Modular sleeve

Abstract

A Swan universal receiver sleeve attached to the top of a firearm upper receiver and extended forward above the firearm barrel to a position just short of the firearm front sight. The underside of the rear portion of the sleeve is fixedly attached to the receiver top. The underside of the forward portion of the sleeve has an upper handguard piece attached thereto. A bottom handguard piece is fitted about the bottom of the gun barrel and is attached to the upper handguard piece. The handguard pieces are not physically connected in any way to the gun barrel. The sleeve is self supported by the connection of the rear portion underside to the receiver top.

1. A modular sleeve for interfacing modular enhancements to a firearm, said firearm having minimally a receiver with a stock and barrel attached thereto, said barrel defining the forward portion of the firearm and said stock defining the rearward portion of the firearm, said firearm longitudinal axis being defined as horizontal and running from said stock through said receiver to said barrel, said receiver having a forward portion, a top and a rearward portion, said barrel being joined to the forward portion of the receiver, said stock being joined to the rearward portion of the receiver, comprising:
 a universal receiver sleeve having a top side, an underside and two opposite sides connecting said top side with said underside, said universal receiver sleeve being further defined as having a forward portion and a rear portion, the underside of the rear portion of the universal receiver sleeve being fixedly attached to the firearm receiver top, said receiver sleeve forward portion extended forward above the firearm barrel;  
 an upper handguard piece having a front, rear, top, open bottom, opposing sides, outer side surfaces and inner side surfaces, said top, sides and bottom defining a hollow interior, said front and rear defining an upper handguard piece longitudinal axis, said upper handguard piece top being joined to the underside of the forward portion of the receiver sleeve;  
 a bottom handguard piece having a front, rear, open top, bottom, opposing sides, outer side surfaces and inner side surfaces, said bottom, sides and top defining a hollow interior, said front and rear defining a bottom handguard piece longitudinal axis, said bottom handguard piece being removably attached to the upper handguard piece;  
 wherein, said upper handguard piece and attached bottom handguard piece surround the firearm barrel without touching said barrel.  
 
     
     
       2. A modular sleeve as recited in  claim 1 , wherein:
 each of the upper handguard side outer surfaces have two longitudinal channels formed therein, a large and shallow upper channel and a bottom interface channel, said bottom interface channel being positioned near to the upper hand guard piece bottom.  
 
     
     
       3. A modular sleeve as recited in  claim 2 , wherein:
 each of the bottom handguard side outer surfaces have two longitudinal channels formed therein, a small and shallow upper channel and a larger, shallow bottom channel.  
 
     
     
       4. A modular sleeve as recited in  claim 3 , wherein:
 the bottom hand guard inner side surfaces each have a longitudinal protrusion positioned near to the top, each protrusion being a mirror of the other;  
 wherein the bottom handguard piece is adapted to being joined to the upper handguard piece by sliding the bottom handguard longitudinal protrusion into the upper handguard bottom interface channel.  
 
     
     
       5. A modular sleeve as recited in  claim 4    claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of apertures formed in the upper handguard piece; and  
 a plurality of apertures formed in the lower handguard piece.  
 
     
     
       6. A modular sleeve as recited in  claim 5    claim 3 , wherein:
 said upper handguard interface channels and bottom handguard upper channel have corresponding cutout portions.  
 
     
     
       7. A modular sleeve as recited in  claim 6    claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of spring-loaded connectors inserted through the bottom handguard piece sides near to the bottom handguard piece top, said connectors adapted to hold the top and bottom handguard pieces in a desired alignment.  
 
     
     
       8. A modular sleeve as recited in  claim 7    claim 1 , wherein:
 the top of the upper handguard piece and receiver sleeve forward portion are integrated into one piece, thereby forming a resulting upper handguard piece top, said resulting upper handguard piece top having an upper surface and an under surface.  
 
     
     
       9. A modular sleeve as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a longitudinal gap in said resulting upper handguard piece top upper surface therein.  
 
