Ergonomic Firearm Fore Grip

Abstract

The firearm fore grip for use with a firearm having a barrel extending along a bore axis and an attachment rail operatively associated with the barrel and extending along the bore axis. The firearm fore grip comprises a base configured to engage an attachment rail, the base having a leading and a trailing end. A first hand contact surface is configured to extend substantially parallel to the attachment rail from the leading end of the base. A second hand contact surface extends from the first hand contact surface intermediate a leading and trailing ends of the base at an obtuse angle relative to the first hand contact surface.

1 . An firearm fore grip for use with a firearm having a barrel extending along a bore axis and an attachment rail operatively associated with the barrel and extending along the bore axis, the fore grip comprising:
 a base configured to engage an attachment rail, the base having a leading and a trailing end;   a first hand contact surface configured to extend substantially parallel to the attachment rail from the leading end of the base; and   a second hand contact surface extending from the first hand contact surface intermediate the leading and trailing ends of the base at an obtuse angle relative to the first hand contact surface.   
     
     
         2 . The firearm fore grip of  claim 1  further comprising a hand stop at the leading end of the base depending from the first hand contact surface. 
     
     
         3 . The firearm fore grip of  claim 1  further comprising a finger divider on the second contact surface, the finger divider comprising a protrusion extending from the second hand contact surface near the first contact surface, the protrusion being configured to seat between adjacent fingers of a user. 
     
     
         4 . The firearm fore grip of  claim 3  wherein the finger divider is defined on a modular insert operatively associated with the second hand contact surface. 
     
     
         5 . The firearm fore grip of  claim 3  wherein the finger divider is configured to function as a control switch for actuating an accessory attached to the firearm. 
     
     
         6 . The firearm fore grip of  claim 1  further comprising a reference shelf extending from the second hand contact surface at a distal end of the second hand contact surface. 
     
     
         7 . The firearm fore grip of  claim 1  further comprising traction ribs on the first and second hand contact surfaces. 
     
     
         8 . The firearm fore grip of  claim 1  further comprising opposing finger guards extending from the first hand contact surface over the base. 
     
     
         9 . The firearm fore grip of  claim 8  further comprising at least one lateral finger/thumb shelf defined on at least one of the finger guards extending substantially parallel to the bore axis. 
     
     
         10 . The firearm fore grip of  claim 1  wherein the base comprises an elongate channel opposite the first and second hand contact surfaces extending the length of the base, the elongate channel being configured to matingly receive the rail. 
     
     
         11 . The firearm fore grip of  claim 10  further comprising a locking mechanism configured to maintain the firearm fore grip in a select position relative to the rail. 
     
     
         12 . The firearm fore grip of  claim 1  further comprising a bridge supporting the second hand contact surface at least partially cantilevered from the base. 
     
     
         13 . The firearm fore grip of  claim 12  further comprising a support extending between a distal end of the bridge and the trailing end of the base. 
     
     
         14 . The firearm fore grip of  claim 13  further comprising void defined between the bridge, the support and the base. 
     
     
         15 . The firearm fore grip of  claim 12  further comprising a finger engaging platform facing away from the second hand contact surface on a surface of the bridge substantially opposite the second hand contact surface. 
     
     
         16 . The firearm fore grip of  claim 1  wherein the obtuse angle is selected to provide support for at least the index finger on the first hand contact surface and to provide support for at least the little finger on the second hand contact surface and to provide support for all of the remaining fingers of the hand on one of the first and second hand contact surfaces with a hand engaging the firearm for grip in a supinated position. 
     
     
         17 . The firearm fore grip of  claim 16  wherein the obtuse angle is about 148 degrees. 
     
     
         18 . An firearm comprising:
 a barrel having a top and a bottom and extending along a bore axis;   an attachment rail operatively associated with the barrel and extending along the bottom of the barrel along the bore axis; and   a fore grip, the fore grip comprising:   a base configured to engage the attachment rail, the base having a leading and a trailing end;   a first hand contact surface configured to extend substantially parallel to the attachment rail from the leading end of the base; and   a second hand contact surface extending from the first hand contact surface intermediate the leading and trailing ends of the base at an obtuse angle relative to the first hand contact area.   
     
     
         19 . The firearm of  claim 18  further comprising a hand stop at the leading end of the base extending substantially normal from the first hand contact surface. 
     
     
         20 . The firearm of  claim 18  further comprising the obtuse angle being selected to provide support for at least the index finger on the first hand contact surface and to provide support for at least the little finger on the second hand contact surface and to provide support for all of the remaining fingers of the hand on one of the first and second hand contact surfaces with the hand engaging the firearm fore grip in a supinated position.