Adapter Device for Coupling an Auxiliary Stock to a Handgun

Abstract

An adapter device comprises a mounting frame arranged to be mounted onto a handgun and a stock mount arranged to support an auxiliary stock on the mounting frame. The stock mount allows interchangeable use of existing commercially available stocks to be used with a handgun.

Description

This application claims foreign priority benefits from Canadian Patent Application 2,631,979 filed May 13, 2008.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an adapter device arranged to couple an auxiliary stock on a handgun, and more particularly relates to an adapter device in which a plurality of auxiliary stocks can be interchangeably supported on a handgun by the adapter device.

BACKGROUND

There are various disadvantages to handguns as compared to rifles as outlined in U.S. Pat. No. 6,318,014 belonging to Porter, U.S. Pat. No. 6,367,187 belonging to Bubits and U.S. Pat. No. 5,778,588 belonging to Allen, III et al. The prior art patents in each instance disclose a stock including a shoulder portion for abutting a shoulder of a user which can be mounted directly onto the receiver body of a handgun to improve the control of the handgun. The shoulder portion of the stock and the mounts for attachment directly to the body of the gun are formed as an integral component in each instance so that if a different size or shape of stock is desired, the user must replace the entire device including the mounts for attachment to the handgun requiring awkward connection and disconnection to the handgun each time the stock is to be interchanged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided an adapter device for coupling an auxiliary stock to a handgun, the device comprising: a mounting frame arranged to be mounted onto a body of the handgun; and a stock mount arranged to support the auxiliary stock on the mounting frame.

By providing an adapter which readily permits an existing stock to be mounted onto a mounting frame which is in turn supported on the body of a handgun, a universal mount can be provided on a handgun which allows several different configurations of stocks to be mounted onto a given handgun without requiring any replacement or tedious mounting and removal directly onto the gun body. Accordingly multiple different configurations of stocks can be mounted to a single handgun at a lower cost and with much less difficulty in mounting as plural stocks can be mounted to a common universal frame which can be only fixed to the gun body at one time each time it is desired to use the handgun with a stock. The mounting frame remains readily separable from the gun body however if no stock is desired to be used with the handgun. The mounting frame further permits a universal mounting configuration for the stock so that a user can attach existing stocks from various types of rifles which are already commercially available and have many interchangeable parts which can be quickly connected and reused conveniently and at low cost.

The stock mount is preferably arranged to support the auxiliary stock thereon such that the auxiliary stock is selectively separable from the mounting frame.

There may be provided a stock mounting member supported on the stock mount which is arranged to support a commercially available stock thereon such that the stock is selectively separable from the stock mounting member.

The stock mount may comprise a threaded socket arranged for threadably receiving a commercially available stock mounting member therein. There may also be provided a lock aperture in the stock mount having an opening lying generally in a common plane with an opening of the socket at a location spaced radially outward from the socket. The socket is preferably supported on the mounting frame so as to be arranged to be spaced rearwardly from a rearmost portion of the handgun. The socket may be supported by the mounting frame so as to be arranged to be positioned below a slide of the handgun or to be near in elevation to a barrel of the handgun.

Alternatively, the stock mount may comprise an integral stock mounting member arranged to directly support commercially available stocks interchangeably thereon.

The mounting frame may be arranged to: be supported within a back strap channel of the handgun; be supported on an overhang of a grip of the handgun; be fastened through a body of the handgun; be supported on a front accessory mounting rail of the handgun; and/or receive and clamp a portion of the handgun body therein.

In some of the illustrated embodiments, the mounting frame comprises two side plates arranged to span along opposing sides of the body of the handgun and extend rearwardly beyond a slide of the handgun in a rearward most position thereof.

The top side of the gun may be unobstructed by the frame, or there may be provided a top connected between the sides overtop of the gun in a generally U-shaped configuration.

When the sides overlap a majority of the sides of the handgun, there is provided an opening in the frame arranged to receive spent casings from the handgun threrethrough and preferably at least one opening in the frame arranged for receiving a charging handle of the handgun therethrough.

There may be provided an accessory mounting rail supported on top of the mounting frame which is arranged to support commercially available rifle accessories thereon.

The mounting frame may further include an accessory mounting rail arranged to be supported below a barrel of the handgun which is also arranged to support commercially available gun accessories thereon.

In further embodiments, the stock mount may be arranged to be pivoted relative to the mounting frame such that the auxiliary stock is arranged to be folded relative to the handgun, and/or there may be provided one or more attachment locations on the mounting frame in which the attachment locations are arranged to support one or more magazines thereon which correspond to the handgun upon which the mounting frame is arranged to be mounted.

