Angled access adjustable gas block for a firearm

Abstract

A gas block for a firearm has a main body and includes an adjustment screw. The adjustment screw in the gas block extends askew the longitudinal axis of the firearm when the gas block and adjustment screw are installed on the firearm. That is, a plane through the adjustment screw is neither coplanar with the longitudinal axis (i.e., bore axis) of the firearm nor perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the firearm. In this manner, the adjustment screw is accessible through multiple vents or mounting holes through the handguard, and screwing the adjustment screw into or out of the main body adjusts an amount of pressurized gas allowed to flow from a barrel of the firearm back to a receiver of the firearm.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A gas block for a firearm, said gas block comprising:
 a main body comprising:
 a barrel hole, said barrel hole configured to receive a barrel of the firearm therethrough when the firearm is assembled, wherein the barrel extends along a longitudinal axis; 
 a gas passage configured to align with a gas port of the barrel when the firearm is assembled, receive pressurized gas from the barrel via the gas port of the barrel, and provide the pressurized gas to a gas tube of the firearm when the firearm is assembled and fired; 
 an adjustment hole intersecting the gas passage such that the adjustment hole is fluidly connected to the gas passage, wherein the adjustment hole extends askew the longitudinal axis when the firearm is assembled. 
   
     
     
         2 . The gas block of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the gas passage comprises:
 a takeoff portion configured to engage the gas port of the barrel when the firearm is assembled; 
 a gas tube portion configured to receive the gas tube of the firearm when the firearm is assembled, wherein the takeoff portion and the gas tube portion are fluidly connected. 
   
     
     
         3 . The gas block of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the gas tube portion extends longitudinally when the firearm is assembled.   
     
     
         4 . The gas block of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the takeoff portion extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis when the firearm is assembled.   
     
     
         5 . The gas block of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the adjustment hole intersects with a takeoff portion of the gas passage.   
     
     
         6 . The gas block of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the adjustment hole extends at between 15 and 60 degrees from a vertical plane along the longitudinal axis when the firearm is assembled and in an upright position.   
     
     
         7 . The gas block of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the adjustment hole extends along a generally horizontal plane when the firearm is assembled and in an upright position.   
     
     
         8 . The gas block of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the adjustment hole is threaded and configured to receive an adjustment screw.   
     
     
         9 . The gas block of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the gas block further comprises an adjustment screw configured to engage the adjustment hole when the gas block is assembled.   
     
     
         10 . The gas block of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the gas block further comprises an adjustment screw configured to engage the adjustment hole when the gas block is assembled, said adjustment screw configured to selectively, partially constrict the gas passage when the gas block is assembled.   
     
     
         11 . The gas block of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the gas block further comprises an adjustment screw configured to engage the adjustment hole when the gas block is assembled, said adjustment screw configured to selectively, partially constrict a takeoff portion of the gas passage when the gas block is assembled.   
     
     
         12 . The gas block of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the adjustment hole is threaded;   the gas block further comprises an adjustment screw configured to engage the adjustment hole when the gas block is assembled, said adjustment screw having a hex head; and   the gas block further comprises an adjustment tool, wherein the adjustment tool is a ball end hex key.   
     
     
         13 . The gas block of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the adjustment hole extends upward at between 5 and 30 degrees from a horizontal plane when the firearm is assembled and in an upright position.   
     
     
         14 . The gas block of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the main body of the gas block further comprises a locking screw hole;   the locking screw hole intersects the adjustment screw hole;   the locking screw hole is threaded and configured to receive a locking screw, said locking screw configured to engage an adjustment screw in the adjustment screw hole and prevent rotation of the adjustment screw.   
     
     
         15 . The gas block of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the main body of the gas block further comprises a set screw hole extending generally vertically when the firearm is assembled and in an upright position; and   the gas block further comprises a set screw configured to engage the set screw hole, align the gas port of the barrel with the gas passage of the gas block and secure the gas block on the barrel of the firearm when the firearm assembled.   
     
     
         16 . A firearm comprising:
 a barrel having a gas port;   a gas block comprising:
 a main body comprising:
 a barrel hole, said barrel hole configured to receive the barrel of the firearm therethrough when the firearm is assembled, wherein the barrel extends along a longitudinal axis; 
 a gas passage configured to align with the gas port of the barrel when the firearm is assembled, receive pressurized gas from the barrel via the gas port of the barrel, and provide the pressurized gas to a gas tube of the firearm when the firearm is assembled and fired; and 
 an adjustment hole intersecting the gas passage such that the adjustment hole is fluidly connected to the gas passage, wherein the adjustment hole extends askew the longitudinal axis when the firearm is assembled; and 
 
   a handguard at least partially surrounding the barrel and the gas block.   
     
     
         17 . The firearm of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the handguard has at least one vent therethrough, wherein said vent is an M-LOCK slot; and   the barrel is not supported by the handguard when the firearm is assembled.   
     
     
         18 . The firearm of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the firearm further comprises:
 a receiver configured to support the handguard and the barrel; 
 a trigger group configured to receive input from a user and fire a round of ammunition from the barrel in response to the received input from the user; 
 the gas tube, said gas tube configured to convey the pressurized gas from the gas block to the receiver when the firearm is assembled and the round of ammunition is fired from the barrel; and 
 a bolt carrier group supported by the receiver when the firearm is assembled, said bolt carrier group configured to receive the pressurized gas from the gas tube and remove the round of ammunition from the barrel in response to receiving the pressurized gas from the gas tube. 
   
     
     
         19 . The firearm of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the firearm further comprises a magazine configured to engage the receiver when the firearm is assembled.   
     
     
         20 . The firearm of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the firearm further comprises a stock supported by the receiver when the firearm is assembled.