ACCESSORIES ATTACHED TO FIREARM MAGAZINE

Abstract

In a first aspect, a mounting system to mount accessories to the magazine or magazine baseplate of a firearm is provided. In a more specific best mode, a handgun forearm brace and recoil suppression support, for example, for target shooting, training, and improved aim is discussed. The support structure is connected via a locking mechanism to the base of the handgun detachable magazine and extending rearward to a rear connector. The forearm brace is further configured to allow it to adjust and extend either above and over the forearm of the shooter or below the forearm of the shooter. This improved support connecting to the base of the magazine via a locking mechanism can be used as a universal support for all guns with a detachable magazine without requiring any alternations, modifications, or attachments to the gun itself.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) based upon Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/090,949, entitled “GUN ARM BRACE ATTACHED TO DETACHABLE MAGAZINE”, filed Dec. 12, 2014, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a stabilizing attachment for a handgun, and more particularly, to an attachment for a handgun with a detachable magazine that secures to the base of the magazine and engages a shooter's forearm.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Several firearms utilize magazines to hold ammunition. Such firearms include auto and semi-automatic pistols. Small firearms, handguns, pistols, and the like can generate considerable recoil forces. Muzzle rise is a common phenomenon in all widely used firearms. Muzzle rise reduces accuracy of the firearm and makes it difficult to engage a target for a subsequent round. In addition, untrained shooters and shooters under stressful circumstances can flinch in anticipation of the recoil causing the muzzle to go off target. As the power of the cartridge increases, recoil forces and muzzle rise increases as well. Because of the absence of a shoulder stock, all of the recoil forces are transferred to the shooter's hand muscles. In particular, the barrel axis lies above the center axis of the arm, so the handgun's kickback gets transferred into angular momentum which must be absorbed by the shooter's wrist. Because the firearm's recoil forces release suddenly when the firearm is fired, it is difficult for the muscles in the hand, wrist, and forearm to provide the necessary counter force to cancel out the recoil forces. Handguns also typically have very short barrels. So while the barrel and the ammunition may be manufactured for accurate shooting, a small flinch, shake, or unsteadiness by the shooter will translate into a wide margin of error with respect to the intended target.

Two methods for steadying the handgun and mitigating recoil forces are demonstrated in the art:

With the first method, the rearward angular twisting forces from the firearm are mechanically transferred by way of a support brace into a downward force on the forearm thereby physically preventing the muzzle from rising. Examples of prior art using this method include: US 2014/0182181 A1, US 2014/0053447 A1, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,648,396 A. While effective to an extent, each of these examples has significant limitations:

• • US 2014/0182181 A1 can only be used on handguns with a buffer tube by strapping the handgun to the shooter's wrist. Very few handguns are designed and manufactured with a buffer tube so this is a significant limitation. As would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, strapping the firearm to the forearm is time consuming for the shooter, and limits the shooter's ability to switch quickly to a different firearm which is undesirable.
  • 2014/0053447 A1, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,648,396 A can only be used on a very limited number of handguns with a grip that is manufactured by the handgun manufacturer or altered by a gunsmith to allow the brace support to be attached to the grip of the handgun.

A second method for steadying the handgun and mitigating recoil forces is to attach a brace to the handgun which engages the underside of the forearm of the shooter. With this method, the shooter can push against the firearm a counter force prior to firing the firearm, which is ready to receive and cancel out the recoil forces when the handgun is actually fired. Examples of prior art utilizing this method include: U.S. Pat. No. 3,162,966, U.S. Pat. No. 4,291,482 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,180,874. However, similar to problems with the techniques above, all of these examples require attaching the support brace to the handgun or the grip of the handgun, which requires the handgun to either be manufactured with a grip that supports such an attachment or the grip must be altered by an experienced gunsmith to allow for the brace to be attached.

