US 12,135,186 B2
Free floating handguard anchoring system
Charles David Williams, Geneseo, IL (US)
Assigned to Springfield, Inc., Geneseo, IL (US)
Filed by Springfield, Inc., Geneseo, IL (US)
Filed on Jul. 11, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/350,460.
Application 18/350,460 is a continuation of application No. 17/448,927, filed on Sep. 27, 2021, granted, now 11,740,051.
Application 17/448,927 is a continuation of application No. 16/928,136, filed on Jul. 14, 2020, granted, now 11,131,525, issued on Sep. 28, 2021.
Application 16/928,136 is a continuation of application No. 16/517,847, filed on Jul. 22, 2019, granted, now 10,712,123, issued on Jul. 14, 2020.
Application 16/517,847 is a continuation of application No. 16/003,171, filed on Jun. 8, 2018, granted, now 10,401,122, issued on Sep. 3, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/517,133, filed on Jun. 8, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2023/0366653 A1, Nov. 16, 2023
Int. Cl. F41C 23/16 (2006.01); F41G 11/00 (2006.01)
CPC F41C 23/16 (2013.01) [F41G 11/003 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An assembly comprising:
a firearm having a barrel and a barrel nut;
a handguard having a sidewall defining an internal cavity arranged to receive the barrel and the barrel nut, the sidewall defining a first side opening that exposes at least a portion of the barrel nut when the barrel nut and the handguard are mounted on the firearm, wherein a length of the first side opening is greater than a width of the first side opening;
a first plate positioned over the first side opening, wherein the first plate defines a first plate opening arranged to receive a first fastener and a second plate opening arranged to receive a second fastener;
a second side opening defined through the sidewall, wherein the second side opening exposes at least a portion of the barrel nut when the barrel nut and the handguard are mounted on the firearm, and wherein a length of the second side opening is greater than a width of the second side opening;
a second plate positioned over the second side opening, wherein the second plate defines a third plate opening arranged to receive a third fastener;
wherein the first fastener has a first end and a second end, and wherein the first fastener first end engages another portion of the assembly positioned in the internal cavity between the barrel and the handguard to force the sidewall of the handguard towards the barrel nut of the firearm to secure the handguard to the firearm;
wherein the first plate opening is countersunk or counterbored to receive the first fastener second end;
wherein the first fastener second end does not protrude beyond the first plate when the system is mounted on the firearm; and
wherein the third fastener has a first end and a second end, and wherein the third fastener first end engages another portion of the assembly positioned in the internal cavity between the barrel and the handguard to force the sidewall of the handguard towards the barrel nut of the firearm to secure the handguard to the firearm.