Several embodiments of the invention will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the adapter device.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device according to FIG. 1 showing an opposing side of the device.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a rear side of the adapter device.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the mounting frame shown separated from the handgun.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the adapter device supporting an auxiliary stock on a handgun.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a rear side of the mounting frame with a stock supported thereon.

FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are perspective views from a front end and a rear end of a second embodiment of the adapter device.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the adapter device shown supported on a handgun.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the device according to FIG. 9 shown separated from the handgun.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the adapter device shown supported on a handgun.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the adapter device according to FIG. 11 shown separated from the handgun.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the accompanying figures there is illustrated a handgun stock adapter device generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The adapter device 10 is particularly suited for coupling an auxiliary stock 12 to a handgun 14.

The adapter device generally comprises a mounting frame 16 which is arranged to be mounted onto a receiver body of the handgun and a stock mount mounted on the mounting frame which is arranged to support the auxiliary stock 12 thereon.

According to the illustrated embodiments described herein, the device 10 permits commercially available auxiliary stocks 12 to be mounted to a handgun in which the stocks each comprise a body extending in a longitudinal direction between a shoulder brace 20 at one end and a mounting sleeve 22 at the opposing end. The sleeve 22 is typically elongate in the longitudinal direction extending from an open end which is suited for receiving a commercially available stock mounting member 24 slidably therein.

The stock mounting member 24 is commonly known as a buffer tube or a receiver extension. The stock mounting member 24 which is best suited for use with the present invention comprises an elongate round tube which is arranged to be slidably received into the sleeve 22 on the stocks 12 at one end of the tube and which includes a threaded end 26 opposite the stock which is arranged to be mounted on the stock mount 18 of the adapter device. A mating keyway and key may be provided on the sleeve of the stock and the tube of the stock mounting member respectively. Sliding the stock mounting member into the stock 12 typically permits the overall length of the assembled stock 12 to be adjusted relative to the stock mount 18 by selecting the degree of insertion of the stock mounting member into the sleeve of the stock for securement at any one of a plurality of mounting apertures axially spaced along the mounting member for cooperation with a suitable retaining member on the stock.

A lock ring 28 is typically provided at the threaded end 26 of the stock mounting member which includes an aperture 30 therein which closely receives the threaded end of the stock mounting member therein. An offset portion 32 of the lock ring is offset radially outward relative to the aperture. A key formed on the periphery of the aperture 30 mates with a keyway extending in a longitudinal direction along the stock mounting member at the threaded end 26 for resisting relative rotation of the lock ring 28 about the stock mounting member. A protrusion 34 is typically formed on the offset portion of the long ring for locking engagement with a firearm upon which the stock mounting member is mounted when mounting onto an M16 rifle receiver body for example. A backing nut is typically secured against the locking ring to secure the locking ring in positive engagement with a firearm upon which the stock is mounted.

The mounting frame 16 of the adapter device 10 is typically suited for mounting onto a handgun of the type comprising a receiver body 40 having a barrel extending in a longitudinal direction along the top side thereof from a front end 42 to a rear end 44 of the body. A hand grip 46 extends downwardly from a rear end of the barrel which typically includes a hollow area for receiving a magazine of bullets therethrough. The grip 46 also includes a rear overhang 48 at the upper portion thereof which extends rearwardly to overhang the lower portion of the grip.

The grip also includes a back strap channel 50 which extends upwardly through the grip along the rear side thereof typically for mounting various accessories onto the receiver body of the handgun. The handgun typically also includes a slide 52 mounted along a top side of the barrel for sliding movement in the longitudinal direction of the barrel relative to the receiver body 40 so as to be displaced rearwardly beyond the grip in a retracted position for loading a casing into the barrel of the gun. Some handguns further comprise an accessory mounting rail 54 on the receiver body 40 which extends along a bottom side of the barrel adjacent the front end of the gun. A charging handle 56 may be mounted to extend laterally outward from either side of the slide 52 at the rear end thereof to manually displace the slide relative to the receiver body of the gun.

Additional components of the handgun may comprise a trigger pin 58 extending through the receiver body adjacent the trigger, a locking block pin 59 extending through the body above the trigger pin, a slide release 60 at one side of the gun body for releasing the slide, and a takedown lever 62 accessible at both sides of the gun for taking apart the components of the handgun.