     
     
       10. A modular sleeve as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a hinging element fixed to the resulting upper handguard piece top upper surface at the upper handguard front;  
 an elongated interface element approximately equal to the said longitudinal gap, said elongated interface element adapted to pivotally join said hinging element.  
 
     
     
       11. A modular sleeve as recited in  claim 10    claim 1 , further comprising:
 a sleeve dovetail interface element adapted for engagement with the rear portion of the universal receiver sleeve rear portion, said sleeve dovetail interface element having an exterior horizontal surface with a unique cross-sectional dovetail shape adapted to attach ancillary equipment, and an opposite interior surface with a standard dovetail configuration for securing the universal receiver sleeve rear portion the receiver top.  
 
     
     
       12. A modular sleeve as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a plurality of notches formed in the receiver top, each said notch having a rectangular cross section and being formed transverse to the longitudinal axis of the firearm;  
 an elongated rectangular opening formed in a first universal receiver sleeve opposite side, said rectangular opening extending from a universal received sleeve opposite side lower surface a predetermined distance toward the universal receiver top side and terminating in a rectangular opening upper edge, said rectangular opening upper edge having a plurality of rectangular notches formed therein;  
 a plurality of apertures formed in a second universal receiver sleeve opposite side, each said aperture being formed directly opposite a first universal received sleeve opposite side rectangular notch;  
 a plurality of projecting elements formed on the sleeve dovetail interface element interior surface, each said projecting element having a rectangular cross-section, said projecting elements adapted to engage the notches across the receiver top;  
 wherein, said sleeve dovetail interface element interior surface is adapted to engage said universal receiver sleeve opposite side elongated opening and the side of said receiver top;  
 wherein, said plurality of sleeve dovetail interface element interior surface projecting elements are adapted to engage said elongated rectangular opening rectangular notches, said receiver top notches and said plurality of apertures in said second received sleeve opposite side; and  
 a plurality of nuts each adapted to engage a portion of a sleeve dovetail interface element interior surface projecting element projecting through each said aperture.  
 
     
     
       13. A modular sleeve as recited in  claim 12 , wherein:
 the resulting upper handguard piece top upper surface is be formed into a male weaver type interface.  
 
     
     
       14. A modular sleeve as recited in  claim 13 , wherein:
 the bottom handguard piece bottom is formed into a male weaver type interface.  
 
     
     
       15. A modular sleeve as recited in  claim 14 , wherein:
 each upper handguard outer surface bottom interface channel has a general female, T-shaped cross section;  
 each bottom hand guard inner side surfaces protrusion has a T-shaped cross section.  
 
     
     
       16. A modular sleeve as recited in  claim 15    claim 12 , further comprising:
 a plurality of the apertures in the upper handguard piece and lower handguard piece have helicoils inserted therein, said helicoils being adapted for threaded engagement with a screw.  
 
     
     
       17. A modular sleeve as recited in  claim 16    claim 12 , further comprising:
 a plurality of external dovetail interface elements having an exterior horizontal surface with a cross-sectional dovetail shape adapted to attach ancillary equipment, and an opposite, generally flat, interior surface, said interior surface having a plurality of projecting elements, each projecting element having a T-shaped cross-section adapted to engage the cutout portions of said upper handguard interface channels and bottom handguard upper channels.  
 
     
     
       18. A modular sleeve as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a plurality of apertures in said external dovetail interface elements, said apertures adapted to receive a screw.  
 
     
     
       19. A system for attaching modular enhancements to a firearm, said firearm having a receiver, said receiver having a forward portion and a top, and a barrel joined to the forward portion of the receiver said system comprising:
   a receiver sleeve having a top side, an underside, a forward portion and a rear portion, wherein the underside of the rear portion of the receiver sleeve is configured to be fixedly attached to the top of said firearm receiver and said forward portion of said receiver sleeve is configured to extend above at least a portion of the firearm barrel; and        a handguard piece depending directly from the underside of the forward portion of the receiver sleeve, said handguard piece having a continuous side wall that surrounds the firearm barrel along that portion of the firearm barrel along which said handguard piece extends without touching said firearm barrel when said receiver sleeve is attached to said firearm receiver.     
     
