudinal axis. The adapter is longitudinally disposed between the first handguard and an associated receiver of the associated firearm.

1 . A handguard assembly, comprising:
 a first handguard including an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surface facing toward an associated barrel of an associated firearm and the exterior surface facing away from the associated barrel, the first handguard extending between a breech end of the first handguard and a muzzle end of the first handguard so as to define a longitudinal axis and a first handguard length; and   an adapter radially surrounding an associated barrel nut along the longitudinal axis, wherein the adapter is longitudinally disposed between the first handguard and an associated receiver of the associated firearm.   
     
     
         2 . The handguard assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the adapter is at least partially and selectively received in the first handguard. 
     
     
         3 . The handguard assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the adapter is separable from the first handguard and from the associated barrel nut. 
     
     
         4 . The handguard assembly of  claim 1 , where the adapter includes a mounting ring that is received within the first handguard and a hub that is not received within the first handguard, and wherein the hub is longitudinally disposed between the mounting ring and the associated receiver of the associated firearm. 
     
     
         5 . The handguard assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the mounting ring defines a mounting ring exterior surface and the hub defines a hub exterior surface, and wherein the mounting ring exterior surface is spaced from the longitudinal axis a distance that is less than a distance that the hub exterior surface is spaced from the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         6 . The handguard assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the mounting ring of the adapter defines a mounting ring exterior surface that is radially spaced from the longitudinal axis so as to define a mounting ring radius and the exterior surface of the first handguard is spaced from the longitudinal axis to define a first handguard radius, and wherein the first handguard radius is greater than the mounting ring radius. 
     
     
         7 . The handguard assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the mounting ring of the adapter defines a mounting ring inner diameter and a mounting ring outer diameter, the mounting ring inner diameter and the mounting ring outer diameter being constant along an entirety of a longitudinal length of the mounting ring, wherein the hub of the adapter defines a hub outer diameter and a hub inner diameter, and wherein the hub outer diameter is greater than the mounting ring outer diameter. 
     
     
         8 . The handguard assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the hub inner diameter is equal to the mounting ring inner diameter. 
     
     
         9 . The handguard assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the hub of the adapter defines a key receiving recess that slidably receives a key that prevents longitudinal movement of the adapter with respect to the associated barrel nut, and wherein the mounting ring of the adapter defines at least one mounting bore that allows for passage of at least one fastener to threadingly engage the first handguard. 
     
     
         10 . The handguard assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a second handguard that extends between a breech end of the second handguard and a muzzle end of the second handguard so as to define a second handguard length, wherein the second handguard length is less than the first handguard length. 
     
     
         11 . The handguard assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the adapter is at least partially and selectively received in the second handguard instead of being partially and selectively received in the first handguard. 
     
     
         12 . The handguard assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the first handguard defines a first handguard inner diameter and a first handguard outer diameter, wherein the first handguard inner diameter and the first handguard outer diameter remain constant along an entirety of the first handguard length. 
     
     
         13 . The handguard assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the second handguard defines a second handguard inner diameter and a second handguard outer diameter, wherein the second handguard inner diameter and the second handguard outer diameter remain constant along an entirety of the second handguard length so as to receive the adapter, and wherein the second handguard inner diameter is equal to the first handguard inner diameter. 
     
     
         14 . The handguard assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a third handguard extending between a breech end of the third handguard and a muzzle end of the third handguard so as to define a third handguard length, wherein the third handguard defines a third handguard inner diameter and a third handguard outer diameter, wherein the third handguard length is less than the second handguard length, wherein the third handguard outer diameter and the second handguard outer diameter are equal to one another, and wherein the third handguard inner diameter and the second handguard inner diameter are equal to one another.   
     
     
         15 . The handguard assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the breech end of the first handguard defines at least one mounting hole, wherein the adapter includes a mounting ring that is received within the first handguard and a hub that is not received within the first handguard, and wherein the mounting ring defines at least one mounting bore that radially extends through the mounting ring, and wherein the at least one mounting hole of the first handguard and the at least one mounting bore of the adapter are in selective registry with one another. 
     
     
         16 . The handguard assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the first handguard defines a barrel passage to allow for at least partial receipt of the associated barrel of the associated firearm and the adapter defines a barrel tunnel that allows the associated barrel to extend therethrough, and wherein the at least one mounting hole of the first handguard and the at least one mounting bore of the adapter cooperate to allow fluid communication with the barrel passage and the barrel tunnel. 
     
     
         17 . The handguard assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first handguard is sized so as to allow a connection between an associated muzzle device and the associated barrel within the first handguard. 
     
     
         18 . The handguard assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the associated muzzle device is a sound suppressor. 
     
     
         19 . The handguard assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a key that engages the associated barrel nut that is threadingly connected to the associated receiver of the associated firearm, wherein the adapter defines a key receiving recess that slidably receives the key, and wherein the key is received in the key receiving recess so as to prevent longitudinal movement of the adapter with respect to the associated barrel nut.   
     
     
         20 . The handguard assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the key includes a main body from which a first projection and a second projection extend in a same direction from the main body, and wherein the adapter is configured to receive the key with the first and second projections for engagement with the associated barrel nut.