Though various embodiments of the adapter device 10 are described and illustrated in the following, the common feature of the illustrated embodiments will first be described herein. The mounting frame 16 in each instance is arranged to secure to one or a combination of the following components of the handgun including: the back strap channel 50, the overhang 48 on the rear grip, the trigger pin 58 or other pins in the body of the gun, the front mounting rail 54, or any other fixed component of the receiver body onto which the mounting frame may be clamped. In each instance the mounting frame is arranged to allow free movement of the slide 52 relative to the receiver body. Furthermore in each instance, the stock mount 18 is supported by the mounting frame at a position spaced rearwardly from both the receiver body 40 and the slide in its rearmost retracted position relative to the receiver body.

As illustrated the stock mount comprises a socket 64 arranged to threadably receive the threaded end 26 of a commercially available stock mounting member 24 as described above, for example a stock mounting member of the type which is used to secure an auxiliary stock to the receiver body of an M16 rifle or other similar firearm. The commercially available stock mounting member in turn permits various configurations of commercially available stocks 12 to be supported thereon for in turn supporting the stocks on the receiver body of the handgun.

The socket 64 is internally threaded and generally cylindrical about an axis which is oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction of the barrel of the handgun upon which the mounting frame is supported. Spaced radially outward from the socket 64 there is provided a lock aperture 66 which is positioned relative to the socket 64 so as to be arranged for mating connection with the protrusion 34 on the lock ring 28 when a lock ring is also provided on the threaded end 26 of the stock mounting member received within the socket 64 of the device 10.

In alternative embodiments, the stock mount 18 on the mounting frame 16 of the adapter device 10 may comprise an integrally supported stock mounting member having one end which is configured similarly to commercially available stock mounting members so that the integrally supported stock mounting member on the mounting frame still permits commercially available stocks 12 to be readily mounted in a releasable manner onto the mounting frame which is supported on the handgun.

Accordingly in either configuration of the stock mount 18 of the adapter device, that is either an integrally formed stock mounting member or a socket which receives a commercially available stock mounting member, the adapter device 10 according to the present invention permits stock members 12 of various configurations to be quickly and easily mounted in a readily releasable manner onto the body of a handgun. Also in either configuration, the stock mounting member is arranged to be positioned spaced rearwardly from the slide of the gun in the rearmost position, either at the same elevation as the barrel or spaced slightly therebelow.

Turning now to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 6 and the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8, the adapter device 10 is shown to comprise a mounting frame 16 which extends the full length of the gun body from the front end to the rear end as well as extending rearwardly beyond the rear end of the handgun for supporting the stock mount on the rear end of the frame at a location which is spaced rearwardly from the slide of the handgun in its rearmost position. In each instance the frame 16 generally comprises a pair of side plates 70 which are parallel to one another to extend generally in the longitudinal direction along opposing sides of the body 40 of the gun. The plates 70 are arranged to be fixedly mounted relative to the receiver body of the gun with sufficient lateral clearance being provided between the side plates and the slide of the gun so as not to interfere with movement of the slide relative to the receiver body of the handgun.

A clamp is provided in the form of two clamping members 72 supported between the side plates 70 adjacent the front end thereof so as to be arranged to be fastened together by a suitable fastener extending through both side plates and the two clamping members which function to clamp the two side members onto opposing sides of the receiver body 40 and more particularly the mounting rail 54 below the barrel at the front end of the body. The frame also includes a lower portion 74 which is fixed between the two side plates 70 to maintain the side plates at a fixed spacing on opposing sides of the slide of the handgun. The lower portion 74 is coupled between lower front edges of the two side plates for containing the clamping members 72 thereabove for mounting on the mounting rail 54 of the receiver body. An auxiliary mounting rail 76 is provided on the lower portion 74 of the frame to be oriented in the longitudinal direction of the gun upon which the device is supported at a location directly below the exiting mounting rail 54 on the gun body.

When supported on a glock pistol as shown in the accompanying figures, the side plates include a depending portion at the location of the trigger pin 58 and the locking block pin 59 so that replacement pins can be inserted between the two side plates through the receiver body of the handgun at the location of the trigger pin 58 and the locking block pin 59 to provide additional securement of the frame to the body of the handgun.

To further secure the mounting frame to the gun body, a retainer bar 78 may also be provided for attachment between the two side plates of the mounting frame at the rear end thereof below the overhang 48 of the grip of the handgun. A fastener is provided for extending through the retainer bar 78 and both side plates at opposing ends of the bar for securing the retainer bar at a preferred location in engagement with the rear of the gun body. Slots 80 are provided in the two side plates which extend in the longitudinal direction for receiving the fastener of the retainer bar 78 therethrough so that the retainer bar can be coupled between the two side plates at one of a plurality of longitudinally spaced positions for accommodating different lengths of handguns secured between the clamping members at the front end of the mounting frame and the retainer bar 78 at the rear end.