     
       20. A system for attaching modular enhancements to a firearm, said firearm having a receiver, said receiver having a forward portion and a top, and a barrel joined to the forward portion of the receiver said system comprising:
   a receiver sleeve having a top side, an underside, a forward portion and a rear portion, wherein the underside of the rear portion of the receiver sleeve is configured to be fixedly attached to the top of said firearm receiver and said forward portion of said receiver sleeve is configured to extend above at least a portion of the firearm barrel; and        a handguard piece depending from the underside of the forward portion of the receiver sleeve, said handguard piece having a side wall that surrounds the firearm barrel without touching said barrel when said receiver sleeve is attached to said firearm receiver, and        wherein at least a portion of the handguard piece and the forward portion of the receiver sleeve are integrated into one piece.     
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 19 , wherein said top side of said receiver sleeve includes a dovetail interface element extending longitudinally along at least a portion of the top of the receiver sleeve, said dovetail interface element being configured and arranged for the mounting of ancillary equipment. 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 19 , further comprising:
   at least one external dovetail interface element arranged on the sidewall of said handguard piece, said external dovetail element being configured and arranged for the mounting of ancillary equipment.     
     
     
       23. The system of  claim 22  wherein said at least one external dovetail interface element is removably secured to said sidewall of said handguard piece. 
     
     
       24. The system of  claim 22 , wherein said at least one external dovetail interface element comprises:
   three external dovetail interface elements arranged on the sidewall of said handguard piece at  3 : 00 ,  6 : 00  and  9 : 00  positions.     
     
     
       25. The system of  claim 24  wherein said external dovetail interface elements are removably secured to said sidewall of said handguard piece. 
     
     
       26. The system of  claim 21 , wherein said top side of said receiver sleeve further includes a plurality of apertures, each aperture adapted to threadedly receive a screw. 
     
     
       27. A system for attaching modular enhancements to a firearm, said firearm having a receiver, said receiver having a forward portion and a top, and a barrel joined to the forward portion of the receiver, said sleeve system comprising:
   a receiver sleeve having a top side, an underside, a forward portion and a rear portion, wherein the underside of the rear portion of the receiver sleeve includes a receiver dovetail interface element for securing the receiver sleeve rear portion to the receiver top, said forward portion of said receiver sleeve extending above at least a portion of the firearm barrel;        a primary dovetail interface element extending longitudinally along at least a portion of the top of the receiver sleeve, said primary dovetail element being configured and arranged for the mounting of ancillary equipment;        a handguard piece depending from the underside of the forward portion of the receiver sleeve, said handguard piece having a side wall that surrounds the firearm barrel without touching said barrel when said receiver sleeve is attached to said firearm receiver; and        at least one secondary dovetail interface element arranged on the sidewall of said handguard piece, said secondary dovetail element being configured and arranged for the mounting of ancillary equipment.     
     
     
       28. The system of  claim 27  wherein said at least one secondary dovetail interface element is removably secured to said sidewall of said handguard piece. 
     
     
       29. The system of  claim 27 , wherein said at least one secondary dovetail interface element comprises:
   three secondary dovetail interface elements arranged on the sidewall of said handguard piece at  3 : 00 ,  6 : 00  and  9 : 00  positions.     
     
     
       30. The system of  claim 29  wherein said secondary dovetail interface elements are removably secured to said sidewall of said handguard piece. 
     
     
       31. The system of  claim 27 , wherein said top side of said receiver sleeve further includes a plurality of apertures, each aperture adapted to threadedly receive a screw. 
     
