US12281872 - Hybrid free-float handguard

The patent describes a hybrid free-floating handguard made from a tubular polymer that allows a firearm barrel to pass through, featuring a clamping end that secures to a barrel nut. It includes a downwardly extending lobe with metal inserts for mounting a sling and for securing the handguard to the firearm using a threaded fastener.

Claim 1

1. A free-floating handguard configured to be mounted onto a modular sporting firearm, the free-floating handguard comprising: a) a tubular polymer-based handguard body configured to allow passage of a barrel therethrough, the handguard body having an open free-floating muzzle end and an opposing clamping end configured to detachably engage a barrel nut that secures the barrel to the firearm; b) a downwardly extending lobe integrally formed on the tubular polymer- based handguard body proximate the clamping end of the handguard body; and c) a first metal insert embedded within a bottom wall of the downwardly extending lobe, wherein the first metal insert is adapted to releasably couple with a corresponding mounting feature on a firearm sling, a) a tubular polymer-based handguard body configured to allow passage of a barrel therethrough, the handguard body having an open free-floating muzzle end and an opposing clamping end configured to detachably engage a barrel nut that secures the barrel to the firearm; b) a downwardly extending lobe integrally formed on the tubular polymer- based handguard body proximate the clamping end of the handguard body; and c) a first metal insert embedded within a bottom wall of the downwardly extending lobe, wherein the first metal insert is adapted to releasably couple with a corresponding mounting feature on a firearm sling, wherein the downwardly extending lobe includes a vertical slot defined therein which extends from the clamping end to adjacent to but a spaced distance from the first metal insert, and wherein the downwardly extending lobe includes at least one horizontal through bore proximate the clamping end; and wherein the free-floating handguard further comprises: d) a second metal insert embedded within the downwardly extending lobe, wherein the second metal insert defines a threaded bore and wherein the threaded bore is aligned with the at least one horizontal through bore, wherein the at least one horizontal through bore is configured to receive a threaded fastener therein, wherein the threaded fastener is configured to threadably engage the threaded bore of the second metal insert whereby the vertical slot is at least partially closed so as to clamp the clamping end of the handguard body on the barrel nut to secure the handguard body on the firearm. d) a second metal insert embedded within the downwardly extending lobe, wherein the second metal insert defines a threaded bore and wherein the threaded bore is aligned with the at least one horizontal through bore, wherein the at least one horizontal through bore is configured to receive a threaded fastener therein, wherein the threaded fastener is configured to threadably engage the threaded bore of the second metal insert whereby the vertical slot is at least partially closed so as to clamp the clamping end of the handguard body on the barrel nut to secure the handguard body on the firearm.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12281872

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12281872