Hand grip system with integrated sight for mounting to firearm

Abstract

A semi-automatic or automatic rifle includes a receiver having a receiver frame, a barrel connected to the receiver frame, a hand guard section extending over and generally surrounding the barrel, the hand guard section connected to the receiver, an accessory mount connected to the receiver frame and located below the barrel, a hand grip with an integrated sight removably connected to the accessory mount, the removable hand grip having a locating and locking feature adapted to engage the accessory mount, wherein, the removable hand grip is selectably interchangeable with other hand grips, each having different predetermined characteristics selectable for coupling to the rifle and wherein, the removable hand grip is configured so that it forms a stand alone sighting device independent of the rifle.

1 . A semi-automatic or automatic rifle comprising:
 a receiver having a receiver frame;   a barrel connected to the receiver frame;   a hand guard section extending over and generally surrounding the barrel, the hand guard section connected to the receiver,   an accessory mount connected to the receiver frame and located below the barrel;   a hand grip with an integrated sight removably connected to the accessory mount;   the removable hand grip having a locating and locking feature adapted to engage the accessory mount;   wherein, the removable hand grip is selectably interchangeable with other hand grips, each having different predetermined characteristics selectable for coupling to the rifle; and   wherein, the removable hand grip is configured so that it forms a stand alone sighting device independent of the rifle.   
     
     
         2 . The semi-automatic or automatic rifle of  claim 1 , wherein the removable hand grip is configured to be operated in combination with the rifle. 
     
     
         3 . The semi-automatic or automatic rifle of  claim 1 , wherein the integrated sight is removable with the hand grip as a unit. 
     
     
         4 . The semi-automatic or automatic rifle of  claim 1 , wherein the integrated sight comprises a diode laser system, the diode laser system being configured for operation in one or more of a pulsed mode or constant on mode. 
     
     
         5 . The semi-automatic or automatic rifle of  claim 1 , wherein the integrated sight comprises at least one of a green laser, a red laser, an infrared laser, an LED light source and a thermo-incandescent light source. 
     
     
         6 . The semi-automatic or automatic rifle of  claim 1 , wherein the hand grip comprises an ambidextrously operable switch device for selectably operating the integrated sight. 
     
     
         7 . The semi-automatic or automatic rifle of  claim 1 , wherein the rifle comprises a direct gas operating system or a gas piston operating system. 
     
     
         8 . The semi-automatic or automatic rifle of  claim 1 , wherein the integrated sight is powered by size AA batteries. 
     
     
         9 . A semi-automatic or automatic rifle comprising:
 a hand guard having an upper hand guard assembly and a lower hand guard assembly; and   a pistol fore grip with an integrated sighting system, the pistol fore grip being removably mounted to one of the upper hand guard assembly or the lower hand guard assembly, wherein the pistol fore grip is configured to provide the rifle with an accessory sighting system having a selectably configured predetermined sighting characteristics, the configuration of the sighting characteristics being selected by selection of the pistol fore grip from a number of different interchangeable pistol fore grips for mounting to the upper hand guard or lower hand guard assembly.   
     
     
         10 . The semi-automatic or automatic rifle of  claim 9 , wherein the integrated sight is removable with the hand grip as a unit. 
     
     
         11 . The semi-automatic or automatic rifle of  claim 9 , wherein the integrated sight comprises at least one of a green laser, a red laser, an infrared laser, an LED light source and a thermo-incandescent light source. 
     
     
         12 . The semi-automatic or automatic rifle of  claim 9 , wherein the sighting system is configured for operation in one or more of a pulsed mode or constant on mode. 
     
     
         13 . The semi-automatic or automatic rifle of  claim 9 , wherein the pistol fore grip comprises an ambidextrously operable switch device for selectably operating the integrated sight. 
     
     
         14 . The semi-automatic or automatic rifle of  claim 9 , wherein the pistol fore grip comprises a replaceable power source, the power source being removable from the fore grip while the pistol fore grip is mounted to one of the upper hand guard assembly or the lower hand guard assembly. 
     
     
         15 . A black rifle configuration firearm comprising:
 a receiver having a receiver frame;   a barrel connected to the receiver frame;   a hand guard section extending over and generally surrounding the barrel, the hand guard section connected to the receiver,   an accessory mount connected to the receiver frame and located below the barrel;   a hand grip with an integrated sight removably connected to the accessory mount;   the removable hand grip having a locating and locking feature adapted to engage the accessory mount; and   wherein, the removable hand grip is selectably interchangeable with other hand grips, each having different predetermined characteristics selectable for coupling to the firearm.   
     
     
         16 . The black rifle configuration firearm of  claim 15 , wherein the removable hand grip is configured so that it forms a stand alone sighting device independent of the firearm. 
     
     
         17 . The black rifle configuration firearm of  claim 15 , wherein the hand grip comprises a replaceable power source, the power source being removable from the hand grip while the hand grip is mounted to one of the upper hand guard assembly or the lower hand guard assembly. 
     
     
         18 . The black rifle configuration firearm of  claim 15 , wherein the hand grip comprises an ambidextrously operable switch device for selectably operating the integrated sight. 
     
     
         19 . The black rifle configuration firearm of  claim 15 , wherein the integrated sight comprises a diode laser system, the diode laser system being configured for operation in one or more of a pulsed mode or constant on mode. 
     
     
         20 . The black rifle configuration firearm of  claim 15 , wherein the integrated sight comprises at least one of a green laser, a red laser, an infrared laser, an LED light source and a thermo-incandescent light source. 
     
     
         21 . A kit comprising:
 a pistol fore grip configured to provide a removable accessory sighting system for a rifle and a stand alone sighting device operable independent of the rifle; and   a mount for mounting the pistol fore grip to the rifle.   
     
     
         22 . The kit of  claim 21 , wherein the pistol fore grip comprises an integrated sighting system, where the pistol fore grip and the integrated sighting system are removable as a unit. 
     
     
         23 . The kit of  claim 22 , wherein the pistol fore grip comprises an ambidextrously operable switch device for selectably operating the integrated sight. 
     
     
         24 . The kit of  claim 21 , wherein the pistol fore grip comprises a replaceable power source, the power source being removable from the pistol fore grip while the pistol fore grip is mounted to the rifle. 
     
     
         25 . The kit of  claim 21 , wherein the pistol fore grip comprises an integrated sight having a diode laser system, the diode laser system being configured for operation in one or more of a pulsed mode or constant on mode.