Adaptor Kit for Small Handguns to Fit Pistol Brace Assembly

The present invention relates to firearms in general, and in particular to an adaptor kit for small handguns to fit in a pistol brace assembly.

A number of devices, such as pistol braces, are designed to attach to a handgun to aid a user in holding or stabilizing the handgun. One example of such a brace is described in U.S. Pat. No. 11,592,262 and marketed as the RECOVER TACTICAL 20/20N pistol brace stabilizer. This pistol brace stabilizer includes a firearm mounting structure which includes a receiver support shelf for supporting thereon a receiver of a firearm. The firearm attachment member includes left and right halves, arranged for securing the firearm between the left and right halves, each of the left and right halves extending along a longitudinal axis corresponding to a longitudinal firing axis of the firearm. One of the left and right halves pivots in azimuth with respect to the longitudinal axis about a firearm attachment member pivot located rearward of the firearm mounting structure. Each of the left and right halves includes a forward fastening flange configured to be mounted below the receiver and in front of the trigger guard of the firearm.

As is well known in the art, handguns come in a variety of manufactured sizes, e.g., full-size, compact and sub-compact. Many sub-compact handguns are particularly useful for concealed carry. An example is the GLOCK9 mm Luger caliber semiautomatic pistol, which has a sub-compact frame size and textured polymer grips. Another small handgun is the GLOCK. The GLOCKoverall length is 159 mm (6.26 inches) from butt to tip. The GLOCKis longer, being 185 mm (7.28 inches) from butt to tip. The overall height of the GLOCK, with a magazine inserted, is 108 mm (4.25 inches), whereas that of the GLOCKis 128 mm (5.04 inches).

Due to their small size, these smaller handguns do not fit in a pistol brace stabilizer. However, it would be desirable to use them with a stabilizer; the stabilizer would increase their shooting accuracy (smaller handguns require more skill on the part of the shooter to achieve accuracy of larger handguns). On the other hand, it is not economically feasible to make a separate line of stabilizers just for these smaller handguns.

The present invention seeks to provide an adaptor kit for small handguns to fit in a pistol brace assembly, as is explained below.

There is thus provided in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the invention an adaptor kit assembly including a trigger guard adaptor including attachment structure for coupling to a front portion of a trigger guard of a handgun so that the trigger guard adaptor increases a length of the trigger guard towards a firing direction of the handgun.

In accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the invention the trigger guard adaptor includes a forward member configured to be placed over an outer forward surface of the trigger guard, and the forward member is shaped to complement a shape of the outer forward surface of the trigger guard.

In accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the invention the trigger guard adaptor includes a forward member configured to be placed over an outer forward surface of the trigger guard, and the forward member curves outwards towards the firing direction of the handgun.

In accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the invention the trigger guard adaptor includes a forward member configured to be placed over an outer forward surface of the trigger guard, and the forward member is longer than the outer forward surface of the trigger guard and includes an end that includes a rearwardly facing tab that snaps or fits over an end of the trigger guard.

In accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the invention the trigger guard adaptor includes a forward member configured to be placed over an outer forward surface of the trigger guard, and the forward member extend inwards and sideways from a body portion of the trigger guard adaptor, and a rear member also extends inwards and sideways from the body portion and is spaced rearwardly from the forward member, wherein a gap between the forward member and the rear member is sized so that a thickness of a front portion of the trigger guard fits in between the forward member and the rear member.

In accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the invention the trigger guard adaptor is constructed of two halves.

In accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the invention the trigger guard adaptor includes a receiver portion that extends upwards from a shelf portion that extends sideways and outwards from a body portion of the trigger guard adaptor.

In accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the invention a rear beavertail adaptor is configured for coupling to a rear portion of a receiver of the handgun.

In accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the invention the rear beavertail adaptor includes sidewalls, a rear wall and a beavertail that extends rearwards from the rear wall.

In accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the invention the adaptor kit assembly further includes a pistol brace assembly that includes handgun mounting structure, which includes a receiver support shelf, upon which a receiver of the handgun is mountable, and a trigger guard abutment member, wherein when the trigger guard adaptor is coupled to the front portion of the trigger guard, the trigger guard adaptor is abuttable against the trigger guard abutment member. When the rear beavertail adaptor is coupled to the rear portion of the receiver of the handgun, a portion of the rear beavertail adaptor is received in a groove formed in the pistol brace assembly.