Both recoil suppression and firearm stabilization strategies have their advantages. In certain situations and depending on a shooter's preference, on the build of the shooter, and the design and caliber of the handgun, one of the above techniques may be preferable to the other. For example, the first method may work acceptably for many smaller caliber handguns as the recoil forces generated are small and can be easy absorbed by the forearm, but would be difficult to implement safely for larger caliber handguns which can generate as much as 45 pounds recoil force. The second method is also useful in certain circumstances, but it still relies on the shooter's wrist to put a forward positive force against the firearm prior to firing, which varies from shooter to shooter. As such the method would be less effective or useful for individuals with a disability or a weak wrist.

All prior art suffers from a few significant limitations:

• • they all are designed to be attached directly to the handgun, usually the grip;
  • they all are designed to allow the shooter to suppress recoil by having the brace twist into the shooter's arm during a discharge or stabilize the firearm during discharge by applying pressure to the brace, thereby making the wrist rigid, but not both; and
  • for all practical purposes, they are limited to a handful of firearm models that are manufactured with the necessary buffer tube or the necessary screws in the grip to allow these devices to be attached.

Attaching the support to the handgun is a significant limitation. There are only a handful of handgun models designed with a buffer tube, or with a slot to attach a support. In addition, many handguns do not have grips that are screwed to the frame that can be used to attach a support apparatus. As for the select few handguns manufactured with screws on removable grips, there are practical and market limitations with the idea of developing replacement grips which allow a brace to be attached to the handgun. The replacement grips would be in competition with an entire cottage industry of screw on grips to allow the firearm's owner to customize the look, form, and feel of their handgun grip, which may additionally have intellectual properties protecting competitors from entering the market.

In general it would be beneficial if a new method of reversibly connecting an attachment, especially envisioned as a brace, to a firearm. It would be greatly beneficial if the modifications were secure, semi-permanent, and were not attached directly to the firearm such that it could be attached to a plethora of models without a gunsmith making alterations to the handgun. Further, it would be beneficial if the solution were robust and capable of changing attachments quickly and efficiently, in the field as easily as in the shop.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Generally, the disclosed invention overcomes the limitations of the prior art to produce an innovative firearm that has a robust attachment adapted to secure a plurality of aftermarket devices to the firearm reversibly and without requiring any modification of the firearm itself. This is accomplished generally by creating a detachable locking mechanism to the base of the magazine or to the magazine itself. By connecting attachments to the magazine base or the magazine itself, no modification or alterations have to be made to the handgun or its grip. Further, the only change involves a relatively inexpensive replacement baseplate, or a replacement magazine. This allows changing of accessories for the firearm by merely changing the magazine, which can be done quickly in the field.

In a more preferred aspect of the invention, the disclosed invention overcomes limitations of prior art to produce an innovative handgun support brace for all handguns with detachable magazines. This is accomplished generally with two key innovations: (a) a brace arm connecting via a detachable locking mechanism to the base of the magazine or to the magazine itself, and (b) the forearm brace may be further configured to allow it to adjust and extend either above the forearm of the shooter or below the forearm of the shooter. By connecting the support brace to the magazine base or the magazine itself, no modification or alterations have to be made to the handgun or its grip. To use any model handgun with the brace, the only change involves a relatively inexpensive replacement baseplate, or a replacement magazine, which are designed to attach to the handgun brace. With the handgun brace being configurable to extend above or below the shooter's forearm, the shooter can select the desired and most appropriate method for steadying the handgun and mitigating recoil under the given circumstances. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated an embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following drawings illustrate by way of example, and are included to provide further understanding of the invention for purpose of illustrative discussion of the embodiments of the invention. No attempt is made to show structural details of the embodiments in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice. Identical reference numerals do not necessarily indicate an identical structure. Rather, the same reference numeral may be used to indicate a similar feature or a feature with similar functionality. Importantly, the drawings demonstrate several embodiments of the invention that are not intended to be limiting. As would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the disclosure, the present invention has a wide range of utility outside of the presently disclosed embodiments, which has been described generally herein. The precise scope of the present invention is to be defined by the claims. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the forearm support brace according to a first embodiment which is attached to the base of a magazine and the magazine is inserted into the handgun. This illustration depicts the arm brace configured for a right-handed shooter.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the forearm support brace according to a first embodiment which is attached to the base of a magazine and the magazine is inserted into the handgun. This illustration depicts the attachment in use with an embodiment of the brace arm extending over the forearm of the shooter.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the forearm support brace according to a first embodiment which is attached to the base of a magazine and the magazine is inserted into the handgun. This illustration depicts the attachment in use with an embodiment of the brace arm extending under the forearm of the shooter.

