Integral Grip Construction for Handguns

The present invention relates to an integral grip for handguns molded of a resiliently flexible material with a configuration such that the grip is tensioned to exert a clamping force on the handle of the gun.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,815,270 to Pachmayr shows a handgun grip having two lateral side portions and front portion molded in flat condition and wrapped around the corresponding surfaces of the gun handle and secured in place by a plurality of screws.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,043,066 to Pachmayr shows a handgun grip comprising four separate sections (27, 29, 30 and 31) which completely encases the four sides of a gun handle. Fasteners are used to affix the sections of the grip to the handle.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,586,282 to Sniezak shows a handgun grip formed from two side sections and one rear section (26R, 26L and 28) which are separately attached using a plurality of fasteners to secure the individual grip portions to each other and to the handle.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an integrally molded grip of resiliently flexible material which is adapted to be readily and securely fitted in tensioned, clamping relation onto the handle of a handgun.

A further object of this invention is to provide an integral grip of the above type which is molded in a U-shaped configuration with side portions spring-biased toward each other to clamp securely onto the gun handle, with no exposed fasteners, for maximum grip comfort security for the shooter's hand.

The above and other objects and advantages of this invention will be more readily apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a left side elevational view of a handgun fitted with a grip of the type embodying the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the grip and the handle taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the grip, per se, similar to that of FIG. 2, but with the handle removed;

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevational view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 1, with portions cut-away to expose the opposite side of the handle and grip when in assembled relation, and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 2.

Referring in detail to the drawings, in FIG. 1 is shown a semi-automatic handgun 10 fitted with an integral hand grip 12 of the type embodying this invention. The hand grip 12 is of generally U-shaped construction (FIG. 2) and is fitted from back to front about the hollow handle portion 14 of the frame 16 of the handgun. Outer surface portions of the hand grip may be checkered, as at 17, for improved gripping characteristics.

The grip 12 comprises an integrally molded, U-shaped member composed of resiliently, flexible synthetic plastic material which may include some elastomeric content for enhanced gripping, comfort and feel, but without loss of structural strength. The grip comprises a curved rear wall portion 18 and sidewall portions 20 and 22 which extend forwardly from the outer edges of rear wall 18, a distance somewhat less than the width of handle 14. The forward edge of walls 20 and 22 each includes a semi-circular recess 13 to accommodate a magazine catch release button 15, reversible for right and left hand shooters. Overall, the grip is canted forwardly at an oblique angle (FIG. 4) with respect to its lower edge 19 to conform to the angular orientation of the gun handle 14. In its vertical plane of symmetry, the rear wall 18 of the grip has a convexly curved outer surface of relatively large radius of curvature over the major portion of the height of the wall as at 24, and a concavely curved upper end portion of substantially smaller radius of curvature, as at 26. The concave surface 26 fairs smoothly with the underside of rear tang 28 of the frame.

In vertical cross-section (FIG. 4), the rear wall portion 18 of the grip tapers in thickness from its maximum dimension at the lower end 30 to its minimum dimension at its upper end 32 whereby the distance from surface concave 26 to the trigger 34 is minimized for easier reach and operation by the forefinger.

The rear wall 18 also has a curved horizontal cross-section, as best depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3 with generally cylindrical convex outer and concave inner surfaces. From the outer ends of curved rear wall 18, sidewalls 20 and 22 extend forwardly and each is of tapered cross-section, in a horizontal plane, from its inner to outer edge 35 where the sidewalls are of minimum thickness, while the lower portion of rear wall 18 is of maximum thickness. In addition, the sidewall portions of the grip 20 and 22 are molded with a bias or inward slope such that each is inclined or angled inwardly from a parallel relationship, as indicated at a in FIG. 3 whereby the opposed sidewalls substantially converge from their inner to outer edges. The minimum dimension d between the sidewalls is less than the width of the handgun grip at the corresponding location and inasmuch as the grip is molded of a resilient material, this construction provides a grip which is characterized by its spring-like clamping action when fitted onto the handle 14 of the handgun frame 16. As a result, the grip 12 will remain in spring-like tension, firmly clamping onto the handle 14 without the need for special fasteners to secure the sidewalls 20 and 22 firmly against the side surfaces of handle 14. Because of the greater thickness of rear wall 18 and the inward bias and taper of sidewalls 20 and 22, the grip 12 exerts an effective clamping action on the handle of the frame 16.

Within the U-shaped grip, at the junction between the sidewalls 20 and 22 and the rear wall 18, are a pair of ribs each of which provides a locating surface or shoulder 36 (FIG. 3) adapted to abut the rear edge portions 37 (FIG. 2) of handle 14. Another pair of ribs 38 are disposed on the inner surfaces, and closely adjacent the forward edges, of the sidewalls 20 and 22. The ribs 38 are each formed with an under-cut slot or groove 40 adapted to dovetail or interfit with correspondingly recessed edges 42 provided on each side edge of the handle 14 which includes rectangular cut-outs 43 (FIG. 5).

Adjacent the lower, inner edge of rear wall 18 is a boss or block portion 44 and a pair of laterally-spaced, parallel walls 46 which extend upwardly from the outer side edges of the boss 44 to form a cavity or seat to accommodate the undersurface of the main spring plunger (not shown). The boss 44 is provided with a vertical hole 52 adapted to receive therein a projection 53 (FIG. 2) which extends from the underside of plunger. The vertical hole 52 communicates with a cylindrical bore 54 which extends laterally through the boss 44 and through axially aligned portions of sidewalls 20 and 22. The handle 12 includes a pair of laterally-spaced arms 56 which are dimensioned to fit into the spaces provided between the sidewalls and the opposed outer ends of boss 44. Each arm 56 is also provided with a cylindrical bore 57 of the same diameter as bore 54 and which, when the grip is assembled on the handle 14, will be in axial alignment with bore 54 whereby a cylindrical pin 58 may be fitted into axially aligned bores 54 in the grip and bores 57 in the handle to securely fasten the grip 12 in place on the handle 14.

Means is also provided to prevent the pin 58 being inadvertently dislodged from the bores 54 and 57. In this regard, the pin 58 includes, at approximately its center, an annular recess or groove 60 adapted to engage the projection 53 so that the pin will be retained in the aligned bores 54 and 57. Nonetheless, the pin 58 can be readily removed by pushing axially against the one end of pin 58 using an appropriately shaped implement since the plunger from which projection 53 extends will be moved upwardly against the tension of the main spring of the handgun.