Attachment Kit for a Firearm, as Well as a Firearm Equipped with the Attachment Kit

This application claims priority to EP Application Serial No. 24179951.9, filed on Jun. 4, 2024, the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Exemplary fields of technology for the present disclosure relate to an attachment kit for a firearm, as well as to a firearm equipped with the attachment kit.

U.S. Pat. No. 11,519,693 B2 discloses an attachment for a firearm. The attachment can be pushed onto a firearm by means of a guiding system. Also provided is a clamping screw, by means of which a guiding structure of the guiding system is adjustable in relation to the second guiding structure of the guiding system and in this way the attachment can be secured on the firearm.

The attachment known from U.S. Pat. No. 11,519,693 B2 has the disadvantage that it is often inexactly positioned in the longitudinal extent of the guiding structure.

U.S. Pat. No. 11,307,000 B2, U.S. Pat. No. 10,948,266 B2 and U.S. Pat. No. 9,551,550 B2 each disclose an attachment for a firearm. The attachment can be pushed onto a firearm by means of a guiding system. Also provided is a securing element, which extends in a transverse direction in relation to the attachment and is used for securing the attachment on the firearm.

The attachments known from U.S. Pat. No. 11,307,000 B2, U.S. Pat. No. 10,948,266 B2 and U.S. Pat. No. 9,551,550 B2 have the disadvantage that they can often only be insufficiently stably fastened to the firearm.

The object of the present invention was to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and to provide a firearm with attachment kit, as well as an attachment kit for a firearm, by means of which the attachment can be attached to a body of the firearm in an improved way.

This object is achieved by an attachment kit and a firearm according to the claims.

The invention relates to an attachment kit for a firearm. The attachment kit comprises:

The securing element and the securing element receptacle are formed as complementary in shape in such a way that the securing element is received in the securing element receptacle such that it can only be displaced in the transverse direction and, in an inserted state of the securing element, is prevented from twisting with respect to the attachment and, in an inserted state, is designed for form-fitting engagement in a securing groove of the body of the firearm and is designed for securing the attachment against displacement in the removal direction relative to the body of the firearm.

The attachment according to the invention has the advantage that the attachment can be positioned exactly on the body of the firearm in the removal direction. At the same time, the features according to the invention allow the attachment to be held securely on the body of the firearm. In addition, the configuration according to the invention allows the attachment to be easily removed from the body of the firearm as required. By means of the measure that the securing element extends in the transverse direction from the side of the first counter guide to the side of the second counter guide of the attachment it can be achieved that it has increased stability and can be received stably in the attachment. Consequently, forces acting on the securing element can be transferred well to the attachment, and consequently a firm fit of the attachment on the body of the firearm can be achieved.

When it is said that the securing element is received in the securing element receptacle such that it can only be displaced in the transverse direction and, this means avoiding significant displacements—except in the transverse direction—that bring the securing element out of engagement with the securing groove of the body of the firearm. If, due to any tolerances, the securing element has slight inner width in relation to the securing element receptacle in the longitudinal direction or in the vertical direction or else with respect to twisting, it is nevertheless considered to be only displaceable in the transverse direction.

It may be provided in particular that the securing groove is arranged on a underside of the body of the firearm. It may also be provided that the securing groove is facing the attachment. In addition, it may be provided that the securing groove is integrated in the outer shell of the body of the firearm.

The firearm according to the invention may preferably be a pistol, but it may also be a rifle, carbine, submachine gun, shotgun, etc. Firearms are guns that can be carried and used by one person.

For example, the attachment may be a lighting assembly. The lighting assembly may comprise one or more light sources and for example emit light and/or LASER light in the visible and/or in the non-visible range (e.g. infrared).

The attachment may also be a sound suppressor or a compensator or a muzzle flash suppressor. The attachment may also be some other accessory such as a shot counter, a training module, a target and/or training aid, a sound recording device, image recording or camera system or thermal camera system, a communication and/or tracking device or an energy source such as a battery pack. The attachment may in turn have a guiding structure for receiving another attachment or be designed as an adapter from one guiding structure to another.

The attachment may also be a sighting device. In particular, the attachment may be a rifle scope. In particular, the attachment may be a red dot sight. The attachment may also be a laser aiming device.

The attachment may also be a grip. The attachment may also be a shoulder stock. Reference to an attachment may also mean other attachments not mentioned or an accessory or a component part for a firearm that is permanently connected to the firearm.

It may also be provided that on the attachment a first wing is formed and a second wing is formed, wherein a receiving space is formed between the first wing and the second wing, wherein the first counter guide is formed on the first wing and the second counter guide is formed on the second wing, wherein the first counter guide and the second counter guide are facing the receiving space, wherein, in the inserted state of the securing element, the securing element reaches both into the first wing and into the second wing and spans the receiving space. By means of this measure it can be achieved that the securing element can be securely received in the attachment. Consequently, forces acting on the securing element can be transferred well to the attachment, and consequently a firm fit of the attachment on the body of the firearm can be achieved.

