Firearm handguard attachment system

Abstract

A handguard system for a firearm having a receiver, a barrel and a barrel nut for attaching the barrel to the receiver. The handguard system comprises a handguard component, a first fastener, and a second fastener. The handguard system also comprises a plate, configured to accept the first fastener and the second fastener, with the plate further configured to apply pressure to the barrel nut of the firearm.

1 . A handguard system for a firearm having a receiver, a barrel and a barrel nut for attaching the barrel to the receiver, comprising:
 a handguard component;   a first fastener;   a second fastener;   a plate, configured to accept the first fastener and the second fastener, and further configured to apply pressure to the barrel nut of the firearm.   
     
     
         2 . The handguard system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the handguard component includes an interior surface;   the barrel nut includes and exterior surface;   the plate includes first and second surfaces; and wherein   the first fastener and the second fastener are configured to apply pressure to the first surface of the plate to drive the second surface of the plate against the exterior surface of the barrel nut.   
     
     
         3 . The handguard system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first fastener is a first threaded screw having a first drive;   the second fastener is a second threaded screw having a second drive; and   the plate has first and second threaded passages with threading corresponding to the threading of the first and second screws, respectively.   
     
     
         4 . The handguard system of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the first screw is driven into the plate when the first drive is engaged by a first driver;   the second screw is driven into the plate when the second drive is engaged by a second driver.   
     
     
         5 . The handguard system of  claim 1 , further comprising a threaded set screw, wherein the plate includes a threaded passage corresponding to the threading of the threaded set screw. 
     
     
         6 . The handguard system of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the barrel nut includes a groove;   the set screw is configured to mate with the groove when the barrel nut is fixedly attached to the barrel.   
     
     
         7 . The handguard system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the handguard system is aligned to the firearm independently of the barrel nut.   
     
     
         8 . The handguard system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the firearm further includes a gas tube; and   the handguard system is aligned to the firearm independently of the gas tube.   
     
     
         9 . The handguard system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the handguard component further includes a recess configured to hold the plate, the first fastener, and the second fastener; and   the first fastener, the second fastener, and the plate reside partially or fully within the recess.   
     
     
         10 . The handguard system of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the first fastener includes a first fastener tip and a first fastener shaft;   the second fastener includes a second fastener tip and a second fastener shaft;   a first tip diameter of the first fastener tip is larger than a first shaft diameter of the first fastener shaft;   a second tip diameter of the second fastener tip is larger than a second shaft diameter of the second fastener shaft;   the handguard component includes a first fastener hole, the first fastener hole having a first hole diameter larger than the first shaft diameter and smaller than the first tip diameter; and   the handguard component includes a second fastener hole, the second fastener hole having a second hole diameter larger than the second shaft diameter and smaller than the second tip diameter.   
     
     
         11 . The handguard system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the first fastener tip resides in the recess, between the handguard component and the plate;   the second fastener tip resides in the recess, between the handguard component and the plate;   the first fastener shaft extends through the first fastener hole; and   the second fastener shaft extends through the second fastener hole.   
     
     
         12 . The handguard system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the handguard component includes an interior handguard curved surface;   the plate includes first and second surfaces;   the second surface is curved; and   the second surface is parallel to the interior handguard curved surface.   
     
     
         13 . The handguard system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 The second surface remains generally parallel to the interior handguard curved surface when the first fastener and the second fastener are driven into the plate.   
     
     
         14 . The handguard system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plate has a length and a width;   the length is longer than the width.   
     
     
         15 . The handguard system of  claim 1 , further comprising a barrel nut screw, wherein the barrel nut is configured to accept the barrel nut screw. 
     
     
         16 . The handguard system of  claim 15 , wherein the handguard component includes a handguard barrel nut screw hole, and the barrel nut screw passes through the handguard barrel nut screw hole into the barrel nut. 
     
     
         17 . The handguard system of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the barrel nut includes one or more gas tube channels;   the barrel nut includes one or more barrel nut screw holes for accepting the barrel nut screw; and   the handguard component is aligned:
 when a gas tube is able to pass through the one or more gas tube holes and function properly; 
 the barrel nut screw is able to pass through the handguard barrel nut screw hole into a respective barrel nut screw hole of the one or more barrel nut screw holes. 
   
     
     
         18 . The handguard system of  claim 17 , wherein:
 The one or more barrel nut screw holes are non-intersecting with the one or more gas tube holes.