FIG. 4 is a exploded perspective illustration showing the parts of the brace arm of a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the forearm support brace according to a first embodiment which is disconnected from the base of the magazine, and the magazine is detached from the handgun.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the forearm support brace according to a first embodiment which is detached from the base of a magazine and the magazine is inserted into the handgun. This illustration depicts the arm brace configured for a left-handed shooter.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the forearm support brace according to a first embodiment which is assembled but disconnected from the magazine.

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of all of the components of a first embodiment of the inventive brace with the magazine inserted into the firearm.

FIG. 9 shows various views of a second embodiment of the invention, which is a rod brace adapted to run from the back of the base plate of a magazine to a shooter's arm.

FIG. 10 shows various views of a third embodiment of the invention, a sling brace adapted to be worn over the shooter's arm to absorb recoil attacking to the side of a magazine's base plate.

FIG. 11 shows a side view of a forth embodiment of the invention, adapted as a rod brace with a wing-nut and bolt joint that allows the brace to be adjusted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the present invention is exemplified as braces being connected to the magazine of a firearm, those skilled in the art would readily recognize that the standard couplings and fittings could be used to secure many things to the magazine of a firearm for many useful purposes. Naturally, the scope of the present invention is not intended to be limited by the embodiments herein, which by their very nature are mere examples. Instead, the full scope of the invention is defined in the claims below.

As would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, firearms have a substantially vertical plane of symmetry down the barrel of the firearm. Orientations in this specification and claims will be made in reference to that plane. When the firearm barrel is parallel to the ground, and when the plane of symmetry is orthogonal to the ground (i.e., when the grip is pointed effectively down as much as possible subject to the other two constraints above having higher priority), orientation can be made in reference to the firearm. “Bottom” refers to the lower surface toward the ground. “Down” or “downward” refers to moving toward the ground through the firearm. “Top” refers to the upper surface toward the sky. “Upward” refers to moving upward from the ground through the firearm. “Back” refers to moving horizontally across the plane of symmetry, opposite the direction ammunition travels down the barrel when the firearm is fired (i.e., from the barrel's opening where ammunition is discharged when fired, down the barrel, to the chamber). “Behind” refers to moving back on the firearm such that the area of discussion is offset from the firearm itself. “Forward” refers to moving horizontally across the plane of symmetry, following the path ammunition would travel down the barrel when the firearm is fired (i.e., from the chamber down the barrel to the barrel's opening). “In front of” refers to moving forward on the firearm such that the area of discussion is offset from the firearm itself. “Pitch plane” refers to a hypothetical firearm's axis of symmetry, which extends to any magazine that would be inserted therein and any accessories (including braces) attached thereto. The pitch plane is a critical point of reference that is understood to exist for magazines and accessories even when they are not inserted into a firearm but is where the plane would be if the magazine were inserted into its firearm. “Pitch” refers to rotational movement on the vertical plane of symmetry changing the angle between the magazine and its attachment in that plane.

Magazine

According the present invention, a firearm's magazine is adapted to be connected directly to an accessory without that accessory otherwise being connected to the firearm.

