Handguard Assembly, Systems for Handguard Sleeve Attachments, and Related Firearms and Methods

Abstract

The invention as described herein includes a handguard assembly for attachment to an upper receiver of a firearm. It includes a barrel nut that extends from a first end to second end and has a convexly curving outer surface that defines an annular groove extending around at least a portion of the circumference of the barrel nut. An adapter is structured to be capable of mechanical attachment to the handguard sleeve at the handguard sleeve's first end and had a first end that has an internal diameter that is dimensioned so that the second end of the barrel nut is insertable into the first end, and it further includes an adapter body comprising a wall having an outer surface and at least one wedge pocket is disposed on the outer surface of the adapter body wall. Included also is at least one locking wedge with an upper section dimensioned to be insertable into and through the aperture of the upper portion of the wedge pocket and a lower section dimensioned to be biased into the slot of the lower portion of the wedge pocket.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A handguard assembly for attachment to an upper receiver of a firearm comprising:
 a barrel nut extending from a first end to second end, wherein a convexly curving outer surface of the barrel nut defines an annular groove extending around at least a portion of the circumference of the barrel nut;   a handguard sleeve having a first end and a second end;   an adapter capable of mechanical attachment to the handguard sleeve at the handguard sleeve's first end, the adapter having a first end that has an internal diameter that is dimensioned so that the second end of the barrel nut is insertable into the first end of the adapter; wherein the adapter includes an adapter body comprising a wall having an outer surface and at least one wedge pocket is disposed on the outer surface of the adapter body wall, the wedge pocket comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the lower portion comprises a slot in the outer surface of the wall having a bottom in the adapter body, and the upper portion comprises an aperture defined by the adapter body wall;   at least one locking wedge having an upper section and a lower section, wherein the upper section is dimensioned to be insertable into and through the aperture of the upper portion of the wedge pocket and the lower section is dimensioned to be biased into the slot of the lower portion of the wedge pocket, and   wherein the upper section bears an upper surface that includes a concavely curving surface and a center-placed tab extending from the upper surface, the tab being dimensioned to be insertable into the annular groove of the barrel nut and the concavely curving surface having a slope substantially the same as the slope of the convexly curving outer surface of the barrel nut so that when the tab is inserted into the annular groove of the barrel nut the concavely curving surface is positioned concentrically adjacent to the convexly curving outer surface of the barrel nut.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , comprising two wedge pockets and two locking wedges, wherein the wedge pockets are disposed on opposite sides of the adapter. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the wedge pocket(s) on the adapter are each disposed below center of bore when the assembly is mounted on the firearm. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the handguard sleeve further includes an end cap that is disposed at the second end of the sleeve body. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the barrel nut has a female threaded surface that is attachable to a counterpart male threaded surface of the upper receiver firearm. The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the firearm is selected from a platform selected from an AR 15, an M-16 style, an AR-10 style, an M-4 style, a hunting rifle, a sporting and a sniper-type rifle. 
     
     
         7 . A firearm comprising the assembly of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         8 . A attachment system for mounting a handguard sleeve to a firearm comprising:
 a. a barrel nut extending from a first end to second end, wherein a convexly curving outer surface of the barrel nut defines an annular groove extending around at least a portion of the circumference of the barrel nut;   b. an adapter capable of mechanical attachment to the handguard sleeve at the handguard sleeve's first end, the adapter having a first end that has an internal diameter that is dimensioned so that the second end of the barrel nut is insertable into the first end of the adapter; wherein the adapter includes an adapter body comprising a wall having an outer surface and at least one wedge pocket is disposed on the outer surface of the adapter body wall, the wedge pocket comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the lower portion comprises a slot in the wall, and the upper portion comprises an aperture defined by the adapter body wall;   c. at least one locking wedge having an upper section and a lower section, wherein the upper section is dimensioned to be insertable into and through the aperture of the upper portion of the wedge pocket and the lower section is dimensioned to be biased into the slot of the lower portion of the wedge pocket, and   wherein the upper section bears an upper surface that includes a concavely curving surface and a center-placed tab extending from the upper surface, the tab being dimensioned to be insertable into the annular groove of the barrel nut and the concavely curving surface having a slope substantially the same as the slope of the convexly curving outer surface of the barrel nut so that when the tab is inserted into the annular groove of the barrel nut the concavely curving surface is positioned concentrically adjacent to the convexly curving outer surface of the barrel nut.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , comprising two wedge pockets and two locking wedges, wherein the wedge pockets are disposed on opposite sides of the adapter. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the wedge pocket(s) are each disposed on the adapter below center of bore when the system is mounted on the firearm. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the first end of the barrel nut has a female threaded surface that is attachable to a counterpart male threaded surface of the upper receiver of the firearm. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the firearm is selected from a platform selected from an AR 15, an M-16 style, an AR-10 style, an M-4 style, a hunting rifle, a sporting rifles, and a sniper-type rifle. 
     
     
         13 . A firearm comprising the system of  claim 8 . 
     
     
         14 . A method of attaching an attachment system for attaching a handguard sleeve to an upper receiver of a firearm comprising:
 a. Providing a firearm;   b. Disassembling the firearm to expose a distal end of the upper receiver;   c. Attaching a barrel nut on to the upper receiver of the firearm, wherein the barrel nut extends from a first end to second end having a convexly curving outer surface that defines an annular groove extending around at least a portion of the circumference of the barrel nut;   d. Reassembling the firearm;   e. Sliding an adapter onto the firearm so that the first end of the adapter slides onto and against an outer surface of the barrel nut, wherein the adapter is capable of mechanical attachment to the handguard sleeve at the handguard sleeve's first end a first end of the adapter that has an internal diameter that is dimensioned so that the first end of the barrel nut is insertable into the first end of the adapter; wherein the adapter includes an adapter body comprising a wall having an outer surface and a first and a second wedge pocket that are disposed on the outer surface of the adapter and spaced apart from one another, the wedge pockets each comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the lower portion comprises a slot in the wall extending to a bottom surface within the adapter body, and the upper portion comprises an aperture defined by the adapter body wall;   Inserting a first and a second locking wedge in to the corresponding first and second wedge pockets of the adapter, wherein each locking wedge has an upper section and a lower section, wherein the upper section is dimensioned to be insertable into and through the aperture of the upper portion of the wedge pocket and the lower section is dimensioned to be biased into the slot of the lower portion of the wedge pocket, and   wherein the upper section bears an upper surface that includes a concavely curving surface and a center placed tab extending from the upper surface, the tab is dimensioned to be insertable into the annular groove of the barrel nut and the concavely curving surface having a slope substantially the same as the slope of the convexly curving outer surface of the barrel nut so that when the tab is inserted into the annular groove of the barrel nut the concavely curving surface is positioned concentrically adjacent to the convexly curving outer surface of the barrel nut.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the further comprising securing the locking wedge to to the adapter. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein securing is accomplished by a mechanical fastener attaching the lower section of the locking wedge to the adapter. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  where the firearm is selected from firearm is selected from a platform selected from an AR 15, an M-16 style, an AR-10 style, an M-4 style, a hunting rifle, sporting rifles, and a sniper-type rifle.