A bottom edge of each of the side plates is arranged to be suitably located relative to the retainer bar and the clamping members so that when the frame is mounted on the receiver body of the handgun, access remains to various components of the handgun including the slide release 60 and the takedown lever 62.

Turning now more particularly to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 6, the mounting frame is shown with a top plate 82 which is connected between the two side plates along the length of the frame so that the frame has a generally inverted U-shape in cross section. The top plate 82 is supported by the side plates to be spaced above the slide of the handgun so as not to interfere with operation of the slide. The top plate 82 serves to mount an auxiliary mounting rail 84 extending along the length of the receiver body of the handgun for mounting various configurations of commercially available accessories including rifle scopes and the like. When extending the side plates upwardly to support a top plate 82 therebetween, cut outs 86 are provided in the form of openings in the side plates in alignment with an ejector of spent casings on the handgun on one side and the charging handle access on both sides at the rear of the frame.

Turning now to the embodiment of FIG. 7 and 8, the side plates of the frame may instead terminate at a top edge which is arranged to be mounted at a location spaced below the top side of the slide of the handgun as well as being below the charging handle and the casing ejector on the handgun so that no additional cut outs are required in the sides.

According to the first and second embodiments in FIGS. 1 through 8, the mounting frame is secured to the handgun receiver body by inserting the front end of the body between the clamping members at the front end of the frame for subsequent clamping using the provided fasteners. Replacement pins may be provided for securement through the trigger pin location and/or locking block pin location above the trigger of the handgun for additional securement. The retainer bar 78 is also fastened in place in snug abutment against the rear side of the grip below the overhang. In each instance of the first and second embodiments, the stock mount 18 is positioned at the same elevation as the barrel spaced rearwardly beyond the rear end of the gun body and beyond the rear end of the slide in a rearmost position. A commercially available stock mounting member 24 is threaded into the socket of the stock mount and secured using the lock ring and backing nut by aligning the protrusion of the lock ring within the stock mount as the aperture in the stock mount and the socket receiving the threaded end of the stock mounting member 24 have an opening in a common rear plane of the stock mounting 18.

Turning now to FIGS. 9 and 10, a further embodiment of the adapter device is illustrated in which the mounting frame 16 is supported on the body of the handgun primarily by being received within the back strap channel 50 extending up through a rear side of the grip 46 of the handgun. Accordingly the mounting frame 16 includes a stem portion 88 which is suitably sized for fitting within the back strap channel. The stem portion is accordingly generally elongate with a tapering cross section for mating connection within the back strap channel of the handgun. A locking protrusion 90 may be provided adjacent a base of the stem position 88 for interlocking engagement with a respective mounting hole located within the grip of the handgun to selectively retain the stem portion 88 of the mounting frame received within the back strap channel of the handgun.

The mounting frame 16 in the embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10 further comprises a central portion 92 which extends generally rearwardly in the longitudinal direction of the handgun from the bottom end of the stem portion when the stem portion is received within the back strap channel. A rear portion 94 of the mounting frame extends upwardly from a rear end of the central portion at a distance sufficiently spaced from the stem portion to comfortably accommodate a hand of a user about the grip of the handgun without interference by the rear portion 94 of the mounting frame. The rear portion extends upwardly to an upper end supporting the stock mount 18 thereon to similarly face rearwardly away from the handgun at a location spaced rearwardly from the handgun in a mounted position. The stock mount 18 as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 is substantially identical to the previous embodiments for accommodating commercially available stock mounting members threadeably received therein so that various forms of commercially available stocks can be mounted onto the handgun by the mounting frame and stock mount. The stock mount 18 is arranged to be supported near in elevation to an upper free end of the stem portion so as to be spaced below the slide of the handgun when the stem portion is received within the back strap channel.