In one aspect of the invention, the baseplate of the magazine is replaced with a custom baseplate that is integrated with an adapter such that the baseplate can connect to the accessory. Throughout this specification, embodiments may refer to a baseplate having a modification to attach to an accessory and text may refer to a magazine having an attachment means for an accessory. It is to be understood that it is well within the skill of the art for one to select connecting the adapter to the magazine or the magazine's baseplate. Therefore, regarding this discussion, it is to be understood when discussing connecting the magazine that in an alternate embodiment, the skilled artisan could connect the device to the magazine baseplate instead, and vice versa. In a preferred embodiment in the case of an accessory adapter being connected directly to the magazine, it is connected directly to the bottom of the magazine. In a more preferred embodiment of the invention and in the case of an accessory adapter being connected directly to the magazine, the side walls of the magazine are of a size that the walls of the magazine are completely surrounded in the magazine well when the magazine is substantially inserted into the firearm's magazine well, such that only the bottom face of the magazine is not abutted to an inner face of the magazine well and as the general case of a handgun magazine.

In one aspect of the invention, the connection means to connect the accessory to the firearm magazine is reversible. In this specification, the term “reversible” is to be understood to mean can be disconnected in the field without using specialty tools, such as equipment to remove a weld or cut a portion of metal. In another aspect of the invention, the connection means has a first and second part, wherein the first part is permanently, semi-permanently, or temporarily secured to or integrated with a magazine base plate or the magazine itself. The second connection part is permanently, semi-permanently, or temporarily connected to an accessory.

As would be understood by the skilled artisan, any adapter can be used to connect a firearm magazine or magazine baseplate to its accessory, such as glue, welding, screws, bolts, or any other art recognized technique. Further, some firearms may not have removable baseplates, such as select Colt® pistols. Such firearms would require an adapter to be included in the design and manufacturer of the base of the magazine.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the accessory is a brace adapted to connect to the shooter other than at the shooter's hand.

In a preferred embodiment, the accessory is not a monopod, bipod, or tripod or any other stand in which supports the weight of the firearm against the ground.

It is to be understood that the present invention is to mechanically secure accessories to the magazine. Therefore, in a preferred embodiment, the accessory is not an adapter designed to attach magazines to a picatinny rail or the like (which are generally intended to connect spare magazines to the picatinny rail of the firearm, not to connect an accessory to the magazine of the firearm in situ). Further, in a preferred embodiment, the accessory is not a monopod, bipod, or tripod or any other stand, which is intended to support the weight of the firearm against the ground. In a more preferred embodiment, the accessory is flashlight, brace, scope, or a sensor. In yet another preferred embodiment, the accessory is a brace.

Brace

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, a brace is the accessory and is adapted to be secured to the magazine or the magazine baseplate as discussed above.

Any brace can be used that is designed such that it can connect to a shooter's body other than the shooting hand on one end and can connect directly to the firearm magazine on the other end. Importantly, a brace according to the present invention does not connect with the firearm itself, only the magazine or the magazine baseplate. The brace can be a single piece or several pieces. The brace can be a simple machined or bent rod, or it can be designed with joints to allow significant adjustment, as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.

The brace may comprise inter alia rods, joints, screws, screw-nuts, bolts, nuts, wires, connection means. Most components other than an impact absorbing component (such as a compressible sleeve, described below) are generally rigid with a high elastic modulus. The purpose of these rigid components is to transfer angular recoil, such that the shooter's body other than hand can absorb the recoil. As such, it is critical that these components can withstand the forces put on them by use, transport, and by firing without fracture (i.e., have a high breaking point). The majority of these components are made of ceramics, metals, alloys, plastics or carbon fiber as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. More specific examples of materials include anodized aluminum, reinforced aluminum composite, an aluminum alloy, a solid sol with an aluminum matrix, a fiber-reinforced material with an aluminum matrix, titanium, titanium alloys, steel, stainless steel, iron, ferroalloys, woven carbon fiber, plastic, nylon, polyamide nylon, polymers, nylon 6, and carbon-fiber reinforced aluminum. In a preferred embodiment, these components are made from 2024 or 7075 anodized aluminum and stainless steel to achieve a high strength to weight ratio and good weather resistance.

