US 11,716,807 B2
Power and communication handguard
Steve I. Aguilar, Fullerton, CA (US); and Vasilios K. Kapogianis, Fullerton, CA (US)
Assigned to Fieldpiece Instruments, Inc.
Filed by VK Integrated Systems, Inc., Fullerton, CA (US)
Filed on Dec. 9, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/547,163.
Prior Publication US 2023/0189428 A1, Jun. 15, 2023
Int. Cl. F41G 11/00 (2006.01); F41C 23/16 (2006.01); H05K 1/02 (2006.01); H05K 1/11 (2006.01)
CPC H05K 1/0213 (2013.01) [F41C 23/16 (2013.01); F41G 11/003 (2013.01); H05K 1/11 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A forearm handguard for a firearm comprising:
a handguard shell having a plurality of first attachment points extending through the shell operable for ventilation and an integrated top rail having a plurality of second attachment points;
a rail circuit board integrated into the top rail, the rail circuit board having at least one layer of conductive traces electrically accessible through at least one of the plurality of second attachment points;
one or more electronic ribs secured within the handguard shell, each of the one or more electronic ribs having an insulating base and cover enclosing a circuit board with at least one layer of conductive traces operably connected to a plurality of connection points within the shell accessible through at least one of the plurality of first attachment points, the plurality of connection points within the shell operable to electrically engage an electronic accessory through the shell;
a front connector plate having at least one layer of conductive traces operably connected to the at least one layer of conductive traces of the rail circuit board and the at least one layer of conductive traces of the one or more electronic ribs; and
a front cap covering and securing the front connector plate to the handguard shell.