Rifle handguard system with integrated barrel nut

Abstract

A handguard system for use on a rifle having a barrel and a receiver, the hand guard system includes a barrel nut having an inner surface with a threaded portion adapted to threadably engage the receiver for securing the barrel to the receiver and an outer surface, and a tubular handguard having an end. The tubular handguard is receivable about the barrel and is received about the barrel nut, engaging the outer surface thereof.

1 . A handguard comprising:
 a tubular portion, where the tubular portion has a tubular surface, where the tubular surface has a plurality of openings and where the tubular portion has a non-circular cross-section;   a first inner portion of the tubular portion, where the first inner portion is configured to fit over a barrel nut;   an alignment section, where the alignment section is configured to be fastened to at least one of a receiver, a barrel, and a barrel nut; and   a rail, where the alignment section, the tubular portion, and the rail are manufactured as single unit.   
     
     
         2 . The handguard according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a channel in the tubular portion, where a portion of a gas push rod operating system fits within the channel.   
     
     
         3 . The handguard according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second rail, where the second rail is operatively attached to the receiver, where the alignment section is configured so that when the alignment section is fastened, the rail and the second rail are aligned.   
     
     
         4 . The handguard according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a third rail, where the third rail is operatively attached to the tubular portion, where the third rail is substantially parallel to the second rail.   
     
     
         5 . The handguard according to  claim 1 , where the alignment section is at least one of a protrusion, a hole configured to accept an alignment pin, and a threaded hole configured to accept an alignment screw. 
     
     
         6 . The handguard according to  claim 1 , where the inner portion s configured to fit snuggly over the barrel nut, where when the tubular portion is stressed the first inner portion contacts the barrel nut. 
     
     
         7 . The handguard according to  claim 6 , where the tubular portion has a long axis running through the middle of the tubular portion, were any cross-section of the tubular portion perpendicular to the long axis is symmetric. 
     
     
         8 . The handguard according to  claim 7 , where the plurality of openings are periodic along a direction parallel to the long axis. 
     
     
         9 . The handguard according to  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a fastener, where the fastener s at least one of a screw, pin, and latch, where the fastener is used to secure the alignment section to at least one of the top of the receiver, the side of the receiver, and the bottom of the receiver.