The brace may comprise a compressible sleeve, such that the compressible sleeve is the physical connection between the brace itself and the shooter. The compressible sleeve will be adapted to elastically absorb some of the impact from the angular recoil when the firearm is fired or otherwise for shooter comfort. The compressible sleeve may be a portion of the brace that makes contact with the shooter. Preferably, the compressible sleeve wraps around at least a feature of the brace. More preferably, the compressible sleeve completely wraps around a cylindrical portion of the brace. Most preferably, the compressible sleeve is adapted to surround an L-shaped portion of a proximal portion of a forearm support. The compressible sleeve should be made of a material or composite with a low overall elastic modulus such that it elastically compresses and reliably absorbs impact. Exemplary materials include foam rubber, rubber, Sorbothane, low density polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, high density polyethylene, elastomers, nylon, nylon 6, polyamide nylon, polyethylene terephthalate, and polymers. Additionally, materials with a higher elastic modulus can be used in cushion materials as the outer layer to hold a cushioning material in place. Such lower elasticity modulus materials can be woven into a fabric such that they are flexible and the cushion material under the low modulus material is what actually absorbs the impact. Such cushion materials can be any material art recognized to be used for that purpose.

The purpose of such a brace is to mitigate at least some of the recoil forces from a shooter's shooting hand to elsewhere on the shooter's body when the firearm is fired. This can be achieved by multiple methods, but each method generally requires a locked pitch angle between the brace and the magazine. For example, in the case of a brace over the arm designed to transfer recoil energy into the forearm of the shooter, it is important that the magazine and brace maintain a sufficient degree of rigidity when fired to perform this function without bending into each other on the firearm's axis of symmetry. Or in the case of a brace under the shooter's arm, the brace must be able to withstand the shooter pushing into the brace before the firearm is discharged, without the brace merely getting pushed away because the pitch angle opens. As such, the pitch angle should be substantially locked, although depending on brace design, the shooter may be able to adjust the pitch angle and other features of the brace.

It is to be understood that the brace can be designed to connect to any point of a shooter's body other than the shooting hand and fingers. For example, the brace could be designed to connect to a shooter's offhand for stability. Further, the brace could be designed to connect to the shooter's shoulder. In the preferred embodiment, the brace would be designed to connect either above or below the forearm of the shooter. The brace could connect to the forearm of the shooter at any point from the wrist to the elbow and perform its intended function. A connection on the forearm closer to the elbow would allow for greater leverage against the recoil forces of the firearm with the pivot point being at or about the connecting point between the brace and the magazine. A connection at the other end of the forearm closer to and including the connection with the wrist is still possible but less comfortable to absorb the recoil forces being translated into a downward force as there is more bone and less muscle at that location. However, the brace could still be adapted to connect at any point on the underside of the forearm, up to and including the connection with the wrist because any resistance to the shooting hand pushing forward helps to stabilize the handgun, and at least partially prepare the wrist and forearm to accept the recoil forces when the handgun is fired. In the event that the brace is connected to the shooting hand's wrist, the brace must lock the wrist in place or otherwise give some recoil energy to the wrist as translational momentum instead of pure rotational momentum compared to use without the brace.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a brace can be constructed as a single piece that is customized to the arm of the shooter, or it can be constructed with one or more pivot joints to allow for horizontal and/or vertical adjustment of the brace to better engage the arm (or other engaging body part) of the shooter. Further, the pivot joint(s) can be adjusted and locked using a number of locking mechanisms including but not limited to: bolts, nuts, wing-nuts, thumb-screws, knobs, pins, spring-loaded ratchet mechanisms, push button ratchet mechanisms, spring-loaded locking pins, and hand retractable spring-loaded locking pins.

