Easy connect forend assembly
A method and apparatus are disclosed for substituting a different forend assembly in a long gun (e.g., a shotgun) without the use of tools by a user in the field. Applicants' preferred apparatus for substituting a forend comprises: a modified forend carrier that is affixed to the long gun (e.g., the illustrated shotgun); a forend; and tool-less means for removably attaching the forend onto the carrier, or removing the forend off the carrier, without the use of tools, wherein the tool-less means comprises: (i) a tongue-and-groove arrangement in the forend and carrier, and (ii) a releasable lock contained, at least in part, in the carrier. This permits the forend to be swapped out.
1. A method for removably attaching a forend in a pump action shotgun comprising:
a. affixing a forend carrier having at least one action bar to the pump action shotgun;
b. attaching a front end of the forend by a tongue-and-groove arrangement in the carrier and forend;
c. removably securing the forend, in place, to the carrier by a releasable lock located at least in part in the carrier; and
d. wherein steps (b) and (c) are performed without the use of tools by a user in the field.
2. A method for removably attaching a forend in a long gun comprising:
a. affixing forend carrier to the long gun:
b. attaching a front end of the forend by a tongue-and-groove arrangement in the carrier and forend;
c. removably securing the forend, in place, to the carrier by a releasable lock located, at least in the forend, in the forend;
d. wherein the step of removably securing the forend, in place, to the carrier by a releasable lock located, at least in part, in the forend further comprises the following sub-steps:
i. spring loading a pair of slide bars on opposite sides of the interior of the forend, adjacent a rear end of the forend; and
ii. sliding those bars over respective protrusions on the carrier;
e. wherein steps (b) and (c) are performed without the use of took by a user in the field.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of removably attaching the forend by the tongue-and-groove arrangement further comprises the following sub-steps:
a. slipping grooves in a front end of the forend over respective protrusions in a front end of the carrier, while holding the forend in a downward tilt relative to the carrier; and
b. pivoting a rear end of the forend upwardly, towards the carrier, until a releasable lock in the forend snaps into place.
4. A method comprising:
a. attaching a forend onto a fixed forend carrier of a pump action shotgun by a tongue-and-groove arrangement in the carrier and forend, the forend carrier having at least one bar;
b. removably securing the forend, in place, to the carrier by a releasable lock located, at least in part, in the carrier; and
c. wherein steps (a) and (b) are performed without the use of tools by a user in the field.
5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:
a. releasing the releasable lock without the use of tools, and
b. removing the forend off the carrier without the use of tools.
6. A method comprising:
a. sliding a forend onto a forend carrier secured to a pump action shotgun, the forend carrier having at least one action bar;
b. removably locking the forend in place, by a releasable lock contained at least in part in the carrier,without the use of tools; and
c. unlocking the lock, when desired for removal of the d off the carrier, without the use of tools.
7. A method for removably thing a forend in a pump action shotgun comprising:
a. affixing a forend carrier having at least one action bar to the pump action shotgun;
b. attaching a front end of the forend by a tongue-and-groove arrangement in the carrier and forend;
c. removably securing the forend, in place, to the carrier by a releasable lock contained at least in part in the carrier; and
d. wherein steps (b) and (c) are performed, without the use of tools by a user in the field.
8. An apparatus comprising:
a. a pump action shotgun having a fixed forend carrier having at least one action bar;
b. a forend; and
c. tool-less means for removably attaching the forend onto the carrier and removing the forend off the carrier without the use of tools; wherein the tool-less means is contained at least in part in the carrier.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the tool-less means comprises a tongue-and-groove arrangement and a releasable lock.
10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the tool-less means comprises a tongue-and-groove arrangement, a latch, and pushbutton release.
11. An apparatus comprising:
a. a forend carrier having at least one action bar and affixed to a pump action shotgun;
b. a forend; and
c. tool-less means for selectively attaching the forend onto the carrier or removing the forend off the carrier, without the use of tools;
d. wherein the tool-less means comprises:
i. a tongue-and-groove arrangement in the forend and carrier, and
ii. a releasable lock contained, at least in part, in the carrier.