Turning now to FIGS. 11 and 12, a fourth embodiment of the adapter device is shown which includes all of the features of the previous embodiment in FIGS. 9 and 10 along with the additional feature of an auxiliary support portion 96 on the mounting frame to be connected to an auxiliary mounting point on the handgun body in addition to the stem portion received in the back strap channel of the grip. In the illustrated embodiment the auxiliary support portion 96 includes a first portion 98 extending upwardly and forwardly from the stock mount generally towards the stem portion in the longitudinal direction, and a second portion 100 which extends forwardly from the first portion 98 generally horizontally so as to be generally parallel and spaced above the central portion 92 at the bottom of the mounting frame. A forward end of the second portion 100 comprises a coupling element 102 which is arranged to grip the overhang 48 of the grip of the handgun to provide additional support between the stock mount and the receiver body of the handgun. The coupling element is arranged to be attached to the gun body at a location below the slide so as not to interfere with movement of the slide relative to the gun body.

In use, according to the third and fourth embodiments, the stem portion of the mounting frame is first inserted into the back strap channel such that the protrusion 90 on the stem portion mates with the mounting hole in the grip of the handgun to retain the mounting frame mounted on the gun body. Optionally, the auxiliary support portion 96 may be provided for securement to an additional location on the gun body. A stock mounting member can then be attached to the stock mount 18 as described above in previous embodiments for supporting a commercially available auxiliary stock 18 thereon. The stock mounting member 24 permits various types of stocks, including commercially available stocks to be readily interchanged with one another while the mounting frame can remain secured to the handgun body.

In yet further embodiments, the adapter device 10 may include a hinge between the mounting frame 16 and the stock mount 18 so that a stock supported on the stock mount can be folded relative to the handgun upon which the mounting frame is mounted for collapsing the overall size of the assembled handgun and stock for storage as may be desired. The hinge may pivot about either a vertical or a horizontal axis.

In yet further embodiments the mounting frame 16 may be provided with a plurality of attachment points, at longitudinally spaced positions thereon between connection of the mounting frame on the body of the handgun and the stock mount 18, which are suitably arranged to secure additional magazines thereon of the type which are received within the grip of the corresponding handgun upon which the mounting frame 16 is mounted.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without department from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

1. An adapter device for coupling an auxiliary stock to a handgun, the device comprising:

a mounting frame arranged to be mounted onto a body of the handgun; and

a stock mount arranged to support the auxiliary stock on the mounting frame.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein the stock mount is arranged to support the auxiliary stock thereon such that the auxiliary stock is selectively separable from the mounting frame.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein the stock mount is arranged to readily support a commercially available stock thereon.

4. The device according to claim 1 wherein there is provided a stock mounting member supported on the stock mount which is arranged to support a commercially available stock thereon such that the stock is selectively separable from the stock mounting member.

5. The device according to claim 1 wherein the stock mount comprises a threaded socket arranged for threadably receiving a commercially available stock mounting member therein.

6. The device according to claim 5 wherein there is provided a lock aperture in the stock mount having an opening lying generally in a common plane with an opening of the socket at a location spaced radially outward from the socket.

7. The device according to claim 5 wherein the socket is supported on the mounting frame so as to be arranged to be spaced rearwardly from a rearmost portion of the handgun.

8. The device according to claim 5 wherein the socket is supported by the mounting frame so as to be arranged to be positioned below a slide of the handgun.

9. The device according to claim 5 wherein the socket is arranged to be supported by the mounting frame to be near in elevation to a barrel of the handgun.

10. The device according to claim 1 wherein the stock mount comprises an integral stock mounting member arranged to directly support commercially available stocks interchangeably thereon.

11. The device according to claim 1 in combination with a plurality of different stocks arranged to be interchangeably supported on the mounting frame by the stock mount.

12. The device according to claim 1 wherein the mounting frame is arranged to be supported within a back strap channel of the handgun.

13. The device according to claim 1 wherein the mounting frame is arranged to be supported on an overhang of a grip of the handgun.

14. The device according to claim 1 wherein the mounting frame is arranged to be fastened through a body of the handgun.

15. The device according to claim 1 wherein the mounting frame is arranged to receive a portion of the handgun clamped therein.

16. The device according to claim 1 wherein the mounting frame is arranged to be supported on a front accessory mounting rail of the handgun.

17. The device according to claim 1 wherein the stock mount is arranged to be pivoted relative to the mounting frame such that the auxiliary stock is arranged to be folded relative to the handgun.

18. The device according to claim 1 wherein the mounting frame is arranged to support at least one auxiliary magazine thereon which corresponds to the handgun upon which the mounting frame is arranged to be mounted.

19. The device according to claim 1 wherein the mounting frame comprises two side plates arranged to span along opposing sides of the body of the handgun.

20. The device according to claim 1 wherein the mounting frame is arranged to extend rearwardly beyond a slide of the handgun in a rearward most position thereof.