Examples

Referring now to FIGS. 1-8, a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. Firearm 111 is shown with an embodiment of the present invention attached thereon. Magazine 110 is secured to replacement base plate 101. Fitting 102 is adapted to be mated with replacement base plate 101 by laterally sliding into the form-fit groove on replacement base plate 101, such that the inventive brace can ultimately be disconnected at this connection and to give some mechanical stability to the connection. The hand retractable spring plunger 103, combined with the general form-fitting natures of the fitting 102 and replacement base plate 101, mechanically secures the fitting 102 to replacement base plate 101. Arm 104 is threaded on its first end so that it can be screwed into a threaded opening in fitting 102. Arm 104 extends behind the replacement base plate 101 and is threaded at its second end such that it can be bolted into connector assembly 106, and locked in place with locking bolt 105. Forearm brace 108 is inserted into connector assembly 106 to a shooter's preferred depth, angle and orientation, and then pin 107 is inserted into the back of the connector assembly 106 and engages the nearest locking hole in brace 108 to mechanically lock the brace relative to the connector assembly 106 and thus the entire device. Compressible sleeve 109 is adapted to surround brace 108 to give cushion to the brace when it engages the shooter's arm 112.

The hand retractable spring-loaded plunger in 103 can be replaced with a bolt, thumbscrew, or spring-loaded ball plunger to lock the fitting 102 to replacement baseplate 101. Fitting 102 can be adapted to mate with replacement base plate 101 by horizontally or vertically sliding into a form-fit groove on replacement base plate.

The brace could be made as one piece and sized to the shooter, with the brace attached to the adapter 202 via set screws 203. The brace could engage the arm of the shooter from one side as in embodiment 100, or could do so from both sides as in the embodiment in FIG. 10.

In another embodiment, pin 107 could be replaced with a hand retractable spring loaded plunger. In another embodiment, the entire rear assembly of brace 100 could be replaced with a strap mechanism which straps around the arm. In another embodiment, forearm brace 108 could be curved in the section that engages the arm of the shooter. Multiple sub-embodiments of this embodiment are possible depending on the degree of customization, adjustment, and weight tolerance desired by the shooter.

Referring to FIG. 9, a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. Magazine 201 is provided. Naturally magazine 201 is adapted to be inserted into a handgun magazine well. Replacement base 202 is connected to magazine 201 to create a connection means to an accessory. Brace 204 is contoured to project from the back of the magazine. Brace 204 is locked into baseplate 202 using screws 203, so the whole system is secured together. In this manner, the magazine 201 is now mechanically secured to brace 204 which is configured such that when the magazine is inserted into a firearm, the brace 204 will engage the shooter's arm and help absorb recoil when the firearm is fired.

Referring to FIG. 10, a third embodiment of the present invention is shown. Magazine 301 is provided. Magazine 301 is adapted to be inserted into a handgun magazine well. Replacement base 302 may be connected to magazine 301 to create a connection means between the magazine and an accessory. Brace 303 with sling portion 304 is inserted into a groove on the bottom of the baseplate 302. Then other contoured mating structures of the baseplate are to be connected to the bottom of baseplate 302 and then screws are to be inserted to secure the magazine 301 to brace 303 with sling 304. In this manner, brace 303 with sling 304 will engage a shooter's arm and absorb recoil from any firearm in which magazine 301 is used. The angle of the brace arm relative to the handgun and relative to the shooter's arm could be adjusted via setscrews and a spacer 302.

Referring now to FIG. 11, a fourth embodiment of the present invention is shown. Connection means 402 with an integrated spring-loaded ball plunger locking mechanism is connected to a brace and a handgun magazine. The brace has a compressive sleeve (i.e., cushion; not labeled). The brace is adapted with wing-nuts 401 that allows pivoting of the brace around that point to adjust the brace. One wing-nut is vertical allowing lateral adjustment. The other wing-nut is horizontal allowing vertical adjustment. In this manner, a magazine-mounted brace is provided that allows adjustment of the brace.

Claims

1. A structure for connecting an accessory to a firearm magazine, comprising:

a connecting component; and

a structural component;

wherein the structural component is selected from the group consisting of: a firearm magazine baseplate and a firearm magazine;

wherein the connecting component is mechanically secured to, integrated with, or part of the structural component;

wherein the connecting component is adapted to mechanically secure an accessory to the structural component and

wherein the accessory is not a shoulder brace.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein the connecting component is not a-rail.

