Firearm accessory adapter and related methods of use

Abstract

A slide cover plate adapter and related methods of use for adding functionality to a semi-automatic handgun. The slide cover plate adapter replaces a factory slide cover plate located at a rear wall of a slide assembly in conventional semi-automatic handguns. The slide cover plate adapter includes a channel engagement portion and an accessory engagement portion that are spaced apart and coupled with a bridging member. The channel engagement portion operably couples to the slide assembly while the accessory engagement portion provides a convenient attachment point for any of a variety of handgun accessories.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A handgun gripping accessory, comprising:
 an accessory body defining a backspan and a pair of grip sides such that the backspan and the grip sides define a grip cavity, the backspan including a mating cavity wherein the mating cavity engageably receives a protruding member on a pistol slide body such that the grip cavity resides proximate the rear wall and a pair of sides of the pistol slide body.   
     
     
         22 . The handgun gripping accessory of  claim 21 , wherein the mating cavity is defined in a lower grip surface of the backspan. 
     
     
         23 . The handgun gripping accessory of  claim 21 , wherein each of the grip sides includes a plurality of gripping ribs. 
     
     
         24 . The handgun gripping accessory of  claim 23 , wherein a width dimension of each successive gripping rib increases between a forward grip surface on each grip side to the backspan, wherein the plurality of gripping ribs define a wedge profile for each of the grip sides. 
     
     
         25 . The handgun gripping accessory of  claim 21 , wherein the accessory body includes an accessory aperture in the backspan, the accessory aperture aligning with a projecting aperture on the protruding member to define a continuous locking aperture for receiving an insertion member to positively lock the accessory body to the protruding member. 
     
     
         26 . A handgun comprising the handgun gripping accessory of  claim 21 . 
     
     
         27 . A handgun accessory, comprising:
 an accessory body defining a backspan, the backspan including a mating cavity wherein the mating cavity engageably receives a protruding member such that the backspan resides proximate a rear wall of a pistol slide body.   
     
     
         28 . The handgun accessory of  claim 27 , wherein the accessory body further comprises a pair of grip sides, wherein the backspan and the grip sides define a grip cavity that engages the rear wall and a pair of sides of the pistol slide body. 
     
     
         29 . The handgun accessory of  claim 28 , wherein each of the grip sides includes a plurality of gripping ribs, each gripping grip having a width dimension and wherein the width dimension of each successive gripping rib increases between a forward grip surface on each grip side to the backspan, wherein the plurality of gripping ribs define a wedge profile for each of the grip sides. 
     
     
         30 . The handgun accessory of  claim 27 , wherein the accessory body comprises an upper surface and a rear surface, the upper surface including a rear sight defining a sight aperture, wherein the sight aperture is located farther from a front sight on the pistol slide body than the rear wall of the pistol slide body is located with respect to the front sight. 
     
     
         31 . The handgun accessory of  claim 27 , wherein the accessory body includes at least one rail surface attached to the backspan, each rail surface including a plurality of rail members with consecutive rail members being separated by a groove, each rail surface including an interior mounting wall that resides flush against the pistol slide body. 
     
     
         32 . The handgun accessory of  claim 31 , wherein the rail members and grooves cooperatively define a Picatinny rail mount or a Weaver rail mount. 
     
     
         33 . The handgun accessory of  claim 31 , wherein the interior mounting wall resides against a side surface of the pistol slide body or a top surface of the slide body.