     
       32. A system for attaching modular enhancements to a firearm, said firearm having a receiver, said receiver having a forward portion and a top, and a barrel joined to the forward portion of the receiver, said system comprising:
   a receiver sleeve having a top side, an underside, a forward portion and a rear portion, wherein the underside of the rear portion of the receiver sleeve is configured to be fixedly attached to the top of said firearm receiver and said forward portion of said receiver sleeve is configured to extend above at least a portion of the firearm barrel;        an upper handguard piece having opposing sidewalls depending from the underside of the forward portion of the receiver sleeve, said opposing sidewalls defining an open bottom and a hollow interior; and        a bottom handguard piece having opposing sidewalls extending upwardly, said sidewalls defining an open top and a hollow interior,        wherein said bottom handguard piece is configured to be removably attached to the upper handguard piece such that said upper handguard piece and said attached bottom handguard piece surround the firearm barrel without touching said barrel.     
     
     
       33. The system of  claim 32 , wherein each of said opposing sidewalls of said upper handguard includes a terminal edge with engagement formations, and each of said opposing sidewalls of said bottom handguard includes a terminal edge with complimentary engagement formations that matingly engage said engagement formations formed on said upper handguard. 
     
     
       34. The system of  claim 33 , wherein said one of said engagement formations and said complimentary engagement formations comprises a longitudinal channel and the other comprises a longitudinal protrusion wherein the bottom handguard piece is adapted to being joined to the upper handguard piece by sliding engagement of the longitudinal protrusion and the longitudinal channel. 
     
     
       35. The system of  claim 34  wherein said longitudinal channel and said longitudinal protrusion have interrupted wall segments. 
     
     
       36. The system of  claim 34 , wherein the upper handguard includes said longitudinal channel and said bottom handguard includes said longitudinal protrusion. 
     
     
       37. The system of  claim 36  wherein said longitudinal channel and said longitudinal protrusion have interrupted wall segments. 
     
     
       38. A system for attaching modular enhancements to a firearm, said firearm including a receiver having a forward portion and a top, and further including a barrel joined to the forward portion of the receiver, said system comprising:
   a receiver sleeve having a top, an underside, a forward portion and a rear portion wherein the underside of the rear portion of the receiver sleeve is configured and arranged to be fixedly received over the top of said receiver, and said forward portion of said receiver sleeve is configured to extend in spaced relation above at least a portion of the barrel of the firearm;        a dovetail interface extending longitudinally along at least a portion of the top of the receiver sleeve; and        a handguard piece fixedly attached to the forward portion of the receiver sleeve such that the handguard is not movable relative to the receiver sleeve and having walls that depend downwardly and outwardly from opposing sides of the forward portion of said receiver sleeve such that said walls at least partially surround the barrel without touching the barrel.     
     
     
       39. The system of  claim 38 , further comprising:
   at least one external dovetail interface extending longitudinally along an outside surface of said wall of said handguard.     
     
     
       40. A system for attaching modular enhancements to a firearm, said firearm including a receiver having a forward portion and a top, and further including a barrel joined to the forward portion of the receiver, said system comprising:
   a receiver sleeve having a top, an underside, a forward portion and a rear portion wherein the underside of the rear portion of the receiver sleeve is configured and arranged to be fixedly received over the top of said receiver, and said forward portion of said receiver sleeve is configured to extend in spaced relation above at least a portion of the barrel of the firearm;        a dovetail interface extending longitudinally along at least a portion of the top of the receiver sleeve;        a substantially tubular handguard having an upper portion that is fixedly attached to the forward portion of the receiver sleeve such that the handguard is not movable relative to the receiver sleeve, said handguard further having a lower portion that depends downwardly from said upper portion such that said upper and lower portions cooperate to define a hollow interior cavity that at least partially surrounds the barrel without touching the barrel; and        at least one external dovetail interface extending longitudinally along an outside surface of said handguard.     
     
