Recoil bracket for a handgun

Abstract

A handgun grip module assembly includes a grip module with a handgrip portion, a slide portion, and a trigger guard extending between and connecting the handgrip portion to the slide portion. The slide portion extends longitudinally along a central axis and has opposed sidewalls and a bottom wall. The slide portion defines a bracket recess in the bottom wall and defines a receiver well between the opposed sidewalls and above the handgrip portion. A recoil bracket is movably disposed in the bracket recess. In some examples, the grip module can be made of a metal or a metal-infused polymer. During use, the recoil bracket can move in response to forces exerted on it during the firing cycle.

1 . A firearm grip module comprising:
 a grip module having a handgrip portion and a slide portion, wherein the slide portion extends longitudinally along a central axis and has opposed sidewalls and a bottom wall, and wherein the slide portion defines a bracket recess in the bottom wall and defines a receiver well between the opposed sidewalls and above the handgrip portion; and   a recoil bracket retained in the bracket recess of the grip module and movable along the central axis.   
     
     
         2 . The firearm grip module of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fastener that extends through the recoil bracket to retain the recoil bracket in the grip module, the fastener permitting movement of the recoil bracket along the central axis.   
     
     
         3 . The firearm grip module of  claim 2 , wherein the fastener is a pin. 
     
     
         4 . The firearm grip module of  claim 2 , wherein the grip module is made primarily of metal. 
     
     
         5 . The firearm grip module of  claim 2 , wherein the grip module is made of aluminum, an aluminum alloy, or a metal-infused polymer. 
     
     
         6 . The firearm grip module of  claim 2 , wherein the recoil bracket comprises steel, aluminum, titanium, brass, or tungsten. 
     
     
         7 . The firearm grip module of  claim 1 , wherein a top surface of the longitudinal portion has a curved profile. 
     
     
         8 . The firearm grip module of  claim 1 , wherein the bracket recess includes a foot recess of increased depth relative to the bracket recess, and wherein the recoil bracket includes a foot extending downward from the longitudinal portion and received in the foot recess. 
     
     
         9 . The firearm grip module of  claim 1 , wherein the grip module defines lateral recesses along part of the opposed sidewalls, and wherein the recoil bracket includes wings extending laterally outward from the longitudinal portion, each of the wings received in one of the lateral recesses. 
     
     
         10 . The firearm grip module of  claim 1 , comprising a trigger guard that connects to the slide portion below the bracket recess. 
     
     
         11 . The firearm grip module of  claim 1 , wherein the grip module defines a recoil block between the bracket recess and the receiver well, the recoil block extending up from the bottom wall and abutting or positioned to abut a proximal face of the recoil bracket in use. 
     
     
         12 . A firearm comprising the handgun grip module assembly of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         13 . A firearm grip module comprising:
 a grip module having a handgrip portion and a slide portion, wherein the slide portion extends longitudinally along a central axis and has opposed sidewalls and a bottom wall, and wherein the slide portion defines a bracket recess in the bottom wall; and   a recoil bracket received at least in part in the bracket recess of the grip module and movable longitudinally along the central axis, the recoil bracket comprising:
 a longitudinal portion extending along the central axis, the longitudinal portion received in the bracket recess; and 
 a lug portion extending upward from the longitudinal portion along the opposed sidewalls, the lug portion defining a U-shaped passageway. 
   
     
     
         14 . The firearm grip module of  claim 13 , wherein the recoil bracket further comprises teeth protruding rearward from the lug portion. 
     
     
         15 . The firearm grip module of  claim 14 , further comprising a receiver disposed in the receiver well, a distal end of the receiver abutting a proximal face of the lug portion, wherein the distal end of the receiver defines recesses corresponding to the teeth on the recoil bracket. 
     
     
         16 . The firearm grip module of  claim 13 , wherein the recoil bracket includes a protrusion on a bottom of the longitudinal portion, the protrusion defining an opening that is elongated along the central axis. 
     
     
         17 . The firearm grip module of  claim 13 , further comprising a retaining pin extending laterally through the grip module and the opening. 
     
     
         18 . The firearm grip module of  claim 13 , wherein the bracket recess includes a foot recess of increased depth relative to the bracket recess, and wherein the recoil bracket includes a foot extending downward from the longitudinal portion and received in the foot recess. 
     
     
         19 . The firearm grip module of  claim 18 , wherein the foot is on a distal end of the longitudinal portion of the recoil bracket. 
     
     
         20 . A firearm comprising the firearm grip module of  claim 13 .