It may also be provided that that part of the body of the firearm on which the counter guides are formed is received in the receiving space.

In addition, it may be provided that a cross section of the securing element receptacle and a cross section of the securing element form a loose fit for the displaceability of the securing element in the transverse direction. This measure allows the securing element to be stably received in the securing element receptacle and at the same time displaceable in the transverse direction.

Furthermore, it may be expedient if the securing element has a spring-clastic snap-in element with a snap-in lug, wherein, in the inserted state of the securing element, the snap-in lug engages in a snap-in lug recess formed in the securing element receptacle of the attachment. This has the advantage that this measure allows the attachment to have as few components as possible and at the same time the attachment can be easily fastened to the body of the firearm. On the one hand, this allows the simplest possible configuration of the firearm to be achieved. In addition, by means of this measure easy changing or removal of the attachment can be achieved.

In addition, it may be provided that the snap-in lug is formed as a hump on which a flank aligned in the transverse direction and an opposing flank have a flank angle between 10° and 80°, in particular between 15° and 70°, preferably between 20° and 60°, so that the securing element can be removed from the attachment in a non-destructive manner by applying external force to the securing element in the transverse direction. This has the advantage that this measure allows the attachment to be easily removed from the body of the firearm. It may be provided in particular that the securing element is pushed out of the attachment in the transverse direction by means of a disassembling tool.

In a first embodiment, it may be provided that the flanks of the hump have a rounded shaping. In a second embodiment, it may be provided that the flanks of the hump have a flat shaping.

In an alternative embodiment, it may be provided that the snap-in lug has a wedge-shaped shaping with a securing surface, wherein the securing surface is aligned normal to the transverse direction and is facing a securing element head of the securing element and that a securing counter-surface matching the securing surface is formed in the attachment, wherein the securing element cannot be removed from the attachment in a non-destructive manner when force is applied to the securing element in the transverse direction. This type of attachment can be used especially if the attachment is normally to remain on the body of the firearm and detachment of the attachment is not required. In other words, the flank aligned in the removal direction may have a flank angle of 90°. The opposing flank may have a flank angle of less than 90°, and consequently form a wedge surface. In addition, the flank aligned in the removal direction may also have a flank angle of greater than 90°, and consequently also have an undercut, which is formed for example as a barb.

It may also be provided that the snap-in element is formed as an arm projecting freely from the securing element, wherein the snap-in lug is arranged at one end of the freely projecting arm. This has the advantage that by means of this measure a simple way of realizing the snap-in element can be achieved. It may be provided in particular that the securing element is formed from an elastically deformable material. It may be provided in particular that the securing element or at least the main body of the securing element is formed from a plastics material.

It may also be provided that the securing element has a securing element head, wherein the securing element is pushed into the attachment in the transverse direction in relation to the removal direction in such a way that the securing element head is last to come into a butting position against the attachment. It may be provided in particular that the securing element head has a shaping that projects with respect to the rest of the securing element, so that the securing element head can be used as a stop for limiting the extent to which the element can be pushed in. It may also be provided that in the attachment there is formed a securing element head receptacle that is complementary in shape to the securing element head and is used for receiving the securing element head in the inserted state.

It may also be provided that the snap-in element or the projecting arm is arranged in the region of the securing head.

It may also be provided that the freely projecting arm is arranged on the securing element on a side facing away from the securing element head and the free projection is facing the securing element head.

In an alternative embodiment variant, it may be provided that the snap-in element is arranged directly on the securing element head and has the free projection in the direction of the side facing away from the securing element head.

It may additionally be provided that the snap-in lug protrudes with respect to the snap-in element into a side of the snap-in element facing away from the first counter guide and second counter guide. This has the advantage that this measure allows the snap-in lug to act in a direction normal to the removal direction in the attachment. Consequently, by means of this measure easy and exact positioning of the securing element in the attachment can be achieved. In the case of the pistol, the snap-in lug may protrude downwards.

Also advantageous is a specific embodiment according to which it may be provided that the securing element has a substantially polygonal, in particular rectangular, cross section with a front broad side arranged on the front side and a rear broad side arranged on the rear side and a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the first butting surface is formed as recessed with respect to the front broad side. This has the advantage that the recess allows the securing element to be further secured against displacement in the transverse direction or against slipping out in the transverse direction. It may be provided in particular that the butting surface is arranged normal to the removal direction. Furthermore, it is also conceivable that the cross section has a triangular shaping or some other polygonal shaping. Any other shaping that deviates from circular shaping and can therefore be used for transferring moments may also be implemented. This may be for example a keyhole-shaped shape, or else a cam-shaped or oval shaping.

It may be provided in particular that a butting surface ledge is formed by the depression of the butting surface with respect to the front broad side.