     
       41. A system for attaching modular enhancements to a firearm, said firearm including a receiver having a forward portion and a top, and further including a barrel joined to the forward portion of the receiver, said system comprising:
   a receiver sleeve having a top, an underside, a forward portion and a rear portion wherein the underside of the rear portion of the receiver sleeve is configured and arranged to be fixedly received over the top of said receiver, and said forward portion of said receiver sleeve is configured to extend in spaced relation above at least a portion of the barrel of the firearm;        a dovetail interface extending longitudinally along at least a portion of the top of the receiver sleeve;        an upper handguard piece attached to the forward portion of the receiver sleeve, said upper handguard piece having opposing side walls that depend downwardly and outwardly from opposing sides of the forward portion of said receiver sleeve such that said side walls at least partially encircle the barrel without touching the barrel;        said side walls each having a terminal edge with engagement formations for receiving an accessory having complimentary mating engagement formations.     
     
     
       42. The system of  claim 41 , further comprising:
   an accessory having opposing side walls that extend upwardly and outwardly from opposing side edges thereof, said side walls having a terminal edge with complimentary mating engagement formations.     
     
     
       43. The system of  claim 42 , wherein said accessory comprises a lower handguard portion and wherein said upper handguard portion and said lower handguard portion surround the barrel without touching the barrel when assembled. 
     
     
       44. A system for attaching modular enhancements to a firearm, said firearm having a receiver and a barrel joined to a forward portion of the receiver, said system comprising:
   an upper handguard piece having a dovetail interface extending longitudinally along at least a portion of the top thereof, said upper handguard piece further having opposing sidewalls depending downwardly from an underside of said dovetail interface, said opposing sidewalls defining an open bottom and a hollow interior;        means for removably securing said upper handguard piece to said receiver; and        a bottom accessory piece having opposing sidewalls extending upwardly, said sidewalls defining an open top and a hollow interior,        wherein said bottom accessory piece is configured to be removably attached to the upper handguard piece such that said upper handguard piece and said attached bottom accessory piece surround the firearm barrel without touching said barrel.     
     
     
       45. The system of  claim 44 , wherein each of said opposing sidewalls of said upper handguard piece includes a terminal edge with engagement formations, and each of said opposing sidewalls of said bottom accessory piece includes a terminal edge with complimentary engagement formations that matingly engage said engagement formations formed on said upper handguard piece. 
     
     
       46. The system of  claim 45 , wherein said one of said engagement formations and said complimentary engagement formations comprises a longitudinal channel and the other comprises a longitudinal protrusion, wherein the bottom accessory piece is adapted to being joined to the upper handguard piece by sliding engagement of the longitudinal protrusion and the longitudinal channel. 
     
     
       47. The system of  claim 46  wherein said longitudinal channel and said longitudinal protrusion have interrupted wall segments. 
     
     
       48. The system of  claim 46 , wherein the upper handguard piece includes said longitudinal channel and said bottom accessory piece includes said longitudinal protrusion. 
     
     
       49. The system of  claim 48  wherein said longitudinal channel and said longitudinal protrusion have interrupted wall segments. 
     
     
       50. The system of  claim 44  further comprising at least one secondary dovetail interface element arranged on the sidewall of said lower accessory piece, said secondary dovetail element being configured and arranged for the mounting of ancillary equipment. 
     
     
       51. The system of  claim 50  wherein said at least one secondary dovetail interface element is removably secured to said sidewall of said bottom accessory piece. 
     
     
       52. The system of  claim 50 , wherein said at least one secondary dovetail interface element comprises three secondary dovetail interface elements arranged on the sidewall of said bottom accessory piece at  3 : 00 ,  6 : 00  and  9 : 00  positions. 
     
     
       53. The system of  claim 52  wherein said secondary dovetail interface elements are removably secured to said sidewall of said bottom accessory piece. 
     
     
       54. The system of  claim 44  wherein said bottom accessory piece comprises a bottom handguard piece.