Secure firearm handguard with quick release

Abstract

A firearm including a barrel coupled to an upper receiver of the firearm, a removable handguard formed as a solid unit, wherein the removable handguard is securely interlocked with the upper receiver, wherein achieving a secure interlocking includes use of extrusions on the handguard that slide in grooves formed by teeth extending from the upper receiver or vice versa, and wherein the handguard is configured to be quickly removed by pressing on a linear operated release button of a locking mechanism that is part of the firearm or upper receiver.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . A firearm comprising:
 a barrel coupled to an upper receiver of the firearm;   a removable handguard formed as a solid unit;   wherein the removable handguard is securely interlocked with the upper receiver; wherein achieving a secure interlocking includes use of extrusions on the handguard that slide in grooves formed by teeth extending from the upper receiver or vice versa;   wherein the handguard is configured to be quickly removed by pressing on a linear operated release button of a locking mechanism that is part of the firearm or upper receiver.   
     
     
         2 . The firearm of  claim 1 , wherein part of the handguard is configured to form an enclosure that surrounds part of the barrel of the firearm. 
     
     
         3 . The firearm of  claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism includes one or more springs that are configured to push the release button outward to lock the handguard in position and prevent it from moving. 
     
     
         4 . The firearm of  claim 3 , wherein the locking mechanism includes an extension extending from a side of the release button, which limits the distance the release button can extend outward from the locking mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The firearm of  claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism is surrounded by screws that tighten the barrel to the upper receiver. 
     
     
         6 . The firearm of  claim 1 , wherein the groove is configured to enable the handguard to tilt slightly downward to bypass the release button, when the handguard is sliding on the upper receiver to be locked on the firearm and is adjacent to the release button. 
     
     
         7 . The firearm of  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure of the handguard includes an extension that extends a rail of the upper receiver. 
     
     
         8 . The firearm of  claim 1 , wherein the release button has a tapered side surface that is narrower toward a top end of the release button. 
     
     
         9 . The firearm of  claim 2 , wherein the handguard forms an acute angle at a meeting location with the upper receiver. 
     
     
         10 . The firearm of  claim 1 , wherein the handguard comprises a locking hole that is configured to receive the release button. 
     
     
         11 . A method of assembly of a firearm, comprising:
 coupling a barrel to an upper receiver of the firearm;   attaching a removable handguard, formed as a solid unit, to the upper receiver;   wherein the removable handguard is securely interlocked with the upper receiver; wherein achieving a secure interlocking includes use of extrusions on the handguard that slide in grooves formed by teeth extending from the upper receiver or vice versa;   wherein the handguard is configured to be quickly removed by pressing on a linear operated release button of a locking mechanism that is part of the firearm or upper receiver.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein part of the handguard is configured to form an enclosure that surrounds part of the barrel of the firearm. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the locking mechanism includes one or more springs that are configured to push the release button outward to lock the handguard in position and prevent it from moving. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the locking mechanism includes an extension extending from a side of the release button, which limits the distance the release button can extend outward from the locking mechanism. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the locking mechanism is surrounded by screws that tighten the barrel to the upper receiver. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the groove is configured to enable the handguard to tilt slightly downward to bypass the release button, when the handguard is sliding on the upper receiver to be locked on the firearm and is adjacent to the release button. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the enclosure of the handguard includes an extension that extends a rail of the upper receiver. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the release button has a tapered side surface that is narrower toward a top end of the release button. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the handguard forms an acute angle at a meeting location with the upper receiver 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the handguard comprises a locking hole that is configured to receive the release button.