Handguard assembly
View Patent ↗A handguard assembly for a firearm includes an outer member disposed forward of an upper receiver of the firearm where, a barrel nut disposed within the rear cavity, and at least one alignment member. The outer member includes a rear cavity and a threaded portion. The at least one alignment member contacts both the outer member and the upper receiver for alignment.
1. A handguard assembly for a firearm comprising:
an outer member disposed forward of an upper receiver of the firearm, the outer member comprising a rear cavity and a threaded portion;
a barrel nut disposed within the rear cavity; and
at least one alignment member,
wherein the at least one alignment member contacts both the outer member and the upper receiver for alignment.
2. The handguard assembly of claim 1 , wherein the outer member comprises a polymer material.
3. The handguard assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one alignment member comprises two alignment members.
4. The handguard assembly of claim 3 , wherein the two alignment members are connected to one another using a plurality of fasteners that pass through the outer member.
5. The handguard assembly of claim 3 , wherein the two alignment members are identical.
6. The handguard assembly of claim 1 , wherein the threaded portion comprises an insert that is a separate component from the outer member.
7. The handguard assembly of claim 6 , wherein the insert is metallic and outer member comprises a polymer material.
8. The handguard assembly of claim 7 , wherein the insert is overmolded as a permanent component of the outer member.
9. The handguard assembly of claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the barrel nut comprises a taper such that the aft-most portion of the outer surface has a larger dimension than other portions of the outer surface.
10. The handguard assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one alignment member is metallic and comprises a counterbored hole and a threaded hole.
11. A free float handguard assembly for a firearm comprising:
an outer member comprising a rear cavity;
a barrel nut disposed within the rear cavity; and
at least one alignment member disposed adjacent to an upper rail of the outer member, wherein:
the outer member comprises a threaded portion that is removably attached to the barrel nut; and
the at least one alignment member aligns the outer member relative to the firearm.
12. The free float handguard assembly of claim 11 , wherein the at least one alignment member contacts both the outer member and an upper receiver of the firearm for alignment.
13. The free float handguard assembly of claim 11 , wherein:
the at least one alignment member comprises a left alignment member and a right alignment member; and
the left alignment member and the right alignment member are identical.
14. The free float handguard assembly of claim 11 , wherein the threaded portion comprises an insert that is a separate component from the outer member.
15. The free float handguard assembly of claim 14 , wherein the insert is metallic and outer member comprises a polymer material.
16. The free float handguard assembly of claim 15 , wherein the insert is overmolded as a permanent component of the outer member.
17. The free float handguard assembly of claim 11 , wherein the outer member comprises a polymer material.
18. The free float handguard assembly of claim 11 , wherein the at least one alignment member comprises two alignment members.
19. The free float handguard assembly of claim 18 , wherein the two alignment members are connected to one another using a plurality of fasteners that pass through the outer member.
20. A free float handguard assembly for a firearm comprising:
an outer member comprising a rear cavity;
a barrel nut disposed within the rear cavity; and
at least one alignment member, wherein:
the at least one alignment member aligns the outer member relative to the firearm; and
the outer member comprises a threaded portion that is removably attached to the barrel nut.