3. The structure of claim 1, wherein the accessory is not to a monopod, laser, or light.

4. The structure of claim 1, wherein the structural component is a firearm magazine baseplate and the connecting component is connected to a firearm magazine baseplate.

5-6. (canceled)

7. The structure of claim 1, wherein the structural component is a firearm magazine and the connecting component is connected to a firearm magazine directly.

8-10. (canceled)

11. A kit for a firearm to mechanically secure the firearm to a shooter's body other than the shooting hand or shoulder, comprising:

a brace comprising a first connecting component, and

a magazine comprising a second connecting component,

wherein the brace is configured to mechanically connect to the shooter's body other than the shooting hand or shoulder;

wherein when the first and second connecting components are connected together, when the magazine is installed into a firearm, and when the brace is mechanically connected to the shooter's body other than the shooting hand or shoulder, the kit mechanically secures the firearm to the shooter's body other than the shooting hand or shoulder to steady and brace the firearm; and to at least partially assist the shooter in mitigating recoil.

12. The kit of claim 11, wherein a pitch angle between the magazine and the brace are locked when not being adjusted such that there is substantially no deformation on the pitch plane when the firearm is fired.

13. The kit of claim 11, wherein the brace is a single piece.

14. The kit of claim 11, wherein the brace comprises a plurality of components.

15. (canceled)

16. The kit of claim 11, wherein the magazine comprises a baseplate and the second connecting component is attached to the baseplate.

17. The kit of claim 11, wherein when the first and second connecting components are connected together and when the magazine is installed into a firearm, the brace is oriented behind the firearm so that it can get mechanical support from behind the firearm.

18. The kit of claim 11, wherein the firearm is a pistol and the magazine is a magazine for a pistol.

19. A method of bracing and steadying a firearm comprising the following steps, which are performed in any order:

providing a firearm;

providing a magazine with a mechanism to connect a brace thereto;

connecting the brace to the magazine;

locking the magazine into the firearm's magazine well; and

securing the brace to a shooter at a point on the shooter's body other than the shooting hand or shoulder.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising: mitigating recoil by firing the firearm and transferring a portion of the recoil force to the shooter at the point on the shooter's body other than the shooting hand or shoulder where the brace is connected to the shooter or by mitigating recoil by allowing the shooter to prepare for recoil by applying angular force against the brace prior to firing.

21. The structure of claim 1, wherein the connecting component comprises:

a female component connected to the structural component; and

a male component connected to the accessory;

wherein the male component mates with the female by laterally sliding the male component into the female component;

wherein the female component has an orifice;

wherein the male component has a bolt, screw, or plunger adapted to penetrate the orifice to lock the male and female component together when they are mated.

22. The structure of claim 21:

wherein the plane formed by the intersection of the longitudinal axis of the barrel of a firearm and the substantially-mirrored plane through the grip of the firearm define a vertical symmetry plane for the firearm;

wherein when the firearm magazine is installed into the firearm, the male and female components mate by sliding the male component into the female component relative to the vertical symmetry plane such that all sliding motion is done orthogonal to the vertical symmetry plane,

wherein the accessory is attached; and

wherein the accessory is a brace adapted to connect to the shooter's body other than the shooting hand or shoulder such that the firearm is configured with a brace adapted to connect to the shooter's body other than the shooting hand or shoulder.

23. (canceled)

24. (canceled)

25. The structure of claim 1, wherein the accessory is selected from the group consisting of: a flashlight, a scope, a sensor, and a brace that connects the firearm to a shooter at a location other than the shooter's shoulder or shooting hand.

