SPACER FOR GRIP ADJUSTMENT OF FIREARM
A spacer assembly configured for mounting between a pistol grip and a lower receiver of a weapon. The spacer assembly includes an indexer and a spacer. The indexer is configured to shift a position of the pistol grip when mounted to the lower receiver via the indexer. The shifted position of the pistol grip shifts the pistol grip rearward away from a trigger of the lower receiver a distance, such that a trigger indexing is selected for a user. The spacer is configured to couple to the indexer to provide for a smooth transition between the pistol grip and the lower receiver. The indexer includes an upper portion configured to mount to a pistol grip attachment point of the lower receiver. The indexer also includes a lower portion configured to receive the pistol grip. The lower portion mimics the pistol grip attachment point of the lower receiver.
This application claims the filing benefits of U.S. provisional application, Ser. No. 62/856,277, filed Jun. 3, 2019, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed to firearms, and in particular to firearms with pistol grips.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONConventional semi-automatic rifles, such as the popular AR-10/AR-15 type rifles (which are based on the original ArmaLite AR-10/AR-15 designs), as well as other semi-automatic or bolt action rifles, often include a pistol grip positioned with respect to the rifle's trigger. The pistol grip is mechanically coupled to a portion of the rifle that typically houses a trigger group and a fire control group. In such AR-10/AR-15 type rifles (as well as a pistol version), this portion of the rifle (to which the pistol grip attaches) is referred to as the “lower receiver.” In addition to the pistol grip, the lower receiver contains and/or receives a trigger/fire control group and a magazine well for receiving magazines, as well as other parts. When combined with an “upper receiver,” the lower receiver/upper receiver combination houses and/or serves as attachment points for the rest of the components of the typical AR-10/AR-15 type rifle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAn exemplary spacer assembly of the present invention is configured for mounting between a pistol grip and a pistol grip attachment point of a weapon's lower receiver. The spacer assembly includes an indexer configured to shift the installation position of the pistol grip. When the indexer is mounted to a lower receiver, a pistol grip subsequently mounted to the lower receiver will be repositioned a selected distance back from a trigger of the lower receiver. Such movement of the pistol grip back from the trigger provides for optimal trigger indexing that is selected for a particular user. The spacer assembly further includes a spacer configured to couple to the indexer, and once coupled, to provide an ergonomic fit between the repositioned pistol grip and the lower receiver. The indexer comprises an upper portion that is configured to mount the indexer to the pistol grip attachment point. The indexer further comprises a lower portion that is configured to receive a pistol grip.
An exemplary spacer assembly of the present invention is configured for mounting between a pistol grip and a lower receiver of a weapon. The spacer assembly includes an indexer and a spacer. The indexer is configured to shift a position of the pistol grip when mounted to the lower receiver via the indexer. The shifted position of the pistol grip shifts the pistol grip rearward away from a trigger of the lower receiver a distance, such that a trigger indexing is selected for a user. The spacer is configured to couple to the indexer to provide for a smooth transition between the pistol grip and the lower receiver. The indexer includes an upper portion configured to mount to a pistol grip attachment point of the lower receiver. The indexer also includes a lower portion configured to receive the pistol grip. The lower portion mimics the pistol grip attachment point of the lower receiver.
In an aspect of the present invention, the indexer is configured to shift the pistol grip a selected distance rearward to provide a selected trigger indexing for a selected hand size and/or selected hand physical dimension.
In another aspect of the present invention, the spacer is configured in one of a plurality of different thickness and shapes, and wherein a particular thickness and shape is selected to provide a particular ergonomic fit between the pistol grip and lower receiver for a selected hand size and/or selected hand physical dimension.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, the indexer is optionally equipped with a cavity and threaded opening for receiving and securing a thumb rest.
In a further aspect of the present invention, the indexer is formed of at least one of aluminum, reinforced polymeric material, and wherein the spacer is formed of at least one of aluminum, and reinforced polymeric material.
In an aspect of the present invention, the spacer is coupled to the indexer via an attachment feature on an underside of the spacer. The attachment feature is configured to couple to the indexer on the upper portion of the indexer. The attachment feature may be configured to be at least partially inserted into an opening on the upper portion of the indexer.
In another aspect of the present invention, the attachment feature is at least one prong that is configured to friction fit in at least one opening on the upper portion of the indexer.
Therefore, the present invention provides for a spacer assembly configured to reposition a pistol grip a selected distance back from a trigger of a lower receiver when the spacer assembly is mounted between the pistol grip and the lower receiver. Such movement of the pistol grip back from the trigger provides for optimal trigger indexing that is selected for a particular user.
These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings.
Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depicted therein, a pistol grip 102 mechanically coupled to a lower receiver 104 is illustrated in
As illustrated in
Special accessories which serve as alternatives to conventional pistol grips may also be configured to attach to the pistol grip attachment point 106. Such pistol grip alternatives include “fin grip” configurations that attach to the pistol grip attachment point 106 in a similar fashion.
Therefore, as discussed herein, embodiments of the spacer assembly 200 are configured to shift the position of the pistol grip 102 rearward with respect to the trigger 108, such that when grasped by a user, the user's trigger finger will be more comfortably indexed or positioned with respect to the trigger 108 or the area around the trigger 108 defined by the trigger guard 110. The spacer 204 of the spacer assembly is configured to provide an ergonomic fit between the repositioned pistol grip 102 and the lower receiver 104. As also discussed herein, the dimensions of the indexer 202 may be selected for a desired distance from the trigger 108. Similarly, the dimensions of the spacer 204 may be selected for a desired ergonomic fit depending on a user's hand size and/or physical dimension.
