Hand grip apparatus for firearm

1. A handgrip apparatus for firearm, comprising:

a hollow housing having a longitudinal axis and defining a handgrip surface and forming an enclosure;

a fastener connected to the housing for removably attaching the handgrip apparatus to a fore-end portion of a firearm;

a retractable leg assembly movable between a retracted position and an extended position, said leg assembly including a pair of pivoting legs received within said hollow housing when the leg assembly is in the retracted position and usable as a bipod support when the leg assembly is in the extended position; and

said leg assembly axially rotatable relative to said hollow housing about the longitudinal axis of said hollow housing.

2. The handgrip apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a stop member secured to the housing and cooperating with said leg assembly to limit axial rotation of the leg assembly relative to the hollow housing to a predetermined range.

3. The handgrip apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a switch exteriorly positioned on said handgrip surface.

4. The handgrip apparatus of claim 3 , wherein said switch is positioned on said handgrip surface so as to be accessible by an operator's fingertips when the operator's hand is closed about the handgrip housing.

5. The handgrip apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising:

said handgrip surface having a surface feature complimentary with a surface of said switch.

6. The handgrip apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising:

said switch selectively positionable at a plurality of locations on said handgrip surface.

7. The handgrip apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising:

said switch selectively positionable at a first location on said handgrip surface to accommodate a right-handed operator and a second location on said exterior handgrip surface to accommodate a left-handed operator.

8. The handgrip apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising one or more fasteners for securing said switch to said housing.

9. The handgrip apparatus of claim 8 , wherein said one or more fasteners includes one or bands encircling the housing and the switch.

10. The handgrip apparatus of claim 3 , wherein said switch includes an electrical connector for removably electrically connecting said switch to a weapon-mounted accessory.

11. The handgrip apparatus of claim 10 , wherein said switch is for actuating a weapon-mounted accessory selected from a laser sight module and a light source for target illumination.

12. The handgrip apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a latch assembly for releasably securing the leg assembly in the retracted position;

a depressible latch release actuator to allow said leg assembly to be moved to the extended position; and

spring means in said housing for urging said leg assembly to said extended position when said latch release actuator is depressed.

13. The handgrip apparatus of claim 12 , wherein said latch release actuator is located at a position on said handgrip surface so as to be accessible by an operator's thumb when the operator's hand is closed about the housing.

14. The handgrip apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising:

an axially movable member coupling said latch assembly to said leg assembly, said axially movable member movable in an axial direction when the leg assembly is moved between the retracted and extended positions;

said axially movable member including an elongate slot;

a stop member affixed to said leg assembly and extending into said elongate slot, said stop member and said elongate slot cooperating to limit a range of axial movement of said axially movable member relative to said leg assembly; and;

a pair of spreader arms, each of said spreader arms pivotally attached at a first end to said axially movable member and pivotally attached at a second end opposite the first end to a respective one of said legs.

15. The handgrip apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising:

a pair of pivoting feet, each of said pivoting feet attached to a distal end of a respective one of said pivoting legs.