Handgun brace

Abstract

A brace for stabilizing a handheld device such as a handgun against a user's forearm includes a vertically elongated body adapted to detachably engage a portion of the handheld device, and an arm pivotably connected to a portion of the body. The pivotable arm is selectably moveable between a stowed position wherein the arm is vertically aligned with the body, and a deployed position wherein the arm provides a surface against which a user's forearm is removably receivable to stabilize the handheld device when the body is engaged with the handheld device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A brace for stabilizing a handheld device against a user's forearm, comprising:
 an elongated body adapted to detachably engage a portion of the device; and   an arm pivotably connected to the body, the arm selectably moveable between a stowed position wherein the arm is substantially aligned with the body, and a deployed position wherein the arm provides a surface against which a user's forearm is removably receivable to stabilize the handheld device when the body is engaged with the handheld device.   
     
     
         2 . The brace of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated body includes a body and a fixed arm. 
     
     
         3 . The brace of  claim 1 , wherein the arm is substantially adjacent the elongated body when the arm is in the stowed position. 
     
     
         4 . The brace of  claim 1 , wherein the arm is vertically parallel with a portion of the elongated body when the arm is in the stowed position. 
     
     
         5 . The brace of  claim 1 , wherein the arm is pivotably connected to a lower end portion of the elongated body. 
     
     
         6 . The brace of  claim 5 , wherein an end portion of the arm distal to the lower end portion of the elongated body is at least partially received inside the elongated body when the arm is in the stowed position. 
     
     
         7 . The brace of  claim 1 , wherein the arm extends outwardly from a side of the elongated body when the arm is in the deployed position. 
     
     
         8 . The brace of  claim 1 , wherein the arm is selectably moveable at least partially in a side direction away from the elongated body. 
     
     
         9 . The brace of  claim 1 , wherein the arm is selectably moveable through a plane substantially normal to an axis extending between a forward surface and a rearward surface of the elongated body. 
     
     
         10 . The brace of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated body includes a slot in which the arm is removably receivable when the arm is in the stowed position. 
     
     
         11 . The brace of  claim 10 , wherein the slot extends completely through the elongated body from a first side to a second side of the elongated body. 
     
     
         12 . The brace of  claim 10 , wherein the elongated body is adapted to releasably retain the arm in the stowed position when the arm is received in the slot. 
     
     
         13 . The brace of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a protrusion extending from an interior surface of the slot; and   a recess in which the protrusion is removably receivable defined in a portion of the arm to selectably secure the arm in the stowed position when the arm is received in the slot.   
     
     
         14 . The brace of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the elongated body includes an elongated extension portion extending from a forward surface of the elongated body; and   the extension portion is adapted to detachably engage a portion of the device.   
     
     
         15 . The brace of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the elongated body is configured to receive a portion of the handheld device at least partially therethrough. 
     
     
         16 . The brace of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated body includes a passage in which a portion of the handheld device is telescopically receivable to attach the brace to the handheld device, the passage extending through at least a portion of the elongated body from a forward end of the elongated body toward a rearward end of the elongated body. 
     
     
         17 . The brace of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated body comprises a selectably releasable clamping member operable to releasably engage a portion of the handheld device to attach the brace to the handheld device. 
     
     
         18 . The brace of  claim 1 , wherein the handheld device is a firearm. 
     
     
         19 . A firearm, comprising:
 a rear end portion; and   a brace for stabilizing the firearm against a user's forearm, the brace comprising:
 an elongated body adapted to detachably engage the rear end portion of the firearm, and 
 an arm pivotably connected to the body, the arm selectively moveable between a stowed position wherein the arm is substantially aligned with the elongated body, and a deployed position wherein the arm provides a surface against which a user's forearm is removably receivable to stabilize the firearm when the elongated body is engaged with the rear end portion of the firearm. 
   
     
     
         20 . A method of stabilizing a firearm, comprising:
 providing a handgun and a brace for stabilizing the handgun against a user's forearm, the brace comprising:
 an elongated body adapted to detachably engage a rear end portion of the handgun, and 
 an arm pivotably connected to the elongated body, the arm selectively moveable between a stowed position wherein the arm is substantially aligned with the elongated body, and a deployed position wherein the arm provides a surface against which a user's forearm is removably receivable to stabilize the handgun when the elongated body is engaged with the rear end portion of the firearm; and 
   holding a grip portion of the handgun while the brace is engaged with the rear end portion of the handgun and the user's forearm is received against the arm.