While the foregoing description describes several embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that variations and modifications to these embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the claims below. The present invention encompasses all combinations of various embodiments or aspects of the invention described herein. It is understood that any and all embodiments of the present invention may be taken in conjunction with any other embodiment to describe additional embodiments of the present invention. Furthermore, any elements of an embodiment may be combined with any and all other elements of any of the embodiments to describe additional embodiments. Changes and modifications in the specifically-described embodiments may be carried out without departing from the principles of the present invention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims as interpreted according to the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents.
Claims
1. A spacer assembly configured for mounting between a pistol grip and a lower receiver of a weapon, the spacer assembly comprising:
- an indexer configured to shift a position of the pistol grip when mounted to the lower receiver via the indexer, wherein the indexer is configured to shift the position of the pistol grip rearward away from a trigger of the lower receiver a distance, such that a trigger indexing is adjusted for a user; and
- a spacer configured to couple to the indexer to provide for a smooth transition between the pistol grip and the lower receiver;
- wherein the indexer comprises an upper portion configured to mount to a pistol grip attachment point of the lower receiver; and
- wherein the indexer further comprises a lower portion configured to receive the pistol grip, and wherein the lower portion mimics the pistol grip attachment point of the lower receiver.
2. The spacer assembly of claim 1 further comprising a thumb rest secured to a side of the indexer.
3. The spacer assembly of claim 2, wherein the thumb rest is configured with one of a plurality of angles with respect to the indexer and further configured with a selected length, width, and thickness.
4. The spacer assembly of claim 1, wherein the indexer is configured to shift the pistol grip a selected distance rearward to provide a selected trigger indexing for a selected hand size and/or selected hand physical dimension.
5. The spacer assembly of claim 1, wherein the spacer is further configured in one of a plurality of different thicknesses and shapes, and wherein a particular thickness and shape is selected to provide a particular ergonomic fit between the pistol grip and lower receiver for a selected hand size and/or selected hand physical dimension.
6. The spacer assembly of claim 5, wherein the spacer comprises a concave outer surface on a side opposite the trigger.
7. The spacer assembly of claim 1, wherein the indexer is formed of at least one of aluminum and reinforced polymeric material, and wherein the spacer is formed of at least one of aluminum and reinforced polymeric material.
8. The spacer assembly of claim 1, wherein the spacer is coupled to the indexer via an attachment feature on an underside of the spacer, and wherein the attachment feature is configured to couple to the indexer on the upper portion of the indexer.
9. The spacer assembly of claim 8 wherein the attachment feature is configured to be at least partially inserted into an opening on the upper portion of the indexer.
10. The spacer assembly of claim 8, wherein the attachment feature is at least one prong that is configured to friction fit in at least one opening on the upper portion of the indexer.
11. A method for adjusting a position of a pistol grip coupled to a lower receiver of a weapon with respect to a trigger of the lower receiver, wherein the method comprises:
- removing the pistol grip from the lower receiver of the weapon;
- installing a spacer assembly to the lower receiver, wherein the spacer assembly comprises an indexer and a spacer;
- wherein the indexer is configured to shift a position of the pistol grip when mounted to the lower receiver via the indexer;
- wherein the spacer is coupled to the indexer to provide for a smooth transition between the pistol grip and the lower receiver;
- wherein the indexer comprises an upper portion configured to mount to a pistol grip attachment point of the lower receiver, wherein the indexer further comprises a lower portion configured to receive the pistol grip, and wherein the lower portion mimics the pistol grip attachment point of the lower receiver; and
- mounting the pistol grip to the lower portion of the indexer, wherein a shifted position of the pistol grip shifts the pistol grip rearward away from the trigger of the lower receiver a distance, such that a trigger indexing is selected for a user.
12. The method of claim 11 further comprising installing a thumb rest on the indexer by securing the thumb rest to a side of the indexer.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the thumb rest is positioned at one of a plurality of angles with respect to the indexer, and wherein the thumb rest comprises a selected length, width, and thickness.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein the indexer is configured to shift the pistol grip a selected distance rearward to provide a selected trigger indexing for a selected hand size and/or selected hand physical dimension.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein the spacer is further configured in one of a plurality of different thicknesses and shapes, wherein a particular thickness and shape is selected to provide a particular ergonomic fit between the pistol grip and the lower receiver for a selected hand size and/or selected hand physical dimension, and wherein the spacer comprises a concave outer surface on a side opposite the trigger.
16. The method of claim 11 further comprising forming the indexer of at least one of aluminum and reinforced polymeric material.
17. The method of claim 11 further comprising forming the spacer of at least one of aluminum and reinforced polymeric material.
18. The method of claim 11 further comprising coupling the spacer to the indexer via an attachment feature on an underside of the spacer, wherein the attachment feature couples to the indexer on the upper portion of the indexer.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the attachment feature at least partially inserts into an opening on the upper portion of the indexer.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the attachment feature is at least one prong that is configured to friction fit in at least one opening on the upper portion of the indexer.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 2, 2020
Publication Date: Dec 3, 2020
Inventor: Haochen Sun (East Lansing, MI)
Application Number: 16/890,074