Firearm Hand Guard Cap Interface

Abstract

A hand guard for a firearm, the firearm being of a type comprising a barrel with a proximal hand guard retainer at a proximal end and a hand guard cap at a distal end. The hand guard cap comprises an end wall having an orifice configured to axially receive the barrel, and a proximally extending flange defining a select shape surrounding the orifice. The hand guard comprises at least first and second body pieces configured to mate lengthwise about a barrel of a firearm between a proximal hand guard retainer and a hand guard cap to form the hand guard. The body pieces cooperatively form a proximal hand guard retainer interface at a proximal end of the hand guard a hand guard cap interface at a distal end. The hand guard cap interface is configured to engage a first select shape defined by a proximally extending flange of a first hand guard cap and a second select shape defined by a proximally extending flange of a second hand guard cap.

1 . A hand guard for a firearm, the firearm of a type comprising a barrel with a proximal hand guard retainer at a proximal end and a hand guard cap at a distal end, the hand guard cap comprising an end wall having an orifice configured to axially receive the barrel, and a proximally extending flange defining a select shape surrounding the orifice, the hand guard comprising:
 at least first and second body pieces configured to mate lengthwise about a barrel of a firearm between a proximal hand guard retainer and a hand guard cap to form the hand guard, the body pieces cooperatively forming a proximal hand guard retainer interface at a proximal end and a hand guard cap interface at a distal end, the hand guard cap interface being configured to engage a first select shape defined by a proximally extending flange of a first hand guard cap and a second select shape defined by a proximally extending flange of a second hand guard cap.   
     
     
         2 . The hand guard of  claim 1  wherein a distal end of the at least first and second body pieces cooperatively form the hand guard cap interface when mated lengthwise. 
     
     
         3 . The hand guard of  claim 1  wherein the at least first and second body pieces are attached to the barrel by axially engaging the distal end of each body piece forming the hand guard cap interface with a cooperating portion of the hand guard cap proximally extending flange and engaging the proximal hand guard retainer interface with the proximal hand guard retainer. 
     
     
         4 . The hand guard of  claim 1  wherein the hand guard cap interface is configured to receive the first select shape in the form of a circle and the second select shape in the form of a triangle. 
     
     
         5 . The hand guard of  claim 1  wherein the hand guard cap interface comprises a plurality of distally extending bosses extending from the distal end of each of the at least first and second body pieces. 
     
     
         6 . The hand guard of  claim 5  wherein the distal extending bosses form a peripheral interface configured to engage the first select shaped proximally extending flange by being received therein and a channel interface configured to engage the second shaped proximally extending flange by capturing the flange in a second shaped channel. 
     
     
         7 . The hand guard of  claim 6  wherein the peripheral interface is circular and the channel interface is triangular. 
     
     
         8 . The hand guard of  claim 6  wherein the channel interface is formed in part by an inner surface of sliver-shaped bosses and the peripheral interface is formed in part by an outer surface of the sliver-shaped bosses. 
     
     
         9 . The hand guard of  claim 8  wherein the sliver-shaped bosses extend distally a distance less than the other of the plurality of distally extending bosses. 
     
     
         10 . A hand guard cap interface for a hand guard for a firearm, the hand guard being received between a hand guard cap and a proximal hand guard retainer operatively associated with a barrel of the firearm, the hand guard cap comprising an end wall and a proximally extending flange defining a select shape, the hand guard cap interface comprising a plurality of distally extending bosses, the distally extending bosses being configured to engage a first select shape defined by a proximally extending flange of a first hand guard cap and a second select shape defined by a proximally extending flange of a second hand guard cap. 
     
     
         11 . The hand guard cap interface of  claim 10  wherein the first select shape is in the form of a circle and the second select shape is in the form of a triangle. 
     
     
         12 . The hand guard cap interface of  claim 10  wherein the distal extending bosses form a peripheral interface configured to engage the first select shaped proximally extending flange by being received therein and a channel interface configured to engage the second shaped proximally extending flange by capturing the flange in a second shaped channel. 
     
     
         13 . The hand guard cap interface of  claim 12  wherein the peripheral interface is circular and the channel interface is triangular. 
     
     
         14 . The hand guard cap interface of  13  wherein the channel interface is formed in part by an inner surface of sliver-shaped bosses and the peripheral interface is formed in part by an outer surface of the sliver-shaped bosses. 
     
     
         15 . The hand guard cap interface of  14  wherein the sliver-shaped bosses extend distally a distance less than the other of the plurality of distally extending bosses.