Reference is now made to, which illustrate a small handgunwith adaptors to fit a pistol pivoting brace assembly, in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. The small handguninis the GLOCK, but the invention is not limited to this particular handgun and is applicable for other models, such as but not limited to, the GLOCK, SPRINGFIELD XD subcompact handguns, and others.

Handgun, as in many weapons, includes a trigger, trigger guard, grip(the inside of which may include a magazine well, but the invention is applicable for handguns that do not use magazines), receiver, and slide.

In accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, a trigger guard adaptoris provided which is coupled to the front portion of trigger guard. “Front” refers to the direction towards the firing direction of the handgun. In the illustrated embodiment, the trigger guard adaptoris constructed of left and right halvesL andR, respectively. However, the trigger guard adaptorcan be constructed as a one-piece item. The trigger guard adaptormay be constructed of polymer, metal, rubber or any other suitable material.

In the illustrated embodiment, as seen in, the trigger guard adaptorincludes (or each half includes) a forward memberconfigured to be placed over the outer forward surface of the trigger guard. The forward membermay be shaped to complement the shape of the outer forward surface of the trigger guard, and as such, may curve outwards towards the forward direction. The forward membermay be longer than the outer forward surfaceF of the trigger guardand have an endthat includes a rearwardly facing tabthat snaps or fits over the lower (in the sense of the drawings) forward end of the trigger guard. The forward membermay extend inwards and sideways (such as perpendicularly) from a body portionof the trigger guard adaptor. A rear membermay also extend inwards and sideways (such as perpendicularly) from the body portionof the trigger guard adaptor, and is spaced rearwardly from forward member. The gap between forward memberand rear membermay be sized so that the thickness of the front portion of the trigger guardfits in between forward memberand rear member. Preferably the trigger guard adaptor(or each of its halves) fits snugly over the trigger guard front end so that fasteners are not needed. Alternatively, the trigger guard adaptor(or each of its halves) may be secured to the trigger guard with fasteners, such as set screws.

In the illustrated embodiment, as seen in, the trigger guard adaptorincludes (or each half includes) a receiver portionthat extends upwards (in the sense of the drawings) to be positioned on or next to the sides of the receiver. The receiver portionmay extends upwards from a shelf portionthat extends sideways and outwards from body portionof the trigger guard adaptor.

In accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, as seen in, a rear beavertail adaptoris provided which is coupled to the rear portion of the receiver. The rear beavertail adaptormay include sidewalls, rear walland a beavertailthat extends rearwards from rear wall. The rear beavertail adaptormay include rims or lipsthat are received in groovesformed in receiver. The rear beavertail adaptormay be slid snugly over the rear portion of the receiverwithout any need for fasteners. Alternatively, rear beavertail adaptormay be coupled to the rear portion of the receiverwith fasteners, such as set screws. The rear beavertail adaptormay be constructed of polymer, metal, rubber or any other suitable material.

Reference is now made to, which illustrates the small handgunplaced in a pistol brace assembly, before closing the brace assembly to secure the small handgun therein, in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

The brace assemblymay be constructed as in U.S. Pat. No. 11,592,262, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. However, the invention is not limited to this construction and may be used with other pistol brace assemblies.

Pistol brace assemblymay be a pistol pivoting brace assembly, which includes a firearm attachment memberto which a pivot armis pivotally attached.

The firearm attachment member may be constructed of left and right halvesL andR. In the illustrated embodiment, each attachment member half includes a forward fastening flangeconfigured to be mounted below the receiverand in front of the trigger guardof handgun.

The attachment member left halfL and the attachment member right halfR are mounted below the slideof handgun, so they do not interfere in any way with the operation of handgun.

The trigger guard adaptorincreases a length of the trigger guardtowards a firing direction of handgunso that handgunis held properly in pistol brace assembly.

As an option, a charging handle accessory(seen in) may be provided for attachment to the slide, such as that described in U.S. Patent Application 20180195819, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

The attachment member left halfL and the attachment member right halfR may each include handgun mounting structure, which includes a receiver support shelfupon which the receiverof the handgunrests. The handgun mounting structure may also include a trigger guard abutment memberagainst which the trigger guard adaptorabuts. In this manner, handgunis positively held in place and is restrained from moving forward by trigger guard abutment member, and is restrained from moving downwards by receiver support shelf.

The attachment member left halfL and/or the attachment member right halfR may be formed with one or more groovesin which is received rear beavertail adaptor. In this manner, handgunis securely held in the brace assembly.

The pivot armmay include a brace member, which serves as a stabilizer against the shooter's body.