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, said fastener 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 usable as a bipod support when the leg assembly is in the extended position;

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

one or more switches coupled to the handgrip apparatus, said one or more switches for controlling the operation of one or more electronic devices; and

one or more connectors electrically coupled to said one or more switches and adapted to be electrically coupled to the one or more electronic devices.

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

one or more actuators coupled to said housing and configured for operator manipulation, wherein operator manipulation of said one or more actuators manipulates said one or more switches to selectively actuate at least one of the one or more electronic devices.

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

said one or more actuators including a first actuator positioned at a first location on said handgrip to accommodate a right-handed operator and a second actuator positioned at a second location on said handgrip to accommodate a left-handed operator, wherein operator manipulation of either or both of said first and second actuators actuates at least one of said one or more electronic devices.

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

one or more selectors coupled to said housing and configured for operator manipulation;

one or more actuators coupled to said housing and configured for operator manipulation; and

wherein operator manipulation of said one or more selectors and said one or more actuators in combination manipulates said one or more switches to selectively actuate at least one of a plurality of electronic devices electrically coupled to said one or more switches and remotely located with respect to the handgrip apparatus.

5. The handgrip apparatus of claim 4 , wherein said one or more switches, said one or more selectors, and said one or more actuators are integral with the handgrip apparatus.

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

said one or more switches mounted within an interior portion of said handgrip apparatus.

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

said one or more switches including one or more magnetically-actuated switches; and

each of said one or more selectors and said one or more actuators carrying a magnet and movable to manipulate said one or more magnetically actuated switches.

8. The handgrip apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said one or more magnetically actuated switches include one or more magnetic reed switches.

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

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

10. The handgrip apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising:

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.

11. The handgrip apparatus of claim 10 , 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.

12. The handgrip apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising:

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.

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

means for limiting a degree relative rotation between said housing and said leg assembly.

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

each of said one or more electrical connectors adapted for coupling said one or more switches to a weapon-mounted electronic device.

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

a first electrical connector adapted to couple said one or more switches to a laser sight module; and

a second electrical connector adapted to couple said one or more switches to an illumination light source.

16. The handgrip apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said fastener is adapted for removable attachment to a Picatinny rail interface.

17. A handgrip apparatus for firearm, comprising:

a hollow housing defining a handgrip surface and forming an enclosure;

a fastener connected to the housing, said fastener 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 usable as a bipod support when the leg assembly is in the extended position;

one or more switches coupled to the handgrip apparatus, said one or more switches for controlling the operation of one or more electronic devices;

one or more connectors electrically coupled to said one or more switches and adapted to be electrically coupled to the one or more electronic devices;

electrical contacts disposed on said fastener and electrically coupled to said one or more switches; and

said electrical contacts adapted to contact a circuit carried on a firearm rail interface when said fastener is operatively connected to the firearm rail interface.

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

a first switch coupled to said housing and configured for operator manipulation, wherein operator manipulation of said first switch actuates a first electronic device, said first electronic device remotely located with respect to said handgrip apparatus; and

a second switch coupled to said housing and configured for operator manipulation, wherein operator manipulation of said second switch actuates a second electronic device, said second electronic device remotely located with respect to said handgrip apparatus.

19. A handgrip apparatus for firearm, comprising:

a hollow housing defining a handgrip surface and forming an enclosure;

a fastener connected to the housing, said fastener 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 usable as a bipod support when the leg assembly is in the extended position;

one or more switches coupled to the handgrip apparatus, said one or more switches for controlling the operation of one or more electronic devices;

one or more connectors electrically coupled to said one or more switches and adapted to be electrically coupled to the one or more electronic devices; and

said fastener pivotally connected to said housing, said housing selectively pivotally movable between a first position in which said housing extends generally perpendicular to the fore-arm portion of the firearm and a second position in which said housing extends generally parallel to the fore-arm portion of the firearm when said fastener is operatively connected to the fore-arm portion of the firearm.

20. A handgrip apparatus for firearm, comprising:

a hollow housing defining a handgrip surface and forming an enclosure;

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

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

21. The handgrip apparatus of claim 20 , further comprising:

one or more switches coupled to the handgrip apparatus;

one or more connectors electrically coupled to said one or more switches and adapted to be electrically coupled to one or more electronic devices; and

said one or more switches for controlling the operation of one or more electronic devices.