26. A structure for connecting an accessory to a firearm magazine, comprising:

a connecting component; and

a structural component;

wherein the structural component is selected from the group consisting of: a firearm magazine baseplate and a firearm magazine;

wherein the connecting component comprises a first connecting element that is mechanically secured to, integrated with, or part of the structural component;

wherein the first connecting element is adapted to connect to a second connecting element mechanically secured to, integrated with, or part of an accessory;

wherein the first connecting element comprises a female or male component locking component, adapted to mate with the second connecting element of the opposite gender;

wherein the plane formed by the intersection of the longitudinal axis of the barrel of a firearm and the substantially-mirrored plane through the grip of the firearm define a vertical symmetry plane for the firearm;

wherein when the firearm magazine is installed into the firearm thereby securing the first connecting element to the firearm, the first connecting element has substantially the same lateral cross-section across the component such that it is adapted to mate with the second connect element by sliding the male component into the female component orthogonally relative to the vertical symmetry plane, and

wherein either the first or second connecting element comprises a bolt, screw, or plunger adapted to penetrate an orifice in the other connecting element such that when the male component is mated into the female component, the bolt, screw, or plunger can be inserted into the orifice to mechanically lock the two elements together to prevent the male component from disengaging the female component.

27. The structure of claim 26, wherein the first connecting component comprises the female component.

28. The structure of claim 26, wherein the first connecting component comprises the orifice adapted to be penetrated by with the bolt, screw, or plunger in the second connecting component when the two components are locked together.

29. The structure of claim 26, wherein the lateral cross section of the male member is a dovetail shape.

30. (canceled)

31. The structure of claim 1, wherein the accessory is a forearm brace.

32. The kit of claim 18, wherein the brace is a forearm brace.

33. The structure of claim 21, wherein the accessory is a forearm brace.

34. The structure of claim 26, wherein the accessory is a forearm brace.

35. The structure of claim 31, wherein the forearm brace is adapted to be convertible such that it may secure the brace to a shooter by fitting over the shooter's forearm or by fitting under the shooter's forearm.

36. The method of claim 20, wherein the firearm is a pistol and the brace is a forearm brace that secures to the shooter's body at the forearm.

37. The structure of claim 29, wherein the accessory is a forearm brace.

38. The kit of claim 11, wherein:

the first connecting component comprises either a male or a female component connected to the structural component;

the second connecting component comprising a component of the opposite gender from the first connecting component connected to the accessory;

the male component mates with the female by laterally sliding the male component into the female component;

either the first or second connecting component has an orifice; and

the connecting component without the orifice has a bolt, screw, or plunger adapted to penetrate the orifice to lock the male and female component together when they are mated.

39. The kit of claim 38, wherein the plane formed from the intersection of the longitudinal axis of the barrel of a firearm and the substantially-mirrored plane through the grip of the firearm define a vertical symmetry plane for the firearm; wherein when the firearm magazine is installed into the firearm, the male and female components mate by sliding the male component into the female component relative to the vertical symmetry plane such that all sliding motion is done orthogonal to the vertical symmetry plane; and wherein the accessory is a forearm brace.

40. The kit of claim 39 wherein the first connecting component comprises the female component and the orifice, and the second connecting component comprises the male component and has a bolt, screw, or plunger adapted to penetrate the orifice to lock the male and female component together when they are mated.

41. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of connecting the brace to the magazine comprises:

providing female component connected to the magazine; and

providing a male component connected to the brace;

wherein the male component mates with the female by laterally sliding the male component into the female component relative to the vertical symmetry plane for the firearm defined by plane created by the intersection of the longitudinal axis of the barrel of the firearm and substantially-mirrored plane through the grip of the firearm;

wherein the female component has an orifice; and

wherein the male component has a bolt, screw, or plunger adapted to penetrate the orifice to lock the male and female component together when they are mated.

42. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of connecting the brace to the magazine comprises:

providing a first connecting component connected to the magazine; and

providing a second connecting component adapted to connect with the first connecting component which is connected to the brace;

wherein the first and second connecting components mate by laterally sliding the male component into the female component relative to the vertical symmetry plane for the firearm defined by plane created by the intersection of the longitudinal axis of the barrel of the firearm and substantially-mirrored plane through the grip of the firearm;

wherein the brace is secured at the shooter's shooting hand forearm.