According to a development, it is possible that in the region of the bottom surface an elevation protruding with respect to the front broad side and the first butting surface is formed and that in the securing element receptacle a recess formed as complementary in shape to the elevation is arranged. This has the advantage that increased dimensional stability of the securing element in the securing element receptacle can be achieved by the elevation or by the matching depression. In addition, by means of this measure it can be achieved that, seen in cross section, the securing element is formed non-symmetrically, so that an incorrect insertion of the securing element can be prevented.

It may also be provided that the securing element comprises a main body formed as one part, which extends with respect to the removal direction in a transverse direction from the side of the first counter guide to the side of the second counter guide of the attachment. This has the advantage that it can thereby have increased stability. Furthermore, by means of this measure it can be achieved that the securing element can have increased dimensional accuracy.

It may also be provided that the snap-in lug is integrally formed on the main body as one part. This has the advantage that the securing element can be easily produced.

In an alternative embodiment variant, it may be provided that the main body is formed from a first material and that the snap-in lug is formed from a second material. For example, the snap-in lug may be formed from a spring steel, which may be insert-moulded in a plastics material of the main body.

In a further alternative embodiment variant, the snap-in lug may be formed from an clastic material and a different material than the main body and be insert-moulded or inlaid in it.

The snap-in lug may for example also be design as a plunger or as a ball detent.

It may also be provided that on the front side of the securing element there is formed a first butting surface, which is designed for butting against the securing groove, and that on the rear side of the attachment there is formed a second butting surface, which is designed for butting against a counter-butting surface of the body of the firearm, wherein the second butting surface of the attachment is arranged on an elastic component, wherein the elastic component is formed from an elastically deformable plastic. This measure allows the exact positioning of the attachment relative to the body of the firearm to be improved. In addition, by means of this measure it can be achieved that the attachment has a firm fit on the body of the firearm. In particular, this measure thus allows any unwanted relative movement of the attachment relative to the body of the firearm in the mounted state of the attachment to be reduced or prevented.

It may also be provided that the securing element comprises a holding element receptacle for receiving a holding element. Consequently, the securing element can be easily secured.

It may be provided in particular that the holding element receptacle is arranged in an end face of the main body of the securing element. Furthermore, it is also conceivable that the holding element is coupled to the main body of the securing element by means of some other form-fitting connection.

It may also be provided that the holding element is received in the holding element receptacle by means of a form-fitting connection in the form of a snap-in connector, in particular that a releasable connection is formed by means of the snap-in connector. This has the advantage that the holding element can be easily coupled to the holding element receptacle.

In one embodiment variant, it may be provided that the snap-in connector is formed by a resilient element which engages in a corresponding recess in the holding element receptacle being arranged on the holding element.

In a further embodiment variant, it may be provided that the recess of the holding element receptacle is resiliently formed, at least in some regions, and a pin with a shaped projection is formed on the holding element. When pushing the pin of the holding element into the holding element receptacle, the resiliently formed regions of the holding element receptacle can be forced back and a form-fitting connection can be achieved when the holding element is pushed far enough into the holding element receptacle and the resiliently formed regions spring back into their initial position.

It may also be provided that arranged in the securing element is an unlocking hole, which is used for inserting a tool for unlocking the snap-in connector. This measure allows the snap-in connector to be designed such that it forms a stable connection between the holding element and the holding element receptacle. By means of the tool, the snap-in connector can be displaced from its stable position to release this stable connection for disassembly. It may also be provided that in the attachment there is formed an unlocking recess matching the unlocking hole, wherein, in the inserted state of the securing element, this unlocking recess can be formed in line with the unlocking hole to allow accessibility to the unlocking hole by means of a tool in the form of a disassembling pin to be ensured.

It may additionally be provided that the holding element is coupled to the holding element receptacle by means of a screw connection. This measure has the advantage of allowing a stable connection which can also be easily released again.

The holding element may for example be formed as a securing screw, which has an external thread, wherein a matching internal thread may be formed in the holding element receptacle. In an alternative embodiment, it may also be provided that the holding element is formed as a securing nut and that the holding element receptacle is formed as a threaded pin, which may be arranged on the securing element. In particular, the threaded pin may be formed directly adjoining the main body of the securing element.

It may also be provided that a second elevation is formed on the rear side of the securing element. The second elevation may be formed as protruding with respect to the rear broad side of the securing element. It may be provided in particular that the second elevation extends from the top surface of the securing element about half way to the bottom surface of the securing element. The second elevation allows the securing groove to be approximately filled up.

It may also be expedient that the first guiding structure comprises a first guiding lug and that the second guiding structure comprises a second guiding lug and that the first counter guide comprises a first guiding recess and that the second counter guide comprises a second guiding recess. Especially with a guiding structure formed in such a way, good pushing on or good reception of the attachment on the body of the firearm can be achieved. It may be provided in particular that the guiding lugs extend in the removal direction.