PLASTIC HANDGUARD WITH A PARTIAL OR FULL METAL TUBE

Abstract

The subject of the disclosure is a firearm with a plastic handguard where a metal tube is integrated in the plastic handguard by injection molding or casting. The inner part of the plastic handguard can incorporate a partial or complete metal tube. The metal tube providing both rigidity and better heat dissipation properties enabling the plastic handguard to withstand prolonged use and abuse from application of the firearm. The metal tube therefore dissipates heat from the gas combusting in the barrel of the firearms allowing the plastic handguard to stay cool.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The subject matter of the disclosure relates to a high-strength, impact-resistant plastic handguard that has a solid and rigid structure, which is not affected by the pressure created by the gas formed during ignition of the gunpowder. This is because the handguard quickly dissipates the heat generated by the gas and allows the handguard to cool due to a metal tube which covers the inner part of the handguard. The handguard is manufactured from a plastic material with injection molding or a casting method integrating a protective tube made of metal material in the desired form.

BACKGROUND

In the relevant field of the art, plastic handguards do not have any protective metal tubes. For this reason, they do not have a solid and reliable structure like a handguard made of metal.

These types of handguards have some inherent problems. For example, the pressure and heat caused by gunpowder gas combusting as a result of using the rifle for a long time causes the plastic handguard to melt and be damaged over time.

In addition, the handguard may be fragile or may flex depending on raw material used to make the structure of the plastic handguard. In such instances, it is very difficult to obtain a solid and rigid handguard structure.

Yet another disadvantage of these handguards is that the plastic handguard may be broken and damaged when the rifle is dropped by the user or hits another object.

The subject matter of the disclosure is a plastic handguard which contains a partial or complete tube designed as an efficient and reliable structure in a way that eliminates the problems as discussed herein.

SUMMARY

In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a system, including:

A plastic handguard with a metal tube placed inside it. The metal tube is placed inside the plastic handguard using injection molding or a casting method. The plastic handguard incorporating at least two metal slots. In another embodiment, the plastic handguard can be assembled from two pieces, each of which has one half of the metal tube and one half of the plastic piece that creates the outer shell of the plastic handguard.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure are shown in the drawings and will be described below with reference to the figures, whereby elements having the same effect have been provided with the same reference numerals. The following is shown:

FIG. 1—General view of a firearm with a plastic handguard with partial or complete metal tubing inside;

FIG. 2—View of a plastic handguard with partial or complete metal tubing inside;

FIG. 3a—Sectional view of the plastic handguard in the direction of AA as indicated in FIG. 3b;

FIG. 3b—top down view of the plastic handguard showing position of the tube in the plastic handguard;

FIG. 4—Exploded view of the components (tube, accessory attachment rail, screws, and screw plate) that make up the plastic handguard with the metal tube; and

FIG. 5—Another exploded view of the plastic handguard illustrating the metal tube and plastic handguard in two halves.

LIST OF NUMERALS

Numbers are placed on the figures in order to better understand the plastic handguard with a metal tube. The numerals are as follows:

1. Plastic handguard,

1.1 Plastic handguard halves,

2. Tube,

2.1 Tube halves,

3. Screw plate,

4. Accessory attachment rail, and

5. Metal slot.

First, a mold is designed to create a plastic handguard with a metal tube. The metal tube is placed in the mold and covered with the raw material such as plastic such that it is a combined plastic handguard.

The metal tube creates a protective curtain that prevents contact of the combusted gas and/or heat with coming in contact with the plastic part of the handguard. No matter how long the rifle is used, there is no deformation of the plastic handguard due to this inner protective curtain. That is because metal rapidly dissipates the heat and provides cooling of the handguard.

Moreover, the plastic nature of the handguard allows for design of decorative shapes quickly and easily by using metal for the interior and plastic for the exterior.

FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of the plastic handguard (1) installed unto a rifle and the same plastic handguard (1) shown standalone in FIG. 2 with an accessory attachment rail (4).

The subject matter of the disclosure is the plastic handguard (1) with a metal tube (2) as shown in FIG. 3a. The plastic handguard (1) is formed by covering the metal tube (2) with plastic by injection molding or a casting method. The metal tube (2) shown in FIG. 4 is made of a metal material in the desired form. It is designed to partially or completely cover the interior of the plastic handguard according to the desired manufacturing method. The protective metal tube (2) is placed in the mold during the formation of the plastic handguard (1). After the injection molding or casting process is completed, a plastic handguard (1) with a metal tube (2) is obtained as shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b.

Due to this metal tube (2), the handguard (1) is not affected by the adverse conditions created by the gunpowder gas combusting in the barrel.

Moreover, the pressure and heat created by the combusting and expanding does not affect the plastic handguard as the rifle is used. That is because the plastic handguard (1) is not directly exposed to these effects and therefore does not melt or burn from prolong use of the rifle.

This tube (2) is made of metal, which has heat conductive properties such that it rapidly distributes the heat and prevents the handguard from melting and breaking.

In addition, the plastic handguard (1), with its interior covered with a metal tube (2), provides structure rigidity much like a metal handguard even though the outer part of the plastic handguard is made of plastic, allowing the desired decorative shapes to be formed easily and quickly.

At the same time, as an alternative embodiment of production of the plastic handguard (1), as shown in FIG. 5, two halves of a plastic handguard (1.1) can be formed by plastic injection molding separately, on the two halve metal tubes (2.1). This embodiment of the disclosure allows for assembling of the two combined halves after the production of plastic handguard parts (1.1) containing a metal tube piece (2.1) as a single piece, left and right side, respectively.

At least two metal slots (5) are formed on the handguard (1), one on each side as shown in FIG. 4. Screw plate (3) are positioned in these slots (5). The screw plates (3) have threads in them allowing for secure attachment of the accessory attachment rail (4) using screws. Thus, a more robust structure is obtained by connecting the accessory attachment rails (4) to these threaded screw plates (3). Based on the user's desire, the attachment rails (4) can be used to safely attach lamps, lasers and similar accessories to the firearm.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a plastic handguard;

a metal tube placed inside the handguard; and

at least two metal slots laterally placed on an outer surface of the plastic handguard.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the metal tube is placed inside the handguard by covering the metal tube with a plastic or plastic type material using injection molding or casting method.

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the at least two metal slots are positioned on each side of the handguard.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein at least one screw plate is positioned into each of the at least two metal slots.

7. An apparatus, comprising:

a plastic handguard incorporating at least two vertically separated halves;

a metal tube incorporating at least two vertically separated halves, wherein each of the at least two vertically separated halves of the metal tube corresponds to each of the at least two vertically separated halves of the plastic guard;

wherein each of the at least two vertically separated halves of the metal tube is placed inside each of the at least two vertically separated halves of the plastic guard; and

at least one metal slot is placed on an outer surface of each of the at least two vertically separated halves of the plastic handguard.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the each of the at least two vertically separated halves of the metal tube placed inside the each of the at least two vertically separated halves of the plastic handguard is achieved by covering each of the at least two vertically separated halves of the metal tube with a plastic or plastic type material using injection molding or casting method.